April 13, 2017

LO C A L

N EWS

April 13–19, 2017

YO U

C A N

Inside: Celebrate Earth Day with Our Annual Green Issue

U S E

SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 12, ISSUE 15

The Ranch

Where San Clemente’s drug users and homeless are shipped off to recover EYE ON SC/PAGE 10

Jeff, left, and Paul “J.P.” Spitz of Set Free Men’s Ranch outside of Lake Elsinore run a facility for drug users and homeless people.

Spitz has run the ranch for about 20 years. Photo: Eric Heinz

Mayor Takes Shot at Toll Roads at State of the City EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Triton Baseball Jumps Back Into League Title Chase SPORTS/PAGE 22

www.sanclementetimes.com

Remembering the Late, Great SC Surf Coach Bill Hartman SC SURF/PAGE 26

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

SC EYE ON SC San San Clemente Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING which exists most prevalently along the I-5 North/South corridor to the county line,” Sachs stated in the email. “That is why we began engaging the public and soliciting their traffic solutions ideas of which we now have 17. All those ideas must now be analyzed, studied and screened through a transparent and open process to find the best solution with the least impact.”

TCA was a sponsor of the State of the City, which was hosted by the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce.

WHAT’S NEXT: TCA had a joint board meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 13, and the San Clemente Times will follow-up with information regarding the toll road proposals in the near future. —EH

Logan Powell swims under water during a day at the Special Fishies swim camp for children with special needs.

This was the program’s first week, and there will be more camps later in the summer. Photo: Eric Heinz

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week Swim Camp for Special-Needs Children Kicks Off THE LATEST: One camp in San Clemente is making a splash with special-needs children.

Jodi Powell, owner of Little Fishies Swim School, coordinated the Special Fishies program with the city of San Clemente to run classes at the San Clemente Aquatic Center.

This week was the camp’s first edition, but Special Fishies has been growing since Little Fishies introduced it about two years ago.

“There was an amazing need for what we do,” Powell said. “The closest great special-needs swim program is in Irvine, and that’s a long way for someone to drive who has special-needs children.”

The program gives children with special needs the opportunity to enjoy the water at their own pace and swimming ability under the supervision of the instructors and volunteers.

“Not only does (swimming) increase cognitive functioning, but we get kids … who didn’t have a lot of muscle tone in their legs, they’re not up and walking,” Powell said. “One kid who has cerebral palsy has become significantly stronger.”

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

WHAT’S NEXT: Camps are noon-2:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday from July 17-20 and Aug. 14-17 at Courtney’s SandCastle and San Clemente Aquatics Center. Camp is $120 per child for the entire week. For more information about the program, visit www.littlefishiesswimschool.com/specialfishies. —Eric Heinz

Mayor Takes Shot at Toll Roads at State of the City THE LATEST: The ninth annual State of the City was, for the most part, like many of the addresses that came before it. Mayor Kathy Ward praised the city’s efforts in passing certain legislation, the enhanced transportation options since La Pata’s opening and the youth of San Clemente.

But just as the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center was the looming issue at last year’s State of the City, the new proposals put forth by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) for new toll roads through San Clemente has been a topic of contention (once again).

Some of the proposals would cut through San Clemente or certain neighborhoods.

“I would be derelict in my duties as mayor if I did not mention a current idea of extending the 241 toll road through San Clemente. This is a very serious issue for our city,” Ward said. “There is no extension that ends at or slices through San Clemente that would be acceptable. This extension would destroy our city.”

Ed Sachs, Foothill/Eastern TCA board chairman, submitted a response to Ward’s comments in an email on Tuesday, April 11.

“South Orange County has said loud and clear they expect us to solve the growing traffic problem in the region,

Outlets Signage Environmental Review Meeting to Be Held April 13 THE LATEST: The city of San Clemente recently announced that a scoping meeting will take place regarding the supplemental environmental impact report of signage at the Outlets at 7 p.m. on April 13.

City Attorney Scott Smith said a lawsuit filed in 2007 challenged the review, and a judge ordered that in order to move forward, the project would have to include enough information on environmental impacts regarding the signage.

Smith said an agreement was struck with the city and Craig Realty, the owner of the Outlets, before the city’s sign ordinance changes were finalized in 2016.

Therefore, designs from the original plans could remain in place, so long as they comply with the judge’s requirements for the environmental report.

The report is required under the California Environmental Quality Act unless the project were to meet requirements for exemption status.

WHAT’S NEXT: Members of the public have 30 days to submit comments on the proposed project from April 13. Responses must be sent to Cliff Jones, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, 92642. We will provide as much information as possible so people who want to respond may be informed beforehand. The meeting takes place at the city’s offices at 910 Calle Negocio. —EH

City Council Agenda Shows Wall of Recognition Honorees THE LATEST: The City Council special meeting agenda for Tuesday, April 18, showed this year’s Wall of Recognition honorees when it was published on

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Wednesday, April 12.

The honorees are Peggy Vance, the executive director of Ocean Festival, and Dr. Gus Gialamas, who fought to keep Saddleback Memorial Medical Center open. The wall is an honorary title that has been bestowed upon one to three people in San Clemente by the city since 1994.

WHAT’S NEXT: The City Council meeting starts at 6 p.m. —Staff

Southern California Edison Begins Settlement Talks in Spent Nuclear Waste Permit Lawsuit THE LATEST: Southern California Edison (SCE) announced on Friday, April 7, that plaintiffs in a lawsuit regarding the storage of 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear waste fuel rods underground at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) requested to postpone a hearing on the matter next week in order to “accommodate settlement discussions.”

According to a press release from SCE, the majority stakeholder of the nuclear power plant, attorneys Michael Aguirre and Maria Severson asked for the continuance of the hearing in which activist group Citizens Oversight sued the California Coastal Commission for permitting the spent nuclear waste to be buried at the site.

“We believe the parties in the case and many community leaders share a common goal to transfer San Onofre’s used nuclear fuel off-site as soon as reasonably possible,” said Tom Palmisano, SCE’s vice president and chief nuclear officer. “We are hopeful that settlement discussions will permit the parties to reach a mutually agreeable solution.”

The hearing scheduled for April 14 in San Diego Superior Court has been postponed.

For Ray Lutz, the national coordinator for Citizens Oversight, this settlement hasn’t comforted his worries much regarding the spent fuel.

On Wednesday, April 5, Holtec International, which has been tasked with storing the spent fuel in canisters, filed an application with the Nuclear Regulation Commission for an interim storage facility in Lea County, New Mexico, similar to the one Waste Control Specialists in Texas filed last year.

Currently, the fuel cannot be transferred under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and must be handled by the Department of Energy.

WHAT’S NEXT: It is not yet clear when the next hearing will be for the settlement, but Lutz said the continuation will most likely be granted. —EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

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 a ssumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Tuesday, April 11 DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Avenida Mateo, 100 Block (3:21 a.m.) Loud music and people in the street were reported.

Monday, April 10 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Pico/El Camino Real (10:32 p.m.)

Someone was seen loitering near a portable restroom.

DISTURBANCE Canada, 200 Block (12:37 a.m.) The caller’s roommate was drunk and banging on the door to get in.

ROBBERY REPORT Avenida Presidio, 100 Block (10:44 a.m.) A man said he was robbed at gunpoint on Friday night in San Clemente.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-NON INJURY W. Avenida Valencia/El Camino Real (9:46 a.m.)

The caller was involved in a traffic collision that was reportedly injury-free but caused major auto damage.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino de Estrella, 500 Block (8:44 a.m.)

Police were called to a man who looked like he was on drugs. The caller said he was staring at the door for five minutes, making the caller feel uncomfortable.

Sunday, April 9 SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Avenida Buena Ventura, 100 Block (12:25 p.m.)

Police were called to three men in a white, four-door sedan smoking marijuana.

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Cabrillo, 100 Block (10:07 a.m.) A woman said her neighbor threatened her with a machete because of “noise disturbance complaints.” It was unclear against whom the noise complaints had been filed.

FOLLOW-UP REPORT Avenida Pico/El Camino Real (9:09 a.m.) A man said he made a battery report on April 6, and the suspect who committed the battery was on the platform of the train station with some other people.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Pico, 900 Block (7:21 a.m.) A man with the “neighborhood watch” took a picture of a large, tan Page 4

RV towing a gold-colored Jeep with Washington state license plates. The man said he was trying to document someone living in the RV, and a man inside of it started yelling and cursing at the neighborhood watchman. The caller sounded “agitated” to dispatchers.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (12:24 a.m.) The caller said their neighbor was “possibly” assaulted.

Saturday, April 8 DISTURBANCE 0 Block (8:12 p.m.) Police were called for several groups of juveniles in the clubhouse and pool area, drinking and being loud.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Paseo Flamenco, 3400 Block (11:51 a.m.) A woman said a man was in the bushes behind her home wearing only a towel.

CITIZEN ASSIST Loma Lane, 100 Block (10:30 a.m.) A woman said her grandson took her vehicle without permission.

DISTURBANCE Puerta del Sol, 1200 Block (8:16 a.m.) A woman said a client at the business head-butted a staff member.

Friday, April 7 DISTURBANCE Avenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (8:19 p.m.) An “extremely rude” informant said her friend pushed her.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Del Mar/Ola Vista (8:04 p.m.) A distraught man was walking around and banging on walls.

DISTURBANCE Calle Guaymas/Camino Mira Costa (1:10 a.m.) Police were called to three men who laid a shovel in the middle of the street, waiting for cars to run over it.

Thursday, April 6 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Estacion, 1700 Block (7:42 p.m.)

Police were called to the trailhead for a man swinging a sword.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Ramona, 100 Block (4:34 p.m.) A man said another man threw a rock at him while he was riding his scooter.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 1700 Block (4:30 p.m.) A man, who the caller said was possibly drunk, kept yelling at the manager over an issue about a car wash.

PATROL CHECK El Camino Real, 1800 Block (3:11 p.m.) The caller said a large amount of water was pouring down from under the roof of the front door of the building.

Wednesday, April 5 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Victoria, 200 Block (5:49 a.m.)

A man was walking up and down the street trying to open car doors. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Two people with opposing views on immigration stand-off in downtown San Juan. Photo: File

A Community on Edge Groups look to allay South County immigrants’ fears of deportation

BY MATT CORTINA, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

M

aria Torres came to South Orange County in 1995. The only thing she has back in Morelos, Mexico, is bad memories. She was repeatedly beaten by her husband, and she was encouraged by a teacher whose house she cleaned to escape to the U.S. When she left Mexico, she also left her three daughters with her ex-husband’s parents, assuming with all the stories she’d heard about wealth in America that she could come back in a year to take them. But it was almost five years before she was able to return, and in her absence, the girls were subject to physical and emotional abuse. The money she sent back was stolen by her ex-husband’s parents. They poisoned Maria’s kids against her, saying she abandoned them.

Though they’ve all been in the U.S. since 2000, the scars linger. Her youngest daughter doesn’t speak to her, and her eldest considers their relationship “love-hate.”

Now, Torres worries about history repeating itself.

“It crosses my mind. I do think about it,” Torres says of deportation. Though she’s worked and paid taxes for two decades, she does not have citizenship. “But that’s why I’ve made up my mind that if I get deported, I’m not even going to try to come back.”

Torres’ eldest daughter, Adriana, says

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

her mother won’t return because she’s older but also because she has done all she could do of her original goal of giving her three daughters a better life.

“She didn’t meet her goal 100 percent like she had envisioned,” Adriana said, “but in a way my sisters and I are in a much, much better spot than we were, so I guess she sort of has seen that we’ve grown and we’re doing things for ourselves. … If she ever gets deported, she’ll settle down in Mexico and try to make it over there.”

Adriana worries for her mother, but also for herself. She is eligible to live in this country via the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows children brought to the U.S. as minors to receive two-year citizenship grants. Immigration experts, like Susan Hill, a partner at Hill & Piibe, an immigration law firm in San Juan Capistrano, say President Donald Trump may let DACA expire, which would imperil the legal status of millions.

Adriana stumbles over words when thinking about what her deportation would mean for her 7-year-old son, who is the same age she was when her mother left her in Mexico.

But the Torres’ are just two of thousands of other immigrants in South Orange County who are fearful of deportation and unaware of which immigrants are current priorities. In response, Hill, lawyers and citizens’ groups are working to help those in the Latino community get their paperwork in order.

Esperanza Perez, legal assistant at Hill & Piibe, said their firm has received double the amount of calls per week from worried members of the Latino community since Trump took office in January. That’s a result of Trump’s order to broaden who is considered a priority for deportation, but Hill says there has been a

dearth of guidance in those orders, which contributes to fear in the community.

The calls include everything from people saying they’re worried about their neighbor or family member to people not wanting to go home because of a rumored presence of law enforcement.

“We engage proactively because there’s such a sense of fear in the community— even with people who are here lawfully,” Hill said in an email. “The more prepared our clients can be about their Constitutional rights, the lower the risk that something will occur where they will need extraordinary intervention from our end.”

Hill offers resources on her firm’s website indicating what an immigrant, legal or illegal, should do if they are confronted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers or other law enforcement members.

The Diocese of Orange is also distributing “Know Your Rights” literature to members of their parishes in South Orange County. And the ACLU and several citizens’ groups are working to host events or else distribute literature door-to-door about how to interact with law enforcement.

Lori Haley, ICE Public Affairs Officer in Laguna Niguel, said the agency does not keep data on a town-by-town basis, so confirming any increase in rumored sweeps, raids or removals is difficult. The agency tracks in broad regional areas (South Orange County, for instance, is lumped in with Los Angeles) and time frames. Haley also notes that if people see ICE officials in public, it is likely because they are carrying out a targeted arrest with a warrant.

But the fear—born out of past experiences and uncertainty about local, state and federal enforcement directives—is crippling in its own right.

San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Sergio Farias, who was elected in a heavily Latino district, said “there’s a lot of uncertainty and anxiety” in the Latino community, and that he’s “noticed not as many people walking around.”

Farias said he is worried about reports that those in Latino communities throughout the country are failing to report crimes or call police in emergencies for fear of

being deported. Although he doesn’t foresee the city taking an official stance on immigration, Farias said he could envision a public education outreach program to motivate people to call police when necessary and to alleviate concerns.

El Campeon owner Sergio Gonzales said he’s seen “maybe” a slow-down of customers, but he’s definitely noticed a lack of people willing to work at the restaurant.

That, however, has been the case for at least five years, since Obama-era increases in immigration enforcement began.

Maria Torres, now in San Clemente, said she will only drive to work, to get groceries and to go home. She said she regular checks in with friends via social media to alert others about potential checkpoints or raids.

Haley, again, said ICE does not conduct raids or checkpoints.

It’s only after a little prodding that Maria and Adriana Torres open up about what’s been salvaged in their relationship.

They know they have each other’s backs, and when Adriana’s son was born, Maria visited every single day.

Now married and with no dependent children, the money Maria used to spend on rent, school, clothes and food—and the time she used to spend at two jobs making that money—has returned to her.

“I’m lucky because I have had (the same) phone number for 6 or 7 years, but before then I had a different number every year because I couldn’t pay the bills,” Maria said. “Now I can go out. Every year, I go to Las Vegas for my birthday.”

Adriana is quick to say that her mother is just being bashful and has a lot of friends, too. Maria, who is still resigned to staying in Mexico if she is deported, has simplified her outlook to deal with the stress.

“People say I’m a really hard worker,” she said. “Maybe not a really good mother, but I tried to be a good mom. I’m here, and I like to work hard, and I try to help people when I can.”

For more information on deportation enforcement and to access Know Your Rights literature, visit www.hillandpiibe.com, www. rcbo.org/resource/immigration or the Immigrant Rights Clinic at www.law.uci.edu. SC

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement say they do not carry out raids or checkpoints for undocumented immigrants, but the community is still fearful. Photo: ICE/Wikimedia Commons

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EYE ON SC

Community NEWS BITES Earth Day Cleanups Meetings Scheduled for April 22

information, visit www.schsef.org or email scef@cox.net.

Inaugural Lionhardt Golf Classic to Benefit First Responders

COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET ON DEL MAR 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday.

Avenida Del Mar. TUESDAY, APRIL 18

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.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6 p.m. The San Clemente City Council will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting. City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

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.

The California State Parks Foundation will host an Earth Day restoration and cleanup day on April 22. Two beaches in the area were selected for the effort.

Doheny State Beach will need volunteers to remove diseased or dead nonnative shrubs and trees from the campground and replace them with a variety of shrubs and trees native to Southern California. The foundation said 200 volunteers are needed. Contact Vicki Wiker at 949.310.2546 or vwiker@parks.ca.gov.

San Clemente State Beach will need volunteers to clean up and restore the nature trail, conduct native plant restoration at the historic cottage, install an interpretive display, and clean up the day use area and picnic bowl. The foundation said 75 volunteers will be needed.

Contact Cryssie Moreno at 949.366.8594 or cryssie.moreno@parks.ca.gov

San Clemente Educational Foundation’s 14th Annual Fundraiser

The Lionhardt Golf Classic will be held on Wednesday, May 3, at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, 26772 Avery Parkway in Mission Viejo.

Check in is at 10:30 a.m., and the shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m. It’s a scramble format. Lunch, beverages, dinner, awards and inspiration in support of first responders will take place. The tournament honors firefighter Donovan Eckhardt, a Capistrano Valley High School graduate of the class of 1996, who was given weeks to live in 2015.

Purchase tickets before April 18 through www.lionhardt.org, and visit the website for more information on the organization.

Cyber Bullying Meeting: Internet Safety and Etiquette Clayton Cranford, a cyber security expert and Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy, will help attendees understand matters related to their child’s internet use via phones or other devices at a meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, at Vista del Mar Middle School, located at 1130 Avenida Talega.

The meeting is hosted by the Wellness & Prevention Center.

Cranford created Cyber Safety Cop, a program to teach parents and students how to safely navigate social media and the internet. Light refreshments will be available. Children 11 and older are encouraged to attend with a parent.

The 14th annual red-and-black-tie gala fundraiser will take place from 5-11 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club, located at 200 Avenida La Pata. The cost is $150 per person.

There will be silent and live auctions, dinner, entertainment and an opportunity drawing, as well as music from the Aaron Broering Band. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding various activities at San Clemente High School. For more

Golf Club Donations for Local U.S. Marines The annual drive for golf clubs to be donated to U.S. Marines is underway. If you have a used and no longer needed golf club set that you can donate, contact Don Glasgow at donglasgow45@aol.com or call 949.481.0116 and he or a volunteer will come to pick them up. The donations go through Wounded Warriors at Camp Pendleton.

“After this last campaign is completed, local donors will have donated over 1,000 complete sets of golf clubs and over 50,000 golf balls for our Marines,” a press release for the campaign stated.

San Clemente Student Makes St. Mary’s Maths Quest Team Following numerous hours of lunch trainings, math activities and assessments, four students from St. Mary’s School have been selected as finalists to represent their campus at the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) Maths Quest Competition in Geneva, Switzerland. Nora Nickolov of San Clemente will join Calvin Howard, Anne Chian and Kendall Memoly on the team. Maths Quest is a prestigious international math competition that challenges math students younger than 12 while promoting learning mathematics.

The competition takes place April 23 to May 1. According to a press release, St. Mary’s students won the competition in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

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.

Alleged Drunk Driver Crashes into Vehicles at Cristianitos Parking Area

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

NORTH BEACH FARMERS MARKET 3-6:30 p.m. The Market at North Beach will be open to the public.

Vendors will be selling food, jewelry and other wares, and there could be live music. 1501 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. themarketatnbmakers@ gmail.com.

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6 p.m. The San Clemente Planning Commission will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting. City Hall. 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

T

wo men were hospitalized after the car they were in crashed into two parked vehicles at about 7:15 p.m. on Friday, April 7, along S. El Camino Real near Cristianitos Road.

Both the driver and the passenger received minor injuries, and at least the driver was still hospitalized on Monday, April 10, according to Lt. Lane Lagaret, Orange County Sheriff’s Department public information officer.

“This vehicle had a passenger with him and hit a parked car and another parked car,” Lagaret said. “The driver … was reeking of alcohol, and because of his injuries, we couldn’t arrest him.”

Lagaret said OCSD deputies are likely to file charges as soon as the driver is released, and that because there was a passenger injured in the incident, that could raise the charges to felony driving under the influence.

No names in the incident have been released yet because no charges have been filed. A field sobriety test was not conducted during the incident because they had to transport the occupants of the vehicle to a hospital, but Lagaret said a blood sample was probably taken at the scene.

No other injuries were reported, and the owners of the two vehicles that were struck were not in their cars at the time of the collision.

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The back of a black BMW was damaged after an alleged drunk driver crashed into it and another vehicle on April 7 along S. El Camino Real near Cristianitos Road. Photo: Courtesy

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EYE ON SC

The Ranch Where San Clemente’s drug users and homeless are shipped off to recover

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

D

avid was stranded in California, miles away from his hometown in Missouri.

A bus had dropped him off with only a backpack near Oceanside. He walked from there to Vista, then to San Clemente.

“That’s a long ways,” he said.

The trip was spontaneous. After years of meth abuse and stints in prison, he had worn out his family back home.

“I’ve been struggling with methamphetamines ever since I was 13 years old,” David said. “And then about six years ago … I just got on a bus and headed to California. I’d never seen the ocean before.”

When he got to San Clemente, he went to the beach to buy and use drugs like so many other users.

“I met someone and got speed (meth),” David said, adding that he also came across a bible study group. “I asked them to pray for me, and one said, ‘I’ll come back at 6 o’clock if you really want to change your life.’”

The man was Jeff, an overseer at Set Free Men’s Ranch, a retreat located just outside Lake Elsinore that allows men to live there and get sober. There is an adjacent, separate ranch for women. Many of the residents of the ranch were found on the streets of San Clemente.

What’s taught on the ranch is rooted in Christianity. And David’s commitment to Christianity is what he says has enabled him to thrive at the ranch. When we interviewed him, he had been at the ranch for six weeks. His complexion was healthy, though he had a dime-sized fresh scar on his noise. He spoke with breathless confidence, which had an effect oscillating between inspiring and untethered.

Only time will tell if David’s recuperation at the ranch and commitment to Christianity can sustain his sobriety. He is expected to stay for 60 days at the ranch, and if he does well, he can stay on at the ranch as an overseer, a middle manager of sorts. If David is an exemplary overseer, he could be eligible for a six-month work commitment at a thrift store. Those who make it through that next level of their sobriety can live in a group home in San Clemente while they work for the thrift stores.

“That’s the plan. I’m just letting god take it day by day,” David said.

The man behind this operation is Paul “J.P.” Spitz. He owns the ranch, two thrift stores in San Clemente and runs a work program for people looking to break their addiction cycles. He is a Christian minister and uses sermons on the beach as a way to help homeless people and drug abusers.

Jeff, who routinely finds people like David and brings them to the ranch, went through Spitz’s program and knows what it’s like to San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

Men at the Set Free Men’s Ranch outside of Lake Elsinore unload a truck full of food supplies on March 19.

Many of the men were found in San Clemente, on the streets and most likely dealing with drug or alcohol addiction. They come to the ranch to get sober. Photo: Eric Heinz

David traveled from Missouri to Southern California to try to kick his methamphetamine addiction. He said he took a bus to Vista and walked all the way to San Clemente before meeting Jeff, the second in command at Set Free Men’s Ranch. Photo: Eric Heinz

Dressed in a Soviet Army hat, “New York,” as he’s referred to, has been an overseer at the ranch longer than any other. Owner of Set Free Men’s Ranch, Paul Spitz, said “New York” came to the ranch to recover about 20 years ago. Photo: Eric Heinz

(because of parties) in one year from the police department.”

“Somebody burned my house down when I was living on (Avenida) Granada. After it was burned down, the police said, ‘You know, you should probably just leave town.’

That’s how many problems I had caused.”

Jeff said he started smoking marijuana when he was 10 years old. When he got older, he got into LSD, then progressed into cocaine and meth. At his addiction’s peak, Jeff said he was always on heroin, pills and drunk. His relationships with his family, whatever was left of them, were hard to maintain.

“I never really had a relationship with my dad. He didn’t hate me. We just didn’t get along,” Jeff said. “My mother was a real nice lady, but she had enough of me.

I was tolerated, probably. My brother would say ‘Why are you here? This is just going to cause problems,’ on a holiday like Thanksgiving or something.

“I had a lot of friends, but nobody close because nobody knew what I was doing, not even the people I was living with. They didn’t realize that I was selling drugs like this. They just knew I always had them.

Very few knew that.”

Jeff said he sold to all kinds of people.

Those who had money would pick up wholesale amounts of the drug of the day and then distribute from there.

Jeff eventually started going to free meals provided by a local church that a friend had brought him to. At those lunches, he said he knew almost all of the people who were served, but he said they were all homeless, had bought drugs or drank with him, and he said most of them were based in San Clemente. That’s how he met Spitz and heard about the ranch.

•••

Three members of Set Free Men’s Ranch pose for a photo prior to bible studies on March 16. Set Free is an evangelically Christian residence but accepts all who are looking to recover from drug and alcohol dependency.

Photo: Eric Heinz

be without a home and addicted to drugs in San Clemente. He knows what kind of help is needed for people like David.

“We could have taken a picture of him and put it online and complained about what he’s doing. Or we could offer a solution: be kind to him, instead of chasing him away,” Jeff said. “There’s one less person on the streets and one less person to complain about.”

•••

Before coming to the ranch, Jeff was one of San Clemente’s most prolific drug dealers, according to his own record. He had a regular job as an exterminator, but he was able to function in both worlds, despite using drugs himself.

“As long as it didn’t affect my job, (my employers) didn’t care,” Jeff said. “I wasn’t up to any good. I had 33 noise complaints

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The ranch is not what one would typically see in commercials for high-end rehabilitation facilities. It’s a far cry from seeing a bunch of clear-skinned, bright-eyed, J. Crew-clad, majority white people sitting on a marble-floor patio in a multimillion-dollar mansion and gazing out into the horizon as their drug addictions melt with the sunset.

No, this is much more “primitive,” the word Spitz used to describe the conditions.

Between 40 and 80 men live in three separate dormitories on the ranch, clumped together in three bunk-bed style facilities.

There’s a kitchen in one of them, but the rest are nothing more than beds crammed into a room with a bathroom and shower.

“As you can see, there’s not a lot of room in here that we’re not using,” Spitz said as he walked into one of the living quarters.

The men do odd jobs onsite, from fixing cars to woodworking, but most of the revenue for operating procedures comes from either donations or from Spitz’s two San Clemente thrift shops. According to a 1997 Los Angeles Times article, Spitz once operated a charity in Capistrano Beach that generated hundreds of thousands of dollars from “store sales” and donations.

There is also a makeshift orchard on the ranch and a pool to conduct baptisms. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC There is a large, white pitch tent with various office and folding chairs arranged in rows to form a church.

No health services are provided. There is not a standardized detox process.

Chocolate, not methadone, seems to work better for heroin addicts, Spitz said, adding that the ranch also does not accept payments from healthcare providers.

Just about anyone can come to the ranch to get sober except for sex offenders due to the ranch’s proximity to a school.

•••

The hierarchy of the ranch starts with Spitz at the top. Jeff is second in command, with a series of overseers are below him and a few assistant overseers below them.

On arrival, clients are greeted by an overseer. One such man goes by the name “New York,” who went through the ranch’s recovery program 20 years ago and has stayed on as an office captain—denoted by the Soviet Army officer’s cap he wears.

Many of the overseers and clients have nicknames, such as “Big Haas” and “Boss Man.” Signs with the words “Jesus Freak” hang on various portions around the office as well as other areas of the ranch.

There are bible study sessions each week, which are known as the Biker’s Jamboree. Every man at the ranch attends these studies as a way to remind them to stay sober. Spitz said the ranch is “unapologetically evangelically Christian,” but it is universally inclusive.

“We take everybody, but if someone knows something about you, then everyone knows,” Spitz said. “There are no secrets at the ranch.”

The men in the office coordinate intakes and donations, and help the ranch’s residents schedule court appearances, probation requirements or other obligations.

They also have to keep track of the chores and jobs the residents do, which include cleaning and cooking. When a shipment of fruit arrives from a local charity, all the members of the ranch form an assembly line to efficiently move boxes from the truck to the kitchen.

To be clear, people have reservations about coming to the ranch. It is known in the homeless and drug use community. But Jeff says the reservations clients have for joining come down to personal choice and motivation.

“I think it’s about freedom. Christian (a former client) was so afraid to go to the ranch because he wouldn’t be able to drink,” Jeff said. “There was a guy, Bob, in the south side. But he would not come to the ranch because he was scared to stop drinking. He was trying to get himself to the point where he could go.”

Bob was murdered about a year ago just outside the San Mateo Campground. Jeff said it was over a small sack of meth.

Although he said there isn’t a negative connotation of the ranch among the San Clemente homeless population, Jeff said they know it’s going to be a challenge, and they come when they are ready.

“I never hear anybody say that it’s a bad place, but it’s going to be hard,” Jeff said.

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

Men living at the ranch unload food supplies out of a truck on March 16 at Set Free Men’s Ranch, just outside Lake Elsinore. Photo: Eric Heinz

Paul Spitz, owner of Set Free Men’s Ranch, speaks to one of his overseers as they unpack food from a truck on March 16. Photo: Eric Heinz

“If they say it’s a bad place, that’s probably because they were asked to leave, probably because they were not cooperating or using drugs or something. (A bad) attitude will get you kicked out of there faster than anything else.”

No one is forced to stay at the ranch. It’s a voluntary commitment.

Keeping track of people sent to the ranch by the court system is also something that’s near impossible with the resources available to the overseers.

“We are not social workers,” Spitz said.

“We do social work for them, but our goal is not to make sure that they’ve got their court stuff together at the expense of not dealing with their spiritual life. Because if they deal with their spiritual life, they’ll go deal with all the other stuff.”

Spitz said about 75 percent of the homeless men who have come from San Clemente may have not been born there, but could be “teachers, kids, contractors” who eventually set up camp or living provisions for themselves within the city.

•••

Within at least 25 miles of San Clemente, there are not many recovery options or public housing opportunities for low- or no-income drug users to access—the homeless facility in Santa Ana is always at capacity, as is the nearest shelter, Friendship Shelter, in Laguna Beach.

That lack of regional support amplifies the importance of the choices made regarding living conditions on the ranch. The conditions at the ranch are meager, and there seems to be no regulatory agency that will claim them, unless there’s a complaint.

A large, aluminum-walled storage unit houses various car parts, miscellaneous equipment and whatever else that’s been donated over the years. A food storage facility, which amounts to little more than an over-sized, open-air lean-to, has a musty odor. Loafs of bread were crudely crammed into an old Pepsi vending refrigerator.

“When you’re coming off the streets, any place is better,” Spitz said, “but we keep it organized.”

That’s important because the ranch is essentially unregulated and unmonitored.

Riverside County Public Health oversees treatment facilities within the county, but only if they’re licensed under the department. The ranch is not contracted by Riverside County, and therefore the county cannot implement compliance standards for it.

The Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act prevent and protect against discrimination, but the laws do not exempt facilities from the state’s requirements to obtain a license for alcohol and drug treatment.

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) would normally regulate licensing for such facilities, but because people on the ranch recover through prayer groups hosted at the facility, they are not required to obtain a license from DHCS. •••

In Laguna Beach, the city helps fund Friendship Shelter, which operates 83 units of housing and two shelter programs including 45 emergency shelter beds.

“We’re always full in both shelter programs and cap our residential program in Laguna Beach,” Executive Director Dawn Price said, adding the waiting list cap is 10 men and 10 women at a time. “At the emergency shelter, we’re turning away between five and 15 people each night.”

Page 11

Price said her organization thinks there should be more homeless shelters in the area, but they aren’t the final solution; permanent housing is the answer.

Price said transplant populations coming to the area for treatment hasn’t been the most prevalent issue.

Despite the lack of facilities, Price said there are more efforts to help people than she’s ever seen in nearly a decade in this field. The United Way, Jamboree Housing Corporation, 2-1-1 Orange County and University of California-Irvine are currently conducting a study of homeless populations in the county as well as the economic factors it creates.

Kathy’s House, based in San Clemente, works to help people find homeless shelters or drug assistance living, and frequently recommends people to the ranch if they are looking to get sober.

Ciara Valdez, an administrative assistant with Kathy’s House, said the options are limited for people, particularly single men, trying to get off the street and into a shelter.

Valdez said Kathy’s House does not have its own shelter and often works with Set Free to help those who seek assistance.

Jeff said a kind approach to people consumed by drug and alcohol addiction and living on the streets is likely the best method to solving the problem.

“Become their friend, and then they trust you,” Jeff said. “Everybody has been putting these people down, and they don’t trust anybody.”

Indulging panhandling will not help, Spitz said.

“If there’s one thing you can’t do, you can’t give them any money,” Spitz said.

“That’s usually what enables them. Definitely give them a reference or Jeff’s number or my number or a church’s number. Someone in the church will call us or go talk to them.”

•••

Just like leaving a dark room to the bright outdoors, eyes have to adjust back to the luster of affluent areas in San Clemente after visiting the ranch.

But as soon as Spitz drives into town, two people sit on a gas station stoop either panhandling or planning their next move to survive or at least get off the streets.

“Those guys you saw (at the ranch),” Spitz said, gesturing to the men who were sitting on the curb. “They were just like him.

(The ranch) perpetuates itself. The people that were there who really grab ahold of god, they learn the whole concept.”

As Jeff drives Spitz and our crew back to San Clemente, they notice one of the men on the stoop as someone whom they think they recognize, someone who was on the fence about coming to the ranch.

Homelessness in the U.S. has become so ubiquitous that a homeless person can be disregarded like a dumpster or blight. But Jeff and Spitz notice him above all else and decide to do something remarkable—they try to remember his name. SC Matt Cortina contributed to this report.

Some people’s names in this story have been changed to protect their identities. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTES FOR TOLL ROADS Cyndy Stauffer, San Clemente, The Reserve board vice president

Our communities need some muscle to grow our small voices. My neighbors are feeling the panic of what the future holds with these proposed toll road pathways.

I am one of thousands of people who are extremely concerned with the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ intent to run a freeway through and over the top of our residential areas of mid San Clemente to Pico or through San Juan Capistrano.

We have very little open space here in the middle and north of San Clemente where this path is proposed. Our close neighboring communities were designed carefully to preserve this open space as such, and we are all concerned with the fragile habitats and our physical quality of life.

San Clemente has huge traffic problems. Millions of dollars are being spent on the I-5 freeway widening project that’s currently under construction. Unfortunately, with the curves I-5 takes through our towns, it will most likely remain an area where the freeway slows and traffic will never be great.

Bringing in a toll road through San Clemente to Pico or north would dump traffic right in the middle of town. How does that help any traffic problems for anyone? It will literally destroy what San Clemente’s reputation is to California as small seaside town.

The connection of La Pata has helped us, but it also affected us greatly with increased traffic patterns and the dirt and dust in the air, and now they want to put a toll road through?

Our small coastal cities must work together and not become the expendable piece to the large corporation and its justput-it-through mentality. Please, don’t put our physical health along with the visual impact of putting a freeway directly in the middle of our small seaside town on the chopping block. We must find a way to stand together with a big voice.

Beachside Chat Canceled This Week This week’s Beachside Chat will not take place. The next gathering will be Friday, April 21. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Eric Heinz at 8 a.m. every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome.

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Eric Heinz, 949.388.7700, x109 eheinz@picketfencemedia.com

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.

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS Steve Breazeale, 949.388.7700, x110 sbreazeale@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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

BUSINESS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

Allowing Priests to Wed Could Benefit Their Lives

C

phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.sanclementetimes.com

It is my understanding that the Save Trestles lawsuits and its said impact are somewhat misleading statements to the true factual impact of a properly constructed roadway south around San Clemente, meeting up to I-5.

Please help us find a way to go around San Clemente, demand more studies and truthful information of safely putting the road closer to Camp Pendleton—something that would actually help the traffic problems.

GUEST OPINION: View From the Pier by Herman Sillas

ora and I married in my third year of law school in 1959. A year later, I opened my law practice in Los Angeles. There were few Mexican lawyers in those early days, and all of us were seeking clients. We lawyers got to know each as we ran into each other in the courthouse. These were exciting times. We eventually organized the Mexican-American Lawyers Club and met every month with a judge as a speaker.

We began to appreciate each other and expanded our influence with others who were not lawyers. As the years passed, Cora and I had five children.

During this period of time, many of us were enhancing our influence, speaking for the rights of Mexican-Americans. One of those persons was a Catholic priest. He and I became friends and he would visit our home on weekends. There were many times when we would have meetings with public entities that, we believed, should have been hiring more minorities. My friend was very forceful in his statements and would lean heavily on his position with the Catholic church to persuade his audiences. Other priests of other churches also engaged in similar activities in those earlier days. We shared many encounters as we took on what we believed to be biased employers.

The relationship of my friend and his Catholic church became strained because

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

of his activities in the political arena. He had also met a woman who was a nun.

They fell in love, left the church and married. I realized it was a difficult decision for the two. I eventually lost contact with him as Cora and I moved to Sacramento.

He continued his battle on behalf of the needy. The former priest has since passed away.

At the same time, another friend of mine had raised his children along with his wife. My friend and his wife were Catholics and very supportive of their church. After THE VIEW their children had grown, FROM THE PIER

By Herman Sillas my friend and his wife went to training classes to assist their church and were trained to perform duties that were done by priests, such as leading the church in prayers, funerals, etc. Both of them enjoyed the work. Their lives were truly blessed, as they devoted their lives to the chores of the church.

Looking at the two lives of my priest friend and his nun, it was too bad that the Catholic church couldn’t have kept them.

Then I read in the daily paper that Pope Francis pondered, “Why not let priests marry? How many of them have been kept out of the priesthood because of the prohibition of marrying women?” They struggle

with the issue the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, some men did become priests and ultimately have unnamed children who live without a named father.

There are many married clergy in other churches and they survive and excel with children, a spouse and leading their church.

If you are thinking of doing new things, I have something for you. You will get something that will give you a challenge and a feeling of giving something that is needed by everyone. Pope Francis suggested a couple weeks ago that the Catholic Church should consider ordaining married men, and this makes sense to me.

You will get something that will give you a challenge and a feeling of giving something that is needed by everyone. I for one am not unhappy because I married and raised children. But I think of all the challenges that I would have faced if I had suggested to Cora that she tried to be a nun. It would have been too complicated.

That’s the view from the pier.

Herman Sillas is an author and resident of San Clemente and a former U.S. District attorney. He may be reached at sillas@aol. com. SC

PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

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 > Lauralyn Loynes

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Debra Holm Tim Trent Jake Howard

San Clemente Times, Vol. 12, Issue 15. 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.

FOLLOW THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

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.

Page 12

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK

Photo: Eric Heinz

APRIL 13-15: LIVE THEATER: ‘MARY POPPINS’ AT SCHS 7 p.m. The Disney musical Mary Poppins will fly to the San Clemente High School stage starting this weekend. The production features SCHS’s drama students under the direction of Laurie Mason. Tickets are $18 for general admission, $20 for premium seating and $10 for students, military personnel and seniors. Shows run nightly April 13-15 and April 20-22, with additional matinee showings on Saturdays at 1 p.m. 700 Avenida Pico.

949.293.4135 www.schsdrama.com.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Thursday | 13 SCIENCE NIGHT 6:30 p.m. Learn about current sciencerelated topics presented in a family-friendly format. Generally, hands-on activities and displays will be present. Dana Point Community Center. 34052 Del Obispo St., Dana Point. 949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

CASINO SPRING JAZZ SERIES 6:30-9:30 p.m. The Casino San Clemente’s Spring Jazz Series continues with music from the Ordiano Brothers, who will appear on piano and drums alongside Leider Chapotin on trumpet and Ross Schodek on bass. Tickets are $10–$25. 140 Avenida Pico, San Clemente. 949.369.6600. www.thecasinosanclemente.com.

PINOT NOIR WINE TASTING 7-9 p.m. Stop by Barnoa Wine Bar for a tasting of several pinot noir wines. Cost is $25, which includes light appetizers.

831 Via Suerte, Suite 106, San Clemente.

949.388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.

LIVE MUSIC: THE CHRIS ANDERSEN DUO 7-10:30 p.m. Listen to music from The Chris Andersen Duo at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Page 14

Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

Friday | 14 MISSION ART WALK 11 a.m. A docent-guided tour highlighting the art collection of rare paintings related to the Mission’s history. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.234.1300. www.missionsjc.com.

LIVE MUSIC: HANS & JANINE 4 p.m. Join Waterman’s Harbor for live music with Hans & Janine every Friday.

Waterman’s Harbor. 34661 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.764.3474. www.watermandp.com.

FREE MOVIE: ‘FISHPEOPLE’ 7 p.m. The outdoor and apparel company Patagonia’s latest film, Fishpeople, comes to Hobie Dana Point. The film highlights lives that have been transformed by the sea. The event is free. 34174 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.496.2366. www.patagonia.com/fishpeople.

LIVE THEATER: ‘ONCE UPON A MATTRESS’ 7:30 p.m. The Department of Theatre Arts at Saddleback College will premier Once Upon a Mattress, the popular musical based on The Princess and the Pea. Tickets are $10-$15. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. 949.582.4656. www.saddleback.edu/arts.

(Cont. on page 15) www.sanclementetimes.com

A Green Future

Now is a more important time than ever to show your love of Mother Earth. As global temperatures and sea levels continue to rise and federal environmental regulations are imperiled, every action to benefit our habitat matters, whether you’re taking a small step like setting up a composting bin or a big step like powering your home with renewable energy.

In this year’s Green Issue, we’ve included stories about ways to green your life without making the kinds of major lifestyle changes that often derail such initiatives. You’ll learn about Orange County residents who have set up home bee colonies and about how others are using electric bicycles to easily reduce their carbon footprint on their commutes. There’s a breakdown of how going green actually saves you money and how you can have a more Earth-conscious dinner table. We also take a look at local nonprofits saving the planet and share updates on recent legislation that makes it easier to be an eco-advocate.

If this year’s super bloom of wildflowers throughout Orange County hasn’t made you wonder at the natural world, we hope the stories in this Green Issue inspire you to take every step you can to keep our tiny spot in the universe beautiful.

Super bloom at Dana Point Headlands. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

Ryan’s Recycling Goes Global

BY ALLISON JARRELL

Remember 6-year-old recycling entrepreneur Ryan Hickman from our Green Issue last April? With the help of his family, Ryan founded his own startup, Ryan’s Recycling Company, at the ripe age of 3 in San Juan Capistrano.

When we interviewed Ryan for last year’s cover story, he had earned more than $8,000 from recycling bottles and hoped to eventually buy his own garbage truck. He told us about how he recycles to help protect marine life from pollution and donates proceeds from his T-shirt sales to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach.

Since then, Ryan’s story has gone viral, reaching millions of people in more than 40 countries via major news outlets like CNN, ABC World News, CNBC, PBS and USA Today and through social media videos from Upworthy, Now This, David Wolfe and 60 Second Docs—the latter of which has more than 40 million views.

Public figures and celebrities such as Chelsea Clinton, George Takei and Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders praised Ryan on social media for his efforts. Locally,

Ryan has been recognized for his recycling by the San Juan Capistrano City Council and the Laguna Beach Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Most recently, Ryan was invited to speak as a junior entrepreneur at a TEDx conference in Vienna, Austria, this October.

Today, the 7-year-old has earned over $23,000 from recycling more than 200,000 bottles, and thanks to a surprise $10,000 check he received from Shutterfly during a Jan. 30 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen also awarded Ryan with a personalized, battery-powered, kid-sized recycling truck, which he often takes on his neighborhood runs or to grab the mail. (And yes, he knows how to parallel park, too.)

When he’s not picking up bottles and cans in his truck, Ryan enjoys reading the emails he receives from people around the world who say they’re inspired by his recycling startup. His other favorite part of the business? Visiting the sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

“I like giving them food and medicine,” Ryan said. “They get to go back to the beach.”

For information on Ryan’s Recycling Company, visit www.ryansrecycling.com.

Cali-Green: Climate Crusaders Lawmakers move to further reduce California’s carbon footprint

BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS-CAMACHO

Can California go 100 percent renewable by 2045? At least one state lawmaker thinks so.

Senate leader Kevin de Leon recently introduced legislation that would give California a 28-year deadline to generate all of its electricity from clean sources such as solar and wind. The measure, Senate Bill (SB) 584, would also fast track the state’s 50 percent renewable energy goal—bumping it up five years from 2030 to 2025.

It’s the latest push in the nation’s most populous state to further California’s standing as a global leader in combating climate change. Last year, state lawmakers continued to embrace green initiatives and doubled down on efforts to dramatically reduce the state’s carbon imprint.

Here’s a look at a few green laws California adopted in 2016:

Greenhouse Gas Reduction

With California on track to meet or exceed its current target for greenhouse gas emission reduction—down to 1990 levels by 2020—state lawmakers adopted sweeping measures last summer to make even deeper emission cuts. The legislation, SB 32 and Assembly Bill (AB) 197, set an ambitious new target of dropping greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. “Climate change is real, and knowing that, California is taking action,” Governor Jerry Brown said in a press release. “SB 32 and AB 197 are far-reaching moves that continue California on its path of vast innovation and environmental resilience.”

Lead-Acid Battery Recycling

Starting April 1, consumers and manufacturers will pay a $1 fee for car batteries sold in the state. The projected $30 million in annual revenue stemming from AB 2153, the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Act of 2016, will fund the cleanup of more than a dozen sites statewide contaminated by lead-acid batteries—including the former Exide battery plant in Los Angeles County. Decontamination estimates for the site are at $50 million with the surrounding area costing upward of $500 million, according to Assembly member Cristina Garcia, who sponsored the bill to relieve communities long impacted by such waste.

Cutback on Super Pollutants

California accelerated its fight against climate change and moved to aid its highly-polluted communities by adopting the nation’s toughest restrictions on super pollutants last summer. SB 1383 aims to reduce black carbon and methane emissions from petroleum-based fuels, organic agricultural waste and synthetic gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning and aerosol products. “Reducing short-lived pollutants is the right thing to do for public health and for environmental justice,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said in a press release.

“By taking on harmful super pollutants … SB 1383 is another critical tool in our efforts to prevent and mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change.”

Lawmakers also passed legislation to make large-scale investments in communities disproportionately impacted by climate change and air pollution (AB 2722), to protect natural working lands that store significant amounts of carbon (SB 1386) and require municipalities to include an Environmental Justice element in their general plans. Laws requiring the disclosure of ingredients in cleaning products and informing consumers of plants and seeds treated with pesticides known to harm bees were voted down.

Green and Clean Finding eco-friendly ways to grow your garden

BY DEBRA HOLM

Are you interested in a more environmentally responsible approach to your landscape? If so, the pathway to achieve sustainability on your lawn and in your gardens is as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Organic Pesticides While chemical insecticides, herbicides and pesticides may kill weeds and eradicate bugs, many are concerned with the health impact they have on other living creatures, including humans. But an inexpensive alternative—organic pesticides— is readily available at local nurseries and is relatively simply to make at home.

Neem oil is considered to be one of the most effective organic pesticides, containing over 50 natural insecticides. The oil may be mixed with organic soap and sprayed on affected plant areas. Be sure to follow package directions, avoiding eye and skin contact, which may cause irritation.

To keep slugs from dining al fresco in your garden, mix one ounce of citrus oil, three tablespoons of organic castile soap and one gallon of warm water for a spray that keeps your herbs and veggies free of these slimy pests. This mixture also repels ants and roaches. Simply sprinkling a few drops of eucalyptus oil in areas where flies and wasps are buzzing will create a natural deterrent without harsh chemical odors.

2. Organic Composting Your kitchen trash may hold the secret to successful gardening, as composting is a natural method of returning food scraps to the circle of life. “Magic of Composting” seminars are held by the city of Dana Point throughout the year. These sessions include information on both composting and vermicomposting, a system that encourages earthworms to perform their alchemy. Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner that is water soluble. For more information, log on to www.danapoint.org/department.

Additionally, packaged worm “castings” (yes, worm poo) are easy to obtain. These particles are an optimum soil enricher that increases water retention as well as improving soil aeration and drainage.

3. Drought-Tolerant Plants Despite recent rainfalls, Southern Californians still must use a judicious approach to using water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 30 percent of American water usage occurs outdoors. This number increases in more arid climates. Although popular in Southern California, lawns are not particularly practical. Grass requires frequent watering, use of potentially harmful fertilizers and weekly maintenance in warmer months.

It’s easy to assume that drought-tolerant is synonymous with brown and boring. Not so. Mike Evans of the Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano feels that replacing lawn with plants native to California is “more authentic, beautiful and engaging” as they attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife. These include hardy shrubs such as rock rose, lavender, sage and salvia, which thrive in warm, dry climates and produce delicate, fragrant blooms.

An arrangement of drought-tolerant succulents at the Plant Depot. Photo: Debra Holm

The Plant Depot, also in San Juan Capistrano, has expanded its succulent section, and staff member Nick Osuni states that, “Without a doubt, customers gravitate toward water-wise gardening practices.” Succulents offer a complex mosaic of shapes, sizes, colors and textures, while requiring very little water. Combining these interesting variables can create living art for an outdoor space.

Some homeowners may not be ready to part ways with their private park as grass can be a desirable area for children and pets to play. Decreasing the size of the lawn and replanting this area with drought-tolerant plants will still reap ecological benefits.

If personally undertaking an outdoor remodel holds no appeal, you can enjoy an eco-friendly outdoor oasis by working with one of the many local landscape designers who specialize in drought-tolerant planting.

Clean COMMUTE Riding electric bicycles to work strikes a balance between comfort and sustainable living

EZ Green Bikes in Dana Point sells a variety of electric bicycles, which make it easier to ride hills and commute to work. Photo: Matt Cortina

BY MATT CORTINA

A national movement is afoot to get folks out of their cars and onto bikes during their weekday commutes to work. The benefits are obvious: exercise, limiting your carbon footprint, and avoiding the traffic on the interstate.

But even for the eco-friendliest cyclophiles among us, the idea of hopping on a bike every morning—especially those gray and chilly ones—and sweating all the way to work as more and more emails pile up can be daunting. However, electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are thankfully hitting the mass market just in time to convince commuters to switch the car keys for the bike lock.

E-bikes come in a variety of different forms, but all are intended to greatly reduce the strenuousness of a bike commute, which is particularly appreciated while riding along the hills and cliffs of South Orange County. They can be modeled after road bikes (built for speed), or mountain bikes (built for rough terrain or durability). They come in comfort models (big seats and ergonomic handles) and minimalist or collapsible designs (built for those who take a bike on public transportation or have a cramped office space).

E-bikes generally have a motor, attached to either the pedal well or the rear wheel hub, which is activated as the rider pedals.

That is, you don’t just flip on a switch and let the bike do the work like a moped; rather you adjust the level of “pedal assist” you want while pedaling, which helps reduce resistance as you go uphill, ride into wind or just get tired. E-bikes have vary-

It Pays to BE

4. Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies. Not only can making cleaning supplies out of natural ingredients prevent toxins from entering your home and the environment, but you can save a buck too. Vinegar and baking soda, mixed into spray bottles, can clean just about anything in your home and reduce the need to buy toxic cleaners that literally just go down the drain.

Green

Five tips to save your bank account and the earth

BY MATT CORTINA

If you’re a modern day eco-warrior, advocating for people in your community to take steps to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint, one common complaint you might hear is that it’s just too expensive to go green. Solar panels, local produce, electric cars, organic pesticides—they may help the environment, but they can also hurt the wallet.

Though it’s true some of those endeavors may incur an upfront cost, they can also save you money in the long run by cutting down on energy and gas bills, trips to the doctor and yet another tub of RoundUp. In short, there’s a common theme when it comes to being green that an upfront investment yields longterm returns.

Here are five simple actions you can take to demonstrably lower your bills and your eco-footprint.

ing display options—from GPS devices to simple plus and minus buttons. The whole experience is almost like riding on a stationary bike at the gym, where you can adjust resistance with the press of a button.

Some e-bikes have gears to allow even more variability for riders. Most e-bikes are outfitted with a removable and rechargeable battery—the higher the assistance you request of it, and for how long, dictates how long it can last, but many models are good without a charge for up to 100 miles.

Robbie Villanueva, owner of EZ Green Bikes in Dana Point, sells a variety of ebikes ranging from $1,200 to $3,500—old bikes can also be fitted with motors and hubs. Villanueva bikes 17 miles to work one way from Rancho Santa Margarita on most days, and says the trip allows him to clear his head or listen to music or podcasts along the way.

A study by the European Cyclists Federation found that using an e-bike to commute to work will release 12 times fewer pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per day than driving.

As millennials integrate themselves into the workforce, they’re clamoring for more live-work spaces where bike commuting is friendlier, and cities are accommodating their tastes to lure talent—new bike lines and eco-friendly urban design all benefit the environment.

Friday, May 19 is National Bike to Work Day—why not rent, transition to or buy an e-bike to celebrate and start making a difference on your commute.

1. Ditch the Bottled Water. Bottled water is a scourge on this planet, and they’re a waste of your money. According to the EPA, bottled water is 600 times more expensive than tap water. If you bought a $1.50 bottle of water every day for a year ($547.50), that same amount out of the tap would cost less than a dime. Never mind the fact that making bottles uses 17 million barrels of oil annually, and Americans only end up recycling about 25 percent of water bottles. Ditch them and buy yourself a reusable bottle.

2. Turn the Lights Off. If you left an incandescent bulb on for 24 hours a day, it would cost you about $137 in energy bills

annually, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. Those eco-friendly high efficiency bulbs cost about $40 annually. The average house has 45 light bulbs. Just switching from incandescent to efficiency bulbs would cut your lighting bill by two-thirds.

3. Buy Second-Hand, Borrow or Just Don’t Buy. One of the easiest ways it pays to go green is by limiting your spending on new stuff. Buying consignment furniture or clothes repurposes items destined for the landfill. Borrowing everything from books to bikes reduces production of those items. And cutting out non-essential items reduces your contribution to the landfill and saves you some money.

5. Plant Shade Trees. It’s one of the first (and only) environmental lessons we learn in school: Planting trees is good for the Earth. Though their potential to host animal habitats and suck up carbon dioxide are worthy of praise, trees also help consumers by reducing energy bills in hot months. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, planting large trees on the east, west and northwest sides of your property can reduce summer air conditioning costs by 35 percent.

Buzzing Gardens Experts offer ways to make your gardens more bee friendly

BY KRISTINA PRITCHETT

Although it may be automatic to shoo away a buzzing bee, or else run in fear, experts say to do quite the opposite when the creature flies near the beloved flowers and plants in your garden.

“Don’t be afraid of the bees being in your yard,” said Christine Ferrian, president of the OC Beekeepers Association.

“They’re just there to forage; they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.”

Ferrian and Janet Andrews, founder of Backyard Bees, both say bees are a critical part in the garden business and in the environment at large. (Albert Einstein is reported to have said that when the bees die, mankind has only four years left itself.) As the summer months approach, Ferrian and Andrews shared their advice on bee-friendly plants and pesticides and ways to keep the bees returning to your yard.

Through Backyard Bees, Andrews provides honey, natural beeswax products and educates community members about bees. She also provides an alternative to honeybee extermination by removing the bees without pesticides. They collect the accessible honeycomb and bees and relocate them into a wooden hive box and allow them to continue pollinating throughout the area.

Her business began after bees were found in the roof of her home. She said the contractor didn’t kill the bees but instead brought honey down.

“I always had a garden and chickens, so now I can always get honey and pollination,” Andrews said.

Janet Andrews, founder of Backyard Bees, offers an alternative to honeybee extermination.

Photo: Courtesy of Janet Andrews

To begin a bee-friendly garden, Andrews and Ferrian said some plants that gardeners can grow to attract the insects include lavender, rosemary, California pepper trees, mustard plant, milkweed, the lacy cecelia and more.

Ferrian said there’s an app—BeeSmart Pollinator Generator—that allows users to input their zip code and it will supply information about which plants are indigenous, the soil types to use on them, how much sunlight is needed and more.

But, Andrews adds, whatever you do plant, make sure there’s a lot of it.

“Make sure you have a large patch of it; they love it,” Andrews said. “If it’s a small bit, it won’t excite them.”

When deciding to use a spray, both Andrews and Ferrian say any type of spray could be harmful.

“Pesticides are always harmful; to what degree depends on the type of spray,” Ferrian said. “I would suggest using soapy water. It’s amazing to get rid of the bugs you don’t want.

“When the bees forage, they do go to the plants that have been sprayed,” Ferrian said. “If it doesn’t harm them right away, it could when they bring it back to the hive.”

When asked if there has been an influx of bees dying, Ferrian said it could be a result in development and the sprays.

“It’s all conducive to the bees dying,” Ferrian said. “The bees that are foraging are often at the end of their life spans. It could be that they’re dying because they’re old.”

She added that their habitats could be dwindling or there might not be enough flowers, but there are many reasons that could be going into a decline of bee populations.

Another tip for saving bees on which both experts agree is having a water source.

“If you have a fountain that has slow motion, a place where a bee could land to get a drink of water without drowning, (that is beneficial),” Andrews said.

Ferrian said to make sure it’s moving water so as not to attract mosquitoes.

For more about either the Assoication or Backyard Bees, visit www.ocbeekeepers.org or www.backyardbees.net.

Get Down on Earth Day

Take A Fresh Breath

Earth-Friendly Spring Events

Earth Day at the Ocean Institute Saturday, April 22; 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Celebrate being mindful of Mother Earth with eco-friendly crafts and marine exploration.

Get half-priced admission when you take part in keeping the Dana Point Harbor clean. Beach clean-up begins at 8:30 a.m.

24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www. ocean-institute.org.

Earth Day at The Ecology Center

Saturday, April 22; 10 a.m. Live music, dancing and strawberry picking round out this immersive environment-centric event aimed to bring together the local community to share, learn and dine with one another. Visit www. theecologycenter.com to register for workshops. The Ecology Center. 32801 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223.

Earth Day San Clemente

Saturday, April 22; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Learn how you can make a difference in protecting our planet with tips and tools to reduce litter and pollutants. This free, family-friendly event kicks off with an 8:30 a.m. North Beach clean-up and features live music, crafts, demonstrations and more.

Parque Del Mar, San Clemente Pier. www.scwatersheds.com.

Expand Your Eco-Knowledge Science in the Park

Saturday, April 29; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

The curious of all ages are invited to explore Southern California’s heritage, indigenous plants and animals, natural history and Native American culture with educational, hands-on experiments, demonstrations and exhibits.

Parking is $5. Admission is $2 for those over 2. Irvine Regional

Park. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. 714.973.6835. www.ocparks.com.

Eco Garden Expo

Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7; 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Harness the community’s collective power and creativity with a lineup of workshops and exhibits hosted by local experts at this annual expo where guests can learn, explore and create change. Los Rios Park. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. 949.606.6386. www.goinnative.net.

Eco Tots

Thursday, May 11; 10:30 a.m.

Tiny gardeners are invited to feed chickens, create gardeninspired art, sing garden songs and use harvested rainwater to nourish The Ecology Center’s grounds. $25 a family. 32801 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano.

949.443.4223. www.theecologycenter.com.

Smart Gardening 101

Dates vary; 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

Design your dream garden, brush up on bugs, birds and bees, plot your seasonal planting and learn the basics of canning and fermentation during this free, expert-led lecture series.

Visit www.goinnative.com for

class schedule. Reata Park & Event Center, 28632 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.606.6386.

Show Mother Earth a Little Love Mother Earth Beach Cleanup

Saturday, April 15; 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Do your part to keep Doheny’s iconic surf, campgrounds and San Juan Creek clean. Meet at lifeguard headquarters. Bring gloves and a trash bag. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.6172. www.dohenystatebeach.org.

Earth Day Restoration, Cleanup

Saturday, April 22; 8:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Join in cleaning up and restoring San Clemente State Beach’s nature trail before planting native plants and aiding the installation of an interpretive display. 225 W. Calafia Avenue, San Clemente. www.calparks. org/earthday.

Garden Angels

Thursdays; 8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Connect with the community, learn about gardening and help preserve historic San Juan each

week at the Montanez Adobe.

Bring gloves and wear close-toed shoes. 31745 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.606.6386. www.goinnative.net.

Starr Ranch Preservation

Various Dates. Join the “Weed Warriors” in removing invasive plants at Audubon California’s 4,000-acre sanctuary in the Santa Ana Mountains. Visit www. starrranch.org for a full list of volunteer days or email Sandy DeSimone at sdesimone@aububon.org from more information.

ROOTS Restoration

Fourth Saturdays; 9 a.m.–noon.

Lend Upper Newport Bay a hand by volunteering with the California Coastal Commission to remove invasive plants, sow seeds and perform site maintenance. Register at www.coastal. ca.gov. Contact Matt Yurko at 949.640.0286 for additional info.

Back to Natives Restoration

Saturdays throughout June, July and August; 9 a.m.–noon. Help restore habitat for animals at the Santiago Creek Nature Reserve in Santa Ana by removing invasive plants. Meet at Back to Natives Nursery. 600 E. Memory Lane, Santa Ana. 949.509.4787. www.backtonatives.org.

Native Plants Hike

First Tuesdays; 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

Learn the many uses of California’s native plants during this 2-mile hike over steep, uneven terrain. Parking is $3. Online reservation required. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

949.923.2235. www.ocparks.com.

Yoga Hike

Second Wednesdays; 9 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Reconnect your mind and body on this 2.4-mile hike (with a yoga twist) through the San Joaquin. $3 parking fee. Hike is for participants ages 12 and up. Aliso & Wood Canyons Park. 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel.

949.923.2200. www.ocparks.com.

Headlands Hikes

First, Second and Third Saturdays; 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Discover Orange County’s dramatic coastline on a 1.5-mile hike exploring the natural history and diverse ecosystems. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

Walk with a Naturalist

Saturdays; 9 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Join an O’Neill Regional Park naturalist on this casual walk to learn about the plant and wildlife calling Trabuco Canyon home. $5 parking fee. O’Neill Regional Park. 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon.

949.923.2260. www.ocparks.com.

Ranger-Led Hike

Sundays; 8 a.m.–9:15 a.m. Caspers Wilderness Park rangers lead a 1-mile hike of Bell Canyon to explore unique grassland, oak woodland and cactus communities. Hike is suitable for all ages. $5 parking fee. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com.

—Compiled by Andrea Papagianis-Camacho

It’s (So) Easy, Eating Green Eating “green” doesn’t have to be intimidating. While the lingo can conjure up visions of blending veggie smoothies or eating kale-heavy salads, embarking on a journey of more eco-friendly consumption can be much easier—and more delicious—than you think. (Although we definitely encourage you to reach for your kale smoothie goals.) Here are three simple tips to get you started:

one Limit animal and dairy product consumption.

Studies have shown that meat production creates considerably more greenhouse gas emissions than growing vegetables.

And according to a 2010 report from the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, it takes about 1,850 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef, versus 39 gallons to produce a pound of vegetables. Consider taking “Meatless Monday” to the next level by going vegetarian or vegan a few days each week. There’s nothing like a grilled portobello burger made with fresh produce from your local farmers market. Which leads to our next tip …

two

Eat local when possible.

When you buy locally grown produce, you’re supporting your region’s economy while also treating yourself to fresher produce than the stuff that’s been trucked to a supermarket or big-box store.

South Orange County is brimming with local farmers markets that feature an array of vendors. San Juan Capistrano is also home to the certified organic South Coast Farms, where you can literally see where your food is coming from.

three Avoid buying in bulk and shop more frequently.

According to a 2015 study out of the University of Arizona, bulk buying food can often result in consumers buying more than they need and ultimately wasting more food than they realize. Recent studies have also shown that more than 30 percent of food grown in the U.S. ends up in landfills.

While buying wholesale is often done to save time and money, researchers found that people are overlooking the cost of the unused food they end up throwing away at home. The solution?

Shop more often and buy only what you’re going to use in the short-term.

—Allison Jarrell

Power Up

Going off the grid and establishing your personal utility

Ripe for the Picking Food rescue groups seek to solve food waste in Orange County

BY MATT CORTINA

BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS-CAMACHO

What if someone told you they could zero out your bills?

Well, one bill particularly. You’d still be on the hook for your mortgage, insurance, water, cell phone and groceries but could—potentially—owe nothing to power up your home, office and car.

Kristin Ashwood and her husband, Matt, are in the homegrown-utility industry, helping homeowners and businesses become energy self-sufficient by utilizing the sun. The duo behind San Clemente’s Planet Earth Solar, has been pumping out anywhere from 125 to 175 solar projects per year for the past decade.

They’re part of a growing movement making electric independence possible.

“It (solar) allows you to produce everything you use,” Kristin said. “You become your own micro-utility.”

According to official San Diego Gas & Electric figures, some 109,600 customers throughout the company’s service area in San Diego and South Orange Counties have already taken the solar plunge.

With the technology improving and lawmakers continuing to push toward a cleaner, greener California, we reached out to Planet Earth Solar to talk about their backgrounds, solar technology and funding sources.

An EPA, Energy Combo Matt is an electrician by trade. An Englishman with decades of electrical experience, he began working in solar when he came to the states. The challenge of an ever-evolving technology has kept him hooked.

Kristin traveled a different path to solar.

An environmental policy major, Kristin went to work for the Environmental Protection Agency before receiving her master’s in climate studies. She knew a policy or desk job was out of the question.

“I wanted to do something for the environment,” Kristin said. “I wanted to see the change.”

Ten years ago she moved to California and began working in energy—installing and managing solar projects throughout the state. She’s never looked back. The Ashwoods melded their experience to create Planet Earth Solar in 2012 with a vision of making solar accessible and stress-free.

When it comes to solar reservations, the Ashwoods encounter two: technology and cost.

Solar technology is becoming increasingly more efficient, with panels producing about 150 more watts than they were 10 years ago, Kristin said. Customers often ask if they should wait. Kristin says, “No.” While renewable technologies continue to advance, the cost savings of today could outweigh the benefit of waiting for tomorrow. With energy rates on the rise, the time spent delaying solar installation could wind up costing people more as they lose out on zeroed-out energy bill savings. And when it comes to overall system costs, solar investors can benefit from a federal tax-credit and various financing options.

“It takes about five years to recover the costs of solar or pay yourself back for the investment,” she said.

The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable projects through property tax bills.

This form of financing comes with little to no up-front costs and enables spreading payments out without dipping into other lines of credit.

Although SDG&E and Southern California Edison no longer offer rebate programs, the federal government offers homeowners a renewable energy tax credit for 30 percent of eligible system costs.

RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDIT 30 percent credit of system costs until 2019

Taxpayers can claim a 30 percent credit for costs of their solar system. The tax-credit program, extended under the Consolidated Appropriations Act in late 2015, will gradually be reduced to 26 percent in 2021 and 22 percent until 2022 when it is set to expire.

More information at: www.energy.gov.

PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM Payback renewable project costs in property tax bill

PACE programs grant local governments the ability to fund up-front costs of commercial and residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. This loan is then paid back by property owners through their property tax bill over time. More information at: www.energy.center.org.

About one-third of all food produced around the world is lost or wasted every year, according to the United Nations. In the U.S., up to 40 percent of food is wasted. And food and other organic waste is the second most abundant object in our country’s landfills—which are the main source of methane emissions, a harmful greenhouse gas. At the same time, about 1 in 5 children in Orange County do not have access to enough food.

In short, food waste is a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe.

But groups around the country are making an effort to “rescue” food that otherwise would be wasted. By working with homeowners, communities, grocery stores and restaurants, food rescue groups take food headed for the landfill and distribute it to families in need, often via charitable organizations.

One such group is the Orange County Food Access Coalition, whose Harvest Club sends volunteers throughout the county to pick fruit that would otherwise go unused and distribute it to those in need.

Harvest Club started as a small resident group in Huntington Beach in 2009. That first year, the group rescued 2,000 pounds of food. After shifting hands to the Coalition, more than 51,000 pounds were saved in 2015, followed by 81,000 pounds in 2016. In just the first three months of 2017, the group has saved 25,000 pounds of fruit.

“We know we’re just scratching the surface,” said Coalition Executive Director Christina Hall. “We have so many trees in Orange County. My mapping indicates about 60 percent of all residents, trailers, apartments and houses have at least one fruit tree.”

Hall said South Orange County is particularly ripe for the picking. Although home to many of the Coalition’s volunteers—and home to an abundant

Photo: Courtesy The Harvest Club

supply of fruit trees—Hall said more donors are needed in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point to help prevent food waste.

The process is simple: Homeowners with fruit trees can call or email the Coalition. Together, they’ll determine how many volunteers are needed for the pick based on tree size, quantity and type. Then a time for the pick is mutually agreed upon—Hall said, “We highly value our growers’ safety, privacy and security,” so only day-of volunteers are notified of addresses. After the pick, the food is shipped to a local food pantry or distribution center and letters of thanks are distributed to the growers and volunteers indicating how much food was rescued.

Because fruit is picked from home growers, the quality of the food is superior, Hall said.

“Most people don’t spray stuff so this is really awesome produce that is getting into the communities,” she said.

Across the county, the Harvest Club welcomes 1,000 volunteers who pick fruit, about 15 volunteer project managers, about 250 growers, and about 200 pantries to whom food is delivered.

And yet South Orange County remains relatively untapped by the Harvest Club, so Hall said she is excited about the future growth in the region and hopes residents in the area sign up to volunteer or donate food at www.theharvestclub.org.

TrickleDown Ecology The Water Effect program helps students spread info on water conservation

BY ERIC HEINZ

In San Juan Capistrano, The Ecology Center is looking to provide students with tools to promote water conservation and sustainability in their communities.

Lauren Fieberg, the school programs coordinator, said one of the center’s programs, The Water Effect, was designed to influence students to be mindful of how they use water and how they can conserve it.

“We really want to reach the high school kids,” Fieberg said. “There wasn’t really that much to engage them in water conservation, and we want to get them fired up about it.”

Fieberg’s background is in high school education as well as ecological science.

“We put a call out for our Water Effect high school ambassadors as an internshipbased program,” Fieberg said. “The students would take the information back to their schools, and we got 16 students who were really passionate.”

Students at San Clemente High School participate in a water conservation effort to reduce use of single plastic bottles as well as show students how much water goes into the products they purchase on a weekly or daily basis. Photo: Tony Wodark

Ambassadors come from San Clemente High School, Dana Hills and Orange County School for the Arts, as well as other local schools.

One of the student ambassadors works out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and found The Water Effect through the center’s social media campaigns.

“One of the things we wanted to do is create something that could be replicated, an open-source model,” Fieberg said. “We have a student ambassador toolkit that has different campaigns and ideas that students can activate on their campuses regarding water conservation.”

Some of these campaigns include a

“meatless Monday,” where each meal is dedicated to not eating meat, and clothing swaps, as both textiles and meat-based industries use large amounts of water to manufacture their products. By following these campaigns, Fieberg said, people can significantly reduce their impact on local and far-reaching water sources.

“We’ve had a variety of campaigns over the years about water usage, such as purchase with a purpose,” Fieberg said. “Just buying local can conserve water, and we want to show students the steps to conserve water that may not be immediately visible.”

Campaigns are also dedicated to encouraging people to ditch their lawns for

front yards filled with native plant species, which need less water than imported species.

The toolkits also come with a simplified “water footprint calculator” students can use to track their own water usage.

“We encourage students to speak with their local facilities (school boards, governments) about water conservation and looking literally at the water bill,” Fieberg said. “It’s a challenge to know what you’re using at the district level, and it’s a lot of problem-solving for them. The cohorts come together once or twice a month for collective conversations and brainstorming speakers.”

Fieberg said they will take the students on a field trip to the Hurley International facility, which she said is a company that has been ahead of the curve on water conservation.

Part of the program is also teaching students to use social media to get their message more exposure. Try searching the hashtag #thewatereffect and see for yourself.

Jackson Hinkle, a co-founder of Team Zissou at San Clemente High School, has been the school’s student ambassador to The Water Effect. At the school, they have proposed making refill stations for students to fill their reusable water bottles instead of buying new ones or reusing single plastic bottles.

For more information about The Ecology Center’s program, visit www.theecologycenter.org/water. For more information on Team Zissou, follow them on Instagram @teamzissouglobal.

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 14) LIVE THEATER: ‘ON GOLDEN POND’ 8 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse stages On Golden Pond, the touching, funny and warmly perceptive story of a spirited and lovable elderly couple facing their twilight years. Tickets start at $20.

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

LIVE MUSIC: YACHTLEY CREW 9 p.m. Yacht rockers Yachtley Crew return to Stillwater Spirit and Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. www.danapointstillwater.com.

Saturday | 15 GIANT EASTER EGG DISPLAY All day. In celebration of spring, The RitzCarlton, Laguna Niguel introduces four non-edible Easter eggs, each individually painted by local artists Trevor Mezak, James Galindo, Robin Hiers and Kym de los Reyes. People are invited to take photos in front of the display. One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point. 949.240.2000. www.ritzcarlton.com.

SAN CLEMENTE SENSATIONAL SPRINGTACULAR 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Celebrate spring with a day of events in San Clemente. A pancake breakfast hosted by the San Clemente High School cheer team kicks off at 8:30 a.m. From 9 a.m.-noon, there will by bunny visits, egg hunts, pony rides, face painting and more. Then from noon-4 p.m., there will be a “splashtacular” party at the Aquatics Center. Morning activities held at the Vista Hermosa Sports Park.

987 Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. www.san-clemente.org.

DANA POINT EGG HUNTS 9 a.m. Easter egg hunts will be held at Pines Park and Sea Canyon Park in Dana Point. Besides the egg hunts, there will be puppet shows, children’s relay games, a petting zoo and Easter bunny visits. There is also a pancake breakfast from 8:30-11 a.m., and proceeds benefit local charities.

The egg hunt starts at 10 a.m. Pines Park is located at 34941 Camino Capistrano, Dana Point. Sea Canyon Park is located at 33093 Santiago Drive, Dana Point. www.danapoint.org.

REPLACE YOUR LAWN WORKSHOP 9:30-10:30 a.m. Join Ecotone Studios’ Josh Link for this workshop on building intermediate gardens at Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

SPRING EGG-STRAVAGANZA 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Stop by Los Rios Park for a free spring festival. There will be an egg hunt, a marionette show, crafts and games, face painting, free hot dogs and popcorn, photos with the Easter bunny, and access to ZOOMARS petting zoo. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.5911.

LIVE MUSIC: BUNCH OF GUYS 7:30-11 p.m. Listen to music from Bunch of Guys at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

Sunday | 16 GUIDED NATURE HIKE 8-9:15 a.m. Join an Orange County Parks Ranger for a one-mile hike around Bell Canyon in Caspers Wilderness Park.

Parking is $5, the hike is free. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.

OCEAN INSTITUTE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m. Hop aboard the Ocean Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer this spring for whale watching excursions. Tickets range from $25-$45. Visit the Institute’s website for more dates and times. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org/jazz-festival.

EASTER FAIR 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event at South Shores Church. The Easter Fair will include an egg hunt, carnival games, face painting, bounce houses, crafts, lunch, music and more. South Shores Church. 32032 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano.

949.661.4991. www.southshores.org.

EASTER EGG HUNT 1 p.m. Hunt for Easter eggs on the grand lawn of the Monarch Beach Resort. Event is open to members, hotel guests and those with brunch reservations. One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. 949.234.3900. www.monarchbeachresort.com.

Monday | 17 FREE GUITAR LESSONS 5-6 p.m. Free beginner-level acoustic guitar lessons for middle school to college age youth. 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK 5:30 p.m. Join iHeartYoga for yoga in the park every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Bring a mat, water bottle and suggested donation of $8. Lantern Bay Park.

25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.

(Cont. on page 17) Page 15

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 15)

Tuesday | 18 TINY TOTS: PARENT AND ME PROGRAM 9-10:15 a.m. Join the Ocean Institute for a six-week, maritime-themed series of exploration and play suitable for children ages 2 and 3. Stretch your child’s imagination through creative play that supports language development, social interaction and problem-solving. Cost is $30 for a single class. Program runs through May 9.

Register online. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.

HALF-PRICE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Hop onboard this two-hour cruise to see dolphins, whales and other marine life in the wild. $22.50. Half price on Tuesdays but trips are available every day of the week. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.496.5794. www.danawharf.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 6-10 p.m. Singer/songwriters perform at The Point Restaurant open mic every Tuesday. Bring your instrument and your voice; The Point supplies the sound system. 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.464.5700. www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

COA IMPROV COMEDY NIGHT 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Community Outreach Alliance hosts a weekly comedy show and workshop, where kids interested in comedy can listen to clean acts, while also refining their own material.

Admission is free. 1050 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

LECTURE: WILDFLOWERS FROM A-Z 7-8:30 p.m. After winter rains, The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo teems with an endless array of wildflowers. Join botanist Tony Bomkamp for a presentation of interesting facts (with photos) about many of the most picturesque wildflowers

popping up along hillsides and in the back country. Reserve your spot ahead of time.

28811 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano.

949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.

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 | 19 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.

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.

THE DISH

HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE CAFE’S LAMB GYRO

I

t’s hard to beat the environment at Hummingbird House—right at the mouth of Los Rios Street, it’s as easy to people watch as it is to get lost in the ambiance of the open air patio. But it’s also fair to say that the food upstages even the setting.

The Mediterranean menu offers dozens of fresh salads, sandwiches and soups, but the lamb gyro is a house specialty. A fluffy pita, slightly sweet and slightly salty, is packed with fresh and crisp lettuce, onion and tomato. It’s all a bed for succulent strips of lamb and herbaceous tzatziki sauce.

The lamb was perfectly succulent, and though all gaminess had been removed, there lingered the pleasant earthiness that makes lamb such a treat. The tzatziki sauce was cool and creamy, while also snappy with acidic green herb and simple, bright seasoning.

With a side kale salad dressed in Greek dressing, it was a simple meal to finish quicker than you’d hoped—which is all the more reason to go back.

Hummingbird House Cafe.

26711 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.5090. www.hummingcafe.com.

On Stage at the Coach House: Doug Benson

LIVE MUSIC: WILL HEARD 7-10:30 p.m. Listen to music from Will Heard at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

S

ee if you can spot a theme with Doug Benson’s comedy in the names of some of his most popular works: Super High Me, The High Court with Doug Benson, and the Getting Doug with High podcast.

Stumped? Then you may be just the person to sit in the audience when Benson brings special guests to the Coach House for a live taping of Getting Doug with High on April 20 at 8 p.m.

But weed is only part of what makes Benson’s projects so great—he’s a legitimately funny guy and career stand-up with a commitment to good jokes. He’s also a podcast pioneer, beginning a moviebased podcast in 2006.

The live tapings of Getting Doug include guests ingesting marijuana in some form,

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are welcome to perform at this weekly open mic. Bring your instruments, or voice, and show off your talent. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www.knuckleheadsmusic.com.

FREE COMEDY AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 9:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s with food and drink specials. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to San Clemente Times by going to www.sanclementetimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

Photo: Courtesy

talking, and then witnessing a magic trick at the end. It’s just perfect.

No word on the guests yet—that’ll be a surprise for the show. And whether you (legally) partake or not before the show, you’re likely to laugh.

Tickets are $25, and doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House Concert Hall.

33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.

At the Movies: Evans’ Latest is Barely ‘Gifted’

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

C

Photo: Wilson Webb/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

hris Evans is known as Captain America to everyone the same way Christopher Reeve was known as Superman. Evans is an iconic superhero brought to life on screen in the most charismatic way, but like Reeve, it’s taking a while for Evans to find equal success outside of his franchise.

The sci-fi adventure Snowpiercer (2013) is his most success film outside of the Marvel universe, while his rom-coms Before We Go and Playing It Cool flopped in 2014. His latest is a family feature, penned Gifted.

Seven-year-old Mary Adler (Mckenna Grace) is attending second grade in a smalltown Florida public school for the first time after being homeschooled. Very quickly, her teacher Bonnie Stevenson (Jenny Slate) discovers that Mary is uniquely advanced in higherlevel mathematics. Mary’s uncle and legal guardian Frank (Evans) feels she should experience a normal childhood, while her grandmother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) thinks she should use her intelligence to full advantage.

The scenes between Evans and Slate in Gifted come across as genuinely cute

Page 17

and believable as a pairing, most likely because of their authentic relationship during filming. But the protagonist herself suffers from the cardinal sin of movie kids: she’s overtly precocious and bratty.

The issue could be Grace’s performance, Tom Flynn not being familiar with writing adolescent characters, or Marc Webb not knowing how to direct child actors, or all of the above. Either way, the character should be more natural, like in Little Man Tate (1991) or Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), and less of a film caricature. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY LIST LOCALS ONLY USE LOCALS ONLY - 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.

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

Exquisite Epoxy Concrete Floor Coatings

Lic.: 1020002, 949.632.8400 exquisiteepoxy.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

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Arcadia Electric

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

949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com

FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

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

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

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

HOME DÉCOR

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

SALONS

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD

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

PLUMBING

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

SWIMMING SCHOOL

A to Z Leak Detection

Waterbabies Swim School

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

142 Avenida Granada, 949.488.2512, www.waterbabiesswimschool.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

Karl Aiken Plumbing-Rooter

TERMITES

Colony Termite Control

San Clemente, 949.366.8302

1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com

POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL

WEBSITE DESIGN

Radiant Pool & Spa Service

San Clemente Website Design

Lic # 985800, 949.290.5616, www.radiantpoolservice.com

949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

SC Pool & Spa Works

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

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

RESTAURANTS

Café Calypso

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE 520 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0521, www.scridersupply.com

MUSIC LESSONS 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

OFFICE FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

LIST LOCALS ONLY

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

USE

PET SERVICES/HOUSE SITTING

LOCALS ONLY

2-dogswalking.com

Ricky, 949.973.4128 Pet care –Insured & Bonded

Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE SAT., APRIL 15 8am-1pm at 213 Calle Serena, San Clemente 92672

HELP WANTED HIRING HOUSEKEEPER Family in San Juan Capistrano hiring housekeeper. Part time.

Morning 8:30 to 12:30. Monday to Friday. Cooking cleaning. Take care of animals. Need someone clean, honest, experienced and detail oriented. Love animals. Call (949) 528-5026 or email byh99@ yahoo.com.

MANAGER POSITION Looking for someone to manage gorgeous SC vacation rental near Linda Lane. Related experience not necessary, but requires very responsible adult, attentive to detail, reliable. Manage online bookings, welcome guests, supervise cleaning and repairs.

Pat @ 805 807 7337 AQUATIC TECHNICIAN NEEDED Will train. Position based in San Clemete and San Juan Capistrano Must have truck and insurance long term growth potential Starting pay $17 per hr 40 hrs per week. Advancement to $19 additional training. Contact: Peter 714-241-1315

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF

SC Rider Supply

Danman’s Music School

CLASSIFIEDS

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

CHURCH IS SUCH A HASSLE Attend church this Sunday in a small town in Montana from the comfort of your own home, pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us this Sunday at 8:00AM or 10:00AM. www.bitterrootvalleycalvarychapel.com

SERVICES HANDYMAN CHRIS Flat screen TV’s installed, anything Electrical, Plumbing, Finish Carpentry, Drywall Repairs, Mold and Wood Rot issues, Waterproofing, Decks and Patio covers repaired, Doors, Windows, Kitchens and Baths, Water Damage Restoration, Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication and Much More. Phone Chris – 949 510 6645

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San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

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Page 19

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SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

How a Dana Point Man Met Elvis, ‘The King’

W

hen Dana Point resident Michael McLeavy read “Delivering a Letter to Johnny Cash,” a column I wrote last month, he responded: “I enjoyed your column and thought you might get a kick out of how I met Elvis Presley, since Elvis was a friend of your friend Johnny Cash.”

Michael and I got together and compared stories about how he met Elvis and how I met Johnny, two great Tennessee singing legends.

Meeting Elvis was a life goal for Michael, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and was lead singer with a popular rock and roll group called The Fireflies. On July 3, 1965, ON LIFE AND he came to the United LOVE AFTER 50 States to meet Elvis and to

By Tom Blake further his music career.

After Michael settled into the Los Angeles area, an acquaintance gave him the address in Bel Air where Elvis was living while filming a movie called Spin Out in Hollywood. One day, when the gates to the home were open, Michael walked through and knocked on the front door. A housekeeper answered.

Michael said to her, “I have come all the way from Scotland to meet Elvis.” The housekeeper explained that Elvis was in Memphis taking a break from filming, but she invited him into the home along with Richard Davies, one of Elvis’s valets, who

showed Michael around the house.

After Elvis returned to Los Angeles, Michael would occasionally stop by the Bel Air home to try to meet him. Michael had become friends with Davies and two other friends of Elvis—Sonny West and Jerry Schilling. They told Michael to come by one night and that Elvis would meet him.

But Michael had borrowed a friend’s car and had promised to return the car by 10 p.m. So, before Elvis came out, Michael had to leave. He had been so close to reaching his goal, which made him even more determined. Sonny West gave Michael the phone number of Tom Diskin, who worked for MGM Studios and knew Elvis’ filming schedule.

Diskin also knew of Michael’s story. He told Michael to go to the Ascot Motor Car Racing Track in Torrance the following Thursday at 8 a.m., where Elvis would be on location shooting the movie.

Michael was there, bright and early. He saw Elvis arrive in his Rolls Royce. Sonny West took Michael to the set and gave him a seat next to where Elvis would be sitting.

Michael said, “You can imagine how I felt, that I was going to achieve my greatest ambition: to meeting the King of Rock N Roll. Soon, Sonny walked up with Elvis and introduced us. Elvis said, ‘Hi Mike, so glad you could make it.’ He made me feel completely at ease. Elvis began talking about Scotland and how he had touched down at Prestwick Airport on his way home from the Army. He said he wanted me to stay there the entire day! It was incredible.

“At the end of the day, Elvis alone walked me to the gate entrance and said, ‘I hope you enjoyed the day. Best of luck, Mike.’ I had spent eight hours talking with Elvis and watching him making a movie. I will never forget that ‘unreal day.’”

Six years later, on August 12, 1972, Michael went to see Elvis perform at the Hilton International Hotel in Las Vegas.

Before the show, Michael saw Sonny West, who invited him backstage to meet with Elvis after the show. So, Michael got to be

Tom Blake and Michael McLeavy hold a Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley poster promoting a March 10, 1956, concert in Mississippi. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Blake

with Elvis a second time.

Michael has lived a fascinating life. In 1967, after living and working in Honolulu, he returned to L.A. to become a personal assistant for actor Laurence Harvey, who lived in Malibu.

Harvey hosted lots of splashy parties, and Michael got to meet many celebrities at the events, including Orson Welles, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Burt Lancaster, Mia Farrow, Doris Day, Julie Andrews and Sharon Tate, with whom he became friends.

In 1970, Michael took a salesman position with New York Life Insurance Company at the L.A. Airport office. He was promoted to assistant manager in the

Century City office and to general manager at the Laguna Hills office. He took early retirement and is now an independent entertainment professional.

Michael is a talented singer with three CDs to his credit, “Shopping Days,” “That’s the Way It Was,” and “I Believe in the Man in the Sky.” Soon, he will be going to Nashville to record a new CD. While there, he said he’d visit the Johnny Cash Museum. His CDs are available on iTunes and www.cdbaby.com/cd/michaelmcleavy.

Michael has been in Dana Point since 1990, where he lives with his wife, Linda, and two cats, Elvis and Priscilla (of course).

Visit Michael McLeavy’s Facebook page to learn more about this interesting Dana Point resident.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating.

See his websites at www.findingloveafter50. com; www.vicsta.com and www.travelafter55. com. To receive Tom’s weekly newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

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

Last week’s solution:

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Just Sow, You Know?

GardenFest draws hundreds to Community Center

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

Samantha Norman, left, and Abby Smith stand in line to buy plants at the San Clemente Garden Club’s GardenFest on Saturday, April 8, at the San Clemente Community Center. Photo: Eric Heinz

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

he annual GardenFest, hosted by the San Clemente Garden Club, brought spring to life with a small plant sale, educational booths and garden vendors. As the weather stayed warm in San Clemente, hundreds came through to peruse the various attractions and products.

Representatives who attended included Tower Gardens, which sells vertical home gardens that use less water than sprinkler systems, and Bill Schafer, who gives presentations and information about butterflies.

Page 20

The San Clemente Garden Club offers high school and college scholarships to students on an annual basis. The club also hosts various speakers on topics related to gardening, horticulture and water conservation. Visit the club’s website to learn about how to volunteer with civic projects.

The next major event hosted by the club will be the San Clemente Garden Tour, which takes place May 20 from 10 a.m.4 p.m. throughout the city. To catch up on the latest from the San Clemente Garden Club and its calendar of events, visit www.sanclementegardenclub.com. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Triton Report

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

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

Historic Effort for Triton Lacrosse Propels Team Toward Tough Stretch When he took over the San Clemente boys lacrosse team in the offseason, first-year head coach Brendan Finnerty brought a fast-paced style of play with him.

Finnerty preached the importance of quick passes and cuts to the Tritons, never wanting the ball to stay with someone for longer than three seconds in the hopes of igniting an efficient offense.

The Tritons could not have been more efficient on April 11 when they played host to South Coast League opponent Dana Hills.

San Clemente put together an effort for the record books, scoring a programhigh in goals in a 28-0 shutout victory.

The Tritons scored 21 goals in the first half on 37 shots, and by the final whistle, 13 different players scored a goal. The team was led by Matt Keany (four goals, three assists), Jake Steele (six goals) and Nick Lemus (three goals, one assist).

The Triton offense has morphed into a juggernaut in league play. San Clemente (8-2, 5-0 league) has outscored league opponents 90-21 in five matches.

It’s been a solid start to say the least, but the Tritons have also been impressive in nonleague competition playing against some heavy hitters.

San Clemente beat Foothill for the first time since 2012 following a 9-8 victory on April 1. Keany had three goals and two assists in the win and goalie Harrison Webb recorded 17 saves.

“The Foothill game was pretty big.

That’s when I really believed that the boys truly bought (the system),” Finnerty said. “They’re coming to play and they’re locked in. They’re playing for each other and not as individuals and that’s why it works.”

Last week the Tritons traveled to Nevada and defeated Palo Verde, the second-ranked team in the state, and lost to Coronado Red, the third-ranked team in Nevada, in overtime.

The team’s efforts over the last two weeks have earned them the No. 2 rankSan Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

San Clemente’s Branden Wilson scored two goals in the boys lacrosse team’s historic 28-0 victory over Dana Hills on April 11. Photo: Eric Heinz

ing in Orange County. Their chances at a high playoff seeding are likely if they can close out strong, which will be a difficult test considering their upcoming schedule.

San Clemente’s next three nonleague games will be against Palos Verdes (ranked fourth in CIF-SS), Loyola (second in CIF-SS) and Corona Del Mar (first in Orange County and third in CIF-SS).

The Tritons will host Palos Verdes on April 15 at 12 p.m. The Sea Kings (8-3) are riding high after beating Loyola 6-2 on April 11 and Foothill on March 23.

Triton Baseball Jumps Back Into League Title Chase Following a 9-0 shutout victory over Capistrano Valley on April 10, the San Clemente baseball team kept itself squarely in the hunt for the South Coast League title and a possible playoff berth.

Jeff Bruyntjens swatted two home runs and pitcher Mike McGreevy blanked the Cougars (11-8, 1-2 league) over six innings in what was the Tritons’ (13-6, 3-2) seventh win in a row.

San Clemente senior Spencer Bramwell hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, and Bruyntjens followed with the second of his home run blasts to open up a 9-0 lead.

San Clemente, which sits in third place

in the standings, will host second-place El Toro on April 13.

Golf Wins First Match with Dolphins The San Clemente boys golf team won an important South Coast League game against rival Dana Hills 189-193 at Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club on April 11.

The Tritons and Dolphins were co-league champions last season.

Match medal honors went to Christian Wentzel of San Clemente and Hayden Hill of Dana Hills for shooting 36 (E).

The Tritons have had a very successful tournament season, and placed fourth in the 50-team field at the Championship Invitational in Indio on April 1. Alex Pak placed fi fth as an individual at the tournament, and posted the lowest score of the tournament when he shot a second-round 67 (-5).

Doubles Teams Lead Tennis Team to Big Wins Some strong play by the San Clemente boys tennis team’s doubles units has produced some big wins over league opponents.

The Tritons began last week with a

Page 22

convincing 17-1 win over Tesoro, and followed up with an important 11-7 win over rival Dana Hills on March 30.

The Tritons’ doubles group swept all nine possible points against Tesoro, and the tandems of Corey Angeli and Devin Ursem and Chris Torcaso and Mike Tilly swept all three of their doubles matches against Dana Hills. Griffen Wolfe won two key points in singles play against the Dolphins.

San Clemente ran through the first round of South Coast League play unscathed, and they currently own a 4-0 record. The Tritons were scheduled to play San Juan Hills on April 12. Results were not available at press time.

Volleyball Sweeps Away Wolverines, Titans The San Clemente boys volleyball team bounced back nicely from a five-set loss to South Coast League rival Dana Hills with consecutive three-set sweeps.

San Clemente got past Aliso Niguel 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 on Mach 30, led by Jess Hunt’s 14 kills and Kyler Presho’s 11.

Bryce Curtis had 10 kills and six aces.

San Clemente (14-6, 2-1) then breezed past Tesoro 25-19, 25-17, 25-14 on April 11. Hunt and Presho tied for a team-high 11 kills. www.sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

San Clemente’s Austin Streeter, left, and Peyton Garrett played against one another in a collegiate lacrosse game on April 8. Photo: Rob Streeter

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Garrett, Streeter Square Off in D1 Lacrosse Game SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

San Clemente High School graduates and current Division 1 lacrosse players Peyton Garrett and Austin Streeter squared off against one another on April 8. Garrett, a junior who plays for High Point University, scored two goals and Streeter, a junior who plays for Bellarmine University, recorded three ground balls in Bellarmine’s 7-5 victory. Garrett and Streeter, who graduated from SCHS in 2014, were both named All-American and All-South Coast League while playing for the Tritons.

San Clemente’s Finn Barton placed second in the bronze division at the NASTAR Nationals in Colorado on March 26. Photo: Courtesy

Scoreboard SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

FINN BARTON PLACES SECOND IN NATIONAL SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS When the public address announcer for the NASTAR National Championships read the name Finn Barton aloud to the crowd gathered in Steamboat, Colorado, on March 26, it was followed by a moment of stunned amusement.

The announcer got a kick out of the fact that Barton, a 12-year-old resident from sunny San Clemente, had placed second overall in the bronze division at the largest amateur grass-roots skiing circuit in the country.

Barton, a sixth-grader who attends Our Lady of Fatima Parish School, specializes Page 24

in the Giant Slalom event and raced four times over two days against some of the top youth skiers in the country. Barton led the bronze division after day one and finished in second place at the end of day two, when the temperatures hovered in the 20s.

Barton began skiing when he was 3 years old, according to his father Curtis Barton, and tries to train as often as school will allow him.

Barton went through a rigorous qualifying process to reach the NASTAR Nationals. He had to have a top-10 skiing handicap in the nation, or be ranked inside the top-5 of individual state rankings. Barton trains often in Utah, and earned a spot in Nationals by cracking into the state’s top-5 ranking earlier this year. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Surf Roundup

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 58-62 degrees F

Three stories from the world of surf

Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-7’ Poor-Fair Thursday: Leftover NW swell mix and fading SSW swell for the day. Exposed breaks are in the knee-waist-chest high (2-3’+) range with standout combo spots going shoulder high (4’) on sets.

Light+ onshore winds in the morning, becoming moderate+ onshore in the afternoon.

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Andino finals in Western Australia Two events into the World Surf League’s Championship Tour and San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino sits third in the world. Finishing runner-up at the Drug Award Pro at Margaret River down in Western Australia, Andino’s well positioned to make a run at a world title this season.

“The waves today—and the entire event for that matter—have been awesome,” said Andino after the final, which was won by Hawaii’s John John Florence. “You can’t ask for much more than big swell and offshore winds. I know I work as hard as anyone else on tour and my surfing is there, but I just need to work on competing right.”

The WSL Championship Tour now heads to Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro. The surf forecast is calling for plenty of surf for the Easter holiday Down Under.

Remembering the late, great San Clemente High Surf Coach Bill Hartman If the mark of a man is the good he leaves behind when his days are finally over, Coach Bill Hartman’s life was epic by every measure. Responsible for launching the San Clemente High School Surf Team in 1977, he spent his entire career at the school before retiring in 2005. On March 30, Hartman passed away while out surfing his favorite spot at Grandview Street in

GROM OF THE WEEK

GRIFFIN GLENN

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he thing about growing up a surfer in South Orange County is that there’s no shortage of options.

Griffin Glenn, this week’s Grom of the Week, is a perfect example. Since he started surfing four years ago, Griffin’s made excellent use of the various surfscapes in the local area. He’s as happy linking turns at Uppers as he is crossstepping at San Onofre, but you may also find him perfecting his down-carve at

San Clemente Times April 13–19, 2017

Outlook: Fun size blend of WNW and SSW swell through Friday with overlapping swells. Wave are mainly in the waist-chest high (3-4’) range. Wave heights drop out through the weekend. Winds don’t look ideal, but could be light in the early mornings. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Kolohe Andino is the third-ranked surfer in the world after two events. Photo: WSL/Ed Sloane

Encinitas. He was 72 years old.

“He was a true legend and a mentor to so many,” remembered local pro surfer and …Lost Surfboards rep Nate Yeomans.

“My senior year I was flunking surf team because I ditched too many surf classes.

To make up the lost credit, Coach made a deal: for every 500 meters I would swim, he would give me one day’s credit. I spent over a month swimming laps in the school pool during lunch to make up those credits.

Looking back, those were some of my fondest memories with him.”

Over the course of his tenure at San Clemente High, Hartman served as a teacher, Athletic Director, water polo coach, swim coach, and, of course, surf coach. In 1999, his surf team won the state championship, beating the Huntington High powerhouse, who had won 17 of the last 20 titles. In terms of the dynasty that was to become of the Triton surf program, it was a victory that put the squad on the map.

“It was the raddest thing … to beat them,” said alumni Mike Losness shortly after winning the title. Today he enjoys a career as an artist and works with the surf company Reef. “Ever since I was a fresh-

man, it’s always been Huntington Beach.

But we changed that. It was perfect timing.

It was the perfect gift.”

When Hartman retired in ’05, his teams owned six of the last seven national titles.

He was named NSSA coach of the year in ’04 and ’05, and earned SC High Teacher of the Year honors in ’83 and ’88.

“I remember him turning his attention away as we jumped off the Pier when it was big,” recalled Shaun Pezman, a former surf team member that is now at the helm of The Surfer’s Journal. “As rule-abiding as you’d expect a teacher to be, the surf rebel in him couldn’t help it. That always stuck with me. I’m sure Miki Dora would be amused. I quit the football team to join the surf team because of how rad he was and how prestigious he had made the surf program. Surfers at San Clemente were as popular and as sought after as the starting varsity football team.”

“Coach, he was the man,” testified Dane Gudauskas, who surfed for Hartman and is up for a Big Wave Award for Best Tube Ride this year. “My brothers and I all surfed for him and so did so many of our friends.

What he did for the surf community in San

the San Clemente Pier or T Street.

A talented longboarder, Glenn attends Bernice Ayer Middle School and just chalked up a third-place finish in the longboard division in his last contest. A fan of classic stylists such as Colin McPhillips and Joel Tudor, he’s also prone to fits of radness, citing high-flying Filipe Toledo and the Gudauskas Brothers as his other favorite surfers.

When not walking the plank, you may find him bodysurfing the local shorebreak or working through a few turns on his skateboard. Glenn’s a quintessential Orange County surf rat that knows full well when it comes to surf, somewhere near his house has got to be breaking.

Photo: Courtesy

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Clemente, I don’t know if you can really put it into words. He touched so many lives in so many ways. He died doing what he loved, but he’s going to be missed. Guys like Coach don’t come around very often.”

Hartman is survived by his wife, Candy, his son, Todd, and his daughter, Jen DuBois.

Judge postpones April 14 hearing on SONGS After mounting pressure, the planned April 14 hearing regarding the disposal of the 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel at the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) has been postponed.

The owners of SONGS, Southern California Edison (SCE), are willing to consider removing the waste instead of storing it onsite, which was met with much opposition by local environmental and civic groups.

Last week, attorneys for SCE and opposition groups asked a San Diego Superior Court judge to delay the hearing to pursue a settlement.

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