February 5, 2015

LO C A L

N EWS

February 5-11, 2015

YO U

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U S E

San Clemente’s Beth Sanden to Run Marathon in Antarctica PAGE 25 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 6

Middle Ground?

Legislators announce they will champion a bill that would allow Saddleback campus to keep emergency room EYE ON SC/PAGE 7

Opponents and proponents of proposal to change San Clemente’s hospital campus may have some common ground now that two area legislators have said they would support a bill to allow for free-standing emergency rooms. Photo: Jim Shilander

Mobile Library Coming to City This Week EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

San Clemente Resident Talks About Her Experience on ‘The Bachelor’ SC LIVING/PAGE 22

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Triton Linebacker Riley Whimpey on his College, Religious Commitments SPORTS/PAGE 28

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING Avenida Del Mar. The city had searched for a temporary home for the library but could not find a willing lessee.

WHAT’S NEXT: The mobile hub is the first for OC Public Libraries, coming from the city of Fullerton. The vehicle will be stationary and have books on shelves that can be checked out with a library card.

There will also be Chromebooks available at the hub, but they cannot be checked out. Residents needing to use a full library also have access to the libraries in San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point.

When it is completed this summer, the expanded library will include an expanded patio, frontage for the Friends of the Library bookstore along Avenida Del Mar and a larger youth area, located in the former Senior Center.

The city council may discuss the long term future of the city’s library status at its upcoming long-term financial planning meeting.—JS

Laguna Beach Councilman Serving as Interim Development Director

Residents near Verde Park awoke Saturday morning to find that a large eucalyptus tree had fallen across the “freshman path” between San Clemente High School’s upper and lower campuses. The tree was removed later that day. Photo: Courtesy of Robert Keyes

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week Council Receives Water Conservation Update THE LATEST: Despite some uptick in rains in the last two months, the state of California remains in a drought, and San Clemente may face the prospect of water allocation.

Water conservation analyst Andrew Kanzler informed the City Council Tuesday that while the city had experienced a wet period over the last two months, since its primary water supply was imported from the Sierra Nevadas and Colorado River, that rain was not likely to make much of a dent in the city’s water issues. The water supply from the Sierras was more than 1.1 million acre-feet less at the end of 2014 than the end of 2013, he noted. The Colorado River reservoirs are facing similar drops.

The Metropolitan Water District of Orange County is offering residents and businesses rebates to remove turf, Kanzler said, up to $2 per square foot.

WHAT’S NEXT: In order to meet the San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

demands to conserve more water, the city council also authorized the removal of “non-functional” turf from areas of three city parks (Forster Ranch Community Park, Marblehead Inland and Vista Hermosa Sports Park) and replacement with native or drought tolerant plants. Mira Costa Park will also receive a similar treatment, closer to the original design of the park. The city utility and community development buildings will also lose turf under the proposal. The total project will cost $520,000, of which $480,510 would come from rebates from the MWDOC. FIND OUT MORE: For information on the rebate program, visit www.ocwatersmart. com.—Jim Shilander

Mobile Library Comes to City this Week THE LATEST: After more than six months without library services, San Clemente readers again have an opportunity to get their literary fix.

The city, in conjunction with the Orange County Public Library system, announced last week that a “mobile hub” vehicle will be placed at Vista Hermosa Sports Park, beginning Wednesday, Feb. 4, with an official grand opening coming shortly. Hours of operation will be noon to 5 p.m.

The city has been without library services since the summer, when a year-long expansion project began at the library on

THE LATEST: Current Laguna Beach City Councilman Robert Zur Schmiede is serving as the city’s interim community development director until a replacement for the retired Jim Holloway is found.

Zur Schmiede has previously served in development offices in both Long Beach and Fullerton, as well as serving on the Laguna Beach Planning Commission.

WHAT’S NEXT: City Manager James Makshanoff said the city has engaged a search firm to help find the right candidate for the permanent position.

The search firm is the same one that assisted the city with the hiring of both Makshanoff and Assistant City Manager Erik Sund. Makshanoff said the city would likely be searching for a qualified administrator, rather than for one specific skill set. When Holloway was brought on 28 years ago, the city was embarking on a growth period, and Holloway’s experience had primarily been in growth management. Makshanoff said with large-scale residential growth likely completed for the near future, he would look for someone with experience in a coastal environment with good administrative skills. The application process closes in early March, with finalist interviews currently slated to be held in early April.—JS

Eucalyptus Crashes in Verde Park THE LATEST: A large eucalyptus tree in

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Verde Park was uprooted late Friday, potentially reviving a debate over the fate of several mature trees at the park.

Neighbors reported that the tree fell across the nearby path from the upper campus of San Clemente High School to the main campus, damaging the fence between the park and the path.

Resident Elizabeth Morrison said the tree had recently been trimmed and had fallen without aid of wind or rain. She said the tree landed only about 30 feet from her home.

“I’m concerned about the safety issues.

I always have been,” Morrison said. “If there had been kids on the path they’d be dead.”

SCHS Principal Michael Halt said there were no issues Monday when school resumed with the path or the damage to the fence.

WHAT’S NEXT: Morrison sent pictures and information about her experience to both city and Capistrano Unified School District officials. The land on which some of the trees sit is owned by the district.

The Verde Park eucalyptus trees had been at the center of recent debates over the loss of private views due to the growth of city-owned trees.—JS

Council Approves Moving Forward With General Plan Changes THE LATEST: The San Clemente City Council approved moving forward with changes to the city’s new general plan Tuesday, as part of a cleanup effort before the city begins to approve greater implementation measures for the plan.

Among the more significant changes were the rezoning of land at the end of Avenida Pico to private open space from neighborhood commercial, moving the designation of buildings on Coronado Lane in the Pier Bowl from mixed-use the high density residential (since mixed-use projects targeted in the 1993 general plan had never materialized) and eliminating mixed use designations on the east side of El Camino Real between Avenidas Presidio and Palizada.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city will begin updating its zoning ordinance—putting teeth to the general plan—in the coming months.—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

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, February 3 DISTURBANCE Camino De Los Mares, 600 Block (2:09 a.m.) A 35-year-old woman ran inside the emergency room.

Monday, February 2 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Pico, 700 Block (9:47 p.m.)

A caller reported two students waiting in a red Mustang. They played basketball in San Clemente High School’s gym, refused to leave and waited for the staff to leave to use the facility.

UNKNOWN TROUBLE Calle Nina, 400 Block (9:38 p.m.)

A neighbor called sheriff’s deputies about a man yelling, “I’ve got you covered now.”

The neighbor heard a gunshot and saw a flashlight shining on a neighbor’s back patio.

TRAFFIC HAZARD South El Camino Real/Avenida San Juan (8:03 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for water spewing out of a manhole and starting a flood on the street.

INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN El Camino Real, 600 Block (7:22 p.m.)

A man wearing a tan jacket and jeans was on the ground, up against a wall, by a dumpster.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Avenida Presidio, 100 Block (5:55 p.m.)

Dispatch received notice of a water leak from a broken landscape pipe.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Talega, 1100 Block (5:21 p.m.)

A caller reported a 12-year-old girl, wearing her physical education uniform, waiting for a ride in front of her school.

DISTURBANCE Camino De Los Mares, 600 Block (3:01 p.m.) A man harassed patients at San Clemente hospital. When he was advised to leave, he went outside, pulled his pants down and urinated.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Pico, 700 Block (1:32 p.m.)

A student was caught smoking drugs.

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DRUNK IN PUBLIC Camino De Los Mares, 600 Block (1:49 p.m.) A nurse called requesting authorities to escort a drunken man out of the hospital.

WELFARE CHECK Camino Vera Cruz/Camino De Los Mares (12:26 p.m.) A woman wearing a black beanie drove on the wrong side of the street. Pedestrians helped her pull over and corrected her.

Sunday, February 1 DISTURBANCE Calle Puente, 600 Block (11:46 p.m.)

A drunken man tried to get on his motorcycle, but neighbors took away his keys and got into an argument.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Avenida Pico/Calle Del Cerro (9:35 p.m.)

A caller’s red toy station wagon broke down in the street.

DISTURBANCE Canada, 100 Block (9:33 p.m.)

Two men got into a fight in a resident’s backyard while 10 to 15 other men filmed the fight.

INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN West Avenida Palizada/Ola Vista (9:26 p.m.) A patrol check was needed for a man on his back next to a fire hydrant.

DISTURBANCE Estancia, 2900 Block (6:58 p.m.)

A woman alerted police of neighborhood kids ringing her doorbell and banging on her door.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Pico, 900 Block (6:16 p.m.)

A red haired woman kicked the door of Petco.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Avenida Del Presidente, 3300 Block (4:56 p.m.) Sheriff’s deputies were informed of people stomping on the floor and playing loud music to disturb another resident.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Del Mar/Avenida Santa Barbara (2:26 p.m.) Two people sat inside a silver Dodge Challenger for two hours.

Saturday, January 31 DISTURBANCE Via Tulipan, 1500 Block (8 p.m.)

Juveniles played “ding dong ditch.”

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT- UNKNOWN INJURIES Avenida Pico/Avenida La Pata (5:53 p.m.)

A sedan hit a fire hydrant.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Paseo Rosa, 0 Block (10:10 a.m.)

A parked green Subaru had its engine running for four hours in a driveway. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER

Triton Idol this Friday The Triton Vocal Arts Department will present “Triton Idol” Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Triton Center, 700 Avenida Pico. The show will feature solo, duet and group vocal talents of students at San Clemente High School. Tickets are $5 for students and children and $10 for adults.

The box office opens at 6 p.m. Faculty members will also serve as judges.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Decommissioning Education Fair 4:30 p.m. San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 Avenida De La Estrella.

Dance Teams Secures Multiple First Place Awards The San Clemente High School Dance Team danced in the Glendale Tours competition held Jan 24 and 25, bringing home first-place trophies in five of their six categories, including medium lyrical, medium hip hop, large lyrical, medium jazz and intermediate. The team took second in the character division. The medium lyrical piece also was awarded the coveted choreography award.

The team continues through their competition season with their next competition at Sonora High School on Feb. 7 and San Pasqual on Feb. 28. The state competition will take place on March 13 and 14, leading up to the national competition the following weekend, March 19-21, at the Anaheim Convention Center.

San Clemente Graduates Named to Fall Dean’s Lists A number of San Clemente residents have achieved high academic honors for the fall semester of 2014.

Jake Terkoski has earned a place on the Dean’s List at Sonoma State University.

Candidates there must earn a 3.5 GPA or higher in 12 or more graded units.

Michael Sickles and Ryan Malouff of San Clemente were named to the Dean’s List at The Citadel, a military college in Chaleston, S.C. Recognition is given to cadets registered for 12 or more semester hours and whose grade point average is 3.2 or higher with no grade below a C for the previous semester’s work. Malouff was also on the President’s List, composed of cadets who contribute the most to their companies while maintaining excellent military and academic records.

Natasha Roseboom was named to the Dean’s List, with High Honors, signifying earning a 4.0 grade point average, at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont.

Michelle Tewksbury of San Clemente was named to the Dean’s Honor Roll at Oklahoma City University. The designation is awarded to students who successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8

SCAA Meeting

The San Clemente Dance Team took first place in multiple categories at a recent competition in Glendale.

Photo: Courtesy

Casa Hosting Crain Collection of California Art Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens will present The E. Gene Crain Collection Exhibition through April 19 featuring works of influential watercolor artists including Rex Brandt and Millard Sheets. E. Gene Crain has amassed a collection of over 900 pieces, centering on watercolors of the Southern California landscape, some of which will be showcased at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens over the next three years.

The Casa Romantica Gallery, 415 Ave. Granada, San Clemente, is open Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mandarin Immersion Program Offering Tour Dates Bergeson Elementary School in Capistrano Unified School District invites parents of incoming kindergartners to informational meetings to learn about its Mandarin language immersion program.

Bergeson School is home to the district’s only Mandarin Language Immersion Program and the first in Orange County. In its third year, this exciting program offers students the opportunity to become fluent and literate in both Mandarin and English.

Interested parents can select one of three dates for an orientation and tour: Friday, Feb. 20; Monday, Feb. 23 or Friday, Feb. 27. All meetings begin at 8 a.m. The school is located at 25302 Rancho Niguel Road in Laguna Niguel.

Students who attend the Mandarin Language Immersion Program learn to think, read, write and speak naturally in English and Mandarin. They receive instruction in both languages to develop linguistic and academic competence. Native English-

speaking students begin their study of Mandarin in kindergarten in this intensive program.

Space is limited and parents must attend an orientation for inclusion on the interest list for classes starting next fall. Children must be 5 years old by Sept.1, 2015, to apply for the 2015-16 school year.

For more information, contact Bergeson Elementary School at 949.643.1540, or visit the district website at www.capousd. org and the school website at bgnes. capousd.ca.schoolloop.com.

CUSD Names School Site Teachers of the Year The Capistrano Unified School District has named school site Teachers of the Year for all 56 of its school sites.

For San Clemente schools the winners are: San Clemente High: Wendy Washington; Shorecliffs Middle: Antoinette McManigal; Vista del Mar Middle: Chuck Hobbs; Bernice Ayer Middle: Stacy Berrest; Vista del Mar Elementary: Vanessa Martin-Stone; Marblehead Elementary: Liessa Randle; Clarence Lobo Elementary: Cheryl Guckert; Las Palmas Elementary: Margaret Rettele and Claudia Villalobos; Concordia Elementary: Kellie Neill; Truman Benedict Elementary: Debbie Blakely.

District winners will be announced in March and recognized at the annual Teacher of the Year Celebration at Soka University in Aliso Viejo on Tuesday, April 23. The three winners—one each at the elementary, middle and high school levels—will advance to the Orange County Teachers of the Year recognition program.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more. We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

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3 p.m.–5 p.m. The San Clemente Art Association meets the second Sunday of the month at the Community Center.

Refreshments served. Members free, non-members $5 donation. 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.492.7175, www.scartgallery.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10

South Coast Detachment Marine Corps League 7 p.m. Open to all active

duty, retired or honorably discharged Marines or FMF Navy Corpsman at the San Clemente Elk’s Lodge. 1505 N. El Camino Real, 949.493.4949, 949.361.9252.

Surfside Quilters Guild Meeting

9:30 a.m. General meeting featuring a special guest at San Clemente Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. 119 N. Avenida de la Estrella, www.surfsidequiltersguild.org.

Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting 6 p.m. San Clemente

Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, www.san-clemente.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Human Affairs Meeting

3 p.m. Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Meeting

7 p.m. Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Elks Lodge. 1505 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.2489.

Casa Wellness Wednesday: Yoga

9 a.m. Practice multiple yoga traditions.

Bring your own mat. Class is suitable for beginners to seasoned practitioners. Admission $5, free for members.

Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

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EYE ON SC

Hospital Debate May Find a Different Path Hospital debate draws stark lines, but there may be a middle way

BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

lmost 200 residents, nearly all clad in red shirts emblazoned with “Save San Clemente Hospital,” began shouting “Save Our Hospital” before the start of an open house hosted by MemorialCare, the nonprofit owners of the San Clemente hospital, Monday at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. When the open house began, a smaller, shorter version of the chant also started up, just as MemorialCare doctors and executives were preparing to tout the company’s proposal for an advanced urgent care facility at the San Clemente campus.

Since August, when MemorialCare announced it was studying a proposal that would raze the current hospital facility and replace it with an advanced urgent care facility, which would eliminate the in-patient facilities and emergency room, the choice has been cast as one between life and death on one side and a hospital and health care provider attempting to grapple with changing market forces on the other. Both sides claim to have support from the community.

The proposed facility would be built on four levels, with one below grade and three above grade. The proposal would add to the number of parking spaces utilized at the site. The basement level would include an outpatient surgery center, with urgent care, labs, imaging and a women’s health center on the first floor. The top floors would be reserved for primary and specialty care offices.

POINT OF THE SPEAR Before Monday’s meeting at the Ocean Institute, MemorialCare hosted another open house at Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club on Jan. 22. The San Clemente Times attended a review session of that meeting, held one week later, ahead of the meeting Monday.

Staff said they admitted they had some challenges in terms of selling the potential for the project to the public, which they said would be at the leading-edge of a changing medical field that is seeing more and more done on an out-patient basis.

“The difficult thing about this project is I can’t go point to something and say ‘It’s just like this,’ because there isn’t anything just like this close to us,” administrator Tony Struthers said. “That’s what makes it so

San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

exciting and so unique.”

They were also working to fight the notion of being simply another facility similar to the three urgent care centers already in the city.

“We hear that all the time ‘We have enough urgent care,’” Struthers said.

“What we’re offering is completely different. It’s unfair to compare us to the current urgent care offerings in San Clemente…

We’re hamstrung by the words ‘urgent care.’ We need to get past that and talk about the services available.”

The current plans for the facility going before the MemorialCare board in March for approval would also include a cancer center, imaging services, women’s health facilities and laboratories.

“It’s more than just a traditional medical office building,” said Todd Varney of NexCore, the company hired by MemorialCare to assist with planning the facility. “This is truly an advanced outpatient center, where a patient can do everything from their initial diagnostic to lab work to rehab.”

Karen Sharp, director of emergency services for MemorialCare, said while the hospital had a good record in terms of triaging patients suffering a heart attack or stroke, the best way to treat that was direct action, by calling 9-1-1 immediately. Due to the county’s regulations, patients suffering such maladies are supposed to be taken directly to specialized receiving centers.

“If you’re having a stroke or a heart attack, you should never drive yourself to the hospital,” Sharp said.” 9-1-1 has red lights and sirens and can bypass traffic easily.”

Sharp also said that would be the case even if a hospital was on “diversion,” when beds are full. Critics of the urgent care proposal have said the project would force more ER patients to go to other hospitals, increasing wait times and potentially putting people at risk.

“When Mission, Laguna Hills and San Clemente are on diversion, nobody is on diversion,” Sharp said, saying that in a true emergency situation, hospitals would not turn away cases brought to them by paramedics. “We don’t only see people having heart attacks. Most people we see are mostly urgent care, people who call 9-1-1 because they have a stomach ache. They’re treated and sent home. Just because it comes in by 9-1-1 doesn’t mean it’s an emergency.”

Staff also noted that many cases brought to emergency rooms are not dealing with necessarily life threatening issues, much of which can be treated at an urgent care facility, which they said would relieve the pressure on other ERs. They also said the proposed facility would be open 24/7.

They also noted that a pilot project was underway that allows paramedics to take patients that did not require an emergency room visit to be taken to urgent care facilities instead. The company is participating in the study at a different facility, but the proposal does include infrastructure to support such drop-offs, as well as the potential to add a free standing emergency depart-

A rendering of the proposed medical pavilion and advanced urgent care facility being proposed by MemorialCare for its San Clemente campus. Photo: Courtesy of Memorial Care

ment if it were made legal, which they are not currently in the state. Any emergency room would require an attached in-patient hospital under current law.

Staff also said they believe people would be attracted to lower cost care and the “onestop-shop” nature of the proposed facility.

“We hear that we’re going to flood Mission Hospital with 15,000 patients.

No,” Struthers said. “If we don’t double our volumes, we’ve done something really wrong. We’ll probably maintain that and take patients who are coming back to this community.”

Staff also believe the proposal would bring in more specialist care as a result of improving the facilities, as well as improving care for chronic illness. Saddleback CEO Steve Geidt said that the Affordable Care Act includes penalties for hospitals that had patients coming back for more treatment of the same case within 30 days of treatment.

Geidt also noted that as the population of the area has grown, the average patient census was actually less than in previous years, both due to changes in the way patients are cared for as well as insurance demands of where to send patients. He noted that at a presentation at the neighboring San Clemente Villas, he’d had several residents tell him they had Kaiser Permanente health plans and preferred it, despite having the closest Kaiser facility being in Irvine.

“When I came here, the population of the Saddleback Valley was about 200,000 and our census was about 160 patients. Now it’s 800,000 and the census is 130,” he said.

“We’re a little out front. We do 14,000 surgeries at Saddleback and 11,000 are done in outpatient surgery centers. It’s amazing what can be done if we set our minds to it.”

At Monday’s event a pair of MemorialCare physicians supporting the proposal, Dr. Robert Realmuto, who practices in Fountain Valley but lives in San Clemente and Dr. Shilpa Gaikwad of Dana Point, said they felt the proposal was a better one for the community than what was currently offered.

“For a lot of specialized services, people

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have to go away from the community,” Gaikwad said. “There’s a lot of focus on what’s missing versus what’s being added.

We don’t have anything like this anywhere in the county.”

Realmuto, who previously worked at the hospital, said that if a certified emergency room physician could be put in the urgent care facility at all times, he feels residents would receive essentially the same level of care, just without the paramedic receiving capabilities.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Struthers disputed claims that the company was intentionally degrading the spending and the quality of services at its San Clemente campus. “(The claims are) vicious, malicious and do nothing to support the hospital operationally,” Struthers said.

CURRENT FACILITY A LIFESAVER, SAYS SUPPORTERS Dr. Steve Cullen has been among the public faces of the opposition to the proposal to change the hospital. He said his experiences at the open houses have been different, based on who was in attendance.

At the first open house, he said, there was more confusion from residents he’d heard from, since they were hearing from both MemorialCare and from opponents in the same meeting. The meeting at the Ocean Institute, he said, featured more people who were opposed to the closure, which he said “overwhelmed MemorialCare,” and were telling hospital staff that they do not want to lose the emergency room and in-patient facility, noting that the hospital was more than welcome to build additional facilities above its current offerings. The group presented thousands of signatures on petitions to Geidt at the start of the meeting urging him and the board to keep the facility open.

Cullen called much of what was in the proposal a “shiny version of what people have access to,” in terms of urgent care in an attempt to maximize financial returns.

Cullen said he felt people’s confusion was (Cont. on page 8) www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 7) heightened by hearing opposing viewpoints from doctors, who they tended to take at face value on matters of health.

“I think that’s what makes things more frustrating for people,” Cullen said. “But I’m speaking as someone who knows this hospital and who’s admitted people for 18 years.”

Cullen said opponents have felt frustrated with a lack of access to the hospital’s board during the process, and felt that their message was not being conveyed to the full body. He said he was able to talk to one board member Monday.

A number of others in the Save San Clemente Hospital Foundation group have said they’ve heard differing information from MemorialCare staff in terms of how a 24/7 urgent care would be staffed, which lead to fears that significant medical issues would not be dealt with in a way they should be.

They also said the current facility does stabilize cardiac and stroke patients if they come in before sending them to another facility.

Dr. Nick Karahalios said he’s heard hospital staff say they preferred staying open because they know the quality of care and because it is a home to them. He noted that a number of physicians had contributed to the cause of keeping the hospital open financially. Residents, he said, needed a place close by, not just for peace of mind, but also as a place to see their loved ones when they were sick.

Among those in the now ubiquitous red shirts at Monday’s meeting were Roger and Christine Jolicoeur and Debbie Weddle.

Weddle said she was a 33-year employee of the hospital and was there to support the current facility.

Dr. Nick Karahalios speaks to a gathering of supporters of the current hospital facility at the Ocean Institute Monday. He is holding thousands of petitions signed in support of keeping the hospital open. Photo: Jim Shilander

San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

“I’m very much aware of the number of lives we’ve saved in the emergency room, including several children,” Weddle said.

On one recent day, six hospitals were on diversion and the hospital admitted a patient who had to come in from Fountain Valley due to a lack of space elsewhere to the north.

Roger Jolicouer said one of the primary reasons he and his wife had moved to the city was the presence of a local hospital. He said closing the hospital with a population base of “maybe over a 100,000 people in the area makes no common sense at all.”

DELAYING ACTION? Hospital administrators, project opponents and city officials met with Assemblyman Bill Brough and Senator Pat Bates Friday to discuss the project. Brough and Bates issued a joint press release Monday calling for all sides to work together and announcing they would be open to pursuing legislation to allow for free-standing emergency rooms.

Brough said he and Bates want to see the project “slow down” in order to get more information on the impact on emergency services in order for legislative options to be pursued. The three year figure is consistent with previous statements on the potential time it would take to move such legislation forward and get it passed in order to keep emergency services open in the area.

“That’s clearly a heavy haul,” Brough said. “I understand MemorialCare’s position that health care’s changing. But this has a big impact on the region.”

Bates said at the meeting that she had pressed Geidt for a commitment to keep the facility open for three years, in order to pursue the legislation. Having spent time in the State Assembly, she said she believed there is a strong potential for moving a proposal She did say, however, that she felt any bill would require provisions for a place where patients could stay overnight.

San Clemente City Councilman Bob Baker was at the meeting as well and said he felt the session was “informational” on both sides. However, Baker said he felt there was a difference between the community wanting to see improvements in the facility and support for the model chosen

by MemorialCare.

“I think that MemorialCare has a different perspective of community support than I do,” Baker said. “When you ask someone if they want something new up there, they’ll say yes. But it doesn’t have to be only an out-patient center.”

Baker said he feels the most support would be for an option to expand the current facility to include many of the features of the out-patient pavilion but to keep the emergency room, even with a smaller inpatient center.

Struthers said MemorialCare is interested in pursuing the legislative options as well. However, he also said he would not compromise the quality of care provided by the hospital in order to meet a deadline. SC

Alleged McStay Killer to Represent Himself in Case SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he man San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and the County’s District Attorney believe to have killed the four members of the McStay family will apparently represent himself in court.

Charles Merritt, a former business associate of Joseph McStay, was arrested and charged with the murder of all four members of the McStay family in November.

During a court appearance last week, Merritt requested and was granted a motion to represent himself at his upcoming trial in an effort to have the case heard more quickly. He has pleaded not guilty. Merritt’s attorney indicated at the hearing that his

News Next Door

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

DANA POINT The “day the music died.” That’s what StillWater Spirits & Sounds owner Damian Collins has been calling Friday, Jan. 23, the day he received notice from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that his request to change his hours to 1 a.m. on the patio and 2 a.m. inside, seven nights a week, would be recommended for denial.

(The ABC currently limits alcoholic beverage sales on the outdoor patio to 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.)

The permit would also include conditions, one of which, Collins said, effectively bans live entertainment and outdoor dining at his establishment.

ABC officials said none of the conditions of the license actually prohibit Collins from having music, however, due to noise complaints, one of the conditions states that “Entertainment provided shall not be audible beyond the area under the control of the licensee,” a requirement Collins deems utterly impossible, unreasonable … and an outright assault on his business.

In response to a notice sent to area residents informing them of StillWater’s request, residents responded with 35 letters opposing the new hours, citing ongoing problems with noise. Collins, convinced the opposing group was organized by a local developer in an effort to shut him down, launched a social media campaign looking for community support and calling out, by name, the people he believed were responsible. Residents denied ill will toward Collins, saying they just want to be able to sleep at a decent hour. Both sides insisted the other had been unwilling to get together to discuss the issue.

City police said no city noise ordinances had been broken. Although the city did not give an opinion on Collins’ requested hours, the ABC’s ability to overrule city ordinances,

Page 8

client suffered from a medical condition that lead him to want to get through the trial more quickly.

If convicted, Merritt could face the death penalty. The judge in the case, Michael A. Smith, set a pre-trial status hearing for Feb. 20 and a preliminary hearing for April 7.

The McStays were residents of San Clemente before moving to Fallbrook, but maintained ties with many in the city before going missing in February 2010. The bodies of all four McStay family members, Joseph McStay, his wife, Summer McStay and their two sons, Gianni and Joseph McStay Jr., were found in November 2013 in rural San Bernardino County by a hiker. SC posed a problem for City Manager Doug Chotkevys who said, to him, the issue is about local control.

After a Jan. 28 meeting in Sacramento—facilitated by Assemblyman Bill Brough—with ABC and city officials, and then followed by city-initiated conversations locally with both sides the following day, encouraging words of a developing plan for compromise was hinted at by Chotkevys.

On Jan. 31, Collins said, in the interest of working toward a common-ground resolution, he decided, for the time being, to cancel his application for extended hours.—Andrea Swayne

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO At the San Juan Capistrano City Council’s Jan. 20 meeting, councilmember and former mayor Roy Byrnes announced his intent to retire from the dais. Following that announcement, the decision was made at the council’s Feb. 3 meeting to expedite the replacement process by appointing a resident to fill the vacancy on Feb. 10.

The City Council was faced with three options for replacing Byrnes at Tuesday’s meeting—appoint a resident to fill the vacancy, call a special election, or make an interim appointment. The council voted unanimously to make an appointment.

Mayor Derek Reeve requested that the process be expedited with an application deadline of Friday, Feb. 6 and an appointment made at a council meeting on Feb. 10.

The motion passed 3-1, with Byrnes recusing himself from the discussion and vote and councilmember Sam Allevato objecting to the accelerated schedule.

“If you’re going to be a City Council member, chances are you know what’s going on,” Reeve said. “As a council member, you’re doing a lot of work on a quick basis. So for me, it’s almost a job interview to get your application in on time.”

The council voted unanimously to allow the candidates to make three minute presentations during the Feb. 10 public comment before the decision is made.—Allison Jarrell www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: City Council Corner By Councilmember Bob Baker

Picking Up the PACE

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624

Home improvement can also mean greater efficiency

I

t seems like we have been talking about energy efficiency for a very long time.

In the past few years, some state legislation has been passed to help homeowners with CITY COUNCIL financing for home efCORNER ficiency upgrades. I’m

By Bob Baker passing along information gathered by Assistant City Engineer Tom Bonigut, the city’s point man on this effort. This government program I am referring to is called PACE, which stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy.

In a nutshell, the property owner hires a contractor to do an energy efficiency improvement project. You then apply for financing and if approved, the costs are repaid by an increase in your yearly tax bill.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PACE? PACE financing provides the up-front cost of energy efficiency or energy generation projects. The advantages of PACE financing include no money down, no requirement for credit ratings or credit applications and repayment terms between five and 20 years. PACE provides access to competitive funding for projects that help reduce utility costs.

HOW DOES IT WORK? PACE programs are funded by private capital, and then the loan cost plus interest is repaid over time through the property tax bill. PACE financing is completely voluntary on the part of property owners. PACE assessments are only added to property taxes when a property owner applies and enters an agreement to fund their own energy efficiency or energy generation projects.

WHAT KINDS OF PROJECTS CAN PACE FUND? PACE programs will fund a wide range of energy and water efficiency, as well as energy generation projects. The table below lists just some of the eligible improvements. The city recommends that property owners interested in pursuing solar energy should focus first on any needed building efficiency improvements. Home inspectors or energy auditors can help identify recommended improvements.

Energy Efficiency Heating/Cooling systems San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

similarly, but each program sets its own interest rates, so property owners may wish to compare all three, plus any other financing options that might be available, to determine which makes the most sense. There will be some fees charged as part of the application and payment procedures, so check each program’s details and terms.

Attic, Wall & Floor Insulation Cool Roofs and Walls Windows & Doors Applied Window Films Air Duct Replacement or Sealing Gas Water Heaters Skylights Ventilating Fans Indoor & Outdoor Lighting Fixtures Programmable Thermostat Controls Renewable Energy Electric Vehicle Charging Station Solar Panels Solar Pool Heating Solar Water Heating Water Efficiency Efficient Toilets Hot Water Delivery Systems Weather-Based Irrigation Control Systems Drip Irrigation Synthetic Turf WHAT PACE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE IN SAN CLEMENTE? There are three PACE programs operating in California that are available to San Clemente residential and commercial property owners. The programs are: • CaliforniaFIRST: www.californiafirst.org • Figtree Financing: www.figtreefinancing.com • HERO Financing: www.heroprogram.com/sanclemente The CaliforniaFIRST program is active and ready to accept applications. It is expected that the Figtree program will be active by the end of this month and the HERO program by the end of March.

WHO INSTALLS THE IMPROVEMENTS? Generally property owners must use contractors who are registered with each program, but in some cases may self-install improvements depending on the program or the improvement project.

Contractors who are registered with the PACE programs must be properly licensed and bonded with the Contractors State License Board and receive required training.

For more information, visit the PACE program websites listed above. Interested local contractors are also encouraged to visit the program websites above to become registered.

Bob Baker served term as Mayor of San Clemente in 2013. He was re-elected to the San Clemente City Council in 2012 after first being elected in 2008. He is a more than 20-year resident of the city and currently serves as the city’s mayor pro-tem.

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.

HOW DO I GET PACE FUNDING FOR MY PROJECT? To participate, interested property owners work with one of the PACE programs directly (not the city) by following this simple process: 1. Apply: Find out how much funding is approved for your property.

2. Select: Choose the eligible products and select a program-authorized contractor.

3. Sign: Sign your financing documents. Each program determines its own interest rates, and there will be some fees charged as part of the application and payment procedures.

4. Complete: Finish the installation and submit follow-up documentation.

All three PACE programs operate Page 9

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso.

San Clemente Times columnist Jim Kempton will be this week’s guest speaker. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Jim Shilander every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome.

CORRECTION: Information from the recent Best of San Clemente People’s Choice Ole Awards related to the dental practice of Dr. Collins Harrell was misattributed. The information should have been attributed to Dr. Collins Harrell. We regret the error.

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

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

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Picket Fence Media Group Senior Editor, City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick

City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander

OPERATIONS

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Finance Director > Mike Reed

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Kevin Dahlgren, Catherine Manso, Dana Schnell, Steve Sohanaki, Tim Trent

San Clemente Times, Vol. 10, Issue 6. 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 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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SOAPBOX

Letters to the Editor A QUESTION OF FAIRNESS RANDALL SHAFFER, San Clemente

I just finished reading the guest opinion by Herman Sillas (Jan. 22, SC Times, “Behind the Scenes of the Driver’s License Debate”). I can’t believe his thinking. Does he really see the logic in or as to why illegals have a right to a driver’s license? First, he states that the original driver’s licenses were created for the safety of drivers and pedestrians, which I fully agree with, but then he completely goes off the reservation as to why illegal or even non-English speaking people have a right to driver’s licenses.

Again, he basically states they need a license for safety. That’s where he loses me.

Per his article, we taxpayers needed to pay to make the Department of Motor Vehicles test in languages other than English, due to the fact these non-English speaking folks were passing the written test by cheating.

Since they didn’t understand English, they simply memorized the order of true and false answers on a multiple choice test sheet, which is cheating and fraudulent.

After passing the written test by cheating, they were given the chance to do the actual driving part of the test, which they failed— can’t cheat on that test I guess.

If I understand this correctly, we needed to make DMV test in the languages of Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Tagalog. We needed to make these tests in these languages so people were not cheating and actually forced to know material of the test. So if they can read the test, and pass without cheating, they are better or safer drivers.

All this is provided to people here illegally or too lazy to learn English, and this all on the taxpayer’s dime. So since all of our road signs are in English, how does a foreign language written test make it safer for any non-English speaking person on the roads.

If I see a Caltrans digital sign saying “right lane closed” or “debris in road, slow down” and I don’t read or understand English, how am I a safer driver for passing a test that’s not in English?

In my opinion, these tests should be more random so answers can’t be so easily memorized. That would have been cheaper and forced people who can’t read our road signs to understand the true hazards of the road. Wouldn’t that be safer for all, instead of making the only driving experience in their language the written test?

My grandparents came to the U.S. from Canada, it took them five years to be legal citizens and to have legal driver’s licenses.

Why should they be punished for doing it the right way, while our government spends our tax dollars on illegal cheating folks. It seems to me, we punish those who do good, honest things, meanwhile, we praise, and make a way for people who San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

cheat on a test in a country they may not legally be in or respect enough to learn the language.

DON’T BELIEVE THE HOSPITAL HYPE CAROL WILSON, Capistrano Beach

Recently there was an open house at Bella Collina put on by Saddleback Hospital touting the new Advanced Urgent Care that was going to be so much more than our community hospital emergencey room.

One of the things in the literature and repeated by the hospital representatives was that this “advanced urgent care” would be open 24/7. That is not true. At a city sponsored meeting, Dr. Wacholder, a director on the Board of Saddleback Memorial stated that it “may be” open 24 hours, but it has not been decided yet. Other reps stated there would be extended hours. So our 24/7 ER will be replaced by something much less than what we have now.

Ambulances and paramedics cannot take patients to an urgent care facility, and at this time there are laws prohibiting free standing emergency rooms, so anyone in San Clemente will have to be taken to the nearest ER that is not on diversion (too many patients to accept more). At the current time, with San Clemente ER open, Mission Hospital is on diversion almost 20 percent of the time. What will that percentage climb to when 40 patients seen at SC Hospital have to go to Mission? Saddleback Laguna Hills has similar diversion percentages. Driving from south San Clemente to Laguna Hills is 30 minutes or more, and it is estimated morality rates will climb 10 percent, which doesn’t sound that bad unless it is someone in your family.

You must have money to pay, or have insurance to be treated at an urgent care.

They are free to turn away any injured or critically sick patient that doesn’t have the money, unlike a hospital that is required to stabilize anyone that comes to the ER. The current law does not require doctors to see patients at an urgent care. It can be a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner. We have no guarantees that the new advanced urgent care will be staffed by doctors on the premises.

Information obtained by the Freedom and Information Act shows that in 2013/2014, 82 percent of all San Clemente paramedic transports were taken to San Clemente ER which is very different than the percent Saddleback management is claiming come to San Clemente Hospital.

The bypass percentage is 18 percent, not the 64 percent Saddleback management is telling everyone.

As for the outpatient surgery center (remember outpatient surgery is available in the hospital now), do you want to have a surgery where the nearest place a hospital can save your life is 20-30 minutes away or more? Think Joan Rivers.

Look past the hype to make more money for a non profit hospital that earns $300 million annually tax free to what serves our community. SaveSanClementeHospital.org has further information.

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SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 05 JANINE AND HANS DUO 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

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

AN INSPECTOR CALLS 8 p.m. A young girl is thought to have committed suicide and an respectable British family is subject to a routine inquiry in this play written by J.B. Priestly. Runs through Sunday, Feb. 8 with performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.cabrilloplayhouse. org or by calling at 949.492.0465.

CITIZEN COPE 8 p.m. An intimate solo, acoustic performance at The Coach House. Tickets $36.

Doors open at 6 p.m. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

Friday | 06 MILLERTIME BOOGIE BAND 7 p.m. Music and dancing at Zona’s Italian American Cuisine, 647 Camino De Los Mares No. 126, San Clemente, 949.940.8845, www.zonasitalianrestaurant.com.

PROPER FRIDAY’S 9 p.m. to midnight. Live DJs playing deep groovy electronic influenced music in a mood controlled room. All music is broadcast live on proper-radio.com. Pierside Kitchen and Bar, 610 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, 949.218.0980, www.piersidesc.com.

GROOVE SESSION WITH SAPPHIRE ROAD AT OC TAVERN 9:30 p.m. Live music every Friday and Saturday night. $8. 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.542.8877, www.octavern.com.

Saturday | 07

ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m-7 p.m. Climb onboard a Dana Wharf luxury catamaran for this 90-minute wine cruise around the Dana Point Harbor. Tickets are $49. Every Friday and Sunday. See more events online. Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 888.224.0603, www.danawharf.com.

FALCONRY DEMONSTRATION AND GUIDED WALK 7 a.m.-10 a.m. Enjoy a morning walk and a falconry demonstration at The Reserve in Rancho Mission Viejo. Licensed falconer Adam Chavez will educate patrons about the partnership between humans and raptors and discuss the traditional practice of falconry. The event includes an opportunity to take a photo with one of the birds. Ages 8 and up. Adults $35, children 12 and under $30.

Participants must be registered by 4 p.m. on Feb. 6. Future San Juan Creek Trail, call for directions, 949.923.2210, www.rmvreserve.org.

SCOTT ROBINSON OC ELVIS 7:30-11:30. Live music at Harpoon Henry’s.

34555 Golden Lantern St, Dana Point, 949.493.2933, www.windandsearestaurants.com/harpoonhenrys.

POWDER AND POOFF! 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Female impersonator show. Dinner Reservations recommended starting at 6 p.m. for best seating. Show reservations can be made by calling in advance at 949.481.1222, 2600 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, www.adelesanclementeinn.com.

EDITOR’S PICK

Sunday | 08

Monday | 09 COUNTRY DANCIN’ WITH PATRICK AND FRIENDS 6:30 p.m. Every Monday at The Swallow’s Inn with steak night and happy hour prices. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188.

Tuesday | 10 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.

Wednesday | 11 DOWNTOWN SJC FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Fresh flowers, produce and specialty foods from around 40 vendors in downtown San Juan Capistrano, on the corner of Camino Capistrano and Yorba Street. Occurs every Wednesday. www.farmersmarketsjc.com.

COMEDY NIGHT 9:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m. Live comedy at Molly Bloom’s Irish Bar. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.218.0120, www.mollybloomsirishbar.com.

Thursday | 12

Photo: Nathan Wright

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8: SAN CLEMENTE FARMER’S MARKET 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday on Avenida Del Mar. Rain or shine.

San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

CASA UP CLOSE: ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY 7 p.m. Jeanine Pedersen, Associate Curator for Archaeology, The Dr. John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center and Lecturer, Department of Anthropology at California State University Fullerton will focus on the archaeology and cultural history of Orange County, and explore the civilizations who called it home. Tickets $12, $10 for Casa members.

Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

Page 11

Photo: Greg Gorman

On Stage at the Coach House: Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

BY CATHERINE MANSO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

ttmar Liebert and Luna Negra, who perform what they call “new flamenco,” will be coming to the Coach House on Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14, for Valentine’s Day weekend.

The band is touring California with new material and can’t wait to show the Coach House audiences what they have planned. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert, known for his new age Spanish guitar, says, “We’ll play some brand new stuff that hasn’t been recorded yet and, of course, we’ll dip into our catalog and play some of the old favorites.”

Liebert’s catalog stretches over 25 years of published music. An old favorite included in the repertoire will be the 1990 song, “Barcelona Nights.”

Members of Luna Negra include bass player Jon Gagan and percussion player Chris Steele. Liebert finds chemistry to be a very important element in his band, he says. “It’s been amazing to have a band together for several years because you get so much tighter. You can start trusting each other.”

The Coach House is the band’s second stop, out of five locations, on their California tour.

“It should be a fun little tour ... ” Liebert said.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $30 and dinner reservations with priority seating are also available.

The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. For tickets or info, call 949.496.8930 or go to www.thecoachhouse.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

871 Avenida Acapulco, San Clemente Unparelleled Views from Dana Harbor Mouth to Los Coronados Islands off Baja and Quality Construction from a Master Architect/ Owner join together in this Premier Residence of Magnificent Quality and Design—truly an Incomparable Rare Offering. Perched at the top of prestigious Mariner’s Point, this custom residence of nearly 7400 square feet, includes five bedrooms, four and one half baths, coffered ceilings, custom designer glass/wood accents, 66 French doors, three fireplaces, two bedrooms/baths on the main level, sunrooms, artist studio, and wine cellar. There are two floors with working studios, which have potential for home theatre, dance/exercise work rooms or guest house. A beautiful pool and spa grace the rear yard with patios of travertine/ tile, waterfalls, bridges, and two-story gazebo with panoramic ocean vistas and sunsets from both levels. Mariner’s Point is an exclusive community of exquisite custom homes with peaceful/serene expansive ocean views, no association and no Mello-Roos. $4,950,000 Pauline Jordan 949.498.1936 949.212.7516 paulinejordan@cox.net Paulinejordan.com PreviewsAdvantage.com Lic#01053043

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Dedication to the Service

holiday programs and hospitality for those studying at the School of Infantry. The YMCA also helps manage the recreation center near the school. The organization has existed since 1943 and been on base at Pendleton since 1995.

Mixon has been serving as the group’s parliamentarian, which means he sits on nearly every committee the organization has. He had more than 270 volunteer hours for the organization last year. Much of that time is spent taking

photographs at some of the organization’s events, such as the dances and giveaways.

“I felt like there were people who were more deserving than me, Mixon said.

“Nevertheless, I’m overwhelmed by it.”

Executive Director George Brown said Mixon’s dedication over his seven years with the board was an important part of earning him the honor.

“I can count on him being there, with his time and his energy,” Brown said. “He makes every single meeting.”

Mixon, who served in the Navy in the period between the Korean and Vietnam wars, became friends with staff at Pendleton after settling in San Clemente. He was invited to a number of events, when a retiring general suggested he become involved on a more proactive basis.

“These young people, they are so absolutely overwhelmed, so grateful, so polite and so nice,” Mixon said. “Whatever comes up that they need help with, I’ll come help them. Because I enjoy doing it and I have the time to do it. Which makes it even better.”

More information on the organization can be found at www.asymca.org/camppendleton-ca. SC

New San Clemente resident Trina Scherenberg says she greatly enjoyed her time on “The Bachelor.”

Photo. Courtesy

sent a video in and I heard from producers two days later. Then it was back and forth to and from L.A. for interviews and casting calls. It’s a very in-depth process.

I found out in early September/late August.”

She left to film the show later in September and spent several weeks there.

But, she said, the surreal experience of filming was one she wasn’t prepared for.

“Filming’s about eight weeks long, but honestly, you don’t know what day it is and you don’t know what time it is because you don’t have TVs, you don’t have phones,” she said. “I felt like I was there for five months.”

After seven of the show’s initial 30 contestants were eliminated on the first night, the nitty-gritty of filming began, she said.

“There were 23 of us living under one roof, in bunk beds, and we didn’t get to pick the rooms,” she said. “We didn’t get to pick our bunk mate. You learn to survive.”

As the oldest contestant this season at 33, Scherenberg said she had some different concerns than some of the other competitors.

“The cattiness is there, and you really have to watch yourself,” she said. “You’re encouraged to have no filter, basically.

But I feel like I know myself, that I’m more confident than a 24-year-old. I have an idea of where I want to go and what I want to do with my life. I didn’t want to say something that would truly jeopardize my future, whether it be in love or a

career. Going on interviews, I didn’t want anyone saying, ‘You’re that crazy girl from “The Bachelor.”’”

Watching the show now, she said, it was difficult to remember just what happened.

“I got so nervous watching myself after the first five minutes, because I thought ‘I don’t remember doing half of that, because it was such a long night.’ You’re filmed for 24-hours a day. Watching it now, I’m usually saying ‘I had no clue that was even going on.’”

Her experiences included a “group date” involving a paintball game with a number of other contestants and the series’ star, Chris Soules. She said even in the week she was eliminated, there was more interaction with Soules than what was shown.

Scherenberg spent seven years teaching special needs students at the high school level. She said her experiences in her own life, as well as seeing first-hand the effect of bullying on kids at schools, made her want to pursue finding ways to combat bullying.

She’s also entered a sort of family.

Many contestants from “The Bachelor” and its affiliated shows stay in contact with one another and host reunions. A recent contestant who owns a bar in San Diego is hosting one this weekend.

“Maybe through that, I’ll meet someone. It was an amazing opportunity that’s once in a lifetime. It’s cheesy and dramatic, but it’s also cool to be a part of that.” SC

San Clemente man named Armed Services YMCA Volunteer of the Year

BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

or many years, San Clemente’s Ed Mixon has been actively volunteering at Camp Pendleton, trying to make life easier for military families.

Recently, Mixon was honored for that service, being named the Armed Services YMCA’s Civilian Volunteer of the Year at the organization’s recent installation dinner.

Among other efforts, the YMCA supports military families, primarily those of junior enlisted men on base. Among the programs are father-daughter and mother-son dances, an annual ball gown giveaway before the Marine Corps Ball,

Ed Mixon was awarded by the Armed Services YMCA as its civilian volunteer of the year recently.

Photo. Jim Shilander

Back to Reality

New San Clemente woman—and former ‘Bachelor’ contestant— hoping to find her place

BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

rina Scherenberg only just arrived in San Clemente when she got an opportunity to do something she said she simply couldn’t pass up.

The Chicago-area native was recently a contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelor.” She was eliminated in the third week of the show, which is ongoing.

Scherenberg came to San Clemente in July, after falling in love with the city and life in California when she visited her brother and his wife, who moved to the city five years ago. Formerly a high school teacher, Scherenberg had summers off and came to a decision to leave the Midwest and her home in suburban Chicago.

“I was tired of those brutal winters,” Scherenberg said.

There was also a tragic component.

Scherenberg’s father had passed away the year earlier, which convinced her that she needed to seize the opportunity to make a change.

“It taught me that life is so short and

San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

you don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring,” Scherenberg said. “There was never going to be a perfect time, so I just decided to do it.”

Scherenberg figured coming west after the school year was done would be the perfect time to allow her to get her bearings and get started on her new life. Until she got the call for “The Bachelor.”

“It was definitely one of my favorite shows,” Scherenberg said. “It’s all the drama. It’s having girls over for some wine. And I’d always thought it’d be cool to be on a reality show. I’d been single for a few years, moved out here single.

Everyone told me ‘You need to be on ‘The Bachelor.’ I didn’t think I’d make it. But I

Page 22

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING

Local Actor, Author Has Stories to Tell Fahim Fazli of Dana Point appears in ‘American Sniper,’ is finishing second book and looking forward to life story becoming a movie

BY TOM BLAKE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

here are lots of interesting people who live in the tri-city area. As a columnist, I am fortunate to meet many of them.

In early January, I was having coffee with friends at J.C. Beans Coffee House on Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point.

They introduced me to their neighbor, Fahim, a regular customer there. Even though Fahim has lived in Dana Point for 28 years, I had never met him.

When I asked Fahim what type of work he was in, he modestly said, “I am an author and an actor.”

As writers, we had much in common.

He signed a copy of his 2012, memoir, Fahim Speaks, and handed it to me. I said, “It will be fun to learn about you.” He smiled.

We promised to stay in touch.

While reading each page of Fahim Speaks, I became more and more fascinated with this man’s life. As a young boy growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan, Fahim sometimes skipped school and went to the movies. His dream was to become an actor in Hollywood.

In September 1983, Fahim’s father came home one day and said to him and his brother, “Pack your bag, we are leaving immediately.” The communist secret police, who occupied Afghanistan, were about to arrest his father. If that happened, Fahim and his brother would have been sent to an “indoctrination” camp in Russia.

Fahim’s mother, two younger sisters and older brother had escaped four years earlier. Fahim guessed they had made it to America, but his family had not heard from them.

The goal was to make it to Pakistan, and then, somehow, some day, get to the United States. Fahim’s book takes readers on that perilous and dangerous journey.

The three family members made it safely to Pakistan, crossing the border by horseback over a freezing mountain pass.

They applied with the American Embassy to go to America. After a four-year wait, one day they were summoned to the embassy. His mother and siblings had been located in Virginia. The family was reunited by telephone. Fahim said to his mother, “We are on our way to join you in America.” He was 18.

After living in Virginia, the family moved to California. The book explains how Fahim eventually moved to Orange County and took acting classes, hoping to fulfill his childhood dream. He became a U.S. citizen.

In 1996, Fahim met Amy, his future wife, at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach. A year later, they moved to an apartment in Dana Point. He was working for Nordstrom’s and at a mortgage company. And he was getting movie work as an extra.

While on vacation, he proposed to Amy on a ferry boat crossing the Straits of Gibraltar from Tangier to Spain. They married in Orange County. Three years later, they were blessed with a daughter Sophia, who now attends Dana Hills High School.

Fahim and I got together last week.

What struck me the most about him is his love of this country and his positive attitude. He said, “In this beautiful country, everything is possible. If you love what you do, it will happen.”

He told me he has appeared in 60 movies and television shows, including Rambo III, Charlie Wilson’s War, Iron Man, and now, American Sniper.

He said, “I have been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, network television, magazines and have been on numerous talk shows. Your newspaper is

Fahim Fazli of Dana Point is looking forward to his book “Fahim Speaks” being made into a movie. Also an actor, Fazli has appeared in dozens of television shows and movies, most recently appearing in the movie “American Sniper.” Photo: Tom Blake

the first media outlet in Orange County to interview me.”

Fahim was so grateful for the opportunity to live in America, he wanted to give back to his adopted country and at the same time help his native country.

He signed up to be an interpreter for the Marines and returned to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.

He returned again in 2014. But when his agent called to say that he had a role in the Clint Eastwood movie, American Sniper, he resigned his position and returned to Dana Point.

There is much to learn about Fahim’s life by reading his book and visiting his website. He said, “Fahim Speaks is now a screenplay, a mandatory step to becoming a movie. We are just waiting for financing.”

He has also completed his second book, which will be published soon.

In this beautiful country, “everything is possible. If you love what you do, it will happen.

”

– Fahim Fazli

“I’ve learned from my experiences to be optimistic and forward-looking,” Fahim said. “I told myself, ‘What’s done is done. Things happen for reasons which will make sense later, if we have faith and hope. Don’t dwell on the past. Think about possibilities.’”

When the movie about Fahim’s life is made, we will have a movie star living in Dana Point. SC

SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Wellness and Prevention by Susan Parmelee

“I Hate You, You’re Stupid ... Can You Please Drive Me to T Street?”

Patience is always the virtue for parents of teens

S

ometimes parenting pre-teens and teens can be an “I love you/I love you not” experience. As frustrating as this can be, I encourage parents to (as one wise mom described) try to be that one rock that sticks up in the ocean—always be there in the exact same place, but know that you will be struck by some pretty fierce waves and experience some intense storms. Following are just a few guidelines to keep steady through the best and worst times: 1. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY: 12-to 25-year-olds are immature in their ability to understand and express their emotions.

Don’t lash out in return, don’t debate, don’t engage. Just listen and be a safe place. Try to remember what it was like to be their age. Would you want advice from your parents? Your kid is not looking for your opinion or to be taught a lesson or for you to solve their problem. They just need to be heard.

2. ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OTHER: Say hello and goodbye. Say goodnight with a hug. Maybe skip the hug when friends are around or hug the friends as well. My daughter and her friends got pretty used to hugs. Smile at your kid when they get in the car. Expect your greeting to be returned. If this is a new pattern try humor. Mom: “Hi how was your day?” ( silence) Mom: “Oh just great my teacher made me feel stupid and I failed my quiz.” Kid: “Funny, no I did not fail my quiz and my teacher had us discuss some pretty interesting stuff.”

3. BE AVAILABLE: This can be hard, we are all super busy. Attempt a regular “date” time with your kid. This can be as simple as one-on-one time while you watch “American Idol.” Be prepared to drop everything occasionally if your teen really

needs you. If you are not available for your teen they will go somewhere else to have their emotional needs met.

4. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR POSITIVE INTERACTIONS: For relationWELLNESS AND ships to stay strong PREVENTION we need five positive

By Susan interactions to erase one Parmelee negative interaction.

Sometimes we go through phases where finding those positives can be difficult. It can be as simple as a rub on the back for no reason or a “thanks for taking out the trash before I asked.” Think about a boss you have had who only told you when you did something wrong—did you feel encouraged to do your best?

5. SPEND TIME TOGETHER EVERYDAY: Make sure you have time to connect with your teen every day. Maybe while you wash the dishes, a cup of tea after dinner, or over breakfast in the morning.

These routine times are when your child will bring up something that is bothering them. I cannot stress enough the importance of family dinners. Families who sit down to dinner together most nights of the week have emotionally healthier kids.

Susan Parmelee is a social worker who works during the week at San Clemente High School in the Wellness & Prevention Center and at Western Youth Services. To subscribe to Wellness and Prevention Center weekly emails email “subscribe” to tritons41@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.

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 February 5-11, 2015

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

Page 24

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Triton Report

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

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

For a full version of this week’s Triton Report, visit www.sanclementetimes.com.

Girls Soccer Stuns Aliso Niguel, Draws With Cougars San Clemente’s Sophia Spralja booted home the biggest goal of the Tritons soccer season to date on Jan. 29, scoring the game winner with just five minutes to go in a South Coast League dual against topranked Aliso Niguel.

The two teams were deadlocked at 0-0 until the 75th minute, when Spralja handled a pass off a free kick, split two defenders and chipped the ball over the Wolverines keeper.

Aliso Niguel was the aggressor in the opening half and controlled the ball for much of the first 40 minutes. The Wolverines outshout the Tritons 5-1 at the half.

San Clemente (5-8-4, 3-2-1 league) went on to draw 0-0 with Capistrano Valley on Feb. 3, putting them in solo second place

Sanden Eyes Seventh Marathon on Seventh Continent

Beth Sanden will travel to Antarctica for her toughest challenge yet

BY STEVE BREAZEALE , SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

B

eth Sanden has navigated her way over the bumpy dirt roads of Peru, traversed the cobbled streets of Rome and conquered a route up the Great Wall of China all in the midst of completing a marathon. Now the frozen tundra awaits.

Sanden, 60, who is partially paralyzed from the waist down, will embark on a trip to Antarctica on Feb. 13 to complete her

San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

San Clemente senior Sophia Spralja scored the game-winning goal in the Tritons 1-0 victory over top-ranked Aliso Niguel on Jan. 29. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

in league. —Kevin Dahlgren contributed to this report

Energetic Tritons Soccer Pushes Past Cougars, Takes Control of League From the opening whistle of Thursday’s South Coast League match at Capistrano Valley High School, it was apparent that the San Clemente boys soccer team was playing in another gear.

The Tritons flashed speed and ball control throughout the opening 40 minutes of play, scoring two goals and dominating possession in what turned into a 3-1 victory over the Cougars. seventh marathon on the seventh and final continent needed to complete a journey that has been four years in the making.

Upon completion of her 26.2 miles in Antarctica, Sanden will be the first disabled athlete to hit the seven-continent mark.

Sanden will take on the icy trek on a custom 45-pound hand cycle with large wheels that are studded for extra traction.

The trip will undoubtedly be her toughest test yet.

She is bracing for temperatures in the low teens and expects it to be slow goings over Antarctica’s landscape, which features slow-rolling hills. Sanden usually finishes a marathon in a little over two hours. That won’t be the case in two weeks.

“I presume I’m probably going to be out there seven to eight hours … it’s not a paved road and it’s not my race bike,” Sanden said. “It’s a 45-pound mountain hand cycle that I have to push and I’m only 110 pounds. It’s a lot more work.”

She has spent months training in Big Bear and Mammoth in order to acclimate her body to colder temperatures and high altitude. The area in Antarctica where she will be doing the marathon is around

San Clemente (13-5-3, 5-0-1 league) pressed high up the field, taking shots at will while setting the Cougars (8-4-2, 1-2-1) defense on their heels.

After taking three corner kicks within the first 15 minutes of play, the Tritons fourth corner attempt resulted in a loose ball in front of the net. San Clemente senior Eddie Molina took advantage and scored to give the Tritons an early 1-0 lead at the 18-minute mark.

In the 37th minute, a streaking Matias Ledesma jumped out in front of a Tritons counter attack and corralled a wide through ball with just the Cougars goalie to beat. Ledesma slid the ball past to give San Clemente a 2-0 advantage just before halftime.

San Clemente outshot Capo Valley 12-2 in the opening 40 minutes and 21-8 over the full 80 minutes.

“It was their quickness to the ball. Their bite on their tackles was really quick and they weren’t sitting around waiting for things to happen, they went after the game,” San Clemente head coach Mike Pronier said. “I’m excited about that.

Whatever the soccer is that we’re playing, energy like that is going to win us games” An unassisted Joe Iorio goal gave the Tritons a 3-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

Capistrano Valley mounted a comeback with 20 minutes to go, scoring their lone goal in the 60th minute.

The Tritons will have had over one week off before hosting San Juan Hills on Feb. 6, which gave the team time to see how the standings shake up before continuing

league play.

“We had to win this game if we wanted a chance at winning league. And now, we don’t play for another week, we can sit back and sort of see what happens and maybe get a little breathing room,” Pronier said.

After Successful Stretch, Tritons Wrestlers Prep for CIF The San Clemente High School wrestling team finished the month of Jan. with a flurry, toppling defending league champion Laguna Hills in a dual meet, placing second in their own Rotary Invitational and qualifying 10 wrestlers for CIF-SS Individual Championship competition at the Coast View Conference Championships.

In their Rotary Invitational, San Clemente defeated Temecula Valley in tournament play for the first time in 20 years, according to head coach Mark Calentino.

The Coast View Conference Championships served as the CIF postseason qualifier for San Clemente and they will be well represented at the championships Feb. 20-21.

Daniel Flener, Sebastian Beltran, Kyle Pugh, Noah Fiegener, Tyler Meisinger, Kyle Marshall, Mike Marshall, Zack Henderson, Alex Ames and Tyler Howrey all qualified for CIF. Kyle McCroskey will be the team’s alternate heavyweight.

The Tritons will likely compete in the CIF Dual Meet Championships at Marina High School on Feb. 7, pending the tournament draw sheet. SC

San Clemente’s Beth Sanden trains on her custom mountain hand cycle in Big Bear in January. Photo: Courtesy

sea level, but Sanden has been told the conditions will make her body feel like it is several thousand feet up.

Because of her condition, Sanden does not get proper circulation to the lower part of her body, exposing cold and frostbite as a real concern. But she has found custom battery-operated socks, gloves and hunting pants that have worked brilliantly in training, she said.

Sanden’s journey for her seventh marathon across the globe started back in 2011.

Over that time, the San Clemente resident, who is also a coach for the Challenged Ath-

Page 25

letes Foundation and USA Triathlon team, did not start out looking for attention but rather to serve as a source of inspiration.

“I’m looking to inspire. And hopefully the people that I coach, able-bodied and disabled, that they will see … I’m 60 years old and I can set goals. I’m 60 and I can still achieve them and they can too,” Sanden said. “Nonetheless, there are people who are training for Ironman or the Paralympics that I coach and they see an old lady doing something like this and go ‘Wow, OK cool.’ So hopefully it’s to inspire them to keep going.” SC www.sanclementetimes.com

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ART GALLERIES

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

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Village Books

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Thompson Chiropractic

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Schmid’s Fine Chocolate

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1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com

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Sea View Pharmacy

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Bill Metzger Plumbing

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

Syrens Hair Parlor

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

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Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

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South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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Waterbabies Swim School

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Colony Termite Control

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Page 27

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Football: Whimpey Chooses Boise State

Tritons Sign National Letters of Intent

Record-setting linebacker will join Broncos following two-year LDS mission

COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE

F

eb. 4 marked the first official day high school student-athletes could commit to their collegiate school of choice. During a ceremony at San Clemente High School, 26 Triton seniors signed their National Letter of Intent in front of classmates, friends and family.

Visit www.sanclementetimes.com for a recap of the day’s events, along with a photo slideshow.

Here is a list of the San Clemente student-athletes who will compete at the next level, along with their school of choice.

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

nce he stepped on campus at Boise State University, Riley Whimpey had a feeling that is where he would be the happiest playing collegiate football.

Whimpey, who transferred to San Clemente High School by way of Utah for his senior season, barnstormed his way onto the Orange County football scene. The 6-foot-2-inch hard hitting middle linebacker recorded 172 total tackles, shattering the previous school record of 115, helped power the Tritons to the CIF-SS Southwest Division championship game and was named the division’s defensive player of the year.

Following such a breakout year, the college suitors came calling.

Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin and linebackers coach Andy Avalos were the first to offer Whimpey in Dec. Several other Division 1 schools were showing heavy interest, according to Tritons head coach Jaime Ortiz, and Utah State offered Whimpey in early Jan. Utah State posed an interesting option for Whimpey. His two older brothers, Kevin and Kyle, are both Aggies. Kevin Whimpey, an offensive lineman, will play his final season there next year.

The University of Utah of the PAC-12 jumped into the mix after Whimpey had already taken his official visit to Boise State. Whimpey contemplated taking an official visit to Utah and called up Harsin to tell him about it. Once he got off the phone,

RILEY WHIMPEY 2014 STATS Total Tackles 172 (school record) Solo Tackles 130 Tackles Per Game 12.3 Sacks 5 Interceptions 2 (1 returned for a touchdown) Caused Fumbles 5 Tackles for loss 7 Passes Defensed 4 Blocked Punts 1

San Clemente Times February 5-11, 2015

WATER POLO Chase Hamming (Univ. of California Berkeley) GOLF Alexandra Cooper (San Jose State), Sammy Schwartz (Univ. of Hawaii, Manoa) San Clemente High School senior Riley Whimpey will play football for Boise State University after serving a two-year mission for his church. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Whimpey had second thoughts on taking the trip.

“After I got off the phone with (Harsin) I don’t know, I just didn’t have the best feeling about going on the Utah trip,” Whimpey said.

One hour later, Whimpey’s mind was made up. He was ready to commit to Boise State.

“I’ve had a really good feeling about Boise ever since I met with coach Avalos.

We’ve had a good relationship and gotten along really well,” Whimpey said. “I’ve known Boise is the right place for me. I’ve known it ever since I was in coach Harsin’s office. I wanted to commit and become a Bronco.”

Whimpey plans on majoring in business.

Whimpey will not immediately join the ranks of the Broncos roster next season.

After he graduates, he plans on taking a two-year LDS mission and serve his church. Currently, the Broncos are loaded with junior and senior linebackers, which makes Whimpey’s scheduled arrival date on campus in 2017 a perfect fit.

But a two-year mission is something Whimpey has dreamed about doing since he was a small child. His two older brothers and his father also served on missions in their youth and Whimpey plans to make his own mark once he graduates.

“I’ve always known it was the right thing to do ever since I was a little kid so I’ve been planning on doing it,” Whimpey said.

“Having Boise working with me on that means a lot. So I’m excited to go on my mission. SC Page 28

SOFTBALL Kelsey Horton (New Mexico State), Lauren Kane (Univ. of San Diego), Jordyne Prussak (Univ. of Chicago)

FOOTBALL Riley Whimpey (Boise State), Sam Darnold (USC) SWIM Emily Gough (Seattle Univ.)

SOCCER Hailey Laub (Air Force Academy), Brittany Hundley (Jacksonville Univ.), Cole Martinez (UCLA), Blayne Martinez (UCLA), Sophia Spralja (Sarah Lawrence College), Santiago DiGiuseppe (Univ. of San Francisco).

LACROSSE Max Lepley (Whittier College), Jack Renard (US Merchant Marine Academy) BASEBALL Kolby Allard (UCLA), Lucas Herbert (UCLA), Will Tribucher (Michigan), Trevor Beard (Purdue), Royce Jacobsen (Univ. of Hawaii, Hilo) VOLLEYBALL Matt August (UCI), Brandon Hopper (UC Santa Barbara), Natalie Knauf (Northwest Nazarene) SAND VOLLEYBALL Rebecca Dunne (USC)

SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY GROM OF THE WEEK

MYLES BIGGS

M

Barry Haun, SHACC curator and creative director (left) and Carl Eckstrom, pioneering asymmetrical surfboard shaper, stand with a couple of Eckstrom’s boards among a room full of others that will be on display from Feb. 7 through April in an exhibition of unconventional board design. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Down the Line, Outside the Box Surfing Heritage and Culture Center to host exhibition of nontraditional surfboard design

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

urfing is a sport where each ride is different, from start to finish, thanks to the infinite variety and random changes of ocean waves as tide rise and fall, swells come and go, sandbars shift and the winds shift speed and direction.

So it is not surprising that an endless supply of innovative and experimental shapes and fin setups—or no fins at all—have been created at the hands of surfboard shapers since Polynesians first began papa he’e nalu (sliding on waves) atop papa he’e nalu (a flat thing for sliding on waves).

From Feb. 7 through the end of April, the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center

is hosting an exhibition featuring four innovators who have gone beyond experimentation with rocker, fin set-up, materials, outline and dimension on classically symmetrical wave riding vehicles.

“What Box? Thinking Outside Traditional Lines of Surfboard Design” featuring the work of Carl Eckstrom, Tom Morey, Donald Brink and Ryan Burch, kicks off Saturday, Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at SHACC, 110 Calle Iglesia in San Clemente. The event, free for members and $5 for non-members, will include an exhibit of board—and other wave riding vehicle—design that breaks with tradition in every direction, from materials to asymmetry. Opening night will also

yles Biggs, 11, has gone from beginner to ripper in the two years since deciding to become a surfer. “I got my first board from my friend David Economos. He sold me a used Town & Country for like $40. It was a 4’8” and I learned by watching other people and just going out every day,” he said. Now in fifth grade at Concordia Elementary School, Myles is looking forward to trying out for the Shorecliffs Middle School surf team next year and is hard at word to make sure his surfing is up to the challenge.

Not only a hard worker in the lineup, at school he earns all ‘3s’ and ‘4s’ (on a 1-4 scale, 4 being the best) and wants to pursue both surfing and college after high school.

“Besides being a pro surfer, I’d like to be a teacher, not just so I can get the summers off, but because I want to make a difference in people’s lives, and also because my mom’s a teacher and she really enjoys it,” Myles said.

He has been surfing in Western Surfing Association and Soul Surf series events as well as local contests such as the Stoke-o-

feature food catered by Mahé of Dana Point and a no-host bar.

Barry Haun, SHACC curator and creative director, said the show is designed to focus on shapers who have not continued to follow fads, instead choosing not just to go outside the box, but to break out of it completely and during its run will include a special night with each shaper when guests can speak with them one-on-one.

“It’s going to be fun working with such incredibly talented people, both in the design field and as surfers, these guys are amazing,” said Eckstrom.

For more information, call SHACC at 949.388.0313 or visit www.surfingheritage.org.

Read the full story online at www.sanclementetimes.com. SC

Myles Biggs. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Rama. Now ranked No. 14 among a field of 64 in WSA Boys U12 competition, he says he owes his surfing success to more than his own dedication.

“I’d like to give a shout out to Cole surfboards for making me the best board. It works super good and has helped me so much in contests. He’s such a nice guy and a great shaper.”

Myles said. “And I want to thank my mom and dad for taking me to the beach every day, taking me to contests and helping me out in surfing and everything else. They are the kindest, best parents ever. I’m super grateful and lucky to have them.”—Andrea Swayne

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 60-62 degrees F Thursday and Friday: Leftovers of old/easing WNW swell still offer sets around 2-3’ at standout winter spots of South OC. Then a new West swell moves in on Friday with 3-4’+ surf at the better exposed breaks throughout the region. Mew/secondary SSW swell will build in over Friday. Look for calm to light/variable to light offshore through the mornings, with possible patchy fog. Then expect a light+ to moderate onshore wind into the afternoons.

Check out Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook!