L O C A L
NOVEMBER 18-24, 2021 | VOLUME 16, ISSUE 46
INSIDE:
N E W S
SC Artist’s Design Chosen as Festival of Whales Logo
Y O U
C A N
U S E
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Swegles: Surfing Adventures at Camp Pendleton Before San O State Beach SC LIVING/PAGE 12
Festive Filaments Outlets to Light Up ‘Tallest Tree in OC’ G E T T I N G O U T/ PAG E 8
The Outlets at San Clemente will host its annual tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 20. Photo: Courtesy of Kait McKay Photography
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Council to Consider Annexing Neighboring RMV Community
Backlash over Student Vaccine Requirement Continues
SCYF Tritons Play for Western Regional Titles
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SPORTS/PAGE 25
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
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What’s Up With... TOP NEWS SAN CLEMENTE SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK
Council to Weigh Proposal on Annexing Neighboring RMV Community BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
A proposal by Mayor Pro Tem Gene James looks to have the City of San Clemente incorporate a portion of Rancho Mission Viejo (RMV), where roughly 2,400 new homes are planned to be built in the coming decade. The city council on Tuesday, Nov. 16, was expected to receive a presentation on the steps toward annexing RMV’s Planning Area 5, which sits against San Clemente’s northeastern border, and deliberate whether to initiate an official feasibility study on the annexation process. However, with Tuesday night’s meeting running long, the council voted to punt the item to the Dec. 7 meeting. James this past June had requested that city staff come back to the council with a report on the feasibility of annexation. Pointing to an expectation that RMV residents will use San Clemente’s resources, James said this past week that the city should be the one to collect its property taxes. “There’s no doubt that they will use our city resources; they will be on our beach, be on our parks, they will be using our streets,” he said. “So, consequently, I thought the most prudent thing to do was to explore the possibility of annexation, so the City of San Clemente will benefit from the taxation of those homes.” Ranch officials, however, noted RMV’s longstanding relationship with the County of Orange to expand the community and develop the town’s infrastructure, which would include public facilities, as well as commercial-use zones.
“Given that all of the approvals for The Ranch Plan’s infrastructure and open space preservation program are the product of more than 20 years of collaboration with the County of Orange and the resource agencies, it is difficult to imagine the complications caused by annexation into any of our neighboring cities at this time,” Mike Balsamo, senior vice president of governmental relations for RMV, said in an email. Balsamo declined to comment on whether annexing PA5 would have a financial impact on RMV’s revenues from home sales. RMV, oftentimes referred to as The Ranch, is a master-planned community comprising 23,000 acres, with 17,000 of it allocated for permanent open space and the remaining 6,000 acres designated as residential. When complete, RMV will have added roughly 14,000 new homes to South Orange County. PA5 is one of six total planning areas—or villages—that is years away from development. So far, The Ranch has opened the Villages of Sendero and Esencia, and currently is constructing the Village of Rienda, or Planning Area 3, which is slated to begin selling homes in 2022. According to RMV’s Environmental Impact Report, which was approved by the county in 2004, there are about 5.5 million square feet of commercial-type uses designated on The Ranch, giving the community the capacity to develop and reach tax-base viability from a market standpoint.
A bridge across Avenida La Pata on the northeastern part of town welcomes southbound motorists traveling into the City of San Clemente from San Juan Capistrano and Rancho Mission Viejo. Photo: Shawn Raymundo
Backlash Continues Against Student Vaccine Requirement in South Orange County BY COLLIN BREAUX AND BREEANA GREENBERG , SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Hundreds of shoes were set out in front of the Capistrano Unified School District offices on Sunday, Nov. 14—an unusual sight for an unusual time. Parents and families placed the shoes there to symbolize their opposition to a coming vaccine mandate for California students, in which they’ll be required to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
virus to attend classes in person. Parents of district students opposed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate have been particularly vocal, often showing up at Board of Trustees meetings to denounce the pending requirement. The shoes were accompanied by anti-mandate notes that had slogans including “Our children, our choice” and Page 3
PA5, specifically, is expected to include about 2,440 housing units, including senior housing, commercial centers, public facilities and 159 acres of open space, as well as a 200-acre golf course. The city, in its agenda report to the city council, acknowledged that “RMV does not wish to annex until complete buildout of the Ranch Plan, which is several years out.” A 2015 report on future governance for South Orange County estimated The Ranch to begin development of PA5 in 2026. However, Balsamo explained, RMV hasn’t initiated any formal development plans yet and the timeline depends on market conditions. For James, he’d prefer to begin the process of annexation while PA5 remains undeveloped, as waiting until there are residents already living there would require their votes to approve incorporation. The city’s report outlines the steps to initiate the annexation process, which include, among other things, the preparation of an Annexation Feasibility Study,
the adoption of a resolution to initiate a tax exchange with the county, and an annexation application to Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). Citing annexation feasibility studies for the California cities of Merced and Martinez, the city noted that the cost for San Clemente to prepare its study could range from $29,190 to $420,000. And the cost for an environmental report, the city reported, is “unknown at this time.” According to Jennifer Savage, assistant to the city manager, the city would also be on the hook for a series of LAFCO processing fees related to the annexation. She also explained in an email that the city, should it move forward and receive LAFCO approval, wouldn’t purchase the land from RMV, as it’s “just incorporating the land into the city boundary.” The city council will meet at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7 for the public session, at the San Clemente Community Center, located at 100 N. Calle Seville. The meeting will also be livestreamed, and can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel.
“No shots.” One of the parents who placed shoes at the CUSD headquarters was Amber Smith, one of the founders of Moms on the Ground—a group that recently formed in opposition to the mandate and organizes events through social media. Smith, a San Clemente resident, said that more than 600 pairs of shoes had been set down over the weekend. “I went there myself to put two pairs out for my kids,” Smith said. “It’s showing the district, ‘Listen, these are the parents that are going to pull their kids out if the mandate goes through.’” She said she is opposed to the mandate
because the COVID-19 vaccine hasn’t had any long-term studies on its effects. Smith said she is not anti-vaccine, and her children have received other required vaccinations that have been around longer. “I’m not going to tell somebody, don’t get the vaccine,” Smith said when asked her response to people who say the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and helps prevent the spread of the pandemic. “Some of my family members have been vaccinated. It is my personal choice that me and my family are not vaccinated.” Smith, who acknowledged she is a not (Cont. on page 5) sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
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Construction of In-N-Out Project Stalled BY BREEANA GREENBERG , SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Hundreds of shoes were placed in front of the Capistrano Unified School District headquarters on Sunday, Nov. 14, to symbolize families who plan to take students out of school if a COVID-19 vaccine mandate goes into effect for California students. Photo: Courtesy of Tania Alward
(Cont. from page 3) a doctor, said a COVID-19 vaccine should not be mandated for children to get a public education. Asked if she planned to pull her children from the district if the mandate goes through, Smith said she already pulled her younger daughter out for homeschooling and would also pull her older daughter—who is a senior in high school—if the requirement was implemented before graduation. The CUSD Board of Trustees recently approved sending a letter to state officials requesting a change in the vaccine requirement, though district officials and staff have repeatedly emphasized they must follow state health guidelines. “However, most parents were/are not satisfied with this sole step of action from the CUSD school board thus far,” Tania Alward, a South Orange County parent and teacher who’s resided in San Clemente for 34 years, said in an email. “The large group of parents in attendance that night wanted the CUSD school board to make a public decision for Capistrano Unified School District to not comply with the mandate,” she continued. “Therefore, like-minded parents are working together to schedule sit-outs/ events to peacefully oppose Newsom’s mandate and encourage the Board of Trustees of CUSD to take a stronger stance against the mandate.” The shoe placement coincided with one such planned school walkout on Monday, Nov. 15, to further express opposition to the vaccine mandate. A similar walkout previously happened Oct. 18— when the district saw a 233% increase in absences compared to the week before. The financial impact to CUSD from the Oct. 18 walkout is estimated at $500,000, San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
according to the district. “We are funded based on enrollment,” CUSD spokesperson Ryan Burris said. “If enrollment declines, so does our funding.” The walkouts come as CUSD faces a continuing decline in enrollment. “We are a declining enrollment district, so we do expect some decline,” Burris said. “However, this school year and the last, we have experienced a decline that is higher than planned.” During the Oct. 18 walkout, San Clemente’s schools saw the largest increase in absences, with absences up 528% compared to the week before on Oct. 11. San Clemente’s schools have the largest number of students, with a combined enrollment of 8,907. Dana Point schools saw a 251% increase in absences from the prior week, and San Juan Capistrano schools saw a 233% increase. Forty-four percent of students enrolled at Palisades Elementary School in Dana Point were absent on Oct. 18, compared to 8.5% on Oct. 11. Twenty-three percent of students at Dana Hills High school were absent on the day of the protest, compared to 7% a week prior. Sixty-four percent of students enrolled at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente were absent on Oct. 18, compared to 10% on Oct. 11. Thirty-nine percent of students enrolled at San Clemente High School were absent on the day of the protest, compared to the 7% absent a week prior. Twenty-seven percent of students at San Juan Elementary School were absent on Oct. 18, compared to 8% on Oct. 11. Eighteen percent of students at San Juan Hills High School were absent on the day of the protest, compared to 5% a week prior. Page 5
In-N-Out’s newest location off Avenida Pico awaits grading-plan approval before construction of the project—which restaurant officials had hoped to get underway this year—can begin. The city’s Planning Commission is reviewing revised plans that In-N-Out had resubmitted earlier this month, Economic Development Officer Jonathan Lightfoot explained. Once the grading plans are approved, he said, the plans will be compared to the building plans to ensure there are no discrepancies. Mike Abbate, the restaurant’s assistant vice president of Real Estate and Development, said the company is working to obtain the building permits for the San Clemente project, which will replace the former California Bank & Trust building at Pico Plaza. “We remain enthusiastic about the opportunity there,” Abbate said in an email. “Once we break ground on a new location, it usually takes us around six to seven months to build a restaurant and open for business.” Before the project can move forward with grading, or leveling the site, the company must obtain a permit from the city. Grading plans include details on
erosion control, drainage, and proposed utilities. They’re also required when constructing new development on vacant land or after the demolition of a building. In September 2020, the San Clemente Planning Commission unanimously voted in favor of approving the restaurant’s permit applications on the condition that In-N-Out remove the signature cove lighting from the building plan. In-N-Out appealed those conditions, prompting a city-council review. The council, in a 4-1 vote this past January, overturned the conditions, giving final approval to demolish the old bank and build the one-story, drive-thru In-N-Out on the 3,882-square-foot site. Jim Lockington, In-N-Out’s manager of new store development, expressed hope to the council during its Jan. 19 meeting that the company could have the new location open by year’s end. “If all goes well, we would hope to pull our permits and start construction soon, and the good Lord willing, to open the restaurant and begin to serve your community before the end of the year,” Lockington had said. “In-N-Out is thrilled to be bringing our iconic Southern California brand to your iconic Southern California beach community.” In Abbate’s email to San Clemente Times last week, he echoed Lockington’s sentiments, stating, “San Clemente is a wonderful community, and we look forward to opening a restaurant in the city in the not-too-distant future.”
Logo for 2022 Festival of Whales Announced BY BREEANA GREENBERG, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
The 2022 Festival Foundation Board named San Clemente resident Matt Rinehart as the logo artist for the 51st annual Festival of Whales, which will take place in Dana Point this coming March. The board chose this year’s designer from among its favorites of past entries. Rinehart was runner-up in the 2021 Festival of Whales logo design contest. “Matt’s logo was a favorite that lived on in our minds over the past year, and we couldn’t be happier to announce his design will be the official logo for the 51st annual Dana Point Festival of Whales,” Event Coordinator Andrea Swayne wrote in an email. Rinehart explained to San Clemente Times that he’s lived by the ocean his entire life and had the desire to do something for his community, which, in turn, inspired his decision to submit the
The 2022 Festival Foundation Board named San Clemente resident Matt Rinehart as the 51st annual Festival of Whales logo artist. Art: Courtesy of Matt Rinehart/Festival of Whales
logo design for the yearly South Orange County festival. “I always admired the event art from (Cont. on page 6) sanclementetimes.com
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(Cont. from page 5) local artists in San Clemente and Dana Point and knew one day I would like to make something as well,” Rinehart wrote in an email. Since graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in graphic design, Rinehart, a graphic designer at Starfish Signs and Graphics in San Clemente, hoped to produce a design worthy of an event. “I am super excited to have finally made that a reality,” Rinehart wrote. Rinehart digitally drew the logo design using Procreate on his iPad and finalized it in Adobe Illustrator. “Before I start to draw anything, I like to write down a list of possible images to include in the logo,” Rinehart wrote. “This helps me start searching for reference images and planning the placements of each design element in the sketching phase.” Rinehart began by sketching the whale and the “Festival of Whales” lettering. He used a cool-to-warm color gradient to represent the ocean floor and transition into the sky at sunset. With the color gradient in mind, Rinehart said he composed “the oceanic scenery towards the bottom of the logo” and placed “sky elements such as the birds and sun toward the top of the design.” “Once I figured out how I wanted those two elements to fit together, everything else was designed to support and not overpower them,” he said in the email. “When all the desired images were visually balanced, I felt the design was complete.” Rinehart said he is excited to attend the Festival of Whales for the first time. “I have been whale watching in Dana Point several times in my life, but I have never experienced the annual Festival of Whales,” Rinehart wrote in the email. “This upcoming Festival will be my first time attending, and I look forward to participating this year.” The 51st annual Festival of Whales is scheduled for March 4-6, 2022.
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
Police Widen Search Area for Missing 60-Year-Old Man
2, Karsten was last seen in the parking lot of the Walmart and adjacent gas station off Pico on Oct. 22. His family reported him missing on Oct. 29. “We believe there’s some video of him in the area; I know there’s a lot of open areas in that location, so we’ve been looking in those areas to see if he’s (there),” Hylton said. “Our main focus is in that area for any sign or new leads for him.” Karsten is described as a White man with brown and gray hair, and blue eyes, and is approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 210 pounds. A Critical Missing Person report, Hylton explained, implies “that we have concerns for his safety and we really want to locate him.” According to Hylton, there is no indication of foul play being involved at this point. Anyone with information regarding Karsten’s whereabouts since Oct. 22 is encouraged to contact OCSD at 714.647.7000 or 949.770.6011.
BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO , SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Authorities attempting to locate 60-year-old Scott Andrew Karsten of San Clemente, who was last seen in a shopping center parking lot off Avenida Pico nearly a month ago, have expanded their search to other open spaces in the surrounding area. Sgt. Todd Hylton of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said on Tuesday, Nov. 16, that search and rescue teams had previously been working to locate Karsten in San Clemente’s open space area west of the Walmart shopping center, but they have since expanded those efforts to include any nearby open space area. According to OCSD, which put out a Critical Missing Person report on Nov.
Scott Andrew Karsten, a 60-year-old San Clemente man last seen in the parking lot of the local Walmart on Oct. 22, remains missing as police widen the search for him. Photo: Courtesy of Tracy Lee
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Son Sentenced to 6 Months in Jail for Stabbing San Clemente Neighbor BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO , SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Adam Abdul-Jabbar pleaded guilty on Nov. 9 and was sentenced to six months in jail for stabbing his neighbor in San Clemente during an argument over trash bins, according to news reports. Abdul-Jabbar, the 29-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is slated to report to jail on Jan. 7, and was also placed on two years of formal probation, City News Service reported. Abdul-Jabbar was charged in August 2020 with three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one felony
count of carrying a dirk or dagger, and three enhancements of inflicting great bodily injury. According to the news service, Abdul-Jabbar pleaded guilty to all counts and agreed to the sentencing enhancements. The sentencing comes more than a year since his arrest on June 9, 2020, when the Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a stabbing on the 300 block of Calle Guaymus in San Clemente. Abdul-Jabbar and the victim, a man who was 60 years old at the time, share
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a driveaway in the San Clemente neighborhood. The victim had confronted Abdul-Jabbar, then 28, about not taking in trash cans for Abdul-Jabbar’s elderly roommate, San Clemente Times previously reported. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s office, the argument escalated when Abdul-Jabbar stabbed the victim multiple times with a large hunting knife. After sustaining a fractured skull, the victim, the DA explained, was driven by his wife to the hospital, where he collapsed in front of the emergency room.
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SOAPBOX
GUEST OPINION | The Downtown Buzz by Chris Aitken
Would You Like to See Long-Term Outdoor Dining Return to Downtown?
H
appy holidays from the San Clemente Downtown Business Association! The SCDBA is proud to have been at the forefront of the initiative with our city to bring outdoor dining to downtown during the pandemic—with resounding success. While the city asked the restaurants to remove outdoor dining areas on Nov. 15, the SCDBA has been contacted by numerous businesses in the restaurant, retail and service sectors to explore its continuance on a more permanent basis in 2022. Feedback from downtown businesses and residents suggests the outdoor dining program energized not only restaurants but also retail and service industries. Attracted by the charming atmosphere as a “dining destination,” diners also tended to spend more time downtown overall. Outdoor dining brought an ambience and vibrancy to our downtown. With a climate to brag about, San Clemente is an ideal location to enjoy dining in the open air. In addition, sales tax collected from downtown businesses exceeded the city’s expectations for 2021 and projections of 2022. Fees paid by restaurants for lease of outdoor space funded an extension into the fall months of the popular free trolley service—making our downtown more accessible to shoppers and diners alike. The city plans to explore whether out-
Letter to The Editor RESPONSE TO HERNANDEZ, GRALNIK LETTERS (PUBLISHED SEPT. 30, OCT. 21) DAVID DAVISON, San Clemente These two demonstrate a staggering level of hypocrisy. Neither of them, as far as I am aware, ever complained when leftist terrorists burned and looted American cities ($2 billion in damages), murdered cops, destroyed American statues and monuments, blocked highways, and assaulted those caught on those highways. Where is the outrage when leftists dishonor our National Anthem and/or flag, San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
door dining should return in 2022 and beyond, and, for the reasons mentioned, the SCDBA is in support of exploring more permanent solutions that take all perspectives into account. Do you support outdoor dining in the THE DOWNTOWN downtown area? The BUSINESS BUZZ SCDBA would love to BY CHRIS AITKEN hear your thoughts. Drop us an email at info@scdba.org. Mark your calendars, as the SCDBA is excited to bring you two events over the coming months. “Shop Small Saturday” is held annually the first Saturday after Thanksgiving on Nov. 27. Kicking off the holiday shopping season, we encourage you to “love local, and shop small.” Many SCDBA member retailers will be giving away free San Clemente canvas tote bags to early shoppers (while supplies last). Puttin’ on the Glitz—part of San Clemente’s Santa’s Village by the Sea—is a beloved annual holiday event along Avenida Del Mar taking place on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 4. Come enjoy a fun and festive evening of late-hours shopping, festive dining, twinkling lights, holiday carolers, and live music to delight all ages. Avenida Del Mar will close to traffic at 3 p.m. to set up for the two events. If you are a merchant, nonprofit, sports team
or school club wanting to join the fun, or a business wanting to sponsor these cherished events, please visit us at scdba.org/events. Finally, welcome your weekend at the San Clemente Village Art Faire on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Village Art Faire, in its new location on the shady lawns at the SC Library and Community Center, brings talented local artists in various trades together to display their handcrafted work. Visit us at scdba.org/village-art-faire to learn more. The Village Art Faire will resume the first Saturday each month in 2022, welcoming the New Year with our first show on Saturday, Jan. 1. On behalf of the San Clemente Downtown Business Association, we wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. San Clemente, we continue to encourage you to support our unique locally owned businesses by shopping and dining locally. We’ll see you downtown! Chris Aitken is the chairman of the Board of the San Clemente Downtown Business Association. Chris is also involved with two businesses in the downtown area, including being the co-owner of H.H. Cotton’s restaurant and a partner of the personal injury law firm Aitken Aitken Cohn. 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.
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or burn our flag? Based upon anecdotal evidence, a larger percentage of those who went to the Capitol are veterans than are found in the general public. My father and both of his brothers also fought in WWII, and I am a Navy veteran of eight years. Leftists not only threaten “violence toward those who do not believe as they do," they actually engage in it. Try walking around with a MAGA hat and see how often you get assaulted, as we’ve seen time and again on the news. Conservatives and Independents are sick and tired of the leftist double-standard hypocrisy and the unequal justice applied in an America that is becoming increasingly authoritarian under leftist political and social domination. Division will only increase until these twin torpedoes of destruction are disarmed.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.
Join SC Times for Beachside Chat on Friday, Nov. 19, at 8 a.m. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues hosted SC Times Editor Shawn Raymundo. The chat will be held at Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria. All are welcome. Page 7
San Clemente Times, Vol. 16, Issue 46. 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 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. San Clemente Times is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at San Clemente, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: San Clemente Times, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624.
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GETTING OUT
a tasty treat at the doggie Pie Eating Contest beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the front lawn. All events are “dogs only.” Each participant will enjoy prizes and doggie goodie bags while supplies last. Tickets are $7 per pre-registered dog; humans get in free. Ole Hanson Beach Club, 105 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente. san-clemente.org.
The List
LOW-COST PET VACCINE CLINIC 10-11:30 a.m. Pets Plus San Clemente 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, and diagnostic testing available onsite. 415 Avenida Pico, San Clemente. 1.800.988.8387. vetcarepetclinic.com.
What’s going on in and around town this week SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Editor’s Pick Get a curated list of the weekend’s best events sent straight to your inbox every Friday! Sign up for The Weekender at sanclementetimes.com/weekender
THURSDAY | 18 ‘A NICE FAMILY GATHERING’ 7:30 p.m. The Cabrillo Playhouse Presents A Nice Family Gathering, a poignant comedy about the Lundeen clan gathering for Thanksgiving dinner following the death of the family’s doctor patriarch. When son Carl arrives, he has to deal with his father’s ghost, which only Carl can see and hear. The ghost of Dr. Lundeen comes back to get Carl to tell Mrs. Lundeen that her husband loved her, something never spoken between them during their 41 years of marriage. Admission is $25 for the show, which runs on weekends through Nov. 21. The Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. cabrilloplayhouse.org. 949.492.0465.
FRIDAY | 19 SAN ONOFRE PARKS FOUNDATION POP-UP SHOP 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Historic Cottage and Visitor Center showcases local history, flora and fauna at this original 1934 ranger’s cottage. A rotating exhibit features the history of San Onofre. Stop in to the San Onofre Parks Foundation’s Pop-Up Shop to say hello, do a little shopping and learn more about the history of the local state parks at San Clemente and San Onofre State Beaches. Historic Cottage and Visitor Center is located within the San Clemente State Beach San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
Photo: File
SATURDAY | 20 ‘TALLEST TREE IN OC’ LIGHTING CEREMONY 5:30 p.m. With the help of “Santa Claus,” the Outlets at San Clemente will put on its annual Holiday Tree Lighting event for the public. Known to feature the tallest tree in Orange County at 100 feet, with 10,000 hand-placed bows and ornaments and more than 18,000 lights, the event is a must-see for any Christmas-tree lover. Jessie Lazano of STAR 94.1-FM will host the celebration, which will feature performances by the Orange County School of the Arts. And from 1-5 p.m., there will also be reindeer, “magical snowfall,” a hot chocolate caravan, interactive photo ops and a scavenger hunt for kids. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, Suite 190, San Clemente.
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Campground at 225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente. 949.366.8599. admin@sanoparks.org. sanoparks.org.
SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. South OC Cars and Coffee, dubbed the world’s biggest weekly car meet, attracts a mix of 500-1,000 hypercars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods, rat rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles. Those attending are encouraged to practice responsible social distancing. Face masks are not mandatory but are recommended. No cars in before 8:30 a.m. Cars should enter and leave slowly and quietly—no revving, speeding or burnouts. The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.
STROKE AND THYROID SCREENING 10 a.m.-1 p.m. In partnership with Aetna, San Clemente’s senior center will host this health screening event. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. 949.492.3322. ‘THE FUTURE IS FEMALE COMEDY SHOW’ 8 p.m. Enjoy a night of laughter and libations at a Knuckleheads, where Savannah K will host “The Future is Female Comedy Show.” See the most talented comedians you never knew existed from L.A., Orange County and Las Vegas. This free, star-studded show has one of the most diverse comedy lineups. This week’s show will be headlined by Jamie Gendron. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.
DOGGIE DIVE 9 a.m.-noon. Bring your dog, with proof of a current license and rabies vaccination, and unleash the fun at the City of San Clemente’s second Doggie Dive event. This is a recreational swim event for dogs and their families, before the city closes the pool for winter maintenance. Dogs run the pool at a dogs-only “pool paw-ty.” Show off your doggie’s style and enter them in the Costume Contest beginning at 9 a.m., enjoy a dip in the pools with tennis balls, and eat
‘DEATH CAB FOR KARAOKE’ 8 p.m. Sing pop punk and emo favorites with a live band at OC Tavern Grill and Sports Bar. Admission is $10 if purchased in advanced at octavern.com, or $15 at the door. 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.542.8877. Page 8
‘ALZ THAT JAZZ’ 6-10 p.m. Casino San Clemente is inviting the community to an evening of jazz music and delicious food, benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. Enjoy performances by Liz Booth, Meloney Collins, Elena Gilliam and Crystal Lewis—female songstresses of varied jazz styles including standards and scat. The event includes delectable food stations provided by the generosity of Cal Fresh Catering, Jay’s Catering and TGIS Catering, with sweets provided by Penelope’s Perfections. Price of admission is $75 and 100% tax-deductible, with proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Association (receipt can be provided at the door). Casino San Clemente, 140 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente. alzthatjazz.eventbrite.com.
SUNDAY | 21 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers at the Community Center/San Clemente Public Library parking lot. 100 North Calle Seville. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.
WEDNESDAY | 24 PICKLEBALL DRILLS & SKILLS 11 a.m.-4 p.m. In partnership with the city of San Clemente and the Southern California Pickleball Association, coach Bill Miller hosts this weekly pickleball class at San Gorgonio Park, where participants have fun while learning the fundamentals of the sport and improving their game. This class combines coaching and instruction with the fun of doubles play. Bring plenty of water. Court tennis shoes recommended. (Cont. on page 11) sanclementetimes.com
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GETTING OUT
(Cont. from page 8) Paddles will be provided. Reservations are required. San Gorgonio Park, 2916 San Gorgonio, San Clemente. 818.535.5130. miller.william22@gmail.com. southerncaliforniapickleballassociation.com. BINGO AT THE SENIOR CENTER 1:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, the Dorothy Visser Senior Center will host Bingo. The center will begin selling cards at 1 p.m., with the game starting promptly at 1:30. The buy-in is $12 for 10 games with four cards and a special pick-your-number game. For more information, contact the center at 949.498.3322. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. BIKING CLUB FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND HIGH SCHOOLERS 5-6:30 p.m. Anyone have middle schoolto high school-aged kids who love to bike? Community Outreach Alliance’s biking club meets every Wednesday afternoon at different trails, with professional biker and mentor Mike Russell from Freakshow Aloha. San Clemente High’s COA club, which hosts this free activity thanks to Hardman Classic, has bikes and helmets for participants to borrow. To participate, fill out a regis-
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
AT THE MOVIES
hen I saw the first trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s latest historical drama, Belfast, I instantly thought that it looked like “Roma (2018) for White people.” Fortunately, outside of the time period, black-and-white cinematography and an effective riot sequence, there actually isn’t much in common between the two
films. Loosely based on the filmmaker’s own childhood in the real city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, we are taken back to a moment in history that still deserves some exposure. In late 1969, tensions are high in the modest family communities of Belfast, as it’s now reached the point where the neighborhood residents have to hide and lock up when Catholic and Protestant gangs take to the streets to riot and attack one another. On one corner is where 8-year-old Buddy (Jude Hill), older brother Will (Lewis McAskie) and their parents—referred to simply as “Ma” (Caitríona Balfe) and “Pa” (Jamie Dornan)—reside. Pa is away a lot on weekdays for work, and he thinks it might be time to move everyone away from the violence. Ma is reluctant, as she’s lived in the same town her whole life, while Buddy also disagrees with leaving his school friends and local relatives.
I’ve read that a few people complain that the aesthetics of Branagh’s use of black and white, plus shades of color a handful of times throughout Belfast, are a bit dull and uninspired. I really didn’t mind the visuals myself, though, as I think it seemed to fit how simple and quaint the atmosphere is in Buddy’s hometown. Branagh makes a decent attempt to not take sides or come across biased between the two Christian groups, and portrays both sets of gangs as violent and prejudiced against each other. Hill’s lead debut is filled with many wide-eyed reactions of shock or awe and not much else. But fortunately, he also manages to not fall into the trope of “obnoxious kid on screen.” Belfast is a fresh and interesting take on the Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland, and it also doubles as a whimsical family drama. SC
tration form online at form.myjotform. com/91392099886576. For questions, call or text 949.795.4721. communityoutreachalliance.com.
TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE 6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends, or show up
solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.
‘Belfast’ Takes International Audiences Back in History BY MEGAN BIANCO
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SC LIVING
GUEST OPINION | CoastLines by Fred Swegles
Surfing Adventures at Camp Pendleton Before There Was a San Onofre State Beach
I
and surf wherever at Camp Pendleton, using his ID. The Marines were friendly, but they warned me I would have to sign a letter accounting my trespassing, signing to never do it again. “Well, gee,” I replied, “we don’t have waves or anything like these in Virginia. This place is amazing for surfing, and thank you for letting us try this place, Lower Trestles.” I had no ID with me, just my board shorts and Tom, identifying himself with his Virginia military ID. So, I signed to never return without permission. We then bid the Marines adieu and drove back into San Clemente. Now, there’s a fourth favorite Camp Pendleton story that it isn’t about me. It’s about Tom, on a day he was surfing Upper Trestles, before he’d entered the Army.
have three surfing stories from my youth, mostly about unexpected encounters with Marines at Camp Pendleton when I was trying to surf there without getting in trouble for trespassing. Actually, there wasn’t much chance of it, as there were so few surfers there and few Marines out trying to capture surfers. Also, if you were an old-time surfer from 1970 on, as President Nixon was converting a slice of Camp Pendleton into San Onofre State Beach, everything opened up for us at what became San Onofre State Beach.
A BEACH WITH LOTS OF PUBLIC One crazy day at Church, a popular surf spot next to San Onofre Creek and next to the San Onofre enlisted recreation center, had lots of public surfers on the beach while Marines were being friendly. People causing no problems could just stay all day with no issues, the Marines ignoring their surfing or activities on the sand. So, what happened when I fell from my surfboard on a wave? I swam in to fetch it. There were no leashes back in the day. So, a Marine grabbed my surfboard on shore and hauled it away. Why my surfboard and nobody else’s? I followed, wondering if I would get the board and why mine was seized. Dozens of boards were sitting on the beach and no Marines doing anything to other surfboards. It turned out that about eight of us surfers were rounded up and boarded onto a Marine vehicle and were shuttled a mile or so away, where we were formed into a lineup for, I think, a colonel’s wife. Evidently, a surfer wearing blue board shorts had mooned the colonel’s wife on the beach, or at least she must’ve thought so. She spied the eight blue-trunked surfers and said, nope, it was none of us that had mooned her. The Marines took us back to Church and gave us back our surfboards. That’s a pretty tame Marine encounter at Camp Pendleton.
OUR FRIEND, STRANDED ON THE BEACH There was another time, when a carload of us had taken a dirt road off Interstate 5 halfway to Oceanside and decided to San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
TRY TO GET YOUR BOARD BACK Surfers in South Orange County have been able to enjoy the sands of San Onofre State Park without interruption from the military since 1971, when the Department of the Navy agreed to a 50-year lease with California to open the state beach. Photo: Shawn Raymundo
pull off the freeway to park our car, easily walk to the beach and surf Las Pulgas, then a deserted Camp Pendleton beach. We left our friend Betty on the beach while we were surfing. We were shocked to spot a lineup of troops motoring up the beach in carrier vehicles. They COASTLINES weren’t going to BY FRED SWEGLES arrest Betty, it turned out; they appeared to be surrounding her to detain her on the beach, making some fun moments. They surrounded her and announced to all us surfers that we needed to come in immediately, which we had no choice. On the beach, we could see that Betty was humoring them, and they could humor all us surfers, everyone creating fun. They let us return to our car and get away—no recourse.
WE GOT STUCK AT BASILONE Only one incident at Camp Pendleton was scarier for me. My friend Tom, then in the Army, was stationed in Virginia. He had driven his VW bus home with Virginia license
plates to San Clemente. He invited me to join him surfing at San Onofre by using his military ID to get him and his VW to go through the Basilone Road Marine Corps gate. I was stoked. But as we arrived at the Basilone exit, we could see a dirt opening next to a trail that led down a bluff to Lower Trestles, and there were two or three surf vehicles parked there. Tom and I decided it was OK to park, surf Lowers, and hours later, walked back up the bluff path and see where we stood. “Tom, what do you see?” I asked as Tom (a taller gentleman) was sneaking a peek up at the parking area as we returned. He discovered some trespassing civilian surfers were being busted by military police. “Stay low!” Tom told me. We would wait out the surfers being processed, whoever they were. Then we would show the Marines Tom’s Army ID and get us out of the trouble. “Tom, what do you see now?” I asked “They see me,” Tom replied. Busted.
BUSTED, OR WHAT? Tom explained to them that he was stationed in Virginia, showed them his ID and thought his ID meant he could park Page 12
That day, years earlier, Tom had lost his surfboard to the shore and stayed out treading in water as Marines confiscated his brand-new shiny surfboard, expecting him to come in for the board. Tom didn’t want to lose the board, but he also didn’t want to be busted. So, Tom, a fine swimmer, swam north around Cotton’s Point to escape, abandoning his surfboard to the Marines. That was quite a swim, taking him off the base. Tom stepped into the Cyprus Shore office at the south end of San Clemente, where it just so happened that his mother was on staff. Tom called the San Clemente police from there to report that his surfboard had disappeared from the beach and details of its design. The cops sent a description to Camp Pendleton, which surmised that a board matching the one that had been stolen by a surfer who had decided to abandon it and flee to the north. Tom got contacted, he accurately described the surfboard and got it back. Fred Swegles grew up in San Clemente before the freeway. He has 50 years’ reporting experience in the city and 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
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SC LIVING
BEACHY BOHO
class. “My class project was all about the style of clothes, how the shop would look. It was everything but the name, Trestles.” It took a few years for her dream to come to fruition, as after college, she had two children and worked at a consigned space in a vintage home décor shop, which operated as a pop-up store on
weekends. After experiencing success with the shop, she started adding clothing to the operation—which was her passion. The fast-growing business ran into challenges during the pandemic, as in-person attendance declined due to social-distancing restrictions. She decided to spin out on her own to focus entirely on her clothing business, first launching a website in June 2020, then taking her own pop-up experience to market, realizing that online sales proved challenging. She immediately saw success hosting her own pop-up events, as her clients were drawn to her fresh inventory of styles and fashions, while the big box mall stores experienced inventory issues. “I realized if I could do so much sales in just two days at a pop-up event, I could open a store to be able to offer it every day,” said Switzer, who set about to find a storefront in San Clemente, where the family had moved in 2016 from the San Francisco area. After kicking off her search in May 2021, Switzer found the perfect spot for her dream store—on San Clemente’s main shopping thoroughfare, Avenida Del Mar, nestled between the back patio of BeachFire Bar & Grill and Sugar Blossom Bakery. On Oct. 16, she hosted a grand opening event.
Leaning on the talents of some of her family, as well as close friends, for everything from in-store layout to building the furniture and dressing rooms, Switzer’s new 1,400-square-foot space features women’s clothing, gifts, and home décor items in a modern, “industrial chic” look. Switzer takes a philanthropic approach to her business as well, and has been donating her overstock items to charitable organizations supporting women and children in need. She also holds special sales events in which she contributes a percentage of proceeds to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, a cause near and dear to her, as both of her children have suffered from the autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. “I’m really proud of our commitment to giving back and having a positive impact on our community,” said Switzer, who noted that while the majority of the products are geared toward women (including a curated section for plus-sized women), there are some men’s styles available, as well. “It’s great to finally have all of these clothes out of my garage and displayed in this beautiful store. It’s truly a dream come true.” SC
season are due to high and unrealistic expectations, stress, and financial strain. Gratitude has been known to be helpful, especially when figuring out how to manage the overwhelming feelings that come with the holiday season. Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation WELLNESS & and being thankful PREVENTION for what you have. BY MARIA CORDOVA Studies have shown that practicing gratitude in different ways improves your overall mental health while also aiding your interpersonal relationships. A study conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University stated, “Thankfulness predicted significantly lower risk of major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, phobia, nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, and drug ‘abuse’ or dependence.” Not only does gratitude help you emotionally, there’s growing research that explores how it also helps your physical health. Paul Mills, a professor of family medicine and public health at the University
of California, San Diego, measured the impact of gratitude on physical health among individuals who have heart conditions. Mills found that because feelings of stress and anxiety tend to increase the risk of heart disease, gratitude can actually lower your risk and develop a healthier heart. Expressing your gratitude has significant benefits to your health and well-being. There are numerous ways to practice it, and it only takes a few moments. One of the most popular ways to practice gratitude is to keep a journal. A recommendation would be to write at the beginning of your day and at the end of your day, a few times a week. This entry could be as simple as writing about the weather or your own wellness; either way, this exercise has proven to induce positive emotions. If journaling is not your thing, creating a list on a piece of paper or your mobile device would also work just fine. This list could include places, things, or people that you are grateful for in your life. This could also be as simple as sending someone a quick text expressing your appreciation for them. Gratitude can also be expressed by setting aside time to contemplate about five to 10 things for
which you are grateful. The more you practice gratitude, the more natural it will come to you. Research has shown that it takes about eight weeks of exercising gratitude for the brain to rewire into a more positive mindset and increased empathy. Sufficient research has shown that gratitude is a powerful tool for your mental health. The importance of exercising gratitude is the reflection that induces a positive mindset that stays with you. The holiday season comes with an overwhelming number of emotions, but practicing gratitude has proven to help you no matter what time of the year. Maria Cordova is a project coordinator for the Wellness & Prevention Center. Under the Mental Health Awareness Training grant, Maria will facilitate Youth Mental Health First Aid training to adults and parents in English and Spanish, to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behaviors among young people. SC
Trestles Clothing Company Is a Dream Come True BY NORB GARRETT, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
T
he writing was quite literally on the wall; some 30 years ago, Aileen Switzer’s senior project at Cal State Northridge for her Fashion Merchandising major was a business plan about creating and opening her own boutique clothing store. Fast-forward to October 2021, and Switzer’s childhood dream of owning her own clothing shop is now a reality, as Trestles Clothing Company opened its doors in San Clemente, offering her unique curation of coastal lifestyle apparel that she describes as “beachy, Boho clothing.” “I’ve been thinking about this ever since I was a little girl,” said Switzer, who grew up in Pasadena before heading to college at Cal State Northridge, where she met her husband, Kirt, in a marketing
GUEST OPINION | Wellness &
Prevention by Maria Cordova
Expressing Gratitude Beyond the Thanksgiving Holiday
E
ach year, when the holiday season rolls around, we are reminded of the heartwarming memories associated with these festive times. However, it is unrealistic to believe that this is the case for everyone. Around this time, it may be easy to feel isolated when everyone around you is joyful, but the reality is, you are not alone. “Holiday blues” during the festive
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
Aileen Switzer’s Trestles Clothing Company officially opened on Oct. 16. Photo: Norb Garrett
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TRESTLES CLOTHING COMPANY 204 Avenida Del Mar, Suite G 949.749.6713, trestlesclothingcompany.com
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
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SC LIVING
GUEST OPINION | Life’s a Beach by
Shelley Murphy
Remember November, and Give Thanks
T
he first Thursday of this month, I visited my local Starbucks. My coffee came in a red and green holiday cup, and as the barista handed it to me, he said,“Merry Christmas.” Retailers regard Thanksgiving as a fruitless holiday wedged between a frightful October and a festive December. Not me, I revere Thanksgiving; it’s long been my favorite holiday, and this November I have greater cause to give thanks. There are three words a mom always wants to hear, at any time of day: I love you. Then there are the three words a mom never wants to hear, especially at an odd hour of day: Don’t freak out. I often opine about being a boy mom, and, as such, I’ve assembled a long list of worries. My list is epic. Nonetheless, one caveat not cracking my top 10 is the likelihood my sons are slipped a “date rape” or “club drug” in a bar. I’m not sexist; the concern made my list. It just didn’t climb to the top alongside fast cars LIFE’S A BEACH and broken bones. BY SHELLEY MURPHY However, that was before my phobic fears were upended. Recently, on an early Saturday morning, my younger son called and said the words I
dread,“Don’t freak out.” The night before, my son drove to San Diego to visit friends and frequent a favorite bar. At their hangout, my son enjoyed a draft beer with buddies, then ordered another. A few sips into the second beer, he felt an overpowering nausea. Feeling he needed to exit immediately, he quickly closed his tab. Then, he found his friends and said he was going back to the house. My son walked outside the bar, leaned against a tree, and “saw stars.” His next memory is of his buddies wiping the blood from his face and surrounding sidewalk. My son’s ordeal occurred in San Diego County, but the same scourge strikes in Orange County. According to a local emergency room nurse I spoke with, she said, “You’d be surprised how often we see it” and added it doesn’t happen only in dive bars but also in the “ritziest” bars. As she spoke, I recalled a few years ago when my girlfriend’s son suffered a similar tribulation. One night, her older son, a San Clemente native, visited a local downtown bar. Later that night, my girlfriend got a call from her son, but she couldn’t understand his slurred speech. She asked where he was, but he said he didn’t know. She spent the early morning hours in the dark (pun intended), frantically driving city streets searching for her son. Eventually, she found him; he’d passed out on a lawn blocks away from the bar. Her son has minimal memory of the incident. My son would prefer to keep his predicament private, but I persuaded him to permit me to share his story with the hope of preventing another family from suffering a similar nightmare. We don’t know the drug my son ingested, but the most common drugs (pills, liquids, or powders) are tasteless, odorless, colorless, and easily dissolved in liquid. Several of the drugs’ side effects include dizziness, nausea, confusion, impaired speech, trouble breathing and losing consciousness.
SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK
Johnny
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
This good-looking guy is Johnny, a 5-year-old Husky mix who is ready for his new home. Johnny is a well-mannered dog who enjoys brisk walks and playing fetch in the yard. He has the makings of a great family dog, but would prefer to be the only pet in the home. If you are interested in adopting Johnny, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/ adoptions/adoptadog to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. SC
Contributor: San Clemente Historical Society
FROM THE ARCHIVES The Divel Funeral Home, which
opened in 1928, was the sixth commercial building built in San Clemente. City leaders insisted that it be on what was then the outskirts of town on South El Camino Real. Today, it is the site of the Lesneski Mortuary.
This photo can be purchased from the San Clemente Historical Society at sanclementehistoricalsociety.org. Every week, the San Clemente Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.
Most preventative measures may seem obvious, but as the holidays approach and parties prevail, ’tis the season for a recap. Precautionary actions include never drinking from a big-batch alcoholic beverage, never accepting drinks from other people, always opening your own bottles or cans, always keeping control of your drink, and never leaving it unattended. Friends play a powerful part in prevention. Peers must stay alert and recognize if a pal suddenly acts out of character, appears overly intoxicated without cause, or abruptly changes demeanor. Thanksgiving is next week, and this year,
I’m especially thankful. I’m grateful for the buddies who bandaged my son and the emergency room heroes who healed him. Thankfully, Thanksgiving remains my favorite family holiday. For more than 20 years, Shelley Murphy and her husband have lived in San Clemente, where she raised her two sons. She’s a freelance writer and has been a contributor to the San Clemente Times since 2006. 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
Sudoku BY MYLES MELLOR
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:
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 Page 18
See the solution in next week’s issue.
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
ATTORNEY
Aaron Lloyd Bankruptcy Attorney 2377 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.544.9355, lloydlegal.com
Buy • Consign • Sell
LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS DIRECTORY
949.395.5681 (24 hours)
BODY MIND SPIRIT ARE YOU HAPPY? Let us assist you in creating a life plan for the life & relationships you want & deserve. Body Mind Spirit, 949.248.7377, bodymindspirit.com
classicautosalesoc.com
We also offer professional appraisals, auction services, restoration and shipping.
2485 S. El Camino Real San Clemente
ELECTRICAL
DENTISTS
Benjamin Stevens, D.D.S. 3553 Camino Mira Costa, Suite B, San Clemente, 949.493.2391, benstevensdds.com
Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, San Clemente, 949.493.9311, drericjohnson.com
Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, arcadiaelectric.com
ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTIONS 3West Environmental, Inc. www.3westenviro.com Residential & commercial inspections for mold, asbestos and lead paint. 310.400.0195
LIST LOCALS ONLY USE LOCALS ONLY Call Lauralyn for pricing at 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or lloynes@picketfencemedia.com
FIREWOOD FOR SALE Jack McKay, Owner 949.449.0445 mckayja29@gmail.com Call for prices. Earning money to purchase my first car. Perfect for campfires, beach fires, home fires.
HOME IMPROVEMENT/ REMODELING
Hoover Construction License B-774675 949.292.6778
MUSIC LESSONS
REALTORS
Rock Club Music School 73 Via Pico Plaza, San Clemente, 949.463.1968, beachcitiesrockclub.com
“Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes 949.293.3236, sandyandrich.com
PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS
Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com
Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, San Clemente, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), moranperio.com
Dr. Raymond L. Wright Jr., DDS 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, San Clemente, (949)361-GUMS (4867), sanclementeperiodontics.com
PROSTHODONTICS Hamilton Le, D.M.D., F.A.C.P. 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, San Clemente, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), moranperio.com
SALONS
Salon Bleu 207 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.366.2060, scsalonbleu.com
VETERINARY HOUSE CALLS Dr. Damon Goldstein, DVM 626.485.9355, damongoldstein@outlook.com “Personalized Care for your Fur Babies at your Home”
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION 00100 NOTICE INVITING BIDS SAN CLEMENTE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS TENANT IMPROVEMENTS Project No. 12563 1. Notice. Public notice is hereby given that the City of San Clemente (“City”) will receive sealed bids for the following project: San Clemente City Hall Council Chambers Tenant Improvements, Project No. 12563 2. Bid Opening Date. Electronic bids must be submitted prior to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 29, 2021, on the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal, at which time or thereafter bids will be opened and made available online. Bids received after this time will be considered non-responsive. Prospective bidders must first register as a vendor and then bid on this project via the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal website at www.san-clemente.org/vendorbids. 3. Project Scope of Work. The scope of work consists of interior renovation and build-out of a portion of the second floor of the existing three-story San Clemente City Hall building to establish a new council chambers for the City of San Clemente. Work generally involves minor demolition and construction of a new council chambers, council office, AV room, restrooms, and associated HVAC, plumbing and electrical work. 4. Contract Time: The work must be completed within 150 working days from the date specified in the written Notice to Proceed. 5. License and Registration Requirements. 5.1. State License. Pursuant to California Public Contract Code Section 3300, the City has determined that the Contractor shall possess a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): Class B – General Building Contractor. Failure to possess the specified license(s) at the time of bid opening shall render the bid as non-responsive and shall act as a bar to award the contract to that non-responsive bidder. Department of Industrial Relations Regis5.2. tration. Pursuant to California Labor Code Sections 1725.5 and 1771.1, all contractors and subcontractors that wish to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, or enter into a contract to perform public work must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”). No bid will be accepted nor any contract entered into without proof of the contractor’s and subcontractors’ current registration with the DIR to perform public work. If awarded a contract, the Bidder and its subcontractors, of any tier, shall maintain active registration with the DIR for the duration of the Project. 5.3. City Business License. Prior to the Notice to Proceed for this contract, the Contractor shall possess a valid City of San Clemente business license. 6. Contract Documents. Bid documents, including instructions to bidders, bidder proposal form, and specifications (not including other documents incorporated by reference) may be downloaded, at no cost, from the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal website at www.san-clemente.org/vendorbids. Bidders must first register as a vendor on the City of San Clemente PlanetBids system to view and download the Contract Documents, to be added to
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
the prospective bidders list, and to receive addendum notifications when issued.
balance of the work. Substitution of appropriate securities in lieu of retention amounts from progress payments is permitted pursuant to California Public Contract Code Section 22300. Refer to the contract for further clarification.
7. Bid Proposal and Security. 7.1. Bid Proposal Form. No bid will be received unless it is made on a proposal form furnished by the City.
10. Performance and Payment Bonds. The successful bidder, simultaneously with execution of the contract, will be required to provide Faithful Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds, each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract amount. Bonds are to be secured from a surety that meets all of the State of California bonding requirements, as defined in Code of Civil Procedure Section 995.120, and is admitted by the State of California.
7.2. Bid Security. Each bid proposal must be accompanied by security in the form of cash, certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid amount. Personal checks or company checks are not acceptable forms of bid security. All certified and cashier’s checks must be drawn on a responsible bank doing business in the United States and shall be made payable to THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE. Bid bonds must be issued by a surety company licensed to do business in the State of California and must be made payable to THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE. Bids not accompanied by the required bid security will be rejected. For electronic submittal of bids, the bid security must be received at the City of San Clemente Public Works office, 910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100, San Clemente, CA 92673 no later than the bid opening date and time. The bid security must be submitted in a sealed envelope bearing the name and address of the bidder, and the outside of the envelope must read as follows:
11. Pre-Bid Meeting. Due to the COVID situation, a pre-bid meeting will not be held for this bid solicitation. However, non-mandatory site tours/information sessions will be offered to potential bidders by appointment only. Refer to the Instructions to Bidders section on how to schedule an appointment if desired and how to submit any pre-bid questions. 12. Instructions to Bidders. Additional and more detailed information is provided in the Instructions to Bidders, which should be carefully reviewed by all bidders before submitting a Bid Proposal. 13. Questions. All questions related to this bid solicitation must be submitted through the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal per the information provided in the Instructions to Bidders. Any other contact to City staff regarding this bid solicitation will be referred back to the PlanetBids system.
OFFICIAL BID SECURITY - DO NOT OPEN Project Name: San Clemente City Hall Council Chambers Tenant Improvements Project Bid #: 12563 Bid Opening Date: November 29, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS, TO AWARD ALL OR ANY INDIVIDUAL PART/ ITEM OF THE BID, AND TO WAIVE ANY INFORMALITIES, IRREGULARITIES OR TECHNICAL DEFECTS IN SUCH BIDS OR IN THE BIDDING PROCESS. ANY CONTRACT AWARDED WILL BE LET TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER AS DETERMINED FROM THE BASE BID ALONE.
The bid security shall serve as a guarantee that the bidder will enter into a contract. Such guarantee shall be forfeited should the bidder to whom the contract is awarded fail to enter into the contract within 15 calendar days after written notification that the contract has been awarded to the successful bidder. 8. Prevailing Wage Requirements. 8.1. General. This project is subject to the prevailing wage requirements applicable to the locality in which the work is to be performed for each craft, classification or type of worker needed to perform the work, including employer payments for health and welfare, pension, vacation, apprenticeship and similar purposes.
Dated November 5, 2021. City of San Clemente Public Works Department 910 Calle Negocio San Clemente, CA 92673 END OF NOTICE INVITING BIDS
8.2. Rates. Prevailing rates are available online at www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR and also available at the City of San Clemente Public Works Department Office at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA 92673. Each Contractor and Subcontractor must pay no less than the specified rates to all workers employed to work on the project. The schedule of per diem wages is based upon a working day of eight hours. The rate for holiday and overtime work must be at least time and one-half.
PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216619418 The following person(s) is doing business as: 1. ALL-AMERICAN MICRO-CLASS ACADEMY 638 CAMINO DE LOS MARES, SUITE H130-446 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 ADDITIONAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. AAMC ACADEMY 1C. PIVOT-READY-PODS 1D. FORECLOSURE FIGHTERS 1E. QUICK HOME SALE 1F. MOMS 4 MOBILE HOMES Full Name of Registrant(s): B-REAL INVESTMENTS INC. 2708 CALLE ESTRELLA DEL MAR SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 This business is conducted by a CA Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: 02/03/2020 B-REAL INVESTMENTS INC./s/GREGG T BRUNNICK/GREGG BRUNNICK, VICE-PRESIDENT This statement was filed with the Orange County
8.3. Compliance Monitoring. Pursuant to California Labor Code Section 1771.4, all bidders are hereby notified that this project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the California Department of Industrial Relations. In bidding on this project, it shall be the Bidder’s sole responsibility to evaluate and include the cost of complying with all labor compliance requirements under this contract and applicable law in its bid. 9. Retention. Pursuant to the contract for this project, five percent (5%) of each progress payment will be retained as security for completion of the
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Clerk-Recorder on 11/01/2021 Publish: San Clemente Times November 18, 25, December 2, 9, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: Louise Jane Erzen, aka Louise J. Erzen, aka Lou Jean Gaylord Erzen, aka Lou J. Gaylord Erzen, aka Lou Jean G. Erzen, aka Lou J.G. Erzen, aka Lou Erzen, aka Jean Erzen Case Number: 30-2021-01229236-PR-PW-CJC To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will and or estate, or both, of Louise Jane Erzen, aka Louise J. Erzen, aka Lou Jean Gaylord Erzen, aka Lou J. Gaylord Erzen, aka Lou Jean G. Erzen, aka Lou J.G. Erzen, aka Lou Erzen, aka Jean Erzen. A Petition for Probate has been filed by Robert G. Erzen in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange. The Petition for Probate requests that Robert G. Erzen be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: A. Date: January 20th, 2022 Time: 2:00 p.m. in Dept: C8 B. Address of Court: 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. (1) If you plan to appear, you must attend the hearing by video remote using the court’s designated video platform; (2) Go to the courts website at: http://www.occourts. org/media-relations/probate-mental -health. html to appear for probate hearings and for remote hearing instructions; (3) If you have difficulty connecting to your remote hearing, call (657)622-8278 for assistance. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California Statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attor
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PUBLIC NOTICES
CLASSIFIEDS
TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM ney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (Form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Shannon C. Papazis, Esq. & Skylar V. Palasik, Esq., FERRUZZO & FERRUZZO, LLP 3737 Birch St., Ste. 400, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Ph: (949)608-9266 Published in: San Clemente Times, Nov 11, 18, 25, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216619007 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: DONNA VIDRINE FOR CITY COUNCIL 501 NORTH EL CAMINO REAL #229 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 Full Name of Registrant(s): DONNA CARNEY VIDRINE 1303 DOMADOR SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 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 DONNA VIDRINE/S/DONNA CARNEY VIDRINE This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 10/26/2021. Published in: San Clemente Times November 4, 11, 18, 25, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216618882 The following person(s) is doing business as: 1. OHANA BUILDERS 34941 CALLE DEL SOL CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA 92624 ADDITIONAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. ADMIRAL REALTY CAPITAL 1C. ADMIRAL REALTY 1D. AMERICAN GENERAL Full Name of Registrant(s): AMERICAN GENERAL CORP 34941 CALLE DEL SOL CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA 92624 This business is conducted by a CA Corporation.
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: N/A AMERICAN GENERAL CORP/s/MICHELLE B WILSON PRESIDENT/MICHELLE B WILSON, PRESIDENT This statement was filed with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder on 10/25/2021 Publish: San Clemente Times November 4, 11, 18, 25, 2021
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GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE Deadline 12pm Monday. Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com.
PUBLIC NOTICE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 30-2021-01227354-CU-PT-CJC
GARAGE SALE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH 7:00 am - 12:00 pm. 33 Calle Mandarina, San Clemente - ALISAL neighborhood. Mostly supplies from closed catering business - pots, pans, food storage, cake pedestals, dinnerware, serving pieces etc.
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1) Petitioner: Shahrooz Brown filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name a. Shahrooz Brown Proposed Name a. Shawn Shahrooz Brown 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.
ESTATE SALE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 7:00 a.m. - 4:p.m. 139 Avenida Cota, San Clemente. Furniture, lamps, crystal, collectibles, antiques, dishes, kitchen items, patio furniture, and much more! CASH ONLY.
WANTED WANTED: COIN COLLECTIONS San Clemente coin collector is buying coins and currency. Paying top dollar for old coins and currency Free no obligation appraisals Example Silver Coins 1964 and before Dollars $18.00 & up Halves $7.50 Quarters $3.75 Dimes $1.50 Buying pennies, proof sets, etc. Call or Text Dave 847 769-3590
NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/05/2022 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept. D100 Room: Remote Appearance. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, Superior Court of California, County of Orange, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701 . For remote hearing instructions, go to the Court’s website at www.occourts.org; click on the “COVID-19” button; click on the “Civil” button; click on the “Remote Hearing Instructions” button. 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, Oct 28, Nov 4, 11, 18, 2021 Date: 10/21/2021, Judge Layne H. Melzer, Judge of the Superior Court
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PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM
PUBLIC NOTICE
In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. § 2714(c)), the P00547 Pipeline, owned and/or operated by the San Pedro Bay Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Beta Operating Company, LLC, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amplify Energy Corporation (collectively “Amplify”) has been identified as the source of a discharge of oil into the Pacific Ocean off the California Coast on or about October 2, 2021. As noted by the Unified Command, as of October 8, 2021, preliminary findings estimate the discharge involved a minimum of 24,696 gallons, or 588 barrels of oil and a maximum of 131,000 gallons, or 3,134 barrels of oil. As noted by the United States Coast Guard, this discharge impacted the California Coastline from Long Beach down to about San Clemente. As the owner/operator of the facility and/or the lessee or permittee of the area in which the facility was located, Amplify may be liable for removal costs and damages and is therefore required to advertise the procedures by which persons who have claims for removal costs and damages may submit their claims. Removal costs and damages which may be compensated include removal costs performed in accordance with the National Contingency Plan; damage to natural resources; damage to or loss of real or personal property; loss of subsistence use of natural resources; loss of government revenues; loss of profits and earnings capacity; and increased cost of public services. Claims should be in writing, signed by the claimant, for a specified amount; and should include all evidence to support the claim. Claims presented may include claims for interim short-term damages representing less than the full amount to which the claimant ultimately may be entitled. It should be noted that payment of such a claim shall not preclude recovery for damages not reflected in the paid or settled partial claims. Claims should be mailed to the following address: Name: Chris Moore Company: McClaren’s Inc. Address: 500 W. Colorado St., Unit C PMB 144 Glendale, CA 91204 Office hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT, Monday through Friday, except holidays. Claimants may call 1-866-985-8366 for information. Any claims which are denied or which are not settled within 90 days after the date of submission to our claims representative may be submitted to: Director National Pollution Funds Center (Ca) US COAST GUARD STOP 7605 2703 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE WASHINGTON, DC 20593-7605
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
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SPORTS & OUTDOORS
South Coast Youth Football’s Mighty Mite and Pee Wee Tritons each advanced to the Wescon Regional Championships in Arizona on Saturday, Nov. 20. The Pee Wee Black Tritons (pictured here in the semifinals) were already crowned regional champions due to the forfeit of their opponent. Photos: Alan Gibby/Zone57
SCYF Tritons Play for Pop Warner Regional Championships BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
F
ootball success in San Clemente doesn’t stop with the high school varsity Tritons. The Pee Wee and Mighty Mite level Tritons of South Coast Youth Football each qualified for the Pop Warner Wescon Division 2 Regional Champion-
RUNNING FOR GLORY Triton teams qualify for CIF-SS cross country finals; boys attempt to break streak BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
T
he San Clemente boys and girls cross country teams both qualified for the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals with relative ease in preliminary heats on Nov. 13, and the Triton boys have a chance to end a long drought when the finals are contested at Mt. San Antonio College this Saturday, Nov. 20. San Clemente’s boys team finished first in its Division 1 heat, and the Triton girls San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
ships, which will be played this Saturday, Nov. 20, at Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Arizona. While the Mighty Mite Tritons are scheduled to take on the Charter Oak Chargers for the regional title at 8 a.m. on Saturday, the Pee Wee Black Tritons have already been crowned regional
champions, due to a forfeit of the Charter Oak Chargers’ Pee Wee team. The Pee Wee Black Tritons, who are 9- to 11-year-olds from 75-135 pounds, have put together a stellar season with a 10-1 record, allowing no more than six points in any game this season. The Tritons dominated Deer Valley
finished third in their Division 1 heat at the CIF-SS Preliminaries at Mt. SAC. The top four teams in each preliminary heat qualified for the finals. San Clemente’s boys, No. 5 in the endof-season CIF-SS Division 1 rankings, will attempt to end a 32-year drought when the Tritons run for a chance to qualify for the CIF State Championships in the Division 1 Final at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday. The top seven teams in each division qualify for the state meet, meaning the Tritons are on track to break the streak if rankings hold. The CIF State Championships will run at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 27. The San Clemente boys won their heat by running as they have all season, with a strong pack at the top. Senior Hayden Beauchemin was the top Triton finisher in sixth place at 15:55 on the 2.93-mile course, with junior Juan Chantaca and sophomore Brett Ephraim finishing close behind in ninth and 10th, respectively. Chantaca ran a time of 15:58, and Ephraim ran 16:09. Junior Rory Catsimanes finished 17th at 16:23, and junior Grant Sestak round-
ed out the scoring five in 27th at 16:48. The Triton boys were also crowned South Coast League champions on Nov. 4, as Chantaca, Beauchemin and Ephraim finished 3-4-5, with Catsimanes in ninth and Sestak in 11th. San Clemente won the Orange County Championships on Oct. 16, as well. The San Clemente girls are returning to the CIF-SS Finals for the second consecutive time. The championships were not run in 2020, but the Tritons made the finals and qualified for the state in 2019, when then-senior Hana Catsimanes won the CIF-SS Division 1 individual title. On Saturday, the Tritons finished third in their heat with 95 points, ahead of Riverside Poly in the final qualifying spot with 108 points and last-team-out Aliso Niguel with 123 points. Sophomore Lyza Yetter set the pace for San Clemente with a seventh-place finish at 19:41. Senior Jessika Ephraim was the next in for the Tritons in 13th at 20 minutes even. Junior Abigail Howard finished 21st at 20:31, sophomore Bailey Sapp finished 26th at 20:49, and junior Kennedy Banks
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OTB Elite in the semifinals, 30-0, last Saturday, Nov. 13, at Buena Park High School. The Mighty Mite Tritons, who are 7- to 9-year-olds from 45-105 pounds, beat the Deer Valley Hurricanes in the semifinals last Saturday in Buena Park. SC
San Clemente’s boys and girls cross country teams (pictured after the South Coast League Finals) each qualified for the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals out of their respective preliminary heats on Saturday, Nov. 13. Photo: San Clemente High School Athletics
rounded out the San Clemente scorers in 35th at 21:21. This season, the Triton girls finished third at the South Coast League Finals and sixth at the Orange County Championships. San Clemente was unranked in Division 1 going into the preliminaries but beat out a handful of ranked teams to qualify for the CIF-SS Finals. SC sanclementetimes.com
SC SURF
California Scores ‘A’ on Surfrider’s State of the Beach Report The Golden State Continues to Be a National Leader in Coastal Management, Preservation BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
L
ast week, the San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation released its annual State of the Beach Report, and when it comes to leading the charge on matters of coastal management and preservation, California is one of the few states that garnered an “A” from the environmental organization. “The report is intended to be used as a tool to highlight areas that need the most work and provide potential solutions that can be implemented to protect our coasts and coastal communities for the future,” the report stated. Before we take a deep dive into what California is doing right, there are some broader statistics in the report showing the uphill battle ahead of us. For starters, what the report terms the “ocean economy” annually contributes $373 billion to the United States economy. Meanwhile, an overwhelming 67% of the states assessed are doing an adequate to poor job in responding to sea-level rise. And 50% of surveyed U.S. coastlines are either at “high” or “very high” risk of coastal erosion The report looked at four separate
For 100 years, surfers have been enjoying San Onofre, but with coast erosion and sea-level rise at hand, even this timeless surf spot is feeling the impact. Photo: Jake Howard
issues: sediment management, coastal armoring, development, and sea-level rise. California received a “good” rating for all of them except coastal armoring, which was rated “OK.” “Advancing coastal resilience is a clear priority for California, with the state’s Ocean Protection Council recently approving 15 grant projects prioritizing ‘nature-based’ adaptation efforts,” according to the analysis on California’s coastal armoring strategies—a subject that hits especially close to home, at places such as Beach Road in Capistrano Beach and Cotton’s Point in San Clemente. “Fortunately, California agencies and local municipalities have increased efforts to fund and implement living shorelines and other natural mechanisms as alternatives to new seawalls, as seen by local projects in areas including San Diego and San Francisco,” the report continued. Surfrider is recommending that emergency seawalls and “hard stabilization devices” be prohibited in the future, unless absolutely necessary, in which case the permitting process for such a project would be made considerably stricter.
Among other recommendations is a desire to see increased efforts to restore natural sediment flow to the coastline—a proposal that could potentially help local surf spots including Doheny, which gets some of its sand from the outflow of the San Juan Creek, and the Trestles area, which is supported by the San Mateo Creek. In July of 2021, Hawaii became the first and only state to put in place a new law requiring sea-level rise disclosures in real estate transactions. The law doesn’t take effect until next year. Given the value of coastal real estate in California, don’t be surprised if this becomes a reality here, too. On the national level, “both the Biden administration and Congress have made progress to uphold climate policies that were rolled back during the previous administration,” Surfrider reported. The Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2021 is the big piece of legislation that has been working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives. “This landmark bill will improve ocean protection, increase blue carbon ecosystems, promote responsible renewable
offshore energy and help communities adapt to sea-level rise,” explained Surfrider. “There are an additional nine pieces of legislation in the House that specifically focus on coastal and ocean implications of climate change,” Surfrider added. “Together, this is a major improvement in policy from the previous Congress and administration.” Without a doubt, our coastlines and surf spots are undergoing dramatic changes, but, thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom. California continues to lead the way forward, and while it may affect business as usual, it hopefully means generations after us will still be able to enjoy places such as Doheny, Trestles and San Onofre. 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 Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. SC
SURF FORECAST
GROM OF THE WEEK
BENJAMIN BRANTELL BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
T Benjamin Brantell. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente High Surf Team
San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
he fall season for high school surfing is ending, and as might be expected, San Clemente High just put in a dominant performance at the league individual championships last week. Sweeping the day, the Tritons’ Taylor Stacy won the women’s shortboard, Carolyn Sachse won the women’s longboard, Aidan Sautner took the men’s longboard, and it was Benjamin Brantell earning the victory in the highly competitive men’s shortboard division. Brantell has a long history of showing up
in the pages of this paper. He first got ink back in 2014, when he was an 8-year-old, after winning the Doheny Longboard Surfing Association’s 18th annual Menehune Surfing Contest. From the Positive Vibe Warriors’ StokeO-Rama to NSSA and high school wins, he’s periodically appeared as Grom of the Week since those early days. And now, with his latest victory, Brantell adds his name to a trophy that was previously hoisted by some of the area’s most iconic performers, including a trio of Gudauskas boys, a couple of Beschens, and a McPhillips or two, just to name a few. Congrats to Brantell and all the other San Clemente High surfers who were, in the immortal words of The Beach Boys, “true to their school.” SC Page 26
Water Temperature: 61-63 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-8 Thursday: Combination of south-southwest and northwest swells set up waist-shoulderhead high zone surf,(3-4-5’). Calm to light/ variable wind in the morning, shifts to a light+ onshore seabreeze in the afternoon. Outlook: The south-southwest and northwest swell mix maintains waist to shoulder high waves, (3-4’), through Friday and Saturday, then eases into the waist-stomach-chest high range, (2-3-4’), on Sunday. Light/variable morning winds are followed by light+ afternoon onshores Friday through the weekend.
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San Clemente Times November 18-24, 2021
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