March 9, 2017

LO C A L

N EWS

March 9-15, 2017

YO U

C A N

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SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 12, ISSUE 10

SCHS Spring Sports Preview Triton athletes gear up for new season SPORTS/PAGE 19

Michael McGreevy and the San Clemente High School baseball team look to contend for a South Coast League title in 2017. Photo: Steve Breazeale

City Approves Route, Stops for Summer Trolley Program EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

The Cellar Hosts Evening of Sabrage Lessons SC LIVING/PAGE 16

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Five things San Clemente should know this week City Council Approves Route, Signage for Summer Trolley THE LATEST: As the city prepares for the Summer Trolley Program to kick off, City Council approved the 16 stops on the routes for the trolley at the March 7 meeting.

The route will “start” at the Outlets, where a stop is planned because of the massive parking lot they own, and will travel west on Avenida Pico, south on El Camino Real to Avenida del Mar and the Pier, and then back up the way it came.

Although the route is fairly small, the program from which the grant was received requires the trolley to average 10 riders per hour. If the city is successful in retaining the minimum number of riders, that route could change.

City Council also approved the proposed signage and the official name of the beta ride-share service, “SC Rides with Lyft.”

During the presentation, city officials said the ridership was about 600 for the month of October and increased to 2,000 people riding in January.

The program was designed to fill the void in service left behind when Orange County Transportation Authority discontinued two bus routes in San Clemente, the 191 and 193, which traveled throughout the city.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Summer Trolley will run from noon-10 p.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m.10 p.m. on Saturdays; and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays from Memorial Day weekend, May 26, to Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4.

And with the Lyft signage approved, people should start seeing the new additions to stops and maps along the routes in the near future. In order to activate the service, type in “SC Rides with Lyft” or “SCRIDES” in the promotional segment of the app. —Eric Heinz

Local Jewish Community Targeted in Acts of Vandalism THE LATEST: Rabbi Mendel Slavin and the Chabad Jewish Center of San Clemente were recent targets of bigoted vandalism.

On Friday, Feb. 24, Slavin said one of San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

The routes for the Summer Trolley Program listed in this map were approved by City Council at the Tuesday, March 7 meeting.

Photo: Courtesy of the city of San Clemente/RSM Design

his neighbor’s cars had swastikas, the symbol of the Nazi Party in World War II Germany, spray-painted on his vehicle.

Photos shown to the San Clemente Times confirmed these claims. The Chabad had a mezuzah stolen from one of its doors.

A mezuzah is a parchment scroll with a declaration of faith written on it.

“I want to believe it’s the work of either an ignorant or single hateful person. You would hope there’s no entity or group that would stand behind that,” Slavin said on Tuesday. “Some people conform to a single way of looking, and anyone who looks different (to them) can easily be singled out. Historically, whenever there were problems in a society, they would first blame minorities. It’s a reality and going on all over the world. Europe is seeing a major rise in anti-Semitism. I’m not sure if we’re seeing a rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S. It’s just stories like this are starting to come out. It still remains to be determined who’s behind the bomb threats and the cemetery (desecration).”

In the past few weeks, reports of des-

ecrated Jewish cemeteries and vandalism with swastikas have been popping up throughout the U.S. “There were swastikas on a car parked outside our residence, and the mezuzah that was on our door post was taken off,” Slavin said. “On it is written one of the passages from the bible that we put on every door post. The one that was taken was from Israel when we inaugurated the building.”

Slavin said he has not been able to find another locally, but he has contacted people in Israel.

He said neighbors and community members came by after the incident to show support.

“The thing that struck me and my wife is that the Jewish center is one place, but when it comes close to home, you worry for your children,” Slavin said. “I know this doesn’t represent our community at large because we’ve been here for 13 years and have only had good experiences, from the top of the city to anyone else we have ever met.”

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Slavin said he hasn’t seen many other swastikas in town. He said the ones he had seen have been removed.

“The congregation for the most part wants to make sure that my family is safe and that the center is safe,” he said. “Most of them are adults. Kids may ask, but my kids know what goes on in the world, and they’re not blind to what’s happening. Our first goal is safety.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Slavin said he has neither been contacted by police nor notified of an arrest or citation in the matters that took place in San Clemente.

“Such a thing shouldn’t happen to any group,” Slavin said. “I got a nice voicemail just a little while ago from somebody who didn’t leave his name, but he offered support. As a community, we have to stand up against any forms of hate. The lines get blurred sometimes between trying to enforce the law and crossing over into hatred. That’s a sad reality.”

Slavin said this could also be attributed (Cont. on page 4) www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) to a “false flag” tactic—make one group look bad to support one’s cause.

“There’s a really good chance that this is not the work of racists and anti-Semitists in general. What’s going on could be the opposite,” Slavin said. “People who are not happy with the recent political outcome are trying to make the outcome look as bad as possible. One of the ways of doing that is to blame anti-Semitism. That’s even worse. It causes friction when there is none.” —EH

Funding for City Projects Forecasted to be Tight THE LATEST: For at least the last two years, the outlook for money going toward capital improvement projects in San Clemente has been expected to get tighter in the coming years. This, according to city finance officials, is due to rising expenses the city is expected to incur with necessary maintenance to other projects, increasing costs and other factors. All these issues were discussed during the March 2 Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) meeting.

The city’s general fund money is increasing each year, however, and is expected to continue, especially with the Outlets at San Clemente opening more shops and restaurants, and the Estrella Plaza now mostly filled. But it’s not increasing faster than the anticipated costs.

The city’s reserves are healthy, according to officials, but if the current trends hold, the city will be spending $2 million more of its operating budget than it is expected to make by the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

Assistant City Manager Erik Sund said the city could consider doing studies to either move the current City Hall—which was described as in disrepair—to the city’s offices on Calle Negocio, or to demolish the current building and erect a new one in its place.

The studies to do that, however, would cost a cumulative $550,000. Replacing the current City Hall could also cost tens of millions of dollars.

City officials made it a point during the LTFP meeting to address the Orange County Fire Authority’s pension costs, which will increase 6.1 percent next year and probably 4.5 percent in years after that. This was negotiated last year among OCFA and the county.

The city’s own pension contributions could also see increases in the next few years.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city’s budget workshop and public hearing is scheduled for May 22, and that meeting is open to the public. The city is planning to adopt next year’s budget on June 6.

FIND OUT MORE: The entirety of the city’s Long Term Financial Plan is available at www.san-clemente.org. —EH San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

Ambulance Request for Service Approved by City THE LATEST: City Council voted to seek a contract with a second ambulance service in San Clemente, as the current additional trial year is coming to an end with CARE Ambulance Services.

Council member Chris Hamm spoke about some of the changes he wanted to see, including eliminating a punitive measure that fines EMS entities for what is deemed improper responses to calls.

Hamm is a firefighter with OCFA but was able to comment on the matter because the fire authority stated it would not be seeking to bid for the service. OCFA already has one ambulance in service in San Clemente, but after the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center closed in May, city officials sought to do a trial with CARE Ambulance Services. That one-year agreement will end May 1.

WHAT’S NEXT: Bids can now be accepted by the city, and a hearing on the proposals is expected to take place within the next two months before the CARE contract expires. The request anticipates the bids will cost the city between $500,000 and $625,000 for services. —EH

TV Show ‘American Pickers’ is Coming to Southern California THE LATEST: Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and their team are planning to film episodes of the television series American Pickers throughout the Southern California region in the spring.

The show is a documentary series on The History Channel that explores antique “picking.” Wolfe and Fritz are acclaimed “pickers,” as they hunt for valuable antiques around the United States.

“They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them,” a press release from the show stated. “As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items.”

The release stated Wolfe and Fritz have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something neither they nor most people have seen before.

WHAT’S NEXT: American Pickers representatives are looking for people who would be willing to let them explore their treasures. For more information, call 1.855.OLD.RUST (653.7878) or visit www. antiquearchaeology.com. —Staff Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about? Send your suggestions to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

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EYE ON SC

Community SC Sheriff’s Blotter Meetings COMPILED BY STAFF

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS 2 a.m. Clocks are to be set one hour forward at 2 a.m.

SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday.

Avenida del Mar. TUESDAY, MARCH 14

SUNRISE ROTARY 7:15 a.m. San Clemente Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday at Talega Golf Course Signature Grille. 990 Avenida Talega. www.scsunriserotary.com.

BEACHES, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING 6 p.m. The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission will host its monthly meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio.

949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

SAN CLEMENTE TOASTMASTERS 7 p.m. The club meets every Tuesday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for social and networking time. San Clemente Baha’i Center. 3316 Avenida del Presidente, San Clemente.

805.794.0653. www.sanclementetoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org.

BILY MEETING 7-9 p.m. Meets every Tuesday. Because I Love You helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. Presbyterian Church. 119 Avenida de la Estrella. www.bilysc.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

VFW MEETING 7 p.m. The VFW in San Clemente meets every second Wednesday of the month. Elks Lodge. 1505 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.464.8391. www.vfw7142.com.

SAN CLEMENTE ROTARY Noon. The San Clemente Rotary meets every Wednesday at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course Wedgewood Restaurant. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena.

949.233.7981. www.sanclementerotary.org.

KIWANIS SAN CLEMENTE Noon. Kiwanis San Clemente meets to discuss projects that affect the area.

Tommy’s Restaurant. 1409 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.366.5423. www.sanclementekiwanis.com San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

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, March 5 KEEP THE PEACE El Camino Real, 2400 Block (11:58 p.m.) A woman was refusing to leave, banging on the door and asking to get her property back.

BIKE STOP El Camino Real, 2300 Block (10:51 p.m.) A bicyclist was stopped for not using a headlight.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS El Camino Real, 200 Block (2:52 p.m.) Someone was breaking into vehicles.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida del Mar, 200 Block (2:16 p.m.)

A woman said her neighbor was on her property again and that this was an ongoing problem. The suspect was described as a man in his 30s who was throwing toilet paper on her daughter’s bedroom window.

WELFARE CHECK Monterey Lane, 500 Block (1:46 p.m.) The caller said there was a woman lying in the middle of the street.

The caller said she was rolling down the street.

CITIZEN ASSIST Plaza Estival, 300 Block (1:41 p.m.) A woman was “hysterical” and said she was “scared for her life” because her neighbor’s friend was stealing from her. She said her husband had to keep her from going to their door earlier. Earlier in the day, at 12:44 p.m., it was reported that the woman thought her neighbor was stealing from her because she leaves her doors unlocked.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE S. El Camino Real/Interstate 5 Freeway (12:14 p.m.)

A woman driving a van stalled out and was asking people for assistance. A caller who spotted the woman said “it looks like an ambush,” and asked her if she needed help. The caller asked her to pull over in a certain place. The caller said they were “former military” and that the situation did not “look legit.”

DISTURBANCE-MECHANICAL Calle Contenta, 700 Block (10:20 a.m.) A woman complained about a loud noise that sounded like machinery. The woman said she did not know if it was coming from inside or outside of the home, but she said it had been going on from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. for the last 10 days.

BATTERY REPORT Calle Dulcinea, 800 Block (9:41 a.m.) The caller’s 10-year-old son was reportedly battered the night prior.

DISTURBANCE Avenida del Mar, 200 Block (9:01 a.m.) A man was camped out on the steps of a business and yelling at passersby.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Via Blanco, 2800 Block (8:13 a.m.) Police were called to two people sitting in a white Nissan parked in front of the mailboxes for a few hours. The caller had never seen them before but said it appeared as though they were doing drugs.

Saturday, March 4 DRUNK IN PUBLIC Avenida Pico, 800 Block (11:37 p.m.) Police were called for a young man having a hard time standing up. The young man was believed to be in his late teens and had a beer in his back pocket.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY 0 Block, Calle de la Luna (10:30 p.m.) The caller said minors were partying without their parents.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Estacion, 1700 Block (5:18 p.m.) People were seen throwing rocks and shooting at birds with a slingshot.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Estacion, 1700 Block (3:24 p.m.)

People were seen lighting a fire.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE Calle de los Arboles, 1000 Block (3:48 a.m.) A man was getting ready to start a green Ford but noticed a large amount of marijuana in the back.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 700 Block (2:06 a.m.) A man kicked the caller’s ATM and then started smoking inside the restaurant.

DISTURBANCE El Oriente, 100 Block (1 a.m.) A woman in a silver Chevy said her ex-boyfriend jumped on her car and broke her window.

Friday, March 3 KEEP THE PEACE Buena Vista, 1000 Block (10:06 p.m.) A man wanted to talk about his “bro.”

DISTURBANCE Avenida San Pablo/Avenida Acapulco (10:03 p.m.) Police were called to two carloads of people drinking and being loud.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Montana del Sol/Camino Vera Cruz (9:52 p.m.) A man was sitting in the open trunk of a Toyota.

DRUNK DRIVING Avenida Pico/El Camino Real (9:39 p.m.) Police were called to a drunk driver who was speeding, tailgating drivers and running vehicles off the road.

PEDESTRIAN CHECK Avenida Victoria, 100 Block (9:24 p.m.) A person was acting erratic while walking up and down the street.

DISTURBANCE Camino de los Mares/Camino de Estrella (8:12 p.m.) There was a fight between two people that started inside and then continued outside.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Avenida Victoria, 500 Block (7:53 p.m.) A woman said she interrupted a car burglary and the suspects fled.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Miramar, 200 Block (6:25 p.m.)

A man was looking into windows. The caller said he was in his late 30s, wearing khaki shorts, barefoot, and with a pit bull.

DISTURBANCE Calle Amistad, 100 Block (4:36 p.m.) Police were called to a child bouncing a ball and making noise. The brother of the caller was asking him to be quiet.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Estacion, 1700 Block (1:36 p.m.)

Police were called to a man selling drugs to a woman by the beach trail.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Escalones, 100 Block (9:08 a.m.) There was a person restrained from the home who should not be inside, a caller said.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-NON INJURY El Camino Real, 1700 Block (12:43 p.m.) A man said his vehicle was struck when trees fell off a truck that was transporting them.

DISTURBANCE-FAMILY DISPUTE Avenida Junipero, 100 Block (9:05 a.m.) A man said his “estranged” wife was trying to take items from the residence.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Algodon/100 Block (11:43 p.m.)

The caller said people were going in and out of the business doing drugs inside.

INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN El Camino Real, 2700 Block (12:28 p.m.) Police were called to a man who was lying on the sidewalk halfway into the bushes.

FOUND PROPTERY Corona Lane, 100 Block (8:05 a.m.) A man said he found a pipe for smoking drugs, a hat and a sweatshirt in front of his residence.

DISTURBANCE Camino de los Mares, 600 Block (7:03 p.m.) A man and a woman were reportedly doing heroin in the restroom.

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Thursday, March 2

www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

People participate in the sand sculpting competition on Sunday, March 5, at Baby Beach in Dana Point.

Photo: Kristina Pritchett

News Next Door

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

DANA POINT Second Weekend of Festival of Whales on Tap • The first weekend of the 46th Annual Festival of Whales started with sunshine but ended in rain.

At the Ocean Institute, guests of all ages took a class entitled, “Art and the Sea: Painting.” Participants painted a whale tail on canvas, which they were able to keep as a souvenir.

Out on Baby Beach, organizations like Friends of the Headlands, the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Center and more educated guests on different topics to keep our beaches clean.

Children raced across the sand to search for treasure during the annual Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club’s Diamond Dig. And one boy found the golden treasure of a necklace, donated by Marinelli Fine Jewelry.

Due to the rain, the Whale of a Rubber Ducky Derby was canceled, but the Dana Point Woman’s Club hopes to reschedule the event to next weekend.

The Festival continues March 11 and 12.

There will be a youth art show, a cardboard dinghy race and a clam chowder cook-off. To view the event guide, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. —Staff

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO City Council Approves Skate Park Design, Next Step is Fundraising • The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted unanimousSan Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

ly March 7 to approve a schematic design for a proposed skate park in town, but the project is still far from becoming a reality.

The approval marks the first step in what could be a lengthy fundraising process for the park, which is now estimated to cost about $2 million.

The proposed skate park would be situated at the San Juan Capistrano sports park, off of Via Positiva near Marco Forster Middle School and the city’s community center. Skate park consultant Aaron Spohn of Spohn Ranch was hired by the city to begin working on the design last July. Over the summer, Spohn held community workshops and worked with local organizations and skaters to incorporate their input into a design.

At the Tuesday Council meeting, Spohn Ranch presented the Council with renderings, an outline of the scope of work and an estimated cost for the park, which is just shy of $2 million. With Councilman Brian Maryott absent, the Council was split over proceeding with the design due to the skate park’s cost, which was initially estimated to be about $1 million.

After some debate, the Council agreed to approve the schematic design but to only revisit the project once $1 million has been raised in private donations. With the initial design approved, local groups can now begin actively fundraising and searching for in-kind donations and sponsorships. City staff said they’ll be reaching out to other cities and agencies to inquire about potential partnerships as well. —Allison Jarrell Page 6

EYE ON SC

Two Tales of One City New study contradicts public perception of increased crime in San Clemente

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

W

hen it comes to public safety issues in San Clemente, there is a rift between what data evidence indicates and what it is perceived by the public.

That was the takeaway when San Clemente City Council hosted its annual Long Term Financial Planning workshop on Thursday, March 2, which included discussion of results from the study of public safety issues done by the Matrix Consulting Group, which was hired by the city to conduct the research.

According to the study, San Clemente had a very low rate of violent crime over the course of about six months, but a majority of residents interviewed in the study said they believe crime—any crime—is rising and many said they do not feel safe in the city.

The report identified 60 different recommendations for the city’s police services, which City Council is expected to consider at a later meeting. The suggestions highlighted during the meeting were based on communication with residents as well as crime statistics.

Richard Brady, president of Matrix Consulting Group, said OCSD should work more with the community to develop strategies to address problems and make more efforts to take their concerns into consideration.

“It’s a process of engagement that says, ‘We’re not going to run away from people who are vociferously concerned about crime and safety in the community,’” Brady said. “You’ve got to do that on an ongoing, weekly basis and quarterly basis.”

Brady said there must be strategies developed that demonstrate to citizens that their concerns are being heard and that their opinions matter.

“When you look at the top-10 types of things that the sheriffs have to respond to, none of them are crimes. They’re all quality-of-life service types of things,” Brady said. “Those 10 things represent 60 percent of the workload that they’re handling. Even during peak times, the calls for service don’t get (more than) above three calls per hour. That leaves a lot of time for proactive things.”

Deputies in San Clemente have more time to be proactive, the study stated, meaning they’re not dealing with issues related to complex cases or constant calls to more complex or dangerous situations.

San Clemente Times March 9–15, 2017

A San Clemente Police Services car sits in front of City Hall on Tuesday, March 7, prior to a City Council meeting. Following the presentation of a police services study on March 2, officials said they will look at creating a task force to address crime in San Clemente. Photo: Eric Heinz

SAN CLEMENTE CRIME STATISTICS Violent Crime Statistics: The Matrix Study, based on Unified Crime Reporting statistics from the FBI, shows violent crime in San Clemente rose 44 percent in five years, but this is in part due to the FBI’s redefinition of rape, officials with Matrix Consulting said.

The definition is now a broader definition; because of this, Brady said, the statistics are deceptively higher.

Property Crime Statistics: Property crimes have been reportedly decreasing over a five-year trend, down 11 percent since 2011.

But San Clemente is still slightly above the average number of confirmed property crime rates and nonviolent crime compared to Orange County cities of similar size.

The results of the study by Matrix Consulting Group were compiled over the course of about six months with town hall meetings, consensus studies and an online survey. The results of the study and recommendations from Matrix are available at www.san-clemente.org/home/ showdocument?id=35806 between pages 97 and 110 of the document.

Brady said instances of violent crimes or felony offenses are fairly rare in San Clemente.

David Moodie, chief of San Clemente Police Services, said Prop 47, which made possession of narcotics and other nonviolent crimes ineligible for jail time, has contributed to “transient” crimes and petty offenses. The effects of Prop 57, which is expected to release many more nonviolent inmates, will also result in increased incidents, Moodie said.

“People are satisfied with the service, but they’re scared,” Brady said. “Police visibility was an issue for about 50 percent of people who responded to the survey.”

Despite these findings, the survey found that 71 percent of the approximately 500 people surveyed are convinced crime in San Clemente is getting “worse” or “much worse.” Brady said 18 percent of those surveyed did not feel safe or comfortable walking around town in broad daylight.

“I can appreciate the survey, and I want to thank the city for doing the survey.

It helps us see what the citizens feel,” Moodie said. “Sometimes we don’t get that litmus test from our daily activity and citizens in general. We’re going to try to work harder to rectify that problem.”

Moodie said during the meeting that he intends to create a police task force and

hopefully an advisory committee in the near future in order to involve the public and address their concerns. These entities would serve as extensions to community members, but not as direct policymakers.

The organization of the task force will be discussed at the March 22 City Council meeting, which will include figuring out what parts of San Clemente should be represented. The panel could include two members of City Council, business representatives, local nonprofits, at-large citizens and those with other specific backgrounds.

Chatter on social media regarding crime in San Clemente was criticized during the meeting. Moodie specifically mentioned an incident that took place Monday where two people in a minor traffic accident confronted one another. As that was going on, a man who wasn’t wearing shoes jumped in one of the cars. People jumped to conclusions by posting that this was a carjacking, but that was dismissed by the chief.

Moodie said traffic concerns are common, particularly speeding, which is responsible for most accidents. The chief also said the number of accidents have gone down 19.7 percent since last year, and hit-and-run accidents are also down 34 percent since last year in San Clemente.

“We’re doing something right because we’re reducing accidents,” Moodie said.

Council member Steve Swartz said he would be in support of combining the contracted services with Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano in order to make more deputies available to all cities and to make the area more competitive in asking for additional deputies. OCSD already responds to assist other communities, but each city’s division is separate.

In order to add enough deputies or pay overtime to have the consistent 44 percent rate of time when officers can be proactive, that could cost an additional $750,000 per year to the city. San Clemente is already facing a 6.1 percent increase in costs to police services from last year and 4.1 percent in incremental cost increases after that.

The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs negotiated those increases last year.

Other issues discussed at the meeting pertained to the perceived increase of homelessness in San Clemente. The point-in-time count, where volunteers took measure of the homeless population in January, will be tallied by mid-May. Prior to the meeting, several members of the public reiterated desires from past public meetings to increase the number of deputies in San Clemente.

San Clemente Times will have more on the Long Term Financial Plan next week. SC

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www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

Casa Romantica Unveils ‘The Beauty of the Butterfly’ Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens recently unveiled “The Beauty of the Butterfly,” a bronze and acrylic outdoor sculpture in the Richard and Donna O’Neill Native Garden.

The sculpture was commissioned by Casa Romantica and created by Omahabased, internationally-recognized contemporary artist Matthew Placzek.

“The Beauty of the Butterfly” was made possible by the donation of William and Eunice Schafer, who contributed $15,000 to Casa Romantica for this work. The Schafers have volunteered actively at Casa Romantica for over a decade and wished for their legacy to gift the public with art and nature while visiting the Casa. The subject of the sculpture is a perfect fit for the Schafers, who helped transform a Casa Romantica garden into a registered Monarch Butterfly Waystation.

William Schafer is known locally as “Butterfly Bill.” During school tours and weekly story time events, he teaches children about the life cycle of Monarch butterflies and brings living examples from his home and the Casa gardens.

“During his research, Bill was dismayed to discover that habitat loss and the preference for non-native flowers was drastically diminishing the population of Monarch butterflies in Southern California,” a press release from the Casa stated. “He began planting, gifting and selling bushes of California milkweed, a primary food source for the local species, to the San Clemente community. Today, the Schafer’s efforts have aided the return of the butterflies to San Clemente.”

“Their presence here is a measure of a healthy ecosystem,” Bill said.

For more information about Casa Romantica and its programs, visit www.casaromantica.org.

Veterans of Foreign Wars to Host ‘Lioness’ Screening The San Clemente VFW Post 7142 will present Lioness, a documentary about a group of female Army support soldiers, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at the San Clemente Library, located at 242 Avenida del Mar. The public, military and veterans are invited to attend. The program is free.

Lioness tells the story of a group of female Army support soldiers who were part of the first program in American history to send women into direct ground combat.

The documentary explores the unexpected consequences that occurred when Army women sent to defuse tensions with local civilians were forced into fighting alongside Marine combat units in the streets of Ramadi, unequipped with the training their San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

‘The Beauty of the Butterfly’ was commissioned by Casa Romantica. Funds for the piece were donated by Eunice and William Schafer, seen here. Photo: Eric Heinz

male counterparts had received.

Ethni Case, who was assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing Lioness program during her second tour in Iraq, will speak at the event.

“During these operations, Case supervised successful operation of traffic control points serving with a team who searched upwards of 150 civilians and vehicles daily in addition to detaining insurgents,” a press release from the VFW Post 7142 stated, adding that they were lucky to have Case and other service women attend the event.

Case currently works as a recovery care coordinator for service members at the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton.

FAM Offering Free Income Tax Preparation

CHOC Los Niños Guild to Host Annual Fundraiser The Children’s Hospital of Orange County Los Niños Guild will hold its annual fundraiser at Bella Collina Golf Club from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, March 9.

About 200 people are expected to attend.

The event will include bingo, raffle baskets and auction items. Los Niños Guild officials said $45,000 has been pledged to CHOC at Mission Hospital, and they hope to donate more.

San Clemente Springtime Eggs-travaganza On Friday, March 18, children 3 to 5 years old can celebrate spring by coloring eggs, making crafts, going on an egg hunt and meeting the Easter bunny. The event will be fully staffed with child supervision.

Parents are welcome to stay and enjoy the event, but are not required to. Register online at www.san-clemente.org/recreation.

Admission is $15 per child. Event runs from 10 a.m. to noon at Tierra Grande Park, located at 399 Camino Tierra Granda, San Clemente.

Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) is offering free income tax preparation for those who make $60,000 or less through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Appointments are available at FAM’s Resource Center, located at 1030 Calle Negocio, on Saturdays now through April 8 from 9 a.m.-noon. For more information and to set up an appointment, call 949.492.8477.

Friends Foundation to Hold Seventh Annual Golf Tournament

San Clemente Student Receives Honors at USD Alison Oliver achieved recognition for Second Honors from University of San Diego. Oliver is a 2016 San Juan Hills High School graduate but was educated in San Clemente schools during elementary and middle school.

The Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation is asking golfers to register as soon as possible for its golf tournament on Friday, June 23, at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course.

Proceeds from the event are invested in

Page 8

the city’s youth program “Fun-on-theRun,” which takes a traveling bus to neighborhoods throughout the community.

It also funds scholarships for children’s recreational and sports programs. The tournament is a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start with on-course challenges, such as closest to the pin, longest drive and others.

Foursomes are $500, singles are $150, and dinner is $40. Drinks and food are served continuously on the course. For more information, registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit the Foundation’s website at www.friendsofsanclemente.org or contact them at 949.370.1224. More than 100 people participated in last year’s competition.

Revelation 7:9 Racial Unity Breakfast Guest speaker Terence Chatmon, CEO of Fellowship of Companies for Christ International, will talk during a free breakfast at Capo Beach Church from 8-10 a.m. on March 18. Chatmon will speak about racial reconciliation in his speech,“Why We Must Love Beyond.” Register to attend the event before March 15. Revelation 7:9, a San Clemente-based group looking to end racism in Orange County and across state lines, will host the event. For more information, email Larry Prudholme at finishwell777@gmail.com. Registration is available at www.eventbrite.com. Capo Beach Church is located at 25975 Domingo Avenue in Dana Point.

Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: The View from the Pier by Herman Sillas

Getting Back Up after a Fall in Life

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624

I

phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.sanclementetimes.com

n July 2016, I became unconscious and remained that way for two weeks in the hospital. At that time, I was the legal conservator for a client who was being cared for at a senior facility. She had a room and received her meals, medicine and adequate care. My duty was to assure payment for her service with my client’s funds that I maintained. Because of my inability to function, I was replaced as legal conservator for my client.

Cora became my appointed conservator by the court. She read all the instructions pertaining to serving in that capacity. In the meantime, I had recovered and was trying to recollect all the things that I had experienced.

Day by day, I became stronger, in spite of the fact that I didn’t know what happened. I still have no memory of the lost time.

I was then transferred to a facility.

There, I began to relearn how to walk, take exercises on machines, to use my arms and legs. Finally, I was released to our home with the understanding that I must comply with instructions. I exercised every day.

Cora accompanied me daily or had one of our kids accompany me. Eventually, my condition improved and I could walk by myself. As a matter of fact, in early December, I offered to cook breakfast. But unfortunate-

ly, that was the day that I broke my right leg, again. I was ambulanced to the hospital.

Cora was still my legal guardian. She had to take me on again. This was hard for an old Mexican like me. I was 82 years old.

I didn’t want to practice law anymore, and so I advised my remaining clients of this decision. A date had been set by the court for a hearing to determine if I would be allowed to be in charge of my own life or if it would remain in Cora’s control. To compound the situation, I fell on the floor in our house in December and cracked my hip. I was unable to walk and started all over THE VIEW the process of being able FROM THE PIER

By Herman Sillas to walk again. I have specialists who visit my home to instruct me how to walk again.

My return to court was scheduled for Feb. 28, 2017. I know Cora hated to be burdened with what she had to do as my conservator. On the other hand, she was able to speak with a certain amount of authority, because I was her responsibility, in the eyes of a court. Cora advised me that she was willing to give me back my life.

I prepared myself for court. I felt like I

needed to be prepared to give the court all the reasons why it should dismiss the case. I would have to go in a wheelchair.

I’d wear a tie and coat and be prepared to address the court if I had to. My wife was entitled to be relieved.

The judge called our case. We stepped forward to face our fate. Our attorneys said that we were prepared to end the custodian, and there would be no accounting required. The court thanked us. We exited the court room and thanked our attorneys.

When we were outside the court, I turned to Cora and said, “Now, I’m free!”

“You were always free,” she said.

“No, I wasn’t. You were the boss. I was at your mercy.”

Cora smiled, “If you say so. Just make sure you do your exercises.”

I smiled. She knew how to make me do what she wanted. That’s the view from the Pier.

Herman Sillas is an author and resident of San Clemente and a former U.S. District attorney. He may be reached at sillas@aol. com. SC

Letters to the Editor

While most of the hospital costs will be covered by insurance, long-term care and staying in an assisted living facility is not covered. Jamie will need care 24 hours a day for the remainder of her life. She will also require expensive equipment including a wheel chair, transportation and accessible facilities and other modifications to her home.

A GoFundMe page has been established, and family members are looking for any assistance to help defray the costs of care. Visit www.gofundme.com/ JamieFeuer?u=13008014 for more information.

Our elected representative, Congressman Darrell Issa, has thus far flip-flopped between calling for an independent investigation and then voting against an independent investigation. A lot of voters are asking: did he choose party politics over national security? If the Russian interference in our elections is true, we will have a crisis much larger than Watergate on our hands. Darrell Issa must understand this is not the time to play politics; this is the time for truth.

HELP SAN CLEMENTE WOMAN PARALYZED IN ACCIDENT JILL VANDERZIEL, San Clemente

On December 1 of this past year, San Clemente resident Jamie Feuer’s vehicle was rear-ended while stopped at a freeway on-ramp light in San Clemente. She was rushed to Mission Viejo Hospital where she had surgery on her neck and spent the next four weeks in the intensive care unit. Despite all of the efforts of the doctors and nurses, the violent accident broke her neck and severed her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down.

Jamie and her husband, Todd, first moved to the community of Talega in 2001. They were active in the community, attended the Talega Association meetings and are well-known to many residents.

Jamie lived a very active lifestyle and enjoyed working out at the local gym and walking her dogs. She supported her local businesses and was a business owner herself of Distinctive Designs.

San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

WE, THE VOTERS, NEED THE FACTS HEIDI CASCARDO, Ladera Ranch

The story of the Trump administration’s connections to Russia during the elections appear to be quickly snowballing from a mere suspicion to a major incident. Seemingly every day, new disclosures are revealed about previously undisclosed, and possibly illegal, contacts between senior members of the Trump administration and Russia, including the Russian ambassador.

All of a sudden, Mr. Trump’s joke that perhaps Russia should hack Mrs. Clinton’s emails seems less humorous.

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.

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.

Page 10

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, March 10 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso 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.

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Eric Heinz, 949.388.7700, x109 eheinz@picketfencemedia.com SPORTS Steve Breazeale, 949.388.7700, x110 sbreazeale@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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

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

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Group Managing Editor > Matt Cortina City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Debra Holm Tim Trent Jake Howard

San Clemente Times, Vol. 12, Issue 10. 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 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies: ‘Before I Fall’ is a Teen Repeat

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 09

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

SESSIONS AT STILLWATER 7 p.m. Listen to live music when artists from around the world perform together.

Stillwater Spirits and Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. www.danapointstillwater.com.

LIVE MUSIC: THREE SIGNS OF TROUBLE 7-10:30 p.m. Dance to music from Three Signs of Trouble at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente.

949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

Friday | 10 LIVE THEATER: ‘THE ASH GIRL’ 7:30 p.m. The Saddleback College Department of Theatre Arts presents The Ash Girl, a modern riff on Cinderella that focuses on “otherworldly elements behind the magic.” Show runs through March 12.

Admission is $10–$15. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. 949.582.4656. www.saddleback.edu/arts.

LIVE MUSIC: LAURENCE JUBER 7:30 p.m. Listen to live music from acoustic guitarist and former lead guitarist of Wings, Laurence Juber. Tickets are $30.

Dana Point Community House. 24642 San Juan Avenue, Dana Point. 949.842.2227. www.lordofthestringsconcerts.com.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THREE BANDITS AND A BABY’ 8 p.m. In this family-friendly musical melodrama, three successful and happily unmarried villains get a surprise inheritance of a little girl. Forced to do the right thing and take care of the baby, the three hopeless and hapless babysitters make an attempt until their pasts finally catch up with them. Tickets start at $20. The show runs through March 12. Camino Real Playhouse. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE THEATER: ‘ANGEL STREET’ 8 p.m. Angel Street focuses on a seemingly normal couple, but it turns out the suave Jack Manningham is slowly torturing his wife, Bella, into insanity under the guise of kindness. Angel Street was a hit on Broadway and still stands as one of the longestrunning non-musicals in Broadway history. The show runs through March San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

Photo: File

THURSDAY, MARCH 9: CASINO SAN CLEMENTE SPRING JAZZ SERIES 7 p.m. The first edition of Casino San Clemente’s Spring Jazz Series kicks off with the Joey Sellers Quintet featuring vocalist Lauren DeMarco. General admission tickets are $10; and tickets that include a chicken or salmon dinner are $25. 140 Avenida Pico, San Clemente. 949.369.6600. www.springjazzseries.brownpapertickets.com.

26. $20. Cabrillo Playhouse. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

LIVE MUSIC: OLIVIA ROHDE 8-11 p.m. Listen to live music from Olivia Rohde at Barnoa Wine Bar. 831 Via Suerte, Suite 106, San Clemente. 949.388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.

Saturday | 11 STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD YOGA 8-9:30 a.m. Join iHeartYoga instructors at Westwind Sailing for a class on doing yoga atop waterborne stand-up paddleboards.

Workshop is for all skill levels. Cost is $35 with board rental, $25 if you bring your own. 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point.

949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

GARDENING CLASS: GROW YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES 9 a.m. Stop by Armstrong Garden Center for a class on growing strawberries in your own garden. No registration required.

32382 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano.

949.661.6666. www.armstronggarden.com.

GARDENING WORKSHOP: IDENTIFYING BACKYARD BIRDS 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tree of Life Nursery’s Alisa Flint will share some tips on identifying local birds by sight and sound, while also identifying which native plant species are irresistible to native birds. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

DANA POINT FESTIVAL OF WHALES 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The two-weekend celebration of the 46th annual Festival of Whales continues on Saturday with car shows, an art show and more. The festival celebrates the annual migration of the California gray whale and now welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year. There are plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, learn, view art, celebrate and, of course, see whales. Event also runs Sunday, March 12. For more information, visit www.festivalofwhales.com.

MANTRA AND MEANING Noon-2 p.m. Join Anusha Wijeyakumar for a workshop that will focus on learning the essence and meaning behind two of the most popular and powerful ancient Vedic Mantras, the Gayatri Mantra and the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. Workshop is split into an hour of guided meditation and yoga, and an hour of learning more about the techniques. Admission is $50.

Jamie Hanson Yoga. 34207 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. www.shantiwithin. com. www.jamiehansonyoga.com.

een movies, like musicals and romantic comedies, are not as hot of a commodity in Hollywood as they used to be. And the rare times we do get a movie focusing on teens, it’s usually a young-adult drama adaptation, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) or The Spectacular Now (2013). Which is exactly what Ry Russo-Young’s Before I Fall “falls” under. If Groundhog Day (1993) and Mean Girls (2004) were to morph into 2017, this would be the result.

On Valentine’s Day, Pacific Northwest high school student Sam Kingston (Zoey Deutch) thought she was experiencing just another Friday at school and another house party at an old friend’s house. But she is actually repeating the same Friday over and over again, and no one in her life is aware of it except herself.

Her best friend, Lindsay (Halston Sage), is mean to outcast Juliet (Elena Kampouris); and Sam’s boyfriend Rob (Kian Lawley) wants to go to the next level, while Kent (Logan Miller) has a thing for her.

Viewers who will enjoy Before I Fall the most are fans of the original novel

by Lauren Oliver. Russo-Young and screenwriter Maria Maggenti don’t really add anything to teen melodrama we haven’t already seen before.

Deutch and the other young actors are fine, even if they all naturally look too old to be playing teenagers in traditional Hollywood fashion. The themes are too on the nose and cliché, and waste some good cinematography and a catchy soundtrack. SC

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. A day of live music kicks off with music from Dalton Gang at 2:30 p.m., followed by a performance by the Rob Staley Band at 8:30 p.m.

Food from Lisa’s Kitchen will be available throughout the afternoon. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Page 12

Photo: Awesonemess Films

(Cont. on page 14) www.sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 12) 50TH ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER AND DANCE 5-10 p.m. The 50th edition of San Clemente’s St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and Dance includes a bevy of Irish festivities. There will be a corned beef and cabbage dinner with all the trimmings, green beer, live music and dancers from the Aniar Academy of Irish Dance. The Exchange Club and the city of San Clemente have partnered to put this event on, and proceeds benefit local charities. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente. 949.240.4089. www.san-clemente.org.

LIVE MUSIC: LEROY 8-11 p.m. Listen to live music from Leroy at Barnoa Wine Bar. 831 Via Suerte, Suite 106, San Clemente. 949.388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.

Sunday | 12 GUIDED NATURE HIKE 8-9:15 a.m. Join an Orange County Parks Ranger for a one-mile hike around Bell Canyon in Caspers Wilderness Park.

Parking is $5, the hike is free. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.

THE MARKETPLACE IN SAN CLEMENTE 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Marketplace in San Clemente features a variety of local wares for sale. 201 Calle de los Molinos, San Clemente. www.themarketplacesc.com.

BEND AND BREW 11:30 a.m. iHeartYoga holds Bend & Brew at Left Coast Brewing Company. It’s a onehour yoga class followed by a pint of beer. $10. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente.

949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

Monday | 13 COA IMPROV AND COMEDY CLUB 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Community Outreach

THE DISH

PRIME RIB ON THE BONE AT THE RIB JOINT

T

here are large parts of the U.S. that can endearingly be called prime rib country. On any given night in usually rural communities from Montana across the plains to the Ozarks, folks gather around a modest diner or steakhouse and visit with each other. There’s usually a salad bar and prime rib specials, and people move from table to table with sweaty glasses of tea or bottles of Budweiser and catch up.

It’s a romantic scene—prime rib country— that puts on a pedestal the simple joy of community. Now for all South Orange County has to offer, you wouldn’t think there’s enough room for a slice of prime rib country to have a satellite office. But step inside The Rib Joint in Dana Point and see for yourself.

Everything—the salad bar, the old wooden and vinyl dining booths, the hunkered down bar, the easy conversation, the Game Show Network on TV—feels earnest. So does the food.

A menu of chicken, beef and pork barbecue makes it hard to decide, but the prime ribs on the bone just seem right.

By cooking the meat on the bone, the beef is imbued with the rich, earthy, umami

Alliance partners with Improv City to provide young comedians in middle and high school a forum to try stand-up comedy and refine an act. The program runs for seven consecutive weeks. It is free to participate. 1050 Calle Negocio, San Clemente.

949.388.0114. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

COOKING CLASS AT ANTOINE’S CAFE 6:30-9 p.m. Join Chef Caroline Cazaumayou for a cooking class focusing on “entertaining favorites.” Dishes include artichoke-stuffed baby potatoes, pesto salmon wrapped in phyllo with roasted red pepper sauce, and lemon pudding.

Class is $60 per person. 218 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.1763. www.antoinescafe.com.

types of fossils have been discovered in the sediment of the Santiago Formation.

Ranch House in Rancho Mission Viejo.

28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.

KARAOKE AT GOODY’S 8 p.m. Karaoke every Tuesday night at Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente. 206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

Wednesday | 15 flavor of the cow. It’s a natural taste that might surprise those who’ve only had processed beef or the deboned, ground and cellophane-wrapped red stuff. Rib Joint does not shy away from the meat’s essence, and elevates it with a simple rub and a tangy barbecue sauce. Steak fries and home-made cornbread are natural accompaniments.

Other barbecue joints may embellish their meats with buzz words and interior design, but Rib Joint is righteous and truly stands out in South Orange County.

The Rib Joint.

34294 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point.

949.661.9500. www.ribjointdanapoint.com.

Tuesday | 14 DANA POINT CHEF BATTLE ROUND FIVE: OYSTERS 6-9 p.m. Waterman’s Harbor hosts the next edition of the Dana Point Chef Battle, pitting Chef Michael J. Doctulero against a challenger to see who can create the best oyster dish. Attendees will get to sample the food and help decide the winner. 34661 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.764.3474. www.watermandp.com.

LECTURE: PALEONTOLOGICAL FINDINGS OF RANCHO MISSION VIEJO 7-8:30 p.m. Learn about life in Rancho Mission Viejo 47 million years ago with paleontologist Mark Roeder. Find out what

FRENCH CONVERSATION CLUB 2-4 p.m. Every Wednesday. Look for the table with the French flag surrounded by a group of people speaking French. Café Calypso. 114 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.493.5228, or 949.369.5482.

STORYTIME WITH PRINCESS BELLE 2:30-3:30 p.m. A special afternoon story time with Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will take place at the Dana Point Library. Stories, songs and activity will be included for this event, which is suitable for children of all ages. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point. 949.496.5517. www.ocpl.org/ libloc/dana.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are welcome to perform at this weekly open mic. Bring your instruments, or voice, and show off your talent. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www.knuckleheadsmusic.com.

FREE COMEDY AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 9:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s with food and drink specials. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to San Clemente Times by going to www.sanclementetimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

On Stage at the Coach House: G. Love & Special Sauce SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t’s been 20 years since G. Love (Garrett Dutton) and Special Sauce burst onto the music scene with their signature blend of blues, hip hop and rock ‘n’ roll. But when they play the Coach House on Friday, March 10, fans can expect the same high-energy concert that has maintained G. Love’s reputation as one of the best live acts in the country for two decades.

The Philadelphia natives found early success with blues rock rippers like “Cold Beverage” and deep-groove tracks like “Baby’s Got Sauce.” Albums have ranged from drippy R&B tunes to plucky

San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

acoustic front porch songs to the simply silly and catchy (Google the track “Milk and Cereal”)—all while retaining the signature G. Love sound. Dutton’s solo albums and collaborations with the likes of Jack Johnson, Donovan Frankenreiter, Ben Harper and The Avett Brothers have kept G. Love’s sound fresh and evolving.

Tickets for the show start at $32.50, and the show starts at 8 p.m., with doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House Concert Hall. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.

For our full interview with Dutton (G. Love), visit www.sanclementetimes.com.

Page 14

Photo: Courtesy

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Participants learned the art of sabrage, a style of opening Champagne bottles by taking the top of a bottle off with the blunt end of a knife or sword. Photos: Eric Heinz

A Grand Display The Cellar hosts a night of sabrage training

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t’s rumored that Napoleon Bonaparte’s soldiers would slice off the corks of Champagne bottles when returning from victory in battle.

The participants of a sabrage class at The Cellar on Monday night weren’t as eager for continental conquest, but they did receive lessons from Marcelino Cosio on how to use the blunt edge of a sword (well, dagger) to open a bottle of bubbly.

The method is called sabrage.

By sliding the knife along the seam of the bottle, the tops practically popped off bottles in dramatic fashion.

Cosio said the feat never fails to entertain a crowd, but safety is critical. The bottles need to be cold but not dunked in ice, and people who try to attempt this should never aim the cork at anyone. Take a class from a certified instructor before trying this at home. SC

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

Last week’s solution:

San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Page 16

SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

Delivering a Letter to Johnny Cash

O

n Wednesday night, Feb. 22, while packing suitcases for a weeklong trip to Nashville and Memphis, my partner, Greta, and I found a letter inside a baggie attached to the front door of our Dana Point home.

The hand-printed letter read: “Mr. Cash, I love you. I like ‘A Boy Named Sue.’ It’s funny. I’m named Cash too.”

It was written by a 5-year-old boy named Cash. He is the son of our neighbors, Cody and Victoria, who live across the street.

When we first met them, they told us their son was named Cash and their daughter was named Waylan Jane.

“Why?” we asked.

“Because we love ON LIFE AND Johnny Cash, Waylon LOVE AFTER 50 Jennings and country

By Tom Blake music,” they said.

They were surprised when I told them that I worked with Johnny in 1975 and 1976, and had been friends with him.

When I mentioned that Greta and I were going to Nashville with my brother, Bill, and his wife, Linda, to visit the Johnny Cash Museum and other country music places, they said, “Maybe you could do us a favor?”

Cody and Victoria knew that their son Cash, a huge Johnny Cash fan, would want to send a letter to Johnny and wanted to know if we would hand-deliver it for him.

Of course, young Cash didn’t comprehend that Johnny and his wife, June Carter, had both passed away in 2003.

We said we would somehow get the letter to Johnny, in one way or another.

The trip was the first time I had been to Nashville since 1976, when I co-produced an album of train songs with Johnny at his recording studio in nearby Hendersonville.

In Nashville, after a visit to the Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, we walked to the Johnny Cash Museum. I wanted to meet the museum founder and owner, Bill Miller, to give him a copy of I book I wrote, titled Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?. The book features the details of when I worked with Johnny and has a picture of Johnny and me on the front cover.

While waiting to meet Bill Miller, the four of us took the museum tour. And that is where our young neighbor Cash’s letter was delivered to Johnny.

Later, we met Bill Miller. He was most gracious and gave us a tour of the soonto-open Patsy Cline Museum, which is located on the second floor above the Cash Museum. He also invited us to a private Johnny Cash birthday party for the following day.

The next morning, we visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. If you are a country music fan, include this when you visit Nashville. The highlight: the rotunda where each of the 130 Hall of Fame members have plaques on the wall. The country music memorabilia in there is staggering.

From there, it’s a short walk to the Johnny Cash Museum. We spent time with W.S. Holland, Johnny’s only drummer. I had known him when I worked with Johnny. And since he is mentioned in my book, I signed a copy for him. We enjoyed attending the birthday party for Johnny in a private room.

Business Beat News from San Clemente’s business community SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

New Product HEALTHY PET KITCHEN 1020 Calle Cordillera, San Clemente, 949.488.8900, www.healthypetkitchen.com For three years, Healthy Pet Kitchen has been making all-natural, human-grade food for dogs and cats.

The food is made with meats and vegetables, and recently the company debuted its line of meals with lamb in them.

Owner Elias Alawi said he had a Pomeranian dog for 10 years before it died. He then met with a friend who had a 14-year-old dog of the same breed. Alawi said it was that meeting that inspired him to start making healthy food for pets.

San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

Elias Alawi and his dog, Ted, pose for a photo. Alawi has been making his own customized food for dogs for about three years and launched a new line of the food recently. Photo: Eric Heinz

“We add the correct amount of supplements and vitamins,” Alawi said. “The pets need to have high supplements because

Tom Blake hands a letter to a Johnny Cash figure. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Blake/Johnny Cash Museum

That night, we went to the Grand Ole Opry and enjoyed a backstage tour during the concert. We saw Vince Gill practicing his guitar in his dressing room before his appearance and watched a part of the show from behind the stage. There were nearly 20 performers that night, making it a stellar evening.

On Sunday, we drove 212 miles on the “Music Highway” to Memphis, where we visited Graceland, the home of Elvis. I recalled, while listening to Detroit’s WJR radio in 1956, saying to my brother, “I just heard some singer named Elvis sing a song called ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ it’s going to be a huge hit.” So, being with brother Bill at Graceland 61 years later was very nostalgic for me.

Our trip concluded with a visit to Sun Records in downtown Memphis, where Sam Phillips launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, also known as the Million Dollar Quartet, and many others. It was special to stand in the very spot where Elvis recorded his first song and to hold the microphone he used.

And to hear the very first recording of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” gave me goosebumps.

Our trip to Tennessee was a success.

We delivered our young neighbor Cash’s letter to Johnny.

And Bill Miller said the Johnny Cash Museum would carry my books in the gift shop. That made me very happy. Be sure you visit the Johnny Cash Museum and Sun Records when you travel to Tennessee.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his websites at www.findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www. travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com or email at tompblake@ gmail.com. SC

the dog’s (lifespan) is shorter, and you have to make sure they get what they need.”

The food also has oils and other supplements in them. Each bag lasts about a week, and Alawi said pets should be fed one cup of the food per every 10 pounds the animal weighs.

Alawi said he adopted a new Pomeranian, and after giving it the healthy food, the animal appeared to have better skin conditions and attitude.

Healthy Pet Kitchen also works with local shelters to help animals that have been neglected or abused, Alawi said.

According to a press release from the company, Tuverson brings more than 19 years of experience to Berkadia and will report to Senior Managing Director Charlie Williams.

“Tuverson will be responsible for debt origination for commercial real estate properties, focusing on manufactured housing communities and RV resorts nationwide,” the release stated. Tuverson spent 17 years with General Electric Capital Real Estate and two years with Pillar Real Estate Investors.

“He helped establish GE Capital’s nationwide lending program dedicated to manufactured housing and RV resorts in 2000, and grew annual loan originations to $360 million by 2005,” the release stated.

Tuverson earned his bachelor’s degrees in finance and Spanish from Arizona State University and has worked with philanthropic organizations Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, the Surfrider Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, and Boy Scouts of America.

New Manager BERKADIA COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE 949.622.9200, www.berkadia.com Berkadia Commercial Mortgage announced on Feb. 15 that Arthur W. Tuverson of San Clemente has been hired as the company’s managing director.

Page 17

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 SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

San Clemente High School Spring Sports Preview

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he spring preps season is underway at San Clemente High School. In our annual preview, we get you caught up to date on all of the Triton programs that will be in action this year.

For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the Triton spring sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

Boys Volleyball Expectations are high this season for the San Clemente boys volleyball team, and for good reason.

The Tritons return six talented starters who were part of a team that advanced to the quarterfinals of last year’s CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.

As usual, the Tritons boast an impressive mix of height and talent across the board. Standouts Kyler Presho, Jess Hunt, Kian Feiner, Bryce Curtis and Sean Carroll all return. Carroll, an All-South Coast League libero, is currently nursing a leg injury, but is expected to make a major impact once he returns, according to head coach Ken Goldstone.

Goldstone has led many talented teams in his tenure, but he anticipates this group to be one of the best in recent memory.

“I really think if we’re healthy, the sky is the limit. We can match up with most teams,” Goldstone said.

San Clemente will be tested early and often as they navigate through one of the toughest schedules in program history.

The Tritons opened with a five-set win over Edison on Feb. 28 and lost to Newport Harbor and Laguna Beach on March 2 and March 7, respectively.

Baseball The end of the 2016 season was a tough pill to swallow for the San Clemente baseball team, but the Tritons are putting things behind them and coming together quickly in preparation for the new season.

San Clemente sat in first place heading into the final stretch of the 2016 Sea View League season but faltered down the stretch and missed out on the playoffs.

San Clemente’s pitching staff will be anchored by junior UCSB commit Mike San Clemente Times March 9-15, 2017

The San Clemente boys volleyball team returns six starters from last year’s squad that reached the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

Boys Tennis

Senior Chris Torcaso looks to lead a young but talented boys tennis team in 2017. Photo: Steve Breazeale

McGreevy and seniors Nathan Fleuriau and Evan Banks. The staff does not have a flame-throwing power arm, but features a trio of experienced pitchers who pitch to contact and rely on the defense behind them.

The Tritons lineup features several impact bats. Anchoring the middle of the lineup will be Spencer Bramwell, a Colorado Mesa University commit, and Char-

lie Loust, a junior outfielder and catcher.

Junior Laguna Beach transfer Jeff Bruynjens is in the process of becoming eligible, and will give the Tritons roster a gamechanging boost when he is cleared, according to coach Dave Gellatly.

The Tritons moved to the South Coast League this season, which features top Orange County teams like El Toro, Mission Viejo and Aliso Niguel.

Page 19

The San Clemente boys tennis team will have a chance to extend its impressive league winning streak this season, but they will have their work cut out for them.

The Tritons have won the South Coast League for six consecutive seasons, and after an offseason with a lot of senior turnover that depleted their roster, the Tritons will have to get a well-rounded effort if they want to stay at the top.

San Clemente lost its top two singles players from last season to graduation, but will be anchored by returning junior Caden Spencer.

Like he’s done each of the past three seasons, senior Chris Torcaso will be part of the Tritons’ top doubles team.

The Tritons will start just one senior, Torcaso, and will start freshmen Griffen Wolfe and Corey Angeli.

The Tritons were top-heavy with talent in singles and doubles last season and essentially earned automatic points as a result. They don’t have that luxury this time around.

“They have to rely on themselves and not other players because this year is not a guarantee,” coach John Stephens said.

“They’ve got more pressure on them but also more responsibility, which we think is a good thing in the long run.”

(Cont. on page 20) www.sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS (Cont. from page 19)

Softball The San Clemente softball team is off to a good start to the season and has a solid nucleus of returning players it will rely on in 2017.

Grace Krantz and Raeonna Flores give San Clemente a dynamic one-two punch from the pitching circle. Both players anchored the rotation last season and picked up valuable experience. Krantz relies on a solid fastball while Flores utilizes several offspeed offerings.

The Tritons are also versatile in the field. Returners Mikaela Mak, Amber Vaccaro and Jillian Gellatly have the ability to play multiple positions and will be fixtures in the lineup.

San Clemente has reached at least the second round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons, and are gunning for an even better showing this year.

“We have a bunch of kids that try hard and they don’t give up,” Malcolm said.

“We’re in a tough league so (the playoffs) is one of our big goals because we know we can hang there.”

Girls Track & Field Out of the large group of athletes that make up the San Clemente girls track and field team, there are only eight seniors.

Those seniors have valuable years of experience, which has made for an interesting dynamic in offseason training.

The young Triton group can easily identify the athletes with experience and are learning how to compete and train in preparation for the new year.

“Because we have just a few seniors, the other girls know who (the seniors) are and can get to know them,” coach Dave Proodian said. “If the seniors play it right, they can be great leaders. … All of the younger girls can learn from that.”

Returning to the mix is a strong group of distance runners. Senior Chandler Hor-

The San Clemente softball team will rely on strong pitching and the versatility of its roster as it heads into the new season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

ton is looking to parlay her strong cross country season into the 400 and 800-meter events. Freshman Hana Catsimanes has emerged as a top distance runner.

Pole vaulter Kirra Schulz has a chance at breaking the school record this season, and junior Chloe Patterson is looking to continue her dominance in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.

The Tritons will make a move to the competitive South Coast League this season.

Girls Swimming The San Clemente girls swim team celebrated a big victory over Dana Hills in their season opening meet, and the Tritons are hoping to carry that momentum into the new season.

L to R: Hana Catsimanes, Kirra Shulz, Chandler Horton and Chloe Patterson and the Triton girls track and field team head to the South Coast League in 2017. Photo: Steve Breazeale

San Clemente Times March 9–15, 2017

The girls swim team’s numbers have swelled this season, and the Tritons return roughly 35 swimmers with experience, according to coach Brad Kerr.

Leading the way for the Tritons will be Lauren Amigleo, a 100-meter butterfly and 50 freestyle swimmer. Tera Richardson, a standout water polo player, also returns and will pick up points in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

Girls Lacrosse Things are aligning for the San Clemente girls lacrosse team this season, and if their early-season success is any indication, this could be the breakout year the program has been waiting for.

Coach Josh Cain’s squad is 2-1 on the

young season, and the team has shown signs it can compete at a high level. The Tritons’ loss was in overtime to a talented Newport Harbor team that is expected to compete for a CIF-SS title. San Clemente defeated San Juan Hills on March 2, and they will play a tough schedule that features nonleague games against Foothill and Los Alamitos.

The Tritons return their top-two goal scorers from last season in juniors Kiley Buckley and Shay Hefft. Returning midfielder Jessica De Collibus will be the playmaker charged with igniting the Tritons’ talented goal scorers.

“For us to be right there with (Newport Harbor) in game one of the season is really exciting,” Cain said. “If we can already compete now I’m excited to see where we’ll be at the end.”

(Cont. on page 24)

The San Clemente girls lacrosse team is off to a good start and will be led by young playmakers with experience. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Page 20

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Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

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

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Spinal Vitality Integrative Chiropractic

647 Camino de los Mares, Suite 220, 949.616.5470, www.spinalvitality.com

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Eric Johnson, D.D.S.

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

Shoreline Dental Studio Kristen Ritzau, DDS

122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.245.6046, www.shorelinedentalstudio.com

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Organics Out Back

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Café Calypso

114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

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

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

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Danman’s Music School

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South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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San Clemente Times March 9–15, 2017

Page 23

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS (Cont. from page 20)

Boys Swimming For the first time in three years, the San Clemente boys swim team defeated longtime rival Dana Hills in a nonleague dual meet. The meet was decided by just two points, but the Tritons’ depth proved to be key.

That depth is something the Tritons will continue to rely on as the season progresses.

Returning to the pool is junior Weston Rowan, a versatile junior who spent most of last season out of the water battling stage 4 Burkitt lymphoma. Rowan’s health has rebounded and he has not missed a beat since returning to competition, coach Thomas Dollar said. Rowan will look to pick up points in the 100-meter backstroke and 200 individual medley.

BYU commit Brad Prolo returns to swim the 200 IM, 100 butterfly and 100 breast stroke. James Gamette, Dorian Johnson, Spencer Burress, and water polo standouts Sean Edwards and Josh Morer (spell) add to the Tritons depth.

L to R: Sean Kelsay, Jack Shippy, Carlos De Jesus and Austin Whitsett will lead a veteran Triton boys track and field team. Photo: Steve Breazeale

battling for spots in the lineup, which is a good situation for first-year head coach Marc Parker.

Freshman Drayton Joseph, senior co-captain Logan Manning, senior Ryan Moore and Troy Nueva help round out what is one of the deeper lineups in the South Coast League.

“The depth of the team is impressive and so is their ability to get the most out of each other,” Parker said. “Each player will be fighting all year long for a final spot in matches.”

Boys Track & Field As a result of their continued success in the Sea View League, the San Clemente boys track and field team has been moved to the South Coast League in 2017. The Tritons won the Sea View League each of the last three seasons.

This year, the Tritons’ main strength is their depth, and their roster features impact athletes across the board.

Juniors Jack Shippy and Austin Whitsett, standouts on the CIF State Championship football team, will help anchor the sprint team.

CIF-SS qualifier and Navy commit Sean Kelsay figures to get plenty of points in the pole vault.

In the distance events, senior Carlos De Jesus will look to make an impact following a strong cross country season.

Both the boys and girls track and field teams are looking forward to hosting the annual Triton Invitational on campus on March 18.

Boys Lacrosse

Boys Golf The San Clemente boys golf team will field a formidable lineup this season as it looks to defend its South Coast League championship.

Leading the way will be junior co-captain Alex Pak, a standout that already has a tournament win under his belt. Pak captured the Servite Invitational title on Feb. 27. Joining Pak at the top of the Tritons lineup is Christian Wentzel, who placed 29th in the CIF SoCal Regional Championship last season. Pak placed 21st at the event.

The rest of the San Clemente roster is San Clemente Times March 9–15, 2017

The San Clemente boys golf team will look to defend its South Coast League title in 2017. Photo: Lisa Free

Page 24

Through two games, the San Clemente boys lacrosse team’s offense has scored an impressive 33 goals. The Tritons, who return nearly every offensive piece from last year’s team, have a new coach and a new system, and so far, they have breezed past the opposition.

San Clemente, which ran away with the South Coast League title in 2016, is under the guidance of first-year head coach Brendan Finnerty. Finnerty came to the program following a successful three-year stint at Beckman.

Because the Tritons have so many returning standouts, Finnerty wants them to push the tempo and play with speed.

The Tritons are led up top by returning attack Nick Lemus, Matt Keany and Liam Nelson. David Howren, Josh Sanchez, Branden Wilson and Omeed Farhadi will man the midfield.

First-year starting goalie Harrison Webb and the Tritons defense have stood strong through two games and have allowed just 11 goals.

The Tritons will not have to wait long before opening their league title defense.

San Clemente will face El Toro in the league opener on March 17. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

GROMS OF THE WEEK

San Clemente High School and Shorecliffs Middle School Surf Teams

It’s time to prepare for a long season of summer surfing in South Orange County. Photo: Jake Howard

Spring Training Getting prepared for the surf season ahead

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he birds are chirping. The sun is shining. The hills are alive with the sound of music—so they say. Spring has certainly sprung around Dana Point and San Clemente. All one has to do is take a stroll down the trail to Upper Trestles to see what a difference one of the wettest winters in history has made. And for those paying attention to what’s happening in the local waters lately, you’ve probably noticed a steady uptick in south swells. That can only mean one thing: warmer water, warmer weather and longer beach days are right around the corner.

Over the course of this long, stormy winter, perhaps you indulged in some serious comfort food sessions. All good, but it’s now time to get back in the rotation at your preferred lineup. I’m not going to spew some nonsense about “getting your beach bod ready for summer,” but I can offer five good tips to make sure you stay in the water longer and catch more waves this spring and summer—and it doesn’t require going to the gym. Consider this your spring training primer for the surf season ahead: 1. Get out in the sunshine. Of course, your springtime revival should start in the sun. Chances are after all that rain you’re as pasty as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. A little vitamin D will do you right.

Take the dogs for a walk or the kids to a park. Get out and pull some weeds in the garden. Or go stone skipping at the beach.

San Clemente Times March 9–15, 2017

Whatever you do, soak in the sun… and be sure that when you’re choosing a sunscreen, you make it an ocean-friendly one.

2. Inflate your lungs. Running isn’t for everyone, but the beach trail in San Clemente is a great jaunt for anyone that wants to get their body moving. There are also some mean sets of stairs in the Dana Point Harbor if you want to get your Rocky Balboa on. But if getting around on your own two feet isn’t your thing, jump on a bike.

There’s a certain amount of cardio work that goes into surfing, and if you’re going to be chasing south swells this summer, you don’t want to be huffing and puffing.

A little bit of road work that gets the blood pumping and the lungs expanding will go a long way.

3. Jump in the pool. Kelly Slater once said, “The best training for surfing is surfing.” That may be true for a freak of nature like the 11-time world champ, but most of us need to do a little bit extra to stay in peak surfing shape. The fact of the business is, it’s hard to stay in surfing shape around here because of the extended flat spells and weeks between sizable swells.

The San Clemente Aquatics Center on Vista Hermosa is an amazing facility to log some laps, and if you show up on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, they offer longcourse lap swim—which can feel a heck of a lot like being adrift in an ocean. The Ole Hanson Beach Club is open once again.

The refurbished facility is an ideal spot to check the surf at North Beach and get your swim workout in. Check with the city of San Clemente for hours of operation.

4. Stretch it out. The ocean has a tendency to rag doll humans. Maybe that’s why we enjoy playing in it so much. Regardless, make some time in your schedule to get in some quality stretching. Taking a yoga class a couple times a week will loosen

up the body, as well as improve flexibility, strength and mindfulness. Another great option is signing up for a regular Pilates class. In last week’s edition of the paper, Kolohe Andino noted how he gets up every morning before dawn to do Pilates and meditate. He’s currently ranked fourth in the world. There’s probably something to it.

5. Mind your fuel. With all this exercise, you’re probably going to be hungry enough to eat twice your weight in burritos. The urge to pop into your favorite taco shop to reward yourself is going to be strong. Don’t do it! If you’re going to put in all the hard work, don’t spoil it by over-stuffing your body or filling it with too much comfort food. There are so many healthy alternatives in the Dana Point and San Clemente area, all you have to do is exert a little willpower. Easier said than done, I know, but a poke bowl and some brown rice will get you much farther down the road than a bean and cheese burrito. SC

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 57-60 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-7’ Poor-Fair Thursday: Modest South swell and small NW swell mix. Surf is in the knee-waist-chest high (2-3’+) zone mostly with some plus sets at standouts. Light winds in the morning, then lightmoderate onshore flow builds in the afternoon.

Outlook: Small to locally fun size (knee-waist occ. chest high) blend of SSW and NW swells through the upcoming weekend. Morning winds look generally light. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Page 26

San Clemente High School’s Curran Dand.

Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

M

assive congratulations to all the surfers at San Clemente High School and Shorecliffs Middle School. This week, you’re all Groms of the Week.

Last weekend, the 2017 NSSA Interscholastic State Championships went down at Seaside Reef in Cardiff in playful two- to three-foot surf. San Clemente High swept both the Varsity and Junior Varsity titles, while Shorecliffs came away with another title in the Middle School division.

For San Clemente High’s J.V. squad, it was a commanding performance.

Capturing their third consecutive state title, they had five of the six surfers in the Men’s final with Curran Dand topping the podium.

And when it comes to Shorecliffs, there really is no middle school program in the state that compares. This was their twelfth consecutive title and the fifteenth in their storied history.

The team dominated every facet of the contest, notching wins in all three divisions. Kai McPhillips won both the Middle School Boy’s and Middle School Longboard divisions. In fact, just like the S.C. High J.V. team, Shorecliffs featured five of the six finalists in the Boy’s division. Meanwhile, Taylor Stacey won the Girl’s division and was joined in the final by Makayla Moss.

It’s also worth noting that Point Loma Nazarene took top honors in the collegiate championships, which was won by San Clemente’s Jordan Kudla.

Congrats to all that represented their schools with pride over the weekend.

Great surfing and great studying. www.sanclementetimes.com