November 26, 2020

November 26-December 2, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

C A N

INSIDE: 2020 Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide

U S E

SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 48

Holiday Cheer from Here to the Pier

Pandemic Brings Changes to Annual Holiday Events, Traditions G E T T I N G O U T/ PAG E 9

Despite cancellations to some of this year’s local traditions amid the pandemic, the city and other organizations have still found ways of bringing holiday cheer to San Clemente.

Photo: Chloe Anady

Council Votes to Censure Ferguson EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Hundreds Gather at Pier Bowl for Mask-Burning Rally EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

sanclementetimes.com

Council Contracts Firm to Audit BB&K’s Legal Bills EYE ON SC/PAGE 4

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

San Clemente COVID-19 UPDATES as of 11/24/20

Five things San Clemente should know this week Council Votes to Censure Ferguson THE LATEST: As one of the final acts of the current city council, it voted Monday, Nov. 23, to censure acting Mayor Laura Ferguson for “unacceptable conduct,” as she faced a litany of accusations from Councilmember Kathy Ward.

The council had met for a special meeting to deliberate the laundry list of charges Ward had brought forth that included instances of interfering with the city manager’s powers and duties, disclosing confidential information to the public and the press, and also openly criticizing city management, to name a few.

According to the city, “a censure does not levy a fine, suspension, or other penalty, but nevertheless represents the formal opinion of the City Council and, therefore, carries weight in the public arena.”

The nearly six-hour meeting concluded just before midnight in a 3-1 vote, with Ferguson dissenting. Leading up to the vote, Ferguson, who was represented by her own legal team throughout the night, characterized the perceived violations as allegations that lacked evidence.

“All they are, are allegations, because no facts have been proven. You didn’t have any findings of facts today that I could see, that broke any rule, standard or any law,” she said just before the vote. “So, this is just a big charade to embarrass me and harass me, in my opinion.”

After getting into the crux of the censure, Ward outlined her allegations, citing several instances in which she felt Ferguson’s actions violated the city’s rules and standards.

One such example was Ferguson’s decision during a September meeting to announce a potential lawsuit from former City Manager James Makshanoff.

Ferguson had made public the contents of a letter from Makshanoff’s attorney alleging claims of breach of contract, wrongful termination and retaliation against the city. Ward said that Ferguson made the announcement after City Attorney Scott Smith had advised councilors not to comment, because the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority requested cooperation.

Ward also raised the issue of Ferguson using her city councilmember Facebook page back in May to publicly criticize theninterim City Manager Robert Dunek about fencing installed around the Pier Bowl

TOTAL CASES

cases

deaths

TOTAL

733

11

LAST 30 DAYS

175

3

LAST 30 DAYS

est. population • 65,405 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for daily local & county statistics. Source: Orange County Health Care Agency

that the decision for censure wasn’t political nor meant “to go after Mayor Pro Tem Ferguson because we don’t like her.”

“There’s been clear instances that have happened that have really hindered the work of the city council and potentially caused a hostile work environment,” Ward said, before slamming Ferguson for using outside counsel as representation. “This is a reprimand or censure of colleagues to each other, and it’s just indicative of how she works with the council.”

Ferguson later clapped back, noting that Ward and the rest of the council had legal counsel representing them and to the tune of $3,000 to $5,000.

“Would you expect me to just show up and get tarred and feathered? I don’t think so,” Ferguson said, adding: “I came prepared. You came prepared at the taxpayers’ expense.” —Shawn Raymundo

Hundreds Gather at Pier Bowl for Mask-Burning Rally

Demonstrators burn face masks in a firepit at the beach near the San Clemente Pier on Saturday, Nov. 21, as part of a rally against the state’s latest Limited Stay-at- Home Order, requiring all non-essential work and gatherings to cease from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

parking lot to deter overcrowding at the beaches amid the pandemic.

“Ferguson used her Facebook page to put pressure on the city manager to reverse his order putting up this fence,” Ward said. “The city manager received many, many emails criticizing the city manager and ordering him to remove the fence when, in fact, he no longer had the authority to do so.”

Ferguson’s attorney, Brad Malamud, argued, however, that none of these instances, nor the others brought up, show a violation of the city’s laws, as they’re protected by the First Amendment.

“Those aren’t evidence. At best, it’s hearsay … there is no case. So, the public understands, what the council just did was become judge, jury and executioner,” Malamud said, later adding: “You didn’t cite a single municipal rule she violated.”

And in regard to the Makshanoff letter, Malamud cited a conversation he and

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

Ferguson had with the CJPIA, which told them she may release the letter but would prefer she didn’t.

Smith later went over his analysis of the proposed resolution for censure, recommending that certain portions and findings cited be struck from the record based on a lack evidence and input from both sides of the censure.

One instance of this regarded the fencing issue, as Smith noted that there was quite a bit of confusion around the time because of the pandemic, as well as circumstances surrounding the council’s decisions, which were often deadlocked in 2-2 votes.

Smith advised that this specific example be deleted from the findings for censure, as the testimony and situation from the incident lacked clarity.

After revising the resolution for censure, the council decided to move forward with the reprimand. Ward had reasoned

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THE LATEST: As the clock struck 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, hundreds enthusiastically threw face masks into a firepit on the beach near the San Clemente Pier, sending a sharp rebuke to Gov. Gavin Newsom and his limited curfew imposed on counties struggling to get a handle on the latest surge in coronavirus cases.

Led by San Clemente resident Alan Hostetter and his American Phoenix Project, Saturday’s demonstration was advertised as “a clear act of defiance” that coincided with the first night of the state’s Limited Stay-at-Home Order. A similar rally was also held the same night in Huntington Beach.

“This mask burning we’re about to do is the (Boston) Tea Party of 2020,” Hostetter said, eliciting cheers from the crowd of mask-less demonstrators, many of whom, donning Make America Great Again caps, waved American and Trump 2020 flags.

The limited curfew, announced late last week for counties within the purple “widespread” risk tier, placed a moratorium on all non-essential work, movement and gatherings between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the next month.

The order comes as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are on the rise in California and the rest of the nation. It also followed the state’s decision to drop several counties, including Orange County, back into the purple tier—the most restrictive level on its four-tiered, color-coded coronavirus monitoring system.

While there was a presence from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, like in previous rallies and protests throughout the year, the gathering and mask burning demonstration went off without intervention from law enforcement.

(Cont. on page 4) sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) Sheriff Don Barnes last Thursday, Nov. 19, issued a statement in response to the governor’s Limited Stay-at-Home Order, explaining that the department wouldn’t enforce the curfew and instead maintain its position of taking “an education-first approach with regard to the public health orders.”

Barnes had said that while OCSD is “assessing the action by the Governor,” deputy sheriffs “will not be responding to requests for face-coverings or social gatherings-only enforcement,” because they need to be available for emergency calls.

Daryl Wilkinson, a former Dana Point resident currently living in Anaheim who attended the rally on Saturday, acknowledged the severity of the pandemic, but said he believes the restrictions are a step too far.

“We want to stand up for our God-given Constitutional rights,” he said, adding: “It’s understandable that, yes, there is an epidemic, a situation with the pandemic, but our present government has no right to impede on everyone’s rights to assemble while they’re ignoring the data on the infection rate and the fatality rate of this pandemic.”

The county on Monday, Nov. 23, reached a new milestone in total cases, surpassing more than 71,110 cumulatively to date, as 1,422 new positive cases were reported to the health office. More than 1,550 county residents have died from the disease, according to Orange County Health Care Agency.

As of Monday, there were 428 people reportedly being treated for COVID-19 in the county’s hospitals, the highest number since mid-August. Of those in the hospital, 105 had been admitted to an intensive care unit.

Over the weekend, San Clemente also saw a jump in cases, adding 51 reported infections between Friday, Nov. 20, and Monday, bringing the city’s cumulative total to 759.

Though Wilkinson, who regularly wears a face mask for his work, participated in the rally on Saturday, he said he didn’t want to burn his mask, noting its cost and support for the reelection of President Donald Trump.

“No, I did not (burn it); I can’t,” Wilkinson said with a laugh. “Mine is a Trump 2020 mask, and I don’t want to burn it.”—SR

Council Contracts Firm to Audit BB&K’s Legal Bills

THE LATEST: The government consulting firm Management Partners has been tapped by the city council to assess and audit Best, Best & Krieger’s bills to the city—a process to see whether the law firm has provided adequate services, as well as potentially open the door for new legal representation.

The council on Nov. 17, decided, in a 3-1 vote, with acting Mayor Laura Ferguson opposed, to authorize a $34,500 service contract with Management Partners. The firm will be tasked with reviewing BB&K’s legal bills, which amounted to more than

$8.4 million between Fiscal Years 2016 and 2020, according to the city.

“I think an audit is appropriate after a vendor has been with us for five years,” Councilmember Gene James said during the council’s meeting last week. “It’s only fair to the taxpayers and the city to look at how they’ve performed.”

Along with Councilmember Kathy Ward, James led the solicitation process in finding a consultant interested in assessing the city attorney’s costs, stating that the results of the audit would give the council “objective data that we’ll need to make an informed decision.”

Such a decision would include whether to retain BB&K, initiate a new request for proposals to solicit law firms with which to contract, or consider hiring a full-time in-house city attorney.

“This legal review, council asked for this to come back, so we can be transparent to our residents and let them know the truth of our legal billings, instead of what is cited on social media and comments made,” Ward said. “We just want everyone to know exactly what we’ve paid and what we’ve gotten for it.”

The city has previously noted that the more than $8.4 million BB&K has charged the city over the past five fiscal years represents general and specialized services, which include “litigation and other nonroutine legal services.”

In FY 2015-2016, the first year of the city’s contract, BB&K’s total bill was just shy of $1.8 million. The following year, legal costs amounted to more than $1.95 million, while FY 2018 and FY 2019’s bills came out to about $1.66 million and $1.6 million, respectively. This past fiscal year, FY 2020, the city was charged just a little over $1.4 million.—SR

New Council to Take Up In-N-Out’s Appeal on Permit Conditions THE LATEST: The newly seated city council already has its hands full with some important decisions to make after the New Year, but a vote on whether to reverse some conditions the planning commission imposed on the proposed In-N-Out project has been added to the plate.

At In-N-Out’s request, the current city council last week agreed to table until January a discussion and vote over an appeal the fast-food chain filed regarding its conditional use permit from the planning commission.

This past September, planning commissioners unanimously approved the restaurant’s project plans, which proposes to demolish the former California Bank & Trust building located at Pico Plaza—on Avenida Pico, just off Interstate 5.

As a condition of approval, the commission tacked on a couple of caveats, requiring In-N-Out to remove the 7-foot-tall sign

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

it had proposed from its plans, as well as the red LED cove lighting on the building.

Commissioners at the time had raised concerns over the sign and the lighting, believing the red LED lighting to be “incompatible” with the city’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and that “allowing it would set a precedent for allowing this type of Gateway areas,” according to the city.

As for the monument sign, commissioners felt it was “unnecessary and contributes to sign pollution due to its proximity to the existing non-conforming Pico Plaza pylon sign,” the city explained.

The popular West Coast burger establishment appealed the approval of the permit with the city, prompting the project to go before the city council to either reverse the conditions or uphold the planning commission’s decision.

When the four city councilors met on Nov. 17—in what was supposed to be their final meeting together before the newly elected members took office—city staff notified the body that In-N-Out had requested a continuation of the discussion until Jan. 19.

In a statement read aloud to the council last Tuesday, the company asked for the deferral so it could have “time to bolster our arguments,” and have Henry Lenny, the architect and author of the city’s guidelines on Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, express his support for the appeal.

According to the city’s report on the matter, staff is recommending the council approve In-N-Out’s appeal and remove the conditions on the LED lighting and monument sign.

Councilmember Chris Hamm, the only departing councilor from office after deciding not to seek reelection this year, expressed support for continuing the vote until January, recognizing the potential for another deadlocked vote, which could mean the project gets nixed.

“I don’t think anybody on council wants that to happen,” Hamm said, later explaining, “I’m more willing to discuss it this evening, but just as a footnote, I’m not willing to overturn what the planning commission has already approved or what their position on this issue is.”

The council unanimously voted to defer the discussion to January, when Councilmembers-elect Chris Duncan and Steven Knoblock have been seated on the dais, joining Councilmembers Kathy Ward, Laura Ferguson and Gene James, who won his reelection bid earlier this month.—SR

School District Looks Back at Failed Bond Measures THE LATEST: In light of bond measures intended to fund school improvements that have been voted down in recent years, the Capistrano Unified School District

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A number of factors played a role in the outcome of the March Primary Election, when CUSD’s bond measures to secure funding for school renovations failed to pass, a retrospective on the unsuccessful bids found. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

(CUSD) Board of Trustees heard a presentation on the circumstances surrounding the unsuccessful bids during a regular meeting on Nov. 18.

Voters did not approve bond measures placed on ballots in March 2020 and November 2016 that would have funded school facility renovations.

Timothy McLarney with True North Research—the district’s survey consultant—and Charles Heath of TBWBH, the strategy and communication consultants on the bond measure process—mentioned numerous factors surrounding the March primary election, including rising partisanship, the COVID-19 pandemic and stock market conditions creating uncertainty, as well as negative advertising.

“Just trying to put this election in context based on what else we saw with measures on the ballot in Orange County and around the state, this was a historically tough election for bond measures, in Orange County specifically but also throughout California,” Heath said while displaying an informational slide on failed bond measures in other Orange County school districts.

Measures H and I on the March ballot received 44.16% and 45.77% yes votes, respectively. Measure H’s margin of defeat was 2,400 votes, while Measure I’s was 4,200 votes. Measure M in 2016 received 45.47% yes votes. The measures needed to meet a 55% approval level to pass.

More Democrats generally voted in favor of the bonds than Republicans.

“What we see is a strong correlation between those precincts that have the highest percentage of Democrats, the lowest percentage of Republicans, the lowest percentages of homeowners, and the lowest percentages of older voters tended to be the stronger precincts for Measure H,” Heath said.

Suggestions going forward included needing stronger turnout and involvement from parents (whose turnout was lower than expected), communicating with voters from all parties on facility needs, and needing a favorable election environment to reach the required 55% vote threshold for passage.—Collin Breaux EDITOR’S NOTE: Extended versions to these stories can be found at sanclementetimes.com. sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

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EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES Community COMPILED BY SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Meetings

Exchange Club Recognizes Deputy, Firefighter of the Year The Exchange Club of San Clemente’s annual award ceremony to honor the Sheriff Deputy of the Year and Firefighter of the Year is a time-honored tradition dating back nearly 30 years.

But due to the latest restrictions from COVID-19, the club was forced to recognize Deputy Juan Lara and Engineer Josh Hansink as this year’s recipients without all the pomp and circumstance that normally goes into the annual luncheon.

In a smaller-than-usual ceremony witnessed by family members and a handful of deputies and firefighters, the Exchange Club recognized Lara as Sheriff Deputy of the Year and Hansink as Firefighter of the Year at Bella Collina San Clemente on Thursday, Nov. 19.

Larry Rannals, president of the Exchange Club, delivered the welcoming remarks, stating that Lara and Hansink “represent the ‘best of the best’ in their chosen career fields” and that the club “could not be more proud to host this event for that purpose.”

Touching on a year that has seen nationwide social unrest over racial inequality, as well as protests against stay-at-home orders, Rannals went on to also state that he believes no other awards have been as important as this year’s, “I believe none has been, or is more important than this year—due to the degree of verbal abuse, disrespect, and ill treatment our nation’s law enforcement and first responders have endured around the country these past nine months,” Rannals said in prepared remarks shared with the San Clemente Times.

According to the club, Lara and Hansink heard presentations from some of their commanding officers and superiors, praising them for their work, and also received commendations on behalf of Congressman Mike Levin, State Sen. Patricia Bates, Assemblymember Bill Brough and the city of San Clemente.

Initially, the event was slated to have about 60 attendees, as well as members of the press. However, following the state’s move early last week to place Orange County back into the purple “widespread” tier—the most restrictive level on the coronavirus monitoring system—the club opted to go with a smaller ceremony involving roughly 20 individuals.

Review of Massage Parlor Business Applications Now Under OCSD Purview The city’s police services contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be amended to give the law enforce-

TUESDAY, DEC. 1

CITY COUNCIL 6 p.m. The San Clemente City Council will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting via teleconference and can be streamed through the city’s YouTube channel. 949.361.8200.

ment agency oversight in reviewing applications for massage parlors—a move meant to bolster efforts to combat human trafficking locally.

City councilors last week unanimously approved the amendment, giving OCSD the additional review authority when a prospective massage establishment applies for permits and business licenses with the city.

“I think it does create another layer for the good operator,” Councilmember Gene James said during the Nov. 17 council meeting.

“However, there (are) so many bad actors on this, it creates that extra layer of due diligence to attack that human trafficking (issue).”

Allowing OCSD oversight of such applications was included in the massage parlor ordinance the city council passed in late August. Its intent is to strengthen the city’s regulations on the sector and shut down illicit establishments, ideally bringing an end to human trafficking at massage parlors in Orange County.

In addition to giving OCSD the additional authority, the ordinance also now holds landlords more accountable for tenants operating illicit massage parlors and added certain restrictions to legitimate businesses.

The council’s vote last week made the task of reviewing contracts an official service included in the OCSD’s contract—and at no additional charge, according to the city.

Prior to the ordinance and the latest council vote, application reviews for massage parlors had fallen on the shoulders of the city’s planning department.

Under OCSD’s purview, the agency will be able to conduct background checks on the businesses’ operators, potentially rooting out illicit activity, which is largely run by crime syndicates and organizations.

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

Have something interesting to submit to our News Bites section?

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

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

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SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Full Speed Ahead

Local Elections Usher in New Voices

BY NORB GARRETT, OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF PICKET FENCE MEDIA

A

s the nation (and world) await final, official resolution of the U.S. Presidential election, locally the races have been determined, and new faces will assume seats on the San Clemente City Council next month.

All of us here at the San Clemente Times and its parent company, Picket Fence Media, congratulate councilmembers-elect Steve Knoblock and Chris Duncan, as well as incumbent Councilmember Gene James, while also thanking all of the other candidates for their desire to serve our community and participate in the democratic process.

Thanks, too, to outgoing Councilmembers

Norb Garrett

OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF PICKET FENCE MEDIA

Chris Hamm and Dan Bane (stepped down earlier this year) for their service to our community; we wish you all the best and hope you’ll continue to provide support and

input to San Clemente and its residents.

The next couple of years will be important ones here in San Clemente. As local businesses of all sizes, as well as schools, local government and our service industries, struggle to regain footing while the global pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our daily lives, the role of local government becomes even more important.

San Clemente’s city government has historically been a strong advocate for local businesses, and I’m certain that the incoming councilmembers will continue in that tradition to help guide and advise city staff as we find our collective way through life in a pandemic coupled with heightened social and racial challenges.

We here at SC Times remain committed to doing our part, as well, and look forward to supporting the community through the paper, daily SC Times e-newsletters, our website, social channels and specials such as the upcoming SC Times “Best of San Clemente People’s Choice Ole Awards.”

Congratulations again to all who participated in our local elections, and a special thanks to you, the voters, for playing your part to help shape our city’s future. SC

GUEST OPINION: Bartlett Bulletin by OC Board Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

How to Bring a Little Joy and Laughter to Our Seniors During a Challenging Holiday Season

T

he holiday season is a time filled with joy, laughter and the magic of the season. But this year, celebrating the holidays will be challenging for everyone, as we strive to keep COVID-19 at bay, while safely gathering with family and friends. This is especially true when it comes to our senior population and the most vulnerable. While COVID may change how we celebrate the holidays this year, it should not stop us from connecting with loved ones. That is why my colleagues and I on the Board of Supervisors are calling on residents to safely connect with their elderly neighbors this holiday season.

“Happy Holidays Neighbor!” is a public awareness micro-campaign targeted at raising awareness of the dangers related to senior isolation and suggesting ways everyday citizens can reach out and make a difference. No one should be alone during the holidays. The Happy Holidays Neighbor! micro-campaign connects seniors with local neighbors who can provide help and support.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website,

there are many public-health risks linked to social isolation and loneliness. With one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older considered to be socially isolated, this makes seniors more susceptible to increased risk of serious medical conditions, such as dementia and heart disease.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further cut off seniors from regular social engagement, as well as limit their ability to access needed food, supplies and medication. During the holiday period, seniors face further challenges related to gift buying, mailing packages and decorating their home exteriors.

THE BARTLETT The Happy Holidays BULLETIN Neighbor! public awareBy Lisa Bartlett ness micro-campaign suggests ways to connect and support seniors this holiday season in COVID-safe ways that focus on physical distancing but still maintain a social connection. It features a printable postcard that neighbors can fill out and send to local seniors, asking what

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

assistance they need and providing the neighbor’s contact information.

Additionally, the micro-campaign provides information about county and local senior resources that are important during the holiday season. Lending a helping hand or sending a greeting card can make all the difference for someone who is homebound or has been isolating due to COVID. It’s a great way to share the spirit of the holidays.

While the physical health of our seniors is critical, we cannot overlook the importance of mental health. The holidays are a time to come together to show how much we care for the health and well-being of our seniors.

Please join us in bringing a little joy and laughter to our seniors during this challenging holiday season. Happy holidays!

Lisa Bartlett sits on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the 5th District. She was reelected in 2018. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

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EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo

Art Director Jasmine Smith

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex

City Editor, Capo Dispatch Collin Breaux

General Manager Alyssa Garrett

O P E R AT I O N S

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

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

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

San Clemente Times, Vol. 15, Issue 48. The SC Times (sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (danapointtimes. com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch. com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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SOAPBOX

Letters to the Editor DURING THIS YEAR PAMELA BAKER, San Clemente

During this year’s election, in certain parts of our city and at major intersections, our city appeared to be overtaken with illegally placed political signs per San Clemente’s sign ordinance.

I call it litter. There is no excuse for this.

Candidates running for the first time did not do their homework regarding this ordinance or simply chose to ignore it.

The current councilmember who ran apparently knew but chose to ignore it. The candidates running who were former councilmembers also chose to ignore it. If they didn’t know the ordinance, pathetic.

Because of the plethora of signs that remained in place for weeks, this gave license for others to do likewise. Business advertising signs started appearing in illegally placed venues.

Is code enforcement at fault for not removing these signs? Candidates who should know better chose to ignore our sign ordinance, causing code enforcement more work than should be necessary and taking time away from more important code enforcement issues.

Shame on all of you. We were voting for can-

didates to uphold the rules of our city. A very simple, basic one was disrespected while you were campaigning to gain residents’ respect.

San Clemente has a graffiti hot line. Call them when you see it. San Clemente has a sign ordinance. Call code enforcement when it is being violated.

The irony of this (is that) a resident who removes a political sign (cleaning up graffiti or litter) is subject to more punishment than the perpetrators.

About 10 or 12 years ago, the city was denied an In-N-Out, and we should be fortunate that they chose to come back; so now that the opportunity is here, we should not let some silly ideas prevent this attractive and positive project be lost again.

The sooner, the better.

IN-N-OUT

All of the points made in Norm Petersen’s letter—software that switches votes, ballots accepted after the deadline, unmatched signatures, envelopes discarded, and more— have been disregarded and thrown out of court—in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania federal courts.

If all the allegations are true, why didn’t the Democrats take over the Senate? And then lose seats in the House?

Trump wants to be a dictator, and people who support his movement in this direction also want to take over our country.

I was a Republican for a long time. Now, I am embarrassed to be an American.

Trump people should be, too.

JOE TOLOSA, San Clemente

The election is now over and the San Clemente City Council should be comprised of five full members, and without a doubt, there is plenty of work to do.

It seems that the planning commission approved the new In-N-Out development, and that now it is up to the city council to approve this development.

This project should have a high priority, as it has been in the works for quite some time. It will be a big plus for the city and also increase revenue. There are a couple of wrinkles in the plan from planning, and one is part of the overall logo of the building and something called sign pollution.

These things should easily be overcome, as major businesses have their conventional logos and buildings in welldefined and consistent ways.

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

IN RESPONSE TO CRITICISM OF ‘REGISTRAR AUDIT’ JEAN BRAUN, San Clemente

ANOTHER RESPONSE TO CRITICISM

is guilty of “yellow journalism” in reference to voter fraud, when he is spreading unfounded claims of “massive” voter fraud.

To date, almost all lawsuits filed by Trump’s legal eagles have been thrown out of court for lack of evidence. Both Republican and Democratic Secretaries of States in the contested states have said that there was no massive voter fraud in their states.

A quote from NPR says it all.

“The campaign’s continued push to question the results comes as states are in the process of certifying votes and as almost every top election official in the country—both Republican and Democratic—insists the election ran smoothly with no signs of widespread fraud.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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

BILL PRESTRIDGE, San Clemente

The letter from Norm Petersen is amazing in that he is stating that the SC Times

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No Beachside Chat on Friday, Nov. 27

Beachside Chat will resume on Dec. 4.

sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

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

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

Saturday | 28 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.

Pandemic Brings Changes to Annual Holiday Events, Traditions

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

s the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to rage across the nation, this year’s holiday season is sure to be unlike any other in modern history.

Certain holiday-themed events traditionally celebrated in the community have already been canceled this year, including the city’s annual Santa’s Village by the Sea. And the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce won’t be running its Winter Wonderland Light Decorating contest either.

Despite these cancellations, joining the litany of other annual events that didn’t occur this year because of the public health crisis, the city and the Chamber of

Sunday | 29

EDITOR’S PICK

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.

LOW-COST PET VACCINE CLINIC 10-11:30 a.m. The Feed Barn offers lowcost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. Vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams, and diagnostic testing available on-site. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. 34192 Dohebny Park Road, Capistrano Beach. 1.800.988.8387. vetcarepetclinic.com.

Wednesday | 02 BACKYARD OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 8-10 p.m. Knuckleheads’ backyard is open for food, drinks and live music. Performers of all skill levels are welcome. If you are a musician, do stand-up comedy or

Commerce have still found other ways of bringing holiday cheer to San Clemente.

The Chamber on Monday, Nov. 23, announced the launch of its “Love Our San Clemente Seniors Holiday Cheer Campaign,” wherein members of the community can create holiday cards now through Dec. 9 that “Santa and his elves will deliver” to selected senior living homes in San Clemente.

“Santa and two of his shortest and most enthusiastic elves will deliver these homemade cards to many San Clemente senior-living residents this December,” Susie Lantz, the Chamber’s membership director, said in a press release.

The Chamber said that with seniors being among those most impacted by the pandemic, it wanted to focus on giving back this year.

“One of our members inquired about local programs to support the seniors, and our staff quickly jumped into action to create this effort,” Director of Operations Arlen Flores said in the release. “Fortunately, we have an elf ambassador at the North Pole, so we were able to get onto Santa’s calendar.”

The cards can be mailed to San Clemente Chamber of Commerce at 1231 Puerta del Sol, Suite 200, San Clemente, or hand-delivered to the Chamber’s office, where there will be a special drop box for

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

Art by Christine Nguyen displayed in Casa Romanitca’s virtual exhibition. Photo: Courtesy of Casa Romantica

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1: VIRTUAL EXHIBITION: CHRISTINE NGUYEN Experience Casa Romantica’s free, virtual exhibition by installation artist Christine Nguyen through Feb. 7. Nguyen’s work draws upon the imagery of nature, the sciences, and the cosmos, but it is not limited to a conventional reading of these realms. It imagines that the depths of the ocean reach into outer space, that through an organic prism, vision can fluctuate between the micro- and macroscopic. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

the spoken word, this is the place to be on Wednesday nights. So, come down, grab a drink and go for it. Knuckleheads

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

the campaign.

And while the city won’t be hosting the Santa’s Village this year, it plans to offer an alternative for several San Clemente neighborhoods over the first two weekends of December, when “Santa” will cruise through streets “parade-style, waving and spreading holiday cheer on the iconic San Clemente Trolley.”

“Santa’s elves will be handing out goodie bags to children along the street, making periodic stops to allow for socially distanced photos in front of the Trolley with Santa,” the city said on its event page.

According to the city, HOAs and neighborhood representatives were to submit applications for a visit from the Holly Jolly Trolley Trot by Nov. 13. The trot is scheduled to take place on Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12. It was unclear as of press time which neighborhoods will be visited and when.

As of press time, city officials had not returned San Clemente Times’ request for comment.

As for the annual Hanukkah events, the Chabad Jewish Center of San Clemente still intends to hold socially distanced versions of its festivities at the San Clemente Pier and the Outlets at San Clemente.

Rabbi Mendel Slavin explained Monday that while the “Chanukah on the Pier” and “Menorah at the Outlets” are still scheduled for Dec. 13 and Dec. 17, respectively,

the center is ready to make adjustments— for example, switching to virtual ceremonies—if the state issues additional restrictions.

“If for some reason the government recommends we don’t gather … we’ll skip it; we’ll do it virtually. That means we’ll still light the menorah, but not have people there,” Slavin said, adding: “The last thing we want to do is start a super-spreading event.”

In years past, he said, the events would attract between 200 and 300 people. But for this year’s event at the pier, the center will limit it to only 50 people, requiring that participants stay socially distanced and wear face coverings.

“The uncertainly that surrounds our community and the anxiety that people are having, the light of Hanukkah is meant to bring a message of comfort and the act that God is always watching over us,” Slavin said when asked why this year’s events are more important than recent years.

The miracle of Hanukkah, he continued, was the perseverance of a small group of people who overcame mountainous odds.

“Perseverance is battle on the outside or a battle of yourself, within,” he said.

“These struggles, at the end of the day, God is watching us, and hopefully we’ll see an end to this (pandemic) very soon.” SC

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Holiday Happenings Saturday, Nov. 28

Friday, Dec. 4

SEE THE ‘WORLD’S TALLEST TREE’

SANTA PAWS

Get a gander of what is being promoted as the “world’s tallest tree” at the Outlets of San Clemente, from now through Jan. 4. The 125-foot white fir Christmas tree from Mt. Shasta is a great photo spot for the family.

101 W Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.535.2323. outletsatsanclemente.com.

HOLIDAYS AT THE HARBOR

Check out the annual holiday light display at Dana Point Harbor, from now through January 3. There will be lighted trees and themed exhibits for visitors to admire. 34571 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 949.388.3663. danapointharbor.com.

Thursday, Dec. 3 CAPISTRANO LIGHTS

Enjoy the annual holiday event on the historic grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Grounds open at 4:30 p.m., nightly tree lighting is at 5 p.m., and the grounds close at 6 p.m. The event runs on select dates through January 3. Get into the holiday spirit by snapping a photo at the wreath by the front courtyard and enjoy the other festive sights. Face masks are required, and social distancing will be enforced. Tickets must be purchased in advance: $5 for the general public and $3 for Mission members. 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano.

949.234.1300. capistranolights.com.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Take a photo with your pet at Dana Point Harbor. Cost is $15 for an initial photo, and $10 for additional photos. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals at the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter. Dogs must be leashed, and participants are required to wear face masks. A reservation system will be in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will also be held on Dec. 5. 34571 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 949.388.3663. danapointharbor.com.

SANTA’S JOLLEY TROLLEY

3-7:30 p.m. Santa and his elves from the City of Dana Point Recreation Division will spread holiday cheer throughout Dana Point and hand out pre-packaged treats. Onlookers are encouraged to wear face masks and practice social distancing. Visit the city’s website for a full list of stops and times. 949.248.3536. danapoint.org.

DRIVE-IN MOVIE ON THE MEADOWS

5-7:30 p.m. The City of San Clemente is hosting a screening of The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause at Vista Hermosa Sports Park. Vehicle registration is $15, and pre-registration is required. Visit the city’s website for information on parking and safety guidelines. 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org. (continued)

Editor’s note: These events are subject to change during the COVID-19 pandemic.

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

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(continued)

LIGHT IT UP! AT SAN CLEMENTE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

5:30 or 7:30 p.m. San Clemente Presbyterian Church is looking to lift spirits with an outdoor night of Christmas carols, hot cocoa, photo booth opportunities, and more. There will be Christmas shows at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and a merry hour at 6:30 p.m. Kids can enjoy a Christmas workshop program at 5:30 p.m. Anyone going is advised to wear a mask, and the evening will be livestreamed if you’d rather watch from home. 119 Avenida de la Estrella, San Clemente.

949.492.6158. scpres.org.

Saturday, Dec. 5 9TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Our Lady of Fatima Academy is holding an outdoor and socially distanced boutique this year.

The event will have vendors and activities, including a raffle giveaway, Christmas tree decorating contest, and mimosa and hot chocolate bar.

Shopping for seniors and those with special conditions is from 9-9:30 a.m.

105 N. La Esperanza, San Clemente.

949.874.0073. olfacademy.net.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLIDAY MARKET

9 a.m.-2 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Historical Society will host a holiday market with vintage crafts in the Los Rios Historic District. All attendees are asked to wear a face mask.

O’Neill Museum, 31831 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.8444. sjchistoricalsociety.com.

BOAT RIDES WITH SANTA

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Head out into the water at Dana Point Harbor with jolly St. Nick himself. The event is hosted by Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. Cost is $5 per person, with proceeds going to Soroptimist of Capistrano Bay Charity. Boat riders must make a reservation beforehand, with a six-person limit per reservation.

34675 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. danawharf.com.

DRIVE-THRU HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

5-7 p.m. It will be a San Juan Christmas during a car parade and winter wonderland in downtown San Juan Capistrano. Festivities will include a car decorating contest, treat handouts and giveaways, and an appearance

by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. The event is free, and participants can register on the city’s website (deadline is 5 p.m. on Dec. 3). El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.5911. sanjuancapistrano.org.

Sunday, Dec. 6 GINGERBREAD HOUSE AND HOLIDAY COOKIE DECORATING

2-4 p.m. Bring the family to decorate a gingerbread house at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, with help from their pastry experts. Complimentary hot cocoa served, and other beverages will be available for purchase. The event will be held outdoors. Cost is $220 per gingerbread house, and reservations can be made by calling beforehand.

The event will also be held on Dec. 13. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point.

949.240.2000. ritzcarlton.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 9 HOLIDAY CAROLERS AT DANA POINT HARBOR

4-7 p.m. Listen to some seasonal tunes while enjoying the water and shops in Dana Point. Carolers will also be out on Dec. 16 and Dec. 23. 34675 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point.

949.388.3663. danapointharbor.com.

Friday, Dec. 18 DRIVE-IN MOVIE ON THE MEADOWS

5-7:30 p.m. The City of San Clemente is hosting a screening of The Grinch at Vista Hermosa Sports Park. Vehicle registration is $15, and pre-registration is required. Visit the city’s website for information on parking and safety guidelines. 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Editor’s note: These events are subject to change during the COVID-19 pandemic.

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

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San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

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SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Historical Happenings by Tom Marshall

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Marion

Give the Gift of Happier Times This Holiday Season T

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

or those looking to give something special this troubled holiday season, the San Clemente Historical Society offers some unique gift suggestions. To raise money for our continued preservation efforts and student scholarships, we offer several items celebrating San Clemente’s unique history.

A new book, Orange County Memories, will go on sale on Dec. 4.

Published by Pediment Publishing in conjunction with the Orange County Register and several historical societies, the slick coffee table book offers pictures dating from the 1800s through the 1930s, including a dozen from the San Clemente Historical Society HISTORICAL archives.

HAPPENINGS It covers not only

By Tom Marshall the momentous events, but also the everyday life of Orange County and its residents. The price is $35 when purchased from the Historical Society.

We also still have a limited number of copies of our classic children’s history book, From Fishcarts to Fiestas.

The creation of former Historical Society president Blythe Welton, with illustrations by Mary Lou Nicolai, has been used by local schools to teach third grade local history and is now in its third printing.

Funded and put together by Histori-

cal Society and Junior Women’s Club members in the 1970s, the first issue was hand-silkscreened with each page hung on a clothesline to dry.

“It was a very primitive method even for those times. We were basically rubbing two sticks together to make a fire,” Nicolai recently explained to the Historical Society.

The newest editions were professionally produced and included updated information with additional illustrations by local artist Lisa Spinelli of Lisa B. Designs. The cost is $25.

Another picture-laden book, Images of America—San Clemente, was authored

by Jennifer A. Garey, with more than 100 photos from the Historical Society and published by Arcadia Press. It is a comprehensive history of our Spanish Village by the Sea. The cost is $25.

Pictures from the Historical Society archives, including all those in the Arcadia Press book, are also available for purchase. Suitable for framing in several sizes, they are perfect for home or office. Prices vary based on size. Check our website at sanclementehistoricalsociety.org for information and ordering.

Also look for our ad in next week’s SC Times.

And, of course, we are always looking for new members to join our cause of protecting the historic heritage of our splendid town. Gift memberships for as low as $25 per year make a great stocking stuffer.

Finally, the board of directors and members of the Historical Society wish

Local Real Estate By Local Experts Jeremy Conrad Broker, DRE# 01279209 949.542.8348 Jconrad@conradrealestate.com

his black and white beauty is Marion, a 3-month-old sweetheart who is ready to make your acquaintance. Quite the affectionate kitten, Marion will gladly trade you snuggles and purrs for some brushing and lap time. She has a confident personality and wouldn’t mind living with another cat or two. Could Marion be the one for you?

Marion and all of her feline friends are part of an adoption special going on now at the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter. All adoption fees for cats and kittens are reduced by 50% during the month of November.

If you are interested in adopting Marion,

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

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

all of you a safe and memorable holiday season as we put the year 2020 in the rearview mirror.

Tom Marshall is a member of the San Clemente Historical Society and a retired journalist. SC

Did you know that...

See the solution in next week’s issue.

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

Sponsored by

• Active listing inventory continues to be historically low at just 133 active listings in all of San Clemente with an average listing price of $2,075,084.

Bill Conrad Broker, DRE# 01461548 949.542.8349 Billc@conradrealestate.com

• As of 11-15-2020, there have been 957 closed sales in San Clemente and 97 pending sales with an average closing price of $1,197,951.

Steve Conrad Property Manager, DRE# 01297404 949.542.8347 Stevec@conradrealestate.com

• Only 6 of the closed sales in San Clemente of the 957 closed were either bank owned or short sale properties making over 99% standard equity sales.

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

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

Page 16

It’s time to expect more…

Established 1963

sanclementetimes.com

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

In Life, Opportunity Often Arises from Adversity

M

illions of people worldwide have experienced unthinkable and unavoidable adversity in the year 2020. Of course, COVID-19 is the biggest factor, but natural disasters such as wildfires, smoke, hurricanes and flooding have added to the adversity.

People have lost their loved ones, jobs, homes and social interaction with friends—the list goes on and on. For the most part, adversity has hit seniors the hardest. The death toll from COVID-19 is highest among the senior population.

There is a flicker of hope on the horizon. The vaccines developed so far have

been touted to be at least 90% effective.

Once this adversity is behind us, opportunities will start to arise for individuals. Jobs will become available. Believe me, I’m not trying to paint a rosy or idealistic picture about what has happened to us all in 2020—it’s been a terrible year.

In 1994, I learned a valuable lesson about adversity and how opportunity can arise from it. On Christmas Eve in 1993, my life changed dramatically when my ON LIFE AND wife of six years—withLOVE AFTER 50 out informing me of her

By Tom Blake intentions—cleaned out the house and moved out of my life. She filed for divorce four months later.

I was so surprised and shocked that I started keeping a journal to try to gather my thoughts and figure out what had happened. I started to date, thinking mid-life dating would be easy.

It wasn’t. I described the dating frustrations and failures in my journal.

After five months, my journal had grown to more than 100 pages. I converted it to a short story. I naively queried Playboy, Esquire and the New York Times,

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

thinking those media giants might be interested in a story about a divorced man’s dating woes. They weren’t.

Eventually, two women editors of a local Dana Point newspaper agreed to review my material. On July 7, 1994, just six months after the move-out, my first column was published. I realized that my writing opportunity had grown out of the adversity I had experienced.

In June 1998, I met Greta, who had experienced adversity as well. She was a single mom, who had raised four kids.

She created her own opportunity by becoming a special education teacher and being such a positive force in her students’ lives.

Again, I’m not saying that life after COVID-19 will provide opportunities for everyone. But it will for many. Some readers have already shared their newfound opportunities with me.

Take, for example, Patrick Hynes, a native of Australia who lives in Orange County. During the pandemic, he started publishing a postcard-type of blog, titled Patrick’s Brief Encounters … Snippets of My Life in America. I’ve read them, and they are excellent.

Another example is Wendy Green, also a single mom who raised two children.

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Wendy has bounced back from adversity more than once in her life. She reached out to me by finding my articles on the Dana Point Times website.

Wendy said, “In March 2020, I was laid off from my job because of COVID. I knew I still had a lot to give, and there were a lot of people from my generation experiencing a sense of loss and in need of inspiration. That is when I decided to start the Hey, Boomer broadcasts.”

Wendy’s website, heyboomer.biz, also features her weekly blogs.

As we emerge from this unthinkable adversity-filled year, it will be up to us as individuals to recognize our seed of opportunity and make the best of it—although we may not realize or understand it until months or years later.

Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

sanclementetimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206589611 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: HOONIVERSE 24658 VIA RAZA LAKE FOREST, CA 92630 Full Name of Registrant(s): JEFF GLUCKER 24658 VIA RAZA LAKE FOREST, CA 92630 This business is conducted by an Individual The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 9/30/2009 /s/JEFF GLUCKER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 11/16/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times November 26, December 3, 10, 17, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE ORDINANCE NO. 1706 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente, at its meeting of November 17, 2020, introduced the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 1706 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA (I) MOVING SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8.72 RELATING TO SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS FROM TITLE 8 (HEALTH AND SAFETY) TO TITLE 12 (STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES) AND AMENDING THE SAME; (II) MOVING SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 8.48.080 RELATING TO AMPLIFIED SOUND PERMITS FROM TITLE 8 (HEALTH AND SAFETY) TO TITLE 17 (ZONING) AND AMENDING THE SAME; (III) AMENDING SUBSECTION 8.48.090(C); (IV) REPEALING SECTION 17.16.190; AND (V) AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT. Persons interested in receiving an inspection copy of the Ordinance are invited to call the Deputy City Clerk at (949) 361-8301 or by email at campagnolol@san-clemente.org. Copies will be emailed or mailed to you at no cost.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente will consider adopting the aforementioned Ordinance at its meeting of December 1, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. The agenda for the Regular Meeting of December 1, 2020 will be posted on the City’s website at www. san-clemente.org and on the bulletin boards at the City Council Chambers located at 100 Avenida Presidio and at 910 Calle Negocio, no later than 72 hours prior to the meeting.

JOANNE BAADE City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206588199 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: PASSION PALM BEACH CAFE 1700 AVENIDA ESTACION SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): PASSION PALM INC. 555 N. EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE A382 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 San Clemente Times November 26–December 2, 2020

This business is conducted by a CA Corporation.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a /s/PASSION PALM INC, CARLOS HERNANDEZ, PRESIDENT This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 10/28/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times November 26, December 3, 10, 17 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 30-2020-01168933-CU-PT-CJC To All Interested Persons: LEONORA TERESA FODDRILL HILL, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Leonora Teresa Foddrill Hill PROPOSED NAME B. Leonora Teresa Foddrill-Hill The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 01/12/2021 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: 11/06/2020 JUDGE JAMES J. DI CESARE, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times, Nov 19, 26, Dec 3, 10, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 30-2020-01166060-CU-PT-CJC To All Interested Persons: Shea Jude Ross, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Shea Jude Ross PROPOSED NAME A. Shea Joseph Ross The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 01/05/2021 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper Page 18

of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: October 15, 2020 JUDGE JAMES J. DI CESARE, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times, Nov 12, 19, 26, Dec 3, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206587470 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: PEARSON REAL ESTATE GROUP 221 AVENIDA PELAYO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): DONALD L. PEARSON 221 AVENIDA PELAYO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 10/01/2017 /s/DONALD L. PEARSON This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 10/20/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times Nov 12, 19, 26, Dec 3, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 20FL000650 To All Interested Persons: YANETH CHACON MASALSKI filing on behalf of, MARCO ANTONIO CHACON CHACON, a minor, has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. MARCO ANTONIO CHACON CHACON PROPOSED NAME A. MARCO ANTONIO CHACON MASALSKI The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/22/2021 Time: 08:00 a.m. Dept. W10.The address of the court is West Justice Center, 8141 13th Street, Westminster, CA 92683-4593. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: October 7, 2020 JUDGE LON F. HURWITZ Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times, November 12, 19, 26, December 3, 2020.

PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206587991 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CHARLIE SMITH FOR SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL 23 CALLE CARMELITA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 Full Name of Registrant(s):

CHARLIE SMITH 23 CALLE CARMELITA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673-3267 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 8/27/2020 /s/CHARLES R. SMITH This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 10/26/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times November 12, 19, 26, December 3, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206587857 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: DRIVING WITH A PURPOSE 211 AVENIDA PELAYO APT. A SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): CASEY EUGENE DAHM 211 AVENIDA PELAYO APT. A SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a /s/CASEY DAHM This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 10/23/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times November 5, 12, 19, 26, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206586868 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: SOLACE ON THE MAT 12 VIA ALCAMO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 Full Name of Registrant(s): JENNIFER CERATTI HELM 12 VIA ALCAMO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 RYAN ANTHONY HELM 12 VIA ALCAMO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 This business is conducted by a married couple.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a /s/JENNIFER HELM This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 10/15/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times November 5, 12, 19, 26, 2020

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SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

Page 19

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SC LIVING CoastLines by Fred Swegles

Timeless Tunes Are, for Me, Music of the Age

T

here was a time, during my San Clemente upbringing, that popular music was evolving so fast that my rock band’s playlists might’ve seemed an odd mix.

As a kid, learning to play my Fender guitar, my genre was surf music—twangy tunes such as “Pipeline,” “Tequila,” “Walk Don’t Run” and “Miserlou.”

Surfer stomp dances were the rage at the Old Capo High School Gym, and at the Casino.

As bands including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and Young Rascals took charge, my first band might find us playing a hybrid of instrumentals such as “The Endless Summer” and “Goldfinger,” alongside vocals such as “Please Please Me,” “La Bamba,” “Satisfaction,” “House of the COASTLINES Rising Sun” and “Ferry

By Fred Swegles Across the Mersey.”

I can’t believe the variety of music my first band, The Group, and my second band, The Last Rights, could work into one dance. Imagine belting out “My Generation” right before “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”, then an instrumental of Henry Mancini’s “Moon River,” or Santo & Johnny’s “Sleepwalk.”

MUSICAL HERITAGE

I feel lucky—thankful, on this holiday— for the variety of music my generation came to appreciate over a lifetime.

I learned to like some of my parents’ music, then those surf tunes, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Mamas and the Papas, Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, Lovin’ Spoonful, The Supremes, The Zombies, The Association, Four Tops, The Temptations, Chicago, Petula Clark, Grassroots, Aretha Franklin, Sergio Mendes, Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach, Santana, The 5th Dimension and more—even some Frank Sinatra stuff I would’ve rolled my eyes at earlier.

There was doo-wop. There was utter silliness. Remember “Who Put the Bomp”?

Or “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”?

Just look up “Billboard’s Top 100 of 1966”—my senior year at San Clemente High. You may wonder how such disparate

Here’s a 1966 San Clemente High School yearbook photo of The Group, whose members are identified in the caption, performing at an after-game dance in the gym. Photo: Fred Swegles

music could be popular all at once.

In the ’70s, I got into James Taylor, Carole King, Elton John, Steely Dan, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jim Croce, Glen Campbell and countless others. I didn’t play much then. Retiring from a restaurant trio in 1970, I reemerged in the 1980s with Brisa, a jazz trio with Mike Wendell on flute/sax and Ed Hanson on congas—me on guitar—ranging from “The Pink Panther” and “Morning Dance” to “Desafinado” and “Midnight at the Oasis.”

Haven’t done much live music since, except for a one-night reunion of the 196970 trio—Mike Chamberlin, Mark Morgan and me—at Casa Romantica. I remember doing Simon & Garfunkle’s “Mrs. Robinson,” Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” and a ’60s song I wrote, “Music of the Age.” Before that trio, Mike was with me in our ’60s band, The Last Rights, and in a ’60s group we called Volume VIII No. 44.

Volume Eight reunited decades later at our drummer Tom Long’s wedding reception. His bride, Valerie, graciously let him do a 45-minute set.

MEMORABLE DAY

My first 1960s band, The Group, got to appear in San Clemente’s fiesta parade.

Leo Fessenden, owner of The House of Music, got us a flatbed truck and generator so we could rock out San Clemente— Richard Lockwood, Leonard Blankenbecler, Jeff Mosher, Paul Dyer, Mike Blankenbecler and me.

Songs that day likely included The Stones’ “The Last Time,” The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine,” The Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” and The Yardbirds’ “Heart Full of Soul.”

The Last Rights started up while a TV sitcom band, The Monkees, was taking the

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

nation by storm. Mike Chamberlin, Rich Jones, Dana Fales and I could rehearse as loud as we wanted in Rich’s underground bomb shelter.

We did “Last Train to Clarksville” and a few other Monkees songs, but not their signature song “We’re the Monkees.” We had our own, “We’re the Last Rights.” We opened our shows with it.

It sounded more like Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man,” which we also did.

Our songs likely ranged from The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” to The Association’s “Along Comes Mary.”

The band Vol. VIII No. 44 melded in some Motown. We’d open with The Temptations’ “Get Ready” and work in the Four Tops’ “Same Old Song” together with “My Girl,” “Heat Wave,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” Beatles songs, The Zombies, The Turtles, The Who, etc.

WE EVOLVE

That band—Mike Chamberlin, Ron Palmer, Jim Summers, Tom Long and me—disbanded when Mike got drafted, sent to Vietnam. He married my sister Barbara in Hawaii. Once discharged, Mike went to broadcast school in Hollywood.

I was then studying at USC on a journalism scholarship. Mike and I enlisted keyboardist Mark Morgan, a senior at SCHS, and we took the name Mark Morgan Trio (MMT).

I can’t believe I spent so much of a school year performing four MMT nights a week at the Bratskellar in Orange. We’d meet there, play from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., go our three separate ways and meet there again the next Thursday night. It helped get me through school.

Our playlist ranged from The Beatles’ “Things We Said Today” and “Let it Be” to

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Blood, Sweat & Tears’ “Spinning Wheel,” the Classics IV’s “Stormy,” The Cyrkle’s “Turn Down Day,” Bacharach’s “What the World Needs Now” and Sinatra’s “My Way.”

EPILOGUE

Mike is now a retired TV news anchor, Mark a career music industry professional.

Mike performs solo musical gigs, imparting stories about America’s musical heritage going back to before we were born.

For one of his shows, titled Love Songs of World War II, he invited me to sit in on guitar one night to play something instrumentally.

I didn’t know much 1940s music. I could play “As Time Goes By” instrumentally.

But I decided to attempt something more ambitious.

I worked up a 10-minute medley of music not from WWII but about WWII—six orchestral anthems from Victory at Sea, a 1950s television documentary series with which we all grew up.

Sounding out the compositions and adapting them to guitar was a challenge. I put my heart into it. From the reactions at Cabrillo Playhouse, I think the audience remembered the music and it worked. Or at least I didn’t embarrass myself.

I’m thankful for that.

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

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SC San Clemente

SC

LO C ALS O N LY

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

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ELECTRICAL Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, arcadiaelectric.com

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“Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

Frustration in Waiting Local sports scene grinds teeth as guidelines delayed, scheduled dates approach

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

ne year ago this week, sports in South Orange County were more than successfully in full swing.

San Clemente’s Hana Catsimanes, now at Wake Forest, put a crown on a golden cross country season with a CIF-SS championship that followed wins at the Orange County Championships, Mt. SAC Invitational, Sea View League Finals and CIF-SS preliminaries.

San Clemente boys water polo just wrapped up a run to the CIF-SS championship game and a state regional appearance.

The Tritons’ girls basketball team began its road to the CIF-SS championship game by starting the season with a tournament victory at the Norco Veteran’s Week tournament.

San Juan Hills football won its first ever CIF-SS semifinal with a dramatic two-point conversion in overtime, and the Stallions were days away from their first-ever CIFSS championship.

JSerra boys water polo topped San Juan Hills in a goal-filled showdown for its first CIF-SS championship the previous week, and the Lions followed that with a run in the state regional playoffs.

JSerra’s Anthony Grover, now at Wake Forest, and St. Margaret’s Jackson Adelman raced to double championships with CIF-SS and state titles in back-to-back weeks. It was Grover’s second CIF-SS title and third straight state championship. St. Margaret’s girls cross country won its second consecutive CIF-SS title.

Dana Hills boys cross country took runner-up silver at the CIF-SS championships for the second straight season and the fifth time in the previous six years.

Fall sports were handing out championships. Winter sports were open and running.

Flash forward back to the present as November reaches Thanksgiving and December on the horizon, and high school sports are in the same place they were in August, when districts began equipmentless and socially distanced conditioning camps; in July, when CIF announced its delayed and shuffled schedule; and in March, when everything came to a stand-

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CIF-SS sports are scheduled to start in less than three weeks, but the state has yet to provide updated guidance or any clarity on if that schedule can or will hold. Photo: File

still due to the coronavirus shutdowns.

Games are not being played, and despite the scheduled restarts creeping up in mid-December, rising coronavirus cases and reinstituted stay-at-home orders have many wondering and doubtful that sports will go off as scheduled.

“It’s been so frustrating in one respect,” CIF-SS commissioner Rob Wigod told the Orange County Register on Nov. 9, “in that we haven’t been able to put our fingers on when certain things can come back, what red tier means as to what you can and cannot do.”

Frustration is the word of the moment for almost anyone involved in youth and high school sports. Those who talk with coaches or scroll through those sectors of social media can find a daily round of statements, conversations and petitions all echoing the same frustrated sentiments.

Teams have been abiding by all the installed COVID-19 protocols with nary an outbreak or incident to be found locally, and players and coaches have been running the same limited drills for weeks upon weeks. Yet, despite CIF’s announced schedule, no one knows if they’re truly that much closer to participating in a full practice, let alone a competitive game.

CIF state and section offices and high school athletic departments, coaches and players are all stuck as they wait for an update to state guidance on youth sports, which was delayed last week when the state pulled an “emergency brake” on its coronavirus monitoring system.

Football is scheduled for a Dec. 14 practice date and a Jan. 8 season start. Boys volleyball is set to begin earlier, on Dec. 12, with girls volleyball following on Dec. 19. Boys water polo is scheduled for a Dec. 21 start, and girls water polo is set for Dec. 29. Cross country is set to run Dec. 26.

Whether those dates hold and sports start on time, or whether complete full seasons or championships get handed out, is still up in the air as the waiting game continues. SC sanclementetimes.com

SC SC SURF San Clemente

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

The Bright Side of Life

2020 hasn’t been easy, but surfing has been a silver lining

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

nybody else notice it’s been a weird year? Anyone?

A pandemic, civil strife, political chaos—if I didn’t live in this glorious little surf town, it might be hard to find a lot for which to be thankful. But as I recently got out of the water at San Onofre, the sun was shining, the wind was offshore, the crowd was light, and the surf was a perfect 3 feet.

I’m thankful for the two hours I just got to enjoy. And I’m sure the cormorant I watched pull up a little fish is thankful, too.

I don’t mean to wax poetic and get all Hallmark card on you, but we do have a lot to be thankful for around here as we sit down for what’s sure to be a different kind of Thanksgiving feast. And while basking in my post-surf glow, it’s worth taking a breath and recognizing all the good stuff.

I think I speak for just about every surfer from Salt Creek to San O when I say that over the past eight months, the ocean and its waves have provided us all with some semblance of sanity, stability and salvation.

Remember when this whole COVID-19 thing started and the beaches were closed? Remember what a shock it was to see armed police officers standing between you and the surf? The reaction by surfers was visceral.

Not happy with the situation, my favorite moment was the ill-fated storming of Low-

GROM OF THE WEEK

TOSH JOHNSON

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

here’s been a whole lot of ripping going on in our local waters lately, and San Juan Capistrano’s Tosh Johnson has been shining like gold.

All of 13 years old, he’s recently added a sticker from the surf brand Roark to the nose of his Timmy Patterson-shaped boards. Barreling through eighth grade at Marco Forster Middle School, he’s got plenty of stuff to keep him busy when he’s not out ripping at Creek or Lowers.

Johnson also has style and grace on a longboard well beyond his years, and he was starting to post some big contest results on the log (when surf contests

A Thanksgiving spread that a surfer can be proud of at San Onofre. Photo: Jake Howard

ers that ended up with a boat on the rocks and a couple brave and embarrassed locals having to justify their overeager actions.

Thankfully, the beaches were reopened, and our lineups have proven to be one of the safest outdoor spaces when social distancing and other precautions are taken—which, if you’re practicing proper surf etiquette, shouldn’t be an issue.

Once we got surfing back, something interesting happened. People took to the water in droves. Every longtime local I talk to has remarked about how crowded it’s been the past few months. And it’s not just anecdotal.

In a piece published by action sports industry publication Shop, Eat, Surf, it was reported that before the pandemic, there were three million people recognized as surfers. By August, that number had

were still being held). He also rips on skateboard and skimboard. And over the summer, he got hooked on fishing and has been known to pull in dinner now and again.

Johnson first got on a surfboard when he was only 2 years old, thanks to the love and passion of his dad. By 5 years old, he knew he was destined to live the surf life.

As we roll into the winter surf season and we get some of those healthy west swells rolling down from the North Pacific, it’s going to be epic to see where Johnson takes his surfing next. SC

San Clemente Times November 26-December 2, 2020

swelled to 5.6 million.

With the influx of people finding their way to the waves, the surf industry, which has been languishing on life support the past few years, enjoyed a much-needed shot in the arm. Board and wetsuit sales have skyrocketed lately. Shapers, glassers and the other craftsmen and women who build surfboards have been slammed.

That’s a good thing.

For the first time in a long time, I’m optimistic about the outlook of the surf industry.

I think good times are ahead for next spring and summer. New brands such as Newport Beach-based Florence Marine X, two-time World Champ John John Florence’s latest endeavor, will be launching.

And established brands such as Rip Curl, which recently moved its North American operations to San Clemente, are

poised to capitalize on the success of their booming wetsuit and hard good sales.

We’ve also seen competitive surfing come back. The National Scholastic Surfing Association was able to safely pull off its National Championships in North Carolina last month. And next month, the World Surf League’s Championship Tour will kick off in Hawaii after its 2020 hiatus.

Then next September, the WSL will be crowning the 2021 World Champ at Lower Trestles, which is a great thing for our local surf community.

Sure, there are those who will grumble about having to temporarily give up their spot to the pros, but the WSL Finals is a one-day event, and only the top five men and women in the world will be invited.

So it’s not the huge production that the contest has been in years past.

I think it should be a holiday for all the groms in school around here. Take the day off and go to the beach.

Anyway, the point of all this is that as surfers, there’s a silver lining to a lot of the tough times we’ve been enduring.

Yeah, we may have to share a few more waves these days, but that’s what being part of a community is all about.

We’re all just trying to get by the best we know how, and for me, that’s to spend as much time as I can in the water. It’s like my obsessive Monty Python fandom has taught me, “Always look on the bright side of life.”

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including the San Clemente Times, Dana Point Times, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. SC

Tosh Johnson. Photo: Courtesy of @daysofcreek Page 22

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