January 9, 2014 by San Clemente Times

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE J A N U A RY 9 -1 5 , 2 0 1 4

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VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Making Music ‘The Fantasticks’ comes to the Cabrillo this Friday EYE ON SC/PAGE 5

Members of the cast of the Cabrillo Playhouse’s production of ‘The Fantasticks,’ which will begin its run Friday. Members of the cast say the Cabrillo’s intimate setting is perfect for the musical. Photo by Jim Shilander

www.sanclementetimes.com

OCTA Will Eventually Extend HOV Lane to SD County Line

Triton Hoopers a New Team with Darnold Back in Fold

Mayor Brown: Be Careful About SONGS Rhetoric

EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

SPORTS/PAGE 17

SOAPBOX/PAGE 8

EYE ON SC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SC S a n C le m e n te

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO A 28-year-old San Juan Capistrano woman is the first person in Orange County under 65 to die of the influenza virus this flu season, county health officials said Thursday, January 2. The woman, whose name has not been released, contracted the H1N1 strain of the flu virus and died sometime the week prior, according to Deanne Thompson, spokesperson for the county’s Health Care Agency. The woman also had “underlying medical conditions,” Thompson said. Reports of influenza, primarily the H1N1 strain, have increased over the last few weeks in Orange County, according to a release. The strain is the same as the one behind the 2009 flu pandemic, which infected between 43-88 million people and killed between 8,72018,050 people in the county, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The county recommends residents protect themselves against influenza by getting vaccinated annually.

DANA POINT

NEWS

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

Whale watchers in south Orange County saw migrating gray whales in record numbers throughout December, according to crewmembers of Capt. Dave’s Whale Watching & Dolphin Safari. In just one trip last month, Capt. Dave’s crew recorded seeing 10 gray whales. On average, gray whales stretch 40 to 50 feet in length, and are not only among the world’s largest mammals but also make the longest migration of mammals. Gray whales travel between 10,000 and 12,000 miles each year from their feeding grounds in the Arctic Ocean to the southern lagoons of Baja California where they mate and give birth to calves. This year, gray whales began an early migration with sightings in November that have steadily increased. In December alone, Capt. Dave’s excursions had 75 gray whale encounters. Last December only 21 sightings were logged, down from the 44 chronicled in December 2011.

SAN CLEMENTE’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With... 1

…the I-5 HOV Lanes?

THE LATEST: San Clemente City Councilwoman and Orange County Transit Authority board member Lori Donchak said Tuesday the OCTA added the extension of high occupancy vehicle lanes to the San Diego County line to its list of long term projects. With freeway widening construction beginning later this year, providing an HOV lane to Avenida Pico, San Clemente had appealed to the body to extend the widening to the county line. City leaders wanted to avoid a bottleneck situation in San Clemente. OCTA officials said the extension was not considered a priority. Donchak said a recent announcement of long term plans in San Diego County to create a toll lane north to the Orange County line played a role in the decision. Donchak credited Councilman Bob Baker with helping to put the issue on the OCTA’s radar during his tenure as mayor last year. WHAT’S NEXT: Donchak said the county will likely pursue state or federal funds to pay for the project, rather than using Measure M funding, which is being used for the addition of the HOV lane to Pico. Donchak said the San Diego project was set to be completed by 2050. FIND OUT MORE: For updates on the construction projects, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. – Jim Shilander

…the North Beach Rooftop Bar?

THE LATEST: The San Clemente City Council formally tabled a proposal for a restaurant and bar in North Beach that would utilize the roof of the building for seating. The move came after the attorney San Clemente Times January 9-15, 2014

for property owner David Gutierrez expressed concern about the fees his client was being asked to pay to keep the process going. Attorney Everett Skillman said his client should not be responsible for legal fees incurred by the city in investigating the proposal, saying it “defied logic.” City staff asked the council to table the proposal due to a lack of funds in a deposit account used by the city for the project. Assistant City Manager Erik Sund said the city’s own review had found the fees to be appropriate. He indicated if and when the fees were paid, it would likely take between 30 and 60 days for the city to review the proposal before it could go to council.

ficials did attempt to pay the rent for 2014 under the previous arrangement, but payment was not accepted by city staff, as it would have extended the lease. Currently, the arrangement is on a “month-tomonth” basis, Gudgeirsson said. Members of the City Council have expressed interest in asking the chamber to pay a higher rent in keeping with the value of the building. Chamber president Lynn Wood said the chamber has been investigating other properties in the city and needed resolution in order to not lose the opportunity it had elsewhere. She noted that if rent was too high, the city would no longer be able to utilize chamber staff as a tourism bureau. WHAT’S NEXT: Gudgeirsson said negotiations would be on the City Council’s January 21 meeting agenda as a closed session item, as they involve negotiations on city-owned property.

WHAT’S NEXT: Councilwoman Lori Donchak said she believed tabling rather than continuing the proposal to a future meeting, was the better option. Since tabling the proposal was more indefinite, it allowed the applicant more time to put the best possible application forward without being under the gun of having to do so by a certain date.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. – JS

FIND OUT MORE: For news updates, follow @S_C_Times on Twitter. – JS

…the Chamber Building?

THE LATEST: A resolution could soon be in place between the city of San Clemente and the Chamber of Commerce’s rent dispute, according to City Manager Pall Gudgeirsson The city has leased the building at 1100 N. El Camino Real to the Chamber for $100 per year for decades, in exchange for the chamber acting as the city’s tourism bureau. The lease under which this arrangement operated expired at the end of the year. Chamber of-

…the Toll Roads?

THE LATEST: Orange County commuters will no longer have to stop at toll plazas beginning in May. Neil Peterson, the chief executive officer at the Transportation Corridor Agencies, told the City Council Tuesday that the agency, which collects tolls on the 73, 133, 241 and 261 freeways, will be phasing out its booths in May. Booths will be replaced with a system that will send bills to vehicle owners based on their license plates. Peterson said the agency hoped eliminating the collection sites would encourage greater ridership. Drivers would no longer worry about being stuck in a long line and drivers unfamiliar with the toll roads might be more willing to use

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the roads without fear of being caught at a collection booth, he said. WHAT’S NEXT: Peterson said the agency will not phase out its transponders, which will still allow users to pay at a reduced rate. He noted that toll roads in Los Angeles County will still require transponders or cash collection. FIND OUT MORE: For more on the program visit www.thetollroads.com – JS

…San Clemente Summit?

THE LATEST: Lori Donchak will host a hike to the city’s highest point Saturday. The point was officially named San Clemente Summit in December following a naming contest held by the city. The winner of the contest was Dave Pherrin, whose name was selected from 87 total entries by a committee of area hikers. The point is located on the Cristianitos Trail, near the Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy to the east of Talega. WHAT’S NEXT: Those hoping to attend the hike are advised to wear a hat, closed-toe hiking shoes and to bring a water bottle for the approximate three-mile hike. The site will eventually include signage and a sitting bench, as part of an Eagle Scout project. The hike will begin at the end of Avenida Talega, where parking is also available. FIND OUT MORE: For more information on the hike, visit www.san-clemente.org. – JS

Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about? ••• Send your suggestions to editorial@sanclementetimes.com. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Musical Makes Use of Small Space at Cabrillo Intimate setting seen as positive for newest show By Jim Shilander San Clemente Times

hen the Cabrillo Playhouse Board of Directors decided to use its 60th anniversary season to revive plays the group had performed before, The Fantasticks was an obvious choice as the lone musical of the season. The show centers on the story of two young neighbors who fall in love, much to the enjoyment of their fathers who’ve made a pretense at keeping them apart in order to make sure they come together. Along the way, the two contend with a mysterious stranger whose machinations threaten their idyllic love. The play set a record for the longest continuous run of any in New York City, running from May 1960 to January 2002. It has since been revived off Broadway and has become a staple of community and college theatres for its nostalgic feel and sweetness. The play was originally performed at the Cabrillo in the early 90s. Producing a musical at the playhouse can be a challenge, given the major constraints on space at the site. The playhouse is a converted home, which also houses a box office, scene shop, storage and green room. Still, the company manages to put on at least one musical per season. “I embrace the small space,” director Sharie Nitkin said. “I’ve directed and performed in very large theatres, up to 1,000seat venues, and they’re really wonderful in their own right. But there’s something very leveling about this. No one’s wearing a microphone, its super intimate. These type of spaces really lend themselves to shows like this.” Last year’s season included a musical as well. The Last 5 Years, which has a cast of only two, was on the ticket, although the Cabrillo’s production had a number of

Abagail Schwartz plays Louisa, the lovestruck female half at the center of ‘The Fantasticks.’ Photo by Jim Shilander

different cast members sharing the roles. Such small musicals are usually the norm, as are plays that require minimal work in terms of changing sets. The board is already selecting plays for its 61st season, which begins later this year. Artistic director Amanda Strader said she had made it her goal, starting next year, to start doing two musicals per season. “That’s always the big debate,” Strader said. “We find the plays we like and we talk about whether it’s a good order or a good fit. And then we really comb through them and see if we can physically do them. “We tend to do shows that have one set, where it’s more or less dressing or pieces here and there that define place and time. Space comes first. You can do some illusions, to do some of the bigger sets without losing much, as long as the timing

Wade Wooldridge’s character, Hucklebee, attempts to impart some wisdom to his son, Matt, played by Jaycob Hunter. Photo by Jim Shilander

San Clemente Times January 9-15, 2014

COMING TO THE CABRILLO The remaining shows in the Cabrillo’s season are Arsenic & Old Lace, which runs from February 28 to March 23, Cliffhanger, which runs from April 18 to May 11 and Harvey, which runs from June 6-29. works on stage.” The other major constraint on doing a musical, actor Wade Wooldridge points out, is the lack of space for live musical accompaniment. This creates the need to use a pre-recorded backing track, which can have its own positives and negatives. “It’s a lot harder, because you have to make sure everything is exactly timed,” Wooldridge said. “There’s no room for the piano player to vamp and watch for a cue. It’s on the actors to keep all of the cues straight.” On the other hand, actors got to work with the same music throughout the process, and not be concerned about a band learning too, as they went along in the process. Wooldridge said he’s seen The Fantasticks in larger venues and thought it a better fit in the smaller space of the Cabrillo. “It’s a completely different feeling when it’s done big. This is the original ‘trunk show,’ all the props come out of a trunk and you make a little show out of nothing,” Wooldridge said. The cast is a mix of Cabrillo veterans and newcomers. Wooldridge has done six plays at the theater, while five other members of the eight-person cast are performing in their first show in San Clemente. Robert Purcell has been a part of 10 plays at the Cabrillo, and The Fantasticks will be his first musical, but he says the

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two aren’t very different. “The only difference is that there’s music,” Purcell said. “A musical’s a little bit different from a regular show because the acting’s more campy than a regular show would be. It’s a little more over the top.” Ronald Dzierzynski recently moved from Irvine to San Juan Capistrano. He’d been active as a part-time actor in Irvine, where he’d been a part of a number of musicals. Dzierzynski said he was asked to audition by his good friend Tom Dillard, the president of the Cabrillo’s board. “He told me they were looking for men who could sing. I told him, ‘Well, that may be a stretch, but I can carry a tune I guess,’” Dzierzynski joked. “It’s really cute. I keep telling everybody its better than I expected it to be. There’s really some great voices in the cast.” Jaycob Hunter, who plays Matt, the male half of the young couple at the center of the story, said he hopes audiences find the message of the play compelling. “It’s a very easy show to attach to just because it’s so light-hearted,” Hunter said. “It’s over-the-top in its melodrama, but the happiness it portrays, the youth and the lovers, audiences should be able to escape into that.” For actor Jonathan Mesisca, the show represents a sort of double return. Mesisca grew up summering in San Clemente, and his parents now live here year round. He’s played the show’s lead role, El Gallo, who serves as narrator, and also played an important part in the story itself, before. “My family has been down here for close to 30 years now,” Mesisca said. “My sophomore year of high school I was El Gallo and last summer I performed it in Maine for five weeks. After this run, I’ll have played El Gallo close to 60 times.” Mesisca said The Fantasticks is the perfect show for a place like the Cabrillo and noted the off-Broadway stages that have given the musical homes for more than 50 years are almost always small, 99-seat or fewer theatres. “A show like this is perfect for a house like this,” Mesisca said. “It’s a timeless musical that doesn’t need a big house. The small situation is actually better. The audience really gets involved in the story more. I’m excited to be involved and to get to tell the story again.” Mesisca said some of his favorite memories of coming to San Clemente growing up came from performing karaoke at Taka-O after dinner. “I did it for the first time in about 12 years when I came back for Thanksgiving,” he said. “It was a good time.” The play opens Friday, and runs until February 2. The shows are held Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Ticket information is available at www.cabrilloplayhouse.org. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC CITY AND COMMUNITY CALENDAR Thursday, January 9 Sunset Networking Mixer 5:30 p.m.7:30 p.m. Chamber event hosted by Residence Inn San Juan Capistrano. Cost $10-$20. 33711 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.492.1131, www.scchamber.com. Coastal Advisory Committee Meeting 7 p.m. Ole Hanson Room in the Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Friday, January 10 Chamber of Commerce Membership Orientation Noon. OC Tavern. 2369 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1131, www.scchamber.com.

Sunday, January 12 San Clemente Farmers Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh produce, flowers and more every Sunday along Avenida Del Mar. SCAA Meeting 3 p.m.–5 p.m. The San Clemente Art Association meets the second Sunday at the Community Center. Refreshments served. Members free, nonmembers $5 donation. 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.492.7175, www.scartgallery.com.

Monday, January 13 Toddlertime 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Stories for children ages 2-3 with adult participation at the San Clemente Library 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org.

NEWS BITES

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO Two San Clemente Girls Among Honorees at Debutante Ball The Laguna Chapter of National Charity League, Inc., a mother-daughter organization providing philanthropic, leadership and cultural experiences, hosted its 25th Annual Debutante Ball at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point on December 28. Twenty-two young women were honored for their philanthropic and league service. It is the culmination of six years of commitment to serving their communities that began when the girls were in seventh grade. Among those honored were Kirstyn Nicole Carlson and Lauren Riley Smith of San Clemente. This year’s class volunteered approximately 5,164 hours to the community during their six years.

BAMS Hosting Clothes Donation Fundraiser Bernice Ayer Middle School will host a fundraising event on Tuesday, January 14 and Wednesday, January 15, to benefit upgrades to the school’s library. Large black trash bags full of donated items, including clothing, linens, bedding, plush toys and shoes can be dropped off between 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

SC Sheriff’s Blotter

Tuesday, January 14 COMPILED BY VICTOR CARNO

Ukulele Class 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Lessons at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center. 117 Ave. Victoria, San Clemente, 949.498.3322. South Coast Detachment Marine Corps League 7 p.m. Open to all active duty, retired or honorably discharged Marines or FMF Navy Corpsman at the San Clemente Elk’s Lodge. 1505 N. El Camino Real, 949.493.4949, 949.361.9252.

Wednesday, January 15 Kiwanis Meeting 12 p.m. The local Kiwanis Club meets at Carrows. 620 Avenida Pico, 949.290.8729, www.sanclementekiwanis.com. SC Rotary Club 12 p.m. Irons in the Fire, 150 Avenida Magdalena, 949.361.3619, www.sanclementerotary.org. San Clemente Times January 9-15, 2014

Compiled by Jim Shilander

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 website.

Tuesday, January 7

on Tuesday or from 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Items will either be donated to locals in need or recycled and used to make items needed in third world countries. The San Clemente-based organization Compassion Clothing (a division of OC Textile Recycling Company) handles the transport and reuse of the textiles collected and will pay the school 15 cents per pound. Library upgrades will include software, books and an electronic encyclopedia system and will be aligned with the new Common Core standards.

Las Buenas Amigas Donates $7,500 to Area Kids, Elderly Members of the nonprofit Las Buenas Amigas—meaning good friends in Spanish— donated $7,500 to two local organizations assisting south Orange County’s youth, elderly and handicapped at their annual Christmas luncheon in December. Las Buenas members also celebrated their 46th anniversary. Since the charitable organization’s founding in 1967, members have donated more than $500,000 to assist their community’s young and old. This year, the Boys & Club of the South Coast Area and RIO-Leo Fessenden CBAS— store before, entered and started yelling at the caller and customers. The caller said the man was standing outside of the store. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Pico/El Camino Real (10:07 a.m.) A woman gave a dollar to a man she thought was homeless. The man then told the woman he was going to kill her. The woman called authorities because the man said he was recently released from prison for murder. The woman was no longer in the vicinity and described the man as being in his mid-30s, shirtless, with blonde hair and a beard. WELFARE CHECK Mariposa, 100 Block (9:01 a.m.) A concerned father contacted deputies after his 15-year-old son ran away from home. He told deputies his son had also not been to school in more than three weeks.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS El Camino Real, 2300 Block (10:20 a.m.) A local employee contacted authorities after a homeless man with white hair entered his business, began yelling and damaged the front door. The caller said a few other employees chased after the man, who was last seen running south on El Camino Real.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Ola Vista/Avenida Del Mar (2:14 a.m.) A suspicious man told authorities two other men in front of 7-Eleven pulled a gun on him and took $500. He went on to say he was going to his attorney’s house in Newport Beach. Later the caller said he was actually abducted by the two men.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 2200 Block (10:18 a.m.) A cashier at 7-Eleven called deputies after a man, who had caused problems at the

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 500 Block (1:58 a.m.) An intoxicated homeless man in front of 7-Eleven was in a verbal argument with Page 6

Outgoing president of Las Buenas Amigas, Marj Knudson (center), presents directors Alicia Fiori and Robert Adams, of RIO-Leo Fessenden CBAS and the Boys & Club of the South Coast Area, respectively, with donations. Courtesy photo

an organization serving adults who are physically, developmentally or cognitively impaired—benefitted from Las Buenas donations. Directors of both organizations joined Las Buenas Amigas members and guests gathered at The Hills Hotel in Laguna Hills for their yearly lunch and boutique. The event featured holiday tunes from two vocal performance teams from El Toro High School, Soundsation and Choralistics. The event’s attendees shared lunch, shopped door prizes and sang-along with the 66 member choral groups. Also, the Las Buenas Amigas executive board for 2014 was introduced. It includes: Joyce Easton, Beverly McCarthy, Jan Hammel, Connie Ketron, Nancy Smith, Marsha Bise, Jean Opatrny and Louise Wilson. For more information, call 949.499.1863. Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

several other people, who he thought had stolen his phone and wallet. The man did not realize the phone and wallet he was arguing over were not his.

Monday, January 6 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Calle La Veta, 3300 Block (3:44 p.m.) A woman said her sister’s friends were smoking drugs in her residence. The caller said she was on probation and did not want any issues. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida La Pata/Avenida Pico (10:06 a.m.) A transient was lying in a bike path next to a shopping cart.

Sunday, January 5 ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Trafalgar Lane, 100 Block (3:12 p.m.) Sheriff’s deputies and Orange County Fire Authority officials responded to a call concerning a 16-year-old girl who was found unconscious. CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Celestial, 0 Block (8:38 a.m.) A woman contacted deputies and accused a man of leaving two burning cigarettes on her driveway. The woman said the man did it maliciously. She claimed the cigarettes left marks on her driveway and could possibly catch her newspaper on fire. www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

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San Clemente Times, Vol. 9, Issue 2. 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 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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GUEST OPINION: City Council Corner By Mayor Tim Brown

Be Responsible with SONGS Rhetoric San Clemente residents have chosen to live with nuclear risks

t is rare for me to meet or hear from a San Clemente resident who does not relish the opportunity to live in such an incredible place. Each of us assessed and continues to assess the costs and benefits for ourselves and our families for living in one of the last true California beach towns. This means at some point we also took on the informed risk of being proximate to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Knowing SONGS safety record, its purpose and the existence of nuclear fuel, both spent and unspent, we still choose to live here, own homes here, work here and raise our children here. In January 2012, a tube in the plant’s replacement steam generator system released a small amount of radioactive steam, which resulted in a temporary closure of the plant. This unforeseen closure combined with recent concerns voiced over the Fukishima disaster brought into question the continued operation and viability of SONGS. After a lengthy investigation by the plant owner, Southern California Edison, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, SCE determined that San Onofre should be permanently decommissioned. Closed

since June, the decommissioning is now underway, a process which the NRC oversees and maintains responsibility. We recently heard public testimony at council meetings about spent nuclear fuel located onsite and concerns over the timeline for removal. There is no question we all want the fuel removed as soon as possible. With our attention now focused on removal, it is important that we as a community have confidence in the process which the regulatory agencies are closely monitoring. This issue will remain on the forefront of the City Council’s concerns for decades to come. This is a long-term strategy and we will not waver in our desire to see fuel removed. However, we need to proceed with a rational perspective. Your City Council passed a resolution calling for the creation of a repository and the expedited removal of the spent fuel as soon as a repository is available. The call for an expedited removal is due to the geographic conditions unique to SONGS, the dense population surrounding SONGS and that SONGS is being permanently decommissioned. Additionally, I signed a letter on behalf of the council urging the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow for an extended public input period on their report entitled “Waste Confidence Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement” to February 28, to allow council time to review the document. These things will not happen overnight. However, in the meantime, our residents should take confidence in the continued movement to dry cask storage. Since the plant opened in the 1960s, the spent nuclear fuel rods have undergone a continual process of placement in cooling pools and once cooled have been moved into dry cask storage. Within the next five to 10 years, the majority of the spent fuel rods onsite will undergo the dry cask storage process. The NRC has deemed both the spent fuel pools and dry cask storage as adequate public protection. This assertion is bolstered by recent experiences in Fukushima, where the dry cask containers of spent nuclear fuel withstood damage from the earthquake and tsunami. However, we expect that the city should be informed on significant events related to the decommissioning and not be an afterthought in the federal government’s

process. We also have a duty to inform our citizenry with the facts and how they impact our community. We owe it to our citizens to listen to their concerns, while quashing inaccurate or exaggerated facts. Overstating the negative effects of fuel storage makes it virtually impossible to get the nuclear waste removed to a temporary or permanent repository and creates an unnecessary climate of fear for the communities close to SONGS. We must respect those residents who call San Clemente home by ensuring they receive the facts about SONGS and spent fuel and can continue to make informed decisions about this beautiful place we call home. If you have questions, email me at brownt@san-clemente.org. Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Tim Brown is San Clemente’s Mayor for 2014. Brown was first elected to the City Council in 2010 and served as mayor pro tem in 2012 and 2013. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: Culbertson Chronicles by Larry Culbertson

Is the Historical Society Opposed to Economic Development? Contrary to popular belief, preservation can create jobs and tourism

here is a belief among some that historic preservation and economic development are incompatible. They believe economic growth requires old buildings being torn down and replaced with bigger buildings with space for more businesses and more people. In fact, preserving historic buildings—instead of demolishing them—can and does result in economic growth and development. Preservation creates jobs, generates tourism, contributes to city coffers and is good for the environment. The Casino San Clemente, Beachcomber Motel and Casa Romantica are good examples of “saved” buildings contributing to the economic growth and vitality of San Clemente. Lew Avera’s column, “Who is San Clemente?” (San Clemente Times, December 26-January 1, Vol. 8, Issue 52) describes historical preservationists as being unfriendly toward growth and economic development. While he does not mention the San Clemente Historical Society by name, there is no doubt that is the group to which he refers. Mr. Avera wrote, “Historical Preservationists: This is a fairly small but passionate group dedicated to maintaining the historical nature of San Clemente as it was 50 to 100 years ago, even at the expense of growth and economic development, if such growth infringes upon the historical nature and structure of our city.” Within the past 10 years, developers have wanted to bulldoze the Miramar Theater, the Casino, the Beachcomber Motel and the Sea Cliff Villas (above the Beach-

SC Times columnist Larry Culbertson says preserving historic buildings like the Miramar Theater can provide an important economic opportunity. Photo by Jim Shilander

comber). The Historical Society has worked to protect and preserve these and other historic buildings, and has advocated maintaining the small town “village character” of our historic downtown. The society has also opposed projects adjacent to historic buildings that would negatively impact the historic integrity of the building. A proposed project next to Historic City Hall at the top

of Avenida Del Mar would have been almost five times the size of the historic building. Preservation standards do not allow a historic building to be dwarfed by adjacent new construction. The society is not opposed to development at that site or anywhere else in the city, but any development must be sensitive to our historic resources. Fortunately, the developer finally saw the light and is currently renovating the existing building. There are some people who believe the Miramar Theater should be demolished. Most residents side with preservationists and believe that eventually an adaptive reuse of the building will occur. Is saving the Miramar from demolition being anti-development? Certainty not. One day it will team up with the wonderfully restored Casino and soon to be renovated Ole Hanson Beach Club to provide us with a great historic recreation district. Historic preservation should be embraced and encouraged by proponents of economic development. We only have 204 historic buildings in San Clemente, protecting and preserving them will make our city economically stronger. Larry Culbertson has been President of the San Clemente Historical Society since 2012. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT

ON STAGE AT THE COACH HOUSE: RICKY NELSON REMEMBERED The sons of the late Ricky Nelson and members of Ricky Nelson Remembered, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, will play the Coach House on January 12. This family band honors the music of Ricky Nelson, as well as his work on the television show, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” with Ricky’s parents Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and brother, David Nelson. Matthew and Gunnar preserve Nelson history while continuing to drive the family’s musical legacy forward. With their 1990 number one hit “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love and Affection” they became the first musical family to have had three successive generations with number one hits in the U.S. The Ricky Nelson Remembered show goes beyond the music, immersing the crowd in family stories and videos. “Our show is like a mix between an A&E biography episode and an epic rock show.” Gunnar said. He went on to say he and Matthew are excited to play in California because they are “Cali boys who grew up in Laguna Beach near Lagunitas,” and are looking forward to coming back home. Check out Ricky Nelson Remembered for an entertaining, multi-media experience celebrating the Nelson family story. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at www.thecoachhouse.com or by calling 949.496.8930. The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. —Victor Carno

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

SC S a n C le m e n te

Courtesy photo

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

thursday

A HISTORY OF WOMEN’S FASHION: THE 20TH CENTURY 7 p.m. Casa Romantica presents a special event featuring an informative visual overview of women’s fashion. Tickets $10-$15. RSVP. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

SIR MIX-A-LOT 8 p.m. Hip-hop artist at The Coach House. Tickets $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com. BILLY WATSON AND ROBIN HENKEL 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com. PAJAMA STORYTIME 7 p.m.-7:45 p.m. Dress in your pajamas and listen to bedtime stories by the Sunshine Readers at the San Clemente Library. 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.san-clemente.org.

friday

BEER TASTING 5 p.m.10 p.m. Flights of the manager’s favorite beers at San Clemente Wine Company. Tasting includes bar snacks. 212 ½ Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

THE FANTASTICKS 8 p.m. New play debuts at Cabrillo Playhouse, telling the story of a young man and the girl next door. Tickets $20-$25. Shows through February 2. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org. PATO BANTON AND THE NEW GENERATION 8 p.m. Reggae concert at StillWater Spirits & Sounds. Cover $23. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com. THEO & THE ZYDECO PATROL 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com. San Clemente Times January 9-15, 2014

saturday

sunday

SECOND STAGE STANDUP 8 p.m. Comedy night at Camino Real Playhouse featuring popular weatherman Fritz Coleman and other professional comedians. Tickets $15. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

THE DIAMONDS AND BILLY RICHARDS’ COASTERS 3 p.m. Performances by one of the greatest vocal quartets in the history of rock ‘n’ roll as well as an R&B group at Soka Performing Arts Center. $28-$33. 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, www.performingarts.soka.edu, 949.480.4000.

NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY EVENT 7 p.m. San Clemente Abolitionists present a showing of the documentary Nefarious, Merchant of Souls at San Clemente Presbyterian Church. Free. For mature audiences. 119 Avenida de la Estrella, San Clemente, abolitionist.event@gmail.com.

FREE FISHING FOR KIDS Noon. A fishing lesson and more for kids at Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

COYOTES, SHOOTING STARS AND OTHER TALES OF THE OLD WEST 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Docent-led walk with stories on local history and more at The Reserve/ Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Admission $5-$10. Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org. MARIACHIS AT THE MISSION 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. The second Saturday of the month, enjoy live mariachi music at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Free with admission $5–$9. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com. LOS LOBOS 8 p.m. The popular band plays The Coach House, also featuring Jonah Smith and Shawn Jones. Tickets $39.50. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com. WHALE WATCHING WITH UNDERWATER VIEWING PODS Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari offers 2.5-hour trips daily. Call for departure times. View whales and dolphins eye-to-eye from aboard a hi-tech catamaran. Tickets $59 adults, $39 kids (3 to 12), under 2 free. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com. AN EVENING OF COMEDY & MAGIC 7:30 p.m. A fun-filled, family-friendly show of amazing mysteries and more in McKinney Theatre at Saddleback College. General admission $32. 28000 Marguerite Pkwy., Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu/arts. BEN WOODS 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Flamenco guitar sets the mood for wine tasting at DaVine Food & Wine. Tastings $20 for five wines. 34673 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com. Page 10

monday

SAN CLEMENTE JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB 6:30 p.m.9 p.m. Meeting at the RIO Adult Day Health Care Center. 2021 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, 562.754.8072, www.scjwc.org.

tuesday

ART AT THE CASA 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Debut of Casa Romantica’s new exhibit titled “The Mystery of the Ordinary” featuring the work of neo-realist painter/artist Michael Ward. On display through February 23. Tickets $5, members free. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

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

wednesday

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

HANS AND JANINE 8 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.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

SUDOKU

by Myles Mellor

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

Everybody Needs a Little Space Whatever your relationship situation, space is the key to longevity

wo couples in their 70s recently had lunch at Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli. They appeared to be having a good time and enjoying themselves. When they left, one of the men lagged behind and said, “Don’t you write that dating column?” I smiled and said, “Yes.” He said that even married couples can have relationship challenges. He had been married 40 years and retired a year ago. He said he didn’t properly prepare for retirement and was around the house nearly all of the time. “My wife and I are driving each other crazy,” he said. Then he added, “I’ve got to do something that will get me out of house.” I said, “That would be a good idea. You wouldn’t want to jeopardize the marriage after all of these years.” His wife poked her head back in the door and said sternly, “We’re waiting for you, let’s go.” He looked at me and said, “See what I mean, even that bugs me.” Not an hour later, another older gentle-

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 By Tom Blake

man introduced himself. He said, “My name is Tom Vlahos. My wife Julie and I live in San Juan Capistrano. We like reading your dating column in the newspaper even though we’ve been married for 50 years. I’ve been retired 20 years and our marriage is the best

it’s ever been.” I told him about the comments the other man had made an hour before and asked him, “How do you and Julie keep your relationship so fresh?” Vlahos said that both he and his wife are very involved in outside activities. He volunteers at the Cabrillo Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano and at Habitat for Humanity. Julie volunteers at their church and is an avid quilter. He said, “For a marriage to last, there are times when you need space, to be away from each other. There is nothing

negative about that.” Tom’s comment made me think about couples who meet later in life and say they want to be together 24/7. That makes me shudder. That’s just not going to work. They are going to smother each other and then part ways. Everybody needs space, particularly as we get older. At the December Meet and Greet for singles over 50, I was talking to two women about what the men had said. Carol added, “Every self-help book tells us to have a life of our own, and I thank the heavens I have followed this advice.” Yvonne said, “Fewer people attend church or temple. Fewer socialize in other ways, like the old bowling leagues of the 1950s era. Fewer people go out to movies, instead preferring to watch DVDs at home. Our homes have become so comfortable that people venture out less than they used to. That can lead to marriage unrest. Too much time together.” The simple lesson of today’s column applies to all couples—married or other-

wise—and to single people as well. To be an interesting person, each needs to have individual interests that keep them occupied. We’ve all got to take a break away from each other on a regular basis. Then, when we do spend time together we will appreciate each other more, just as Tom and Julie Vlahos do—even after 50 years. Giving each other space can be nearly as important to a relationship as time spent together. To share your thoughts and experiences on marriage, dating and relationships email Tom at, tompblake@gmail.com. The January singles Meet and Greet gathering will be held Thursday, January 30 at Tutor and Spunky’s Deli in Dana Point, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend. For questions about the event, call Tom at 949.248.9008. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

BRINGING BELLS TO THE BEACH TRAIL Shop offering free bells to encourage communication between trail users By Jim Shilander San Clemente Times

A Bicycles San Clemente owner Pete van Nuys shows off one of the shop’s bells, which he is offering free for a limited time in order to improve relations on the beach trail. Courtesy photo

San Clemente Times January 9–15, 2014

s many San Clemente Beach Trail users know, space can sometimes get a little tight, which can lead to some ill feelings and hot tempers on occasion. Recently, the City Council passed an ordinance allowing bicyclists to ride on an expanded portion of the trail south of T-Street. During the consideration of the proposal, local architect and beach trail walker Ricardo Nicol advocated requiring

all bicycles used on the trail to have a bell that could be used to alert runners and walkers of their presence. The council ultimately decided against the requirement. Pete van Nuys, the executive director of the Orange County Bicycle Coalition and owner of Bicycles San Clemente, said he’d discussed the situation on the trail with Nicol months before and was aware of Nicol’s concerns. Those concerns, combined with a batch of “way too many bells,” inspired van Nuys to offer, as the supply lasts, free bells to anyone who stops into the bike shop, located at 1900 N. Page 12

El Camino Real. “We know anything we can do to reduce the tribalism will be a step forward,” van Nuys said. “If it proves popular, maybe it’s something we can continue doing.” He noted that the rental bikes at the shop have always had bells as a matter of course. Nicol said he had been unaware of the offer but said he was willing to contribute, financially, to keep such an effort going. He said he’d talked with then-mayor Bob Baker to discuss his idea, who said he saw a value in it, before mentioning it to van Nuys. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Conscious Living by Meryl Gwinn

Making Universal Resolutions 2014: Poised to be a year of fulfillment, adventure and romance along with scientific discovery and family farming

anuary can be high pressure. While we resolve to get our lives in order— preferably by Monday—let us find solace in knowing we are supported by grander world measures. In case your optimistic outlook on 2014 has dimmed, just two weeks in, get ready for revival. Collective resolutions from the United Nations, which are backed by Chinese astrology, are on beat with community growth and foresee fast fortunes. Romanticism aside, here is a bit on the business that backs positive themes for the Año Nuevo. The U.N. has named two initiatives for 2014. The first involves growth of familial and community farming. The second is to shed more light on to crystallography, a science examining matter on an atomic, crystalline scale. How earthy and mysterious of them. Named the International Year of Family Farming by the U.N. General Council, 2014 aims to build family farming by attracting attention to small farming’s ability to eradicate hunger and poverty, provide food security and nutrition, improve livelihoods of families, manage natural resources and protect the environment. Family farming is the main form of food

production in both developing and non-developing countries, says the Food and Agricultural Organization of the U.N. Examples include the preserving of traditional food products (read: real, safe food), protecting CONSCIOUS LIVING agro-biodiversity (think: By Meryl Gwinn bees and soil micro-biota) and helping sustain natural resources. This is Feed Your People certified (see last month’s Conscious Living column), as this project improves local economy and encourages community wellbeing. What better a way to get on board then by supporting a proposal for community garden space, or planting a low-key winter herb box with the family? The second initiative calls 2014 the International Year of Crystallography, emphasizing the science’s role in issues such as food security, safe drinking water, health care and reversing environmental damage. This year recognizes the anniversary of Nobel Prize recipient Dorothy Hodgkin, a British chemist who is credited with

pioneering protein crystallography, for her work on penicillin and Vitamin B12 during World War II. It also celebrates the German mathematician, Johannes Kepler’s discovery of symmetrical forms in ice crystals in 1611—crystalline symmetry. Kepler’s breakthrough initiated the study of symmetry’s role in matter, and since, the examination of atomic crystalline patterns has led to crucial advancements. Goals of the initiative include broadening public understanding of crystallography’s large role in technology, inspiring the world’s youth and illustrating the universality in science. The six-pointed snowflake, pomegranate seed orientation and DNA structure give solid insight into these patterns, and preceded greater discoveries in cellular arrangement, computer memory formatting and pharmaceuticals, to name a few. Finally, the second new moon after the Winter Solstice marks the Chinese New Year, and 2014’s entrance into the Year of the Wood Horse. The Chinese calendar is based on astronomical observations of the sun and moon phases. It is a lunisolar calendar which predates our Gregorian

calendar, tracing its roots back to the Han Dynasty. Chinese astrology says the wood horse year is particularly action oriented and brings project fruition, unexpected adventure and romance. An excellent year for travel, this year has elements of high energy and productivity. The horse is wild and free-spirited but with acute intuition. Therefore, the year of the horse supports quick decisions and bold action in careers and other personal advancements. Motivated much? Here’s to a seamless and wildly productive New Year for all. In the spirit of family, freedom and contentment across the globe, may your intentions be crystal clear and your victories swift. Meryl Gwinn has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, and has studied yoga, health, food and humans around the globe. Gwinn welcomes reader feedback at meryl.gwinn@ gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SC S a n C le m e n te

Triton Report

By Steve Breazeale

For many of the San Clemente High School winter sports teams, league play starts this week. Several of the Tritons teams enter what can be defined as the “new season” red hot while others are treading water, looking for a jolt of energy out of facing new, regional competition.

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

SC Volleyball Club 15’s Team on to Jr. Nationals

The San Clemente Volleyball Club’s 15’s team competed at the Junior Boys Invitational in Anaheim from January 3-5 and took home the silver medal. The team, which pools from players San Clemente and neighboring towns, won six matches before reaching the finals. The club’s 15’s team defeated regional opponents, as well as teams from as far away as Hawaii, over the three day stretch that lasted from January 3-5. Due to their second-place finish, the team earned a spot in the Junior National Open Division Tournament, which will be held in Houston in June. The tournament features the top club teams in the nation and crowns a national champion. The San Clemente Volleyball Club 15’s team includes: Kian Feiner, Max Beard, Kyler Presho, Sean Carroll, Max Rivera, Brandon Cornell, Thomas DeStefano, Hunter Arbuckle, Connor Lamparter, Dean Balagot and Grant Marcoux. The team is coached by Tom Beard. —San Clemente Times

style of offense and Darnold, a 6-foot-5inch forward who can handle the ball, attack at the rim and shoot 3-pointers, is just the type of player who can thrive in that environment. “It’s been good for us, because (Darnold) gives us our foundation every game and he makes everyone better,” Popovich said. Shelmidine joined the rotation on January 7 in a 60-53 win over Troy, delivering five points and three steals. While Popovich said Shelmidine is a true point guard and will not light up the scoreboard every night, Shelmidine’s responsibility will lie in getting the offense going. Darnold and Shelmidine join a group that Popovich believes played well to start the season. Juniors Elijah Morris (12 points per game) and Nick Crankshaw (10.3 ppg), along with senior Austin Miller (9.2 ppg), have been the backbone of a team that is beginning to take shape just in time for league.

BOYS BASKETBALL LOOKING LIKE NEW The San Clemente boys basketball team is hoping to peak at the right moment. As the squad gears up to defend its Sea View League title on January 15 with a road game against San Juan Hills, recent BOYS SOCCER FINISHES PREadditions to the roster have them lookSEASON WITH TOURNEY WIN ing more like the team head coach Marc After toppling some tough opponents Popovich envisioned he’d have last sumthroughout the entire preseason, the mer. That’s in large part due to the return San Clemente boys soccer of reigning league MVP team’s efforts were finally Sam Darnold and point rewarded on December 30 guard Gage Shelmidine. when they hoisted the firstThe Tritons (8-8) have place trophy at the Southpulled off some good wins ern California High School and suffered tough losses Classic-West tournament. in the preseason, while The Tritons (12-0-1) Darnold, who was healing faced the likes of Great Oak a broken foot, sat on the and Brophy College Prep sidelines and Shelmidine, Junior forward Sam Darnold over the four-day event and a transfer from Saddleback returned to the San Clemente boys defeated San Pasqual 3-1 in Valley Christian, had to basketball team on December the finals. sit out due to eligibility 26. Darnold is the reigning Sea To say that senior requirements. View League MVP. Photo by Steve Breazeale forward Bryce Kaminski is On December 26, the riding a scoring hot streak Tritons got their MVP back. into South Coast League play would be Darnold took to the court for the first an understatement. He netted two goals time this season in a tournament game in the win over San Pasqual to keep his against Eastlake, where he scored 22 nine-match scoring streak intact and bring points in an 81-66 victory. Darnold topped his season goal total to12. Kaminski has that performance by scoring 26 points in scored at least once in every Tritons game a Tritons 81-66 nonleague loss to Edison dating back to December 13. three games later. The Tritons were set to begin their The Tritons like to play an up-tempo San Clemente Times January 9-15, 2014

The San Clemente Volleyball Club 15’s team won the silver medal at the Junior Boys Invitational in Anaheim on January 5. Courtesy photo

finding the back of the net all season and leads the Tritons attack with 14 goals scored. WRESTLING REGAINS FORM IN WIN OVER ALISO Injuries and illnesses have made it difficult for the San Clemente wrestling team to establish the dominance that was with them for much of last year. But in recent weeks, following a disappointing dual meet loss to rival Laguna Hills, the Tritons have found some success. San Clemente (9-3) traveled to the Ontario Invitational on January 4 and had ten starters medal, including a weight class win for Zack Adcock. The Tritons then defeated South Coast League opponent Aliso Niguel 34-30 on January 7. The Tritons will continue dual league play on January 14 with a match against Capistrano Valley.

Senior forward Nikki Faris has scored 14 goals this season. Photo by Steve Breazeale

South Coast League title defense with a January 8 match against Aliso Niguel. Results were not available at press time. GIRLS SOCCER SET FOR RIVALRY MATCH IN LEAGUE OPENER The San Clemente girls soccer team will hit the ground running in South Coast League play as they host Dana Hills on January 9 in both teams’ league opener. The Dolphins are the defending South Coast League champions, but the Tritons (9-2-3) could be considered the hotter team coming into the matchup. The Tritons have won four of their last five and are coming off a runner-up performance at the Foothill Excalibur Tournament. Dana Hills, on the other hand, has lost four of their last five matches. Senior forward Nikki Faris has been

Page 17

WATER POLO SET TO FACE DOLPHINS The San Clemente girls water polo ended their preseason with three consecutive matches against top tier opponents. First was a match against Mater Dei, then came an upset win over Los Alamitos. On December 31, the Tritons were defeated by top ranked Laguna Beach 18-4. San Clemente will now host Dana Hills on January 9 in both teams’ league opener. GIRLS HOOPS OPEN LEAGUE AT ALISO Facing tough competition, the San Clemente girls basketball team went 1-4 overall at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic from January 27-30. They are now set for a South Coast League opener with Aliso Niguel on January 9. Post player Jessica de Gree is in the midst of a breakout senior season that is seeing her average a double-double per game. De Gree is currently averaging 20.9 points per game and 11.3 rebounds. Fellow senior post player Jenna Rodriguez (12.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg) rounds out the Tritons formidable front court that will be a strength moving forward into league play. www.sanclementetimes.com

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY AIR CONDITIONING

LANDSCAPING

Oasis Heating & Air 949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

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

949.492.5589

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

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT 949.361.9656

MANAGEMENT - HOA AMMCOR 949.661.7767 910 Calle Negocio, Ste. 200, www.AMMCOR.com

APPLIANCES SERVICES & REPAIRS

MATTRESSES

ASAP Appliance Service 949.361.7713 South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 3200 Legendario, www.asapapplianceservice.com 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com

ART GALLERIES

BOOKS

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

MORTGAGES

Village Books 949.492.1114 Brian Wiechman, 949.533.9209 99 Avenida Serra, www.DowntownSanClemente.com Equity Coast Mortgage, a division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage, www.equitycoastmortgage.com CHOCOLATE/CANDY Lure of Chocolate, Gourmet Foods & Gift www.LureofChocolate.com 949.439.1773 Schmid’s Fine Chocolate 949.369.1052 99 Avenida Del Mar, www.schmidschocolate.com

COINS GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

949.350.4692 Kevin

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

949.361.9656

DENTISTS Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 949.493.9311 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, www.drericjohnson.com Kristen Ritzau DDS 949.498.4110 122 Avenida Cabrillo, www.KristenRitzauDDS.com

ELECTRICAL Arcadia Electric www.arcadiaelectric.com

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REAL ESTATE

MOLD REMOVAL

San Clemente Art Association 949.492.7175 100 N. Calle Seville, www.scartgallery.com

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MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

Antonio Fiorello, Forté Realty Group 949.842.3631 San Clemente, www.forterealtygroup.com Marcie George - Star Real Estate South County marciegeorge@cox.net 949.690.5410 “Sandy & Rich” - ReMax www.sandyandrich.com

949.293.3236

RESTAURANTS

SC Rider Supply 949.388.0521 Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4 520 S. El Camino Real, www.scridersupply.com

949.366.9386

ROOFING CONTRACTORS

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GARAGE SALES

949.498.6204 RUMMAGE SALE Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556 Jim Thomas Roofing The Dana Point Woman’s’ Club is holding an 162 Calle de Industrias www.danmans.com impromptu “Truly Snooty” rummage sale on SALONS Janet Poth - Violin & Viola 949.922.6388 Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 8 a.m.-1:00 413 Calle Pueblo, janpoth@aol.com Salon Bamboo 949.361.3348 p.m. in the parking lot of the Club House at 150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, www.salonbamboo.com OFFICE FURNITURE 24642 San Juan St., Dana Point (behind the Salon Bleu 949.366.2060 Harbor House Cafe). Items for sale include: South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 207 S. El Camino Real, www.scsalonbleu.com 109 Calle de los Molinos, Sanctuary Salon & Spa 949.429.5802 antiques, collectibles, household items, picwww.southcoastfurniture.com 1041 Avenida Pico, Ste. B, www.sanctuarytalega.com tures etc. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of the Club House and the community. PAINTING SECONDHAND/ Contact Ann (949) 444-1667. KC Painting & Decorating 949.388.6829 3349 Paseo Halcon, www.bringcolorintoyourlife.com

CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

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

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS The Bargain Box 949.492.2800 949.361.1045 Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 949.361.4867 (GUMS) 526 N. El Camino Real, www.capistranovalley.assistanceleague.org 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, www.moranperio.com

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SALES PERSON WANTED Picket Fence Media, owner of the San ClemColony Termite Control 949.361.2500 ente Times, Dana Point Times and Capistrano Colony Termite Control 949.361.2500 1402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com Dispatch, is looking for an advertising sales Lange & Minnott 949.492.3459 1402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com rep to join our dynamic team. We’re looking 1201 Puerta Del Sol, Ste. 203 TILE & STONE INSTALLATION/ PHARMACIES for an organized, hard-working individual FURNITURE RESTORATION with a great personality who can create Sea View Pharmacy 949.496.0123 South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 665 Camino De Los Mares, #101 Yorba Linda Tile & Marble, Inc. 714.757.3490 marketing solutions for local businesses 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.seaviewpharmacy.com www.yorbalindatilemarble.com, CA License # and push for growth in both print and online www.southcoastfurniture.com 789312 media platforms. Ideal candidate will have PLUMBING GRAPHIC DESIGN prior experience with media sales. Interested WATER DAMAGE 949.499.4464 Images/Creative Solutions 949.366.2488 A to Z Leak Detection candidates should send a cover letter Jarvis Restoration -24/7 949.362.5388 1218 Puerta del Sol, www.atozleakdetection.com 2927 Via San Gorgoinio, Ste. 100, www.imgs.com and resume to Alyssa Garrett at 1393 Calle Avanzado, www.jarvisrestoration.com Bill Metzger Plumbing 949.492.3558 agarrett@sanclementetimes.com. HAIR SALONS

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OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CLOSING MATTRESS BUSINESS! Queen sets, must sell before end of the month. San Juan Capistrano, call 949.436.6850

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San Clemente Times January 9-15, 2014

Page 19

www.sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Capistrano Coyotes Win Streak Ends at Nine Local high school ice hockey team loses first game of season By Steve Breazeale San Clemente Times

n early September, the Capistrano United high school hockey team had a lot of lingering question marks hanging above their heads. Would they be able to come together as a newly formed team made up of players from around the Orange County area? How would they compete against older, established teams in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League? Head coach Darren Gardner knew the talent was there, it was just going to take some time to see what kind of team they would turn out to be. Turns out they are a good one, even if they just lost their first game of the year, 8-7, at the hands of Los Alamitos on January 4. The Coyotes (9-1) entered the match with an undefeated record in the league’s varsity 2A division. The match was billed to be a battle between the highest scoring team in the league, the Coyotes, and Los Alamitos’ stingy defense, which has allowed the fewest points. The Coyotes jumped out to an early 3-1 lead thanks to two goals by Dana Hills senior Paul Boutoussov, one of which

KANAVAS JOINS SKULLCANDY TEAM NISSAN

Paul Boutoussov scored twice and tallied an assist in the Capistrano Coyotes 8-7 overtime loss to Los Alamitos. Photo by Leslie Bird

came shorthanded. But the Griffins (12-0) responded with their own scoring spree, closing the lead to 6-5 before the start of the third period. Both teams traded scores late and regulation ended with the teams locked in a 7-7 tie. A costly Coyotes penalty in overtime resulted in Los Alamitos’ game-winning goal. The Coyotes’ trademark has been an ever changing cast of characters stepping up to fill spots on the roster vacated by

players who are either injured or off fulfilling prior commitments with club teams. That is the reality Gardner has had to deal with when shuffling a lineup of players that attend 16 different high schools. The Coyotes now sit in the No. 2 spot in the league, behind the Griffins. However, the Coyotes still have five games to play while the Griffins only have three games remaining on their schedule. Capistrano Coyotes will face Damien on January 11. SC

rofessional race car driver and San Clemente resident Johnny Kanavas will be a part of Skullcandy Team Nissan in NASCAR’s IMSA-Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Championship for the 2014 season, the team announced in a recent press release. Kanavas will make the move to the team’s Nissan Altima ST car after racing in a BMW the past two years. Kanavas will make his debut with the team at the legendary San Clemente’s Johnny Daytona InterKanacas will race for Skullnational Speedcandy Team Nissan in 2014. way in Florida Courtesy photo on January 23. “I am very excited to join Skullcandy Team Nissan … We have much in common and logistically we are well aligned, testing and developing the program together,” Kanavas said in the release. “I am excited to be in the car that has shown so much potential and won Daytona in 2013.” SC —San Clemente Times

SC SURF

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SC S a n C le m e n te

GROM OF THE WEEK DAWSON TARNOWSKI Age: 15, San Clemente

Dawson Tarnowski moved to San Clemente from Vero Beach, Fla. in September and has never looked back. “We had a terrible winter with no waves last year and I told my mom we needed to move to California,” Dawson said. “She fell in love with the city and my dad is an artist and can work from home, so it worked out well.” Seeing Dawson’s level of commitment to the sport of surfing also played a big factor in his parents’ decision to move. “When I was younger I jumped from sport to sport, but after learning to surf, I wanted to do it every day,” he said. Dawson is committed to working toward a future professional surfing career Dawson Tarnowski. Courtesy photo and feels the move to San Clemente has put him right where he needs to be. “Even when it’s small here you can go out and catch something,” he said. “And there are so many great surfers it pushes me to get better.” In school, Dawson is a homeschooled ninth-grader earning ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades. “I love the freedom homeschooling gives me,” he said. “I like that I can work ahead to free up more time for surfing.” Aside from spending more time in the lineup, he credits his parents with his success, both present and future. “When I’m tired or frustrated they encourage me, help me get focused and stay focused,” Dawson said. “They’ve been an absolutely huge source of support, including moving for me. They are really great parents and I’m super thankful for them.” —Andrea Swayne

Catching the View Cameras provide up-to-date readings of south Orange County state beach conditions By Andrea Papagianis San Clemente Times

ameras and live-video feeds providing beachgoers the at-home opportunity to view seaside conditions on state beaches throughout Orange County received upgrades over the past few months, bringing loungers, surfers and swimmers better readings of weather and waves. A partnership between California State Parks and Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc. has brought upgraded video equipment and feeds directly onto state property at beaches and breaks from Bolsa Chica to Trestles. While Surfline had video capabilities at state beaches before, equipment was located off state property. Now, cameras have been moved to better vantage points on state property at Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre state beaches, said Brian Ketterer, California State Park Superintendent for the Orange Coast District. Additionally, what was once a hand-held camera at both Upper and Lower Trestles has been upgraded to

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

Surfers make their way to the Trestles surf break at San Onofre State Beach. Upgraded video equipment from a California State Parks and Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc. partnership gives viewers better weather and wave readings of Upper and Lower Trestles from home. Photo by Brett Shoaf

a digital device, providing images that are uploaded to Surfline’s website throughout the day, he said. “The addition of cameras and improvement of the video feeds is great for our local state parks and fantastic for our visitors,” Ketterer said in a press release. The upgraded feeds—both live and delayed—can be viewed for free at

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 59-61 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 8-12’+ Fair Immediate: A modest blend of fading old west-northwest swell and building northwest wind and groundswell mix prevails on Thursday. Better breaks run mainly knee-thigh occ. waist high (1-2 occ. 3’), with some better sets for standout winter focal points late in the day. Conditions are looking favorable with light easterly flow in the morning, giving way to a light to moderate westerly sea-breeze in the afternoon. Size is up a few notches on Friday, as favorable morning conditions continue. Long Range Outlook: Fun zone, steep-angled northwest groundswell tops out over the weekend, but passes by most breaks. Winds are offshore in the mornings, followed by an onshore sea-breeze each afternoon. Check out Surfline.com for all the details!

www.surfline.com. Individual break pages on Surfline’s site also provide tide charts, wind data and water temperatures. “From the comfort of their home, surfers and swimmers can observe up-to-date ocean conditions and make a decision on the best place for them to come out and recreate,” Ketterer added. SC

RESULTS WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 6, January 4-5, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty Local finishers only. KEY: SC=San Clemente, DP=Dana Point, SJC=San Juan Capistrano. MICRO GROM BOYS/GIRLS SB U9: 4. Bryce Pinkerton, SC; 5. Dane Matson, SC; 6. Conan Craig, SC. BOYS/ GIRLS U10: 1. Brayden Burch, SC; 2. Dane Matson, SC; 3. Bryce Pinkerton, SC. BOYS U12: 2. Kade Matson, SC. BOYS U14: 2. Noah Hohenester, SC; 6. Kade Matson, SC. BOYS U16: 1. Kei Kobayashi, SC. BOYS U18: 1. Jay Christenson, San Diego. GIRLS U12: 1. Kirra Pinkerton, SC; 3. Samantha Sibley, SC; 4. Malia Mauch, SC. GIRLS U14: 1. Kirra Pinkerton, SC; 5. Alexxa Elseewi, SC; 6. Bethany Zelasko, DP. GIRLS U16: 3. Malia Osterkamp, SC; 6. Bethany Zelasko, DP. GIRLS U18: 3. Kirra Pinkerton, SC. BOYS LONGBOARD U14: 3. Ricky Fodor, DP; 4. Matt Economos, SC; 5. Joshua Hoffman, DP. JR. MEN LONGBOARD U18: 6. Kaimana Takayama, SC. GIRLS LONGBOARD U14: 2. Cameron Duby, SJC; 6. Lexi Morgan, SC. GIRLS LONGBOARD U18: 2. Emmy Lombard, SC; 3. Teresa O’Connor, SJC; 5. Cameron Duby, SJC. MEN 18-29: 3. Ricky Lovato, SC. MASTERS 30-39: 5. Jimmy Bray, SC. LEGENDS 50+: 2. Dale Baker, SC. OPEN MEN: 1. Kevin Schulz, SC; 2. Kei Kobayashi, SC; 3. Shaw Kobayashi, SC; 4. Cody Canzoneri, SC. OPEN WOMEN: 2. Alexandra Frost, SJC; 3. Samantha Sibley, SC. OPEN MEN LONGBOARD: 1. Cody Canzoneri, SC. OPEN WOMEN LONGBOARD: 1. Cameron Duby, SJC; 3. Lexi Morgan, SC; 5. Lily Benjamin, SJC. SR. MEN LONGBOARD 40+: 3. Eric Rendon, SC; 4. Michael Takayama, SC. For full results, log on to www.sanclementetimes.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS January 11-12: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 4, Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane January 11: SSS, OC Middle School and High School, Event No. 3, San Clemente, Pier February 1-2: NSSA Open, Event No. 7, Dana Point, Salt Creek