August 27, 2015

LO C A L

August 27-September 2, 2015

N EWS

YO U

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Group Seeks to Help Miramar Revival PAGE 6 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 35

For Whom the (School) Bell Tolls Firsts for both students and teachers EYE ON SC/PAGE 6

Concordia Elementary second-graders (L to R) Eti Velez, Lyla Bolton, Israel Gutierrez and Owen Shannon run back to class as the recess bell rings Tuesday during the first day of school. Photo: Eric Heinz

Former President of Softball League Under Investigation EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Boy Scouts Trek 50 Miles of New Mexico Wilderness LIVING ON SC/PAGE 16

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Three San Clemente Surfers Win at NSSA Explorer Season Opener SURF/PAGE 22

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beaches on San Clemente’s coastline. Some of the beaches, particularly in the northern areas, have lost a great deal of sand due to development and because of cobblestones implemented to help maintain sand, which council members said didn’t work.

Webb said this could be a “soft” solution to a long-term problem and can be costly.

Five things San Clemente should know this week

WHAT’S NEXT: A project headed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to bring in 250,000 cubic yards of sand from Linda Lane to South T Street is in development. Congress approved it to be eligible for funding but it has not been directly funded. A design phase is to take place, which city officials said could take about two years. Another review of the sand replenishment projects is to be brought to City Council in a couple months, officials said.—EH

Softball League Scrambles After Funding Misuse THE LATEST: During the Aug. 18 San Clemente City Council meeting, Chad Wilcox, the newly appointed president of the San Clemente Girls Softball League, spoke to council regarding a funding discrepancy the league is trying to correct.

Wilcox told council members the league is trying repay $18,000 in debt after former president Jack Cannon had mismanaged the league’s funds.

The council was voting to approve or disapprove subsidies for various sports entities.

Council members voted 3-2 to approve a one-year “platinum” partnership, the city’s highest subsidy, for the league, with council members Lori Donchak and Kathy Ward dissenting.

Much of the misuse was attributed to overextending the budget for using the city’s field lighting and appropriations of league dues and tournament registration fees, Wilcox said.

Orange County Sherriff’s Department officials confirmed on Monday there is an open embezzlement investigation taking place under the Economic Crimes division regarding Cannon’s involvement with league funds.

The exact amount, which has not been accounted for, could be as large as $100,000, according to OCSD Deputy David Zill.

“We’re seeing some inconsistencies in our figures,” Wilcox told the San Clemente Times on Saturday. “We’re going to piece together the records and once we get the numbers we’ll figure out how to pay what we owe. I’m confident by this time next year we’ll be out of the red.”

Wilcox said Cannon had unilateral access to the funds and none of the other league officials were able to keep tabs on the funds. Since then a seven-member board with attorneys and chief operations officers has been established, he said.

Wilcox said the league started to get pressure from the American Softball Association regarding league dues in May. On June 16, a check to the ASA bounced and Cannon was nowhere to be found, Wilcox said.

Wilcox said during the meeting the league has had the top tier subsidy agreement with the city for years and not getting the status approved would result in San Clemente Times August 27–September 2, 2015

Doug Bauder (left), SCE vice president of operational services and chief procurement officer, speaks with prospective subcontractors for deconstructing San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on Monday at Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point. Photo: Eric Heinz

materials.

Bechtel-Westinghouse, Q Energy Solutions and AECOM are the three main contractors selected for the deconstruction process that have teamed up with other larger contractors.

One subcontractor, Bob Lawrence, president and CEO of MLM & Associates Engineering in Laguna Hills, has conducted multiyear water quality inspections, including projects with LAX and adjacent areas in regard to environmental aspects.

As a small business owner, Lawrence said the competition for the project is “awesome.”

“You’re going up against some very big companies here,” Lawrence said. “Everyone’s trying to get a piece of the work.

When you’re a small business, you’re like a minnow in a big lake, and you’re just trying to see how close you can get to the big fish.”

a 1,800 percent increase to the operating costs to the softball league.

Despite the allegations, Wilcox said Cannon was a very “well-liked” individual who had a history of performing good deeds for the San Clemente community and the softball league.

Laura Slye, a volunteer who has worked with the San Clemente Girls Softball for years, said she does not believe there was an embezzlement but that Cannon wanted to escape the pressures of the declining league fund.

Calls to Cannon from SC Times were not returned by press time.

WHAT’S NEXT: The council’s approval comes with a stipulation that the league must provide a report within 30 days from Aug. 18 to the city in order to continue to receive funding. The league must also work closely with the Beaches, Parks and Recreation staff. Softball practices start Tuesday. —Eric Heinz

WHAT’S NEXT: The approval of the bid for the deconstruction portion of SONGS is expected to take place sometime in “the first quarter” of 2016. The bid process began Aug. 3. The duration of the deconstruction is expected to take eight to 10 years.—EH

Contractors Gather for SONGS Deconstruction Bid THE LATEST: Southern California Edison, the majority owner of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, hosted a networking session with subcontractors on Monday at Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point.

More than 100 subcontractors arrived at the Marriot to meet with the three main contracting companies that have been selected by SCE for the deconstruction of the nuclear power plant.

Many of the subcontractors at the event spoke about their experience in environmental reclamation and transportation of

City Examines Sand Replenishment Options THE LATEST: To expedite the process of sand replenishment at portions of San Clemente beaches, City Council listened to a presentation by Chris Webb, a representative of Moffat & Nichol, an engineering infrastructure adviser, during the Aug. 18 council meeting.

A proposed project would bring in new sand outside the immediate coastal area and increase the sand volume in the

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Meeting to Examine Establishing New San Clemente School District THE LATEST: San Clemente City Manager James Makshanoff will moderate a discussion regarding the establishment of a new school district in San Clemente. A memorandum published June 29 details the factors of the current school demographics and logistics with the city’s borders or adjacent to them. The report can be found on the city’s website at www.san-clemente. org under the Latest News section.

WHAT’S NEXT: The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria. In order to get a proposition on the next election ballot, a petition would have to gather signatures from 25 percent of registered voters within CUSD. —EH

City Home Element Survey Available THE LATEST: The city of San Clemente is currently engaging citizens to take a survey to explore the city’s housing needs and priorities. The survey can be found at www.san-clemente.org. Click on the “Housing Element Workshop Survey Available” link under Latest News.

WHAT’S NEXT: The results of the survey will be added to the Housing Element of the General Plan, which was adopted earlier this year. The city’s Housing Element Community Workshops to discuss some of the questions in the survey will take place 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Community Development Department Offices, 910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100 and 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 at the Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville. —EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Community Meetings

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ AND ALISON SHEA

Children’s Theater Sets Auditions for September The Tony Award-winning musical “Into the Woods” made its San Clemente debut last weekend at The Arts Project of Orange County. The play featured artists as young as 6 and as old as 17. This is TAPOC’s third show. In May, the theater debuted with “Seussical the Musical” and then produced the play “Because Love.” They had more than 45 students involved in “Into the Woods” and are gearing up for their fall show season. Along with doing full-scale productions, TAPOC also offers music, singing, acting, musical theatre, dance and art lessons for both kids and adults.

The goal of TAPOC originated when the owner, Michelle Hanson, realized parents were running around town trying to get their kids dropped off at various activities.

Hanson wanted to create another home for kids to come and be creative.

Auditions for the fall season are coming soon. “Grease” auditions are 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 4 and 10 a.m. Sept. 5. “The Happy Elf” auditions are 4:30 p.m. Sept. 11 and 10 a.m. Sept. 12, all at 1317 Calle Avanzado.

Call 949.276.2787 for more info.

San Clemente Ocean Festival ‘Yard Sale’ On Saturday, Aug. 29 a San Clemente Ocean Festival “yard sale” will be held at 3005 Calle Arco from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“If it weren’t for the storm on the weekend of the Festival, all of the Ocean Fest T-shirts and long-sleeves would be sold out,” Ocean Festival coordinator Peggy Vance said. “But since there are still some leftover, the Friends of San Clemente Foundation is going to give people the opportunity to purchase the shirts.”

Kumi Elston, who will be in charge of

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Dark Friday

San Clemente City Offices Closed

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

Liberty Tax Service, Learning About VA Home Loans 11:30 a.m. An open

Into the Woods cast members pose on stage after the performance on Saturday.

Photo: Courtesy of The Arts Project of Orange County

the event at her residence, said the short sleeves will be $16 and the long sleeves will be $20. The white tees are in stock in all sizes and the blue tees are in stock in all sizes except extra-large. The hoodies all sold out at the Festival.

“This will be the last opportunity for people to get 2015 Ocean Fest Apparel,” Elston said.

Pet Project Collects $552 from SC Fiesta Donations

Camp Pendleton Thanks Ball Gown Donors

Through San Clemente Fiesta-goers’ donations, the local Liberty Tax Service collected $552 to benefit Pet Project Foundation.

“We volunteered to operate one of the beverage booths for Fiesta this year and loved the idea of being able to raise money for a local charity,” said Vicky Wilson, Liberty Tax owner and Community Events Manager.

For almost 30 years the Pet Project Foundation and the San Clemente-Dana

Marine spouses line the sidewalk Aug. 22 near the San Onofre Community Center.

Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente Marine Corps Support Group

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2015

Point Animal Shelter have been united in a partnership to provide humane care to the lost and abandoned animals of the two cities. PPF provides significant financial support, as well as donating 25,000 hours of volunteer time each year.

For more information on PPF visit www. petprojectfoundation.org or Liberty Tax at www.libertytax.com/18813.

By 8:30 a.m. on Saturday Aug. 22, there were approximately 100 Marine spouses lined up in the parking lot of the San Onofre Community Center at Camp Pendleton. They were there for the “Say Yes to the Dress” event hosted by the 5th Marine Regiment. About 700 ball gowns, shoes, handbags, jewelry and wraps, along with more than 200 cocktail dresses were donated by the women of San Clemente, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Laguna Hills and Rancho Santa Margarita, the adoptive communities of the four battalions and headquarters that make up the regiment.

More than 50 volunteers were there to help with sorting, hanging and acting as retail consultants. Each of the approximately 250 attendees was able to walk away with a gown, a cocktail dress and accessory of their choice. Many of the Marine spouses said they were pleased, excited and grateful for the generosity of their neighbors to the north. The leftover garments are on their way to the Marine Installation at Twenty-Nine Palms for the Marine wives there.

“Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who made this event possible,” a press release from Camp Pendleton said.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more. We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

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house for military and their families to learn more about Veterans Administration home buying and financing.

439 N. El Camino Real, 949.271.1200, www.libertytax.com.

SUNDAY, AUG. 30

San Clemente Farmers Market

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday. Avenida Del Mar.

Luxre Realty Paper Shredding

10 a.m.-1 p.m. People can bring up to five file boxes of unwanted paper per household. A truck will be on site to shred papers and volunteers will help people unload their cars. Refreshments will be served at Luxre Realty.

222 Avenida Del Mar, 949.498.3702, www.luxrerealty.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

San Clemente City Council Meeting

6 p.m. The San Clemente City Council regular meeting will take place at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

San Clemente Rotary Noon. The San Clemente Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at the Wedgewood Restaurant at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. 949.233.7981. www.sanclementerotary.org.

San Clemente Kiwanis Noon. The San Clemente Kiwanis meet most Wednesdays for lunch at Tommy’s Restaurant. 1409 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.5423, www.sanclementekiwanis.com.

Planning Commission Meeting

7 p.m. San Clemente Planning Commission’s regular meeting will take place at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

A First for Everyone As students return, new teachers prepare lesson plans

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

new school year is the end of summer fun for students, but for teachers—especially those who are starting their first full-time year—it is the sum total of their training coming to fruition.

Elizabeth Eldridge, a third-grade teacher in her first year at Concordia Elementary, said she obtained her teaching credentials in 2011 and started her career in private tutoring. Eldridge tutored students from second grade to high school seniors for four years before becoming a school teacher.

“The big difference is the time I’m able to spend with each student, but I make a big effort to differentiate my lessons and access all the learners,” Eldridge said.

During her first day, Eldridge said she quickly realized she will need to be flexible and willing to change when things don’t always go according to plan.

“The curriculum is fantastic in third grade, where they learn a lot,” she said.

“I’m really looking to develop myself as a professional and continue to learn new things and bring technology to the classroom.”

Life Raft May be Coming for Miramar Theater stakeholders look to refurbish San Clemente icon

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

R

esurrecting the Miramar Theater has been a process spanning more than two decades.

Now, a group of people is trying to give the dormant entertainment center some help.

On Friday, Fred Divel, a San Clemente resident who said he has had family in the area since the 1920s, hosted a fundraiser at OC Tavern to raise awareness of the theater’s current state as well as help fund a new nonprofit organization dedicated to reviving the

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2015

Cocordia Elementary Principal Paul Foucart oversees the end of recess Tuesday during the first day of school of the 2015-16 year. Photo: Eric Heinz

Textbooks have morphed to more advanced creatures in the classroom. Each student in Eldridge’s class is equipped with a Google Chromebook.

In order to keep students focused and shake off the mental cobwebs from summer, she said she tries to make her lesson plans applicable to the students’ budding minds.

“I’m teaching to their real life experiences so they can see a practical application of what they’re learning in the classrooms— to see that it’s useful beyond these four walls,” Eldridge said. “I want to show them Miramar.

“For a first event, we did very nicely,” Divel said. “We only had about 100 people attend, but we had nice auction items and the raffles and a few donations.”

Divel did not disclose the total amount raised during the event, but he did say it was enough to start the nonprofit, which is expected to be filed under the name San Clemente Theater, Inc. “What happened was rather amazing of the people who have come out of the woodwork … they have ideas about the theater’s future,” Divel said.

Divel’s goal for the nonprofit is to raise $2 million and, if possible, partner with other entities to fund projects.

The San Clemente Historical Society is trying to help with restoration and upkeep, but the society does not get involved with planning how the theater would be operated and what kind of entity would occupy the space.

Marc Spizzirri was part of an ownership with the Miramar Theater from 2007 until at least 2011 when it went back on the market. Today he is more of a consultant to El Camino Real Holdings, LLC, which owns the theater.

Spizzirri said he’s received more interest in the theatre in the last year than when he was part of the ownership.

that it’s something they can use each and every day and not just information we’re pushing at them.”

Concordia is a school of 645 elementary students, kindergarten through fifth grade, with three new teachers this year.

In his third year at Concordia, Principal Paul Foucart said his favorite part about the new school year is seeing all the children and hearing about their summer breaks.

Foucart also is preparing his staff for more technology and a new math curriculum being implemented this year.

Fred Divel has been working to revive the Miramar Theater and adjacent bowling alley, located at 1700 Deschecha off El Camino Real. Photo: Eric Heinz

“There’s been a lot of local developers and people trying to get involved,” Spizzirri said. “Ideally, the goal … has been to find a way that preserves the dignity and the history of the architecture but at the same time provides an opportunity economically. It would be premature to say what it should be. Some of the things that have been discussed have been a community center, event center, retail—a broad gamut of things.”

Spizzirri said more than a dozen people have expressed interest in utilizing the theater, including investors, builders

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“We’re hoping to look at our data (on students) and see where we need to go from there,” Foucart said. “What we’re trying to do is for the students who are going home to iPads and technology, we want to teach them digital citizenship and standards.”

Kristen Bisch was a long-term substitute teacher at Truman Benedict Elementary School last year, and was hired at Concorida on Aug. 19.

“I looked back on my old lesson plans and innovated new things to go with them,” Bisch said. “It helps that I taught second grade last year because it helps me understand what’s expected.”

She holds a similar standard to her second-grade students; Bisch said she wants to maintain “high” but “obtainable” expectations for them, especially with the implementation of more technology in the classroom.

“I think you have to have the kids understand what you want from them,” Bisch said. “You set those regulations and during the first week of school you go over those consistently and they get used to that routine.”

Getting her credentials just three years ago, Bisch said it helps that she’s well-acquainted with what is expected for contemporary second-grade learning.

“Second-graders … sometimes they know a lot more with iPads and computers because they’ve grown up knowing only that,” Bisch said. “There’s so many jobs popping up with technology these days, and to prepare them for that, (lessons) are changing.” SC and others who have “very clear and defined” ideas of what they’d like to see Miramar become.

“You get one shot at this and doing (this project) right and you want to make sure everyone’s on board,” he said. “No one wants to do a project the city and the community don’t want.

Multiple ideas are better than one.”

Divel said he would like to see the theater return to operating as a movie theatre, playhouse or some other kind of entertainment center, but as long as it’s functional he would support a legitimate proposal.

“The first line of business is to clean the theater up and make it look nice and become a visitors center,” Divel said.

Social networking has been integral in spreading information to interested people.

“Young people are starting to become involved with the original buildings and they feel violated when something is torn down,” Divel said.

Some of the items sold at the auction and raffled off to benefit the planned nonprofit included a surfboard painted

by Drew Brophy and some paintings of the Miramar Theater.

For more information about the Miramar Theater organization, visit www. sanclementetheatre.com. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

SC Sheriff’s Blotter

COMPILED BY JACOB ONOFRIO 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.

Monday, August 24 DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 1800 Block (11:33 a.m.) A man was asking customers for money and drugs as they passed by.

CITIZEN ASSIST Escalones, 100 Block (6:37 a.m.) A caller reported “Move your car” was found written in shaving cream on the front windshield of their car.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Cristal, 0 Block (12:31 a.m.) A suspicious man called saying there were people “outside his house who wanted to kill his whole family.”

Sunday, August 23 PATROL CHECK Avenida Vista Hermosa/ Camino La Pedriza (10:34 p.m.) Police ran a patrol check for a group of people throwing water balloons from the golf course at passing vehicles.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Ola Vista, 1900 Block (8:53 p.m.) A group of subjects were seen loitering outside of a house known for drug activity.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Pico, 900 Block (6:12 p.m.) A man in a grey four-door vehicle was seen giving cigarettes to children.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES El Camino Real, 3600 Block (4:10 p.m.) A man wearing a red jumpsuit climbed onto the caller’s second-story balcony and stole an American flag and a towel.

STOLEN VEHICLE El Camino Real, 2300 Block (3:48 p.m.) A 2006 silver Toyota Camry was last seen at 9:30 a.m. The caller said they did not have the keys to the vehicle.

KEEP THE PEACE Avenida Algodon, 100 Block (3:22 p.m.) The front desk of a hotel refused to let a woman check in because her reservation had been canceled; the woman claimed to have already paid for it.

PROPERTY FOR DESTRUCTION Avenida Pico, 900 Block (3:20 p.m.) A woman at the customer service desk found illegal substances in the bathroom.

TRESPASSING Avenida Serra, 100 Block San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2015

(12:34 p.m.) An unknown person was taking a shower inside a unit under construction.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Intserstate-5 Freeway/Camino De Estrella (12:13 p.m.) A man appeared to be fiddling with the wires of a transformer box.

VANDALISM REPORT Calle Nuevo, 900 Block (12:04 p.m.) A toilet was knocked over and bags of construction tools were damaged.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Pico/Interstate 5 Freeway, (5:09 a.m.) A woman dressed in all black was seen walking eastbound in the middle lanes on Avenida Pico.

DISTURBANCE Via Garona, 0 Block (3:16 a.m.) Eggs were thrown at the caller’s house. The caller’s daughter was hit in the face, causing a cut above her eye.

Saturday, August 22 TRAFFIC HAZARD Camino De Estrella/Interstate 5 (11:38 p.m.) After exiting southbound Interstate 5, the caller saw a dead animal in the intersection. It is unknown what the animal was, but it was believed to have been a dog.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY El Camino Real, 400 Block (11:13 p.m.) A 54-year-old woman was speaking incoherently about having been drugged.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Talgea/Camino Viento Fuerte (9:25 p.m.) A shirtless 10to 15-year-old boy ran across the street after throwing rocks at the caller’s vehicle.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT NON-INJURY South El Camino Real/Avenida Ramona (9:15 p.m.) A caller reported his brother’s Ford Ranger was hit by a white van in the alley behind the hotel. The driver of the van appeared to be intoxicated.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC Camino De Los Mares, 600 Block (9:03 p.m.) Two drunken patrons were in front of the location. The caller was concerned they were going to leave in a vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES El Camino Real, 2300 Block (7:35 p.m.) The informant said he watched his neighbor break the side bedroom window and then walk toward the back of the complex.

DISTRUBANCE Calle Puente, 1100 Block (6:43 p.m.) Four male juveniles and one female juvenile were found drinking and smoking on the corner near the preschool.

FOUND PROPERTY Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (2:54 p.m.) A gray oxygen tank on wheels was left at the park off Del Mar by the pier. No one was seen standing by it.

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SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Eric Heinz, 949.388.7700, x109 eheinz@sanclementetimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

Susie Lantz, 949.388.7700, x111 slantz@sanclementetimes.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@sanclementetimes.com BUSINESS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@sanclementetimes.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

The Amtrak train passes by the San Clemente Pier stop Friday during the final Beach Concert Series performance of the summer. City Council has recently discussed the possibility of eliminating the stop leaving only the North Beach location. Photo: Eric Heinz

Letters to the Editor CLOSING PIER STOP WOULDN’T ELIMINATE CONFUSION CHRISTY MACBRIDE-HART, San Clemente

I commuted from San Clemente to Santa Ana College for 32 years and twice commute by train. Sxiteen years ago I went by Metrolink from San Juan to Santa Ana then returned by Amtrak in time to meet small boys at home after school.

Also, a few years ago I went in and out of North Beach on Metrolink.

City Council is considering closing the pier train stop to “avoid confusion,” but eliminating the stop will not do that.

When I would return to San Juan Capistrano by Amtrak, several times I gave someone a ride to San Clemente who thought the Amtrak would stop in there.

They didn’t know Amtrak only stopped in San Clemente twice a day in each direction. All other Amtrak trains pass through San Clemente without stopping. Closing the pier stop would not eliminate that confusion.

San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2015

At the Amtrak station riders buy a Metrolink ticket at a kiosk but buy their Amtrak ticket on the train or in advance.

Closing the pier stop would not eliminate that confusion.

Thursday, while on the trail, I noticed several families walking down the trail toward the pier with many small children, ice chests, umbrellas, boogie boards, etc. in tow. My guess was they had taken the Metrolink to the pier, but Metrolink only stops there on weekends. Closing the pier stop would not eliminate that confusion.

I have read a concern about the Metrolink kiosk being out of service at the pier.

However, the Metrolink ticket kiosk at North Beach is sometimes broken. Closing the pier stop would not eliminate that confusion.

On weekends hundreds if not thousands of people ride the train to enjoy our pier and downtown. The weekend Metrolink stops at both North Beach and the pier, so visitors can choose whether to enjoy North Beach, and soon the outlet mall, or to enjoy the pier and downtown. If the council’s goal is to take business away from the pier and downtown and give it to the outlet mall, then by all means close the pier stop. But if the council’s goal is to eliminate confusion, closing the pier stop will not do that.

PROTEST YOUR SAN CLEMENTE WATER BILL BRAD MALAMUD, San Clemente

I sent letters to the San Clemente city attorney and manager and all City Council members informing them tier 2 and 3 water rates and the “Water Base Fee” are illegal—as are fines—and our rates are significantly higher than what the residents of Talega pay for their water delivered by Santa Margarita Water District.

The city has failed to provide cost or legal justification for the current rates and fines and stated there are no documents that indicate the fines will reduce water use.

Residential customers with tier 2, tier 3 rates or fines should write the city and request rate reductions and removal of fines. This is a sample letter: “I am requesting a refund/reduction in my water bill and a hearing with respect to excess rates and fines for the following reasons: (1) The “Water Base Fee” does not reflect the cost of “base” services.

(2) Tier 2 and/or tier 3 rates are in excess of actual costs incurred by the city and the rates charged to commercial users.

(3) All “penalties” and/or “fines” are (Cont. on page 10)

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PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Picket Fence Media Group Senior Editor, City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick

City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

OPERATIONS

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Finance Director > Mike Reed

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Evan Da Silva, Jacob Onofrio, Dana Schnell, Alison Shea, Tim Trent

San Clemente Times, Vol. 10, Issue 35. 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 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX (Cont. from page 9) illegal and are not charged to commercial users. See CTA v. SJC. Please provide me a hearing date or a make the reductions requested for all charges in excess of tier 1 rates and to eliminate fines and the “Base Fee.”

ABANDONING PIER STOP IS BAD BUSINESS RICK ANDERSON, San Clemente Pier Bowl Merchants Association

Twenty years ago, Jerry Lehman and I worked together with the city of San Clemente, Metrolink, the Orange County Transportation Authority, Riverside County Transportation Commission, California Coastal Commission and several more stakeholders on an experiment to bring three Metrolink trains from the Inland Empire during the summer of 1996 to the San Clemente Pier. We branded it as, “The Beach Train.” Now 20 years later it’s proven to be a huge success. So much that Metrolink now maintains the pier stop regularly throughout the year. Additionally, Amtrak has adopted the train platform and resumed service to San Clemente that it had abandoned for over a decade due to no approved platform at the pier. Amtrak does not stop at North Beach as it’s not their station; it remains unknown if they could or would. However, Metrolink stops at both stations.

Metrolink is served by Measure M gasoline tax dollars and the five counties of Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Riverside. The Beach Train was a way to introduce and provide a benefit to the majority of the Southern California population, from the commuter train for those who did not use the service they were paying for through their Measure M gas taxable purchases. We in business call this a win-win situation.

Also throughout the vast Metrolink train system, the San Clemente Pier is the only station where when you arrive, you have arrived at a visitor serving commercial destination opportunity. A huge dominating factor to the California Coastal Commission. Which should also be a considering factor to this city as it attempts to adopt its Local Coastal Plan from the Coastal Commission. I’m not so sure the Costal Commission would consider the North Beach parking lot an acceptable alternative destination—because a ticket Kiosk does not work.

The Metrolink trains provide cleaner visitor auto volume, reduced pollution and eliminate concentrated freeway traffic pressures to access our Southern California pier to thousands of visitors weekly, without taking up one limited beach, restaurant or downtown business parking space!

This fact was highlighted when I received an award from the Air Quality Management District for reducing pollution, congestion and traffic on our freeways. That was on June 27, 1998 as I dedicated and gave the new 100 percent Page 10

volunteer-built pier train platform, valued at $250,000 to the city of San Clemente. As the organizer and general contractor along with several local volunteers and business owners who chipped in, we built the 510-foot-long platform in seven working days around moving trains.

Now our City Council is considering closing the pier station and defaulting to North Beach for single-stop service. The only explanation being the ticketing kiosk at the pier is confusing and doesn’t work, and the desire to support North Beach business including the new outlet center at Marblehead.

What about downtown? The Pier Bowl merchants? Casa Romantica? The highlyregarded and protected “T Zone?” And don’t forget all of the center city restaurant’s and small business that depend on tourism dollars in the stronger summers, in order to be able to survive the slower winters that allow them to remain in business to service the rest of our town year after year? Especially at this point and time when they need city support now more than any time in our history.

I just can’t understand it at all. I’ve heard the train service at the pier no longer has an economic impact, “No visitors come up Del Mar anymore.” Perhaps those with that opinion should to talk to the businesses. Every five years a new generation of visitors’ kids are born. Kids are coming today with parents for the first time—kids who weren’t even born 20 years ago—to explore our town, spend money, and return. They do not tax us, we tax them. They provide jobs and income to the city.

The Pier Bowl Merchants Association, Downtown Business Association, San Clemente Historical Society and San Clemente Chamber of Commerce all oppose the proposed abandonment of the pier station. Our chamber has already contacted Senator Pat Bates and Assemblyman Bill Brough’s office for their support. This is unprecedented that any City Council would treat their local business in this manner.

As the city grapples with how to replenish its pier beach sand they must consider part of the qualifying need of government support calculation from the Army Corps of Engineers was based on tourism headcounts to the beach. Metrolink passengers were considered in the formula. The only other way to replenish the beach is to have each visitor bring a bucket of sand with them and then walk it to the pier.

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

SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: Lew’s Views by Lew Avera

Marine Deployment to a Very Real Place: Part II

L

ast month I wrote of an overnight assembly of a special Marine company in 1956, its journey to the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, North Carolina, and its staging to board eight USMC C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft for a journey to an unknown location for an unknown period of time.

Twenty-five Marines were loaded aboard each of the aircraft along with the weapons, live ammunition and hand grenades. The aircraft were configured as re-fuelers with large fuel tanks taking up most of the room, but with tight web seats along both sides of the main body, there was just enough room on each plane for the 25 Marines. We departed in serial order, about 15 minutes between planes.

The pilots knew where we were headed; however, the Marines, including the company commander, did not.

Our first stop turned out to be the Naval Air Station in Gander, Newfoundland for refueling. We then proceeded across the Atlantic, still not knowing where we were going, with the next stop at Lajes in the Azores Islands. It was only here that we learned our final destination, Port Lyautey, Morocco, also known as Kenitra. With all of the weapons and live ammo aboard, we expected to jump off of the planes into battle, but, this was not quite the case.

Lyautey/Kenitra was a group of joint Naval bases occupied and shared with the French military about 80 miles north of Casablanca. It included a large U.S. Naval Air Station, U.S. Seaport, a forward U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot that stored all the nuclear weapons for the U.S. Sixth Fleet, a Hospital and one of eight communications stations/links in the U.S. Navy worldwide communications system.

Nearby was a U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command bomber base with nuclear capability. Morocco had been occupied by the French after liberation from Germany in World War II, but it had recently given Morocco its’ independence.

The key variable in all of this is while France had given Morocco its independence, France would not leave Morocco and continued to occupy the country militarily, and of course, residing on bases with the United States. The Moroccans had enough of it and were threatening to drive France out of the country with military force.

One story was the Moroccans had driven a tank column up to the gate of the ammunition depot where our U.S. nuclear weapons were stored, guarded by U.S. and French Marines. The Moroccans allegedly lowered the guns on the tanks and threatened to “blow” the French out of country if they did not leave. Another story was on several occasions local Moroccans had Page 12

been apprehended in the large antenna fields of the communications sites, destroying the antennae necessary for the sites to function.

There was a permanent detachment of 400 U.S. Marines stationed at Lyautey/ Kenitra, with families for three years in a peaceful setting. However, the situation had obviously escalated beyond their capabilities, thus the reason for our deployment. While we did not depart the aircraft “firing LEW’S VIEWS our weapons” we did

By Lew Avera deploy for the next four months until early March 1957, securing these bases. I, along with 50 Marines, was assigned to the two communications sites and we were able to protect them from further damage. In doing so we apprehended a number of Moroccans attacking and attempting to destroy the sites.

Our return trip home, in 1957, with these same C-119 Flying Boxcars, in need of refueling along the way, was via an Air Force base near London, England for 24 hours. We did some quick site seeing into London on the train and Keflavik, Iceland where it was 15 degrees below zero, and then back to Cherry Point. While we did not engage in an actual shooting war, it was a wonderful experience to assemble and work together with these Marines in protecting our country from the possible violence and havoc, which at that time in history were just around the corner. There is a plethora of info on this location and these facilities on the Internet.

Lew Avera is a retired career officer, Lt. Col., U.S. Marine Corps. He has been a director of the Talega HOA since 2003 and served on the San Clemente Planning Commission from 2005 to 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

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat Friday, Aug. 29 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso Jim Getz, Retired Seniors Volunteer Program coordinator for San Clemente, will be this week’s guest. He’ll discuss some of the program’s activities and benefits it provides for the city. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Eric Heinz every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

EDITOR’S PICK

TACO TUESDAY WITH DJ BAIT 8:30 p.m.-midnight. Every Tuesday at The Swallow’s Inn. $1 street tacos 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., $2 Bud/Bud Light drafts, $2 shot/drink specials, $5 Abreojos margaritas and shots, $2 regular tacos. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 27 OPEN ARTIST STUDIO 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy a creative workspace alongside a community of artists. Free.

Ages 16 and up. San Clemente Art Supply, 1531 N. El Camino Real, 949.369.6603, www.scartsupply.com.

Friday | 28 CONCERT & MOVIE IN THE PARK 6 p.m. The Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation and City of San Clemente host a concert and movie in the park. The evening features live music from Wigs and Ties and a showing of The LEGO Movie.

Fun on the Run will provide games and activities during the concert. Also, enjoy food from food trucks and popcorn for the movie. Entrance for this event is free. 400 Linda Lane, San Clemente, 949.361.8264, www. san-clemente.org.

SAN CLEMENTE VARSITY FOOTBALL AT SAN JUAN HILLS 7 p.m. San Clemente Tritons football takes on San Juan Hills for the first game of the season. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for elementary students 10 and younger, $5 for visiting students with ASB and $8 for all students without. Preschool children and home students with ASB get in free. 29211 Vista Montana, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.5900, www.tritonfootball.com.

“I’M A SHOE ANGEL” PRESENTS CRUISE 4 SHOES 8 p.m. The inaugural Cruise 4 Shoes event seeks to raise money to provide new shoes

Tuesday | 01

Photo: File by Eric Heinz

SATURDAY, AUG. 29: SAN CLEMENTE LIBRARY GRAND OPENING 9:30 a.m. After more than a year of remodeling, the San Clemente Library will host a grand opening ceremony. Live music will be provided by El Mariachi Zacatecas, and the Friends of the San Clemente Library Bookstore will be open. 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sc. to kids in need. The event will take place in Dana Point Harbor and is a night of food, drinks, rhythm and fun on the water.

The organization partners with BIG5 Capistrano Beach and services the Boys & Girls Clubs in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. Tickets are $25 per person and are available for purchase online.

34675 Golden Lantern, Dock 1, Dana Point, www.imashoeangel.com.

Saturday | 29 FAMILY FAIR Noon-5 p.m. Food trucks, a concert, games, prizes, petting zoo, face painting, balloon art and more. Admission is free. $1 game tickets may be purchased. Mountain View Church, 32222 Del Obispo, San Juan Capistrano. www.mvclife.com THE CHOLULAS 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente,

949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

Sunday | 30 LIVE LIKE NICK 5K RUN/WALK 7 a.m. Participate in a fun and healthy way and help contribute to The Nick Pasquale Foundation and San Clemente High School Athletics. Open to all ages. 700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, 949.492.4165 www.livelikenick5k.com.

DANA POINT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 2:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Live music by DC Babylon & The Hanging Gardens Band (jazz and rock) and The Springsteen Experience-The Ultimate Tribute to the Boss at the city’s annual summer concert series.

Bands take the stage at Heritage Park.

Admission is free. Attendees may take the free Dana Point PCH Trolley from other areas in Dana Point to the concert.

Heritage Park, 34400 Old Golden Lantern, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

CAPT. DAVE’S WHALE WATCHING Times vary. Trips available every day of the week. Get up close to marine life aboard a Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari trip. Prices vary depending on the vessel. Call for more information. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.

Wednesday | 02 NATIVE AMERICAN BASKET WEAVING 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn about the traditions and culture of basket weaving at Mission San Juan Capistrano. First and third Wednesday of every month. Free with paid admission. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

UPCOMING: SUNDAY SEPT. 6 VILLAGE ART FAIRE 9a.m. The Village Art Faire is held on the first Sunday of every month and is put on by the Downtown Business Association.

Stroll and shop Avenida Del Mar where more than 60 vendors will have arts, crafts and other items. Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.395.7008, www.villagesanclemente.org/village-art-faire.

For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.sanclementetimes.com.

Have an event? Send your listing to events@sanclementetimes.com

At the Movies: ‘She’s Funny That Way’ is Kinda Screwy

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

fter 20 years of struggling to get the film off the page and onto the screen, film legend Peter Bogdanovich’s She’s Funny That Way was finally released this month. The movie was originally co-written in 1994 by Bogdanovich with ex-wife Louise Stratten, and then it went through many stages of recasting from 2003-2012 before production finally went through in 2013. But the film was pushed back from release for two years. While not San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2015

exactly terrible, the throwback screwball comedy isn’t exactly memorably amusing either.

In New York City, eccentric director Arnold Albertson (Owen Wilson) pays for a night with escort Izzy, or “Glow,” (Imogen Poots), then gives her a charitable $30,000 to change her profession and follow her dreams.

Only her dream is to be a stage actress and she coincidently ends up winning a role in his latest play. Meanwhile, the play’s writer, Josh (Will Forte), is living with Izzy’s therapist Jane (Jennifer Aniston), and Arnold’s wife

and Izzy’s co-star, Delta (Kathryn Hahn) is attracted to the male lead, Seth (Rhys Ifans).

Cybill Shepherd, Illeana Douglas and Richard Lewis also make appearances in this all-star cast. What’s remarkable about She’s Funny is primarily Poots’ performance, which is charming and impressive, as are Forte’s scenes alongside her. But both acts are wasted on a comedy that isn’t very funny, and although Bogdanovich attempts to pay homage to old Hollywood glamorous nostalgia, his direction comes across as

Page 15

more outdated and stale, unfortunately.

The longawaited She’s Funny That Way sadly has too much going and not enough naturalism for its great cast. SC

Photo: Courtesy

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY GUEST OPINION: Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

Older Singles Do Find Love

T

Troop 737 Scouts (L to R) Andrew Stefaniak, Josh Vollebregt, Christian Wentzel, Jason Keany, Johnny Burick, William Hirsh and Kyle Burick hike toward the peak Tooth of Time in the background. Not pictured: Bo Burick and Dr. Jim Keany. Photo: Courtesy of Bo Burick

Elevating Experiences Outdoors Local Boy Scouts trek 50 miles through New Mexico wilderness

BY BO BURICK, ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER, TROOP 737

A

crew of seven teenage Scouts and two adult leaders went on a lifechanging trek through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Philmont covers 214 square miles of vast wilderness with trails that climb from 6,500 feet above sea level to as high as 12,441 feet.

During their trek, the Troop 737 crew hiked 50 miles over six days.

They backpacked with everything needed to survive while hiking from camp to camp. The Scouts participated in backcountry programs such as rock climbing, trail construction, blackpowder rifle shooting and blacksmithing. The trek included a conservation project where they learned

and participated in the upkeep of Philmont’s ecosystem. Not only was the New Mexico backcountry challenging and beautiful, but the entire group learned many things.

The first challenge was hiking over several peaks, through heat, rain, hail, thunder and lightning at high altitudes through bear and mountain lion territory.

The even greater challenge was for all crew members to come together and truly work as a cohesive unit.

The Scouts shared all forms of duties, such as carrying equipment and food, cooking, cleaning, securing water, setting camp, hanging bear bags and on-trail navigation. Most often, these duties had to be performed at the end of a long day of hiking in foul weather and in the dark.

Through these efforts the crew acquired the memories and experiences they will carry with them for the rest of their lives and shape their futures.

Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America’s premier high adventure camp and the largest youth camp in the world, serving more than 1 million participants since 1938.

Troop 737 crew included Bo Burick, Kyle Burick, Johnny Burick, William Hirsh, Dr. Jim Keany, Jason Keany, Andrew Stefaniak, Josh Vollebregt and Christian Wentzel. SC

SCENE { IN S AN CLE M E NTE }

A memorial for Jane Yagi was spotted Friday on the hiking trails near the Outlets at San Clemente.

According to social media accounts, Yagi was a frequenter of the trails.

The memorial reads Yagi was a “loving wife and mother.” Photo: Norb Garrett San Clemente Times August 27–September 2, 2015

his week, a woman named Merijoe emailed, “Between all of the articles you’ve written, plus the Finding Love After 50 Facebook group, and the meet and greets at Tutor and Spunky’s Deli, did anyone actually get together with someone or become a couple?”

Her question took me aback. My gosh, I thought, I’ve been writing about finding love after 50 for 22 years and she wonders if my material has helped anyone find a mate.

In those 22 years, I’ve written upward of 3,500 newspaper articles and enewsletters, and published three printed books and multiple ebooks on the finding love subject. I even married one couple. Chances are, I’ve likely helped a few couples find each other.

Take the meet and greets at Tutor and Spunky’s. In the two years since those were implemented, I am aware of 32 people (16 couples) who met there. Now whether all of them are still together, I can’t say, but it is a nice to know that 32 people found happiness by meeting there.

The age range of the couples range in age from the mid-50s to 93.

At the Heritage Park concert last Sunday, I ran into Robert, a longtime friend of mine. He said, “I’m here today with my girlfriend, the one I met at your meet and greet two years ago.”

Also, I would like to think that my appearances on the “Today Show” and my interview with Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America” helped bring a few couples together.

I have been a speaker at the American Association of Retired Persons national conventions five times. Usually, 500 to 600 singles attended those presentations. I know at least one couple met at one of my speeches when I made the people introduce themselves to those sitting around them. That couple came back the next year and told me they met because I nudged them to shake hands the year before.

On the Finding Love After 50 Facebook page, which I started 10 weeks ago, about 350 people have joined. Have any of them met a mate there yet? I don’t think so. But the 350 people have made new friends they otherwise would not. And when older singles start making new friends, who knows to where that might lead?

I am not a date-matching service; oneto-one introductions and fix-ups haven’t worked well for me. I’ll leave that to the big companies like Match, eHarmony, Our Time and the multitude of others.

As we age, people find getting out harder and harder to do.

In 22 years, my No. 1 piece of advice for singles 50 and older hasn’t changed. To improve one’s chances of meeting a mate later in life, both men and women have to get off the couch and out of the house and pursue activities they enjoy; they need to meet new people.

Waiting around for a ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 potential mate to appear

By Tom Blake doesn’t work. It takes time, effort, energy and a positive attitude to make something happen.

When that happens, I’ll be able to report to Merijoe that another couple has gotten together as a result of our encouragement.

How many over the years? Enough to make what I do rewarding and ongoing.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his website at www.findingloveafter60.com. To comment, email 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

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 Page 16

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

www.sanclementetimes.com

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

2411 S. El Camino Real, 949.485.4979, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

AIR CONDITIONING

Oasis Heating & Air

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

APPLIANCES

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

APPLIANCE SERVICES & REPAIRS

ASAP Appliance Service

3200 Legendario, 949.361.7713, www.asapapplianceservice.com

ART GALLERIES

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

BOOKS

Village Books

99 Avenida Serra, 949.492.1114, www.DowntownSanClemente.com

CHIROPRACTIC

Thompson Chiropractic

629 Camino De Los Mares, Suite 104, 949.240.1334, www.thompson-chiro.com

CHOCOLATE/CANDY

Schmid’s Fine Chocolate

99 Avenida Del Mar, 949.369.1052, www.schmidschocolate.com

CONCRETE

Costa Verde Landscape

Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com

DENTISTS

William Brownson, D.D.S.

3553 Camino Mira Costa, Ste B, 949.493.2391, www.drbrownson.com

Eric Johnson, D.D.S.

647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, www.drericjohnson.com

Kristen Ritzau DDS

122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.498.4110, www.KristenRitzauDDS.com

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING

Organics Out Back

949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com

ELECTRICAL

Arcadia Electric

949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com

FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

IMAGES/Creative Solutions

117 Del Gado Road, 949.366.2488, www.imgs.com

HARP LESSONS & RENTALS

Wendy-Harpist

949.482.9025, www.orangecountyharpist.com

HAULING

Cheapest Hauling

Call Robert 949.973.6288

HEATING

Oasis Heating & Air

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

HOME DÉCOR

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

LANDSCAPING

Costa Verde Landscape

Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com

MATTRESSES

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

MORTGAGES

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100!

RESTAURANTS

Café Calypso

114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

SALONS

Salon Bamboo

150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, 949.361.3348, www.salonbamboo.com

Contact Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, www.scsalonbleu.com

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD

1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com

PLUMBING

Bill Metzger Plumbing

929 Calle Negocio Suite D, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzgerplumbing.com

Chick’s Plumbing

949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing.com

POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL

SC Pool & Spa Works

1311 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.7665, www.scpoolworks.com

Radiant Pool & Spa Service Lic # 985800, 949.290.5616, www.radiantpoolservice.com

REAL ESTATE

Marcie George Star Real Estate South County

949.690.5410, marciegeorge@cox.net

Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

GARAGE SALES

Write-up of 50 words with logo.

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PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

CLASSIFIEDS

Salon Bleu

Syrens Hair Parlor

217 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. E, 949.361.9006, www.syrens.com

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

32032 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.5683, www.cvcs.org

SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

SWIMMING SCHOOL

Waterbabies Swim School

142 Avenida Granada, 949.488.2512, www.waterbabiesswimschool.com

TERMITES

Colony Termite Control

1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com

WEBSITE DESIGN

San Clemente Website Design

949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

“Sandy & Rich” - ReMax

949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com

Brian Wiechman, Equity Coast Mortgage A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage 949.533.9209, www.equitycoastmortgage.com

GARAGE SALE – SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH Furniture, Tools, Electric and Miscellaneous. 8 am to 12 pm. 2955 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, CA 92673 GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE!

Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com.

Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

HELP WANTED HIRING Looking for an individual with 3-4 years experience for a shift leader at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in San Clemente. Flexible hours a +ve,please send your resume to samer.rufail@ menchiesfroyo.com

REAL ESTATE *** BE YOUR OWN LANDLORD *** Why rent when you can own?

FREE list of homes available with a free special report. http://www.SoCalPropertyInfo.com

SERVICES HANDYMAN CHRIS Flat screen TV’s installed, anything Electrical, Plumbing, Finish Carpentry, Drywall Repairs, Mold and Wood Rot issues, Waterproofing, Decks and Patio covers repaired, Doors, Windows, Kitchens and Baths, Water Damage Restoration, Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication and Much More. Phone Chris – 949 510 6645 WOOD DECK REPAIR WIZZARD Wood Rot Repair Certified Specialist, Wood Decks, Balconies, Patio Covers + Outside Stairs Repaired / Replaced, New Decking Systems, All work Guaranteed. Phone Chris - 949 510 6645 LOCAL HOUSEKEEPER OR OFFICE CLEANING Reliable, affordable, meticulous. Excellent references.

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MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

SC Rider Supply

520 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0521, www.scridersupply.com

MUSIC LESSONS

Danman’s Music School

949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

OFFICE FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

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San Clemente Times August 27–September 2, 2015

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Football: Tritons Head to the Badlands for Season Opener

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For in-game updates, scores, news and more throughout the season, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

T

he 2015 prep sports season has arrived and on Aug. 28, the San Clemente High School football team will travel to play San Juan Hills for the first time in program history. The Stallions, who call their home stadium “The Badlands,” are fresh off their first-ever run through the South Coast League and an appearance in the first round of the 2014 CIF-SS West Valley Division playoffs.

The game between San Clemente and San Juan Hills is set to start at 7 p.m.

Here are some key storylines to follow heading in to the first game of the season.

BOTTLING UP O’BRIEN San Juan Hills senior quarterback Patrick O’Brien will present a tough opening challenge for the San Clemente defense.

O’Brien vaulted up the recruiting charts over the offseason, displaying his strong arm and physical style of play at passing league tournaments and quarterback events. O’Brien was invited to compete in the Elite 11 quarterback competition and was one of the 18 players looking to make the final 11-man cut line.

Before he headed off to Elite 11, a competition that featured former Triton Sam Darnold in 2014, O’Brien made his college commitment to Nebraska.

O’Brien is a dual-threat quarterback and will be treated as a potential running threat. As a junior, he passed for 2,093 yards, completed 65 percent of his passes and tossed 12 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. On the ground, O’Brien showed his ability to extend drives and confuse defenses. He led the team with 143 carries for 640 yards and 13 scores.

O’Brien’s skills will test every unit on

Scoreboard SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

LIVE LIKE NICK 5K RUN/WALK The second annual Live Like Nick 5K Run/Walk will be held at San Clemente High School on Aug. 30 beginning at 7 a.m. Proceeds from the Live Like Nick 5K will go directly towards the Nick Pasquale Foundation’s charitable initiatives, which include donating scholarships to Triton student-athletes.

Last year, the Live Like Nick 5K raised enough money at the event to fund three scholarships for San Clemente High San Clemente Times August 27-September 2, 2015

Junior Brandon Reaves and the San Clemente High School football team will open its season Aug. 28 on the road against San Juan Hills. Photo: Steve Breazeale

SEARS THE STARTER? The Tritons offensive weapons, like running backs Vlad Dzhabiyev and Brandon Reaves along with tight end Cole Fotheringham, are well known. What isn’t known as of Aug. 27 is the identity of San Clemente’s starting quarterback.

All signs point to junior Jack Sears getting the nod on Friday, but head coach

Jaime Ortiz has maintained that the position is still up for grabs. Sears has been competing against junior Sander Lush and sophomore Doug Jackson in training camp.

Sears was the team’s backup quarterback last season and was also used at receiver, where he caught 12 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Because the Tritons found themselves on the right side of several lopsided victories in 2014, Sears got a small amount of playing time as a backup. He completed 18 of 34 passes for 215 yards last year and was even called upon to perform on the biggest of stages

when Darnold went down with an injury in the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championship game against Trabuco Hills.

Sears took the field in the second half and attempted to keep the Tritons afloat while Darnold recovered. “(Sears) has got that athleticism that you’re looking for in a quarterback. He is one of the better athletes on the team.

How that translates to playing football … that’s the unknown,” Ortiz said. “We saw glimpses of it last year … I think he’s got some special skills in terms of the ability to move that’s at the forefront.”

SC

School student-athletes and donate $5,000 to the school’s athletic department.

The 5K Run/Walk is open to all ages.

Check-in and registration opens at 7 a.m. and the kids 1.5-mile run begins at 8 a.m.

The open race 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. and the masters run/walk 5K starts at 9:15 a.m.

Cost for the kid’s run is $10 and cost for both the open race 5K and masters run/ walk 5K is $36. San Clemente High School students can register for $22. To register for the event, visit www.livelikenick5k. com. For more information on the Nick Pasquale Foundation, visit www.nickpasqualefoundation.com.

VOLLEYBALL San Clemente’s Noah Dyer and the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Volleyball Team finished seventh overall at the 2015 FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championships in Argentina on Aug. 23.

Dyer, a 6-foot-6-inch outside hitter, and the American team defeated China 25-21, 25-23, 25-15 in the seventh-place match on Aug. 23. Dyer had four kills in the team’s final game.

The American team started the tournament off hot, winning their first four poolplay matches against Turkey, Belgium, France and Argentina, respectively. It was the first time in program history a BYNT

finished pool play undefeated in the World Championships.

In the round of 16, team USA defeated Mexico in straight sets.

Team USA hit a speed bump in the quarterfinals, losing to Russia 25-22, 25-20, 25-23.

In the consolation bracket, where the best the Americans could hope to finish was fifth place, Brazil defeated team USA in five sets. The loss to Brazil led to the match against China.

The seventh-place finish is the highest ever for the BYNT in World Championship competition. There were 20 teams in the tournament. SC

the San Clemente defense. The Tritons defensive line is relatively inexperienced and, along with the linebackers, will be charged with containing O’Brien and keeping him from running loose.

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SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

NSSA Explorer Season Underway Three local surfers win at National Scholastic Surfing Association Explorer opening doubleheader

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he end of summer marks the beginning of the amateur contest tours and for three local surfers, the new National Scholastic Surfing Association Explorer season marked their first victories of the new year.

The NSSA Explorer season kicked off with a doubleheader in San Diego at Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier on Aug. 22 and 23 in 1- to 3-foot surf.

Taj Lindblad of San Clemente made the most of the back-to-back events, posting double wins in the Menehune division.

Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, also took home two first-place trophies, in Women on Saturday and Girls on Sunday. A third San Clemente surfer, Max Beach, took

RESULTS First-place and local finishers only. For full results, see www.sanclementetimes.com.

NSSA Explorer, Events No. 1, August 22, Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier JUNIORS: 1. Kairi Noro, Japan. BOYS: 1. Max Beach, San Clemente. MENEHUNE: 1. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente; 6.

Ryder Salberg, San Clemente. SUPER GROMS: 1. Hayden Rodgers, Laguna Beach; 3. Makai Bray, San Clemente.

WOMEN: 1. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente. GIRLS: 1.

Samantha Sibley, San Clemente. SUPER GIRLS: 1. Ella McCaffray, Cardiff; 2. Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente.

SUPER SENIORS: 1. Darren Collins, Carlsbad. DUKE: 1.

Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach.

Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, started the NSSA Explorer season with a win in Women on Aug. 22 and Girls on Aug. 23. Photo: Janice Aragon

top honors in Boys division competition in event No. 1, his first ever NSSA win.

“The season opener was awesome—lots of new and familiar faces,” said Janice Aragon, NSSA executive director. “The kids were all pumped to get the contest jersey back on after the summer break. The level of surfing was extremely high, especially because of the smallish challenging conditions, but the kids need to learn how to deal with anything Mother Nature throws at them, and they did. We even saw a perfect heat score of 20 out of 20 posted by Jordy Collins (Oceanside)—a great sign that it’s going to be an exciting season.”

Up next, NSSA Explorer events No. 3 and 4 are set for Sept. 26 and 27 at the Huntington Beach Pier. SC

GROMS OF THE WEEK

JETT SCHILLING, RASMUS KING AND KYUSS KING

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Groms (L to R) Jett Schilling (San Clemente), Rasmus King and Kyuss King (Australia) are all smiles after enjoying one of their final summer sessions at Cottons and Trestles last weekend. Photo: Andrea Swayne

e ran into super-stoked groms— Jett Schilling (12), Rasmus King (10) and Kyuss King (15)— on Sunday, Aug. 23 as they were just finishing up a session at Cottons and Trestles.

Although the waves were small, their smiles were huge as the trio made the most of the final weekend of summer break.

Max Beach, San Clemente, took his first ever NSSA win in the Boys division at event No. 1, Aug. 22 at the Crystal Pier in San Diego. Photo: Janice Aragon

NSSA Explorer, Event No. 2, August 23, Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier JUNIORS: 1. Jordy Collins, Carlsbad. BOYS: 1. Zach McCormick, Del Mar; 4. Max Beach, San Clemente; 6. Liam Murray, San Clemente. MENEHUNE: 1. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente. SUPER GROMS: 1. Hayden Rodgers, Laguna Beach; 2. Makai Bray, San Clemente; 5. Ben Brantell, San Clemente. WOMEN: 1. Rachel Presti, Florida; 3. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente. GIRLS: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad; 4. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente. SUPER GIRLS: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad; 3. Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente; 5. Bella Kenworthy, Dana Point. SUPER SENIORS: 1. Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach. DUKE: 1.

Patrick Schlick, Leucadia. LONGBOARD: 1. Jovan Smith Scott, Huntington Beach. KNEEBOARD: 1. Sean Noone, Alisa Viejo.

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 68-71 degrees F Taj Lindblad of San Clemente won both NSSA Explorer season-opening events No. 1 and No. 2 at Crystal Pier, Aug. 22 and 23. Photo: Janice Aragon

“We got some fun ones,” Rasmus said, as he stood waiting for his brother Kyuss and friend Jett to paddle in.

The three have had some good times together, Jett said, adding that the King brothers have been staying with him and his family while on their annual summer visit from their home in Australia.

While the start of the school year means back to the classroom for many, these athletes are living the “endless summer” dream.

Jett and Kyuss are now in Nicaragua and upon their return next week the King brothers will head home to Oz, where their summer will just be getting started.—Andrea Swayne

Water Visibility and Conditions: 6-10’ Poor-Fair THURSDAY: New SSW swell slowly builds in through the day, along with modest WNW swellmix. Better breaks start the day in the knee-thigh occ. waist high range (1-2+ occ. 3’), with larger sets pushing waist+ for best breaks through the afternoon and evening. Winds are lightest and most favorable in the morning,before a moderate Westerly sea-breeze develops in the afternoon.

OUTLOOK: Fun blend of SSW swell and WNW swell-mix prevail Friday into the weekend. Better breaks are up into the waist-chest high range on sets, with occasional larger peaks for standouts Friday through Sunday around the proper tides.

Favorable morning winds continue. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.