February 12, 2015

LO C A L

N EWS

February 12-18, 2015

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Triton Athletes Celebrate Continuing Careers PAGE 21

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 7

No More Bullies

City’s Blue Ribbon Week activities target bullying in many forms EYE ON SC/PAGE 6

As a way to combat bullying and to honor Blue Ribbon Week, San Clemente High School has had a compliment wall up since Friday, allowing students to say positive things about one another. Cool 2 Be Kind leaders Victoria Mendez and Kasia Kosmala-Dahlbeck are helping to lead the effort. Photo: Jim Shilander

Marine Safety Urging Beachgoers to Stay Away from Beached Sea Lions EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

San Clemente Woman Given Award for Animal Advocacy SC LIVING/PAGE 20

www.sanclementetimes.com

Grom of the Week: San Clemente Welcomes Reef Tsutsui SURF/PAGE 26

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING for the position in October and interviewed potential candidates last month.

WHAT’S NEXT: Should the council approve the change, the new firm’s contract would begin on March 1.

FIND OUT MORE: For an update after the meeting, visit www.sanclementetimes. com. —JS

City and CUSD Working on Agreement to Share Facilities

These sea lion pups beached themselves in San Clemente in 2013. This month, many more sea lion pups have now washed up on the city’s shores. Photo: Tricia Zines

What’s Up With...

interactions only serve to increase their stress level.

“We’re doing all we can,” Burton said of the efforts of Marine Safety officers and lifeguards.

Five things San Clemente should know this week

FIND OUT MORE: For more information on the animals, visit www.pacificmmc.org. —Jim Shilander

Marine Safety Warns of Coming Too Close to Sea Lion Pups

City Attorney Firm May Switch

THE LATEST: San Clemente Marine Safety has seen 12 sea lion pups beach themselves on city beaches since Feb. 1, and is warning residents to keep away from the animals if they spot them.

Marine Safety Officer Ian Burton told the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday that the number of pups coming up on the beach had prompted a call to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, which is again seeing high numbers of such calls throughout Southern California, likely due to a lack of food for pups. The center is currently full-up with sick, malnourished or injured pups, Burton said, so it is currently asking Marine Safety officers to send a picture of the beached pups to the center to assess whether they need to be brought in or the animals were simply resting.

WHAT’S NEXT: Burton said if residents come across a beached pinniped, they should stay back about 100 to 200 feet, and should not attempt to pick up, feed or pour water on the animals, as such San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

THE LATEST: San Clemente appears to be on the verge of changing city attorney firms.

After decades with the firm Rutan & Tucker, city staff has recommended the City Council agree to a new contract with the firm Best, Best & Krieger to provide municipal law services to the city. The recommendation was made in a staff report provided as part of the City Council agenda for its Feb. 17 meeting.

The contract would include a provision naming Scott Smith, currently the city attorney in Aliso Viejo and Lake Forest, to the same post in San Clemente. Matthew Richardson would be named assistant city attorney, a post he holds in Lake Forest, Azusa and Mammoth Lakes.

The City Council approved putting out a request for proposal for the post in April 2014, following the retirement of Jeffrey Goldfarb from the position, citing a new opportunity to look at other options given the changes the city had undergone since the firm was hired nearly 30 years earlier.

Jeff Otterman, who had served as city attorney prior to Goldfarb, then resumed the post. The council received proposals

THE LATEST: San Clemente and the Capistrano Unified School District are working on an agreement that would formalize agreements allowing both organizations to share facilities, which would formalize an essentially handshake agreement between the two entities.

Director of Recreation Pam Passow told the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday that the document had been worked on for several years.

Each entity would maintain its own facilities under the agreement, but if vandalism occurred while the other was using facilities, that party using the facility would be held responsible for repair.

The district would not be able to hold athletic practices or games on city property without written permission, but would be permitted the use of all city facilities for educational and recreational activities, so long as they do not conflict with city offerings. Likewise, the city would have use of school facilities for city recreation purposes so long as they do not conflict with school business or activities.

WHAT’S NEXT: Members of the commission had several questions about the proposal, and were looking for some language to be cleared up. Passow indicated she would provide the agreement to the city attorney for further review, and it will go before the commission again before being voted on by city council.—JS

County Will Maintain SONGS Emergency Plan Despite Decommissioning THE LATEST: Orange County’s emergency plan in case of an accident at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will remain in place despite the decommissioning of the plant, Donna Boston, the County’s Emergency Services Manager said Thursday at an educational meeting hosted by Southern California Edison at San Clemente Presbyterian Church.

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Boston said that while the county believes the threat of an accident has been significantly reduced since the plant ceased actively producing power, the county maintains plans to send its own radiation dose assessment team if there is ever an issue.

WHAT’S NEXT: Boston said the three cities nearest the plant, San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano will continue to play an active part in all future emergency planning discussions.

An annual meeting to discuss the Wheeler North mitigation reef, located south of the San Clemente Pier, which Southern California Edison is responsible for through the decommissioning process, will likely be held later this spring, Edison Environmental Project manager Kim Anthony said. The reef is considered to be doing well. —JS

Building, Signage Plans for Estrella Plaza Still in Process THE LATEST: Plans for the redesign and refurbishment of the Estrella Plaza shopping center are still in the planning process, but the first phase of the proposed project, the redevelopment of the former Kmart into three separate stores, has advanced, city associate planner Sean Nicholas said Wednesday. The developer has also submitted an application to be a part of the city’s master sign program.

The project’s first phase, which would split the Kmart into three separate stores, Sports Authority, Stein Mart and Sprouts, is currently going through a second round of comments from the city, Nicholas said. The Planning Commission approved architectural and site plan permits for the redevelopment of the store last October, giving the planning department a wide berth to discuss changes to the proposal with the applicant in the hopes of jumpstarting the project.

WHAT’S NEXT: Nicholas said building permits for the second phase of the project, which includes the redevelopment of Big Lots into a T.J. Maxx and provide a new look for the remaining stores in the plaza (with the exception of Citibank), will likely be submitted for comment later this month or in March. The developers of both projects have targeted a late-summer opening for the new stores. —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

Community Meetings THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Coastal Advisory Committee 7 p.m.

San Clemente Community Center, Ole Hanson Room. 100 N. Calle Seville, www.san-clemente.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Dark Friday City Offices Closed SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Valentine’s Day American Legion Post No. 423 Regular Meeting Noon. Second Saturday of each month at 602 Calle Vicente. For information call 949.492.2284.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16

President’s Day City Offices Closed Spanish Conversation 11 a.m. Meet at Café Calypso for coffee and conversation. 114 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.9803.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

City Council Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, www.san-clemente.org.

San Clemente Toastmasters

7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Practice public speaking every Tuesday in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. 3316 Avenida del Presidente, 949.361.8463, http://6463. toastmastersclubs.org/directions.html.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

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

Kiwanis Meeting Noon. The local

Kiwanis Club meets at Carrows.

620 Avenida Pico, 949.290.8729, www.sanclementekiwanis.com.

French Conversation Club 2 p.m.–

4 p.m. Come and chat at Cafe Calypso every Wednesday; no fees, no registration. 114 Avenida Del Mar, 949.493.5228.

Planning Commission 7 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, www.san-clemente.org.

San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER

More Honors for SCHS College Students Monique Pruitt of San Clemente has been named to the Dean’s List at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. for the fall 2014 semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student achieved a grade-point average between 3.50 and 3.99 on a 4.0 scale.

Madison Huffman of San Clemente was named to the President’s List at Clemson University for the fall 2014 semester.

Huffman is majoring in microbiology. To be named to the President’s List, a student must achieve a 4.0 GPA. Carlye J. Townsend of San Clemente has been named to the Dean’s List at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

To be eligible, a student must receive at least a 3.5 GPA. In addition, she has been awarded with two Golden Eagle awards, which recognizes NAU athletes for outstanding academic performance achieving cumulative GPAs at 3.0 or greater.

Haley Kool of San Clemente has been named to the Fall 2014 Dean’s List at Malone University in Caton, Ohio. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must achieve a 3.50 grade point average or better and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Noted Pianist Garrick Ohlsson Performing at Casa March 12 Renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson will be performing an intimate recital of Chopin and Scriabin at Casa Romanitca Thursday, March 12. A special 9-foot concert grand Steinway piano is being brought in especially for his performance. The audience will be able to sit closer than in any concert hall and seating will be limited.

Ohlsson’s concert schedule includes Carnegie Hall, the New York Philharmonic, and the L.A. Philharmonic. Casa Romantica is giving patrons the opportunity to enjoy the recital followed by a three-course meal after the performance and a live auction.

The ticket price includes the cost of both the meal and performance, as well as pre-recital cocktails. Tickets are $165. For tickets or more information, see www.casaromantica.org.

Cabrillo Hosting Pair of Weekend Engagements The Cabrillo Playhouse will present two special shows this month for weekend engagements courtesy of JTL Productions.

“The Most Conspicuous Man on the Planet: Mark Twain in Person” will be performed Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday Feb. 15, spotlighting the humor of the famous

CERT trainees at a capstone event in 2013. Photo: Jim Shilander

writer. The following week, “Teddy, Rough Rider President,” spotlights the philosophy, memories and adventures of the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, Feb. 21 and 22.

Performances for each weekend are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 adults and $10 for students and available online at www.cabrilloplayhouse.org or calling the box office at 949.492.0465.

CERT Team Looking for New Participants in Class Community Emergency Response Team training is an opportunity for residents and members of the business community to learn basic skills to save lives and protect property in the aftermath of a major disaster, when emergency services are not immediately available. Participants receive about 20 hours of initial training (one evening a week for six weeks, one half-day exercise and graduation). The training program is designed to train you to take care of yourself, your family and your neighborhood/business during and after an emergency. There is a materials fee of $20 per student due the first day of class, which may be waived upon request.

After completing the training, participants are offered the opportunity to volunteer with the City of San Clemente’s CERT Team.

Team members are registered as disaster service workers, who volunteer with the city, assist at community events and may be called upon to help during an emergency.

This nationally recognized program provides for community self-sufficiency through the development of multifunctional response teams who can act as an adjunct to the city’s emergency services during major disasters. Through this program, people from community organizations, businesses and industry will become members of CERT, or assist their neighborhoods as individual leaders during the initial phase of an emergency.

To register, or get additional information about the CERT program, contact

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Katie Carpenter, emergency planning coordinator and CERT coordinator for the city at cert@san-clemente.org or 949.361.6109.

NCL Hosting Fundraiser March 8 The Capistrano Coast Chapter of the National Charity League will host its annual Fashion Show fundraiser on Sunday, March 8, at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point.

The proceeds from the fundraiser help support the philanthropies of the Capistrano Coast Chapter of NCL such as after school programs, U.S. military support, food banks and senior activities. Funds are also earmarked for college scholarships given each spring to graduating seniors in need from the community. In addition, NCL mothers and daughters spend thousands of hours of their time serving these charities.

Last year, the event raised over $50,000, which was the most raised in the history of the event. This year the Fashion Show theme is, “The World is My Oyster and I am the Pearl.” All models for the show will be the Chapter’s Class of 2016 11th grade members. Items to be raffled include a luxurious vacation for two and the choice between four destinations: Costa Rica, Canada, New York City or Napa Valley.

Contact Deborah Kirste (deborah.kirste@ western.org) to purchase a $20 raffle ticket.

Many other local businesses have generously donated items for over 100 silent auction baskets, which include four tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert on Aug. 26.

The Capistrano Coast Chapter of NCL supports 28 charitable organizations throughout the area. The chapter was honored as the Most Outstanding Chapter by the national organization in 2010.

For more information, visit www.nclcapistranocoast.org.

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

EYE ON SC

Lessons in (Being) Kind Blue Ribbon activities across city schools combat bullying

BY JIM SHILANDER, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

or the last week, and continuing through this week, San Clemente students at all levels, as well as educators and parents, have been getting lessons about the importance of speaking up in the face of what might seem like the smallest injustice.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 2, the city of San Clemente has been celebrating “Blue Ribbon Week,” and “KindnesSCounts,” which the city co-sponsors with the San Clemente Family of PTAs through Feb. 13. This is the fifth year the event is going on in the city.

On Monday, Anna Mendez, the president of the National Association of People Against Bullying, a group she founded after her son, Daniel, a former student who committed suicide in 2009 following years of bullying which began in middle school, gave a presentation on the emotional effects that constant physical and psychological attacks can have on a young person.

Michael Halt, principal at SCHS, noted that the most effective way, in his experience, to combat bullying is with positive remarks. As part of that, the school put up a “Compliment Wall” that allowed students to share positive remarks about their classmates either anonymously or signed.

But often times, he said, he was seeing positive remarks happen without such prompting.

“I’m seeing it happen more and more,” Halt said.

Mendez noted that in many cases, there can be a difference in perception between adults and students about what constitutes bullying. She noted one study that found that 60 percent of middle-schoolers had experienced some form of bullying, while just 16 percent of staff believed the students were being targeted. Being subjected to bullying day after day and year after year, she said, robs bullying victims of self-esteem and can even lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as increased rates of suicide and suicidal thoughts.

“Daniel never gave us any big problems,” Mendez said. “But when he got to high school he was terrified. When he told us he had had thoughts about suicide, I promised him he wouldn’t die.”

Halt, who was the principal of a middle school in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. before becoming principal at SCHS, said there is a difference being made at both levels.

“For years, there was a huge problem with bullying at the middle school level,” Halt said. “In elementary school, you have one teacher who kind of looks after you and your entire class throughout the entire day and you really build a community.

Bullying and problems like that are less

San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

Signs providing positive messages to peers dot San Clemente High School’s campus during Blue Ribbon Week. Photo: Jim Shilander

likely to occur in a strong community. In the past, we’d sort of lose that community feeling. Students had a high school-like schedule but were still too young, I’d say, to work through it alone.”

At his former school, and at others across the country and locally, Halt said, an emphasis has been placed on working to create that sense of community amongst students and faculty, as a way of carrying it forward into high school.

Mendez said part of the goal of the presentations given to students is to make them aware of the positive affects they could have on their peers, especially when they stand up in the face of bullying. She shared a number of statements that came from Daniel’s classmates within hours of his suicide, noting that they had known about what was going on but were unable to stand up for him, expressing regret about the actions they didn’t take. And the issue was one that crossed all racial, language, ethnic and economic lines, she noted.

“It’s like rain, it falls on everybody,” Mendez said.

The NAPAB is also working on legislative measures that would protect children the way adults are protected at work with anti-harassment laws, she said.

ON-CAMPUS CHANGES Victoria Mendez, Daniel’s sister, and Kasia Kosmala-Dahlbeck, both seniors, are the leaders of San Clemente’s Cool 2 Be

Kind Club, which advocates for kindness on campus and against bullying. Chapters of the club have been formed across the country and closer to home, as a chapter was just begun at Dana Hills High School.

And members of the club have just started a round of assemblies at San Clemente elementary and middle schools. There was also a distribution of rubber bracelets to students to support the cause and a proclamation from the city.

The reach of the club on campus has grown as well, to over 100 members, and now stands as the second largest club on campus, Halt said. Kosmala-Dahlbeck said since she joined as a sophomore, she’s seen some major shifts in attitude.

“I’ve definitely seen it in the last two years. I’ve seen the club get much more involved in the school and people be much more responsive,” she said. “Just something like wearing the bracelets, people got really excited about, to be supporting the cause.”

Mendez said, in terms of numbers, she’s seen the club grow from about 20 kids to the almost 200 that came to the first meeting following the school’s “club rush” event.

“People have become more accepting of the idea of kindness as really important, and that it’s good to speak up against bullying,” she said.

This week, as members of the group are giving presentations at the city’s elementary and middle schools. Kosmala-Dahlbeck

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said the group has thought about inviting interested eighth-graders to become part of the club’s presentations, in part to help get them interested in the possibility of leading such an assembly. Just having the club on campus, she said, is a message to students that the issue is taken seriously by their peers.

Where her brother once described the halls of schools being like a war-zone, where his bullies operated with impunity, Victoria said she’s seen a major change.

“They’re completely different,” she said.

“And Cool 2 Be Kind is a part of that. I think sometimes kids forget what a problem bullying is, just because of the extent we’ve been able to combat it.”

The group is currently working to crowdfund a mobile application to allow students to report to peers if they’re being bullied on campus (www.razoo.com/ story/anti-bullying-app/mobile). Both Mendez and Kosmala-Dahlbeck said the club had been looking at developing the app before last year’s lockdown at the high school, which was precipitated by an anonymous threat on the application Yik Yak. Both said that Yik Yak, which was quickly removed at the school by the developer, has a major weakness, in terms of allowing anonymous postings, which could be used for bullying purposes.

Other social media applications, such as Snapchat, have names attached to them, lessening its ability to be a conduit for bullying, they said. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Mayor Carlos Olvera swears in the 2015 Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Jan. 29 at the chamber’s annual Installation Dinner, held at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Kids Around the World, a nonprofit with offices in San Clemente, recently { IN S A N CL E M E NTE } built two play structures in remote villages in the mountains of Ecuador. The play structures formerly resided in Max Berg Park, but were replaced last year with universal access equipment. The equipment is now in the village of Chaupiloma at 10,500 feet in the Andes.

SCENE

Photo: Ariana Seldman Hawbecker

News Next Door

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

A committee of former awardees is tasked each year with selecting the citizen and business of the year. Ambassador of the Year is chosen by fellow ambassadors.

DANA POINT

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce inducted their new board of directors for 2015 and honored the business, ambassador and citizen of the year, Jan. 29 at their Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner, at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa. An audience of about 200 dined and listened as outgoing Chairwoman Lauralyn Loynes gave a recap of the chamber’s many successes in 2014, including the creation of the Doheny Village Task Force and Shop Del Prado, a program created in concert with the city to support businesses during Lantern District revitalization.

Following Loynes’ speech, she handed off the gavel to incoming Chairman Enzo Scognamiglio.

“Our goal is to become even more engaged with our members and work even harder for you,” Scognamiglio said, as he spoke of his plans for the coming year.

The Ambassador of the Year award went to Richard Deffenbaugh—owner of Dana Point Auto and a chamber member since 1971—for leading the chamber’s scholarship fund, among many other volunteer efforts.

Nancy Jenkins was honored as Citizen of the Year for her extensive involvement in numerous community volunteer efforts, including her outreach work for the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group.

Business of the Year honors were bestowed upon Elaine LaVine, of State Farm Insurance, whose recognition included kudos for her company’s involvement with Dana Hills High School, Relay for Life and the chamber.

San Juan Capistrano resident and former CTA board member John Perry was appointed at the City Council’s Feb. 10 meeting with a 3-1 vote to take the place of retiring Councilman Roy Byrnes. Councilman Sam Allevato was the dissenting vote.

At the City Council’s Jan. 20 meeting, former mayor Roy Byrnes announced his intent to retire from the dais, saying that he had accomplished what he had originally set out to do. 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.

Following a brief application process, the council was given a week to make the decision. Ten applicants sought the position: Steve Behmerwold, Troy Bourne, William Bunker, Evan Chaffee, Danny Glasgow, Larry Kramer, John Perry, David Swerdlin, John Taylor and Rob Williams.

The majority of public comments and letters sent to the city were in favor of appointing former council member Larry Kramer, as Kramer was the fourth highest vote-getter in the November election. However, Mayor Derek Reeve said that just because Kramer was the next highest vote-getter, doesn’t mean he was necessarily the next most popular choice among voters. Reeve also noted that with more than 900 votes between Kramer and Councilwoman Kerry Ferguson, the election was a “blood bath” and a clear move by the community to choose candidates from a different political faction.

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.

Monday, February 9 SUSPCIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Via Visalia/Calle Del Cerro (3:39 p.m.)

Unidentified people smoked drugs in the park.

WELFARE CHECK Paseo Flamenco, 3400 Block (2:48 p.m.)

A man called authorities from outside his home about an unknown woman standing inside.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (2:19 p.m.)

A man wearing a black baseball cap and a black hooded sweatshirt cursed people at the pier.

DISTURBANCE Calle Grande Vista, 3100 Block (10:32 a.m.) A mother reported her daughter being out of control.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Presidio, 100 Block (9:54 a.m.) A caller reported finding a backpack with a “9mm” inside a dumpster.

Sunday, February 8 DISTURBANCE Calle Del Cerro, 1100 Block (11:03 p.m.)

Authorities were informed of a woman throwing items outside of her apartment and yelling for hours.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Alforja, 2900 Block (5:38 p.m.) A woman received a phone call from a man breathing heavily and disguising his voice.

911 HANGUP-WIRELESS Via Los Tilos, 300 Block (2:57 p.m.) Kids called police saying, “There is a fire in someone’s house.”

DISTURBANCE Calle Puente, 1100 Block (2:50 p.m.) A shirtless man yelled at skateboarders and talked about drugs.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Vista Montana/ Optima (1:13 San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

p.m.) Juveniles threw balls of wet paper towels at passing cars.

MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS Via Blanco, 2800 Block (12:34 p.m.)

Dispatch received notice of an illegal yard sale selling backyard barbecues.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Camino De Estrella, Interstate 5 (11:12 a.m.) A small dog wearing a sweater was seen running through traffic.

Saturday, February 7 PATROL CHECK CTE Calmo/Camino Flora Vista (10:31 p.m.) Sheriff’s deputies were alerted to a group of juveniles playing ding-dong-ditch for the previous two nights.

PATROL CHECK Buena Vista, 1500 Block (9:03 p.m.) People drank alcohol and smoked marijuana.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Lucia, 100 Block (9 p.m.) A roommate kicked open a bedroom door and began an argument.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Christianitos Road, 100 Block (6:18 p.m.)

A woman was reportedly “wandering through” a complex.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Via Tulipan, 1500 Block (10 a.m.) Dispatch received notice of two individuals with needles in their arms.

DISTURBANCE Ola Vista, 2400 Block (8:38 a.m.) A father reported his son for yelling and flipping over furniture.

DISTURBANCE-FAMINLY DISPUTE Avenida Salvador, 700 Block (1 a.m.) A woman told officers that her boyfriend demanded to come inside and proceeded to bang her door.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Salvador, 700 Block (1 a.m.) A caller reported a group of people sitting inside a black truck, listening to music.

Friday, February 6 SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida San Pablo, 700 Block (8:06 p.m.)

Three people in a white pickup truck threw bottles over a fence.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE North El Camino Real/Avenida Del Mar (6:56 p.m.) A man walked out into the middle of traffic.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (10:09 a.m.)

A patrol check was needed for a shirtless man in denim shorts who “appeared unhappy” and was talking loudly.

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SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Nonprofit Spotlight By Suzanne Ansari

At the Source BREATH center offers ‘new model’ of wellness through integrative healing

T

he BREATH Wellness Foundation is helping people identify the root cause of chronic disease and unlocking their natural potential for healing. The nonprofit, founded in 2011, uses a new model of wellness with an integrative approach to enhance healing and to develop resilience of mind, body and spirit BREATH stands for Building Resources to Educate, Advance and Transform Humanity. Founder Virginia Shoenfeld believes the acronym tells the story of her nonprofit. After a successful career in the Navy as a Medical Service Corps officer, she retired as a Commander in 2009.

She has served in various capacities as a healthcare executive in the private sector.

“Having a background in public health was very useful, but going through my doctoral program in natural health

Letters to the Editor HISTORY IS A GUIDE JIM BIEBER, San Clemente

It is curious and yet always predictable that an “enlightened, worldly” American steps up to belittle patriotism that arises from a cultural event– the latest target from the smug elite is the blockbuster hit American Sniper.

Jim Kempton’s op-ed “Patriot Aims” plays the familiar canard—America as equally as bad as fill-in-the blank with any tyrannical government or movement, and that because of our actions as a world leader, we basically have it coming to us, ala chickens coming home to roost.

Kempton zeros in on the opening scene in the movie where the hero has to decide whether to shoot a woman who is using her child as a suicide bomber. Because there is no equivalent example of Americans using our children as suicide bombers, he paints an elaborate “reverse” scenario of an evil occupying military in California where an American woman would use her child in the same fashion San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

changed my personal views on medicine which rely greatly on prescribed medications,” Shoenfeld said. She believes that many chronic health conditions are not only preventable but also reversible.

“The door opened for me to explore a new model, one that could complement medicine,” Shoenfeld said.

The BREATH center is one of the vehicles they use to deliver programs and services. Holistic services are available to improve emotional health, chronic insomnia, irritability, anger management and other self-regulation issues. Affordable sliding scale services include acupuncture, mindfulness meditation, holistic nutrition, wellness coaching and more.

They offer no-cost programs including housing supportive services for military, veterans, families and the underserved.

Programs do require a personal commitment to changing lifestyles.

Shoenfeld shared a success story about a marine helicopter pilot who sought help at her center. After three deployments to Iraq, he was showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Serving on active duty, the pilot refused medication in order to stay on flight status. He wanted to try meditation, bio-feedback and neurofeedback. After many sessions, he was able to connect past emotional trauma to his current fears and anxieties after returning from his last deployment. He is fully func-

using a Macy’s store satchel.

There is no need to create a fantasy scenario of “why wouldn’t Americans/ Westerners use our children as human shields or suicide bombers, if the situations were revised.” The people of France, Holland and several other European countries suffered under real brutal invaders (Nazis) who occupied their lands. With a well-documented history of active resistance fighting and sabotage there is no recorded example of these westerners using/abusing children as bombers or shields. I would go so far as to say it did not occur to them because of our shared western values that have us loving our children more than we hate our enemies.

The use of children as suicide bombers is unique to the Islamic/Arabic world.

There is no moral equivalent in western Christian Judeo thought or action–period.

Kempton’s snarky attempt at moral equivalency is on par with a 10th-grader who grasps at one historical item and seeks to parlay that into a “gotcha” argument ad nauseam. His final snip is stating that he “believes our own history should be our guide.” I agree, which is why those who want history to be our guide don’t need to go to such lengths to create imaginary situations to paint us as moral equals to Islamic enemy combatants.

tional today and remains on active duty.

A female Army veteran was suffering from effects of military sexual trauma and PTSD. She came to the center taking 17 prescriptions. After several sessions, she was able to identify the root cause of her PTSD. As a medic, she faced many casualties in the war zone and because of her position, she was not able to release the emotional stress. Despite a few set backs, she was able to get down to one prescription and achieve her wellness goals.

The nonprofit plans to launch a new wellness program to address military sexual trauma using meditation, biofeedback, neurofeedback and other natural approaches. They will host a lecture series to bring mindfulness meditation classes to the local community in 2015.

To learn more about the BREATH Wellness Foundation programs call 949.584.1942 or visit www.thebreathcenter.org.

Suzanne Ansari is a HR technical writer/ consultant. She serves on the Community Resource Center Board of Directors and is a member of OC Military, Veterans & Families Collaborative and the San Clemente Collaborative. 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.

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

Susie Lantz, 949.388.7700, x111 slantz@sanclementetimes.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

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

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Feb. 13 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar.

City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Community Liaison officer Joe Bull will be this week’s guest to discuss Blue Ribbon Week and other goings on in the community.

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

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

JUSTICE FOR PROFIT GEORGE GREGORY, San Clemente

Is it enforcement or persecution for profit, that we only fine cars in the way of the street sweepers in the multifamily housing areas and not the remainder of San Clemente. Because it’s not profitable, so it is not enforcement. It is a selective assault on the pocketbook of the poorer families in our community. Are their car tires dirtier than the remainder of San Clemente? No. San Clemente has other laws that are selectively enforced and written, like no ladders, pipes or hammer-handles on or sticking out of pickup trucks, because that right has been reserved for giant corporation’s trucks and council (Cont. on page 10)

Page 9

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

OPERATIONS

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell

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 7. 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

(Cont. from page 9) vehicles. I and others have a right to work and be treated fairly. To tell us what we can or cannot haul around in our trucks or that our car tires are dirtier than the wealthy or those from associated neighborhoods is shameful snobbery.

LET RECENT FALLEN TREE INCIDENT SPUR CITY ACTION ON TREES GEORGE BRODY, San Clemente

The owners of the Broadmoor community have been for many, many years trying unsuccessfully to convince the city to remove some of these overgrown eucalyptus trees at Verde Park because they are messy, potentially dangerous (fallen branches on the walk paths are frequent) and if case of fire, these trees contain eucalyptus oils and are highly flammable.

They also take away most of the ocean views for which the home owners paid good prices.

The city hired an “expert arborist” who reported no significant risks with these trees. Let’s note that hired “experts” will always testify in support of those who hired them (in this case the city) otherwise they would not be hired. The city also compiled information stating that no eucalyptus tree has ever fallen and caused damages in Dana Point, Capistrano Beach, etc. Well, now we have a precedent. They also had the statement of another “expert,” a fireman no longer living in our area, stating that eucalyptus trees are not a fire hazard.

After repeated complaints and pressure by the community, the city finally decided to change the established policy of lightly pruning the trees once every six years (we have not seen much effect of that) to once every 1.5 years. Still, some of the trees should be removed, but the city, and now the Capistraano Unified School District, probably will not do anything until one incident causes a serious injury or falls into one of the houses below.

GUEST OPINION: View from the Pier by Herman Sillas

Mexican Goodbyes We all know what the most important item is at any party…conversation

I

love parties. They consist of three stages: greetings, main event and goodbyes. I’m not talking about political gatherings which are sometimes called parties. No, I’m talking about the parties where the goal is to have a good time. You know which ones I’m talking about, friends and family parties.

The occasions can be bridal showers, weddings, birthdays, wedding anniversaries or memorial parties for the deceased.

People come together to celebrate the occasion. Arrivals are met with hugs and comments about the last time they gathered. Voices get louder with each new arriving guest as the party moves into the main event, “let the good times roll.”

Laughter bursts out from everywhere as stories are repeated to receptive listeners or a new story is told that no one had heard before. Music may fill the air and some bodies may begin to dance, but the main course of the evening is talking.

Eventually, departure time arrives and guests start their good-byes. But Mexican good-byes are like no other. It can take longer than the arrival and main agenda combined. Bodies move around as if they are leaving, but stop to share one more story or to hear a new one. Embraces are made as if there will be a departure, but nobody moves closer to the door. It is as if the departing party is seeking a reason not to leave. Husbands wait patiently near the exits as wives remain talking to each other, exchanging hugs and promises to keep in touch. No individual is to be slighted by not receiving a good-bye. Departure can take hours.

Some years ago at a party, Cora, my wife, was doing her good-byes as I waited for her. I became impatient and induced some mutual friends, who had already received Cora’s hugs and departing words, to get in line pretending that she had not said adios to them before. They did as told and went back three times, before she realized she had already said good-bye to

them. Then she looked over my way and knew I had set her up. We all laughed.

I’ve asked Mexicans why our “good-byes” take so long. No one has an answer. But I have a THE VIEW theory. See, the gathering FROM THE PIER Mexicans create unknowBy Herman Sillas ingly an invisible living entity that weaves an unseen strong fiber that entangles the assembled bodies like a spider does to insects that land on its web.

In a sense, the assembled are joined by an invisible creature that they unknowingly created by their presence and fed unknowingly by them as they enjoy each other’s company and laugh for hours.

good-byes “areButlikeMexican no other. It can take

longer than the arrival and main agenda combined.

Bodies move around as if they are leaving, but stop to share one more story or to hear a new one.

”

Although music may fill the air in the background, it is the communication between the individuals that becomes the glue of this newly-created being, unseen and unknown by humans. Each hour that passes enlarges and strengthens the creation that has emerged from the unknowing guests. Unwittingly, they strengthened this invisible creature and its unseen web with the passage of time.

Like any living creature, the unseen party animal wants to continue living. It knows that when the party ends, the invisible creature dies. Its goal is to have the

party last as long as possible and use the attending guests to prolong its existence.

The longer it lives, the greater the chances of it being remembered by those in attendance. The reward comes when the party is over and in the future, attendees ask, “Remember Tia Maria’s birthday party?”

“Yeah. Who could forget that party?

What a blast!”

The deceased party creature did its job well. The event of its birth and death is not known, but its existence will be discussed and shared for years after its death. That’s the same thing we mortals seek. That’s the view from the pier.

Herman Sillas is a former U.S. Attorney and longtime fisherman on the San Clemente Pier.

His book, “View From The Pier-Stories from San Clemente,” is available online and at the following locations, in San Clemente: The Fisherman’s Restaurant, The Wild Flower, 1001 S. El Camino Real; San Clemente Florists, 168 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente Arts Supply, 1531 N. El Camino Real; San Clemente Art Association, corner of Calle Seville and Avenida Del Mar; Mathom House Books, 83 Via Pico Plaza.

In San Juan Capistrano at The Cotttage Gallery, 31701 Los Rios Street and in Dana Point at Hogan’s Fish & Tackle, 34320 Pacific Coast Hwy. Ste. G. 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

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

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 | 12 SAN CLEMENTE ABOLITIONISTS VALENTINE’S BAKE SALE 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fundraising bake sale for group fighting human trafficking. All proceeds go to SC Abolitions and the International Sanctuary in Irvine. Event also runs Feb 13. The Cellar, 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

Friday | 13 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. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 888.224.0603, www.danawharf.com.

PROPER FRIDAY’S 9 p.m. to midnight. Live DJs play 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.

Saturday | 14

Sunday | 15

HUNT FOR HEARTS IN NATURE—VALENTINE’S DAY WALK 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Join The Reserve to search for hearts in nature along the Sycamore Loop Trail. Ages 8 and up. Adults $10, children $5, free for Reserve supporters and RMV residents. Participants must be registered by 4 p.m. on Feb. 13. The Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy, call for directions, 949.923.2210, www.rmvreserve.org.

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

LECTURE: SECRETS OF THE GOLDEN THRONE OF KING TUTANKHAMUN 1:30 p.m. Archaeologist and residential scholar in the School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona, Nicholas Reeves presents a glimpse of ancient Egyptian politics centered on the golden throne, referred to as “the most beautiful object ever found in Egypt.” The free event is being hosted by the American Research Center of Egypt, Orange County Chapter. Parking is $6, refundable with validation. Bowers Museum, Norma Kershaw Room, 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, www.arceoc.org.

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.

THE ROUTINE WITH MOUNTAIN TO MOUNTAIN 9 p.m. Live music at OC Tavern. $8. 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.542.8877, www.octavern.com.

EDITOR’S PICK

Photo: Brian Park

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12: TASTE OF SAN JUAN 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association invites everyone to the Taste of San Juan. Help launch the kick-off celebration of the 2014 Fiesta de las Golondrinas. Taste of San Juan brings many of the restaurants and caterers serving San Juan Capistrano together, under one roof, to tempt you with their finest offerings. Tickets are $35, and admission includes all tastes. Tickets are available at the door and at all Fiesta Association meetings. San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, 949.493.1976, www.swallowsparade.com/taste.html.

San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

SERRA CHAPEL TOUR 11:15 a.m. In honor of Father Serra’s 300th birthday celebration, tour the Serra Chapel, the oldest operating church in California.

Tours are every Sunday. Admission $2-$3.

Price is in addition to museum admission for non-members. 26801 Ortega Highway, 949.234.1320, www.missionsjc.com/activities/holiday-crafts.php.

Tuesday | 17 FAT TUESDAY—THE BAYOU BROTHERS 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Celebration and live music at Iva Lee’s, includes food specials and wash board contest. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com

Wednesday | 18 NATIVE AMERICAN BASKET WEAVING 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn the traditions and capture the culture of basket weaving at Mission San Juan Capistrano. First and third Wednesday of every month. Free with paid admission. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

COMEDY NIGHT 9:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m. Live comedy at Molly Bloom’s Irish Bar every Wednesday night.

2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.218.0120, www.mollybloomsirishbar.com.

Thursday | 19 CASA COOL: MAMBOP LATIN JAZZ/SALSA BAND AND SALSA DANCE LESSON WITH EVIE QUINONES 7 p.m. The Casa heats up with the return of Mambop Latin Jazz/Salsa Band this season. A Latin, jazz band, they are a unique ensemble with an emphasis on exciting horn lines and charismatic vocals. Professional dance instructor, Evie Quinones will provide a group salsa lesson prior to Mambop’s performance. Tickets $25, $20 for Casa members. Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

UPCOMING SAN CLEMENTE ART SUPPLY—COLOR MIXING AND THEORY CLASS 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22, Class for Artists of all skill levels with artist Bobbi Baldwin. $185 per person, plus materials. 1531 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.369.6603, www.scartsupply.com.

Page 12

Photo: Millennium Films

At the Movies: ‘The Humbling’ is Less Than Inspiring

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t’s unfortunate for Barry Levinson that his latest film The Humbling, comes to audiences only three months after the huge success of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman. Not only do both films focus on fictional former relevant A-list actors, but the opening of Humbling even resembles a scene during the climax of Birdman.

Levinson brought on star Al Pacino and screenwriters Buck Henry and Michal Zebede to collaborate on adapting the Philip Roth novel, but to underwhelming results.

Aging actor Simon Axler (Pacino) is convinced by his therapist (Dylan Baker) and agent (Charles Grodin) to move back into his old country home when it’s apparent he’s having trouble distinguishing reality from imagination. Not only does Simon meet a mentally unstable divorcee Sybil (Nina Arianda) at group therapy, but the daughter of his best friend (Dan Hedaya), Pegeen (Greta Gerwig), randomly pops up to begin an affair with him despite being a lesbian.

The Humbling and Birdman don’t just share the similarities of fantasy and dysfunctional female characters during an actor’s late-life crisis, but its depiction of lesbianism is more akin to Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy (1997) in its denial of bisexuality, and the older man/younger woman pairing is like a less believable, gender-swapped reminder of The Graduate (1967); also adapted by Henry. Levinson’s subversive, nonlinear direction and storytelling is fascinating and creative, but the tropes are messy with stereotypes. In the end, The Humbling just makes viewers want to watch the previous, better films.

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

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

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

Lessons for the Long Haul Four takeaways for older singles revealed in upbeat message from Borneo

T

his week, I received an email from Borneo, sent by a man who is no stranger to this newspaper. Chris Anastasio, 80, San Clemente, formerly of Dana Point, who was featured in the Sept.

28, 2014 issue, sent a message from a cruise ship he is on.

You may recall that Chris and his girlfriend of 12 years, Tina, have the longest, long-distance relationship I have heard of in my 21 years of writing about senior dating: 5,419 miles. Tina lives in Buckingham, England.

In late August, Chris was hospitalized for emergency triple-bypass and open-heart surgery.

In that September ON LIFE AND article, he said, “The LOVE AFTER 50 operation really slowed

By Tom Blake me down. Sometime in the not too distant future I will be dancing and traveling again. Tina and I are taking an 11-day cruise in late January departing from Singapore.”

Chris kept his word. Last Wednesday, he wrote: “Email is almost impossible from the ship. So far, we have had a wonderful cruise and have been to some great and interesting places: Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Danang, Vietnam; Hong Kong; Manila, Philippines, and yesterday we spent the day on a beautiful beach on the Philippine island of Boracay.

“We are now heading towards Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo. The weather has been almost perfect; we’ve had no rain. The sea has been calm except for one day when it got a little choppy.

“It has been interesting to see different countries and how people live, as expected there are the rich and the poor.

We like the ship although it is rather old; the crew and food are excellent. We send our love and hugs to our south county friends.”

There are four lessons older singles can learn from Chris: 1. Love at 80 can thrive, and be as fulfilling as love at 50.

2. Even though most of us will face health issues as we age, we should not let those issues stop us from pursuing joy in our lives.

3. A positive attitude can help us heal, get through hard times and live life to the fullest.

4. Long-distance relationships can Page 16

Chris Anastasio and long-distance girlfriend Tina, stand with Greta (Tom Blake’s life partner) and Tom Blake, in front of Blake’s deli of 26 years.

Photo: Courtesy

work, even if there are 5,419 miles between partners.

Chris flies home from England at the end of this month. The first thing he will do is visit the people living at the San Clemente Villas, where he volunteers and dances with the women residents there.

He is an inspiration to older singles.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR SINGLES • Love is in the air at the bookstore. On Sunday, Feb. 15, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., dating columnist Tom Blake and romance writer Cheryl Gardarian, will be discussing and signing their books on love and relationships. Free. San Juan Capistrano Library Bookstore, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. For information, call 949.493.2688.

• Singles Age 50-plus Meet and Greet, Thursday, Feb. 26, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tutor and Spunky’s Deli, 34085 Coast Highway, Dana Point. For information, call 949.248.9008.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and former business owner who has authored three books on middle-aged dating. For dating information: www.FindingLoveAfter50. com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com.

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

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING

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

Now Open FIT PILATES SAN CLEMENTE 1001 Avenida Pico, Suite H 714.421.2127, www.fitpilatesstudiosanclemente.com.

Fit Pilates San Clemente co-owner Pam Weber said she and her partner, Ashlyn Rich, had been looking all over Southern California for a place to open up their pilates studio, until one came up right in the town she calls home.

“We’d been looking as far away as Riverside or San Diego County,” she said.

Because the machines used in the signature workout are licensed, there are limits on the number of centers allowed to utilize the machines in a given area. However, when the San Clemente zip code came open, she jumped on it.

Weber, a teacher by trade, began the workout two years ago at a location in Mission Viejo and quickly became hooked.

“It’s such a good workout, and the way it transformed my body, I knew it was something I could stick with,” Weber said. “In San Clemente, with all the active people, it should totally do well here.”

The machines, developed by Sebastien Lagree, target different muscle groups not otherwise hit in other workouts.

“Every move on the machine targets every muscle in your body,” Weber said.

“Rather than maximizing repetitions, it’s about going as slow as you can so you focus on burning out that muscle. We have

Education professor Dustine Rey says her studies of the latest trends in education and a philosophy of learning from nature will be combined at her new preschool opening this spring. Photo: Courtesy

people who come in who are CrossFitters or workout regularly at the gym and they tell us they haven’t been sore in a long time.”

Weber said getting to stay closer to home is wonderful, since she had been driving to Mission Viejo for workouts previously. Now, she said, it’s just four minutes away.

“And I see people I recognize from the community or our kids have mutual friends,” she said.

The first class is free. Currently, the studio is offering unlimited workouts for the first month of membership for $125 and $30 for three classes. This weekend, the business is also offering 25 percent off all merchandise. Classes begin as early as 5 a.m. and as late as 7:30 p.m.

Coming Soon

Fit Pilates San Clemente co-owner Pam Weber says she and her partner were looking all over Southern California to open a studio when an opportunity to work in her home city came calling. Photo: Jim Shilander

San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2014

GRATITUDE GARDEN PRESCHOOL 92 Avenida La Pata 949.572.4453, www.gratitudegardenpreschool.com.

As a professor of education, Dustine Rey has been teaching teachers and examining the newest trends and developments in educating children for years. That experience has led her to create Gratitude Gardens, her new preschool that will open later this spring (there is no set date as yet).

“I’ve been an educator for 20 years but having my own child was the inspiration for starting the preschool,” Rey said.

“These are our future innovators, our future entrepreneurs our future stewards of global well-being and there’s a need for a new type of educational process for these young students.”

To cultivate those young minds, Rey said the school would be “nature-based” with both indoor and outdoor classrooms that emphasize science, technology, engineering and math, which is mostly taught through nature.

“Students will be gardening, will be studying the relationship between living things and themselves,” Rey said. Nature walks will be an opportunity to learn math and create projects. Students will also take photos and video of their efforts to send to their parents at the end of each day, so parents can get an update of their daily activities.

“Long gone are the days of wondering what your children did in preschool,” Rey said. “Now, parents are brought into the classroom through the use of technology.”

Rey said she drew particular inspiration from preschools operated by CalTech in Pasadena and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Parents will have a number of options as far as the length of their child’s day, Rey said, from two-hour sessions to all-day efforts, as well as options on the number of days per week. The school is also plastic and trash-free.

“It’s really up to parents to determine what their needs are,” she said. “Students need to develop appreciation, resiliency, compassion and self-regulation.”

Page 19

The school will host an information session Thursday, Feb. 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Barnoa Wine Bar, 831 Via Suerte, in San Clemente.

New Development CAFÉ RAE 1421 North El Camino Real #D 949.492.8480, www.caferae.com.

While Café Rae has long been a frequent stop for many San Clemente residents looking for breakfast and lunch, the restaurant has never had a long-term dinner menu.

Jenny Spivak-Shapiro, who co-owns the restaurant with husband Terry Shapiro, says his recent acquisition of a smoker, and his experimentations with it, helped lead to the development of a small dinner menu for the restaurant, featuring smoked ribs and chicken, but also other favorites like citrus marinated salmon and pasta dishes.

The dinner menu, in place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, would also feature menu times from other times of the day. As time goes along, she said, customer response could lead to changes in the dinner menu. There have also been some additions to the lunch and breakfast menu as a result of the new equipment.

“My husband has a lot of experience making all kinds of food, not just breakfast and lunch. We just wanted to explore and see what else we can do. There’s a lot of variety there. We have customers who come back all the time and still haven’t tried everything.” www.sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING

‘Voice for the Voiceless’

San Clemente woman honored for her service to animal rights organization

BY ALLISON JARRELL, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

an Clemente resident Nancy Wheeler was recently recognized for being an advocate for farmed animals

by Mercy For Animals, an international farm animal protection organization.

Mercy For Animals, a Los Angelesbased international nonprofit dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals, awarded Wheeler with its MFA’s Animal Hero Award.

Wheeler, who has resided in San Clemente for eight years, has been volunteering with the organization for almost two years, and is now a leader in organizing educational events in Orange County and San Diego County. During the outreach, Wheeler shows videos to consumers and distributes pamphlets in English and Spanish about the mistreatment of animals.

“Over 95 percent of cruelty to animals in the U.S. occurs at the hands of the meat, dair y and egg industries, which confine, mutilate and slaughter over nine billion animals each year,” Wheeler said.

“Mercy for Animals is tr ying to advocate for them and educate consumers so they can acquire a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.”

Wheeler said MFA has also investigated animal treatment during rodeos and circuses, but their main focus is on factor y farms.

“We are the voice for the voiceless,” Wheeler said. “Our mission is to work to create a society where all animals are treated with compassion and respect, which they rightfully deser ve. Mercy for Animals ser ves as a voice for animals, through proactive consumer education initiatives, cruelty investigations, corporate reach and legal advocacy.”

Mikael Nielsen, MFA’s National Volunteer Coordinator, said Wheeler was given the award for her passion and dedication, adding that “her calendar is perpetually full of events to spread

Nancy Wheeler was recently honored by animal rights organization Mercy For Animals for her volunteer work at the organization. Photo: Jim Shilander

awareness about factor y farming and the cruel treatment of animals raised for food.”

“She dropped animal products from her diet after seeing a Mercy For Animals video called Farm to Fridge and has been one of our strongest volunteers since then,” Nielsen said.

Wheeler said she was shocked after seeing Farm to Fridge. She said she wasn’t aware of what kind of animal treatment she was contributing to, adding that many consumers don’t.

“Ever y time I do outreach,” Wheeler reflected, “I think about the MFA video and the innocent animals who suffer so deeply at the hands of the meat, poultr y and dair y industr y. This motivates me to continue advocating for them.”

Wheeler said for those considering a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, there are other benefits beyond raising awareness. Because factor y farm animals are often fed with antibiotics and steroids, Wheeler said cutting those meats from your diet can lead to better health.

For more information on Mercy for Animals, visit www.mercyforanimals.org. SC

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 12-18, 2015

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

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

San Clemente High School held a signing day ceremony for 26 student-athletes on Feb. 4. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Signing Day Celebrations

Tritons student-athletes take part in ceremony on campus COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE

F

eb. 4 marked the first day that high school student-athletes in the sport of football, men’s water polo and soccer could sign their National Letters of Intent to commit to their college of choice. At San Clemente High School, 26 student-athletes took part in a signing day ceremony.

San Clemente’s mark of 26 studentathletes moving on to the collegiate level was the highest among all schools in the Capistrano Unified School District.

Natalie Knauf, left, and Rebecca Dunne will play volleyball and sand volleyball, respectively, in college.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

The Tritons boys and girls soccer programs, as in years past, leads all sports teams on campus with a combined six college signees.

Four Tritons signed to play at UCLA, the most of any school.

Here is a list of all the Triton studentathletes who took part in the signing day ceremony.

• Water Polo Chase Hamming (Univ. of California Berkeley) • Golf Alexandra Cooper (San Jose State), Sammy Schwartz (Univ. of Hawaii, Manoa) • 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) To check out a full photo slideshow of the day’s events, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. SC

(From L to R): San Clemente baseball players Trevor Beard, Lucas Herbert, Kolby Allard and Will Tribucher on signing day. Photo: Steve Breazeale

San Clemente volleyball players Brandon Hopper, left, and Matt August with head coach Ken Goldstone on signing day. Photo: Lynn Hopper

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Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

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

AIR CONDITIONING

Oasis Heating & Air

31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, 949.420.1321, www.oasisair.com

APPLIANCES

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

APPLIANCE SERVICES & REPAIRS

ASAP Appliance Service

3200 Legendario, 949.361.7713, www.asapapplianceservice.com

ART GALLERIES

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

BOOKS

Village Books

99 Avenida Serra, 949.492.1114, www.DowntownSanClemente.com

CHIROPRACTIC

Thompson Chiropractic

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

CHOCOLATE/CANDY

Schmid’s Fine Chocolate

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

CONCRETE

Costa Verde Landscape

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

DENTISTS

William Brownson, D.D.S.

3553 Camino Mira Costa, Ste B, 949.493.2391, www.drbrownson.com

Eric Johnson, D.D.S.

647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, www.drericjohnson.com

Kristen Ritzau DDS

122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.498.4110, www.KristenRitzauDDS.com

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING

Organics Out Back

949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com

ELECTRICAL

Arcadia Electric

949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com

FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

GRAPHIC DESIGN

IMAGES/Creative Solutions

117 Del Gado Road, 949.366.2488, www.imgs.com

HARP LESSONS & RENTALS

Wendy-Harpist

949.482.9025, www.orangecountyharpist.com

HEATING

Oasis Heating & Air

31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, 949.420.1321, www.oasisair.com

HOME DÉCOR

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

LANDSCAPING

Costa Verde Landscape

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

MATTRESSES

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

MORTGAGES

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

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

SC Rider Supply

520 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0521, www.scridersupply.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

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

“Sandy & Rich” - ReMax

949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com

RESTAURANTS

Café Calypso

114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

SALONS

Write-up of 50 words with logo.

Four weeks in print and online.

Salon Bamboo

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

Salon Bleu

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD

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

PHARMACIES

Sea View Pharmacy

665 Camino De Los Mares, #101, 949.496.0123, www.seaviewpharmacy.com

PLUMBING

Bill Metzger Plumbing

929 Calle Negocio Suite D, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzgerplumbing.com

Chick’s Plumbing

949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing.com

POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL

SC Pool & Spa Works

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

Radiant Pool & Spa Service Lic # 985800, 949.290.5616, www.radiantpoolservice.com

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

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

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

SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

SWIMMING SCHOOL

Waterbabies Swim School

142 Avenida Granada, 949.488.2512, www.waterbabiesswimschool.com

TERMITES

Colony Termite Control

1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com

WEBSITE DESIGN

San Clemente Website Design

949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

REAL ESTATE

Marcie George Star Real Estate South County

949.690.5410, marciegeorge@cox.net

MUSIC LESSONS

Danman’s Music School

949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

OFFICE FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

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CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

HELP WANTED JOB OPENING SAN CLEMENTE Entry level clerical - $12 to $14 per hour with benefits. Call 949-361-1692 HELP WANTED Established fee for service family dental practice in San Clemente has an IMMEDIATE opening for an experienced dental assistant to work 1.5 – 2 days a week. Request CPR certification, & Kodak Digital X-rays. Must be proficient with patient care skills, a positive attitude and high reliability.

Compensation will be based on experience. Please fax your resumes to (949)487-6781 with your date start date availability.

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF COLOR MIXING & THEORY WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR: Bobbi Baldwin Artists of All Skill Levels 2-21 & 2/22 10AM-4PM / $185 SAN CLEMENTE ART SUPPLY 1531 N El Camino Real 949 369-6603 ENGAGEMENT Mr. and Mrs. William Caster of San Clemente, California, announce the engagement of their son, Devin Charles Caster, to Dr. Jacqueline Marie Hilton, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Hilton of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Devin, is a graduate of San Clemente High School and California State University, Long Beach.

His fiancée, Jackie is a graduate of Trinity High School and Duquesne University Mylan School of Pharmacy Both, Jackie and Devin are currently fourth year dental students at Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. Upon graduation, Devin and Jackie will be furthering their education with Advanced Dental Residency Programs. An August 2016 wedding is planned.

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@sanclementetimes.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@sanclementetimes.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

Page 23

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

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.

Physical Edge Brings New Dimension to Ledesma’s Game San Clemente senior forward Matias Ledesma has speed, footwork and a scorer’s touch. The striker, who has a teamhigh 11 goals this season, has been the most reliable offensive player on a young Tritons squad. But head coach Mike Pronier and his staff have been trying to get Ledesma to add one more attribute to his skill set—physicality.

Rather than run through strength or offensive drills, Ledesma has been turning to the defensive side of things for inspiration.

Ledesma has been honing a physical edge by defending countless corner kicks and set pieces in practice. It has allowed him to better anticipate where his opponents are and when to apply pressure.

By becoming a better defender, he is able to outwit and outmuscle the opposition when the tables are turned and he is on the attack.

The practice has been paying off.

Against Mission Viejo on Feb. 10, Ledesma used his strength and skill up top, scoring two goals by way of headers in a 4-1 must-win South Coast League victory. The senior has now scored five times in his last seven matches.

Ledesma’s first goal came off a designed throw in to sophomore midfielder Fernando Vasquez in the fi fth minute.

Vasquez beat his defender down the line and curled a perfectly placed pass to Ledesma, who shook his defender and headed the ball in.

Ledesma’s second goal broke a 1-1 tie in the 19th minute, although he does not know how much he contributed to the scoring effort. A long throw in went to a host of bodies at the top of the Diablos box, skirted through and got past the keeper to give San Clemente the lead the rest of the way at 2-1. Ledesma said he

About a dozen runners participated in the Run-Pall-Run half marathon on Feb. 8. Photo: Jim Shilander

Former SC City Manager Hosts Annual Half-Marathon SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

n Feb. 8, roughly a dozen runners gathered atop the Dana Point Headlands to take part in the sixth annual Run-Pall-Run half-marathon created by former San Clemente City Manager Pall Gudgeirsson. Gudgeirsson,

San Clemente Times February 12-18, 2015

an avid runner, started the annual run to get his friends, and community members, interested and excited about running and to celebrate his birthday. The 13.1-mile run began in Dana Point and finished just north of the San Clemente Pier at the Marine Safety Headquarters. SC

San Clemente senior Matias Ledesma (9) used a physical approach to score two goals in the Tritons 4-1 win over Mission Viejo on Feb. 10. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

barely touched the ball, but his presence drew two Diablos defenders to his spot and caused the chaos.

“I’ve been practicing a lot of holding defenders off. Because I feel that’s a big part. All I’m practicing right now is just trying to be strong up top, trying to be a target man,” Ledesma said.

Ledesma continued to be a threat throughout the night, especially on the eight corner kicks the Tritons were awarded.

“I saw fire in his eyes for 80 minutes … When you can get the skill he has and combine it with an aggressiveness and a physicality, you’re going to be more productive,” San Clemente head coach Mike Pronier said.

Joe Iorio and Bryan Calderone each scored in the second half for San Clemente.

The win sets up a pivotal closing game for San Clemente (14-5-4, 6-0-2 league) against first-place El Toro (10-0-7, 3-0-4) on Feb. 12. The Tritons can clinch the league title with a victory. El Toro can clinch league with a win or a tie.

Triton Hoops Team Claims Second Title in Three Years The San Clemente boys basketball team easily defeated visiting Mission Viejo 71-46 on Feb. 10, wrapping up the South Coast League title in the process.

Two years ago the Tritons claimed the first league title since 1975. They have now won league two out of the last three years.

Senior Sam Darnold returned to action after suffering a lower back injury against Page 24

Aliso Niguel on Feb. 4 and scored a teamhigh 14 points. Senior Joe Mann scored 13 while senior Nick Crankshaw turned in another solid all-around performance with 10 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

San Clemente (17-7, 7-0) will close out the regular season against Dana Hills on Feb. 12.

The Tritons depth was key to their success down the stretch.

When Darnold went down against the Wolverines, Scott Herrod and Cole Fotheringham came off the bench and combined to score 36 points and pull in 10 rebounds in the victory. Two days later, with Darnold sitting out and Crankshaw battling an illness, three different Tritons scored in the double digits in a 57-47 win over El Toro.

Water Polo Edges Rival Chargers Facing a one-goal deficit heading into the final quarter of play against rival El Toro, the San Clemente girls water polo team responded with three unanswered goals over the final minutes to claim a 7-5 victory Feb. 10.

Amber McCutcheon scored three goals, Cassidy Smithson scored twice and goalie Hylah Prussak recorded 12 saves in the crucial win.

The match was the last league game of the season for El Toro (19-8, 7-1) while San Clemente (16-6, 6-1) has one game remaining. The Tritons were set to play on the road against Dana Hills on Feb. 11.

Results were not available at press time. If San Clemente defeats the Dolphins they will earn a share of the league title. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 60-62 degrees F

GROM OF THE WEEK

REEF TSUTSUI

Water Visibility & Conditions: 6-10’+ Poor-Fair Thursday And Friday: Old West swell winds down on Thursday, still offering fun-zone surf in the 2-3’+ range (knee-waist-chest high) for better exposures as standouts are good for a few lingering plus sets. Late in the day a new WNW swell moves in, and is good for waistchest-shoulder high waves at good breaks on Friday. Look for some larger sets to develop for standout winter magnets in the afternoon.

Moderate+ offshore Santa Anas prevail Thursday, lightening some for Friday.

The Boys U14 finalists at Surfing America Prime, Event No. 5, Feb. 7-8 at Upper Trestles were (L to R first to fourth place) Kade Matson, Noah Hill, Griffin Foy and Kai McPhillips. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Moving on Up at Uppers Local surfers take half of 20 finalist spots at Surfing America Prime, Upper Trestles

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

ummer-like weather and waves in the 4to 6-foot range, with occasionally larger sets, made for exciting times at Surfing America Prime, Event No. 5, Feb. 7 and 8 at San Onofre State Beach, Upper Trestles.

The conditions remained consistent throughout the weekend, aside from slightly smaller surf on Saturday and a bit more wind on Sunday. A few heats in the semifinal and final rounds, made for exciting, edge-or-your-seat viewing.

Of the 20 possible podium spots, San Clemente surfers claimed 10 and won

three of the five divisions.

Samantha Sibley, took the win in Girls U16 with 13.27 points, to runner-up Kirra Pinkerton, 11.90.

The Boys U16 division was commanded

by Cole Houshmand with 15.83 points and the highest average wave score among all of the boys finals—8.33.

The highest wave score among the girls division finalists went to Malia Osterkamp, with an 8.90.

The closest final of the contest came on Sunday in the Boys U14 division, when the top three finishers, ended with scores separating first and second, as well as second and third place, by 0.27 points. Kade Matson, 12.94, took top honors, followed by runner-up Noah Hill, 12.67 and Griffin Foy in third, with 12.40. Fourth-place finisher Kai McPhillips had a great run to the final but just didn’t find himself on a wave with high scoring potential and ended his run with a 4.90.

Division victories not claimed by locals— Girls U18 and Boys U18—went to Santa Cruz surfers Autumn Hays and John Mel. A location for event No. 6 of the six-event regular season has yet to be announced. DP

Longer Range Outlook: Fun WNW swell prevails through the weekend, good for more waist-chest-shoulder high waves at decent exposures and larger sets for standouts. Morning winds are favorable before a sea-breeze develops each afternoon. Check out Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook!

SURFING AMERICA PRIME RESULTS Girls U16 1. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, 13.27 2. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 11.90 3. Autumn Hays, Santa Cruz, 9.84 4. Alexxa Elseewi, San Clemente, 4.34 Girls U18 1. Autumn Hays, Santa Cruz, 14.53 2. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente, 14.50 3. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 12.90 4. Ashley Held, Santa Cruz, 10.83 Boys U18 1. John Mel, Santa Cruz, 14.43 2. Colt Ward, San Clemente, 13.20 3. Nolan Rapoza, Long Beach, 10.70 4. Jordy Collins, Carlsbad, 9.84 Boys U16 1. Cole Houshmand, San Clemente, 15.83 2. Ryland Rubens, Pacific Beach, 13.34 3. Gunner Day, San Clemente, 8.67 4. Griffin Foy, Huntington Beach, 8.63 Boys U14 1. Kade Matson, San Clemente, 12.94 2. Noah Hill, Venice, 12.67 3. Griffin Foy, Huntington Beach, 12.40 4. Kai McPhillips, San Clemente, 4.90

Reef Tsutsui. Photo: Andrea Swayne

R

eef Tsutsui, 13, from Oahu’s North Shore, moved to San Clemente on Jan. 20 with his family of surfers. He is in the eighth grade at Shorecliffs Middle School.

Since his arrival, Reef has competed in two series—a National Scholastic Surfing Association Open event at Salt Creek, and as an alternate at last weekend’s Surfing America Prime at Upper Trestles. He is also planning to begin competing in the Western Surfing Association Championship Tour.

In school, he has been getting mostly As and Bs and is determined to continue earning high marks.

“I like the schools better here because they’re more professional and I learn more.

Also it’s more fun and the people here are really friendly,” Reef said. “It’s cool that there are a bunch of kids to surf with before school, after school and hopefully as part of the team.”

Reef says he is ready to focus his efforts on achieving his goal of becoming a pro surfer and then follow that up with a second career elsewhere within the surf industry.

“Right now I want to surf as much as I can, dedicate as much time to it as possible so that I can be in the best I can physically be,” he said. “And I will do as many contests as I can, to get more heat time in and be more experienced.”

He also says he feels like San Clemente is a great place to make it happen.

“I really like that the kids here have big goals and are more dedicated and driven to do what they are good at and what they really want to do,” Reef said. “It helps me to set a higher standard so I can do better. It’s a really good influence. And the waves have been really good so far too.”—Andrea Swayne