Mayor Kathy Ward stands
Ward
Photo: Eric Heinz
EYE ON SC
LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING
What’s Up With...
Five things San Clemente should know this week
Dozens
Come
Out for Annual Polar Plunge
THE LATEST: With the temperature around 50 degrees and a chilled Pacific Ocean coastline, dozens of people came to participate in the annual Polar Plunge at Lasuens Beach. The objective was to either jump into the early morning water and sustain the temperatures as long as possible or swim to “seal rock” and back to the shore.
WHAT’S NEXT: The event has been described as word-of-mouth and doesn’t have an official sponsor, but mark your calendars for 9 a.m. next New Year’s Day to participate. —Eric Heinz
City Continues to Search for Source of Water Contaminants at Pier
THE LATEST: Since the summer, the city of San Clemente has been trying to identify the reasons as to why the bacterial levels at the Pier have exceeded the health standards set by the County of Orange’s Heath Care Agency.
“In June 2016, the City Public Works Department started a water quality investigation at the Pier to have a stronger understanding of the reasons behind the summer beach postings issued by the County (OC Beach Info),” Cynthia Mallett, the city’s environmental programs supervisor, stated in an email. “Water quality issues have been occurring during sunny, dry and warm beach days, which means that the Pier’s bacteria problems are not coming from rainwater washing down the watershed.”
City officials are trying to determine whether the bacteria is coming from human sources or from domesticated animals or any other source such as from droppings from seagulls.
“We have some data from the county’s microbial bacteria study, and we’re trying to determine the source of the bacteria,” Mallett said in a phone interview, adding the city is looking into “bird barrier” options to prevent or deter seagulls from nesting underneath the Pier.
Larry Brennler, the supervising environmental health specialist for the county’s Water Quality Program, said the samples are checked for certain amounts
of coliform and enterococcus, an indicator of possible pollution from various areas.
“They are called indicator bacteria because they are relatively easy to collect and analyze, and may show the presence of harmful viruses, bacteria or protozoa (also known as pathogens),” Brennler said in an email.
The Health Care Agency has been tracking water runoff quality at the Pier since mid-2014, and since then, the San Clemente Pier spot has seen an increase in days that exceed the county’s standard of acceptable bacteria.
WHAT’S NEXT: Mallett said information from the county and the city’s examinations of the water quality will be presented to the Coastal Advisory Committee at the Feb. 9 meeting. Brennler said the San Clemente Marine Safety Department already prohibits swimming below the Pier for safety issues, but swimmers should avoid ocean water contact in any area where bacteria levels have exceeded state health standards. Mallett also said the city’s Code Enforcement officers patrol the Pier Bowl watershed to look for urban runoff and coordinates with the Public Works Department to try to limit the runoff. —EH
MET Board Approves Financial Support for Santa Margarita Water District Project
THE LATEST: On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California approved funding intended to offset the cost of a project for the Santa Margarita Water District. The funding comes from the district’s Local Resources Program.
The project approved for funding Tuesday will receive up to $475 per acre-foot of recycled water produced, which can help bring the costs of new water projects in line with the cost of water from the State Water Project and Colorado River Aqueduct.
The SMWD project that received funding was the Advanced Water Purification project, which “fills Lake Mission Viejo with highly treated recycled water instead of drinking water,” the press release stated. “SMWD built a new plant to treat the water for the lake after residents approved the project. The project is expected to save 300 acre-feet of water annually, or enough to serve 750 families.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Other South County projects that could receive funding, if the funding is approved, are the South Coast Water District desalination plant and the SMWD/San Juan Basin project. In the near future, the SMWD is planning to install inflatable dams in San Juan Creek during the first phase of the basin project,
stated Jonathan Volzke, the Municipal Water District of Orange County public information officer.
“The dams would keep water in the creek longer, allowing it to percolate into the groundwater basin, where it can be pumped out and used for drinking water,” Volzke stated. —EH
Family Assistance Ministries by the Numbers in 2016
THE LATEST: In its annual assessment of statistics, Family Assistance Ministries (FAM), a food distribution and charitable assistance program in San Clemente, announced that it had achieved a number of fundraising and charitable goals.
In housing, the group opened their new FAMily Shelter to house homeless families to include fathers. They also raised $47,000 raised to help get Rapid Re-House homeless clients off the streets and into their own housing. FAM also sheltered 110 homeless women and mothers with children through the Gilchrist House.
In total, FAM had 58,000 encounters with people in need; distributed 781,199 pounds of food; and distributed more than $1.9 million in food and personal care items.
The group distributed $143,033 in client cash aid for rent, transportation, utilities, medical and prescriptions paid to the provider, all with financial counseling in to order to help stabilize clients and avoid homelessness.
FAM also expanded last year, opening their third distribution site in Dana Point in partnership with St. Edward’s Parish providing much needed services closer to home for many in need.
Children saw many benefits from FAM’s
services. About 45 percent of FAM clients are children in need of nutritious food options, and FAM was able to provide adequate meal options to thousands of children. And 480 students received their back-to-school supplies from the group. Around the holidays, thousands of Thanksgiving meals were provided to the hungry and poor through Adopt-A-Family, and over 500 people joined in for the annual Thanksgiving Feast, with all the food cooked and prepared by the community. Additionally, 1,500 children received their Christmas presents through FAM’s Adopt-A-Family program and the annual Children’s Christmas Party.
WHAT’S NEXT: For a list of upcoming fundraising and charitable events hosted by FAM, visit www.family-assistance.org. —Staff
Camino Del Rio Extension Opens Monday, Jan. 9
THE LATEST: The Camino Del Rio Extension that will connect Forster Ranch with the Avenida La Pata Avenue, will be open to public traffic on Monday, Jan. 9.
“The new Camino Del Rio extension is part of the county’s overall La Pata Extension Project and will significantly reduce commute times for residents,” a press release from the county stated. “Completing the extension of Camino Del Rio will provide another direct connection to retail centers, medical facilities, schools, recreational opportunities, emergency evacuation routes, the county’s Prima Deshecha Landfill and more.”
WHAT’S NEXT: The city of San Clemente is continuing work on improvements along the existing Camino Del Rio. —Staff
A Polar Plunge participant is submerged by a wave on Sunday, Jan. 1, during the New Year’s Day Polar Plunge at Lasuens Beach. Photo: Eric Heinz
NEWS BITES
COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ
OC Coastkeeper to Host Beach Cleanup at San Clemente State Beach
Orange County Coastkeeper’s New Year’s resolution is to amplify its fight against trash in local waters. This January, as part of its Cleanup OC programs, Coastkeeper will launch its San Clemente monthly beach cleanup, which will take place every first Saturday of the month to educate the public, connect communities and clean one of Orange County’s favorite beaches.
This month’s cleanup will take place from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, at San Clemente State Beach, located at 225 Avenida Calafia.
“Orange County’s health, economy and wildlife depend heavily on our water resources. Coastkeeper’s beach cleanups are an integral part of Orange County protecting those resources and reaching the goal of zero trash in our waters as outlined in the new trash policy put in place in 2016 by the California State Water Resources Control Board,” a press release stated.
Last year, more than 4,000 volunteers removed 3,800 pounds of trash at Huntington State Beach during Coastkeeper’s monthly beach cleanups. Now that the cleanups have grown in popularity with volunteers—attracting hundreds per cleanup—Coastkeeper offers more people the opportunity to help clean local waters.
City Looks to Fill Committee Vacancies
The city of San Clemente had three resignations before the end of the year on City Council-appointed committees. The Council voted at its Dec. 20 meeting to open the application process for people to fill the terms of the resigned committee appointees.
The City Clerk’s office will accept applications through Tuesday, Jan. 17 for the Golf Course Committee, the Human Affairs Committee and the Talega Representative to the Friends of the Reserve Commission. All terms will expire on June 30, 2018.
The meeting to appoint applicants to the city’s committees is scheduled for Jan. 25.
For more information, visit www.sanclemente.org and find the application on the homepage of the website.
OC Public Libraries Offers
High School Diploma Program
Orange County residents can now earn their diploma with OC Public Libraries’ Career Online High School program
(COHS). This program allows adult students, ages 19 and older, the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma while gaining career skills in one of eight employment fields.
The program offers a flexible online class platform; self-paced learning method; core curriculum tied to national standards; academic coaches and certified instructors; and career guidance.
Students are able to graduate in as few as four months by transferring in previously earned high school credits. To learn more about this new program, students can visit the library’s website at www.ocpl.org or call Beatriz Preciado at 714.566.3065.
This program is made possible by the San Clemente Friends; Gale, a part of Cengage Learning; and the California State Library.
Nonprofit to Offer Health Services Help for Military Veterans
San Clemente-based The BREATH Wellness Foundation, Inc., and its Integrative Health Wellness Center will be offering low-cost community acupuncture and mind fitness classes at Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA) located on Camino Capistrano starting Jan. 11.
The church and BREATH share a mutual interest in helping community members and veterans improve quality of life and
wellbeing. This partnership will bring affordable access to basic integrative health services and classes. The offerings will be donation-based to ensure affordability for everyone, including veterans.
Dr. Virginia Schoenfeld, the founder of BREATH, said the group has been planning the program for over five months.
Schoenfeld is a retired Commander, Medical Service Corps officer, US Navy, where she served as Community Health and Health Promotions director and medical researcher at SPAWAR-HQ San Diego. Schoenfeld has also worked in the health care and non-profit sectors holding various leadership positions. She is a boardcertified Health and Wellness Coach and a graduate of Duke University’s Integrative Medicine Leadership program.
The BREATH Wellness Foundation, Inc. is listed as a service provider for The Wounded Warrior Project and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes program.
Pastor Brenda Bos of Christ Lutheran Church said she is pleased with the collaboration to host these wellness programs.
“We are very excited to open our doors to the community,” Bos said in a press release. “We understand healing comes in spiritual, physical and emotional ways. Partnering with other community agencies is a great way to support our neighbors.”
For information, contact Virginia Schoenfeld at 949.584.1942 or by email at virginia@thebreathcenter.org or visit www.thebreathcenter.org. The center is
San Clemente Native
Accepted into Biola University’s Honors Society
Devan Carpentier, a graduating Biola student, was accepted into the university’s baccalaureate honors society at the school’s fall 2016 commencement ceremony.
Carpentier, who is from San Clemente, was honored with membership into Epsilon Kappa Epsilon, Biola’s honors society. The honors society is invitation-only, with students selected by their departmental faculty. After selections are made, a committee reviews the candidates and they make the final induction decisions. Students selected by the committee are invited to apply for this honor by the Dean’s office. To be eligible, students must have a GPA of 3.75 or higher, as well as meet the qualifications of service toward their community.
Membership is limited to no more than 7 percent of the graduating class. Nineteen students were inducted into Biola’s honors society for the fall 2016 commencement. Students who received this honor were given special cords to be worn with their graduation gowns.
For more information, visit www.biola.edu.
Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.
Bags of trash are weighed in this Sept. 17 photo near the San Clemente Pier. Orange County Coastkeeper will host another beach cleanup day from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, at San Clemente State Beach. Photo: File
located at 647 Camino De Los Mares, Suite 218, San Clemente.
Looking Forward
Mayor Kathy Ward talks about the year ahead
BY
At the beginning of each of the last few years, the San Clemente Times has begun its year of local news coverage by speaking with the incoming mayor of San Clemente in order to gauge the issues community members and residents can expect to see in the coming months. This year, we spoke with the incoming mayor, Kathy Ward.
The Hospital Lawsuit
A resolution to the lawsuit MemorialCare filed against the city last year is one of the top issues Ward said she wants to tackle.
Currently, MemorialCare is seeking $42.5 million in damages from the city after it passed a zoning ordinance to amend the current hospital.
“MemorialCare has not really said what they’re going to do with that site,” Ward said. “In the meantime, it’s zoned for a full hospital and emergency room, which is in our General Plan and Safety Element, so we’re just waiting on that. But we need to get emergency services back.”
Ward said the issue could be resolved later this year, or it could be prolonged.
Impending Toll Roads
In November the Transportation Corridor Agencies reached an agreement with various environmental groups to not allow for a toll road to be built through the San Mateo Watershed and other culturally and environmentally sensitive areas, but Ward is keeping an eye on this. She was the city’s representative to the TCA last year.
The TCA is currently going through a federal environmental process to seek another way to build toll roads through or near San Clemente.
“The toll road, wherever it goes, it will have to widen the freeway,” Ward said. “If it flies through Pico, from there to the (county) border, the highway will have to be widened. Now it’s going to be bigger. How we recover from that, I don’t know.”
Homeless Shelter
After the city was ordered by Orange County Superior Court to allocate land for an emergency or homeless shelter following a lawsuit based off requirements from Senate Bill 2, areas of the Rancho San Clemente Business Park were zoned to allow for the establishment of a shelter.
As of mid-December, city records officials said no applications have been submitted to establish a homeless shelter, but Ward said the city’s new ordinance still has to be accepted by the courts in order to satisfy the lawsuit.
“The whole permit process will facilitate the new shelter,” she said. “We’ve passed something that we think will satisfy SB 2, and if it does, then that land is open for the applicants.”
Ward said based on the opening of the new homeless shelter in Santa Ana, there have been many people asking for an increase in security around it, which she said would help protect the public from issues it could bring as well as the people who use the facility.
Public Safety
Some of the issues that are frequently brought to City Council pertain to public safety.
Many public comments at meetings beseech the city to use all its strength to deal with car break-ins, petty theft, inappropriate behavior and other things speakers thought were municipal code violations.
Toward the end of 2016, the city began its consensus study with Matrix Consulting to determine if San Clemente needs more police officers and how to better dispatch those officers.
“(The study) is going to be done toward the end of January and (is) coming to City Council in February,” Ward said.
Ward said the city hired another patrol
The major component to this process is storing spent nuclear fuel onsite at the plant, which has caused many anti-nuclear groups to voice their opposition.
“SONGS has promised to keep updating us as much as possible,” Ward said. “The decommissioning is still being worked out, and what the city needs to do is to stay up on the details of the process and (give) them feedback.”
The decommissioning process is expected to being sometime later in 2017 or early 2018. When the fuel is to be removed will depend on when it can be safely transferred into the dry cask storage.
Parks and Recreation
The city is in the midst of another consensus study regarding parks and recreation in San Clemente, which follows previous meetings to gauge public desire for certain programs and amenities in the city.
“One of the things that came from the meetings is they want to see neighborhood farming, where there’s a lot for people to plant their gardens,” Ward said. “The other thing I hope that comes from the study is a clear view of what people want in that empty lot on Vista Hermosa near the sports park … so that it is more vibrant.”
Ward said a French soccer recruitment league is interested in utilizing the sports park, and other people have suggested a rugby field.
She said overall she wants to see the parks utilized and that the city can bring something for everyone. Ward also said she wants to see some improvements, if possible, to the dog park in Talega.
Another amenity the public has asked for is the expansion of and installation of nighttime lighting at Ralphs Skate Court.
officer, an investigator and a half-time crime prevention specialist, which helped start the Targeting Reduction Investigation Prevention (TRIP) program. TRIP works to investigate less punitive crimes as a way to curb infractions on a wider scale.
Ward said the program has already broken up a crew that broke into cars and has made several arrests for people sleeping on the beach, violating open container laws, selling or possessing drugs and other infractions.
“It’s exactly what we needed—targeted and concentrated enforcement of problems and issues we are having,” she said.
The city enacted a panhandling ordinance last year to address people trespassing and panhandling on private property.
Ward said the city is looking into a more comprehensive ordinance for panhandling on public property, but the way in which to construct such an ordinance is more difficult due to civil rights laws.
SONGS Decommissioning
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) officials with Southern California Edison recently announced the selection of the general contractor to spearhead all of the offline nuclear power plant’s decommissioning processes.
Other Items
Ward said it will take a balance between the city and the businesses in town to come to a consensus on a few things. One item that’s still being determined is the feasibility of nighttime signage at the Outlets at San Clemente, which is currently going through an environmental assessment.
Other issues include the reexamination of the ordinance that zones sober living homes and short-term rentals in town to specific areas, which is slated to begin at the end of the year.
The progress on the Miramar Theater (slated to be the Miramar Event Center) as well as other projects in North Beach are other items Ward said she has prioritized.
As Mayor of San Clemente
Ward said she wants to be as visible and accessible to the public as possibleduring her term.
“I’m already involved with the Chamber of Commerce, and I’m really happy with what the Downtown Business Association has done this year,” Ward said. “I really just want to get out there and have more of a presence with the groups.”
Her mayor’s hours will be from 4:30-6 p.m. on Mondays. SC
The Miramar Theater plans are expected to be examined by City Council sometime this year. Owners of the theater said they hope to have the plans seen by city officials beyond the planning stages in early 2017.
Photo: File
ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Community Meetings
THURSDAY, JANUARY 5
GOLF COURSE COMMITTEE MEETING
6 p.m. The San Clemente Golf Course Committee will hold its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday. Avenida Del Mar.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10
BEACHES, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
6 p.m. The San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.
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.
SAN CLEMENTE TOASTMASTERS
7 p.m. The club meets every Tuesday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for social and networking time. San Clemente Baha’i Center. 3316 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente. 805.794.0653. www.sanclementetoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org.
BILY MEETING
7-9 p.m. Meets every Tuesday. Because I Love You helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. Presbyterian Church. 119 Avenida De La Estrella. www.bilysc.org.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11
SAN CLEMENTE ROTARY
Noon. The San Clemente Rotary meets every Wednesday at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course Wedgewood Restaurant. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. 949.233.7981. www.sanclementerotary.org.
VFW POST 7142 MEETING
7-8 p.m. The post meets the second Wednesday of every month. Prospective members are invited to join. Elks Lodge, 1505 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2068.
SC Sheriff’s Blotter
COMPILED BY STAFF
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.
Sunday, January 1
PETTY THEFT El Camino Real, 500 Block (2:36 a.m.) A man ran into the store and soon thereafter left with a bottle of wine.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Puente, 600 Block (2:29 a.m.) Police were called to a man wandering around the courtyard, knocking on doors and “not making any sense.”
KEEP THE PEACE Calle Amistad, 100 Block (2:01 a.m.) A man said his roommate and the roommate’s girlfriend were drunk and pounding on his bedroom door.
DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 100 Block (1:30 a.m.) About 10 people were in a physical altercation.
DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 3300 Block (12:59 a.m.) A call was transferred to dispatchers with a “hysterical woman” saying, “He just beat the crap out of his wife.”
Saturday, December 31
UNKNOWN TROUBLE N. El Camino Real/ Avenida Palizada (11:04 p.m.) Police were called to a man trying to punch out the front glass of a building. The man was wearing a yellow poncho.
DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 700 Block (3:05 a.m.) Police were called to reports of a drunk man fighting 10 other people. The caller said the drunk man was wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
Friday, December 30
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES
Calle Alcazar, 1300 Block (7:48 p.m.)
A caller said at least three people in a black Toyota were doing drugs. The caller said this was probably happening because the car’s windows were fogged up and lighters were seen.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES
Loma Lane, 100 Block (2:14 p.m.)
Police were called to a blond-haired man wearing shorts and a T-shirt, dancing and pretending to shoot people with his fingers.
CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (1:50 p.m.) A woman said guests at the location did not pay and ran out the door
earlier that day. When staff members checked their room, they found receipts for gift cards, clothing and “go phones,” which the caller said seemed suspicious.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES
Monterey Lane, 400 Block (12:23 a.m.)
A caller said a man was on their porch and was refusing to leave. The man on the porch had a blanket over his head and was grunting and would not talk to the caller.
Thursday, December 29
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES
Calle Divino, 700 Block (9:38 p.m.)
A woman said she found cremated human remains.
DISTURBANCE Calle Toledo, 1200 Block (9:07 p.m.) An “irate” woman was upset that the air conditioner at an alleged sober living home sounded like a 747 (airplane) that is 15 feet from her bedroom window. The caller did not give further information.
Wednesday, December 28
VANDALISM REPORT Corto Lane, 400 Block (11:30 a.m.) A woman said there had been theft and damage done to her landscaping.
Tuesday, December 27
CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Victoria, 200 Block (8:11 p.m.) A woman said she went through her “estranged husband’s” property and seized his marijuana.
Monday, December 26
TRAFFIC HAZARD Avenida Vista Hermosa, 900 Block (3:19 p.m.) A large Christmas tree was in the middle of Avenida Vista Hermosa.
Sunday, December 25
DRUNK IN PUBLIC Calle Las Bolas, 1600 Block (8 p.m.) A drunken man passed out in the driveway of the location.
DISTURBANCE N. El Camino Real, Avenida Pico (5:46 p.m.) Police were called to a man who was throwing rocks.
DISTURBANCE Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (2:37 a.m.) The caller’s male friend jumped off the Pier and the caller could not find him. He was eventually located.
Saturday, December 24
DISTURBANCE Via Pico Plaza, 100 Block (11:40 p.m.) A woman was crying and saying her boyfriend was going to take her baby and her car.
PATROL CHECK Avenida Valencia, 100 Block (10:16 p.m.) A caller requested a police check at the residence for possible large
drug deals taking place. The people who were standing in front of the residence went back inside after the caller contacted police.
HIT-AND-RUN MISDEMEANOR
Avenida Vista Hermosa, 100 Block (9 p.m.)A man at a customer service location said a driver hit the gate on the property, which swung open and hit a light pole, exposing the pole’s wires.
DISTURBANCE Avenida Del Mar, 100 Block (4:15 p.m.) A man wearing a black jacket and tan pants and carrying a big, red bag was shaking the windows of the business and scaring the employees.
DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Calle Del Cerro, 1000 Block (12:40 a.m.) A caller said loud metal music and the sound of objects being smashed could be heard.
Friday, December 23
CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Los Olivos, 700 Block (4:25 p.m.) A woman said her neighbor harassed her with a pit bull a couple days prior.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES
N. El Camino Real/Marquita (12:31 a.m.) Police were called to a report of six plastic bags with unknown contents. The caller was concerned because a man who they thought looked homeless was walking around the building.
Thursday, December 22
CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Patricia, 100 Block (5:21 p.m.) A woman said her friend’s boyfriend was high on methamphetamines and leaving threatening text messages.
BATTERY REPORT S. El Camino Real/Avenida San Luis Rey (5:31 p.m.) A man came up behind a woman and slapped her hard on her buttocks. The caller tried chasing the man but lost sight of him around Avenida Del Presidente.
STOLEN VEHICLE El Camino Real, 300 Block (12:22 a.m.) A man called about a brown Kia. The caller said he was drunk and wanted to tell police officers he was not planning to drive intoxicated.
Wednesday, December 21
CITIZEN ASSIST Via Lado, 2700 Block (5:16 p.m.) The caller had just bought a phone off eBay and was told by Sprint it was stolen after he tried to activate it.
DISTURBANCE Calle Aquamarina, 2400 Block (5:11 p.m.) A woman said her neighbor was spraying her windows with a garden hose and used swear words when she confronted him about it.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Cordoba, 100 Block (3:47 p.m.) A few people were crouched in the bushes and allegedly dealing drugs.
SOAPBOX SC
SanClemente
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS
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EDITORIAL
Group Managing Editor
> Matt Cortina
City Editor, SC Times
> Eric Heinz
City Editor, DP Times
> Kristina Pritchett
City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch
> Allison Jarrell
Sports Editor
> Steve Breazeale
Special Projects Editor
> Andrea Papagianis
ART/DESIGN
Art Director > Jasmine Smith
ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING
Associate Publisher
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> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)
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SPECIAL THANKS
Robert Miller
Jonathan Volzke
CONTRIBUTORS
Megan Bianco
Victor Carno
Debra Holm
Tim Trent
Jake Howard
San Clemente Times, Vol. 12, Issue 1. 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 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
GUEST OPINION: City Council Corner by Mayor Kathy Ward
Engaging City in Creating Solutions a Priority in 2017
Iam honored to have been selected Mayor by my fellow members of City Council. Now in the mid-term of my seat on City Council, I look forward to getting out more in the community and especially celebrating the successes of our youth, local businesses, nonprofits and civic clubs. For example, I was thrilled to participate in the San Clemente Tritons victory parade and pep rally coordinated by the city of San Clemente last month. It was an honor to personally share how proud I am of our high school football team, whose spirit and character shines on and off the field. The players never gave up and won the CIF state championship with style and class, holding true to the motto: “one town, one team.” They made our entire community proud. In the new year, I look forward to engaging our citizenry toward positive solutions to ongoing issues, as well as interacting with our state legislators and county, particularly as it relates to addressing sober living homes, homelessness, public safety and transportation. The city cannot solve everything alone. I truly value citizen involvement in city affairs and hope we can create a more unified approach to solutions in 2017 and beyond. I will seek out opportunities to engage our citizenry and come together to discuss issues of concern and work together to find consensus, cooperation and understanding.
Positively, more than ever before, we have an abundance of opportunities in our town to live, work and play. It never ceases to amaze me the level of innovativeness and entrepreneurship in our town, which makes me proud to participate in ribbon cuttings for new businesses to acknowledge the hard work by those people creating a business from the ground up. The local jobs creation and resulting sales tax that helps us fix streets, pay for public safety and maintain parks and other recreational amenities are added benefits that help San Clemente prosper. Also, this year the city will roll out its summer trolley, which will serve as a fun and economical way for our residents to get around town to shop, dine and support these local establishments.
I will continue to engage the North Beach Community Association as they seek a revival of the area. With new restaurants, the city’s completion of the Ole Hanson Beach Club and renovation plans for the historic Miramar submitted by the private owner to the city’s Planning Department, talks about a farmers market, arts and crafts fair and a bicycle path in the works, this area is already well on its way. I look forward to working with the citizens, who are doing their part too, to help uplift and maximize the economic integrity of North Beach.
As I seek to engage the public, I encourage you to visit with me during my Mayor’s hours, which I will be holding on Mondays from 4:30-6 p.m. at City Hall, located at 100 Avenida Presidio. To schedule a meeting, please call the City Manager’s Office at 949.361.8322. Meetings are scheduled in 30-minute increments. Also, please email me anytime at wardk@ san-clemente.org to share your concerns, ideas or comments. I look forward to hearing from you. Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! Kathy Ward was selected Mayor of San Clemente at the Dec. 20 City Council meeting. Ward was elected to City Council in 2014. SC
Letters to the Editor
PLANT-BASED MEALS MAKE MARKET HEADWAY
LOBART IKLE, Laguna Beach
The coming New Year’s resolution should be pretty obvious, particularly when it comes to diet: 2017 will go down in history as the year when plant-based meats revolutionized the food industry.
A dozen start-ups, led by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, are creating plantbased burgers and other meats that are more delicious, convenient and healthy than the old-fashioned animal-based variety. They are backed by tech industry pioneers like Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Google principals Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt, and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. Even animal meat behemoth Tyson Foods has announced a $150 million venture capital fund to explore and invest in these products.
The plant-based food revolution is going mainstream. Hundreds of school, college, hospital and corporate cafeterias have embraced Meatless Monday. Fast-food chains Chipotle, Panera, Subway and Taco Bell are rolling out plant-based dinner options. And American consumers are responding, with fully one-third reducing their intake of animal-based meats, milks and other animal food products.
Let’s make this New Year’s resolution about exploring the rich variety of delicious, convenient, healthy plant-based dinners, lunch meats, cheeses, milks and ice creams available in every supermarket. The internet offers tons of recipes and transition tips.
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.
San Clemente Mayor Kathy Ward
San Clemente is expected to debut a summer trolley service throughout town beginning after Memorial Day. The trolley funding was acquired through the same OCTA program as Dana Point’s system, which was matched with funds from the city and the Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation. Photo: File
GETTING OUT SC
SanClemente
YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER
SATURDAY, JAN. 7: ABSTRACT PAINTING WORKSHOP
10 a.m.-5 p.m. This two-day abstract painting workshop runs Saturday and Sunday with teacher Elaine Cohen. The instruction is tailored to students’ experience and interest, and includes options for medium, style, colors, blending and more. Visual and text references will help guide students. Cost is $250 per student. San Clemente Art Supply. 1531 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.369.6603. www.scartsupply.com.
The List
What’s going on in and around town this week
COMPILED BY STAFF
Friday | 06
VISITING TALL SHIP TOUR
10 a.m.-3 p.m. A rare opportunity to tour two visiting ships, the Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, will be offered at The Ocean Institute. The historical ships are visiting from the state of Washington. Tours are held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. from Tuesdays to Sundays until January 17. Tours are free with the price of admission to the Institute. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.
LIVE MUSIC: FELISHA
8-11 p.m. Listen to live music from Felisha at Barnoa Wine Bar. 831 Via Suerte, Suite 106, San Clemente. 949. 388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.
Saturday | 07
START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT HIKE
7:30-10 a.m. Start your year off with a guided nature hike at the Rancho Mission Viejo Reserve. Ages 10 and up. Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child. Reserve your spot ahead of time. 28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.
SAN CLEMENTE STATE BEACH MONTHLY CLEAN-UP
9-11 a.m. Engage with your local com-
munity to help protect Orange County beaches and waterways by removing trash from Calafia Beach with OC Coastkeeper. Learn about ocean pollution and the danger it poses to local ecosystems, citizens and the economy. When you enter into Calafia State Beach, tell the park attendant you are there for the beach cleanup and get free parking at the beach. Once you enter the park, drive to the parking lot at the bottom of the hill. 243 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente. 714.850.1965. www.coastkeeper.org/san_clemente_ state_beach_cleanup
REPLACE YOUR LAWN WORKSHOP
9:30 a.m. Tree of Life Nursery owner Mike Evans will share from the nursery’s booklet, “Creating and Caring for your Native Garden,” and teach you how to create a thriving and enjoyable garden. The workshop is the first of a six-part series. Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.
OCEAN INSTITUTE CANNON BATTLE SAILS
1-4 p.m. Witness the annual mock cannon battle at The Ocean Institute. The Spirit of Dana Point will engage in a pretend fight with visiting tall ships, the Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington Enjoy blasting cannons, towering rigging, bustling decks and the magnificence of canvas full of wind. Work with the crew hauling up sail or simply sit back and enjoy the spectacular demonstration of skill, knowledge and survival. Tickets are $60 for adults, with discounts for seniors, military and children. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.
(Cont. on page 10)
Photos: Elaine Cohen/San Clemente Art Supply
EDITOR’S PICK
AURORA’S TAQUERIA PORK RIBS THE DISH
The word “unctuous” blitzed the food scene (and the food writing and commentating scene) a couple years back. In the culinary sense, it refers to a quality in certain food that is, unsurprisingly, hard to describe: melty and evanescent while also rich and umami-filled.
But in a different, bookish sense, unctuous carries at best a lukewarm connotation— typically it’s used to describe overly-flattering or “greasy” people.
It’s unclear how the semantic divide was created, but “unctuous” is now a useful tool for the efficiency-minded food writer, and it was the first word that came to mind while eating Aurora’s Taqueria’s green pork ribs. Fall-off-the-bone chunks of pork were served in a spicy green chili and onion sauce. The meat was tender and imbued with the heat, salt and verdant punch of the chili. Fat was perfectly rendered and apportioned on the meat and in the sauce, giving it a very
(Cont. from page 9)
LIVE MUSIC: MIKEY DE LARA
8-11 p.m. Listen to live music from Mikey de Lara at Barnoa Wine Bar. 831 Via Suerte, Suite 106, San Clemente. 949. 388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.
Sunday | 08
GUIDED NATURE HIKE
8-9:15 a.m. Join an OC Parks Ranger and fellow hikers on a one-mile trek in the Bell Canyon area of Caspers Wilderness Park. It’s free to attend the hike. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.
D. YODER FAMILY SUNDAYS AT CASA ROMANTICA
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Yoder Family Sundays offer free admission for part of the first Sunday of each month to Casa Romantica. Inside, there will be activities and a noon-time program based on the “Casa Captivating” theme for that month. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. www.casaromantica.org.
Monday | 09
BRIDGE LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS
9:30-11:30 a.m. Bridge lessons will be held for those new to the game as well as those who haven’t played in a while. The lessons span four Mondays in January, and the series costs $60 total. South Orange County Bridge Center. 31261 Rancho Viejo Rd., Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano. Contact janedober@gmail.com for registration. www.danaharborbridgecenter.org.
FREE GUITAR LESSONS
5-6 p.m. Free beginner level acoustic
truly unctuous mouthfeel (that is, oily), but that fatty coating bound the rice, beans, green salsa and tortilla with which the ribs were eaten.
To be sure, the best food defies easy definition and doing so is like dissecting a perfect one-line joke. So the final word on the ribs is: go taste them for yourself.
Aurora’s Taqueria 34146 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.496.1401.
guitar lessons for middle school to college age youth every Monday. Guitars provided or students can bring their own. 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.
Tuesday | 10
KARAOKE AT GOODY’S
8 p.m. Karaoke every Tuesday night at Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente. 206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.
Wednesday | 11
CASA YOGA AND SOUND BATH CLASS
9-11 a.m. Inspired by multiple yoga traditions, this class at Casa Romantica blends various disciplines to create a unique, integrated practice suitable for both beginner and seasoned yoga practitioners. Bring your own yoga mat. This January yoga class will be followed by a special Movement and Sound Bath Meditation Class at 10 a.m. Cost is $5. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. www.casaromantica.org.
FRENCH CONVERSATION CLUB
2-4 p.m. Every Wednesday. Look for the table with the French flag surrounded by a group of people speaking French. No cost to join. Café Calypso. 114 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.493.5228, or 949.369.5482.
COTILLION: TIE TYING AND THE SWING 4:30-7:15 p.m. The premier season of cotillion continues at Bella Collina San Clemente. Students from second to fifth grade are welcome to join, and siblings
and parents are welcome to observe. Cotillion will be held the second Wednesday of every month through April. 200 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente. 949.310.6732. www.addingtoncotillion.com.
SAN CLEMENTE SHERIFFS APPRECIATION DINNER
6-8 p.m. San Clemente sheriffs and their spouses will be honored at the second annual San Clemente Sheriffs Appreciation Dinner at Talega Golf Club. Funds to support the dinner are raised by the community, and a fundraiser to continue the dinners will be held in May. 990 Avenida Talgea, San Clemente.
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION AND TRAINING AT THE RESERVE
6-9 p.m. This fun and informational orientation is the first step in becoming an official Reserve Volunteer. Learn about The Reserve’s history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Reserve lands through conservation and education. This training is the first step in becoming a Certified Reserve Volunteer. Suitable for adults 18 and older. 28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.
KARAOKE AT THE SWALLOW’S INN
7 p.m. Sing karaoke, imbibe and eat free popcorn at The Swallow’s Inn’s karaoke night with Bobby and Joel. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.
At the Movies:
‘Jackie’
Still Fascinates
BY MEGAN
t’s an interesting predicament when the success of a film that isn’t beloved by critics or audiences can still ride the coattails of the awards circuit with one brilliant performance. Four years ago it was how Daniel Day-Lewis won his third Oscar for Lincoln; two years ago, it was Julianne Moore’s overdue win with the quaint Still Alice; and this year, it’s Natalie Portman’s effort with the period piece Jackie. Pablo Larrain’s biopic on the 35th First Lady began with much hype, especially after the filmmaker’s critically praised No (2012) and The Club (2015). But a month into release, the only thing grabbing people is Portman.
A week after the assassination of thenPresident John F. Kennedy, a journalist (Billy Crudup) interviews the widow, Jacqueline Bouvier-Kennedy (Portman), to much frustration and lack of cooperation. In between this, Jackie has flashbacks to
LIVE MUSIC: TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT OF THE EAGLES
8 p.m. Listen to music from Timothy B. Schmit from the legendary rock band The Eagles. This is the second of a two-performance stand at The Coach House (the first show is sold out). Tickets are $39.50. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.
FREE COMEDY AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 9:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.
Thursday | 12
LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS
8:30-10:30 a.m. Join volunteers, students and teachers at Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens to care for and maintain native plants and butterflies. No experience is necessary (they’ll teach you), but you should bring gloves and clippers. No class if it rains. Admission is free. Los Rios Park. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net.
her marriage and life in the White House (and touring it for national television), all while grieving with her brother-in-law, Bobby (Peter Sarsgaard), and her priest (John Hurt).
After Fox Searchlight’s dealing with the backlash of Birth of a Nation four months earlier, they quickly switched their focus to Jackie for the fall season, but even here the studio can’t catch a break. The reasoning for the Kennedy film being a turn-off to viewers appears to be Larrain’s artsy direction, Mica Levi’s experimental score and the script not having any likable characters. While all of this is true to an extent, it’s still an intriguing, unique film worth seeing, if only for Portman’s imitation of Jackie’s accent. SC
BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Photo: Bruno Calvo/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
Celebrated by Sunset
Chabad Jewish Center of San Clemente lights menorah at Pier in celebration of Hanukkah
n annual gathering for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah took place once again on Dec. 26 at San Clemente Pier.
The Chabad Jewish Center of San Clemente hosted the menorah lighting on the second day of the holiday. The center also hosted a lighting at the Outlets at San Clemente on Jan. 1.
For more information about the Chabad Jewish Center of San Clemente, visit www. jewishsc.com.
Choose Acceptance
W
hen you Google the phrase “change is hard,” there are over 122 million results. Some results are just validating what we already know, and other results give some decent advice about how we can all make a real effort for lasting and effective change. As we start out a new year, armed with our resolutions, congratulate yourself for potentially wanting to change behaviors but consider simplifying your efforts by focusing on self-acceptance. This approach can lead to more happiness and is an excellent example to set for your children and other people in your life.
Accepting oneself packs compassion, esteem, love and unconditional positive regard into a package that can lead to an increase in contentment and more positive and healthful behaviors. To fully gain self-acceptance, it helps to stop identifying your flaws and to start to tolerate your imperfections. In today’s culture this can be a challenge and even more difficult than a New Year’s resolution, but the long-term benefits make the challenge worthwhile. Consider carefully what affects your self-image. Are you spending too much time on social media—posting, evaluating other posts and waiting to see comments and likes? Should you take a break from media images, which are likely retouched and perhaps cause you to focus too much on your own imperfections? Is there someone in your life who does not hesitate to provide unnecessary advice or just straight-out criticism? Finding ways to distance yourself from negative influences can lead to more contentment and is excellent role-modeling for your children and other youth who may look to you for examples.
Another path toward self-acceptance is to practice more gratitude. Starting or ending your day with a gratitude journal in which you list three to five good things
Sudoku
BY MYLES MELLOR
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
in your life is a practice I recommend to many teens who are struggling with self-esteem issues. I am not suggesting that one can banish all negative thoughts or experiences in their lives, however it is important to then move on and to not dwell in these negative moments. Bad days and imperfections are part of being human.
By Susan Parmelee
Bad things and bad moments are going to happen—someone is rude to you, a car cuts you off on the freeway, you are just not happy with your appearance— and when they do, think about how you might counsel a friend or your child. Most likely you will console them, tell them it’s not their fault or it’s not that bad and you might even give them a hug. Give yourself that same compassion, treat yourself like you would treat your child and allow yourself some gentle mothering and a nice piece of dark chocolate.
Letting go of trying to be someone you are not could be the most liberating part of the path toward self-acceptance. Once you have freed yourself from a list of things you want to change, you will have a lot more time to enjoy all your accomplishments. It may be the best gift you can give yourself in 2017.
Susan Parmelee is a mental health social worker and one of the founders of the Wellness & Prevention Center, San Clemente. She can be reached at susan@wellnessandpreventionsanclemente.com. SC
Mayor Pro Tem Tim Brown and Rabbi Mendel Slavin speak to a group of people gatherering on Dec. 26 at the San Clemente Pier.
The menorah was lit for the second day during a celebration on Dec. 26 at San Clemente Pier.
PHOTOS BY MATT LARMAND,
TEXT BY SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
People perform a traditional Jewish dance during the menorah lighting at the San Clemente Pier on Dec. 26.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY Locals Only
ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT
Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program
665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, www.bodymindspiritiop.com
AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING
Solstice Heating and Air 2208 El Camino Real, Ste. #1, 949.573.3607, www.solsticehvac.com
APPLIANCES
South Coast Furniture & Mattress 109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
ART GALLERIES
San Clemente Art Association 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.492.7175, www.scartgallery.com
CHIROPRACTIC
Spinal Vitality Integrative Chiropractic
647 Camino de los Mares, Suite 220, 949.616.5470, www.spinalvitality.com
CHOCOLATE/CANDY
Schmid’s Fine Chocolate 99 Avenida Del Mar, 949.369.1052, www.schmidschocolate.com
CONCRETE
Costa Verde Landscape Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com
DENTISTS
Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, www.drericjohnson.com Shoreline Dental Studio
Kristen Ritzau, DDS 122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.245.6046, www.shorelinedentalstudio.com
EDIBLE LANDSCAPING
Organics Out Back 949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com
EDITING SERVICES
Perfectly Clear Editing Services
Judi Heidel: 949.281.6364 www.perfectlycleareditingservices.com
ELECTRICAL
Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com
FURNITURE
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
HOME DÉCOR
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
HOME REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENT
Capistrano Valley Raingutters
Scott Williams, 949.542.7750
JEWELRY
Paradise Jewelers
166 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.6661, www.paradisejewelers.com
LANDSCAPING
Costa Verde Landscape Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com
MATTRESSES
South Coast Furniture & Mattress
109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
MORTGAGES
Brian Wiechman, Equity Coast Mortgage A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage 949.533.9209, www.equitycoastmortgage.com
MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE
SC Rider Supply
520 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0521, www.scridersupply.com
MUSIC LESSONS
Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com
OFFICE FURNITURE
South Coast Furniture & Mattress 109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
PET SERVICES/HOUSE SITTING
2-dogswalking.com Ricky, 949.973.4128 Pet care –Insured & Bonded
PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS
Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com
BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT
YOUR BUSINESS HERE!
Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100!
Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online. Contact Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com
PLUMBING
A to Z Leak Detection 929 Calle Negocio #D, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com
Bill Metzger Plumbing 929 Calle Negocio #D, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com
Karl Aiken Plumbing-Rooter San Clemente, 949.366.8302
POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL
Radiant Pool & Spa Service Lic # 985800, 949.290.5616, www.radiantpoolservice.com
SC Pool & Spa Works 1311 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.7665, www.scpoolworks.com
RESTAURANTS
Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386
SALONS
Salon Bamboo 150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, 949.361.3348, www.salonbamboo.com
Salon Bleu
207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, www.scsalonbleu.com
Syrens Hair Parlor 217 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. E, 949.361.9006, www.syrens.com
SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS
South Coast Furniture & Mattress 109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com
SWIMMING SCHOOL
Waterbabies Swim School 142 Avenida Granada, 949.488.2512, www.waterbabiesswimschool.com
TERMITES
Colony Termite Control 1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com
WEBSITE DESIGN
San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com
WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT
Offshore Construction 877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org
CLASSIFIEDS
Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com
SEWING/SEAMSTRESS OPPORTUNITY
Love sewing? We’re looking for an experienced seamstress to work with us sewing the finished ends of a pet toy product. Hours are flexible 10-15 hours/week, location is in San Clemente. Contact Mike: 847-858-4397
TOY STUFFING MACHINE OPERATOR Seeking an individual to work with us on operating a toy stuffing machine. This job is very similar to the process used at the Build a Bear. Hours are flexible 1520 hours/week, location is in San Clemente. Contact Mike: 847-858-4397
DANA POINT MARINA INN –JOB FAIR
The Dana Point Marina Inn is a 136 room community oriented hotel located in the heart of the Dana Point Harbor. Our primary business is local and regional leisure and group travelers. We are experiencing an increase in business and are looking for enthusiastic people to help make the hotel the best place to work and visit. Current positions openings:
• Front desk clerks – Full and part time • Reservation agents – Phone experience helpful • Breakfast room attendants -Monitor and stock breakfast room 6am to 10am • Maintenance – with basic plumbing and electrical knowledge
• Painters with some dry wall patching experience • Housekeepers – cleaning guest rooms
• Porters and runners – to stock housekeepers • Janitorial services
- cleaning public areas pool/lobby and hallways
Competitive pay and a great work environment. Expecting applications from January 3rd through January 21, 2017 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, Ca 92629
Se habla Español
In print and online 52 weeks a year. View online at www.sanclementetimes.com. Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE
Darnold Delights in Rose Bowl Victory
Redshirt freshman QB shows poise in instant classic
BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Less than 24 hours after playing the role of hero in front of 95,000 screaming fans in The Granddaddy of Them All, Sam Darnold was back in his hometown 70 miles away, relaxing with his family watching television.
For Darnold, the USC football team’s redshirt freshman quarterback, the moments that made up one of the wildest Rose Bowl Games ever were still floating around in his head. He was still processing the fact his team was able to rally from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to seal a 52-49 victory over Penn State, triumphantly ending a season that started out on rocky footing.
“I don’t think it’s truly hit me yet,” Darnold said from the comforts of his parent’s San Clemente home on Tuesday.
Darnold, the newly minted king of Los Angeles football, was decompressing the day after being named the Rose Bowl Game’s offensive MVP by watching the television broadcast of the game for the first time with his mom, dad and sister.
You can bet the game will stay on the Darnold family DVR for a while.
Darnold dazzled a national audience in a shootout to the finish with the Nittany Lions. He threw a Rose Bowl record five touchdown passes and accounted for a record 474 total yards of offense, surpassing Vince Young’s Rose Bowl performance for Texas against USC in 2006.
He made throw after throw, and when his team needed him most, Darnold delivered.
After trimming the Penn State lead to a touchdown late in the fourth, Darnold drove the Trojans 80 yards downfield in 33 seconds. Darnold ended the drive by threading a bullet of a throw 27 yards through two defenders to receiver Deontay Burnett in the end zone. Tie game at 49-49.
ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit admired the throw for several minutes after it was made, and the circumstances behind the play made it even more impressive. Burnett was supposed to run a shortyardage route, but he decided to improvise and ran a deeper one toward the end zone. Darnold quickly anticipated what his receiver was doing, stepped up and delivered a highlight-reel ball that kept USC in the game.
“I just kind of knew what (Burnett) was thinking when he was running to open grass, and I just had to put the ball there,”
Darnold said of the play.
The USC defense intercepted Penn State’s Trace McSorely on the next possession, setting up USC kicker Matt Boermeester’s game-winning 46-yard field goal moments later.
Darnold could have flinched under the bright lights that night, but he kept his cool. For those who watched him rise to the occasion time after time on the field or on the court at San Clemente High School, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. His poise and cool under pressure has always stood out as a defining characteristic.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the way I was raised,” Darnold said. “Being from San Clemente, it’s not really too uppity of a town, whereas in L.A., everything is fast-paced. In San Clemente, you can come here and relax.”
USC could have folded in the fourth quarter multiple times against Penn State, but they never did. Darnold credited the team’s determination in the game to a trust factor that has built up between the Trojans over the season. This USC team
Bowl Game Record
sure went through a lot, and it was the challenges that brought them closer together, Darnold said.
The first obstacle was a blowout loss to Alabama in the season opener. Then a humbling loss to Stanford followed. USC was sitting at 1-2 on the season with a matchup against Utah on the horizon and groans from the fan base regarding coach Clay Helton swarmed. That’s when Helton shook things up. He decided to put Darnold in the starter’s role, replacing redshirt junior Max Browne.
USC went 9-1 down the stretch, picking up wins over then-No. 4 Washington and rival UCLA, and ended the season as the victor in an instant classic in Pasadena.
“We did learn valuable lessons going through that rough four-game stretch. We learned from it and we battled adversity and we battled it in many games,” Darnold said. “Things like that come full circle and it’s interesting because you get to see that all pay off and come to fruition at the end of the year in big games like the Rose Bowl.”
Sam Darnold celebrates the USC football team’s 52-49 Rose Bowl victory over Penn State on Jan. 2. Photo: USC Athletics and John McGillen
Sam Darnold threw a Rose Bowl record five touchdown passes and accounted for a record 474 total yards of offense on Jan. 2. Photo: USC Athletics and John McGillen
SAM DARNOLD’S ROSE BOWL STAT LINE
Triton Report
BY
Boys Soccer Wins Big in Oceanside
The San Clemente boys soccer team was busy over the holiday break, and appears to be rounding into form. The Tritons, who started the season with a 1-2-3 overall record, have won six of their last seven matches, and defeated Desert Mirage to take first place in the Coast Division of the Oceanside Classic Tournament on Dec. 30.
The Tritons (7-3-3, 1-0 league) defeated El Camino Real and Richmond in pool play, and lost to Santa Margarita, to advance to the knockout rounds. In the semifinals, San Clemente beat Kofa of Arizona 2-1.
Seniors Fernando Ramirez and Kaleb Schirmacher scored the decisive goals in a 2-1 victory over Desert Mirage. Senior midfielder Michael Saba assisted on both Triton goals.
Wrestlers Shine at California Coast Classic
The San Clemente wrestling team competed in the California Coast Classic tournament, the second-largest high school event in the state, Dec. 27-28.
Senior Kyle Marshall continued his excellent season with a first-place finish in the 197-pound weight class. Senior Austin Moore placed third in the 222-pound class and junior Josh Tabb took eighth in the 134-pound class.
Boys Hoops’ Run through Tustin Classic Ends in Semis
Back-to-back wins over host-team Tustin and Maryknoll of Hawaii earned the San Clemente boys basketball team a spot in the Tustin Holiday Classic tournament last week. But the Tritons run through the tournament would end there.
San Clemente (9-7) lost to talented Notre Dame of Riverside 51-47 in the final minutes on Dec. 28. The Tritons lost to San Marcos in the consolation championship and placed fourth on Dec. 29.
Water Polo Heads into League Play
The San Clemente girls water polo team ended its nonleague schedule with a 13-4 loss to Los Alamitos on Dec. 28. The Tritons treaded water in the nonleague portion of its schedule and own a 5-5 overall record.
San Clemente will begin South Coast League play with a home match against rival Dana Hills (9-5) on Jan. 10.
Girls Hoops Ends Tourney Play with Win
The San Clemente girls basketball team went 2-2 at the OC Tournament of Champions, closing out its bid with a dominating 64-27 victory over Marina on Dec. 29. The Tritons (8-6) will play Trabuco Hills in a nonleague game on Jan. 5.
Girls Soccer Set for League
A South Coast League opening match against Dana Hills on Jan. 10 awaits the San Clemente girls soccer team. The Tritons (5-5-3) lost to the Dolphins 1-0 in tournament play back on Dec. 10.
STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
The San Clemente boys soccer team won the Oceanside Classic Tournament on Dec. 30. Photo: Courtesy
Revising the Winter Outlook
The winter surf season sure started with a bang, but it hasn’t been much more than a whimper lately
BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Acouple of months ago, we ran an article dissecting the winter surf outlook. We were just coming off of a couple late-season south swells and a stacked North Pacific. As we faded into mild La Niña conditions, it appeared we might be able to coast through winter relatively styled with a steady stream of surf. Thanksgiving was greeted by the bliss that is Santa Ana winds and a healthy west swell. We all had good reason to be surfed out by the time November ended. Consider this a change in course.
December started a bit slow in South Orange County, but flat spells typically don’t last forever. Then came the Winter Solstice with still no sign of surf. Then Christmas and still nothing. How’s one supposed to manage the stress of the holidays without a wave or two to break up the angst?
For over a month, the surf’s barely hit hip high. A sneaky swell snuck under the radar a couple days before New Year’s, but it was quickly overtaken by another round of rain and wind storms. So here we are, it’s 2017, and as my friend Shawn Parkin, the photo editor over at The Surfer’s Journal, reminded me yesterday during our weekly Pilates stretch, “Get ready for it to be flat for another three weeks.”
Ugh! The new year was supposed to start
GROM OF THE WEEK CARSON KROPFL
BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
ith the holidays comes a respite in the pursuit of NSSA, WSA and all the other grom events in Southern California, which is fine with 11-year-old Carson Kropfl. In October we featured him as the Grom of the Week when he unceremoniously because the first-ever injured surfer at the Gudauskas brothers’ Stoke-A-Rama. After taking a board to the head and receiving five stitches, he was back in the water competing, which earned a special place in our hearts. Maybe the blow to his cranium knocked
off with a bang. Instead, as I write this, there’s something called an atmospheric river bearing down on California. It’s bringing a lot of rain and, again, zero swell. All of this has me pondering my outdoor entertainment options for the rest of the winter.
“You can always drive up to Jalama if you’re fiending,” notes Parkin of my surf options.
And he’s right, heading north past the Point Conception bite is the only way to find an overhead wave right now. Over Christmas, Kolohe Andino loaded up his van, took to the road and scored an epic day at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. He may have broken his 7-foot-6 gun that Matt Biolos shaped for him, but at least he was surfing. He then headed further up Highway 101 with his San Clemente bandmates Luke Davis and Ian Craine. Wrapped in six millimeters of rubber, they indulged in the wilds of the Oregon coast while everyone back home was bogging at T Street.
a business sense into him because shortly thereafter he launched his own company called Locker Board. Taking used skateboard decks, Kropfl recycles them by cutting them down to a size that can fit in his
Surf writer and filmmaker Sam George used to say, “I’m heading north, where a man can be free.” And to be sure, if you want to surf in January you better gas up the rig.
But there’s certainly more to life than riding a few waves. Thanks to said atmospheric river, the local mountains are getting dumped on. As I write this, Mammoth Mountain has just received a good two to three feet of new snow—“and that’s just the beginning,” says the resort. If you made your way up there over the holidays, chances are you ran into a friend or two from San Clemente or Dana Point, but the season’s really starting to crank now. And even more locally, Bear Mountain has a healthy base and may also get some new snow at the end of the week. So if you can’t surf in the ocean, there’s always snow surfing, which isn’t a bad alternative.
For those that are still believing in their New Year’s Resolution to get fit, there’s
locker at school. He then puts new trucks and wheels on the board, and bam, Locker Board! He saw a problem—his skateboard didn’t fit in his locker—and somehow he’s the first to devise such a solution. Practically overnight the boards took off. Thanks to word of mouth and social media, he shipped boards all around the country out of his own home workshop to places like Rhode Island, Montana, Arizona, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. He donated boards to the Spark of Love Toy Drive at the Honda Center in Los Angeles. And Jack’s Surf Shop sold them during the holiday season. Needless to say, it was a heck of a Christmas for the budding entrepreneur.
Thanks to thoughtful, driven kids like Kropfl, the future of the local surf and skate scene’s in excellent hands.
nothing like a flat spell to keep you focused. Stand-up paddle sessions around the Dana Point Harbor or out around Seal Rock are a great way to keep your feet in the water even if the waves are lapping at your ankles. A walk or run down the beach trail in San Clemente is another good way to stay close to the sand when the swell’s subpar. And should you find yourself with a free afternoon, check out the newly renovated Ole Hanson Beach Club. It’s a great place to swim some laps and embrace old-school nostalgia as guys like Duke Kahanamoku and Johnny Weismuller used to train there. After all, we do live in a beach town and just because the surf’s flat doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy having the Pacific at our doorstep.
San Clemente and Dana Point have never been the epicenter of winter surfing in California, but it’s starting to get a little ridiculous around here. Thankfully there are options; all you have to do is step outside and find something to do. SC
SURF FORECAST
Water Temperature: 55-59 degrees F
Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-10’ Fair
Thursday: Very small Westerly swell mix is good for ankle-knee high (1-2’) surf for most spots while standouts hit thigh-waist high (3’) on sets. Calm to light offshore winds in the morning, turning to light+ onshore flow in the afternoon.
Outlook: May see a little bump in size for Friday and this weekend as a better mix of NW and SSW swells move in, size still looks to only top out around waist high (3’) though. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.
To combat weak surf conditions to start the year in San Clemente and Dana Point, locals have the option to head north, head to the mountains, or just pull out the standup paddle board. Photo: File
SanClemente
Photo: Courtesy
