May 18, 2017

The King of Baja

Q&A with off-road racing legend and SC Sports Wall of Fame inductee Johnny Campbell

SPORTS/PAGE 24

New Chief of SC Police Talks about His Law

Enforcement Experience EYE ON SC/PAGE 4 City Council Delays Decision to Spend $27K on Toll Road Visuals

EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Great White Sharks Still Visible in South OC, but Respite May Come Soon SC LIVING/PAGE 22

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week

Cassano’s Pizza Raises

More than $3,000 for Shark Bite Victim

THE LATEST: On Friday, May 12, Cassano’s Pizza in San Clemente hosted a fundraiser for Leeanne Ericson, the woman who was viciously attacked by a shark a few weeks ago while swimming at Church Beach at San Onofre State Beach.

Tiffany Cassano, the daughter in-law of Dave and Sharon Cassano and her husband James, were instrumental in the event.

The goal was to raise $1,000 but they raised $1,600 that night. After that, the new goal became $2,000.

“We kept the basket up for a couple of days, and I talked with one of my regular customers, and he came back with a $1,000 check,” Tiffany said. “Everybody was very generous, and it was just the coolest moment. We ended up raising $3,300 that we’ll be able to give.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Ericson still has a long way to recovery, according to a statement posted on the GoFundMe page to help with her medical expenses. —Eric Heinz

Jim Johnson Memorial Sports Park Opens

THE LATEST: Mimi Johnson, the wife of the late Jim Johnson, spoke about her husband’s legacy and what the dedication meant to her and her family.

“You were all special to Jim,” Mimi said. “Jim would have been very happy that you’re here. It is a great honor for me to be here and see Jim’s legacy being recognized.”

Jim Johnson was one of the original developers of the Marblehead Coastal Development.

The park cost $5 million, and developer Taylor Morrison was responsible for the park’s construction. The city and a nearby HOA will have to maintain it.

Almost every member of the city’s Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department was in attendance, as well as local officials and a handful of children itching to take to the pitch.

WHAT’S NEXT: The park has three soccer fields (two sport turf and one grass), a basketball court, a playground and picnic

tables. It is located off Avenida Vista Hermosa near the Outlets at San Clemente and Shorecliffs Middle School. —EH

Outlets Officials Say Business is Picking Up

THE LATEST: Since opening in November 2015, the Outlets at San Clemente has been trying to increase its events along with retail tenants and restaurants.

Outlets marketing director Nicky See and general manager Susan Jennrich said the shopping center has been trying to become a destination for locals as well as visitors by increasing events and things to do.

Across the nation, big-box locations have been closing and reports about retail have been gloomy.

“The one thing that all brick-and-mortar will tell you is you (must) create the experience that makes it worth getting out of your pajamas (instead of ordering online) and coming for,” See said. “We have to have games, events and places to eat.”

The idea is to continue to be part of the community and have people shop so that the revenue goes right back into the city.

“People say it’s a ghost town and that no one comes here,” See said. “But I can tell you from the sales, that’s categorically untrue.”

In 2016, the San Clemente City Manager’s Office released a report that said the Outlets was bringing in far less sales tax revenue than originally expected. But today, there are 25 more shops operating than last year, with some seasonal businesses, and the sales tax revenue is looking better.

A budget hearing for the 2017-18 fiscal year is scheduled at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 22, at City Hall, located at 100 Avenida Presidio, which will address sales tax.

WHAT’S NEXT: The second phase of the Outlets will include the opening of a hotel, and Jennrich said there are plans for a movie theater, but at this time they don’t want to make promises on opening dates. —EH

City Council Delays Vote to Spend $27K on Toll Road Visuals

THE LATEST: Visual simulations of what the toll roads proposed through San Clemente could look like have been bandied about social media for months. Now, the San Clemente City Council is looking to provide visual aids of the possible roads, but they stopped short of approving a $27,500 contract to have them illustrated. Council members said they would like to wait for more information to be presented on the toll roads before moving forward.

At this time, nothing has been set in stone. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which administers and proposes the toll roads, has just started its beginning phases of environmental studies.

During the meeting, Council member Lori Donchack said although they don’t know what alternative will be picked, she said the roads could have different offramps to arterial streets. For example, the proposed alignment that cuts through the city and winds to Pico could have outlets to each street it flies over, if that’s the choice. The amount it would cost to provide three visual simulations for each of the 18 proposals is just too much at this time, Council members said.

During the TCA board of directors meeting on May 12, the agency released a document that stated the staff of the agency is trying to combat any misinformation regarding the proposals.

WHAT’S NEXT: The council decided not to take action on the item and to wait for more information to present itself. The next public forum meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on June 5 at Saddleback College, located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo. The forum will be live-streamed starting at 5:45 p.m. at www. getmovingoc.com. —EH

Grand Jury: CUSD Vaccination Rates Rise, But Numbers Remain Below Recommended Threshold

THE LATEST: A new report from the Orange County Grand Jury shows that while the number of students vaccinated in the Capistrano Unified School District

rose significantly over the last year, CUSD still has the second lowest percentage of vaccinated students in the county.

The report, released on May 15, is titled, “Ouch! – Now That Didn’t Hurt: The Implementation of the Vaccination Bill SB 277 in Orange County Schools.” The report examines how school districts across the county have adhered to new vaccination requirements for public schools.

Of the 12 Orange County school districts studied, CUSD was one of two districts that had an increase in the number of vaccinated kindergarten students but still remained below the “recommended herd immunity threshold,” which is 92-94 percent, as defined by the California Department of Public Health. The district had a 5.8 percent increase in vaccinated kindergarteners between the 2015-16 school year and 2016-17, taking the percentage from 84.4 to 90.2. The percentage of conditional kindergarten students in CUSD—those who don’t meet all the vaccination requirements—decreased from 4.7 percent in 2015-16 to 3.9 percent in 2016-17.

The only district with a lower percentage of vaccinated kindergarten students is Laguna Beach, with 85.6 percent in 2016-17.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Grand Jury concluded its report with two recommendations, the first being that each school district continue to track students with “grandfathered personal belief exemptions to ensure that these students have the required vaccinations before they reach the next reporting levels.” The second recommendation was that districts continue to “monitor student vaccination percentages to maintain the threshold defined by the CDPH.”

To view the complete report, visit www. ocgrandjury.org. —Allison Jarrell

Mimi Johnson, wife of the late Jim Johnson, speaks during the ribbon cutting ceremony at Jim Johnson Memorial Sports Park on Wednesday, May 10, during a ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo: Eric Heinz

Home Grown

San Clemente native

Mike Peters named new

Chief of Police

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

When Lt. Mike Peters was 7 years old, he paid the price for a crime he committed.

Peters said he stole a toy from a local store, and when his parents found out, the punishment was swift. His father worked for the San Clemente Public Works Department and would frequently drop the tiny would-be chief off at the dispatch center while he worked.

“My dad had the officers put me in the holding cell,” Peters said, “and they locked the door behind me. Now, I was probably only in there for a few seconds, but as a kid, it seemed like forever. When my dad came back, he asked, ‘Do you like it in there?’ From then on, I understood the importance of the law.”

Peters was recently named the chief by the city of San Clemente, and he replaces outgoing chief Lt. David Moodie, who had been the head of the department since 2014.

Born and raised in San Clemente, Peters said he has a personal connection to the city.

His initial plans were to pursue a degree in physical therapy and that law enforcement wasn’t something his mother wanted him to do, but his father encouraged it.

“I was always attracted to law enforcement,” Peters said.

SC Sheriff’s Blotter

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, May 15

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 3300 Block (11 p.m.) A customer was described as having been at the bar all day, and he followed another man into the bathroom and tried to choke him out.

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Presidio, 100 Block (1:49 p.m.) A man said his neighbor accused him of having an affair and that there were Gremlins living under his house.

BURGLARY REPORT Avenida Presidio, 100 Block (10:59 a.m.) A woman said someone

Peters graduated from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Regional Training Academy in 1996. He would eventually end up working in the county’s jail system on and off for a few years. Eventually, Peters was able to transfer to patrol duty in San Clemente, but afterward he was assigned to lead a special forces division and a mutual aid department at the same time.

After that he went to work as part of the SWAT team before transferring to the academy as a tactical officer.

His 19-year-old son is a custody services assistant with OCSD in the jail system.

He may be from San Clemente, but Peters will have his hands full from the get-go. He will be tasked with leading the TRIP (Targeting Reduction Investigation Prevention) efforts, which includes responding to trespassers and other infractions, as well as filling a role on the newly established Police Services Task Force— that on top of the litany of issues that he will undoubtedly have to address.

“TRIP is a phenomenal program that former Chief David Moodie put together,” Peters said. “It has extremely active people on the team that want to make a

took her purse and cash from her apartment, which was locked when she left.

DISTURBANCE Calle Classico, 0 Block (9:34 a.m.) A woman said her ex-boyfriend showed up at her home and tried to attack her. She said he left in an “older” white Prius, yelling he would “kill her and her family.”

Sunday, May 14

DISTURBANCE W. Avenida Palizada/Loma Lane (1:12 p.m.) Juveniles in a black Ford Fiesta were throwing soda out of the vehicle to people walking.

DISTURBANCE Calle Frontera/Camino Faro (10:54 a.m.) A man was seen hitting a woman inside a tan, four-door sedan.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES

Avenida Monterey, 200 Block (3:40 a.m.) A woman said a man was standing outside her bedroom window.

Saturday, May 13

STOLEN VEHICLE Avenida Santa Inez, 100 Block (6:16 p.m.) A man said he picked

difference. That’s key. (We must) keep those people motivated.”

Peters said he recognizes that San Clemente’s most frequent crimes are primarily infractions to residents’ “quality of life.”

“I’ve been the lead instructor at our academy for community-oriented policing, which problem-oriented policing is a part of, for 16 years,” Peters said. “I believe wholeheartedly in the philosophy (of local police work). It’s a matter of finding the right people to work under that philosophy and bringing them into the city and having them take ownership of this city as I do.”

Peters has already used the study from Matrix Consulting as a guide to residents’ concerns.

“The top three responses in the Matrix Study were homelessness, panhandling and drug use,” Peters said. “A lot of those are national issues in addition to San Clemente issues. The City Council and city manager are trying to find a solution, but (the issues) have to be addressed on a national level.”

Another thing that residents have pleaded the city for is an increase in sheriff’s deputies patrolling San Clemente. Whether Peters will ask for more officers is not known at this time.

“I don’t know for sure because I haven’t stepped into the position,” Peters said. “There are fewer staff members now than when I was on patrol here. But at the same time, crime is different. The problems are different. So all we can do is try to keep up. They city is doing a good job in its spending; I think 22 percent of its budget is dedicated to law enforcement, which is pretty low. The best thing we can do is increase our visibility and let people know that we are out there. The more visible we are, I think that in itself reduces crime.” SC

up another man who had no shirt on. The informant said the man was drunk and trying to get hit by a car.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Granada/El Camino Real (5:01 p.m.) At Jimmy John’s, a man who was possible on drugs or drunk, “growled” in front of the caller’s face. The man who allegedly growled was described as having orange hair and in his mid-50s.

Friday, May 12

WELFARE CHECK Avenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (2:18 a.m.) A man and a woman were found passed out in the walkway.

Thursday, May 11

PATROL CHECK Avenida Del Mar, 100 Block (1:21 p.m.) The caller said they saw a woman pushing two small children in a 99 Cents Store shopping cart.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino de los Mares, 600 Block (2:48 a.m.) Police were called to the CVS for people who were hiding “behind the pallets” and dumpsters near the loading dock.

Community Meetings

SUNDAY, MAY 21

DEL MAR FARMERS MARKET

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

MONDAY, MAY 22

CITY BUDGET WORKSHOP

4 p.m. The city of San Clemente will host a public budget workshop for the 2017-18 fiscal year. The public will be able to speak to the City Council during oral communications. City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200 www. san-clemente.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 23

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.

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.

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU 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, MAY 24

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.

DESIGN REVIEW

SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING

3-5 p.m. The Design Review Subcommittee will host its regularly scheduled meeting. Community Development, 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

NORTH BEACH FARMERS MARKET

3-6:30 p.m. The Market at North Beach features vendors of food, jewelry and other wares, and there could be live music. 1501 N. El Camino Real.

Lt. Mike Peters will start as Chief of Police Services in San Clemente on May 26. Photo: Eric Heinz

Trolly Program Debuts

Summer trolley program to debut in San Clemente on May 26

The red, white and black trolleys will be prominently featured throughout the downtown portions of San Clemente, as the program is starting after more than a year of planning.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 26, at Parque Del Mar in the Pier Bowl, next to The Marine Monument.

Jennifer Rosales, a city senior transportation engineer who managed the project, said this will help with the influx of people who visit San Clemente during the summer.

“In the downtown and Pier Bowl area, people can hop on a free ride, and it should definitely help mobility and access for people,” Rosales said. “We’re going to be putting up trolley signage at the stops, and we have a trolley info sign at the Pier… where volunteers will be staffed,” Rosales said.

The trolleys will circulate from the San Clemente Pier, then travel up to N. El Camino Real and down through North Beach, then circle from the Outlets back down a similar route from which they

Storage Wars

Community Engagement Panel discusses updates to interim nuclear storage sites

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Adequate locations for temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel from San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) are starting to prepare to receive the fuel, if federal law changes.

During the Community Engagement Panel Meeting on Thursday, May 11, members discussed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s role in oversight as well as some of the potential locations for the spent fuel. Currently, the fuel cannot be transferred to a different location because sites that were once slated to accept it were canceled shortly after the plant went off line.

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act does not allow for temporary storage, just permanent storage. U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa,

DOWNLOAD THE APP

To view where the trolleys are at any time, download the app SC Trolley on your phone or visit www.sctrolley.com.

came. See the map centerspread published in this week’s edition.

There is also a mobile app, SC Trolley, where people can follow the trolleys as they travel in real time.

“It’ll take about 15 minutes for each of the trolleys to reach every stop, although in real time they could start to bunch up, but they’re trying to maintain that 15-minute spacing,” Rosales said.

There are three trolleys in the fleet that will all ferry passengers at the same time.

The City Council could consider future options for the program, such as connecting to Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano or expanding the service through the

CA-49, has introduced a bill—for the third Congressional session in a row—that would allow for temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel while the Department of Energy (DOE) figures out what to do with it. The DOE is the sole authority on where the fuel will be stored. The bill is currently slated to be considered by a Congressional committee.

The most likely locations for storage are located in Andrews County, Texas and Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico.

“None of us ever wanted to wind up where we are today, accumulating spent fuel to the degree we are, but that is where we are,” said Tom Palmisano, the vice president of decommissioning and chief nuclear officer for the plant’s majority stockholder company, Southern California Edison (SCE).

Waste Control Specialists in Texas has already set up facilities that would accept the fuel, and they have been licensed for commercial waste and would propose expanding a dry storage facility.

However, WCS is now in the process of a company merger, and Palmisano said, the application to the NRC for the storage has been put on hold, and he said it could stay on hold.

In order to ensure the city is eligible for grant money in the future, the program must prove that there are at least six to 10 riders on average per hour, per stop.

“The trolley operator will have a tablet, and they’ll record how many passengers get on and off,” Rosales said. “In the first year, the requirement minimum is six people per trolley, and then the next two years we have to have a minimum of 10. The goal will be a minimum of 10 and then we’ll know we’ll be successful in the years to come.”

The trolleys will begin Memorial Day Weekend, debuting on May 26, and conclude on Labor Day Weekend.

“You will see the trolleys on May 25th because the new drivers are going to be practicing driving the route,” Rosales said, adding a video press release on the program is available on the city’s YouTube page.

grant in the next application study to add routes to Talega and Foster Ranch, but that is contingent on the availability of grant money, Rosales said.

The total grant covers seven years for the trolleys, with an amount of $1.18 million, and the city is required to match 11 percent of that. The Friends of San Clemente Foundation raised $10,000 to help with the effort. The grant for the trolleys was provided by Orange County Transportation Authority and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which kicked in $542,900 for the first year; therefore the city spent $67,000 for the first year.

John Heaton, chairman of the Eddy-Lea Alliance, said the company has purchased 1,000 acres of land between Carlsbad and Hobbs in the southwestern portion of New Mexico for potential interim storage.

“I think you see these sites moving forward because they see the prospect of business,” CEP President Donald Victor said. “Absent a change in federal law, you see that prospect get weaker. In the middle of this … is people are not sure if the business is going to be there. This project reveals to us that we benefit from having multiple options, just like Yucca Mountain was one option … diversity in the market is very important.”

Part of the presentation from Holtec International, the company selected to store the fuel rods, was dedicated to speaking about how the company can give the government more time to seek out a solution for the storage.

Pierre Oneid, senior vice president and chief nuclear officer of Holtec, was optimistic about the future for the project to move, at least in part, the 3.6 million pounds of radioactive fuel rods to a dry cask location away from the Southern California coastline.

“We have a solution; we’ve been working

“The trolley will also be operating on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day,” a press release from the city stated. “The trolley stops at 16 different locations, which include, but are not limited to: The San Clemente Pier, Avenida Del Mar and Ola Vista, The Outlets at San Clemente, and the Metrolink train station at North Beach.”

For more information, visit the trolley tracker website at www.sctrolley.com. SC

TROLLEY SCHEDULE

Thursdays: Noon-10 p.m.

Fridays: Noon-10 p.m.

Saturdays: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sundays: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

on it for five years,” Oneid said. “We started the journey of having (consent-based) storage. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for DOE to make good on its promise.” Oneid said they are not trying to replace Yucca Mountain, which was removed from the possible storage lists in 2015.

Bruce Watson, chief of the reactor decommissioning branch of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s office of nuclear material safety and safeguards, gave an overview of the decommissioning process and the commission’s oversight of the process.

In the report, he spoke about the enforcement of safety and that the NRC inspection program is responsible for licensing as well as identifying safety issues. Inspection reports from the NRC are published 30 to 40 days after an incident takes place, Watson said.

Canisters from off-line units 2 and 3, which were reactors formerly operational at SONGS could be ready for transportation as soon as 2020, but other fuel will take longer, as far out at 2030.

The full meeting is on video at www. songscommunity.com under the Community Engagement Panel Meetings tab. SC

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

NEWS BITES

COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

Sam Tabari to Speak at Historical Society Meeting

Sam Tabari opened Sam’s Shoe Repair on Del Mar Avenue in 1953, and, according to the San Clemente Historical Society, he never thought he would make shoes for the family of the sitting President of the United States. Sixty-four years later, Sam’s Shoes is still a fixture in local business as well as folklore.

Tabari will be the featured speaker at the society’s summer quarterly public meeting at 6 p.m. on June 1 in the San Clemente Community Center on Del Mar. The event is free and open to the public.

In addition to colorful stories from San Clemente’s past, including his experiences with President Richard Nixon.

“Tabari will also take us on a trip down memory lane recalling when he played trumpet in the San Clemente based Royal Knights Dance Band, which became popular in the region during the 1950s and 60s,” a press release from the society stated.

For more information, call 949.212.8299 or 949.492.2631

Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic For Dogs

The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter invites the community to participate in a low-cost vaccine clinic for dogs from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, at the shelter located at 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente. Participants must be residents of the cities of Dana Point or San Clemente in order to receive the free rabies vaccine for their dog(s). Customers residing outside of San Clemente and Dana Point can purchase a rabies vaccine for $5. You must also license your dog at the time the vaccine is administered. The services and pricing offered at the clinic include rabies vaccinations for free, Da2pp for $10, Bordetella for $10 and microchips cost $15. For more information, call the shelter at 949.492.1617.

Award-Winning Chamber Choir Coming to Casa Romantica

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens will host Mt. San Antonio College Chamber Singers on Thursday, May 25, at 7 p.m. The 40-person chamber choir, led by conductor Bruce Rogers, has been the recipient of numerous national and international prizes around the world in its 23-year tenure.

The “Mt. Sac” Chamber Singers are known for their eloquent blending of sound, brilliant tone, virtuosity and imagination encompassing a range of classic and recent works.

Tickets are $20 to $25. Visit www.casaromantica.com for more information.

Temporary Closure of Beach Trail Bridge Scheduled for May 23

On Tuesday, May 23, the beach trail bridge at Mariposa, between West Escalones and El Portal, will be closed for maintenance from 5 a.m.-5 p.m. During the closure, the city of San Clemente’s Public Works Department will perform rust removal and priming of the bridge. Trail users will be able to access the beach trail on either side, up until the northern and southern bridge entry points, but will be required to turn around upon reaching the bridge. For additional information or questions regarding this project, contact the Maintenance Division at 949.361.8317.

San Clemente Artist to Host Open House

On June 3 and 4, San Clemente artist Rick J. Delanty will host his 21st annual summer studio and gallery show and sale at his home in Forster Ranch. Over 60 original paintings will be on display, many of them recent local scenes of San Clemente and south county. Saturday’s hours are noon-9 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. A preview of the show is online at www.delantyfineart.com. Refreshments will be served, and the public is welcome. Admission is free. Partial proceeds from the show will benefit the work of Family Assistance Ministries of San Clemente, serving the homeless and those in need in our community.

North Beach Flea Market Scheduled for May 20

The North Beach Flea Market is schedule from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the Elk’s Lodge parking lot, located at 1505 N. El Camino Real. Access is available on Calle de los Molinos. The event is open to the public and admission is free. Vendor spaces are still available. Call 949.492.2068.

Outlets Raises $1,500 at Cinco de Mayo Event

The Outlets at San Clemente hosted its second annual Fiesta de Mayo Celebration on May 6, which raised more than $1,500 to benefit the Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation. About 1,000 community members enjoyed mariachi music, Ballet Folklorico, craft beer, a taco truck and free familyfriendly fun, including balloon artists, giveaways, a photo booth and more.

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

SOAPBOX SC

Letters to the Editor

TOLL ROADS WOULD TARNISH OLE’S LEGACY

OLIVIA HANSON, Boulder City, Nevada

My grandfather Ole Hanson was a visionary. When he saw the land at San Clemente, he saw a way to make a city, a Spanish Village by the sea. He had looked up and down the coast for perfect land, and at last, he found it. He wanted people to enjoy the beach, the pool, to be healthy and happy. That is why he built six different sizes of homes. So everyone from the plumber to the banker could enjoy it. Of course, I know things change. Cities grow, people flock to California. It saddens me that The Ocean Festival is accepting sponsorship from the agency. The Ocean Festival was something that my aunt, Doris Dennison, would take my own two children to, then later I always brought them every year. That’s when they still had the parade and La Fiesta celebration at the park across from our church, St, Clements by-theSea. However, I know time does not stand still. I realize things must change; change and ideas are why San Clemente exists. No one thought a planned community with Spanish buildings would fly, but my grandfather, the stubborn Norwegian that he was, persisted and made it happen.

There is a point when over-building, concrete and greed reaches a level that will cause permanent damage and distress to a city—that must be stopped. There is a right for people who pay taxes in a city, need to be heard. The people have spoken. It’s not wanted or needed. It is a travesty to force this on a small, happy, close community. We must stand up to this.

I am deeply disappointed in any real San Clementean who would support this. My brother, Phillip Hanson, and I as well as our whole family urge you to join the San Clemente Historical Society as well as other organizations in opposing this unwanted and unneeded toll road. Don’t let them buy San Clemente. It’s not for sale. Please join us in active opposition of the Toll Road. Shame on any city officials who vote with their wallet and not their conscience.

TCA’S BEAST SLOUCHES TOWARD SAN CLEMENTE

MARK McGUIRE, San Clemente

The 241 toll road extension died when the California Coastal Commission ruled that the long-planned alignment

(behind San Clemente, connecting to I-5 at Trestles) violated the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) revived it by pushing an extension to a new road near Ortega Highway (Cow Camp); but the San Diego Water Quality Control Board killed that as an attempt to “piece meal” the full extension to I-5.

Twice killed, the road refuses to stay dead. Rancho Mission Viejo is building a roadway (Los Patrones) from Oso to Cow Camp where the 241 would have gone, and the county is connecting the 241 directly to Los Patrones. While these look like logical responses to a dead toll road, TCA intends to turn Los Patrones into its rejected extension as soon as possible.

The Save Trestles coalition, suspecting TCA’s end-run, sued to prevent this once more. What happened next set the 241 on a collision course with San Clemente. The TCA settled all lawsuits, setting aside $35 million and agreeing never to pursue routes in environmentally sensitive areas. In exchange, the environmental groups agreed to look away as TCA back-doors a partial extension and tries to connect the 241 to I-5 at Pico or Vaquero, based on preliminary proposals.

Unless stopped, TCA will build its highway through San Clemente’s preserved natural open space and across/ immediately adjacent to the city’s parks, trails, schools and homes. We see preserved hills and habitat; TCA sees a toll road route.

Can the beast be killed again and for good? Yes, but it will take a massive collective effort from San Clemente residents and close cooperation with neighboring communities. Blocking one alignment isn’t enough, as the Save Trestles effort proved that.

Now prohibited from going around San Clemente as promised, the 241 must end—once and for all—at Oso or another acceptable location outside San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, but it must be reachable via planned County arterial roads.

WILL ANOTHER ONE BITE THE DUST?

LARRY CULBERTSON, San Clemente

A project is going through the planning process that I believe will be detrimental to the preservation of an important historic building in San Clemente, if approved. The house at 404 Monterey Lane was built in 1927 for Leonard Nattkemper, who was one of Ole Hanson’s main sales lecturers under the big sales tent back in the 1920s. It was pictured in most of the sales brochures which promoted San Clemente. It has an extremely unique design that should not be altered.

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, May 19 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.

All 203 historic buildings in San Clemente are unique in that they are all from different plans, no cookie-cutter tract houses. Admittedly, some are very plain. No turrets, nor arches, nor articulation. But most do have architectural details that makes them stand out. The city commissioned an official inventory of our historic buildings in 1995. Each building was studied, evaluated for integrity, and rated. Important “character defining features” were noted.

404 Monterey Lane was built as a 981 square foot single story house. It appears as a long horizontal building with a beautiful parabolic arch entry at its center. The proposed addition would expand the non-historic portion of the house by 984 square feet. The addition would expand the original footprint from 981 to 1964 square feet. That is over a 100 percent addition from the original. None of that addition would be hidden. It would all be visible from the street. One commissioner commented to the effect that it would look like a different style house built up against the historic home.

City design guidelines and our General Plan are clear on the subject of desecrating our historic resources. It cannot be done. We are required to be “respectful” to them. We can add to them but the addition must be compatible with respect to “size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property.” We cannot destroy any character defining features. We cannot alter the “features, spaces, and spatial relationships that characterize a property.” This project would violate those criteria. It is planned to be heard by the Planning Commission next month. Please let them know what you think of the project. Let’s not let another one bite the dust.

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Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by

Jim Kempton

A Heated Debate: Is Global Warming a Conspiracy?

WAVELENGTHS

By Jim Kempton

ome Americans are still in a stubborn denial over climate change. It dumbfounds those who look at the evidence. More than 9,000 top scientists from 112 nations and many differing agendas and research efforts have studied this topic. More than 8,700 of them all agree: climate change is happening and is being caused by humans. That means 97 percent of the world’s scientific community agrees there is global warming and humans are a significant source. More than 100 of the most prestigious scientific organizations from around the globe have come to the same conclusion: global warming is a reality. Not one disagrees. In fact, Exxon Mobil did studies as far back as the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that showed definitively that global warming is real. They moved their drilling plans to the Arctic to take advantage of it. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has been teaching preparation for global warming in its military strategy for 10 years now. (Just look it up. The evidence is everywhere).

But our president and new EPA appointee still keep pondering this situation as if it were an undecided issue. Is it a hoax? NASA put a man on the moon; NASA thinks there is global warming. Is NASA incompetent? Are they and every other science group completely delusional? Are they all in on a conspiracy?

If a few disagreeing scientists argued that automobiles don’t cause smog, that pesticides are good to eat, or cigarettes don’t cause lung cancer, would there be a national debate over it? In fact, there was. For decades after scientists had irrefutable proof that smog, pesticides and cigarettes were serious dangers, the automotive, fertilizer and tobacco industries kept any action from being taken. How? They brought “experts” in to dispute the scientific findings. Finally, these pretender defenders were exposed. Not only did we change our ways, we punished the paid perpetrators of this disinformation. But today, most of these very same “experts” are back in business, this time disputing (you guessed it) the global warming evidence. Who would expend so much energy trying to debunk the global warning theory? Who would benefit from uncertainty about this? Look for the motive. It is a verifiable fact that one big oil firm alone has funneled tens of millions of dollars to political factions trying to thwart regulations that slow global warming. And it has now been discovered that (so far) nine of the top 14

climate deniers have been taking hundreds of thousands of dollars to cast doubt on the scientific findings.

I understand the resistance to addressing the global warming problem—I’m a businessman and capitalist myself. Solutions will be expensive, but denying scientific data because we don’t like the conclusions just doesn’t make sense. The anti-warming rebuttal says we just don’t know enough about the causes. For years, that’s what the experts for the auto execs, pesticide presidents and tobacco CEOs said too.

By the way, although Exxon Mobil had conclusive proof that global warming was real, they not only concealed this research, they weighed in on the deniers side when asked about it—all the while building their business around the effects they knew were going to happen.

“ I understand the resistance to addressing the global warming problem—I’m a businessman and capitalist myself. Solutions will be expensive, but denying scientific data because we don’t like the conclusions just doesn’t make sense. ”

Why are we so skeptical of global warming? We accept scientists’ theory about polio, space flights, smog, heart surgery, carbon dating, cancer and computer chips. Do we really think that thousands of independent scientists with nothing to gain from their conclusions are making these results up?

Then again, maybe it is a conspiracy, as if the world’s top research experts are concocting a frightening false fable about climate change. Luckily, they are exposed through rhetoric from the fossil fuel industry, our president and the Koch brothers. Jim Kempton is a skeptic who is only convinced with overwhelming evidence. He believes empirical data is the best truth we can depend on—and should be honored not bought. SC

GETTING OUT SC

San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 18

LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS

8:30-10:30 a.m. Join Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens volunteers, students and teachers at the Montanez Adobe inside Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Help care for and maintain native plants and butterflies while enjoying a little dirt therapy and friendship. Every Thursday. No experience needed. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net.

SEA DRINKS:

LECTURE WITH DR. CHRIS LOWE

7-10 p.m. Dr. Chris Lowe will speak about his work with Shark Lab and answer questions regarding the increase in shark activity off the coast. Sea Drinks once a month at local restaurants and bars to discuss, raise awareness of environmental issues threatening the ocean ecosystem. A $10 donation is recommended to benefit Shark Lab. This month’s location is Hennessey’s Tavern. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point.

Friday | 19

ST. EDWARD FIESTA

5-10 p.m. Head to the carnival for games, rides, food, booths and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit tuition assistance at The Parish School at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church. The event runs through Sunday, May 21. Parking will be available. St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Parish. 33926 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point. www.stedwardfiesta.org.

LIVE MUSIC: CALI SOL

7-10:30 p.m. Listen to music from Cali Sol at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

LIVE MUSIC: MIKE DE BELLIS ON SAX

7-10 p.m. Listen to Mike De Bellis with Don Gay at Adele’s. Adele’s at the San Clemente Inn. 2600 Avenida del Presidente, San Clemente. 949.481.1222. www.adelesanclementeteinn.com.

Saturday | 20

AQUAFEST

8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Dana Point Aquatic Foundation and Westwind Sailing will host the 5th annual Open House to celebrate National Safe Boating Week. There will be

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MAY 20-21: DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL

11 a.m. The Doheny Blues Festival is a two-day music event at Doheny State Beach. More than 20 artists will perform including Joe Walsh, Melissa Etheridge, Jason Bonham and more. Tickets range from $15-$250. The event runs Sunday, May 21. Doheny State Beach. 5300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. www.dohenybluesfestival.com.

sailing rides, SUP and kayak clinics, SUP race exhibition, jazzercise and SUP yoga classes and more. Westwind Sailing. 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point. www.westwindsailing.com.

A WALK THROUGH HISTORY

9 a.m. The walk focuses on Dana Point history. It’s designed to introduce participants to the several different main historical periods (ie, Acjachemen, Spanish Mission, Rancho, and Modern Era). In more detail, participants will learn about the “Woodruff” Era of the 1920’s and 30’s, the surfing heritage, and the harbor construction. The walk occurs on the third Saturday of the month. RSVP to dpnaturalresources@ danapoint.org or call 949.248.3527. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point.

REPLACE YOUR LAWN WORKSHOP: DESIGN BASICS

9:30-10:30 a.m. Pat Overby, a longtime designer of California native plant gardens, will provide information about getting started. Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

SAN CLEMENTE GARDEN TOUR

10 a.m.-4 p.m. The tour takes place Saturday, May 20. Tickets are $30 each if you order in advance at www.sanclementegardenclub.com and $35 the day of the tour, cash or check only. www.sanclementegardenclub.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE SWALLOW’S INN

2:30 p.m. Listen to the Family Style perform from 2:30-6:30 p.m. followed by Grand Junction at 8:30 p.m. at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Monday | 22

HOBIE ALTER MEMORIAL 3-CLUB BAREFOOT GOLF TOURNAMENT

3 p.m. The golf tournament will help bring funds to the Hobie Memorial to life in Dana Point. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the shotgun start is 3 p.m. Cost is $250 which includes golf, dinner and prizes. The Ranch at Laguna Beach.31106 Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. 949.933.1678. www.hobiememorial.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK

5:30 p.m. Join iHeartYoga for yoga in the park every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this summer. Bring a mat, water bottle and suggested donation of $8. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.

Tuesday | 23

KARAOKE AT GOODY’S

Sunday | 21

CASA PINWHEEL PROJECT

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County will be sticking 3,000 pinwheels in the ground in the Dana Point Harbor to represent the 3,000 children who are currently in the foster care system in the county, in conjunction with National Foster Care Awareness Month in May. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. www.casaoc.org/ pinwheel.

DANA POINT ARTFEST

10 a.m. More than 80 artists will showcase their art along Del Prado during the Dana Point ArtFest. There will be live music, food and beverages for purchase and more. It will be located between Ruby Lantern and Golden Lantern. www.dpartfest.com.

BEND & BREW

11:30 a.m. iHeartYoga holds a Bend & Brew session at Left Coast Brewing Company’s tasting room in San Clemente. It’s a one-hour yoga class followed by a pint of beer. Admission $10. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS’

2 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse presents this classic happy-go-lucky view of small town vice and statewide political side-stepping through the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850’s as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. Show runs through May 21. Tickets are $29-$39. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

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 | 24

LIVE MUSIC: THE MOON POLICE 7-10:30 p.m. Listen to music from The Moon Police at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are welcome to perform. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www.knuckleheadsmusic.com.

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

UPCOMING EVENT: MAY 25

CASINO SPRING JAZZ SERIES 6:30-9:30 p.m. The next installment of the Casino San Clemente’s Spring Jazz Series will featured a Elizabeth Lamers with guitarist Steve Cotter and pianist Gary Matsumoto. Admission is $10 for just the music, or $25 for a ticket that includes choice of dinner. 140 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente. 949.369.6600. www.springjazzseries.brownpapertickets.com.

Photo: File

EDITOR’S PICK

El Camino Real

Hours of Operation

FRIDAY, MAY 26–

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Thursday: Noon–10 p.m.

Friday: Noon–10 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY SERVICES

Memorial Day: Monday, May 29

Independence Day: Tuesday, July 4

Labor Day: Monday, September 4

Hours and days are subject to change.

Please visit the city’s website for the latest trolley news: www.san-clemente.org

SALMON TERIYAKI DONBURI

It would be easy for Good Choice Sushi to rely on its location and ocean views to draw in tourists and locals alike, but what the Japanese eatery brings to Capo Beach is much more than the average California roll. The modest sushi restaurant, tucked along Pacific Coast Highway, boasts a wide array of dining options, from fare like sashimi, nigari and sushi rolls, to tempura, donburi rice bowls and sushi burritos.

Lunch combos are served with miso soup— chock full of green onion and seaweed—and a fresh side salad. The salmon teriyaki donburi

At the

Movies:

lunch combo certainly lived up to the restaurant’s name, with a generous portion of grilled salmon atop an oversized bowl of steamed white rice and cabbage. Any lover of salmon knows it’s rare to find that perfectly cooked piece of fish, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Good Choice. Perhaps the best surprise was the homemade teriyaki glaze, a light addition to the salmon filet that added just the right bite of sweetness.

Good Choice Sushi by the Sea 34700 Pacific Coast Highway, Capistrano Beach, 949.542.8499, www.eatsushibythesea.com

‘The

Dinner’ Leaves a Bad Taste

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Oren Moverman’s adaptation of Herman Koch’s novel The Dinner had all the potential to be a good onscreen interpretation. A well-received book for basis, an all-star cast and a decent filmmaker. Koch’s novel has already two film adaptations in Italy and The Netherlands that were moderate successes, so while redundant, a Hollywood version should’ve been fine. But instead, it was somehow all wasted away. At a high-end NYC restaurant on a school night, brothers Paul (Steve Coogan) and Stan (Richard Gere) are having a fancy dinner with their wives Claire (Laura Linney) and Katelyn (Rebecca Hall). Stan is in the middle of running for governor while Paul is recovering from a nervous breakdown. Both couples’

children are also in the midst of being involved in a tragic incident that they want to make sure doesn’t go public. Chloe Sevigny co-stars as Stan’s ex-wife.

Moverman has been involved with movies like I’m Not There (2007) and Love & Mercy (2014), so it’s frustrating to see how much of a step down The Dinner is. There is no consistent tone throughout the whole movie and the direction is shockingly amateurish. Too many out-ofplace flashback sequences that could have been shortened or even put in a whole different movie. The film would have served well if the majority of the story took place at just the restaurant. On top of that, the main actor, Coogan is woefully miscast and borderline obnoxious with a put-on accent that sounds like an insufferable Woody Allen impression. SC

Salmon Teriyaki Donburi from Good Choice Sushi by the Sea. Photo: Allison Jarrell

San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach by

Shelley Murphy

A New Normal: Redefining Family

Last week, I sat in the familiar lobby waiting for my annual appointment with my doctor whose practice includes obstetrics. I lingered a long time among the pregnant women and couldn’t help overhearing their conversations.

I settled next to an expectant mom, her toddler daughter and her girlfriend. I listened to the pregnant mom complain to her girlfriend about a weekend trip to the park with her toddler.

“I’m still so upset, it kills me; the other kids all played together and they totally excluded her,” she said while embracing her toddler.

My first thought: buckle-up the ride gets a lot rougher. My next thought: envy. That mom still knows everything about her daughter’s day, and she tucks her child into bed at night under their shared roof.

By Shelley Murphy

I resisted the urge to warn the young mom that soon she’ll blink and find herself making a deposit on her daughter’s freshman dorm like the many parents of soon-to-be graduating high school seniors.

After parents and grads experience June’s excitement, enthusiasm and elation, they’ll endure August’s transition, turmoil and tears. As summer comes to a close, many parents move their college freshman into their dorm rooms and return home to face their new normal.

The Urban Dictionary defines new normal as: “The current state of being after some dramatic change has transpired. What replaces the expected, usual, typical state after an event occurs.”

When my older son left for college I didn’t welcome his departure and my own new normal. To cope I referred to college as camp—stories of my denial are legend-

Jeremy Conrad

949.542.8348

Jconrad@conradrealestate.com

Bill Conrad

949.542.8349

ary. Substituting “camp” for “college” lulled me into believing his absence was short-term, and I lived blissfully in denial until his freshman winter break.

His return in December reenergized our home and filled it with familiar chaos and countless friends. But the calendar is callous, and the day for him to return to his dorm came too soon. After packing up his car, my son jumped into it and said, “I’ll text when I get home.” Standing on the driveway I wobbled from the punch to my gut, caught my breath and then corrected him, “This is your home.”

But as he drove away, I stood stunned, realizing he was right, and the truth was we no longer lived together under the same shared roof and probably never would again.

Both my boys chose to attend the same in-state university and never seriously considered leaving California. So I never saw the curveball coming my way when my older son accepted a job in the Midwest and moved out of state, just two days after graduating from college.

This month marks one year since that “dramatic change.” To celebrate his milestone and my survival we’re taking a long overdue family vacation.

While our destination is the same as usual, our travel arrangements differ. All previous family vacations saw the four of us arriving and departing together, but not now in my new normal.

My older son cuts his vacation short and leaves three days early due to work responsibilities. His return trip includes a red-eye departing the Pacific island and a couple connecting flights to Tornado Alley. The itinerary sounds grueling, but the long flights will be easier on him than the short drive to the airport will be on me.

I’m determined not to dwell on his early departure and instead focus on family fun. Much has changed since our first trip to

SAN CLEMENTE MUSIC AND MOVIE SERIES KICKS

The Shorecliffs Middle School and San Clemente High School jazz ensembles performed for dozens of people on Friday, May 12, just north of the San Clemente Pier. This was the first event of the year to start the Music and Movies series that takes place throughout the summer. For a schedule of the series, visit www.san-clemente.org under the calendar on the homepage. —San Clemente Times

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

the island many years ago. I no longer look forward to the amazing activities and sandy souvenirs.

My favorite part of the vacation is our family sharing a dinner table at the end of the day. After returning home and unpacking, what I’ll remember most is our engaging conversations erupting in laughter at old inside jokes and creating new ones that will continue to connect us in the years to come.

Our family vacation may be fleeting, but

for one week, all four of us will finally be together under one roof again.

Shelley Murphy has lived in San Clemente with her husband for the past 18 years, where she raised her two sons. She’s a freelance writer and has been a contributor to the San Clemente Times since 2006. SC

• Out of the 312 closings in San Clemente for 2017, 63% of sales are under $1,000,000 price

• Bank owned and short sales continue to be non-existent in San Clemente, representing just .05% of closings in 2017

• Active inventory in Orange County continues to be historically low, with just 5380 active listings on the market in the entire County

OFF

Shorecliffs Middle School jazz ensemble performs on Friday, May 12, at the San Clemente Pier.

Photo: Eric Heinz

Not Out of the Water Yet

Great white sharks still abundant in south OC waters

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

More than two hours on the Dana Wharf Sportfishing boat and there was nothing but ocean to be seen, let alone the elusive creatures sought by the ship’s captain.

A few surfers were out in the water, but a gathering of curious kayakers was on the lookout for great white sharks, which have been spotted frequently in the last few weeks, from San Onofre State Beach to Doheny.

On Saturday, May 13, captain Todd Mansur was beginning to doubt if the first-ever shark tour would be successful.

And then the magic began.

“Eight great whites at 10 o’clock!” Mansur bellowed with a hint of relief.

The 30 or so people on board craned to get a look at the stigmatized predators. At least eight great white sharks circled the vessel as children and adults watched them maneuver.

Mansur said he was speechless.

“I’ve been sailing just about everywhere for years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Mansur said over the intercom.

The sharks were spotted by a friend of Mansur’s, and using a drone to search for them, he was able to pinpoint their location.

Mansur said he doesn’t think, but also wouldn’t dispute, global warming played a role in the uptick of sharks seen in the area. He said the reason for this is more likely due to a large grunion run this year, which usually takes place in early May. Grunion are small fish that flop onto the shore each year.

“Water temperature has some relevance on why these sharks are here, but that’s not what’s happening today,” Mansur said. “Due to different types of currents we saw a decrease in shark activity in years past.”

The sharks seen on Saturday have been hunting through kelp forests that bloom in sunniest times of the year, and that’s where the grunion hide, Mansur said.

Mansur said most of the sharks that have been spotted in the last week have mostly been between the San Clemente Pier and Doheny.

“Just the word ‘shark’ puts fear into people, but if you’ve grown up swimming here, then you’ve swam with a variety of different sharks,” Mansur said. “They all come and go to the shallow waters, and certain times of the month of May, you’re likely to see a lot of ‘forage fish.’”

Most of the sharks in the water were juveniles, about 8 to 10 feet in length.

Great white sharks are protected under California law because of over-fishing that caused their numbers to plummet.

Mansur said the earthquake that devastated Sri Lanka in 2005 also affected currents and could be a reason for some of the changes in fish and marine wildlife behaviors. He said people who work at fisheries and ocean enthusiasts in general noticed a large decrease in the fish that were coming to normally plentiful areas.

Similar events that may not have received as much attention could have also steered sharks on a different course.

Two weeks ago, a woman was attacked by a shark at Church beach at San Onofre State Beach and she is still recovering. People who witnessed the attack suspect the shark was chasing a sea lion and inadvertently attacked the woman.

Whether the sharks will continue to show up around south Orange County beaches remains to be seen, but Mansur said he thinks now that the grunion runs have ended, it’s likely going to slow down.

“I don’t think it was about climate change, necessarily,” Mansur said of the swell of sharks. “I think it was about food.”

SC

A crewmember of Dana Wharf Sportfishing tries to capture a great white shark on camera on Saturday, May 13, near Capistrano Beach. Photo: Eric Heinz

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

San Clemente STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

The King of Baja

Q&A with legendary motorcycle racer and SC Sports Wall of Fame inductee Johnny Campbell

BY STEVE BREAZEALE,

In the history of the infamous SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race, there is no motorcycle rider with more success than San Clemente native Johnny Campbell. The veteran racer was born with an affinity for everything on two wheels, and after years of honing his craft down to a science, he went on to become one of the biggest names in the sport, propelled into the spotlight by a stretch of dominance at the famous desert race south of the border.

On May 20, Campbell will be one of three local icons inducted into the Friends of San Clemente Foundation’s Sports Wall of Fame. The ceremony will take place at the Vista Hermosa Aquatics Center at 6 p.m. Campbell has won just about everything there is to win in the sport of off-road racing, but his success at the Baja 1000, where riders navigate their way across 1,000 miles of rugged Mexican terrain, is unparalleled.

Campbell won the event a record 11 times, a feat many in the sport consider to be untouchable. From 1997 to 2005, Campbell and his American Honda Racing team rattled off a streak of nine consecutive Baja 1000 wins. After missing out on a 10th consecutive win in 2006, Campbell returned to the winner’s podium in 2007 and 2008.

After decades of dominance, Campbell decided to step off the bike and transition into the role of team manager for the American Honda racing team. Campbell now has four riders racing under his name in 40 to 50 events across the country every season.

The San Clemente Times caught up with Campbell this week to reflect on his life, career, and his love of the Baja 1000. San Clemente Times: How did you get started in off-road racing?

Johnny Campbell: I grew up surfing and biking in San Clemente, and what catapulted me was my dad, who rode and raced motorcycles. I loved two wheels and had a passion for dirt bike riding as a young boy. I got my first (motorbike) when I was 13 and went from there. What drew you to the sport?

Racing is like a sense of freedom. It’s a sense of adventure. You get on your bike and go where you want to go. I loved

riding in the dirt, of course, and making dirt jumps at San Clemente State Beach. It was a natural transition from jumping bikes in the dirt to riding motorcycles in the dirt.

When did you decide you wanted to race for a living?

I had it in me to be an athlete. I wanted to be good at this. My dad suddenly passed away when I was 16, so my mom supported myself and my brother in our racing. We really focused on the sport; that was our outlet for adrenaline and energy. Everything that we could do we poured into the sport.

You have such a storied history with the Baja 1000. What does that event mean to you?

When I first went down there with my wife’s uncle, Craig Adams, I said, “This is amazing. This is the adventure that I want to pursue.” As you know, in San Clemente there was a little off-road culture. Guys like Cameron Steele … all those guys were from town and raced off-road in Mexico. It was such a cool deal that I was really drawn to it. Once I got a taste of Baja, I got bit by the Baja bug. That’s what I wanted to do with my life, to go down there to ride and race.

It took you a while to break through for a win at Baja. What clicked for you the year of your first win?

It took me several years between broken bones and broken bikes and figuring out how to win that race strategically and ability- and experience-wise. I spent 1991 through 1996 being schooled, and it wasn’t until 1997 when it all came

together. (The 1997 win) was a big step in my confidence. As a team and a family, we were able to achieve that goal we put out there. That just created a string of focus and maturity. We went on from winning that first Baja 1000 in 1997 to a string of nine in a row, which was a record that was unheard of.

What do you attribute your success to at the Baja 1000?

You cannot win the Baja 1000 or a race like that by yourself. It really takes a big effort on all. You have co-riders, planning and management putting together a strong tactical effort. You don’t have to be the fastest person to win the Baja 1000. You have to have all the puzzle pieces fitting together. You make a plan and try to stick to it, but it doesn’t always go that way. So it’s really how you react to a cer-

tain obstacle or flat tire along the way. What is your life like now that you are a team manager and responsible for mentoring a new generation of racers?

My dad was really good about having a strong work ethic. He made us work for what we had. Going from him to Craig Adams to Bruce Ogilvie, running with the work ethic that was instilled in me at a young age and knowing what a real job was start to finish, that’s something that I want to carry to the guys that run underneath me. It’s not easy, because everybody has a different personality and different ambitions. It’s really easy for an athlete to get sidetracked and it becomes all about them. You’re trying to mature these guys in the right way and take the high road and build them into true champions. SC

Johnny Campbell raced his way to the top of the off-road racing world during his lengthy career. Campbell will be inducted into the Friends of SC Foundation’s Sports Wall of Fame Saturday. Photos: JCR/Honda

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Triton Report

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

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

Triton Baseball to Play Notre Dame, Top Prospect in Playoff Opener

The San Clemente baseball team earned an at-large berth into the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships, and drew a high-profile first-round draw with Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks, the No. 3 overall seed.

The Tritons (15-13) will travel to play the Knights (21-8) and star shortstop and pitcher Hunter Greene. Greene is widely viewed as the likely No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. Greene is batting .347 and has a team-high 28 RBI and six home runs. Greene will not be pitching in the playoffs.

San Clemente lost the final three games of the regular season to finish fi fth in the South Coast League. Despite the finish, the Tritons had a strong enough resume to earn an at-large bid into the playoffs.

Sea Kings Sweep Volleyball Team in Second Round

The third-ranked Corona del Mar boys volleyball team proved to be too much for San Clemente in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. The Sea Kings swept the Tritons on their home court 2523, 25-19, 25-20 on May 11.

Corona del Mar went on to defeat Laguna Beach in the quarterfinals, and was scheduled to play Oak Park in the semifinals on May 17. Results were not

available at press time.

The Tritons (22-7), who won the South Coast League title, defeated Redondo Union in four sets in the first round of the playoffs.

Golfers Heating Up in Postseason Competition

The San Clemente boys golf team had an excellent showing at the South Coast League finals on May 2, which jumpstarted several strong postseason performances.

The Tritons had four golfers qualify for CIF-SS Individual competition. San Clemente accounted for four of the league’s nine representatives in the field at Skylinks Golf Club on May 8. Alex Pak, who took second-place in league, finished fi fth overall at Individuals, and qualified for the Southern Regional Individual tournament at Rancho San Marcos on May 18.

The Tritons narrowly missed out on advancing as a team to the next stage of competition following a fourth-place finish at the CIF-SS South Coast Team Divisional championship at Talega Golf Course on May 16. San Clemente was one of 18 teams vying for two spots and a berth in the SCGA Regional Qualifying tournament on May 18.

Woodbridge, the defending champion, won the tournament, and Dana Hills placed second with a total score of 380. San Clemente’s cumulative team score was 384.

CDM Hands Boys Tennis a First-Round Exit

Corona del Mar pulled off a convincing 12-6 victory over the San Clemente boys tennis team in the first round of the CIFSS Division 1 playoffs on May 10.

Two San Clemente doubles teams are still alive in postseason competition, however. The tandems of Chris Torcaso and Corey Angeli and Caden Spencer and Michael Tilly will compete in the CIF-SS Individual Championships on May 25.

Triton Report: By the Numbers

Through the use of statistics and numbers, we break down the standout seasons and performances by San Clemente High School student-athletes. COMPILED BY

2.40

Collective team ERA for the San Clemente baseball pitching staff.

4:59.99

Time posted by freshman Hana Catsimanes in the 1,600-meter run at the South Coast League track and field finals on May 5. Catsimanes’ time was the second-fastest 1,600-meter run in school history.

2

Total number of games lost by the Triton boys volleyball team in eight South Coast League matches this season. The Tritons lost both games to Dana Hills in a match on March 28, but came roaring back to sweep the rest of their competition and claim the league title.

58

Score carded by golfers Alex Pak and Christian Wentzel during a team-scramble tournament at Aliso Viejo Country Club on March 6. Pak and Wentzel’s score of 14-under-par was good enough for a win, and a new tournament record mark.

12.8

Average margin of victory for the boys lacrosse team in South Coast League competition. The Tritons’ skilled offense and stingy defense powered the team to a league title and an appearance in the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section Division semifinals.

STEVE BREAZEALE

15

Number of wins recorded by the girls lacrosse team, which is a new program-best. San Clemente also won its first Sea View League title and appeared in the second round of the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section Division playoffs.

55.47

Third-place time, in seconds, posted by senior swimmer Brad Prolo in the 100-yard breastroke at the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships on May 11. Prolo also placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly.

Triton Athletics Teams Earn Academic Distinction

The 22 varsity athletic teams on campus at San Clemente High School are not only excelling in competition, they are getting it done in the classroom as well.

All 22 programs at SCHS recently received academic distinction recognition by the CIF-Southern Section, the prep sports governing body. To earn academic distinction, a team must have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher. And while the CIF-SS does not include lacrosse and surfing, SCHS athletic director John Hamro said those programs would have qualified as well.

Some notable team-wide GPA’s at SCHS include boys basketball (3.55), girls basketball (3.65), boys volleyball (3.61) and girls water polo (3.60).

“This is an incredible achievement and I don’t know of any other large school that qualified in every sport,” Hamro said in a press release. “It is a tribute to our great teachers and staff that, together with our coaches, have set high expectations and standards not only in the classroom, but also on the field and in our community.” San Clemente seniors Blake Birmingham (basketball) and Brooke Harvey (tennis) were also honored by the CIF-SS as Individual Athletes-of-the-Year. SC

San Clemente’s Alex Pak will compete in the CIF Southern Regional Individual tournament on May 18.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

Nathan Fleuriau and the San Clemente baseball team’s pitching staff posted a collective 2.40 ERA this season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Locals Only

at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com.

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING

Solstice Heating and Air 2208 El Camino Real, Ste. #1, 949.573.3607, www.solsticehvac.com

APPLIANCES

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

ART GALLERIES

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

CHIROPRACTIC

Spinal Vitality Integrative Chiropractic

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

Exquisite Epoxy Concrete Floor Coatings Lic.: 1020002, 949.632.8400 exquisiteepoxy.com

DENTISTS

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

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING

Organics Out Back 949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com

EDITING SERVICES

Perfectly Clear Editing Services

Judi Heidel: 949.281.6364 www.perfectlycleareditingservices.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

HOME DÉCOR

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

HOME REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENT

Capistrano Valley Raingutters Scott Williams, 949.542.7750

JEWELRY

Paradise Jewelers

166 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.6661, www.paradisejewelers.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

Brian Wiechman, Equity Coast

Mortgage A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage 949.533.9209, www.equitycoastmortgage.com

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

PET SERVICES/HOUSE SITTING

2-dogswalking.com Ricky, 949.973.4128

Pet care –Insured & Bonded

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PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

Karl Aiken Plumbing-Rooter San Clemente, 949.366.8302

POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL

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

SC Pool & Spa Works 1311 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.7665, www.scpoolworks.com

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

Salon Bleu

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

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

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

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction 877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

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GARAGE SALES FOR RENT

BEACH-CLOSE, ENCLOSED PRIVATE GARAGE FOR YOUR NICE VEHICLE. In San Clemente! Excellent rates. Contact Kris at 949-859-5018

ANNUAL ENCANTAMAR

COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE

Dana Point - Corner of Camino de Avion and Golden Lantern. Saturday, May 20 8AM TO 1PM Huge selection of anything you can think of; exercise equipment, pool table, appliances, toys, etc. Sponsored by Kim Skandalis-Griffin at First Team Real Estate

“THE RESERVE” COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE

Saturday, May 20th from 8 am to 4 pm. Located off of Camino Vera Cruz at Avenida Vista Hermosa. Gates will be open to access the homes that are participating in the garage sale.

ANNUAL SPRING GARAGE SALE Sat 5/20 on Calle Dorado, above SCHS. Between Presidio and Miguel, 8a-12n. Tools, Clothes, Spanish Garcia guitar $125, misc. Cash only.

‘THE HILL” COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE

Saturday May 20th 8am to 2 pm. From the 100 to 1100 block of Avenida Presidio, From the City Hall to the High School. Avenida Pico/Avenida Presidio, Calle Escuela, Calle Miguel, Avenida San Carlos,Calle Pueble, Calle Delicada,Calle Dorado, Calle De Anza. Sponsered by Doug and Janet Montandon, Star Estates 949-291-4820, BRE#01397515

MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE

SATURDAY MAY 20TH

Benefiting Guide Dogs for the Blind. Lots of everything for sale. Stop by and see puppies in training. 8am-12pm. 31242 Via Cuartel, SJC. Please, no early birds.

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com. Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY SC

Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com

Lee Capps Irwin

Lee Capps Irwin of Washington passed away at age 89, on March 28, 2017. He was born July 11, 1927 in Beverly Hills, California

to Phoebe Sischo Irwin and Luther Wesley Irwin and was the oldest of 3 children. Lee lived in Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano for 26 years.

Lee Irwin and Verna raised 5 children and became involved with a church at every move. He loved singing often found a choir (Barbershop or church) needing his smooth bass voice. While Lee Irwin’s trade was construction he enjoyed life along the way.

After the passing of his first wife, Lee met the second love of his life, Carol Klefbeck. Carol and Lee enjoyed retirement, first in California and now in Washington.

Lee Capps Irwin is survived by wife Carol Irwin, siblings Janet Irwin Weston (CA) and Bruce Irwin (CA), surviving chil-

OBITUARIES

dren Mark (CA), Paul (SC), Ruth Ballard (CA), Lynn Sides (TX), Sarah Mato (CO) and step-children Randy Klefbeck (WA), Mark Klefbeck (OR), and John Klefbeck (WA) and their families..

Memorial Services will be held Saturday May 20, 2017 at 11am at St Andrews by the Sea United Methodist Church, San Clemente

Donations can be made to:

• United Methodist Committee on Relief

• American Cancer Society

• Charity of your choice

Robert “Bob” C. Murray

Robert “Bob” C. Murray, 90, passed away March 25, 2017, of Parkinson’s disease. Born in Ogden Utah, on June 27, 1926, to John S. Murray and Sylvan D’Autremont, Bob grew up in Malta, Montana and Seattle, Washington. Bob

joined the Navy in 1944, where he met his future wife Dorothy Voigt, a Navy Wave, at the Seattle receiving station, where they both worked. After the war, Bob graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from USC. Bob and Dorothy were married in 1947, and settled in Downey, California.

Bob was an engineer for the Los Angeles Air Pollution Control District, and then the state Air Quality Management District. After Bob retired in 1986, he and Dorothy traveled extensively. They moved to San Clemente in 1996 and became parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima church.

His wife Dorothy, who died in 2011, and his son Timothy, who passed away in 2015, predeceased Bob. Three children, six granddaughters, one grandson, four greatgranddaughters and one great-grandson survive Bob.

Funeral Service will be held on Friday, May 26 at 10 AM at our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in San Clemente. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association www.apdaparkinson.org/get-involved

Keeping Things ‘Cosmic’

The

Cosmic Creek Challenge returns to Salt Creek this weekend

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Couldn’t we all use a little more peace, love and understanding these days? If you answered yes to that question, you’re probably going to want to post up at Salt Creek this weekend for the annual Cosmic Creek Challenge.

A “retro-style” surf contest that pays homage to the creative minds and designs of the 1970s and 1980s, the Cosmic Creek Challenge takes place May 20-21 at Salt Creek and features its own unique format. Not just your run-of-the-mill surf competition, surfers have the opportunity to sample a variety of period equipment and participate in some throwback shenanigans. To bor row some words from Jimi Hendrix, “Have you ever been experienced?”

The event features four divisions: locals, creators and innovators, pros, and new for this year, a “body surf expression session.” The local and pro divisions all have to draw cards before their respective heats to determine what board they’ll be riding. Some boards fly, others are dogs; it’s just all the luck of the draw

The creators and innovators division is slightly different in that a number of wellknown surfboard shapers have committed to making and riding their own boards in the contest. Inspired by the ’70s and ’80s funk, a few of the shapers that will be on hand include Britt Merrick of Channel Islands, Gary Larson of Hobie Surfboards, Dan Bohne of Infinity Surfboards, Donald Brink, Danny Hess, Chris Christenson, Tyler Warren, Travis Reynolds, Jason Bennett of Chemistry Surfboards, T im Stamps, Cole Simler, and Mike Walters. Mark Cunningham and Kane Wilcox will be headlining the body surf expression session.

Even if you don’t reckon yourself an aficionado on a single-fin or twin, there is still plenty of reason to come down to Dana

Bill Stewart Honored

‘Kentucky’s Best Surfer’ gets his spot in San Clemente surf history

BY JAKE

This Saturday at the San Clemente Sports Wall of Fame at the San Clemente Aquatics Center, surfboard builder and longtime surf shop owner Bill Stewart will be honored with his rightful place in the city’s celebrated surf history.

Point and shake your tail feathers. Local vendors will be dishing out good eats all day, including food by Shwack and coffee by Stumptown Coffee Roasters. And on Saturday night, the bluff park above Salt Creek will be like a mini Woodstock with live tunes belted out by DIIV with Cosmonauts. After School Special will be supplying the tunes on the sand all day Saturday.

“It’s fun. It’s groovy. It’s grassroots. It’s an opportunity for everyone in the area to come down and have some fun at the beach,” said Eric Diamond, the mastermind behind the contest. “We’ve tried to make sure that there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re an older guy that grew up on single fins, or a grom that’s checking it out for the first time, the Cosmic is something both older and younger surfers can get involved in. And with the live music on Saturday night, it’s an epic family affair.”

This is the 16th annual Cosmic Creek Challenge. Find out more at www.vissla. com/blog/vissla-cosmic-creek-2017. SC

SURF FORECAST

Water Temperature: 60-63 degrees F

Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-7’ Poor-Fair

Thursday: SSW swell continues to roll in with small NW windswell. Look for mainly knee-waistchest high (2-3’+) surf at better breaks with some plus sets at standouts. SSE rotating S-SW winds through the day, at light to moderate levels.

Outlook: Small to locally modest mix of swells through the weekend with surf mainly kneewaist-chest high along with some plus sets at top breaks. Conditions improve for the back half of the week, lightest winds in the early mornings. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Stewart surfed for the first time in Hollywood, Florida, in 1963. By 1967, he shaped his first board after a stint whittling foam for Hobie and master craftsman Rick James (not to be confused with the musician of “Super Freak” fame) on the South Shore of Oahu. In 1978, he launched Stewar t Sur fboards. As they say, the rest is history.

For the last 40 years, Stewart has been inspiring some of the most innovative longboard designs, and made a name for himself thanks to the unique, custom artwork that’s set him apart from most other surfboard brands. In the mid-1980s, he

GROM OF THE WEEK

COLE HOUSHMAND

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

n this installment of Grom of the Week, we’re celebrating San Clemente’s rising stars that will be representing the United States at the 2017 World Sur fing Games in Biarritz, France, next week. Cole Houshmand and Samantha Sibley are two national team members to keep an eye on. We caught up with Houshmand to get his thoughts: San Clemente Times: What does it mean to come from San Clemente and represent the U.S. team in France?

Cole Houshmand: “It means a lot, and I cannot wait! San Clemente is such an awesome town. It is a pure surf town, and growing up here has definitely helped me get to where I am today. Being able to represent Team USA is an amazing experience. It’s something I have always wanted to do, and I am really looking forward to it.”

In a few years, this team will be on the Olympic stage. What are your thoughts on that?

developed the “Hydro Hull” design, which remains in use to this day. He estimates that he’s shaped over 40,000 himself, with over 100,000 boards being churned out by his production team at Stewart Surfboards. That’s a lot of happiness to a lot of people. The ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the San Clemente Aquatics Center. Local motocross legend Johnny Campbell and volleyball Olympian Gabe Gardner will also be honored. SC

“It’s incredible. For surfing to finally be an Olympic sport is game-changing. It has definitely given me and every other surfer something to work extremely hard for. I am really excited to be a part of this game changing experience.”

What are you most excited about for your upcoming trip?

“I have never been to Europe before, so I don’t know what to expect. I am looking forward to meeting the people and to see the way they live. I want to explore all the different waves. I know Europe has a lot of history, and I’m hoping to do some sightseeing. It would be cool to see a real castle.” SC

HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

The Cosmic Creek Challenge is scheduled for May 20-21 at Salt Creek. Photo: Courtesy

Surfboard shaper Bill Stewart will be recognized at this year’s Wall of Fame induction ceremony, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the San Clemente Aquatics Center. Photo: Courtesy

Cole Houshmand. Photo: Courtesy