January 16, 2014

COMING NEXT WEEK: THE “BEST OF SAN CLEMENTE” RESULTS ISSUE J A N U A RY 1 6 -2 2 , 2 0 1 4

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

C A N

U S E

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3

Changes at SCHS New administration brings fresh perspectives to school EYE ON SC/PAGE 4 Members of the administrative team at San Clemente High School have brought a number of changes to campus that have drawn praise from parents for improved discipline. Photo by Jim Shilander

www.sanclementetimes.com

Decision Still to Come in Beach Parking Lawsuit

Surfers Shine in Huge Surf at Santa Cruz Contest

Hikers Make Their Way Up to SC’s Summit

EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

SC SURF/PAGE 18

SPORTS/PAGE 10

EYE ON SC

1

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SC S a n C le m e n te

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO After a one-year hiatus, the Fiesta Association is bringing back their popular beer garden at the Swallows Day Parade’s companion event, the Mercado Street Faire, on March 22. Following a meeting with city staff and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Fiesta Association agreed to open beer sales for three hours, between 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., said board member Jeff Schroeder. Last year, the Mercado’s beer garden was cancelled after the sheriff’s department restricted sales to two hours, citing a rise in alcohol-related incidents over the last several years. Board members said it wasn’t financially prudent to do so and decided to do away with beer sales entirely. The Mercado’s beer garden is one of the Fiesta Association’s biggest fundraisers, according to Schroeder. In bringing back beer sales, Schroeder said the Fiesta Association expects to make around $7,000.

DANA POINT

NEWS

NEXT DOOR WH AT ’S GO I N G O N I N OU R NE IG H B O R I N G TOW N S

The sixth annual Grunion Run 10K, 5K and kids’ 1K races are set for Sunday, March 2 and organizers of the Doheny State Beach-located contests are looking for volunteers and sponsors to help out. Registration for the races is now open at www.festivalofwhalesgrunionrun. com. The cost of racing is $40 for the 10K, $35 for the 5K and $15 for the kids’ 1K. This year’s race takes place during the second weekend of the 46th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales. All proceeds from the races benefit the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association, a support organization providing aid to the state beach including the refurbishment of the beach’s visitor’s center. Following the race, participants will be treated to a breakfast from the Doheny Longboard Surfing Association.

For more information, email Laura Ouimet at louimet@arthritis.org.

SAN CLEMENTE’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

WHAT’S NEXT: Brad Malamud, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, said he expects a decision by February.

“He gave everybody a fair hearing,” Malamud said of Colaw on Friday. “He said he will make his opinion based on the papers we submitted and the little arguments we had today.”

City Manager Pall Gudgeirsson said his communication with the city’s attorneys reported a similar experience. He said Colaw was “fairly neutral” during the hearing and a decision is expected within two weeks.

CUSD trustees on Wednesday, January 8 unanimously approved a resolution opposing the project, known as the Rancho San Juan Apartments.

The developer, Mission Viejo-based Woodbridge Pacific Group, is proposing to build the community on 4.6 acres of land on the northwest corner of Vista Montana and La Pata Avenue.

In August, the city’s Planning Commission recommended the City Council deny the developer’s request to rezone the land due to traffic concerns. The council voted in December to continue the item after traffic consultants for the developer presented a plan to reconfigure traffic lanes.

However, Trustee Jim Reardon, a San Juan Capistrano resident, said the issue was not about traffic but rather a “capacity problem.” With the impending extension of La Pata Avenue, students from San Clemente’s Talega community would be attending San Juan Hills. Students from Talega and Ladera Ranch also have priority access to the high school because taxpayers from the communities helped pay for the school through their Community Finance Districts.

The district has also expressed interest in acquiring the land to build additional parking for the school and expand facilities onto the existing parking lots.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates on the case, visit www.sanclementetimes.com.

– Jim Shilander

WHAT’S NEXT: The San Juan Capistrano City Council is expected to make its decision at its next meeting, January 21.

1

…the Parking Lawsuit?

THE LATEST: Attorneys for both the city and plaintiffs in a lawsuit over the city’s Beach Parking Impact Fund had expected to receive a decision last week, but the heavy schedule of Orange County Superior Court Judge Thierry Colaw has led to another delay in the case.

Both sides said they initially expected a decision after Colaw heard arguments Friday. But Colaw told them he was very busy in the days leading up to the hearing and was unable to fully explore issues laid out in legal briefs submitted by both sides. Both the city and the plaintiffs’ attorneys made brief arguments to the court Friday.

2

…CUSD’s Message to San Juan?

THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unified School District is asking the San Juan Capistrano City Council to deny a proposal to build a 100-unit apartment complex near San Juan Hills High School.

San Clemente Times January 16-22, 2014

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. – Brian Park

3

…the Trestles Historic Designation?

THE LATEST: Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) introduced a bill last month that would

give the Department of the Navy control over the Trestles surf break, potentially eliminating chances it could be designated on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Issa, who represents south Orange County, introduced “The Military Land and National Defense Act” in December in support of the Navy’s objection to a proposal to place a historic designation on the beach, which is used by the U.S. Marine Corps for training. The Navy has previously stated that designating the break as a landmark could prevent certain training exercises from moving forward. The Navy holds the lease on San Onofre State Beach, but leases it to the state as a park. The lease is up in 2021.

WHAT’S NEXT: The bill amends the National Historic Preservation Act to allow federal agencies that manage properties to prevent their inclusion on the registry until their objections are withdrawn. It has 17 co-sponsors.

FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.sanclementetimes.com –JS

4

… Regional Water?

THE LATEST: A large regional pipeline delivering water to Orange County communities from Yorba Linda to San Clemente was shut down Monday for upgrades and inspections. The 11-day outage is not expected to cause water disruptions, regional water officials said.

The 26-mile Allen-McColloch Pipeline owned by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will undergo routine maintenance through Thursday, January 23. The pipeline extends from Yorba Linda to Lake Forest and delivers about 100 million gallons of water a day to Orange County residents.

It is also the largest deliverer of im-

Page 3

ported water to south county cities like San Clemente and Dana Point.

Such upkeep is scheduled during the spring and winter months when water demands are lower, said Debra Man, chief operating officer of the MWDSC, noting that much of the infrastructure serving the area is more than 60 years old.

WHAT’S NEXT: Local water officials have asked residents to be mindful of their usage.

FIND OUT MORE: Read more at www.sanclementetimes.com.

—Andrea Papagianis

5

…the Talega CFD?

THE LATEST: A decision by the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees at its meeting last week left Talega residents encouraged for a rehearing later this month regarding the latest refinancing of its community finance district.

The district voted 7-0 to put a sunset date on its longest-lived CFD which financed the development of schools in areas of Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo. Residents in the area have been fighting for years to end the CFD, which places an additional taxation level on them to pay for schools. The board had tabled the decision last month.

WHAT’S NEXT: A number of Talega residents attended the meeting to see how the board handled the situation. Residents there believed the board erred in not giving back the proceeds from a refinancing of the CFD in August, and were given a rehearing, now scheduled for January 22. Tax attorney Susie Hattan said she and other residents who attended were “happy” with the board’s 7-0 vote.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates on the story, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. – JS www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Fresh Perspectives New approaches changing shape of SCHS

By Jim Shilander San Clemente Times

W

hen Michael Halt came to San Clemente from Massachusetts in August to take over as principal at San Clemente High School, he had heard stories about the close relationship between the city and its high school. But, it was a tragedy just after the start of the school year that really brought it home.

On Sunday, September 8, former Triton Football star and UCLA wide receiver Nick Pasquale was killed while crossing the street in the early morning hours. That night, an impromptu memorial service was held at the school’s Thalassa Stadium.

“When I first took the job, people talked about the strength of this community, and the strength of the community is what makes this a great school,” Halt said.

“When Nick died, watching the way the community responded was a powerful illustration of that strength. At the impromptu memorial service where families came to grieve together and support each other, the thing that struck me that night was that it was families.”

Halt said when he had a similar situation at his former school, West Tisbury School on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., his experience was very different.

“At my previous school, when we lost a student, we had hundreds of kids who showed up to grieve. They weren’t supported by anyone. It was just us as a school, trying to help the kids who were suffering,” he said. “(At Nick’s memorial) Everybody from the community was there. There were kids who were grieving, there were parents who were grieving, but everyone was there to support each other. I think that speaks volumes about the strength of this community. It showed me first hand that this is a strong community that doesn’t just look toward the high school for support, but really provides support to the high school.”

Halt brings more than a 25-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, including time spent at Camp Pendleton. While at West Tisbury, he served tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq as a Marine reservist.

“When I left the Marine Corps I initially thought, like a lot of my peers, that I’d go into law enforcement,” Halt said. “What I realized was the things I enjoyed most about being a Marine officer, I was more likely to find in a classroom than a squad car.”

As an officer he’d discovered it was often best to listen to those in the field San Clemente Times January 16-22, 2014

New San Clemente High School principal Michael Halt, (second from right) credits many of the changes at the school to his administrative team. Among them are (L to R) athletic director Jon Hamro, upper campus director Deni Christensen, assistant principal Kerry Reid, assistant principal Cameron Lovett and activities director Dipali Pothis. He also credited assistant principal Sally Clanin, who is not pictured. Photo by Jim Shilander

when making tactical decisions. A lesson, he said, that he’d taken with him into the classroom.

“You can’t be a successful administrator if you’re tied to that computer, trying to lead by email,” Halt said. “It’s leadership by walking around, getting out, knowing who the people are and the struggles they’re facing. People often think of the military as being a very hierarchical decision making process, where you have a guy that makes decision in isolation and everyone else snaps their heels and moves on. As a young lieutenant, you had to learn how to know you’re in charge, but your sergeant and squad leader might say ‘Hey sir, I think the machine gun position would be better off here, because that’s what our common goal is.’ Here it’s the same.”

Halt has relied on the ideas given to him by others on staff, as well as parents and students, he said.

Coming from outside the school, and even outside the district also gave Halt, and the district as a whole, the opportunity to take a fresh look at the school and what might be done to allay the concerns of some parents. Halt said he’d recently received a note from a ninth-grade parent who’d felt nervous about sending their child to the school due to negative rumors.

“It’s been my experience that perceptions become reality,” Halt said. “If people think there’s a problem and you don’t do anything to address it, then there’s a problem. Clearly it was identified that parents were very concerned about the safety and security on campus when I was first hired.”

Halt specifically cited concerns from parents of incoming freshmen about happenings the hill between the upper campus and the lower one. The area has in the past been rumored to be the site of drug use and bullying. Halt said Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent

“We’re also making sure everyone who walks across that stage on graduation day is going to be job ready, college ready and citizen ready.”

—Michael Halt

Joseph Farley had helped to add staff to monitor the area.

“Now, I can tell you there’s no issues on the hill, people feel great about the hill,” Halt said.

As part of that effort, other changes have been made at the school. Deni Christensen, a former assistant principal at Dana Hills and Capistrano Valley high schools, who later served as principal of the latter school for a time, came on board as the director of the upper campus.

Christensen said the administration, as a whole, has focused on three “T’s,” those being tardiness, truancy and trash,” as a way to curb potential trouble.

Working to combat those specific items has been a deliberate choice, Christensen said.

“Those can be tipping points for battling other problems,” she said. “If you eliminate those, your other problems kind of disappear. If you want to improve the culture, I believe you have to focus on those tipping points.”

Farley said he’s been pleased by the progress made at the school.

“I think Mr. Halt and his team are doing an outstanding job,” Farley said. “It’s always been a very strong school and a very respected school in San Clemente.”

San Clemente PTSA President Valerie

Page 4

Woodstra has two children at the school, a freshman and sophomore. She said she’s already seen a major difference at the school and credited Halt and Christensen.

“Discipline is tougher, and there’s more uniformity in how things are handled,” Woodstra said. “I think it’s really going in the right direction.

Woodstra said she appreciated Halt’s willingness to “hold everyone accountable,” including teachers and students, but doing so in a way that everyone can appreciate.

“He’s not doing it in a legalistic way.

He’s being very fair,” she said. “He will hear concerns and sift through the data.”

Having a former principal like Christensen at the upper campus also helps, she said.

“She really sets the tone for freshmen about what to expect in high school,” she said. “We almost got a two-for-one. She knows what’s going on and the students really respect her.”

Woodstra said the stronger adherence to discipline has won Halt a number of parental fans, even if some students might have had an issue with eliminating senior open campus lunch privileges at the school.

“I can tell you I think he’s amazing,” she said. “I haven’t heard any negatives. I think it’s really going in the right direction.”

The involvement of groups like the PTSA and San Clemente Education Foundation was an unexpected positive, Halt said.

“At my previous school, the PTSA was kind of just a nice group of folks that occasionally met and did some nice things,” he said. “Our parent support group, whether it’s formally, through the PTSA, or informally, how they support our staff here is amazing. It’s a great group of parents who work really hard to support us.”

Halt said while it’s important to focus on issues of safety, he also wants to be sure students can always have someone they can trust at the school.

“We’re a big school, more than 3,000 kids,” Halt said. “Great schools are ones at which every kid feels connected. That’s a challenge when you’re this big. How do we make sure kids stay connected, that there’s always one adult on campus they’re comfortable going up to and confiding in and sharing a concern that they have? I’m really fortunate that it’s not just me working here. I’ve got a great team and some of the best teachers in America working right here.”

Halt said it’s also important to make sure the school is doing its educational job.

“We’re also making sure everyone who walks across that stage on graduation day is going to be job ready, college ready and citizen ready,” he said. “I’m really proud when I see how our kids do, not just on the California standardized tests but on the national norms. We’re a nationally ranked high school, that’s fantastic.” SC www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC CITY AND COMMUNITY CALENDAR Thursday, January 16 Golf Course Committee Meeting 7 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers.

100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Assistance League of Capistrano Valley General Meeting 9:30 a.m.noon. Meeting every third Thursday.

More info and location: 949.492.2800, www.capistranovalley.assistanceleague.org.

Friday, January 17 Dark Friday City offices closed. More info: www.san-clemente.org.

Ribbon Cutting 11:30 a.m. Chamber celebrates the opening of Eaton’s Income Tax Service. 901 Calle Amanecer, 106, 949.492.1131, www.scchamber.com.

Sunday, January 19 Mushroom Walk 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Search for fungi popping up and observe some of the world’s largest living organisms on this walk at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Admission $5-$10.

Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

Monday, January 20 Martin Luther King Day City offices closed In observance of the holiday; www.san-clemente.org.

Tuesday, January 21 City Council Meeting 5 p.m. Closed session. 6 p.m. Business meeting in City Hall Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Toastmasters 7 p.m.–8:40 p.m. Practice public speaking every Tuesday in a friendly and supportive atmosphere at the Baha’i Center. 3316 Ave. Del Presidente, 6463. toastmastersclubs.org.

Wednesday, January 22 Read with Chloe 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Kids can practice reading skills at the library with Chloe, a certified therapy dog.

242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.san-clemente.org.

Planning Commission Meeting 6 p.m. Study session in Ocean View Conference Room; 7 p.m. Adjourned regular meeting in Council Chambers.

100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

San Clemente Times January 16-22, 2014

NEWS BITES

Compiled by Jim Shilander

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO City Seeking Wall of Recognition Nominees

Police Services Sponsors Citizen Academy

The city of San Clemente is asking citizens to help recognize outstanding members of the community. Each year, the city honors community members whose efforts have made San Clemente a more productive and enjoyable place to live, work and play. Residents can nominate someone who deserves to be recognized. The name of the selected nominee will be permanently placed on the city’s Wall of Recognition.

The nominee must have been a resident of San Clemente for at least 10 years and their service to the community must have been performed in San Clemente or have directly benefited the city.

A nonprofit organization or a consensus of 10 or more residents may submit a maximum one-page letter explaining the nominee’s contributions to the City’s Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department at 100 Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA 92672 or email to stiversm@san-clemente.org.

The deadline for submitting a nomination is Thursday, February 27 by 5 p.m.

For more information, contact Maile Stivers at 949.361.8237.

San Clemente Police Services and the city of San Clemente are inviting members of the public to register for the 2014 San Clemente Police Services Citizen Academy, the second such event. Participants will meet for 12 consecutive weeks, commencing on Monday, February 24, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Community Center’s Fireside Room at 100 N. Calle Seville. Field trips will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. A graduation ceremony and dinner will be hosted on Monday, May 19.

In a classroom setting, participants will learn about patrol operations, traffic, investigations, narcotics, criminal street gangs, homicide, SWAT, bomb squad, aviation support, K-9, firearms and forensics. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in interactive scenario-based training where they act in the role of a deputy sheriff during traffic stops and various simulated field situations.

Trips will include visits to the Orange County Central Jail Complex, the Orange County Coroner’s Department, the Orange County Crime Lab and the Sheriff’s Tactiradar gun. They did not appear to be city workers, the caller said.

SC Sheriff’s Blotter

DRUNK IN PUBLIC Avenida Aragon/Avenida Pelayo (10:40 a.m.) A caller said a shirtless man in his 40’s and having tattoos all over his upper body was stumbling around on Avenida Aragon. The caller said the man did not belong in the area. He was wearing black pants and carrying a black jacket.

cal Training Center. During the 12-week program, academy attendees also have the opportunity to schedule a ride along with a San Clemente patrol deputy during a shift.

Adults in San Clemente who reside or work in town will be able to register for the classes designed to increase understanding of local law enforcement operations. Those with a felony conviction, a misdemeanor conviction in the past three years or a pending criminal case will not be admitted into the program.

For more information, including the required application, visit the city’s website at www.san-clemente.org or obtain an application in person at San Clemente Police Services, 100 Avenida Presidio.

Welcome Inn Event Features Mike DeBellis Mike DeBellis and the Satin Express will benefit Welcome Inn, a nonprofit providing hot meals to the homeless and needy of south Orange County for over 23 years.

The concert will be held Saturday, January 18 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea United Methodist Church, located at, 2001 Calle Frontera. For information call 949.366.0151.

Tickets are $10 at the door.

(4:16 p.m.) A man, who appeared to be in his 70’s was carrying a few store bags in each hand and walking very slowly.

The man was headed westbound on Vista Hermosa.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Calle Del Cerro, 1100 Block (2:49 p.m.)

A resident of an apartment building said a man on the bottom floor was shooting a BB gun from an open door at vehicles.

WELFARE CHECK El Camino Real, 2200 Block (10:11 a.m.)

A woman called ranting that a man had been “kidnapped by the Mormons” and that they had cut off his arms. The call then disconnected. A welfare check was requested for it.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Camino Capistrano, 2900 Block (12:33 p.m.) A woman reported receiving a text message from an ex-boyfriend saying he was outside delivering her a letter. She did not want to see him and requested a patrol check.

Tuesday, January 14

Sunday, January 12

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Pico, 600 Block (3:47 a.m.) An employee at a restaurant was told by their manager that two people in a vehicle were doing crystal meth inside a van.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE El Camino Real, 1300 Block (8:24 p.m.)

A patrol check was requested for a torn screen on a bathroom window behind a building.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Calle Del Comercio, 2700 Block (8:06 a.m.) A man called to report a male transient, who appeared to be in his 50’s, with a surfboard, passed out in the dip between the city tennis courts and golf course. The subject could not be seen from the road.

Monday, January 13

DISTRUBANCE Avenida del Presidente, 3100 Block (5:06 p.m.) Five males were reportedly smashing trash cans, skateboarding and throwing beer cans.

COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER 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.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Via Agradar/Camino Viento Fuerte (1:15 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for two men wearing wraps on their heads.

There were two orange cones behind their vehicle and appeared to have some sort of

WELFARE CHECK Avenida Vista Hermosa/Camino Vera Cruz

Page 5

Saturday, January 11 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (10:25 a.m.)

A “very dirty” transient was sitting in a parking lot for over an hour with a cell phone plugged into an outdoor outlet. www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

CITY EDITOR Jim Shilander, 949.388.7700, x109 jshilander@sanclementetimes.com

PRINT AND ONLINE

S a n C le m e n te

San Clemente Times, Vol. 9, Issue 3. 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 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

ADVERTISING

SC

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

HOW TO REACH US

Michele Reddick, 949.388.7700, x103 mreddick@sanclementetimes.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

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

PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

ART/DESIGN

OPERATIONS

EDITORIAL

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

Finance Director > Mike Reed

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano) Locals Only Business Listing Manager

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Shelley Murphy, Tawnee Prazak, Dana Schnell, Tim Trent

Group Senior Editor > Andrea Swayne City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander

GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by JIm Kempton

Real Conservative Thinking Conserving is one of the smartest things we can do. But it requires us to do more than just rail against our own government

C

onservatives are people who conserve—fiscally, industriously and resourcefully. If Americans were practicing saving our money, our businesses and our resources, we would not only be the most successful competitive nation in the world but the most environmentally progressive as well.

Conserving and being conservative however, requires a little more than just waving the stars and stripes. For instance, it is predicted that we will soon have a 15 percent energy shortage. With a little inconvenience we could turn down our thermostat, take a shorter shower, plant drought-tolerant plants in the yard, put solar panels on all our roofs and insulate our windows. Result: way more than 15 percent energy savings. Of course that would mean conserving.

In fact all the studies now show that if we had just followed that “wimp” Jimmy

Carter’s energy policies of driving 55, along with keeping our homes and businesses at 70 degrees all year, we would have no oil crisis today. But it was just too conservative for us.

WAVELENGTHS Republican Teddy RoosBy Jim Kempton evelt was an early conservationist, who fought even as a young man to help preserve Yellowstone National Park from commercial exploitation. As president, he created the national forest system and founded the Bureau of Forestry. Roosevelt created forest and wildlife reserves, bird sanctuaries and national parks in Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, Washington, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Arizona. It helped earn him a place on Mount Rushmore.

Dwight Eisenhower was one of the best Republican presidents in the 20th century

according to most historians. During his two terms he expanded Social Security and even helped create the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education. His most familiar achievement was authorizing the interstate highway system in 1956.

Besides historic breakthroughs in international diplomacy, the Nixon Presidency was also a golden era for environmental law. Nixon created the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by executive order. He also signed key environmental laws: the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Ocean Dumping Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Oh yeah, and he gave us Trestles as a state park. Today there is talk of disbanding the parks and eliminating the EPA. This is a long legacy of investing in conservation and the common welfare in this great nation. Think of Washington,

Jefferson and Lincoln—they were digging the Erie Canal, buying the Louisiana Purchase and building the transcontinental railroad. Later greats like Teddy and Ike were building the Hoover Dam and the highway system. All those investments made our nation great and helped every businessman and every citizen. But Congressional leaders today don’t even want to repair those things let alone build new stuff. Conservative greats of the past had the foresight to see what conserving our nation’s treasure really meant. We need to return to that conservative vision.

Jim Kempton is a big believer in conserving—our heritage, our resources and our savings. SC

bicyclist. I love riding the many wonderful trails we have around the city.

That being said, I’m in favor of banning bikes on the beach trail. I walk my labs on that trail almost every day. The one thing that stands out each and every day is how many near misses there are between walkers/joggers and bikers. At places the path becomes narrow, and if someone is coming the other direction, you have to walk single file. Many of the people on bikes do not observe the 10 mph speed limit. All I can think about is a child or dog making a sudden move—and both do so often—being struck by a bicyclist.

We have so many other awesome trails

that do not put pedestrians at risk. The ride through San Onofre is a beautiful ocean view and free ride. The many trails off Avenida Salvador are both beautiful and challenging.

I just think the beach trail should be reserved for walker and joggers. The trail is narrow in too many places to safely accommodate both bicyclist and walkers. Let’s be proactive about this instead of waiting for disaster to strike.

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

Letters to the Editor KUDOS TO COUNCIL ON LOBBYIST VOTE DAVID BRANT, San Clemente

I would like to thank the San Clemente City Council for voting 5-0 recently to extend the contract for Marlowe and Company, the city’s lobbying firm in Washington, D. C. This will enable our city to continue to press for congressional funding for beach-sand replenishment for our severely eroded beaches.

Our beaches are one of San Clemente’s greatest resources. Any investment in restoring them will be of tremendous value not only for residents but San Clemente Times January 16–22, 2014

for the thousands of out of town visitors from Orange County, the state of California, the United States and nations around the world. These visitors spend thousands of dollars enhancing our local economy while visiting our beaches.

Our residents and visitors want and deserve a beautiful sandy beach in San Clemente. This can only be ensured with federal help. San Clemente’s lobbying efforts can greatly assist in making this happen.

TIME TO BAN BIKES ON BEACH TRAIL DAVOY DEAN, San Clemente

First, I would like to say that I’m an avid

Page 6

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 readersubmitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers. Please limit your letters to 350 words.

www.sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

SC S a n C le m e n te

THE LIST A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

thursday

16

TARYN DONATH 7 p.m.10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

MEMPHIS KINGS 8 p.m. Live music at BeachFire.

204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

friday

WINE TASTING 5 p.m.10 p.m. Staff favorites for the New Year at San Clemente Wine Company. Tasting includes cheese and chocolate.

212 ½ Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

17

FIESTA ASSOCIATION NEW MEMBERSHIP MIXER 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Fiesta Association meeting with a T-shirt design contest, Italian buffet dinner, door prizes and more held at the San Juan Hills Golf Club. Tickets $20; fee waived for new members who join. 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1167, www.sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

BALLROOM BASH 7:15 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Event at the San Clemente Community Center featuring a lesson in East Coast Swing followed by open dancing. $10, includes refreshments. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.498.0233, www.ballroombash.com.

AT THE MOVIES: ‘THE WOLF OF WALL STREET’ Just when it seemed like 12 Years a Slave, Inside Llewyn Davis and Gravity were going to battle for Best Picture of 2013, a big-budgeted, all-star epic biopic with excessive nudity and drug use comes along and shockingly steals some thunder. Surprisingly, because The Wolf of Wall Street’s content really is as sleazy as it sounds, but it’s also unsurprising considering the director is Martin Scorsese and the lead star is Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1987 Manhattan, an aspiring stockbroker named Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio) is quickly swept into the fast and harsh life of Wall Street by mentor Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey).

By the time he’s experienced enough to build his own firm, Belfort makes a new friend in Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) and a new wife in Naomi Lapaglia (Margot Robbie). The secret to his success? Defrauding investors of millions, hiring Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street. © 2013 Paramount Pictures hookers and getting high on cocaine and quaaludes. Rob Reiner, Kyle Chandler Jon Bernthal and Jean Dujardin co-star in the film. The Wolf of Wall Street has been called a modern day Caligula (1979), being based on real events surrounding sex and drugs. While it’s a good comparison, Wolf is actually well constructed. Scorsese channels his GoodFellas structure and makes his 179-minute runtime ridiculously entertaining. Because really, how else can you portray a character like Belfort than to go all out and not hold back on the gratuitousness? —Megan Bianco

saturday

18

DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh produce, crafted goods, flowers and much more at La Plaza Park in Dana Point. 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

MARINE MAMMAL EXPLORATION CRUISE 10 a.m.

Board the Ocean Institute’s R/V Explorer for the opportunity to see dolphins, sea lions and other wildlife along the coastline. $22-$35. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

ANDY T & NICK NIXON 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Special show at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

FROM THE TOP 8 p.m. Live filming of the NPR show featuring top young classical musicians at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Tickets start at $20. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787, www.scfta.org.

THE MONSOONS 8 p.m. Live music at BeachFire.

204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

SATURDAY AT THE SWALLOW’S 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Family Style performs at The Swallow’s Inn. The Palominos take the stage at 8:30 p.m. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

sunday

19

SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.– 1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday on Avenida Del Mar. Rain or shine.

MILLERTIME BOOGIE 8 p.m. Live rock ‘n’ roll band at Adele’s. 2600 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, 949.481.1222, www.adelesatthesanclementeinn.com.

HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR 1 p.m. Meet at the Depot Platform for the Historical Society’s guided tour of San Juan Capistrano. Every Sunday. Cost $2-$4.

949.493.8444, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

BILL MAGEE BLUES BAND 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m.

Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

MISSY AND HEINE ANDERSEN 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

GEORGE & THE CLATCH 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Lively classic rock and wine tasting at DaVine Food & Wine.

Tastings $20 for five wines. 34673 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com.

MISSING PERSONS 7 p.m. The Los Angeles-based new wave band plays at The Coach House, also featuring The Reflexx and Sixstep. $15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

San Clemente Times January 16-22, 2014

Page 8

monday

20

COUNTRY DANCIN’ WITH PATRICK AND FRIENDS 6:30 p.m. Every Monday at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

GARDEN CLUB MEETING AND AUCTION 10 a.m.

San Juan Capistrano Garden Club meeting featuring a “Trash to Treasure” auction. Bring useable garden items to be auctioned to other members. 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1167, www.sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

tuesday

21

DUSTIN FRANKS 7 p.m.10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

WILL AND GARY 8 p.m. Live music at BeachFire.

204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 8 p.m. Brio Tuscany Grille.

24050 Camino del Avion, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

wednesday

COMMUNITY ART NIGHT 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Arts and crafts for the whole family at Bull Taco.

Every Wednesday. Food and drink specials.

1527 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.1739, www.laurentannehillart.com.

22

US BLUES 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar.

156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.–7 p.m. Every Wednesday at the corner of El Camino Real and Yorba. 949.493.4700. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.sanclementetimes.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@sanclementetimes.com www.sanclementetimes.com

Shop & Dine LOCAL SA N

C L E M E N T E

PUT YOUR AD HERE Call or email Michele Reddick at 949.388.7700, ext 103 or mreddick@sanclementetimes.com

Shop & Dine Local is published the third Thursday of every month.

SC LIVING

4

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

SC

Last week’s solution:

SOLUTION SOLUTION SOLUTION SOLUTION

S a n C le m e n te

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

Rising to the Top

Saturday hike brings dozens to San Clemente’s highest point Photos and text by Jim Shilander San Clemente Times

A

few dozen San Clemente citizens gathered Saturday at the northern end of Avenida Talega to make a trek to a spot some knew only by a nearby gas line sign. Now it carries a different name, San Clemente Summit.

The point, which is on the Cristianitos Trail, ultimately leading to San Juan Capistrano, is in the northern part of the city near the Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy to the east of Talega. The spot was rechristened last month following a citizen naming contest. The winner of the contest was Dave Pherrin, whose name was selected by a committee of area hikers from 87 total entries. At 1,008 feet, the point provides a vantage point to see much of Talega and the ranchlands beyond San Juan Capistrano, as well as views of the ocean.

Local Real Estate By Local Experts Sponsored by

Jeremy Conrad 949.542.8348 Jconrad@conradrealestate.com Bill Conrad 949.542.8349 BillC@conradrealestate.com

Elizabeth Hattan, the youngest hiker on the trip set a ceremonial surveyor’s marker at the city’s highest point.

Hikers gather to celebrate reaching San Clemente Summit, showing off the city’s flag.

(From L to R) SC Planning Commission members Don Brown, Kathleen Ward and Jim Ruehlin.

The hike, sponsored by the city, brought together members of the City Council, Planning Commission, hiking enthusiasts and residents, some from nearby Talega, to make their way up to the newly named highest point in the city.

Did you know that...

• Median sales price for Orange County in 1968 was only $23,210, in 1980 was $99,550 and 1999 was only $217,510!

• In June of 1982, the average home loan interest rate was a whopping 15.57%, compared to today at 4.5!

• On average here in San Clemente, home

It’s time to expect more…

Established 1963

Councilwoman Lori Donchak, who led the hike and was the driving force behind the contest, had a similar goal for both— to encourage the use of other trails in the city. Donchak, an avid hiker herself, was pleased with how things went.

“I think it was very successful,” Donchak said. “I hope people realize we have miles and miles of trails in the city beyond just the Beach Trail.” Donchak said her favorite is the Ridgeline Trail through Forster Ranch, which she said offered wonderful views of Camp Pendleton.

Hikers Marge Gerrity and Cheryl Smith both said they anticipate seeing many more people on the trail, one of their favorites, in the coming months.

“It’s a good trail and an easy trail,” Smith said. “You can go as fast or slow as you need.”

“The favorite part of the hike is getting to the top and seeing the view,” Gerrity noted.

San Clemente resident Don Kunze was on the committee that selected the name of the point, though he pointed out that the trail continues on past the summit itself. He’d previously identified the point by use of a nearby sign that reads “62.2,” which was related to a nearby gas line.

“I’d been here several times, even before Talega was built,” Kunze said. “I always think of a summit as a destination point, but this is a continuation. But I’ll always call ‘62’ because it’s the year I graduated from high school.” SC

prices appreciated between 18-20% in the

last 24 months • There were almost 18,000 listings for sale in 2008 here in Orange County, while today only 4800 homes are actively on the market • “National Association of Realtors” (NAR) estimates over 4.9 Million homes to sell in 2014 here in the United States

SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach by Shelley Murphy

Ignorance Really Can be Bliss With grown children home, sometimes knowing less can be best

I

nstead of resolving to make unrealistic resolutions for the New Year, which would take me longer to list than actually uphold, I passed on the annual ritual and instead took time to reflect on the past and present.

I realized as the New Year dawned, my younger son starts his senior year of high school and the slippery slope toward college submissions in 2014. The thought of two in college—and an empty nest—sent me sprinting for the champagne.

Last month, my older son came home for the holidays, as did many San Clemente High School graduates. Like last year, most his friends arrived in town by mid-December, but unlike last year they arrived as confident young adults, not floundering college freshman.

A year ago when they returned home, they’d been tucked into dorm rooms for a few months with university housing rules regulating their freedom—they even had meal plans restricting what and when they could eat.

This year, as sophomores, most his friends are entering their 20s and living in apartments or fraternity and sorority

houses with infinite independence and blurred boundaries.

Last December, they arrived home just starting to spread their wings. This year, they landed shoulderLIFE’S A BEACH ing wingspans of bald

By Shelley Murphy eagles.

They morphed from the somewhat sheltered high school graduates sent-off to test dorm life and taste independence into young adults on paths to professional careers and engaged in lasting loves, accustomed to celebrating well-earned achievements and surviving heartwrenching disappointments.

On one of my son’s first nights home, we enjoyed a traditional family dinner.

Around 9 p.m., I curled-up on the couch with a book in hand completely content and counting my blessings with both my birds back in their nest, safely nestled upstairs.

Moments later my bubble burst when my older son came bounding down the stairs with keys in hand announcing he

was off to visit friends.

I wasn’t surprised and asked him to be home by midnight—he looked at me as if I’d told him our cable provider cancelled ESPN. He kissed me on the forehead and said, “Don’t wait up, mom.” As he left, I shouted to be safe and he yelled back over his shoulder these comforting words: “Don’t worry, I do this all the time now.”

I realize in his second year of college my son probably spends significantly more time socializing and sleeping and far less time reading and writing than he said he did as a freshman.

The college experience includes lessons learned both inside and outside lecture halls. This sophomore year my son immersed himself in numerous campus activities, embraced his school spirit and forged friendships with his fraternity brothers.

As a college kid, he goes to parties.

And since I vaguely remember that phase of my five-year college career, while my son continues his initiation into various collegiate rites of passage, I’ll maintain my not so grown-up belief that ignorance

truly is bliss.

I remember crying to a girlfriend when my son left for college as I wrestled with letting go. She promised it would get easier, and there would even be a time not too far in the future, when my son would come home on college breaks and I’d be happy to see him return to school. I’m not there yet, but I now understand her words of wisdom—sometimes knowing less is best.

As the New Year starts I’m still without resolutions, unless resolving to continue my ignorance is bliss attitude counts.

Shelley Murphy has lived in San Clemente with her husband and two sons for the past 14 years. She’s a freelance writer and contributor to the SC Times since 2006. 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

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SC S a n C le m e n te

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

Elite FC U-12 Boys Team Wins in Carlsbad

Elite Football Club’s San Clemente boys under-12 team, Ripcurl, swept away the competition at the Carlsbad Premier Cup Tournament from January 11-12.

The team, which is coached by Dan Foy, won all four of their games at the event, including the championship match. Ripcurl outscored their opponents by an 11-1 margin over the two-day stretch. The Ripcurl defense also recorded three shutouts.

The team is now preparing to compete in the California State Cup Soccer Tournament in Escondido, which runs from January 25-26.

The Elite Football Club San Clemente boys under-12 team includes: Sean Sullivan, Blake Lipofsky, Seth Cusick, Jack Martin, Clay Mosher, Dane Martin, Scott Johnson, Miles Miller, Shiva Kumar, Max Carvalho, Garrett Gonzalez, Carter Fann, Asher Foy, Wesley Georgieff and Brix Hazen. — San Clemente Times

The Elite Football Club’s San Clemente boys U12 team won the Carlsbad Premier Cup Tournament on January 12. Courtesy photo

Rugby Club Draws Dana Point and San Clemente Together Student-led efforts culminate to a successful inaugural season

By Michael Vogeler San Clemente Times

T

he sport of rugby is growing rapidly in Southern California and, with a little help from some local figures and passionate high school students, has now arrived at Dana Hills High.

The student-led grass roots movement comes on the tail of news that rugby is going to be a sanctioned sport in the 2016 Summer Olympics. In August, the National Rugby Football League was founded in hopes of spreading the sport nationwide.

Many, like Dana Hills junior Drew Falk, believe that it won’t be long before rugby becomes as popular as any of the other major American sports.

“It’s exciting for Dana Hills to be at the forefront of the rugby movement in Southern California,” Falk said, Falk recently founded and became president of the Dana Rugby student interest club at Dana Hills High. He plays football as well and as a wide receiver for the Dolphins, Falk compiled 43 catches for 524 yards and four touchdowns in 2013.

Creating the rugby club was a lot like an act of congress, and Falk led the initiative.

The hard part, according to the junior, was getting the doors open to allowing the club to take shape. Once discussions opened up, volunteer coaches started helping out, as well as parents.

Falk was guided through the process by Mike Lewis, president of the San Clemente Youth Rugby Gators program. Lewis stressed to Falk that the club had to be started and maintained by the players.

The veteran rugby player and coach had seen too many high school startup teams, like the now abandoned efforts at nearby San Juan Hills and Trabuco Hills High Schools, fall by the wayside due to parents or coaches being the sole driving force of the program.

That hasn’t been the case for the Dana

San Clemente Times January 16-22, 2014

The Dana Hills rugby club lines up before taking the field. Photo by Keith Falk

“I hope our success this year will have displayed to our school that this club is very serious and they will allow us to use the football stadium.

The ability to use the football stadium would allow students to watch our games and practices and would expose many more students and athletes to the sport.”

—Gabe Wahl

Rugby club, which draws players from both Dana Hills and San Clemente High.

Rugby players throughout both schools started to get the word out on campus.

Once the club received all of the necessary approvals of Southern California Youth Rugby, the sport’s high school governing body, they looked to hire the best coaching staff available and team par-

ents formed a non-profit board. The team is coached by Ian Ibbetson, Matt Tinker, Mike Efthymiou and Sam Pelham, all of whom double as Gator’s coaches.

Falk led a yearlong effort to establish the rugby club at Dana Hills and he says that the athletics staff and administration was very cooperative and supportive of his initiative, especially the football staff, athletic directors and principals.

“It’s amazing how everyone from the football coaching staff, athletic directors, to the principals have helped guide us to what we needed to do to get this program started,” Falk said. “Our student club charter aims to educate the student body about this great global game. We see it as a cool way to learn about other cultures since this sport is huge in other parts of the world.”

The club’s team consists of 20-25 players and they practice at Bear Brand Park in Laguna Niguel. They are not affiliated with either school.

They have played four games in the High School Blue League so far, and have

Page 14

handily won all of them by large margins, including a recent 40-0 win over Carlsbad on January 4.

High school football and rugby create a very powerful combination, and Falk believes the two go hand in hand. There are a large amount of Dana Hills football players who are playing rugby this winter in the offseason.

“It’s a great way to keep our guys playing together over the winter and staying in shape,” Falk added.

Falk believes there are a lot of complimentary elements in rugby that lend themselves to football, like fitness training, proper tackling form, ball handling skills and building synergy with your teammates.

Junior Gabe Wahl is another key player who helped form the rugby club at Dana Hills. Wahl is a junior and a former football player for the Dolphins who gave up the gridiron to pursue rugby.

“We have a magnificent coaching staff with many years of experience and a lot of talent,” Wahl said. “About half of the team has had previous rugby experience, while the other half is new to the sport. We are a very light team, meaning we are not very big but we are fast.”

Even though they are a young club and are not a sanctioned school sport, both Falk and Wahl believe that the rugby boom is on the rise and that soon enough, their efforts will lead to bigger things.

“I hope our success this year will have displayed to our school that this club is very serious and they will allow us to use the football stadium. The ability to use the football stadium would allow students to watch our games and practices and would expose many more students and athletes to the sport,” Wahl said.

“We’re a little ahead of some other schools, but we expect rugby to be a CIF sport in the coming years,” Falk added. SC —Steve Breazeale contributed to this report

www.sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Triton Report

By Steve Breazeale

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

BEST IN THE LAND? BOYS SOCCER TRAVELS TO FLORIDA TO FIND OUT The San Clemente boys soccer team has had the Montverde Academy Soccer Tournament on their radar for months.

The tournament, which is held in Florida and hosted by powerhouse Montverde Academy, features six top-25 teams in the nation, according to www.studentsports. com FAB 50 rankings. San Clemente currently sits in the No. 2 spot.

If the Tritons (14-0-1, 2-0 league) are going to live up to their lofty rank and earn the title of best team in the nation, this tournament will be their chance to do so. The Tritons will open tournament play with a match against No. 7 West Orange on January 16.

Back on the home front, the Tritons opened South Coast League play with back to back wins over Aliso Niguel and

Senior midfielder Oscar Hernandez and the San Clemente boys soccer team will travel to Florida this week to compete in the high profile Montverde Academy Soccer Tournament.

Photo by Steve Breazeale

title defense this week.

The Tritons claimed the league title for the first time in over three decades last year and were set to take their first step into league play with a road game against San Juan Hills on January 15. Results were not available at press time.

The Tritons (9-8) have been effective since junior forward Sam Darnold returned to the lineup and picked up wins over Troy (January 7) and Capistrano Valley (January 10) out of the South Coast League.

Following the game against the Stallions, the Tritons will have back to back matches against Trabuco Hills and Dana Hills on January 17 and January 22, respectively. The Mustangs and the Dolphins were both in the mix for the league title in 2013.

Tesoro on January 8 and January 14, respectively. The Tritons scored four goals in both tilts, giving up only one goal to the Wolverines in a 4-1 win. Senior forward Bryce Kaminski continued his torrid goal scoring pace by notching two goals in both contests, bringing his season total up to 16.

TRITONS WRESTLING HEAD TO FIVE COUNTIES TOURNAMENT The San Clemente wrestling squad will travel to Fountain Valley to compete in the high profile Five Counties Invitational on January 17. On January 13, the CIF-SS Advisory Committee released its first dual meet wrestling rankings of the season and the Tritons debuted in the No. 9 spot in Division 1.

TRITONS BOYS HOOPS SET TO DEFEND TITLE The San Clemente boys basketball team will begin their Sea View League

GIRLS SOCCER OPENS LEAGUE PLAY WITH WINS The San Clemente girls soccer team recorded consecutive shutouts in wins

over Dana Hills and Tesoro to start their 2014 South Coast League slate.

Senior Natalie Higgins netted a firsthalf goal and goalie Brinna Lee recorded four saves to push the Tritons past the defending league champion Dolphins on January 9.

San Clemente will now travel to play Aliso Niguel on January 21.

STALLIONS EDGE PAST TRITONS GIRLS BASKETBALL The San Juan Hills girls basketball team narrowly defeated San Clemente 59-58 in a nonleague contest on January 13. The Tritons (9-7, 1-0) had won their previous two matches, including a league win over Aliso Niguel, but turned the ball over 24 times in the loss to the Stallions out of the Sea View League.

The Tritons return to league play with a January 16 match against Capistrano Valley.

GIRLS WATER POLO EARNS TOP-10 RANK After defeating Rosary 8-6 in a nonleague match on January 11, the San Clemente girls water polo team earned the No. 7 rank in the most recent CIF-SS Division 2 coaches’ poll.

The Tritons (6-5, 1-0 league) were set to play a league match against Laguna Hills and rival El Toro on January 14 and January 15, respectively. Results were not available at press time.

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY AIR CONDITIONING

LANDSCAPING

Oasis Heating & Air 949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

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

949.492.5589

Costa Verde Landscape License: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) www.costaverdelandscaping.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT 949.361.9656

MANAGEMENT - HOA AMMCOR 949.661.7767 910 Calle Negocio, Ste. 200, www.AMMCOR.com

APPLIANCES SERVICES & REPAIRS

MATTRESSES

ASAP Appliance Service 949.361.7713 South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 3200 Legendario, www.asapapplianceservice.com 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com

ART GALLERIES

BOOKS

Jarvis Restoration -24/7 949.362.5388 1393 Calle Avanzado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

MORTGAGES

Village Books 949.492.1114 Brian Wiechman, 949.533.9209 99 Avenida Serra, www.DowntownSanClemente.com Equity Coast Mortgage, a division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage, www.equitycoastmortgage.com CHOCOLATE/CANDY Lure of Chocolate, Gourmet Foods & Gift www.LureofChocolate.com 949.439.1773 Schmid’s Fine Chocolate 949.369.1052 99 Avenida Del Mar, www.schmidschocolate.com

COINS GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

949.350.4692 Kevin

CONCRETE Costa Verde Landscape License: 744797 (C-8 & C-27), www.costaverdelandscaping.com

949.361.9656

DENTISTS Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 949.493.9311 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, www.drericjohnson.com Kristen Ritzau DDS 949.498.4110 122 Avenida Cabrillo, www.KristenRitzauDDS.com

ELECTRICAL Arcadia Electric www.arcadiaelectric.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

Antonio Fiorello, Forté Realty Group 949.842.3631 San Clemente, www.forterealtygroup.com Marcie George - Star Real Estate South County marciegeorge@cox.net 949.690.5410 “Sandy & Rich” - ReMax www.sandyandrich.com

949.293.3236

RESTAURANTS

SC Rider Supply 949.388.0521 Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4 520 S. El Camino Real, www.scridersupply.com

ROOFING CONTRACTORS

MUSIC LESSONS Danman’s Music School www.danmans.com

949.496.6556

Janet Poth - Violin & Viola 949.922.6388 413 Calle Pueblo, janpoth@aol.com

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

949.366.9386

949.492.5589

PAINTING KC Painting & Decorating 949.388.6829 3349 Paseo Halcon, www.bringcolorintoyourlife.com

Jim Thomas Roofing 162 Calle de Industrias

949.498.6204

SALONS

Call at Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

GARAGE SALES RUMMAGE SALE The Dana Point Woman’s’ Club is holding an impromptu “Truly Snooty” rummage sale on Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 8 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Club House at 24642 San Juan St., Dana Point (behind the Harbor House Cafe). Items for sale include: antiques, collectibles, household items, pictures etc. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of the Club House and the community.

Contact Ann (949) 444-1667.

GIANT GARAGE SALE Sat. & Sun, Jan. 18 & 19. 8am – 2pm. Furniture, exercise equipment, antique glassware and dishes, computer hardware, clothing, Sanctuary Salon & Spa 949.429.5802 1041 Avenida Pico, Ste. B, www.sanctuarytalega.com books and lots of great decorative items.

1907 Calle de los Alamos, SC (corner of SECONDHAND/ Lasuen and de los Alamos)

CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

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

TERMITES

PEST CONTROL

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY”

Salon Bamboo 949.361.3348 150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, www.salonbamboo.com Salon Bleu 949.366.2060 207 S. El Camino Real, www.scsalonbleu.com

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS The Bargain Box 949.492.2800 949.361.1045 Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 949.361.4867 (GUMS) 526 N. El Camino Real, www.capistranovalley.assistanceleague.org 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, www.moranperio.com

ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE, TRUST Lange & Minnott 1201 Puerta Del Sol, Ste. 203

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

REAL ESTATE

MOLD REMOVAL

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

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.

Colony Termite Control 949.361.2500 Colony Termite Control 949.361.2500 1402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com 949.492.3459 1402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com

GARAGE SALE: SATURDAY JAN. 18TH 7AM-12PM 33531 Blue Lantern Dana Point CA 92629. Lots of stuff. Dinning room table with leaf & 6 chairs, coffee table & end table, 56” Samsung TV, workout bench, 32 bottle Wine Cellar, pictures, desk, chair, surf stuff, so much more! We will start at 7am

HELP WANTED

SALES PERSON WANTED Picket Fence Media, owner of the San Clemente Times, Sea View Pharmacy 949.496.0123 Dana Point Times and Capistrano Dispatch, South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 665 Camino De Los Mares, #101 Yorba Linda Tile & Marble, Inc. 714.757.3490 is looking for an advertising sales rep to join 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.seaviewpharmacy.com www.yorbalindatilemarble.com, CA License # our dynamic team. Ideal candidate will have www.southcoastfurniture.com 789312 prior experience with media sales. Interested PLUMBING GRAPHIC DESIGN candidates should send a cover letter and WATER DAMAGE 949.499.4464 Images/Creative Solutions 949.366.2488 A to Z Leak Detection Jarvis Restoration -24/7 949.362.5388 resume to Alyssa Garrett at agarrett@ 1218 Puerta del Sol, www.atozleakdetection.com 2927 Via San Gorgoinio, Ste. 100, www.imgs.com sanclementetimes.com.

1393 Calle Avanzado, www.jarvisrestoration.com Bill Metzger Plumbing 949.492.3558 1218 Puerta del Sol, www.billmetzgerplumbing.com

HAIR SALONS

Kreative Hair Design 173 Avenida Serra

949.498.6245

HEATING Oasis Heating & Air 949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

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

TILE & STONE INSTALLATION/ RESTORATION

PHARMACIES

FURNITURE

949.492.5589

Chick’s Plumbing www.chicks-plumbing.com

949.496.9731

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

PRINTING

TUTORING Tutor Toes 949.429.6222 111 W. Avenida Palizada, Ste. 11, www.tutortoes.com

WEBSITE DESIGN San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345 www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLATION

Printing OC 949.388.4888 Offshore Construction www.offshoreconstruction.org 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

949.444.6323

FULL TIME RECEPTIONIST needed immediately for Hearing Aid Office in Dana Point.

Must be mature, friendly and computer competent. Will be responsible for front desk tasks, and assisting the Hearing Aid Dispenser when needed. Insurance Billing experience a plus. Please email resume to rosehearinggroup@gmail.com please include Resume in the subject line.

Please no phone calls, faxes, or walk ins.

SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 103 or email mreddick@sanclementetimes.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 103 or email mreddick@sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times January 16-22, 2014

Page 17

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SURF

6

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SC S a n C le m e n te

GROM OF THE WEEK TIA BLANCO Age: 16, Connections Academy

The last few weeks have been exciting for USA Team member Tia Blanco. On December 28, the San Clemente resident won her first pro contest at the American Pro Surfing Series Shoe City Pro in Huntington Beach. The win not only earned her a $1,200 prize but also the women’s season champion title. “It was the first time I’ve held up a giant check and it was really exciting,” Tia said. Then on January 12 she battled through large, pounding surf to a second-place finish at the Surfing America Prime Steamer Lane event in Santa Cruz. As the swell built to triple overhead on day two of the contest, she conquered fear to claim her spot on the Tia Blanco. Photo by Jack McDaniel podium. “I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty scary jumping off the cliff in the final. The sets were huge and I had to do the ‘run around’ with 10 minutes left. I had to wait for eight minutes before jumping back in because the waves were just exploding on the rocks, so I didn’t get back into the water until about two minutes left,” she said. “It was a really good experience.” On Tuesday Tia arrived in Hawaii for the North Shore Surf Shop Sunset Beach Pro Junior and next month heads to Australia for a couple of Association of Surfing Professionals qualifying events. “Everything I’m doing now is to challenge myself and gain experience,” Tia said. “My ultimate goal is to make the ASP World Tour and maybe be world champion one day.” —Andrea Swayne

Surfers Stun at Steamer Lane Surfing America Prime competitors take on huge waves in Santa Cruz, 5 locals make the finals

By Andrea Swayne San Clemente Times

C

ompeting at Steamer Lane is a rite of passage on a young surfer’s budding career path. For firsttimers, jumping into the lineup from the rocky cliff at the point can be intimidating enough, but when the Pacific delivers huge waves, even the most experienced athletes must turn up their focus and fight back feelings of intimidation and even fear.

Last weekend about 100 contest surfers under the age of 18 did just that, and five locals were among the finalists.

For Surfing America Prime athletes, huge and unruly surf at the famed Santa Cruz surf break challenged comfort zones and required an advanced level of athleticism on January 12, day two of event No. 4 of the series.

A west-northwest swell brought waves in the overhead to 7-foot range on Saturday and then built up to the 10- to 12-foot range with occasionally larger sets on Sunday.

Heavy currents further complicated things, often making it necessary for surfers to exit

RESULTS Surfing America Prime, Event No. 4, January 11-12, Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane Boys U14: 1. Crosby Colapinto, San Clemente; 2. Eithan Osborne, Ventura; 3. Sam Coffey, Santa Cruz; 4. Noah Hill, Malibu.

Girls U16: 1. Meah Collins, Costa Mesa; 2. Maddie Peterson, Wildwood Crest, N.J.; 3. Caroline Marks, Melbourne Beach, Fla.; 4. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente.

Boys U16: 1. Nolan Rapoza, Long Beach; 2. Luke Marks, Melbourne Beach, Fla.; 3. Sean Woods, Ventura; 4. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente.

Girls U18: 1. Steffi Kerson, Thousand Oaks; 2. Tia Blanco, San Clemente; 3. Meah Collins, Costa Mesa; 4. Ashley Held, Santa Cruz.

Boys U18: 1. Ben Coffey, Santa Cruz; 2. Jake Davis, Capistrano Beach; 3. Nic Hdez, Santa Cruz; 4. Nolan Rapoza, Long Beach.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jake Davis of Capistrano Beach brought home a second-place finish from Surfing America Prime, Event No. 4, January 11-12 at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. Photo by Jack McDaniel

the water and do the “run around” back to the point to catch more waves.

Two San Clemente girls fought through to the finals. Tia Blanco turned in a second-place finish in Girls U18 and Malia

Competitors in the Surfing America Prime at Steamer Lane had to carefully time their jump into the lineup from the cliff at the point on January 12, day two of the event, due to huge surf. Photo by Jack McDaniel

San Clemente Times January 16-22, 2014

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

Osterkamp took fourth in Girls U16.

In boys’ competition, Crosby Colapinto of San Clemente put on a stunning performance to take the win in the Boys U14 division. Kei Kobayashi, also of San Clemente, took fourth in Boys U16 and Capistrano Beach’s Luke Davis was the Boys U18 runner-up.

Davis said he was definitely pleased to make the finals but felt like he and his fellow surfers were not able to get their share of waves due to the conditions.

“It was definitely interesting and challenging to say the least. It was too big and out of control to really surf to our potential,” Davis said. “With waves easily in the 15-foot range at Middle Peak, it was more like you against the ocean, not you against the competitors. I was really hoping for a win at the Lane but I’m glad that Ben (Coffey) got the win in front of his home crowd.”

The next Surfing America Prime event is scheduled for February 8 and 9 at San Onofre State Beach, Upper Trestles. SC

Page 18

February 1-2: NSSA Open, Event No. 7, Dana Point, Salt Creek February 8-9: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 5, San Onofre State Park, Upper Trestles February 8: SSS, OC Middle School and High School, Event No. 4, Oceanside, Pier February 8: NSSA Explorer, Event No. 8, Huntington Beach, 9th Street February 15-16: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 7, Huntington Beach, Pier March 1-2: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 8, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty March 1-2: NSSA Open, Event No. 8, Ventura, C Street March 15-16: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 6, Huntington Beach, Pier March 22: SSS, OC Middle School and High School, Event No. 5, Huntington Beach, Goldenwest Street March 22-23: NSSA Open, Event No. 9, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 59-61 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 10-15’ Fair Catalina: 15-20’ Fair Immediate: A modest blend of fading northwest swell prevails on Thursday. Better breaks run mainly knee-thigh occ. waist high (1-2 occ. 3’), with some better sets for standout winter focal points. Conditions are good with light easterly flow in the morning, giving way to a light to westerly sea-breeze in the afternoon. Size bump up a bit on Friday as a small South-southwest swell moves in.

Long Range Outlook: Stronger Westnorthwest groundswell fills in over the weekend, as nice winds/weather continue. Check out Surfline.com for all the details!

www.sanclementetimes.com