January 3, 2013

L O C A L N E W S Y O U C A N U S EJ A N UA RY 3 – 9, 2 0 1 3

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1

www.sanclementetimes.com

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

San Clemente is beginning 2013 with a host of issues confronting the city, including transitions at City Hall, highway construction and new projects. Photo by Jim Shilander

SC Man Killed by Train on

Christmas Eve EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

NRC Denies Petition for

SONGS Hearing EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Big Wave Surfer Talks About Surviving

Near Drowning SC SURF/PAGE 26

The Year Ahead

2013 a year of transition for San Clemente

E Y E O N S C / PAG E 6

What’s Up With...S A N C L E M E N T E ’ S T O P 5 H O T T E S T T O P I C S

1LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTINGEYE ON SC

www.sanclementetimes.comSan Clemente Times January 3–9, 2013 Page 3

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANOPhase 2 of Caltrans’ Interstate 5/Camino

Capistrano Interchange Improvement Project is underway. Phase 2 construction will take

place on the west side of Camino Capistrano and includes the addition of a southbound lane from south of San Juan Creek Road. To accom-

modate construction, southbound Camino Capistrano, south of Avenida Padre, has been

narrowed to one lane and the westbound lanes of San Juan Creek Road have been re-striped for only one left-turn lane and two right-turn

lanes. Construction will take place at night and is scheduled to be completed mid-February. Phase

1 construction was completed December 5 and included additional through and right-turn lanes for northbound Camino Capistrano, south of the I-5 ramps, and opened an extended auxiliary off-

ramp deceleration lane on the freeway.

NEWS NEXT DOOR

DANA POINTThe city of Dana Point has introduced a new medication “take back” box to provide a safe, free, “no questions asked” place for area residents to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The box is located in the lobby at Dana Point Police Services, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 140, at Dana Point City Hall and is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. No appointment is necessary and the service is anonymous. There are no forms to fill out, just drop your medications in the box and you’re done. Syringes, illicit drugs, medical waste and hazardous waste will not be accepted. For more information call 949.248.3531.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING

TOWNS

SCSan Clemente

THE LATEST: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission denied a petition by a citi-zens’ group seeking a public hearing to discuss a possible amendment to South-ern California Edison’s license to run the facility.

Anti-nuclear advocates have been push-ing for a license amendment review as a way to bring “independent” experts in to review the plant’s operations and whether or not the plant should be shut down entirely.

The NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licens-ing Board denied Citizens Oversight’s request for a hearing to challenge some of the “technical specifications” of SONGS. The board is a quasi-judicial panel of three judges who are independent of the Com-missioners and of the NRC staff.

The board denied Citizens Oversight’s objection that the proposed amendments would “relocate” or remove some techni-cal specifications from public view and allow Edison to change them without prior public or NRC review because binding precedent issued by NRC Commissioners in 2001 found that such a relocation was legally proper.

WHAT’S NEXT: A separate Atomic Safety and Licensing Board of three different judges is considering a hearing request filed by Friends of the Earth, which argues that the NRC’s Confirmatory

THE LATEST: Following two months of public meetings and outreach, the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors has approved an increase in standard bus fare, from $1.50 to $2. The new bus fare rates will become effective in February.

Along with the fare increase, OCTA plans to add an additional 9,000 revenue vehicle hours to address issues with overcrowding and help ensure on-time performance along some of the busiest routes.

Bulk ticket discounts, changes in rate structures for nonprofit agencies and a collaboration with the county’s Social Ser-vice Agency (to look at ways to address the needs of low-income riders, who will be hardest hit by the new fares) are also in the works.

WHAT’S NEXT: Current CEO Will Kemp-ton announced his resignation in Novem-ber. In the coming year the OCTA board will be choosing his successor. Kempton’s resignation becomes effective in Febru-ary. According to OCTA spokesperson Laura Scheper, the board’s November 26 special meeting appointment of Deputy CEO Darrell Johnson to the post may have been in violation of the Brown Act. Transportation Authority council advised the board to take up the issue of a succes-sor at a regular board meeting, which will likely take place at the beginning of the

THE LATEST: Two more San Juan Capistra-no properties have been shut down to clear the way for Caltrans’ Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange Improvement Project, the department announced Monday.

Caltrans took possession of a Chevron gas station and a Denny’s restaurant, both located on Ortega Highway just east of I-5, at midnight, according to Public Information Officer David Richardson.

Caltrans also announced a former Jack in the Box property, located at the corner of Del Obispo Street and Ortega Highway, will be demolished after the New Year. That property, along with another Chevron gas station on Del Obispo Street, was shut down in October.

WHAT’S NEXT: The project is slated to begin in early 2013 and will reconstruct the existing Ortega Highway bridge over I-5, widen existing on- and off-ramps, construct a new on-ramp from eastbound Ortega Highway for northbound I-5 travelers and realign the western portion of Ortega High-way to curve into Del Obispo Street.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information, visit www.dot.ca.gov/dist12. —Brian Park

THE LATEST: A San Clemente man was killed by an Amtrak train on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

Dan Tavarez, 59, was struck and killed by the southbound Pacific Surfliner at approxi-mately 4:20 p.m. Sheriff’s officials indicated that Tavarez had been walking along the tracks near the junction of Camino Cap-istrano and the Pacific Coast Highway when he was struck. The case is still being investigated.

WHAT’S NEXT: Chief of Police Services John Coppock indicated that it would likely be difficult to determine why the collision took place. He encouraged residents to take lessons from the incident however, suggest-ing that people only cross the tracks at des-ignated areas, rather than just anywhere.

“The trains come up so fast people don’t hear or see them, Coppock said. “At the designated areas there are the arms and signals that let you know what’s coming up.”

FIND OUT MORE: For the full story, see www.sanclementetimes.com. — Jim Shilander

THE LATEST: New San Clemente Mayor Bob Baker has announced that he will hold weekly “Mayor’s Hours,” open to members of the public at City Hall, every Monday from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. beginning January 7. Residents are encouraged to discuss any issues or concerns of importance to them. Interested individuals are asked to call Laura Campagnolo, executive assistant to the City Council, at 949.361.8322 to sched-ule a meeting.

…Another Train Fatality?

…New Mayor’s Outreach?

…a SONGS License Amendment Hearing?

…the OCTA?

...the I-5/Ortega Highway Project?

1

2

3 4

5

Action Letter to Edison last year should be treated as a license amendment. Legal briefs are being submitted to that board this month, the agency said, and a deci-sion is not expected until after that time.

FIND OUT MORE: For ongoing coverage of SONGS, see www.sanclementetimes.com. — JS

year with the inclusion of the OCTA’s new board members.

The OCTA is also adding a new K-9 patrol. Handlers are paired with dogs that have completed a 10-week explosives detec-tion training by the Transportation Secu-rity Administration at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Teams are being funded for the first five years through the help of a $600,000 federal grant toward the county’s homeland security efforts.

FIND OUT MORE: See www.octa.net. —Andrea Swayne

WHAT’S NEXT: Baker will also use an online tool called “Ask the Mayor” on the city’s website at www.san-clemente.org. Those wishing to use the feature can do so beginning January 7, according to a city announcement of the plans.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information, see www.san-clemente.org. — JS


EYE ON SC

Thursday, January 3

Golf Course Committee Meeting 7 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Saturday, January 5

SCHS Dance Workshop 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Skills assessment workshop for dancers grades 8-11 who are interested in trying out for the San Clemente High School Dance Team. Dancers will learn and be evaluated on technique. Held in the SCHS Dance Room (S-1). Cost $75. 700 Avenida Pico, San Clem-ente, 949.492.4165, www.schsdance.org.

Saturday Produce Basket 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Every Saturday get a fresh-picked $20 veg-gie/fruit baskets at Villagio Giardino at the Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club. 200 Ave-nida La Pata, San Clemente, 949.697.0032, www.vrgreenfarms.com/Basket.

Sunday, January 6

San Clemente Farmers Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh produce, flowers and more every Sunday along Avenida Del Mar. Rain or shine.

Monday, January 7

After School Club 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Activities including stories, crafts and more for children ages 5 and older at the San Clemente Library. Advanced signup required. 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org.

Tuesday, January 8

SC Tritons Ladies Basketball Open-ing League Night 7 p.m. Come support the San Clemente Lady Tritons as they play Aliso Niguel, and enter a raffle drawing to get an IPAD2 or an Itouch. 700 Avenida Pico, 949.374.0063, www.sctritons.com.

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. Regular meeting in City Hall Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Wednesday, January 9

Planning Commission Meeting 6 p.m. Regular meeting in Council Chambers. 100 Avenida Presidio, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

Thursday, January 10

Seminar-Setting Goals That Stick 11:30 a.m. Chamber event held at the Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club. 200 Avenida La Pata, 949.492.1131, www.scchamber.com.

CITY ANDCOMMUNITY CALENDAR

NEWS BITESP R O P S , R E C O G N I T I O N S A N D M O R S E L S O F I N F O

Compiled by Jim Shilander

SCPC Group Travels to Mexico

u Eighteen members of San Clemente Presbyterian Church and volunteers from the Community Resource Center of San Clemente traveled to Mexico on Saturday, December 15 to distribute hundreds of new toys and gifts for needy children and families. The gifts were donated by the SCPC church and residents from the com-munity of San Clemente. The group served a traditional tamale Christmas dinner to over 200 families and residents from the local hospice center.

“It was a great opportunity to give back to others during this special time of year,” Suzanne Ansari said in an email. “My 18-year-old son and I had gone to El Nino with members from the SC Presbyterian Church to help build this small church in 2007 when it only had one floor and we slept on the cement floor of the church preschool.”

Ansari said members of the group that went down were amazed to see the prog-ress that had been made at the church.

“It was stunning to see the improve-ments made over the past five years, which included a second story, dorm rooms and a new kitchen. The Lo Mejor del Trigo church helps so many poor families in this crime filled area of Mexico. El Nino is located 30 minutes east of Tijuana. Many of these parents can’t afford to buy any Christmas gifts for their kids so this was really a special day.”

Founder of IHOPE Speaking at SODC Meeting

u The monthly dinner meeting of the South Orange Democratic Club will be held on January 9, at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano.

This month’s featured speaker is Nancy McIntyre, retired teacher, who was instru-mental in creating and designing “IHOPE,” a center for the homeless in San Clemente. The center provides overnight stays, food, medical attention and communication with members’ families. McIntyre claims to know the name and history of every home-less person in Orange County.

Buffet dinner begins at 6 p.m. The cost for members is $17, and the cost for non-members is $20. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Those hoping to attend should RSVP by Monday, January 7, to [email protected].

Kindergarten Roundup Informa-tion for CUSD Available

u Families preparing to send their chil-dren off to school for the first time in the fall can visit elementary campuses in the

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more.

Forward a picture along, too! We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your infor-

mation to [email protected].

its current expansion. In 2011, the “Meet the Authors Luncheon” raised more than $10,000 and book store revenues con-tributed another $60,000. The Summer Children’s Programs support over 2,500 children as well as adult and teen pro-grams. A thousand-plus children’s books and craft materials are major purchases by the Friends. The organization pays for a large portion of all library materials, includ-ing reference books and the majority of audio-visual materials.

For more information, see www.sanclem-entefol.org or contact event Chairwoman Pam Cariker at [email protected].

Saddleback College Presenting Guitar Quartet

u The Professional Guest Artist Series at Saddleback College is presenting the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet on the McKin-ney Theatre stage on Saturday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m. The quartet has performed throughout the United States both in recital and with orchestra, balancing a first-rate repertoire ranging from Renaissance and Baroque to Spanish, Latin American and Romantic, to existing and newly commis-sioned contemporary works. Members of the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet are Joseph Hagedorn, Wade Oden, Ben Gateno and Maja Radovanlija.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 949.582.4656 (from noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday) or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts. Ticket prices are $32 for general admission, $30 for students and seniors and $25 for children 12-and-under.

Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) during Kindergarten Roundup meetings in the month of February. All 36 CUSD elementary schools will hold informational meetings that will last about an hour to provide families with important information regarding kindergarten programs and dis-tribute registration materials. A schedule of roundup dates and times is available online at capousd.ca.schoolloop.com. Families should bring proof of residence to receive their registration packets. If families intend to apply for a school of choice during the Open Enrollment period, they may attend a roundup at their preferred site. Children must be 5-years-old by October 1 to begin kindergarten. If they miss the cut-off date, they may be eligible for the District’s Tran-sitional Kindergarten program.

Lineup Set for Friends of the Library Luncheon

u Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year writer Miles Corwin is among the writers appearing at the San Clemente Friends of the Library’s 13th Annual “Meet the Authors” Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf and Country Club in Mission Viejo.

Corwin, a former crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, is known for three non-fiction books: The Killing Season, a national bestseller, Kind of Blue, the winner of the Pen West Award for nonfiction and Homicide Special. As a reporter at the Los Angeles Times, he testified at the Robert Blake murder trial.

In addition to Corwin, featured authors include Debra Ollivier and DeAnna Camer-on. Professional Laguna Beach artist Robin Wethe Altman will design the program and display her award winning paintings.

The Friends of the Library’s main goal is to support the San Clemente Library and

San Clemente Presbyterian Church members and volunteers from the Community Resource Center of San Clemente donated time and gifts to needy children in El Nino, Mexico, last month. The donations were made by members of the church and city residents. Courtesy Photo


EYE ON SCSan Clemente Officials Look Ahead to 2013

By Jim ShilanderSan Clemente Times

Year Will Bring Transitions and New Challenges

hile San Clemente has just exited an election year, it doesn’t mean that the city has left transitions

behind.City Manager George Scarborough

announced plans to retire in the fall and will step down in March. Scarborough has helped oversee a number of major chang-es in the city, including the construction of Vista Hermosa Sports Park and Aquatic Center, the new Senior Center and the completion of the Coastal Trail. When he announced his retirement, Scarborough also cited the city’s healthy financial posi-tion as a point of pride.

The man credited by city officials with helping to assure that financial position, City Treasurer and Assistant City Man-ager Pall Gudgeirsson, will take over for Scarborough. It is not clear yet how the city will fill Gudgeirsson’s current position once he transitions into the city manager job.

“I am confident that the transition from my role as Assistant City Manager to City Manager will go smoothly as I have worked closely with our current City Man-ager, George Scarborough, for the past nine years,” Gudgeirsson said in an email. “I have started to spend time with him and the department heads to become more fa-miliar with the few projects and programs that I have not been directly involved with in the past. The council appointment of a new City Treasurer and hiring a new Assistant City Manager will also ensure a seamless transition and maintain the ongo-ing fiscal strength and stability of the city.”

Gudgeirsson said there were a number of other important issues that the city had to confront in order to ensure its contin-ued financial good health, especially as the city begins a number of major projects, such as a $25 million expansion of its recycled water system.

“The Long Term Financial Plan and the setting of strategic priorities by the City Council will be important as multiple projects need to be prioritized and funding sources identified,” Gudgeirsson indicat-ed. “This is especially challenging given the loss of Redevelopment Agency and the expiration of the Street Improvement Assessment District. Although the city is on solid financial ground it will be very important that we continue to make solid, fiscally prudent financial decisions. We will need to continue our very conserva-tive expenditure practices, especially in

W

our capital improvement program.”The city will also be dealing with the

realities of some of the changes that came in 2012. One of the biggest was the open-ing of the Sports Park. Council member Lori Donchak said the maintenance of the city’s parks was, in her mind, a major issue going forward for the city.

“2013 will be the one-year anniversary for Vista Hermosa Sports Park. What a great addition to San Clemente. Our city staff is to be commended for such a successful year of building and running the new park,” Donchak said. “Maintain-ing the park at such a superb level will be a key financial challenge both short and long term, and I look forward to this year’s budget process on this item. We need to make sure Vista Hermosa Sports Park—and the other 23 parks in the city—are supported for now and future families who raise kids in our town. There will be some important financial decisions as we bal-ance the needs across town to maintain, replace and operate our park system.”

Forces outside the city are also likely to again be center stage for San Clemente. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will likely make a decision on Southern California Edison’s proposed re-start of Unit 2 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generat-ing Station in the first few months of 2013. If the re-start proposal is approved, Edison would run the generator for five months at reduced power (70 percent), which might mean that the plant could complete opera-tion within the year as well. Anti-nuclear advocates have also been pushing for the NRC to review Edison’s operating license for the plant, and a petition by environ-

mental group Friends of the Earth will be heard by another agency.

Transportation issues are also likely to be a major issue for the city in 2013. Ex-pansion work on Interstate 5 through the city is slated to begin in earnest this year, and it will be important for residents to re-main vigilant about traffic as the widening begins. In response to previous concerns about the effectiveness of sound walls that have been put up by the agency, Caltrans has agreed to install sound-dampening tiles into both the new and reconstructed sound walls it is constructing as a part of the project.

Council member Tim Brown said it would also be important for the city to continue to monitor the future of the La Pata extension project, which may help residents avoid the worst of the traffic dur-ing construction.

“Progress on the La Pata Extension will be a key part of this next year as the county tries to bridge the funding gap,” Brown said.

The city’s new General Plan will also continue to be a source of controversy. Currently, the Planning Commission is finishing up its review of the General Plan Advisory Committee’s work on the docu-ment, which will then go to the city’s con-sultant to compile into a final document. The final document must then go before the City Council for final approval. The document will also include a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which will seek to encourage non-vehicular traffic within the city.

A major point of contention is likely to be the GPAC’s proposed height restric-

tion for the “T-Zone” area of Avenida Del Mar and El Camino Real. The GPAC had proposed restricting all building height in the area to two stories. Currently, the city allows for three-story mixed-use buildings (commercial/office and residential) in the area.

The Planning Commission set aside the proposed restriction in September, and proponents of the restriction, includ-ing the San Clemente Historical Society, have indicated that they plan to lobby the council to reinstate it as a part of the final document. GPAC members have also been promised a meeting with members of the council to discuss their own concerns about the height limit and other changes that have been made to the document. The issue may become even more heated after the decision of Olen Development Corporation to abandon a proposed mixed-use project on El Camino Real next to the Historic City Hall building. The project had been a major impetus behind the push for the height limit, as many opponents thought the project too large. Project leader Mark Zonarich blasted the city when he announced the decision to stop the project.

Council member Jim Evert said he hoped some common ground could be found with regard to the height restric-tion, since, in his mind, those in favor of the restriction and those opposed to it actually had a similar goal in mind.

“We all want the same thing,” Evert said. “We don’t want an oversized, ‘big-city,’ downtown. We want something that preserves the feel that there is now. My view is that you can get that with the cur-rent zoning, but if we need to tighten that up a bit, we can do that.”

Evert said other issues of focus needed to be continuing to work on encouraging businesses to fill empty storefronts and empty spaces in business parks, as well as to continue to develop the North Beach area. SC

A proposed restriction on building height downtown in the city’s new General Plan will likely be a hotly contested issue this year. A developer recently pulled out of a proposed project next to the Historic City Hall building that would have built up to three-stories. Photo by Jim Shilander

“We all want the same thing. We don’t want an

oversized, ‘big-city,’ downtown. We want something

that preserves the feel that there is now.”

— Council member Jim Evert

SC Sheriff’s Blotter


EYE ON SC

COMPILED BY KEVIN DAHLGREN

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 Web site.

Wednesday, January 2

CITIZEN ASSISTVia Umbroso, 600 Block (1:51 a.m.) A San Clemente woman called police after accidentally locking one of her hands in a handcuff. The woman told deputies she had lost the key and needed assistance removing the handcuffs.

Tuesday, January 1

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCYCalle Valle, 1400 Block (9:22 p.m.) Para-medics were requested at a local restau-rant where a woman, who was described as being “out of it,” was falling out of chairs and passing out on the ground. The caller was concerned after seeing several prescription bottles in the woman’s purse.

DISTURBANCEAvenida Rosa, 200 Block (5:10 p.m.) Police were called after an altercation between a woman and her neighbor. The woman told deputies that her neighbor had thrown ice cubes in her face, threat-ened to blow up her car and also told her son that she would poison the young boy’s dog.

DISTURBANCE-MECHANICALCalle Amistad, 100 Block (1:05 p.m.)A local resident called police to file a complaint about his next door neighbor, who, according to the caller, had been “constantly cleaning the carpets” for almost two weeks. The caller was tired of smelling the commercial carpet cleaning chemicals and wanted deputies to ask the neighbor to stop.

ROBBERY IN PROGRESSEl Camino Real, 3600 Block (7:25 a.m.)A woman reported that someone had broken into her neighbor’s bedroom. The caller told police she had seen three men kick in the door to the bedroom before taking several items and leaving the scene in a white pickup truck. The car was last seen near the overflow parking lot next to Carls’ Jr.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-UNKNOWN INJURIESAvenida Presidio, 900 Block (2 a.m.)A witness called to report a red Ford F-150 that had hit a tree and flipped over onto its roof. The caller told dispatch that the driver of the truck appeared to be unharmed, except for a few lacerations and scratches to his face. The driver was transported to San Clemente Hospital for precautionary measures.

Monday, December 31

BRANDISHING A WEAPONAvenida Montalvo, 200 Block (8:48 p.m.)A man called police after confronting a 22-year-old male on his property. When confronted the 22-year-old reached into his pocket and threatened to stab the caller with his five-inch pocket knife. The unknown man was last seen walk-ing toward the entrance of the housing development.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCEEl Camino Real, 2400 Block (6:16 p.m.)Police received a report of a man barking at passersby and throwing change on the ground outside a local business. The man was described as approximately 30 years old, and wearing a black hat and a black jogging suit.

RECKLESS DRIVINGI-5 Freeway/Avenida Vista Hermosa (3:13 p.m.) A white Lexus with a flat tire and damage to the driver side door and fender was seen driving erratically on the free-way. The car was believed to have been involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier in the afternoon. The car was last seen travel-ling southbound on the freeway.

DISTURBANCEAvenida La Pata, 200 Block (12:55 p.m.)A very large group of adults or teenagers was seen riding scooters at the skate park. The caller was upset because the group had taken over the skate park, where scooters are prohibited and were not let-ting any of the children use the park.

DRUNK DRIVINGAvenida Vista Hermosa, 900 Block (3:39 a.m.) A man following a red Ford Fusion called police after the driver of the car showed signs of intoxication. The caller had seen the car swerving on the freeway and followed the vehicle until it stopped in the parking lot of Target. The driver of the Ford exited the vehicle and stumbled to

the front of the store, where he stayed for nearly 30 minutes. The caller was worried the man might try to drive again.

Sunday, December 30

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCECalle Seville, 200 Block (10:31 p.m.)Several people were seen loitering near the five-point intersection wearing cos-tumes and yelling at cars driving by. The caller told deputies that the group had been there several times in the past week and was very loud and obnoxious.

PATROL CHECK I-5 Freeway/El Camino Real (5:42 p.m.)A patrol check was requested for the northbound onramp of Interstate 5 where two penguins were seen in the middle of the road. The caller sounded very confused and could not provide any more details.

DISTURBANCEEl Comnio Real, 1500 Block (1:42 p.m.)Police were called to assist a local busi-ness owner in preventing a homeless camp from being set up in front of the man’s business. The caller told deputies that a group of five to seven homeless men had been sleeping in the bushes of his business for several nights and wanted an officer to ask the men to leave.

Saturday, December 29

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCEAvenida Cordoba, 100 Block (10:22 p.m.)A woman called police after she noticed the interior light on in her car outside. She told police that when she went out to turn it off, it appeared as if someone had rifled through her belongings in the back seat.

DRUNK DRIVINGCamino El Molino/Camino De Los Mares (7:34 p.m.) A black four-door Mercedes Benz was seen swerving all over the road and into oncoming traffic. A 35-year-old man, who listed his occupation as a mover, was taken into custody on counts of drunk driving.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCEDiamante/Camino de Los Mares (2:30 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a group of juveniles drinking next to a car near the greenbelt. The caller told a deputy that the juveniles were passing an unknown bottle between each other and running through the grass.

TRAFFIC HAZARDAvenida Talega/Calle Saluda (1:58 p.m.)Police received several reports of a man-hole cover partially out of its hole, causing a minor traffic hazard. A man later called back to report that someone had shifted the cover back into its place and the prob-lem had been solved.

Friday, December 28

UNKNOWN TROUBLECalle del Cerro, 1100 Block (8:50 p.m.)A call to police reported a male juvenile yelling for help near the pool area of a local apartment complex. The caller could not see the juvenile and could only hear the yells.

KEEP THE PEACECalle Frontera, 3000 Block (5:42 p.m.)A woman called police to request a deputy present when she confronts her neighbor. The caller was upset because her neigh-bor had been coming onto the property and moving the caller’s lawn ornaments. The caller wished a deputy be present to mediate the discussion between the two parties.

ILLEGAL PEDDLINGCosta Rustico, 5100 Block (3:06 p.m.)A patrol check was requested for the area where an unknown man was seen walking door-to-door asking for donations. The caller told police the man was selling something but was unsure what because the man would become distracted very easily.

Thursday, December 27

DISTURBANCEAvenida Vista Montana, 200 Block (9:21 p.m.) Deputies were called to the pool area of an apartment complex where sev-eral juveniles were seen drinking, smok-ing and being rowdy. The caller told police the group had been loud and disruptive for several hours and simply wanted the kids to quiet down.

PETTY THEFTCamino de Estrella, 500 Block (5:17 p.m.)A bottle of cold medicine was taken from a local convenience store. The store manager told officers that a woman with long, black hair, a nose ring and all black clothing had entered the store and put the bottle in her purse shortly before leaving the store without paying.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCEAvenida Pico, 500 Block (12:08 p.m.)An unknown man was seen leaving several boxes in front of the gas station. The caller did not know what was in the boxes but thought it was weird to leave them near a gas station. The man returned while depu-ties were present and explained he needed to rest his arms after carrying the boxes of books for almost an hour.

TRESPASSINGCampo Raso/Charco (11:53 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for several juveniles who had been seen playing with paintball guns on the slope behind the caller’s house. The caller was worried the kids may injure themselves or cause damage to houses in the area with their paintballs.


34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.sanclementetimes.com

CITY EDITOR

Jim Shilander, 949.388.7700, x109 [email protected]

ADVERTISING

PRINT AND ONLINE

Michele Reddick, 949.388.7700, x103 [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION

RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, [email protected]

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER

Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 [email protected]

HOW TO REACH US

San Clemente Times, Vol. 8, Issue 1. The SC Times (www.sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.thecapistranodis-patch.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 2013. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

CEO Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor, SC Times> Jim Shilander

City Editor, DP Times> Andrea Swayne

Sports & News Reporter> Steve Breazeale

City Reporter, The Capistrano Dispatch> Brian Park

ART/DESIGN

Senior Designer> Jasmine Smith

ADVERTISING/MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING

Associate Publisher> Lauralyn Loynes(Dana Point)

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Sales AssociateAngela Edwards

OPERATIONS

Finance Director> Mike Reed

Business Operations Manager> Alyssa Garrett

Accounting & Distribution Manager> Tricia Zines

SPECIAL THANKSRobert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Shelley Murphy, Tawnee Prazak

INTERNSAriana Crisafulli, Kevin Dahlgren, Darian Nourian, Adam Herzog

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

SCSan Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTSSOAPBOX

To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at [email protected]. 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.

Letters to the EditorVIGILANCE NEEDED, NOT MORE GUNS

SANDRA WEAVER, San Clemente

I was disappointed to read about Councilman Derek Reeve’s request to the Capistrano Unified School District and four private schools to allow staff members, teachers and even parents to carry firearms as a safety measure. I was heartened to read of the rejection of that request from the District. This is a divisive issue. The NRA believes that if the “good guys” can carry guns, they will be able to shoot the “bad guys.” This is unrealistic. It has been proven that when guns are used by persons for the purpose of protecting

their home and family, it is far too often a family member that loses their life, not an intruder. Every day, five children are injured or killed as a result of handguns. Last week over 200 guns were voluntarily turned in and will be destroyed. Lines formed for blocks with citizens willing to do this. At the same time, gun stores were having a bonanza sales week. Do we want to go back to the days of the old Wild West or do we want to create a culture of peace in our schools, communities, nation and the world? The teachers do not need guns. What they do need is the training to recognize a troubled child and the ability to offer or seek help for that child.

BY THE NUMBERS Pall Gudgeirsson

“It’s the time of the season”—Rod Argent and The Zombies

BY THE NUMBERS: By Pall Gudgeirsson, Assistant City Manager & City Treasurer

2012 City Highlights…The 12 Best Bits

t is hard to believe that it is already that time of year where we celebrate our an-nual City Highlights. As revealed below

in this year’s list, the best bits covered all seasons in San Clemente…if we had seasons.

This column is dedicated to all of our employees, volunteers and partners who made this year such a resounding success.

So here is a little bit of each of the best bits:

Let the Games Begin: The grand opening of the mega Sports Park and Aquatics Center debuted February 25 with a multi-tude of athletic venues to promote healthy living in San Clemente. Orange County’s first universal playground, football, lacrosse, walking trails, soccer, baseball and a 50-meter competitive pool and water playground. Wow.

Count ‘Em: Thanks to our talented recre-ation staff, a total of 40 special events are now offered in our little burg. From the Springtacular to the Holiday Toy Train and

a whole bunch of events in between. See them all with photos on the city’s website.

Recycle: How about the new City Christmas tree found and transplanted from our own park to the Community Center.

Cheers to the elves that pulled off this fab feat. The lit tree is featured on the city’s webpage.

Light it Up: The installation of lights at Linda Lane is illuminating and also pro-vides for alternative parking options at the beach. And I can run at night without my headlamp on.

Safe and Sound: Amongst a myriad of major capital improvement projects over-seen by our Public Works Department, the Max Berg Safe Routes to School project was completed. Keeping our kids safe belongs at the top of our list.

Cherish: The establishment of the North

IBeach Community Association consisting of residents and the business community. The association should be commended for seeking a unified approach to improving the North Beach area.

Painting My Masterpiece: Thanks to the city and the San Clemente Art Associa-tion (SCCA), the painting of utility boxes throughout our village has been a great way to infuse art into the community. Our residents have rightfully raved about this project. Look for more masterpieces in 2013.

Bright Idea: The Community Develop-ment Department was awarded the Bright Idea in Government award from Har-vard University for the Business Liaison Program. An award from Harvard. Simply brilliant.

Kitty Condo: The Coastal Animal Ser-vices Authority and the Pet Project Foun-dation raised over $500,000 to complete a 1,200 square-foot expansion project of the cat room condo. The kitties are happy in

their new digs but you can still stop by and adopt one into a forever home.

The Volunteers: The number of hours put in by our cadre of citywide volunteers continues to impress. Where would we be without our RSVPs with 10,000 hours? Animal Shelter volunteers with 17,400 hours? Here’s to all of our dedicated volun-teers who believe in payback instead of a paycheck. I like that.

Lifesavers: Whether they are over a half-mile away, on or off the clock, or collaborating with our Sheriff’s Depart-ment, our own city ocean lifeguards were involved in over 2,000 rescues with no lives lost—again.

Sine Qua Non: With the solid financial foresight of our City Council, the city’s AAA bond rating was upheld by Standard & Poor’s. Look it up.

I think all of you would agree that it is the “time of the season” to reflect on all the things that we, as a team, have been able to achieve in 2012. Happy New Year! SC

Some of the symptoms such as bullying or isolation are obvious. Others are not so ob-vious. Teachers need to partner with the parents to ensure that every student has a healthy school experience and given the attention they need when it is needed. No sign should go unheeded no matter how small it may seem. Will that require more trained counselors in our schools? Per-haps. Is it worth the expense? Absolutely. Of course, we still need to be vigilant and protect our youngsters against intruders who would do harm. Parents and teach-ers can do that without weapons. Watch for people who seem out of place when you drop your kids off at school. Notice

cars around the school that do not seem to be there for the purpose of picking up children. Talk to your children about their school experience and their classmates. Together we can create a world of peace and safety for all.

SOAPBOX

The Last Greatest Surf WinterA North Shore recollection to match the winter of 2009

ome surf historians consider 2009’s winter the biggest and best surf in many years—some say since the

epic winter of 1969, 40 years before. For those of us who were lucky to have seen it, 2009’s Northern Pacific put on a display that most young surfers had never seen in their lifetime: massive unworldly Pe’ahe on Maui, maxed out Waimea Bay, moun-tainous Himalayas and 25’ Sunset peaks on Oahu. Thinking about the winter of 2009 took me back to my first surf trip to the Islands.

At 18, I secretly sneaked off to Hawaii during Christmas break without telling my parents. I joined a band of surf brothers on our first big adventure.

For the first few nights on the North Shore we slept on the beach at Rocky Point—until the mosquito bites covered our bodies. Luckily we found one of the di-lapidated Cane houses to rent that had just been dumped in the cleared area across from the famous surf break Velzyland. There were only two homes on V’land’s beach side then, and a narrow jungle path led from Kamehameha Highway to the sand.

In preparation for out trip, we had bought used boards from the Surfboards

SHawaii shop in Encinitas (where I worked rubbing rails after school).

In those years Surf-board Hawaii was located in the other half of the building where La Paloma Theater still stands. We had watched filmmaker George Gree-

nough’s handheld over-the-shoulder water camera angles of inside-the-tube footage for the first time that summer. We wanted to experience real tube-riding, Island style; even if we didn’t have any idea of what Hawaiian wave power could deliver.

Surf luminary Billy Hamilton, who was shaping at Surfboards Hawaii at the time, told me that our 5-foot, 10-inch square-tailed V-bottom stubs were not going to work at Sunset. When a legend gives you a tip, you take his word for it.

We didn’t have any money but we packed enough peanut butter and jelly in our backpacks to last the Christmas break - and were outraged at paying 85 cents for a loaf of bread at Kammies Market (it was about 25 cents at home). Thankfully, in those days, the airlines brought your boards for free.

When the surf finally got small enough, we ventured out at Sunset. Or at least we thought it was small enough. When we got outside, the wave-faces were 12 to 15 feet. We watched big wave hero Hawaiian Barry Kanaiaupuni drop into these bombs while we huddled in the channel. When we dared get close enough we recognized other legends riding too: Reno Abel-lira, Randy Rarick, Sam Hawk and Tiger Espere. Watching them ride these waves, we swore they must be from a different planet.

It was the first time I’d ever seen re-ally big—no, really big waves. It was an unforgettable season; one I haven’t seen since—until 3 years ago—in the winter of 2009. And yep, you guessed it—that first trip I took was the winter of ‘69.

Jim Kempton was the Editor and then Publisher of Surfer Magazine in the age just before the meteor hit that killed the dinosaurs. For the record, he remembers catching hell from Mom and Dad upon his return, but the accuracy of his memory can-not be confirmed or relied upon. SC

WAVELENGTHS By Jim Kempton

WAVELENGTHS: By Jim Kempton FROM THE MIND OF ZELESKI

Welcome to Sea Pointe Estates where luxury living begins with breath-taking views of the Pacifi c Ocean, Dana Point Harbor and shimmering city lights. Warm walnut fl oors and graciously designed arches with vast panes of glass showcase iconic views. This easy-fl owing fl oor plan lends itself perfectly for sophisticated entertaining or simply enjoy-ing the pleasures of comfortable living. Features custom 4 bedroom

estate, 5 bathrooms, outside entertaining oasis, salt-water fi ltration pool and spa, panoramic ocean, islands and Dana Point harbor views. For additional information, pricing and photos visit: www.41-Marbella.com. Call The Ulnicks today for a Private Showing. Offered at $2,795,000

41 Marbella, San Clemente

Bryan & Siobhan Ulnick

Prudential California Realty

Direct: 949-370-7140

www.UlnickGroup.com

Preparing for a remodel of your Kitchen, Bathroom or other part of your Home is not a simple undertaking. When done properly it requires highly organized coordination of project design, material selection, material ordering, scheduling workmen, and installa-tion/quality control. You must be certain that all of the new materials are available and correct before you tear out the existing room. In addition, the optimal sequence for your project will require a thorough knowledge and experience in all phases of the job scope (e.g. obtaining permits and inspections, moving walls, changing windows and doors, plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting, cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliance installa-tion, etc.). Getting things out of sequence will cost you lots of wasted time and money.

An experienced professional remodeling Contractor should be able to assist in all of the above phases and to complete a typical Kitchen remodel in 3 to 4 weeks and a typical Bathroom remodel in about 3 weeks. A well organized Contractor will also be able to schedule each day of your project in advance. So you will know with confidence what the start and completion dates will be. Don’t we all know people who have tried to supervise their own remodeling and wound up with 4 or more months of aggravation, frustration, and extra costs? Many Homeowners would be at a loss to try to find a competent De-signer, Carpenter, Plumber, Electrician, Drywaller, Painter, Tile Setter, Stone Mason, and

How To Have A Successful Remodeling ProjectTips for Planning Your Project and Finding A Good Contractor

MARTIN MOSS GENERAL CONTRACTOR, INC. California State License 956914

(877)[email protected]

ExpErt’s CornErReal Estate

other specialists. Not to mention the challenge of knowing accurately how long each step will take and how to schedule each workman several weeks in advance.

This is where a competent, State Licensed General Contractor can be a valuable asset. The ideal remodeling Contractor will have workmen who are each specialists in just one trade, unlike the Handyman Contractor who is a “Jack of all trades” and rarely does anything really well. In addition, the ideal remodeling Contractor will have a lot of experi-ence doing your type of project and can show you a photo portfolio of their work (Before and After photos are an added plus). The ideal remodeling Contractor will also be willing to meet with you to discuss every detail of your project and will bring samples to assist you with material selection. This Contractor should also be able to calculate an exact price for your project once the details and material selections have been determined and the price should not change unless you or your Building Inspector require a change. Last but not least, your ideal remodeling Contractor will provide expert supervision throughout every phase of your project. From the first day to the last day of your project you should have the same supervisory person to work with. Poor supervision is a com-mon problem found in projects that have a bad outcome.

If you would like more information on this process or would like to get an estimate please feel free to contact Martin directly.

iStockphoto.com

FOL BOOK SALE 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The San Clemente Friends of the Library book sale with boxes of books for all ages plus music and movies with proceeds benefiting the li-

brary. 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org.

VILLAGE ART FAIRE 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Enjoy a sidewalk arts and crafts faire along Avenida Del Mar in San Clem-ente. Info: 949.218.5378, www.villagesanclemente.org.

SUNDAY FUNDAY 2:30 p.m. Live music at The Swal-lows Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR 1 p.m. SJC Historical Society leads a tour to see Los Rios Historical District, the Mission, Rios Adobe and more. Meet at the train depot on Verdugo Street. Every Sunday. $2 adults, $1 children. 949.493.8444, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

NATURE TOUR 9 a.m. A docent leads an educational walk out of the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

MISSING PERSONS FEAT. DALE BOZZIO 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House. Tickets $15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

MOUNTAIN LION LECTURE 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Lecture by former Park Ranger Donna Krucki at Caspers Wilder-ness Park Nature Center. 33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, www.ocparks.org.

BEN TRIMAN 9 p.m. Live music at Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.3400, www.goodystavern.com.

ADOBE BRICK MAKING 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Kids can make their own adobe brick, and learn about the lives of Native Americans. $3 plus admission. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

TICKET TO RIDE 8:45 p.m. Beatles tribute at Mozam-bique. 1740 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.7777, www.mozambiqueoc.com.

SMALL WORKS ART SHOW 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Art exhibit on display with winners announced in the San Clemente Art Gallery at the San Clemente Community Center. 100 N. Calle Seville, San

Clemente, 949.492.7175, www.scartgallery.com.

ALL STARS LIVE 7:30 p.m. Trio plays dance, pop and classic rock music at StillWater. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

LAGUNA BEACH ART WALK 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The first Thursday of the month, art galleries display their works in a free and educational event, with refreshments and more. More info: 949.683.6871, www.firstthursdaysartwalk.com.


SCSan Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

GETTING OUT

THE LISTA day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

thursday 03

SHOWOFF: INTERNATION-AL PLAYWRITING FESTI-VAL 8 p.m. The annual festival at Camino Real Playhouse featuring the 10-minute plays by seven directors with the audience vot-

ing for the winner. $18-$24. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

THE ORIGINALITES 9:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Reggae/ska live at The Shore. 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.481.6089, www.theshoresanclemente.com.

DAVINE WINE TASTING AND MUSIC 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Live music and wine tasting at DaVine Food and Wine. Tasting cost is 5 wines for $15. 34673 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com.

WINE AND MUSIC CRUISE 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Dana Wharf’s cruise on a luxury catamaran with wine, snacks, music and more. Tickets $49. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m.–1:30 a.m. Top-40 hits, rock ‘n’ roll and ’90s dance music set the scene in Brio Tuscany Grille for singles’ night. 24050 Camino del Avion, Suite B, Monarch Beach, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

friday04

sunday06

saturday05

Broadway fans have pondered the possibility of a big screen version of the ever popular musical Les Misérables for years. Now, Hollywood has offered up a movie musical version, one of the most anticipated films of the holiday season. Based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo, Les Mis was turned into a French musical in 1980 and transitioned into English for London in 1985 and then Broadway in 1987. In 19th century France, a thief named Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) escapes parole and creates a whole new identity and life for himself in a small town. An obsessed police officer Javert (Russell Crowe) continues to hunt for him. Fantine (Anne Hathaway) loses her job and health while trying to provide for her daughter Cosette (Isabelle Allen and Amanda Seyfried) who grows up raised by Valjean and caught in a love triangle with Marius (Eddie

Redmayne) and Eponine (Samantha Barks). Co-starring Aaron Tveit, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron-Cohen, Les Mis proves awkward on film with direction by Tom Hooper better suited for a drama than musical and a few actors who are limited in singing talent (like Crowe). The most interesting elements of the movie involve Hathaway as Fantine and she unfortunately has the least amount of screen time. While Barks and Baron-Cohen are also intriguing in their roles, amateur-ish editing and cuts kill all potential for the film’s success as a quality adaptation. —Megan Bianco

AT THE MOVIES: LITERALLY ‘LES MISÉRABLES’

SHAWN JONES 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

WEDNESDAY WINE TASTING 7 p.m.–8 p.m. Educa-tional wine tasting at St Roys Chef’s Pub at Vine featuring four-course food and wine pairings; menu changes weekly. Cost $40 per person. 211 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.9376, www.vinesanclemente.com.

Have an event?Send your listing to [email protected]

*For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.sanclementetimes.com.

wednesday 09

COUNTRY DANCIN WITH PATRICK AND FRIENDS6:30 p.m. Every Monday at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

COMEDY AND KARAOKE 9 p.m.–1 a.m. The night starts with live comedy and continues with karaoke at 11 p.m. at Hennessey’s Tavern. No cover. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com.

SALSA 101 7 p.m. Stillwater features a salsa dance class fol-lowed by open dancing. Dance class is $20. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

GOOD NEIGHBORS CLUB OF CAPISTRANO VAL-LEY 11 a.m. The ladies group meets at Irons in the Fire for lunch and to discuss local groups of interest. This month features: New Year Auction of Christmas Extras. 150 Ave-nida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.361.0586.

monday 07

tuesday 08

©Universal Pictures

DUSTIN FRANKS 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT 2 p.m. New play, for mature audiences only, debuts at South Coast Rep-ertory. Tickets start at $48. 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555, www.scr.org.


SUDOKUby 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 diffi cult. Level: Medium

Last week’s solution:

SOLUTIONSOLUTIONSOLUTIONSOLUTION

See today’s solution in next week’s issue.4SCSan Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITYSC LIVING

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Chen Yen, who has owned Cafe Calypso, which is located at the historic Hotel San Clemente, for the last 10 years, decided last month to take on a different kind of challenge. Yen purchased Sunrise Cafe, located at 701 North El Camino Real. Yen said she doesn’t see the two businesses as competing with one another, but instead fi lling different niches.

“(Sunrise) is totally different. It’s a more traditional American breakfast, with omelets and pancakes,” Yen said. “We don’t have anything like that at Calypso. We’re more focused on lunch. I basically saw it as a way to do something different. I love this town and this community.”

Yen said that while she’s spent most of the last month at the new business in order to get situated, she would be splitting her time between the two businesses once things get going.

“That’s my goal,” Yen said. “It’s just so convenient for me to go in and out.” The crew at Cafe Calypso, she said, had done a great job of maintaining the business as she concentrated on the new venture the last few weeks.

Yen said there would likely be more portions of the menu from Cafe Calypso moving to Sunrise Cafe than the other way around, including adding a number of the soups and salads from the Calypso menu to enhance the lunch offerings at Sunrise.

Karen Casler of CB CycleBarn, a longtime fi tness enthusiast and instructor, was struck with an idea for a new kind of establishment last February, an indoor cycle facility with state of the art equipment that would foster a sense of community.

After that, Casler said, she decided to turn her thought into a new business.

“It’s been great,” Casler said. “The fi rst few months were slow, since I was waiting on city permits. But ever since construc-

Business Beat BY JIM SHILANDER

News and updates on San Clemente’s business community

tion started, it’s been non-stop. I’ve never worked harder, never been busier and have never been happier.”

Casler has assembled a large staff of instructors, but made it clear to them she expects something beyond just a workout leader.

“I hire people who understand that group exercise makes a difference in peo-ple’s lives.” Casler said. “It is common to feel amazing after a workout, but The Barn is a place where people feel amazing the moment they walk in the door, because of our amazing team of instructors.” Being able to say hi and smile at a customer, which she said, from experience, could help make someone’s day and keep them coming back to work out.

Casler said that part of what makes The Barn special was the sense of community she believes has been fostered there.

“Everyone who’s built The Barn has been local. One of the things that’s so special about San Clemente is that sense of community. Every day, it seems, people meet someone here that they hadn’t seen in years.” Its not just about the workout, Casler said, it is about the entire experi-ence.

The business made a soft opening last month but is open full bore now, Casler said. The Barn is actually offering free classes through January 12 to celebrate. For more information about the business, visit www.cbcyclebarn.com.

The Sunrise Cafe is also getting a new neighbor this week. Bikram Yoga San Clemente will be setting up shop at 711 North El Camino Real. The yoga studio had been in the planning stages for much of the last year, as it took time to work out parking agreements with the studio’s neighbors. The studio will host classes at 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily, then open up again in the afternoon at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Classes will also be held at 8:30 p.m.

on Wednesdays. To celebrate the opening, the studio is offering discounted yearly passes. For more information, see www.bikramsc.com or call 949.388.9595.

MILESTONES

Mike Russell of Mike’s Pet Care is celebrating his seventh year operating a unique pet care service in San Clemente. Russell, a trained veterinary technician who has worked in animal hospitals, has spent the last six years offering a mobile pet sit-ting and animal medical assistance service.

“If you do good stuff, it gets around,” Russell, who has primarily relied on word of mouth to generate business, said. He has twice won the Best of San Clemente People’s Choice Ole Award for “Best Pet Sitter.” Russell does not provide grooming services, but instead administers medica-tions and injections, as well as providing standard pet-sitting type services such as walking. “It’s a little bit higher level of quality than other pet sitters.” Russell said the services he provides can help animals that have experienced kidney failure, were diabetic, or suffer from ailments that might require injections or medication to be administered.

For more information about the business, visit www.mikespetcare.com.

GIVING BACK

Coral Thrift Store is offering scholar-ships for seniors at San Clemente and San Juan Hills high schools. The applications are available at the store, located at 534 North El Camino Real in San Clemente, and at the counseling offi ces at both schools. The store provided over $35,000 in scholar-ships last year, and are likely to surpass that amount this year according to the store’s projections, President Sandi Murray said in a statement.

The store is also now accepting credit cards, as well as adding an additional hour to its operations. The store is now open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is also looking for donations and volunteers.

Prior to its offi cial opening on Novem-ber 30, The Habit Burger Grill held fundrais-ing meals for several area organizations as a soft opening. All of the proceeds from the three meals, two on November 28 and one on November 29, went to three charities.

The meals raised $1,234 for The Muscular Dystrophy Association of Orange County & Inland Empire, $1,498 for Boys & Girls Club of South Coast Area, and $1,380 for Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks & Recre-ation Foundation. SC

Karen Casler says she intends to build more than just a indoor cycling studio at CB Cycle Barn, but a place where the community can come together. Photo by Jim Shilander


BUSINESS DIRECTORYSCSan Clemente

Submit your classified ad online at www.sanclementetimes.com

CLASSIFIEDSFOR RENT

Thomas Lorenz Padberg passed away December 21st at the age of 79. He is survived by the two people who were by his side at the time of his passing; his wife Nancy and his daughter Nicole. A 30+ year resident of San Clemente, devout Catholic, golf enthusiast, loyal friend and lover of animals, he will be missed by all those he touched both 2 and 4 legged.

OBITUARY

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD

HERECall 949.388.7700, ext. 103

or email [email protected]

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD

HERECall 949.388.7700, ext. 103

or email [email protected]

DANA POINT HARBOR OCEAN VIEW CONDO WITH POOL!!2 Amazing 2 bedroom, 2 bath gated condo with panoramic ocean view from your balcony. Includes W/D hook ups, upgraded flooring & restrooms, recessed lighting, new paint & appliances. 2 underground parking spaces available. Property is ready to move in! Please call (909) 391-2129 for more detail information or viewing.

BUSINESS DIRECTORYLocals Only

ASAP Appliance Service 949.361.7713 3200 Legendario, www.asapapplianceservice.com

APPLIANCES SERVICES & REPAIRS

South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.com

APPLIANCES

Oasis Heating & Air 949.420.132131648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

AIR CONDITIONING

Del Mar Beauty Supply 949.492.8180150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste D, www.delmarbeauty.com

BEAUTY SUPPLY

Mathom House Books 949.361.163383 Via Pico Plaza, www.mathomhousebooks.comVillage Book Exchange 949.492.111499 Avenida Serra

BOOKS

San Clemente Art Association 949.492.7175100 N. Calle Seville, www.scartgallery.com

ART GALLERIES

Christiansen Chiropractic 949.276.2956 903 Calle Amancer, Ste. 230, www.christiansenchiro.com

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

San Clemente Computer & Network [email protected] 949.276.1581

COMPUTER REPAIR & SERVICES

Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 949.493.9311647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, www.drericjohnson.com

DENTISTS

Sea View Pharmacy 949.496.0123665 Camino De Los Mares, #101www.seaviewpharmacy.com

Lange & Minnott 949.492.34591201 Puerta Del Sol, Ste. 203

PHARMACIES

ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE, TRUST

AVON 949.370.0433Annie Kyle, www.youravon.com/anniekyleMary Kay Cosmetics 949.248.2868www.marykay.com/madams2

COSMETICS

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045www.arcadiaelectric.com

Red Point Digital 801.573.2370www.redpointdigital.com

ELECTRICAL

FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION

Bayside Window Cleaning, Inc. 949.215.2323www.baysidewindowcleaning.com

KC Painting & Decorating 949.388.68293349 Paseo Halcon, www.bringcolorintoyourlife.com

GLASS SCRATCH REMOVAL

PAINTING

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

CHOCOLATE/CANDY

Colony Termite Control 949.361.25001402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com

PEST CONTROL


Complete Business Insurance 949.943.9081647 Camino de los Mares Ste. 108, www.HelpYouInsurance.comGIS/Galvez Insurance Services, Inc. 949.240.7445 940 Calle Negocio, Ste. 170, [email protected]

HOME DÉCOR

INSURANCE


MATTRESSES

Images/Creative Solutions 949.366.24882927 Via San Gorgoinio, Ste. 100, www.imgs.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Kreative Hair Design 949.498.6245173 Avenida Serra

HAIR SALONS


FURNITURE

Oasis Heating & Air 949.420.132131648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

HEATING

Jarvis Restoration -24/7 949.362.53881393 Calle Avanzado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

Brian Wiechman, 949.533.9209V.I.P. Independent Mortgage Inc. www.vipmtginc.com/team/brianwiechman

MOLD REMOVAL

MORTGAGES

SC Rider Supply 949.388.0521520 S. El Camino Real, www.scridersupply.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE


OFFICE FURNITURE

Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556www.danmans.comJanet Poth - Violin & Viola 949.922.6388413 Calle Pueblo, [email protected]

MUSIC LESSONS

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

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Memories Of Me Photos 949.361.0680www.memoriesofmephotos.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles 949.350.4692www.gracorpcoins.com Kevin

COINS

A to Z Leak Detection 949.499.44641218 Puerta del Sol, www.atozleakdetection.comBill Metzger Plumbing 949.492.35581218 Puerta del Sol, www.billmetzgerplumbing.comChick’s Plumbing 949.496.9731www.chicks-plumbing.com

PLUMBING

San Clemente Preschool 949.498.1025163 Avenida Victoria, www.sanclementepreschool.com

PRESCHOOLS

Printing OC 949.388.488827134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

PRINTING

Manny Tau, Psy.D., PSY14892 888.949.5150300 S. El Camino Real, Ste. 218, www.drtau.com

PSYCHOLOGISTS

San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

WEBSITE DESIGN

Bayside Window Cleaning, Inc. 949.215.2323www.baysidewindowcleaning.comClear Windows 949.485.8793 San Clemente, www.clearwindows-llc.com

Offshore Construction 949.444.6323www.offshoreconstruction.org

WINDOW CLEANING

WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLATION

Tutor Toes 949.429.6222111 W. Avenida Palizada, Ste. 11, www.tutortoes.com

TUTORING

South Coast Furniture & Mattress 949.492.5589109 Calle de los Molinos, www.southcoastfurniture.comThe Bargain Box 949.492.2800526 N. El Camino Real, www.capistranovalley.assistanceleague.org

SECOND HAND/THRIFT SHOP

TERMITES

TILE & STONE INSTALLATION

Colony Termite Control 949.361.25001402 Calle Alcazar, www.colonytermite.com

Kohler Tile Contracting 714.768.3077

Salon Bamboo 949.361.3348150 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. A, www.salonbamboo.comSalon Bleu 949.366.2060207 S. El Camino Real, www.scsalonbleu.comSanctuary Salon & Spa 949.429.58021041 Avenida Pico, Ste. B, www.sanctuarytalega.com

SALONS

Café Calypso 949.366.9386114 Avenida Del Mar #4Carbonara Trattoria 949.366.1040111 Avenida Del Mar, #B, www.carbonara.comThe Cellar 949.492.3663156 Ave. Del Mar, www.thecellarsite.com

RESTAURANTS

Designer’s Magic Flooring 949.496.1926 638 Camino de los Mare, Ste. G-105, www.designersmagiccarpetandflooring.com

REMODEL

Jarvis Restoration -24/7 949.362.53881393 Calle Avanzado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

WATER DAMAGE

B U S I N E S S • S P O T L I G H TJim Thomas Roofing 949.498.6204162 Calle de Industrias

ROOFING CONTRACTORS

Santa is back! Ho Ho Ho... Here is the deal... A special session with Santa includes session for 1 child, 15 minutes (additional child is $10) Parents

and Doggies are FREE! All digital, printable, high-res. images on a CD are yours to keep! November 24 & 25, 11am- 4pm for $79. December 1 & 2, 10:30am- 3:30pm for $89. December 8 & 9, 10:30am- 3:30pm for $99. Reserve your spot! 949.361.0680 or www.memoriesofmephotos.com

REAL ESTATE

Antonio Fiorello, Forté Realty Group 949.842.3631San Clemente, www.forterealtygroup.comMarcie George - Star Real Estate South County [email protected] 949.690.5410McDaniel Gilmore Group - Surterre Propertieswww.livetalega.com 949.464.3226“Sandy & Rich” - ReMaxwww.sandyandrich.com 949.293.3236

LIST YOUR BUSINESSIN “LOCALS ONLY”

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

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CONCRETE

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5SCSan Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SPORTS& OUTDOORS


SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

After storming their way through a 64-team tournament fi eld, the seventh grade FBU Orange County Football All Stars will play against NW Louisiana on January 4 in the semifi nals of the Foot-ball University National Championships.

The Orange County team is made up of seventh graders from all over the area and features San Clemente resi-dent Jack Shippy. Shippy, who attends Vista Del Mar Middle School, plays both sides of the ball for the Orange County team. He plays tight end on offense and linebacker/defensive end on defense.

The team defeated other All-Star squads from Los Angeles, San Diego

Triton Report

By Steve Breazeale

BOYS BASKETBALL • The Tritons fi n-ished up their winter tournament schedule after playing in the Coast Classic Tourna-ment from December 26 to December 29. The Tritons (8-8) went 2-2 in the tourna-ment, with wins over Estancia on Decem-ber 27 and Woodrow Wilson on December 28. The Tritons two losses came at the hands of Sunny Hills on December 26 and Foothill on December 29. In the win over Woodrow Wilson the Tritons shot a sea-son high 65 percent from the fi eld while hitting 9-17 (53 percent) from beyond the arc. Senior guard Cody Bean poured in 20 points and dished out 10 assists in the contest.

The Tritons will play two fi nal tune-up games before opening Sea View League play against San Juan Hills at home on January 9.

Next Game: 1/4 at Woodbridge, 7 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL • The Tritons took to the road to play in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler Arizona December 15 to December 19 and won their bracket, winning all four of their games played. The Tritons (10-4) carried that momentum into their fi nal tourna-ment of the season at the Larry Doyle O.C Championships at Edison High. The Tritons went 2-2 at the tournament, which was held from December 26 to December 29.

San Clemente opened play at the Larry Doyle O.C Championships with a convinc-ing 71-46 win over Villa Park in the fi rst round. The Tritons went on to defeat Edison 56-46 in the second round before suffering back-to-back losses to Orange Lutheran and Laguna Hills on December 27 and December 28, respectively.

Senior Frankie Pinto has been the

and Las Vegas to claim the Western Regional title. The Orange County All Stars defeated Las Vegas 48-28 on December 15 in Reno, Nev., in the deciding regional game.

OC ALL STARS REACH NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

San Clemente resident Jack Shippy (17) and the OC seventh grade FBU All Star Football team will play in the FBU National Championship semifi nals January 4. Courtesy photo

After their regional win, the Orange County team took on a squad from Seattle on December 16 and earned a 31-6 quarterfi nal victory.

If the Orange County team can advance through the semifi nals, they will play in the championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio on January 6.

Due to many of the player’s families’ challenged socio-economic back-grounds, the team is seeking donations to help offset the cost of travel. For those interested in making a donation, contact coach Steve Daniels at [email protected].

—Steve Breazeale

Tritons leading scorer in the fi rst half of the season, averaging just over 12 points per game on 44 percent shooting from the fi eld. Senior Alexa Johnson has been tak-ing care of the glass and is the team’s lead-ing rebounder, averaging six rebounds per game.

GIRLS SOCCER • After three days of competing in the Excalibur Tournament at Yorba Linda and Esperanza High from December 27 to December 29, the San Clemente girls soccer team went 3-1 over-all to claim a fi fth place fi nish.

The Tritons (7-3-3) beat Yorba Linda, Esperanza and Long Beach Wilson en route to winning the “Sir Lancelot” bracket in pool play.

San Clemente did not allow one goal throughout the tournament, outscored their opponents by a combined tally of 4-0, and was a penalty shootout win away from reaching the semifi nals before losing to Los Osos via kicks from the mark in the quarterfi nals. The Tritons game against Los Osos ended in a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation and San Clemente was edged 5-4 on penalty kicks.

In the fi fth-place game, the Tritons played Temecula Valley to a 0-0 tie before defeating them 5-3 in the penalty kick

stage, where San Clemente’s sophomore goalie Koryn Marsh came up with crucial stops.

Triton junior Nikki Farris led the team with three goals in the tournament, while junior Sara Sprenger also added a goal. Farris, along with sophomore Amanda Gerrain, were selected to the All-Tourna-ment team. –Darian Nourian

Next Game: 1/8 at Dana Hills, 4:30 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER • Since their December 5 loss to Carlsbad the San Clemente boys soccer team has not lost a game and is in the midst of a 12 match winning streak that includes one tie, which came against Santa Ana on December 19.

On December 21 the Tritons (16-1-1) played old South Coast League rival Dana Hills in a non-league match and came away with a 1-0 win.

The team then traveled to Phoenix to play in the Arizona Showcase, where they defeated some of the country’s top soccer talent and claimed the tournament championship. The Tritons opened up the tournament with a dominant 9-0 win over Marana on December 27 and didn’t look back, defeating Chaparral, Mountain View, Pinnacle and perennial powerhouse Brophy College Prep on their march to

the fi nals. The fi nal match against Carl Hayden

was played on December 31 and the Tri-tons came away with a 4-1 victory.

Next Game: 1/4 at El Toro, 3:30 p.m.

WRESTLING • The Tritons continued their winning ways by placing fi rst at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic on Decem-ber 22. The Triton’s Ash Ryan won his 197-pound weight division.

San Clemente has had a very success-ful month of December, highlighted by a second place fi nish at the La Costa Can-yon Tournament on December 8, a South Coast League win over then previously undefeated Laguna Hills on December 18, and now this most recent tournament victory that featured 81 other teams in the mix.

After their trip to compete in the Ontar-io Invitational, set to take place on January 5, the Tritons return to league play with matches against Capistrano Valley and Aliso Niguel on January 8 and January 15, respectively.

Next Match: 1/5 at Ontario Invitational, 9 a.m.

GIRLS WATER POLO • After defeat-ing Cathedral Catholic 11-8 on December 8 the Tritons lost back-to-back games against top-level talent in their next two matchups. The fi rst loss came on Decem-ber 19, when the Tritons lost to No. 6 ranked Laguna Beach 18-8. The Tritons completed their tough stretch of games with an 18-5 loss to No. 4 ranked Los Alamitos on December 29.

Next Game: 1/3 vs. El Toro, 7 p.m.

FOOTBALL • San Clemente alumni Austin Tubbs and Kyle Murphy, now play-ing with the Stanford Cardinal, won the “The Granddaddy of Them All” on January 1. Tubbs, a long snapper, and Murphy, tackle, were part of a Cardinal team that defeated Wisconsin 20-14 to claim the 2013 Rose Bowl. A homecoming event to congratulate the two players is being planned. Visit www.sanclementetimes.com for updates.

The San Clemente boys soccer team won the Phoenix Arizona Showcase on December 31 with a 4-1 win over Carl Hayden. Photo by Steve Breazeale

Age: 16, San Clemente High School

Colton Overin has scaled his competition schedule back a bit this season to devote more time to schoolwork and concentrating his surfing efforts toward high school team events. “It’s been great because it’s given me some down time to focus on school and working as a lifeguard at the new San Clemente Aquatics Center,” he said. Colton contributed greatly to his team’s winning season and is looking forward to league indi-viduals later this month. He understands the importance of his junior year for keeping up his grades and exploring college options. “I’m thinking about going to the California Maritime Academy to become a ship captain,” Colton said. “I’m working on getting my ‘Bs’ up to ‘As’. It’s hard trying to juggle everything, but it’s manageable if you stay on top of it.” While excellence in school, surfing and lifeguarding are high on his list of goals for the New Year, he also said he will continue to work at being a good friend

and surrounding himself with quality people. “The guys on our surf team are all great kids. It’s really nice to be surrounded by such good people who have good grades and do well in the water and out of the water. It’s really a good group of people,” Colton said. He also wanted to give a shout-out to his local sponsors, Catch Surf, Let’s Party Traction and Kaysen Surfboards, and to send his love and a big “thank you” to his mom, sister and brother for all of their support.—Andrea Swayne

GROM OF THE WEEK Colton OverinSCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SC SURF

6SCSan Clemente

By Andrea Swayne San Clemente Times

Colton Overin. Photo by Andrea Swayne

Greg Long tells the story of the incident, thanks rescuers, concerned friends, fans


SURF FORECASTWater Temp: 55-58˚F Water visibility, conditions: San Clemente: 6-10’ Poor+, Catalina: 10-15’ Poor-FairImmediate: Fun zone West-Northwest groundswell gets some reinforcements on Thursday with 3-4’+ waves (waist-shoul-der high) at many breaks and slightly larger sets for best winter breaks running 5’+ at times (head high+). Morning winds are light offshore for mostly clean conditions. Light onshore Northwest winds prevail in the afternoon. Long Range Outlook: West-Northwest swell eases Friday and through the week-end, as a minor new Southern Hemi swell blends in. The surf will drop from the 3-4’ (waist-chest high) range on Friday into the 2-3’+ (knee-waist-chest high+) range over the weekend. Conditions are favorable Friday and into Saturday morning, then become a little dicey on Sunday as a low approaches the region. Check out Surfline for all the details!

UPCOMING EVENTSJanuary 5-6: WSA Championship Series, Event No. 6, Midget Smith Pier Rat Chal-lenge, San Clemente, Pier January 12: SSS Orange County Middle School and High School, Event No. 3, Oceanside, Pier

reg Long, professional big wave surfer from San Clemente, issued a statement describing a near-drown-

ing incident at Cortes Bank, Mexico on December 21 that nearly cost him his life.

Long was part of a group of some of the world’s best and most experienced big wave surfers and photographers who trav-eled to the break, to ride the 25-foot-plus waves hitting in the area.

Cortes Bank, a shallowly submerged island about 100 miles west of San Diego’s Point Loma, is a popular destination for elite big wave riders. It is part of the Chan-nel Islands chain and is situated roughly 50 miles southwest of San Clemente Island.

Long is back home in San Clemente following his release from UCSD Medical Center. He was airlifted there by the Coast Guard after being pulled from the water, unconscious, after surviving a brutal beat-ing and three-wave hold down.

When we caught up with Long on Christmas Eve, he said he was doing well and wanted to extend his thanks to all who contacted the SC Times to inquire about his condition. “

Tell everybody I wish them the happiest of holidays and I am sending the most love, light, respect and gratitude to them all,” he said.

In his statement, Long describes the incident and expresses his gratitude for the team who rescued him. Here is what he had to say:

“Thank you to the entire community of friends, family and well-wishers for your concern, your outpouring of love, support and prayers, following the serious wipeout I experienced while surfing at the Cortes Bank on Friday, December 21.

“I am home, following a 24-hour stay in the UCSD Hospital in San Diego for precautionary observation as a result of the near drowning experience and blunt

G

SC Surfer Survives Near Drowning at Cortes Bank

trauma injuries I suffered from the impact of a sequence of four large waves, and a three-wave hold down. I had taken off on the second wave of a four-wave set and was forced to straighten out. After endur-ing an extremely violent and long hold down, I barely broke the surface and was attempting to grab a breath of air, when I received the full impact of the lip from the third and largest wave of the set.

“All of my breath was knocked out of me. I nearly lost consciousness at this point and was again driven deep and was subjected to a furious beating. I attempted to swim to the surface as the energy of the wave began to release me, but only made a few strokes before the next wave passed overhead, pushing me back down. As this beating started to subside, I began climb-ing my leash, hoping to break the surface before passing out. I made it to the tail of my board while it was still submerged in the turbulent and aerated water, at which

point I blacked out from CO2 saturation and lack of oxygen.

“Three rescue skis operated by D.K. Walsh, Jon Walla and Frank Quirarte were tracking me following the initial wipeout. After a fourth and smaller white water had passed, I was quickly located, floating face down alongside my surfboard by D.K. Walsh. D.K. abandoned his ski, jumping in the water in order to raise my head above the surface. Jon Walla arrived on his ski, and together they pulled me onto the res-cue sled. I began regaining consciousness during the ride back to the support boat we were operating from.

“Several other rescuers assisted getting me onboard at which point I began vomit-ing the small amount of water I had aspi-rated and a large amount of blood, which I later learned was from a combination of the blunt force trauma of impact and the rupturing of capillaries due to extreme breath holding. I was stabilized onboard the boat by the lifeguards and paramedics who were part of our safety team, and a Coast Guard helicopter was summoned to transport me back to San Diego.

“Having trained for extreme breath holding, at no point did I allow myself to panic or lose confidence that I was going to survive this incident. I do, however, fully acknowledge that I did exceed my limits of endurance, and that there will always be elements of risk and danger that are beyond my control while surf-ing waves of any size. Because of those elements of risk, I have always insisted on working with individuals that share my focus on training and preparation. Hum-bly, I express my deepest gratitude to the team of rescuers and fellow surfers who’s training and precise response contributed to saving my life.” SC

Photographer Jason Murray shot these photos of Greg Long during last week’s trip to Cortes Bank. During the December 21 session, Long was rendered unconscious by a three-wave hold down that nearly cost him his life. He was rescued and airlifted to San Diego where he spent a day in the hospital before returning home to San Clemente.

Documents

January 3, 2013