San Clemente Times

SPECIAL 2-WEEK ISSUE...HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE SAN Clemente TIMES D e c e m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 1 –J a n u a ry 5 , 2 0 1 2

LO C A L

N EWS

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Volume 6, Issue 51

HIGHLIGHTING THE BEST STORIES OF THE YEAR

E Y E O N S C / PAG E 6

www.sanclementetimes.com

Residents Sound Off on Freeway Sound Walls

The San Clemente Historical Society will Welcome in the New Year at the Casino

2011 Best of the Blotter: Crime, Oddities and More

EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

GETTING OUT/PAGE 14

EYE ON SC/PAGE 5

Eye on SC

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SC S a n C le m e n te

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO A teacher at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano was arrested December 14 for alleged lewd acts with a former student. Ricardo Aldana, 37, taught Spanish and coached volleyball and soccer at the private school. The lewd act allegedly occurred at the teacher’s home in September, said Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino. The girl told her mother about the incident, and the woman reported it to authorities on Wednesday. Investigators arrested Aldana the same day. He was booked into Orange County Jail, but released after posting $100,000 bail. Amormino said authorities fear there may be other victims. Aldana taught at the school seven years and coached girls volleyball, as well as boys soccer. He was also a coach at the T-Street Volleyball Club in Irvine.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call 855.TIP.OCCS, or 855.847.6227.

DANA POINT

News

Next Door W hat ’s going on in our n e ig h b oring towns

Discussion of proposed plastic bag and polystyrene container bans scheduled for the December 12 city council meeting was postponed after the city was inundated with public opinion in the form of letters, emails and calls. The item was pulled from the agenda to give officials time to sort through the correspondence. Mayor Lara Anderson said the flood of comments caught her off guard. “It’s such a divisive issue,” she said of the proposal that—with environmental groups on one side and the plastics industry on the other—has focused attention on Dana Point in the statewide debate. So far 22 California cities and four counties have bag bans and more cities are taking up the issue since a statewide ban failed in the legislature in July. Officials plan to revisit the item at a January or February meeting.

S A N C L E M E N T E ’ s T o p 5 H o ttest T o p i cs

What’s Up With...

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...Sound Walls?

THE LATEST: Neither residents on the east side of the San Diego Freeway nor on the west side are happy about a sound wall erected by Caltrans in recent months.

About 40 homeowners and business owners — from both sides of the wall — turned out to the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 20 to ask the council to fight the state transportation agency.

The west-siders who asked for the sound wall said it hadn’t stretched far enough and didn’t deliver what was promised.

“We get woken up at all hours of the night with trucks,” said Holly Oxford, who lives on the west side.

The east-siders continued to decry the wall because it blocked views, caused a spike in noise and decreased property values.

“You’ve taken my house that I put every penny in I had and you have decreased the value, and I’m not happy about that,” said Steve Hill, who lives on the east side.

Councilmember Tim Brown asked that the needs of the east side be separated from those on the west.

WHAT’S NEXT: But the City Council eventually voted 4-0 to send Caltrans a letter requesting the state transportation agency reinitiate its environmental review that included all those affected by the wall.

Councilmember Jim Dahl recused himself because he owns property near the wall.

The council hoped the letter would prompt Caltrans to revisit the construction of the wall and find a remedy for both sides of the freeway.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, visit www. sanclementetimes.com. —Stacie N. Galang

...Train Quiet Zones?

THE LATEST: The city dedicated its first two quiet zones at North Beach, Wednesday, December 21.

The quiet zones silence the horns of trains passing at the Avenida Estacion and Senda De La Playa crossings. City and county officials took part in the ceremony that unveiled the signs indicating train horns need not sound.

For years, San Clemente has worked to silence or at least reduce the volume of warning sounds from passing trains, which were required to honk.

In the 1990s, freight trains and Amtrak passed through San Clemente 12 times a day. Since Metrolink acquired its right of way, trains now pass through the city as many as 50 times a day and honk along the way, which has affected residents living near the tracks.

“This is a significant milestone for San Clemente and we hope it is just the beginning of a quieter, more peaceful experience for residents and visitors of this beautiful, scenic and natural stretch of San Clemente’s coast,“ said Councilmember Lori Donchak in a news release.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city is working to develop an audible warning system that sounds for pedestrians at seven more crossings near the beach trail. The system would be stationary and substitute for the train horn.

FIND OUT MORE: Look up the city’s safetyquiet zone page at www.san-clemente.org.

—SNG

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...El Portal Beach Access?

THE LATEST: The city closed off the El Portal beach access after a man fell and San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

hurt himself on the stairs Monday, December 19.

Marine Safety Officer Nick Giugni said he and a fellow lifeguard responded to the injured man around 4:15 p.m. after being called by the Orange County Fire Authority’s dispatch. One slab on the stairway had given way and the man had been hurt.

Paramedics were already on scene when the lifeguards arrived. The man was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

The El Portal entrance was taped off immediately for safety reasons, the marine safety officer said. By the following morning, the city added more barricades to keep pedestrians from using the stairs.

“We have to have city maintenance do a full inspection and decide what the next step is,” he said.

WHAT’S NEXT: He said those who ordinarily access the beach at El Portal can use other access points, such as Dije, which is a few hundred yards walk away.

FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.sanclementetimes.com for updates. —SNG

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...the New Sports Park?

THE LATEST: The final touches are being put on the La Pata-Vista Hermosa Sports Park, which features an aquatics center, multiple lighted playing fields and a stateof-the-art playground.

The cost to operate the park is estimated at $670,200, according to Parks Director Sharon Heider. She said the park would initially go without an aquatics supervisor to keep costs down.

“We’re operating very lean,” she told the City Council Tuesday.

Later in the meeting, the City Council voted to reject the bids for the second phase of Courtney’s SandCastle, the universal access playground planned for the new park. All bids ranged above the

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$460,000 estimate. City staff recommended rejecting the offers to allow the foundation raising money for the adaptive playground time to seek additional funding.

The city also hosted a neighborhood meeting Wednesday, December 21 on the lights at the sports park.

WHAT’S NEXT: The park will have its grand opening Saturday, January 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a 10:15 a.m. ribbon cutting.

FIND OUT MORE: Check out the city’s website at www.san-clemente.org for more details. —SNG

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...CUSD Administrators Leaving?

THE LATEST: Facing ongoing budget challenges that have plagued the district for years, Capistrano Unified School District will be facing the future with a new financial team. Deputy Superintendent of Business Services Ron Lebs is leaving to take a similar position in Fullerton Joint Union High School and budget manager Penny Larsen, who has only been with CUSD since August, is leaving to join the Orange County Department of Education.

Lebs’ last day will be January 20. He started with the district in July 2008, and has guided the district through some $80 million from its general fund budget since then.

WHAT’S NEXT: The district will initiate a regional search for a deputy superintendent, business and support services, and will identify an interim appointment while that process is implemented, district spokesman Marcus Walton said.

FIND OUT MORE: See the Beyond the Blackboard blog at www.sanclementetimes. com —Jonathan Volzke www.sanclementetimes.com

Thursday, December 22 December Birthday’s Celebration 12 p.m. Seniors’ celebration at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center. 117 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.3322, www.san-clemente.org.

Friday, December 23

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SC Sheriff’s Blotter

B est

Eye on SC City and Community Calendar

2011

Compiled By Austin Patrick Reagan

APRIL

JULY

BURGLARY IN PROCESS Christianitos Road, 100 Block (Sunday, April 3, 12:48 p.m.) Police got a call from a couple afraid to go into their home.

They had received a call on their cell phones from a stranger claiming he had the wife’s teddy bear from her childhood and wanted $5,000 for its safe return. The caller was discovered to be a friend of the couple, who had gotten in to the house, and was playing a prank on them.

CITIZEN ASSIST El Vuelo/Del Dios, 400 Block (Saturday, July 9, 10:48 p.m.) Residents requested to speak to deputies after someone threw several bags of poop at their homes.

All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD Web site.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON North Ola Vista/Avenida del Mar (Sunday, April 17, 8:43 a.m.) Police were called after a passerby heard a man walking around cursing and saying, “I’m tired of killing families.”

Saturday, December 24

JANUARY

MAY

Christmas Services 4 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Family Services (nursery care available), and 9:30 p.m. & 11 p.m. Communion candlelight services (no childcare) at SC Presbyterian Church. 119 N. Avenida de la Estrella, San Clemente, 492.6158, www.scpres.org,

BOMB THREAT Avenida Pico, 700 Block (Monday, January 3, 1:27 a.m.) An explosives-sniffing dog roamed San Clemente High School before classes after authorities received an earlymorning call that two bombs had been left on the campus. The caller had a “youngsounding” voice.

DISTURBANCE Calle Canasta, 600 Block (Saturday, May 7, 2:11 p.m.) A woman was arrested after “raging and threatening to kill people” in a coffee shop.

Dark Friday City offices closed.

Senior Center Closed The Dorothy Visser Senior Center is closed Dec. 23-26.

117 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.3322, www.san-clemente.org.

Sunday, December 25 Christmas Morning Family Service 10 a.m. A special, fun, family service at Vista Del Mar School. Avenida Talega and Calle Portofino, San Clemente.

SC Presbyterian Church Christmas Services 10 a.m. Christmas Day services with nursery care at SC Presbyterian Church.

119 N. Avenida de la Estrella, San Clemente, 492.6158, www.scpres.org.

Monday, December 26 City Offices Closures City offices closed December 26-January 2.

Thursday, December 29 BNI Meeting 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Meeting every Thursday at the Bella Collina Towne and Golf Club. 200 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente, www.bellacollinagolf.com.

INDECENT EXPOSURE El Camino Real, 2300 Block (Sunday, January 9, 4:14 a.m.) A woman called and reported her male friend was exposing himself to her and had urinated in the parking lot. He was drunk.

FEBRUARY DISTURBANCE Bonanza, 2900 Block (Monday, February 7, 9:06 a.m.) A resident was screaming about Satan.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Camino de Los Mares, 600 Block (Monday, February 21, 4:45 a.m.) A woman fled the hospital emergency room after security left. She took off with her boyfriend, wearing nothing but a hospital gown.

Adult Book Discussion Group: BYOB 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. “Bring your own book” to share with the group at the library and be prepared to discuss potential reading choices for 2012. Call for more info. 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org.

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Pico, 900 Block (Monday, February 21, 7:57 p.m.) A dispute broke out at a fast-food restaurant when the passenger in a vehicle in the drive-through was “offensive” and used “vulgar” language. The manager refused to serve him and the man got very irate.

Friday, December 30

MARCH

Seniors’ NYE Celebration 12 p.m.

Celebrate the new year at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center. 117 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.3322, www.san-clemente.org.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (Saturday, March 5, 11 p.m.) A Jeep Wrangler jumped a curb, drove over the grass and headed down the Pier.

Tuesday, January 3 Children’s Winter Program Signups The library has advance signups for the 2012 series of children’s programs; sign up in person or over the phone. Classes remain open until filled. 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES South El Camino Real/Avenida Presidio (Sunday, March 6, 2:45 p.m.) A caller reported seeing a man deputies were looking for. The man thought he was Jesus Christ or Genghis Kahn. He was spotted in a bank parking lot.

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

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SUSPICIOUS PERSON Calle del Cerro, 1000 Block (Tuesday, May 17, 8:56 a.m.) A woman called police when her neighbor began chopping down trees with a machete. She told police the man, who is a plumber, was possibly under the influence of narcotics and had been out of control since the night before.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Via Umbroso, 600 Block (Friday, May 20, 1:21 p.m.) A satellite TV installer was arrested after a customer caught him stealing her 9-year-old daughter’s underwear in her home.

911 HANG-UP Vista Encanta, 0 Block (Monday, May 30, 11:57 p.m.) A woman called the police stating that she believed her house was on fire. She put down the phone, and a male could be heard asking her why she was yelling and telling her to sit down and eat her pizza.

JUNE SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Calafia, 600 Block (Saturday, June 4, 7:30 p.m.) A citizen called about a man watching beachgoers through binoculars from his Ford Mustang.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 2400 Block (Sunday, June 12, 6:29 p.m.) An employee at the gas station called saying a customer had threatened to kill the employee over not letting him use the restroom, which was in the middle of being cleaned.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida del Mar, 200 Block (Monday, June 13, 6:51 p.m.) A woman called saying her wallet had been stolen and that she could now see it on the dashboard of a parked car behind the library.

DISTURBANCE Calle Seville/Ola Vista, 200 Block (Monday, July 18, 2:29 p.m.) A woman running a booth to impeach President Obama was seen verbally harassing customers in front of a post office.

AUGUST RECKLESS DRIVING Avenida La Pata/Avenida Pico (Wednesday, August 24, 10:51 a.m.) A woman was reported driving on the wrong side of the road and on the sidewalk in a beige Cadillac. She was described as in her 80s.

SEPTEMBER CITIZEN ASSIST Camino de Los Mares, 600 Block (Tuesday, September 6, 11:36 a.m.) A worker at San Clemente Hospital called because a patient had visited the facility about seven times – and had used seven different names.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC Avenida del Presidente, 3100 Block (Monday, December 17, 2:17 p.m.) A woman, who was reported intoxicated, attempted to pull her pants down to urinate in public.

OCTOBER CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Cangrejo, 0 Block (Sunday, October 9, 6:15 p.m.) A 16-year-old was afraid to go to school because someone posted something on her Facebook page mentioning the mafia.

MISSING CHILD Canada, 100 Block (Tuesday, October 18, 2:52 p.m.) A 10-year-old boy wandered off from home more than an hour earlier. The boy was found – at home.

DISTURBANCE Aqua del Caballete, 4700 Block (Monday, October 31, 8:28 p.m.) A woman reported her house was egged and her pumpkins stolen.

NOVEMBER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Calle de Los Alamos, 2000 Block (Sunday, November 27, 5:30 p.m.) A caller reported a large boat dropped off two paddleboards with five people on them, who paddled to shore. The caller thought they might have been illegal immigrants, but dispatchers said he was “vague” on any more details.

DECEMBER DEFRAUDING AN INNKEEPER Avenida Pico, 500 Block (Monday, December 12, 9:40 p.m.) An employee at Denny’s called to say two men left without paying for their food, but they did leave a $1 tip. www.sanclementetimes.com

Eye on SC

2011: An Eventful Year in San Clemente

By Stacie N. Galang San Clemente Times

D

espite San Clemente’s laid back coastal lifestyle, the city in 2011 was anything but low key. From the landslides in January, to hotly contested Measure A to the bomb scare at San Clemente High School on the first day of classes to the discussions about San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, San Clemente was a hotbed of activity.

January No Foam: Restaurants take steps to accommodate the ban of foam food containers.

Red Tags: Multiple homes in the Shorecliffs neighborhood are red tagged after a portion of the hillside behind them gives ways.

General Plan: The General Plan gets a closer look and city leaders take a look at areas like the future of Los Molinos district.

Sign of the Times: Measure A signs on both sides of the debate go missing.

February Wagers: OC Tavern Grill and Sports starts off-track betting.

Fees: Schools across the state await the results of an ACLU lawsuit that will affect student fees.

Graffiti: Both sides of the Measure A issue blame each other for graffiti on the Miramar Theater.

Power: A wave generating power system is proposed off the coast of San Onofre.

Acting Chops: Pint-sized San Clemente actor Max Page makes a splash during the Super Bowl commercials with his Darth Vader moves.

March

them.

Lawsuits: Playa Del Norte developers Linda and Shaheen Sadeghi file a lawsuit to toss out the Measure A results.

May HMLA: City and business officials toured the city-sponsored Marine Light Attack Helicopter 367’s squadron headquarters at Camp Pendleton.

Fired Up: The start of fire season approaches, Patrick Drummy talks about his work with an inter-agency fire fighting crew.

Alcohol: The Parks and Recreation commission nixed the sale of alcohol at the miniature golf course portion of the La Pata-Vista Hermosa Sports Park.

Moving on Up: Capistrano Shores homeowners continue building taller structures at the mobile home park while some say it violates the state law.

Surf Culture: San Clemente’s surf culture captures the interest of the corporate world with credit card and car commercials.

June Adapting to Fees: Capistrano Unified creates a policy about school fees as a result of the ACLU lawsuit.

Chrome Dreams: The 16th annual Village Car Show brought hundreds to the downtown.

Navy Cross: Jim and Carla Hogan learn their son will receive the Navy Cross posthumously.

Scooter Club: A 3-year-old scooter club finds a home in San Clemente and members enjoy trips throughout the area.

Cap and Gown: The Class of 2011 graduates in style at San Clemente High.

July

Countdown to Vote: The final days before the vote on Measure A and both sides were making their best case for and against the Playa del Norte project.

Rejected: Voters handily reject Measure A, shooting down the Playa del Norte retail development project at North Beach.

Help is on the Way: A newly formed nonprofit, the Community Resource Center, begins work to improve social services in San Clemente and the region.

Concerns: The earthquake and tsunami in Japan raises concerns about the safety of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Reservoir: The city in partnership with the Santa Margarita Water District prepare for the opening of the Upper Chiquita Reservoir.

Anniversary: San Clemente Lifeguards mark 80 years of service.

First Year: Superintendent Joseph Farley marks one year in Capistrano Unified.

Redevelopment Woes: The city approved spending $970,000 to keep its redevelopment authority alive.

Lobbying: City’s hired lobbying firm Marlowe and Co. works on projects like the safety-quiet zones near railroad tracks and the sand replenishment.

April

August

Donations: With National Donate Life Month, San Clemente residents work to promote the concept in the community.

Being Green: Restaurants participating in the city’s food-scrap recycling program discuss the ways the program works for

FAM: In the doldrums of summer, nonprofits like Family Assistance Ministries work to make sure the needy get the food and services they need.

Setback: Playa del Norte developers the Sadeghi were handed setback in their

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

lawsuit against the city. A judge ruled in favor of the city to uphold the Measure A results.

Pay to Play: The city voted to participate in the “pay to play” plan for redevelopment agencies, which Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget threatened to eliminate and take their funds.

Removal: Five coaches were removed abruptly from the San Clemente High Triton football team week as they prepared for season to start.

September Techies: With more technology awaiting students, teachers and administrators prepared for the start of classes.

Counter terrorism: The Orange County Transportation Authority launched its counter-terrorism unit.

Scare: A bomb threat by a Navy hospitalman stationed at Camp Pendleton forced the shutdown of San Clemente High on the first day of classes.

Reflections: City and school officials reflected on its preparedness for disasters after a hours-long power outage and a bomb scare at San Clemente High.

On the Defense: The Capistrano Unified School District hosted a meeting with parents about the removal of head football coach Eric Patton.

Lifesavers: The city honored a Savannah Zoller, 16, and her father Mike Zoller for helping to save a neighbor’s life when he went underwater at the community pool.

Rock Lobster: Lobster season opened at midnight October 1 and locals anticipated the ocean’s bounty.

Town Halls: The first City Council meeting on nuclear power in light of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant disaster brought panelists from San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the county emergency planners.

Driftwood: A group began organizing to move the 9/11 driftwood, which had moved closer to the water.

October On Target: To cheers, the Target on Vista Hermosa opened. Shoppers rejoiced to have more options for their home needs. The city expected more in muchneeded tax dollars.

Tolls: The Transportation Corridor Agencies pushed forward with a plan to extend the 241 Toll Road in parts rather than to its original end in San Clemente.

The embattled toll roads agency proposed construction to Ortega Highway, which raised concerns by groups that fought its construction in 2008.

Experts Weigh in: The city finished the second of its two town hall-style meetings on nuclear power in light of the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

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The second meeting brought experts vetted by nuclear power foes San Clemente Green.

Open House: The long-awaited Dorothy Visser Senior Center and adjacent fire station opened after years of delays. The building brought fire safety to the west side of the freeway.

Driftwood Unmoved: A group of more than 100 turned out to move the gargantuan driftwood that has had an American flag hoisted above it since around September 11, 2001. Over time, the stump had shifted closer to the water and worried residents wanted to ensure its safety by moving it to higher ground. Their efforts couldn’t budge the driftwood.

November Second Try: Playa del Norte developers the Sadeghis file an amended complaint with the courts.

Higher Ground: The 9/11 driftwood gets moved to higher ground though the initial efforts of 100 weren’t enough to move it. A second try days later with heavy-duty tractor moved the stump far from the surf.

For Sale: The Miramar Theater was on the market for $4.9 million despite being purchased by Marc Spizzirri for $5.3 million in October 2007. The Historical Society wants to see a reuse that preserves the building and its footprint.

Tattoos Removed: A former gang member asks tattoo artist Susie Floyd of Highland Ink to remove the tattoos on his face and hands in the hopes of joining the U.S. Navy.

All American: San Clemente High senior Kyle Murphy is selected to the 2012 All American Bowl.

Damages Lawsuit: A second Playa del Norte lawsuit was filed by LAB developers Sadeghis for at least $3 million in damages.

Water Haven: Six years after the bait boat A.C.E of Dana Point sunk off San Clemente, the downed watercraft has become a haven for divers and anglers.

December Peace Corps: San Clemente lifeguard Ryan Buckley speaks about his decision to join the Peace Corps.

Seismic Studies: Southern California Edison seeks to have the ratepayers pick up the tab for its $64 million seismic studies of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Mr. Mayor: City Council elects Jim Evert as a mayor and Tim Brown mayor pro tem.

Championships: San Clemente Triton football wasn’t just news for the sports pages. The team’s first championship berth in 32 years captured the attention of the community.

Dog Beach: The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission approved a plan to create a dog beach, but it wasn’t without resistance. The plan must ultimately be approved by the City Council. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

Eye on SC

News Bites

Compiled by Stacie N. Galang

P rops , R e cog n i t i o n s a n d M ors e l s of I n fo SC Grads Earn Honors u Nine San Clemente students were among the 1,300 to be named to Biola University’s Dean’s List for Spring: McKenna Ast, Kristen Burnette, Chelsie Corwin, Morgan Dixon, Sarah Irish, Melissa Mohr, Janae O’Connor, Joy Talcott and Matthew Welch. Biola students achieve dean’s list status for a 3.6 grade point average or higher while enrolled in 12 or units and 3.2 a cumulative GPA. At the Savannah College of Art and Design, Max Robinson was named to the Dean’s List for fall quarter 2011 for earning a grade point average of 3.5.

Student Artists Advance to PTA Regional Competition u San Clemente students were selected to represent Capistrano Unified School District at the Fourth District PTA Reflections Art Contest. The regional competition has four different age levels of primary, intermediate, middle, and senior and six categories, including literature, musical composition, photography, visual arts, film/video production, and dance choreography.

San Clemente High senior Kasia KosmalaDahlbeck was selected for musical composition; Katie Isola at Bernice Ayer Middle and San Clemente High senior Dave Cortez were selected for photography; Delaney Marchant at Bernice Ayer Middle was selected for film/video production; and Laura Hatanaka at Bernice Ayer Middle was selected in dance choreography.

Foundation Delivers Gifts

Lt. Col. Wade Hasle, commanding officer of HMLA367, and his wife Cathy Hasle sit in one of the squadron’s helicopters. Courtesy photo u Earlier this month, the Heritage of San Clemente Foundation delivered gifts to the children of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367. San Clemente residents and local businesses donated the presents, which were collected by the city and the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce. Foundation leaders thanked all those who participated.

Boxes Shipped to Marines u The San Clemente Sunrise Rotary Club

recently sent off 20 boxes full of special

goodies for the holidays to Marines in Afghanistan. The boxes were filled with socks, coffee, holiday treats, hand warmers, beef jerky, hot drink mixes, chips, gum, candy, trail mix, cards, personal grooming articles, ground coffee and new or used movies.

Junior Enlisteds Lend Hand u The sailors and Marines of the Junior Enlisted Association from Camp Pendleton helped out their fellow counterparts by donating 50 boxes to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines serving in Afghanistan. They were part of the greater effort with the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce and city that sent 100 care packages.

City Recognizes Citizens Emergency Response Team

Mayor Jim Evert gives Emergency Planning Director Jen Tucker a certificate of recognition. Photo by Stacie N. Galang u At the December 6 City Council meeting, the city awarded a certificate of recognition to the Citizens Emergency Response Team or CERT for its first year of service. CERT training is an opportunity for residents and members of the business community to learn basic skills to save lives and protect property, in the aftermath of a major disaster.

Participants receive about 20 hours of initial training once a week for six weeks plus a half-day exercise and graduation.

Participants are trained to take care of themselves, family and neighborhood or business during and after an emergency. A $20 materials fee is due on the first day of class, but may be waived upon request. To register for the program that starts January 26 or for more information, call Katie Carpenter at 949.361.6145 or email CarpenterK@san-clemente.org.

City: Reduce Water Use u San Clemente is requesting residents, businesses, and homeowner’s associations to reduce their water use while a regional water treatment facility in Yorba Linda is shutdown for maintenance. During the shutdown from Sunday, January 8 to Saturday, January 14 the Metropolitan Water District’s Diemer Filtration Plant will undergo a series of operational upgrades and improvements related to a new ozone treatment system. South Orange County

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

The Tritonettes and wrestlers of San Clemente High School decorate the holiday donation tree at the new San Clemente Senior Center. Courtesy photo

residents are urged to conserve water during the weeklong shutdown.

City water customers draw about 85 percent of their water from the Diemer facility but will rely on Upper Chiquita Reservoir and groundwater supplies for potable water during the seven-day maintenance.

“We are prepared to implement shortterm operational measures during the Diemer Plant shutdown in order to make sure our residents and businesses experience minimal disruption during the shutdown,” George Scarborough, San Clemente’s city manager, said in a news release.

Residents are asked to: plan ahead and delay new landscape and construction projects; turn sprinklers off completely, both in their own yards and in HOA common areas; stop hosing down driveways, patio or other paved areas; repair leaks and replace malfunctioning toilets and refrain from refilling fountains, spas, ponds or pools.

For more information, call the city’s Utilities Division at 949.366.1553 or visit the city’s water conservation website at www.

San-Clemente.org/WaterSmartSC.

Tritonettes Volunteer, Deck Out Senior Center Tree u The Tritonettes, along with several members of the San Clemente High School Wrestling Team, volunteered their time this month to decorate this year’s donation tree for the new San Clemente Senior Center.

The Tritonettes, the new spirit club at San Clemente High School, perform community service projects, keep score at high school wrestling events, and cheer on all of the San Clemente High wrestlers. For more information about the Tritonettes, visit www.

Tritonettes.com.

Parking Permit Grace Period Ends January 15 u Residents who live in preferential park-

ing areas of San Clemente have until Jan. 15 to get their free guest parking permit for short-term guests. Guest parking permits

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are otherwise valid until December 31 and must be renewed every year.

One permit may be obtained per address per year for most preferential parking areas.

To apply, visit City Hall at 100 Avenida Presidio with a driver’s license and a utility bill showing residence within one of the preferential parking zones. For more information, call 949.361.8395 or log onto www.san-clemente.org.

Firefighter from SC Promoted u Craig Kinoshita of San Clemente was appointed Orange County Fire Authority’s new assistant chief of operations, replacing Jorge Camargo who is retiring December 29 after nearly 38 years Craig Kinoshita. of service. Kinoshita will Courtesy photo oversee operations of OCFA’s 850 firefighters at 60 fire stations, one of the state’s largest. Kinoshita was one of nine internal candidates and was ultimately selected by Fire Chief Keith Richter, according to authority spokesman Marc Stone. “We’re very excited to have Chief Kinoshita as our operations chief,” Richter said. “We’re confident his 29 years of experience will serve him well in helping the OCFA to continue providing the highest level of service to our communities.” Kinoshita, who grew up in San Juan Capistrano, began work with the Orange County Fire Department as a paid-call firefighter in 1977. He has served as a battalion chief since 1995 and became a division chief earlier this year. The starting salary for an assistant chief in operations is $185,251, according to Stone.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more.

Forward a picture along, too! We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Stacie N. Galang, 949.388.7700, x109 sgalang@sanclementetimes.com Advertising

SC S a n C le m e n te

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.sanclementetimes.com San Clemente Times, Vol. 6, Issue 51. The SC Times (www.sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.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 2011. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

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EDITORIAL

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Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@sanclementetimes.com BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@sanclementetimes.com

Group Editor, Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Jonathan Volzke City Editor, SC Times > Stacie N. Galang City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne ART/Design Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Heidi Mefferd

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

INTERNS Cheynne Lee, Austin Patrick Reagan

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, George Mackin, Rebecca Nordquist

Sales Associate Angela Edwards OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Shelley Murphy, Tawnee Prazak, David Zimmerle

By the Numbers: By Pall Gudgeirsson, Assistant City Manager & City Treasurer

San Clemente’s 2011 Highlights It’s getting better all the time — John Lennon and Paul McCartney

T

he beat goes on as city employees and members of our community continue to come together to make our “Village by the Sea” better, safer and more attractive.

If you take a look around, you will see that it takes a cohesive band to maintain the high standard that our citizens have become accustomed to. Through the dedicated work of our recreation leaders, maintenance crews, utility folks, firefighters, lifeguards, police, building inspectors, planners, exceptional behind the scenes support staff and elected leaders who back these efforts, it’s not an accident that our little burg is what it is.

Now, to get back to the city highlights list: The Pier Bowl: The Pier Bowlers team, led by bandleader Tim Shaw, completed an amazing renovation of the City’s Pier Bowl area, with new tile sidewalks, lighting, landscape, railing and artwork installation by local artist Paul Gavin. Grab a cup of java and enjoy the view from the benches.

The Quiet Zone: Maestro Jim Holloway and planner Amber Gregg directed the first of many — we hope — railroad quiet zone areas at North Beach. No Train Horn.

West Side Story: Pall Gudgeirsson Firefighters bopped their way over to the new fire station on the west side of the freeway, which is long overdue for safety reasons. Kudos to Building Official Mike Jorgenson for firing up and bringing this project to completion after the original builder went bankrupt.

Age Well Seniors: Attached to the fire station is the incredible new Dorothy Visser Senior Center made possible by the efforts and generosity of our own late Dorothy Visser and an amazing band of fundraisers. Well done.

Fixing a Hole: The city’s utility crew

Letters to the Editor Article Misses Mark Gregg Lipanovich, San Clemente

There should be two corrections regarding me in the article (SC Times, December 15) “Going to the Dogs.” First, I spoke extemporaneously, without any written speech, and certainly didn’t mean to “mock” any of the commissioners. I did mention I knew they had put a lot of work into this and to recommend opening only 225 feet out of what I believe is about three miles of San Clemente beaches, is way too little. Secondly, I definitely did not “estimate” dog ownership. I went to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s site www.avma.org and looked at their statistics. They do a scientific survey

every few years. Their last put households with dogs at 37.2 percent. So to be extra careful not to exaggerate, I rounded down to one third. This I mentioned to remind all the commissioners what a large constituency we are that deserves more than they were proposing.

Police Lacking on Party D.B. Elliott, San Clemente

Saturday night the teenagers up the street had a party. It’s not unusual.

They’ve had a couple of parties this year. Aside from parking illegally and leaving some trash, the partygoers have been quiet and civil.

(Cont. on page 12)

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

The T-Street overpass was refurbished this year and is one of the city’s highlights. Courtesy photo

commanded by Jay Elston, responded to a raw sewage leak that erupted through the asphalt on El Camino Real and resulted in a three-week search and repair effort.

Bravo to City Engineer Bill Cameron and crew. Phew.

Marine Safety: Among the many lifesaving efforts conducted by our incomparable lifeguards, Teddy Weise and Alyssa Boisseranc received a special City Council commendation for their fine work in saving a young man’s life. That’s what it’s all about.

T-Street Overpass: A joint effort by our beaches and public works departments, this major renovation resulted in needed safety and aesthetic improvements while maintaining access during construction. If you haven’t seen the picturesque tile and art work that highlights this asset on your beach run, ride, walk or just look up.

The Bomb Threat: In response to a bomb threat at San Clemente High School, which received national media attention, sheriff’s deputies did an outstanding job of coordinating the evacuation of the school with SWAT, bomb squad, school and city officials. Fortunately, no bomb was found but the incident did

Page 10

underscore the capability of our band of public safety and emergency staff to handle extreme emergencies.

The Blackout: Thanks to police, fire and emergency crews for maintaining the status quo and keeping the peace during the massive power outage that brought normal life to a halt. On the positive side, who else enjoyed a respite from reality shows?

Library Expansion: A concept plan for a $1.6 million library expansion was approved and funded by the county, local development fees and $200,000 raised by Friends of the Library. Happy reading.

Del Mar: The vibrancy of our downtown area including Del Mar and El Camino Real is mind boggling in these economic times.

New spots from Rocket Fizz to Jack’s Surfboards have joined our array of fab retail stores and restaurants and added to the pizzazz of our downtown. So, eat, drink, be merry and shop local!

Target: Open. Ka-Ching. ‘Nuff said.

You’ve got to admit it’s getting better; it’s getting better all the time. Gledileg Jol. SC PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the San Clemente Times.

We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@sanclementetimes.com.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX

Letters to the Editor (cont.)

(Cont. from page 10) This time, instead of 20-plus teenagers in 10 cars, we witnessed over 100 teenagers and a street overloaded with vehicles. One side of our street is for parking; the other is a fire lane so it is illegal to park there. Both sides were packed.

Teenagers were everywhere, in and out of cars, walking up and down the street, sitting on curbs drinking and smoking. We were in awe.

Our street is a quiet cul-de-sac in Talega.

The only action after 9 p.m. is owls, coyotes and raccoons. Eventually, the police showed up. We assumed the party would immediately end, illegally parked cars would be ticketed, and the crowd would be kept under control until they were dispersed.

Teenagers slowly flooded into the street, some so drunk, they fell over and had to be helped into cars. Were these kids really going to be allowed to drive?

Next a fight broke out in the middle of the street with some boys screaming obscenities. The growing crowd watched as the teens tried to hit each other. Knowing we couldn’t control the aggressive mob, we called 911. Their question was “are there any weapons?” Well, not that we could see, but aren’t fists, bottles and cars potential weapons with unruly teenagers?

Minutes later the brawling boys stopped, got back in their vehicles and left, as did most of the other kids. The police unit did come back down the street, but way too late. The fight was over, the angry, unruly, drunk kids now out on the main streets of San Clemente —potential drunk drivers cruising the streets, possibly crashing and killing other motorists.

What’s up with the police — only sending one unit to handle a hundred drinking, unruly, partying teenagers? Not arresting or dealing with underage drinking? Allowing drunken teenagers to drive? Not ticketing all the cars parked in the fire lane?

What kind of message is being sent to teenagers in our community when these behaviors are not handled? Well, you can drink underage, you can park illegally, you can drive drunk, and if we’re a big crowd, one police unit can’t do squat about anyone breaking the law.

Keep Small Pets Inside at Night Alicia Acuña, San Clemente

It might be worthwhile to remind local residents that we have coyotes in San Clemente and to be careful with their pets.

I had mistakenly assumed the coyotes were not really an issue outside of Talega and possibly Shorecliffs but we live on the south side of San Clemente, near Stewart’s Surf Shop. Our cat, Tigger, was out overnight,

something she’s done for the past 17 years or so but apparently this time it was different. We don’t know how it happened exactly but our neighbor discovered her body on the side yard of his house dead and half eaten. It was an awful way for her to go and she will be missed, but I would feel like her death were not in vain if her story could serve as a warning to local residents to keep their small pets indoors at night. Even if you think your area is coyote free, it may not be.

241 Only Long-Term Answer Ron Greek, San Clemente

Thanks to the SC Times bi-monthly Beachside Chats, I had the displeasure of hearing first hand the arguments against completion of the 241 Toll Road presented by the Surfrider Foundation. Their speaker, Mark Rauscher, simply said they were protecting San Onofre State Park and not concerned about an increase of surfers at Trestles from the hordes from the east, including San Bernardino and Riverside.

One of their esteemed supporters made the mistake of contradicting Rauscher by actually using the phrase “hordes from the East.” Oops.

I said it before and I will say it again, that’s what this is all about: holding down the usage of the Trestles surf crowd at the expense of all of Southern California who use Interstate-5. Let’s face it, I-5 is a disaster especially on weekends through San Clemente, and it’s quickly getting worse, not better. The proposed route of the 241 will not eliminate any existing camping sites. Take into consideration the closing of the 60 Freeway in Montebello, due to a gasoline tanker fire, for a week or longer for the repair of a destroyed overpass. We have six overpasses on I-5 through San Clemente. Can you even begin to believe the chaos closing I-5 would create for only a day much less a week?

The Surfrider Foundation’s answer is to use La Pata instead of completing the 241, which is unimaginable as to the impact on San Clemente local streets and roads. I found it very interesting that Surfrider is no longer talking about the 241 endangering the so-called steelhead salmon run or ruining the surf break at Trestles. Those lies have now been destroyed by scientific facts as well as the negative impact on the state parks. If you want to continue to enjoy living in San Clemente, please support the completion of the 241, as it’s truly the long-term answer and the only answer.

To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@sanclementetimes.com. San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers. Please limit your letters to 350 words.

Editor’s note: What a year 2011 has been in San Clemente. We appreciate your loyal readership and willingness to share your views with us — and the community at large. This issue marks our last for the year. We look forward to bringing you “local news you can use” in 2012. The SC Times family wishes you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season and the best for the New Year.

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

Page 12

GETTING OUT

Go.See.Do New Year’s Eve Bash

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

SC S a n C le m e n te

The List SPECIAL 2-WEEK EDITION

A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town. Compiled by Tawnee Prazak

thursday

22

Taryn Donath 7 p.m.11 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

L.A. Jones 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

friday

23

Holiday Gingerbread Display Check out the elaborate holiday gingerbread display at the Ritz-Carlton. 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point, 949.240.2000, www.ritzcarlton.com.

SC Wine Co.’s picks for Christmas Dinner 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. San Clemente Wine Company’s Barney and Rachael will host some great Christmas Wines. $15 for seven wines. 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

Nonsense 9 p.m. Live music at Goody’s Tavern.

206 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.3400, www.goodystavern.com.

The Ryzing Nick Terrafranca 8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

Brian Young 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

Derek Bordeaux 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live music with a full band at Salt Creek Grille. 32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.661.7799, www.saltcreekgrille.com.

Shawn Jones 8 p.m. Rock, blues and originals live at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

The theme of the San Clemente Historical Society’s New Year’s Eve Party is “Olé.” Courtesy photo

The San Clemente Historical Society will hold its 3rd annual New Year’s Eve under the dome December 31 from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The event will be at the historic Casino San Clemente at 140 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente. This year, the celebration will have the Spanish theme “Olé.” Guests will enjoy Spanish sangria and tapas during cocktail hour.

The party features a cocktail hour of live Spanish acoustical music, fine wine tasting, Spanish-inspired dinner by Carbonara catering, a dessert buffet by Executive Pastry Chef Joel Reno of Baguetier Bakery in Huntington Beach, music by DJ Martín Felipe and a world-class flamenco dinner floorshow featuring celebrated artist Karina Del Carmen Velasco. The dancer is also the artistic director of Los Angeles-based Cuatro Caminos Arts & Flamenco. Calling this the “hottest ticket in town,” chairman Raad Ghantous said the event “will not be your father’s or grandfather’s New Year’s Eve party.” “We will rock in the New Year like it’s never been done before,” he added. Spanish-inspired attire is encouraged but optional. Tickets are $125 per person and may be reserved by calling 949.498.0116 or emailing NewYearsEve@SanClemente HistoricalSociety.org. Major credit cards are accepted. —Stacie N. Galang

saturday

Talega Holiday Happenings 12 p.m.3 p.m. Holiday happenings at Talega Village Center with live student performances, visits from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, special deals at select businesses and more. Free to attend. Located at the intersection of Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida Talega, San Clemente, 714.259.1046, www.talegavillagecenter.com.

24

Christmas Eve with Taryn Donath 7:30 p.m.11 p.m. Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

monday

Stand-Up Comedy: Doug Benson 8 p.m. The popular comedian known from VH-1’s “Best Week Ever, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and more hit shows visits the Irvine Improv for some laughs. Tickets $20. 71 Fortune Drive, Suite 841, Irvine, 949.854.5455, www.improv.com.

26

Monday Night Pool Tournie 6 p.m. Pool Tournament every Monday Night at Ole’s Tavern; $5 buy in. 127 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.498.9400, www.olestavern.com.

tuesday

The Nutcracker 11 a.m. Celebrate the beauty and pageantry of the holidays with Festival Ballet Theatre Company’s annual production of the beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Cost $35-$40. 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.854.4646, www.festivalballet.org.

Cheryl Silverstein & John Paul Keene 6 p.m.

Vocalist and pianist play holiday tunes and jazz standards at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

Coverfire 9 p.m. Live music at Goody’s Tavern.

206 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.3400, www.goodystavern.com.

Will Heard 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover.

204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

SC Presbyterian Church Christmas Services 4 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Family Services (nursery care available), and 9:30 p.m. & 11 p.m. Communion candlelight services (no childcare) at SC Presbyterian Church. 119 N. Avenida de la Estrella, San Clemente, 492.6158, www.scpres.org

sunday

Disney on Ice 4:30 p.m.

Last day to see the festive holiday show with all your favorite characters at the Honda Center. Tickets $17.50-$71.50.

2695 E. Katella, Anaheim, 714.704.2500, www.hondacenter.com.

25

El Torito All You Can Eat Christmas Day 9 a.m.-3 p.m. El Torito in the DP Harbor has an all-youcan-eat buffet for $16.99. Again on New Year’s Day. 34521 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 949.496.6311, www.eltorito.com.

Christmas Morning Family Service 10 a.m.

A special, fun, family Christmas morning service at Vista Del Mar School. Avenida Talega and Calle Portofino, San Clemente.

Page 14

27

wednesday

Kids Storytime at the Casa 10 a.m. Casa Romantica hosts storytime for youngsters ages 3-5; free. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

28

Jared From Knockout 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

thursday

29

Helicopter 8 p.m.

Live music at Renaissance.

24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissancedanapoint.com.

Dance ‘Tilya Flop 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Dance ‘Tilya Flop (DTF) at OC Tavern featuring local artists Chalk, DJNR & Sweekuh, DJ Juncal and a very special guest. All ages.

Cost $10 at the door. 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.542.8877, www.octavern.com.

(Cont. on page 17) www.sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 14) Hart & Soul 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

Live music at Adele’s. 2600 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, 949.481.1222, www. adelesatthesanclementeinn.com.

NYE: Broadway Time 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse hosts an early New Year’s Eve party with dinner, dancing, a champagne toast and more all before 10 p.m. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Flock of 80’s 8 p.m. Live music at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

OC Fair New Year’s Eve Block Party 7:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. A casual NYE Party at the OC Fair & Events Center with live entertainment, gourmet food trucks, a casino and more. 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, ocfair.com/block party.

friday

30

Bubblies for New Years Eve 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

San Clemente Wine Company’s Barney & Rachael will host some great New Year’s Wines. $15 for seven wines.

212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

G 9 p.m. Live music at Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.3400, www.goodystavern.com.

Socal Vibes 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover.

204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

saturday

Ole: New Year’s Eve Under the Dome 7 p.m.12:30 a.m. The San Clemente Historical Society presents a New Year’s Eve event at The Casino San Clemente with dinner, dancing and live entertainment. Tickets $125. 140 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente, 949.632.5605, 949.498.0116, www.thecasinosanclemente.com.

31

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball 5:30 p.m.12:30 a.m. Festive celebration at Iva Lee’s with dinner and live music by Nathan James followed by The Freemonts.

Masks and beads for dining guests. Cost $65 each.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

The Ryzing Nick Terrafranca 8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

New Year’s Eve Party with Elliot 7 p.m.

Live music and festivities for NYE at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www. thecellarsite.com.

Renaissance’s NYE Bash 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Live music by Shawn Jones, a special menu, champagne and more at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

Senior New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dance 5 p.m.-10 p.m. NYE event for seniors at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo St., Dana Point, 949.496.4252, www.dananpoint.org.

Ritz’ New Year’s Eve Celebration 8 p.m.

Gourmet four-course dinner, champagne toast, four hours of live entertainment, and more at the Ritz-Carlton to celebrate the New Year. $375 per person. 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point, 949.240.2000, www.ritzcarlton.com.

Irons in the Fire East Coast Toast 6 p.m.12 a.m. Can’t stay up for the 12 a.m. celebration? Join us at Irons in the Fire’s East Coast Toast for dinner, champagne, live music and more. No cover, $130 for the pre-fixe dinner. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.542.3900, www.beachfire.com.

NYE at St. Regis 7:30 p.m.-12 a.m. St. Regis hosts a celebration with fine food, beverages, casino gaming, DJ and dancing. Cost $150. One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3200, www.stregismb.com.

ON STAGE

Coach House to Ring in 2012 with Dada

D

ada’s debut album release, Puzzle, burst onto the airwaves as No. 2 on Billboard’s Heatseeker Chart and included a hit song, Dizz Knee Land that climbed the charts in the United States and literally across the world.

Critics praised the work of Michael Gurley (guitar/co-lead vocals), Joie Calio (bass/co-lead vocals) and Phil Leavitt (drums), comparing them to everyone from Nirvana to the Beatles. The band was especially known for its harmonizing vocals. Dada was named after a cultural movement in Europe at the start of World War I, using the arts with an anti-war message. Dadaism was anti-bourgeois and anarchist, too.

Puzzle went on to sell half a million copies, and Dada toured with the likes of Crowded House and Sting.

Dada released follow up albums, but their record-companies seemed snake bitten, as the first, IRS, went under and then the parent company of the second, MCA Records, was sold. In 1999, Dada played what was to be their final show.

But the band has reunited and will start ringing in 2012 at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Puzzle, Dada will play the entire album during the New Year’s Eve show. The Coach House is special to Dada, too: When the band reunited in 2003, they launched a 40-city U.S. tour to support their live CD release, Live: Official Bootleg, Vol. 1, which was recorded at The Galaxy Theatre San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

sunday

Orange County Wine Cruise 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Dana Wharf hosts a wine-tasting cruise Friday through Sunday on their luxury catamaran through the Harbor. $49 per person. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

01

Blue Whale Bonanza! Capt Dave’s Safari has daily departures for whale and dolphin watching on a high-tech catamaran with underwater viewing pods and more. Call for times. Cost $55 adults, $35 children, 2 and younger free. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.

monday

02

Smokey Karaoke 8 p.m. Sing fearlessly at BeachFire and enjoy Mojito Monday.

No cover. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

Monday Night Laughs 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Live standup comedy at Hennessey’s Tavern. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com.

tuesday

03

Ben Powell 7 p.m.-11 p.m. live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite. com.

Curiosity Carts 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A hands-on learning experience for kids (5+) at Mission San Juan Capistrano offering replica mission artifacts used by the Juaneno Indians. Admission $5–$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

wednesday

Wine Tasting 7 p.m.8 p.m. Educational wine tasting at Vine featuring four wines paired with food; $40 per person. 211 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.9376, www.vinesanclemente.com.

04

Dan Lefler & The Danimals 7 p.m. Live music at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

thursday

Ladies’ Night 8 p.m.– 12 a.m. Dance the night away to current top-40 hits, Latin and R&B music at Brio Tuscany Grille. 24050 Camino del Avion, Suite B, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

05

First Thursdays Art Walk 6 p.m.-9 p.m. A free, self guided tour of the art museum and member galleries in Laguna Beach along Pacific Coast Highway.

949.683.6871, www.firstthursdaysartwalk.com.

Courtesy photo

in Santa Ana and released on Coach House Records.

Fans are excited, too, because the band is back in the studio working on a new recording.

The New Year’s Eve show is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Opening for Dada are Groove Kitty and Relative Motion.

For more information, see www.thecoachhouse.com or www.dadatheband.com. SC Page 17

Harland Williams 8 p.m. The popular comedian does a show at Irvine Improv. Tickets $22. 71 Fortune Drive, Suite 841, Irvine, 949.854.5455, www.improv.com. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.sanclementetimes.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@sanclementetimes.com www.sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING

4

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

SC S a n C le m e n te

SUDOKU

by Myles Mellor Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium Last week’s solution:

SOLUTION SOLUTION SOLUTION SOLUTION See today’s solution in next week’s issue.

On Life and Love After 50: By Tom Blake

The Vitality of Sydney, Australia

O

n the first date with my special lady Greta, we found out that we had many common interests, the strongest being a love of travel. We agreed that if we became a couple, we would strive to travel as much as we could, as long as we were healthy enough to do so. That was 13½ years ago; we’ve upheld that commitment to each other, including a recent trip down under—to Australia and New Zealand.

When we arrived in Sydney after a 17hour flight, we were surprised that we had the energy to do a little sightseeing while trying to stay awake until 8 p.m. or so. The city of Sydney provides a free shuttle bus that circles the inner city downtown area.

With a map in hand, we were able to get orientated on that first day.

Although jet-lagged from our flight, we were determined to stay awake until after 7 p.m. We boarded the shuttle bus and rode to the Circular Quay, a bustling harbor area where the Opera House is located. The first impression of Sydney is a lasting one: It’s an exciting city of 4.5 million people in perpetual motion. From the Opera House, we could see a group of brave souls tethered together who looked like ants climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Doing that was not on our bucket list.

On day two in Australia, with a solid night of sleep under our belts, we signed up for a tour of the Blue Mountains, a 4,000-squaremile national park an hour and a half to the

Sydney Opera House. Courtesy photo

west of Sydney. Greta and I like the intimacy of small tour buses, so we hired Jim, who served as both driver and tour guide, and joined 18 other passengers.

Jim was a tall, lanky, outback, sort of CrocoOn Life and Love After 50 dile Dundee, guy. Turns

By Tom Blake out, he was a remarkable dude who cared about his passengers’ safety and the environment at the same time. The trip lasted eight hours and was only $55 each plus tip.

The Blue Mountains are so named because the eucalyptus trees in the park give off a vapor that causes the air from a distance to appear blue.

After a couple of stops, including the viewing of the well-known Three Sisters rock formation and lunch on our own in the mountain town of Katoomba, Jim gave us a choice. We were at an elevation of 2,000 feet. A part of the tour was to visit the forest floor. We could take the steepest incline railway in the world (52-degree angle) down and back up or walk down more than 1,000 steep, slippery steps and ride the railway back up.

Fifteen selected option one. Three others (Simon, a 6-foot-7-inch tall musician from London and two young women students from Hong Kong) plus Greta and I chose option two. Jim joined us. The walk down took about an hour and went through a rain forest and past waterfalls.

The views of the Three Sisters rock formation were special. I was proud of Greta for making the trek. Our knees and legs ached for three days afterwards.

On the trip back to Sydney, Jim found an area along the road where we viewed kangaroos in the wild.

As we rode back on the bus, Greta and I paused to think how wonderful the world can be when its international inhabitants live in peace. Travel breaks down barriers

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

Three Sisters. Courtesy photo

and creates friendships despite language, religious and political differences.

While Australia and the United States are strong allies, I found it interesting that China and Australia have a favorable bond.

On our final day in Sydney, Greta and I visited the Chinese Gardens in the Darling Harbor neighborhood. The gardens symbolize the amiable relationship between China and Australia. The gardens are in the midst of the high rises and vitality of downtown Sydney and yet have a serenity about them that calms the nerves and soothes the soul.

From the Chinese Gardens, it’s a short stroll to Paddy’s Market, a covered marketplace where the goods are far less expensive than in the mall stores in Sydney. The market is vast, not as large as the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, but covering a city block or two.

To cap off our stay in Sydney, we had lunch with our Australia travel agent, Michael and his wife Georgia, in an Italian restaurant in the Potts Point neighborhood. We had never met them in person

Page 19

before but that didn’t seem to matter, as the four of us enjoyed a three-hour late Sunday lunch that also served as our dinner. They love to travel as much as we do and that made for endless stories and laughter as we felt like old friends.

Sydney is a remarkable city. It’s booming, unemployment is low and it’s a bit pricey. Public transportation is remarkably convenient.

That’s the scoop for now. It’s off to New Zealand tomorrow, on Holland America’s ship MS Volendam, for new adventures with the same woman who told me she loves to travel 13½ years ago.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point business owner and San Clemente resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. To comment on his column, email him at TompBlake@gmail. com. See his website at www.FindingLove After50.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the San Clemente Times staff. We appreciate their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@sanclementetimes.com.

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FOR RENT House for Rent Southwest SC (below the freeway) 4 bed, 2 bath $2800 (949) 209-7305

GARAGE SALES The Shoreline Church of San Clemente High School Ministry Rummage Sale When: Saturday January 21st 7-10am. Where: 1062 Calle Negocio Suite A San Clemente CA 92673. High School students are raising money for our Winter Trip to Brian Head, Utah. All the money raised from the Rummage Sale goes directly to helping a student get to camp. We have tons of stuff to sell. Please do not come any earlier than 7am. Thanks.

SERVICES Local Housekeeper or Office Cleaning Reliable, affordable, meticulous. EXCELLENT REFERENCES. 949-456-2376

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Locals Only

Business Directory

The only directory featuring San Clemente businesses exclusively ACCOUNTANTS

Coins

Craig Workinger CPA’s Inc 629 Camino de Los Mares #307

949.218.3224

Air conditioning

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

COMPUTER REPAIR & SERVICES

All Season Air 949.579.0741 allseasonair@gmail.com, www.allseasonair.net Oasis Heating & Air

949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

CONCRETE

Costa Verde Landscape 949.361.9656 License#: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 www.costaverdelandscaping.com 109 Calle de los Molinos, CONTRACTORS - GENERAL www.southcoastfurniture.com B Construction 949.481.8444 Appliances Services & Repairs 1046 Calle Recodo, Ste. I, www.bconstruction.net ASAP Appliance Service 949.361.7713 The Cooper Company General Contractor License #B 638754, 949.361.2538 3200 Legendario, www.asapapplianceservice.com www.biffcooperconstruction.com ART GALLERIES Dunham Construction, Inc. 949.492.7100 San Clemente Art Association 949.492.7175 License #450880, www.dunhamconstruction.net Hutton Construction 949.492.2808 100 N. Calle Seville, www.scartgallery.com www.brucehuttonconstruction.com

Auto Wrecking

BABY & CHILDREN’S GEAR OC Tykes

949.429.1714 201 N. El Camino Real, www.octykes.com

Beauty Supply Del Mar Beauty Supply 150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste D, www.delmarbeauty.com

949.492.8180

San Clemente Window Fashions www.sc-wf.com

BOOKS Village Book Exchange 99 Avenida Serra

COSMETICS AVON 949.370.0433 Annie Kyle, www.youravon.com/anniekyle Mary Kay Cosmetics 949.248.2868 www.marykay.com/madams2

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

DRYWALL/DRYWALL REPAIR Call Jeff

johnson4sc@cox.net

Blinds 949.498.9515

South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 KC Painting & Decorating 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com

949.683.4972

ELECTRICAL

HOUSE SITTING Curbside Pet & House Sitting 949.369.5074 San Clemente, dalmatian.love@cox.net

INTERIOR DECORATING & REDESIGN

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 949.361.4867 (GUMS) 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, www.moranperio.com

PEST CONTROL Colony Termite Control 949.361.2500 1402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com

Pet SITTING Curbside Pet & House Sitting 949.369.5074 San Clemente, dalmatian.love@cox.net

The Home & Garden Stylist/ 949.218.8022 PHARMACIES Vignettes of Refinement San Clemente, www.vignettesofrefinement.com Sea View Pharmacy 949.496.0123 665 Camino De Los Mares #101, JewelerS www.seaviewpharmacy.com Paradise Jewelers 949.361.4367 PHOTOGRAPHY 808 N. El Camino Real, www.paradisejewelers.com Memories Of Me Photos 949.361.0680 LANDSCAPE & DESIGN www.memoriesofmephotos.com Costa Verde Landscape 949.361.9656 PIZZA License#: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) www.costaverdelandscaping.com Izza Neapolitan Pizzeria 949.248.4925 Greenscapes Landscape & Design 949.366.6564 376 Camino de Estrella, www.izzapizzeria.com 1046 Calle Recodo, Ste. I, www.greenscapesoc.com PLUMBING Living Gardens Landscape Design 949.218.7459 www.livinggardenslandscapedesign.com A to Z Leak Detection 949.499.4464 1218 Puerta del Sol, www.atozleakdetection.com Landscape Lighting Bill Metzger Plumbing 949.492.3558 Costa Verde Landscape 949.361.9656 1218 Puerta del Sol, www.billmetzgerplumbing.com License#: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) Chick’s Plumbing 949.496.9731 www.costaverdelandscaping.com www.chicks-plumbing.com San Clemente Plumbing 949.366.2691 MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 108, Janet M. Seymour, PsyD 949.633.0813 www.sanclementeplumbing.com 1443 N. El Camino Real, Ste. B

POOL/SPA SERVICE & REPAIR

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045 MATTRESSES Radiant Pool & Spa Service www.arcadiaelectric.com South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 www.radiantpoolservice.com Gallagher Electric 949.412.6602 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com 949.492.1114 P.O. Box 986, www.gallagher-electric.com

BUSINESS COMPUTER SERVICE, REPAIR 949.488.0029 OC - IT

970 Calle Negocio, www.oc-it.com

CARPET

Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Lange & Minnott

1201 Puerta Del Sol, Ste. 203

949.492.3459

Catering Carbonara Trattoria 949.366.1040 111 Avenida Del Mar, #B, www.carbonara.com

Cheese Shop The Cellar 949.492.3663 156 Ave. Del Mar, www.thecellarsite.com

CHIROPRACTIC CARE Dr. R. Tyler Johnson DC, Chiropractic Center 1502 N. El Camino Real,

949.498.6440 www.chiropracticcenteronline.com Christiansen Chiropractic 949.276.2956 903 Calle Amancer, Ste. 230, www.christiansenchiro.com

FURNITURE South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Images/Creative Solutions 949.366.2488 2927 Via San Gorgoinio, Ste. 100, www.imgs.com

HAIR SALONS Kreative Hair Design 173 Avenida Serra

949.498.6245

Heating All Season Air 949.579.0741 allseasonair@gmail.com, www.allseasonair.net Oasis Heating & Air

949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

949.290.5616

PRESCHOOLS

MOLD REMOVAL

Jarvis Restoration -24/7 949.362.5388 1393 Calle Avanzado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

Financial Advisor

Timothy C. Metcalf, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC Designer’s Magic Flooring 949.496.1926 www.wfadvisors.com/tim.metcalf 949.862.1250 638 Camino de los Mares, Ste. G-105, www.designersmagiccarpetandflooring.com FLOORING Shaw’s Carpets

949.492.8070 Designer’s Magic Flooring 949.496.1926 135 Avenida Victoria 638 Camino de los Mares, Ste. G -105, CARPET & FLOORING www.designersmagiccarpetandflooring.com Anaheim Carpet & Flooring 949.366.6564 1046 Calle Recodo, Ste. I, www.anaheimcarpet.net

949.388.6829

Periodontics & Dental Implants

HOME LOANS

Coldwell Banker Home Loans - 949.307.7982 San Clemente Computer & Network Services daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581 nmls#261832. Tom Fashing, Mortgage Advisor, tom.fashing@mortgagefamily.com

Appliances

San Clemente Auto Wrecking & Repair Shop 1520 Avenida de la Estrella, Ste. B, 949.492.6121 www.sanclementeautowrecking.com

PAINTING

Home Décor 949.350.4692 Kevin

San Clemente Preschool 163 Avenida Victoria

949.498.1025

PRINTING

Printing OC

949.388.4888 SC Rider Supply

949.388.0521 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com 520 S. El Camino Real, www.scridersupply.com

MUSIC LESSONS Danman’s Music School www.danmans.com Leslie Lowe - Ukulele, Guitar & Bass leslielowe82@gmail.com Janet Poth - Violin & Viola 413 Calle Pueblo, janpoth@aol.com

Psychologists

Barbara M. Thomas, PsyD 949.547.0833 949.496.6556 655 Camino de Los Mares, Ste. 117 Janet M. Seymour, PsyD 949.633.0813 949.292.5019 1443 N. El Camino Real, Ste. B Manny Tau, Psy.D., PSY14892 888.949.5150 949.922.6388 300 S. El Camino Real, Ste. 218, www.drtau.com

OFFICE FURNITURE South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com

Optometry San Clemente Optometry, David J. Nota, OD 224 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.2029 www.sanclementeoptometry.com Seaside Eyecare 949.493.2269 638 Camino De Los Mares, #A120, www.seasideeyecare.com

Orthodontist Frank J. Mogavero, DDS MS 949.493.7300 1031 Avenida Pico # 101, www.syncyoursmile.com

Real Estate Antonio Fiorello, Forté Realty Group 949.842.3631 San Clemente, www.forterealtygroup.com Casa Verde Homes - Simon Wilson 949.212.5800 www.casaverdehomes.com Century 21 OMA - Eric Benson 949.584.3751 www.sanclementecoastalhomes.com Marcie George - Star Real Estate South County marciegeorge@cox.net 949.690.5410 McDaniel Gilmore Group - Surterre Properties www.livetalega.com

949.464.3226 Prue Putnins- Regency Real Estate 949.366.1984 www.TheTalegaTeam.com, www.HomesByPrue.com ReMax - “Sandy & Rich” www.sandyandrich.com 949.293.3236

Locals Only

Business Directory

The only directory featuring San Clemente businesses exclusively Remodel Casa Verde Homes

949.212.5800 License #B 906391, www.casaverderenovation.com Designer’s Magic Flooring 949.496.1926 638 Camino de los Mare, Ste. G-105, www.designersmagiccarpetandflooring.com

Restaurants Café Calypso

949.366.9386 114 Avenida Del Mar #4 Carbonara Trattoria 949.366.1040 111 Avenida Del Mar, #B, www.carbonara.com The Cellar 949.492.3663 156 Ave. Del Mar, www.thecellarsite.com

ROOFING CONTRACTORS Jim Thomas Roofing 162 Calle de Industrias

949.498.6204

RUNNING STORE Run More

949.940.0408 303 N. El Camino Real, www.runmore-ca.com

SALONS Salon Bamboo 949.361.3348 150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, www.salonbamboo.com Salon Bleu

949.366.2060 207 S. El Camino Real, www.scsalonbleu.com Sanctuary Salon & Spa 949.429.5802 1041 Avenida Pico, Ste. B, www.sanctuarytalega.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Tattoo Studio & Permanent Makeup

Your business here!

Highland Ink 949.481.4434 1006 S. El Camino Real, www.highlandink.us

Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100! Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online.

Call Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or e-mail aedwards@sanclementetimes.com.

Colony Termite Control 949.361.2500 1402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com The Termite Guy 949.940.1010 106 W. Canada Ave., www.877termite.com

TILE & STONE INSTALLATION/RESTORATION Yorba Linda Tile & Marble, Inc. www.yorbalindatilemarble.com

SCREENS Sure-Fit Screens

www.surefitscreens.com

TERMITES

949.498.9412

SECOND HAND/THRIFT SHOP

949.492.8719

South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 VETERINARIANS 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com The Bargain Box 949.492.2800 Pacific Coast Veterinary Hospital 949.429.1555 1242 Puerta Del Sol, www.pacificcoastveterinary.com 526 N. El Camino Real, www.capistranovalley.assistanceleague.org WATER DAMAGE

SKINCARE

Jarvis Restoration -24/7 949.362.5388 A Beautiful You Skin Care

949.370.1852 1393 Calle Avanzado, www.jarvisrestoration.com 1502 N. El Camino Real, www.abeautifulyouoc.com Water Wise Irrigation

SURF SCHOOLS

San Clemente Surf School www.sanclementesurflessons.com

Costa Verde Landscape 949.334.7649 License#: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) www.costaverdelandscaping.com

WEBSITE DESIGN San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345 www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

WINDOW CLEANING

949.276.5752 Bayside Window Cleaning 714.757.3490 www.baysidewindowcleaning.com

VACUUMS, SERVICE & REPAIR Best Blinds & Vacuums 73 Via Pico Plaza

TUTORING Study with Stacy 949.632.1176 www.studywithstacy.com Tutor Toes

949.429.6222 111 W. Avenida Palizada, Ste. 11, www.tutortoes.com

949.361.9656

949.290.8230

WINDOW COVERINGS Best Blinds & Vacuums 949.492.8719 73 Via Pico Plaza Designer’s Magic Flooring 949.496.1926 638 Camino de los Mare, Ste. G-105, www.designersmagiccarpetandflooring.com San Clemente Window Fashions 949.498.9515 www.sc-wf.com

Wine Bar The Cellar 949.492.3663 156 Ave. Del Mar, www.thecellarsite.com

Wine Shop & Wine Tasting San Clemente Wine Company 949.429.7076 212 ½ Avenida Del Mar, www.scwinecompany.com

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS Stories, scores, schedules & more

SC

5 Best Bets BOYS BASKETBALL

GIRLS WATER POLO

Sea Kings vs.

Tritons, El Toro High School

Breakers vs.

Tritons, Capo Valley High School

Dec. 22, noon

Dec. 22, 3:15 p.m.

The Tritons square off against the Sea Kings of Corona del Mar in nonleague action at El Toro High School.

Taking their A-game out on the road, the Lady Tritons head to Capo Valley High for a big game against the also visiting Lady Breakers of Laguna Beach.

Info: www.sctritons.com

BASKETBALL

HOCKEY

HOCKEY

Bulls vs. Lakers, Staples Center

Coyotes vs. Kings, Staples Center

Canucks vs. Ducks, Honda Center

Dec. 25, 2 p.m.

Dec. 26, 7 p.m.

Dec. 29, 7 p.m.

The purple and gold hit center court for a clash with Chicago as Kobe Bryant and the Lakers tip-off the 2011-12 regular season on Christmas Day.

After a quick trip north to San Jose, the Los Angeles Kings skate back to home ice hoping for a solid win against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Still searching for its identity on the ice this season, the Anaheim Ducks head home after five games on the road in time to face Vancouver.

Info: www.kings.nhl.com

Info: www.ducks.nhl.com

Info: www.nba.com/lakers

Info: www.sctritons.com

S a n C le m e n te

2011 Year in Review

By David Zimmerle San Clemente Times

T

he 2011 storylines in San Clemente were full of great triumphs, crushing defeats, intense competition—and even a bit of scandal—in a range of sporting events. Here’s a Year in Review recap that made some of the bigger headlines in town in 2011.

January Orange County Skateboarding League Forms Bernice Ayer Middle School, Shorecliffs and San Clemente High started their own skate teams to compete against other Orange County middle and high schools. A total of 17 schools, including St. Edwards Episcopal School, took part.

Boys lacrosse team plays in first-ever alumni game The Tritons varsity lacrosse team played in its first ever alumni game January 2, and beat San Clemente’s alumni by the final score of 12-10.

February Numerous SCHS athletes sign national letters of intent A total of 17 student-athletes at San Clemente High signed their national letters of intent to play sports at the collegiate level.

SCHS girls water polo team nets Division 2 championship San Clemente’s girls water polo team finished off Santiago of Corona (26-6) with an 8-5 victory on February 26, capturing its first ever CIF-SS Division 2 championship in front of a packed audience at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine.

March Varsity boys soccer team nets CIF Division 1 Title and Regional Championship The Tritons (20-6-6) claimed its very first CIF-SS Division 1 title March 5 in a rousing 2-1 victory against the Santa Barbara Dons (19-6-4) at

Warren High School in Downey. Next, the team earned the No. 1 ranking in the state after blasting Buchanan of Clovis in a 4-1 win at the Southern California Regional Division 1 Championship on March 12.

SCHS dance team captures three state championships The San Clemente High School dance team captured three state championship trophies —Small Hip Hop, Small Dance and Novelty — March 19 at the California Association of Dance/Drill Team Instructors State Championship at Aliso Niguel High School.

April SCLL’s Central Juniors SC Black beats Central SC Red The Central Juniors San Clemente Black put up another win against Central SC Red on April 16. Tanner Brubaker pitched three innings with no earned runs and Jordan Fitzgerald threw two scoreless innings.

Duo Dominate at Huntington Tournament San Clemente’s Hanna Farnsworth, 10, and partner, Marissa Ramsey, 12, won the first California Beach Volleyball Association Ratcamp Youth Tournament while at Huntington Beach on April 23. The duo advanced out of their pool 3-0 and went undefeated with a 5-0 record.

May Despite league titles, boys volleyball and tennis teams bow out early from playoffs Following its 3-0 rout of Dos Pueblos in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 Boys Volleyball Championships on May 10, the Tritons (24-7) were shut down 3-0

by Newport Harbor on May 12.

Meanwhile, after winning the South Coast League for the first time since 2004 with a record of 13-2, San Clemente’s varsity boys tennis team saw its post-season hopes dashed following a 12-6 loss to Marina High in the first round of the CIFSS Division 1 Championships on May 11.

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

June Talafus and Yoder make Dave Mohs All-Star Tournament Volleyball Team San Clemente High School volleyball players Erin Talafus and Molly Yoder were tapped as part of the roster for the 34th Annual Dave Mohs All-Star Tournament Volleyball Team, all-stars from an elite list of Orange County graduating seniors.

Angels win American City Championship The San Clemente Major Angels brought home the City Championship with a dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Blue Jays, scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Angels finished undefeated in the City Tournament and 15-4 overall.

July O’Toole takes ninth place at LPGA U.S. Women’s Open San Clemente High School 2005 alum Ryan O’Toole, 24, proved she’s got what it takes to become a mainstay on the LPGA tour. After playing through several rounds of golf against the best in her field at the U.S. Women’s Open earlier in the month, O’Toole went on to finish alone in ninth place with a 3-over par when the dust finally settled at Broodmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, Colo.

August San Clemente All Stars in record book, but not World Series The San Clemente Jr. Little League All-Stars saw its magical season ended in a marathon 13-inning game that stretched more than three hours, eventually falling to the Arizona state champions 8-3 in the semifinals of the Western Regional Tournament—just two wins shy of advancing to the Little League Junior World Series. They finished their all-star run with a 17-3 record. They were the first team in San

Page 24

Clemente’s history to earn the Southern California Champion title.

September Patton ousted as head coach, Hamro takes the reins Following former varsity football head coach Eric Patton’s departure in August amid allegations that he was receiving kickbacks from a now defunct athletic team supply company, athletic director Jon Hamro assumed the role as head coach and led the Tritons to a 35-6 victory against Long Beach Cabrillo in its first game of the season.

October Jr. Midget Tritons beat East L.A., sets up showdown with Pasadena South Coast Youth Football’s Jr. Midget Tritons beat the East L.A. Bulldogs 32-0 en route to its fourth league victory this season. The victory set up a must-win game against archrival Pasadena for the final spot in the first round of playoffs.

November Girls varsity cross country team legs out CIF championship win and state title After running away with their very first CIF-SS Division 1 championship at the CIF-SS Finals at Mt. SAC, the Lady Tritons advanced to the CIF State Cross Country Championships and won the state title as all five of the team’s runners placed in the top 50 at the event.

December Tritons fall to Santa Margarita in CIF-SS Pac-5 Finals In its first CIF Finals appearance in 32 years, San Clemente High’s varsity football team lost to eventual state champion, Santa Margarita, by the final score of 27-13 in front of a crowd of more than 14,000 people at Angel Stadium. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SURF

Grom of the YEAR Griffin Colapinto

6

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SC S a n C le m e n te

Age: 13, California Virtual Academy Griffin Colapinto had a banner year in 2011. He won the NSSA Western Championship Open Juniors title, took fourth in Boys at NSSA Nationals, finished the 2010/2011 Surfing America Prime season ranked No. 4 in Boys U14 and was appointed to the PacSun USA Surf Team. In 2011/2012 Prime competition Griffin has made podium appearances at both contests so far. At the September Seaside Reef contest he took second in Boys U14 and followed up at Church’s in October by winning both U14 and U16. He currently holds the No.1 spot in both divisions. He won the U12 Rip Curl GromSearch Nationals in November, was chosen for the Kelly Slater-mentored Daphne’s California Greek surf team and is now ranked No. 1 in NSSA Open Juniors. He recently returned from training in Hawaii with DC Shoes and will return in February with Billabong. In March Griffin will train with Team USA in Costa Rica and then in April it’s on to Panama for the ISA World Junior Championship.

Griffin Colapinto. Courtesy photo He has successfully balanced travel with school and is maintaining a 3.8 GPA. He takes his role as a big brother seriously as well, acting as an encouraging motivator for his younger brother Crosby. Hard work and dedication have made 2011 a pivotal year in this young surfer’s amateur career and created a momentum that is sure to catapult him toward great things in the future. He will definitely be one to watch in 2012. —Andrea Swayne

A Look Back is a Look Ahead

SURF RESULTS NSSA Southwest Conference Open Event No. 7, Dec. 17-18, Cardiff by the Sea, Seaside Reef Local finishers only. MEN: 2. Trevor Thornton, San Clemente. JUNIORS: 1. Griffin Colapinto, San Clemente; 4. Colt Ward, San Clemente 7.23.

MINI GROMS: 3. Kade Matson, San Clemente.

WOMEN: 3. Tia Blanco, San Clemente.

The future of surfing is bright thanks to young local talent

By Andrea Swayne San Clemente Times

E

ach week the SC Times features one young local surfer—with a few bodyboarders and skateboarders in the mix—via our Grom of the Week profiles. These stories introduce readers to the budding surf careers of local grommets (groms for short) as well as providing a brief look at their academic talents, interests beyond surfing and dreams for the future. In this special “looking back” edition we are honoring the future of surfing with one more look at all of the Groms of the Week for 2011. SC

Taj Lindblad

Teresa O’Connor

Scott Weinhardt

Mason Shaw

Kloee Openshaw

Eric Blaes

Colt Ward

Malaya Ring

Emmy Merrill

Liam Walsh

Garrett Eslick

Brandon Hoffman

Kolohe Andino

Max Eberle

Wyatt Brady

Madi Swayne

Rio Donaldson

Cole Houshmand

Josh Seres

Kevin Schulz

Rachael Tilly

Dylan Cox

Ian Crane

Tai Stratton

David Levy

Kyle Perez

Tory Gilkerson

Colton Overin

Corey Colapinto

Noah Hohenester

Sebastian Mendes

Kaeden Carabba

Nick Melanson

Nathan Carabba

Kaylee Crump

Michael Tilly

Jadon Smith

Malia Osterkamp

Eric Weinhardt

Shane Stavron

Colin Deveze

Erik Buell

Lucas Taub

Shane Hardy

Myah Bradshaw

Brandon Hawkins

Malia Mauch

Elenna “Lulu” Erkeneff

Kirra Pinkerton

Kaila Patterson

San Clemente Times December 22, 2011–January 5, 2012

Page 26

UPCOMING EVENTS December 17-18: NSSA Southwest Conference Open Event No. 7, Cardiff by the Sea, Seaside Reef January 7-8: WSA Gatorade Championship Tour Event No. 6, Midget Smith Pier Rat Challenge, San Clemente, Pier January 7-8: NSSA Southwest Conference Open Event No. 8, Dana Point, Salt Creek January 14: NSSA Southwest Conference Explorer Event No. 5, Huntington Beach, Pier

Surf ForecasT Water temp: 58-61˚F Water visibility and conditions: San Clemente: 10-20’+ Good; Catalina: 30-40’+ Good Remarks: A small mix of Northwest and SouthSouthwest swells is on tap for Thursday. Surge is light and visibility is good, setting up pretty good diving conditions overall.

Short range: Surf size is 2-3’+(knee-waistchest high) for most of the region on Thursday, with a few rare larger peaks for top winter exposures around the correct tides. Light winds keep the surf clean and generally fair overall.

A more sizeable new SSW groundswell starts to move in on Friday, mixing with small/easing NW swell. Size starts the day in the 2-3’+(knee-chest high) range, with larger sets for top Southerly exposures by the afternoon.

Morning winds are light offshore for clean conditions.

Long range: A fun combo of SSW swell and minor NW swell is on offer for the Holiday Weekend. Size for better exposures is in the 34’+(waist-shoulder high) range at good breaks on Saturday, with a few larger sets for top exposures. Size holds steady on Sunday, with clean conditions setting up through the morning. Stay tuned to Surfline.com for updates.

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