December 14, 2017

EYE ON SC

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week

San Clemente Youth Restore Sensory Garden for Students with Disabilities

THE LATEST: A new sensory garden for students with special needs is now available for classes to utilize. The garden gives students in the San Clemente High School’s STEPS program an opportunity to learn more about gardening and biology involved with plants.

For their work on the project, Kayleigh Cassidy, a sophomore at San Clemente High School, received her Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the USA, and Lucas Demchik received his Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America.

A reception was held at the high school on Dec. 8 for the grand opening of the garden.

“Without all of our volunteers, without all of the people who have given us time and supplies and money, we wouldn’t have gotten as far as we did,” Cassidy said. “When I first saw the garden, I came to volunteer and pull weeds. I’m really excited how far we’ve come.”

The garden is now wheelchair-accessible and includes crops such as strawberries, kale, four different fruit trees, an herb garden and a butterfly garden.

Applications must be submitted to the Community Development Department at 910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100, San Clemente by 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19.

The city is also conducting a survey on affordable housing within San Clemente, which can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/BPPP236. —Staff

School District Board Votes to Retain Current Leadership

THE LATEST: On Dec. 6, the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously, with Trustee Gila Jones absent, to keep the board’s current leadership in place for the upcoming year.

For the second year in a row, Trustee Martha McNicholas, of Laguna Niguel, will serve as president; Gila Jones, of San Juan Capistrano, will serve as vice president; and Patricia Holloway, of San Clemente, will serve as the board clerk.

Police Respond to Local ‘Virtual Kidnapping’

THE LATEST: A social media post last week indicated a “virtual kidnapping” took place against a San Clemente resident, and Chief of Police Lt. Mike Peters said the post described the incident as what police know about it at this time.

Virtual kidnapping is where a predator extracts information by way of a cell phone or other means and uses it against an unsuspecting family member or someone close to them. In this case, voice modulation was reportedly use to try to extort money from a teenager’s father.

“From what I understand, the daughter put…some things on (a social media site) and the suspect took that voice and used it against the dad,” Peters said. “They have software that enables people to do that.”

Joyce Poisson is the artist who made the mural that encompasses the garden, which is about 50 feet by 20 feet.

“I still get teary-eyed when I go in,” said Jamie Finnsson, the STEPS program teacher. “It’s a dream come true for us.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The STEPS program will use the garden seasonally for classes.

—Eric Heinz

City Initiates Survey, Seeks Grant Applications for Low-Income, Homeless Projects

THE LATEST: The city of San Clemente is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations that serve San Clemente residents for grants involving “civic projects, social services or housing and homeless support services,” according to a press release.

“Funding requests will be considered for grants for a new service, event or an established program,” the release from the city stated. “Funds may be allocated to pay for one-time costs, staffing costs or operation costs (rent, supplies, professional or special services).”

The release also stated the city should not be considered the only source of funding for the projects, suggesting matching grants would be appreciated. The grants are to be provided during the 2018-19 fiscal year. Last year’s funding totaled about $83,000, the release stated.

WHAT’S NEXT: The application on the city’s website is available at www.sanclemente.org, under the Services/Housing & Social Services/Social Services link.

Trustee Amy Hanacek initially nominated Trustee Gary Pritchard for president, which was seconded by Holloway, but a substitute motion was made by the board’s newest member, Judy Bullockus, to maintain the current slate of officers.

“I believe that this time, consistency and stability by way of officer continuity would be helpful in policy making, planning and evaluation oversight going forward,” Bullockus said.

The majority of the trustees agreed with Bullockus, and the motion passed 5-1-1 with Holloway opposed and Jones absent.

WHAT’S NEXT: The officers’ next term will last through December 2018. The board’s next meeting is set for Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at district headquarters, located at 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.—Allison Jarrell

Laguna Niguel Coldwell Banker Accepting Donations to Laura’s House

THE LATEST: The Laguna Niguel office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is hosting a women’s clothing drive for Laura’s House, the only state-approved comprehensive domestic violence agency in South Orange County. During regular business hours, community members can drop off donations of new and unwrapped women’s comfort clothing, such as pajamas, robes and socks in all sizes at the Laguna Niguel office of Coldwell Banker Residential.

WHAT’S NEXT: The business will take donations until Dec. 24 at its office, located at 28051 Greenfield Dr, Laguna Niguel. —Staff

Peters said the victims were in their 40s. The social media post said a woman discovered her husband withdrew more than $3,800 in order to pay a ransom demand from the predator who had called him saying they had kidnapped his child.

According to an article published by the FBI in October, virtual kidnapping is nothing new, but the tools at the criminals’ disposal have made it easier to fabricate desperate situations—leading to extortion over the phone.

The article found that people who were incarcerated in Mexico were able to acquire cell phones and used them to look up “affluent area codes” and dial numbers at random, hoping to find a victim.

WHAT’S NEXT: Peters said too much exposure on social media can make people more vulnerable to these types of situations. He cautioned putting enough information into the public sphere can be problematic.

“Just limit the amount of personal things that you put on the internet. I understand the reactions, because I’m a parent, but that said, they should have alerted authorities as quickly as they possibly could,” Peters said. “He was so involved in the conversation, I don’t think they let him off the phone. It’s one of those things where it’s a scary situation; they played to his father’s instincts, and he complied with the best of his ability.”

Peters said with the increase in people using social media and other digital devices, if people aren’t paying attention to what is published, predators can use that to their advantage.

“They’re still smart, but they are predators,” he said.

The FBI has a list of tips to avoid becoming a victim of virtual kidnapping linked to this article at www.sanclementetimes.com. —EH

NEWS BITES

San Clemente Village Honors Members and Volunteers

The San Clemente Village celebrated its volunteers and members at the San Clemente Community Center on Dec. 9. The Village, a local nonprofit operated by volunteers, provides a variety of services as well as social and educational opportunities. The goal is to assist older adults with wellness. The volunteer corps provides all the services that range from transportation to pet assistance to taking out the garbage cans on trash day.

The cause for celebration was the Village success over the last year.

“The San Clemente Village is all about assisting older residents in staying well in their own homes—the volunteers are privileged to help,” said volunteer Sandi Shoden.

At the celebration, attendees enjoyed a lavish Italian lunch, music, a toast and guest speaker Debbie Rose from the California State University-Fullerton Center for Successful Aging, who spoke about the upcoming educational series on brain health, fall reduction and safety.

For more information about the Village, call 949.441.1348.

Coral Thrift Shop Hosts Christmas Fundraiser

The Coral Thrift Shop hosted its annual Christmas luncheon on Dec. 8 at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course.

The Coral Thrift Shop was founded in 1963 by a group of women who wanted to give back to the city. Through fundraising and donations, the organization has raised more than $3 million for children’s programs and charities. The luncheon made nearly $6,000 from a raffle, a silent auction and a fashion show featuring couture from the shop.

With no paid staff and about 60 volunteers, the shop is open six days a week from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Coral Thrift Shop donates all proceeds to the Oceans in Motion program for youth, the Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area, Casa Romantica youth programs and nearly 30 scholarships yearly to local college-bound high school students.

SCJWC Seeks Assistance with 70 Years of Giving Celebration Charity Gala

The San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club is a nonprofit organization turning 70 years old in 2018. The organization will host a charity gala called “Havana Nights” to celebrate on April 28 at Bella Collina San Clemente.

The all-volunteer organization has served San Clemente for 70 years through volunteerism and financial support for a wide range of community programs, including helping children, families, elderly and military in need.

It also supports the arts and education through financial support and scholarships to local schools, library and outstanding teens.

The Junior Women’s Club is seeking event sponsors and in-kind donations to support the largest fundraising event of the year. Havana Nights is slated to be a “fun evening of dinner, entertainment, silent and live auctions,” according to a press release, which will include an experienced auctioneer and a Latin guitar duo. Visit www.scjwc. org or contact Stephanie Stuhr, the charity gala co-chair, at thebigevent@scjwc.org for more information. Ticket sale information will also be posted on the website.

San Onofre School

Tutoring Program Kicks Off 12th Year

San Clemente Presbyterian Church (SCPC) volunteers are back at Camp Pendleton’s on-base San Onofre School once again to work one-on-one with gradeschool students on their education skills development. Tutoring runs through March 20. According to a press release, hundreds of volunteers have served thousands of students over the years.

The tutors are trained by three teachers at the school, and students’ needs and educational materials are personalized by them for the teacher and the students.

Barbara Barnes, who directs the program, said the number of students has grown over the years. Students are in grades 4 to 6, and this year’s program offers guitar lessons and crafts.

To make a donation to the program, contact Barnes at barbarabarnes@cox.net or 949.370.0559.

Community Meetings

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14

COASTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

7 p.m. Guest speaker Louise Thornton, the director of the Laguna Ocean Foundation, will discuss the foundation’s multi ECO Heroes Awardwinning Eco and Marine Protection Programs. Fireside Room, Community Center, 100 N. Seville. 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION MEETING

Local Youth Punk Band Stink Inc. to Perform at OC Tavern

for Fundraiser

San Clemente punk rock band Stink Inc. is set to rock at OC Tavern on Wednesday, Dec. 27 in support of San Clemente Skatepark Coalition (SCSC), a nonprofit raising money to improve and expand the Ralphs Skate Court. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with Stink Inc. playing two 20-minute sets at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. This is a family-friendly event.

Stink Inc. is a youth punk cover band made up of five San Clemente boys, ages 8 to 12, all of whom skateboard. With the help of the OC Tavern, they’ve come together to help SCSC meet their initial goal of $50,000 to make improvements to the skate park, such as adding lights.

OC Tavern will donate 20 percent of food and bar tabs to SCSC for people who mention the fundraiser. OC Tavern is located at 2369 S. El Camino Real.

Trauma Intervention Programs of Orange County Seeks Volunteers

People who want to be part of a team of volunteers who provide emotional first aid and practical support to survivors of traumatic events can join the Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of Orange County. Volunteers are called to emergency scenes to comfort family members after a sudden death, provide caring support after a suicide, help witnesses after a traumatic event and be there for those emotionally shaken after traffic accidents. TIP Academy training is required to graduate. For info or to register, call 714.314.0744 or email tipincceo@aol.com. Visit www.tiporangecounty.org for more information.

Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to eheinz@picketfencemedia.com.

9 a.m. The Coastal Commission will review San Clemente’s Local Coastal Land Use Program updates. Meeting starts at 9 a.m., but the item could be heard later. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. www.coastal.ca.gov.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17

DEL MAR FARMERS’ MARKET

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

6 p.m. The City Council will host its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente. 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. toastmastersclubs.org.

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) MEETING

7-9 p.m. Meets every Tuesday. Because I Love You (BILY) 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 20

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

6 p.m. The Planning Commission will host its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

May the Force Be with Him

Q&A with San Clemente’s Rian Johnson, the director of ‘Star Wars’

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

n a land foreign to him, equipped with an 8-millimeter film camera, a young man practiced his craft, unaware that the fate of the universe would later rest in his hands.

But instead of shooting womp rats on Tatooine to gain precision, the young man was aiming through the scope of a camera.

Much like the characters he creates and directs, Rian Johnson made extensive efforts to reach the status of Jedi master (in cinema), and believing in his abilities was essential to maintaining balance of “the force.” Johnson, a San Clemente High School graduate from the class of 1992, is the new writer-director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, set to be released in theaters on Friday, Dec. 15.

Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Johnson moved to San Clemente when he was 11 years old. While growing up in South Orange County, he said he would frequent the theater in Mission Viejo and worked for a short time at the movie theater in San Juan Capistrano. He later enrolled at the University of Southern California’s School of CinemaTelevision (now named School of Cinematic Arts).

Now, Johnson is slated to direct a whole new Star Wars trilogy, Episodes X, XI and XII, Lucasfilms announced.

“We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, in a press release. “He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.”

Johnson spoke with the San Clemente Times about the film and his early years in South Orange County during a phone interview.

SC Times (SCT): What about San Clemente do you remember most and what experiences influenced your life’s direction?

Rian Johnson (RJ): I came to San Clemente as I was going into seventh grade and I landed at Shorecliffs Junior High (Middle School), and I was (in San Clemente) until I graduated. My main memories are about how it was a pleasant place to be a teenager. It was low-key. I feel like we didn’t get a lot of the, you know, craziness we would have had if we were in LA, but we still got the kind of beach-town environment.

Obviously, being at San Clemente High and the experiences I had there ended up feeding a lot of the first movie I made, Brick. We shot the film there.

SCT: You started shooting 8-millimeter films as a kid. Did you start doing that here or in Maryland?

RJ: That was in San Clemente. I got my first camera at the Mission Viejo mall, this little, junkie Super 8 camera. With my friend, Brendan Koelber, who I named the main character after in Brick, we made a little claymation movie called The Moos Brothers, which was The Blues Brothers, but with cows. So clever (laughs). But it’s funny, as I actually still have the old Super 8 stuff. I was just re-watching a little transfer I made of it recently. It’s terrible, but it’s fun to see what we did in my friend’s driveway using all those old G.I. Joe toys.

SCT: Were there people who really influ-

enced your creative outlets and your penchant for directing and creating movies?

RJ: I had a small ground of friends who I was really tight with, and I guess, we were nerds in the sense that we weren’t going to parties and weren’t really living the teenage life you see in the movies, although I don’t know if anyone really does. We constantly made these dumb, short movies together, constantly. I added them up when I was graduating high school and I think I made 80 short movies by the time I got out of high school. But that sounds grand, calling them short movies. We were really just hanging out on the weekends, and what did we do? We just grabbed a camera and got some ketchup packets and made some kind of fake Kung-Fu movie. So that was kind of a starting point to it all, loving movies and being bored.

SCT: Were there any teachers at San Clemente High School who motivated you to

continue pursuing this dream (of directing)?

RJ: Yeah, I actually name-check her in Brick, a wonderful teacher named Sheila Kasprzyk. She’s the English teacher that Branden, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character in Brick, says is tough but fair. And she was wonderful, and it was more about writing instead of making movies. She was the best writing teacher I’ve ever had. I took an AP Language class from her. I owe her a lot.

SCT: How has your life changed since being named the next writer and director of not just Episode VIII, but your own Star Wars trilogy?

RJ: The big way it’s changed is that I’ve been working on this (The Last Jedi). I moved to London for about a year and a half working on this movie because we mostly shot this at Pinewood Studios. And (life has) been absorbed into

(Cont. from page 6) making this movie. Life itself doesn’t change much, but…you find yourself absorbed in the process of making this thing and meeting all these great people and having all these new experiences.

I have no idea what doing this new (trilogy) is going to be like. I hope it’s like doing Episode VIII because I had the time of my life doing this.

SCT: How much of your voice and your own style have you put into this movie (Episode VIII)?

RJ: Well, I mean, you never try, at least I never try, and sit down and put some kind of stamp on anything. You try and sit down and tell the story you want to tell as honestly as possible, and your voice naturally ends up affecting it because you’re telling it in your voice. But especially with Star Wars, the last thing on my mind was coming in and wanting to make it something different or make it my own; I just wanted to make a great Star Wars movie.

But part of that is the original films. When (George) Lucas made the original films—I think this is part of why those films are so resonant—they were personal. That’s the sense I get, knowing them and growing up (with) the mythology of George Lucas’s life.

I think that’s the way you have to be with any movie, and so you always have to find your own personal way into it. And I definitely did with this. It’s a complicated

mixture, I guess, trying to make a good Star Wars film. But part of that, and part of making any film you want to be good, is finding what you care about personally and trying to see that through.

SCT: What’s been the most challenging or daunting aspect of taking on Star Wars?

RJ: Having been a Star Wars fan since I was 4 years old, and especially having been a fan beyond my teens and 20s, knowing the expectations and the passion of the fan-base and not wanting to let them down, at the same time knowing if I was thinking during the process about not letting them down, I would probably end up terrified and making a bad movie. So early on I needed to trust…that I know that I’m a fan, I know what I love

about Star Wars, and I’m just going to shut everything out and not think about what the world or the fans are going to want or expect. I’m going to try and make something that makes me happy.

Once I did that, the process was a joy. We’ll see what people think about it now.

SCT: You’re going to direct (Episode) VIII and J.J. Abrams is going to direct IX. How are you going to collaborate into making continuity work?

RJ: It’s kind of like a baton handoff in a relay race. It was like when I started VIII where J.J. left off with VII. It’s very much, you know, I read the script for VIII. I had a couple conversations with J.J. about clarifying some stuff that he was going to do in the movie. And then it was very

much an open field in terms of what happens next. What makes sense for these characters? Where does it feel right for them to go next? And kind of being able to develop the story organically going forward, which is really nice.

It’s a similar thing with VIII; I took it up to a point where it should get to the middle chapter and the characters are on a path and we brought them to a certain point, and now it’s just a relay hand-off back to J.J. He and Chris Terrio, who he’s writing with now, are figuring out the same things I did: where does it make sense for these characters to go and end up?

SCT: Is there any chance that any of the next Star Wars films—X, XI and XII—could be shot in San Clemente?

RJ: (Laughing) I don’t know, man. We’ll see. T-Street could double as another planet, maybe? You could have Pedro’s Tacos as a new cantina.

I love San Clemente and I had a great time growing up there, and I love coming back. Every time I come back, it feels like coming home. And if you’re a teenager in San Clemente and you love making movies, just keep making them. SC

Editor’s note: Read the full interview online at www.sanclementetimes.com under the headline Q&A with San Clemente’s Rian Johnson, the director of ‘Star Wars.’

SOAPBOX SC

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VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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HOW TO REACH US

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EDITORIAL

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> Rachael Mattice

City Editor, SC Times

> Eric Heinz

City Editor, DP Times

> Daniel Ritz

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch

> Allison Jarrell

Sports Editor

> Steve Breazeale

Special Projects Editor

> Andrea PapagianisCamacho

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Associate Publisher

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Real Estate Sales Manager

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ART/DESIGN

Art Director

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Graphic Designer

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OPERATIONS

Finance Director

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Business Manager

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SPECIAL THANKS

Robert Miller

CONTRIBUTORS

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Victor Carno

Tim Trent

Jake Howard

San Clemente Times Vol. 12, Issue 50. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (www. danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www. thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

GUEST OPINION: View from the Pier by Herman Sillas

Memories Remain Even as the Hourglass Turns

Time passes, but some memories stay with us. As this year passed, I had the pleasure of visiting my dear friend from the Pier, Shirley Stanley. I met her when I went out on the Pier for the first time in the 1980s. She and her husband, Don Stanley, ran the shack at the end of the Pier. They had a great friend, Daisy Sherill, who helped them practically every day. She was not paid help, just a good friend.

They were out there early in the morning and with coffee ready for visitors. They also had mussels and anchovies for bait. A crowd came out to get coffee, yesterday’s news and the new day’s projected plans. I did not really know what they talked about; I was too busy fishing. I just knew they gathered at the end of the Pier by the shack and spent two hours there and then headed back to their respective homes. There were some great characters in that group.

One of them was “blind Jim.” He had been in the Navy at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed by Japan on Dec. 7, 1941. His eyesight was limited, although I don’t know whether he was injured during the attack or later on in his life. He would stop

Letters to the Editor

REASONS FOR ADVERTISEMENTS ON FENCES

JIM SIGAFOOS, San Clemente

Based on the critical SC Times letters, I understand that some people find our banners unsightly. We do not wish to offend. However, we at SCEF feel that any possible aesthetic impact is more than offset by the services provided to San Clemente High School students.

I am president of the San Clemente Educational Foundation (SCEF), and the fence banners at SCHS are one of our major fundraising programs.

For those unfamiliar with SCEF, we are a group of community members, parents, teachers and administrators dedicated to supporting academics at SCHS. We are an allvolunteer organization with no paid staff and minimal overhead. SCEF provides multiple services at no cost to the students of SCHS, including after-school tutoring, supplemental counseling, college admissions assistance, special tutoring for struggling freshmen and

on his way to the shack and tell me a joke. On Dec. 7 every year, he brought a bottle with him to share a drink with his friends. Later, I dipped my bait into my drink. I caught more fish than I had before. He got a kick out of that.

Another fellow out there was John. He was a widower and lived in a place for senior citizens that provided him food and a room. He was in his 90s and met a woman in her 80s at the location where he resided. She began walking out with him and they held hands. They later married and we were invited to the wedding.

One morning when I was fishing, John and his wife stopped by me. He said to me,

“This is a special day.”

“Why?” I asked.

“All of our children after today will be legitimate,” he said with a big smile. I cracked up. He stayed on for several years before he passed away.

As time passed, the crowd dwindled.

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso

This week’s guest will be Mayor Tim Brown, who will speak about his next year as mayor and upcoming topics and issues to be addressed. 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.

support to reduce the cost of advanced class participation for families.

The income provided by the fence banner program is very important for the provision of our services. Approximately 25 percent of our annual fundraising comes from fence banners.

One hundred percent of the money that we raise goes to directly support the students at SCHS.

One critical letter questioned the “advertising value” of the banners. I believe our banner donors are far more interested in supporting academics than in advertising. In addition to paying the production

Some people moved away or passed away. Those who moved came back to visit Shirley and Don out on the Pier. There was something about the place. Shirley and Don’s days were sometimes long hours. They arrived early in the morning and stayed until it was dark. They served hot dogs, coffee, candy and ice cream.

Don and Shirley eventually sold their business, but still came out to be with their friends. As I listen to Shirley tell me her tales and adventures at the Pier, I couldn’t help but admire her mutual love for the Pier and her friends. Some of her friends are gone now, but she is still here with memories. It is nice to have memories during Christmas time; they go well together. That’s the view from the Pier.

Herman Sillas is an artist, writer and formerly the United States Attorney of the Eastern District of California. He may be reached at sillasla@aol.com. SC

cost, each business makes a substantial annual donation to SCEF. The banner acts as recognition for this support. When I am looking to purchase local goods or services, I always consider local businesses with a record of community support, whether to schools or other community organizations. I would ask the readers of the San Clemente Times to do the same.

We have rules about banner content and appearance. The banners may only be printed in the school colors, black and red, and may contain no objectionable or partisan content.

Placement of the banners is limited to block only the view of a chain-link fence and the parking lot.

For a full list of our activities in support of academics, or to donate, please visit www.schsef.org.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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.

GETTING OUT SC

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14: SHACC-A-DELIC CHRISTMAS PARTY

6-9 p.m. The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center is hosting a flashback themed party where guests are welcome to show up in their grooviest threads. The main dish and beverages will be provided by SHACC, but guests are asked to bring side dishes and desserts. Awards will be handed out for the best dip and the best outfit. 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente. 949.388.0313. www.surfingheritage.org.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY VICTOR CARNO

Thursday | 14

TABLE TENNIS FOR SENIORS

10 a.m.-1 p.m. All seniors 55 or older are welcome to join the Table Tennis Club at the Shorecliff Terrace Mobile Home Park. 3000 Calle Nuevo, San Clemente. 949.481.2275. jnl5555@yahoo.com.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

8 p.m. Join the Cabrillo Playhouse for their performance of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Performances are every Thursday through Sunday until December 17. See site for show times. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

Friday | 15

LIVE MUSIC: WATERMAN’S HARBOR

4-7 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.

DANA POINT BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS

4:30 p.m. Kick off the holiday season by attending the 43rd annual Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights. This year’s theme of

“A Superhero Holiday” is sure to inspire heroic themed boats, holiday games and crafts. Be sure to find Santa for a free photo. Festivities start at 4:30 p.m. and the parade begins at 7:30 p.m. See site for boat registration. Dana Point Harbor. 34555 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.923.2255. www.danapointharbor.com.

TJO JAZZ TRIO

7:30 p.m. Join local jazz musicians Sam Shepherd, AJ Polidoro and Keith Bishop as they holiday jazz music at Thai Juan On. Admission is free. 31878 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.0332. www.thaijuanon.com.

Saturday | 16

SANTA CARES

8:30-11:30 a.m. The Just Like Me Foundation and the Outlets at San Clemente are teaming up to provide a Santa photo experience that is supportive of children with sensory, physical and developmental needs. Register online to eliminate waiting in line. Photos will be taken in an indoor private room with limited overhead music. Registration is free. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.535.2323. www.justlikemefoundation.org.

LARRY BEARD PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW

4-7 p.m. Join Larry Beard as he presents Whales in Tonga. The display features photos from his visit to Tonga where he swam alongside migrating whales. OC Contemporary Gallery. 1509 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 888.948.0086. www.ocgallery.com. (Cont. on page 14)

(Cont. from page 12)

Sunday | 17

SOUL FOOD: TWO WINGS

10:30 a.m. This edition of Soul Food will be exploring the principle of equality between women and men, and how its true establishment can transform the inequalities of the world. A short presentation will be given by Justine Finn, the founder and director of Relation-Shift, which works to address gender and sexual violence against middle- and high school-aged youth. San Clemente Baha’i Center, 3316 Avenida Del Presidente. scbahailsa@yahoo.com or call 949.791.9192. www.bahaicenter.com.

ANNUAL SURFBOARD MENORAH CELEBRATION

2 p.m. Stop by Laguna Main Beach for Israeli music and dancing with DJ Eldad as they begin the lighting of a large menorah made out of surfboards. Activities for children and street performers will be ongoing throughout the event. Free. 107 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. 949.499.0770. www.chabadoflaguna.com.

SOUTH COAST SINGERS PRESENTS: ‘PEPPERMINT DREAMS’ CONCERT

4 p.m. Enjoy live music featuring classic holiday favorites and a few new songs as well. Tickets are $20, $16 for seniors. Geneva Presbyterian Church. 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods. 949.837.2323. www.genevapres.org.

Monday | 18

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. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

Tuesday | 19

BEND & BREW

6 p.m. Bend & Brew is held at Left Coast’s tasting room in San Clemente. This is a one-hour yoga class, followed by a pint of beer. It’s a great way to get to know your local fellow yogis and beer drinkers. The cost is $10. Left Coast Brewery, 1251 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.276.6014 or www.leftcoastbrewing.com.

Wednesday | 20

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS

9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are welcome to perform. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www.knuckleheadsmusic.com.

At the Movies: Franco Bros. Make Their Own ‘Disaster Artist’

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Making a good movie that successfully manages to stay relevant throughout history is a one-in-amillion chance, but making a bad movie that stays relevant is a one-in-a-billion chance. Eccentric amateur filmmaker Tommy Wiseau somehow miraculously accomplished the latter with his cult feature The Room (2003). The film has been called one of the worst movies ever made—the Citizen Kane of bad movies—and 14 years later, actor, and sometimes filmmaker, James Franco has adapted the production of the film as a biopic penned The Disaster Artist.

In 1998, 19-year-old Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) forms an unlikely friendship with the strange and mysterious Wiseau (James Franco) and the two decide to move to LA to embark on acting careers. As the auditioning goes nowhere, Tommy writes a bizarre movie script he’s called The Room and wants Greg to be his colead. Most of the film is shot and edited in 2002 to amusing and nonsensical results. Seth Rogen and Alison Brie appear as

part of the cast of familiar faces. Franco’s feature is being compared frequently to Tim Burton’s own 1994 biopic Ed Wood on the supposed worst director to ever live. Like with Wood, we get some very funny and entertaining sequences on a halfbaked movie production, but unlike with the previous film, Disaster Artist might not be as accessible for general audiences. Franco focuses on making his picture as meta as possible, meaning those who have seen the 2003 original or read Sestero’s memoir on the making of the movie will appreciate it the most. SC

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

Time to Regroup after ‘Today’ Show Connect Ousted

As a newspaper columnist, fledgling social media marketer and retired dude, I am always thinking of ways to help single people ages 50 to 90 by extending the reach of my writing.

In September, I came up with an angle that I felt might land me a third appearance on the Today show in New York City. I had been interviewed on Today by Jack Ford in 1999 and Matt Lauer in 2001.

I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to be interviewed by Matt Lauer again. Not only do I remember the details of that interview, but I also remember my partner Greta and I being in the green room, where you hang out before the show with other guests. One was author David McCullough. The other, John Lithgow, of 3rd Rock from the Sun.

Greta and I even ordered three copies of McCullough’s book he was promoting, John Adams, directly from him. They arrived in the mail a couple of weeks later. With the Today show reaching an estimated 5 million viewers each day, if I got on the show, I would be able to sell some of my dating and relationship books that are stored in my garage. However, getting on any network talk show is very difficult, but I decided to try anyway.

I called the show’s switchboard in New York City to get the name and address of the show’s executive producer. I drafted a letter to him, but decided not to send it until Greta and I returned from our trip to South America. I didn’t want to blow an opportunity to appear if the producer contacted me when we were at sea off the coast of Chile or Argentina or somewhere else along the way.

Sometimes, major talk shows decide at the last minute to bring guests on, and if you’re selected, you need to drop everything and boogie to NYC.

Now that we are home from the trip, getting a letter off to the executive producer was at the top of my “to-do” list for early December.

My pitch to the producer was going to be that when I was interviewed in 2001, Matt’s opening question to me was “Has dating changed for people over 50?” Then, he and I discussed the changes. Having written more than 3,000 columns and newsletters on senior dating and relationships since that 2001 interview, I thought the producer might be interested in the senior dating changes that have occurred since then. I reasoned

that Matt could just ask me the same questions.

Some senior dating changes in 2017: Internet dating has grown to approximately 4,000 different dating sites; long-distance relationships are more common; romance scams exploit vulnerable singles; people use Skype and social media to chat; people lie on their profiles; and breaking up by text message happens occasionally.

But, my plan to make another run at a Today show appearance got derailed last week before I mailed the pitch letter to the show’s producer. Matt was terminated after 24 years on the show as co-anchor for allegations of sexual misconduct.

By

Tom Blake

In senior dating when couples meet, timing is everything. Same thing when pitching an appearance on a major network talk show. I guess the dating and relationship books being stored in my garage will continue to gather dust.

Greta’s niece, Gina, mentioned that she saw videos of my TV appearances on my website.

She said, “Send a letter to Today anyway, just change the pitch somewhat, and since you were also on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer, send a letter to them as well.”

Gina’s right. I’ll include that project among my New Year’s resolutions.

To view videos of Tom’s TV appearances, including parts one and two of the Matt Lauer interview, and the Good Morning America interview with Diane Sawyer, visit www.findingloveafter50. com/videos.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middleaged dating. See his websites at www. findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www.travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@gmail.com. SC

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Reeves Rubber Co. production plant in San Clemente, photographed in 1959, is seen in full operation.

Every week, the San Clemente Times will publish a historical photo. Online, SC Times will create a gallery of the month’s photos. To submit your historical photos, please provide information about the photo along with your name for credit to eheinz@picketfencemedia.com.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Last week’s solution:

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

Pet of the Week: Armani

Armani is a happy little guy with loads of energy. He just loves to greet you with a wagging tail and tons of kisses. Only 1 and a half years old, Armani is sure to bring lots of fun into your life.

If you would like to know more about Armani, call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or visit with him at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. SC

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

SanClemente 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 winter sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports

Soccer Ready for the Spotlight as National Tournament Hosts

The San Clemente High School boys soccer team knows just how important the next few days are. Not only will they have a chance to play in front of a large audience, but they will have the opportunity to measure where they stack up against the top teams in the country.

The Tritons will host their annual Lotto Sport Western Showcase starting Thursday, Dec. 14. The hosts will open the three-day tournament with a match against defending tournament champion Corona Del Sol of Arizona at 1:30 p.m.

After the Tritons played in a tournament hosted by powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida several years ago, San Clemente coach Mike Pronier wanted to start-up a west coast version in town.

Now in its fourth installment, the Lotto Sport Western Showcase routinely pulls in some of the best the country has to offer. This year is no different.

Three of the eight teams in the field are ranked in the top-10 in the country,

Scoreboard

SC FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM TAKES 3RD IN SOCAL TOURNEY

according to www.topdrawersoccer.com’s winter FAB 50 rankings. The trio includes Servite (No. 5 in nation, No. 1 in state), St. Paul’s of Louisiana (No. 8 in nation) and Paramount (No. 10).

San Clemente, ranked No. 5 in Southern California, has struggled to place in the tournament in years past, which is motivating this current group of players.

“It’s a huge opportunity to play for our town. We haven’t done particularly well here and if we can get a positive outcome, that would be huge,” senior forward/mid-

field Tristan Weber said. “It’s our home tournament and we want to come in and show what we got.”

Montverde Academy did not hold its tournament this year, which makes the Lotto Sport Western Showcase one of the top nationwide events on the high school calendar. As a result, it draws its fair share of college coaches looking for recruits. Each team will play one game per day in a single-elimination format. The championship match will be on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.

“It’s a tough few days, whether you win the first game or lose,” Pronier said of the competition. “It means a lot to these players and coaches. They want to play against the best teams.”

San Clemente does not enter the tournament with much momentum. After winning its first two games of the year, the Tritons lost their last two. San Clemente allowed three goals in each of the two losses. Seven of the eight goals the Tritons have allowed this year have come off corner kicks or free kicks.

If the Tritons can solve that problem, their offense should have no trouble competing. San Clemente has scored at least two goals in every game. Weber, Cesar Delgado and Andrew Burror have all scored twice. Weber also has four assists.

Top Drawer Soccer will livestream games, which can be found at www. ustream.tv/channel/lotto-sport-westernshowcase.

Girls Hoops in Semifinals of Valley Christian Tournament

Wins over Fountain Valley and host Valley Christian earned the San Clemente girls basketball team a berth in the Valley Christian Tournament semifinals on Friday, Dec. 15. San Clemente (3-4) will play JSerra (6-1), the No. 5-ranked team in CIFSS Division 2AA, in the semifinals.

In a 58-43 win over Fountain Valley on Dec. 11, Shae Waters made five 3-pointers en route to a 19-point performance. In a 43-24 win over Valley Christian, Ella Gardiner had 18 points and 17 rebounds.

If the Tritons advance, they will play in the tournament finals on Saturday, Dec. 16.

A team of youth flag football players from San Clemente had an excellent showing at the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation’s flag football championships in Pasadena over the weekend.

The players, who range from ages 8 to 10, won three games at the event, culminating with a win over a team from Downey to claim third place overall in Division C.

The San Clemente-based team, dubbed the Cyclones, beat defending Southern California champion Porterville and a team from Carson to set up a semifinal game against Blythe. Blythe edged the Cyclones and went on to win the 8-on-8 tournament.

In the consolation bracket, the Cyclones SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

defeated a team from Downey, 14-12, to claim third place. The Cyclones suffered an injury to a player early in the game and, with no substitutions available, had to play most of the game a man down.

The San Clemente Cyclones include: Slater Morgan, Caden Di Re, Drake Nelson, CJ Leinen, Trey Martin, Luke Mogavero, Gage Gloede and Lasiah Jackson. The team is coached by Greg Gloede, Gary Vincent and Rob Martin.

US YOUTH VOLLEYBALL SPRING PROGRAM REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

The United States Youth Volleyball League announced that registration for its spring program in San Clemente is now open.

The eight-week developmental league is open to boys and girls ages 7 to 15 and will be held at Talega Park starting April 10. Practices will be held on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and games will be on Sundays at 9 a.m.

The program is designed to teach participants the principles of teamwork, sportsmanship and skill development.

For more information or to register, email info@usyvl.org or visit www.usyvl. org. SC

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Locals Only

ACCOUNTING

Chris W. Johnston, CPA, MBA 34184 Pacific Coast Highway Dana Point, 949.240.8015, www.cwjcpacorp.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

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

ELECTRIC BIKES

Murf Electric Bikes 212 N. El Camino Real, 949.370.3801, www.murfelectricbikes.com

ELECTRICAL

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com

FURNITURE

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

HOME DÉCOR

South Coast Furniture & Mattress

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

HOME REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENT

Capistrano Valley Raingutters Scott Williams, 949.542.7750

JEWELRY

Paradise Jewelers

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

LANDSCAPING

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

MATTRESSES

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

MORTGAGES

Brian Wiechman, Equity Coast Mortgage A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage 949.533.9209, www.equitycoastmortgage.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

SC Rider Supply

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

MUSIC LESSONS

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

OFFICE FURNITURE

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

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com

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 Susie Lantz at 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com

PEST/TERMITE CONTROL

accuratetermitecontrol.com

949.837.6483

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

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

REALTORS

Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com

Sherry Wild, LuXre Realty BRE # 01480453, 949.275.8937 www.LuXreRealty.com

RESTAURANTS

Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

SALONS

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

Salon Bleu 207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, www.scsalonbleu.com

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

SECONDHAND/ CONSIGNMENT SHOPS

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

WEBSITE DESIGN

San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction 877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com. Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

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 at Lantern Bay Carpets: 949-240-1545.

GARAGE SALE

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

STUFF

THE SCHENKENBERGER’S NEED SOME HELP

Steve Shenkenberger, husband and father of five young boys, was riding his mountain bike on Super Bowl Sunday when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Laguna Niguel. The family is need of donations for ongoing medical expenses and childcare. Please consider donating at www.gofundme.com/ the-schenkenbergers-medical-bills.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

In Remembrance: Bruce Brown

Maker of ‘The Endless Summer’ passes away at 80

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

In 1958, Bruce Brown landed in Dana Point after a stint in the Navy. While stationed in Hawaii, he’d spent much of his time surfing and shooting home movies of friends riding waves. With his service complete and being back in Orange County, he cut a crude, 90-minute “surf movie” together. Resident surfboard baron Dale Velzy let Brown show the movie in his shop in San Clemente for 25 cents a head.

“Surfing back then, in the ’50s and into the early ‘60s, everyone thought we were total losers. It’s like, you didn’t want to tell anybody you were a surfer,” Brown reflected in an interview with ESPN in 2013. “If you were in high school and you said you were a surfer, that was bad.” It couldn’t have been all bad. Brown’s initial screening at Velzy’s was such a success that the shaper convinced the filmmaker to keep going. The next winter, Brown was back in Hawaii shooting his first official surf movie, Slippery When Wet, which debuted in 1958 at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. It was full-tilt boogie for Brown after that. He fired off a succession of other successful films, and by 1962 he’d begun work on his magnum opus, The Endless Summer

A master of turning lemons into lemonade, Brown took a paltry $50,000 budget, set out with San Diego’s Mike Hynson and Seal Beach’s Robert August and made the most influential surf movie ever. The legend goes that The Endless Summer wasn’t originally intended to be an around-theworld adventure, but it was cheaper to hop around the globe than make specific trips to already popularized surf zones. Brown created the enticing narrative virtually out of thin air. That simple twist of fate led to

surf discoveries in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii, “home of the endless summer.”

Brown’s entertaining, somewhat sarcastic narration coupled with The Sandals’ timeless soundtrack and John Van Hamersveld’s iconic poster artwork proved to be the perfect storm. The Endless Summer wasn’t just an instant success in the burgeoning surf scene, it cut much deeper. Selling out theaters across the country, it helped shed the beach-blanket perception of the sport that Hollywood was perpetuating.

“What am I the proudest of with The Endless Summer? It showed people we weren’t losers…we were just adventurers, or whatever. We were really a maligned group of people before that,” Brown said.

The Endless Summer ran for 48 weeks in New York City, smashing national theater attendance records during its screening. Film critics labeled Brown “the Bergman of the boards” and “the Fellini of the foam.” It even transcended the Cold War when the U.S. State Department showed it at the Moscow Film Festival.

In 1971, Brown turned his lens on motorcycle riding, filming and producing On Any Sunday (largely shot in the sand dunes above Dana Point with his friend and actor Steve McQueen). The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1972.

Brown’s last major project came in 1994 with the release of The Endless Summer II Produced alongside his son, Dana, the film stared a skipping Dana Point local named Pat O’Connell and Santa Cruz’s squarejawed Robert “Wingnut” Weaver as they reprised some of the locations shot in the original film and paid homage to a host of legends.

GROM OF THE WEEK

DANE MATSON

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

The USA Surfing Prime went down over the weekend at Salt Creek in pristine conditions. Offshore winds, northwest swell, 80-degree beach temps—it doesn’t get much better than that in December—unless your name is Dane Matson.

Surfing in the Under 14 division, Matson held on for a hard-fought win against some serious competition.

“I had so much fun at the Prime this weekend. Waves were on fire! Super stoked to take the win,” said Matson when the

“You can’t tell how good a wave is until you ride it,” Brown once said.

Originally from San Francisco, Brown moved with his family to Long Beach when he was 11 and started surfing thereafter (these were the days before the Long Beach breakwater was built and swell actually got into the area). He eventually retired to a small ranch property in the

spray had finally settled.

Lately, Matson’s stock has been on the rise as he’s consistently been blowing up in NSSA finals, won the first Surfing America Prime of the season and then took the win in the Positive Vibe Warriors’ latest incarnation of the Stoke-O-Rama. A regular at spots around town like T-Street, Rivi’s and Lowers, he runs with a talented crew that’s quickly climbing the ranks around San Clemente and Dana Point.

Overall, it was a great weekend for local surfers. Dane’s older brother, Kade, kept up his winning ways, sweeping the Boys Under 16 and Boys Under 18 divisions, while Kirra Pinkerton won the Girls Under 16 and finished runner-up in the Girls Under 18. SC

Santa Barbara area. Brown passed away on Dec. 10 of natural causes. He was reportedly comfortable and at peace. Like The Endless Summer, he now belongs to the ages. Now, it’s up to all of us to keep surfing, keep traveling, keep exploring and, most importantly, keep the dream of the endless summer burning bright. SC

SURF FORECAST

Water Temperature: 60-63 degrees F

Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-8’ Fair

Thursday: Overlapping WNW swells. Small SSW swell blends in. The better exposed breaks are in the knee-waist-chest high (2-3’+) range, while standout winter and combo spots are shoulder high (4’) on sets. Calm to light offshore flow through the morning hours, trending to a light onshore flow in the afternoon.

Outlook: Nice size WNW swells through the weekend with some Southern Hemi swell blending in, best breaks are in the shoulder-head high+ range on sets the largest days. Favorable morning winds persist. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.