Fabruary 14, 2013

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, EVENTS AND MORE F E B R U A RY 1 4 –2 0 , 2 0 1 3

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

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VOLUME 8, ISSUE 7

Downtown Businesses Facing Challenges Higher rents coming based on renewed demand for space E Y E O N S C / PAG E 6 Members of the DBA Board, including Dawn Mednick, Christina Carbonara, Michael Kaupp and Marie Luna are looking to improve the parking situation on Avenida Del Mar this year. Photo by Jim Shilander

www.sanclementetimes.com

NRC Outlines Final Steps of SONGS Restart Investigation

Tritons Win First Basketball League Title in More Than 30 Years

Trestles Historic Designation Wins State Approval

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SPORTS/PAGE 25

EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

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 The California Public Utilities Commission has granted the city of San Juan Capistrano’s request to extend the public comment period for the South Orange County Reliability Enhancement project by 14 days to February 22. The city submitted a letter last week requesting more time and expressing some of their concerns regarding San Diego Gas & Electric’s plan to demolish a historic 95-yearold electrical substation and replace it with a new high-capacity system that could service south Orange County. Among the concerns expressed by residents and city leaders include the project’s effects on nearby businesses, homes and traffic and the possible health effects brought on by electromagnetic radiation. Another major point of contention for the city was the new substation’s effect on the city’s aesthetics.

NEWS

NEXT DOOR WH AT ’S GOI N G O N I N OU R NE IGH B O R I N G TOWN S

DANA POINT Trains passing through Dana Point will go silent today at the Palisades Drive and Beach Road railroad crossing, as part of an $85 million Orange County Transportation Authority program. Train engineers are required by law to sound horns—at least four times—before approaching a public rail crossing. But with Dana Point’s newly established “quiet zone” designation from the Federal Railroad Administration, horn usage will only be required during emergency situations or if the train is traveling through a construction zone.

Through the program, OCTA made safety improvements to 52 railroad crossings throughout the county, with 37 designated as quiet zones, in Anaheim, Irvine, Orange, San Clemente, Santa Ana Tustin and now 38 in Dana Point.

SAN CLEMENTE’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

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… The SONGS Meeting?

THE LATEST: Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission outlined the remaining steps in the process to determine whether Southern California Edison will be allowed to restart Unit 2 at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Tuesday at a public meeting at Capistrano Beach Church.

Art Howell, the team manager overseeing the SONGS restart investigation, gave the crowd a brief overview of the review process to this point, noting that the agency was continuing to request additional information on Edison’s restart plan. Howell estimated that a final decision on restarting Unit 2 was not likely to come before late April. The utility responded to 28 of the 32 requests for additional information on the restart plan.

WHAT’S NEXT: NRC officials indicated there would be at least two more public meetings on the restart plan. One will be a technical meeting at the NRC’s headquarters in Maryland, which would be accessible via webcast and be held either later this month or in March. An additional meeting will be held in Southern California before the final restart decision, later this Spring.

FIND OUT MORE: For the full story, see www.sanclementetimes.com — Jim Shilander

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… Historic Designation for Trestles?

THE LATEST: The California State Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved a proposal to designate Trestles and San Onofre State Park as historic landmarks last Friday.The approval is a victory for local advocates who have pushed for more San Clemente Times February 7–13, 2013

than a year. The process now moves to the national level.

“I think it’s a historic step in the culture of surfing to have the birthplace of California surfing recognized nationally,” said Jim Kempton, president of the California Surf Museum.

The Department of the Navy had objected to the designation, noting the importance of the area for training exercises at Camp Pendleton. The Department of the Navy actually owns the property, and leases it to the state. The current 50-year lease expires in 2021.

WHAT’S NEXT: Mark Rauscher of the Surfrider Foundation said his organization will work with the Navy to make sure a national designation does not adversely impact the Marine Corps’ ability to perform training exercises.

Rauscher estimated the national process would likely run another six to nine months. The state must pass on its decision to the Navy, who would then send the request on to the Keeper of the National Registry of Historic Places.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates on the process, see www.sanclementetimes.com — JS

3

…A New SC Gang?

THE LATEST: As part of a presentation to parents on anti-bullying and gang intervention efforts in San Clemente schools, San Clemente High School Resource Officer Rod Valdez said that a new gang was active in the city.

The group, which Valdez said called itself the “SC Boys,” was now a documented street gang, and that the group had committed a number of crimes in the area. The group is primarily made up of Caucasians, Valdez reported.

WHAT’S NEXT: Valdez indicated at the meeting that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office was moving to place a gang injunction on the group, which would restrict known members from meeting together in public, along with other restrictions, which are effective in curtailing other gangs in the city.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, see www. sanclementetimes.com — JS

4

…A Second SONGS Investigation?

THE LATEST: Allison Macfarlane, chairwoman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, wrote California Senator Barbara Boxer last week to indicate that the NRC had instituted an investigation into the documents provided by Southern California Edison last September, with regard to the utility and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries designs for the replacement steam generators for Units 2 and 3 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

The letter to the Senator came as a response to Boxer’s own letter to the NRC, asking for an inquiry into concerns raised in a document sent to the NRC by Mitsubishi about the root causes of the failures of Unit 3 in January 2012.

WHAT’S NEXT: Macfarlane did not indicate a timeline for the investigation into the Edison and Mitsubishi documents.

She indicated the review of documents would be done in the context of the review of the process that lead to the approval of the replacement steam generators in Unit 2 and Unit 3.

FIND OUT MORE: For the full story, see www.sanclementetimes.com. — JS

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5

…Harkey and Bates running for higher office?

THE LATEST: Two of South Orange County’s elected officials announced campaigns for higher offices in 2014 last Thursday.

State Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, who lives in Dana Point, announced plans to run for a seat on the State Board of Equalization. Harkey, who was reelected in 2012, is term-limited out of her seat in 2014. The five member State Board of Equalization is responsible for the collection of taxes and fees statewide. Harkey will run to represent the newly redrawn district four, which will include Orange, Riverside, Imperial and San Diego counties, as well as portions of southern San Bernardino County.

Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates announced her intention to run for the State Senate at a meeting of the San Clemente Exchange Club last Thursday. Bates’s term will also expire in 2014. Bates will run in the 36th Senate District, which runs south as far as Encinitas and as far north as Rancho Santa Margarita and includes San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point.

WHAT’S NEXT: Harkey has indicated she will officially announce her candidacy later this month at the Orange County Republican Central Committee meeting and hold a campaign kickoff event in March. No declared candidates for either of the women’s current positions have made public pronouncements about their intentions in San Clemente.

FIND OUT MORE: For the full stories both announcements, see www.sanclementetimes.com — JS Have a story idea? Send your suggestions to editorial@sanclementetimes.com. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

CITY AND COMMUNITY CALENDAR Thursday, February 14 Seniors’ Valentine’s Party 11:45 a.m.12:30 p.m. Celebrate at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center. Music by Dave Dixon. 117 Ave. Victoria, San Clemente, 949.498.3322.

Capo Bay Area League of Women Voters 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Meeting at the Dana Point Library on the California Initiative and Referendum. 33841 Niguel Rd, Dana Point, 949. 492.7675.

Friday, February 15 Dark Friday City offices Closed; 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

President’s Day Celebration 12 p.m.

Celebration at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center with entertainment by Harold’s South Coast Dixie Jazz Band. 117 Ave. Victoria, San Clemente, 949.498.3322.

Sunday, February 17 St. Clements By-The-Sea Concert Series 6 p.m. St. Clements By-The-Sea presents an evening with vocalist Amy Savin in Okie Hall. Tickets $15 (suggested donation). 202 Avenida Aragon, San Clemente, 949.492.3401.

Monday, February 18 President’s Day City offices closed in observance of the holiday; 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Tuesday, February 19 Toastmasters 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Practice public speaking every Tuesday in a friendly and supportive atmosphere at the library, 242 Ave. Del Mar, 949.361. 8463, www. sanclemente.freetoasthost.net.

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. Regular meeting in City Hall Council Chambers.

100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Wednesday, February 20 Planning Commission Meeting 6 p.m.

Regular meeting in Council Chambers.

100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Thursday, February 21 SC Chamber Annual Installation and Awards 6 p.m. The SC Chamber holds its annual event at the Bella Collina Golf & Country Club. 200 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente, 949.492.1131, www.scchamber.com.

San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

NEWS BITES

Compiled by Jim Shilander

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO DMV Office to Close for 4 Weeks u The California Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that the San Clemente DMV office will close for four weeks beginning Friday, February 15.

A news release stated that the branch will close to replace the roof of the facility, and to treat a mold problem recently discovered at the location, at 2727 Via Cascadita. The roof replacement was originally scheduled for later this year, but the mold discovery sped up the schedule.

The office will close at noon Friday, February 15, and reopen Monday, March 18. Customers are being asked to go other nearby branches, including Laguna Hills, Oceanside and Costa Mesa. Staff will also be dispersed to those locations during the closure.

Gomez Named to Dean’s List u Lauren Gomez of San Clemente was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2012 semester at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind. To earn academic honors at Saint Mary’s, a student must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale, have at least 12 graded credit hours, no incompletes and no grades lower than a C. Saint Mary’s College is a four-year Catholic women’s institution.

Community Resource Center Hosting Family Workshops u The Community Resource Center of San Clemente will host a pair of workshops focused on cultivating inner peace and alternatives to violence in families taught by Capistrano Unified School Counselor of the Year, Dr. Rosalia Munoz-Ledo Koba. Attendees will learn strategies to reduce family conflicts and improve relationships. The two day workshop will give parents and children ages 11 and up an opportunity to connect deeply with others and family members and to be heard. Light snacks will be provided.

The Spanish Family Workshop will be held February 23 and 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The English Family Workshop will be held March 16 and 17 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Community Resource Center of San Clemente is located at 119 N. Avenida de la Estrella.

To register, contact Dr. Koba at 949.366.9607 or at rmkoba@capousd.org.

Parent Project Classes Beginning February 21 u San Clemente Police Services is holding another edition of its Parent Project classes beginning Thursday, February 21. The classes are held on 10 consecutive Thursdays at the San Clemente High School Li-

South Coast Singers Looking for New Members u The South Coast Singers are holding new member, open auditions for the group’s spring season. Auditions will be held Tuesday evening, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Choir Room at Dana Hills High School.

For more details about the audition process and member information, call 949.613.7840 or visit www.southcoastsingers.org.

Weekly rehearsals for the group’s midJune concerts will start the following Tuesday evening, March 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at this same location.

San Clemente Cub Scout Troop 737 from Our Lady of Fatima Church visited Park Semper Fi last week as part of an effort to visit historic and military focused sites. Courtesy photo

brary. All classes start at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $50, but scholarships are available. For information, please contact Janet Dunford at 949.361.8386, or www.parentproject.com.

Capistrano PTSAs Presenting Parenting Author u The Capistrano Unified Council of PTSAs is presenting a lecture by author Dr. Harley Rotbart, author of the book “No Regrets Parenting.” The presentation will include advice on starting family traditions, connecting with teenagers and making the most of the moments between work and school.

The seminar is being held Wednesday, February 20 at 6:45 p.m. at Dana Hills High School. The cost will be $5 for advanced registration. Cost at the door is $10. For more information, contact Michele Langham at malangham@att.net, or Gayle Paride at gparide@pacbell.net.

San Onofre Foundation Selects New Board u The San Onofre Foundation announced the selection of Barry Berg as new President of the Board of Directors, Rebecca Robles as returning secretary and Dave Ethington as first executive delegate. The trio began their new two-year terms of office following Board of Director elections last month. Paul Strauch continues as vice president, Dan Lineback as treasurer and Kathleen Cobb as second executive delegate. Steve Netherby assumes the post of past president. Bob Mignogna, Dave Gerhard and Steve Long serve as senior advisors, and Susan Goggins is the organization’s business manager. The San Onofre Foundation supports education and interpretive efforts at San Clemente and San Onofre State Beaches.

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Casa Romantica Opening Spring Speaker Series u Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is launching its Spring Speaker Series with a presentation on February 21 at 7 p.m. by Gary Lyons, the curator of the desert garden at the Huntington Library. Lyons is an internationally recognized drought-tolerant garden designer, scholar and conservationist. He will speak on the significance of drought tolerant landscapes referencing the Huntington Library’s desert gardens, which is one of the oldest collections of cacti and succulents in the world, as well as Casa Romantica’s own drought tolerant gardens.

The Desert Garden presentation by Gary Lyons is the first presentation in Casa Romantica’s 10-part 2013 Speaker Series, which will bring experts and educators to the Casa to speak on topics ranging from horticulture, ecology and natural history, to literary and visual arts, history and topics of local significance and interest. The 2013 Spring Speaker Series continues on March 14 with a presentation by author and historian Doug Westfall on “The Ranchos of Orange County,” followed by a presentation on April 18 by Master Gardener Jodie Cook on “The Edible Landscape,” and an evening with impressionist painter, Gianne Harper, on May 16.

2013 represents Casa Romantica’s 10 year anniversary as a fully-fledged arts and cultural center.

Tickets to individual presentations in Casa Romantica’s 2013 Spring Speaker Series can be purchased by calling 949.498.2139 ext.

10. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for Casa Romantica members and free for students and children.

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

EYE ON SC

Del Mar Rents Bring Challenges for Landlords, Retailers Higher rents could lead to new issues for local retailers

By Jim Shilander San Clemente Times

R

ents are going up on Avenida Del Mar, which means good news for landlords, and perhaps good news for the local economy. But business owners might disagree, as higher rents may stifle retailers, even as the focus of the downtown economy has moved away from them.

Are rising rents a sign of recovery from a slowed economy, when landlords were felt forced to lower their prices to keep spaces occupied and businesses afloat?

Will higher prices have a negative effect on new business as storefronts begin to fill up once more? Those questions, as well as the question of whether additional parking will be necessitated by the rapid development of new dining options on Del Mar in the last two decades are facing local landlords and retailers in the coming years.

James Wynne, a commercial realtor at Johnston-Pacific, said that the market on Del Mar is tight at the moment, in terms of vacancies. Only one rental property is currently on the market, the empty storefront adjacent to Rocket Fizz at 105 Avenida Del Mar. Wynne said that in a recovering market, there were pressures being felt by both renters and landlords. For landlords, it was an issue of getting the best possible value for the property, which could put pressure on tenants, particularly those that might have been on rates that were less than market rate.

“Even if you own the property free and clear, you’re going to try and get the best deal you can,” Wynne said.

What exacerbates that issue is that there were a large number of property owners on Del Mar, rather than a single owner or a few owners, who might be able to provide a single consistent rental rate. “At a shopping mall, for example, you have one owner, which means consistent rent,” Wynne said.

Just before the commercial real estate tumbled, Wynne said, real estate on Del Mar was selling for as much as $1,000 a foot—as was the case with 176 Avenida Del Mar, bought by Jack’s Surfboard for a planned expansion. The original plan for that space was for a wholesale renovation, Wynne explained, but the fall of the market had changed those plans. The store in the location now is a scaled back version of the original plans for the facility. As an illustration of the state of the market today, the last commercial space to sell on Del Mar sold in 2011 for $350 a foot (Geno’s Jewelers), Wynne reported.

Randy Griffin, whose family owns several properties on Avenida Del Mar, said the economy forced many property ownSan Clemente Times February 14-20, 2013

Fewer empty storefronts like this are on Avenida Del mar these days, leading to higher demand for listing properties. Photo by Jim Shilander

ers, including his family, to make rental agreements that reflected down times.

“We were forced to try and reduce our rent to make it possible for businesses to remain viable,” Griffin said. “But we’ve had a lot more inquiries in the last year or six months. There’s some really good opportunities for all of us.”

Griffin noted, however, that this also meant some potential problems for tenants, who may have become used to the lower rent levels.

One Del Mar tenant told the SC Times that she was moving her business to another area of the city after seeing her rent double from the previous level earlier this year.

“None of us like to see our costs grow,” Griffin said. “I absolutely understand that.

Michael Kaupp, the President of the Downtown Business Association and owner of Stanford Court Antiques, said that as a business and downtown property owner (he owns a building on Del Mar housing three other businesses as well as his own building), he sees both sides of the issue.

“There’s no one-size-fits all for landlords and how they do business,” Kaupp said.

As much as anything else, rent on Del Mar might be affected by when the property owner bought as much as the success of the stores inside, he explained.

Property owners who bought at the top of the market, several years ago, would likely face mounting debt service on that purchase every month—which could

force higher rent for those tenants, even in leaner periods. For those who purchased property years or even decades previous, he said, it was a different story.

“People who’ve had their property for decades have the luxury of basically charging whatever rent they want,” Kaupp said. That usually meant charging minimal rents for tenants. His own rents, he said “were on the low side,” for the most part.

Wynne agreed, too, that long-term property owners were freer to charge what they wanted. Property taxes were generally lower on older buildings, he said, which also mean that some of the “common area maintenance charges” for tenants, which are factored into the total cost of rent.

As a retailer on Del Mar, Kaupp said he understood the concerns that shop owners might have, in terms of the prospect of higher rates. However, he noted that a number of the buildings on Del Mar were aging, which meant owners would need to factor into their consideration when establishing rents. A new roof or a new sewer line, he said might not be affordable on 10 or 20 cents per square foot in rent.

“With some our historic buildings, it’s a love-hate relationship,” Kaupp said.

“Owning property is a business, just like the retail business, you have to set aside money for what might happen.”

But for those worried that higher rents might usher in a new Del Mar full of national chains shouldn’t worry, Kaupp said.

“No, not even close, for a number of reasons” he said. “We don’t have the footprint

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to accommodate national chains.” Such chains, he said, typically required sites almost twice what many Del Mar establishments had. “It’s never going to happen, even if the economy said it could.”

Kaupp said the priority for the DBA this year will be improvements to the parking situation on and off Avenida Del Mar. “I think we’ve reached a tipping point,” Kaupp explained. “Not only is there not enough parking, but the parking resources are substandard.” Kaupp said city efforts to improve alley parking access in alleys in the area, potentially modeling the efforts of Laguna Beach in the same area.

The primary concern about parking now, Kaupp said, is that downtown San Clemente’s focus had changed from being primarily retail focused to one focused on entertainment and dining. Parking for dining establishments is necessarily more intense than for retail, he said, since restaurants usually seat many people at one time. Many of the parking regulations for dining, he noted, were put in place for dining establishments that regularly only drew 50 people a night, as opposed to the multiple seatings for eateries that now bring in 250 people a night.

Wynne said the current vacant spot on Del Mar was being kept space vacant due to an inability to put in a preferred use, which had to do with parking.

“There’s been a lot of interest for something like a restaurant or a beauty salon,” Wynne explained.

However, because the space had no parking assigned to it, Wynne reported that the city had indicated it preferred a pure retail establishment instead.

Kaupp said the current lack of parking can lead to some uncomfortable parking issues, especially as people begin to park further and further away from their target stops, leading to potentially treacherous or lengthy walks, especially at night.

“I’m not sure, if I were a woman, that I’d want to park in some of those spots,” he said.

The city’s downtown revitalization program has aided 59 businesses in the past eight years in helping to fix up building through grant funds.

City Council member Jim Evert said the city was already working to move private parking areas to public use.

“We’ve been able to add a number of parking spots that way,” Evert said.

The city was also considering metering downtown, though Evert acknowledged that business owners were not necessarily fans of that idea. Metering would primarily be concerned with freeing up spots currently being utilized by employees, Evert said. There were no immediate plans to add a parking structure, he said, though one had been considered at the San Clemente Community Center. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

SC Sheriff’s Blotter CO M P I L E D BY V I C TO R C A R N O A N D E LYS I A G A M O 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.

Tuesday February 12 SUSPISCIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (7:06 p.m.) A woman reported that she was followed home by a man who then began knocking on her door and loitering outside her home. The woman said she did not know the man and she did not ask what he wanted. She reported that the man was wearing a T-shirt, but it was too dark for further description.

PETTY THEFT El Camino Real, 2400 Block (11:51 a.m.)

A caller told police that a man had not paid for a packet of cigarettes. The caller said that the man had refused to go back after being stopped. The subject was described as being 22 years old, 6 feet tall, thin and wearing a black and red-checkered shirt with brown pants.

STOLEN VEHICLE San Diego Avenue, 100 Block (12:21 a.m.)

A caller reported a 2007 grey Chevy Cobalt was taken sometime in the previous two hours, possibly by two teenage girls.

Both girls had just been released from juvenile hall.

Monday February 11 CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Pueblo, 400 Block (8:31 p.m.) A woman said she returned from vacation and discovered that there had been two alarm activations from her home over the weekend. The woman asked if officers would do a walk through of the home to be sure everything was OK. DISTURBANCE Avenida Del Presidente, 3800 Block (5:48 p.m.) A woman was reported digging in the trash and throwing the garbage everywhere. She was described as a female in her 40s with dark hair and skin.

San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

the top of the canyon and had been there all weekend.

DRUNK IN CAR Calle Valle, 1300 Block (5:59 p.m.) A caller said a woman driving a blue Toyota was under the influence and just pulled into the Boys & Girls Club parking lot.

The woman was stumbling and the caller said they were afraid she was going to drive away with her child.

Sunday, February 10

DISTURBANCE—GANG San Luis Rey Avenue / El Camino Real (5:27 p.m.) A woman reported being harassed by a group who appeared to have a possible gang affiliation near Tony’s Market. One of the subjects was described as a man in his early 30s, around 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a shaved head. He was wearing a grey and black plaid jacket with a black shirt and blue jeans.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real Block 300 (3:16 p.m.)

Near the cross streets of Avenida Presidio and Avenida Victoria, a woman was reported screaming in front of and inside a store.

MEDICAL AID Avenida Cabrillo, 100 Block (9:26 p.m.)

A mother called police because her daughter had just overdosed on heroin in the bedroom. When firemen arrived, the girl was unconscious but still breathing. The girl was taken to San Clemente Hospital.

HIT AND RUN PARKED CAR Avenida Palizada/ Avenida Caballeros (8:39 p.m.) A man in a dark, full-sized SUV hit a parked Honda Odyssey after he had missed the freeway entrance and tried backing up. The caller said the hit-and-run driver then continued onto Interstate 5 without stopping.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Dominguez, 100 Block (6:47 p.m.)

Police were called about a man doing drugs in a red Chevy Blazer. The man in the Chevy was parked directly across the street from the caller.

HIT AND RUN MISDEMEANOR Avenida Pico/Avenida Presidio (12:34 p.m.) A woman sitting in her Toyota Camry was hit in the McDonald’s parking lot by a woman driving a blue Chevy Tahoe. The woman in the Tahoe fled the scene and was last seen heading toward San Clemente High School.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Presidio, 100 Block (12:03 p.m.)

A woman called police because she felt intimidated by a realtor who just got done showing her a residence. The woman told the police that he was drunk and might be a danger to others.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 2700 Block (11:41 a.m.)

A woman called police after subjects she referred to as “gang members” had harassed her 15 to 20 minutes earlier. She refused to give any further information, but did say she had a restraining order against them.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 900 Block (11:03 a.m.)

A caller told police a woman named Claudie was yelling in the backyard.

The caller said the woman had created a ruckus and was refusing to leave.

CITIZEN ASSIST El Camino Real/Marquita (9:27 a.m.)

A man reported that he just saw his missing son in front of the CVS parking lot with a blonde mohawk and a baseball cap.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Cazador Lane, 300 Block (8:30 a.m.)

Two men in their late 20s were believed to be living out of their silver Chevy Impala. The caller said that they were parked around the corner on Ola Vista toward

MISSING CHILD Avenida Calafia, 200 Block (6:05 p.m.)

A mother called police because her 9-yearold child with autism went missing somewhere between the pier and Calafia State Beach. The boy came into contact with a park ranger minutes after the call was made. Soon after, the mother was reunited with her son.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Palizada, 200 Block (5:23 p.m.)

A man was caught in the garage of a married couple, trying to steal the wife’s car and wallet. The husband told his wife to get his gun. Soon after the woman called police while the husband and the suspect were arguing in front of the house. Police finally showed up and arrested the man.

The subject also had possible stolen property from Oceanside.

(11:00 p.m.) A caller in a silver Infiniti followed a man in a tan Yukon toward Vista Hermosa from Pedriza. The male was 5 feet 5 inches tall and wearing black clothing with white tennis shoes. The vehicle was driving on the wrong side of the road and hitting other vehicles due to possible drunk driving.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 1800 Block (9:32 p.m.)

A 6-foot-2-inch man in his 50s, wearing a green sweater and black shorts, was trying to pick fights with customers at the cross streets of Avenida Pico and Avenida Estacion.

INDECENT EXPOSURE Vista Hermosa Avenue / Camino Vera Cruz (8:13 p.m.) A woman reported that a man had flashed his genitals at her. She followed him, but lost him. The man was last seen on Via Blanco and Vista Hermosa Avenue, driving in a red Ford.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Alessandro Avenue 100 Block (3:49 p.m.)

A woman said she was robbed on the cross streets of Ola Vista and Del Presidente in Santa Ana by two 20-year-old men who had a knife and stated they had a gun. The call was transferred to Santa Ana, but was on hold to verify that her story was true while looking for other subjects. She stated her boyfriend’s cell phone was stolen and might be a possible kidnapping.

HIT AND RUN MIDEMEANOR Camino De Los Mares / Calle Agua (3:41 p.m.) A man in a white Ford F150 was arrested for a hit and run misdemeanor.

He hit a female in a white Mercedes in the CVS parking lot.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE El Camino Real 600 Block (1:21 p.m.)

Three men were discovered smoking narcotics at the cross streets of West Marquita and Mariposa El Camino Real.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real/Avenida Mendocino (2:52 p.m.) A woman called 9-1-1 and explained that she was at motel and the manager was choking her boyfriend. The 9-1-1 operator heard an argument in the background.

WELFARE CHECK Camino San Clemente, 200 Block (9:48 p.m.) The caller was an acquaintance from church that requested a check on an elderly woman who lived alone. The woman was believed to be developing Alzheimer’s and was a hoarder.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Rosa, 200 Block (2:44 p.m.) A woman called police because her neighbor threw a piece of metal at her 18-yearold son. The woman also said that her neighbor had smeared her feces on her doorknob. The neighbor was described as a 55-year-old woman, about 5-feet-4 inches tall, heavyset and blonde.

UNKNOWN TROUBLE El Camino Real, 600 Block (8:37a.m) A man in a sliver Nissan Armada was reported as resembling a homicide suspect. The police were able to get a good look at the driver and the passenger, who was not the suspect.

Friday, February 8 DRUNK DRIVING Pico Avenue / Vista Hermosa Avenue

Page 10

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Serra, 200 Block (4:57 a.m.)

A man reported hearing moaning outside his house. The man had opened his front door to find a man laying face down on his porch, moaning. www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

CITY EDITOR Jim Shilander, 949.388.7700, x109 jshilander@sanclementetimes.com

PRINT AND ONLINE

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San Clemente Times, Vol. 8, Issue 7. 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 2013. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by Jim Kempton

Like Bought Her for Chocolate: A Valentine’s Secret Forget the poems and the roses—get the girls what they really want 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 soapbox@sanclementetimes.com

V

alentine’s Day 2013 is Thursday, February 14—today. Forget about ordering your love some Pajama Jeans (they take eight weeks to arrive).

And while bouquets from Keith’s or Kimberley’s Flowers are a sweet gesture; they really just say I can’t think of what to do, so I bought these on the way home.

Don’t bother with a sappy card with a love poem and think you’re good for a St. Valentine’s gift either. Let’s face it, if you are still in a quandary about what

to get your loved one at this stage, you already screwed up.

And since you can’t afford a two-seater BMW convertible, you have to strike where it counts—which is WAVELENGTHS not in the pocketbook.

By Jim Kempton Because unless you have more cash than Justin Timberlake, “Hope” diamonds are not an option. They may be a girl’s best friend but they don’t seem to turn up in spades for the Jack of Hearts. As no less a love icon than Kim Kardashian once remarked, “For Valentine’s Day I want a man who’s kind and understanding. Is that too much to ask of a millionaire?”

If you are like many of us here in town, struggling to balance parenthood, the mortgage and romance, it is hard to comprehend the iconic connections of Valen-

tine’s Day. I have never really understood for instance, why Cupid was chosen to represent this unique celebration. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. And what about Valentine himself? An early Christian priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II, he was arrested and imprisoned after being caught marrying Christian couples who were being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Nonetheless, Claudius took a liking to this prisoner—until Bishop Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor— whereupon he was condemned to death, beaten with clubs and stones—and then beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate.

Not exactly a romantic story. To buy into it you have to be a little crazy. Then again, Plato himself said, “Love is a grave mental disease.”

So my suggestion (if you are fretting and dithering as you read this) is one

simple little word: Chocolate.

They may say “all you need is love.” But a little chocolate for your sweetie this evening will go a long, long way. Trust me, for most women there is no erotic chemistry in the world, no romantic metaphysics on earth better than the scientific formula for chocolate.

Just be sure you know whether her preference is the dark or milk version.

There is nothing worse than flubbing that one—and no reliable excuse either.

Buy her the best there is—because she is absolutely worth it. After all, love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after you just walked across it in your wet wetsuit.

So here’s to love—the only fire for which there is no insurance.

Jim Kempton is an incurable romantic who still foolishly believes that while love doesn’t make the world go round, it is what makes the ride worthwhile. SC

plainer, and told, “We can do anything we want,” and “If you don’t like it, why don’t you move.” Then you will know, like I do, that the Golden Rule has been suspended in this community.

The dog lobby will not stop. They want dogs permitted in every park and on the beaches. My right to enjoy local parks without watching where I step is meaningless to them.

Living in San Clemente over 35 years has made me wary of dogs. I believe there are still many responsible dog owners here. I still believe dogs are man’s best friends and we would not have our civilization without them helping us for millennia.

I have been very unlucky with rude and selfish San Clemente pet owners. My right

to simply enjoy my home and the outdoors in peace is frequently stolen and I consider this bullying. Even when I hike the ridgeline trail there are loose dogs disturbing wildlife.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

San Clemente is a unique place. We know what we have and we don’t want it ruined.

Number one on the city mission statement is “Maintaining a safe, healthy atmosphere in which to live, work and play.” I am sincerely disappointed.

Letters to the Editor REMEMBER THAT DOGS WERE BANNED FOR A REASON KIRK KEGEL, San Clemente

I didn’t attend the San Clemente City Council meeting where new rules for dogs in parks were approved. It was a forgone conclusion that the vocal minority known as the SC dog lobby would get their way and dogs would be allowed in many more of our public parks which used to serve people. At the last meeting on these matters, I asked the council and the public in attendance, “Why has San Clemente not allowed dogs in parks and beaches for over 50 years?” I never got an answer.

To me, the obvious answer is the parks and beaches are meant for people. The risk San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

of dog related injuries and lawsuits is high, and it only takes one child bit in the face, or one bloody dog fight, to ruin your whole day or life. These things have happened before and will again. I believe the expense, amount and nature of negative dog interactions has been largely hidden from the public and city government. Many bites and knockdowns are not reported and dog related injuries are handled privately or through the offending party’s homeowner’s insurance. I am a witness.

In this city if you happen to want to enjoy your home free of a neighbor’s dogs incessant barking or prefer to not interact with dogs or have their feces on your lawn or in your park, watch out. If you say anything, you will be labeled as a hater and a com-

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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 readersubmitted 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.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: Village Voice by Wayne Eggleston

What Makes for a Business Friendly City?

Potential developers need to understand San Clemente 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

J

ust what does it mean for San Clemente to be “business friendly” or “development friendly?

Being on the city council for 12 years, I have heard some accuse the city of being just the opposite of supportive of businesses. Recently, I attended a meeting where a business owner criticized the city for being unfriendly to businesses and expressed concern that the new city council majority was anti-development. I sat through 30 minutes, and reminded this business owner of how “friendly” the city was to his business a number of years ago, when the council decided to forego substantial fees that were charged to him.

One must understand that the city is obligated to accept development applications and put them through a process,

even though they might not comply with all the current zoning and land use requirements. These applications then need to go through a series of steps including staff, design, planning and Wayne Eggleston city council review. The community has a right to become involved throughout this entire process.

What I have observed in the past is that developers may not understand that San Clemente is special. I believe, too, that there is a majority of concerned residents who are fiercely protective of our historic heritage and small-town atmosphere. All we have to do is visit some beach towns north of us and see the type of high-density development that creates traffic and visual and architectural blight.

Several years ago, the head of the planning department—with city council direction—vastly improved the administrative process and handling of development applications. Some of the new processes including assigned planning staff as assistant liaisons to various business districts, shortened the review process for discretionary permits, reduced turn-time, added

a customer service liaison, increased planning checks over the counter, additional staff training, assigned a case planner for each development and created customer feedback cards.

They also completed code amendments to reduce the time and cost of development process time extensions, made it easier to improve nonconforming homes and businesses and cleaned up inconsistencies in the zoning ordinance in order for rules to be more clearly understood.

The city has received numerous awards for a number of these improvements, including a 2012 Harvard Kennedy School of Government Bright Ideas Award, 2012 Orange County Planning Association Outstanding Planning Award and OC Business Council Certification of Recognition. Other awards have come for customer service, the facade grant program and downtown revitalization for signage and facade grants.

So next time you hear that we are not being business friendly, consider those successful efforts.

Additionally, we also hear from current business owners that the city is not in cooperation with them. In trying to understand these comments, many businesses receive Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) so they

can use their properties for a variety of special activities. All too often, these CUPs are violated by the business and when the city brings this to their attention, they cry foul. So if there are misunderstandings or non-compliance issues that have to be resolved by the city, enforcement is usually a consequence.

Our current city council is dedicated to good business development within the perimeters of city rules, regulations and wishes of the residents. In the last few years, we have had a number of voter initiatives that set the framework for the new council majority. These have included open space and major development issues.

Each time the residents had the opportunity to vote, they voted overwhelming for the type of land use character and business development that has enhanced our Spanish Village by the Sea. Is our city perfect? No. Can our city do better? Yes. Considering the above framework and wishes of the majority of residents, our city council is representing the majority of its residents.

Wayne Eggleston is a former member of the San Clemente City Council and Mayor of San Clemente. He is also the founder of The Heritage of San Clemente Foundation. SC

GETTING OUT

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

SC S a n C le m e n te

THE LIST A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

thursday

AGE 50+ SINGLES MEET AND GREET 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Singles 50 and older are invited to Tutor and Spunky’s Deli for a meet & greet event; no cover.

34085 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.248.9008, www.TutorandSpunkys.com.

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DANCE EVENT: WE ARE RISING 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Come to Duke’s to support the end of violence against women and the group One Billion Rising, by dancing. 204 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, www.onebillionrising.org.

IVA LEE’S VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Special three-course dinner at Iva Lee’s with music by LA Jones and Adriana, as well as a rose for the ladies. Cost $55 each. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

friday

VALENTINE’S DAY BALLROOM BASH 7:15 p.m.

Ballroom Bash, with a Rumba lesson, followed by open dancing. Complimentary soft drinks and munchies. $10. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.498.0233, www.ballroombash.com.

15

ADRIAN LEGG: LORD OF THE STRINGS 7:30 p.m.

British guitar maestro performs at the Dana Point Community House. Tickets $30. 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point, 949.842.2227, www.lordofthestringsconcerts.com.

GUNBOAT KINGS 8 p.m. The Coach House. Tickets $15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

ANGELIKA WILSON 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Live music and wine tasting at DaVine Food & Wine (wine tasting starts at 4 p.m.). Tasting fee $15 for 5 wines. 34673 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com.

SABERING DEMONSTRATION AND CERTIFICATION 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Special event at SC Wine Company.

Reservations required. 212 ½ Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

AT THE MOVIES: ‘SIDE EFFECTS’ For those who were not feeling nostalgic and resisted rushing out to see Top Gun (1986) in IMAX 3D last weekend, audiences had a special chance to see Steven Soderbergh’s self-reported last feature, Side Effects. The film stars Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum. The latter three are not new to working with the director, and Mara solidifies herself as one of the best new faces and talents to enter Hollywood, in her first film since her Oscar nomination in 2012, for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). When her husband (Tatum) returns home from a stint in prison, a young professional, Emily (Mara), can’t get a grip on her depression. After a suicide attempt, she is assigned to psychiatrist John Banks (Law) who prescribes her medications and Channing Tatum in Side Effects. therapy. When neither work as they should, John meets with Emily’s previous Photo by Barry Wetcher/Open Road Films psychiatrist (Zeta-Jones), and things begin to appear off balance. Vinessa Shaw and Ann Dowd co-star. Soderbergh has already visited eyebrow raising themes with films like Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989) and Magic Mike (2012), revamped a classic franchise (Ocean’s 11) and won Best Director at the Oscars 12 years ago for Traffic (2000). His Contagion (2011) made us afraid of viruses and now Side Effects makes us second guess our pill culture. If Soderbergh is true to his word about retiring, this isn’t a bad note to end on. —Megan Bianco

saturday

LOVE YOUR BEACH CLEANUP 9 a.m.-noon. Head to Doheny State Beach for the first Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup of the year. Meet at the lifeguard headquarters. More info: 949.496.6172, www.dohenystatebeach.org.

16

WILL ROGERS: THE ROPIN’ FOOL 8 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse presents this special one-night-only performance with wit, humor and America’s greatest folk hero. Tickets $25-$35. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Watch the legendary group perform on the court at the Honda Center. Tickets start at $18. 2695 E. Katella, Anaheim, 714.704.2500, www.hondacenter.com.

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 10 a.m.-noon.

The Dragon Institute celebrates the Chinese New Year featuring a martial arts demonstration, a traditional lion dance performance and more. 34241 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.542.8470, www.ockungfu.com.

JT DOUGLASS 8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

WYLAND ART LESSONS IN THE WILD 9 a.m. dockside presentation and art lesson via video with Wyland at Dana Wharf. Cost $25-$45. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

I BAND 9 p.m. Live music at Goody’s Tavern.

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

sunday

17

GODSPELL 2 p.m. Timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love at STAR Theatre Oceanside. $18. 402 N. Coast Hwy., Oceanside, 760.721.9983 or go to www.startheatre.biz.

LOCAL SUNDAY SESSIONS 6 p.m. Local musicians perform at Cabrillo Playhouse; featured this month: Zacchaeus Tree, Hans & Janine, and Lar Couso & Danika Thompson. $5 suggested cash donation. Beer and wine served for donation. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, www.facebook.com/localsundaysessions.

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SUNDAYS AT SUNSET CONCERT SERIES: OLDIES NIGHT 6 p.m. South Orange County School of the Arts presents the concert series in the Dana Point Yacht Club. $10-$14. 24399 Dana Drive, Dana Point, www.socsarts.org.

COMMON SENSE 7 p.m. The Coach House. Tickets $15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Fresh produce, flowers and more every Sunday along Avenida Del Mar. Rain or shine.

monday

COUNTRY DANCIN’ 6:30 p.m. Every Monday at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

tuesday

BENNY / FLAMENCO 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

18 19

SC CO-OP POT LUCK 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Join the San Clemente Community Market for an organic potluck with guest speaker, Nancy Casady, general manger, of Ocean Beach People Organic Co-op Market. 1506 Calle Valle, 949.441.1266, www.sanclementemarket.com.

wednesday

SIERRA SAGE HIKE 9 a.m.-noon. Join the Sierra Club for a hike through The Reserve/ Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. $5-$10.

Call for info, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

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WINE DINNER AT VINE 7 p.m. Four-course food and wine pairing at Vine. 211 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2791, www.vinesanclemente.com.

JANINE & HANS 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. *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

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

S a n C le m e n te

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

GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 By Tom Blake

Beware of Online Romance Scams 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 editor@sanclementetimes.com

M

anti Te’o, the University of Notre Dame linebacker, and runner-up in college football’s Heisman Trophy voting last December, will likely be a firstround pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

What an exciting time for this young man.

Unfortunately, his football prowess has been overshadowed in the last few weeks as a result of an online, long-distance romance with a coed from Stanford University that turned out to be a hoax.

Te’o probably doesn’t realize or appreciate that he’s done a big favor for singles of all ages by getting caught up in a romance

San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

scam that became headline news around the globe.

In the beginning, my guess is all this youngster wanted was a girlfriend he could confide in, fall in love with and maybe someday ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 marry. But the girlfriend

By Tom Blake didn’t exist. Some dude played a joke on him and the world heard about it.

What happened to Te’o has happened to lots of lonely older singles. The culprit seems to be loneliness, which can cloud thinking. Singles meet someone online and slowly, over time, start to believe the person on the other end is the love of their life. And while Te’o’s situation drew the spotlight, hopeful and naïve singles age 50 and up are the ones who get caught up in online romance scams the most.

Long-distance relationships are a natural outgrowth of Internet dating. Singles

meet online and then spend hours, weeks, months and even years communicating, sharing secrets and fantasies, establishing trust, exchanging photos, building hope and planning a life together.

The problem often grows from merely having an online friend to falling in love with—not with a person, but with an image—someone the single has never met in person, someone he or she thinks they know, but doesn’t because there has never been a face-to-face meeting. Chemistry cannot exist and compatibility cannot be judged without an in-person meeting.

Eventually, an event or a suspicion may make a single realize that the person on the other end of the telephone or computer isn’t who he or she says they are.

They might ask for money, or keep making excuses why a face-to-face meeting isn’t possible. The lonely person discovers the scam and her world—or his, like Te’o—comes crashing down. It’s sad, and it doesn’t have to happen.

Mature singles who meet online must

Page 18

be diligent. They should use Skype to see the other person, insist on face-to-face meetings as soon as possible, trust their instincts and listen to the advice of friends and family members. Background checks are important as well.

Online romances can waste a great deal of a single’s time. Wouldn’t South County singles be better off to attend an age 50 plus singles meet and greet event at Tutor and Spunky’s Deli in Dana Point, where they can meet potential mates in person?

The events are held the second and fourth Thursday of each month, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There is no cover charge.

The next event is February 14, Valentine’s Day. For details, visit www.tutorandspunkys.com.

To comment: tompblake@gmail.com.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point business owner and San Clemente resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at www.findingloveafter50.com.

SC

www.sanclementetimes.com

2013 Festival of Whales Coloring Contest

Every child who enters

WINS one FREE

Whale Watching or Fishing Ticket for kids 9 & under ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MARCH 13, 2013

GRAND PRIZE Let the seagulls sing you to sleep… with a one-night beach get-a-way for a family of four in a Ocean View Suite, at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Doheny Beach in beautiful Dana Point, CA. A warm DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie at check-in is the hotel’s promise of a warm and caring experience.

IN ADDITION, Breakfast for four at Proud Mary’s in the Dana Point Harbor! And a whale watching trip for four from Dana Wharf Sportfishing!

www.danawharf.com

COURTESY OF DANA WHARF SPORTFISHING AND WHALE WATCHING

DANAWHARF.COM *No photo copies will be entered.* Mail completed entry form & coloring page to: Dana Wharf Sportfishing, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 Contestant’s Name Address

Age

Parent/Legal Guardian

Phone

Email I would like to recieve a child’s PLEASE CHECK ONE

Whale Watching Ticket

Fishing Ticket SC

Contest is open to all children ages 9 and under. Two free kids with one paid adult. All entries must be received by March 13, 2013 for judging. Dana Point Times, San Clemente Times, The Capistrano Dispatch and Dana Wharf Sportfishing assume no responsibility for lost or late entries. All completed entries will receive one free kids tickets with one paid adult ticket, complaints of the Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, mailed to the address on the contest entry. We do not accept the tickets on any group outing, and no copies are valid. The grand prize winner will be contacted by telephone. Some entries will be displayed around Dana Point Harbor during the 2013 Festival of Whales. The Grand Prize entry will be displayed at Dana Wharf Sportfishing. Contest entries will become the property of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and cannot be returned. Employees of Picket Fence Media, Dana Wharf Sportfishing and their families are not eligible to win. All winners are responsible for taxes and applicable fees. All parents/legal guardians of the winners will be required to verify identity through a signed affidavit, social security number and valid driver’s license. Contest void where prohibited. Entry into this contest will serve as entrant’s agreement of the above contest rules. Coloring contest winner will be notified by phone on March 18th, 2013.

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SC S a n C le m e n te

SC TIMES SPORTS & OUTDOORS IS PRESENTED BY:

CO-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK CODY BEAN BOYS BASKETBALL

ALEXA JOHNSON GIRLS BASKETBALL

For his efforts in the San Clemente boys basketball team’s historic win over Trabuco Hills on February 7, senior Cody Bean is our Co-Athlete of the Week.

Bean helped engineer a Triton offense that went wire to wire in a 63-44 win over the visiting Mustangs, earning the Tritons their first boys basketball league title since 1975.

Bean dropped 10 points, tallied a team-high seven assists, had nine rebounds and swiped five steals against

Triton senior guard Cody Bean nearly missed out on a triple-double in San Clemente’s 6344 win over Trabuco Hills on February 7.

the Mustangs. The Tritons play host to Capistrano Valley in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1A Championships on February 15.

Alexa Johnson had an extremely effective night for the Tritons on February 6 when they defeated South Coast League opponent Aliso Niguel 70-45.

Johnson’s performance in a game that

SC Aquatics Takes Home 27 Medals in First Ever Home Meet Local swimmers shine at Vista Hermosa Aquatics Center

By Steve Breazeale San Clemente Times

P

laying host to 475 swimmers from 10 different swim clubs from around southern California, the San Clemente Aquatics swimmers were in the spotlight at the Blue JO Max Short Course Championships from February 8 through February 10.

San Clemente Aquatics had a strong showing at the meet, which was the club’s first since relocating to the Vista Hermosa Aquatics Center. 27 medals were awarded to the clubs’ swimmers, which included six first place medals, 10 second place medals and 11 third place medals in the individual events.

Wyatt Miller, an 8-year-old who attends Concordia Elementary, was among the standout performers for the San Clemente club. Miller finished in the top six in

From left to right: San Clemente Aquatics swimmers Josh Stewart, Brandon Foo, Dylan Goode, Quin Birtles and Megan Rowe pose with San Clemente City Councilman Jim Evert at the Blue JO Max Short Course Championships at the Vista Hermosa Aquatics Center.

all six events he entered, taking home a gold medal in the mens 5-8 100m freestyle (1:12.86), a silver in the 50m freestyle

(33.94) and a bronze in the 50m fly (38.34) as well as the 50m breast stroke (45.66).

In the older divisions, 13-year-old Lauren Amigleo racked up six total medals, which included a gold in the womens 13-14 100m butterfly (1:02.09). The time recorded by Amigleo in the 100m butterfly was a new personal best for the San Clemente swimmer.

13-year-old distance swimmer Quinn Birtles won the gold in the mens 15 & Over 1,000m freestyle with a time of 10:21.98.

“This meet gave our swimmers a chance to demonstrate their community pride. They swam to the best of their abilities to make everyone here in San Clemente proud,” San Clemente Aquatics head coach Keith Kennedy said in a press release. SC

kept the Tritons undefeated in league play earned her our Co-Athlete of the Week honors.

Johnson had a team-high 19 points and shot a season-high 89 percent from the field. She also had nine rebounds and three steals.

Johnson will play an important role in the Tritons push through the CIF-SS Division 1AA Championships, which start February 16 when Diamond Bar travels to play the Tritons at 7 p.m .

—Steve Breazeale

TRITONS JV CHEER WINS COMPETITION, MOVES ON TO NATIONALS

T

he San Clemente junior varsity cheerleading team won the Cheer Pros competition on January 27 and now look forward to big-time competition.

With the win, the team advanced to the Best of the West competition, which will be held in Long Beach on March 10. From there the team heads to Nationals, which will be at the Anaheim Convention Center from March 15 through March 16.

The San Clemente JV cheer squad includes: Hanna Peterson, Emily Murphy, Sami Seavey, Coach Shayla, Taryn Foote, Cortni Chantry, Natalie Green, Savanah Kitchin, Amanda Jacobi, Kate Bein, Macey Wright, Jenna Hertz, Chloe Montoya, Makena Holt, Jaz Harris, Shaina Aellig, Nicole Gulliote, Delaina Engberg, Sabrina Lobdell, Saylor Vorris, Cameron Sayler and Jessica Rugg. SC

TRITONS TALK FUTURE AT SIGNING DAY

E

ighteen San Clemente student athletes signed their National Letter of Intent on February 6. We caught up with a couple athletes to talk about their decisions and get their thoughts on the future.

Harlow Set to Enroll Early San Clemente offensive lineman Sean Harlow will be graduating early in order to take classes in the spring at Oregon State.

Harlow will start class on April 1 and will participate in spring football practices the following day.

“Academically (the early enrollment) is going to help me a lot to get ahead and not San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

have to worry about such a big workload during the season down the road,” Harlow said. “Spring football will help me not only get the plays better understood but I’ll have a better opportunity to start (in the fall).”

Harlow, a right tackle by trade, is hoping to earn his way onto the starting roster by the time the Beavers take the field in late August.

“I talked to the coaches this morning and they told me that right tackle was ‘pretty open.’ The guy (at that position) from last year graduated so I just have to go compete and see what happens,” Harlow said.

Harlow also talked about why he ultimately chose Oregon State.

“I’ve been really close with Oregon State throughout the whole process.

They were my first offer so I’ve been really close with the coaches,” Harlow said. “When I took my official visits I felt like I had a better bond not only with the coaches but the players as well. It’s just a better feel.”

Kebede Excited for Tulane San Clemente senior and cross country/track and field standout Sara Kebede has been nursing an injury, but is excited to hit the ground running next fall when

Page 20

she attends Tulane University and runs for their track and field team.

“Tulane was just the perfect fit for me as far as environment and academically.

And also athletically I fit really well into the program and what they’re hoping to accomplish in the next couple of years,” Kebede said.

Kebede currently runs in the 400-meter, the 800-meter and 1600-meter races for the Tritons but is focusing on the 1500-meter run for college.

“I kind of have the body type for (the 1500-meter) so I can definitely see myself succeeding in that,” Kebede said. SC — Steve Breazeale www.sanclementetimes.com

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS es from the wild card “A” match between Lakewood and Leuzinger, which was set to be played on February 13, to find out who their opponent will be. Results were not available at press time. The winner of the Lakewood/Leuzinger match will play the Tritons on February 15 at 5 p.m.

If the Tritons advance, they will play the winner of Harvard-Westlake vs. Dana Hills on February 20 in the second round.

Next Game: 2/15 vs. TBD, at San Clemente High, 5 p.m. First Round CIF-SS Div. 1 Championships

Triton Report

By Steve Breazeale

The regular season has come to an end and every Tritons sports team qualified for the CIF-SS Championships. Here are a few storylines to follow for each team along with a recap of their recent games. Make sure to follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports for playoff game updates, news and more.

38 YEARS AND NO LONGER COUNTING, TRITONS WIN LEAGUE TITLE The names of every single player who has worn a San Clemente boys basketball jersey over the past 38 years were taped to the walls of the team’s locker room before they took the court against visiting Trabuco Hills on February 7. It was a reminder that the first-place Tritons, who had to win in order to claim the Sea View League title outright, were playing not just for themselves, but for countless other Tritons who did not get to raise a banner in their historic gym since 1975.

Following a convincing 63-44 victory over the Mustangs those names were taken down from the wall in a locker room celebration. This San Clemente team had finally done it. They are now playoff bound.

“It’s a big monkey off our back as a program and for us it’s just been this process where we’ve worked so hard all year long for this moment and these kids deserve it…I’m so proud of everything we’ve done as a team,” San Clemente head coach Marc Popovich said. “It’s the most satisfying moment of my career.”

Things could not have gone better for the Tritons (16-10, 7-1 league), who came into the game needing a win. A Trabuco Hills victory would have meant San Clemente, the Mustangs (13-12, 5-3) and Dana Hills (19-7, 6-2) would have been in a three-way tie for first place. The Tritons did not let that scenario come close to manifesting itself.

San Clemente opened the first quarter with an 8-0 run and never let the Mustangs, who had a poor shooting night, get within more than six points the entire game.

At halftime the Tritons held a 29-16 advantage, thanks in part to sophomore Sam Darnold’s eight first-half points, senior Anthony Pinelli’s six and senior Jimmy Bankson’s five.

The second half saw the Tritons guards get aggressive on offense as senior Brock Eissman continuously drove through the lane and attacked the rim en route to eight total points. The Tritons reached the free throw line 12 times in the second half, scoring 17 points from the charity San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

WRESTLING TEAM LOSES IN CIF-SS DUAL MEET SEMIS, LOOKS AHEAD The San Clemente wrestling team represented the South Coast League in the CIF-SS Dual Meet Division Wrestling Championship on February 9 at Los Alamitos High and lost to eventual champion Santiago in the semifinals. The Tritons were bested 52-30.

The season is not over for the Tritons, who will send 12 wrestlers to the CIF-Championships from February 16 through February 17. Christian Orpineda, Danny Garcia, Jacob Sandoval, Justin Kleinman, Tim Parten, John Castellini, Brian Degennaro, Rick Simpson, Mike Marshall, Ash Ryan, Austin Aceves and Tyler Maxwell will compete for the Tritons.

The San Clemente boys basketball team captured the Sea View League title with a win over Trabuco Hills on February 7. It was the school’s first boys basketball league title since 1975. Photo by Steve Breazeale

stripe alone. Their lead grew to 24 points near the end of the third quarter.

“We thought we had some driving lanes especially on the base line with (Eissman) and he did a great job of getting to the rim in the second half, getting fouled and getting layups…We thought we took too many outside shots in the first half.” Popovich said.

A good number of attendees at the game were not even born the last time the Tritons won a boys basketball league title. Now the team heads into the CIFSS playoffs riding a three-game winning streak.

“I’ve been playing on this team for the last four years and this is such a great feeling,” Eissman said. “To think we are the only team in the last 38 years to win a league championship is mind blowing… those names (on the locker room walls) motivated us.”

Next Game: 2/15 vs. Capistrano Valley, at San Clemente High, 7 p.m. The Cougars earned an at-large berth out of the South Coast League and are coached

by San Clemente alum Brian Mulligan.

GIRLS BASKETBALL STAYS PERFECT A perfect 8-0 record in South Coast League play secured the league title and a first round home playoff game for the

San Clemente girls basketball team.

After their 70-45 win over Aliso Niguel on February 6 officially clinched them the title, the Tritons (18-5, 8-0) will now prepare for a February 16 home game against visiting Diamond Bar (15-12, 7-5).

Diamond Bar finished third in the seventeam Hacienda league.

In their past seven games the Tritons’ defense has held opponents to under 50 points per game while averaging almost 58 points on offense. The team went 6-1 over that seven-game stretch.

An arrow in the Tritons’ defensive quiver has been their ability to steal the ball. As of February 14, the Tritons are averaging 13.3 steals per game and have recorded double-digits in steals in each of their last five games.

Next Game: 2/16 vs. Diamond Bar, at San Clemente High, 7 p.m. First Round CIF-SS Div. 1AA Championships TRITONS BOYS SOCCER EARNS NO. 1 SEED Playing a tough non-league schedule, full of high-profile tournaments, and running the gauntlet of South Coast League play has paid off for the San Clemente boys soccer team, who enter the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships as a No. 1 seed.

The Tritons will wait to see who emergPage 25

GIRLS SOCCER EARNS AT-LARGE BERTH IN PLAYOFFS The San Clemente girls soccer team compiled a strong enough resume to earn an at-large bid to play in the CIF-SS Division 1 girls soccer championships. The Tritons (9-6-6, 2-3-3) earned an important 1-0 win over second-place Mission Viejo on February 4 to help boost their standings in-league and in the postseason considerations.

San Clemente will travel to play Upland, the Baseline League winner, on February 14 at 5 p.m. in the first round.

If the Tritons advance, they will play the winner of Santa Margarita vs. Foothill in the second round.

GIRL WATER POLO WINS ON THE ROAD IN FIRST ROUND After compiling a winning record in the competitive South Coast League, the San Clemente girls water polo team traveled to play Long Beach Poly in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2 girls water polo championships on February 12 and came away with a 7-6 victory.

The game was all tied up at five goals apiece heading into the fourth quarter.

San Clemente came through in the final minutes, scoring two goals to Long Beach Poly’s one, and advanced to the second round. Cassidy Smithson scored three goals, Makenna Smith had two while Brigette Kimbrough and Amber McCutcheon each had one in the win.

The Tritons will now travel to play Santa Margarita on February 14 at 5 p.m. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SURF

6

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SC S a n C le m e n te

GROM OF THE WEEK Kei Kobayashi Age: 14, Shorecliffs Middle School

Kei Kobayashi is one of the most promising young surfers in the area. Already a talented aerialist, as his skills progress, his potential becomes more and more apparent. This season’s victories have included a string of wins in the Volcom Qualifying Series at Ponto, Huntington Beach Pier and Pismo Beach Pier.

He is currently ranked No. 1 in the VQS in the Groms division. Kei also ranks among the Top 10 in the Surfing America Prime series and finished third in Boys U16, February 9 and 10 at Upper Trestles. His goal for the remainder of the season is to break into Kei Kobayashi. Photo by Jack McDaniel the Top 5 and continue his quest toward becoming a member of the PacSun USA Surf Team. “I’d really love to be a part of the team but it’s a really hard goal and you just have to work your way there,” he said.

“So I’m just going to keep surfing my best, keep a good vibe and wait for my time to come.” Kei also credits his continued success to the coaching of older brother Shaw. In school Kei is an ‘A’ and ‘B’ student whose favorite subject—despite also being his most challenging—is math. Looking further into the future, Kei says he will pursue a career as a professional surfer followed by a second career teaching underprivileged kids to surf. “I want to bring surfing to kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity, because it’s the most fun sport and I know that they will love it,” Kei said.—Andrea Swayne

SC Surfers Prime at Uppers

RESULTS Surfing America Prime West, Event No. 5, February 9-10, San Onofre State Beach, Upper Trestles

Locals shine at fifth Surfing America Prime event of the season at Upper Trestles

By Andrea Swayne San Clemente Times

L

ocal surfers found success as event No. 5 in the six-event regular season Surfing America Prime series brought the competition home to Upper Trestles, February 9 and 10.

San Clemente-based under 18 surfers made podium appearances in four out of five divisions as the cobblestone beach break at Uppers delivered epic conditions despite the occurrence of a king high tide.

San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto took first in Boys U16 and second in U18, Tia Blanco came in third in Girls U18, Malia Osterkamp was third in Girls U16 and Kei Kobayashi took third finisher in Boys U16.

“The waves were a lot more organized than we expected and got even better both days as the tide receded,” said Greg

Cruse, Surfing America Executive Director.

The air was chilly but offshore wind and perfect 3- to 5-foot northwest wind swell/ ground swell mix afforded ample opportunity for the Prime series’ elite invitation-only surfers to show off their advanced mix of progressive, classic and aerial maneuvers as they met once again to compete for a spot on the PacSun USA Surf Team.

As the fifth annual Upper Trestles Prime event, contest organizers brought back the Got Milk? Milkitastical Maneuver Awards to be presented to the one surfer in each division who pulled off the most fantastic examples of surfing in the contest. Surfers gave judges plenty of maneuvers to choose from and the choice was a difficult one.

Colapinto delivered an award-winning ride in U18 Boys with a huge full-rotation air. Tia Blanco, also from San Clemente,

Fun Times at the Finger Bowl Third annual mini skateboarding contest a success

By Sheri Crummer San Clemente Times

U

nlike the sort of finger bowl one might encounter at a fancy dinner party, the Republik of Kalifornia Finger Bowl had young skateboarding enthusiasts rushing to participate.

Tucked away in the back room at the Republik of Kalifornia shop on El Camino Real in San Clemente, tre flips, varial kick flips and nose blunts lit up the crowd at the third annual finger skateboarding Finger Bowl. About 50 groms packed the back San Clemente Times February 14–20, 2013

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

Brandon Bayramkul, 11, Laguna Niguel pulls off a big maneuver on his way to the win as defending champion and this year’s runner- up Devyn Flanner (in the T-shirt with the star) looks on. Photo by Sheri Crummer

room, frothing for their turn and hoping for a spot on the podium.

After an afternoon of hard fought heats the finalists were down to the top 10. Brandon Bayramkul, 11, Laguna Niguel took the win, edging out defending champion Devon Flanner, 16, of San Clemente. Ben Morley, 13, of Oceanside took third and

Kevin Schulz of San Clemente delivered this massive air before his campaign came to an end in the Round 2. Photo by Jack McDaniel

was the U18 Girls winner with a 9.00 (out of 10) ride in the semifinals. In addition to their regular contest trophies, both took home the Milkitastical Maneuver trophy, a retro gold-framed painting on black velvet of Got Milk?’s fictional pitch man, rock ‘n’ roller “White Gold.”

Colapinto also came up with the weekend’s highest heat score with a combined 9.00 and 8.93 for a total two-wave score of 17.95 (out of 20) in the Boys U16 final.

Event No. 6, the last of the Prime regular season, is scheduled for March 16 and 17 at the Huntington Beach Pier. SC Carlos Alarcon, 14 of Dana Point won the best trick capturing the spirit of the event.

Finalist and outstanding San Clemente surfer Drew Hemnes, 15, just missed the podium with a great final run. Hemnes relates fingerboarding to real skating.

“It’s fun. The way you move your fingers, you can realize how to take that into your real skating,” said Hemnes.

Fingerboarding has been around for many years, and lately interest has resurfaced. Using fingers, boarders maneuver mini skateboards over a miniature street course.

With the help of Dave Hennings, Shorecliffs Middle School Surf Team coach, the Finger Bowl was born. Hennings built the ramps, ran the event and pumped up the crowd with his colorful announcing.

Check out Republik of Kalifornia online at www.republikofkalifornia.us for more upcoming events throughout the year. SC

Page 26

BOYS U18: 1. Thelen McKinna-Worrell, Malibu; 2. Jake Marshall, Encinitas; 3. Griffin Colapinto, San Clemente; 4. Matt Passaquindici, Huntington Beach; Milkitastical Maneuver: Griffin Colapinto GIRLS U18: 1. Meah Collins, Costa Mesa; 2.

Kylie Loveland, Carlsbad; 3. Tia Blanco, San Clemente; 4. Samantha Lamirand, Cardiff by the Sea; Milkitastical Maneuver: Tia Blanco BOYS U16: 1. Griffin Colapinto, San Clemente; 2. Thelen McKinna-Worrell, Malibu; 3. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente; 4. Jake Marshall, Encinitas; Milkitastical Maneuver: Jake Marshall GIRLS U16: 1. Meah Collins, Costa Mesa; 2.

Kylie Loveland, Carlsbad; 3. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente; 4. Rachel Tominaga, Manhattan Beach; Milkitastical Maneuver: Meah Collins BOYS U14: 1. John Mel, Newport Beach; 2.

Eithan Osborne, Ventura; 3. Ryland Rubens, Pacific Beach; 4. Noah Hill, Venice; Milkitastical Maneuver: Eithan Osborne

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 56-57 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 8-10’ Poor-Fair Catalina: 15-25’ Fair-Good Immediate: Small west-northwest swell fades on Thursday for mainly knee-waist high waves (2-3’). Friday drops into the 1-2-3’.

Long Range Outlook: Saturday will see a continuation of minimal west-northwest swell, then another west-northwest pulse will move in on Sunday. Check out Surfline for all the details.

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