March 27, 2014

LO C A L

N EWS

March 27-April 2, 2014 YO U

C A N

U S E

City Forming Men’s Softball League SPORTS/PAGE 21

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 13

Developing Situation Residents tour the Marblehead project led by developer Steve Craig EYE ON SC/PAGE 7

Developer Steve Craig points out features of the Outlets at San Clemente Plaza developments during a tour for residents Saturday. Construction on the long-delayed project is expected to begin soon. Photo: Jim Shilander

Inaugural SONGS Outreach Panel Meets in San Clemente EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

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Mixology Contest Winner Pays Tribute to SONGS Workers SC LIVING/PAGE 17

Triton Sports Finding Success in Spring Season So Far SPORTS/PAGE 20

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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

Anti-nuclear activist Ace Hoffman speaks at a press conference before Tuesday’s first community engagement panel meeting at the San Clemente Community Center. Photo: Jim Shilander

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week

WHAT’S NEXT: The district is willing to put a bond proposal before voters, Farley told parents, but it would have to be at least fairly certain it would pass. That was in doubt, he said, since the district’s voters rejected Proposition 30, the 2012 school funding proposal, with 67 percent of the vote. He did hold out the possibility that outreach could be targeted to voters in the right areas to get such a bond passed. – JS

Anti-nuclear advocates, residents and interested parties converged on San Clemente Tuesday for the first meeting of Southern California Edison’s new community engagement panel for the decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

SONGS Panel Holds Inaugural Meeting in San Clemente THE LATEST: The inaugural meeting of the community engagement panel for the decommissioning process at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station included an updated timeline on Southern California Edison’s plans for the final demolition of the plant, as well as a look at future topics the panel will take up.

Thomas Palmasino, Edison’s new Chief Nuclear Officer presented an overview of the utility’s current plans for the site.

Palmasino said the utility’s plan, which has yet to be approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, would try and have the plant dismantled within 20 years, he told a capacity crowd at the San Clemente Community Center.

The panel, which includes the mayors of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, as well as Capistrano San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

ents and staff Wednesday that a number of immediate needs would be taken care of this summer, but major construction and renovations at the school will likely have to wait until either the district has a new funding mechanism or a facilities bond can be passed in the area.

During the economic downturn, the district was forced to raid its deferred maintenance fund in order to address budget shortfalls.

SCHS, which was opened in 1964, received a number of modernizations from 2000-2003. A new auxiliary gym was built in 2008, and the upper campus had some of its former kindergarten classrooms converted into science labs.

The district has developed a master plan for improving the facilities, totaling $76.3 million. The plurality of that money is slated to go to new and improved classrooms and essential core facilities. The upper campus is also likely to be phased out, since district staff estimated it would cost millions to make the site compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Possible future upgrades include moving ninth grade campuses closer to the main campus, a new pool, expansion of hillside bleachers at Thalassa Stadium and a new performing arts theater.

Unified School District Board of Trustees President John Alpay and Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, will meet quarterly throughout the communities around the plant.

The panel’s chair, UC San Diego professor David Victor, noted that the goal of the panel was transparency, and expressed hopes the panel could balance the views of the different panel members, and just to act as a watchdog.

WHAT’S NEXT: In addition to meetings, the panel could hold a number of workshops on specific aspects of the decommissioning, addressing concerns over waste storage and what the plant’s site could someday become. – Jim Shilander

Major Upgrades on Hold at SCHS THE LATEST: Retiring Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Joseph Farley told San Clemente High School par-

Fatal Accident Slows Traffic in San Clemente THE LATEST: A major fatal accident on Interstate 5 snarled traffic around San Clemente for much of the day Thursday, March 20.

The accident occurred near the El Camino Real off-ramp in San Clemente when a 1980 Ford Ranger pickup, towing a 1950 Oldsmobile struck a flatbed lumber truck, according to Orange County Fire Authority spokesman Steve Concialdi.

Both vehicles ended up in the center divider and the pickup and Oldsmobile caught fire. The driver of the pickup was killed instantly. The fire was put out within 15 minutes, Concialdi said.

The driver of the lumber truck, a 55-year-old man from San Juan Capistrano, suffered minor back injuries but refused to be transported to a hospital. He has not been publicly identified.

WHAT’S NEXT: The man killed in the crash has not yet been identified, due

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to the burns suffered, said California Highway Patrol public information officer Aaron Rothberg. The cause is still under investigation. CHP officials are still interviewing witnesses, he said, since the scene was chaotic, with many people trying to help.

All lanes on southbound I-5, as well as the two leftmost lanes on the northbound side, were closed for several hours, causing traffic to backup for miles. – JS

City Declares Drought THE LATEST: The San Clemente City Council declared that the city is in a drought last week.

The declaration means the city is now asking residents to voluntarily cut down on water usage by approximately 20 percent. The city is also taking steps to lessen water impacts on its own property.

The city is currently working to complete its recycled water expansion project, to include the city’s parks, the city’s largest user of water, water conservation officer Andrew Kanzler told the council. said he is also talking to the city’s Beaches, Parks and Recreation and Utility departments about removing “non-functioning turf” in areas that aren’t used often.

WHAT’S NEXT: Kanzler encouraged residents to call if they discovered city irrigation systems were not functioning correctly. – JS

Homeless Shelter in San Clemente THE LATEST: The San Clemente Planning Commission voted to continue discussion of rezoning the Rancho San Clemente Business Park and other areas of the city as the potential site for a homeless shelter.

The city has also identified other potential sites, such as the former K-Mart plaza on Camino de Estrella. To comply with state law, there would have to be up to 65 beds at any facility. According to the city’s staff report, nearly all of the cities in Orange County with shelters have management plans that often require on-site security.

WHAT’S NEXT: Residents and business owners from the business park voiced concerns over the proposal, noting that there have been a number of trespassing incidents. However, Dawn Price, the director of a homeless shelter in Laguna Beach, said her shelter did not act as a magnet. – JS Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about?

Send your suggestions to editorial@sanclementetimes.com. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER

Fundraiser for SC Family

A fundraiser for Sean Lynn will be held at Pizza Port April 3. Lynn was paralyzed as a result of a car accident earlier this year. Courtesy photo

A fundraiser for Sean Lynn, a San Clemente resident, who was injured in a catastrophic car accident in January is set for Thursday, April 3. Lynn suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was paralyzed.

This has been an extremely physical and emotional journey for him and his family, said family friend Stacey Simmons an event organizer. Wife Sienna has been his rock and keeps him focused and positive. She is also pregnant with their first children—identical twin boys, she said.

Sean is currently in a rehab facility in New Jersey, and before he can be released to be home for the birth of his twin baby boys, his house must be made handicap accessible.

The fundraiser for the Lynn Family will be held at Pizza Port, 301 N. El Camino Real in San Clemente from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pizza Port is donating 20 percent of all receipts back to HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit fund established in Sean’s name. A raffle and silent auction will be held in the evening with some amazing merchandise.

Email socal4sean@gmail.com for more information or follow @socal4sean on Twitter. Tax deductible donations can be sent directly to the family via their association HelpHOPElive. The flyer needed to get the donation can be found at www.sanclementetimes.com.

Local Students Named to Fall 2013 Dean’s Lists Robin Oliver made the dean’s list at Emerson College, Boston. She was a June 2013 graduate of San Clemente High School and is studying marketing communications. At Emerson, members of the dean’s list must obtain a 3.7 grade point average for the semester.

Sarah Edwards, a resident of San Clemente, was among the 2,900 students from the University of MassachusettsBoston who made the dean’s list. Students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.20 for nine or more graded credits in a semester are named to the dean’s list at UMassBoston.

Ryan Matthew Bernardo of San Clemente has earned placement on the San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

dean’s list for the fall semester at Berklee College of Music. To be eligible, a full-time student must achieve a GPA of 3.4 or above.

Nicholas Lekas and Eric Morgan, both of San Clemente, were named to the dean’s list at California State UniversityFullerton’s Mihaylo College of Business and Economics. Full-time students who achieve a 3.5 GPA while taking a minimum of 12 credit hours for the semester are eligible.

to seizures. The event start at 6:30 p.m. at Inside the ARTS Project of Orange County, 1317 Calle Avanzado.

See www.playfulpractice.wordpress.com for details. Email playfulpractice@gmail. com or call 760.889.3829 to pre-register for the event.

NCL Chapter Hosts Annual Fashion Show

Community Meetings THURSDAY, MARCH 27

Business Networking Luncheon

11:30 a.m. Chamber networking lunch at Mulligans Sports Bar. Cost $15 (includes meal). 1401 Calle Valle, 949.492.1131, www.scchamber.com.

Davis Will Headline Garden Club Event Julie Bawden-Davis, an Orange Countybased garden writer and lecturer, will speak at the San Clemente Garden Club’s next meeting, at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, April 2 at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, 2001 Calle Frontera.

The focus of the talk will be on growing salad greens and edible flowers.

Further information regarding San Clemente Garden Club membership, events, sponsorship and more can be found at www.sanclementegardenclub.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Free Shredding Event Class of 2015 models Cassie Dorsey and Amalia Priest. Courtesy photo

Special Yoga Class Offered for Epilepsy Awareness Amber Stanco of San Clemente is hosting a family yoga class Friday, March 28 in support of kids living with epilepsy. The event is in support of Purple Day, an international event raising awareness of epilepsy held March 26. The event will use games, songs and yoga adventure stories to practice poses and breathing while nurturing the family bond. The event is free of charge.

Donations to Epilepsy Support Network of Orange County’s annual fundraising walk are being accepted. Information will also be provided on how to react quickly

The Capistrano Coast Chapter of the National Charity League held its 14th annual fashion show fundraiser on March 9th at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point.

The luncheon raised just over $50,000, the most money raised in the history of the event. The proceeds will help support the 29 philanthropies of the Capistrano Coast Chapter of NCL such as after-school programs, U.S. military support, food banks and senior citizen activities. Funds are also earmarked for college scholarships.

Attendees included over 400 NCL members, families, and friends in addition to 10 former NCL Capistrano Coast presidents as well as representatives from several of the philanthropies they support.

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

News Next Door

8 a.m.-noon. The city hosts a secure document destruction event.

390 Avenida Pico, 949.498.9436, www.san-clemente.org.

MONDAY, MARCH 31

Spanish Conversation

11 a.m. Meet at Café Calypso for coffee and conversation. 114 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.9803.

German Speaking Group

2 p.m.–4p.m. German conversations at Café Calypso. 114 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.8436.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

Addressing Addiction: Taking Serious Action

7 p.m.-9 p.m. Best-selling author David Sheff addresses addiction, prevention and treatment at the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.680.0516, www.sosschs.com/parents/events.

SC Sunrise Rotary Club

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

DANA POINT

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

A line of skateboards and colorful helmets provided a different sight at Dana Point’s City Hall last week as more than 50 supporters let the City Council know they want a skatepark in town. Dozens supporting Skatepark of Dana Point filled the chamber’s entryway, waiting for their chance to speak.

Six went before the body asking members to consider the benefits of supporting action sports. “I see no difference in the kids and families participating in skateboarding and surfing compared to those participating in traditional sports, however there is a major difference in the support these two groups receive from local government,” said Ben Classen of San Clemente. Speakers highlighted how action sports help drive the local economy and give kids, uninterested in team sports, an outlet where they can thrive.

Two spectators and one parade participant were injured in two separate horse-involved accidents during the Swallows Day Parade Saturday morning. The first accident occurred shortly after the parade began, according to Capt. Steve Concialdi with the Orange County Fire Authority. Two large horses pulling a carriage careened into a crowd of parade-goers, near the start of the parade route at El Camino Real and Camino Capistrano. A 52-year-old male double amputee was injured when he fell out of his wheelchair and one of the horses fell on him. He was taken to Mission Hospital with “moderate” injuries. A 64-year-old woman was also hospitalized with knee and lowerback injuries. The second incident involved a 55-year-old woman who fell from a chariot being pulled by a miniature horse. She was hospitalized with head injuries.

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7:15 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Meeting at Signature Grille at the Talega Golf Club, 990 Avenida Talega, 949.369.0663, www.scsunriserotary.org.

City Council Meeting

6 p.m. Business meeting in City Hall Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

SC Rotary Club

Noon. Pride of the Pacific Bar & Grille, 150 Avenida Magdalena, 949.361.3619, www.sanclementerotary.org.

Planning Commission Meeting

6 p.m. Study session; 7 p.m. Regular meeting in Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

SC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY CATHERINE MANSO

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

Tuesday, March 25 OPEN DOOR Avenida Vista Hermosa/Avenida Pico (4:09 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for an open gate in front of a construction project.

were reportedly taking turns riding a motorcycle around a dirt track.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Avenida Pico, 900 Block (12:33 p.m.) A 36-year-old man tried to break into a silver Buick LeSabre at Walmart. He wore a backward white cap, jeans and a plaid shirt.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (9:56 a.m.) A caller reported a neighbor for throwing “burning items” on their porch.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Calle Frontera/Camino Faro (1:01 a.m.) The caller said large group of “gang types” was seen smoking marijuana by the pool of Pacific Pointe apartments.

Saturday, March 22

WELFARE CHECK Via Merluza, 600 Block (12:59 a.m.) Officials received a call from an animal hospital in Fountain Valley. The caller said a woman asked them to spread her remains. Deputies determined the woman was not suicidal.

DISTURBANCE Calle Gaulteria, 0 Block (11:44 p.m.) A mother told officials her son and his friends “TP’d a bunch of houses.” A neighbor confronted one of the 15-year-old boys and punched him in the face.

Monday, March 24

FIREWORK VIOLATION Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (10:43 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for south of the pier, where people were lighting Chinese paper lanterns.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Talega/Calle Campanero (4:17 a.m.)

The driver of an Infiniti SUV with an Arizona license plate followed a woman who was walking down the street.

DISTURBANCE West Avenida Pico/Boca De La Playa (3:36 a.m.) A woman and man used the facilities at the Ole Hanson Beach Club. They were also seen yelling by the pool.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 3100 Block (1:09 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man carrying several backpacks.

The man appeared to be in his 50s. A caller said he was being loud and digging through his bags.

Sunday, March 23 SUSPICIOUS PERSON CIRCUMSTANCE Via Cascadita, 2700 Block (9:27 p.m.) A woman said a masked, shirtless man wearing military pants was going to run in front of her car.

CITIZEN ASSIST Plaza Estival, 400 Block (6:02 p.m.) A man reported a neighbor was taking pictures of him outside.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 1800 Block (4:45 p.m.) A thin man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt was yelling at customers and panhandling in a parking lot. The man was described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and wearing glasses. He was refusing to leave.

DISTURBANCE- AUTO INVOLVED Via Blanco, 2800 Block (12:53 p.m.) Five juveniles Page 5

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Del Mar, 300 Block (7:53 p.m.)

A caller said he was nearly blinded by a laser. He claimed the laser was being pointed at vehicles.

DISTURBANCE Avenida La Plata, 200 Block (4:22 p.m.) Dispatch received notice of someone on a bike at the skate park. The cyclist refused to leave.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Vista Hermosa/Avenida La Pata (10:49 a.m.) A tall, bald man was seen walking around Vista Hermosa Sports Park, threatening to “beat up” people. He was said to be wearing a blue shirt and black pants.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Los Flores, 600 Block (12:46 a.m.) A caller reported an occupied car with one man and one woman “passing something” between them.

Friday, March 21 DISTURBANCE East Avenida Pico/El Camino Real (10:45 p.m.) A large bonfire was seen near the pool at the Ole Hanson Beach Club.

CITIZEN ASSIST El Camino Real, 800 Block (9:20 p.m.) Customers refused to pay for a $200 phone order from Two Guys Pizza.

WELFARE CHECK El Camino Real, 3900 Block (1:22 a.m.) A naked woman was seen standing outside the Carl’s Jr. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Business Beat News from San Clemente’s business community COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER

Milestone BARK BUSTERS 949.361.0077, www.dogtrainingorangecountysouth.com Nelson and Lisa Neyer both took a page from their former careers in starting their post-retirement business, Bark Busters.

Lisa, a former special education teacher, and Nelson, a former executive at a franchising firm both wanted to find something to keep going. Bark Busters, an in-home dog training program, was actually part of Nelson’s portfolio and provided a good fit for the couple.

“Lisa got tired of retirement,” Nelson said. As a salesperson, Nelson was able to handle sales and marketing, while Lisa’s work taught her the value of patience and a gentle hand.

“Our former positions really helped us in dealing with dogs,” Nelson said.

The couple started their business 10 years ago and have since trained approximately 2,500 dogs, from 2 pounds to 180, and all sorts of breeds and mixes. The training, which is usually done in the dog owner’s home, focuses on getting dogs to see their owners as a “pack leader” they take their cues from. The Neyers say their emphasis focuses on vocal tone and body language, since both come into play. They also said many dog owners can forget to give their dogs the proper positive reinforcement.

“A lot of people may correct their dogs but they forget the praise,” Lisa said. “Dogs learn through repetition and through assuring, high happy tones with positive action,” Lisa said.

Throughout April, the Neyers are offering a $50 discount for residents of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and Capistrano Beach, in celebration of their anniversary.

Lisa and Nelson Neyer have been training dogs for more than 10 years. Photo: Jim Shilander

New Development SPINAL VITALITY 30320 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 102, San Juan Capistrano, 949.616.5470, www.spinalvitality.com San Clemente residents Burton and Emma Wagner hope their new chiropractic practice will help people heal their whole selves.

Burton, who grew up in Shorecliffs, opened the San Juan-based practice earlier this month after he and his wife returned to the area in December. The couple had been living in Emma’s native France for the last 12 years.

The Wagners hope to provide a unique resource for people to help guarantee their health.

“First thing is helping people get out of pain, but beyond that, we ask ‘Are you in the best position you can be?’” Burton said.

This includes information about many aspects of their clients’ lives, including exercise and diet, as well as their emotional life. All of these can also play a part in pain, he said.

Emma works in helping to provide breathing exercises and other coaching. The couple had a similar practice in France before moving to San Clemente.

Burton and Emma Wagner of Spinal Vitality aim to provide clients with more than simple chiropractic care.

Photo: Jim Shilander

San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

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EYE ON SC

San Clemente residents take some of the first steps onto the Outlets at San Clemente Plaza project site before construction is set to begin. Photo: Jim Shilander

Residents Get Close Look at Marblehead Developer says outlet mall finally coming together

BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t’s been 20 years in the making, but residents of San Clemente are finally about to see construction begin at Marblehead, specifically on the Outlets at San Clemente Plaza mall.

Approximately 150 residents took time Saturday to tour the grounds. They were led by developer Steve Craig, of Craig Realty Group, and Mayor Tim Brown. With much of the grading work done on the site, the building of shops and structures will soon begin.

Residents got a first-hand look at the project, a long-time source of mystery and perhaps concern for many.

The project was initially brought to the city in 1994 and a plan for the outlets was approved in 1999. The plans have seen changes since, such as the elimination of a movie theater complex and the addition of a boutique hotel in a later phase. Craig said while there had been changes to both the plan and business climate since its approval, opportunities for the city, and for business, remain real.

“This is probably the most important project in the state of California and west of the Mississippi this year,” Craig told residents. “This has been

BY THE NUMBERS a long time coming. Hopefully, you’ll be very proud of what we accomplish here.”

3,000 Parking stalls The project, which in its final form will have planned for the final project over 580,000 square-feet of retail space, will bring in thousands, mostly from outside the country who “want a piece of the rock (America),” Craig 70 Acres covered by the said. He expects the first stores to open in 14 to development 15 months, in time for the 2015 holiday season.

Craig told residents that his company believes 200,000 Estimated more than two-thirds of the mall’s business will come from outside a 50-mile radius. He noted vehicles per day that pass that the Citadel Outlets outside of Los Angethe development on I-5 les, which his company took over in 2001, gets 60 percent of its business from non-American 67 Number of retailers sources. Busloads of tourists from Asia, Australia and Europe will come in for several hours to shop, he said.

Craig said the project’s retail spaces are “nearly 100 percent” spoken for. Potential restaurants, he said, usually come in later in the process. Craig said he also hopes to provide a meeting space at the hotel that could be used for city and community events. Providing space for a surfing history museum in the retails space is also a priority, he said.

There are a number of unique qualities to the project as well, Craig noted. The shops will include elements of the city’s signature Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, includSan Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

ing red-tiled roofs and stucco finishes.

The shopping experience itself, Craig said, will likely be similar to what consumers find at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, with open air shops.

“This project is one a kind,” Craig said.

“There’s probably nothing like it in the world, at least that I can think of.”

Many of the infrastructure improvements are being undertaken by the Lehman Brothers, the owners of the 308lot residential project planned for the site.

This will eventually include the completion of West Avenida Vista Hermosa through to El Camino Real, which is currently slated for later this year. Lehman intends to sell the property to a developer who will actually build the homes. Traffic mitigation measures that were a part of the 1999 approval, Craig said, had been accounted for.

However, a number of issues still need to be finalized as construction starts.

Craig did not address potential Interstate 5 signage for the outlets. An initial sign permit was approved by the then-City Council in 2008, but was overturned in May 2008 as a violation of the California Environmental Quality Act. Craig said the freeway signs “were not the highest priority at this point,” but instead something to be addressed as the project gets started.

The developer said his company is talking with Caltrans and the Orange County Transportation Authority about minimizing the impacts of the I-5 widening project, which is scheduled to be done at the same time the mall construction is ongoing. Discussions about increasing the number of train stops at North Beach station to try and get shoppers coming in by rail have not yet taken place, Craig said.

There is also an ongoing question about the impact the outlets will have on the city’s downtown. There have been discussions about a shuttle service that would take shoppers onto Avenida Del Mar or other areas of the city.

Many residents voiced concern over the height of the project, which at one point was higher than 50 feet. According to Craig, that height was for the theater, which is no longer a part of the project.

The retail replacement space sits at 42 feet. Not having the theater also means the mall can close earlier, Craig said.

Craig said he was glad to see the interest from the community.

“The questions and the thoughtfulness were pretty impressive,” he said. “People are very much interested in the project and overall very supportive of it. I think it was a great representation of the various neighborhoods of San Clemente.”

Craig noted that those curious about specifics in the plan could review it, as a public document, at the city’s building department.

Mayor Tim Brown said he was also pleased by the turnout of residents.

“I think it’s clear to see a lot of folks are interested in what is going on at the site,” he said. “It looks like work’s going

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to commence and what’s been a mystery for a long time will become a reality. As a city we’re watching it closely to make sure they do what they say they’re going to do.”

While the signage issue is not settled, the outlets will have to abide by the same restrictions as other businesses in San Clemente, Brown said.

“We don’t want to have a project that won’t be successful but we have to assess what the impact will be on residents, because ultimately this is a very strong residential community,” the mayor explained.

Brown believes that part of the mystery for many was that the project had been proposed and approved before many people had come to the city. This might have led to misconceptions or assumptions, he said.

“There’s a big gap in the information and we’re trying to fill that in,” Brown said. “You’ll have different feelings, folks who like and folks who don’t like it.”

Mary and Scott Owens moved to San Clemente seven years ago. Their home, located above Broadmoor, will have a clear view of the project. While the project was approved before their move, Mary said the couple followed the development before they arrived.

Scott said they are primarily concerned with the height of the buildings but added he was impressed by the presentation.

“We can see the whole property from our house, so it’s nice to be able to come out and walk around,” Scott said.

Steve Aleshire, a 15-year resident, said he was looking for a status update on the project “rather than rumors.” Another resident of the area above Broadmoor, Aleshire said his family’s biggest concern is the traffic that might be added to the area.

“It looks like the planning has been very well done. The one concern you can’t answer is the impact it will have on (Avenida) Del Mar. They’ve done a great job renovating Del Mar and rejuvenating it over the last 10 or 15 years, and it’d be a shame to see that deteriorate.” SC

The Marblehead bridge, which has been one of the visible signs of the slow development of the Marblehead Coastal project, is now complete. Despite nonpayment of the contract, contractors actually poured a “topping slab” of concrete to avoid deterioration.

Photo: Jim Shilander

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Lew’s Views by Lew Avera

Health and Fitness ... Exercise It definitely is possible to make the effort for your physical health

P

hysical fitness and health are the most important attributes or elements that we can have for a productive, happy and meaningful life.

Poor health and fitness act as blockades to everything we would like to do with our lives. I have always lived with this value and made physical exercise a part of my daily life as far back as my high school years. To this day it remains the same.

However, as I was thinking about this, I began to realize that there are many who would strongly disagree with this premise, believing, rather, that belief in a supreme being, whatever that belief might be is where life begins, and everything must start with that belief. And, as I thought about it, I recalled this is also a value with which I was raised.

The more I thought about this dichotomy, the more I began to realize and believe that it is the merger of these two values that leads to a productive, meaningful and happy life. Without both of them, we would not be able to proceed with all that life has to offer. This idea was validated recently when a well-known member of our San Clemente city staff told me that she was now taking a yoga class five

days a week and that it was having a marvelous effect on her health and well-being. We both quickly agreed that it was the practice of yoga, going back to ancient times, that had probably first LEW’S VIEWS merged these physical

By Lew Avera and spiritual values.

We don’t think about it often, but San Clemente has a large number of fitness centers and gymnasiums of many types available to us, with more to come on the horizon. I presently work out six days a week and keep track of all that I do. As the saying goes, “What gets measured gets done.” Before my retirement, when I was employed full time, I was up at 5 a.m. and exercising by 5:45 a.m., in order to be at my office by 8 a.m. It can be done. I think I have been able to merge or unite the two values discussed above.

Finally, I am forever reminded of the motivating slogans associated with sports and fitness activities. For instance, Nike has the slogan “Just Do It.” Other commercials have similar ones. Also, many individuals wear shirts with a plethora of

slogans. I once heard a nifty one: Arrange the three words “Stop, Start, Never” in two meaningful sentences “Never Start Stopping” and “Never Stop Starting.”

With this in mind, I have developed my own personal slogan. I think it is particularly relevant to the beginning of our day: “Get UGO,”… pronounced “get you go.” There is a word associated with each of the large letters. See if you can figure it out. How about get up, get going and get out. Out into the world around us for a meaningful life, to include some healthy exercise.

Lew Avera is a retired career officer, Lt. Col., U.S. Marine Corps. He was a resident of San Clemente in 1963-1965 while serving as a Company Commander at Camp San Mateo. He returned to San Clemente in 2001 when he retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers as a senior managing director. He has been a director of the Talega HOA since 2003 and served on the San Clemente Planning Commission from 2005 to 2013. 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 CITY EDITOR Jim Shilander, 949.388.7700, x109 jshilander@sanclementetimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

Lisa Cosenza, 949.388.7700, x111 lcosenza@picketfencemedia.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

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Lisa Cosenza ( San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

Group Senior Editor > Andrea Swayne

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander

OPERATIONS

Letters to the Editor

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

Finance Director > Mike Reed

City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

REAL SAFETY WORRIES AT SONGS

ART/DESIGN

ROGER JOHNSON, San Clemente

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

Edison engineer Greg Becker says he has been reading that his company hates children and is intent on destroying San Clemente (“SONGS: Time to Relax,” March 13). What has he been reading?

Nothing like this has ever been published anywhere. What has been said is that Edison focuses more on profits than on safety.

Their attempt to sneak through a major design change to get more profitable steam generators is what caused them to fail and the plant to be closed down.

It is true, as Mr. Becker says, that Edison starts every meeting by saying that safety is their number one concern. That is because Edison has a very poor safety record, and it is easier and cheaper to deal with safety through public relations efforts. All the scare tactics warning that we cannot live without nuclear power turned out to be false. The bad consequences never happened. Instead, we finally have San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

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

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Kevin Dahlgren, Catherine Manso, Shelley Murphy, Tawnee Prazak, Dana Schnell, Tim Trent

San Clemente Times, Vol. 9, Issue 13. 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.

FROM THE MIND OF ZELESKI California turning to green renewable energy rather than dirty, expensive and unreliable nuclear power.

Mr. Becker goes on to claim that all radioactive fuel will soon be in dry casks.

Is he getting this misinformation from

Edison? The NRC now promises that all fuel will be out of the pools by 2074. Edison has been dragging its feet about doing this, partly because they switched (without public disclosure) to more dangerous and (Cont. on page 10) Page 8

FOLLOW THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX Letters to the Editor (Cont. from page 8) more radioactive high-burnup fuel back in 1996. This fuel must remain in pools much longer. The Sandia National Lab experiments showed that even a truck bomb outside the perimeter could lead to radiation releases causing massive evacuation of all nearby towns.

Yes, casks are safer than fuel pools, but the problem is that most of the dangerous material at San Onofre is in pools rather than casks and will remain there for years to come. Does anyone feel safe with these pools and all those casks stored openly next to Interstate 5? They are guaranteed for only 20 years, and the casks at Three Mile Island are already leaking.

The Japanese “relaxed” and believed the safety claims of the nuclear industry.

Let’s not make the same mistake.

KUDOS TO KEMPTON PETER DITTO, San Clemente

Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed Jim Kempton’s SC Times column (“Wavelengths: The Luck of the Draw,” March 20). It was a wonderful, intuitive way to make a big political point about what determines people’s fate in life by getting then to reflect on the role of luck in their own success. Nice piece.

NOT SCARED OF SAN ONOFRE STEVEN SWARTZ, San Clemente

Not all of us have the mania about nuclear power. As a 21-year resident of San Clemente, I have never felt threatened by being close to the power plant. I truly believe that safe nuclear power should be a part of our energy solutions.

We have advanced nuclear power plants fueling many of our warships and we should use modern technology to build more, instead of closing them all down.

It is funny how the same people pushing for electric cars are handicapping our ability to produce the electric power to run them.

Someday cooler heads might prevail.

Until then, we all pay the price.

PARKING LOTS TO DIE FOR JERRY COLLAMER, San Clemente

There’s no denying the uncomfortable, teeth-gnashing emotion one feels entering “Lil’ Ralphs” parking lot on South El Camino Real. It’s the same feeling one experiences contemplating parking in Trader Joe’s postage stamp lot off Camino del los Mares, or Costco’s vast, asphalt, white-striped car park any Saturday.

Tragically documented at Lil’ Ralphs white-knuckled lot, death-defying is no longer a parking lot overstatement. “Enter at your peril” can also be said of every freeway on-ramp, where auto-carnage speeds bumper to bumper four, to six, to eight-lanes wide with Caltrans standing by to sweep up our remains. We complain of delays.

And of course Marblehead’s Vista Hermosa overpass will become instantly Page 10

impassable, as bargain-shoppers countywide careen into San Clemente’s swell new ocean-view discount destination like moths to its 40 percent-off flame.

Who’s to blame? We are, neighbor.

Everyone with their foot on the gas, phone in lap, short on time, but long on determination to get in and out of the next ridiculous parking snafu in record time, to get to the next, and the next, and the next, and … crap, I’m late to pick up the kids at Shorecliffs—step on it.

DESPITE WARTS, A RESIDENT WHO’S HAPPY WITH THE NEW RALPHS SANDRA WEAVER, San Clemente

I simply had to shake my head and chuckle as I read the letter written by Jay Gaskins bashing the parking system at Ralphs (“Ralphs Parking Lot Fell through the Cracks” March 20). He stated that in meeting some friends inside the store, instead of small talk, the conversation “went immediately into the diatribe of the parking nightmare.”

While it may be true that the parking system is far from ideal, at least we have a grocery store in the south end of town.

He mentions that “out of convenience” he was doing some minor grocery shopping at Ralphs. How much is convenience worth? Might it be a few minutes waiting or carefully and considerately navigating the traffic of others who are doing some shopping? If you are at the stoplight on Avenida Barcelona, waiting to enter Ralphs’ parking lot and it turns green, why not wait a moment if there seems to be a number of cars already entering before going forward? If a car behind you becomes impatient, so be it.

Who needs to be in that much of a rush, really? It should be no secret that the most crowded time at Ralphs is late afternoon.

I have shopped there mid-day with little problem. But if it is absolutely necessary to shop when the store is most crowded, just thank the city for remodeling our wonderful south city Ralphs so that you can have the convenience of shopping there.

Take a breath and be grateful you are able to drive a car and purchase groceries.

Some folks don’t even have that privilege.

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

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

Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Jim Shilander. All are welcome.

Beachside Chat is held every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK

KENNY HALE 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Live classic rock during wine tasting at DaVine Food & Wine. Get a flight of five wines for $20. 34673 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com.

THE ENGLISH BEAT 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House.

Tickets $25. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

Sunday | 30

Photo: Andrea Swayne

The Serra Chapel Tour • MarCh 30 11:15 a.m. Tour at the Mission in honor of Father Junipero Serra, who was born 300 years ago this year. Offered Sundays. Admission $6–$9. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

The List

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

Thursday | 27 HEALTHY LIFESTYLES EXERCISE 6:30 p.m. Join the Boys & Girls Club in trying to set the Guinness World Record for the most people exercising to a fitness video within a 24 hour period. 1304 Calle Valle, San Clemente, 949.492.0376, www.begreatsanclemente.org.

Friday | 28 FISH DINNER AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Community dinner, Fridays at McGowen Hall, with a no host bar, beer and wine. Cost $7-$13, or $40 maximum per family. Take-out available.

105 N. La Esperanza, San Clemente, 949.492.4101, www.olfchurch.net.

SAXON BROWN TASTING 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Wine tasting event at San Clemente Wine Company. 212 ½ Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR 7 p.m. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. Tickets $40. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

BLACK CAT BONE 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

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

ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Cruise the Dana Point Harbor and enjoy wine aboard a luxury catamaran. Tickets $49. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Monday | 31 SMOKEY KARAOKE 8 p.m. Your turn to get onstage at BeachFire. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

Saturday | 29 SPRING WILDFLOWER WALK 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Explore ridges and canyons looking for spring wildflowers with guest biologist Tony Bomkamp at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Admission $5-$10.

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

LOCALS ONLY POP UP DINNER 6 p.m. The Cellar presents a dinner event with locally sourced food, specialty drinks and music. Reservations available online. $45 each. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

SPRING BOUTIQUE & CRAFT FAIR 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) present a shopping fundraiser with jewelry, clothing, health and wellness essentials, raffles and more at San Clemente Presbyterian Church. Free admission. 119 Avenida Estrella, San Clemente, 949.375.1001, www.mops.org.

ROMANCING THE WEST 7 p.m. The epic story of the American West in music, rare film, historic photos and video at San Juan Capistrano Library’s La Sala Theater. Tickets $25. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 541.292.7829, www.romancingthewest.org.

FLOCK OF 80’S AND CALIFORNIA RANGERS 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Afternoon ’80s music followed by an evening performance by the Calfornia Rangers at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

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.

Tuesday | 01 HAPA J’S TACO TUESDAY 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Every Tuesday Hapa J’s is closed for lunch but then opens at 4:30 p.m. for Taco Tuesday. Full-sized ahi poke, kalbi short rib, kalua pig, coconut shrimp tacos and more, from $3-$3.75.

Drink specials also offered. 2016 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.276.6657, www.hapajs.com.

Wednesday | 02 CHERYL SILVERSTEIN 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Live music at OC Tavern.

2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.542.8877, www.octavern.com.

SAN JUAN FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.–7 p.m. Fresh produce, crafts and more every Wednesday at Camino Capistrano and Yorba Street in downtown San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.4700.

Page 12

The Dan Band. Courtesy photo

On Stage at the Coach House:

The Dan Band

Get set for a night of music, parodies and laughs when The Dan Band stops by the Coach House Saturday, April 5.

Known for tongue-in-cheek appearances in such blockbuster movies as Starsky and Hutch, Old School and The Hangover, The Dan Band blends music and laughter into a thoroughly entertaining show. In Old School, the band belted out Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in a wedding scene, and in The Hangover, lent a classic wedding singer-style remix to 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop.”

The Dan Band’s Dan Finnerty said what started as a joke, soon gained attention and popular demand.

“After my last performance in the Broadway show ‘Stomp’ a few of us went to a karaoke bar where I got up on stage and began to sing ‘I Am Woman’

by Helen Reddy as a joke,” Finnerty said.

A few just-for-laughs performances later, he was being asked when and where his next gigs would be. Later, being booked as the opening act for the Pussycat Dolls led to movie and television roles.

The Dan Band has since appeared in a Bravo network special, “The Dan Band: I Am Woman” and is currently working on an album for Comedy Central called, “The Wedding Album,” expected to drop this summer.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.thecoachhouse.com or by calling 949.496.8930. The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. SC —Victor Carno GOURMET FOOD TRUCKS 5 p.m.-8 p.m. An array of food trucks converge every Wednesday at San Clemente High School in the parking lot near Triton Center. Funds benefit the SCHS Marching Band. 700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, 949.492.4165, www.sctritons.com.

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

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Big Helyn’s Wins Collegial Mixology Contest Winning drink a tribute to former clientele from San Onofre nuclear plant STORY AND PHOTOS BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

B

ig Helyn’s South Side Saloon is an institution on the city’s south end.

But as a new entrant into the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce’s annual Mixologist Competition, bartender Brooke Mitchell knew she had to do something special.

Mitchell and the Big Helyn’s staff had seen many friends and frequent customers from the nearby San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station lose their jobs following the plant’s closure last year.

“We’d open up early just for the guys who would get off the night shift,” Mitchell said.

Big Helyn’s, which just joined the chamber and is in the process of a remodeling, wanted to pay them a tribute.

Mitchell and others came up with the “Nuclear Reactor” cocktail, which uses rum and midori, among other ingredients, and is topped off with whipped cream and a cherry, to mimic the look of something nuclear.

The drink won enough fans among the crowd at the BeachFire Bar & Grill Thursday to be named “People’s Choice.” As the contest winner, the drink will now appear on menus of all chamber member bars for the next year.

While the goal of the event is ultimately to promote the chamber’s businesses, it also provides the city’s servers and bartenders an opportunity to socialize, said officer Lynn Wood, chamber chief executive.

“It brings all of this industry together,” Wood said. “The servers and bartenders all know each other, but it gives them a fun opportunity to hang out and brings them together in a fun competition. We’re really proud of this.”

Adele Lux, owner of Adele’s at the San Clemente Inn, was in a unique position,

Sally Daniel of Red Fox Lounge puts some finishing touches on the “Something Special” cocktail.

Brooke Mitchell and Kandace Paul of Big Helyn’s South Side Saloon create their bar’s winning entry, “The Nuclear Reactor.”

“

The servers and bartenders all know each other, but it gives them a fun opportunity to hang out and brings them together in a fun competition.

—Lynn Wood

”

Jeremy Wischmeyer of Inka Mama’s Peruvian Cuisine pours out his “Hot Mama” cocktail.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Last week’s solution:

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

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

Page 15

as both the president of the chamber and a former five-time defending champion of the event. Lux said the event was more about fun than anything, although as a former champion, she was doing her best to take the title once again. Her “San Clementian” concoction included key limes from an Ole Hanson home.

Judges included a pair of U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton. Judging the event was a fun way to pay back the support that the Marines get from the cities of San Clemente and Dana Point, said 1st Lt. John Rehberg.

“It’s awesome,” Rehberg said. “The communities of San Clemente and Dana Point are amazing. They support us all year round, and the least we can do is come down and judge drinks.”

Capistrano Beach’s The Surfin’ Cowboy Sports Bar & Grille entry was one

Judges for the contest included Marine 1st Lt. John Rehberg, Celeste Washington, Sandy Elliott, City Council member Jim Evert and Marine Capt. Max Berstein.

that came down to the wire, mixologist Tymour Saba said. The “Blackberry Sage Surfer” combined Saba’s own preference for fresh ingredients.

“I’d planned on doing something else, but anytime I’m putting together a cocktail, I try to find one that’s really well balanced and has good flavor,” Saba said.

Saba said the event does give everyone the opportunity to get “buddy-buddy,” but it was also about putting on a bit of a show.

“It’s really hectic and close back there,” Saba said. “But we’ve all been doing this long enough that we don’t mind a few eyes on us.”

Other winners of the contest included judge’s favorite for best flavor, the “Hakka Shaka,” from Sunsets at the Pier, and judge’s and people’s choice for best presentation, “The 204,” from the host, BeachFire Bar & Grill. SC

SC LIVING

SC Couple Appearing on “Container Wars” Show TruTV show tracks Los Angeles ports shipping auctions

BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

fter 18 months of waiting, San Clemente’s John and Lorena Grey are going to be taking their turn on the TruTV reality show “Container Wars.”

The show follows a group of buyers who purchase shipping containers at auction in Los Angeles ports.

The Greys said they actually participated in the show’s pilot, including an oncamera interview, but the producers chose five others to be a part of the regular cast.

However, they stayed close to the show, and now that it is in its second season, the Greys have been added to the lineup.

They participated in three episodes this season.

“You have to have knowledge of what you’re buying,” John said.

Lorena explained that the auctioneers on the show will provide some hints as to what’s inside, as well as where it’s coming from and where it was supposed to go and the reasons why it hasn’t left port. However, since the former owners were willing to spend thousands of dollars to prepare to ship the contents, it’s usually a good bet that there is something of value, rather than personal junk. Lorena said the items could be anything of value, including vehicles, boats, electronics or furniture.

“You just have to pay attention to what the auctioneer is saying,” she said.

“Sometimes you’re just stumped, you

Photo: Andrea Papagianis

Cub Scouts from Pack { I N S AN CL E M E NTE } 112 from Vista del Mar Elementary School show off newspaper trees Monday afternoon at the Picket Fence Media offices in Capistrano Beach.

SCENE

John and Lorena Grey of San Clemente are new participants on the reality show Container Wars. Photo: TruTV

don’t have a clue,” John said. “But you want to make sure you’re always in the game.”

The Greys have experience in liquidating items. John is the head of a large firm, West Coast Hotel Liquidation, which is based in Orange. The company helps to install new furnishings at high-end

hotels, including the The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis in Dana Point, and then cleans and sells the used mattresses and other furniture down the line to smaller hotels and motels. The Greys also have a new business installing artificial turf for lawns.

John’s experience in sales and liquidation provides him with guidance on what

and how much to spend, he said.

Typically, liquidators only like to pay 10 to 20 cents on the dollar for the value of whatever is being liquidated, and he tries to stick to that. Last week, the couple said, someone purchased a container for $15,000 that contained a new Tesla sports car.

The Greys have two children at Truman Benedict Elementary School and have a daughter who recently graduated from San Clemente High School. They also support San Clemente Little League and travel baseball teams. SC

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

Reigniting an Old Flame or Rekindling a Friendship Can first love passion be rekindled 50 years later?

M

ost people remember their first love.

They’ve thought of him or her from time to time since parting ways, oh so many years ago. Some have pondered, “I wonder what would have happened if I had married Bill or Sue?” Perhaps they have kept in touch or seen that person at a reunion. Often, however, they’ve lost track. They might remember that she or he was a hottie. If they met now, 50 years later, would the flame of passion still be there?

Tina, age 70, a retired operating room nurse living in northern California, recently found her answer to that question.

She said, “Fifty years ago, in 1964, I met a young 2nd Lieutenant named John (not his real name) in training at Mather Air Force Base in the Sacramento area, and we fell in love. We had six wonderful months together before he was sent back

San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

to Florida. We wrote often but as stories go, distance makes maintaining a relationship difficult, especially at age 22.

“I saw him one time more, in 1965, on my way to the Caribbean on a stopover in Miami.

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 He had married another

By Tom Blake lady and was happy. I was heartbroken but understood. I tucked him away in my heart as a memory.

“Through the years, I occasionally thought of him. I was most worried that he had perished during his tour of duty in Vietnam as a pilot. I tried to find him several times to no avail. About a month ago, I got a ‘friend’ request on Facebook from John, asking if I was the lovely lady he had met 50 years ago.

“I was shocked. We chatted for several

weeks and I invited him to visit this past week. He was here for two days and it was a wonderful reunion. He wasn’t the dashing young lieutenant I loved so much but he still had the personality and certain features I saw on his face. Fifty years change us all, but there was that broad smile and his bright twinkling Irish eyes.

“We talked and got caught up. Our lives had gone different ways, and we have totally different life styles now. He has lived in southern California since 1967. So close, yet so far. He has been separated for 10 years from the woman he married back then. He has two grown children and is living a comfortable life.

“There was no ‘love connection’ in the sense we would pursue something. But, this time, I will never let him go as a close friend. I still love him, but not as that young man I met when I was so young.

He was my first love and will always be in

Page 17

my heart that way. I may never have found out what happened to him had he not been thinking of me all these years and decided to investigate. It’s a fairytale that some people never get to experience.

“He will always be in my life from this time forward. But, now it will be a love of friendship. We will see each other again.

We may even go on a little vacation together. The romantic part is gone though.”

A vacation together? Romantic part gone? Tina may just be in for a little surprise after the suitcases get unpacked.

What would happen if you met up with your first love?

To share your thoughts, email Tom at Tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

www.sanclementetimes.com

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY HOME DÉCOR

AIR CONDITIONING 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

YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Sign up to be featured as our monthly

LANDSCAPING

South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 Costa Verde Landscape 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com License: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) www.costaverdelandscaping.com APPLIANCES SERVICES & REPAIRS ASAP Appliance Service 949.361.7713 3200 Legendario, www.asapapplianceservice.com

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

BOOKS Village Books 949.492.1114 99 Avenida Serra, www.DowntownSanClemente.com

949.361.9656

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

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

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

949.492.5589

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

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING 949.354.2258

ELECTRICAL Arcadia Electric www.arcadiaelectric.com

949.361.1045

MORTGAGES Brian Wiechman, 949.533.9209 Equity Coast Mortgage, a division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage, www.equitycoastmortgage.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

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

GRAPHIC DESIGN IMAGES/Creative Solutions 117 Del Gado Road, www.imgs.com

MUSIC LESSONS

949.496.6556

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

POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL

PRINTING Printing OC 949.388.4888 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

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

949.492.5589

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

Marcie George - Star Real Estate South County marciegeorge@cox.net 949.690.5410 949.293.3236

RESTAURANTS Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4

949.366.9386

ROOFING CONTRACTORS 949.498.6204

Salon Bleu 949.366.2060 207 S. El Camino Real, www.scsalonbleu.com Sanctuary Salon & Spa 949.429.5802 1041 Avenida Pico, Ste. B, www.sanctuarytalega.com

SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

The Bargain Box 949.492.2800 Colony Termite Control 949.361.2500 526 N. El Camino Real, 949.492.5589 1402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com www.capistranovalley.assistanceleague.org

TERMITES

PLUMBING 949.498.6245

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

949.496.0123

WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLATION Offshore Construction www.offshoreconstruction.org

949.444.6323

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY” Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com FOR SALE NEW QUEEN PILLOWTOP MATTRESS It’s not used, not refurbished. It’s a brand name, & brand NEW, still in the MFRs original plastic bag. I can let it go for $160.

1st Come, 1st Served. 949-842-9994

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

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE! SATURDAY, MAR. 29 7am – 2pm, 34612 Calle Naranja, Capo Beach. Collectibles, furniture, electronics, books, misc household items and more!

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com.

Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

HELP WANTED

NOW HIRING COOKS morning and evening positions available.

TILE & STONE INSTALLATION/ Experiance and bilingual preferred. Apply RESTORATION in person. Carlos Mexican Restaurant 714.757.3490 34224 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point 949.499.4464 Yorba Linda Tile & Marble, Inc.

A to Z Leak Detection 1218 Puerta del Sol, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing 949.492.3558 1218 Puerta del Sol, www.billmetzgerplumbing.com Chick’s Plumbing www.chicks-plumbing.com

San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345 www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

BRAND NEW KING PILLOWTOP MATTRESS Only $250 Not used or rebuilt.

Salon Bamboo 949.361.3348 Still sealed in MFRs original factory plastic 150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, www.salonbamboo.com bag. Must sell ASAP. 949-842-9994

PEST CONTROL

PHARMACIES

WEBSITE DESIGN

SALONS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 949.361.4867 (GUMS) South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589 949.492.3459 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, www.moranperio.com 109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com

Sea View Pharmacy 665 Camino De Los Mares, #101 949.366.2488 www.seaviewpharmacy.com

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

REAL ESTATE Antonio Fiorello, Forté Realty Group 949.842.3631 San Clemente, www.forterealtygroup.com

Jim Thomas Roofing 162 Calle de Industrias

OFFICE FURNITURE

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

HAIR SALONS Kreative Hair Design 173 Avenida Serra

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

SC Rider Supply 949.388.0521 “Sandy & Rich” - ReMax 520 S. El Camino Real, www.scridersupply.com www.sandyandrich.com

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

$100! Write-up of 50 words with logo.

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

MOLD REMOVAL

Danman’s Music School www.danmans.com

DENTISTS

Locals Only Business Spotlight for only Four weeks in print and online.

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

CHOCOLATE/CANDY

Organics Out Back www.organicsoutback.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT 949.492.5589

949.496.9731

www.yorbalindatilemarble.com, CA License # 789312

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

FOR SALE MENS SMALL WETSUIT Mens Rip Curl Wetsuit, short-arm, full suit. New condition.

Size small $65. Call or text 949.533.9761.

SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

Page 19

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Triton Report

tournament.

One game before the tournament, the Tritons defeated Dana Hills 11-6 in a nonleague contest on March 13.

Riding the three-game win streak, the Tritons opened South Coast League play on March 19 against Trabuco Hills and lost, 9-6.

BY STEVE BREAZEALE AND VICTOR CARNO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Tritons Golf Bounces Back

For in-game updates, news and more all season long, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

Tritons Volleyball Overwhelms Barons

Trying to wrap up their preseason, the San Clemente boys volleyball team earned a clean sweep of visiting Fountain Valley, 3-0, on March 25.

The Tritons were coming off a thirdplace finish at the Orange County Championships this past weekend.

The Tritons (10-4) were able to keep the Barons at bay the first two sets and cruise to comfortable 25-14 and 25-16 set wins.

But the third and final set was neck and neck, with the Tritons ultimately coming out on top 25-23, giving them the shutout.

The Tritons have been plagued with injuries so far this preseason. Senior libero Marcus McGuire is still out due to injury, but senior Nick Goldstone was able to return from an ankle injury in time for the match against the Barons.

With only seven seniors on the roster this season, the Tritons are heavily reliant on their sophomores and juniors, which is working out just fine so far.

Sophomore outside hitter Aaron Strange had a stand-out performance against Fountain Valley, notching 12 kills and five blocks.

“As seen tonight, Aaron Strange is someone to look out for this season,” head coach Ken Goldstone. “We are almost back at full force. My hope this season is for us to go all the way and win the league championship.”

San Clemente will travel to face San Juan Hills in a nonleague match on March 27. –Victor Carno

Big Day for Tritons Track and Field at Home Meet

Home cooking can be a powerful springboard for a high school sports team’s season. That statement rang true for the San Clemente boys and girls track and field teams on March 22, as several athletes had standout performances at the Triton Invitational one week before the start of league play.

Senior Kelsey Benoit continued his tear through the preseason invitational season, notching wins in both the discus and shot put competitions. Benoit’s throw of 177-08 San Clemente Times March 27-April 2, 2014

The San Clemente girls softball team poses with their Foothill Roundup Tournament championship trophy.

Courtesy photo

Kelsey Benoit set a meet record in the shot put on March 22. Photo: Steve Breazeale

in the discus eclipsed his next closest competitor by over five feet.

His performance in the shot put circle was even better.

On his first throw, Benoit set a new meet record. His second throw bested that mark. On his third try, Benoit unleashed a throw of 62-0.3, his best of the season and a mark that is currently the second best in the CIF-SS this year. All three of Benoit’s throws were over 61 feet in length.

Senior Arik Nesbit finished third in the long jump (20-05) and second in the triple jump (44-02.50).

Senior Clayton Skinner finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (42.12) and Jesse Morrison finished fourth in the 200-meter run (23.12).

Senior Melissa Eisele won the girls 1600 (4:56.23). According to head coach Dave Proodian, Eisele is four seconds off the school-record time in the event.

Senior Jessica Erickson finished third in the 400 (59.45), junior Kelsey Carrol finished fourth in the 3200 (11:16.67) and junior Madison Chronister won the discus (122-02).

Sea Kings Prevail in Close Contest with Tritons Lacrosse In a contest between two unbeaten

teams, San Clemente and Corona del Mar squared off on March 21, with the Sea Kings ultimately coming away with a slim 4-3 victory.

Corona del Mar (4-0) did all of their damage in the first half of play, getting early goals from Jordan Greenhall and Jay Damon. San Clemente’s (5-1) Austin Streeter cut the lead in half moments later.

The Sea Kings continued to pressure on offense, outshooting the Tritons 15-6, and took a 4-1 lead into halftime.

The Tritons were able to turn things around in the second-half, holding Corona del Mar scoreless in the final two quarters. The Tritons narrowed the lead to one, following goals by junior Jack Renard and senior Austin Lickley, but it was not enough.

San Clemente came into the nonleague match with momentum on their side, having won their previous five contests behind a potent offense. Before the 4-3 defensive battle with Corona del Mar, the Tritons offense was averaging 13.4 goals per game.

The Tritons will continue their tough preseason schedule with a home game against Foothill (5-1) on March 29. The game is set to begin at 12:15 p.m.

Tritons Girls Lacrosse Building on Tournament Success

The San Clemente girls lacrosse team has already doubled last year’s efforts in the win column through seven games played in 2014.

The Tritons (4-3) recently played in the Laguna Hills OC/LA Shootout, where they picked up wins over Palos Verdes Peninsula and Downey on March 15. The Tritons outscored both teams by a combined 29-10 margin. Junior Katelyn Miner, the team’s leading scorer, scored eight goals in the

Page 20

The San Clemente boys golf team came out of the gate hot, firing four consecutive winning rounds to start their season.

But following a 199-215 victory over Aliso Niguel on March 11, the Tritons slipped and lost three in a row.

Looking to bounce back, the Tritons opened Sea View League play on March 25 with a convincing 188-215 win over Laguna Hills. Reese Wahlin carded a 35 (-1) on the front nine at Bella Collina Golf Club to lead all golfers.

Junior Sammy Schwartz is building off his strong sophomore breakout season and leads the team with three medals.

Softball Claims Foothill Tournament Win

One year removed from a 5-20 season, the San Clemente softball team is bouncing back in a big way in 2014.

San Clemente (8-1) bested the field at the Foothill Roundup Tournament on March 22 to claim the first-place hardware. The Tritons defeated Foothill, Beckman and Los Alamitos en route to the title.

The Tritons pitching duo of juniors Lauren Kane and Jordyne Prussak held opponents to a .209 batting average and recorded 17 strikeouts in the tournament.

Kane went 2-8 with a home run and two RBIs at the plate and recorded three pitching wins, earning the tournament MVP honors.

Senior Shannon McCasland, junior Lauren Gonzales and sophomore Elise Sawall were named to the all-tournament team.

Tritons Tennis Looking Strong The San Clemente boys tennis team is off to a perfect start to their season, and the players head coach John Stephens was counting on at the start of the year are coming through, powering them to a 7-0 overall record.

The Tritons’ roster took a hit to graduation over the offseason, which put the onus to perform on the few returning players, and one standout freshman, they had.

So far, the top singles rotation of senior Nic Valko, freshman Michael Bott and sophomore Jay Yeam have gone a combined 55-2. The top doubles duo of Matt Greenberg and Billy Whitaker are 19-2.

The Tritons recently defeated El Toro 17-1 in a South Coast League match. They will play Capistrano Valley on March 27.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Ragnar Relay Trots into SC Seeking Softball Players

City forming softball league for men over 40

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he Ragnar Relay Series Southern California race is coming through San Clemente. For those who want to catch a glimpse of the runners, there will be plenty of time. The window in which to see them pass through town will be on April 4 between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. the following day.

The Ragnar Relay Southern California is a 195-mile team relay race that stretches from Huntington Beach to San Diego.

Teams of six and 12 runners compete in different divisions, with an average finishing time between 30-32 hours, according to race organizer Lambert Budzinski.

The runners will cross into San Clemente by way of Doheny State Beach. They will travel down Pacific Coast Highway and snake their way through town before exiting through San Onofre State Beach.

The San Clemente stretch will be the 13th leg of a 36-leg race. Each team is required to have one runner on the course at all times. The rest follow along in vans and await the next exchange.

Budzinski said that in years past, the relay would head east, into the Inland Empire, before making its way south to San Diego. But many of the event’s 700 teams in 2014 demanded a more scenic run, which caused the route to be altered.

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he world of slow-pitch softball is a unique one.

There are usually teams with young ringers fresh out of high school or college, who are not far removed from their playing days, that compete hard.

Then there are a number of teams filled with players looking to have some fun and bat around. And you can always count on there being a team filled with older players, who do all of the above, just with a few more knee braces attached.

There aren’t as many teams like that around, but some in San Clemente are hoping to change that.

The City of San Clemente recreation

Runners competing in the 2013 Ragnar Relay Southern California race. The race route will pass through San Clemente in 2014. Courtesy photo

“One of the biggest complaints has been the run wasn’t coastal enough. There were not enough beach exchanges. We really took it head-on to make sure it was along the coast this year, so that brings San Clemente into play,” Budzinski said. SC

San Clemente’s Rob Bryan, far right, and his current slow-pitch softball team. Bryan is helping gather players for the city’s first-ever league open to players 40 and up. Photo: Steve Breazeale

department is in the midst of putting together the city’s first softball league for players 40 years of age and up.

The recreation staff reached out to longtime slow-pitch softball player Ron Bryan for help in rallying the troops. Bryan pulled out the Rolodex and started dialing up old teammates and friends he has made in 25 years of playing the game in San Clemente.

“

It’s a great way for guys to get back on the field and know they don’t have to play against 20 year olds.

—Ron Bryan

”

“When you talk to guys who haven’t played in five to 10 years, it’s tough to get a positive response, but I’ve got some,” Bryan said. “We’ve definitely had some interest. It’s a great way for guys to get back on the field and know they don’t have to play against 20 year olds.”

The league is set to start in May. For those interested in joining, email the city at recreation@san-clemente.org, or email Bryan at 40plussoftball@gmail.com for more information. SC

SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Moving Up in the Game of SUP

GROM OF THE WEEK

Ricky Fodor

Locals shine in season’s first US SUP Tour event

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

our local stand-up paddle pros conquered challenging conditions all the way to the podium at the 2014 US SUP Tour kickoff, March 22-23 in Huntington Beach. Two San Clemente women brought home their divisions’ top prize.

Choppy conditions at the Huntington Beach Pier challenged both SUP surfing and SUP racing contestants who delivered exciting performances, highlighting their expert command of the waist- to shoulderhigh waves.

For San Clemente-based professional stand-up paddle surfer Emmy Merrill, winning the Women’s Pro SUP division was a repeat of last year’s victory at the series’ debut.

“It felt really great to win the first one again, and set a precedent for the season,” Merrill said. “I went in considering it a training event for the ISA World Championship. This event had the highest caliber of talent of any contest I’ve surfed in before, and I appreciate that. It really pushed me to become a better competitor.”

Last year’s Men’s Pro SUP division winner, San Clemente’s Colin McPhillips, came up just short of the win, which instead went to Hawaiian Zane Schweitzer.

His runner-up finish was inspired nonetheless, said Ian Cairns, US SUP Tour co-founder and US SUP Team head coach.

Cairns had his eye on both Merrill and McPhillips, who are members of the US SUP Team and will be traveling in May to Nicaragua for the International Surfing Association World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in May. “This was a great warm up for Colin and Emmy and a good opportunity for me

Ricky Fodor. Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

Age: 13, Marco Forster Middle School

Emmy Merrill of San Clemente is chaired by friends and fellow competitors following her Pro SUP Surf win at the US SUP Tour event March 22-23 in Huntington Beach. Photo: Jack McDaniel/US SUP Tour

“

It felt really great to win the first one again, and set a precedent for the season.

–Emmy Merrill

”

to see how they’re surfing leading up to Nicaragua,” Cairns said. “South Orange County is a hotbed of SUP talent and these two are definitely standouts in SUP surf.”

Candice Appleby of San Clemente earned top honors in the Women’s Pro Race division and took third in Women’s SUP Surf. But she didn’t have much time to let her results sink in, as Appleby, along with a number of other competitors, headed straight to Brazil for event No. 2 of the Stand Up World Tour set for March 29.

Brandi Baksic, also from San Clemente, claimed the third-place spot in the Women’s Pro Race.

More information, including schedules and event photos, can be found on the tour’s Facebook page.

Log onto www.sanclementetimes.com for full results. SC

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 61-63 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 6-8’ poor Catalina: 8-12’ poor-fair Immediate: Healthy west/northwest swell holds Thursday morning, before slowly easing along with old south/southwest swell. Good-size surf in the chest-shoulder-head high (4-5’) zone prevails at better exposures, as top breaks see plus sets.

Unfortunately, conditions remain an issue with westerly flow. Size is down a notch for Friday as our blend of swells fade, but conditions look to be much improved for the morning with a fun combo running for the beachbreaks.

Longer Range Outlook: Fun blend of leftover south/southwest and west/northwest swell is on tap Saturday. By Sunday into early next week another pulse of decent-size west/northwest swell looks likely, as some trace south swell blends in.

Another fun south/southwest swell moves in midweek. Check out Surfline.com for all the details!

Ricky Fodor discovered his passion for surfing in fifth grade. Now an eighthgrader and two-year member of the Marco Forster Middle School surf team, he knows riding waves is something he wants to continue for the rest of his life. “I tried it and it just clicked,” he said. “I like how every wave is different. That makes it really challenging. I really like the whole lifestyle of it too.”

Ricky shortboards but competes mostly on a longboard. This month he earned a second-place finish in middle school boys longboarding at the National Scholastic Surf Series Interscholastic State Championships. In the WSA he is ranked No. 5 in boys U14 longboard and in SSS he is the No. 2-ranked surfer.

Ricky is focused on training to become a professional surfer, but he makes sure his school work doesn’t suffer. An ‘A’ and ‘B’ student, he is considering studying marine biology in college. Ricky recently became a certified scuba diver.

Ricky is continuing to work hard on improving his wave riding and looking for additional sponsorship opportunities. “I would really like to thank my very first sponsor, A’s Burgers, for feeding me after surf practice in the cold mornings,” Ricky said. “Their food is really good. I usually get the bean and cheese burrito combo. You should try it.”

—Andrea Swayne

Noa Dupouy. Courtesy photo