June 9, 2016

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

June 9-15, 2016 C A N

U S E

Lifeguard Challenge Tests Swimmers PAGE 16

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 23

Take Flight Falconer helps keep San Clemente water outlet clean EYE ON SC/PAGE 8

Adam Chavez shows a group of people one of the falcons he works with to rid flocks of seagulls in unwelcome areas during a demonstration June 3 at Hamilton Oaks Winery in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Eric Heinz

San Clemente Boy Dies in Racing Accident in Mexico EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Pedro’s Celebrates 30 Years of Popular Tacos EYE ON SC/PAGE 6

www.sanclementetimes.com

Football: Sears Earns Invite to Elite 11 QB Finals SPORTS/PAGE 25

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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

Camp Pendleton’s Lt. Gen. David Berger, left, has been nominated by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter for the position of Commander of the U.S. Marines Corps Forces in the Pacific. Berger will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the position. Photo: Courtesy of Lance Cpl. Devan Gowans

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week San Clemente Boy Dies in Car Race Accident in Mexico THE LATEST: An 8-year-old San Clemente boy was killed and his mother suffered traumatic injuries when a car collided into them during the Saturday, June 4, SCORE International Off-Road Racing Baja 500 in Ensenada, Mexico, according to reports from SCORE International Off-Road Racing.

Xander Hendriks, 8, and his mother, Melissa, were standing on the sidelines when a truck in the race took an abrupt turn and apparently lost control and crashed into the audience, based on videos uploaded to YouTube.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the family’s medical bills and funeral costs at www.gofundme.com/ thehendriks5. As of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, the GoFundMe campaign had collected almost $100,000 in two days.

San Clemente Times was told by reliable sources that the family is close with Pacific Coast Church in San Clemente.

Church officials did not want to comment on the story at this time, but said they are keeping the family in their prayers and giving them as much support as possible.

San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

Xander was a second-grade student at Las Palmas Elementary School, according to a report from school officials. Counselors will be available throughout the week for anyone in need.

Two other people died in unrelated incidents during the event, SCORE reported.

“In the first racer fatality, Pro Moto Unlimited rider Travis Livingston, 34, of Palmdale, California, crashed at race mile 288.9. When SCORE medical personnel arrived, while attempting to stabilize him, Livingston went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived.” SCORE reported.

“In the second racer fatality, Sportsman Moto rider Noah Evermann, 34, of Alaska, was found dead near his motorcycle at race mile 180.9 by another race team.”

WHAT’S NEXT: This is a developing story.

More details will be provided when they become available.—Eric Heinz

Groups Collaborate to Combat Nuclear Fuel Storage at SONGS THE LATEST: A group of local residents gathered to discuss issues pertaining to San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on Wednesday, June 8, at Laguna Beach City Hall.

The group, known as Secure Nuclear Waste, is a coalition of a few community organizations that are trying to stop the storage of more spent nuclear fuel at SONGS, a few miles south of San Clemente on the bluffs of the Pacific Ocean.

The plant is operated by its majority stockholder, Southern California Edison.

Charles Langley, one of the group

organizers who spoke at the Wednesday meeting, said group advocates believe that once the nuclear fuel is stored on-site at the plant, it likely won’t leave. The group has also been vocal at past meetings regarding the canisters in which the fuel will be stored.

Most of those who spoke have been infuriated with the Community Engagement Panel, hosted by SCE, not accepting their research and concerns.

“The Community Engagement Panel is an illegitimate forum where the public is being tightly controlled and misled,” Langley said in an interview on Tuesday.

“Our interest is to create a real forum for a place where people who are concerned about radioactive nuclear waste can speak freely and get frank answers.”

Maureen Brown, senior media relations project manager for SCE, said some of the information circulating from the groups has been inaccurate, such as seismic analysis and other issues stemming from temporary storage. Brown also said SCE wants the waste moved away from the beaches as much as the advocates do.

“We agree with efforts by community leaders who want to see the fuel moved off the site as soon as possible,” Brown said on Tuesday.

Currently, there is legislation circulating the U.S. Senate and Congress that would allow for the establishment of interim storage facilities of spent nuclear fuel.

The bills would urge the passage of the Interim Consolidated Storage Act of 2016 and urge the United States Department of Energy to promptly relocate spent nuclear fuel from SONGS to a licensed and regulated interim consolidated storage facility.

WHAT’S NEXT: As the meeting was scheduled Wednesday, June 8 after press time, the San Clemente Times has provided a full story of the gathering at www.sanclementetimes.com. The next Community Engagement Panel, comprised of various local government officials, nuclear experts and more, will take place June 22 at San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino Del Avion. —EH

Camp Pendleton’s Lt. Gen. David Berger Nominated for USMC Commander of the Pacific THE LATEST: Camp Pendleton officials announced on Thursday that Lt. Gen. David H. Berger was nominated by Defense Secretary Ash Carter to be the next U.S. Marines Commander of the Pacific.

Berger is currently the Commanding General of the I Marines Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton.

According to his bio on the Camp

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Pendleton website, Lieutenant General Berger was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1981 and graduated from Tulane University. As a Lieutenant and Captain, he has served as a platoon commander in 1st Marine Division and company commander and Battalion Operations Officer in 2d Reconnaissance Battalion during operation Desert Storm in Iraq, the bio stated.

Berger also served as Officer Selection Officer in Roanoke, Virginia, as well as various other duties.

WHAT’S NEXT: Berger will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the position.—EH

San Clemente Village Needs Volunteers THE LATEST: San Clemente Village is a new nonprofit that is preparing to launch a membership-based program in September designed to keep senior citizens independent and living in their homes for as long as possible.

“The village concept began in Boston and has spread across the country, with San Clemente having the first village in Orange County,” according to a press release from the organization.

San Clemente Village intends to provide prescreened volunteers and service providers who will help with transportation to appointments, grocery shopping, and errands, simple home maintenance and basic tech problems with electronics, yard care and assistance with pets, referrals to pre-screened and vetted local businesses, social activities such as field trips, shared interest groups, workshops and lectures.

WHAT’S NEXT: People who are interested in being a volunteer may contact San Clemente Villages at 949.441.1348 or by email at info@scvillage.org. For more information visit www.scvillage.org. —EH

Human Affairs Committee Apps Extended Through June 23 THE LATEST: The San Clemente City Clerk’s Office announced it will accept applications through Thursday, June 23, for the Human Affairs Committee. There are four vacancies on the Committee—three vacancies for two-year terms to expire June 30, 2018—and one unexpired term to expire June 30, 2017.

WHAT’S NEXT: The City Council will interview candidates and make appointments at its meeting on June 29. People who are interested can request an application form by calling 949.361.8200 or by sending an email to baadej@san-clemente.org.—EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

SC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY STAFF

All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Tuesday, June 7 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Cristianitos Road/I-5 Freeway (10:37 a.m.)

A caller said a man and a woman were dancing in the road.

Monday, June 6 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Del Presidente, 2600 Block (8:13 p.m.) A woman found a large bone on the beach and thought it was possibly a human bone.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRUMSTANCES El Camino Real, 600 Block (7:19 p.m.)

A man was laying in the lot, being verbally argumentative and exposing himself.

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

Chamber, City, Businesses and Individuals Honor 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment The San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, city of San Clemente, Rod’s Tree Service and Left Coast Brewing Co. will host a “welcome home” event for the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, returning from deployment in Okinawa, Japan, in November. The Marines are actively integrating with the rest of the Marine elements on 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

The event will be held on Friday, Dec. 9 at San Onofre Beach, Camp Pendleton.

The Chamber is accepting gifts for the Marines and their children. If you would like to donate a gift(s) contact the Chamber office. Either you may deliver the gift to the Chamber office, or they will collect the gift at your establishment. All donors will be included in the Chamber Business Newsletter.

Examples of recommended gifts include toys, retail gift certificates, dinner or lunch coupons, movie tickets and gift cards.

Items for the actual event can also be donated, including a jump house, petting zoo, decorations and other equipment.

Become a sponsor of this event in honor of the men and women of 2nd Battalion, San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

DISTURBANCE Avenida Pico/El Camino Real (6:38 p.m.) A woman was screaming and trying to punch random people who were passing by.

black Dodge pickup truck and was in the lanes of Avenida Pico. The caller stopped but was unable to move it.

DISTURBANCE Corte La Cereza, 0 Block (6:33 p.m.) A caller reported a family built a fort out of lumber on the public trail behind their home and were making a lot of noise, dogs were reportedly off leashes and they were riding dirt bikes..

Sunday, June 5

DISTURBANCE Trafalfar Lane, 100 Block (3:01 a.m.) Five men were fighting in the street.

Friday, June 3 DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Calle Fierros (11:36 p.m.) A loud vibration was reported.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES El Camino Real/Avenida Pico (10:48 p.m.) A 33-year-old man was arrested for assaulting an officer. The man has since been released.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida San Luis Rey/El Camino Real (11:44 p.m.) An SUV was occupied by a man and a woman who were drinking, playing loud music and were in the park after hours having sex.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo Flamenco, 3400 Block (6:14 p.m.)

Two transients broke the lock to get into the pool area located behind the caller’s home.

Saturday, June 4 DRUNK DRIVING Bonanza/Camino De Los Mares (9:09 p.m.) A 41-year-old woman was arrested for drunk driving.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Avenida Pico/Calle Frontera (11:32 a.m.) A mattress fell off a

4th Marine Regiment. Call San Clemente Chamber at 949.492.1131.

Chamber Seeks More Salsa Contest Volunteers The San Clemente Chamber of Commerce is looking for more participants for the 63rd annual Fiesta Music Festival Salsa Challenge, which takes place Aug. 14 during the Fiesta Music Festival. It’s a challenge based on the dip, not the dance, for the record.

Tasting tickets will be sold to the public at $8 for six tastes.

Restaurants and individuals are invited to participate. The event is limited to 20 entrants. Space is assigned based on date of application, with payment, received.

Entrants are required to make three gallons of homemade salsa. Applications and tickets are available at the San Clemente Chamber Office, 1231 Puerta Del Sol, 200, 949.492.1131 or visit our website at www.scchamber.com.

CUSD Summer Lunch Program Starts June 20 Lunches will be provided at no charge and are designed to meet children’s nutritional needs during the summer. A typical lunch may include a turkey sandwich, smart slice pizza, hummus with chips or yogurt with a muffin, served with carrot sticks, jicama, as-

DISTURBANCE Calle Puente, 1100 Block (8:26 p.m.) People were playing volleyball loudly and aggressively.

HIT AND RUN MISDEMEANOR Calle Saluda/ Avenida La Pata (7:52 p.m.) A white Hyundai Sonata hit a traffic light in the intersection.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Del Presdiente, 3800 Block (2:21 p.m.) Four men were trying to force their way into the building. The caller was with security and did not know them.

The men were verbally argumentative.

sorted fresh fruit and milk.

Lunch will be served daily at San Juan Elementary School, Las Palmas Elementary School and Marco Forester Middle School from 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. from June 20 through Aug. 5. Meals must be consumed at the school sites.

Children 18 years old and younger are eligible to take advantage of this free program. More information is available at CUSD Food and Nutrition Services at 949.234.9509.

For more information about the national Summer Food Service Program, visit www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer.

San Clemente Seniors to Attend Military Academies Joseph Bell is a senior at San Clemente High School where he participated in track and field and cross country and served as student body president. On his way to becoming an Eagle Scout, Joseph earned all 142 merit badges offered through the Boy Scouts of America. Joseph will attend the U.S. Naval Academy.

Kyle Coughlin, also a senior at San Clemente High School, participated on the track and field and cross country teams.

Kyle participated in Club Dust, an organization that builds homes for poor communities in Mexico, and worked as a park aid at San Onofre State Beach and San Clemente State Beach. Kyle will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.

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Community Meetings SATURDAY, JUNE 11

American Legion Post 423 Meeting

Noon. The meetings take place the second Saturday of every month. For information, contact the Post Commander Michael Rogers at 949.429.5003.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

San Clemente Farmers Market

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

Avenida Del Mar.

MONDAY, JUNE 13

City Council Meeting, Budget Adoption

6 p.m. As part of a regularly scheduled City Council meeting, the city is expected to adopt its 2016-2017 fiscal year budget. 100 Avenida Presidio, Council Chambers, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 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.

BILY Meeting

7-9 p.m. Because I Love You helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. Every Tuesday at San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 Avenida De La Estrella, www.bilysc.org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15

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.

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.

www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Class Dismissed

Longtime SCHS teacher to retire Friday

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

he has been described by her peers as one of the most loved teachers at San Clemente High School. Lisa Yancey, currently a home economics teacher who has held many different titles in her time at the school, will be retiring at the end of the week.

“I love the ‘one town, one team,’” Yancey said. “My job is just so much fun. There’s been so many creative things that I’ve been able to do.”

Yancey has been teaching at SCHS since 1978. She has taught child development, home economics, and survival of singles— a class that teaches high school students about raising children, taking care of their finances and other life skills.

“We had full-on weddings for students with bands, cakes, the whole nine yards,” she said. “You have to be actively engaged (no pun intended) in order to learn.”

Yancey also started a preschool program at the high school.

Lisa Yancey, a SCHS teacher of 37 years, cheers with students of the Best Buddies program. Yancey will retire at the end of the week. Photo: Eric Heinz

In addition to child development, she helped with regional occupation programing through California State University, Fullerton.

Additionally, Yancey has been the chairwoman of the visual and performing arts department for years. She met her husband, Steven, who was coaching water polo at the school in the 1981.

A critical part of Yancey’s contribution to the high school is her extracurricular work with special needs students, also known as the Best Buddies program,

which she has helped run for more than 30 years. The students then go from SCHS to the adult transition program in San Juan Capistrano until they’re 21.

“She has helped every special education student with their self-esteem, with food preparation, family life, compassion, everything overall,” said Karen Crucio, a special education English teacher at SCHS. “She has an open-door policy and lets them know she’s here to help. If she knows a student has special needs, she asks how she can help.”

Yancey said although she is at a point in her life where she wants to retire, she also wants to be able to care for her parents, both of whom have Alzheimer’s disease.

She also was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, so for the next six months she will not be able to substitute teach while she focuses on her health.

But she will still be part of SCHS, working with the Wellness and Prevention Center, continuing to work with Best Buddies and a few other capacities.

Patricia Cox, a special education aide who has worked closely with Yancey, said Yancey has helped her by having students from her class collaborate on projects with the Best Buddies. Recently, they put together a prom night for the Best Buddies program.

“Lisa’s motto is do what is right, not what is easy,” Cox said. “I’ve seen children remolded throughout the years with that.

They start at one point in their development, and by the end of the year… she has taught them family values and acceptance and patience. She is going to be greatly missed. We don’t see someone like her every day. If you had Mrs. Yancey in the 37 years she was here, you were blessed.” SC A retirement party is scheduled for Friday at SCHS for Yancey. San Clemente High School graduation takes place from 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 at the school, 700 Avenida Pico.

Tacos Stand Pedro’s Tacos celebrates 30 years in San Clemente

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

here’s a simple adage to what has kept Pedro’s Tacos going in San Clemente.

“If it’s working well, don’t change the recipes,” owner McNary said. “Quality, of course, and price and quick service because we are in quick service restaurant and we can’t compromise on the quality of the product and we can’t vary and shop around and change things. We just try to keep the product as high quality as possible.”

In 1989, McNary purchased the original location when it was Mr. Pete’s Burgers, then it was changed to Señor Pedro’s.

McNary began his career in the food industry in San Juan Capistrano, running a Green Burrito franchise at that time.

Pedro’s didn’t become an overnight success, McNary said. It took some fine tuning in the beginning.

“It was just trial and error in the early years,” McNary said. “We made some adjustments to things, and the feedback wasn’t good. So we went back to what was already working. We bought it four years old, and it already had a clientele.

I learned within just a few years not to San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

Ed McNary bought Pedro’s in 1989 and helped concoct some of the most popular taco recipes in the region.

Photo: Courtesy of Ed McNary

fiddle with it and just refine it.”

Pedro’s main dish came together with a fish taco popularity that started sweeping the nation.

“Back in the early 1990s not too many people were eating fish tacos yet, and some customers were afraid of them,” McNary said. “So we did the fried chicken taco, and that one got very popular on its own and that was kind of unique back then. It’s basically a fish taco with fried chicken.”

Grilled shrimp tacos started becoming popular about 10 years ago with customers recommending them.

McNary said he enjoys seeing his

customers satisfied with their orders most of all.

“It’s just seeing people come from all over the world,” he said. “We have met so many wonderful people from different states and countries. During their once-ayear trip they go to Pedro’s a bunch while they’re here. Because the recipes are a little unique, it’s hard to find that same taste once you’re hooked on it. There’s only certain places you can get it and that’s been really rewarding.”

Some of the employees have been with Pedro’s for 20 to 25 years, McNary said.

Franchising is starting to take hold with Pedro’s. In addition to the north and

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The Scully family, from left to right, Evan, Chris, Violette and Jenny, sit down for lunch on Monday at Pedro’s Tacos south location. Photo: Eric Heinz

south locations in town, there are locations in Fallbrook, Oceanside and Boston, but there will likely be more locations in the future.

In October, the original location at 2313 S. El Camino Real caught fire. The business was closed for a brief period and eventually reopened, but it was the response from local firefighters that McNary said moved him most.

“The firefighters said ‘We’ve got to hurry up and save Pedro’s,’” McNary said.

“Just to be part of the fabric of San Clemente, to be woven into the history, is a really special relationship, and so we want to keep those stores indefinitely.” SC www.sanclementetimes.com

In honor of our 10th Anniversary, the San Clemente Times is proud to present...

10 Weeks of Giveaways!

Congratulations to our final winner Sharon McCann!

Sharon took home a gift certificate to The Coach House, SC Times Stance socks and an SC Times T-shirt!

“

This is the only paper news I read, as the rest I do online. Your paper is not biased and gives residents information that is pertinent and important to San Clementeans. I enjoy the police blotter and the things that happen in our city. I love seeing the ads to find new businesses. The information regarding clubs in San Clemente has encouraged me to involve myself in Rotary Club and Toastmasters groups. As a young 40-year-old medically retired female from law enforcement, I need something to do with my abundance of free time. Your paper gives me ideas and information about things to do. Please keep up the great work and I always look forward to my weekly read.

”

EYE ON SC

Birds of a Feather

Falconer helps keep Poche Beach clean

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

eagulls were everywhere; the occupation outnumbered the trained falcon about 300 to one.

As it was released from its master, the falcon shot out toward the nuisance birds and they rapidly ascended in terror.

The falcon had done its job, it seemed— but then it took off and left Adam Chavez to search for it.

“The bird had transmitters on it, and we had to chase it for three days,” Chavez said. “I found the bird, climbed to the top of this hill and tried to get it, and he took off again.”

The bird Chavez was chasing was not one of his own, but he was eventually able to find the falcon using GPS. Chavez, who owns Adam’s Falconry Service, has been working with falcons and other birds of prey since he was 12 years old. In Nevada, he became the youngest master falconer at the age of 18.

“My dad had mining property in Reno and Carson City, and as kids we used to go hunt and fish. One day we happened to find a nest of kestrel falcons that we thought were abandoned,” Chavez said.

“We took them home and realized you had to have a license. We turned them over to Game and Fish, but luckily one of the kids that was with me that day was the (Nevada) governor’s son.”

After getting the falcons to the proper authorities, Chavez developed a keen interest in training falcons.

“I just like animals, and the birds were just awesome,” he said.

Young birds that are not prepared for the duties of ridding seagulls can be a problem. Chavez said the attrition rate is high for falcons in their first year or two due to getting caught up in fights with other birds or problems with their upbringing.

“Sometimes the seagull will try to bait your bird and fly him into stuff,” he said.

“There’s lots of obstacles. It’s dangerous.

Everything they’re trying to chase will use every trick they can so they can get away.”

It can take some time to train the birds.

“One bird we had took longer than normal, and we started training her in September,” Chavez said. “Some birds train really fast, but some take two or three seasons. A lot of times, guys will give up on birds and I’ll pick up those birds and work through their issues. But some of those are projects. You just have to keep pushing through.”

Chavez is able to call the birds on command through systematic responses.

During an exhibition on June 3, people who attended were able to call the falcons to perch on their arms, coaxing them with a bit of quail meat.

“Being around the birds that I love, it’s just really a job that I really like,” he said.

San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

“Sometimes I don’t even feel like it’s work.

There’s a lot of prep time that goes into it though.”

In order to become a master falconer and tender services, a license is needed and falconers must go through apprenticeships and additional training.

Poche Beach Abatement From 2000 to 2012, according to a city of San Clemente report, Poche Beach was listed in the top 10 of “Beach Bummers”

by Heal the Bay, which tests water at beaches for various health standards.

Although the city established a water filter system for runoff into the beach, hundreds of seagulls would gather in the area because it attracted other food for them, and the excrement from the seagulls had raised the location’s bacterial levels above the state’s standards.

Jon Sultzer commands Horace, a Harris hawk, to his arm during an exhibition June 3 put on by Adam Chavez of Adam’s Falconry Service at Hamilton Oaks Winery in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Eric Heinz

the seagull “willSometimes try to bait your bird and

fly him into stuff. There’s lots of obstacles. It’s dangerous.

Everything they’re trying to chase will use every trick they can so they can get away.

— Adam Chavez

Ashleigh Luschei awaits Horace to perch on her arm, which has bits of quail meat waiting for the hawk.

Photo: Eric Heinz

In 2013, Chavez was hired to try to get rid of the seagulls, and in 2014 Heal the Bay determined Poche was no longer a threat to human health. San Clemente City Council recently renewed his contract for another year.

California state law requires cities and water authorities to have mitigation plans in order to keep bacterial levels in public areas at a minimum.

The birds Chavez trains are not trying to kill seagulls or harm them. Falcons and hawks are trained to scare them off so they eventually become deterred from the area.

Before Chavez was contracted with the city, counterfeit plastic coyotes were brought in as a scarecrow. Before that, another falconer had tried the location but only used birds that were tethered down and couldn’t reach different areas of the beach, which didn’t help the situation.

“Every situation is different and you have to assess everything,” Chavez said.

“They all come with their own issues.

Poche is a small spot, so it’s really tough for a big falcon to fly in there and be safe.

It’s even tougher for the hawks because they want to land on the railroad tracks.”

According to city documents, Adam’s Falconry services at Poche Beach costs $52,600 a year.

“I’m paying a falconer to be down there; you have to have general insurance,” he said. “You have to have workers’ compensation and you have to feed the birds, which can be $1.75 a day on some of these birds. Then there’s all the equipment, which doesn’t last very long down there.”

Birds also need to be taken to a veterinarian and are susceptible to getting ticks and other problems.

“One bird flew into a Mexican palm, and I had to take it to the vet,” Chavez said. “We have to pay for GPS systems, new hoods, gloves. Believe me, we’re not making a killing on that job at all. We may charge for six to eight hours, but you don’t see the hour or two that goes into preparing the bird and the drive time. The landfill is even worse.”

Chavez said he has about 17 birds in his fleet. He said he’s worked with animals as large as bald eagles and others, but falcons and hawks are his main animals.

“When we first started we were at Poche probably six or seven days a week, but now we’ve dropped down to about four days,” Chavez said. “It’s a seven-month, seasonal job. The crow abatements are year-round.”

For more information about Adam’s Falconry, visit www.adamsfalconryservice. vpweb.com. SC

”

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Adam Chavez, owner of Adam’s Falconry Service, speaks to an audience about his profession and falcons during an exhibition June 3 at Hamilton Oaks Winery in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Eric Heinz

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor

GUEST OPINION: The View from the Pier by Herman Sillas

Hallmark of American Culture is Embracing Acceptance

I

n the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, killed a quarter of Cambodia’s population and uprooted the rest to work on collective farms or other government labor projects. Families were disbanded as husbands and wives were separated, assigned to different labor camps and forced to live there. The deserted children were assigned to other camps and put to work. Adults and children faced death for any disobedience. All property belonged to the state.

In 1977, Chen Yen, an 8-year-old Cambodian, lived under those conditions. She was illiterate and separated from her parents and seven siblings. Her father gathered his family to escape and THE VIEW led them at night through FROM THE PIER

By Herman Sillas the “killing fields” and the Cambodian jungle. It was filled with wild animals and Pol Pot’s soldiers who killed escaping Cambodians on sight. After days of hiding and walking at night, Chen and family arrived at the Thailand border, but were placed in a Cambodian refugee camp. On the first night, a mass escape occurred. Chen and her sister Pan were separated from the rest of the family.

By way of a miracle they were reunited at the Thailand border and allowed to cross over into a refugee camp. In November 1979, an American church group sponsored Chen, her parents and three siblings to come to the United States. They arrived at John Wayne Airport on November 16, 1979.

Chen was 10 years old, illiterate, poor and spoke only Cambodian.

She was placed in the fourth grade and dropped to the third grade class because of her inability to speak or understand English.

Chen cried daily because of her isolation at school. Each morning commencing at 5 a.m. before attending school, Chen and the family collected recyclable cans to earn money for food. Eventually, a teacher spent an hour each day teaching Chen English. Her mind was like a sponge as it absorbed the new words and their meanings. In a short time, Chen was returned to the fourth grade and then finished off the fi fth and sixth grade in one year!

After graduating from high school in Garden Grove, Chen enrolled at California State University Fullerton as a business major focusing on human resources and management. After graduating, she wanted to get her MBA, but her mother discouraged her, believing Chen was not smart enough. Chen San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

HOSPITAL LAWSUIT CRIPPLES CITY WALLY ROBERTS, San Clemente

went to work for her brother who owned a bakery distribution business. He put her in charge of operations. Chen dreamed of owning her own business.

Café Calypso, a restaurant on Del Mar in San Clemente, became available. Chen observed the café daily for two weeks counting the customers that entered its premises. Finally, she was prepared to make an offer, but had one reservation.

Would San Clemente accept a Cambodian woman owner? She took a chance, and in 2002, Chen and her sister Pan Yen purchased Café Calypso. Existing customers embraced the Cambodian new owners and brought friends. Chen and Pan upgraded the food quality. Business increased and Café Calypso became a popular place for breakfast and lunch. Chen then purchased a second establishment on Camino Real in San Clemente and named it Calypso Sunrise Café. Her long journey to freedom and education has brought her well-deserved success.

“

After days of hiding and

walking at night, Chen and

family arrived at the Thailand border, but were placed in a

”

Cambodian refugee camp.

In the June 2-8 issue of the San Clemente Times, Assistant City Manager Erik Sund stated, “It would be a big loss to the city” to lose the hospital litigation and perhaps have to pay MemorialCare $42.5 million. That is a huge amount of money for a city the size of San Clemente. I agree with MemorialCare; the “spot zoning” ordinance was a disastrous, ill-conceived move on the part of the City Council. The battle (probably not very well-fought) for a stand-alone emergency room was lost in Sacramento.

So, in the probable event the city loses, Mr. Sund also stated that will hamper the city’s ability to provide services. As Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Some of those services that will be lost could be recovered by putting our city workers back on a real work week every week. In other words, do away with the absurd “Dark Friday,” a vestige of another city financial disaster of long ago. “Dark Friday” has long since become a boondoggle benefit to city workers at the expense of us taxpayers. Dropping Dark Friday would increase productivity by one full work day every other week. It will cause the city workers to show up just like most folks do in the private sector (not to mention most other municipalities).

REPRESENTATION NOT THE PROBLEM, VOTER INACTION IS

Listening to Chen’s story, I realized our country is a nation of immigrants with the exception of the Native Americans who were here from the beginning. Our forefathers came at different times for different reasons and some came screaming in chains. Different languages and customs arrived during our 260-year history. We are a diversified population. Chen says we are a very friendly people based upon her experience. I hope she is right. Time will tell if we will continue to welcome new generations of refugees. I vote yes. That is the view from the pier.

Herman Sillas, an attorney, artist and writer fishes at the San Clemente Pier most Saturday mornings. He is the author of the award-winning book, View from the Pier-Stories from San Clemente. He may be reached at sillasla@aol.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

JERRY MIRSKY, San Clemente

Where I come from, San Clemente isn’t even large enough to be called a city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2013, San Clemente only had a population of 65,040. Now we have some group attempting to file a petition to divide the town into voting districts, and calling this reform?

Our government, at all levels, is already out of control. You want reform. I’ll give you common sense reform. Dana Point has a population of 34,062, and San Juan Capistrano 35,852. In many places, a city is considered to have a population of 100,000plus. Combined with San Clemente’s 65,040 if these small towns were consolidated into one, there would be significant savings based on economies of size and reduced duplicate administrative costs.

The three towns combined would make a city of 134,954, and the demographics and geography of all three of the fore-mentioned Towns are about the same.

Page 10

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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

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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

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell

Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett

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Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Melissa Calvano Debra Holm Cameron Sadeghi Tim Trent

San Clemente Times, Vol. 11, Issue 23. 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 2016. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

(Cont. on page 12) www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX The problem here is lazy voters, not districting. If you don’t get out to put forward a candidate and then vote, you get what you get. So stop complaining or attempting to district a town already too small to be considered a real city, especially from an economic standpoint.

I would like there to be an emergency room at that site for all the obvious reasons. But that does not mean we should run headlong into a buzz saw that will harm the city’s finances in a myriad of ways that could be more harmful than the emergency room closing. I don’t know that this is what we are doing but, given the opacity so far, I don’t know that it is not.

CITY FINANCES MUST COME BEFORE LITIGIOUS FEUD

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, AND THE PCH BRIDGE

MICHAEL WEINBAUM, San Clemente

PETER CASSIMATIS, San Clemente

The San Clemente Times June 2-8 edition contains two pieces which, although not presented in tandem, to me seem closely related and to call for further scrutiny.

As a long-in-the-tooth lawyer, I have been curious about the city of San Clemente’s belief that it can, via its zoning authority, mandate that any owner of the hospital campus provide emergency medical services. I am not a land use attorney, but it does strike me as an aggressive legal position to claim that zoning authority permits a municipality, on a one-off basis, to compel a particular use of a particular piece of property.

An article in last week’s edition stated that San Clemente has no insurance to cover any MemorialCare recovery in its suit against the city (the claim is for $42.5 million). The city’s assistant manager is quoted as saying, not surprisingly, that having to pay a judgment of that magnitude would “hamper the city’s ability to provide services.”

In the same edition, Chris Hamm, a City Council member, writes about finances and public safety, lamenting that the significant (10 percent) increase in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department charge to San Clemente has caused the city to leave two sheriff deputy positions vacant. Hamm comments more generally about the difficulty San Clemente faces in balancing its budget, not taking on debt and providing critical public services. Hamm says nothing about the MemorialCare suit.

Residents are entitled to greater transparency. If a City Council member thinks it is important to get the message out that our finances are arguably compromising public safety, then we deserve a thoughtful, coherent public explanation about the risks associated with the hospital litigation, who helped our city attorney and Council assess that risk, and why this is litigation worth pursuing.

It was a tough morning at Sally’s house—the kids were pokey-slow getting ready for school. Her husband was in a foul mood, and her boss texted her that the morning meeting was critical because her real estate sale was falling through.

She rushed the kids out the door and drove them to school, dropping them off with a perfunctory, “Love you,” and headed for the meeting. She was driving Pacific Coast Highway northbound when her phone rang—it was the boss. “I better take it,” she thought.

In the shadow of what used to be a pedestrian bridge separating foot traffic from auto traffic, said bridge was torn down because it was ”too expensive” to repair and “blocked views.”

Harry was a little more than lightly hung over. He and his buddies had partied well into the night in their rented condo on Coast Highway, and the effects were tantamount to a World of Warfare game going on in his head. Regardless, he hauled out of bed and checked the surf report—the break at Doheny was perfect!

So he grabbed his surfboard, plugged in his earphones, cranked up Metallica and headed to the crosswalk.

Harry had the light, so he started across PCH, rocking out to his favorite tunes. Sally dropped her cell phone, reached to pick it up and never saw the crosswalk light, or Harry.

So Harry met Sally, and any separation of auto traffic from pedestrians is preferable to “sharing the road,” or often not “sharing the road.”

(Cont. from page 10)

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, June 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.

Page 12

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

Correction In the June 2-8 edition of the San Clemente Times article “Step by Step: Dancing for a Cause raises funds for charities,” the Sunrise Rotary Club was misidentified. Also, officials from Sunrise Rotary said they put on the event and did not coordinate with the San Clemente Woman’s Club. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’ is a Chuckle

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 09 LEE ROY 7-10:30 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

CASA ROMANTICA: SADDLEBACK BIG BAND 6:30 p.m. This 16-piece big band will perform an evening of historically authentic music from the Swing Era under the leadership of Joey Sellers, the director of Jazz Studies at Saddleback Community College. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

Friday | 10

Photo: File

SUNDAY, JUNE 12: ANNUAL CLASSIC CAR SHOW 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Downtown Business Association will host the 21st annual Car Show on Avenida Del Mar in downtown San Clemente. The show will feature about 300 show cars from classic to exotic. The event is free to attend. The venue includes free slot car races, a rock climbing wall and slide for children, food trucks, vendors, DJ entertainment and a live band. Family Assistance Ministries will be raffling items all day as a fundraiser.

A free shuttle bus from San Clemente High School will be available for additional parking.

BALLROOM BASH COMMUNITY DANCE 7:30-10:30 p.m. The $10 admission fee includes East Coast swing lesson followed by dancing to ballroom, swing and Latin recorded hits. There will be refreshments.

Singles and couples 18 and over. Community Presbyterian Church, 32202 Del Obispo, San Juan Capistrano.

of worship. Artists performing include Chris Lizotte (chrislizotte.com), Gary Rea (garyreamusic.com), the Z Tree band, Colin Heinrich and Alexandra Adolph. Tickets can be purchased online for $7 at www. summerconcert.ticketleap.com or at the door for $10. Heritage Christian Fellowship, 190 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente, 949.361.1022, www.heritagesc.org.

Saturday | 11

Sunday | 12

ZENTANGLE 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Certified Zentangle teacher, Deborah Goldman, will teach people to create dazzling designs. The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Cost is $85 per person and includes a starter kit and everything needed for the class. 1531 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.369.6603, www.scartsupply.com.

ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30-7 p.m. Climb onboard a Dana Wharf luxury catamaran for this 90-minute wine cruise around the Dana Point Harbor.

Tickets are $49. Every Friday and Sunday.

Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 888.224.0603, www.danawharf.com.

FELIPE POMAR PRESENTATION 6-9 p.m. Big-wave surfing legend, 1965 World Surfing Champion and master health coach Felipe Pomar will give a presentation at the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center. Pomar will show a 20-minute video and give a talk about health, surfing to 100, and how to find uncrowded waves in an increasingly crowded world, followed by a Q&A session. Admission is free for SHACC members and $5 for nonmembers. 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, 949.388.0313, www.surfingheritage.org.

SUMMER CONCERT 7-9 p.m. Several artists will be performing at the summer concert and night San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

HALF-PRICE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. $22.50.

Half price on Tuesdays but trips are available every day of the week. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Wednesday | 15

Monday | 13 BRIDGE AT THE SENIOR CENTER 1 p.m. If you are an intermediate-level player, join the San Clemente Senior Center. People can sign up in the office or just show up. Come five to 10 minutes early to claim a seat. Monday and Thursday at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, 949.940.5702, www.san-clemente.org.

FREE GUITAR LESSONS Free group lessons starting from the beginner level. Bring your own guitar.

Email coamusicarts@gmail.com to sign up. 1050 Calle Negocio, 949.388.0114, www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

Tuesday | 14

JOY OF LIVING BIBLE STUDY 9:15-11 a.m. Women of all ages are invited to this interdenominational group that meets Wednesdays through June 1. A startup fee of $30 is requested. Free child care is provided. Talega Life Church, 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, 949.493.1980.

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.

‘THE BUSINESS OF RECOVERY’ 6:30 p.m. The film will tackle issues related to treating addiction. Tickets are $12 through The Business of Recovery website.

Krikorian Theater, 641 Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente, www.thebusinessofrecovery.com/screenings.

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

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

Page 14

Photo: Courtesy of Universal Studios

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

ne of the silliest and most unpretentious movies to come out this year is Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. It’s about a pseudo Justin Bieber type of superstar, and is a little bit Spinal Tap (1984), a bit of Walk Hard (2007) and a lot of Judd Apatow influence. Created by the comedy trio, the Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer), who are most famous for their Saturday Night Live digital shorts from the 2006-2009 seasons, Popstar is a clever idea that’s a few years too late.

The parody begins with a camera crew following around Conner 4Real (Samberg) as he releases a new record right before his latest tour.

Throughout the film, we see Conner’s origins with a Beastie Boys-esque rap group called Style Boyz with his childhood friends Owen (Taccone) and Lawrence (Schaffer), his latest competition with Hunter the Hungry (Chris Redd), and his engagement to starlet Ashley Wednesday (Imogen Poots). While Conner’s album and tour bombs, Lawrence starts over as a farmer.

Joan Cusack, Tim Meadows, Emma Stone, Sarah Silverman and Maya Rudolph are a few of the big-name appearances. Produced by Apatow and directed by Taccone and Schaffer, Popstar isn’t a laugh-out-loud fest that one would expect from this group, but it is still a solid satiric effort. There are more chuckles than guffaws, but Conner’s journey through pop to EDM while flopping is amusing enough, and show the trio are still at their best with funny music videos. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

The swimmers of the open division of the Lifeguard Challege start their race on Sunday at San Clemente Pier.

Against the Current

Inaugural Lifeguard Challenge tests swimmers’ mettle PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

waths of gray brought on by “June Gloom” could not dampen the spirits of 23 swimmers who came out Sunday for the inaugural Lifeguard Challenge.

The event was put on by the San Clemente Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Foundation, the Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks & Recreation Foundation, and the city of San Clemente.

In three separate divisions, swimmers had to make their way from the shore to 400 yards out by the Pier and back. The distance is set by the standards to qualify for the San Clemente Marine Safety Division’s lifeguards.

The surf was averaging 3 to 4 feet with intermittent 5-foot waves.

Separating herself from the pack, 10-year-old Savannah Punak was the lone under-12 swimmer, who was able to complete a 400-yard swim out to sea and back.

Certificates were given to those who completed the 800-yard swim in under 13 minutes and 15 seconds. SC

Savannah Punak, 10, was the lone swimmer in the 200-yard under-12 divsion.

RESULTS Open Division (Minutes:Seconds) 1. Boston Willaims, 10:30* (M) 2. Sean O’Gorman, 10:52* 3. Ian Pruit, 11:15* 4. Carson Williams, 11:59* 5. R. Chetwynd, 12:10* 6. Thomas Dollar, 13:08* 7. Lilly Murant, 13:51 (W) 8. Ian O’Gorman, 13:51 9. Mike Dollar, 16:57 10. Cole (no last name given), 18:13 Junior Division (12-18) 1. Adrina Daniel, 11:45* (W) 2. Jonathan Oliver, 12:07* (M) 3. Erika Effenberer, 14:12 4. Dane Olbrich, 14:30 5. Jacob Geuhard, 15:15 6. Cole Underwood, 18:30 Junior Division (Under 12) 1. Savannah Punak

Boston Williams won the open division of the Lifeguard Challenge with a time of 10:30.

Page 16

* Denotes time required for Marine Safety Division Lifeguards was made.

(M) Men’s Division Champion (W) Women’s Division Champion www.sanclementetimes.com

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

Why Asking Questions is Better Than Giving Advice

D

uring my 23 years as a newspaper columnist, I have written 3,500 columns and given lots of advice on the topic of dating, relationships and finding love for people age 50-plus. This week, a reader made my job easier.

His name is Bob. He emailed, “You are providing a valuable service to those over 50 who are trying to be out there in the dating game.”

That was a nice comment for a columnist to receive. Then, Bob added, “I would like you to consider the subject of advice giving.”

At first I thought, “Oh, Bob is probably seeking dating advice, as readers often do,” so I read further.

Bob said, “We all are asked by friends, colleagues, clients, etc., at one time or another, to give them wellintentioned advice. It is tempting to advise them, which can also make us ON LIFE AND feel good.

LOVE AFTER 50 “As a former manageBy Tom Blake ment consultant, I was asked for advice often. It is a neat ego trip to hand down the scrolls of wisdom, but a trip I rigorously tried to avoid because giving advice is fraught with pitfalls.”

Since I dispense a lot of advice, Bob’s comment piqued my interest.

He said, “The advice-requester may or may not be giving an accurate picture of all the facts and circumstances, intentionally or unintentionally. Errors of omission can happen because the person cannot or will not admit he or she has contributed to the issue or problem in some way.

“Instead of giving advice, I had a backpack full of questions to pose to the advice-requester. At the end, he or she would thank me for the ‘advice’ after they had arrived at their own conclusions, solutions, and courses of action. I had not made one statement of advice; I had only

asked many questions.”

Bob cited some of the questions he used to ask.

“Have you thought about approaching the issue from this or that perspective?”

“What are the outcomes—results—you would like to achieve?”

“Does the other person share those outcomes?”

“How do you want to feel about yourself after you put your plan into effect?”

He said, “What if advice is given and it works absolutely perfectly? What has the requester learned? Nothing, except to return to the advice-giver the next time a problem arises. A dependency (co-dependency?) has been created.”

He also pointed out, “What if advice is given and it crashes and burns, fails miserably? Who is to blame? Why, the advice-giver, of course. ‘You told me to do such and such. I followed your advice and look where it got me. My relationship is ruined, etc.’”

Because I am in contact with lots of singles, people often ask why I am not a matchmaker and don’t fix people up. Bob’s above comments remind me why: Fixing up singles seldom works and then the people are mad at me—the fixer-upper.

In the future, I’ll likely be asking more questions, but knowing myself, there will still be advice. Old habits are hard to break.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. His latest book can be found online at www.smashwords.com/books/view/574810.

See his website at www.findingloveafter60. com (Yes, after 60, time rolls on). To comment, email tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SCTimes 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 SCTimes or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Last week’s solution:

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

Page 18

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

www.sanclementetimes.com

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

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

AIR CONDITIONING/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

APPLIANCE SERVICES & REPAIRS

ASAP Appliance Service

3200 Legendario, 949.361.7713, www.asapapplianceservice.com

ART GALLERIES

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

CHIROPRACTIC

Thompson Chiropractic

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

CHOCOLATE/CANDY

Schmid’s Fine Chocolate

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

CONCRETE

Costa Verde Landscape

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

DENTISTS

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

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

HAULING

Cheapest Hauling

Call Robert 949.973.6288

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

Hoover Construction 949.292.6778

JEWELRY

Paradise Jewelers

166 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.6661, www.paradisejewelers.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

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

Write-up of 50 words with logo.

Four weeks in print and online.

Contact Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.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

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

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

A to Z Leak Detection

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

San Clemente, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

1218 Puerta Del Sol, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

Karl Aiken Plumbing-Rooter

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

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

Café Calypso

SCHOOLS PLUMBING

San Clemente, 949.366.8302

Costa Verde Landscape

RESTAURANTS

POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL

SWIMMING SCHOOL

Waterbabies Swim School

Radiant Pool & Spa Service

142 Avenida Granada, 949.488.2512, www.waterbabiesswimschool.com

Lic # 985800, 949.290.5616, www.radiantpoolservice.com

SC Pool & Spa Works

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

TERMITES

Colony Termite Control

1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com

REAL ESTATE

Marcie George Star Real Estate South County

949.690.5410, marciegeorge@cox.net

“Sandy & Rich” - ReMax

949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com

WEBSITE DESIGN

San Clemente Website Design

949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE 520 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0521, www.scridersupply.com

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

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

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FOR SALE CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyester or designer carpet. Carpet showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point.

Carpet and flooring remnants also available. Mike 949-240-1545.

GARAGE SALES SATURDAY JUNE 11TH 6:00AM Proceeds go to fund Peace Trips, hosted by Saddleback Church.

Local family traveling to Rwanda to help with orphanage and adoptions. 356 Calle Burro SC 92673

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HELP WANTED CAPISTRANO SURFSIDE INN seeks Sunday only housekeepers and a full-time maintenance person. Both positions START at $12/ hr. Please apply in person at 34680 Coast Highway Capo Beach DANA POINT MARINA INN Seeking applicants for full and part time housekeepers, housekeeping support staff, painters and room guest maintenance repair person.

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

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San Clemente Times June 9–15, 2016

Page 21

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SC San Clemente

SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

The SC Surf Girls 2007’s team went undefeated at the Liverpool Cup in San Diego on June 4. Photo: Courtesy

Scoreboard SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

SC SURF SOCCER TEAMS EXCEL IN SAN DIEGO Five San Clemente Surf soccer club teams had stellar showings at the Liverpool Cup in San Diego on June 4.

SC Surf’s Boys 2007’s Ozuna team won all four of its matches and defeated Temecula Hawks 6-5 in the final. Girls 2007’s Ozuna also went undefeated in four matches to claim their division’s top prize.

The club’s Boys 2005’s team defeated Rebels SC 2-1 in the championship.

The Boys 2002’s team and Boys 2006’s team finished runner-up in their respective divisions.

FRIENDS OF SC FOUNDATION TO HOLD BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT The Friends of San Clemente Foundation will be holding its annual Benefit Golf Tournament at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course on June 24.

Proceeds raised at the event will go toward the foundation’s scholarship efforts and Fun on the Run, a free, mobile recreation program that provides activities for local children around the city.

The four-person scramble tournament will feature putting contests, long-drive contests and more. Cost for a foursome is $500. Cost for an individual is $150. For more information, or to register, visit www.friendsofsanclemente.org.

SWART HEADED TO OLYMPIC SWIM TRIALS San Clemente swimmer Josh Swart posted a time of 56.98 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke at the NCAA Last Chance qualifiers at Ohio State University on Feb. 29 to qualify for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June. Swart will compete for a potential spot in the field at Page 22

The SC Surf Boys 2005’s team won its division at the Liverpool Cup in San Diego on June 4.

Photo: Courtesy

San Clemente’s Josh Swart will compete in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June. Photo: Courtesy

the 2016 Olympic Games.

Swart is a freshman at the University of Kentucky and a San Clemente High School grad who also swam for the San Clemente Aquatics club team.

Swart earned a spot in the field at the Olympic Trials, which will be held at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska, from June 26 to July 3. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Triton Report:

By The Numbers

7.8—Average margin of victory for the San Clemente boys lacrosse team in South Coast League play. The Tritons breezed their way to a second consecutive league title and an undefeated 8-0 record in league by outscoring their opponents 10542 in eight games.

4:04.59—The one-mile time posted

by senior distance runner Connor Dunne at the Azusa Pacific/Arroyo Meet of Champions on March 26. At the time, Dunne’s 4:04.59 one-mile was the fastest in the nation. Dunne also set the fastest time in the nation in the 800-meter run at the CIF-SS Master’s Meet with a time of 1:50.41.

COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

N

ow that the San Clemente High School prep sports spring season is over, let’s take a look at some numbers and statistics to highlight the top athletic performances of the past three months.

6—Number of match medals won by San Clemente freshman golfer Alex Pak this season. Pak’s total of six medals, awarded to the golfer with the lowest score in a match, was tied for the sixth-best mark in Orange County this spring.

6—Consecutive South Coast League titles won by the San Clemente boys tennis team. The Tritons went undefeated in league play to claim the outright title in 2016.

Kyler Presho, middle, and the San Clemente boys volleyball team shutout their opponents 13 times this season.

Photo: Monica Merrill

13—Consecutive games in which senior Jordan Fitzgerald recorded a hit for the Tritons baseball team. Fitzgerald collected at least one hit in every game from April 13 to the final game of the season on May 12. Fitzgerald had a team-high 33 hits and a .446 batting average in 28 games played.

100—Number of strikeouts recorded by senior pitcher Andre Pallante in 75 and one-third innings. Pallante, a UCI commit, struck out 10 or more batters five times this season and struck out a season-high 14 batters in a complete game no-hitter against Kennedy on March 30.

Triton Report

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

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

Sears Earns Invite to Elite 11 Jack Sears can add his name to the highprofile list of San Clemente quarterbacks that have been invited to compete in the Elite 11 quarterback competition finals.

Following his performance at the competition’s semifinals at Redondo Union San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

15—Runs scored by the San Clemente

softball team in its dominating 15-3 victory over West Valley in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 Championships on May 19. The 15 runs scored was a season-high for the Tritons this season.

58—Points tallied by sophomore girls lacrosse Kiley Buckley this season. Buckley led the Tritons in goals scored (38) and assists (20).

Jay Yeam and the San Clemente boys tennis team won their sixth straight league title this season.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

Andre Pallante struck out 100 batters in 75 and one-third innings this season.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

High School last week, Sears was one of 12 signal callers selected to take part in the Elite 11 quarterback finals at The Opening in Oregon July 6-7. Sears is the third Triton in six years to be selected to the event, joining the likes of Travis Wilson and Sam Darnold.

Sears rose to the competition’s No. 2-ranked quarterback after the second day of the semifinals, according to the Elite 11 Twitter account.

Sears, who has yet to commit, will be competing against the top collegiate football recruits in the nation and will be judged and coached by several former and current NFL players while participating in Elite 11.

with a seventh-place finish in the 800-meter run at the CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis on June 4.

Dunne came into the meet as one of the favorites to win the event after posting a state-best time in the 800 at the CIF-SS Masters Meet on May 27.

Dunne took third in the state prelims with a time of 1:53.44 but could not better his time in the finals. Dunne’s finals time of 1:53.88 put him three seconds behind eventual winner Isaac Cortes of Great Oak (1:50.75).

Dunne Takes Seventh in State 800-meter Run San Clemente senior distance runner Connor Dunne capped off a strong season

Pallante Named to OC All-Star Baseball Team San Clemente senior right-handed pitcher Andre Pallante participated in the Orange County All-Star Baseball Game on June 7 at La Palma Park’s Dee

Page 25

13—Number of straight-set sweeps recorded by the San Clemente boys volleyball team this year. Half of the Tritons’ 26 match victories were won without San Clemente losing a game. SC Field in Anaheim.

Pallante, the Tritons No. 1 pitcher, was named to the 25-player roster for the South team, which squared off against the North. The charity game is put on annually by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim. Results were not available at press time.

SC Baseball Summer Camp Registration Open San Clemente baseball coach Dave Gellatly and his staff will be conducting a baseball camp for interested players ages 5-12 this summer. The camps will be held at Vista Hermosa Sports Park and run from June 20-23.

Players will be taught all aspects of the game, including pitching, hitting and defense. For more information, contact Gellatly at 949.364.5554. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

New Wave Training

SURF RESULTS 2016 Rip Curl GromSearch Event No. 1, Huntington Beach Pier, June 4-5 BOYS 16/UNDER: 1. Parker Cohn, Newport Beach 2. Cole Houshmand, San Clemente 3. Eithan Osborne, Ventura 4. Kade Matson, San Clemente GIRLS 16/UNDER 1.

Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad 2. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente 3. Tiare Thompson, La Jolla 4. Luana Silva, Oahu, HI BOYS 14/UNDER: 1. Nick Marshall, Encinitas 2. Kade Matson, San Clemente 3. Dimitri Poulos, Ventura 4.

Noah Hill, Venice BOYS 12/UNDER: 1. Jett Schilling, San Clemente 2. Levi Slawson, Encinitas 3. William ‘Tex’ Mitchell, Oceanside 4. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente

VERT Performance offers new surf and skate training features for local kids

BY MATT CORTINA, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he sport of surfing is changing, and VERT Performance in San Clemente is trying to ride the new wave. And to do so, they’re borrowing from a lot of different sports to create a unique surf and skate-focused program.

VERT offers young surfers the ability to train on land and water, in a team setting, in a gigantic warehouse, wear they can do yoga, get physical therapy, work out, watch film of themselves surfing, practice on specially designed skateboards and ramps, or just hang out.

In short, places like VERT are the future of a sport that recently earned a spot in the Olympics, and is undergoing a renaissance.

But the transformation starts by taking the sport one step back, says VERT founder Brandon Phillips.

“My whole program is designed around your traditional sport—baseball, soccer, all of that,” Phillips said. “We surf and we skate, but we have the structure, the mentorship, the scheduling and the facilities just like any other traditional sport would have.”

By giving surf and skate training a more traditional feel, Phillips says it will encour-

Brandon Phillips in front of moveable training ramps at VERT Performance in San Clemente.

Photo: Matt Cortina

age parents to let their kids get started in the sport earlier. And the benefits for training in a small group are numerous, Phillips said, even if surfing is an individual sport at its core.

“As a group, we’re there together and we’re having fun and meeting friends, but once we’re in the water, it becomes very individuated,” Phillips said. “You’re always trying to compete with all the other guys out on the water. When we come out of the water, we have video analysis as a group, so even if you aren’t the best surfer, you’re still watching the technique and timing that

GROM OF THE WEEK

INDIE HOFFMAN

BY MATT CORTINA, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

or Indie Hoffman, 9, of Capistrano Beach, surfing is a family affair. “I started surfing around the age of five and a half. My first wave was at San Elijo in San Diego,” Indie said. “My whole family has surfed, and I just wanted to keep the tradition going.”

Indie’s family is no ordinary surf family either—her great aunt is Joyce Hoffman, a pioneer in women’s surfing who was inducted into the San Clemente Wall of Fame last month.

“Sometimes she talks to me about being not afraid out on the water,” Indie says.

But another way Indie is like her illustrious great aunt is that she has an

San Clemente Times June 9-15, 2016

Indie Hoffman out on the water. Photo: Courtesy

independent spirit. She’s currently training to participate in competitions, but has already learned to stick up for herself on the waves—and she wants to share that knowledge with other girl surfers.

“If you’re a girl just know that you can do it and don’t let boys get you down if they’re saying, ‘Boys are better than you are and

creates great surfing.”

Training groups are assembled via ability level. Surfers can also log onto VERT’s website and check the schedule of their preferred surf coach and catch up with them either in the gym or at any number of beaches. Phillips compares it to the scheduling structure one might find with a yoga teacher.

In the warehouse, which VERT shares with a gym (with whom parents and surfers are encouraged to work out), the specially designed ramps and skateboards allow surfers to gain experience they simply can’t

they’re stronger.’ But really girls can do whatever it takes, and they can do whatever they want,” Indie said.

A fourth grader at St. Anne’s in Laguna Niguel, Indie said she loves the ocean not just for surfing but also for its curiosities.

“I want to be a marine biologist as my working job, but I also do want to pursue my dreams as a surfer and live my life surfing,” Indie said. “I like to find out new discoveries about oceans and marine life. … I like to sometimes go down to the Ocean Institute down at the Harbor. We went there and we dissected fish, and it was cool but it was gross at the same time.”

But for this summer, Indie is looking forward to surfing and skateboarding with her friends. Surfing, even though her dreams are big, is still just an opportunity to have fun.

“I like that it’s just soothing, and that I can play in the water,” Indie said. “And some of my friends do it too, and so we share the love for it.” SC

Page 26

get out on the water.

“There’s a lot of similarities between skateboarding on ramps that translates to our surfing,” Phillips said. “It’s a lot of that same muscle movement and … the unique thing is we’re able to practice a move over and over again. You can practice it 50 times in an hour and then take it to the water where you might only get one chance in 50 minutes in the water.”

Phillips is particularly excited about VERT’s training program from girls—and the general increase in girls in surfing— and says boys and girls are split 50-50 in terms of enrollment.

“VERT offers an all-girl program with girl coaching, and that’s a really unique aspect,” Phillips said. “Girl surfers … they’re progression rate is moving at the rate of guys. It’s really similar to gymnastics; no longer is it all strength-based, it’s finesse and technique. They can take to the air just as well as the guys can.”

Phillips says the plan is to design a platform that can be taken worldwide. As surf training and technology continues to evolve, he hopes VERT is a key leader in the revolution. For more information, visit www.vertsurf.com. SC

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 61-64 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-10’ Poor-Fair Thursday: Small scale S/SSW swell NW windswell mix. Look for mainly ankle-knee high waves (1-2’) at well exposed spots with thigh-waist high (3’) sets at standouts . Calm to light/variable winds in morning, rising to light+/moderate scale WSW’erly onshores in the afternoon.

Outlook: Southern Hemi swell begins to trend up on Friday/Saturday as weak NW windswell lingers for generally waist high and below waves. Calm/ clean conditions in the mornings, before sea breeze kicks in. Better looking SSW swell for the back half of this weekend and next week. Stay tuned and check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

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