June 18, 2015

LO C A L

N EWS

June 18-24, 2015

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Senior Art Show Scheduled Friday at Cotton’s Point PAGE 20 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 25

Take a Number

Hundreds remain, more expected on San Clemente affordable housing wait lists EYE ON SC/PAGE 7

The Mendocino at Talega Apartments have 185 affordable housing units, but nearly all are occupied. The average waiting list time is between six months to four years, depending on income factors. Photo: Eric Heinz

Man Who Escaped State Parks Custody Still at-Large EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

City Looks to Change Streetlights to LED EYE ON SC/PAGE 4

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San Clemente Resident Previews Pageant of the Masters LIVING/PAGE 16

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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

of more cuts in the next three years to services. Councilman Tim Brown alluded to the city bringing back one of the OCSD positions, but there was no dollar amount reflected in the budget. The positions could be brought back mid-year if council chooses. —EH

Five things San Clemente should know this week

Council Appoints Commissioners, Committee Members

Burglary Suspect at Large After Fleeing Park Ranger THE LATEST: A man is still on the loose after escaping from California State Parks authorities Monday morning. He was described as being a white man, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 130 pounds, with a shaved head, wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans.

Jeff Webster was identified by Park officials on Tuesday as the suspect in question.

Rich Haydon, park superintendent for San Clemente, San Onofre and Doheny State Beaches, said Webster was with a woman at the time he was first apprehended by state park rangers in the area of Avenida Calafia on suspicion of burglarizing a local business. The two were camping illegally.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Twitter feed reported the suspect was also wanted on a drug-related charge.

“Through the investigation the two were suspects in a commercial burglary,” Haydon said. “The male was taken into custody, and while the rangers were working the investigation he was able to get his cuffs in front of himself and got out of a window.”

At 10:05 a.m. Concordia Elementary School was placed on a “shelter in place” order, which was lifted about an hour later.

According to Lt. Jeff Hallock, OCSD public information officer, at some point in the day Webster was reportedly seen near San Clemente Inn. At 2:35 p.m. Hallock said sheriff’s deputies were continuing their search in the 3100 block of Avenida Presidente. Haydon said Webster is not known to be armed or dangerous. Orange County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation at this time.

OCSD Patrol units and airship (helicopter) “Duke” assisted in trying to locate Webster.

WHAT’S NEXT: Anyone with information of the suspect is asked to call OCSD at 714.647.7000. —Eric Heinz

Council Foreshadows Ban on Living Mascots THE LATEST: In the first reading of an orSan Clemente Times June 18-24, 2015

A living mascot with Liberty Tax Service in San Clemente waves at passersby in Statue of Liberty garb in this April photo. The city of San Clemente is looking to amend a zoning ordinance what would prohibit this kind of advertising on public right-of-way. Photo: Courtesy Liberty Tax Service in San Clemente.

dinance that would amend the city’s sign laws to outlaw “living mascots,” employees who dress up or perform as a way of advertising, on public land, San Clemente City Council members all said they would vote in favor of the ban.

The ordinance went through its first reading during Tuesday night’s meeting, and five representatives of Liberty Tax Service spoke out against the proposed law. The business has a person dress up like the Statue of Liberty, the business’ mascot, to bring attention to itself.

Council members said they were concerned about how mascots could be interpreted as a sign and that sign would not only infring on the city’s right-of-way but block other signs. A key element of the ban council members pointed to was public safety issues.

Councilwoman Kathy Ward, who introduced the ordinance, said the mascots are a blatant contribution to distracted driving.

Brenda Yecke, a Liberty Tax Service branch owner, said she thinks banning the mascot is a limitation on free speech and would deter future businesses with similar advertising methods from coming to San Clemente.

In April, the city’s Planning Commission reviewed the ordinance and approved it for City Council’s consideration.

In order to get the first mascot approved initially, as the form of advertising was out of compliance when the business first started using it, Mayor Chris Hamm alluded to Liberty Tax Service altering their mascot in order to comply with the city’s law.

Hamm said he has seen other living mascots advertising while dressed as slices of pizza or subsandwiches in the city. —EH

City Approves Annual Finances, Sherriff’s Agreement

WHAT’S NEXT: City Council will read the ordinance at least two more times before it is adopted or rejected. Liberty Tax Service representatives said most of their foot traffic is referenced to seeing the living mascot waving at passersby. Although Liberty Tax Service was the only business represented during Tuesday’s meeting,

THE LATEST: City Finance Manager Judi Vincent and Assistant Manager Erik Sund presented the fiscal year 2016 budget during the Tuesday City Council meeting, and council approved it unanimously. The total budget calls for more than $125 million in revenues and $133 million in expenditures, with sustainable operating funds.

“We do have a balanced budget, which means our operating expenditures in the general fund do not exceed operating revenues,” Vincent said.

Reserves are something the city will continue to monitor, but Sund said the city has been analyzing those funds.

Although the city is seeing a steep increase in project expenditures, he said the city will maintain its budget in that sector.

“While we do forecast in future years outlying potential deficits, we’re never going to allow ourselves to go into deficits,” Sund said. “What that means is we’ll do less projects or we’ll do other things to bring our operating position to a positive, like we’ve always done in recent years.”

The police services contract for the next fiscal year is $12.7 million, about 2.6 percent higher than the prior year.

Vincent said this is because of a “multitude of items” increasing and decreasing in expense.

“The biggest change is the de-funding of two positions that are currently vacant,” she said.

WHAT’S NEXT: Mayor Chris Hamm said he was in favor of approving the contract with the OCSD but would not be in favor

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THE LATEST: Three people were appointed to city commissions and committees June 11. Michael Blackwell was appointed to the Planning Commission. In Blackwell’s application he said he has 17 years of experience in land acquisition and entitlement matters in California and has worked with countless review boards, homeowners associations and other councils.

Nick Azzollini was reappointed to the Golf Course Committee. Azzollini said he has seen the course evolve during the last 30 years and takes “pride in doing (his) part to help maintain the beauty and playability of the course.”

Brian Haskins was appointed to the Coastal Advisory Committee. Haskins said on his application that he has an educational background that “provides a framework for critically evaluating study data.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Interviews and appointments will take place 7 p.m. Thursday for the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission, representative to the Friends of the Reserve Commission, Human Affairs Committee and Investment Advisory Committee. —EH

McStay Family Murder Suspect to Stand Trial THE LATEST: During a preliminary hearing Monday, Judge Michael A. Smith of San Bernardino Superior Court ruled there is enough evidence to bring Charles “Chase” Merritt to trial, the man arrested in November and charged with the 2010 murders of the McStay Family, authorities said.

Joseph McStay and his wife, Summer, and their two sons Gianni, 4 and Joseph Jr., 3, went missing in 2010 and were found dead in separate, shallow graves in 2013.

Merritt, Joseph’s former business partner, is implicated in the killings.

The McStays had moved to Fallbrook but remained close with many people San Clemente, where they resided before moving, before they disappeared in February 2010.

WHAT’S NEXT: Jury selections will begin following the trial date scheduling. Merritt is scheduled to appear for an arraignment hearing June 24. —EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

City Plans to Shed New Light on Streets

BY EVAN DA SILVA, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

fter City Council approved the project at its June 2 meeting, the city of San Clemente expects to move forward with a plan to install new street lights in roughly one quarter of the region.

The project is part of a conversion from the current high-powered sodium bulbs to brighter, more efficient light-emitting diode technology, or LED. Future plans include complete conversion of all streetlight fixtures throughout San Clemente.

The city currently owns and maintains about 2,900 street lights at a cost of $251,000 annually for electricity. Another $78,000 is paid each year to SDG&E to operate and maintain 430 street lighting fixtures it owns.

With HPS bulbs being the standard for many years throughout most of the city’s lighting infrastructure, the move to LED bulbs is said to significantly reduce a financial burden on the city, while lighting streets noticeably better.

“LEDs have matured and become the leading technology,” Assistant City Engineer Tom Bonigut said. “It’s time now to start moving forward and getting them implemented in San Clemente so we can

NEWS BITES

COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ AND JACOB ONOFRIO

San Clemente Boy Scout Achieves High Honors Joseph Bell, Eagle Scout in San Clemente Troop 797, has earned all of the merit badges currently offered by The Boy Scouts of America, according to a press release.

Joseph was awarded the Orange County Boy Scouts of America “Road to Eagle Scholarship” to complete his Eagle Scout Leadership and Service project, which involved designing and building a public viewing platform and benches on Avenida Vista Montana and Calle del Cerro.

He currently serves as a regional youth officer for OCBSA, on their National Eagle Scout Association board. Joseph has organized and assisted with several Special Olympic events. He is a junior at San Clemente High where he runs on the cross-country and track teams, and he sings with the Madrigals. He was recently invited to and attended the highly selective Summer Seminar of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Bakery Helps Donate 800 Pounds of Dog Food Three Dog Bakery of San Clemente partnered with Camp Pendleton Animal San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

save money and meet all of our sustainability goals.”

The new LED street lights are able to achieve equivalent light output while using about 50 to 70 percent less electricity, meaning better conservation, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a lowering of operating costs.

Where HPS lights average a five-year lifespan, the proposed LED bulbs can last up to 20 years, resulting in fewer lamp replacements. LEDs also provide an advantage in more uniform light distribution and better color rendering of objects. They also reduce emitting light in unwanted directions, making them “dark skies compliant,” minimizing light pollution.

The biggest difference San Clementeans will notice will be the clear, cool and “moonlit” viewing conditions LED lights provide, as opposed to the dim, yelloworange tint synonymous with HPS bulbs.

Bonigut said he thinks this could also have a positive impact on public safety.

“In general, when you research LED lights, public safety officials—particularly police agencies—prefer the LEDs because they render colors more accurately,” Boginut said. “A blue vehicle is going to

look blue under an LED instead of green or some other color when under an HPS. It provides better definition, too.

Though the overall cost to convert all of San Clemente to the LED lights is projected to be about $1.3 million, the city estimates a savings of $40,000 annually from implementing these plans in just the first portion of street lights alone. Plans to fund these efforts are led by exploring the possibilities of grants or loans offered

by California, state bonds, energy-saving contractors, manufacturer programs, utility provider programs and city selffunding.

The initial steps of the project plans to convert about 740 standard “cobra head” street lights on most arterial streets, including Camino De Los Mares, Camino Vera Cruz, Avenida Vista Hermosa (east of the I-5 freeway), Avenida La Pata and Avenida Pico (excluding the area by Marblehead Coastal). This will cost the city roughly $250,000, Bonigut said. All street lights in the Rancho San Clemente Business Park are also tabbed to be updated, with subsequent phases converting lights on all remaining arterial, collector and residential streets. SC

Shelter for the annual Feed a Dog Food Drive to donate 800 pounds of dog food to dogs owned by U.S. Marines and their families, according to a press release from bakery owner Denise O’Donnell.

“Our bakery was extremely excited by the results,” O’Donnell said. “We are so grateful to all our customers who donated to support this cause. We set a goal to raise 600 pounds and we surpassed that goal.”

are well equipped to handle their problems on their own.

In addition to preparing for the busy beach days this summer, the Junior Lifeguards program will be expanding to three sessions in order to allow more kids to get involved.

“It’s going to allow a lot more kids to come through, which is great,” Coy said.

“I think it’s one of the coolest things a kid could do … you can see operations from inside out, which gives a huge advantage.”

—Jacob Onofrio

San Clemente Department of Marine Safety Prepares for Another Busy Summer Last Saturday, the San Clemente Department of Marine Safety held an open house, giving citizens from all over Orange County an inside look at lifeguard headquarters and an opportunity to learn about how they are preparing for the upcoming summer season.

Located in their original building at San Clemente beach, the department’s open house tour took visitors through their medical room, main office and dispatch room. Operating apart from the state lifeguard department, San Clemente lifeguards are expecting an estimate of 3,000 rescues this year alone, 90 percent of which are expected to be related to rip currents.

Lifeguard David Coy said although San Clemente Marine Safety works in tandem with the state lifeguard department, they

Student Gets Nod for Air Force Academy Rep. Darrell Issa recently nominated San Clemente resident Hailey Laub for admittance to the United States Air Force Academy, according to a press release from his office.

“Being accepted to a service academy is no easy feat, and our office wishes to highlight her achievement,” the release stated.

Hailey attended San Clemente High School where she lettered in track and soccer. She served as captain of the varsity soccer team and lead with compassion. In addition to sports, Hailey tutored youth at the Boys and Girls Club and volunteered as a referee for Special Olympics.

Have something interesting for the community? We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

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Community Meetings FRIDAY, JUNE 19

San Clemente High School Graduation

4 p.m. Each graduating senior will be allotted six tickets to enter the bleachers for graduation. Tickets are not required to attend graduation, only to access the home and visitor bleachers.

The gates to the stadium will open at 2 p.m. 700 Avenida Pico, Thalassa Stadium, 949.492.4165, www.sctritons.com.

Chamber of Commerce Orientation

5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce Orientation/Members Business Luncheon takes place once a month to help inform both new and existing members about everything the chamber has to offer and how to make the most of a chamber membership. The meeting is held at BallPark Pizza, 1231 Puerta Del Sol, Unit 200, 949.492.1131. www.scchamber.com.

Dark Friday

City offices closed WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24

San Clemente Rotary Club

Noon. The San Clemente Rotary Club meets on Wednesdays at the Wedgewood Restaurant at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course, 150 E Avenida Magdalena, 949.233.7981, www.sanclementerotary.org.

CUSD Board of Trustees Meeting

7 p.m. Capistrano Unified School District regular meeting. 33122 Valle Road, 949.234.9200, www.capousd. ca.schoolloop.com

Planning Commission Meeting 7 p.m. San Clemente Planning Commission meeting. City Hall Council Chamber, 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25

CUSD Special Board Meeting

5 p.m. The Capistrano Unified School District will have a special Board of Trustees meeting, 33122 Valle Road, 949.234.9200, www.capousd. ca.schoolloop.com.

www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

San Clemente Affordable Housing Not Easy to Come By Average wait is one to three years for subsidized living cy, Denise Obrero, San Clemente Housing ourtney Davies, a student at Saddle& Social Services Planner, said. back College and receptionist and The long-awaited Avenida Serra location hair stylist hopeful at Salon Bleu, is nearing completion, expected to be said she has been on a waiting list for done in October. affordable housing in San Clemente for The waiting list for the Serra project’s nearly three years for one location and 18 19 units will open in about two weeks. months for another.

National Community Renaissance will The single mother who doesn’t want to manage the Avenida Serra site with an onrelocate because she said her child enjoys location manager. her current local elementary school, lives Although the complex does not have with four other adults and four children actual data available yet, Obrero said she in a four-bedroom home in Rancho San estimates, based on call volume, there will Clemente. be at least 800 people on a wait list for the Davies said because the home is to be 19 units that will be available. sold and the tenants have to be out by the “Orange County is built out, meaning end of July, she’s hoping she can find a there’s no more land,” Obrero said. “Basiplace to live in town—preferably somecally you have to do these infill projects.” thing comparable to the $1,000 per month The city is trying to locate more existrent she’s paying at her ing buildings that can be current residence. converted to affordable Waiting Room Davies said she was on a housing. The process list for Irvine affordable does not move fast, as the Affordable housing in San housing for four to five Avenida Serra location was Clemente and waiting years, but decided the comfirst conceived in 1998 but list times according to mute wouldn’t be worth it. didn’t get substantial fundOrange County Community “I’m trying really hard ing until about 2010.

Services not to move my daughter “The average commute in Casa de Seniors: because she loves it at her San Clemente is between 30 72 units, two to three years school,” she said. and 50 miles,” Obrero said.

Escalones Nuevos: Davies’ roommate, “We have people who may six units, one year Amber Ringstad, said work in San Diego or in RivHenderson Houses they’re paying about $4,000 erside, San Bernardino— Shared Housing: altogether in monthly rent. you go where the job is.” six units, four to six weeks “Our situation is we’re According to “Out of (60-day maximum stay) three single moms sharing Reach 2015,” a study by the Avenida Serra: 19 units, a house right now, sharNational Low-Income Housone to three years (based ing the rent three to four ing Coalition, residents on projected numbers) ways,” Ringstad said. need to earn $30.92 an hour Mendocino Apartments The children are beto afford rent for a typical in Talega: tween 6 and 12 years old. two-bedroom apartment in 185 units, anywhere from “We’ve got to move, Orange County. six months to four years, and the rent has gone up “The typical fair market depending on income so much in just the last rent for a two-bedroom unit Mary Erickson Community year,” said Ringstad, who here is $1,608 per month Housing: 12 units, one year has lived in San Clemente while the nationwide averVintage Shores: 122 units, for the last seven years. “I age was $1,124 a month, first come, first served don’t think sharing a room ranking O.C. among the with my 10-year-old son nation’s 10 most expensive would be ideal.” counties for renters (behind New York, Ringstad said she’s been looking all San Francisco, Boston and San Jose Siliover for alternative solutions to housing, con Valley),” the report stated. and she has the option to live with family Whether employees of a certain income in Tustin while she and her son figure bracket would be able to make up that difthings out in the interim. ference would depend on the average wages “Three years ago I did have a twoof a specific city and its industries, but based bedroom place for my son and I for $1,400 on minimum wage, a person living here a month,” she said. “You cannot find that would have to work three jobs full time. now; it is impossible.”

“I think a lot of people just don’t know how affordable housing works, so there LOW VACANCY is a big education part to it,” Obrero said.

All the affordable and senior housing “This is going to be part of the fabric of complexes in San Clemente are either at the downtown area.” or just barely under 100 percent occupanCity Planner Jim Pechous said other

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

C

San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

Jose Trujillo of Imac Construction works on a wall Friday, June 12 at the Avenida Serra affordable housing units.

The complex is expected to receive applicants for wait lists later this month or in July. Photo: Eric Heinz

funding sources also have not been available in recent years for affordable housing.

“It’s not a for-profit business, so the funding is really hard to come by,” he said, adding the housing in lieu of taxation fees have also all but dwindled.

“We have a variety of potential sites where affordable housing could happen, but the bottom line is that the real strong funding mechanisms aren’t there,” Pechous said.

Cotton’s Point Senior Apartments, developed as affordable living for people 55 and older, was further along than the Serra location when the funding for redevelopment basically stopped. Other sources from the federal government’s Housing and Urban Development are available, but the different organizations managing the sites have to apply through a need-based system.

State regulations require cities to provide affordable housing with prescribed amounts of development based on population. The housing can be for homeless, destitute and other criteria applicable to California Housing and Community Development.

“More than 400 redevelopment agencies ceased to exist after Feb. 1, 2012,” Obrero wrote in an email. “Redevelopment agencies (like National CORE), which used a portion of property tax money to partner with developers to encourage development in blighted areas, controlled about $5 billion a year in tax revenue.”

Obrero said the city used to get about $700,000 to $800,000 in redevelopment state funding for affordable housing programs until that was cut. The $7.3 million needed for Serra is a financial patchwork of grants, city funding and loans.

The building is going to be marked for affordable housing for at least 55 years, Obrero said, and each site manager has its own rules and regulations for qualifying for a unit. Income, credit history, criminal

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background and references are just a few of the processes.

The Serra site will take until about September to sift through, Obrero said.

COST FACTORS These developments are far from government projects in which fixed incomes are provided through either welfare or social security.

The Medocino location in Talega is an example of expensive construction costs.

The complex, with one- to three-bedroom units and $585 to $1,400 per month rents, cost more than $30 million to build.

Another hurdle has been public transportation, which Orange County Transit Authority cut from the Talega location after it was dealt its own budget cuts.

Obrero said available land for the municipality to develop affordable housing is scarce. The materials required to meet the city’s Spanish Colonial Revival standards aren’t cheap, and when funding was cut from programs from the state a few years ago it pushed these projects further back.

Even at the rate they’re going, most of San Clemente’s affordable housing units don’t meet the threshold of one-third of annual income. At $9 an hour (California minimum wage), rent would have to be $432, but the cheapest apartment at Medocino is about $550. The requirements to move into affordable housing in most of the apartments is to have twice the wages of the monthly rent. A one-bedroom apartment typically goes for $900 or higher.

There’s also a local retention factor in all this, in that recent college or high school graduates looking for employment may not be able to stay in San Clemente because the housing is unaffordable to the rate of their job. This, Obrero said, is something her office and counterparts have noticed with interns.

“There’s just not enough,” Obrero said.

“It’s a huge community concern.” SC www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

SC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY EVAN DA SILVA

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, June 16 BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Avenida De La Estrella, 100 Block (3:20 a.m.) A man reported an intruder in his office.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Pico, 700 Block (4:10 a.m.) A man called police saying students were arriving and should not be on campus until 6 a.m.

He said it was part of a student prank and 15 vehicles with students had arrived and the students were refusing to leave.

Monday, June 15 PETTY THEFT REPORT Paseo Halcon/Paseo Aguila (11:39 p.m.) A woman in a white Toyota Tercel told police she was tracing her iPhone 6 that was stolen in San Clemente.

MISSING JUVENILE Calle Vicente, 600 Block (11:37 p.m.) Police searched for a woman’s 14-year-old son who she said was intoxicated and wandering around the beach cities with his friends. He had been repeatedly drunk-dialing his mother.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Via Tulipan, 1500 Block (9:57 p.m.) After urinating into some bushes, a man wearing a striped hoodie told the caller who reported him she was “going to die.”

DISTURBANCE Paseo Flamenco, 3400 Block (8:58 p.m.) Police received reports of a man inside a building yelling “I’m going to beat your head.” A woman was heard yelling in response, “Go ahead.”

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Perlino, 900 Block (8:38 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a man who was possibly looking into houses and casing the area.

WELFARE CHECK Avenida Pico/El Camino Real (8:10 p.m.) A patrol check was conducted for a man in his 30s rolling around on the ground next to a carwash. The caller asked if he was okay, but the man did not respond.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo De Cristobal, 300 Block (6:55 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for approximately a dozen men loitering and dealing illegal drugs.

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SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Del Presidente, 3100 Block (1:39 p.m.) A subject who ran from California State Park officials was possibly seen on a pedestrian bridge.

PETTY THEFT REPORT Calle Bella Loma, 100 Block (11:18 a.m.) Someone siphoned about 25 gallons of gas from a gas station.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Perlino, 700 Block (8:10 a.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a man who was looking into houses.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS El Camino Real, 2400 Block (3:51 a.m.) Money was taken from the cash drawer when the caller stepped away. The suspect was a man in his late 20s or early 30s with thick-rimmed reading glasses and a black baseball cap carrying a laptop computer. The man was working on his computer in the lobby and when the caller came back he had left with the money.

Sunday, June 14 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Salvador, 900 Block (10:28 p.m.) A 25-year-old woman went to a man’s house and told him she was afraid to go back to the group home across the street. The man believed she was on medication.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino De Los Mares/Camino El Molino (1:16 p.m.) A man wearing a camouflage hat was yelling at passing cars.

KEEP THE PEACE Calle Frontera, 2900 Block (4:20 a.m.) Police were requested to make a theft report after a juvenile’s parents took a knife that belonged to him.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Macho, 400 Block (3:12 a.m.) Multiple juveniles were reported stealing signs and tampering with cars.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Calle Frontera, 2000 Block (2:32 a.m.) Multiple juveniles were throwing eggs at the lifeguard shack.

Saturday, June 13 ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (11:39 p.m.) Three subjects were seen putting something on the train tracks near the pier. The train nearly struck them as it passed by, the caller said.

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Estacion, 1700 Block (2:04 p.m.) The railroad arms were not going down before the trains passed by.

KEEP THE PEACE Avenida Pico, 800 Block (9:41 p.m.) An employee was not allowing the caller’s daughter to leave the business with the pie she paid for. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by Jim Kempton

Don’t Bolt! It’s Lightning Striking Again Clueless thinking can make storms much worse.

F

ew phenomenons on earth remind us of nature’s random power like a crackling thunderstorm. Nothing makes a point quite as convincingly as a bolt out of the blue landing within one’s immediate proximity. Just ask Paul on the road to Damascus.

As our observable knowledge has increased about these awe-inspiring occurrences, a range of safety measures have become commonly accepted. Many seem obvious: Get into an enclosed structure.

Don’t stand in a puddle of water. Move immediately if you can hear thunder.

Some of the advice seems too obvious.

A recent newspaper provided a list of recommendations. The first line in one of the suggestions reads “If no enclosed building is available, get into a vehicle with a metal roof.” The second line of the suggestion (I kid you not) says “No convertibles.”

As apparent as most warnings might seem, there are several startling misconceptions about lightning; some completely contradict what we generally assume.

Here are a few myths that really surprised me.

Myth: Lightning never strikes twice in the same spot.

Fact: Lightning strikes the same place

Letters to the Editor REGULATE BEACH SHOWERS FOR WATER CONSERVATION DAN CALDWELL, San Clemente

As everyone who lives in California knows, our state and city are now facing a serious water shortage and Governor Brown has declared an emergency and has instituted mandatory water conservation measures.

Despite this situation, the public showers at San Clemente’s beaches remain on with no limits on the water that is used.

I appreciate a freshwater shower after a swim in the ocean as much as anyone, but given the crisis that we face, isn’t it time to turn off the showers on the beach?

Doing so would not only be a way to save water, it would also be a way of educating the public, particularly children, about the crisis that we face. Currently, children use the water from the showers San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

all the time. Those pointy church steeples, radio towers, and tall trees are all repeat bull’s eyes for a bolt. Then again, sometimes lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place because the same place isn’t there anymore.

Myth: If caught in a thunderstorm get under the nearest tree.

Fact: It sounds good, but in reality it is a recipe for getting sizzled. As mentioned earlier, lightning’s electrical current WAVELENGTHS

By Jim Kempton is drawn to the highest point. Standing underneath trees in a lightning storm is actually the second most common way to become a pile of smoldering embers.

Myth: If trapped outside where a strike is imminent, lie flat on the ground.

Fact: Lying flat actually increases your chance of being injured by powerful “ground current.” At over 30,000 amps this deadly ground current travels through rock, soil or wet objects, often taking out pets, livestock and us, if we’re lying flat— in the blink of bolt.

The best protection when exposed in the open is to crouch. Feet together,

to build sandcastles and to play in it. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the showers on any weekend. If the water were turned off, children would learn about the crisis we face and the fact that they, by not wasting water, can help address the problem.

Anyone who wanted a freshwater wash off after going in the ocean could learn from generations of surfers who take a gallon jug of water to the beach and use it to wash off.

Given the water shortage we face, we simply can’t live the way that we have in the past, and we all need to help solve our serious problem. Turning off the showers at San Clemente’s beaches would be a step in that direction.

SONGS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS NEED ATTENTION ROGER JOHNSON, San Clemente

Many noticed that Edison’s language to trivialize the dangers of San Onofre, “accidents are extremely unlikely,” is exactly the same as that used by the oil company whose broken pipe is now polluting the beaches in Santa Barbara. At least Edison

squatting as low as possible, resting on the balls of the feet minimizes ground contact and exposure to the lethal current. Picture Gollum from Lord of the Rings. That’s the pose that keeps a person safe from sizzle.

Come to think of it, maybe Gollum is in that position to avoid another lightning strike. He sure looks like that’s what happened to him.

A direct crack from a thunderbolt is definitely not the buzz you want to create.

An old Apache proverb reminds us that to achieve real power “It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand.”

The good news is that being struck by lightning is a rare thing. It’s almost as unlikely as winning the lottery, but not nearly as much fun.

Jim Kempton is a surfer and writer living in Orange County who has learned by experience that a near-hit bolt of lightning can evoke more prayers than any Sunday sermon he has ever heard. 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.

is now admitting that San Onofre was a danger when it was operating, something they never admitted before. But any public relations attempt to portray San Onofre as safe is pure deception.

Edison has now successfully petitioned the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to excuse itself from area-wide safety and emergency planning. No more radiation monitoring in town so we are now unlikely to know of any radiation dangers. In every past nuclear emergency, authorities have either concealed or lied about radiation dangers. The same will happen here.

There remain many possibilities of emergencies for which San Onofre has no defense: earthquakes, tsunamis, or 9/11type terrorist attacks. There is also the huge danger of human error and equipment failure. The thin canisters designed for short-term storage will now be used for long-term storage because we are now a nuclear waste dump for the indefinite future. Edison does not want to use the stronger (and more expensive) canisters and instead chose the ones known to fail. Failure cannot be detected until they already leak, and once emitting radiation they cannot be repaired.

(Cont. on page 13)

Page 10

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OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Kevin Dahlgren Evan Da Silva Amanda Huffman Katherine Nowicki Jacob Onofrio Dana Schnell Tim Trent

San Clemente Times, Vol. 10, Issue 25. 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 10) Does anyone feel comforted by Edison’s smug claim that accidents are “extremely unlikely?” We are only several miles from a nuclear waste dump containing thousands of tons of surface-level highly radioactive waste. We are now home to the radioactive equivalent of more than 20,000 Hiroshima bombs. No, it will not explode, but what it can do is spread a deadly radioactive plume, which could permanently contaminate thousands of square miles.

Edison is indemnified for the hundreds of billions of dollars that such a catastrophe would cost taxpayers.

So are insurance companies. All homes and businesses would be a total loss since no policy covers radiation contamination.

And think of the health hazards, especially to women and children, who are much more vulnerable to radiation.

Meanwhile, our local, county and state governments are doing nothing to get the waste removed to a safer more remote temporary location. Instead, they await the pipedream that the federal government might someday create a permanent repository. Our waste dump is squarely in the middle of Darrell Issa’s District 49, yet he does nothing. It is puzzling why so many people don’t know or don’t care about what is by far the biggest threat to the future of southern California.

SONGS SAFETY PERSONNEL JUST MADE THEIR JOB A LOT EASIER. GARY HEADRICK, San Clemente

In January of 2012, one of the newly replaced steam generators at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station began leaking radiation into the environment, causing the plant to be shut down permanently. Had the leak not been detected in time, it could have easily escalated into a full-blown emergency, far worse than what Japan continues to endure today. Whistleblowers had predicted such an outcome back in 2009, accusing the company of taking reckless shortcuts. Retaliation against employees was one of several reasons why Edison had the worst safety record of all.

Now that the plant has stopped producing electricity, it might seem logical to eliminate most of the emergency plans, as was recently approved, but that is not the case. The problem is that highly radioactive waste has accumulated at the site, amounting to more than 89 times

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, June 12 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso.

Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Eric Heinz every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome.

San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

the radiation released in the Chernobyl accident. Since the Department of Energy has failed to provide a permanent solution, the waste is stuck here indefinitely. Twothirds of it is in pools that are vulnerable to earthquakes, and everyone agrees the fuel rods would be safer in dry cask storage, the way the other third is now being stored.

In a chaotic emergency caused by a major earthquake we’d only have 17 hours to prevent fuel rods in pools from catching fire, sending plumes of radiation into the environment.

But even these casks, which they claim to be twice as safe during an earthquake, were not designed to hold this extremely long-lived, highly radioactive material indefinitely. There have been cases in which wall cracks have developed in less than 17 years at other locations near corrosive beach environments like ours. The containers used here are only licensed for 20 years, with only eight years left on some of the earliest loaded casks we have at San Onofre.

Rather than reducing our safety response capabilities, we should be enhancing them. We know that the science and technology community has grossly underestimated the power of nature, as seen in Japan’s ongoing crisis. We also know from Osama Bin Laden’s computer files that nuclear power plants are one of the preferred targets for terrorists. Ours is especially tempting with the likelihood of Camp Pendleton being destroyed in the process. With that in mind, we should be moving the nuclear waste as soon as possible to an interim storage site where seismic concerns and protection from terrorist have been addressed. That may take decades, so while the waste remains here, we must use the best casks available (not the ones they intend to use), anticipate the need to reload dry casks that are leaking, reinforce the pools and protect the waste, enhance security from cyber attacks or other terrorist plots and improve on emergency response systems to protect the public. The last thing we should do is to relax our emergency response capabilities.

Contact gary@sanclementegreen.org to help reject this reckless policy that will be going into effect this summer if we do nothing about it. Also, please watch some very compelling evidence against those making these decisions on YouTube under “$5 Billion Cover-up at San Onofre.”

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.

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SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

Library will host a multigenerational veterans panel for this month’s local author lecture series. New books by the authors will be available for sale, and a reception will be held after with light refreshments.

Admission is free. The Bookstore, 31495-A El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.218.4512.

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 18

Monday | 22

SHAWN JONES 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.

MOMMY MOVIE MONDAYS 10 a.m. Moms and dads are welcome to bring their baby along to the theater every Monday at Krikorian Theaters.

641 Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente, 949.661.7610, www.kptmovies.com.

Friday | 19

Photo: Courtesy Christy MacBride-Hart

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST 8 p.m. Play at Cabrillo Playhouse runs through June 28. Tickets are $20-$25 and can be purchased online. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20: PAINT SAN CLEMENTE PLEIN AIR AWARDS GALA 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The San Clemente Art Association’s annual Paint San Clemente features a weeklong, citywide plein air (outdoor) painting competition with about 100 artists participating. The gala includes “an artful taste” of some of the best San Clemente restaurants. Proceeds fund art programs in local schools. San Clemente Community Center Auditorium, 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.369.0260 www.paintsanclemente.com.

DANA POINT FREE MOVIE IN THE PARK 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy an evening under the stars watching Disney’s Maleficent on an inflatable screen in Lantern Bay Park.

Snacks will be available to purchase. For more information, call 949.248.3530. Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2:30 p.m. Family Style performs until 6:30 p.m., followed by the Hollywood Hillbillies at 8:30 p.m. The Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Sunday | 21

FATHER’S DAY HIKE 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Take Father’s Day out on the trail this year with a 2-mile hike. Adults $10, kids $5. The Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy, call for directions, 949.923.2210, www.rmvreserve.org.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: AN AMERICAN TRIBUTE 7 p.m. The South Coast Singers are back with three concerts in south Orange County, including “On the Road Again,” a tribute to music from every corner of the country. Tickets are $20-$25 and are available online or at the box office. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949.613.7840, www.soka.edu.

SEA GLASS WIRE WRAPPING 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn how to wire wrap sea glass with teacher Rachel Wendel. All materials included. $25 per person. San Clemente Art Supply, 1531 N. El Camino Real, 949.369.6603, www.scartsupply.com.

HARBOR MUSIC CRUISE: SONIC GOLD 8 p.m. Enjoy live music aboard the Dana Pride while cruising the Dana Point Harbor.

Boat features a full bar. Must be 21 or over with proper ID. $19. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden

Saturday | 20

BEACH CHURCH 8 a.m. Visit Christ Lutheran’s Beach Church on the sand in San Clemente North Beach near the Metrolink station.

Worship and fellowship for all ages—with the ocean as a backdrop. Call 949.496.2621 or visit www.clcsanclemente.org for more information.

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.

LOCAL AUTHOR LECTURE SERIES: VETERANS PANEL 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. In honor of Flag Day, the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the

Tuesday | 23 OPEN MIC NIGHT 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Singer/songwriters perform at the Point Restaurant open mic every Tuesday. 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

Wednesday | 24 LAGUNA BEACH LIBRARY SURF BUZZ SERIES 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Meet Kevin Naughton, a travel writer for various surf publications, including Surfer, The Surfer’s Journal, The Surfer’s Path, as well as Travelers’ Tales books. In 2002, Naughton was the subject of a travel documentary, The Far Shore. In 2008, he was one of the featured surfers in award-winning Irish surfing documentary Waveriders. Admission is free. Laguna Beach Library, 363 Glenneyre Street, Laguna Beach, 949.497.1733.

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

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

At the Movies: ‘Jurassic World’ Story Falls Short, Dinos Delight

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

C

urrently holding the record as the most successful Friday opening in movie history, Jurassic World is one of many franchise revivals this year—one that fans have awaited with cautious anticipation.

After the disappointing sequels Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997) and Jurassic Park III (2001), the new filmmakers had a lot to make up for to compare with the 1993 original. The new film introduces fresh new faces, but delivers more disas-

San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

ter than chills.

Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, the dinosaur attraction has been resurrected by park CEO Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) and operations manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard). With help from “raptor whisperers” Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Barry (Omar Sy), and control room employees Lowery (Jake Johnson) and Vivian (Lauren Lapkus), dinosaurs are back to walk with humans. Dearing’s nephews Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gary (Ty Simpkins) are visiting the park on opening

weekend. Katie McGrath appears as Claire’s assistant, and Vincent D’Onofrio adds another antagonist role to his resume.

While Spielberg’s Park had only a dozen people on the island, Colin Trevorrow’s World has thousands of guests, making everything bigger, louder and scarier than ever.

Because of the ultra-action and violence, the film suffers a loss in character development and rushed subplots, despite the impressive cast—particularly Howard and Johnson.

But with the park finally open to the public, the scenery and animals are incredible to

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Photo:: © 2015 Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Inc.

look at. For die-hard Jurassic fanatics, the animatronics and computer-generated imagery should come close to making up for shortfalls in the story. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Car Show Draws Thousands for 20th Annual Gathering

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

housands of people gathered Sunday on Avenida del Mar for the 20th Annual San Clemente Car Show, hosted by the Downtown Business Association. Many collectable vehicles flanked a swarm of visitors. Various awards were given to participants in the competition.

Gary Tovey gets his makeup ready June 9 before rehearsal for his role as George Washington in Pageant of the Masters. Photo: Kat Figurelli

Local Artists Prepare to Not Move a Muscle Pageant of the Masters paints living pictures

BY AMANDA HUFFMAN, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

n July 8, the lights will go up on the stage of Laguna Beach’s Irvine Bowl, illuminating the living pictures of the Pageant of the Masters.

The pageant recreates classical and contemporary pieces of art and casts community members from across Orange County as statues and painted figures. The 90-minute show is accompanied by a musical score and live narration.

Each night, volunteers spend hours readying each cast member for their role.

The first step is the makeup, which is applied to give the appearance of paint strokes or, as in the case of San Clemente resident Valerie Hill, of stone.

Hill has participated in the Pageant since 1988 when she saw an ad in a newsletter. This year Hill is cast as a statue of Esther Hobart Morris in the Capitol Hall Statuary piece.

“Basically you’re cast because of your dimensions,” she said. “They take a lot of different kinds of measurements. But sometimes you just look like the role.”

Dana Point resident Gary Tovey joins her as a statue, portraying George Washington.

Up to three coats of white makeup are applied to his face to prepare him for the role.

“A few years ago my daughter did Pageant of the Masters, and she wanted me to try it out,” he said.

Richard Casazza of San Juan Capistrano was also introduced to the event through family two years before.

“I came down with my daughter, but I was the one who got called back,” he said.

Cast as a statue of Chief Washakie, Casazza also receives full facial makeup, though in bronze instead of white.

San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

Makeup is followed by hairpieces and wardrobe. These, too, are painted and are incredibly stiff—cast members have to carefully move without disturbing the hours of work put into each piece.

Alan Perlmutter knows of this work firsthand. A volunteer in wardrobe, the Dana Point resident helps dress each cast member before they head onstage.

“I make sure they leave here ready to be inside the frame,” Perlmutter said.

Pageant of the Masters achieves something most parents wish they could—getting children to stand still in their performance.

“Half of our volunteers are children,” Perlmutter said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for them.”

Each night they receive full makeup and costume, and then they stand frozen on the stage as hundreds of audience members watch. They tackle their roles with all the seriousness of their adult counterparts.

Even with the need for professionalism, there’s still room for enjoyment for participants.

“You know what I love is when friends and family come to watch,” Casazza said.

“I’ll give them a backstage tour—I love being able to do that.”

The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters is held in Laguna Beach and will run from July 8 to Aug. 31. Pageant of the Masters will be held nightly, starting at 8:30 p.m. and the art show will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. General weekday admission is $7, and seniors and students tickets are $4. Weekend admission is $10 and $6 for students and seniors.

Children 12 and under, military members and Laguna Beach residents are free. SC

Carol, left, and Glen Draper peruse the vehicles Sunday during the 20th Annual San Clemente Car Show Photo: Eric Heinz

Page 16

Left: Rick Cole views the front of a 1932 Ford Truck that has been modified and refurbished. Right: Marty Ponton, left, explains the details of his 1970 Cheval. Photos: Eric Heinz

CAR SHOW AWARD WINNERS Best of the 20’s Mike Kennedy, Ford Roadster 1927 Best of the 30’s Mike Ortiz, Chevy Coach 1932 Best of the 40’s Dan Murra, Ford coupe 1947 Best of the 50’s John Gilson, Oldmobiles 1957 Best of the 60’s Cindy Housepian, Chevy Camaro RS 1967 Best of the 70’s Bob Wells, Cougar Boss 1970 Best Convertible Marty Ponton, Chevy Chevelle 1970 Best Modified Truck Dana Hinkle, Ford T 1932 Best Chevy Kerry Macenas, Chevy Camaro 1967

Best Corvette Jerry Bentley, Corvetter 1962 Best Mustang Gary Rierson, Mustang GT350R 1965 Best Ford Richard Metcalf, Ford T-Bird 1955 Best Open Street Rod Richard Bennett, Ford Roadster 1932 Best Closed Street Rod Dan Corp, Ford Sedan Delivery 1936 Mayor’s Choice *Best representation of SC* Devin Jewell, Chevy K5 Blazar 1971 PARTICIPATING JUDGES Chris Hamm, Mayor Erik Sunday, Assistant City Manager Pam Passow, BPR Supervisor Christina Carbonara, DBA President Lou Letto, RSVP Camp Pendleton Marines Matt Davis, MJ Davis Properties South Orange County Rods and Customs www.sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING

Business Beat News from San Clemente’s business community

BY JACOB ONOFRIO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Now Open JUST FOOD FOR DOGS 26886 Calle Hermosa, Capistrano Beach 866.726.9509 www.justfoodfordogs.com After the success of their original storefront in Newport Beach in 2011, Just Food For Dogs began opening more locations along the coast and have now found a shared home with the Estrella Veterinary Hospital in Capistrano Beach.

Opening in March, the store specializes in “balanced whole food for dogs.” As part of what manager Michelle Pule calls their

first “pantry” store, the Capistrano Beach location carries a multitude of different lines of food for dog dietary needs.

Pule says the types of food range from daily nutrition for healthy dogs to veterinary diets for dogs with medical conditions like kidney failure, liver disease and pancreatitis. The store also offers the option to have dog food designed by a custom formulation team of nutritionists, should any of their reformulated diets not a specific dog’s needs.

“It’s all United States Department of Agriculture-certified ingredients, so everything you and I get from the grocery store … that’s the only thing we put in our food,” Pule said. “The only preservative is the freezer.”

In addition, Pule said feeding trials of Just Food For Dogs special brands have shown boosted immune systems in dogs on their food plan.

“It’s the healthiest food you can get out there,” Pule said. SC

Manager Michelle Pule said she is confident Just Food For Dogs will please both pets and their humans.

Photo: Jacob Onofrio

GUEST OPINION: Four Kids and a Dog by Elizabeth Bottiaux

Decluttering in Search of an Awesome Summer

A

few weeks ago I sat hovered over my phone, intertwining four summer schedules into my calendar. I had it all figured out. Everybody’s camps and classes were carefully arranged in my trusty phone. It certainly wasn’t an easy task to configure the master schedule.

But, I’d done it. I should’ve felt content. I thought I’d feel relieved to have my quad of kids actively pursuing an awesome summer.

But, no.

Instead, I looked at that calendar and found myself growing increasingly frustrated. Nearly every single summer day was accounted for. Each glorious, free flowing, lazy summer day—for which we’d awaited since September—was reserved.

After our family vacation, we were left with a mere handful of freedom. Those weeks were threatened to be swiftly snatched up by enticing activities. Dance camps, church camps, musical theatre camps, surf camps, swim team and Junior Lifeguards were the culprits.

As a kid, I never had the opportunity to partake in a vast buffet of recreational delights. My childhood summers were low key. My two younger brothers and I spent our endless summer days playing mailman, swimming in the neighbor’s pool, frog hunting in the creek (until my brother unearthed the towering stack of Playboys near the murky water). My friends and I would ride bikes on the bike trail, alongside the canal. We tirelessly perfected our cartwheels and handstands on the cool front lawn at dusk. We’d thunder through front yards during heated games of tag and hide ‘n seek. We built

San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

majestic indoor forts—using every single blanket and bed sheet in the house.

There were plenty of boring days too.

I remember my dad warning us that if we stayed inside watching cartoons any longer, people would forget that kids lived in our home. Mom bought me a thick Big Book of Things to Do so I’d stop bugging her about it. It worked; for a short while.

I developed a love of simple things. Reading. Crafting. These slow days of summer empowered us to entertain ourselves. We learned to decompress from the quicker pace of the school year.

I had to choose.

The proposed lineup FOUR KIDS was impressive. Hours AND A DOG of shuttling over-heated,

By Elizabeth Bottiaux complaining children in a smallish, motorized rectangular box on wheels, was not. And I was to blame. If I signed them up, it would be nobody’s fault but my own that our summer was overscheduled. I’ve had to convince myself that my kids don’t need these extracurricular activities. They would survive without over-the-top camps and classes galore.

So, I’ve decided not to.

I’m decluttering our summer. It’s going to be simple. Easy. I refuse to make my summer an extension of the hectic school year. I want my kids to have a fun summer.

But, I also want my kids to experience a boring summer.

My kids weren’t exactly thrilled when I announced we’d be participating in minimal planned activities this summer. There

were tears and lots of moaning. At first I felt guilty about their disappointment. Not for long. They’re going to have an oldfashioned summer; the kind I experienced as a kid. They’ll have to learn to love it.

I’m not going to omit every single planned activity. A few will remain. Last summer was Sarah’s first year of Junior Guards. It was nothing short of magical.

She has looked forward to JG since last summer and will be returning in August for her debut leap off the pier. Bi-weekly swim practice will continue for both boys.

Other than that, let freedom ring!

I want my kids to know what it feels like to play outside all day, barefoot, with toes sticky from Popsicle drippings. They can stay up too late on a hot summer night, with no place to be the next morning.

Swim in the pool so long their fingers and toes become shriveled like raisins. I want

them to play in the warm sand all day at the beach. Hunt for sand crabs. Boogie board in the salty sea. Learn to surf.

After this summer experiment of stripping away summer excess, maybe I’ll decide it wasn’t a great route. No matter what, we’ll make an abundance of memories. Hopefully we can pull off a simple summer to remember.

Elizabeth Bottiaux is mom to four small humans, ages 4, 6, 8 and 10. She’s a San Clemente resident and has lived in Orange County for the past 16 years. She publishes a blog, www.fourkidsandadog.com, about family life in our tri-city area. 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

Page 19

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

www.sanclementetimes.com

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

A Time to Celebrate and Reflect The Class of 2015 Moving On and Out

I

n the game of life, the parenthood playing field is pebbled with milestones.

Two of the most marked include welcoming our children home when they first arrive as newborns and waving goodbye when they leave as young adults.

Eighteen years ago I anxiously awaited my son’s birth; and today I’m equally nervous counting down the dreaded days until he packs his bags and moves into his college dorm.

My son’s last day of high school looms large, and I find myself flashing back to his first day of preschool when his tiny fingers tightly gripped my leg and he refused to walk into his classroom.

Tomorrow my same son picks up his diploma and takes a giant step toward his collegiate future and impending adulthood.

Graduating seniors savor the month of June and its commemorative parties, presents and pageantry. I usually look forward to June’s celebrations with enthusiasm and excitement but this year’s graduation has me facing familiar angst and apprehension.

I remember what it’s like sitting in the stands watching my child graduate from high school.

In 2012, to ensure I’d see my older son cross the stage, I bribed my younger son and his friend to arrive early and save seats.

But this time my husband volunteered to sit for hours on the back-breaking bleachers to save our family’s spot. His sweet gesture surprised me, until I realized he’d weighed his options and chose to trade his first row seat aboard my emotional rollercoaster for the solace of the stadium.

I recall three years ago walking into Thalassa Stadium greeting people in passing and hearing, “Congratulations!” and “Isn’t this exciting!” I nodded in agreement at each exclamation and thought to myself, “Am I the only one fighting back tears?”

Somehow I kept the catch in my voice at bay and reluctantly agreed to feeling thrilled about watching our kids’ transition into adulthood.

Tomorrow I’ll repeat the same drill

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to see my younger son graduate from high school. Entering the stadium I’ll be directed to the bleachers where I’ll watch my son from a distance as a spectator—a symbolic seating arrangement representing our soon to be separate zip codes.

When the ceremony starts I’ll hear the commencement speeches, but I won’t really be listening. Instead, I’ll be silently thanking the oversized sunglasses and waterproof mascara gods.

By the time the orchestra plays “Pomp and Circumstance” I’ll be battling overpowering melancholy. But, like three years ago, overwhelming pride will prevail as I watch my son accept LIFE’S A BEACH the diploma he’s worked

By Shelley Murphy steadfastly to earn.

I’ll transition from a pivotal player in our starting line-up to a bench warmer on the sidelines. Demoted to the bench from my powerful position amidst the action means I’ll no longer call the shots.

My banishment to the bench also keeps me from getting glimpses into my son’s future collegiate life; I won’t know most of his friends, his activities or his habits. Instead, I’ll sit on the sidelines wondering about his daily routines, waiting for texts and calls.

After tomorrow my life, and my son’s, will forever change.

Once summer ends and a new school year starts the emptiness of our nest will be palpable.

In September my sunrises will be silent.

I’ll walk past my son’s empty bedroom wondering if he found his keys and made it to class on time.

Alone in the quiet, the gravity will strike—this milestone is not a small pebble but a heartbreaking boulder.

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

Cotton’s Point, Foundation to Host Senior Art Show

BY ERIC HEINZ , SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

o give residents of Cotton’s Point senior living facility the chance to create artwork, a new class is being offered.

The senior art students have scheduled an art show from 1-4 p.m. Friday, June 26 at the apartments, 2358 S. El Camino Real in San Clemente.

The show, “Making Waves,” will provide hors d’oeuvres, a jazz guitarist and the artwork will be displayed. The event is free to attend.

EndAGE, a nonprofit organization, partners with The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation and Susie Stockholm, who teaches art classes at Cotton’s Point. The nonprofit was the backbone of Stockholm receiving a grant to host the classes.

The women participating in the class last Thursday are between the ages of 70 and 85.

Jackie Andersen, 70, Joyce Johnson 83, Nora Huang, 85, have been working with Stockholm since it began.

Johnson said she does quilling and combines different pieces of paper to make designs.

Much of the art is made in collage form, compiling scraps of paper, jewels and beads into decorative cards.

“Their work can be part of the ‘abandonment’ movement, which is very big,” Stockholm said.

Art abandonment is artwork left around a town for people to see. It can be something that, with the right permits, can pop up in public areas overnight.

The group has been meeting since December. About four to five people make up the classes. Another art class for crafts can have up to 12 people.

“I think everyone comes to the table with a different gift, and they’re given an opportunity to explore their gift,” Jennifer Falon, EndAGE site Manager, said. “Jackie, in her

(L to R): Jackie Andersen, 70, Joyce Johnson, 83, Nora Huang, 85, use iPads and iPhones in order to create work. The three women have participated in a Cotton’s Point senior art class since December.

years, used to be an artist in Denmark and also in the United States.”

Andersen put her art on hold, but when she joined the group she became inspired once again.

“It’s amazing how therapeutic it can be to just sit down and create something and just be with other people,” Stockholm said.

Andersen reiterated her experience with the beauty of silence in classroom artwork.

“You’d think this would be a social time, but our classes are very quiet. Everybody is just really focused. In 10 years of teaching in Boston and New York, I understand what’s going on in the class,” Andersen said. “The class is very resourceful.”

Last Thursday, the group was working with a special program on iPads. When the art students would touch the screen, electronic waves would extend across the screen and bounce off the borders of the screen. It would make the creative labor much less intense. One woman creates her artwork with her knuckles because her hands have been riddled with arthritis.

This also helps senior citizens learn to navigate the 21st century technology. The iPads are provided.

“None of them knew how to use the iPad before this class started,” Stockholm said.

During the show, people will be able to find “free art,” which they can take home with them. The free art will be displayed randomly.

The classes at Cotton’s Point senior living facility are only for the residents, but Stockholm said she intends to teach the iPad classes outside of the facility in the near future. SC

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

San Clemente senior Lauren Kane had a stellar year at the plate, batting .536. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

Triton Report

BY THE NUMBERS COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE

Now that the high school spring sports season has come to an end, we look back on the standout performances and seasons compiled by San Clemente High School athletes.

50 Hits recorded by San Clemente senior catcher Lucas Herbert on the year, the best mark in Orange County. Herbert, who hit .417 this year, was drafted 54th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Draft on June 8.

11 Combined number of games dropped by the San Clemente tennis trio of Michael Bott, Billy Whitaker and Jay Yeam in 2015.

The three went a combined 186-11 in singles play and led the Tritons to the CIFSS Division 2 finals and the second round of the CIF Southern Regional Championships. .456 Tyler Ankrom’s on-base percentage for the season. Despite hitting .258 at the plate, Ankrom reached base over 45 percent of the time. Ankrom’s key to success was a sharp batting eye as his 32 walks in 127 plate appearances can attest to.

2 Rank of the San Clemente baseball team in the USA Today super 25 baseball rankings on April 8, the highest they would climb all season. The Tritons earned the No. 2 spot in the nation after winning the prestigious National High School Invitational tournament. The Tritons finished the year unranked.

San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

The Friends of San Clemente golf tournament committee are planning to host the group’s annual event on June 26. Photo: Courtesy

7 Match medals won by San Clemente senior golfer Sammy Schwartz. Schwartz’s mark, along with six other golfers, was the third highest in Orange County. Schwartz is committed to the University of Hawaii, Manoa. .536/.581/1.107 Standout softball third baseman and pitcher Lauren Kane’s batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, respectively. Kane hit 11 home runs and collected 36 RBIs this season.

1:52.53 Connor Dunne’s 800-meter run time posted at the CIF-SS Masters track and field meet on May 29, which set a new San Clemente High School record. Dunne placed fourth in the race and advanced to the CIF State Championships.

18 Number of straight set victories tallied by the San Clemente boys volleyball team. The Tritons went 25-7 overall and reached the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.

3 Number of San Clemente boys volleyball players named to the South team for the Dave Mohs Memorial All-Star Game on June 5. The Tritons’ Dominic Brousard, Matt August and Brandon Hopper all played considerable minutes alongside nine other standout players at the postseason exhibition game.

160 Number of wins recorded by senior wrestler Mike Marshall in his four-year high school career. Marshall, who is committed to San Francisco State University, will leave the program as the winningest wrestler in school history. Marshall went 48-9 overall, including 38 pins as a senior, and placed fi fth in state for his weight class.

122 Combined points scored by the Tritons girls lacrosse senior duo of Katelyn Miner (47 goals, 21 assists) and Emily Twilegar (48 goals, six assists). The two were responsible for just over 71 percent of the Tritons offensive production.

Scoreboard SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

FOOTBALL The San Clemente High School football program inducted Mel Pasquale into its hall of fame during a ceremony at Talega Golf Club on June 12.

Pasquale, who played quarterback and defensive back for the Tritons, is the current director of football operations and is a longtime member of the staff. Pasquale was also an avid volunteer in San Clemente Pop Warner.

Pasquale has been associated with the Tritons football program since 1967, when former head coach Allie Schaff made him a ball boy.

“San Clemente football is near and dear to my heart and I’ve been doing it a long time. I enjoy it thoroughly,” Pasquale said.

“San Clemente is a very unique town, I tell you. People don’t understand it until they come and experience it … It’s such a

special community.”

GOLF The Friends of San Clemente will hold its fi fth annual benefit golf tournament at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course on June 26.

The tournament, which raises funds for the foundation’s Fun on the Run program and sports scholarships, will kick off at noon with a shotgun start and 18 holes of golf. A buffet dinner, raffle and awards ceremony will follow.

Last year, $20,000 was raised for the Fun on the Run program and scholarships for local children to attend city recreation classes, according to a press release.

Several San Clemente Sports Hall of Fame inductees are slated to be in attendance at the event.

Cost for individuals is $150 and cost for a foursome is $500.

For more information or to register, visit www.friendsofsanclemente.org or call 949.276.8866.

AJ, right, and Laurie Pasquale join Mel Pasquale during the San Clemente High School football program’s hall of fame induction ceremony. Photo: Randy Brister

Page 24

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Spearfisher Makes Record Tuna Catch San Clemente's Aaron Shook spears 173-pound bluefin tuna off the coast of Dana Point

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

aron Shook was beginning to feel like he was a character in a Hemmingway novel.

The spearfisherman has found plenty of success in the water but had also seen a lot of large prize fish get away. Memories of nearly missing out on a big wahoo last year meant replaying the moment in his mind over and over again. It was one of many missed opportunities at a catch of a lifetime.

Shook and his spearfishing buddies were even contemplating a trip to Africa, where they could take a transport boat to a remote island 1,000 miles off the coast for a chance at bagging a huge catch.

Turns out they didn’t need to travel that far to get it.

On June 3 Shook, a San Clemente resident, along with boat captain Jon Walla and fellow spearfisherman Dominic Vadala, sailed out of Dana Point Harbor and caught a 173.3-pound bluefin tuna a few miles off the coast between Dana Point and San Clemente.

Shook is in the process of filling out paperwork with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to verify what will be a new state spearfishing record. The current record is set at 98 pounds.

Large bluefins have been schooling in the area for several weeks now. One day before Shook’s catch, local angler Marc Levine reeled in a 122.9-pounder.

Encouraged by the reported activity, the trio searched for several hours before finally seeing a large swarm of tuna near the surface. Shook and Vadala jumped in

Aaron Shook holds up his soon to be record 177.3-pound blue fin tuna he caught while spearfishing off the coast. Photo: Courtesy

Page 26

From L to R: Jon Walla, Aaron Shook and Dominic Vadala pose with the record bluefin tuna Shook caught last week. Photo: Courtesy

and were met by a huge wall of bluefin.

Shook picked his target and fired his first shot with his spear gun, hitting the fish in the center. It was not an ideal shot and it did not penetrate very deep, but it held. The fish immediately dove down to around 80 feet and the hunt was on.

Vadala offered up his gun to Shook for a second attempt at a kill shot, but it was another strike that caught the fish in the center. A third shot to the head looked like it would stop the fight but the fish continued to move. The buoys connected to the spears held the fish at bay and Shook had to get hands on to finish the job.

“I pulled out a knife that is for fish. It’s not a very menacing looking knife, especially when you’re going down to knife fight something the size of a man,” Shook said. “I just stabbed it like five times in the head just trying to find the right spot.”

When Shook tried to bring the fish to surface, it continued to fight so he had to slit its throat.

When the first shots landed Shook was roughly 80 feet below the water, a deep level for catching fish. Hours of practicing deep to mid-level dives with his friends prepared Shook for the moment.

After years of hoping for a big fish and thinking he had to travel continents away just to get one, Shook can rest easy knowing he got one in his own backyard and that his name will eventually go down in the record books.

“We’ve been wanting to shoot a big tuna for years now. We were getting all freaking Hemingway about this fish,” Shook said with a laugh. “It was so much fun.” SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC SURF San Clemente

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

The Commune Bunk Room is ideal for a visiting team of grom surfers or singles traveling together on a budget.

Photo: Sean Rowland

Ohana Style Surf Hotel Comes to SC Nomads Hotel offers surf travelers international family-style experience

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

W

ith more than three decades of world traveling combined, local hotel owners Jeff and Renee Gourley and Sean Rowland often encountered a style of hospitality unavailable in the United States. With the official opening of Nomads Hotel on April 21, they have brought this “aloha/pura vida” experience to San Clemente.

Nomads is a boutique surf hotel targeted at ocean-minded travelers, from professional and amateur surf contest competitors and staff to adventure seekers looking to experience the best breaks Southern California has to offer.

“I spent 25 years traveling the globe teaching diving, and when I came back I noticed the U.S. didn’t really have the same type of accommodations I enjoyed San Clemente Times June 18–24, 2015

around the world,” Jeff Gourley said of the all-inclusive, personalized hospitality he found in surf and diving destinations. “The only place in the world you can’t do that is in the U.S. and we wanted to make sure that an all-inclusive, surf camp-type vibe is available here.”

Originally from Arizona, Gourley grew up surfing the West Coast and spent 10 years based in Florida as a mixed gas and closed-circuit rebreather diving instructor.

He and his wife moved to San Clemente and opened their restaurant, Nomads Canteen, in October 2012, featuring favorite cuisines from across the globe.

The restaurant was the first step in a plan to eventually add a hotel in the same location, 101 Avenida Serra, behind and below the restaurant.

After a year and a half of wrangling with building permits, the opening of the hotel has completed the dream.

Rowland did the design work for the hotel and he and Gourley built everything in the seven-room hotel by hand.

Rowland, an ASP World Tour surf photographer and photo editor, has traveled the world as a photog and a surfer and said that, like Gourley, he was also enamored of the smaller surfer-friendly places he’s stayed and he still keeps in touch with his hosts from all over the world—Bali, Tahiti and Costa Rica, to name just a few.

“In the U.S. they just throw you the key and say ‘Have a nice trip,’” Rowland said.

“At Nomads we take guests to the best breaks, the best restaurants—of course including Nomads Canteen—show them (Cont. on page 30) Page 29

SC SURF (Cont. from page 29) where to hang out, share a dinner or a beer with them. We want to personally guide guests through their vacations.”

The hotel’s themed rooms are colorfully decorated and feature surf art, photography and an exotic island feel. The selection includes something for every type of traveler, from a couple looking for luxury accommodations to a surf team full of groms, or as is the case this week, surf contest judges in town for the Surfing America USA Championship at Lower Trestles.

The Bali Room—with two queen beds, a kitchenette, wet bar and dual vanities, as well as the California Room with a California king bed and private patio—are at the luxury end of the spectrum. The Commune Bunk House sleeps up to seven and the Boat Room is ideal for a single traveler. At present, all prices are based on single occupancy with the Boat Room at $69 and four other rooms from $125 to $199, with each additional guest at $30. Bunk Room beds are $39. The package deal includes three meals a day, transportation to and from the beach, twice a day, a beach barbecue, and more.

“We have created a place where travelers arrive as our guests and leave as a part of the family (ohana),” Rowland said.

“We want to welcome our guests into our group of friends.”

More information about the hotel can be found online at www.stayatnomads. com or by calling 949.492.6000. Summer specials will also be posted on the hotel’s Facebook page, Rowland said. SC

RESULTS NSSA Interscholastic College, High School and Middle School Championship, June 13-15, Dana Point, Salt Creek Beach

The California Room at Nomads offers a luxury experience. Photo: Sean Rowland

The Bali room features two queen beds and a large bathroom with double sinks. Photo: Sean Rowland

SAMANTHA SIBLEY

S

San Clemente Times June 18-24, 2015

HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY TEAM: 1. Kamehameha 94; 2. San Clemente 90; 3. Huntington Beach 88; 4. San Dieguito 86; 5. Dana Hills 76; 6. Newport Harbor 67; 7.

Satellite 60; 8. Carlsbad 59; 9. Mira Costa 46; 10. Edison 43; 11. Melbourne 32; 12. Manasquan 30; 13. Ocean City 25; 14. Marina 8. HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY MEN: 1. Kirk Weissinger, Huntington Beach 12.34; 2. Luke Marks, Satellite 10.87; 3. Tyler Gunter, Newport Harbor 9.50; 4.

Imaikalani Devault, Kamehameha 9.44; 5. Conner Dand, San Clemente 8.10; 6. Jacob Baker, Huntington Beach 5.47. HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY WOMEN: 1. Cayla Moore, Kamehameha 16.07; 2. Kloee Openshaw, San Clemente 10.33; 3. Bethany Zelasko, Dana Hills 9.47; 4. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente 8.87; 5. Sara Kohrogi, Mira Costa 7.74; 6. Peyton Slater, Carlsbad 2.83. HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY LONGBOARD: 1. Cooper Fortney, Manasquan 10.60; 2. Kyle Perez, Dana Hills 10.16; 3. Michael Bonds, Newport Harbor 9.67; 4. Trevor Anderberg, San Dieguito 9.47; 5. Caelan Burford, Melbourne 7.84; 6. Andrew Neal, Mira Costa 5.50.

HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR VARSITY TEAM: 1. Huntington Beach 79; 2. Ventura 65; 3. San Dieguito 59; 4. Edison 52; 5. Newport Harbor 24; 6. Manasquan 11. HIGH SCHOOL JV MEN: 1. Eric Ronning, Ventura 13.76; 2. Sammy Harju, Huntington Beach 8.57; 3. Nico Traubman, San Dieguito 8.30; 4. Chance Alexander, Ventura 7.63; 5. Brad Monroe, Huntington Beach 5.84; 6. John West, Huntington Beach 4.36. JV WOMEN: 1. Christine August, Huntington Beach 7.33; 2. Kristina Hehl, Huntington Beach 5.83; 3. Alexandria Luce, Edison 3.86; 4. Annie Abicca, San Dieguito 3.67; 5. Jackie Regan, Ventura 3.57; 6. Claire Loughlin, Ventura 2.87. HIGH SCHOOL JV LONGBOARD: 1. Jake Marcy, Edison 9.90; 2. Max Seiersen, Huntington Beach 5.86; 3. Shane Finn, Manasquan 4.30; 4. Honzek Mikhalek, Ventura 4.07; 5. Chase Adelson, Newport Harbor 4.03; 6. Dylan Kaiser, San Dieguito 2.80.

GROM OF THE WEEK

amantha Sibley, 13, of San Clemente is wrapping up a very busy and successful competition season.

As a member of the Shorecliffs Middle School surf team, Samantha’s big win last weekend at National Scholastic Surfing Association Interscholastic Nationals helped to propel her team to their 12th straight national title and made her the Middle School Girls national champion.

“It felt amazing,” she said. “I couldn’t believe I won. I just got on the right waves, surfed the best I could and it happened.

And it was really fun getting chaired up the beach.”

She will also be competing in the upcoming NSSA Nationals in the Explorer Girls, Explorer Women, Open Girls and Open Women divisions.

At school Samantha is in her last few days of seventh grade and taking home a straight-A report card. By taking P.E., math and English classes as independent studies, she gets to surf for about three hours before school every day in pursuit of a professional surfing career.

“Long-term I really want to be on the World Tour,” Samantha said. “Short-term,

COLLEGE TEAM: 1. Point Loma Nazarene University-A 147; 2. University of North Florida 112; 3. Mira Costa 92; 4. San Diego State University 82; 5. Saddleback 79; 6.

University of Central Florida 59; 7. UC San Diego-A 57; 8.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 49; 9. Daytona State College 31; 10. Florida Institute of Technology 30; 11. UC Santa Barbara 24; 12. Cal State San Marcos 19; 13. UC San Diego-B 17; 14. Point Loma Nazarene University-B 16. COLLEGE MEN: 1. Jordan Kudla, PLNU 16.00; 2. Chris Murnane, Mira Costa 13.43; 3. JD Lewis, Mira Costa 11.17; 4. Jack Boyes, PLNU 10.00; 5. Mike Ciaramella, UCSD 9.90; 6.

Corey Howell, UNF 6.92. COLLEGE WOMEN: 1. Marissa Shaw, SDSU 12.53; 2. Danielle Wyman, Saddleback 12.43; 3. Emily Ruppert, UNF 11.17; 4. Kayla Durden, UNF 10.30; 5. Darsha Pigford, PLNU 10.20; 6. Emmy Lombard, Saddleback 7.37. COLLEGE LONGBOARD: 1. Pat Nichols, UNF 14.07; 2. Donnie Howren, PLNU 9.73; 3. Quincy Lee, UCSB 9.40; 4. Emmy Lombard, Saddleback 8.54; 5. Tyler Crawford, FIT 7.36; 6. Jake Fishman, UCSD 6.77.

Samantha Sibley. Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

I am training really hard to earn a spot on the Surfing America USA Junior Surf Team and hoping to one day compete in ISA world competition.”

As for whether she will pursue a pro career or a college degree first or concurrently, Samantha has not decided.

“I will just cross that bridge when I come to it,” she said.

Samantha credits her family, sponsors and coach with helping her to achieve her goals in the sport.

“I want to thank my mom and dad for their support and for taking me to the beach and to all of my contests,” she said. “I’d also like to say thanks to my sponsors, Surface Sunscreen, Pua Lani Hawaii, Viable, Jack’s

Surf Shop, Byrne Surfboards and my coach Erik Krammer.”

We caught up with Samantha on Tuesday, just before she headed out to Lower Trestles to compete for the nation’s top-tier amateur national titles in three divisions—Girls U14, U16 and U18 shortboard—at the Surfing America USA National Championship, June 16-20.

“I really want to perform to the best of my ability, make a final and have fun,” Samantha said. “Getting to surf Lowers with only three other girls out will be amazing. The surf is really fun right now, at about two to three feet, and I really like surfing with priority because everyone gets on waves and it’s super fun.”—Andrea Swayne

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MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM: 1. Shorecliffs-Red 150; 2.

Thurston 108; =3. Kamehameha 60; =3. Bernice Ayer 60; 5. Shorecliffs-White 59; 6. Manhattan Beach 44; 7. Dwyer-A 39; 8. Shorecliffs-Blue 37; 9. Sowers 33; 10.

Marco Forster 28; 11. Dwyer-B 18. MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS: 1. Sebastian Mendes, Shorecliffs 15.60; 2. Nolan Rodgers, Thurston 10.34; 3. Ryan Martin, Shorecliffs 10.07; 4. Kai McPhillips, Shorecliffs 9.67; 5. Jonah Clark, Thurston 6.10; 6. Hagan Johnson, Shorecliffs 4.94.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS: 1. Samantha Sibley, Shorecliffs 17.66; 2. Kayla Coscino, Thurston 4.77; 3. Hau’oli Meyers, Kamehameha 4.23; 4. Hayden Rouse, Sowers 3.67; 5.

Rachel Hall, Marco Forster 2.66; 6. Kelly Smith, Thurston 2.43. MIDDLE SCHOOL LONGBOARD: 1. Ethan Mudge, Shorecliffs 11.53; 2. Barrett Miller, Shorecliffs 9.97; 3.

Jameson Roller, Thurston 7.73; 4. Tyrra Gallano, Kamehameha 5.77; 5. Cole Thompson, Bernice Ayer 5.33L; 6.

Alex Fry, Manhattan Beach 4.90.

UPCOMING EVENTS June 16-20: Surfing America USA Championship, San Onofre State Park, Lower Trestles June 22-23: Volcom Totally Crustaceous Tour Global Championship, San Onofre State Park, Lower Trestles June 26-July 3: NSSA National Open, Explorer and Airshow Championships, Huntington Beach, Pier July 12: 10th Annual WSA Menehune Surf Fest, Huntington Beach, Goldenwest Street

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