August 6, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

August 6-12, 2020

YO U

C A N

INSIDE: South County Real Estate Guide

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SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 32

Combating Human TraďŹƒcking Illicit Massage Businesses Pose Widespread Problem in Orange County E Y E O N S C / PAG E 6

A series of proposed amendments to the city’s laws that govern massage parlors will soon go before the city council for consideration, as the planning commission last month approved recommendations intended to further combat human trafficking in Orange County. Graphic: Chelsie Rex

SoCal Edison Expected to Complete Spent Fuel Transfer EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Eleven Candidates Enter Crowded Races for City Council Seats EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

sanclementetimes.com

Bodies of Missing Marines, Sailor Found EYE ON SC/PAGE 4

San Clemente Times August 6–12, 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 Eleven Candidates Enter Crowded Races for City Council Seats THE LATEST: Eleven names so far are set to be included on the general and special election ballots for the upcoming city council races this fall.

As of Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, six individuals—Aaron Washington, Bill Hart, Chris Duncan, Patrick Minnehan, Jeff Wellman and Charlie Smith—have qualified to run for the two full-term city council seats in November.

Five other candidates—Donna Vidrine, Tyler Boden, Laron Rush, Zhen Wu and Steven Knoblock—will appear on the special election ballot for a two-year term, filling the seat recently vacated by former Mayor Dan Bane.

Eight others have recently pulled their nomination papers to run for one of the three open seats, including incumbent Councilmember Gene James. As of press time, they hadn’t filed their papers or hadn’t officially qualified to run, according to the city.

Those prospective candidates vying for the four-year seat on the council include James, Thor Johnson, Joseph Kenney, Jeff Provance, and James Daniel Bacon.

The others looking to make a run for the two-year seat include Jim Dahl, Jerry Quinlan and George Gregory.

Nomination papers are due back to the city by the end of the business day on Friday, Aug. 7. However, according to the city, if an incumbent hasn’t yet filed his or her papers by that date, the period will be extended to Aug. 12.

The two council seats open for election this fall are currently occupied by James and Councilmember Chris Hamm.

However, Hamm, who’s wrapping up his second term in office, announced this past May that he will not be seeking reelection.

Campaigning among some of the candidates has already kicked off in recent weeks, including the camps of Duncan, a Homeland Security attorney, and Boden, an energy consultant.

On Monday, Aug. 3, Vidrine, a former Air Force captain and business owner, officially announced the launch of her campaign for the two-year term.

“Having served as an Air Force Captain and Registered Nurse with over 40 years experience in management and public San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

The last nuclear fuel assembly from the Unit 3 spent fuel pool at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is loaded into a canister for storage later this week. Photo: Courtesy of Southern California Edison

health, I’m ready to serve San Clemente,” Vidrine said in a press release.

If elected to office, Vidrine said, she intends to solve one of San Clemente’s most pressing issues: homelessness. She said she plans to deal with the homelessness crisis “head-on with intervention and prevention to keep families and individuals off the streets.”

WHAT’S NEXT: This year’s elections will also include races for city clerk and city treasurer. As of Tuesday, Joanne Baade, the incumbent, is the only person running for city clerk. City Treasurer Mark Taylor has pulled nomination papers but has not yet filed them. He’s the only person who has pulled papers for that position.

When voters cast their ballots this fall, they’ll also be asked to decide on a measure over setting term limits for councilmembers. If passed, council seats will be limited to two consecutive terms, but a councilmember could serve again after a two-year lapse in service.

This year’s elections are scheduled for Nov. 3.—Shawn Raymundo

SoCal Edison Expected to Complete Spent Fuel Transfer This Week THE LATEST: Southern California Edison is expected to transfer the last bit of nuclear waste from its San Onofre power plant into dry storage by the end of this week, completing another step in its ongoing plans to deconstruct the decommissioned facility.

Since early 2018, SoCal Edison has been removing spent nuclear fuel from the plant’s Unit 2 and Unit 3 reactors, placing the material in canisters that are downloaded into its storage facility—the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, or ISFSI. So far, Edison has downloaded 72 of the 73 canisters into the ISFSI. In a tweet from the utility company on Tuesday, Aug. 4, Edison posted a picture of the last nuclear fuel assembly being loaded into the 73rd canister.

John Dobken, spokesperson for Edison, said the canister is likely to be download-

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ed into the ISFSI on Thursday, but it could potentially be moved to Friday.

SCE Vice President of Decommissioning Doug Bauder said the company isn’t ready to celebrate the end of this chapter quite yet, stressing their priority is safety.

“We’ve been very focused on safety, so we’re very careful not to celebrate early,” he said.

SoCal Edison has had to store its own nuclear waste from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) on-site, just like all of the other power plants in the U.S., which doesn’t yet have a permanent repository for such materials.

Federal officials have been unable to agree on a permanent location to store the nation’s radioactive waste since 2010, when the Obama administration cut funding for plans to establish a storage site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

The final canister download comes weeks after the California Coastal Commission (CCC) approved SoCal Edison’s Inspection and Maintenance Program, which is meant to ensure the company can adequately inspect, monitor and eventually retrieve the canisters for transport.

The approval essentially allows Edison to continue storing the spent fuel through 2035—when it must resubmit an application to either retain, remove or relocate the ISFSI. At that time, the application renewal must also include an updated evaluation of coastal hazards and potential on-site or off-site storage options for the fuel.

This past October, the CCC approved Edison’s coastal development permit, allowing the power plant operator to begin dismantling the twin containment domes at SONGS once the nuclear waste has been removed and transferred to the ISFSI. Initial work to deconstruct the power plant, which went offline in 2013, began in late February and is expected to take about eight to 10 years to complete.

WHAT’S NEXT: Once all the radioactive fuel is downloaded in the ISFSI, Bauder said Edison will shift its focus on more decommissioning activities, starting with work to dismantle the containment domes by preparing for them to be cut up and removed off-site.

“The domes, when you see driving by, early on, there won’t be a lot of visual changes to the station, but as the decommissioning process moves along, you’ll start to see some of those changes,” he said.—SR

Bodies of Missing Marines, Sailor Found in Sunken AAV THE LATEST: The remains of the seven (Cont. on page 4) sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) U.S. Marines and one Navy sailor who went missing after a training exercise “mishap” occurred last week have been located, Marine officials announced on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

According to I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), officials Tuesday found the sunken amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) that was carrying the service members on July 30, when the craft began to take on water during a return trip to the USS Somerset from San Clemente Island.

The crew inside the sinking AAV signaled to two accompanying AAV units and a safety boat that their craft started taking on water about 1,500 meters from the shore.

The bodies of the service members, I MEF said, were identified inside the AAV using underwater remotely operated video systems that the U.S. Navy’s Undersea Rescue Command had provided.

Eight other service members, all of whom had been assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and were aboard the AAV at the time of the accident, were recovered last week. One of those Marines, 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Guillermo Perez of New Braunfels, Texas, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Two others were found in critical condition and were airlifted to the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, San Diego.

One of the injured, an AAV crewmember, is now in stable condition, Marine officials announced on Sunday, Aug. 2.

The U.S. Marines, with the assistance of the Navy and Coast Guard, conducted a search and rescue operation to find the missing Marines and sailor. However, after a 40-hour search, officials called off the rescue mission on Saturday, Aug. 1, announcing that the service members were presumed dead.

“It is with a heavy heart, that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort,” Col. Christopher Bronzi, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) commanding officer, said in a statement.

“The steadfast dedication of the Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen to the persistent rescue effort was tremendous.”

According to the latest update from I MEF, the Navy has expedited its efforts to recover the remains of the deceased Marines and sailor, as well as raise the AAV, which sank to a depth of about 385 feet.

“The equipment to properly and safely perform the recovery from the sea floor will be in place at the end of this week, and a dignified transfer of our Marines and Sailor will occur as soon as possible after the conclusion of recovery operations,” I MEF said in a press release.

Three of the deceased service members—Pfc. Bryan Baltierra, 18; Lance Cpl. Marco Barranco, 21; and Cpl. Cesar Villanueva, 21—were native to Southern California, according to Marine officials The other five service members—Pfc. Evan Bath, 19; U.S. Navy Hospitalman San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

Christopher Gnem, 22; Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21; Cpl. Wesley Rodd, 23; and Lance Cpl. Chase Sweetwood, 19—originated from Northern California and the states of Wisconsin, Oregon and Texas.

The search operation encompassed more than 1,000 square nautical miles of the Southern California coast near the island and included the use of several aircraft and watercraft, with help from the Navy and Coast Guard.

“Our thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to be, with our Marines’ and Sailor’s families during this difficult time,” Bronzi had said in the statement.

WHAT’S NEXT: The incident has been under investigation and was still underway as of Tuesday, according to the Marines. In the meantime, all waterborne operations training with AAVs have been suspended.—SR

Business Park Association Disputes Claims over Sale of Land for Emergency Shelter THE LATEST: The Rancho San Clemente Business Park Association is disputing claims that it didn’t have the authority to sell 10 acres of property to Emergency Shelter Coalition, saying it was “acting in the best interest” of its board and tenants to do so, according to recent court filings.

Back in February, Olen Commercial Properties, along with other members of the business park, filed suit against the association over its sale of a pair of open-space parcels to ESC, a nonprofit organization that intends to develop a homeless shelter on the land.

Olen, which had offered to purchase the land last fall after learning of the then-pending sale, alleges that the association’s board didn’t possess the legal authority to execute the sale to ESC, as it lacked the support of its members, or tenants.

Olen and the other businesses had vehemently objected to the sale in the months leading up to its finalization in late January and have sought to void the agreement.

In its legal response to Olen’s lawsuit, the association cited the business park’s CC&Rs, which “empowers” the association “to do ‘anything that may be necessary or desirable to further the common interest of the Members, to maintain, improve and enhance the Master Association Properties and to improve and enhance the attractiveness, desirability, value and safety of the Project Area.’ ” The association then made the argument that homeless individuals known to reside on the property, located on the north side of Avenida Pico opposite Calle del Cerro, pose a liability and risk for the business park.

“One of the primary aims in selling

the Subject Property was to address this liability issue,” the association’s response stated. “The sale of the Subject Property was solely for the benefit of the RSCBP Association members. None of the Board members derived any monetary benefit from the sale of the Subject Property.”

The association previously had explained that the parcels have cost $20,000 a year for maintenance, contending they’re also of very little value to the business park, as they’re located within the city’s open space and, therefore, subject to development restrictions.

One such restriction is the city’s Measure V ordinance, a voter-approved initiative that mandates any open space project covering more than one acre must go to a vote of the people.

Noting those issues as reasons to support the sale, the association, in its argument, stated “all of these considerations were solely for the benefit of the members.”

Olen’s lawsuit alleges that because most of the business owners had opposed the sale, the association violated its fiduciary duty to all of its members by agreeing to the sale “in direct contravention to the will of the Association’s membership.”

In conclusion to its response, the association again emphasized that the sale was done in the interest of the business park, further noting that ESC is unlikely to develop on the property because of the open-space restrictions.

“It could take years, if ever, for the zoning to be changed,” the argument stated.

“Further, the Association no longer has to pay for the maintenance and insurance and cannot be sued if a fire or a crime occurs on this Subject Property.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The next court hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled on Aug. 27.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Visit sanclementetimes.com for the complete version of this story.—SR

OC Board of Education Sues Newsom over Campus Closures THE LATEST: The Orange County Board of Education (OCBE) plans to take legal action against Gov. Gavin Newsom and the head of the state’s public health office over the governor’s recent order that effectively keeps campuses closed and necessitates the continued use of virtual learning for the start of the upcoming school year.

The OCBE voted, 4-0, during a closed session on July 28 to file the lawsuit, which seeks a court order setting aside the state’s order that temporarily prevents on-campus, in-person instruction.

In a July 17 announcement, Newsom had said California schools only could physically reopen when their county was off Page 4

the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list for 14 consecutive days.

OCBE President Ken Williams read a statement after the closed session explaining the board’s decision.

“The California Supreme Court has interpreted the California Constitution to require that California school children have a constitutional right to substantially equal opportunities for learning,” Williams said. “The state has the broad responsibility to ensure basic educational equality.”

Williams said the July 17 order does not ensure that children of working single parents are adequately educated through virtual learning or provide sufficient instruction and supervision for children of immigrant parents who encounter language barriers.

“Further, the state has failed to address how high-risk students and those without adequate parental support will navigate the coming weeks and months through distance learning,” Williams said. “Therefore, we believe the July 17 order violates the constitutional rights of our students.”

Students and families should have the option of in-person learning, Williams said.

OCBE had previously recommended reopening schools. During a special meeting on July 13, the OCBE approved a white paper outlining their recommendations, drawing national attention by advocating for reopening without safety measures such as face masks and social distancing. The board’s recommendations were not mandates that could be enforced, because individual school districts have the authority to decide their own local school policies.

The OCBE had approved the white paper, which is defined as an authoritative report or guide, by a 4-1 vote. Trustees Williams, Tim Shaw, Lisa Sparks, and Mari Barke voted yes. Trustee Rebecca “Beckie” Gomez voted no.

Gomez reportedly did not attend the July 28 discussion on OCBE’s lawsuit or vote on it. Gomez previously had spoken against the reopening recommendations approved by the other OCBE trustees.

Attorneys for OCBE will reportedly represent the board pro bono in the lawsuit. Members of the public variously spoke for and against OCBE taking legal action against the state during the July 28 meeting.

WHAT’S NEXT: Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD)—comprising areas including San Clemente, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano—announced it will begin the 2020-21 school year with distance learning, per Newsom’s mandate.

Before Newsom’s order, the CUSD Board of Trustees approved a flexible reopening plan that allowed for in-person and virtual learning, with face coverings, social distancing, and reduced class sizes required during on-campus activities.

—Collin Breaux sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

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sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

City Proposes Massage Parlor Ordinance to Combat Human Trafficking

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

H

uman trafficking is a widespread problem that can be found in just about every community of Orange County, Anaheim Police Sgt. Juan Reveles said.

As a member of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, a multiagency initiative charged with bringing down criminal organizations that traffic women for sex work, Reveles said no community in Orange County has been left untouched.

“When I tell you that no community is (safe from the problem), what that translates to is there is no community in Orange County that we have not had an investigation in,” Reveles said, largely referring to illicit massage parlors that offer erotic services involving sexual contact.

“I can say that across the entire Orange County there are over 200 illegal massage parlors,” Reveles said. “That gives you a perspective as to how big this problem is … they’re all illegal and there’s not enough time to address all of them.”

The task force is comprised of members from such entities as California Highway Patrol, the OC District Attorney’s office, Orange County Social Services and other police departments from Irvine, Newport Beach and Santa Ana. Up until last year, Reveles said, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department was a partner, but it has since developed its own unit to tackle the human trafficking issue within its contract cities, including San Clemente.

Recognizing that there’s not a “single magic bullet” to end human trafficking, Reveles said cities that have made amendments to strengthen municipal codes on massage parlors can make it more difficult for an illicit massage operator to pose as a legitimate business.

Locally, steps have been taken at the city level to give law enforcement more authority when it comes to addressing the illicit massage market in San Clemente.

AMENDING SAN CLEMENTE’S LAWS

A series of proposed amendments to the city’s laws that govern massage parlors will soon go before the city council for consideration, as the planning commission last month approved recommendations

San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

intended to further combat human trafficking in Orange County.

The proposed ordinance, if passed by the council, would give local law enforcement additional oversight of the business sector in San Clemente, hold landlords more accountable for tenants operating illicit massage parlors, and add certain restrictions to legitimate businesses.

Amendments to the city’s municipal code, which the planning commission unanimously voted in favor of on July 8, came from i-5 Freedom Network, the San Clemente-based nonprofit that’s worked to raise awareness to the issue of human trafficking and to support survivors.

Although Brenda Wells, founder and executive director of i-5 Freedom, expressed gratitude for the planning commission’s approval, she noted that it took “way too long for this to happen,” as the group first implored the city to make the changes in 2017.

“I’m glad they took it back up,” she said.

“I was happy the planning commission and the staff took the ordinance proposal seriously and researched them and found them all to be sound and appropriate.”

One of the key provisions in the ordinance is the involvement of the owners of commercial properties who lease space to massage parlors, making them more responsible for their tenants.

According to the draft ordinance, if a massage parlor is found to be in violation of the city’s code, prompting a revocation of the business license, a landlord is responsible for fines and is also prohibited from renting the same space to another massage business for at least two years.

As for the operators of massage parlors, they would be required to shut off all illuminated signs at the close of business, keep well-lit entrances, ensure that entries and exits are kept in visible locations and remove locks from all rooms dedicated for massages. They would also be subject to unannounced inspections from city personnel.

If passed, the ordinance would also give San Clemente Police Services—through OCSD—the authority to review a prospective massage operator’s application for permits and business licenses, as well as background information.

“While Planning staff has historically reviewed background information required for a massage establishment, this change will appropriately place review and verification on background information with Police Services,” the city said in its July 8 report to the planning commission.

Currently, existing establishments are also required to renew their business license annually, which is reviewed by the city’s planning and business license staff.

Under the proposed ordinance, police services would also conduct a review of the license renewal.

TARGETING ILLICIT ACTIVITY

Giving law enforcement oversight of the

local industry and the authority to conduct background checks, Wells and Reveles said, could help authorities eradicate the root of illicit massage businesses—the criminal syndicates behind the market that traffic the women for sex work.

“Criminals are going to be criminals,” Wells acknowledged, noting that criminal organizations often find ways of eluding law enforcement. Just because a prospective operator applies for the license “doesn’t mean they’re the ultimate owner; they’re part of the larger network.”

Reveles said that giving police services that authority adds another layer of scrutinizing applications. In doing so, he said, law enforcement can see where the applicant has operated a parlor before and find out whether he or she has been cited or shut down for illicit activity in other parts of the state and county.

Both Reveles and Wells stressed that the illicit massage market in the U.S often is linked to organized crime, which brings in women from other countries—China, most often—to perform erotic massages on clientele in America, traditionally referred to as Johns.

Citing a study of illicit massage businesses (IMBs) in 2018 and 2019 by Herick Research, Wells said that more than 84% of IMBs in the U.S. are managed by Chinese immigrants who rely on a “Chinese supply chain” or network of women from mainland China.

The study found that the network “appears active in all 50 states, although Flushing, New York, and the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles play an outsized role in the broader” supply chain.

Wells further explained that the women, while in their home country, are targeted by visa brokers to come to work in the U.S. A trafficker will usually pay a visa broker about $30,000 to $50,000 to get the women to the U.S. Once here, the trafficker, or pimp, tells the women that they are indebted to him or her.

“These individuals are recruited for this line of work and is very intentional,” Wells said, noting that they typically have low-income status and “minimal education, and they get recruited for what they think is legitimate work.”

To pay down their debt, the women are forced to perform illicit activities, which the men pay for with tips. When a John visits a massage parlor, he pays the house for a massage, and then tips the woman for the illicit service “Most who run one (illicit parlor) run several,” Reveles said. “The vast majority of them are connected to this international criminal organization. So, it’s not this local crime; it’s part of a bigger picture.”

SUPPORTING SURVIVORS

While the proposed ordinance aims to be an important first step in battling human trafficking in San Clemente, the next question, Wells said, is how to protect the women, who are believed to be victims

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forced into the illicit business, once that parlor has been shut down.

Historically speaking, Wells noted, law enforcement has gone after the sex workers.

However, over the years, local law enforcement, namely the OC Human Trafficking Task Force, has bucked the traditional approach of going after the sex workers, recognizing that the larger issue is organized crime and instead targeting the syndicates responsible.

“The big general approach is recognizing that the girls working there are victims of pimping,” said Reveles. “In decades past, the target was the workers, but it did little to impact or bring down the organization that was funding (the enterprise) . . . the new strategy is to focus on who is controlling and funding, not just a specific location but the organization as a whole.”

One of the obstacles in the approach, however, is working with the victims who oftentimes aren’t willing to talk with law enforcement—across the U.S., not just Orange County—for a few reasons. Language and cultural barriers can be an issue, as many of the women are foreign nationals.

After shutting down illicit massage parlors, Reveles, explained, the task force will bring in translators who can communicate with the victims. Advocacy groups are also employed by the task force to continue providing support and protection for the women.

But another key deterrent to prosecution, Reveles said, is that the victims are reluctant to talk, simply out of fear and implicit coercion by their captors. In turn, it makes it difficult to prove that they’re being pimped and, therefore, difficult to get convictions of the traffickers.

Expounding on that point, Wells said the victims are coached and instructed to protect the trafficker. They’re even taught that all law enforcement officers are corrupt or complicit, so they shouldn’t cooperate with the police unless they want to get arrested and deported.

HITTING CLOSE TO HOME

At the start of an investigation, Reveles said, law enforcement will rely heavily on certain websites designed solely to let Johns know where they can get an erotic massage.

One website that’s largely used is Rub Maps.

There, paid users can leave reviews on any massage parlor, letting others know about their experience getting an erotic massage, how much they paid, which masseuse they had and what services were provided. The users can also rate the masseuse on their physical features.

Based on a review of the site, nine establishments in San Clemente were reviewed, but only two appeared to be actively engaged in illicit activity. The other seven were either listed as non-erotic or had been closed.

One of the two establishments had a sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY HALEY CHI-SING FOR THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Assisteens Recognize Local High School Seniors for Volunteer Work The nonprofit Assisteens of Capistrano Valley has recognized 24 graduating students from local high schools for their volunteer work with the organization throughout their high school careers. Assisteens also highlighted the students’ plans in continuing their education this coming fall.

This year’s graduating class amassed more than 3,100 hours in volunteer work total over their four years in high school. Their work was recognized by the organization at a private senior tea event at The Tea House in San Juan Capistrano, co-chaired by Carolyn Mower and Lucy Williamson O’Quinn.

Assisteens of Capistrano Valley promotes leadership and volunteerism in high school students through their four- to five-year program. As an auxiliary of the Assistance League of Capistrano Valley, California, Assisteens allows students to engage in volunteer and leadership positions throughout the school year.

Beginning with their freshman year of high school, graduating students’ past volunteer work included having “served on committees, held leadership positions, provided service to community events, and supported our military,” according to a press release.

Students were able to volunteer locally, with seniors specifically volunteering at the Bargain Box Store, Family Assistance Ministries, and at city of San Clemente community events, such as Puttin’ on the Glitz and the Spring Extravaganza. Senior students also served as volunteers in San Juan Capistrano

review as recently as June, while the other parlor’s most recent review of illicit activity was from this past February.

“I basically just ask(ed) her outright, if she’s got a ‘happy’ finish for me, and she laughs, but she’s not dumb,” one user from October 2019 wrote, explaining in graphic detail the types of sexual acts that were performed.

“After getting into the room, I set myself and waited for (her) to come into the room,” another reviewer wrote this past February. “After a few moments, she came in and we got together; we agreed to the tip and what I wanted from the session . . . and she was OK with it.”

One common theme found in the reviews was that all the women described were noted to be of Asian descent, including Chinese and Vietnamese. Most of them were also described as being in their 30s and 40s—the prime targets traffickers and visa brokers look for, Wells said.

San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

at the Pediatric Unit of Mission Hospital, The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, and Operation School Bell.

According to Assisteens of Capistrano Valley, the students’ volunteer work continued even through the midst of the pandemic, with the students providing baked goods and sacked lunches to U.S. Marines and Family Assistance Ministries.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, the Assisteens’ annual Rose Medallion Ball was canceled and replaced by the senior tea.

According to the group, safety regulations and social distancing measures were put in place to ensure a safe and healthy graduation ceremony.

Assisteens is currently accepting new students to enroll in their four- to five-year high school program.

San Clemente American Legion Post to Host Veteran Art Contest San Clemente’s American Legion Post 423 will be hosting its “Patriotism and Purpose Art Contest” in honor of the country’s veterans.

The art contest is statewide and in partnership with the 2020 American Legion Department of California.

The art contest is open to children ages 5-17 across the county, with two separate categories in which to participate. Children will be divided into age groups—5-12 and 13-17—once they submit their art. Children are asked to work on their own original piece without any outside assistance.

The American Legion Post asks participants to submit pieces that “best reflect the impact our Veterans have on our communities and our nation, particularly in inspiring patriotism and love for our country among California’s youth.”

“What’s really typical with victims in the illicit massage industry is that a target person is a middle-aged, Asian woman,” she said.

Wells added that the Johns who visit these massage parlors are considered lowrisk buyers who don’t want to engage on the street but would rather visit what they believe to be a legitimate business. “(The Johns are) not looking at that person as a sexual date, so removing the sexuality connection also removes the emotional connection, so it’s purely transactional,” Wells said. “It’s merely a physical service.”

Most of the users on Rub Maps also wrote that they visited the parlors in the afternoon, with some writing that they went there in the morning or in the early evening.

While only two locations appeared active, reviews for the locations listed as nonerotic indicated that there may have been

Admissible art entries include “drawings, paintings, collages, or other twodimensional pieces.” All submissions must be submitted via postal mail by Sept. 1.

Two winners will be chosen between the two age groups. Each winner will be awarded $500 for their submission.

For more information on the art contest, contact contest@calegion.org or visit calegion.org.

San Clemente Exchange Club Honors High School Seniors The San Clemente Exchange Club awarded scholarships to three San Clemente High School seniors on July 23. Each student will be attending college this fall, with their scholarship going toward their school tuition.

Class of 2020 graduates Nancy Frutis, Steven Flores and Leslie Ramos were recognized by Shirley Lashmett, president of CA/NV District Exchange Clubs, during the scholarship ceremony.

Lashmett currently oversees 48 different exchange clubs in the California and Nevada areas. Lashmett was also accompanied by Larry Rannals, president of the San Clemente Exchange Club, at the scholarship ceremony.

Aside from their scholarship recognitions, all three students will be first-time college attendees in their families.

The San Clemente Exchange Club partnered with the National Exchange Club’s A.C.E. to award the scholarships. Each student received a $500 scholarship to go to the school of their choice.

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.

some history of illicit activity. Many of the reviewers had expressed disappointment in the establishment for no longer offering such services, stating it was a waste of time to revisit them.

ADDRESSING THE DEMAND

At the end of the day, Reveles said, the other facet of the human trafficking issue that’s barely being addressed is the demand. He said that there are some advocacy groups working to tackle the demand side of the equation, but there’s no largescale effort being done.

“We do all of these investigations, we do all these things that can be done, but we leave the demand side,” he said. “The demand part is really addressing who it is.” In most cases, the customers are men, or Johns, but there can be some Janes.

Reveles said the issue in addressing the demand side is getting men to want to attend seminars and talks related to the topic

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Community Meetings SATURDAY, AUG. 8

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, persons 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, AUG. 11

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.

SAN CLEMENTE TOASTMASTERS 7-8:40 p.m. The San Clemente Toastmasters will continue to meet every Tuesday online through Zoom.

Email fardad.fs@gmail.com to receive a link to join. 858.900.6175 sanclementetoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org.

of human trafficking and the negative impacts of patronizing illicit massage parlors.

Noting that most groups advocating against human trafficking are spearheaded by women, as well as religious institutions, Reveles said there have been male-led groups such as Men Standing Against Trafficking.

Combating human trafficking as a whole, Reveles also said, is going to be a slow process and will require a paradigm shift in attitudes toward the various efforts and approaches in addressing the issue.

“It’s such a slow process across the state and county that it’s going to take some time,” he said. “Like the view on drunk driving, the view on domestic violence, the view on rape of an acquaintance … I use those as analogies as a concept that this is slow-moving.”

For a list of resources and to learn more about human trafficking, visit i5freedomnetwork.org. SC sanclementetimes.com

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City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo

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SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: City Council Corner by Councilmember Gene James

Ensuring Economic Vitality with a Thriving Business Community

I

have always promoted public safety and quality of life in San Clemente as the two cornerstones of my agenda on city council, and I will never waver on these two fundamental goals.

Safety and providing a great life for the citizens and taxpayers of San Clemente are the council’s primary duty. With that in mind, it is critical we ensure economic vitality in San Clemente with a thriving business community. It is a healthy economy that allows us to adequately fund public safety and city services.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation’s economy has suffered unprecedented damage, and it is critical we all work together to do everything possible to mitigate the potentially devastating impact on our local economy.

It has always been my priority as a member of your city council to address the immediate needs of our small businesses. That is why it was imperative when council pushed for several measures to assist local restaurants in allowing outdoor dining at more than 50 locations.

Council also approved temporary banners within reason to advertise all businesses that are open and ready to serve customers. The next step is to bring some

uniformity to outdoor dining to improve aesthetics and to create enhanced safety measures.

I am incredibly pleased to report city staff is in constant and highly effective communications with the San Clemente Downtown Business Association (DBA) and the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce on how to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our businesses.

At my urging, the city appointed Jonathon Lightfoot as the economic development officer whose primary focus is to support our businesses.

Through a newly develCITY COUNCIL oped grant program from CORNER the county, more than Gene James 120 of our small businesses have received $10,000 grants to assist with rent, payroll and other expenses.

During this time, Chick-fil-A has opened at the Outlets, where work has also continued on the Metropolitan Theatre, and the highly anticipated iconic Miramar Theater at North Beach is slated to be completed in early 2021.

Our business community is our eco-

Letters to The Editor

pacts of pollution on San Clemente’s coast.

While it is exciting that the climate report plans to protect ocean ecosystems, the work truly begins when these plans are supported from local leaders. This includes the action of addressing water pollution. Last year, our water quality at the San Clemente Pier was graded the most polluted in California.

According to a previous article in the San Clemente Times on the pollution grade, it seemed debatable if the reasons for this grade stemmed from human activities. However, it should be taken as a wake-up call for how sensitive our water can be from any source of pollution.

It is time for us to tackle the problems within our control that lead to polluted waters. In San Clemente, we thrive off living near the sea; to continue that, we need to embrace a symbiotic relationship with our ocean.

Without addressing these issues of water quality that this climate report has plans to enact, we may encounter more problems with polluted water and damage coastal ecosystems. This may affect

CLIMATE REPORT BAILEY ROBBINS, San Clemente

San Clemente Times, Vol. 15, Issue 32. 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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San Clemente Time August 6-12, 2020

Recently, the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released a report on the Congressional Action Plan to fight for clean energy in the United States. This plan will help promote a cleaner future for the next generation.

The plan involves transforming our everyday actions to become sustainable in our society. Our own congressional member, Mike Levin, is a part of the Select Committee. It should be motivating to see the person that we voted in to Congress taking an initiative to help fight climate change, including our adored coast.

As a graduate of San Clemente High School, I’ve witnessed the negative im-

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nomic engine, and San Clemente must be looked upon as a city that is beyond business-friendly. I will continue to push city management to expedite our planning and permitting processes.

An improved partnership with our business community must be a priority with a clear strategy for economic development and COVID-19 recovery. I will pursue the formation of a Business Council consisting of representatives from the Chamber, DBA, city staff, business leaders, Planning Commission and two councilmembers.

It is in the interest of all of us in this great city to see our business community survive COVID-19 while our public safety remains strong and our quality of life is one of envy for all other cities.

The past few months have been extraordinarily difficult, but keep in mind, together we will overcome these particularly challenging times.

Gene James is a councilmember who was elected in 2019. 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.

the ocean activities, such as surfing, that we cherish in San Clemente.

We, as a community, have a voice to promote change that can have drastic impacts on our beloved coastal city. We have the ability to bring sustainable practices to town.

This could include advocating for better pollution maintenance for beachgoers.

It’s time to set aside different beliefs and focus on changing our actions for the treasured sea.

‘SHELL-SHOCKED’ WILLARD LOCKWOOD, San Clemente

In support of the letter from David Holmes, you could add many of our neighborhoods to the list of those “shellshocked” by the continuous noise from vehicle exhausts in San Clemente.

I suggest that those affected consider sending emails to city and law enforcement managers encouraging increased enforcement of current laws.

It may be appropriate to label this effort as “Operation Catch ’em.” sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION GEORGIA KEY SMITH, PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD’S GROUP, San Clemente

We are a citizen’s group that was formed to promote the safety of our neighborhoods.

We believe we represent the views of many San Clemente residents, and we are concerned about the well-being of our city.

Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson’s allegations at the most recent council meeting must be investigated. Her claims that other councilmembers violated the Brown Act, coupled with her accusations that others harassed and bullied her, are both concerning, as well as potentially illegal.

The other three councilmembers, city attorney and acting city manager all believe that none of them have violated the Brown Act. That said, it is quite possible the main violator may be Ferguson.

At the most recent city council meeting, Ferguson accused our acting city manager and a past city manager of creating a hostile work environment (her comments were made at the 3-hour, 20-minute mark in the meeting).

We have reason to believe her constant public criticism of former City Manager James Makshanoff caused him to resign.

She and Councilmember Gene James voted down an extension to interim City Manager Bob Dunek’s contract. Now, she has targeted our acting city manager. How many city managers must we lose?

We believe she has shown through her actions she is unable to work with the other councilmembers or city staff members. She criticized our late Mayor Steve Swartz up until the day he passed away.

(See her City Council Corner column in the SC Times’ May 2, 2019 edition) We must take action to stop her social media character assassinations aimed at city employees and other councilmembers.

This all leads to the unfortunate fact that our city will not be able to attract any quality candidates for city manager with Ferguson at the helm. It is difficult to imagine anyone willing to work in such a toxic environment. Moreover, her circle of advisors has sued the city on several occasions, then placing blame on city officials for money spent defending their lawsuits.

It is time to take action, councilmembers, request an impartial investigation now and let the facts inform as to the next steps.

RETAINING SAN CLEMENTE’S HISTORICAL CHARM LARRY CULBERTSON, San Clemente Historical Society

On July 22, the Planning Commission discussed the issue of expanding the range of what is considered an historic building in San Clemente.

Currently, no building built after 1949 can be considered for placement on the city’s Historic Resources List. That list was compiled by the Historical Society San Clemente Time August 6-12, 2020

and the city in the 1970s. It was refined and updated over the years by consultants specializing in historic preservation.

In 2006, the city paid $30,000 for a comprehensive Survey Update to the HRL. The result was the number of structures on the list was reduced from 234 to 204, where it has stood for the past 14 years.

One of several recommendations from that update was that the city should consider adding important mid-century (19501963) buildings to the inventory of historic resources. To date, that has not been done.

There was moderate to strong support for the idea from the Planning Commissioners. One said, “For a long time, we have wanted to start looking at adding mid-century buildings.”

Another agreed that we should consider the issue, but noted, “We need to make sure we don’t inhibit the renewal occurring on Avenida Del Mar” and said, “It’s been determined that some of the buildings have outlived their useful life.”

The concept of preserving a few outstanding examples of commercial and residential buildings from the 1950s and 1960s should not be confused with “inhibiting renewal.” It is entirely possible to blend preservation of some buildings with rehabilitation or even replacement of those that have “outlived their useful life.”

Visitors and residents alike universally praise the charm of our historic downtown. They love the eclectic mix of buildings—the varied architectural styles, heights, setbacks, facades, colors, materials. Without reasonable preservation, that historic charm could be “renewal-ed” into nonexistence.

The owners of buildings on the Designated Historic Structures List are entitled to a very considerable break on their property tax. It is not fair to the buyers of important mid-century buildings to deprive them of that tax break by failing to place those buildings on the DHS List.

That tax break provides funds for them to use in the rehabilitation and preservation of their building. We all win.

If you are among the people who enjoy the quaint charm of old San Clemente and would like to retain it, please join the Historical Society and let city officials know we want to protect our mid-century buildings.

DATA RECOMMENDATIONS BURTON WAGNER, San Clemente

Returning from vacation, I saw the new graph San Clemente Times now includes in the Top 5 section to update readers on COVID-19 infections in San Clemente.

If you wish to educate and not simply instill fear, as only showing case counts does nothing but to potentially instill fear without any context, I have some recommendations.

Any epidemiologist will tell you that case counts alone are irrelevant to understanding the course of a disease. If you wish to educate, then you must also include the number of tests performed (more testing will increase the numbers—and remem-

ber false positives), the number of new hospitalizations and the number of new ICU entries, as well as the number of recovered, as well as if the death count is increasing or decreasing overall.

Only with all these numbers can we begin to understand our current situation instead of instilling unnecessary fear.

Just because the mainstream media has taken this poor practice, which goes against the tenets of science and epidemiology, San Clemente Times does not have to follow suit. If your wish is to inform and educate readers, then please provide all the necessary information.

EDITOR’S NOTES: The San Clemente Times regularly posts COVID-19-related data from the Orange County Health Care Agency in its daily email blasts, as well as through a weekly social media infographic. The data outlined in the graphics include confirmed cases, deaths, total tests, current hospital cases and estimated recoveries.

UNEMPLOYMENT REALITIES BOB BARNETT, San Clemente

In reading the San Clemente Times story on California’s and the county’s unemployment-rate drop, I felt compelled to share some current realities about our state’s current Unemployment Insurance (UI) system.

The news outlets are only able to report on the number of people who have successfully been able to get an application “filed” with the state’s UI (online) system, not how many are actually “receiving” UI benefits, which generally only lasts six months, not the entire 12-month claim— that requires a separate state extension approval or Federal aid grants.

The effort to successfully file a claim can take several days/attempts. Once filed, it must be processed at two steps of the UI system procedure, “acceptance” and “verification.”

It can now take up to six months for the current UI system to process a filed claim to acceptance.

Once accepted, the weekly certifications procedures start, as well as a two-week waiting period and then the bi-weekly questions the applicant completes and submits.

It can now take about eight weeks or more for the start of bi-weekly submissions to be verified. Not sure if all eight weeks are completely processed at once and paid out or if two-week payment cycles start then and continue eight weeks past the benefit-completion date. Then autoclaim extension approval is required.

Not sure how claim-expiration will affect or delay deferred pay cycles if that occurs?

If an open UI claim is restarted or extended, it can now take up to six months to process the request, which can also cause it to expire.

The California UI department will then contact you to inform you of the approval or extension or expiration of your claim At that point, one must apply online and go through the entire application process

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again, including the two-week waiting period prior to bi-weekly submittals.

This is all due to logistical issues, because California simply could not increase the state’s UI department resources fast enough, including the online servers.

Personnel-wise, there simply aren’t enough trainers to instruct all the new people, once the building, desks, terminals, etc. were actually secured.

There was nothing in place for an event like this.

I just mention this to and for those who have not already experienced it or realized what is going on with their claim.

Don’t rely on any system that was not designed to handle its workload.

Prepare yourself and look for options.

No one knows if the UI federal monies will be there or included for anyone who has not already received them, regardless of unemployed date or file date. So, don’t count on that.

That’s all I know so far; hope it’s helpful, not hurtful.

RESPONSE TO ‘SAN ONOFRE’ BILL PRESTRIDGE, San Clemente

So, Jay Thomas thinks that Brian Maryott, a Trump Republican, is going to do something about the nuclear storage at San Onofre.

What has Trump done about it, or Darrell Issa or Mimi Walters, the Republicans in power when they were in Washington?

Nothing.

At least Reps. Mike Levin and Scott Peters, both Democrats, have started the ball rolling.

It is going to take the federal government to really get something done, and Levin is doing an excellent job in the two years he has been in office in getting of-

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.

Virtual Beachside Chat, Friday, Aug. 7 at 8 a.m., via Zoom Join SC Times for a virtual Beachside Chat on Friday, Aug. 7, at 8 a.m. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times Editor Shawn Raymundo every Friday. Email Shawn at sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com for a link to the Zoom video meeting. sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

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 | 06 VIRTUAL LEARNING, OCEAN INSTITUTE Join Ocean Institute for 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.

FREE YOGA 12:15-1:15 p.m. YNG Studios is offering a free yoga session with social distancing while following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are no fees or obligations—just show up with a mat and enjoy yoga for all levels and all bodies. Pose breakdowns and modifications as needed to ensure your safety and comfort. For more information and to reserve a spot, head to yngstudios.com. YNG Studios, 102 South

At the Movies: ‘The Cuban’ Might Be Just What August Needs

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

W

ith all the commentary and activism regarding race relations in society and in the arts filling conversations, it’s fitting that a movie with one of the most diverse casts to come out this summer online and in select theaters doesn’t specifically focus on race as a political theme. Instead, it’s more about relationships between family and friends. Sergio Navaretta’s The San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: File

TUESDAY, AUG. 11: CASA CINEMA: ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ 8-10 p.m. The Wizard of Oz, the iconic film that was one of the first ever to be broadcast nationally in Technicolor, follows Dorothy down a yellow brick road on her quest to escape to someplace magical and ultimately to get back home. This film takes place under the stars in the Casa Courtyard, and popcorn and drinks are available at its cash bar. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or low seats. Admission is $5. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

Ola Vista, San Clemente.

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and diagnostic testing available on site. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. 34192 Doheny Park Road, Capistrano Beach.

1.800.988.8387. vetcarepetclinic.com.

LOW-COST PET VACCINE CLINIC 10-11:30 a.m. The Feed Barn offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided

by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. Vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams,

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.

Cuban is little bit of an updated Driving Miss Daisy (1989) for a modern crowd.

Only this time, instead of a White elderly lady and Black middle-aged man, it’s an elderly Black Cuban and a young AfghanCanadian lady.

Ana Golja’s Mina is a 20-something living with her Aunt Bano (Shohreh Aghdashloo), a former doctor, while working her way up to a career as a physician.

She does well at the local nursing home when she meets Luis (Louis Gossett, Jr.), whom she discovers is a once-famous Cuban guitarist with dementia and apparent unhappiness with his current situation. Mina quickly learns that reminders of his homeland and youth in Cuba put him in better moods and help improve his memory. Soon, she secretly begins bringing Luis homemade food and vintage records from Cuba to improve

Wednesday | 12 BACKYARD OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 8-10 p.m. Knuckleheads’ backyard is reopened for food, drinks and live music.

Performers of all skill levels are welcome.

So, come down, grab a drink and go for it.

Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Claire Kung / Brainstorm Media

his health—as well as learn the backstory of his life and predicament.

The Cuban is a fine, family-appropriate dramedy with plenty of heart and warmth for fans of feel-good movies. There’s drama, but it’s not too intense. It also has roPage 10

mance that isn’t out of place or graphic, and it feels as if both the cast and crew had a good time filming the story. For a modest, enjoyable drama, The Cuban might be intriguing to those looking for something a little different. SC sanclementetimes.com

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SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

MORE LOCALS’ RECOLLECTIONS ABOUT

PRESIDENT NIXON • My grandma and I got to wash his dogs.

• My dad worked at the Western White House. I’ve even seen Pat with her hair in rollers. I was 16.

• He once came down on the beach . . . we paddled around to Cotton’s Point. Corky Carroll (surf champion) was there . . . he introduced us boys to Mr. Nixon. Corky had developed a friendship with President Nixon and was cleared to surf Cotton’s, for he called it training.

• My grandmother, who was an avid golfer and lived in Shorecliffs (neighborhood), loved watching him play from her backyard. Said he was a decent golfer.

• As a kid who grew up in Shorecliffs, we used to run down to the ice plant on the fifth hole . . . wave and smile at him very enthusiastically. He would always wave and say hello right back at us.

• When he went into the Mission in San Juan, me and a few buddies knew how to go over the wall. When he walked by on his tour, I stuck my hand out, and he shook it. Real soft hands, I remembered.

Left: These San Clemente city limits signs certainly would qualify as collectors’ items.

Right: Top photo, taken by Daily Sun-Post’s Todd Crowell, at a party at Casa Pacifica. Bottom photo, taken by Sun-Post’s Fred Swegles, at a Western White House photo op

CoastLines by Fred Swegles

Who Has the Best Tales About President Nixon?

S

an Clemente locals seem to have no end of lively recollections about meeting or seeing President Nixon during the time he lived here, from 1969-80.

Recently, I asked readers on Facebook, “Did you ever run into Mr. Nixon?” I compiled some of them and printed them, which seemed to delight readers.

It inspired still more recollections, equally fun to read. I’ll share more edited snippets here.

Party at Casa Pacifica One reader asked me if I remembered a farewell party that former President Nixon hosted at the Western White House before he and wife Pat moved to New York in 1980.

“Dr. Risbrudt hired a limo for all of us in the staff to go to the party,” one of the dentist’s staffers reminded me in a Facebook comment. “You were outside, covering the gate to the Western White House, and wanted to hitch a ride in with us. Great times.”

I do remember that. Dr. Risbrudt was my dentist. I was near the gate, trying to connive a way to get into the party.

“Daily Sun-Post staffers had to join other members of the news media outside, even at the party that was held for the local community,” I wrote the next day.

San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

I was able to put together a news story about the party, afterward, by chatting with locals on their way out.

About 500 people attended, I wrote.

Nixon’s Party Speech Leon Riley, manager at Alpha Beta in which the Nixons bought their groceries, told me that Nixon gave a short speech thanking the community for being so nice to him and his family.

Bill Garcia, who’d done plumbing for the Nixons, said there was a mariachi band and food catered from El Adobe Restaurant of San Juan Capistrano.

Don Baylor, a California Angels baseball star whose home run had just powered the Halos to a 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox, told us outside the party that the former President planned to attend the next COASTLINES game at Anaheim Stadium.

By Fred Swegles “He said there’s nothing he’d like better than to see the Angels in the World Series this year,” Baylor said.

Bonnie Koch, whose El Camino Travel Service had handled the Nixons’ excursions since his resignation from office in 1974, said Dick and Pat patiently spoke with every guest in the receiving line. He “just made us all feel like it was very nice to have us there,” she said.

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.

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• I lived at the corner of Ave. Miramar and Ola Vista. I always walked over to Del Mar to go to the hardware store. So, I walk over and as always entered through the back door. It was eerily silent. I saw some shiny hard shoes through the aisles.

The Feds (Secret Service) spotted me and formed a circle around tricky Dicky . . . LOL . . . Like some hippie chick was a threat . . . Hey, boys! Nobody was watching the back door.

• At Sam’s Shoes, they have neat stories about closing down the store so Nixon and family could shop. I worked for them. Sam loved telling that story.

• My husband’s grandparents were his tailors. They had a picture of their son wearing his ‘Old Guard of Army’ uniform. After Nixon left, Secret Service agents came in with two signed copies of his biography and a signed picture of Nixon to add to their wall.

• Rod and I shared an anniversary with Pat and Richard once at El Adobe in San Juan. They sent part of their cake to our table, and we toasted together. All quite by accident.

• I worked as a busboy in high school at El Adobe. I worked one night when they came in for dinner. Secret Service people everywhere. Every time we went from kitchen to dining room, they would search our bus trays.

• My husband was his mail carrier. Everything had to be put through an X-ray machine. We got a Christmas card every year.

• My friends and I would walk along the back side of their property when our families went to the beach. We could not understand why there were always guards with guns up on the cliff. Then someone told us that the Nixons lived there. All of a sudden, it made sense.

• My dad used to take care of the Secret Service cars at his tire store.

• My grandma’s favorite President Nixon story: She didn’t drive freeways, and the Secret Service had El Camino Real closed off because the President was arriving. Secret Service told her to turn around and get on the freeway. She told them she didn’t drive the freeway. They let her through. Simpler times, for sure. sanclementetimes.com

LO C ALS O N LY

SC

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

DENTISTS Benjamin Stevens, D.D.S. 3553 Camino Mira Costa, suite B, 949.493.2391, benstevensdds.com Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, drericjohnson.com

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

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

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

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

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad at sanclementetimes.com

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

REALTORS “Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes 949.293.3236, sandyandrich.com Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com

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PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE Lien Sale Notice is hereby given pursuant to sections 3071 and 3072 of the Civil Code of the State of California, the undersigned, 1685 BABCOCK STREET STE B COSTA MESA, CA 92627 will sell at public lien sale on 08/18/2020 at 10:00AM the following property: LIC: 2P4091N VIN: 7R03C164181 Mustang Ford 1967 In addition, the Lienholder has the right to bid at the date and time of sale PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON AUGUST 19, 2020 PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: 380 Avenida Pico – Conditional Use Permit 19334 – Verizon Site at SC Treatment Plant A request to construct a new monopalm cellular tower with accompanying ground mounted equipment in the City owned water treatment facility property at 380 Ave. Pico. The parcel is zoned as Public and is within the Coastal Zone overlay and the West Pico Corridor Specific Plan.

Staff recommends that the project be found Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (Class 3: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures).

612 Avenida Victoria, Suites A-E – Conditional Use Permit Amendment 19-405/Minor Cultural Heritage Permit 19-411/Minor Exception Permit 20-138 – La Galette Conditional Use Permit Amendment and Exterior Improvements A request to allow: 1) an amendment to La Galette’s Conditional Use Permit to expand the alcohol service area onto adjacent vacant suites; 2) exterior improvements, including additional seating on the sidewalk; and 3) two parking waivers. The property is in the Mixed Use 4 Zone and Architectural and Pedestrian Overlay Districts (MU4-A-P) within the Pier Bowl Specific Plan, and governed by the City’s Local Coastal Program.

Staff recommends that the project be found Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities).

These applications are on file at the City of San Clemente Community Development Department, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, and are available for public inspection and comment by contacting the Community Development Department at (949) 361-6183. If you challenge these projects in court you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearings described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearings.

Notice is further given that said public hearings will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Planning Commission and held via teleconference on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Please note that to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting. However, to participate citizens may: 1. Listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente.

San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854; and 2. Submit any comments on agenda items to the Planning Commission electronically. Material may be emailed to ScottM1@san-clemente. org. Transmittal by 3:00 p.m. on Planning Commission meeting days is recommended.

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

Secretary to the San Clemente Planning Commission PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON AUGUST 19, 2020 A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: Zoning Amendment 20-258 – Lot Consolidation Ordinance A request to consider a Zoning Amendment to incorporate Section 17.24.230, Lot Consolidation, into the San Clemente Municipal Code.

Section 17.24.230 establishes development standards and policies providing developers incentives for the consolidation of standard and substandard lots in compliance with objectives in the City of San Clemente Housing Element Action Plan Program 2 with the goal to promote increased housing options in residential and mixed-use zones.

Staff recommends that the zoning amendment not be considered a “project” as defined by the State CEQA Guidelines Section 21065 & 15378(a)(1).

This application is on file at the City of San Clemente Community Development Department, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, and is available for public inspection and comment by contacting the Community Development Department at (949) 361-6183. If you challenge this project in court you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Notice is further given that said public hearing will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Planning Commission and held via teleconference on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Please note that to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting. However, to participate citizens may: 1. Listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente. org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854; and 2. Submit any comments on agenda items to the Planning Commission electronically. Material may be emailed to ScottM1@san-clemente. org. Transmittal by 3:00 p.m. on Planning Commission meeting days is recommended.

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

Secretary to the San Clemente Planning Commission PUBLIC NOTICE Lien Sale Notice is hereby given pursuant to sections 3071 and 3072 of the Civil Code of the State of California, the undersigned, 2085 PLACENTIA COSTA MESA CA 92627 will sell at public lien sale on 08/13/2020 at Page 24

10:00AM the following property: LIC: 8JSJ191 VIN: 1N4BL4BV1KN311688 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA In addition, the Lienholder has the right to bid at the date and time of sale.

PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 20FL000456 To All Interested Persons: Vanessa Aidan Bonkoski and Vanessa Aidan Bonkoski on behalf of Aidan Elizabeth Bonskoski, a minor, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Vanessa Aidan Bonkoski B. Aidan Elizabeth Bonkoski PROPOSED NAME A. Vanessa Aidan Lindsay B. Aidan Elizabeth Lindsay The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 09/02/2020 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: C59 Window: The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: June 26, 2020 JUDGE LON F. HURWITZ, Judge of the Superior Court Published: SAN CLEMENTE TIMES August 6, 13, 20, 27, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 01150990 To All Interested Persons: Justen Time Maltinsky; filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Justen Time Maltinsky PROPOSED NAME A. Justen Time The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 09/15/2020 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general

circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: July 24, 2020 JUDGE JAMES J. DI CESARE, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times August 6, 13, 20, 27, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: Zoning Amendment 20-069 – Massage Ordinance Notice is hereby given that a public hearing to consider a city-initiated proposal to amend the City’s Massage Ordinance. The project would amend San Clemente Municipal Code Title 5 and Title 17, San Clemente Zoning Ordinance, to deter human trafficking activity, clarify existing provisions, and correct erroneous text.

Notice is hereby given that the project has been reviewed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) (“CEQA”) and the State CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.), and the project was found exempt from environmental review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(b)(2) and 15378(b)(5) because the revisions relate to the ongoing administrative activities and organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore do not constitute a “project” as defined by the State CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.) and therefore are exempt from CEQA and no further environmental review is required.

The agenda report and proposed code amendments are available to review the Friday evening prior to the meeting at the following link http://www.sanclemente.org/government. The draft Amendments are available for public inspection and comment by contacting Jennifer Savage, AICP, Senior Planner, in the Community Development Department at (949) 361-6186. If you challenge this project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearing.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that said public hearing will be held at the meeting of the City Council on August 18, 2020 at 6:00 pm via teleconference. Please note that to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting. However, to participate citizens may: 1. Listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente. org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854; and 2. Submit any comments on agenda items to the City Council electronically. Material may be emailed to Campagnolol@san-clemente.org.

Transmittal by 4:00 p.m. on Council meeting days is recommended. If you challenge this project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised through written public comments delivered to the City of San Clemente.

Information related to the proposed action is available at the Planning Division, at 910 Calle Negocio, sanclementetimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES and is available for public inspection by contacting Christopher Wright at (949) 361-6193.

JOANNE BAADE City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 01148355 To All Interested Persons: Leilani Marin Wai; filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Leilani Marin Wai PROPOSED NAME A. Leilani Nishihira Jackson The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 09/02/2020 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: July 14, 2020 JUDGE JAMES J. DI CESARE, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times July 23, 30, August 6, 13, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE

indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING DATE: 08/25/2020 TIME: 08:30 a.m. DEPT.: C59.

The address of the court is CENTRAL JUSTICE CENTER, 700 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, SANTA ANA, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SAN CLEMENTE TIMES Date: June 24, 2020 JUDGE Lon. F. Hurwitz, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times July 23, 30, August 6, 13, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206578741 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: DONNA VIDRINE FOR SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL 2020 501 N EL CAMINO REAL #229 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): DONNA CARNEY VIDRINE 501 N EL CAMINO REAL #229 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 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/DONNA VIDRINE This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 07/06/2020 Published in: San Clemente Times July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 2020

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NO. 20FL000462 To All Interested Persons: GARY FORTE AND KELLY FORTE on behalf of LINCOLN PIERCE FORTE, a minor, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Lincoln Pierce Forte PROPOSED NAME A. Lincoln Ambrose Forte The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing

San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

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

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Page 25

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SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

Page 26

sanclementetimes.com

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

A Widow and Widower Love Story

I

n 26 years of writing newspaper columns, I’ve heard many warm-yourheart senior love stories. Today, I share with you one of the best.

In 1995, when I owned Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli, a customer, Joe L. Brown, and I had become good friends. We talked a lot about baseball; we talked about senior romance.

Why baseball? Joe knew a lot about the subject. He was the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for 21 years, from November 1955 until the end of 1976. Under Joe’s leadership, the Pirates won two World Series in 1960 and 1971.

Joe’s father was the famous comedian and actor, Joe E. Brown.

Why did Joe L. and I discuss senior romance?

He had a love story, ON LIFE AND which he shared with LOVE AFTER 50 me.

By Tom Blake Joe explained that in November 1990, at age 72, he lived in Dana Point, a widower of 13 months. He missed his wife of 45 years.

Joe believed he would remain single the rest of his life. No one—he was convinced—could fill the emptiness he felt. As a favor, he would escort women friends to functions, but he had no interest in becoming involved.

For Thanksgiving dinner in 1990, Joe was invited to a friend’s home in Coronado. Joe was seated next to a woman named Paulita. Coincidentally, they both had attended Beverly Hills High School, but did not know each other because Joe

was two years older.

Joe said, “We talked for hours. I had been shot through the heart with a lovearrow, but was disappointed to learn that Paulita was leaving for Mexico in two days for the winter.”

That night, Joe confided to a friend: “I’ve fallen in love, but she’s leaving in two days.”

“Call her first thing tomorrow; tell her you want to see her before she goes,” the friend insisted.

The next morning, Joe and Paulita made a date for that night. When Joe picked her up at her San Diego home, he said, “There’s something I’m going to tell you.”

“What is it?” Paulita said.

“I’ll tell you during dinner,” Joe replied.

The restaurant was a few miles away in La Jolla. In the car, Paulita kept asking, “What is it?”

“I’ll tell you during dinner,” Joe repeated.

Paulita had no idea what he was going to say.

Finally, after ordering beverages, Joe mustered the courage. He said, “Yesterday, I fell in love with you. I want to be with you.”

“Aren’t we going a little fast?” Paulita asked.

“At our age, we don’t have a lot of time. May I visit you in Mexico after the holidays?”

“Yes!” Paulita exclaimed.

The next morning, Joe called Paulita: “Be safe. I love you.”

He called her that night to ensure she arrived without incident.

Then, he called his son and daughter.

He said, “I’ve fallen in love.”

They said, “Dad, you’re kidding.”

He said, “Even old people can fall in love. Love doesn’t come out; it escapes.”

Joe and Paulita talked twice a day by phone. A few days later, he said, “I can’t wait until after the holidays. I want to see you tomorrow.”

“Great!” she said. Joe flew to see her the next day. In the eight days he stayed in Mexico, he proposed to Paulita. She

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.

accepted.

After Christmas in California with his children, Joe visited Paulita for another 12 days. They set a wedding date.

In February 1991, Joe and Paulita married.

Before they left for Mexico together in 1995, Joe said to me, “I love Paulita as much now as I did four years ago.”

Years later, Paulita passed away. Joe moved to Albuquerque to be near his daughter, Cynthia. He died at 91 on Aug. 10, 2010.

A month later, Cynthia telephoned to thank me for being such a great friend of

her dad’s. Her call touched me deeply. He was a great man.

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, email tompblake@gmail.com.

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

BY MYLES MELLOR

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

Last week’s solution:

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

FROM THE ARCHIVES The Seattle Indians of the Pacific Coast League held 1929 spring training in San Clemente at the invitation of San Clemente founder and former Seattle Mayor Ole Hanson. He even provided special uniforms for the team.

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Mowgli hree-year-old Mowgli is a pretty kitty that is looking for a new home. A little shy initially, she quickly opened up and started exploring her new surroundings. Mowgli enjoys affection and likes to be brushed. She gets along with other cats and would make a great companion for someone looking for a friendly but low maintenance pet.

If you are interested in adopting Mowgli, please visit petprojectfoundation.org. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will

Contributor: San Clemente Historical Society

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

be contacted about making an interaction appointment. SC

Page 27

See the solution in next week’s issue.

sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Scoreboard

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, 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.

State Allows Youth Sports Workouts to Resume The California Department of Public Health will now allow for the resumption of youth sports workouts, conditioning and physical education with proper physical distancing, according to another round of new guidance released on Monday, Aug. 3.

The guidance applies to all youth sports, including school sports. However, school sports may remain unaffected by the latest guidelines, as campuses may not physically reopen until their county has been off the state monitoring list for 14 consecutive days, per the state guidelines. Orange County currently re-

San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

San Clemente High School alumnus Kolby Allard made his first start of the season for the Texas Rangers on Sunday, Aug. 2, in San Francisco. Photo: Texas Rangers

mains on the state monitoring list.

Youth sports games, tournaments and any events that would require close con-

tact or would “promote congregating” are still not allowed. Youth sports practices and conditioning will be allowed only when physical distancing of six feet and a stable, preferably smaller, group of athletes can be maintained.

Youth sports are encouraged to work out outdoors, but if activities take place indoors, a cloth face covering is required. The guidance states that all activities that require heavy exertion should then take place outside without a face covering and with physical distancing.

This is the latest upswing on the rollercoaster of youth sports guidelines in California.

School sports and many youth leagues closed down in mid-March as the state rolled out its first shutdown guidance. Some youth leagues began to resume small operations over the next two months before Orange County released guidance on June 15 that said youth sports practices were allowed to resume via the state’s day camp guidance.

Youth leagues sprung back into action, and local high schools were set to open conditioning camps on July 6. However, those school camps were mostly shut down before they started following a letter from the Orange County Department of Education and further state guidance on July 8 that shut down all youth sports activities until Monday’s latest guidance.

On July 20, the CIF State and CIF-SS offices shifted the start of high school sports seasons into December and Janu-

Page 28

ary. However, until schools can physically reopen, those dates remain tentative.

Kolby Allard Makes Season Debut for Rangers San Clemente High School alumnus Kolby Allard finally made his 2020 debut for the Texas Rangers in San Francisco on Sunday, Aug. 2.

The 22-year-old left-hander jumped into the Rangers’ pitching rotation for injured Cy Young Award-winner Corey Kluber with a strong four-inning, 75-pitch outing. Allard allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks in the no-decision. Texas beat the Giants, 9-5.

In this shortened and delayed MLB season, Allard had initially made the Rangers’ roster in the bullpen, but Allard hadn’t made an appearance until Sunday’s start. Kluber, Texas’ ace, will be out four to six weeks with a shouldermuscle tear, so Allard should get plenty of innings.

Allard is next slated to pitch on Saturday, Aug. 8, against his hometown Angels back in Texas. Local fans can catch the game on Fox Sports West at 4:05 p.m.

Allard made his MLB debut with Atlanta in 2018. Allard won that debut and collected his first major league hit in the game. Allard then spent the first half of the 2019 season in the Braves minor league system before being traded at the trade deadline to Texas, where he compiled a 4-2 record over nine starts. SC sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

Page 29

sanclementetimes.com

SC SC SURF San Clemente

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Paddling for a Cause Lifeguards paddle 250 miles to raise awareness about skin cancer and sun protection

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

H

as anybody noticed that it’s been kind of flat lately and that the water feels a lot more like February than August?

After a booming start to the summer that saw the best south swell in years bombard our shores amid pleasant water temps, things have certainly slowed down. It’s so 2020.

Thankfully, there’s always something to do in the ocean. A fisherman friend reported snagging his first bluefins of the season. I’m waiting for the invite to the sashimi dinner party, but he keeps telling me he’s strict about social distancing.

Meanwhile, the flat waters have a lot of friends out logging miles on their paddleboards. Last weekend, a group of friends and former co-workers paddled from Catalina to Newport Beach to honor fallen Newport Beach Lifeguard Ben Carlson, who lost his life on July 6, 2014, while performing a rescue during a large swell in Newport.

The Ben Carlson Foundation was subsequently established in his honor to remember his sacrifice and raise funds to provide scholarships for eligible students and lifeguards. In what was a 30-mile trek from White’s Cove on Catalina to Newport Beach Pier, the crew completed the paddle in seven hours—a new record for the annual affair.

“Those last six miles into head-on south

GROM OF THE WEEK

SUNNY WALDER

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

rom the mountains to the sea, Sunny Walder loves it all. The 11-year-old Dana Point rising star is not only ripping spots such as Salt Creek and Lower Trestles, she is also one of the top ranked snowboarders in the country.

Just last March, she won a slopestyle event in Mammoth—and she’s just getting started.

This summer, Sunny has been making the most of the surf we’ve had and will be barreling into sixth grade at Niguel Hills Middle School in Laguna Niguel in a couple of weeks.

“I feel like I have always been surfing,” said Sunny, when asked when she first San Clemente Times August 6-12, 2020

Lifeguard Payton Thomas takes a break on the sand in Huntington Beach as he and a group of other lifeguards paddle the Southern California coast to raise awareness about sun protection. Photo: Courtesy of the Huntington Beach Surf Lifesaving Association

wind were brutal. Had tears ready to explode as the pain reached its peak,” surfer Matt Myers recalled. “So stoked for the 23 guys who accomplished this feat!”

And as this story goes to print, there’s another group of lifeguards from 25 different agencies up and down the state of California who are participating in the SoCal PaddleDown for Cancer Relay. At press time, the group was in Newport Beach, and organizers anticipated that the lifeguards would be paddling through Dana Point and San Clemente by Friday.

Benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Foundation’s “Block the Blaze” skin cancer education program, the relay kicked off over Memorial Day weekend at El Refugio State Beach in Gaviota.

started riding waves.

Learning at Doheny and Salt Creek with her parents, she’s been ripping lately and is eager for the upcoming big-wave season to kick off.

“She loves charging bigger days when the waves are triple overhead for her,” her father, Bryce, explained.

“I like getting a good turn or a steep drop on a big wave; it makes me feel like I am flying,” Sunny said.

And when asked about where she sees surfing taking her in the next 10 years, the theme remains the same.

“Surfing massively huge waves,” she said.

Whether it’s going big on the mountain or in the water, Sunny’s fired up to push her limits and continue to challenge herself. It’s a wonderful thing. Keep it up, Sunny! SC

They’ve been working their way south all summer and will end at Imperial Beach in San Diego. In partnership with the California Surf Lifesaving Association, the goal of the program is to educate youth about sun safety and skin cancer.

“As ocean lifeguards, we spend the majority of our careers in the sun, and we know firsthand the dangers of sun exposure,” says Bill Humphreys, president of the association.

“Through the SoCal PaddleDown, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation is educating the next generation of lifeguards early in their careers on ways to detect skin cancer and prevent long-term damage.”

As we barrel into August and September—my favorite time of year around here—it’s worth taking note of the efforts

to raise awareness about skin cancer. With all that’s going on with COVID-19, escaping to the outdoors is one of the few things we can do and feel safe, but it’s important to remember to wear a hat and lube up before you head out in the sun.

Vital stats worth noting include: Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and more than 3.6 million people will be diagnosed with some form of it this year.

“One in three Californians will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime, and these numbers are on the rise,” says Lauren Fraga, senior program director at the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.

“If it’s caught early and treated quickly, more than 95% of skin cancer cases can be cured, which is why educating our youth early on about the dangers of sun damage is so vital to skin cancer prevention.”

This is the eighth year the SoCal PaddleDown has made its 250-mile journey down the coast to help raise awareness for skin cancer and support Block the Blaze. So, if you see a crew of lifeguards paddling by you at the end of the week, give them a cheer and thank them for putting in the hard yards to make sure the youth are learning how to stay protected from the sun.

Finally, if somebody could turn up the temperature of the ocean about 10 or 15 degrees, that would be great. And we could really use some waves, too, while you’re at it.

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

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 66-69 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-14‘ Thursday: Small mix of South/southwest swell and Northwest swell for knee-thigh-waist high surf, (1-2-3’). Light/variable morning winds, shift to a 6-10kt Southwest sea breeze in the afternoon.

Outlook: Weak blend of Southwest swell and Northwest swell on Friday keeps waves down in the knee-thigh-waist high zone, (1-2-3’). Light southerly winds Friday morning, rise to moderate West/northwest onshores during the afternoon. Fresh Southwest swell slowly fills in through the weekend, for waiststomach-chest high surf, (2-3-4’) on Saturday, then waist to shoulder high waves, (3-4’+) for Sunday.

Light/variable morning winds will be followed by moderate afternoon onshores this weekend.

Sunny Walder. Photo: Courtesy of the Walder family

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San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

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San Clemente Times August 6–12, 2020

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