Issuu

SC

San Clemente

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week

Coronavirus Death Rate Takes Positive Turn as State Nears 5 Million Vaccinations

THE LATEST: As the state approaches 5 million coronavirus vaccine doses administered, the COVID-19-related death rate in the state and in Orange County is finally trending downward, matching the continued declines in case rate, transmission rate and hospitalizations based on the state’s reported numbers on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

The state reported it had administered 4.9 million vaccine doses, including a total of 408,645 in Orange County as of Tuesday. Orange County, which reports its vaccine numbers weekly on Thursday, said it had administered 196,360 first doses and 91,978 second doses as of Feb. 2.

For the first time in nearly two months, the death rate declined in the state and locally after setting record highs shortly after the new year.

Statewide, the 14-day daily new death average has gone down 2.7% in the past 14 days, from an average 510.0 deaths per day to 496.4. Last week, the state average had increased 9.4% in the previous 14 days. In Orange County, the 14-day daily average has gone down by 0.3% in the past 14 days, from an average 44.2 deaths per day to 43.9. Last week, the county average had increased 24.2% in the previous 14 days.

In the state’s four-tiered, color-coded coronavirus monitoring system, Orange County’s numbers continued to improve in the state’s weekly tier update on Tuesday, but the county remained high in the highest-risk purple “widespread” tier.

Daily new cases per 100,000 residents continued to dip, as the metric dropped to an adjusted 29.4 daily new cases per 100,000, down from the 39.0 new cases last week, 46.6 new cases two weeks ago and a record 78.8 new cases per 100,000 on Jan. 12. The threshold for the purple tier is 7.0.

The state reports an adjusted case rate, which is adjusted for the volume of testing. The unadjusted rate is 29.7 daily new cases per 100,000, down from 43.1 last week and from 66.1 two weeks ago.

The county saw a drop in its testing positivity—the share of swab and saliva tests coming back positive—as the countywide number dipped to 9.4% from last week’s 10.9%. The metric was at 12.9% two weeks ago. The threshold for the purple tier is 8%.

San

Clemente

COVID-19 UPDATES

as of 2/9/21 casesdeaths

TOTAL 2,723 24

LAST 30 DAYS 748 10

est. population • 65,405

The county’s health equity positivity rate was reported at 12.4%, down from last week’s 13.9% and the 16.6% of two weeks ago. The threshold for the purple tier is 8%. The health equity rate measures the testing positivity in a county’s low-income and more racially diverse neighborhoods.

There are still 53 counties in the purple tier, two in the red “substantial” tier, and three counties in the orange “moderate” risk tier. One county (Del Norte) dropped from purple to red.

Statewide, the testing positivity continues its sharp drop as well, with a 5.6% 14-day testing positivity rate in California, the state’s lowest number since Nov. 22. It’s a decrease from last week’s 7.2% 14-day average and the 9% of two weeks ago.

Those dropping positivity rates are good news for the state’s hospital system, for which the outlook continues to improve.

The Southern California region is now at an adjusted 10.6% available ICU capacity. Based on the state’s four-week projection model, Southern California is set to be at 46.3% ICU availability on March 8.

Hospitalizations again saw even larger decreases than the week before, with a 35.5% decrease statewide over the past 14 days and a 25.5% decrease in ICU patients over the past 14 days. California has its lowest number of hospitalizations since Dec. 7 and lowest number of ICU patients since Dec. 14.

As of Tuesday, Orange County hospitalizations had decreased 36.9% in the past 14 days, and ICU patients had decreased 25.9% over the past 14 days. The county is at its lowest number of hospitalizations since Dec. 9 and lowest number of ICU patients since Dec. 16. —Zach Cavanagh

SC Man Tests Positive in First Known OC Case of UK COVID Strain

TOTAL CASES LAST 30 DAYS

office confirmed on Monday, Feb. 8, that a San Clemente man recently tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19, the first known case in Orange County of what health officials believe to be more a contagious strain of the virus.

In a memo to the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Dr. Clayton Chau, the county’s health officer and director of the OC Health Care Agency, said the man, a 21-year-old from San Clemente, had tested positive for the variant on Jan. 26 and that “his symptoms have now resolved.”

“He has no history of international travel. He is no part of a larger outbreak,” Chau wrote, also explaining that he had first received word of the variant in Orange County by the state’s Public Health Department over the weekend.

The UK strain, or B.1.1.7, is known to spread “more easily and quickly” compared to other variants, and was first recorded in the U.S. this past December. Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chau said Florida leads the nation in reported cases of the UK variant.

In Florida, there were 187 reported cases by this past weekend, with California not far behind with 150 cases, Chau said in the memo. Most of those cases in the state have been recorded in San Diego.

According to Chau, there are four other variants that have emerged in the U.S. over the past few months, including the California strain (L452R) and the South African variant (B.1.351). And two others have come from Brazil—P.1 and P.2—which contain “a set of additional mutations that may affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies.”

Chau warned that those strains, like the UK variant, “seem to spread more easily and quickly” and are “more contagious, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19.”

He stressed that the use of face coverings and masks, and continuing to practice social distancing, are effective in curbing the spread of the viruses.

WHAT’S NEXT: County officials, Chau wrote on Monday, were working to test the San Clemente man’s close contacts to determine whether there has been evidence of infection.—Shawn Raymundo

Public Agencies, Preven-

tion

Advocates Discuss Suicides During Pandemic

THE LATEST: As mental health remains a concern during the COVID-19 health crisis, public agencies in Orange County shared suicide statistics for 2020 and previous years with San Clemente Times, after an informational inquiry.

The preliminary number of suicides was 273 in Orange County during 2020. The number of countywide suicides was 336 in 2019, 370 in 2018, and 328 in 2017. Health officials and mental health advocates stress the “preliminary” aspect of the 2020 numbers.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not seen an increase in deaths attributed to suicide by the (county) coroner,” said Mark Lawrenz, division manager for Prevention and Intervention Behavioral Health Services with the OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA). “However, it is important to note that there is a significant lag in the final reporting of this data due to investigation and reporting requirements.”

Officials with OCHCA and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department also provided individual data for Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, which collectively accounted for 19 of the total recorded suicides in 2020.

In San Juan, the number of residents who committed suicide is currently nine in 2020, six in 2019, and two in 2018. In Dana Point, the number is five in 2020 and 2019, and three in 2018. In San Clemente, the number is five in 2020, seven in 2019, and 17 in 2018.

The age group with the highest number of suicides in 2020 in the tri-city area was the 55-64 age group, with seven suicides. The 0-17, 18-24, and 25-34 age groups each had one suicide in 2020 among all three cities.

Broken down by gender, the number of men who committed suicides in 2020 largely outnumbered the women by roughly 3-to-1. According to the data, 14 men took their own lives, compared to the five women who committed suicide.

That disparity was particularly felt in both San Clemente and San Juan, where a dozen of the suicides occurred among men. In Dana Point, the suicides in 2020 were generally split evenly between men and women.

Lawrenz said while OCHCA cannot predict the future trend, they are aware of the emotional impact that the coronavirus outbreak is having on the community.

“The increased stresses due to the pandemic puts the community at greater risk of mental health problems, and increased

(Cont. from page 3)

risk for suicide,” Lawrenz said. “There is a part for all of us to play in preventing suicides. Take some time to learn about the risk factors, warning signs of suicide and the words to use to start a conversation with someone that you are concerned about at suicideispreventable.org.”

San Juan Capistrano resident Jim Taylor—a notable mental health and suicide prevention advocate—said current coroner statistics do show a decrease in deaths by suicide in Orange County compared to 2019, but those numbers are a snapshot of where we are today in closed cases, and there are a substantial number of deaths still under investigation.

“Please also factor in a 58% increase over last year in the unplanned accidental death category,” Taylor said. “Those include illicit or prescription overdoes and ethanol toxicity deaths.”

Taylor attributes much of the steady decline from 2015 through 2019 in county suicides to the grassroots outreach by suicide prevention advocates, such as high school groups including The Green Ribbon Club, Taylor said.

“In addition, the county has been very proactive in their efforts to improve mental health in our communities,” Taylor said. “Reducing the stigma of suicide has gone a long way towards encouraging people to talk about it, recognize the signs and either avail themselves of resources or to assist others in getting help.”

Taylor encourages people to be proactive in reaching out to family members and friends who are at risk for self-harm and suicide and getting them to someone who can help, which may be a therapist, interventionist, the Prevention Lifeline, or 911, depending on the level of urgency.

“If you are having thoughts of suicide, please know that your life matters,” Taylor said.

Additional resources to reach out for help include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 (TALK); the Crisis Chat at didihirsch.org/chat; the OC WarmLine phone number at 877.910.9276 (WARM); and OC WarmLine Live Chat at namioc.org.

The deaf and hard of hearing can access the Crisis Text by texting HEARME to 839863. OC WarmLine can also be accessed by text at 714.991.6412.—Collin Breaux

Dr. Keany Discusses Flu Rates, Drop in COVID-19 Cases

THE LATEST: James Keany, the associate director of the Emergency Department at Mission Hospital, barely saw any flu cases this recent winter season.

“The whole country is green—meaning minimal activity—as far as flu,” Keany said, citing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The minimal number of flu cases dur-

ing the COVID-19 pandemic is a drastic decrease compared to past seasons, Keany said. As to why, he mentioned the concept of viral interference—meaning when a new virus takes over, it can potentially block out another virus.

Recommended health guidelines to prevent COVID-19 transmissions could also be halting a flu outbreak.

“The fact that we’re all doing a better job of washing our hands, wearing masks, and social distancing is probably reducing the flu,” Keany said.

Asked how health care professionals can tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19, Keany said COVID-19 has unique symptoms, including a loss of taste and/or smell. Medical professionals usually look for COVID-19 as the first thing wrong in a patient, given it’s the major illness out there, he said.

A specialized swab test that does four tests at once—for influenza A, influenza B, COVID-19, and respiratory viral infections—is also used.

“The main way we tell the difference this way, now, is through testing,” Keany said.

Keany also addressed the recent drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU cases in Orange County. Keany confirmed there has been a sharp decline in cases, adding that other people note conditions seem to be better.

“We’re not getting as many new cases,” Keany said.

However, Keany did note the pandemic still challenges ICU capacity, given an average case can mean an approximate 25-day stay in the ICU, and that long-term care facilities are overwhelmed.

“We have some people that are going to need lung transplants to survive,” he said.

Keany said the stay-at-home order issued for Southern California, which has since been lifted, was a factor in the drop. If everyone wore masks and socially distanced, a stay-at-home order wouldn’t have to be issued—and it takes just a minority of people not following health guidelines to endanger others, he said.

“The more people interact, the more cases we get,” Keany said. “Closing businesses is what stops COVID. Social distancing is what stops it.”—CB

Aegis Living Dana Point Celebrates First Vaccine for Residents

THE LATEST: Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s comes with its challenges.

With the threat of COVID-19, seniors with memory care issues face high risk, and even under standard circumstances, a lack of communication interferes with human connection.

“On a good day, a hug is what you know you can get. But with COVID restrictions, it’s this whole other layer of complexity,” said Suzy Welbaum, a San Clemente resident. “I just want a hug. A real hug. It’s that personal touch that is missed.”

Welbaum’s mother has been a resident at Aegis Living Dana Point for four years, after living with Suzy for 25 years. Prior to the pandemic, she would visit her mother two or three times a week, sometimes bringing her out in a wheelchair to the coastal overlook just a block away from the senior living facility.

“Not only do I miss being with my mom like before, I also miss the community, because I was there all the time,” Welbaum said. “They’re my family, too.”

With vaccine distribution ramping up, a reunion may not be very far in the distance anymore. In November, Aegis Living registered its communities with CVS Health, its primary pharmacy provider and one of the organizations that has been formally approved by the Department of Health & Human Services, to administer the vaccine. On Feb. 2, Aegis Living Dana Point celebrated the administration of the first round of vaccines for its residents.

“It was hard at first, because you didn’t know what was going on or what to look forward to,” 98-year-old Aegis resident Marian Whitney said.

Whitney says she’s constantly asking when she can get a haircut and when she gets to take off her mask. But she says she continues to go on her daily walks—a routine she’s maintained since arriving at Aegis about 13 months ago.

“(The walks) are my therapy,” Whitney said. “The pandemic happened within several months of me coming to Aegis. There is really nice care here. Everyone is so polite, everyone knew my name right away. But it will be nice for things to feel normal again … for me to see my family again.”

Ric Pielstick has been the general manager of Aegis Living Dana Point for about a year and half. He says Feb. 2 was a day of celebration and a milestone.

“We made it a party, because it really was a turning point,” Pielstick said. “It’s going to be a tremendous relief. … But we’re not taking down our guard. We are going to continue to have safety and sanitation measures in place.”

Welbaum says that Aegis’s sanitation protocols were a prominent factor in putting her at ease throughout the pandemic.

“(Aegis was) way ahead of the game,” Welbaum said. “I clean, but I don’t clean like they clean. Having trained medical professionals that are there and are so responsive was just a weight off your shoulders.”

Welbaum says for her mother’s birthday, Aegis staff found a way to wheel her out for a socially distanced celebration, implementing Plexiglas and masks.

“They went the extra mile. I’ve always liked Aegis, but this has been a whole other level of appreciation,” Welbaum said. “If my mom was at home with us, I don’t know that I would have thought of everything they’ve thought of. And that’s a source of comfort for me.”

Aegis staff and residents are now looking forward to the second vaccination. But the protocols and safety measures will continue.

“We need to really know we are in the clear and have this thing in the past as a nation and as a world. We are going to continue to be vigilant,” Pielstick said.

Until then, Welbaum is holding out for another chance to be able to wheel out her mother to see the Pacific Ocean again— and a nice, long hug.—Lillian Boyd

Marian Whitney, a 98-year-old resident at Aegis Living Dana Point, says she’s looking forward to getting a haircut after the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Courtesy of Aegis Living

Taking Inventory

Biennial Point-in-Time Count Canceled for 2021

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

pon arriving for work the morning of Jan. 28, the head of San Clemente’s senior center began to make her rounds, cleaning the exterior of the building. It was in front of the facility where she discovered the body of a homeless man whom she’d known for years, lying motionless.

She had reached to check for the man’s pulse, merely to confirm what she had already suspected before calling 911.

“I knew (he was deceased) even before I did it,” Beth Apodaca, director for the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, recalls, describing the ordeal as “disturbing.” “I called 911, they asked if he needed CPR, and I said no.”

After receiving the call at approximately 7:48 a.m., deputy sheriffs arrived at the center, where authorities pronounced the 73-year-old Steven Richard Riley dead, according to Sgt. Dennis Breckner, public information officer for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Though the autopsy has been completed, it’s unclear how Riley died, with the cause of death still pending, Breckner said on Monday, Feb. 8. He noted that there was nothing suspicious reported by deputies at the scene of Riley’s death.

Riley’s death follows the staggering trend of high mortality among the homeless in Orange County this past year, when there were 330 individuals who had died, compared to the more than 200 homeless deaths recorded in 2019, news outlets reported.

Citing the data from the coroner’s office, Breckner says two of those deaths occurred in Dana Point, while five homeless deaths were reported in San Clemente this past year. As for San Juan Capistrano, there were no reported homeless deaths in 2020.

At 73, Riley was also among the elderly subpopulation of homeless living in Orange County. Those seniors, aged 62 and older, made up roughly 9% of the 6,860 homeless individuals accounted for in 2019—when the last biennial count of unsheltered persons occurred.

A Snapshot of the County’s Homeless

Every couple of years, near the end of January, local volunteers join homeless advocacy groups across the state for a single

the coronavirus pandemic, most counties across the state have canceled their biennial Pointin-Time Counts to survey how many homeless are living unsheltered on the streets.

night to tally unsheltered individuals living on the street, providing a snapshot, or window in time, of the area’s homeless population.

The count, conducted every oddnumbered year, is intended to provide government agencies and lawmakers with the necessary data to guide legislative policy, funding allocations and planning to address homelessness.

However, with the pandemic still raging, last month’s unsheltered count, led locally by the nonprofit agency City Net, has been canceled by a majority of the state’s Continuums of Care, including Orange County’s.

A Continuum of Care, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s program for communities to coordinate responses to end homelessness, is a regional or planning body that coordinates housing, services and funding for homeless families and individuals.

Though California’s Continuums of Care, or CoCs, are encouraged to reschedule their counts in 2022, barring any more setbacks related to the public health crisis, the delay in counting the unsheltered homeless could mean lawmakers rely on outdated data until 2023.

“There are lots of uses for the data,” City Net Vice President Matt Bates explains. Such uses, he says, inform cities and Service Planning Areas (SPA) of their local impacts and what their needs should be. It also provides agencies and service providers with demographic data to aid in their response and outreach on homelessness.

“One of the biggest (uses),” he adds, “is to establish funding allocation (and) distribution guidelines for money that enters the Continuum of Care.”

Asked whether the absence of the unsheltered PIT Count this year is likely to pose any consequences, Bates says, “Prob-

he says, noting that in San Clemente there’s a considerable contingent of homeless who sleep in more remote areas.

Acknowledging that volunteers are restricted to certain areas, Bates explains that participants are provided with maps that differ from person to person and represent various areas of the city that the agency and law enforcement feel comfortable allowing people to explore.

“We gave them the maps that had been vetted through law enforcement,” Bates says, adding: “It’s true that when you’re assigned a map, we want you to use that map and not wander, even if you have an idea of where there might be other homeless, because you might be in someone else’s map and double counting.”

Walsh says the delay could be used by agencies to gather input on where to make improvements for future counts.

If there’s one aspect of the biennial count that the county’s CoC has been looking to rethink or adjust, Bates says, it’s how to accurately count transitionalaged youth (18- to 24-year-olds) who are experiencing homelessness.

ably not immediately,” though adding that the county’s CoC “will likely continue to rely on the distribution percentages from 2019 until a new PIT is completed.”

By the Numbers

The report from the 2019 PIT Count found that the county’s homeless population had risen sharply by roughly 43% over the two-year period. Accounting for both sheltered and unsheltered, the total homeless population recorded at the time was 6,860 individuals—up from the 4,792 recorded in 2017.

Much of the homeless population resided in the county’s central region, which accounted for 3,332 individuals. The North County tally was 2,765, while South County had a homeless population at the time of 763.

In San Clemente, the county reported a population of 145 homeless individuals, 96 of whom were recorded as unsheltered.

As for Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, the count found 32 and 62 homeless individuals, respectively, residing in the neighboring towns.

Gary Walsh chairs the city of San Clemente’s Joint Homeless Subcommittee, comprising members from the city’s Human Affairs Committee and Public Safety Committee, of which he is an appointee.

He tells San Clemente Times this month that he didn’t see the downside in not holding the biennial PIT count, citing his experience participating in the 2019 event, which he found to be ineffective down here.

“It seems to me the PIT count is somewhat designed for cities with homeless who sleep in tent cities—a lot of them in areas where there are a lot of sidewalks. And the Point-in-Time data that they had us gather, it was really restricted to that,”

The Methodology

Ahead of the 2019 PIT count, the county’s CoC made the switch to a survey methodology, rather than using the observation methodology that had been previously employed.

The difference, Bates explains, is volunteers under a survey approach are able to speak with the homeless, asking them various questions to get additional information and sub-category data, whereas an observation-based count requires volunteers to simply hand count those on the street.

The observation approach, he adds, is “statistically valid, but Orange County wanted to conduct a survey-based count where you try to interview because you get more information—personal information and local information.”

However, when it comes to transitionalaged youth, attempting to count them through observation in places such as community colleges is far from accurate, as appearances can be misleading. And as for surveying them, they’re unlikely to self-identify as homeless or self-stigmatize, Bates says.

“It’s a tricky proposition … you have to engage a different methodology,” says Bates, who sits on the county’s CoC board, and adds, “I can speak confidently for the CoC that that’s an area in OC where we’re going to be looking to further improve the count.”

Exiting the Streets

For years, Riley had been known to sleep outside of the senior center, Apodaca tells SC Times. Despite having been off the

Amid

Photo: Shawn Raymundo

(Cont. from page 5)

street for about a month, she says he reappeared at the senior center the Sunday before his death.

“Time on the street takes its toll on everybody,” Apodaca says, noting that outside of the senior center is where many homeless are known to rest their heads at night. She explains that Riley had “been here living out front for a while,” remembering him as “cantankerous, but he was our cantankerous guy.”

“He was just a gruff guy,” she elaborates. “People will tell you, when they walked their dogs, he was always nice, engaged with everyone, but he was gruff.”

According to Breckner, homeless liaison officers with OCSD had met with Riley multiple times over the years, dating as far back as 2016 and as most recently as early December. Riley, whose last known address was in San Clemente, had been offered services “but declined or was not eligible.”

Margie Riley Lofgren, Riley’s younger sister and currently an Oregon resident, says she had been coordinating with Cathy Domenichini of iHope, a faithbased nonprofit assisting the homeless, to get Riley into permanent housing.

“He finally agreed to get help, because

he was tired of living on the streets. (Domenichini) was trying to get him off the streets, to get permanent housing,” Lofgren says, adding: “We’re just devastated because we were so close—so close to getting him permanent housing.”

Sheltering in Place

While CoCs are required by HUD to hold an unsheltered count every other year, they continue to count the homeless living in shelters on an annual basis, also at the end of every January.

In 2020, the county reported a sheltered homeless population of 3,017, an increase from the 2,899 recorded the previous year. Among the sheltered homeless population, most—a total of 1,110 people—were staying at emergency shelters in the Central SPA.

Touching on one silver lining of the pandemic as it relates to the county’s homelessness woes, Bates says that agencies in Orange County’s CoC, including City Net, have had “their hands full with the current opportunity presented by COVID-19.”

That opportunity, he says, “is that there are shelter and housing availabilities for hundreds, maybe even thousands, of homeless neighbors that did not exist previously.”

Amid the pandemic this past year, the state has led efforts to set up more temporary housing opportunities for the homeless as a method of curbing the spread of the coronavirus—an initiative referred to as Project Roomkey.

Since December 2019, City Net has been the city of San Clemente’s contractor for homeless outreach services. In that time, 53 homeless persons have worked with City Net to exit the streets of San Clemente and get into housing, according to the agency’s latest monthly report from December 2020.

However, Brad Fieldhouse, executive director and founder of City Net, previously explained to the San Clemente City Council that the number of homeless on the street is a moving target.

That monthly report shows that outreach staff have been actively engaged with about 30 homeless individuals in case management, meaning they’ve been going through the steps of getting those persons into some form of housing.

Between December 2019 and December 2020, City Net made a total of 2,395 contacts with homeless individuals in San Clemente—including both duplicated and unique individuals—according to the same dashboard report.

Accounting for only unique individual contacts, the agency has averaged about

69 contacts a month since May 2020, when City Net began tracking such data.

Among those interactions over the past year, roughly 60 of them were between Riley and City Net staff, according to Bates. The last time an outreach worker had met with Riley was on Jan. 26—just two days before his death.

Bates says the agency had been working extensively with Riley since February 2020, when outreach workers first engaged with him in San Clemente. Since that time, there were 60 in-person interactions, as well as another dozen phone calls.

“It’s a sad story. I can say that not all of that time he was homeless. There were times he was enrolled in various housing options,” Bates says, adding: “As you can imagine, based on the 60 interactions, this was a client that we were really working hard to connect to a housing shelter.”

Lofgren says funeral arrangements for Riley are still being settled. Locally, a vigil in honor of Riley is scheduled to take place on Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, outside of the San Clemente Community Center, where the city council will meet. Donna Vidrine, who ran in San Clemente’s special election for city council last fall, is organizing the event to increase calls for the council to provide shelter for the homeless sleeping in the elements. SC

GUEST OPINION: The Levin

Letter

Rep. Mike Levin

I Want to Hear from You

m proud to raise my family in South Orange County. I was raised here, went to public schools here, and grew up going to the beaches and businesses that make our region so special. I ran for Congress in 2018, because I wanted to give back to this community. I felt like we needed a representative in Congress who would be more accessible, listen to the people they serve, and focus on our local priorities, rather than national politics and partisan pandering.

Since I took office in January of 2019, that’s exactly what I have tried to do. I’ve said many times that while my name may be on the door, this office really belongs to you, the people I serve. That’s why I work hard to be responsive and focus on constituent services.

I’ve held dozens of town halls to answer your questions and keep you informed about the latest updates on COVID-19, my work in Congress, and other timely issues. To do my job well,

Letters to the Editor

TEACHERS DESERVE OUR ADMIRATION

WILLIAM KREUTINGER, San Clemente

This year, the anniversary of the Challenger disaster snuck up on me. Between the excitement and drama of politics, a right-wing insurrection, a global pandemic, and everything else going on in the world today, I did not realize until it was mentioned on the evening news that it was recently the 35th anniversary of the Challenger launch.

The inspirational young teacher, Christa McAuliffe, who was lost in the disaster, has inspired students and volunteers to promote STEM education at learning centers all over the country and the world. On this anniversary of the Challenger disaster, I feel more than ever

I need to hear directly from you about your priorities and the challenges you face, and that’s what this column is all about. I encourage everyone I represent to contact my office. I take time to read your messages, and I try to get back to each of you as quickly as possible. You can email me and find other contact information by visiting mikelevin.house.gov.

Each month, I plan to share some of your stories and report back on what I’m doing in Congress to help. That might mean introducing a new bill or fighting for more federal resources. I also want to share updates about the constituent services my office provides to help people with federal agencies.

THE LEVIN LETTER

By Mike Levin

For example, Damond in San Juan Capistrano was having a problem with his passport and couldn’t get assistance in fixing it until he contacted my office. We got to work, and Damond had this to say once we were able to resolve his issue: “I truthfully did not think that this would be given attention based on the exhausting experience I had before I reached out to you. I cannot say enough about your responsiveness and how it made me feel that you actu-

that we need to honor our teachers here and now, too.

Our country has lost no less than 180 active teachers and hundreds of other school staff. Whether they are teaching online classes to elementary school kids, deploying newly learned skills with new technology, or taking the risk of teaching in person at local schools, or working from home or at a district facility paying invoices, preparing school lunches, leading schools or districts, or cleaning classrooms, all deserve our admiration and respect.

Last year, while the head of the federal government actively misrepresented the risks of COVID-19, and our governor tried but broadly failed to contain it, our school district sprang into action to protect and serve their students and their community.

Online classes were put together at a stunning pace. The district innovated and iterated to keep kids learning. They were broadly successful.

Families that did not have enough computers could borrow Chromebooks.

ally cared about the situation. This makes me feel so much better, that there are people like yourself in high places that will actually take the time to help the little people, like myself, and the somewhat insignificant problems we might have.”

I hope to share more stories like that here, so you know what kind of issues I can help with. And while we’re not always able to get every constituent the outcome they’re hoping for, we’ll always do our best to come to a positive resolution. So, whether you’re having trouble with a federal agency or simply wish to share your priorities, please reach out. I’m here to help, and I look forward to sharing more updates about our progress along the way.

U.S. Representative Mike Levin represents the 49th Congressional District, which includes the South Orange County cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. He was reelected for a second term in 2020 and resides in San Juan Capistrano with his wife and two children. 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. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

Families that did not have reliable internet access were helped with hotspots. School lunches were made available at no cost, and low/no contact pickup locations were strategically set up around the district.

Each of these processes was put together and improved upon with dedication, precision and perseverance that deserve our sincere appreciation.

I could not be prouder of our district’s teachers, staff and administrators. They are invaluable treasures to our community in good times, and desperately needed support during challenging times. They really are our best.

I only wish our school facilities measured up to the heroes that teach and serve in them.

COVID-19 STATISTICS

JAY THOMAS, San Clemente

Your COVID-19 update figures for San Clemente were simply awful.

Senior

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Columnist Fred Swegles

Special Projects Editor Andrea PapagianisCamacho

Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn

Megan Bianco, Jake Howard, Tim Trent, Chloe Anady

GETTING OUT SC

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

(Cont. from page 7)

Going all the way back to last March (10 months), over one-third of all cases and deaths in San Clemente occurred in just the last 30 days.

So, I was surprised to see in your explanation of the lifting of the stay-athome order that for the first time in many months, there was “broad optimism” about the coronavirus metrics. What a difference a new administration makes in how news is covered. It’s a miracle.

A RESPONSE TO ‘CARING FOR OUR BLUE PLANET’

HABIB

HOSSEINY, public information officer for Baha’is of San Clemente

Jake Howard’s column on Amanda Gorman and her surfing was quite interesting to me. I am not a surfer, but several of my family members are. What intrigued me in Jake’s column was the fact that he brought up the concept of “bringing people together” and the meaning of “Aloha.”

Then, he remembered Duke Kahanamoku, the father of surfing, and his belief that the word Aloha, which means love, is a powerful attraction to people’s hearts. When Jake connected surfing with Amanda Gorman’s message, he quoted from her speech at the Presidential inauguration last month: “We seek harm to none and harmony for all.”

As I went through the rest of the column, I felt that Jake was talking on my behalf. Let me write the exact quotation from over 100 years ago, when ‘Abdu’lBaha visited America: “Strive with heart and soul in order to bring about union and harmony among the white and the black and prove thereby the unity of the world wherein distinction of color finds no place, but where hearts only are considered … the hearts of the friends are united and linked together, whether they are from the east or the west, from north or from south, whether they are German, French, Japanese, American, and whether they pertain to White, the Black, the Red, the Yellow or the Brown race. Variations of color, of land and of race are of no importance … on the contrary, unity overcomes them all and does away with all these fancies and imaginations.”

Further definitions of “love” from ‘Abdu’l-Baha:

“Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of God’s holy Dispensation, the manifestation of the All-Merciful, the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven’s kindly light, the Holy Spirit’s eternal breath that vivifies the human soul. Love is the cause of God’s revelation unto man, the vital bond inherent, in accordance with the divine creation, in the realities of things. Love is the one means that ensures true felicity both in this world and the next. Love is the light

that guides in darkness, the living link that unites God with man, that assures the progress of every illumined soul.”

Gorman’s poem clearly reflects all the characteristics of the above definitions of love; she delicately desires that all of us put down our differences and share a little aloha.

EXCEPTIONS

PAMELA BAKER, San Clemente

Once again, I am saying “shame on you.” This time to the city council, all except for our Mayor Kathy Ward, who is not afraid to say no when it is necessary to do so.

The other four councilmembers including the mayor pro tem, who once again knows better but chooses to look the other way, voted to give an exception to our General Plan to a business. By the way, this business does not need an exception. I need not name it since it doesn’t need more advertising, more signs, more kudos in order to thrive in any location it desires. Those four councilmembers should apologize and not finalize the vote when it comes for confirmation at the next meeting.

The planning commission did its job, and thank you very much to them. They made their decision adhering to the city of San Clemente’s General Plan and made their recommendation to the council, who then ignored them except for Mayor Ward. This is a very bad decision and could ultimately make the city vulnerable to lawsuits from businesses previously denied exceptions.

This sets the precedent for other businesses to ask for exceptions and send the message to the planning commission that their diligence is not appreciated. This “yes” vote by four councilmembers has opened up a whole “new can.”

Very disappointed.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to letters@sanclementetimes.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday. San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Limit your letters to 350 or fewer words. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

No Beachside Chat on Friday, Feb. 12

Beachside Chat will resume on Friday, Feb. 19. Beachside Chat is a weekly spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times City Editor Shawn Raymundo. Email Shawn at sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com for a link to the Zoom video meeting.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12: KALINA & KIANA VIRTUAL CONCERT

2 p.m. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens continues its virtual programming by launching a virtual mini-concert series this month, an extension of its “Casa Vibes” music programming. San Clemente natives Kalina & Kiana will be the first featured artist for this series and are returning as a follow-up to their debut concert at the Casa last summer. The virtual concert will debut on Casa Romantica’s YouTube channel and released on its social media. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

HAVE AN EVENT?

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

Friday | 12

COMEDY NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS

7-9 p.m. Head to Knuckleheads for a laugh with a great selection of comics. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

Saturday | 13

SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE

9-11 a.m. South OC Cars and Coffee, dubbed the world’s biggest weekly car meet, attracts a mix of 500-1,000 hypercars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods, rat rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles. Those attending are encouraged to practice responsible social distancing. Face masks are not mandatory but are recommended. No cars in before

8:30 a.m. Cars should enter and leave slowly and quietly—no revving, speeding or burnouts. The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

CITIZENS CLIMATE EDUCATION 10:45 a.m.-noon. This nonpartisan climate action group holds monthly meetings on the second Saturday of the month through Zoom video conferences. Email larrykramerccl@gmail.com to receive a link to join.

Sunday | 14

FARMERS MARKET

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers at the Community Center/San Clemente Public Library parking lot. 100 North Calle Seville. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Wednesday | 17

BACKYARD OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS

8-10 p.m. Knuckleheads’ backyard is open for food, drinks and live music. Performers of all skill levels are welcome. If you are a musician, do stand-up comedy or the spoken word, this is the place to be on Wednesday nights. So, come down, grab a drink and go for it. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

San Clemente

Photo: Courtesy of Casa Romantica

SC LIVING SC

San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

CoastLines by Fred Swegles

We’ve Come a Long Way in Upgrading Railroad Safety

Imagine you are operating a locomotive. You spot someone standing on the track ahead of you, or, say, walking with headphones. You can only pray the person will step aside in response to the horn.

It can take some trains a mile to stop in an emergency, says California’s rail safety campaign, Operation Lifesaver. And that’s whether it’s train vs. car at a railroad crossing or train vs. a pedestrian trespassing on the tracks anywhere.

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” veteran train operator A.C. Henderson told me, as I stood in the cab of an Amtrak train traveling from San Clemente to Los Angeles.

“It’s a horrible feeling,” he said. “All of us experience it at one time or another.”

He said he’d been involved in 20 or more collisions at train crossings over a 22-year career operating trains.

I was riding a northbound train with Amtrak’s southwestern U.S. road foreman—Henderson—and with Vince Fulk, the engineer operating the Amtrak that day.

COASTLINES

By Fred Swegles

I was gathering information for a safety article, 40 years ago.

Safety has since improved at RR crossings nationwide. Fencing has been added at key locations. And safety-minded amenities have been developed, like San Clemente’s Beach Trail.

Occasional tragedies still occur, just not as often as decades ago. Collisions with vehicles at crossings nationwide, for example, have reduced by 82% since 1972, Operation Lifesaver says, from 12,000 annual incidents then to 2,200 in 2018.

“I killed nine people in 1977,” Fulk told me the day I spoke with him aboard his train in 1981.

“It feels awful,” Henderson said.

ON TO TODAY

There’s been dialogue in San Clemente about train horns since November, when a five-year Federal Railroad Administration reprieve from required sounding of horns along San Clemente’s Beach Trail expired.

San Clementeans had grown accustomed to not having to hear 28 horn blasts routinely at the trail’s seven pedestrian crossings. That’s why it was shocking to hear routine horns again, day and night.

The Beach Trail was built from 2006 to 2008 to improve safety along a seaside rail corridor that the public had used for 80 years as a beach access, crossing at random.

The idea for a beach trail came when Metrolink launched commuter rail service in Orange County and RR police began ticketing trespassers. There was a public backlash. So, the city set out to try to curb trespassing by creating a pleasant, scenic, fenced pathway people could use to walk parallel to the tracks, accessing the beach only at safety-equipped crossings.

HERE CAME THE HORNS

Until 2006, trains passing through San Clemente and across America only sounded their 112-decibel horn when engineers spotted danger ahead. In 2006, a new federal rule required four routine horn blasts by every train approaching every crossing in America.

That just happened to coincide with construction of San Clemente’s Beach Trail. With that, seven pedestrian RR crossings opened along 2.3 miles of track.

Successive horn blasts from one crossing to the next jolted San Clemente’s placid beach vibe and nearby neighborhoods’ tranquility.

San Clemente—like other communities—applied for hornblowing waivers. The FRA offered waivers in return for safety upgrades at crossings, beyond what was already in place.

In 2015, San Clemente earned a five-year horn reprieve. It expired in 2020.

The city appears to have passed a federal inspection in January. A quieter rail corridor could resume this spring.

All of this reminded me of my 1981 conversations with Henderson and Fulk. My topic for that news article was Operation Lifesaver. In San Clemente, the nonprofit posts banners at beach trail crossings reminding pedestrians to “think train” and “look both ways.”

There also are safety outreaches at San Clemente’s Ocean Festival, Junior Lifeguard programs and local businesses.

THEN VS. NOW

My 1981 interview with Henderson and Fulk wasn’t the first time for me.

Earlier, I’d ridden another Amtrak train from Oceanside to Santa Ana to get an engineer’s eye view of safety hazards commonly seen along the way. I had some knowledge, from stories I’d covered through the 1970s.

“San Clemente is one of our trouble spots,” Engineer J.R. Fleming told me.

Indeed, train incidents appeared more frequently on San Clemente news pages then than they do today.

“People walk down the track or across it just like it was a sidewalk,” said J.E. Thornton, foreman for all trains plying this track.

In 17 years operating trains, Thornton said he’d struck five automobiles, a truck and a drunken pedestrian.

“You should come down through San Clemente in the summertime,” he said. “It’s nerve-racking.”

“What scares you,” he said, “is these kids you see playing chicken. They just don’t realize how fast that train is traveling.”

At 40 mph, he said, a train moves 58 feet per second. At 70 mph, it’s 102 feet per second. At 90 mph, it’s 132 feet per second.

“As long as there’s a means of keeping people off the track, then people won’t get hurt,” Thornton said.

AFTERTHOUGHT

Forty years later, the scenic Beach Trail carries hordes of pedestrians, channeling them to safe crossings.

In 2016, when the horn-blowing waiver went into effect, San Clementeans were asked to protect the tranquility that the city’s safety upgrades had earned— respect the fencing, don’t duck under lowered RR crossing arms, and ask any trespassers you see to please get off the tracks, not just for their own safety but to not ruin a good thing for all of us.

Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with five decades of reporting experience in the city. Fred can be reached at fswegles@picketfencemedia.com. SC

WHY BE CAREFUL

• 1,081 deaths or injuries to pedestrian trespassers occurred nationwide in 2019.

• 70% of the casualties occurred in 15 states; California was worst with 231, more than twice as many as No. 2 Texas.

• Don’t get too close; trains overhang the rails by at least three feet.

• It takes so long to halt a braking train, it’s unlikely it can stop in time.

• Never walk, run or cycle on tracks, in bridges or tunnels.

• RR trestles aren’t pedestrian bridges; there’s only enough clearance for a train.

• Stay alert around RR tracks. Refrain from texting, using headphones or other distractions.

• Selfies on or around tracks can be deadly. More than 20 deaths or injuries since 2011 were photographyrelated.

Source: Operation Lifesaver, oli.org

Newspaper clippings from some 40 years ago bring back memories of random trespassing on beachside railroad tracks in San Clemente, Capistrano Beach and at Trestles. Photo: Fred Swegles

Contributor: The Tiberi Family and San Clemente Historical Society

FROM

THE

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Arthur

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Seven-year-old Arthur is just about as sweet as they come. He is very sociable and loves to hang out on your lap. He also seems to get along well with other small dogs. Arthur doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time but would be wonderful for someone who wants a constant companion. If you are interested in adopting Arthur, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

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

Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. SC

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Arthur. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente/ Dana Point Animal Shelter

Last week’s solution:

SC

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

San Clemente STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

All in the Family

San Clemente honors 21 on National Signing Day

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

National Signing Day was a family affair on Feb. 3, at San Clemente High School.

With only immediate family members in the stands, San Clemente honored 21 collegebound student-athletes in a socially distanced outdoor ceremony at Thalassa Stadium.

Among the signees were Dane and Hannah Hillis, a brother-sister pair who are both continuing their volleyball careers at the next level. Dane is signed with Long Beach State, and Hannah is signed with Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.

“We both worked really hard, and it kind of motivated each other, as well as our parents,” Hannah said. “It’s easier for them to do it all at the same time with both of us. It was a whole family movement.”

Hannah and Dane are continuing a family tradition, as their mother also played volleyball in college.

“We weren’t forced into the sport,” Dane said, “but being around the sport all the time, it was kind of inevitable that we both started playing. Now she pushes us more than anybody else. It’s definitely helped me grow into the player that I have and the player my sister has.”

Dane is excited to play for the reigning back-to-back national champions at Long Beach State. Hannah is set to study physical therapy in an accelerated 6 ½-year

program to get her doctorate degree.

Aidan Coulson was another signee for whom family has been a huge part of the process to get to Signing Day. Coulson signed on to play football at Arizona Christian University, which plays at the NAIA level in Glendale, Arizona.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Coulson said of signing. “I’ve had to overcome a lot in my high school days. I’m just really thankful that I kept my head high and always worked hard even when times weren’t going my way. I’m just super blessed and excited to be where I am today.”

Aidan’s father, Michael, died of brain cancer during the 2019 football season, which ended with the Tritons being removed from the playoffs after a court fight over an ineligible player. Then, of course, the coronavirus pandemic came the following spring and pushed the 2020 football season potentially into spring 2021, if it happens at all.

Coulson said he’s excited about the Arizona Christian football program, and that it would mean everything to his father that he signed on to continue playing in college.

“He’s been there for me since Day One, since third grade when I started football,” Coulson said. “I just know he’d be so proud of me. I’m so blessed to call him my dad, and I know he’s looking down on me right now, very happy. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

For a full photo gallery of all the signees, go to sanclementetimes.com.

Here is the full list of honorees at San Clemente’s National Signing Day ceremony:

Football: Cole Batson (Boston College), Bentley Redden (BYU), James Bohls (Arizona), Keegan Even (Benedictine Col-

Home, Sweep Home

SCHS hosts first competition in 11 months as girls cross country sweeps Mission Viejo

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For the first time in nearly 11 months, San Clemente High School hosted a competitive athletic event, and the Tritons wasted no time getting back to dominant form.

The San Clemente girls cross country team took the first six finishing spots to take down Mission Viejo, 15-46, in a South Coast League dual meet on Saturday, Feb. 6, at San Clemente High.

“It’s nice to be with the team and see other teams and join together in competition when times are really strange,” said Tritons senior Lily O’Rourke, who came in first place on the 3-mile oncampus course with a time of 18:35.

O’Rourke got out to the lead early and never looked back, and UC San Diegobound San Clemente senior Kelsie Yamano was close behind the whole way through to finish in second at 18:38.

“It feels great to be back here,” Yamano said. “The last time we were able to race was track (season) last year, so it’s really nice to be back on our home course.”

The San Clemente course is normally used for tryouts only, with no home cross country meets in a regular season. Now, the course is a major home advantage for the Tritons, with runners twice taking on a major hill behind Thalassa Stadium.

“I feel like I’ve been training on the track a lot recently,” Yamano said, “so the hill was definitely a bit of a wrench in there. It’s nice to see some different courses and try on different terrain.”

San Clemente capitalized on that advantage, with senior Cameron Green coming in third (19:41) and sophomores Madison Kerrigan (19:52) and Kennedy Banks (21:22) rounding out the Tritons’ scoring five.

The Tritons girls swept all levels against Mission Viejo on Saturday, with freshman, sophomore and junior varsity wins, as well.

At Mission Viejo High, the San Clemente boys defeated the Diablos, 22-37, and also won at the sophomore and freshman levels. Sophomore Juan Chantaca (15:20) and junior Hayden Beauchemin (15:21) finished first and second, respectively.

Both San Clemente teams have a bye week next Saturday before taking on Dana Hills on Feb. 20. The girls race at Dana Hills, and the boys host the Dolphins. SC

lege), Noa Serpa (Concordia, Wisconsin), Aidan Coulson (Arizona Christian)

Men’s Volleyball: Noah Keelin (USC), Cade Martin (UC Irvine), Dane Hills (Long Beach State), Kobe Kiley (Concordia, Irvine)

Women’s Volleyball: Hannah Hillis (Franklin Pierce), Kate Wade (UMass Dartmouth), Ashley Haas (DePauw University)

Beach Volleyball: Kylie Pitzak (Utah)

Women’s Water Polo: Alexandria Higginson (Cal)

Women’s Swimming: Stella Copeland (Arizona)

Women’s Diving: Skylar Ruffner (Florida State)

Women’s Cross Country/Track: Kelsie Yamano (UC San Diego)

Women’s Basketball: Kyra Stewart (Simon Fraser)

Baseball: Nathan Beckley (San Francisco State)

Men’s Lacrosse: Tanner Hall (Concordia, Irvine) SC

San Clemente High School honored 21 student-athletes, including siblings Hannah and Dane Hillis (right), signing on to signing on to universities in an outdoor, family-only ceremony on Feb. 3. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

San Clemente runners conquered the track, campus pavement and the large hill behind Thalassa Stadium to defeat Mission Viejo on Saturday, Feb. 6. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE INVITING ELECTRONIC BIDS

Street Improvement Projects – FY 2021, Project No. 11306 and Major Street Maintenance – FY 2020, Project No. 20305 and Slurry Seal Program – FY 2021, Project No. 21303

Bids shall be submitted electronically through the City’s electronic procurement system (PlanetBids) at: www.san-clemente.org/vendorbids. Bids must be received by no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, 2021. All bids received after that time will be returned to the Bidder, as they will be deemed disqualified. Only electronic bids submitted through PlanetBids will be accepted. Bid tabulations will be available on PlanetBids immediately following the bid closing.

Bidders must complete line items information (PlanetBids Line Item Tab), and attach a paper Bid Form, completed in full and signed (PlanetBids Attachments Tab). In addition the Bidder shall attach Subcontractor(s) Listing, Experience Form, Bid Security, and all other documents required herein (PlanetBids Attachments Tab). The system will not accept a bid for which any required information is missing.

The work to be done consists of furnishing all materials, equipment, tools, labor and incidentals as required by the specifications and contract documents for the Plans and Specifications for Street Improvement Projects – FY 2021, Project No. 11306; and Major Street Maintenance – FY 2020, Project No. 20305; and Slurry Seal Program – FY 2021, Project No. 21303;in the City of San Clemente, California.

Reference is hereby made to these Specifications for further particulars, and same are by such reference incorporated herein and made a part thereof, the same as though fully set forth hereunder.

Project specifications and contract documents are posted in the City of San Clemente PlanetBids System Vendor Portal website at www.san-clemente. org/vendorbids. All bidders must first register as a vendor on the City of San Clemente PlanetBids System website to participate in a bid or to be added to the prospective bidders list.

The contract does call for monthly progress payments based on the engineer’s estimate of the percentage of work completed. The City will retain 5% of each progress payment as security for completion of the balance of the work. At the request and expense of the successful bidder, the City will pay amounts so retained upon compliance with the requirements of Government Code Section 14402 and the provisions of the contract documents pertaining to “substitution of securities.”

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, in accordance with Section 1770 of the California State Labor Code and in accordance with the terms of the Southern California Master Labor Agreement, has heretofore established a prevailing rate of per diem wages to be paid in the construction of the above entitled work. The said wage rates are herein referred to and adopted in this Notice as though fully set forth herein, and said scale is made a part of this Notice by reference.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1771.1, no contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations. Furthermore, all bidders and contractors are hereby notified that no contractor or subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1771.4, all bidders are hereby notified that this project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations.

No bid will be accepted from a contractor who has not been licensed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9, Division III of the Business and Professions Code, State of California. Bidder shall possess a Class “A” California State Contracting License in good standing.

The bidder, by submitting its electronic bid, agrees to and certifies under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of California, that the certification, forms and affidavits submitted as part of this bid are true and correct.

The City of San Clemente reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Dated: February 4, 2021

To be published: February 11, 2021 and: February 18, 2021

Tom Bonigut

Public Works Director / City Engineer

NO Pre-Bid meeting will be conducted. Any bid questions may be submitted via the Planet Bids System.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

DANIEL S. CHEMOTTI, aka DANIEL STEVEN CHEMOTTI, aka DANIEL CHEMOTTI CASE# 30-2021-01182393-PR-PL-CJC

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will and or estate, or both, of DANIEL S. CHEMOTTI, aka DANIEL STEVEN CHEMOTTI, aka DANIEL CHEMOTTI

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by MONICA E. TOSCHI in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE

The PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that MONICA E. TOSCHI be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

The PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: March 10th, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. in Dept: C08, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of

the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (Form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: GUY R. GIBSON/ERNEST H. TUTTLE, IV of Gibson & Tuttle, Inc.

100 Estates Drive, Roseville, CA 95678

(916)782-4402

Published in: San Clemente Times Feb 11, 18, 25, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20216594769

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: OLIVER’S

211 AVENIDA DEL MAR

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

Full Name of Registrant(s): BRENDA KINSMAN

3370 CALLE LA VETA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

This business is conducted by an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A /s/ BRENDA KINSMAN

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/27/2021. Published in: San Clemente Times February 11, 18, 25, March 4, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDINANCE NO. 1711

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente, at its meeting of February 2, 2021, introduced the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 1711 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 12.32.130 OF THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE USE OF BICYCLES, INCLUDING ELECTRIC BICYCLES CLASS 1 AND CLASS 2, AND CLASS 3, OTHER ACTIVITIES ON THE PIER, BEACH ACCESS ROAD, BEACH AND BEACH TRAIL.

Persons interested in receiving an inspection copy of the Ordinance are invited to call the Deputy City Clerk at (949) 361-8301 or by email at campagnolol@san-clemente.org. Copies will be emailed or mailed to you at no cost.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente will consider adopting the aforementioned Ordinance at its meeting of February 16, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Community Center Auditorium, located at 100 N. Seville, San Clemente, commencing at 6:00 p.m.

To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting, at this time. To participate in the meeting, citizens may:

1. Listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente. org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854; and

2. Members of the public are requested to submit their comments by completing the Public Comment Submittal form available from the City’s website at www.san-clemente.org/ccpubliccomment. Transmittal by 4:00 p.m. on Council meeting days is recommended.

JOANNE BAADE

City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council

ORDINANCE NO. 1710

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente, at its Regular Meeting of February 2, 2020, adopted the following ordinance:

Ordinance No. 1710 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2.43 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, RELATING TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, to become effective on July 1, 2021. Persons interested in receiving an inspection copy of the Ordinance are invited to call the Deputy City Clerk at (949) 361-8301 or by email at campagnolol@san-clemente.org. Copies will be emailed or mailed to you at no cost.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the abovereferenced Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting of January 19, 2021 and was adopted at the Regular City Council meeting of February 2, 2021 by the following vote:

AYES: DUNCAN, FERGUSON, JAMES, KNOBLOCK, MAYOR WARD NOES: NONE

ABSENT: NONE

JOANNE BAADE City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDINANCE NO. 1707

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente, at its Regular Meeting of February 2, 2021, adopted the following ordinance:

Ordinance No. 1707 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE FOR A CITY-INITIATED AMENDMENT (ZA 20-035) TO THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 17, ZONING TO UPDATE ERRONEOUS TEXT, AMBIGUOUS DEFINITIONS AND STANDARDS; AND MODIFICATIONS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN AND STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the above-

PUBLIC NOTICES

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM

referenced Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting of December 15, 2020 and was adopted at the Regular City Council meeting of February 2, 2021 by the following vote:

AYES: DUNCAN, JAMES, KNOBLOCK, MAYOR WARD

NOES: FERGUSON

ABSENT: NONE

JOANNE BAADE

City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20216593737

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: SC LICE REMOVAL

60 AVENIDA MERIDA

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

Full Name of Registrant(s): DANIELLE KLINE

60 AVENIDA MERIDA

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

This business is conducted by an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A

/s/ DANIELLE KLINE

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/14/2021. Published in: San Clemente Times February 11, 18, 25, March 4, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE INVITING ELECTRONIC BIDS

Major Street Maintenance – FY 2021, Project No. 21302

Bids shall be submitted electronically through the City’s electronic procurement system (PlanetBids) at: www.san-clemente.org/vendorbids. Bids must be received by no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2021. All bids received after that time will be returned to the Bidder, as they will be deemed disqualified. Only electronic bids submitted through PlanetBids will be accepted. Bid tabulations will be available on PlanetBids immediately following the bid closing.

The work to be done consists of furnishing all materials, equipment, tools, labor and incidentals as required by the specifications and contract documents for the Plans and Specifications for Major Street Maintenance – FY 2021, Project No. 21302; in the City of San Clemente, California.

Reference is hereby made to these Specifications for further particulars, and same are by such reference incorporated herein and made a part thereof, the same as though fully set forth hereunder.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1771.4, all bidders are hereby notified that this project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations.

The City of San Clemente reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Dated: January 28, 2021

To be published: February 4, 2021 and: February 11, 2021

Tom Bonigut Public Works Director / City Engineer

NO Pre-Bid meeting will be conducted. Any bid questions may be submitted via the Planet Bids System.

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20216594060

The following person(s) is doing business as:

1. PCH CHIROPRACTIC

26933 CAMINO DE ESTRELLA SUITE B

CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA 92624

ADDITIONAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S):

1B. PCH CHIRO

Full Name of Registrant(s):

PALMER PEET, D.C. 105 VIA TOLUCA

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

This business is conducted by a CA Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: N/A

/s/PALMER PEET, D.C., PEET CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CORPORATION PRESIDENT

This statement was filed with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder on 1/20/21

Published in: San Clemente Times February 4 11, 18, 25, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20216593991

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: GILBERT FUGITT LEADERSHIP COACHING AND CONSULTING

2 CALLE TORTUGA

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673-9267

Full Name of Registrant(s):

GILBERT FUGITT

2 CALLE TORTUGA

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

This business is conducted by an Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A

/s/ GILBERT FUGITT, SOLE PROPRIETOR

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/20/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times

February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216593637

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: NOMADE HOME

175 WEST AVENIDA CORNELIO

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

Full Name of Registrant(s): RACHAEL GILLETTE

175 WEST AVENIDA CORNELIO

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

This business is conducted by an Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A

/s/ RACHAEL GILLETTE

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/14/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216592687

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: SUN PANTRY 905 CALLE NEGOCIO #75231 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673-9267

Full Name of Registrant(s): STATESIDE US 905 CALLE NEGOCIO #75231

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

This business is conducted by a CA Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A

/s/ STATESIDE US, ANDREW JORDAN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/05/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216592676

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: BGSBAKEDGOODS LLC 1126 E CARLETON AVE ORANGE, CA 92867

Full Name of Registrant(s): BGSBAKEDGOODS LLC 1126 E CARLETON AVE ORANGE, CA 92867

This business is conducted by a CA Limited Liability Company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A

/s/BGSBAKEDGOODS LLC, JENNY TOM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/05/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216592597

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: BEHRENS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS 4810 PARK NEWPORT, APT 217 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660

Full Name of Registrant(s): SANDRA KUENZI, TRUSTEE THE STANLEY BEHRENS LIVING TRUST DATED JULY 8, 1983 3 DEWBERRY WAY IRVINE, CA 92612

This business is conducted by A Trust

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a

/s/THE STANLEY BEHRENS LIVING TRUST

DATED JULY 8, 1983, SANDRA KUENZI, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE, TRUSTEE

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/04/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 2021

Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the San Clemente Times.

EMAIL legals@picketfencemedia.com CALL 949.388.7700, ext. 111

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216592972

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ABE N GABE

6539 E CAMINO VISTA, #3 ANAHEIM, CA 92807

Full Name of Registrant(s): IBRAHIM GHOBRIEL

6539 E CAMINO VISTA, #3 ANAHEIM, CA 92807

This business is conducted by An Individual

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A

/s/IBRAHIM GHOBRIEL, PRESIDENT

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/08/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20216592891

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

THE LITTLE STAR CREATES

129 CALLE REDONDEL

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672-9267

Full Name of Registrant(s):

ESTRELITA DE LA CRUZ

129 CALLE REDONDEL

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672-9267

This business is conducted by An Individual

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 12/15/2020

/s/ESTRELITA DE LA CRUZ

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/06/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times

Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20216592969

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

STORYTELLING, INC.

34932 CALLE DEL SOL, STE. B

CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA 92624-9262

Full Name of Registrant(s):

EARL NORBERT GARRETT IV

2425 VIA MERO

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

JOHN ROACH

100 KAYWOOD DR

BOALSBURG, PA 16827

DAVID SEIGERMAN

62 CHESTNUT AVE

LARCHMONT, NY 10538

This business is conducted by a General Partnership. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 12/08/2020

/s/EARL NORBERT GARRETT IV

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 01/08/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times

Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 2021

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20206592195

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ALBION INSURANCE SERVICES 1052 SABLE

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA 92688-9268

Full Name of Registrant(s):

ALBION CONSULTING GROUP LLC 1052 SABLE

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA 92688

This business is conducted by a CA Limited Liability Company

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a

/s/ALBION CONSULTING GROUP LLC, GERALDINE CRAPANZANO, MANAGING MEMBER/MANAGER

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 12/23/20.

Published in: San Clemente Times

January 21, 28, February 4, 11, 2021

CLASSIFIEDS

to info@sanclementetimes.com.

San Juan Capistrano Campus. Maintain school campus

cured.FT Work: Mon-Fri 2 pm -10:30 pm. Send Resume to: careers@fairmontschools.com

to a

ber for a Customer Sales/Service Position. Income based on your efforts, Flexibility available, Experience Preferred, apply at www.elainelavine.net

Aaron Lloyd Bankruptcy Attorney 2377 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.544.9355, lloydlegal.com

Rosen Law Offices, P.C. 34118 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 5, Dana Point, 949.335.0020, snrosenlaw.com

Benjamin Stevens, D.D.S. 3553 Camino Mira Costa, Suite B, San Clemente, 949.493.2391, benstevensdds.com Cello and Bass Academy 310.895.6145, celloandbassacademy.com

Via Pico

San

949.463.1968, beachcitiesrockclub.com Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, San Clemente, 949.493.9311, drericjohnson.com

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, arcadiaelectric.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Return of the ‘Kookbox’ Colapinto Re-signs with Rip Curl

Cumbersome boards from the 1930s back in the water

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Proving that what’s old is new again, Dane Gudauskas and Capo Beachbased surfboard builder Donald Brink last year wanted to dip their toes in the waters of a bygone era. In their collaborative pursuit to explore different sensations in surfing, they sought to recreate the magic of the old wooden “kookbox” designs of the 1930s.

With the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center in San Clemente closed due to the pandemic, they were able to spend some uninterrupted time in the museum’s collection and examine all the different outlines and construction techniques of the classic old boards.

Originally engineered by early surf pioneer and waterman Tom Blake, the historic boards on average are about 12 feet long and weigh an average of 40-50 pounds.

Considered a huge innovation at the time, the hollow, chambered construction allowed Blake to shed considerable weight from the surfboards of the previous era, which clocked in between 60 and 100 pounds. By comparison, most of the boards ridden by pros today weigh less than six pounds.

When he was 18 years old, Blake, originally from Milwaukee, happened to meet the great Duke Kahanamoku. By 1924, he

GROM OF THE WEEK

KIERAN OTA

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Let’s make it official: this week’s Grom, Kieran Ota, is the third and final member of the band and power trio known as “Haze.” We’ve featured his other two bandmates here recently and want to make sure Ota gets his moment in the spotlight, too. When he’s not at band practice, jamming on bass and vocals, you’ll probably find him laying down big power carves at the local beaches. The talented 15-year-old regular footer also has an affinity for snowboarding, as well as soccer and baseball. Not really your surf competition kind of guy, he prefers to enjoy his surfing without the pressures of points and time clocks. As we’ve pointed out here, there’s a strong connection between surfing and music, and Ota’s clearly tapping into that vibe.

had embarked on his first trip to Hawaii and by 1929 had developed what he called his “cigar box” design.

The boards remained common in lineups in Hawaii and California throughout the ’30s and ’40s, and even today there are a number of people who enjoy the challenge of trying to tame these unwieldy wooden beasts, including Dana Point’s Brian Bent, who’s dedicated his surfing and art to this throwback aesthetic.

Fast-forward almost a century, and Gudauskas and Brink are among that small crew. Curious to see what would happen if they built and rode one of the boards today, turns out, it works pretty well.

Brink went to work in his Capo Beach shaping bay/skunkworks, and the craftsmanship and attention to detail he emerged with is simply stunning. The board is as much a piece of art as it is a

functional surfboard. Brink builds some beautiful surfboards, but he may have outdone himself on this one.

And stunt pilot Gudauskas flies on the thing at San Onofre.

If you’re into surf history and have an open mind about what constitutes “performance” surf craft, check out the video “Finding The Line: Experimentations on a 14 Foot Tom Blake Inspired Kookbox Surfboard” on YouTube.

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. SC

“Traditionally, the role of the bass player was just to keep things simple and solid,” explains Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. “So, it’s really a special thing when you can get a player that can actually bring in a lot of presence and also a visual presence, too.”

To Ota and the boys in Haze, keep on

hammering on those instruments. Can’t wait to see you on stage when live music roars back to life. SC

If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com.

Local rising star Griffin Colapinto has re-signed with Rip Curl, adding another three years to his sponsorship contract with the iconic wetsuit brand that moved its North American offices to San Clemente last year. Joining Colapinto was Carlsbad native Alyssa Spencer and Hawaii’s Erin Brooks.

“I just re-signed with Rip Curl for another three years, and I’m really excited because I’ve been with Rip Curl since I was 8 years old; they’re like a family to me,” Colapinto says. “It’s been great getting to know everyone in the company a lot better; I can’t wait for what the future has for me.”

Colapinto has been on a tear on the North Shore of Oahu this winter. Along with his brother, Griffin, they’ve been packing some heavy barrels at Pipe and Backdoor, as well as ripping at high-performance hot spots such as Haleiwa.

Getting bigger and stronger the past couple of years, “the Croz’s” future is bright.

“To have such depth in the USA right now and to watch them grow and be happy surfing so hard brings a lot of good vibes to our brand and all our crew around the world. Who knows? We might have the next Tom Curren, Mick Fanning, Gabe Medina, Bethany Hamilton or Tyler Wright on our hands,” Neil Ridgway, chief brand and marketing officer at Rip Curl, said in a press statement. SC

Water Temperature: 57-58 Degrees

Water Visibility and Conditions: 3-6

Thursday: Small Northwest swell laps in with knee-thigh-waist high waves, (1-2-3’). Light Northwest breeze in the morning, shift to a moderate west wind for the afternoon.

Outlook: Small Northwest swell persists for Friday through the weekend, keeping surf down in the knee-thigh-waist high range, (1-2-3’). Light+ to occasionally moderate Southwest winds due through most of Friday and Saturday, then breezy Northwest winds are expected on Sunday.

Dane Gudauskas and Donald Brink inspect the progress of the wooden kookbox surfboard they collaborated on together at Brink’s shop in Capo Beach. Photo: Courtesy of Dane Gudauskas

Kieran Ota. Photo: Courtesy of Ota Family

JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

February 11, 2021

SC

What’s Up With...

San

Clemente

COVID-19 UPDATES

SC Man Tests Positive in First Known OC Case of UK COVID Strain

Public Agencies, Preven-

Advocates Discuss Suicides During Pandemic

Dr. Keany Discusses Flu Rates, Drop in COVID-19 Cases

Aegis Living Dana Point Celebrates First Vaccine for Residents

Taking Inventory

Biennial Point-in-Time Count Canceled for 2021

A Snapshot of the County’s Homeless

By the Numbers

The Methodology

Exiting the Streets

Sheltering in Place

I Want to Hear from You

Letters to the Editor

COVID-19 STATISTICS

GETTING OUT SC

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

A RESPONSE TO ‘CARING FOR OUR BLUE PLANET’

EXCEPTIONS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

The List

SC LIVING SC

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

We’ve Come a Long Way in Upgrading Railroad Safety

ON TO TODAY

HERE CAME THE HORNS

THEN VS. NOW

AFTERTHOUGHT

WHY BE CAREFUL

FROM

ARCHIVES

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Arthur

Sudoku

SC

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

San Clemente STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

All in the Family

San Clemente honors 21 on National Signing Day

Home, Sweep Home

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE INVITING ELECTRONIC BIDS

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDINANCE NO. 1710

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDINANCE NO. 1707

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE INVITING ELECTRONIC BIDS

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICES

CLASSIFIEDS

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Return of the ‘Kookbox’ Colapinto Re-signs with Rip Curl

GROM OF THE WEEK

KIERAN OTA