December 8, 2016

EYE ON SC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week

Nonprofit Proposes to Convert SONGS into Desalination Plant

THE LATEST: Officials from the nonprofit SolRio Organization for Climate Change Mitigation, Inc. are proposing to turn San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station into a desalination plant.

In order to make the water cost-effective to consumers, the plant would be generated using solar power, officials said.

The plant project alone would cost an estimated $7 billion.

The water would be pumped from the Pacific Ocean 35 miles to Diamond Valley Lake, where the Municipal Water District of Southern California stores its water, as well as to other states that are willing to pay for the infrastructure, such as Nevada.

“So far, we are trying to come up with folks who want the water,” said Randy Carlson, the director of the SolRio board. “The first place we looked was with the people of Nevada.”

By using solar energy panels, Carlson said this would basically negate the costs of energy production and levee the cost of the water based on maintenance and delivery of the product, making it much cheaper for consumers.

“One of the things this project does that the desalination project in Carlsbad does not is this project includes the energy generation,” Carlson said.

According to a SolRio press release, the plant would be capable of producing 1.1 billion gallons of potable water per day. No formal application has been submitted yet to agencies that have authority on the project.

The Navy Region Southwest environmental public affairs official was unavailable to comment this week, but San Clemente Times will follow up next week.

WHAT’S NEXT: Southern California Edison is the majority owner and operator of SONGS, which leases the land from the U.S. Navy, and the Navy would have to approve the proposal once it is submitted. The California Coastal Commission and other entities would also have to approve it. The current plans are to deconstruct the current facility at SONGS within the next 20 years or so and return the land to what it originally was. But there are also plans in motion to

City Continues Contract with Code Compliance

THE LATEST: As the city continues to move toward cracking down on municipal code violations, City Council on Tuesday approved a near-$100,000 extension of a contract it has with Anderson Penna, a code compliance staff service company. The city reported demands for services from the division rose 20 percent from last year. The increase, the agenda report said, is due to some of the new ordinances the city adopted this year—some of which include the new ordinances related to sober living homes and short-term rentals, as well as the implementation of the TRIP program.

WHAT’S NEXT: The contract was approved through June 30, 2017. —EH

bury existing spent nuclear fuel, which is currently harbored at the plant, at the site because the Department of Energy has not designated a permanent site for it and interim storage is not allowed under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.

More information about the project proposal can be found at www.solrio.org.

—Eric Heinz

Chris Hamm, Steven Swartz Win City Council Election

THE LATEST: With no more ballots left to count, Chris Hamm (14,315 votes) earned the most votes for a seat on City Council, while Steven Swartz (11,421 votes) took the second seat.

This is Swartz’s first time being elected to City Council and Hamm’s second.

“I’m glad that it was a tight race, and I’m very happy to have succeeded, and I’m looking forward to trying to accomplish the things I said in my campaign,” Swartz said.

Some of Swartz’s top priorities are to address homeless and transient population issues, tackle drug problems in the city and to support San Clemente’s businesses in order to generate more sales tax revenue.

Hamm said he is looking forward to working with various factions in the city to continue improvements to public safety and infrastructure.

Hamm was a vehement supporter of keeping Saddleback Memorial Medical Center operational in San Clemente, and he said he will continue his efforts to reestablish a hospital and emergency room within the city.

Dan Bane (11,074 votes) came in third, Robert “Bob” Baker (10,912 votes) came

in fourth and Pamela Joy Glass (1,888 votes) came in fifth.

Additionally, Measure OO, which would have increased the nightly rate of hotel taxes from 10 percent to 13 percent, failed by eight votes after holding the lead most of the election.

WHAT’S NEXT: The new City Council will be sworn into office and the new mayor will be appointed at the Dec. 20 City Council meeting. —EH

Camp Pendleton Readies to Celebrate 75th Anniversary

THE LATEST: Camp Pendleton officials are gathering pieces of history to celebrate the base’s 75th anniversary.

“In January, we’re releasing a series of videos that highlight the different wars (Camp Pendleton Marines) have protected,” said First Lt. Abigail Peterson, a spokesperson for Camp Pendleton. “It will highlight how Camp Pendleton has contributed to those points of history. The collection will include some old footage from different wars, and we’re also going to do some community relations events.”

Peterson said there will be tours of the base offered during the anniversary to those who apply through the base’s public affairs office. Normally, the base doesn’t offer tours for the public.

WHAT’S NEXT: Peterson said the dates of the community events and the tours of the base have yet to be determined. For more information and to check on updates for the ceremonies and events, visit www. pendleton.marines.mil. The official anniversary date is Sept. 25, 2017. —EH

City to Put Ambulance Services Up for Bid

THE LATEST: Cutting costs on ambulance services has led the city of San Clemente’s leaders to look for the most frugal service provider.

Council members were unified in adding a full-time ambulance to its fleet, but the next ambulance service provider may not be Orange County Fire Authority, which Councilman Chris Hamm said has been contracted with the city since the 1950s. Hamm is a firefighter with OCFA. According to city documents, somewhere between $136,000 and $290,000 could be saved by going to a cheaper provider, as costs for the public health service has risen in previous years and could again rise in the next year.

In fall 2015, the city entered into an agreement with CARE Ambulance Services for a pilot program to see if the city needed an additional full-time ambulance instead of just a part-time seasonal ambulance to handle the large volume of calls in summer. The program was also implemented in case the only hospital in the city closed, which it did in March.

Assistant City Manager Erik Sund said the CARE ambulance responded to 1,715 calls between Nov. 1, 2015 and Oct. 31, 2016. The OCFA ambulance responded to more than 2,500 calls, but the difference between those numbers is likely due to OCFA ambulances needed in neighboring cities and other issues.

WHAT’S NEXT: City Attorney Scott Smith said the city can retain its rights to select its own ambulance service even with this decision. The bidding process and the requirements the city will put together are expected to be available in February, Sund said. —EH

SC Sheriff’s Blotter

All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Monday, December 5

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Victoria, 600 Block (10:19 a.m.) Multiple people were cited for camping on the beach, which is a violation of San Clemente municipal code.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-UNKNOWN INJURIES Ola Vista, 1500 Block (7:27 a.m.) A bicyclist collided with a parked car.

Sunday, December 4

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 500 Block (7:33 a.m.) Police were called to a woman who refused to leave the location.

NEWS BITES

ERIC HEINZ

BY

COMPILED

Stocking Stuffers for Deployed Armed Forces

On Dec. 2 and 3, volunteers with the nonprofit Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise stuffed stockings and filled care packages for the U.S. Armed Forces deployed overseas as part of an annual outreach support event. This was the 11th edition of the event.

This year, more than 2,000 stockings were shipped to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Okinawa, Japan.

Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise is a non-profit organization that partners with the public to provide a wide range of military outreach support and regularly sends these care packages to deployed troops. The organization’s focus is to bond with the entire military family, develop friendships and offer moral support.

These care packages (Christmas stockings) are for all branches of the military. Beyond this event, they also support the Wounded Warriors and their families at Camp Pendleton; military spouses; single Marines and Sailors; as well as provide beach parties and Christmas parties at Camp Pendleton.

Time as well as donations are all welcome to help keep this program continuing for as long as there are men and women serving overseas.

Saturday, December 3

ILLEGAL PEDDLING Avenida Pico/Calle De Los Molinos (12:04 p.m.)A man was reportedly panhandling aggressively.

Friday, December 2

WELFARE CHECK Avenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (10:39 p.m.)A man was reportedly hitting himself and grunting. He went back inside a residence and was making the same noises.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Calle Frontera, 2000 Block (8:41 p.m.) The caller said at least five cars were in a parking lot and the drivers were loitering and playing loud music.

DISTURBANCE S. El Camino Real/Avenida San Luis Rey (8:35 p.m.) Police were called to a tall man yelling at a street sign.

DISTURBANCE Paseo Luna/Calle Campanero (8:08 p.m.) A caller said they could see juveniles walking from a party with alcohol.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Monterey/Avenida Madrid (7:29 p.m.) A man was seen “acting crazy,” the caller said. The man was

To support the organization, email Cynthia Martinez at cynthia@wordsofcomforthopeandpromise.org or call 949.637.7615.

Friends Foundation’s New Year Plans

The Friends of San Clemente Foundation announced its newly elected officers for 2017.

The newly elected 2017 board of directors consists of President John Dorey, Vice President Tamara Tatich, Secretary Roger Price and Treasurer Jeff Hartmann.

A new associate position has been added, providing an opportunity for community members to join Foundation directors in supporting parks and recreation events, venues and programs.

Founded in 2000, the Friends’ initial focus was on the Cyber Café, the Baron Von Willard Dog Park, Ralphs Skate Court, Courtney’s Sandcastle Playground, the Beach Trail and the Vista Hermosa Sports Park.

Since 2012, the Foundation has contributed almost $450,000 to the city and additional charitable activities. Funds have been utilized for such projects as matching the city’s grant for an upcoming trolley service, the Lifeguard Foundation and community education scholarships for children. The Friends Foundation has also supported special events and annual fundraisers and celebrations including the Sports Hall of Fame, the Benefit Golf

“flailing his arms and legs,” while sitting in a chair.

TRESPASSING Pasadena Court, 400 Block (6:56 p.m.) Police were called to a carport where a man was refusing to leave. The man said he was there to charge his cell phone.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES El Camino Real, 2400 Block (6:15 p.m.) A woman was in the bathroom for “a very long time,” the caller said. She then was acting “erratic” and “really odd.”

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES

Avenida Victoria, 400 Block (5:50 p.m.) A man was knocking on doors, asking for a woman who doesn’t live at the residence. The man then asked the woman who called if he could use her bathroom before he headed to the Pier.

Thursday, December 1

DISTURBANCE Via Suerte, 800 Block (8:36 p.m.) Police were called to a man who was screaming and taking his clothes off.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES

S. El Camino Real/Avenida Del Mar (7:36 p.m.) A man was saying he wanted to hurt people who walked around him.

Tournament, and the Carnival Colossal and Food Truck Festival. Additionally, the Foundation partners with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department in such endeavors as Santa’s Village Snow Hill, beach concerts, “Fun On The Run,” movies in the park and more. This year, $85,000 was raised for these various programs, and $50,000 was donated to citysponsored endeavors.

For more information, visit ww.friendsofsanclemente.org or call 949.370.1224.

Camp Pendleton Hosts Trees for Troops

Camp Pendleton hosted the 2016 Trees for Troops at Wire Mountain field on Dec. 3.

The program is an annual event designed to provide free Christmas trees to service members and their families.

“For many participants, the addition of a real Christmas tree brings the holidays to life,” a press release from Camp Pendleton stated.

In 2015, Trees for Troops delivered 18,833 farm-grown Christmas trees to service members and their families.

Trees for Troops has donated over 176,000 trees to service members and their families throughout the U.S. and overseas since the program began in 2005.

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

Community Meetings

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9

2ND BATTALION, 4TH MARINES WELCOME HOME BBQ

10 a.m.-3 p.m. The San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, city of San Clemente and more will host a welcome home barbecue for the 2/4 Marines. San Onofre State Beach. 949.492.1131. www.scchamber.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

SAN CLEMENTE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING

3-5 p.m. Raad Ghantous, president of the San Clemente Historical Society, will present the history of the Miramar Theater, followed by a presentation of the proposed rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the theater and bowling alley. San Clemente Community Center, Ole Hanson Fireside Room. 100 N. Calle Seville. www.sanclementehistoricalsociety.org.

SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13

SUNRISE ROTARY

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

BEACHES, PARKS & RECREATION MEETING

6 p.m. The Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

BILY MEETING

7-9 p.m. Meets every Tuesday. Because I Love You helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. Presbyterian Church. 119 Avenida De La Estrella. www.bilysc.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14

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.

GUEST OPINION: Historical Happenings by Larry Culbertson

A Flicker of Hope for the Miramar

The San Clemente Historical Society is asked about the Miramar Theater more than any other single issue. At our meetings and when we set up our booth at public events, people ask why the building has been sitting unused and neglected since 1992. Some people proclaim it is an eyesore and say it should be bulldozed. Many others say they love the building and long to see it return to its former glory. Rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a historic building is difficult and expensive.

HISTORICAL HAPPENINGS

By Larry Culbertson

A project has to be respectful to the historic integrity of the resource and make economic sense to a developer. It is important to understand the significance of the Miramar to the history of San Clemente. Opened to the public in 1938, the Miramar was originally called the San Clemente Theater. It was designed by the renowned theater architect Clifford A. Balch. With its 44-foot-tall tower topped by the flared arched façade, the Miramar is one of the most iconic buildings in San Clemente.

Before the freeway was completed in 1960, El Camino Real was the primary route into San Clemente. Visitors from the north were greeted by the Miramar Theater, the San Clemente Beach Club,

Letters to the Editor

TRUMP’S HYPOCRISY IS PRECARIOUS

MARJORIE SOSA, San Clemente

I respectfully have to disagree with Harold Warman’s letter in the Nov. 24-30 edition of the San Clemente Times. His letter states, “We the people have just rejected (should read elected) a candidate who shredded our values, our morals, our compassion, our sense of common purpose, our expectation of honesty, even our desire for a sovereign country.”

There was so much irony in this election. Trump was guilty of everything of which he accused Hillary Clinton. He was against the media, and it is the media that got him elected. He accused her of lying twice as much. Having a private email server is not as egregious as fraudulently taking retirement savings from people to pay for a fake university (Trump University), for which he now has paid $25 million in restitution.

the Casino San Clemente, the Aquarium Restaurant (now Ichibiri Japanese Restaurant) and the San Clemente Bowling Center. According to the Historic Structures Report that the city of San Clemente commissioned in 2013, “This cluster of historic buildings has been studied as the core of a possible historic district that would serve to protect the historic resources while providing a more coherent approach to defining the area’s role as a gateway to San Clemente.”

The Miramar Theater and the Bowling Center have gone through several changes of ownership since 1992. Projects have been proposed that would have either drastically altered or called for the demolition of the buildings. The Historical Society has vehemently opposed any project that would harm the integrity of any of our historic resources.

The San Clemente Historical Society has a policy of not supporting any particular business plan. Our primary concern is the preservation of the historic resource, not how it is used. We realize that historic buildings cannot always be used for their original use. Adaptive reuse is frequently the salvation of a threatened historic resource.

The Miramar Theater and Bowling Center have been owned by Mark Spizziri and the Miramar Theater LLC since 2006. The previous owner had proposed to demolish the historic buildings and replace them with far denser new construction. Mr.

He gets his news from the internet, where repeating lies long enough becomes accepted truth. Saying anything to get elected is not my idea of democracy.

I hope with all my heart that the next four years are not the end of our democracy, but I have seen nothing yet to give me hope of a good outcome.

In my studies of history, I found civilizations were mostly destroyed by disease, greed or war. Remember that Hitler was elected by the people who weren’t paying attention or were bigoted. The neo-Nazis did not vote for Hillary in our election.

PACKAGE THEFT AN ISSUE DURING HOLIDAY SEASON

BOB BERENDS, San Clemente

With the rise of online shopping, there is likely a rise in the thefts of packages delivered by online retailers.

I live on Avenida Barcelona, generally a very safe southwest San Clemente neighborhood that hosts thousands of guests every Halloween. Though we have a Neighborhood Watch program, our residents remain victims of thefts of packages delivered

Spizziri indicated that he planned to work with the existing buildings.

Conrardy Design Group has submitted a proposal to the city to rehabilitate the Miramar Theater, which would become a performance and event center. The area of the old Orange Julius building would become restrooms for the event center. The Bowling Center would become a high-end culinary food court. The asphalt area north of the Bowling Center, where a Texaco gasoline station stood for many years, would become an outdoor dining area.

The Historical Society has been following the permitting process of this project with a critical eye toward ensuring that required preservation standards are being followed. So far they have been.

We are sponsoring a presentation on the Miramar Theater on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 3-5 p.m. at the Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville. A brief presentation on the history of the theater by our president, Raad Ghantous, will be followed by a presentation on the proposed project given by Mr. Jim Holloway.

Larry Culbertson is the vice president of the San Clemente Historical Society and has been a resident for more than 10 years in San Clemente. SC

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

to our front porches. On Friday morning, I learned that a package delivered to my house on Nov. 30 was stolen from my front porch. Last Friday, I found three packages delivered to my house and a neighbor’s that had been taken, opened and stolen from. Last month, I found two other packages delivered by Amazon to a neighbor, but their contents were stolen.

I urge my neighbors to be vigilant.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL

Group

> Kristina Pritchett

City

> Allison Jarrell

Sports Editor

> Steve Breazeale

Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis

ART/DESIGN

Art Director > Jasmine Smith

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Associate Publisher

> Lauralyn Loynes

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

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

Victor Carno

Debra Holm

Tim Trent

Jake Howard

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso

This week’s guest will be Mike Chesney, chief strategy officer of the Transportation Corridor Agencies. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Eric Heinz every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome.

GETTING OUT SC

FRIDAY, DEC. 9: THE 2ND BATTLION, 4TH MARINES WELCOME HOME BBQ

10 a.m.-3 p.m. The San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, the city of San Clemente and more will host a welcome home barbecue for members of the 2/4. The Chamber is accepting gifts for the Marines and their children, and anyone interested in doing so should contact the Chamber. San Onofre Beach, Camp Pendleton. 949.492.1131. www.scchamber.com.

The List

Friday | 09

MERMADE MARKET

Thursday | 08

RUDOLPH, FROSTY AND FRIENDS HOLIDAY DANCE PARTY

10:30-11:30 a.m. Kids ages 3-6 are invited to dance tap and ballet to fun holiday songs and make ornaments to take home during craft time. There will also be a performance of what the kids learned in class for parents. Register online at www. theartsprojectoc.com or call 949.276.2787. The Arts Project of Orange County. 1317 Calle Avanzado, San Clemente.

HOLIDAY WINE TASTING

7-9 p.m. Taste some of the holiday season’s best sparkling wines. The $25 admission includes wine and light appetizers. 831 Via Suerte, Suite 106, San Clemente. 949.388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.

LIVE MUSIC: ALICE WALLACE DUO

7-10:30 p.m. Listen to live music from Alice Wallace Duo at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

CASA NUTCRACKER

7-8:30 p.m. The Orange County Ballet Theatre performs the holiday classic production. The Casa Nutcracker features choreography tailored to Casa Romantica’s intimate Main Salon. Tickets are $40. Casa Romantica. 415 Avenida Grande, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. www.casaromantica.org.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Mermade Market’s seventh event in Dana Point includes handmade goods, food trucks, live music and items for sale offered by more than 60 local outdoor and indoor makers. Market also runs Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point. www.mermademarket.com.

LIL ELVES WORKSHOP

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Playschool is decking the halls for a morning of holiday cheer and excitement. Santa’s elves are in need of extra special help from tiny tots putting crafts and games together. Children will sing holiday songs, enjoy special guest appearances from Santa’s helpers, make gifts for family and friends, decorate holiday cookies and more. Tickets are $20 per child, and registration at www.san-clemente.org is required. San Clemente Community Center. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente.

DANA POINT HARBOR BOAT

PARADE OF LIGHTS

(Cont. on page 11) EDITOR’S PICK

7:30 p.m. The 42nd annual edition of the boat parade kicks off on Friday night. You can join in on the parade by watching from the shore or hopping on a boat with Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching or The Ocean Institute. The Ocean Institute will also be holding a viewing party from 6-9 p.m.—festive food and drink, crafts and activities will be available. The parade itself also runs on Dec. 10, 16 and 17. www.danapointharbor.com.

LIVE MUSIC: CHRIS ANDERSEN

7:30-11 p.m. Listen to live music from

GETTING OUT

(Cont. from page 8)

Chris Andersen at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’

8 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse continues performances of the holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street. The show runs every weekend through Dec. 18. Tickets range from $27-$37. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminrealplayhouse.com.

Saturday | 10

HOLIDAY ART MAKING EXTRAVAGANZA WITH PIZZA

3–6 p.m. The whole family is invited to stop by and create unique gifts for the holidays with Motif Paint Events. The $35 ticket include pizza, drinks, and the choice of making two ornaments, two wine glasses or one vase. An art teacher will be on hand to offer tips. Event held at Ball Park Pizza, and also runs Sunday, Dec. 11. 831 Via Suerte, Suite 101, San Clemente. www.facebook.com/ motifpaintevents.

LIVE MUSIC: BOX CAR 7

7:30-11 p.m. Live music from Box Car 7 at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

Sunday | 11

HOLIDAY NATURE CRAFTING

9-11 a.m. Enjoy a cool, winter morning creating treasured keepsakes and personalized gifts made from natural and recycled materials. Space is limited, and tickets are $5. Reserve your spot online at www.

rmvreserve.org. The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. 28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY CELEBRATION

7 p.m. Celebrate Human Rights Day and listen to documentarian Shapour Daneshmand in a talk entitled, “Historical Perspective and its Evolution.” San Clemente Bahá’i Center. 3316 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente. www.bahaicenter.com.

Monday | 12

FREE GUITAR LESSONS

5-6 p.m. Free beginner level acoustic guitar lessons for middle school to college age youth every Monday. Guitars provided or students can bring their own. 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

Tuesday | 13

WINTER WONDERLAND LIGHT DECORATING CONTEST

5:30-8 p.m. The San Clemente Chamber of Commerce awards residents and business owners prizes for the best holiday light decorations in a variety of categories. Those interested in competing must return an entry form to the Chamber by Dec. 12. www.scchamber.com.

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.

(Cont. on page 12)

At the Movies: Isabelle Huppert is Regal in ‘Elle’

BY MEGAN

The queen of French cinema, Isabelle Huppert, sits high on her throne this holiday season, with Paul Verhoeven’s Elle, a screen adaptation of Philippe Djian’s novel, Oh…. Despite all her triumphs in her home country, with features like The Lacemaker (1977), Loulou (1980) and The Piano Teacher (2001), Huppert has never had much traction in the U.S. That could all change this year, as her performance in Elle is leading people to think she could go up against Emma Stone and Natalie Portman at the Oscars. Cold as ice, Michèle Leblanc (Huppert) is a successful CEO of a video game company and also has a lazy son, Vincent (Jonas Bloquet); a trashy mom, Irène (Judith Magre); and a deadbeat dad in prison. When Michèle experiences

a home invasion and is assaulted in the middle of a mid-December afternoon, she begins to reconsider the safety of her house as well as her relationships with the men in her life, including her ex-husband, Richard (Charles Berling), and her lover, Robert (Christian Berkel).

Elle is a fascinating, although graphic, character study of a woman who is a victim, but does everything she can to not be pitied. Dutch-based Verhoeven, famous in the U.S. for blockbusters like Robocop (1987), Total Recall (1990) and Basic Instinct (1992), goes back to his Euro-film roots here and succeeds, for the most part. While the second half of the movie falls short of the quality of the first half, Huppert’s performance is worthy of viewing for anyone interested in seeing a pro at her craft. SC

GETTING OUT

(Cont. from page 11)

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.

Wednesday | 14

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.

On Stage at the Coach House: Gary “Ho Ho” Hoey

BY

Gary Hoey may have been raised in Boston, but his musical career took off in Southern California after receiving encouragement from an unlikely guardian angel: Ozzy Osbourne.

After spending his youth noodling on guitars and skipping high school to loiter and learn around the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Hoey tried out for Osbourne’s band in 1987 when the icon stopped by Boston. Though Hoey didn’t get the spot, Osbourne encouraged Hoey to move to Los Angeles to kick start his career.

Hoey returns to Southern California on Friday, Dec. 16, taking his Ho Ho Hoey Rockin Holiday Tour to the Coach House.

DAN DAN NOODLES THE DISH

There’s a universality about meat and noodles. Every region has its own take on the variety, whether it’s a Bolognese or matriciana in Italy, a ragout in continental Europe, that weird gravy and noodles thing people “like” in Cincinnati, or dan dan noodles from the Sichuan province of China.

The latter is available at Dana Point’s fine strip mall find, The Little Kitchen. Pleasantly chewy udon noodles were topped with ground chicken, chili peppers and garlic, and tossed with freshly steamed bok choy, carrots and celery. The best bites are the ones in which the crunchy greens balance the thick noodles, while the spice base reigns in each bite.

The form is so widely replicated for a reason—stuffing your face with carbs and

LIVE MUSIC: THE KALAMA BROTHERS 7-10:30 p.m. Listen to live music from the Kalama Brothers at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. www.ivalees.com.

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

Since that fateful trip to L.A., Hoey has recorded 19 albums—over 1 million sold— and earned a Billboard Top 5 spot with his cover of “Hocus Pocus.”

Hoey is a guitar virtuoso who has shared the stage with other masters of the craft like Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, Dick Dale and more. Tickets start at $23 and are available at www.thecoachhouse.com. SC

warm, savory meat sauces is easy to do. But the excellence of The Little Kitchen’s take on it is in the nuanced approach it takes to simple, balanced and fresh ingredients.

A Light, Hearted

Downtown San Clemente ushers in the holidays

venida Del Mar was once again dressed to the festive nines on Saturday, Dec. 3. People and families came to see the events at Casa Romantica’s Christmas at the Casa before heading to the Community Center for the annual tree lighting ceremony. All the while, thousands of people flocked to Avenida Del Mar for Puttin’ on the Glitz, an annual holiday shopping event, to check out the various vendors who lined the street and the shops that stayed open past normal business hours. SC

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

2016 San Clemente High School Winter Sports Preview

BY STEVE BREAZEALE AND VICTOR CARNO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

The winter prep sports season is underway, and in our annual season preview, we get you caught up to date on all the athletic programs at San Clemente High School.

For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the SCHS programs all season long, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Following the departure of several key seniors from last year’s record-setting team, the San Clemente boys basketball squad is hoping a core of returners and a mix of newcomers can lead them to an unprecedented third straight league title.

San Clemente went 21-7 last season, a program-best for wins, and captured the South Coast League title for a second straight year.

One key player from last year’s run, senior guard Blake Birmingham, is back in the mix and is poised to be the leader of the team.

Birmingham, who played in a team-high 28 games as a junior and earned an honorable All-League mention, has shown a knack for scoring, and his role on the team has expanded this offseason in more ways than one.

“He just plays with such savvy, and he plays so hard,” coach Marc Popovich said

of Birmingham. “He really is a good leader too. He was able to get guys around him to play hard with him and get them to do what he wants to do.”

Birmingham has been dynamic in the early going. He scored 29 points in a win over Fullerton on Dec. 1 and poured in 37 points in a win over El Dorado on Dec. 3.

The Tritons also return impact forwards Isaac Rex and Chris Kane, who stand at 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-5, respectively. Senior forward Michael Moran (6-3) returns and has improved dramatically on both ends of the floor, Popovich said. All three players will help make up a dynamic and athletic frontcourt.

Senior guards Roberto Medrano and Kurt Crapo will also look to make an impact.

San Clemente is off to a 3-2 start, but the team that has appeared on the courts will look different than the one in coming weeks. Several projected starters, like Rex and Kane, are busy playing for the football team in the postseason. —Steve Breazeale

GIRLS WATER POLO

The Tritons girls water polo team has seen so much success in recent years that a promotion to the CIF-SS Division 1 was inevitable. San Clemente reached the Division 2 finals and the semifinals in 2014 and 2015, respectively, prompting their placement in the higher division after (Cont. on page 18)

(Cont from page 16) the CIF-SS realigned its playoff divisions this offseason.

Several players from last year’s team that appeared in the CIF-SS semifinals return, including senior attack Tera Richardson. Richardson, who will be a focal point on offense, scored 67 goals and recorded 34 assists as a junior.

Sophomore center Brooklyn Aguilera, junior Kassandra Faris and senior Alleanna Clark return to bolster the Tritons’ depth.

Several freshman have broken into the starting rotation for the Tritons, including two-meter defender Savannah Burns, Caroline Christi and Grace Pelky.

The mix of veterans and newcomers will give the Tritons a dynamic approach on offense.

“We’re going to go to the counter (attack) a lot,” coach Logan Powell said. “We’ve got a couple girls that are disciplined and will swim hard and do what’s asked of them in a team concept.”

Last season, the Tritons could not get past a talented El Toro team in South Coast League play. The Chargers, who claimed the Division 2 crown, defeated the Tritons in two matches. El Toro has graduated a large group of players, and the Tritons are poised to make a run at a league title. —SB

GIRLS BASKETBALL

When she looks to her bench, San Clemente girls basketball second-year head coach Kerri Husbands doesn’t have to worry about a drop-off in talent or drive. The Tritons return plenty of starters and contributors from last season who have experience, and the team’s depth chart is deep.

Not only can the Tritons (2-2) run nine or 10 players deep off their bench, they are also a smart group in the classroom as well. Last season, the Tritons carried a

non-weighted team GPA of 3.67.

“(Their academic strength) transfers on to what we do on the basketball court,” Husbands said. “They’re really a cerebral group. I can throw a lot at them and they can process it fast and they’re smart. They’re always thinking.”

San Clemente owns a 2-2 record as of Dec. 7, and has been led by seniors Emma Borie, Amy Harris, and Taylor Johnson. Harris, a forward, was named an alltournament selection at the South Coast Classic tournament at University High School last week.

Two freshmen, center Ella Gardiner and guard Esther Mafouta, are primed for breakout seasons, according to Husbands. Senior guard Rylee Grant transferred from JSerra and will be eligible in January, which will only add to the team’s depth.

Another feather in the Tritons’ cap is their size and versatility. Husbands described how the Tritons run a free-flowing

offense that lets players swap roles on the court and play any position, and every player has the ability to handle the ball and ignite the offense. —SB

GIRLS SOCCER

Stepping into some pretty large shoes, former San Clemente girls soccer assistant coach Lauren Leslie will be serving her first season as head coach after longtime coach Stacey Finnerty stepped down from the position last year. After five years of being an assistant, it is safe to say that Leslie is more than familiar with this Tritons group.

After Finnerty saw the team through a record of 12-5-6 and brought them to the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships last season, keeping in line with Finnerty’s techniques may prove to offer this team success once again.

“(Finnerty) always emphasized being

united as a family,” Leslie said. “Not only am I adopting her coaching techniques, but I am really looking to impart some real life lessons onto these girls.”

Having four senior captains this year, including goalkeeper and UCLA commit Lauren Brzykcy, Leslie feels that this mature group of players is capable of adopting more layered and complicated play styles.

“High school soccer is fast and physical, whereas club soccer is more complex and elegant. I’m looking to clash the two play styles,” Leslie said.

In order to accomplish this mashing of high school and club play, the girls are focusing on keeping possession of the ball longer by layering their passes and maintaining their high tempo and speed throughout matches, Leslie said.

Seniors Ellie Winkelman (midfieldforward), Franny Viera (defense) and Amanda Cruz (forward), along with Brzykcy, have been named captains and are leading the team in the early going.

San Clemente (3-0-1) is off to an undefeated start to its season, as of Dec. 7, with wins over Mission Viejo and Long Beach Poly. —Victor Carno

WRESTLING

The San Clemente wrestling team may be short on experience, but several top returners and a determined work ethic have them primed for the new season.

San Clemente will be led by impact wrestlers Hunter Gallaher, junior Joshua Tabb and sophomore Jadon Arnelas. Also returning to the fold is senior Kyle Marshall, the fifth-ranked wrestler in California in the 197-pound weight class. Marshall, a CIF State tournament qualifier in 2016, has moved up two weight classes this offseason and figures to be one of the team’s marquee wrestlers. (Cont on page 20)

(Cont. from page 18)

San Clemente has a relatively young roster, and finds itself in the competitive South Coast League yet again. The Tritons will have to compete with Laguna Hills and Trabuco Hills for the dual league title. In the CIF-SS preseason coastal division rankings, Laguna Hills and Trabuco Hills were ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, while the Tritons came in at No. 7 in the division.

“We’re going to do what we can and try and be competitive (in league),” head coach Mark Calentino said. “But you can tell how willing this group is to learn; they’re willing to raise their hand. … It means it matters to them, and if it matters to them then the technique will get better.”

In its second season, the Tritons girls wrestling team is shaping up to have another successful year. Three of the four wrestlers from last year return, including junior Liliana Carteno Dzul, sophomore Amara Devericks and sophomore Carolina Moreno. All three qualified for CIF Prelims last season, and Devericks and Moreno, who both placed third in their weight class at Prelims, qualified for CIF Finals. Devericks came one win away from placing at the CIF State Championships. Freshman Payton Swank, an Orange County Summer League champion, and six newcomers join the team. —SB

BOYS SOCCER

San Clemente boys soccer head coach Mike Pronier had a problem, albeit a good problem for a coach to have, this offseason. His team was slated to return 15 players from last year’s South Coast League

champion team, which meant there were very few roster spots available for incoming talent.

After making what the longtime coach described as “one of the toughest jobs” he’s had to do in his tenure, Pronier’s final roster is loaded with veterans that is poised for another successful run.

San Clemente captured the league title last season thanks in large part to its effort on defense, which allowed just one goal over its final five games to clinch the title. Returning to lead the group this season are seniors Rodrigo Ramirez and Braden Zines, the reigning South Coast League co-MVP.

Speedy midfielders Taylor Herrod and Jonathan Payan, along with central midfielder Michael Saba, return. Senior Fernando Vasquez will look to be a goalscoring playmaker at the forward position.

While San Clemente won the league title outright last season, they had an early exit in the first round of the playoffs, which is a hurdle Pronier says the group wants clear come February.

“There’s a lot of experience (on the team), and I’m waiting to see who really steps up,” Pronier said. “There’s a lot of room to raise the bar this year and I think the kids can do it if they want to.”

This veteran San Clemente team will be tested early, as they play host of the Lotto Sport Western Showcase tournament Dec. 8-10. The annual high-profile tournament will feature teams from Florida and Arizona, along with top Southland powers like Loyola and Servite. San Clemente opens its tournament bid with a game against Auburndale of Florida on Dec. 8 at 7:45 p.m. —SB

History Made!

SCHS football team wins first-ever CIF-SS Championship

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

t times it felt eerily similar, but the ending was so, so different.

The San Clemente High School football team, making its third consecutive CIF-SS Finals appearance, found itself in another back-and-forth battle in a title game on Dec. 2, but this time they were up against Murrieta Valley with the Division 2 Championship on the line.

The Tritons saw a late 10-point lead shrink to 38-35 midway through the fourth quarter, bringing back memories of years past when their leads ultimately slipped away. But a scorching 67-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jack Sears late in the final quarter and huge second-half defensive stands sealed a 45-35 victory for the Tritons.

It is the first CIF-SS football title in San Clemente history. Up until Friday night, the Tritons history in CIF-SS Championship games had been one of close calls and heartbreak. This group, however, changed all that with a well-balanced performance against the 10th-ranked team in California.

The Tritons defense was determined to stop the high-flying Murrieta Valley offense and came up with arguably the game’s biggest play just three minutes into the third quarter, with San Clemente up 17-14. Nighthawks quarterback Hank Bachmeier dropped back on third down at midfield, and the Tritons defense wrapped him up. Bachmeier tried to hand the ball off, but fumbled, and Ryan Russell recovered for San Clemente. Brandon Reaves found the end zone five plays later on a three-yard run and San Clemente took a 24-14 lead and all the momentum.

The Tritons’ 10-point advantage would

continue to hold strong the rest of the way. San Clemente scored on four of its five second-half possessions and punted just once all night.

Murrieta Valley came dangerously close to overcoming the deficit thanks to Bachmeier, receiver Marquis Spiker, and running back Olita Palmer.

Bachmeier and Spiker connected for

two of their three touchdowns in the second half, including a 55-yarder and a 44yard strike that Spiker took away from a San Clemente, defender in the air that cut into the Tritons lead 31-28.

Spiker corralled nine catches for 226 yards, and Palmer had a game-high 224 yards rushing on 26 carries.

Following another Reaves touchdown run with seven minutes left in the game, his second of the night, Palmer carried the ball 80 yards on four plays on the Nighthawks next possession to make it 38-35.

But Sears would not let the Nighthawks come any closer. Every time Murrieta Valley inched closer, the Tritons were able to mount an answer. Sears’ emphatic final response came when he broke away down the sideline for his second and final rushing touchdown with 5:56 remaining to build another 10-point advantage. Sears had four total touchdowns, including two passing throws, and ran for 173 yards on 17 carries. He also completed 18 of 22 passes for 209 yards.

Murrieta Valley had one final chance to make things interesting on its final possession, trailing by 10 with five minutes to go, but Reaves, who was playing cornerback, swatted a Bachmeier pass on fourth down at their own 40 yard line to put the game away.

“I can’t put it into words. This is a team win. We got here because of every aspect of our team. Everybody did something to contribute this year. Our defense stepped up huge on that fourth down,” Sears said.

San Clemente controlled the clock in the first half, and kept the ball out of the hands of the Murrieta Valley offense. The Nighthawks managed just five plays from scrimmage in the first quarter while San Clemente built a 10-0 lead following a

Tristan Trager field goal and a four-yard touchdown pass from Sears to Chris Kane. It was the first time Murrieta Valley failed to score in the first quarter all season.

“Our defense played with a chip on its shoulder,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said. “All we heard all week was how great Murrieta Valley’s offense was and I thought defensively we played pretty well in the playoffs. We had some moments but we made the plays when we had to.”

Palmer would not be denied on the next Nighthawks possession, however, and he put the home team on the board with a 22yard scoring run up the sideline to cut into San Clemente’s lead 10-7.

Sears and running back Austin Whitsett took turns breaking off big plays on the ensuing San Clemente drive, which was capped off by a one-yard Reaves touchdown run to make it 17-7.

A 22-yard touchdown pass from Bachmeier to Spiker cut into San Clemente’s lead 17-14 and closed out the first half.

San Clemente will travel to Huntington Beach High School to play Edison, the CIF-SS Division 3 champion, in the CIF State Regional Division 1-AA South bowl game on Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. The winner will advance to play the winner of Bakersfield-Del Oro in the Division 1-A State Championship in Sacramento next week.

Like San Clemente, Edison (13-1) is a team that is carrying plenty of momentum heading into the game. The Charger’s lone loss came against Mater Dei earlier this season and is fresh off a 44-24 victory over La Mirada in the Division 3 title game. La Mirada defeated San Clemente 43-14 on Sept. 16. Edison is also playing for its coach Dave White, who is retiring after 31 seasons as head coach and 38 years total in the program at the end of the season. SC

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Locals Only

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 Chiropractic 647 Camino de los Mares, Suite 220, 949.616.5470, www.spinalvitality.com

CHOCOLATE/CANDY

Schmid’s Fine Chocolate 99 Avenida Del Mar, 949.369.1052, www.schmidschocolate.com

CONCRETE

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

DENTISTS

Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, www.drericjohnson.com Shoreline Dental Studio

Kristen Ritzau, DDS 122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.245.6046, www.shorelinedentalstudio.com

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING

Organics Out Back 949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com

EDITING SERVICES

Perfectly Clear Editing Services

Judi Heidel: 949.281.6364 www.perfectlycleareditingservices.com

ELECTRICAL

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com

FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

HOME DÉCOR

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

HOME REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENT

Capistrano Valley Raingutters

Scott Williams, 949.542.7750

Hoover Construction 949.292.6778

JEWELRY

Paradise Jewelers

166 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.6661, www.paradisejewelers.com

LANDSCAPING

Costa Verde Landscape

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

MATTRESSES

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

MORTGAGES

Brian Wiechman, Equity Coast

Mortgage A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage 949.533.9209, www.equitycoastmortgage.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

SC Rider Supply

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

MUSIC LESSONS

Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

OFFICE FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress 109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

PET SERVICES/HOUSE SITTING

2-dogswalking.com

Ricky, 949.973.4128

Pet care –Insured & Bonded

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD

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

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

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

Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online. Contact Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

929 Calle Negocio #D, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing 929 Calle Negocio #D, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

Karl Aiken Plumbing-Rooter San Clemente, 949.366.8302

POOL SERVICE, REPAIR, REMODEL

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

SC Pool & Spa Works 1311 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.7665, www.scpoolworks.com

RESTAURANTS

Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

SALONS

Salon Bamboo

150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, 949.361.3348, www.salonbamboo.com

Salon Bleu

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Syrens Hair Parlor

217 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. E, 949.361.9006, www.syrens.com

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

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

SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

South Coast Furniture & Mattress 109 Calle de los Molinos, 949.492.5589, www.southcoastfurniture.com

SWIMMING SCHOOL

Waterbabies Swim School 142 Avenida Granada, 949.488.2512, www.waterbabiesswimschool.com

TERMITES

Colony Termite Control 1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com

WEBSITE DESIGN

San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction 877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

OBITUARY

Barbara Ann (Thompson) Gorman

Barbara Ann (Thompson) Gorman born March 9, 1939 in Santa Ana, California to Walter Marshall Thompson and Anna Mae (Hendrix) Thompson. Barbara went to be with the Lord on September 3, 2016 in Sanger, Texas.

Barbara married Daniel Drake Gorman, Sr. on June 24, 1961 in San Bernardino, California. They were married nearly 55 years as Dan preceded her in death on May 20, 2016. In 1968 they moved to San Clemente, California where they raised their three children: Daniel Drake Gorman, Jr., Dana Gorman Stephens, and Christie Gorman McClary.

Barbara enjoyed her five grandkids, being actively involved in San

Clemente Presbyterian church, San Clemente Garden Club, and playing with her Canasta group. After relocating to Texas nine years ago, Barbara enjoyed meeting new friends in her neighborhood and church, gardening, and riding horses.

Barbara’s trust in the Lord shone through her radiant smile as she gracefully navigated through the challenges of ovarian cancer. She had a great desire for her family and friends to know how much she has loved and appreciated them.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 2 pm at Talega Life Ministries: 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA 92673

CLASSIFIEDS

Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

FOR SALE

CUSTOM AREA RUGS

You pick style, color and size. Typically made in 2 weeks. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyester or designer carpet. Carpet showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point. Carpet and flooring remnants also available - all shapes, sizes and kinds of flooring. We sell tile too! Mike 949-240-1545.

GARAGE SALES

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Saturday Dec. 10th. 226 W. Avenida Valencia. 7am-1pm.

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Saturday, December 10th from 8am -12pm. 34421 Calle Carmelita Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Tons of kids/baby stuff, clothes, tools & much more. No Early Birds Please.

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE!

Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com. Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

SERVICES

SOFTWARE TRAINING

1/2 off Microsoft Access classes purchased this month. Just mention this ad. All 4 standard oneday classes available plus Access VBA, Access SQL and Access Database Design. Call 800-3559855 to inquire. Orange Coast Database Associates, 32422 Alipaz, San Juan Capistrano

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

WOOD DECK REPAIR WIZZARD

Wood Rot Repair Certified Specialist, Wood Decks, Balconies, Patio Covers + Outside Stairs Repaired / Replaced, New Decking Systems, All work Guaranteed. Phone Chris949 510 6645

SURF SC

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

The Surf Park Dilemma

After one failed attempt, should San Clemente still look to build a wave pool?

BY JAKE HOWARD,

Ayear ago, Kelly Slater stunned the surf world when he debuted what was immediately heralded as the best artificial wave in the world. Engineered in a secret test pool off of Highway 99 in the Central Valley, the dream that for so long had plagued surfers and pool designers appeared to be solved. Overnight, the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch proved it was possible to recreate a perfect, five-foot, barreling wave as good or better than any wave in the world.

In August, the International Olympic Committee voted to include surfing in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Organizers of the Games remain insistent that Olympic surfing will take place in the ocean, but having a failsafe, manmade wave-making facility in their back pocket appears to have buoyed their confidence.

“This is a game-changing moment for surfing,” said Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Association. “We are already seeing increased popularity of the sport across the world, and the Olympic Games will provide an incredible platform to further showcase surfing and its core values.”

Aguerre made it perfectly clear that wave pools will very much factor into the future of surfing. The World Surf League supports the Olympic movement and has also invested in Slater’s proprietary technology. But Slater’s wave isn’t the only game in town. There are a number of projects in the works around the world utilizing various technological innovations, and the surf

park revolution appears to be in full swing. This summer, a new park opened in Austin, Texas, with another one in development in the Lone Star State. There are also plans to build a massive surf park at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. In Australia, there are parks being planned for Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. In Europe, surf parks have been opened in Wales, the Spanish Basque country, and even the Munich airport in Germany.

In 2011, a surf park was approved by the San Clemente City Council. It was intended to be built at the Vista Hermosa Sports Park along with a miniature golf course, but in 2014, the deal was terminated when the city said the partners failed to meet deadlines to demonstrate financial capability, submit plans, secure permits and build the facility. In April 2016, fraud charges were filed against four of the businessmen involved in the project.

So where does this leave South Orange County in its pursuit of freshwater shredding? Well to begin with, there is a large contingent of local surfers that don’t see the point.

“Why would you build a wave pool in San Clemente?” pondered Trestles regular Mike Wilson. “We have such amazing natural wave resources right in our own backyard. From Trestles to San Onofre,

Salt Creek, Doheny, there’s almost always a wave to ride somewhere. I can’t imagine why somebody would want to surf in a pool or that it would attract a lot of business.”

Or would it? Most of the lineups in the immediate area are well utilized and often extremely crowded. A good summer day at Lowers will see an excess of 150 surfers in the water at any given time, and when you’re only looking at a three-wave set every 20 minutes, it means most people aren’t catching very many waves. An artificial surf facility could serve as a release valve for the pressures that build up at the more high-profile spots.

“If there was somewhere I could go on my lunch break and be guaranteed to catch a few really good waves, it might be worth it,” explained Brendan Svenson, a surfer who lives and works in the area. “What’s the difference of paying to go surf or paying to go to a gym? I’d rather go surfing than run on a treadmill.”

For reference, at the NLand Surf Park in Austin, it costs $90 for a 90-minute session. By no means is it as cheap as feeding a couple bucks to the meter at T Street, but for those that mix it up at Lowers on a regular basis, it’s considerably cheaper than a stress-related heart attack.

A wave pool in San Clemente or Dana Point could also potentially help foster upand-coming talent. This area produces some of the best surfers in the United States and perhaps a training facility would provide them with a platform to take the world by storm. The last Californian to win a world title was Tom Curren in 1990, and with gold medals on the line in 2020, our local surfers have the potential to do something very special.

Getting surf parks built is an inherently difficult and expensive endeavor, and to be sure, after the last proposed project in San Clemente went up in flames, investors and developers have every right to be wary of jumping back in the pool (pun intended).

But there’s also a lot of upside to building a world-class wave in a community that already has world-class waves. It may just take a leap of faith. SC

GROM OF THE WEEK KIRRA

PINKERTON

BY

rigid water, heavy currents and huge” is how NSSA Director Janice Aragon described the conditions at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz last weekend during a Northwest Conference contest.

Shortly after celebrating her 15th birthday, Kirra Pinkerton made the 400-mile trip up Highway 101 to keep her epic NSSA season rolling. Undaunted by the bombing sixto eight-foot surf at the Lane, she jumped right into the fray and slammed home wins in the Women’s and Girl’s divisions. In her Girl’s semifinal heat, she posted a perfect 10-point score to further illustrate her comfort in the cold.

Pinkerton has been dominating the NSSA ranks this season. Besides showing up and blowing up in Surf City North, she took out the Open Women’s division at a Southwest Conference contest in Newport Beach in November (she had to settle for second in the Girl’s division). Earlier in the month, at a contest at Church in San Clemente, she enjoyed the best of her local waters. With a pumping northwest swell in the water and offshore winds howling, she won the Girl’s division and finished third in the Women’s division.

San Clemente’s produced plenty of men’s NSSA champs over the years, but thanks to Pinkerton’s stand-out performances, the girls have had a lot to cheer about lately too. SC

SURF FORECAST

Water Temperature: 60-63 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-10’ Fair

Thursday: Minor NW and SSW swell blend. The better exposures will see ankle-knee high (1-2’) waves, while select winter magnets get and combo breaks see some slightly larger peaks to thigh-waist high (3’). Calm to light offshore flow for the morning, turning to light+ onshore flow in the afternoon.

Outlook: Small mix of swells the back half of the week with best breaks hitting thighwaist high (1-3’) at best. Morning winds are favorable. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.