LO C A L
N EWS
April 10-16, 2014
YO U
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Triton Win Streak Comes to an End SPORTS/PAGE 18
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VOLUME 9, ISSUE 15
The Green Issue
Local businesses and residents making real eco-friendly impact in the community SPECIAL INSERT
Cover art for this year’s Green Issue was created by San Clemente-based artist Heather Ritts Rapozo.
Work Begins on Long-awaited La Pata Extension EYE ON SC/PAGE 6
www.sanclementetimes.com
Is Interest in Green Living Enough for a Love Match? SC LIVING/PAGE 14
Hobie Alter Memorial Information Announced SC SURF/PAGE 22
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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente
LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING
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ask Godlfarb’s predecessor, Jeff Otterman, to step in during the interim, before a permanent replacement is named. The city could also issue a request for proposal that would allow firms other than Rutan & Tucker, the city’s current firm, to bid for the office. – JS
Five things San Clemente should know this week
San Clemente Man Faces Charges in July 4 Vehicular Death in Laguna Niguel
TCA Announces End of Toll Road Efforts South of San Juan Capistrano THE LATEST: Since the federal Department of Commerce and California Coastal Commission rejected the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ proposed extension of the 241 South to connect with Interstate 5 near Trestles in 2008, opponents of the proposal have had a wary eye on the body, fearing a renewed effort. It appears that effort will not come, at least for the time being. The TCA announced Tuesday it withdrew its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement in support of the proposal in order to focus on the Tesoro extension, which will move the terminus south to the yet-to-be completed Cow Camp Road east of San Juan Capistrano. The TCA’s acting chief executive officer, Michael Kraman, did not rule out a future proposal but said it would require a new environmental review process to move forward. Lori Olin, a spokeswoman for the TCA, indicated there are no current plans for anything south of Cow Camp Road. Stephanie Sekich of the Surfrider Foundation, which opposed the extension, said the announcement was an acknowledgement by the TCA that the original project was “not viable and never has been viable.” WHAT’S NEXT: The agency is still appealing a 2013 decision against its proposed Cow Camp Road extension by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, which is under review by the state’s Water Resources Control Board. The agency maintains the project’s mitigations meet a “gold standard” for infrastructure projects and the Tesoro extension is still a project of major import. Sekich said the foundation believes the extension “still doesn’t make sense” and other potential transportation infrastructure improvements could be made, short of extending the 241. – Jim Shilander
Things Heating Up at Marblehead THE LATEST: The sale of the residential portion of Marblehead Coastal may soon San Clemente Times April 10-16, 2014
The current terminus of the 241 Toll Road is Oso Parkway. The Transportation Corridor Agencies announced Tuesday that it was withdrawing an environmental review of its proposal to connect with Interstate 5 south of San Clemente. File photo
be in the offing. Real estate developer Taylor Morrison, which has communities throughout California and other states, including two in San Juan Capistrano, is looking to close on the property this week, following a flirtation earlier this year. The property is currently owned by Lehman Brothers through a subsidiary. Erin Willis, director of corporate communications for Taylor Morrison, said the company views the site as “the crown jewel of Southern California,” given its ocean and canyon views. Willis said the company was planning on having just one home per lot, though the lots would be of five varying sizes, up to 7,000 square feet. Homes will range in size from 1,700 to 5,000 square feet. Willis would not confirm the proposed sale price but said it would be 20 percent of the value of the property. WHAT’S NEXT: Work is underway on the Outlets at San Clemente Plaza, the commercial portion of the Marblehead development. Jancee Aellig, a specialty leasing representative at Craig Realty Group, the developers of the property, said in speaking with its builders, the company decided not to do a formal groundbreaking since grading on the project has already been largely completed and infrastructure work is beginning. Aellig noted that the company has held formal events for other projects after the first buildings began “to go vertical,” or were being “topped off.” Aellig said that milestone was still likely a couple of months away, at the earliest. – JS
San Clemente City Attorney Retiring THE LATEST: The San Clement City Council honored outgoing City Attorney Jeffrey Goldfarb at their April 1 meeting, but a decision on his ultimate successor will likely take some time. Goldfarb, who is retiring to sail to the South Pacific with his wife and his cat, Gilligan, has spent 28 years with the city and has served as city attorney for the last two years. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it’s been to work for the city,” Goldfarb said. “There are people here who care more than you can possibly imagine.” Goldfarb said he will take several small trips this spring and summer along the California coast to test his boat before embarking on the first leg of his journey in October. WHAT’S NEXT: City Manager Pall Gudgeirsson said the City Council could
City Attorney Jeff Goldfarb laughs as he is presented a plaque by Mayor Tim Brown in recognition of his service April 1. Goldfarb is retiring to sail to the South Pacific in his own boat. Photo: Jim Shilander
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THE LATEST: A San Clemente man prosecutors say a San Clemente manwas under the influence of drugs when he struck and killed a Laguna Niguel woman. He was formally charged in the case Wednesday. Christopher James Gallo, 44, allegedly drove onto a sidewalk while driving southbound on Golden Lantern at 9 a.m. on July 4 of last year. His vehicle struck 58-year-old Luzanna Malec and her 62year old husband, who were walking their dogs. Malec was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury and broken ribs. Prosecutors say Gallo exhibited signs of being under the influence at the time of the crash. Gallo was to be charged with felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and two counts of driving on a suspended or revoked license. WHAT’S NEXT: If convicted, Gallo will face up to 15 and a half years in jail. – JS
Six Utility Boxes Will Be Added to City Art Project THE LATEST: The city of San Clemente has named seven local artists to paint six city utility boxes later this month, ultimately bringing the city’s total to 16. The six boxes to be painted this year are largely condensed into two areas of the city, along Camino de Estrella, at the intersections of Avenida Las Palmas and Camino Mira Costa, and on the far inland side of Avenida Pico, with two near Avenida Vera Cruz, another near Avenida La Pata and the last at Via Pacifica. Area artists submitted 53 entries, which were judged by a panel of artists and community representatives. WHAT’S NEXT: The artists have from April 16 to April 30 to complete their work. A public viewing is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, to watch the artists at work. FIND OUT MORE: For a list of artists, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. – JS www.sanclementetimes.com
EYE ON SC
Community Meetings
NEWS BITES COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER
SCHS Theater Program Presenting ‘Pirates’ The San Clemente High School Theater Arts Department will present Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous operetta The Pirates of Penzance, April 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26 at 6:30 p.m. A matinee performance will be held April 19 at 2 p.m. Additionally, two $5 student previews will be held April 16 and 17 at 4 p.m. The show, which features blundering pirates, cowardly policemen and an outlandish major general will be presented in a unique “steampunk-style” and a humorous take on the Victorian era. The San Clemente High School Steampunk Players will present a “meta-theatre” journey during their production of the eccentric classic. Tickets can be purchased at www.schstheatrearts.com.
SOCGEMS Seeking Donations for Silent Auction The South Orange County Gem & Mineral Society’s monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:15 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Sn Clemente Community Center. Guest are welcome and refreshments will be served. The group will also hold its annual silent auction in the Ole Hanson Fireside Room of the Community Center Thursday, May 22. The group is seeking donations for this event. Anyone with rocks, slabs, jewelry or plants who might be interested in making a donation is asked to call 949.498.8358. For information, see the group’s website at www.socgems.org.
SC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY CATHERINE MANSO
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.
Sunday, April 6 RECKLESS DRIVING Esplanade/Paseo De Cristobal (9:49 p.m.) A white vehicle, black SUV` and a maroon sedan were “racing and burning rubber.” UNKNOWN TROUBLE Avenida Pico, 1000 Block (8:14 a.m.) A “bloody” man walked into a bathroom. San Clemente Times April 10-16, 2014
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
Coastal Advisory Committee Meeting
7 p.m. San Clemente Community Center—Ole Hanson Room, 150 E Avenida Magdalena. www.san-clemente.org. SATURDAY, APRIL 12
The cast of the San Clemente High School production of ‘Pirates of Penzance’ will be taking the stage the next two weeks. Courtesy photo
Choral Society Concerts Set for May 3
San Clemente Choirs Place at San Francisco Festival
The San Clemente Choral Society is rehearsing for its 10th annual spring concerts, which will be held Saturday, May 3. A 2 p.m. matinee and a 7 p.m. evening performance will both be held that day at St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea Methodist Church in San Clemente. Titled “By Request” the concert will feature music that SCCS members always wanted to perform in a choral setting. The wide variety of music selected encompasses folk songs, spirituals, ballads, Broadway hits and pop music. Tickets for the concert can be purchased at the door, $15 for adults and $5 for children 5 to 12 years. $10 presale tickets are available through Wednesday, April 23. All tickets can be purchased by calling 949.496.7456. More information about the San Clemente Choral Society can be found at www.sccs-arts.org.
San Clemente High School’s madrigals and a cappella choirs and director Jeremy Wiggins earned top awards at San Francisco’s Heritage Music Festival on March 29 and 30. The a cappella choir received a “gold” rating—the highest score in their division. Madrigals took first place in their division. They also won the Adjudicators Award for performance. The Madrigals have been invited to compete at the National Heritage Music Festival in New York City. Both choirs also won the Spirit of San Francisco trophy, for attitude, character, spirit and politeness. This award is given to only one choir, chosen from school groups from across the nation.
Saturday, April 5
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Mariposa, 200 Block (5:26 p.m.) A caller reported a man bothering people near the beach access path. He was described as being about 45 years old, standing 6 feet tall, wearing beige clothing and holding “1,000 plastic bags.”
WELFARE CHECK Avenida Pico/Plaza Pacifica (3:28 p.m.) A caller reported a darkhaired woman asking for money. The caller was concerned the woman couldn’t feed her child. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Camino Escollo, 5000 Block (10:32 a.m.) An older man wearing a dark gray trench coat was looking at houses when someone approached him asking if he needed any help. He said “No” and told the person that he was running for president. He was described as being between 50 and 60 years old with missing teeth.
Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.
INDECENT EXPOSURE Linda Lane, 400 Block (9:58 a.m.) Officials were alerted to a naked 30- to 40-year old man in the bushes.
Thursday, April 3
Friday, April 4
KEEP THE PEACE Avenida Lucia, 100 Block (7:22 p.m.) Authorities received notice of someone throwing a brick at a residence.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Talega/Avenida Vista Hermosa (8:00 p.m.) A Ford Ranger and other vehicles were parked near a trail where a group of people were seen doing drugs.
WELFARE CHECK Campo Raso, 2800 Block (4:33 a.m.) A caller informed authorities there were bugs coming out of the woodwork in her home. When asked additional questions she stopped answering.
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San Clemente GardenFest 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. San Clemente Community Center, Avenida Del Mar and Calle Seville. Event includes plant sales, floral design contest, flower and garden art show and school garden programs. www.sanclementegardenclub.com. TUESDAY, APRIL 15
San Clemente City Council Meeting 6
p.m. City Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio. www.san-clemente.org.
News Next Door WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS
DANA POINT The visitor’s center at Doheny State Beach will reopen to the public on Saturday, April 12 after a seven year closure. The center’s doors were shut in 2007 due to rampant mold and dry-rot. Since, the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association has worked to reopen the facility. Now, with the help of California State Parks, volunteers and donations from Dana Point, Rainbow Sandals, Southern California Edison, and the Surfrider Foundation, among others, the center will once again welcome guests. The visitor’s center, located at 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. State Park Interpreter Vicki Wiker is seeking volunteers to staff the center daily. To find out more, email Wiker at vicki.wiker@parks.ca.gov.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO The Rev. Monsignor Arthur A. Holquin, pastor and rector at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano for more than a decade, will be stepping down and scaling back his role at the church due to health concerns, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange confirmed last week. Holquin, who was appointed as head of the church at historic Mission San Juan Capistrano in 2003, has been suffering for the past three and a half years from a rare neurological disease that limits his mobility. He will be replaced by Rev. Monsignor J. Michael McKiernan, pastor at Christ Our Savior Catholic Parish, effective July 1, according to an internal diocese memo. While he will be giving up many of his administrative responsibilities, Holquin said he will remain at the parish as “rector emeritus. www.sanclementetimes.com
EYE ON SC
Bridging the Gap in South Orange County La Pata project to connect San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente breaks ground BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
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an Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Orange County officials smiled throughout Friday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate a more than 50-year journey to provide a link between the two cities and an additional option for area drivers. Work will soon begin on extending La Pata Avenue from its current northern terminus at the county’s Prima Deschecha landfill in San Juan Capistrano to San Clemente, just past Calle Saluda, where the road is called Avenida La Pata. Officials from the three government bodies all noted the length of time the project had been in the planning stages. The project will cost $73 million. The plan was initially put on the county’s Transportation Master Plan in 1963. La Pata Avenue began as an access road to the landfill in 1970. In San Clemente, Avenida La Pata was in the 1982 General Plan and Talega and Forster Ranch specific plans. San Clemente Mayor Tim Brown said residents had been waiting for the day the project could get moving. “This is something we wanted, that we hoped for and asked for, for years,” Brown said. “What was promised is now being done. It’s really the most important road
project since Interstate 5 came through the city and certainly will be very important for Forster Ranch and Talega.” Fifth District Supervisor Pat Bates has been a longtime advocate for the project. Speaking before the groundbreaking, Bates said the more than 2-mile gap closure was “the most significant county roadway improvement project remaining in Orange County.” Rather than being an interesting path for hikers, she said, it would soon provide a way to bring south county cities closer together. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2016. Mission Viejo City Council and Orange County Transportation Authority board member Frank Ury said the project was also indicative of transportation monies finally making their way south. “It’s our turn,” Ury said. Funds for the project are primarily coming from Measure M funding, a half-cent sales tax Orange County voters approved levying on themselves in order to provide infrastructure improvements. Both cities are also providing funding, as is the county department of waste and recycling. San Clemente City Councilwoman Lori Donchak, herself an OCTA board member, said her lobbying efforts on behalf of the
Officials from San Clemente and around Orange County dig up the first dirt for the La Pata extension project that will connect San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Jim Shilander
The view of some of the early grading of Avenida La Pata. Sukut Construction, an Orange County firm with experience in large road extension project will be working on the project. Photo: Jim Shilander
San Juan Mayor Pro Tem Larry Kramer congratulates Orange County Public Works Director Shane Silsby on the start of the project. Photo: Jim Shilander
project in Washington and Sacramento focused on safety, as area residents can now only use Interstate 5 as a route away from the city in case of an emergency. “We needed a back door,” Donchak said. “We needed a way out in case of an emergency.” She also said the project could also greatly reduce the potential commute for residents sending students to San Juan Hills High School, perhaps 45 minutes, each day. San Juan Mayor Pro Tem Larry Kramer said the school would benefit from a new influx of students from a different area and would serve as a good way to bring the two cities together. Soon, officials from all over the county were tossing dirt from the gold-colored shovels. One who didn’t participate in the ceremonies but helped to make the day possible was San Clemente’s former traffic engineer, Akram Hindiyeh, who retired in
2011. Hindiyeh spent much of his tenure managing the infrastructure of the city’s ranch developments, which will likely be most affected by the new road, as well as additions to nearby Camino Del Rio, a project that will be completed in conjunction with the La Pata gap closure. “I’m glad I got to see this because it will be a great asset to San Clemente and south county as a whole,” he said. “We tried very hard to get this done. With Camino Del Rio, we’ll be able to connect Forster Ranch, Rancho San Clemente and Talega.” Camino del Rio currently terminates at the Forster Ridgeline Trail in northern San Clemente. The road will ultimately connect with La Pata and will be the third phase of the project. That section, along with widening being done in San Juan, which is phase two, does not yet have funding. The county expects to have funding in place after the completion of the extension. Mike Crawford, president and chief executive officer of Sukut Construction, the contractor hired by the county to build the road, said his company has a number of topographical challenges facing them, including filling in canyons. He said the project would start between the two termini and work toward both. “It’s what we do,” Crawford said. “We’ve done jobs on difficult terrain before. It’s not an easy project by any stretch, but it’s what we do.” SC
EYE ON SC
Commemorating the Magnificent Bastards Ten years after the Battle of Ramadi, Marines and families gathered to remember those lost STORY AND PHOTOS BY CATHERINE MANSO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
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amp Pendleton’s 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in March 2004. By April, the U.S. Marines’ mission to secure and provide stability to the region during Iraq’s transition to democracy shifted. The situation in Ramadi quickly changed into “full-blown urban combat,” Lt. Col. Rob Weiler told hundreds of Marines and family members Sunday morning at a gathering marking the battle that began 10 years ago to the day. The first day of fighting began April 6, 2004. By September that year, 269 Marines were wounded and 34 Marines and one Navy corpsman had lost their lives in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Marines of the 2/4, also known as the Magnificent Bastards, were honored Sunday at Camp Pendleton’s San Mateo Memorial Garden, where monuments stand to remember the servicemen and women who fought, and died, in the nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Today we are surrounded by heroes,” Weiler, who served with the 2/4 in 2004, told the crowd. “But the veterans of Battle of Ramadi probably don’t think of themselves as heroes.” The 2/4 experienced the greatest loss of life for any battalion in more than 12 years of war, Maj. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson told the gathering. “They didn’t have enough gear and they sure didn’t have enough Marines,” said Nicholson, now commanding general of the 1st Marine Division. “We knew then this would be one of the most challenging missions that any battalion could get.” Each fallen Marine was honored with the nation’s oldest military award, the
Battle crosses commemorate the 34 Marines who lost their lives between April and September 2004 during battles in Ramadi.
Purple Heart during the ceremony. Thirtyfour names were called and 34 Marines walked, placed the Purple Heart medal and saluted the names on the granite memorial for those killed in Iraq that reads, “Fallen and Never Forgotten.” Gillen Morris traveled from Chicago to attend the ceremony. His brother, 19-yearold Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris, a member of the Pendleton-based 2/4, was killed on April 4, 2004 in Iraq. “It’s stirring up a lot of emotions,” Morris said of the ceremony. “Hearing my brother’s name when it (was) called … I couldn’t help crying.” Andrea Papagianis contributed to this report. SC
On the Cover
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pecial thanks to San Clemente-based artist Heather Ritts Rapozo for providing the artwork for the cover of this year’s Green Issue. Ritts Rapozo’s passion for both art and the beauty of the ocean environment began at an early age. She draws inspiration from the waves, plants and creatures from the sea. As an avid surfer, she first began painting on surfboards while in high school. Along with her work in oils and watercolors on paper, canvas, wood and clothing, she continues to create both rideable works of art and wall hangers for homes. Ritts Rapozo is a Laguna College of Art and Design graduate with a bachelor’s de-
San Clemente Times April 10-16, 2014
Heather Ritts Rapozo. Photo: Jaclyn Connor
gree in fine art and illustration. Contact Ritts Rapozo at 949.533.0452 or misshstudios@gmail.com for commissioned artwork. Her art can be viewed on Facebook at Miss H Art by Heather Ritts, on Instagram at HeatherRitts_Artist, or on her website www.abovethereefs.com. SC Page 8
SC SOAPBOX San Clemente
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS
Letters to the Editor 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.sanclementetimes.com
HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Jim Shilander, 949.388.7700, x109 jshilander@sanclementetimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE
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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett
> Lisa Cosenza ( San Clemente)
EDITORIAL
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City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander
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Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Kevin Dahlgren, Catherine Manso, Shelley Murphy, Tawnee Prazak, Dana Schnell, Tim Trent
San Clemente Times, Vol. 9, Issue 15. 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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San Clemente Times April 10-16, 2014
WATER CONSERVATION, DROUGHT AND WAVE POOLS? PHIL CORIA, San Clemente
I am glad that Councilman Bob Baker is speaking out about water conservation and the need for the residents of San Clemente to reduce their water consumption by 20 percent (“Preparing for Warmer, Drier Days to Come,” SC Times, April 3). I am glad he points out that we live at the beach and also in a desert and that water is our most precious resource. I agree with you Mr. Baker. I disagree with Mr. Baker and the entire City Council’s vote last August on a 30year lease agreement to build and operate a wave pool in Vista Hermosa Sports Park. Mr. Baker what do you want? We live in a city with some of the best waves in the world, we are in a drought, our water prices are going up and Mr. Baker thinks a wave pool is a good idea? Mr. Baker, if you were living in St. Louis, Mo., this is a great idea. They have plenty of water and no waves, conversely, we have plenty of waves and no water. This does not make any sense.
We are in the middle of a global drought. Fifty percent of the world’s population will be living in conditions of “water stress” by 2030 and 40 percent in “severe water stress” by 2050, and you signed a lease agreement for a wave pool that takes us to 2043? How is this going to conserve water?
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... If you were living in St. Louis, Mo., this [wave pool] is a great idea. They have plenty of water and no waves, conversely, we have plenty of waves and no water. This does not make any sense.
”
–Phil Coria
For six years the group trying to build this wave pool has not been able to make it happen. In your article you wrote “Mother Nature forgot to declare winter on Southern California.” Maybe Mother Nature is also telling us she doesn’t want this wave pool. It is clear that this project, after six
Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso. Sam Olmstead of the San Clemente Community Market will be this week’s guest speaker. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Jim Shilander. All are welcome. Beachside Chat is held every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar.
years, has issues, and maybe it’s just time to “pull the plug” and put something more drought friendly in our park. Mr. Baker, I do applaud your efforts, but let’s be consistent with your message. I will do my part to reduce my water consumption by 20 percent and take a fourminute shower instead of my usual five. I will also take my kid to surf at Doheny rather than waiting in line at a wave pool that will put stress on our already tight water supplies. Mr. Baker, what are you going to do? 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.
GUEST OPINION: Culbertson Chronicles by Larry Culbertson
Casa’s Survival is a Special Story Different owners have managed to keep historic structure going
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fter the Pier, Casa Romantica is probably the most well-known historic structure in San Clemente. While many people are aware of the Casa, they may not be aware of how important it was in the founding of our city and how fortunate we are to have it protected and open to the public. Ole Hanson, who founded our town in 1925, had a dream of a Spanish Village where everyone could “live together more pleasantly than any other place in America” with “hundreds of white-walled homes bonneted with red tile, with trees, shrubs, hedges of hibiscus, palms and geraniums lining the drives and a profusion of flowers framing the patios and gardens.” For five very busy years between 1925 and 1929, Hanson toiled to make that dream a reality. San Clemente was a beehive of activity. Over 500 commercial and residential buildings were built, all in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Construction of Ole’s dream village came to a crashing halt when the Great Depression hit in late 1929. Bank of America foreclosed on many of the properties. Casa Romantica was the house Ole
Hanson built for his family. He had it designed by Carl Lindbom to perfectly capture the look and feel that he wanted to create for the village he was building. Hanson lost his beloved home to foreclosure and was CULBERTSON CHRONICLES gone from San Clemente By Larry Culbertson by 1934. Since then, over half of the original buildings have been replaced by more intensive development. How did Casa Romantica manage to survive those many decades when all around it sweeping changes were occurring? The answer is a combination of good fortune and a succession of owners who appreciated the building enough that they maintained it and refused to sell it to anyone who would not promise to do the same. It has been used as a private beach club, as a residence for the young family of an author, as a residence for a famous bandleader, as a home for the active elderly, as a wedding and special event venue and now as a cultural center. Adapting new uses has enabled the building to survive
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and be useful for today’s needs. It has not been an easy journey for Casa Romantica. Forces of nature and forces of change have prodded her to transform. There were periods of time over the years that the fate of the Casa was in jeopardy. Fortunately, she remains intact, still the premier example of Ole’s dream. But it was not without some epic battles between Casa owners, developers, entrepreneurs, citizens and the city. A lot has happened there in 87 years. On May 8, the San Clemente Historical Society will present a program at the Casa titled, “Casa Romantica Through the Years—From Ole Hanson’s Dream Home to San Clemente’s Finest Cultural Attraction.” Please join us to learn more about the history of this wonderful San Clemente treasure. 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
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SC GETTING OUT San Clemente
YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER
The List
EDITOR’S PICK
What’s going on in and around town this week
SAN CLEMENTE JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB Monthly meeting. Social time begins at 6:30 p.m. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Adult Day Health Care Center, 2021 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, across from the Marblehead Community. www.scjwc.org.
COMPILED BY STAFF
Thursday | 10 GOOD NEIGHBORS CLUB OF CAPO VALLEY 11 a.m. Make new friends, enjoy lunch, be entertained and learn about groups in your area of interest, including cards, book clubs, movies, trips and more. Call for reservations. Wedgewood San Clemente (at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course), 150 Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.492.0621. THE DUPP BROTHERS 7:30 p.m. Live music at The Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188.
Friday | 11 KIDS’ FREE GARDENING WORKSHOP 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Casa Romantica offers a free workshop for kids ages 7-11. This fun outdoor, hands-on learning experience will promote environmental awareness and the joy of being in nature while learning waterwise gardening. Reservations required. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org. ELLIOTT ON PIANO 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com. FELISHA KIESWETTER 8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com. BILLY WATSON 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s. 555 North El Camino Real, 949.361.2855
improve life-coping skills. Meetings held weekly at the El Toro Library, 24672 Raymond Way, Lake Forest. A donation is requested but not required. 949.380.0809, www.lowselfhelpsystems.org.
Tuesday | 15 The Southern California Woodie Club hosts its annual classic woodie car show at Doheny State Beach on April 12. Photo: Steve Ryan
Doheny WooD Car ShoW • aPrIL 12 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The annual all-woodie car show at Doheny State Beach presented by the Southern California Woodie Club. Parking $15, event is free. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.6172, www.dohenystatebeach.org.
Saturday | 12
Sunday | 13
SPRING EGGS-STRAVAGANZA Pet Adoption event sponsored by the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. $25 or $50 off approved cats or dogs available for adoption. 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. www.petprojectfoundation.org
OC FAIR IMAGINOLOGY 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free, family educational activities and entertainment focused on S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Plus food trucks and a petting zoo for a small fee. OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, www.ocfair.com/steam.
SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy arts and crafts, live music, business and restaurant specials and more in downtown San Juan Capistrano along the streets of Camino Capistrano, Yorba, Verdugo and Los Rios. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.
PALM SUNDAY SERVICE 10:30 a.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley features music from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. 1201 Puerta Del Sol, First Floor, San Clemente. www.cslcv.org.
FESTIVAL OF BOOKS 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A two-day celebration of music, comedy, photography, film, art, food, and of course, books. Admission is free. University of Southern California, University Park Campus, just off Interstate 110 at Exposition Blvd. and Figueroa St., Los Angeles, festivalofbooks2014.usc.edu.
Monday | 14 ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, STRESS AND ANGER HELP 10:45 a.m. Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and
$2 TUESDAY Tacos, domestic drafts and shot specials for $2 at The Swallow’s Inn. Chris Cram performs on stage. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188. DANA HARBOR TOASTMASTERS 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Practice becoming a more confident communicator in a fun learning environment. Every Tuesday. For more info, email 1707@toastmastersclubs.org or contact Marshall at 949.441.6179. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point. www.1707.toastmastersclubs.org.
Wednesday | 16 SOCGEMS MEETING 7:15 p.m. The South Orange County Gem & Mineral Society meets in the MultiPurpose Room at the Community Center. Guests welcome. 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.498.8358, www.socgems.org. UPCOMING: THURSDAY, APRIL 17 BEER CAN RACE KICKOFF PARTY 6:30 p.m. Join the Dana Point Yacht Club for a night of food, fun and beer to learn about the summertime “Beer Can” racing series. 24399 Dana Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2900, www.dpyc.org. For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.sanclementetimes.com. Have an event? Send your listing to events@sanclementetimes.com
On Stage at the Coach House: Jeff Bridges and The Abiders
Jeff Bridges. Courtesy photo
San Clemente Times April 10-16, 2014
Get set for a night of country music when veteran A-list actor Jeff Bridges and his band, The Abiders, stop by the Coach House on Thursday, April 24. Although mostly known for his roles in such blockbusters as True Grit, The Big Lebowski and Crazy Heart, Bridges said his first passion was playing music. From early on in his childhood, Bridges recalls his mother forcing him to take piano
lessons. He quickly grew bored of the piano and quit, but his passion to play music was regained upon discovering his brother’s electric guitar while in high school. Soon after, he began having early success in movies. “I was drawn to the path of least resistance, and music took a backseat, but I was still writing all that time,” Bridges says in his artist bio.
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As for now Bridges is about to embark on a West Coast tour with The Abiders to promote his latest self-titled album. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $78 and can be purchased, along with dinner reservations, by visiting www.thecoachhouse.com or by calling 949.496.8930. The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.—Victor Carno www.sanclementetimes.com
File photos and photos courtesy of The Ecology Center and Goin Native
JOIN THE GREEN SCENE
A select group of San Clemente High School juniors enrolled in Lisa Kerr’s (seventh from left) Advanced Placement Environmental Science have taken part in a program that puts them to work locally and globally on environmental sustainability projects. Courtesy photo
Local Students Take Hands-on Approach to Environmental Sustainability With support from a local nonprofit, students are doing their part to help the environment, in their communities and abroad By Brian Park Holly Pope wants to make the world a better place to live in. But if there’s one thing the San Clemente High School student has learned this year, it’s that real change requires action, not just quixotic platitudes. Pope is one of a select group of students, all juniors enrolled in Advanced Placement environmental science courses, at five Orange County high schools, including San Clemente and Dana Hills. During the school year, the students have been applying their classroom lessons into real-world environmental sustainability projects in their local communities. Their culminating project, however, takes place overseas, with a 10-day field expedition to study the nocturnal habits of creatures living in the Mankwe Wildlife Reserve in South Africa. The research will help scientists better understand and preserve the sub-Saharan ecosystem. The trip is made possible through scholarships funded by the Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation, a San Juan Capistrano-based nonprofit organization founded in 2004. One of the foundation’s keystone programs is the Global Sustainability Project, which is now in its fourth year of a five-year pilot run. “The idea is to give students an opportunity to learn about other cultures, to
contribute their skills in a real way toward understanding and sustaining their environment,” said Victor Nelson, the foundation’s executive director. Ten to 11 students are selected from each participating school’s AP environmental science class. Those students, under the guidance of their teacher, work 40 hours during the school year on a local project. Pope and her classmates have been working with the San Onofre Foundation to create a curriculum for freshmen biology field trips at San Mateo State Park. Once it’s completed, the students will be punching their tickets to South Africa in August. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to travel abroad with my peers but to also see how environmental science really works in the field,” Pope said. Pope said she hopes to continue studying environmental science in college, with the ultimate goal of working in food science, environmental planning or hydrobiology. For Nelson, students, like Pope, who are coming out of the program are an immediate solution to the long-term problem of environmental sustainability. “I think it’s a potentially transformative experience for the kids who participate,” Nelson said.
In the quest for a more ecofriendly lifestyle, changes can take on many forms. Whether looking to grow your own food, help clean up the beach, recycle, or learn more about local flora and fauna, there are plenty of nearby options coming up. Here we highlight two of the many opportunities to get involved, learn something new and make a difference in our community. Be sure to check out the Green Scene events listing in this section, for more fun and inspiring happenings scheduled in honor of Earth Day. Choose one event, or many, discover something new and take another step toward a greener way of life. —Andrea Swayne
Dana Point Harbor Underwater Cleanup The OC Dana Point Harbor is seeking certified volunteer scuba divers to participate in their 11th underwater cleanup event set for Saturday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to noon. These cleanups are a key component in the Harbor’s continuing water quality improvement program. Previous events recovered over 35,000 pounds of miscellaneous debris which included tools, chairs, marine toilets, outboard motors, bicycles, skateboards, electronics and more. Aqualung America, Inc. will be awarding a scuba regulator valued at $650 for the most unusual item recovered. Participants will receive an event T-shirt, food and beverages throughout the event. Cleanup efforts will be concentrated on the east side of Dana West Marina B-Dock, 24500 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point. Certified divers and volunteers can register and find out more by contacting the Dana West Marina office at 949.493.6222 or at www.dphunderwatercleanup.com.
Goin Native volunteers work in the gardens at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Courtesy photo
Eco Xpo: Garden and Sustainable Living Show The Eco Xpo is set for Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Hosted by Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens, the expo is aimed at educating and encouraging the creation of beautiful, bountiful and beneficial gardens while conserving resources through innovative landscape design, low-water plants and solar and LED lighting. The free event will feature demonstration gardens, expert speakers, local produce, activities for kids and more than 50 vendors offering environmental products and resources. Proceeds from sponsorship and donations will benefit the butterfly habitat and beautification of the park. Goin Native has cared for the native plants at Los Rios Park since 2009. The nonprofit organization is committed to providing horticultural education, emotional and physical rehabilitation and practical life skills to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, while promoting environmental sustainability. Los Rios Park is located at 31790 Paseo Adelanto in the Los Rios Historic District. For more information, call 949.606.6386 or visit www.goinnative.net.
In the Community: What is your top strategy for living a greener life? Brett Wolf, San Juan Capistrano I try to ride my bike as much as I can. Biking slows things down and the joy of riding a bicycle is unsurpassable. It saves money on gas and keeps you fit. I’m a nurse and I feel like riding my bike to work is a good way to stay fit and portray a good image in the community.
Jose Soriano, 13, Niguel Hills Middle School I like to take the bus because my mom doesn’t have to drive me in a car and waste gas. It’s pretty easy to get around on the bus and I can get pretty much anywhere I want to go. I think it’s fun. And sometimes, I even get some exercise, when I’m late and have to make a run for it.
Darah Dreyer, San Clemente My favorite way to help the environment is to use reusable water bottles and coffee cups because I feel like the waste the single-use ones create is a really big issue.
Interviews and photos by Andrea Swayne
THE GREEN ISSUE
Backyard Skills: Greywater
the green
SCENE
1 p.m. Recycle water and use yours better. Learn from Brook Sarson of H2OME on how to design, install and maintain a greywater system that’s right for your home. Tickets $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Tickets available online. The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.
Wednesday, April 16 Farm to Fork: Adults
Earth Day and Other Eco-Friendly Events Thursday, April 10 Kids’ Free Gardening Workshops
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Casa Romantica offers a free workshop for kids ages 7-11. This fun outdoor, hands-on learning experience will promote environmental awareness and the joy of being in nature while learning waterwise gardening. Three additional sessions are scheduled for April 11, July 17 and July 18. Reservations required. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.
Saturday, April 12 Earth Day Restoration Project
9 a.m. Volunteer to help plant native plants, shrubs and trees around the park. Bring a shovel and work gloves, if available. Upon arrival, let the gate guard know you are volunteering and they will direct to free parking. For more information, contact Vicki Wiker at 949.496.6172 or vwiker@parks.ca.gov. Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, www.dohenystatebeach.org.
6 p.m. Experience a hands-on cooking class for adults, starting in the garden and ending with a delicious meal. Tickets are $40 for members, $50 for non-members. Tickets available online. The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.
Friday, April 18 Farm Film Series: Global Gardener
7 p.m. The Ecology Center presents a free educational film screening and community potluck under the stars. Get cozy with your own chair or blanket and nosh on homemade popcorn, craft beer on draught and light refreshments (available for purchase). Reserve a free ticket in advance. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.
Saturday, April 19 Mother Earth Beach, Creek and Park Cleanup 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteer to clean the beach, San Juan Creek and the Doheny State Park grounds. Bring work gloves and meet at Lifeguard Headquarters. Upon arrival, let the gate guards know you are volunteering and they will direct you to free parking. For more information, contact Vicki Wiker at 949.496.6172 or vwiker@parks.ca.gov. Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, www.dohenystatebeach.org.
Visitors explore the many eco-friendly exhibits and demonstration gardens at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Scott Sporleder, The Ecology Center
THE GREEN ISSUE
necessary. But, for groups of 10 or more, please inform Jonathan Witt in advance at 949.496.2274 ext. 330 or jwitt@ocean-institute.org to ensure ample cleanup supplies will be available.
Ocean Institute Earth Day Go Green & Blue The Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center offers great views, not only of whales passing in the waters below, but also provides an introduction to native flora and fauna. Photo: Andrea Swayne
Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center Whale Walk and Talk
9 a.m.-11 a.m. Many different species of whales and dolphins can be seen passing through the Pacific waters below from the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. Learn about our largest animal visitors on an approximately 1.5-mile walk through the Dana Point Headlands conservation area. Bring your binoculars, or use ours, and learn migration patterns of different whale species that frequent the area, as well as how to best spot, watch and identify whales. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, 949.248.3527, www.danapoint.org.
Herbology Level 1
10 a.m. Herbology, or herbal medicine, involves using the wonders of plants for medicinal purposes. This method of healing has been used for thousands of years, and is still practice today. Join a hands-on workshop on herbal medicine with Rebecca Altman, herbalist and artist in residency of The Ecology Center. Tickets $55 for members, $65 for non-members and children 10 and under are $25. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.
The Ritz-Carlton Eco Hero Beach Cleanup at Salt Creek Beach
10 a.m.-noon. Volunteers check in at Salt Creek Beach to receive beach cleanup materials. The cleanup brings neighbors and friends of all ages together to take care of our precious marine environment, while also learning from the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel Eco-Adventure Center’s naturalists about how fragile beaches and oceans are and how to become an Eco Hero. For more information call the Eco Adventure Center directly at 949.240.5072 or cristy.cohen@ritzcarlton.com.
Saturday, April 26 San Clemente Beach Cleanup
8:30 a.m. Join friends and neighbors to clean up San Clemente’s beaches. Meet at the Pier. Stay after the cleanup for Earth Day San Clemente events.
Ocean Institute Beach/ Harbor Cleanup
9 a.m.-11 a.m. Volunteer to help clean up the beach and Harbor areas and receive free admission to the Ocean Institute for the day. Check in at the front of the institute. Supplies will be provided. Registration is not
10 a.m.-3 p.m. After spending the morning cleaning up the beach and Harbor Create fun eco-friendly crafts and learn about the importance of protecting natural environments through hands-on activities. For those who choose not to participate in the cleanup, admission is $6.50 for adults (13 and over) and $4.50 for children (3 -12); children 2 and under and members are free. For more information, call 949.496.2274 or visit www.ocean-institute.org.
Community Recycling Event at Dana Hills High School
9 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop off plastic bottles and aluminum cans (no glass please) in the back parking lot of Dana Hills High School near the tennis courts and pool area. Students from the school’s chapter of the California Scholastic Federation and Dolphin Pride will collect and sort the recyclables. Funds collected are distributed by the school’s PTSA for student programs. Rain or shine. 33333 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point.
Earth Day San Clemente
10 a.m.-2 p.m. The city of San Clemente and the Watershed Task Force sponsor a familyfriendly day of fun and education aimed at reducing litter and pollutants ending up in our streets, open space, storm drains and beaches. Festivities will include live music, displays, artists, awards, demonstrations and more. The event will take place at Parque Del Mar, in the Pier Bowl area where Avenida Del Mar meets the ocean. For more information, call 949.366.2326 or see www.scwatersheds.com.
2013 Earth Day San Clemente attendees pick up drought tolerant plants and don costumes for a fun photo at the event’s photo dress-up booth. Photo: Andrea Swayne
Free Community Shred Day
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monarch Bay Plaza hosts a free shred day with services provided by Paper Recycling and Shredding Specialists. The company is a licensed, bonded/insured cross-cut shredder. Watch your documents being shredded. Certificates of destruction will be available on request. Limit five Bankers Boxes per person. For more information, visit their website at www.mobileshred.net. Attendees will have the opportunity to enter to win $1,000 in Monarch Plaza Bucks. 28 Monarch Bay Plaza, Dana Point, www.monarchbayplaza.com. THE GREEN ISSUE
THE GREEN ISSUE
Rick Erkeneff
Waterman and Water Man By Andrea Swayne
As an avid surfer, South Coast Water District director and chairman of the Surfrider Foundation South Orange County Chapter, it’s safe to say Rick Erkeneff cares about and knows a lot about water. We caught up with Erkeneff at his Dana Point home for a quick question-and-answer session on ocean water quality and our threatened water supply. Here’s what he had to say:
What should Southern California residents know about the drought and future water availability?
The majority of our water supply comes from Northern California and the Colorado River, so we are not only at the mercy of decades of dry years but also north vs. south politics, agricultural vs. residential use and the most catastrophic of possibilities, a large earthquake. Such an event could knock out the aqueducts that bring the water to our region, leaving us without supply for months or longer.
How is SoCal actually a bit ahead of the game as opposed to NorCal in terms of potable water supply?
With regard to the drought, SoCal learned a hard lesson from the drought back in the late 1970s and Southern California water agencies have been planning for dry years such as we are experiencing today. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in large water storage reservoirs, expanded use of recycled water programs, conservation projects and the conversion to low-flow highly efficient home appliances and landscape options. This is not so for Northern California. We are actually better prepared.
What are three important things SoCal residents should know about ocean pollution? First, our local ocean water quality is most affected in areas where watersheds drain into the ocean. The majority of dry-season pollution is transported by streams and
creeks in the form of “urban runoff” from overuse and misuse of water outside our homes and within our cities. The water that makes it to the storm drains transports toxins directly to our coastal environment. Everything from engine oil and pet waste to fertilizers and pesticides cause environmental degradation. Next, among plastic pollution, polystyrene (Styrofoam) makes up the overwhelming majority of what we pick up during beach cleanups. Third, off-shore “fracking” for natural gas, occurring right now in SoCal waters, allows for the dumping of highly toxic waste water directly into the ocean.
What can the average person do to affectively address water issues?
The Orange County Water Smart Home Program offers the opportunity to certify your house as a Water Smart Home. Participating in a free home water survey will score your home’s water-use efficiency and identify potential water savings needed. Recommendations will include money- and water-saving rebates and no-cost activities that can help you become more water efficient. I encourage everybody to schedule a free survey. You can find out more about the Water Smart Home Program online at www.mwdoc.com/services/watersmarthome. Rick Erkeneff has served as a volunteer for the Surfrider Foundation South Orange County Chapter as chairman for more than a decade and was elected to the South Coast Water District board of directors in 2012. He can be reached by email at rerkeneffscwd@gmail.com.
A wall display at Ocean Minded headquarters in San Clemente chronicles the company’s beach cleanup efforts over the years. Photo: Jim Shilander
Making Clean Beaches a Reality By Jim Shilander
Ocean Minded has managed to build a global brand while keeping the area’s beaches clean.
The sandal and surf wear company was founded in San Clemente in 1996 and has been actively involved in cleaning Southern California’s beaches since its start. The company began tracking its beach cleanup efforts, which it often does in conjunction with the Surfrider Foundation, in 1999. Between 2009 and 2013, the company held over 170 beach cleanup events, collecting over 34 tons of trash. The company only began weighing the garbage in 2009. This year, the company has hosted 10 cleanups and collected more than a ton of waste. In addition to its California efforts,
Ocean Minded does cleanup work in Florida, New Jersey and North Carolina, as well as lakes and rivers, such as Lake Tahoe and Utah’s Jordan River. Now, three weekends a month, the company schedules beach cleanups along the coast, from the Mexican border north to Los Angeles. In addition, Lanette Jorgensen, the company’s communications director and in-store marketing manager, said once a month, the company’s office empties out to Calafia, Trestles or another nearby beach. While the company is not officially “green” in terms of its manufacturing process, Jorgensen said the use of sustainable materials is a priority. “Every day is Earth Day in our opinion,” Jorgensen said.
California license plates sporting a whale’s tail fluke do much more than add pizazz to the state’s automobiles; they provide funding for cleaning beaches, restoring habitats, promoting beach access check the and educating students through marine and coastal protection projects. This tax season, the whale tail program is giving citizens another way to support these efforts. The California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Grants are funded through the sale of the license plates. This year, the commission’s Check the Coast program allows contributions to be made at tax time. Enter a donation next to the Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund, in the “Voluntary Contributions” section on the last page of your California tax return.
COAST
Whale tail grants have been helping to support educational programs locally through organizations such as the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. According to Shannon Waters, volunteer programs coordinator for the California Coastal Commission’s public education program, the grants have so far contributed $52,600 to programs at the Ocean Institute. The Gray Whale Foundation is another Dana Point-based organization that has benefitted from the grants. The nonprofit foundation relies on this support to educate students from the Capistrano Unified School District and beyond through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum taught along with ocean excursions. “This funding means a better environmental future by allowing us to introduce
Graphic: California Coastal Commission
students to the ocean and teaching the lesson of how everything we do on land eventually ends up in the ocean,” said Michael Hansen, Gray Whale Foundation chairman. “The most important lesson we can teach young scholars is that their daily lives can impact the quality and health of the ocean and they have the power to change it.” To find out more about the fund, log on to www.checkthecoast.org. —AS THE GREEN ISSUE
SC SC LIVING San Clemente
PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY
Business Beat News from San Clemente’s business community COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER
New Developments MASSAGE ALMA 111 W. Avenida Palizada, Suite 15B, 949.391.3521, www.massage-alma.massagetherapy.com Monica Six arrived in San Clemente last year from Indiana after “falling in love” with the city on a visit a few years ago. After taking some time off, Six is now restarting her 11-year career in massage by opening a new studio, Massage Alma. “My table’s open,” Six said. “I always wanted a little studio of my own.” Among other forms of massage and treatment, Six is a certified practitioner of Ashiatsu Bar therapy, which allows her to provide a deep tissue massage to clients using her feet while she holds onto bars installed in the ceiling. Six will have a grand opening Friday, May 9, with complimentary chair massages and a drawing for a $150 gift certificate. However, Six is open for business now, and is extending a 50 percent off grand opening special through ribbon cutting. THE ARTS PROJECT OF ORANGE COUNTY 1317 Calle Avanzado, 949.276.2787, www.theartsprojectoc.com Michelle Hanson-Carpenter of The Arts Project of Orange County said she’s aiming to turn Calle Avanzado into a one-stop arts shop for children. Hanson-Carpenter, who also serves as the dance director at San Clemente Dance next door, said she noticed numerous parents taking their children to other areas of south Orange County for rehearsals or lessons and decided to provide a spot in San Clemente where students can learn music,
Michelle Hanson-Carpenter hopes The Arts Project of Orange County can become a “one stop shop” for creative children in the area. Photo: Jim Shilander
theater and studio art in one place. “We want to be able to let them experiment,” she said. The complex houses four rooms for music instruction, both for small groups and individuals. The Black Box theater provides a place for students to work on acting in a “blank space.” The art studio space will provide both traditional art classes and other forms of art, including graffiti. Hanson-Carpenter said she hopes to eventually have all the students collaborating, with art students designing and building theater sets while musicians provide the tunes. “We have a very art-centric town with our surf culture and arts community,” she said. “I feel like it’s a bit underserved.” The center will host an open house Thursday, April 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. BALLPARK PIZZA DIAMOND CLUB 831 Via Suerte, Suite 101, www.ballparksc.com Amber Holcomb and her father, Steve Zdrakas, believe there is a place in San Clemente for a new pizza parlor. Zdrakas, who opened his first Ballpark Pizza in San Juan Capistrano in 1988, sold the business in 2012 and concentrated on Proud Mary’s, the Dana Point restaurant which he runs with his son. He also opened a second Ballpark in Laguna Niguel, which was sold in 2005.
Holcomb, who lives in San Clemente with her family, along with her father and siblings, said she thought the restaurant would provide a “family name” in the community and could serve as a gathering place for teams and families. She will serve as managing partner. The Diamond Club addition to the name illustrates the higher-end goals for the restaurant, including salads and sandwiches and microbrewed beers. A former 24-year employee, Antonio Balderas is a co-owner who will manage the quality of the kitchen. The restaurant is expected to open in June. MCGREAT DEALS RECORDS/ BEACH CITIES ROCK CLUB 73 Via Pico Plaza, 949.545.7134, www.beachcitiesrockclub.com Biff Cooper says the business he and Ian McGregor have is a unique and symbiotic one. Cooper, who runs Beach Cities Rock Club, teaches pop music lessons in the back of McGregor’s record store, which relocated from Dana Point in February. Cooper said one of the most important things that goes into making a great musician is having a great record collection. “Here, they have good music at their fingertips,” Cooper said of his students.
Biff Cooper, left, and Ian McGregor form a unique musical symbiotic relationship at their shared location in Pico Plaza. Photo: Jim Shilander
While some might question the survival rate of a record stores in the digital age, Cooper and McGregor both noted that sales of vinyl records have more than tripled since 2007. A gap, Cooper said, existed in the market since the process of pressing a vinyl record still creates a superior sound, as well as being a true collector’s item. The store also offers band T-shirts, patches, buttons, posters and hosts live concerts. Cooper said the store offers a 20 percent discount for students and McGregor’s voluminous knowledge of music histor y helps provide students, and the public, a way to broaden their musical horizons. SC
Sudoku BY MYLES MELLOR
Last week’s solution:
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium
See today’s solution in next week’s issue.
SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake
Gambling on Green a Risky Move Can relocating for a greener, healthier lifestyle be enough for someone you haven’t met?
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ometimes, decisions older singles make as a result of being lonely or wanting to change their lives are questionable. Today’s story is about a 70-year-old woman from Wisconsin, named Ruth, who falls under that category. Ruth asked for my opinion on her plans to relocate and live with a 68-year-old man she found on the Internet. Ruth emailed, “A year and a half ago, I ‘met’ Gary, who resides in Nebraska, on a site called Green Singles. We began emailing each other and soon were talking by phone. I am willing to relocate, so after many conversations and delightful insights about our mutual goals and things we would like to do, I agreed to move to where he lives.” My initial reaction was: I guess that’s OK, assuming that Ruth and Gary have spent enough time together to know each other well enough that being together 24/7 will work for them. But then I read more of her email. There was one major factor in Ruth’s story that troubled me. She said, “We will meet for the first time on April 11. I will be going out there with a couple who will help with the driving. I have many supportive friends and family members excited to know how things turn out. Gary and I have agreed that after all of this time, we will be happy if it turns out to be friendship only. At our ages, that is a huge blessing. Wish us luck. “Green Singles is a good site for folks who like a green, organic-type lifestyle, which we both want. We look forward to working together on the big garden and taking produce to the farmers markets in the area, traveling together in the fall and finding a used trailer that I can call my own which I will put on the property.” I responded to Ruth: “Let me be sure I understand. You are moving and you haven’t met him in person?” She wrote, “I am moving out there because it fits with my need to be in a dryer climate for my health, plus it will be a great adventure to learn organic-produce production, being part of the local farmers market scene and a chance to have a traveling companion. “When meeting for the first time at his home, my friends will be with me, and because he and I have been talking for a year and a half, about every topic, sharing photos, goals, likes and dislikes, I feel OK about doing this. Not for the faint of heart though. I think we are good friends to begin with already and that helps. I am ready for this move. It has been easy to make this decision; implementing it has taken a while though, financially, etc. Page 14
“We both have similar health issues and are empathetic with that aspect of our relationship. I feel that I have so much to gain by doing this, much to lose if I stay in the rut I have been in.” As a singles columON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 nist for 20 years, I can’t By Tom Blake fathom someone moving to another town, let alone another state, to live with a person one has never seen faceto-face. Why in the world didn’t she go visit him and spend at least a weekend together before just packing up and moving? What if they don’t like each other? What if he’s dangerous? I do not advocate people making major life changes to be with a person they have never met. I hope for Ruth her situation works out. For more dating advice and stories visit, www.findingloveafter60.com and to comment, email Tom at tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com
Ellie Hammargren { I N S AN CL E M E NTE } sent the San Clemente Times this photograph of her daughter, Hali, and Hali’s friend, Erika, both of Shorecliffs Middle School Surf team. The pair went down to Lost Winds Beach to surf on the morning of April 1 to find this peculiarly morbid sign. But both decided to surf anyway. “Luckily they didn’t feed the sharks,” she noted.
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San Clemente Times April 10–16, 2014
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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE
Triton Report
By the Numbers
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hrough the use of stats and numbers, we break down the week, and season, in the San Clemente prep sports world.
2,094 Total miles traveled by the San Clemente boys lacrosse team in a three-day span this week. The Tritons left for a trip to Colorado, specifically the Denver area, to face some of the premier teams in the west region and were set to wrap up the exhibition tour with a game against Cherry Creek on April 10. The Tritons will travel back home and face Mission Viejo on April 12.
BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
For in-game updates, news and more for all the San Clemente High School sports teams, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.
Dolphins Baseball Ends Tritons Win Streak with Walk-Off Hit Last year, the San Clemente and Dana Hills baseball teams played three games that were decided by two runs or fewer. San Clemente won all three contests and two of them by only one run. So when the two rivals squared off for the first time in Sea View League play at Dana Hills on April 8, it was no surprise the game came down to the wire. With men on first and second base and no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the scored tied at 3-3, Dolphins junior Thomas Waldenberger hit an RBI single down the left field line that plated Shawn Kany and gave Dana Hills a walk-off 4-3 victory. The loss ended what was a county-best 10-game win streak for the Tritons (15-4, 2-1 league). Waldenberger’s wasn’t the only big hit of the day for Dana Hills (13-4, 4-0), who erased a 3-1 San Clemente lead one inning prior. Junior catcher Luke Williams drew just the second walk allowed by Tritons starter Kolby Allard to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Dana Hills head coach Tom Faris wanted to send his speedy leadoff hitter and see if he could steal second base, but instead trusted the bat of his first baseman, Jay Schuyler, who hit a two-run home run high up in the gusty air in left field two batters later to tie the game at 3-3. “I was honestly trying to put one in play and get a base hit out of it. He left me a couple over the plate in the beginning of the at bat that I was kind of mad that I missed. I fouled them off. I just kept battling,” Schuyler said. “Eventually he left one out for me, I put it up in the wind and it went out.” The Tritons took a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning on three consecutive singles by Trevor Beard, Tyler Ankrom and Will Tribucher and, once Schuyler tied things up, had a chance to take the lead again in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Tritons first baseman Trevor Beard hit a hard ground ball to the right side of the infield San Clemente Times April 10-16, 2014
37 Score carded by Tritons junior golfer Austin Briggs on the front nine at San Juan Hills Golf Club on March 31, earning him his first match medal of the year. Brigg’s 37 (+1) paced the Tritons to a 199223 win over San Juan Hills. 11 Total service aces recorded by the San Clemente boys volleyball team in an April 3 win over Trabuco Hills. Senior Peter Van Liefde led the way with six aces and sophomore Aaron Strange had five. .467/.600/.833 Batting average, on-
base percentage and slugging percentage, respectively, for San Clemente softball’s junior centerfielder Lauren Gonzales on the season. All three of those marks lead the team.
4:56.23 Season-best time for San Cle-
San Clemente junior pitcher Kolby Allard allowed four hits, two walks and three runs while striking out three over six strong innings in a loss to Dana Hills on April 8. Photo: Kevin Dahlgren
that head coach Dave Gellatly thought would go through. Kany, the second baseman, was able to field the ball and get the final out, setting the stage for the Dolphins seventh-inning rally. “Baseball is a funny game sometimes. I felt like we played a good ballgame. Trevor hits that ball to the right side, I think it’s getting through, and it kind of takes a funny hop,” Gellatly said. “At that moment, it was like the baseball gods weren’t with us today. It was two evenly matched teams who got after it and Dana Hills executed when they had to.”
Boys Volleyball Topples Mustangs, Preps for Dolphins The San Clemente boys volleyball team picked up an important South Coast League win over Trabuco Hills on April 3, which kept them undefeated in league play. The Tritons (13-4, 2-0) were pushed to four sets against the Mustangs (5-4, 2-2), who were sitting in third-place in the standings.
Following a 12-day layoff for spring break, San Clemente will face rival Dana Hills at home on April 15. The Dolphins and Tritons are the only undefeated teams in league.
Tritons Lacrosse Falls to Fourth-Ranked Arapahoe The San Clemente boys lacrosse team traveled to Denver, Colo. to face some of the elite teams in the western region. On April 8, the Tritons lost their first matchup in a three-game exhibition series against No. 4 ranked Arapahoe, 17-12. The Tritons (7-3, 4-0) were evenly matched with Arapahoe, save for the second quarter, when the host team erupted for eight goals while San Clemente netted three. The second quarter proved to be the difference in the final score. The Tritons were set to face Smoky Hill on April 9 before capping off their trip with a game against No. 3 Cherry Creek on April 10. SC
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mente’s Melissa Eisele in the 1600-meter run. Eisele posted the time at the Triton Invitational and as of April 8, it was the sixthbest mark in the CIF Southern Section.
10 Consecutive games won by the San
Clemente baseball team before an April 8 loss to Dana Hills. The win streak was the longest in the county so far this season.
30 Goals scored by San Clemente girls
lacrosse junior attack Katelyn Miner on the season. Miner is averaging four goals per game for the Tritons, who have already surpassed their win total from last year (two) with five victories in 2014.
San Clemente junior Austin Briggs shot a 37 (+1) on the front nine at San Juan Hills Golf Club on March 31 to earn his first match medal of the year. Photo: Steve Breazeale
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SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Last year, representatives from San Clemente Little League won the first-place trophy at the San Clemente Friends of Beaches, Parks & Recreation golf tournament. Courtesy photo
Friends of SC Foundation Set to Host Golf Tourney SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
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he Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks & Recreation Foundation will hold their fourth annual golf tournament at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course on Friday, June 27 to benefit charitable endeavors for the city’s youth. All proceeds from the event will go directly toward the foundation’s Fun on the Run program, which features a truck filled with sports equipment that travels to city neighborhoods without parks and playgrounds and essentially creates one on the spot. Raised funds will also go toward the
SC Grad Higgins Competes in 2014 Rifle and Pistol World Cup SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
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an Clemente High School 2012 graduate and current Air Force Academy sophomore David Higgins shined at the International Shooting Sport FedDavid Higgins is eration’s World Cup looking to break through on to the USA Championships at Fort Benning, Ga. on Olympic rifle shooting team. Courtesy photo April 1. Higgins was not competing for a medal at the event, but instead took part in the Minimum Qualification Scores, or MQS, accruing points for a possible spot on the USA Olympic shooting team. In order to qualify for the team, a shooter must post a minimum score at a sanctioned event in a pre-Olympic year. Higgins excelled in the 50-meter prone event at Fort Benning, besting the field of 19 MQS shooters with a first-place score of 621.3. When taking in the total scores for all shooters, not just MQS, Higgins placed 18th overall out of 80. The field featured several current Olympians. SC
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foundation’s sports scholarship efforts. Last year’s tournament raised $20,000. The event features 18 holes of golf, special contests like closest to the hole and longest drive, and a buffet meal and awards ceremony at the end of the day. This year, the foundation is attempting to draw some star power to the tournament. Several inductees to the San Clemente Sports Hall of Fame, which the foundation created in 2012, are slated to be in attendance. For more information on the tournament, visit www.sanclementeparksfoundation.org. SC
SC Recreation League Roundup: Playoff Edition COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE
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early all of the San Clemente Recreation department’s winter sports leagues have finished postseason play, with only a few champions yet to be decided. Here is a rundown of the remaining playoff schedules. Co-ed 7 v. 7 Soccer No. 1 overall seed Team SC advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they will play Bar Set Low on April 13. No. 2 seed San Pippers defeated Slammers on penalty kicks in the first round and will play Mad United in the semifinals on April 13. Softball Dazed and Confused squared off against Ole’s Tavern in a best-of-three series on April 2 and Dazed and Confused came away as the victor in the men’s Wednesday D+ League. The series was closely contested and Dazed and Confused was able to outscore their opponents 33-29 over three games. Basketball The men’s basketball league playoff brackets are set. All six teams will play in the first round on April 13. SC www.sanclementetimes.com
SC San Clemente
SC SURF
SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:
SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY
Hobie Alter Memorial Services Announced The pioneer of surf and sail will be remembered at two events SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
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obart “Hobie” Alter, proprietor of Southern California’s first surf shop, modern surfboard pioneer and inventor of the Hobie Cat dual-hulled sailboat died March 29 in his Palm Desert home. He was 80. Following is the official memorial service information posted at hobie.com: April 10 • Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course 31106 Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949.499.2271 Service will be held on the ninth fairway from 4:30 p.m.to 6 p.m. Please do not arrive before 3:30 p.m. There will be no access to the property before that time. In honor of Hobie, preferred attire is beach casual. Coats and ties are not necessary but it can be cold in Aliso Canyon this time of year, so dress accordingly. Laguna Beach Trolley shuttle service will be provided from South Pacific Coast Highway, from Salt Creek Beach to Aliso Creek Inn.
Photo courtesy of Hobie
Shuttle will pick up at all bus stops between Salt Creek and Aliso Creek. Free parking will be available at Aliso Creek Inn and South Coast Mission Hospital. Metered parking is available at Aliso Beach and in the Salt Creek Beach parking lot. April 18 • Doheny State Beach 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.6172 A public paddle out and remembrance will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. An on-the-water ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. Boats and boards are welcome. However, no beach boat launching will be permitted. All boats must be launched from Dana Point Harbor and all vessels must adhere to local boating rules and regulations. Doheny State Beach has graciously opened its gates free of charge from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please come and join us on the water to celebrate Hobie’s life and legacy by doing what he wanted us all to do. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to one of the following organizations be considered: Sport of Kings Foundation, in Memory of Hobie Alter, P.O. Box 2499, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624, www.sportofkingsfoundation.org. Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, Hobie Alter Scholarship Fund, www.surfingheritage.org. Orcas Island Community Foundation: Deer Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, in Memory of Hobie Alter, www.oicf.us. To read more about Hobie Alter and the indelible impacts he left on surf and sailing culture, log on to www.sanclementetimes.com. SC
The Surfing America USA Surf Team in Salinas, Ecuador. Courtesy photo
GROMS OF THE WEEK
Surfing America USA Team With ISA World Junior Surfing Championship competition on day four Wednesday in Salinas, Ecuador, team USA was holding on strong and still in medal contention. The competition was halted mid-day Tuesday due to a shark sighting in the lineup but continued Wednesday morning with all USA team members surfing well and still in the running. Four members of the team hail from area. Representing San Clemente are Griffin Colapinto, Tia Blanco and Malia Osterkamp and from Capistrano Beach, Jacob Davis. The remainder of the team is made up of Californians Kanoa Igarashi, Nic Hdez , Jake Marshall, Nolan Rapoza and Frankie Harrer. East Coast team members are Daniel Glenn, Luke Gordon and Maddie Peterson round
out the talented group. Minutes before press time on Wednesday, Blanco continued the team’s strong showing, winning her Girls U18 Qualifier 3 heat. Dominating the lineup, she came up with a two-wave score of 12.27 (out of 20) over runner-up Kim Veteau of France who earned a 6.33. “It was definitely ner ve wracking,” Blanco said in a post heat inter view. Blanco went on to say she knew how talented the other surfers were and felt lucky to be the only one to get a quick start in the tough conditions. The contest will be broadcast live through its conclusion, which weather and “sharkiness” permitting will wrap up by April 13. Catch all the action, live at www.isawjsc.com. –Andrea Swayne