December 3, 2015

LO C A L

N EWS

December 3–9, 2015 YO U

C A N

U S E

INSIDE: Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 10, ISSUE 49

Chasing a Championship

The San Clemente High School football team returns to the CIF-SS Southwest Division title game SPORTS/PAGE 30

Triton players (L to R) Vlad Dzhabiyev, Tucker Scott, Donté Harrington, Cole Fotheringham and the San Clemente High School football team will play La Habra in the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championship finals on Dec. 4. Photo: Lance Scott/Red Zone Elite

Bob Baker Chosen to Serve as San Clemente Mayor in 2016 EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

PCH Improvements, Bikeway Buffer on the Horizon SC LIVING/PAGE 28

INSIDE: South County Real Estate Guide SPECIAL SECTION

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

SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week Bob Baker Chosen to Serve as Mayor in 2016 THE LATEST: Bob Baker will return to the helm as San Clemente’s mayor for a second time, after he was unanimously chosen for the post by the City Council at Tuesday night’s meeting. Baker was last mayor of San Clemente in 2013. Mayoral terms in San Clemente are one year and are elected by the City Council.

Councilwoman Kathy Ward was unanimously elected as Mayor Pro Tem. “It’s a great honor to represent the constituents and try to do my best for the residents of San Clemente,” Baker said.

“I want to thank my family for supporting me in the endeavor.”

Hamm gave an outgoing speech that highlighted some of the issues the city undertook during his mayoral term.

“There are a lot of people I want to thank; first one, we have an amazing staff of almost 200 employees who work tirelessly every day for the citizens of San Clemente,” Hamm said. “Next I want to thank the City Council for entrusting me with this position over the last year, and I appreciate everything you guys have done for me, the long nights we’ve had, the great discussions. I think what we’ve done has been for the betterment of San Clemente.”

Hamm also thanked his friends and family for supporting him during the long nights and hours he’s put into the position.

“The big person I have to thank … is my mom; she raised me by herself with her mother,” Hamm said. “Obviously the No. 1 person I have to thank is my wife, Danielle. It was our first year of marriage and she stood by me the entire time.”

Hamm also harped on the issues surrounding Saddleback Memorial Hospital in San Clemente and his frustrations of the prospect of it closing.

“This is utterly ridiculous that we’ve spent even a single minute discussing the closure of San Clemente’s hospital,” he said. “I plead to the board members, please keep the hospital open.”

Hamm is the city’s youngest mayor to date, as he was elected at age 31.

He is also a firefighter and EMT with Orange County Fire Authority in the city.

San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

Bob Baker, who was elected as Mayor during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, hands Councilman Chris Hamm a plaque in recognition of his 2015 term as Mayor of San Clemente. Hamm was San Clemente’s youngest mayor to date, elected at age 31. He has served on City Council since 2012. Photo: Eric Heinz

against—about “vacation rentals,” or short-term housing in residential areas for vacationers. The issue has been ongoing and with the continued outcry for delineation between compliant and non-compliant renters there could be plans by the city to further examine code to regulate the businesses. The arguments range from zoning discrepancies to various nuisances.

WHAT’S NEXT: The next election for City Council members will take place in November. The councilmembers up for re-election are Baker and Hamm. The last City Council meeting of the year will take place Dec. 15. —Eric Heinz

Council Mulls Ban on Marijuana Dispensaries THE LATEST: City Council voted to approve the guidelines to be examined by the Planning Commission regarding zoning ordinances to prohibit or regulate medical marijuana dispensaries within the city of San Clemente.

Following the enactment of the Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which gives local governing bodies the ability to regulate or prohibit marijuana/cannabis retail, City Council was given an agenda item outlining the next steps of creating an ordinance.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Planning Commission will receive a report on the new state legislation regarding the authorization of medical marijuana use and examine the longterm ramifications of such a prohibition on sales, cultivation and transportation. Per the law, the city has until March to enact a local ban on medicinal marijuana dispensaries. After that, the state’s own set of laws will be the governing code. —EH

VRBO, AirBnB Issues Likely to be Discussed Further, Regulated THE LATEST: At least 10 people spoke out—fairly evenly divided for and

WHAT’S NEXT: Just like the issues surrounding sober-living facilities within San Clemente, anti-discrimination law will apply to the short-term rental facilities; however, the city continues to crack down on the businesses that do not comply with Code Enforcement. The city is currently the litigant of a case regarding one such rental. —EH

Orange County Officials Release El Niño Readiness Information THE LATEST: In the latest chapter of Orange County’s El Niño readiness, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County Fire Authority and Orange County Public Works released information this week regarding preparing for the incoming winter rains.

The latest forecasts show El Niño will likely peak and bring rain to the area this winter, possibly beginning in January.

According to a Nov. 12 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, “the forecaster consensus remains nearly unchanged, with the expectation that this El Niño could rank among the top three strongest episodes … going back to 1950.”

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“Since we are in an El Niño year, forecasters are predicting heavy rains in our area for the winter and spring months,” Orange County law enforcement officials said in Tuesday’s release. “In particular, Orange County residents should be prepared for flooding, and also for flash flooding that can occur suddenly due to heavy rainfall in a short period of time.”

Local agencies are encouraging residents to ready themselves for the winter deluge by preparing disaster kits; having an evacuation plan; having a family communication plan; making sure valuables, documents and medicines are accessible; ensuring a car is ready to go with at least a half tank of gas and signing up for AlertOC at www.alertoc.com and OCFA texts at https://ocfa.bbcportal.com.

Other preparations listed include inspecting roofs for leaks and having them repaired, inspecting and cleaning out all gutters and drains, applying netting and straw mulch on steep slopes and having sandbags, plywood or plastic sheeting to direct storm flow away from homes. The release also includes vital information on what to do during a flood and an evacuation.

WHAT’S NEXT: Sand and empty sandbags are available now at most OCFA stations and many city yards. Residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels.

Both the San Clemente City Hall and city yard are currently providing residents with sandbags—25 per person. City Hall is located at 100 Avenida Presidio, and the city’s yard is located at 390 E. Avenida Pico.

To view the full El Niño release and list of OCFA stations with sandbags, visit www.bit.ly/1RkkWgu. For more information and updates, follow @OCFA_PIO, @ OCSD and @OCpublicworks on Twitter.

—Allison Jarrell

Council Gives Final Read on Emergency Shelters THE LATEST: In order to comply with California state law requirements, the city adopted an emergency shelter overlay zone and development standards in 2014 for future potential shelters. The first reading of an amendment to the ordinance was approved at the Nov. 17 City Council meeting.

WHAT’S NEXT: Proposed amendments were made in order to, “...help, encourage and facilitate emergency shelters,” the agenda report said.

FIND OUT MORE: The details of the amendments can be found at www.sanclemente.org under the Nov. 17 agenda packet.—EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Events, food vendors and holiday festivities were abundant on Avenida Del Mar during Puttin’ on the Glitz on Saturday, Nov. 28. The event is one of the largest business-oriented gatherings of the year. Downtown Business Association representatives said an estimated 30,000 people came to the area. Photos: Eric Heinz

Hits of the Glitz Businesses see one of year’s busiest shopping weekends

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

aturday evening’s Puttin’ on the Glitz drove in tens of thousands of people to shop local in San Clemente. The event, hosted each year by the Downtown Business Association, is geared toward the holiday spirit as well as local commerce.

Lynn Wood, CEO of the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, said events such as Puttin’ on the Glitz are economic boons for the city.

“I think the best thing about events like Puttin’ on the Glitz is they remind people to shop locally, and the tax dollars go directly to infrastructure, police services and safety,” Wood said. “This helps bring people out and it’s festive. It’s neat for the community because it brings family together, and you need that hometown feeling.”

Wood said the scope of the event gives the city a wider audience and helps the Chamber track repeat customers from outside areas.

“I’ll visit restaurants and see someone from Irvine who tried our food and came back, and so that’s another whole part of it. The people who are visiting here and going to the events are going and coming back,” she said. “I know that what I’ve heard from the Glitz is that the businesses

San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

do really well. The San Clemente Fiesta, for example, is one of the biggest events of the year, and we’ll get thank you notes and people say that it brought them a lot of business.”

Wood said she hopes events like this help keep the community spirit of shopping local.

So far, Wood said she’s received a lot of positive feedback from the number of customers businesses served. “(Chamber) members said people who live three or four streets over said they did very well,” she said. “All of the events are volunteer-driven, and it’s neat the community comes together to put these events on. If we didn’t have the volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to do these things.”

Dawn Provence, co-owner of The Cellar in San Clemente and vice president of the DBA board, said an estimated 30,000 people attended Puttin’ on the Glitz throughout the evening.

“Events like this support local businesses downtown and the heart of San Clemente, which is so unique,” Provence said. “This brings people down here who may have not been down here before. I feel like people come downtown when they have visitors, but before The Cellar I made it a point to shop only downtown for Christmas. So much more goes back into our economy locally.”

Provence said this was probably one of the largest attendance of customers for the event.

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“I’d say it was right up there, maybe a little bit more busy, and there were a lot more younger families in town,” she said. “It definitely was busy. For a lot of the merchants, this is their biggest day in sales and it’s important to them. When the DBA does events downtown, we try to make it so the merchants benefit.

Most of the stores close on some events when they’re not necessarily conducive to shopping. There’s just too much going on, so it’s nice to have an event where the merchants benefit.”

As San Clemente’s business spectrum widens, Provence said a lot of downtown merchants and small local businesses are trying to keep up with the modern trends.

David Russell, the co-owner of Russell Stationers, and his family have been in business in San Clemente since 1950.

Russell said his business saw a positive influx of customers throughout the day and night.

“Puttin’ on the Glitz definitely enhances our business as far as bringing people in and getting the Christmas spirit going,” he said. “This year was probably one of the best-attended years. It was definitely a great even for all the local businesses down here.”

Russell said he notices more people coming from around Orange County and Southern California than normal, as the event advertises in the far-reaching regions.

“There’s more foot traffic, and normally those customers wouldn’t come down here but they do during this time,” he said. “The one drawback I heard from some people this year was that they closed (Avenida Del Mar) at 1 p.m., and I had a very great day up until then. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. there was too much of a gap. But in the end it was a great day all around.” SC www.sanclementetimes.com

HOT PICKS Gift Ideas for Everyone on your List

GIFT CERTIFICATES

DIAMOND RING

Any Denomination

14KY, .03 Diamond, $298

Asana Fit 102 S. Ola Vista San Clemente 949.492.0110 www.asanafit.com

Zia Jewelry 31761 Camino Capistrano San Juan Capistrano 949.493.1322 www.ziajewelryonline.com

ELECTRIC PRIME WATCH

ELECTRIC KNOXVILLE S SUNGLASSES

Electric Co. Store 1001 Calle Amanecer San Clemente 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri www.electriccalifornia.com

Electric Co. Store 1001 Calle Amanecer San Clemente 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri www.electriccalifornia.com

$100

SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP

$120

GOLF MEMBERSHIP

$150 Initiation Fee/ $50 Monthly F&B min

$750-$2,00 Initiation/$250-$525 Mo. Dues

Bella Collina San Clemente 200 Avenida La Pata San Clemente 949.333.4830 www.bellacollinasanclemente.com

Bella Collina San Clemente 200 Avenida La Pata San Clemente 949.333.4830 www.bellacollinasanclemente.com

HOT PICKS Gift Ideas for Everyone on your List

GIFT CERTIFICATES

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta 429 N. El Camino Real San Clemente 949.498.2540 www.sonnys.com

Eyeland Lash 99 Via Pico Plaza San Clemente 949.391.0670 www.eyelandlash.com

Any Denomination

Any Denomination

COLORFUL PETRIFIED WOOD BOOKENDS

20 UNITS OF BOTOX

Designs By Nature 400 So El Camino Real Suite A San Clemente 949.498.8358 www.designsbynature.com

Hybrid MD, Laser & Aesthetic Medicine 1031 Avenida Pico, Ste. 103 San Clemente, 949.429.1919 www.hybridmdoc.com

11” Wide x 6 ½” High x 2” Deep

BEG NOG LATTE

$235

$180

GIFT CERTIFICATES

$8.95

Any Denomination

Three Dog Bakery 174 B. Avenida Del Mar San Clemente 949.492.5048 www.threedogsc.com

The Wax Boutique Phenix Salon Suites, Talega Village Center 801 Avenida Talega, Suite 104 San Clemente 949.391.2279

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Get Out and Celebrate the Season Thursday, December 3

A Christmas Carol 7 p.m. San Clemente High School students present Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale. Watch Ebenezer Scrooge’s visits from the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and future Dec. 3, 4 and 5. Tickets $15. SCHS, 700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, schsdrama.com.

Friday, December 4

Holiday in the Harbor 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season in true Dana Point fashion along the water’s edge. Meet Santa, enjoy holiday crafts and enter the Darth Vader Ugly Christmas Sweater contest.

Dana Point Harbor, 949.923.2255, danapointharbor.com.

Saturday, December 5

Santa Paws 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Pets have holiday requests too. Bring your favorite pet to the El Torito Courtyard for a picture with Santa. $15 per picture. All proceeds benefit animals at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. Dana Point Harbor, petprojectfoundation.com.

Boat Rides with Santa 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Dana Wharf Sportfishing hosts Santa Claus and his helpers on 20-minute Harbor cruises. Recommended $3 donation to the El Camino Real Junior Woman’s Club. Dana Wharf docks, 34675 Golden Lantern, 949.496.5794, danawharf.com.

Winter Festival & Tree Lighting Noon–7 p.m. Santa, reindeer and snow make their way to La Plaza Park where all members of the family can decorate cookies, partake in crafts, meet farm animals and much more. Celebration includes a tree lighting ceremony, movie and popcorn. danapoint.org.

Santa’s Village by the Sea 2 p.m.–5 p.m. San Clemente and Casa Romantica team up for a day of holiday games, cookie decorating, face painting and a 5:15 p.m. tree lighting at the San Clemente Community Center.

100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.361.8264, san-clemente.org.

San Juan Capistrano Tree Lighting Ceremony Start the holiday season in Historic Town Center Park with a holiday performance before the tree lighting at 5:45 p.m. Festivities continue on Los Rios Street with kids activities at Los Rios Park, the O’Neill Museum and Zoomars Petting Zoo. San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.5911, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Christmas at the Mission 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano holiday celebration features a snow play area, cookie decorating and holiday card making, photos and live music. $3–$5. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Christmas at the Casa 5 p.m.–7 p.m. Casa Romantica’s festive open house with live music, a visit from Santa Claus, choral groups, a talking tree, holiday décor and refreshments.

415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, casaromantica.org.

Sunday, December 6

Yappy Howl-iday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Canines can meet the “Big Dog” himself, Santa Claus, while celebrating the holidays. Guests are asked to bring unopened dog food, treats or toys for donation. The RitzCarlton Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, ritz-carlton.com.

Friday, December 11

Little Elves Workshop 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Children 3 to 5 are invited to the San Clemente Community Center to make gifts, decorate cookies and more. Preregistration suggested. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.361.8264, san-clemente.org.

Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights 7:30 p.m. Snag a waterfront viewing perch for the brightest holiday party around. This four-night parade—running Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19—celebrates Star Wars. Join the parade aboard a vessel with Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari, Dana Wharf Sportfishing or the Ocean Institute.

Dana Point Harbor, 949.923.2255, danapointharbor.com.

(Continued)

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS (continued)

Holiday Lights Viewing Party 6:30 p.m.–9 p.m. Sip hot cocoa with Santa and watch the Boat Parade.

Guests can build lightsabers, decorate cookies and make ornaments. Celebrate the parade theme and come as a Star Wars character. $15 per person, $9 for children. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, ocean-institute.com.

Saturday, December 12

Cookie Decorating Workshop 10 a.m.–noon. Cookie decorating workshop at St. Andrew’s by-the-sea. $5 per person, includes continental breakfast, crafts, face painting, photo booth and an appearance by Santa. RSVP to Karen at Karen@sabts.org. 2001 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, 949.492.2537, sabts.org.

Ho Ho Haul Away Sail 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Sail with Santa aboard the Spirit of Dana Point. Take a turn at the helm, watch the crew fire the ship’s gun and make a holiday keepsake. $50 for adults, $33 for children. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, ocean-institute.org.

South Coast Singers Holiday Concert 4 p.m. Orange County’s own South Coast singers present the holiday show, “Heav’n and Nature Sing.” $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and students.

St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea, 2001 Calle Frontera, San Clemente, 949.613.7840, southcoastsingers.org.

Choral Concert: Christmas at the Shores 4:25 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The South Shores’ 75-voice sanctuary choir performs with orchestra and tableaux, Tickets $10. Show also runs Dec. 13 at 2:55 p.m. and 5 p.m. 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Dana Point, 949.496.9331, southshores.org.

Tuesday, December 15

SOCSA Holiday Concert 7 p.m. South Orange County School of the Arts students present an evening of holiday entertainment. Beverages and dessert served at intermission. Tickets start at $12. Show also runs Dec. 16.

Dana Hills High School, DHHS Mall, 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, socsarts.org.

Friday, December 18

Christmas at the Cabrillo 8 p.m. Enjoy the Christmas season at Cabrillo Playhouse with holiday favorites in this song and dance holiday revue. Show runs Dec. 18, 19 and 20.

Tickets are $20. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, 949.492.0465, cabrilloplayhouse.com.

Thursday, December 31

New Year’s Eve Broadway Time!

6 p.m. Ring in the New Year when the actual ball drops in Time Square at the Camino Real Playhouses’ annual celebration. Enjoy dinner from Sundried Tomato and dance the night away, well until 10 p.m. at least. Tickets are $68. Buy now, tickets are limited.

31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, caminorealplayhouse.org.

Midnight at the Cliffs 9 p.m. Revel in the final hours of 2015 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa’s special ballroom celebration featuring the ’80s tribute band Flashback Heart Attack. Tickets start at $125 and include two drink tickets, midnight champagne toast and small bites. 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.661.5000, lagunacliffs.com.

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

FAM Christmas Adopt-AFamily People can help provide a memorable Christmas to area children who may otherwise not get to enjoy the holiday by delivering gifts to families in need.

Stop by FAM’s office by Wednesday, Dec. 16 to pick out a family to adopt.

At the annual Children’s Christmas Party, help spread cheer by delivering toys, sports items, gifts and gift cards for teens to FAM by Monday, Dec. 14.

For more information or to sign up, contact Lorraine at lorraine@familyassistance.org, 949. 497.8477 ext. 115 or at FAM’s Resource Center, 1030 Calle Negocio, San Clemente.

San Clemente Area Republican Women Donates Turkeys The San Clemente Area Republican Women donated and delivered 20 Thanksgiving turkey dinner baskets to military families of the Deluz Community of base housing at Camp Pendleton. The organization supports this military community throughout the year in many different ways. Club members will be donating toys and gift cards at the meeting on Dec. 9 to ensure the children of the military have a happy Christmas. For more information about the SCARW, visit www.scarwf.org.

The Fisherman’s Restaurant Serves 100 Marines for Thanksgiving On Thanksgiving Day at noon, more than 100 Marines lined up at the Lance Cpl. Donald J. Hogan Barracks for a full dinner provided by The Fisherman’s Restaurant of San Clemente. The Marines all had duty on base that day and would otherwise have eaten dinner at the chow hall. The Fisherman’s donated 20 turkeys,

stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, butter and 26 pumpkin pies. Coffee, cider and additional deserts were provided by the Family Readiness Team and 2/4 families.

Turkey carving and serving was provided

by Marine Corps Families, the San Clemente Marine Corps Support Group and the Commander, Lt. Col. Brian Green and his wife, Cara.

Cookie Decorating Workshop Scheduled Dec. 12 St. Andrews by-the-Sea will host a cookie decorating workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 12. There will be an appearance by Santa Claus. The cost of the event is free to those who bring someone new to St. Andrew’s or $5. The event includes a continental breakfast, homemade cookies to decorate, face painting and a photo booth. People are asked to bring their own camera. To attend, RSVP to karen@sabts. org. The event takes place at the church, 2001 Calle Frontera in San Clemente.

Santa’s Village by the Sea on Dec. 5 The city of San Clemente will host “Santa’s Village by theSea” on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Community Center, located at 100 N. Calle Seville. The event offers a day full of holiday delight in San Clemente for the entire family to enjoy.

Bring scarves and mittens for sledding down the snow hill, sponsored by the Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks & Recreation Foundation. Visit Mrs. Claus’ Bakery to decorate a holiday cookie and stop by the hot chocolate factory to create a chocolaty warm drink. Afterward, enjoy a bag of popcorn while watching the animated holiday movie, Arthur Christmas. Across the hall, Santa Claus will be ready for visits, so come prepared with a camera and be ready to say “reindeer.”

There will also be games for children, face painters, strolling carolers, multiple decorated areas for pictures, games and prizes. A selection of other activities and food will be available for a nominal fee.

Before the night ends, walk through the

U.S. Marines sit down to Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 26. Photo: Courtesy of Carla Hogan

San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

Santa Claus made an appearance during Puttin’ on the Glitz on Saturday in San Clemente. He will return this weekend, Dec. 5 during the Santa’s Village by the Sea event. Photo: Eric Heinz

lobby and participate in the “Angel Tree” program by selecting a tag and spreading the holiday cheer by purchasing a special gift for someone in need, sponsored by the San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club.

Attendees may also support the Marines overseas by dropping off new or gently used DVDs, footballs and Frisbees, sponsored by the San Clemente Marine Corps Support Group.

Carolers will be singing on the grass at the corner of Avenida Del Mar and Calle Seville. The mayor will light the city’s holiday tree at 5:15 p.m. and a lucky child at the event will be chosen to help.

After the tree lighting, stroll down the lane with the bell choir to Casa Romantica, at 415 Avenida Granada, to enjoy more holiday cheer (free admission) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. where carolers will greet everyone. Cookies and hot cocoa will be available for all. The evening will also include live holiday entertainment and decorations.

Children will have a chance to make holiday crafts and write letters to Santa. In case you missed him at the Community Center, Santa will be at the Casa Romantica to take more photos and take lists.

For more information, contact the city of San Clemente’s Recreation Division at 949.361.8264 or Casa Romantica at 949.498.2139.

Financial Planning Workshop to Take Place Dec. 8 Maureen Umaña Boatman, financial professional associate with the Orange County Financial Group of Prudential Advisors, is launching a series of Community Financial Workshops in local Orange County cities, including San Clemente.

The San Clemente event is set for Dec. 8 at Anytime Fitness, 811 Via Suerte, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Community Financial Workshop of San Clemente is an educational workshop for local residents, sponsored by San Clemente business owners. Workshop topics will be educationally minded and center

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around non-financial issues people face when approaching retirement.

Local residents and business sponsors participating in this event include Jill Mitzev from Harcourts Distinctive Coast Properties, Florina Romoser of Florina Photography, Brad Shapero from Premier Healthcare, Tom and Peggy Sullivan of Anytime Fitness, and Dana Ghorab, DDS. Enjoy food, drinks and mingling with neighbors and friends while receiving information. RSVP to Maureen Umaña Boatman at 949.300.6854 or any of the local business sponsors.

Camp Pendleton Schedules Test Firing through Friday Mortar fire and high explosive munitions that began Wednesday will continue in the Whiskey/Zulu Impact area Thursday and Friday.

For noise inquiries, contact Range Operations Division Office at 760.725.0357 between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. After normal business hours and weekends, contact the command duty officer at 760.725.5061.

Heritage Foundation to Help Collect Toys for Marine Families The Heritage Foundation of San Clemente, caretakers of The Marine Monument at Park Semper Fi, is collecting Christmas toys for families of San Clemente’s Adopted Marine Corps unit HMLA 469. The deadline to drop off toys is Dec. 21.

Toys can be dropped off in the red bins at the following locations: City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio; Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville; and Vista Hermosa Sports Park, 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa. Call 949.498.4958 for more information.

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

EYE ON SC

Community SC Sheriff’s Blotter Meetings

understand him. He said he was being followed but didn’t know who was following him.

Saturday, November 28

COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3

Exchange Club of San Clemente

Noon. Business meeting for the club.

Molly Bloom’s Irish Bar & Restaurant. www.exchangeclubsc.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

Dark Friday

City offices closed.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6

San Clemente Farmers Market

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday.

Avenida Del Mar. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7

Vector Control Board Applications Due San Clemente City Council is seeking applications from registered voters within the city to serve as the city’s representative on the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District Board of Trustees. Applications due Dec. 7. 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Sunrise Rotary

7:15 a.m. San Clemente Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday at Talega Golf Course Signature Grille. 990 Avenida Talega, www.scsunriserotary.com.

Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting

6 p.m. The San Clemente Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission conducts its regularly scheduled at 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8230, www.san-clemente.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9

San Clemente Rotary

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

San Clemente Kiwanis

Noon. The San Clemente Kiwanis meet most Wednesdays for lunch at Tommy’s Restaurant. 1409 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.5423, www.sanclementekiwanis.com.

San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

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, November 30 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Pico, 900 Block (12:09 p.m.)

A man driving a gray Toyota truck was seen drinking a beer before parking near the front entrance.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Felipe, 1300 Block (3:29 a.m.) A woman said her husband chased a man out of their house. A 45-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody. He is being held at the Central Men’s Jail on $50,000 bail.

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (2:29 a.m.) A woman said a person she knows took her vehicle without permission.

Sunday, November 29 PETTY THEFT Avenida Pico, 900 Block (9:55 p.m.) A man was concealing items while in the restroom of a business.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Del Mar, 200 Block (6:29 p.m.) Four men were fighting over a Christmas wreath.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Avenida De La Estrella, 100 Block (12:43 p.m.) Police were called to assist Animal Control with freeing a dog that had been locked in a vehicle in the parking lot across from the Holiday Inn. DISTURBANCE Camino De Estrella/Interstate 5 Freeway (10:57 a.m.) A woman called to report a man throwing up fists and yelling. The man was wearing a red shirt, blue jeans and was carrying a backpack.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 400 Block (10:37 a.m.) “Transient” people were in the second story of a parking structure and refusing to leave.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Campana/Calle Canasta (5:16 a.m.) A man was whispering into the phone and police were barely able to

DISTURBANCE Avenida Algodon, 100 Block (4:33 p.m.) A man was in the lobby being argumentative, harassing customers and refusing to leave.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Camino De Los Mares, 600 Block (3:10 p.m.) A white Honda sedan left in neutral gear rolled into a planter.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES El Camino Real, 3800 Block (10:38 a.m.)

A man and a woman tried to purchase items with a stolen ID and credit card.

They left in a white compact vehicle.

CITIZEN ASSIST 0 Block, Finca Street (5:46 p.m.) A man said he was in a verbal altercation with a man who threatened to beat him up.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Esplanade/Paseo De Cristobal (9:14 p.m.)

Police were notified of 20 juveniles who the caller said were “possibly drinking alcohol.”

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Cuervo, 300 Block (1 a.m.) A man said he heard a car alarm going off and when he looked outside he saw someone going through the belongings in the vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida La Pata, 200 Block (12:25 a.m.)

A man said a man in his 20s from England told him he was robbed and woke up in the bushes. He requested the caller contact the British consulate.

Friday, November 27 TRAFFIC HAZARD Calle De Industrias/Avenida Pico (11:22 p.m.) The left-turn lights directing traffic west on Avenida Pico were not working properly.

PROWLER Calle Roca Vista, 200 Block (9:44 p.m.) A man said someone was hiding in his backyard possibly behind the barbecue area. The man could not give details about the person he thought he saw.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Pico, 900 Block (9:18 p.m.)

A woman said an ex-coworker had been harassing her. She said the woman had been banging on the door and making taunting gestures to toward her. The store was closed at the time she called but she was afraid to walk to her car. The ex-coworker was described as 19 years old, wearing a beanie and an “Aztec print jacket.”

PATROL CHECK Camino de Estrella/Interstate 5 Freeway (8:15 p.m.) A caller said a white Toyota Corolla was being driven with the car alarm going off. The caller wasn’t sure if the vehicle was stolen or if the driver was intoxicated.

Page 17

BURGLARY REPORT Via Alegre, 200 Block (7:28 p.m.) A man said a man broke into his white Audi and stole a bag of clothes. The caller chased the man but he got away. The suspect was described as having a shaved head and driving a gray Chevrolet.

BRANDISHING A WEAPON El Camino Real, 1100 Block (1:34 p.m.) A man said another man came at him with a knife.

TRESPASSING Camino De Los Mares, 600 Block (1:35 a.m.) A transient man reportedly continues to show up at the emergency room after being asked to leave.

A caller also reported he was running around in the street.

Thursday, November 26 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino De Los Mares, 600 Block (3:20 p.m.)

A caller was “very concerned” about the homeless man sleeping out front of the location.

PATROL CHECK Calle Verano, 3500 Block (12:17 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a white bag containing the caller’s full Xanax prescription.

Wednesday, November 25 DRUNK IN PUBLIC Avenida Victoria, 100 Block (2:17 p.m.) Police were called when a known homeless man in his 30s was stumbling around with a bottle of alcohol in his hand and looking into vehicles while talking to himself.

TRESPASSING El Camino Real, 2300 Block (2:16 p.m.) A man said a transient man in his 50s was violating a certain legal order while carrying a bottle of alcohol and showing a pocket knife to the caller.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES South El Camino Real/Avenida Mendocino (6:44 a.m.) A caller said a woman was standing in the middle of traffic and pretending to shoot people with her “finger gun.” The caller said she is probably “mentally ill.”

9-1-1 HANGUP El Camino Real, 2400 Block (5:39 a.m.) A woman said she thought the gas station was “spreading anthrax.”

The caller “thinks she is in the military,” was screaming on the phone and then hung up, according to the cal transcript.

The caller, using a payphone, seemed very suspicious to dispatchers.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS El Camino Real, 800 Block (3:59 a.m.) Two people smashed the window at RadioShack.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Ola Vista, 300 Block (1:51 a.m.) Following the burglary report, an unemployed 34-year-old man was booked at the Theo Lacy Facility and held on $50,000 bail. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: City Council Corner by Bob Baker

Holiday Cheer Comes to San Clemente

A

lthough Christmas is still weeks away, that won’t stop Santa Claus from spreading holiday cheer early in our Spanish Village by the Sea. It also gives me a chance to try out some Holiday riddles.

1. What do you get when Santa slips and hits the fire in the fireplace?

2. Why can’t Frosty live in the middle of the ocean?

3. What do snowmen eat for breakfast?

4. Why does Santa go down the chimney?

The fun starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 5, when Santa arrives at the Community Center. He’ll be at “Santa’s Village by the Sea” where snow is piled high just like a “real” winter day. Not quite like my childhood winters in Pittsburgh, but just enough. The kids will love sledding down a snow hill, cookie decorating, games, visiting with Santa, face painting, holiday movies with popcorn, hot cocoa and more.

At the corner of Avenida Del Mar and Calle Seville you can listen to the carolers

Letters to the Editor HISTORIC SIDEWALKS NOT WORTH THE COST OF SAVING EDWARD BEYER, San Clemente

The “hysterical” society is at it again, with untruths, and now threatening to file a lawsuit against the city. These are the facts as I see them: The city is not—and I repeat, is not—demolishing historical sidewalks. The city’s effort is to replace a number of broken, uneven sidewalks that are a danger to anyone utilizing them. Time has already demolished the sidewalks and they need to be replaced. Some of them have been overlaid in the past with fragile clay tile. Some, but not all, are sidewalks in front of houses that are registered with the Historical Society. The city stated it costs $10 per square foot to replace a sidewalk. If the city must replace with red clay tile, the cost is $30 per square foot. I don’t think it is proper or honest for the people of San Clemente to pay for the extra cost of the clay tile. If the people who own these homes insist upon the red tile, then they should pay the additional cost.

Here is an irritating fact that most people in town don’t know. In 1972, California State Legislature adopted the Mills Act and San Clemente accepted it in 1977. The San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

sing. Then join me at the city’s holiday tree lighting at 5:15 p.m. One lucky child’s name will be selected to light the City Christmas Tree. Parents, be sure to visit the booth next to the snow hill between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and fill out an entry form for your children (up to 12 years old) so they can get the chance to have their name drawn to light up our tree.

Afterward, around 5:30 p.m., walk alongside the Bell Choir to the Casa Romantica Cultural CITY COUNCIL Center & Gardens for CORNER more holiday cheer (free

By Bob Baker admission) until 7:30 p.m.

Cookies and hot cocoa will be available for everyone to enjoy along with live holiday entertainment. Here, children can make a holiday craft and write letters to Santa.

In case you missed him at the Community Center, Santa will also be at the Casa Romantica to take more photos and collect the children’s wish lists.

Mills Act gives an historical homeowner significant tax break on their property.

For 38 years, these homeowners have had this privileged financial advantage. Some historical homes have poor electrical and heating systems and lack good insulation.

What’s next? Are we to help them out with these issues also?

OBAMACARE DESTRUCTION: ROUND TWO STAN WASBIN, San Clemente

Having already been pounded by Obamacare once, I should have been better prepared for the second wave. Two years ago, HealthNet informed me that the catastrophic-care PPO individual plan covering me, my wife and four children was being canceled because it did not comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This month, I learned that the Anthem PPO group plan, on which we have depended since the HealthNet cancelation, likewise is being nixed for failing to comply with Obamacare.

“If you like your current plan…”

At the time HealthNet canceled our plan in 2013, the monthly premium was around $600. Now, the monthly premium for the cheapest employer-sponsored PPO into which we were able to move is $1,629.

The increase stands at odds with President Barack Obama’s assurance that his signature piece of legislation would save Americans $2,500 per year on premiums.

The least expensive group PPO plan

As you fill those Christmas wish lists, think about staying in San Clemente and shopping local. You’ll save yourself the stress of traffic, the cost of gas and support your city. Having lived in San Clemente for 25 years, I can remember a time when it was necessary to leave town to shop, especially at Christmastime.

That’s not the case today. You can fill any Christmas wish list without leaving town because it is safe to say there is something here for everyone.

Best holiday wishes from the Baker family to your family this season!

From Bob, Pam, Nicholaus, Emily, and Keoni Answers to riddles: 1. Crisp Kringle 2.

Because s’now-man is an island 3. Snow Flakes 4. Because it “soots” him.

Bob Baker is the Mayor Pro Tem of the city of San Clemente. 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.

into which we next will be forced to move costs an additional 5 percent, or $1,708 per month. It nevertheless provides inferior benefits: Our deductible jumps from between $1,250 and $2,500 to $6,000 and $12,000; and our out-of-pocket maximum increases from between $5,000 and 10,000 to $6,600 and $13,200, rendering the new plan skimpier than the catastrophic-care plan we enjoyed two Obamacare-mandated cancelations ago. Yet the President labelled the canceled plan “substandard.”

The effect of Obamacare on Americans like us—who pay for their own health insurance—has been disruptive, punitive and expensive, creating the impression that the ACA is singling us out for deception and plunder. This pernicious law, which rests on a bed of lies, now forces us to pay much more to get far less.

STREET SWEEPING FINES ARE NOT EQUAL GEORGE GREGGORY, 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 (Cont. on page 20)

Page 18

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CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Debra Holm Tim Trent

San Clemente Times, Vol. 10, Issue 49. 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 (Cont. from page 18) that are selectively enforced and written, like no ladders, pipes or hammer handles on or sticking out of pickup trucks. That right has been reserved for giant corporations’ trucks and council’s vehicles.

This leaves our citizens at the mercy of council and an unopposed sheriff who does not know or care about taxation without representation, selective enforcement or the constitutionality of unfair laws.

FAM THANKS DONORS, VOLUNTEERS FOR HOLIDAY HELP SUSAN DEGENNARO, San Clemente

Family Assistance Ministries is thankful for all our amazing donors, volunteers, and partners. Because of them, 2,759 hungry people were fed through FAM’s Thanksgiving Meal Programs. We far exceeded our expectations and last year’s numbers.

Five hundred twenty-four people dined on the yummy food prepared by our community of caring partners at the Community Feast on Wednesday. Another 541 meals went to the homeless and our other guests. One thousand forty-nine people enjoyed their boxed turkey dinners donated to FAM to distribute to those in need. Six hundred forty-five hungry neighbors’ meals were delivered to their

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Dec. 4 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. home through FAM’s Thanksgiving Adoption Program.

Wow! What a blessing you are to those who need help. We are most thankful to you. Our guests were very grateful.

Susan DeGennaro is the Family Assistance Ministries operations assistant.

OUTLETS SETS UNWELCOME PRECEDENCE PATRICIA SOUTHERN, San Clemente

Mr. Lew Avera is correct, the Outlets at San Clemente mall is a landmark event, but not one that improves quality of life for San Clemente residents.

This unprecedented project in size and construction will be adding even more bumper-to-bumper traffic in an area already heavily impacted. The effect this development will have on Del Mar street and our other retailers will be serious. I doubt the $2 million in the city’s revenue will make any of our lives any better. After witnessing the lack of aesthetics and poor forethought the city has shown, it scares me to think what is being planned for the North Beach area.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Children who helped with holiday meals at Family Assistance Ministries pose for a photo (back row from left): Grace, Jane and Simon Perry; (middle row from left): Lucy, Ruby, Ethan and Clark Hill; (front row from left): Drew, Max and Brock Bowman.

Photo: Courtesy of Family Assistance Ministries

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.

GUEST OPINION: 2/4 Corner by Lieutenant Colonel Brian Greene (Battalion Commander)

Promotions, 240th USMC Birthday Celebrated

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arines, Sailors, Families, and Friends, It’s a great time to be a United States Marine and even more so to be a Magnificent Bastard. Your Marines and Sailors have been working long hours in the field and back at our command post ensuring we are ready to answer our nation’s call when directed. Over the last month, we have promoted 23 Marines to the rank of Private First Class and Lance Corporal. We have promoted 22 to the rank of Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO is equivalent of corporal or sergeant) and two to the rank of Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (one Staff Sergeant, one Gunnery Sergeant). We continue to welcome new Marines and say farewell to some Marines/Sailors that have helped make this battalion great. We celebrated our 240th birthday with a traditional Marine Corps Ball. Thank you to those of you who attended. We had representation from the city of San Clemente and our 2/4 Association. It was truly an honor to break bread and spend an evening of comradery with our community and association.

Over the last month, the battalion has continued to prepare for deployment.

We continue to be ready to respond to any contingency and are getting better with each passing week. We completed a battalion-wide field exercise focusing on offensive and defensive tactics. We employed artillery, mortars and heavy machine guns while being reinforced with engineers, explosive ordinance Marines and intelligence systems. We planned and conducted maneuver, fires, intelligence, logistics, communication and force protection. We have sent over 70 Marines to formal schools; currently, the battalion is planning on training for a division-level exercise in Twentynine Palms. This exercise will take us through the end of the month

Recreation for U.S. Marines Drop off DVDs, footballs and frisbees (new or gently used) to be sent to Marines overseas for the holidays. The deadline is Dec. 15.

Sponsored by San Clemente Marine Corps Support Group

and well into December, at which time the battalion will execute some hard-earned holiday leave time.

The battalion has been busy preparing for multiple inspections from higher headquarters, including a Logistics Readiness Evaluation (LRE), a Field Supply and Maintenance Analysis Office (FSMAO) inspection and a Commanding General’s Inspection (CGI). LRE and FSMAO are focused on logistics functional areas and are aimed at improving the Marine Corps’ overall equipment accountability and readiness. The CGIP is a comprehensive evaluation by the Inspector General, 1st Marine Division, of multiple functional areas, encompassing administration, personnel readiness, security and other areas.

All of these inspections promote combat readiness, integrity and efficiency. The battalion is working hard in preparation for these inspections and is poised to pass with flying colors.

Thank you for your continued support for your Marines and Sailors. If you would like to see pictures of our training or updates on our battalion, please “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/2dBattalion4thMarines.

Semper Fidelis. 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.

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

EDITOR’S PICK

At the Movies: ‘Brooklyn’ is the Place to Be

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 03 SURFRIDER FOUNDATION HOLIDAY PARTY 6 p.m. Join the Surfrider Foundation South Orange County Chapter for its 10th annual family-friendly holiday party featuring music by Dano Forte’s Juke Joint Freak Show and DJ SLi Dawg. A silent auction and raffle will be held. Admission is $25 with beer and wine for guests 21 and over, and $15 for students under 18. Hors d’ouvres will be served. Proceeds will benefit the Surfrider Foundation. For more information, email to denisedd@cox.net. Waterman’s Harbor restaurant, 34661 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point, 949.764.3474.

Friday | 04 HOLIDAY IN THE HARBOR OPEN HOUSE 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season with activities and entertainment at the Dana Point Harbor. Activities include photos with Santa (bring your camera), crafts and performances by various characters matched to this year’s Boat Parade of Lights theme, “A Galactic Christmas.”

Join in for the Darth Vader Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest in front of Harpoon Henry’s, 34555 Golden Lantern. Parking and all events are free. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern, at Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.923.2255, www.danapointharbor.com.

BILLY WATSON 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.

Saturday | 05 SAN CLEMENTE CHORAL SOCIETY: HOLIDAYS PAST AND PRESENT 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The event will feature songs by the chorus from holidays of the past and present. The event will be hosted at St. Andrews By-the-Sea. Tickets can be purchased by calling 949.272.8435, www.sccs-arts.org WINTER FESTIVAL AND TREE LIGHTING Noon-7 p.m. Meet Santa and his reindeer and play in real snow at the city’s annual festival and tree lighting ceremony. Other attractions include music, food, games, crafts and more. The tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. followed by San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

Photo: File

SATURDAY, DEC. 5: SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA 10 a.m. The Outlets at San Clemente’s inaugural charity fundraiser will benefit area charities. The event will feature $50,000 in prizes and exclusive discounts at more than 25 stores. Shoppers can score holiday deals while supporting local causes. The $35 ticket will include a private catered lunch, wine and craft beer tasting, entertainment and a $25 donation to your choice of one of 18 deserving nonprofit organizations. 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, 949.535.2323, www.outletsatsanclemente.com.

the Holiday Movie in the Park, Disney’s The Santa Clause (PG) and free popcorn.

La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza St., Dana Point, at Pacific Coast Highway and La Plaza. 949.248.3530, www.danapoint.org.

Sunday | 06 VILLAGE ART FAIRE 9 a.m. The Village Art Faire is held on the first Sunday of every month and is put on by the Downtown Business Association.

Stroll and shop Avenida Del Mar where more than 60 vendors will have arts, crafts and other items. 949.218.5378, www.villagesanclemente.org.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Four decorated homes, two in Dana Point and two in Laguna Niguel, will be on display. Enjoy food from local vendors and music at the homes.

All proceeds support the children of the Capistrano Unified School District and Camp Pendleton military families. Tickets $40. 949.291.8408, www.capistranovalley. assistanceleague.org.

Monday | 07 PARENTING IN THE 21ST CENTURY: RAISING GREAT SONS AND DAUGHTERS 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Join JSerra Catholic High School for the JSerra Speaker Series, featuring Glenn Stanton of Focus on the

Family. Stanton will be speaking about ideas from his book, Secure Daughters, Confident Sons, and providing a vision that inspires parents and teachers to be visionary and practical in raising adolescents in the midst of a radically-changing, modern world. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. with the talk beginning at 7 p.m. JSerra Catholic High School, 26351 Junipero Serra Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.9307, www.jserra.org.

Tuesday | 08 CAPT. DAVE’S WHALE WATCHING Times vary. Trips available every day of the week. Get up close to marine life aboard a Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari trip. Prices vary depending on the vessel. Call for more information. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.

Wednesday | 09 JOY OF LIVING BIBLE STUDY 9:15 a.m.-11 a.m. Women of all ages are invited to this interdenominational group that meets Wednesdays through June 1.

A start-up fee of $30 is requested. Free child care is provided. The study includes worship, discussion groups, inspirational talks and monthly luncheons. Talega Life Church, 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, 949.493.1980.

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aoirse Ronan is a young actress who, despite her much deserved Oscar nomination at age 13 for Atonement (2007), has been having trouble finding a niche for her career.

After disappointments and duds like Hanna (2011) and The Host (2013), she’s finally landed hits with The Grand Budapest Hotel last year and especially with Brooklyn this fall. Director Jon Crowley and screenwriter Nick Hornby’s adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s novel is a quiet, touching tale of love and discovery.

In 1952, 20-year-old Eilis Lacey (Ronan) gets the chance of a lifetime to emigrate from her small Irish hometown to Brooklyn, New York. She quickly lands a job in a shop while also taking night classes to study accounting for a future career.

During all of this, Eilis meets a local ItalPhoto: Fox Searchlight ian man, Tony (Emory Cohen) who is instantly smitten with her. But there is also an Irish man back home, Jim (Domhnall Gleeson) she’s also attracted to.

Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent costar as Eilis’ landlord and priest. Ronan is famous for being able to easily slip into fake accents, but using her real Irish accent in this film, she looks most natural and comfortable.

Crowley’s film is sweet and pleasant on its own and has some of this year’s best cinematography. But the real standout is Ronan’s performance, reminding us of her potential and talent. We see, through her eyes, worry and wonderment while exploring a new country and being torn between lovers.

Brooklyn is for fans of good acting and period pieces. SC

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

Business Beat

ago, Modest Spot Salon hairstylist and owner Stephanie Carrillo decided to add a bit more to her business.

Recently, Carrillo debuted her new arts and body products that she sells out of the back of her salon.

“They are all handcrafted goods along with natural beauty and body products,” she said. “It’s anything that can be a small gift.”

Carrillo said the space where she has made the craft shop was being used as storage and she wanted to utilize it.

Carrillo said she wants to bring in more artisan products from locals. She sells succulents from one such San Clementebased designer.

She said she also wants to host workshops for artists and cater the lessons to all ages.

News from San Clemente’s business community COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

Expansions ELECTRIC 1001 Calle Amencer, 1.800.958.6556 www.electriccalifornia.com San Clemente’s Electric, an eyewear company for style and utility, recently opened a showroom for people to explore the company’s products.

“It’s a really cool way for people to come and look around and shop,” Ian Foulke, director of demand creation for Electric, said. “We don’t have it open during certain times of the year, but we have it open for special events, like when we hosted movie premiers during Hurley Pro.” The showroom is also optimal for events and debuting a product, Foulke said.

Electric was founded in 2000 and has been in San Clemente for 15 years.

“Our brand is style that performs, the idea that we have a lifestyle look, a little more fashion-forward,” Foulke said. “All of our acetate products are made by hand and made with high-quality optical health through melanin lens, a unit that has been put into polycarbonate lenses.”

Foulke has been with Electric for two years and said he joined the company after meeting with its executives and the people who work there.

“Eyewear is such an important part of

Grand Opening Ian Foulke displays samples of Electric’s products. The business celebrated its 15th anniversary this year.

Photo: Eric Heinz

saying who we are without really saying anything,” Foulke said. “You put on a pair of frames and it kind of sets the tone for your day. When you look at someone in the eyes, it says a lot about their personality. For me, it was always an expressive tool.”

Products of Electric are also available for purchase at other San Clemente retailers.

MODEST SPOT SALON 106 W. Mariposa, 949.388.6222 www.modestspotsalon.com After opening for business five years

Hairstylist and owner of Modest Spot Salon Stephanie Carrillo said she wants to host artists’ workshops in the new portion of her business that features handmade crafts. Photo: Eric Heinz

BARRE3 SAN CLEMENTE 638 Camino De Los Mares, 949.429.1738 www.barre3.com A fitness studio that combines ballet with yoga, barre3 San Clemente is set to open on Dec. 7.

During opening week, Dec. 7 to 13, all classes are free. People can sign up at www.barre3.com, by going to the left side of the homepage, click “book a class” and choose the San Clemente location. Free childcare during select class times will also be available during opening week.

Nicki Insley of San Clemente and Jessica Leonard of Dana Point co-own both the San Clemente studio and barre3 Laguna Niguel, which opened in April 2014. SC

GUEST OPINION: Wellness and Prevention by Susan Parmelee

Celebrate Traditions and Gratitude this Holiday Season

N

ow that my children are grown and have moved out of the house, I have time, a commodity that seemed much more precious when we were raising them to leave us and find their place in the world. As Thanksgiving and the winter holidays are often about gratefulness, I recently used some of my free time to reflect on how slowing down during holiday breaks helps to reinforce our family traditions and gives us the gift of time spent together.

Traditions help to keep us grounded and connected to our family. They allow us to refocus on what we truly value in our lives. When our children were young we moved every two years or so. One of these moves occurred during the holidays and we spent Christmas in a hotel room.

Most of our “stuff” was on a moving van, including our Christmas decorations. My husband and I decided a fondue Christmas

San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

Eve would be an easy solution for a holiday dinner. The next year when we were happily settled into a new home, the kids reminded me that we had to have fondue for Christmas Eve dinner.

This is a tradition our sons are now happy to share with their wife and girlfriend, respectively.

These yearly constants are comforting to all family members.

No matter how stressWELLNESS AND ful or busy kids’ and PREVENTION

By Susan adults’ lives become, we Parmelee have family gatherings to look forward to as a time to recharge and reconnect. We keep these moments sacred, but it does take some work to maintain and sometimes adjust and add to these traditions. The most important thing I’ve learned about our traditional events

is to let go of perfectionism and allow others to participate. I regret the years I tried to make my table the Martha Stewart showcase—I only ended up grumpy and resentful. Allowing all the children to participate in a centerpiece competition and then declare a winner was much more enjoyable, even if everything did not match.

Holidays are also a time to reflect and feel grateful. Children may need to be prompted to practice moments of gratitude and it is important to reinforce moments of gratitude throughout the year. Our commercial culture often encourages wanting more, newer, better things, leading our youth to covet their stuff more than intangibles like family time, friendships and giving to others. Holiday traditions— serving others, financial donations, gift donations, thanking teachers—reinforce the gratitude that we hope our children practice throughout their daily lives.

Page 25

In hindsight, it might have been even better if, as a family, we had slowed down a little more in our day-to-day life. But then I hear from my adult kids who seem to be filling their lives with cultural, sporting and community service events and see that some amount of “busy-ness” is inherent in our family temperament. This is mostly positive, as long as we occasionally take the time to slow down, maintain our family traditions and be grateful.

Susan Parmelee is a social worker who works at San Clemente High School in the Wellness & Prevention Center. To subscribe to Wellness and Prevention Center emails, send an email with the word “subscribe” in the subject line to tritons41@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

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Page 27

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SC LIVING

Safe Passage City engineering looks forward to future PCH project

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

here’s an understandable unnerving moment, when driving southbound on the Pacific Coast Highway between San Clemente and Dana Point, as a bicyclist is traveling a few feet from an automobile.

The city is planning to create an area for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel more safely on the west side of the Pacific Coast Highway, a safe buffer between the highway and the railroad that runs alongside it. The city also plans to put in a median that would separate portions of the highway by Camino San Clemente and Camino Capistrano, as well as make for more visibility at the intersections where pedestrians cross to get to the beach areas.

Ideally, this would keep bicyclists from the Class 2 bike lanes, which are not protected but separated by a painted line, and keep them on Class 1 passages, which are protected by medians.

San Clemente Transportation Engineering Manager Tom Frank said this project has been at the top of his priority lists for some time. Frank said the initial plans started in 2011 but had been backlogged.

“Where we’re at is we’re reviewing the 100 percent design drawings and we need to get approval from CalTrans and Federal Highway Administration because there’s a grant that’s associated with this project,” Frank said. “We’re in their grant review process, and once we get the approval we’re hoping to bid the project out by the end of this year, but most likely will go to bid in January.”

A cyclist rides next to a vehicle southbound on the Pacific Coast Highway on Tuesday. The improvements the city plans for would separate the bike lanes from traffic with a median and give two-way access for bicycles. Photo: Eric Heinz

The grant from the Highway Safety Improvement Program is more than $665,000. The entirety of the project, with a match from the city, is a little more than $2 million.

Frank said he is hopeful that construction on the project will begin in the spring and finish in late 2016.

“The timing looks like it’s coming into place because we want to construct our improvements after the Sea Summit roadway improvements are completed,” Frank said. “The scope of our project is pretty extensive, modifying the signals at Camino Capistrano and Camino San Clemente. We will be doing demolitions of the concrete work and curb extensions.”

The paths also run alongside the city’s

Marblehead Beach Trail, which was completed to much rejoicing last year.

The intersection at Camino Capistrano would also be constructed as “bulb out,” or increased in curvature for better line of sight and pedestrian efficiency.

“One of the reasons why we’re doing that is to improve the efficiency for vehicles,” Frank said. “One of our critical signal phases is the pedestrian phase to move them from the inland to the coastal side to get beach access. We have to have a certain time frame to get pedestrians across, based on walking times. This shortens that time frame and gives more green light time for that intersection.”

Frank said curbs with wider radii provide more opportunities for landscaping.

The landscape medians near the intersections and the 2.3-mile stretch of two-lane bikeways are expected to have native foliage.

“This project also includes a missinggap sidewalk segment, which will bring

people from the new trails on the Sea Summit area up through Camino Capistrano on the inland side,” Frank said. “There’s really three or four projects tied into one big package.”

The projects are expected to be bid all at once in a large segment, Frank said.

Current project construction taking place to the east side of the highway is for a private project going through public areas.

“On the east side are the street improvements associated with the Sea Summit at Marblehead,” Frank said. “They’re also doing some roadway improvements and storm drain improvements.”

During the time of the construction of the project, Frank said there will be some traffic mitigation, but he said he doesn’t expect any full-time closures.

“We’ll put up advanced signs to let the public know and to ask for patience,” Frank said. “It’s likely we’ll just divert cars from one side of the road to the other.” SC

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR Last week’s solution:

The passage northbound on the Pacific Coast Highway for bicycles ends just before Camino Capistrano in San Clemente before not being protected by cement barrier. Photo: Eric Heinz

San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

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 28

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

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Chasing a Championship The San Clemente High School football team will play for the CIF-SS Southwest Division title for second straight year

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

D

onté Harrington, like many of his teammates, has been thinking about this week for a full calendar

year.

After last season’s loss in the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championship game, the senior offensive lineman and four-year starter for the San Clemente High School football team began counting down the days until the Tritons get to take the field and play for another shot at a title.

On Friday, Dec. 4, the wait will be over.

Second-seeded San Clemente is back in the finals and will travel to play No. 1 La Habra in the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championships at Cerritos College at 7 p.m.

The Tritons (11-2) lost in the finals to Trabuco Hills in 2014 and many of those same players will get to take the field Friday night.

Last year’s loss has served as motivation for many among the Triton ranks.

“We just really know how important it is and, more importantly, how it feels to be on the losing side,” Harrington said.

“We just don’t want to ever be on that side again. Everyone is really excited. We’re just trying to get the school behind us and get us going and get everyone at the game. It should be a lot of fun.”

If the Tritons hope to capture the school’s first CIF-SS Championship, they will have to go through a red-hot La Habra (12-1) team that knows a thing or two about collecting postseason trophies. The program has won six CIF-SS Championships since 2002, including a dominant four-year stretch from 2007-2010 that saw the Highlanders win four straight titles. La Habra has not been to the finals since the 2010 season.

The Highlanders, who will be the Tritons fourth straight Freeway League opponent this postseason, possess a potent offense and a stingy defense.

La Habra has recorded four shutouts on the season and is limiting opponents to an average of just over 10 points per game.

The La Habra offense, led by senior quarterback Eric Barriere, is averaging just over 42 points per game.

“They’re tough defensively … They have a tough front seven and a very athletic secondary,” San Clemente head coach Jaime Ortiz said of La Habra. “They have a good offensive line, athletic receivers … so they’re pretty well-rounded. It’ll be a good test. There is a reason why they’re 12-1.”

(Cont. on page 41)

Top Horizontal: San Clemente receiver/running back Brandon Reaves runs the ball against Buena Park in the CIF-SS Southwest Division semifinals on Nov. 27. Photo: Lance Scott/Red Zone Elite

Left: San Clemente tight end Cole Fotheringham runs for a touchdown against Buena Park on Nov. 27. Right: Senior running back Vlad Dzhabiyev has rushed for 1,055 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2015. Photos: Lance Scott/Red Zone Elite

Leading the Way San Clemente’s junior quarterback Jack Sears builds on breakout season Jack Sears got his first taste of high stakes high school football on the biggest of stages one year ago.

In the 2014 CIF-SS Southwest Division Championship game between San Clemente and Trabuco Hills, Tritons starting quarterback Sam Darnold went down with an injury in the fourth quarter. The season-long backup’s number was called.

Sears threw for 27 yards in a very short amount of playing time in an atmospheric pressure cooker. San Clemente did not win that game, but glimpses of the team’s future signal caller’s potential, if only for a few minutes, came into view.

Sears won the starting job over the offseason and has guided the Tritons back into the championship game in 2015. His numbers have been outstanding and, San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

San Clemente’s Jack Sears has thrown 35 touchdown passes in 2015. Photo: Lance Scott/Red Zone Elite

when San Clemente has been pushed to the brink, the junior has delivered.

In a back-and-forth battle against Sonora in the CIF-SS Southwest Division quarterfi-

nals on Nov. 20, Sears had arguably his best game of the season. He completed 20 of 23 passes for a season-high 328 yards and three touchdowns. San Clemente clung to a

Page 30

three-point lead in the fourth quarter before Sears engineered an eight-play drive full of smart, accurate passes that sealed the win and kept the Tritons’ playoff hopes alive.

Sears gave an emotional post-game interview following the win over Sonora, heaping praise on his offensive line, running backs and the defense, deflecting any attention away from his late-game heroics.

“You talk to him and he has that ‘it’ factor,” San Clemente head coach Jaime Ortiz said.

“He’s got good leadership skills and he leads by example. The kids really rally around him.”

Few quarterbacks in Orange County can lay claim to Sears’ effectiveness in 2015.

The junior is tied for third in Orange County with 35 touchdown passes through 13 games. He’s thrown for 2,599 yards and only two interceptions in 252 pass attempts. He’s also rushed for 718 yards and eight touchdowns on 95 carries.

Win or lose on Friday night against La Habra in the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championships, Sears has proven that those promising glimpses of the future from one year ago were no mirage.

—Steve Breazeale www.sanclementetimes.com

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS CIF-SS Championship Preview (Cont. from page 30) The marquee matchup of the night will be the battle between Barriere and his counterpart, San Clemente junior quarterback Jack Sears. Both have the ability to throw downfield with accuracy as well as run for big gains.

In the Highlanders’ semifinal win over Villa Park on Nov. 27, Barriere threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 126 yards and two scores on the ground. Sears tossed three touchdowns and recorded a receiving touchdown on a trick play in the Tritons semifinal triumph over Buena Park. “(Barriere) and Sears, I think, are two of the best quarterbacks in the county and they get to go at it Friday night on the same field. It should be pretty fun,” Ortiz said.

The Tritons will enter the contest riding a hot streak of their own. Since the start of league play on Oct. 9, San Clemente has outscored its opponents by a combined 386-120 margin over a seven game stretch, including three playoff contests.

The Triton running attack, led by senior Vlad Dzhabiyev, Brandon Reaves and Austin Whitsett, has been running wild behind the effort up front by the Tritons big offensive line, which features Harrington, Tucker Scott, Turner Tonkovich, Noah Valovich and Zachary Cochrun. Sears has linked up with receiver Liam Eldridge and tight end Cole Fotheringham for six combined touchdowns in the playoffs.

The defense has one shutout in the playoffs under its belt and has recorded eight turnovers through three postseason games.

“We felt like we started clicking (during league play). We eventually just started getting better and better each week,” Harrington said. “We knew where we wanted to be and we knew what we had to do to get there and that, honestly, started the day after we lost, almost 365 days ago.

It’s been a long process, but this is just something that we’ve been pushing for since day one.”

The game will be broadcast on tape-delay on Fox Sports West starting at 10 p.m. SC

Scoreboard SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

YOUTH FOOTBALL The South Orange County Patriots, a Dana Point-based youth tackle football team that draws players from San Clemente, recently finished first in the Midget Division and will play in their league’s championship game Dec. 5 at St. Paul’s High School in Santa Fe Springs at 12:30 p.m.

The Patriots went 6-2 this season under the guidance of first-year head coach Mikki St. Germain, a San Clemente resident and the first female head coach in program history.

The team, which practices at Dana Hills High School, draws players from as far north as Laguna Hills and as far south as San Clemente.

The team includes: Mitch Messier, Spencer Robertson, Owen Carlton, Logan St. Germain, Alex Thurston, Brendan San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

Triton Takes

San Clemente seniors Donté Harrington and Vlad Dzhabiyev and head coach Jaime Ortiz break down the Tritons march to the CIF-SS Southwest Division Championships for a second straight season.

On how it feels to return to the finals:

It feels great. This is everyone’s dream, every team’s dream, so we’re glad we’re here. I think it’s a great accomplishment. We’re going to keep coming every year. The team after us is going to keep coming here. We have a goal, and as long as we have the right mindset, we’re there.

—Vlad Dzhabiyev On differences between the 2014 and 2015 seasons:

San Clemente receiver Liam Eldridge has 39 catches and eight touchdowns in 2015. Photo: Lance Scott/Red Zone Elite

It’s different. I’m in a little bit more of a leadership role than I was last year. Before, it was all about lifting up the seniors and doing your duty for the seniors and letting them know you have their back and you want to push them as high as they can go. Now, you’re just trying to pull everybody up with you being a senior.

—Donté Harrington On how the team’s championship game experience will play out Friday night against La Habra:

The San Clemente defense brings down Newport Harbor running back Cole Kinder during a nonleague game on Sept. 25. Photo: Lance Scott/Red Zone Elite

I think the lights are still bright but they’re probably not as bright. It’s a new year, new team, new experience and a new week. But they have the experience of being there last year, so they know what it’s like, they know what it feels like. (On Nov. 30), we had the CIF-SS luncheon and the seniors got to go experience that, so that’s all new.

But come Friday night it’s still the same field—120 yards. These kids have been there before and they get to go do it one more time.

—Jaime Ortiz

Jacob, Dayton Deal, Jacob Pesicka, Cole Flynn, Ikaika Leite, Eric Coronado, Jaxon Cochrun, Logan Lopez, Grant Olbricht, Dean Westerberg, Patrick Leavey and Carter Sestak.

YOUTH BASKETBALL Registration for The Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area’s 2016 basketball season is now open. The league will feature both boys and girls divisions for children ages 6-17 and run from January through March.

The league, which is geared toward building skills and sportsmanship, will have games take place Monday through Friday, with practices and games taking place on the same day.

Cost to join the league is $85 for nonBoys & Girls Club members and $30 for members. Jerseys are provided. All skill levels are welcome.

For more information on the league, or to register, visit www.bgsca.org or contact Johnny Martinez at jmartinez@bgsca.org.

The South OC Patriots youth tackle football team will play for their division’s championship Dec. 5.

Photo: Courtesy

Page 41

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SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Surfing, Caring and Sharing

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 63-66 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 10-15’+ Fair Thursday: Old WNW swell mix will be easing through the day as a modest new SSW swell shows. Better winter and combo magnets are in the knee-waist occ. chest high (2-3’+) zone, with a few larger peaks for standouts. Winds are light offshore early, trending light/variable onshore through the morning and giving way to a light+ onshore sea-breeze in the afternoon. Skies are mostly clear.

WSA to hold eighth annual Toys for Tots gift drive with Camp Pendleton Marines

Outlook: A new WNW swell builds Friday, topping out to start the weekend as modest SSW swell continues. Good size surf shows for winter and combo magnets. Those swells ease Sunday, but continue to offer fun surf. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

or the eighth consecutive year, the Western Surfing Association is adding a gift collection drive to its December surfing contest.

Event No. 5 of the WSA Championship Tour set for Dec. 5 and 6 at the San Clemente Pier will include the organization’s annual Toys for Tots drive, in conjunction with Camp Pendleton Marines.

Toys for Tots is a program of the United States Marine Corps aimed at ensuring the country’s less fortunate children get to experience the joy of Christmas, to play an active role in their development and to unite community members in a common cause during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign.

“Our family of surfers has historically taken this opportunity to give generously, along with local surf-related companies that have made larger donations of excess promotional, returned or overstocked items,” MaryLou Drummy, WSA executive director, said. “We look forward to showing, once again, how generous our surf community can be.”

WSA competitors donate gifts at last year’s surf contest and Toys for Tots toy drive. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Along with competitors and spectators, members of the public are invited to bring donations of new, unwrapped gifts to the check-in area anytime during the two-day event and stay to catch the surfing action by competitors of all ages, from Micro Groms to Legends.

Marines will man the collection boxes both days from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Camp Pendleton drive has a particular need for gifts for babies and toddlers as well as items that appeal to tweens and teens, such as new sports equipment (skateboards, bodyboards, etc.), surf apparel and gift cards. Checks made out to “Toys for Tots North County” are also welcome.

Continuing a WSA tradition, competitors making toy donations will once again

be presented with a special long-sleeve T-shirt commemorating the event.

Marines will be on hand on both days collecting toys and donations from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is also the annual Midget Smith Memorial Pier Rat Challenge, in memory of Jeffrey “Midget” Smith, a San Clemente surfer, legendary shaper and acclaimed judge who passed away in 2008.

For questions or to arrange a pick-up of a larger donation, please send an email to info@surfwsa.org. For more information about Toys for Tots or WSA, see www. toysfortots.org and www.surfwsa.org. The event schedule and heat draws will be posted on the Western Surfing Association Facebook page. SC

London Almida. Photo: Jack McDaniel

include earning an invitation into the Surfing America Prime series and having a go at making the U.S. Team.

“I also want to make it to the World Tour and be a champion someday,” London said.

“I’ve been working with my fitness trainer four nights a week, surfing as much as possible and training really hard with my coaches. We’re focusing on big rail turns and really nice, beautiful surfing. Once we get that down we will start working on my air game, but for now we’re sticking to the rail game.”

This homeschooled eighth-grader enjoys learning and is studying engineering at an advanced level.

“After a surfing career I’d also like to be an architect and a mechanical engineer,” he said.

London is also learning to speak French and enjoys skateboarding, tennis, golfing, horseback riding and life in San Clemente.

“I like all the kids and how everyone is super nice here,” he said. “I also like all the restaurants in the area and the waves.”

—Andrea Swayne

GROM OF THE WEEK

LONDON ALMIDA

L

ondon Almida, 13, is a new addition to the local lineup, since his family took up residence in San Clemente three months ago.

He’s been living on the south shore of Kauai but is no stranger to California surf competition, having competed in the National Scholastic Surfing Association Southwest Conference in the 2011-2012 season. This season he is competing in the NSSA—both here and in Hawaii—the Western Surfing Association Championship Tour, Hawaiian Surfing Federation Kauai and Hawaii Surfing Association events. At the November WSA contest in Pismo Beach, he was a triple finalist, taking fifth in U14 and U18, and sixth in U16.

London has been surfing since the age of 6, first getting the hang of it atop the nose of his dad’s longboard. He attributes his later San Clemente Times December 3–9, 2015

success to coaching by Kahea Hart, Masaijah Lani, Mike Lamm and Sean Mattison.

London also credits his progression to his supportive family and sponsors.

“My mom and my dad are my best sponsors and biggest supporters,” he said. “My brother, who also surfs, is so epic too. He’s awesome and really helpful. And I want to give a shout out to my sponsor Kung Fu Tonic—probably the raddest guys on the earth.”

His most immediate goals for surfing

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RESULTS KEY: San Clemente=SC, Dana Point=DP, Capistrano Beach=CB NSSA Open, Event No. 6, November 21-22, Newport Beach, 54th Street MEN: 1. Kade Matson, SC; 2. Nolan Rapoza, Long Beach; 3. Jake Marshall, Encinitas; 4. Eithan Osborne, Ventura.

JUNIORS: 1. Eithan Osborne, Ventura; 2. Jett Schilling, SC; 3. Kade Matson, SC; 4. Cole Houshmand, SC. BOYS: 1. Jett Schilling, SC; 2. Levi Slawson, Encinitas; 3. Nicholas Coli, SC; 4. Patrick O’Connor, San Juan Capistrano.

MINI GROMS: 1. Dane Matson, SC; 2. Cole McCaffray, Cardiff; 3. Tenchi Iwami, Japan; 4. Jake Chandler, Pacific Palisades. WOMEN: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad; 2.

Kirra Pinkerton, SC; 3. Samantha Sibley, SC; 4. Bethany Zelasko, DP. GIRLS: 1. Samantha Sibley, SC; 2. Kirra Pinkerton, SC; 3. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad; 4. Olivia Pessanha, San Diego.

Jack’s Surfboards Every Wave Counts Surf Contest, November 14, San Clemente, T Street BOYS 12U: 1. Cannon Carr, SC; 2. Tenshi Iwami, Japan; 3. Myles Biggs, SC: 4. Gavin Wilchek, SC; 5. Tyrone Fomenko, SC; 6. Joey Madison, SC. BOYS 14U: 1. Kade Matson, SC; 2. Crosby Colapinto, SC; 3. Liam Murray, SC; 4. Carter Sieverts, DP; 5. Mon Yahagi, Japan; 6.

Noah Brown, SC. BOYS 16U: 1. Nathan Carabba, SC; 2.

Noah Atwood, CB; 3. Carter Sieverts, DP; 4. John Bruder, Newport Coast; 5. Chandler Sieverts, DP; 6. Christopher Jones, DP. GIRLS: 1. Kayla Coscino, Laguna Beach; 2.

Sophia McGovern; Encinitas; 3. Zoe Mortensen, CB; 4.

Elle Emery, Laguna Niguel; 5. Sydney Conway, Pacific Palisades; 6. Zoe Morgan, Venice.

UPCOMING EVENTS December 5-6: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 5, San Clemente, Pier December 12-13: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 3, Dana Point, Salt Creek Beach December 19: Scholastic Surf Series, OC Middle School, Event No. 2, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty December 19-20: NSSA Open, Event No. 7, Cardiff-bythe-Sea, Seaside Reef December 20: Scholastic Surf Series, OC High School, Event No. 2, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty January 9-10: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 4, Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane January 16-17: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 6, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty January 23: Scholastic Surf Series, OC Middle School, Event No. 3, Huntington Beach, Pier January 24: Scholastic Surf Series, OC High School, Event No. 3, Huntington Beach, Pier

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