San Clemente News Blog

San Clemente News Feed

2009-07-01T00:06:00.001-07:00

Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see more of San Clemente at eSanClemente.com

Surfer Mag Names SC a “Top 10 Surf Town”

2009-06-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

THE LATEST: Surfer magazine named its top 10 surf towns in the country in its July 2009 issue, and San Clemente came in at No. 5. The selection criteria included quality of life, variety and quality of waves, climate, culture, cost of living, employment opportunities and the all important number of shark attacks. According to the magazine, San Clemente’s south Orange County location accounts for

ARRESTS MADE IN SAN O STABBINGS

2009-06-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Two arrests have been made in the stabbings at the San Onofre State Beach campground early Sunday morning. According to Patrol Sgt. T.C. Yancey of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in Encinitas, John Walter Lawson, III, 31-years old and Gilbert Gonzalez, III, 30, have been arrested. Both are residents of the city of San Diego. Police were called to the popular campground at 3:05 a.m.

Summer Concerts on the Beach

2009-06-15T18:29:00.000-07:00

Bring your family and friends and enjoy amazing concerts on the sand! There is no place like San Clemente!Click here to see the schedule.Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see more of San Clemente at eSanClemente.com

Wrong-way driver ditches car, takes off on foot

2009-06-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

A man driving the wrong way on the I-5 freeway was arrested this morning after ditching his car and alarming a nearby neighborhood. Calls from motorists began coming in at 3 a.m. when a man was seen driving a dark-colored Nissan northbound on the southbound I-5 near Avenida Vacquero, said California Highway Patrol officer Gabe Montoya. The man then drove his car to the side of the freeway and

Parents of SC teen who killed himself file claim against school district

2009-06-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

The parents of a 16-year-old high school student who committed suicide last month have filed a $3-million claim against his school district alleging that administrators and staff failed for years to intervene while their son was "relentlessly bullied."Daniel Mendez, a sophomore at San Clemente High School in the Capistrano Unified School District, drove to a friend's house in San Clemente shortly

BORDER PATROL SNAGS SURFING SMUGGLER

2009-06-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

A man trying to smuggle 24 pounds of pot into the country by skirting the coastline on a surfboard was caught by federal authorities. The man was caught early Sunday morning. Authorities pegged the value of the drugs at nearly $75,000.For more, see the SC Times blog.Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see more of San Clemente at eSanClemente.com

Marines, sailors back from Iraq are welcomed at Camp Pendleton

2009-01-26T19:45:00.000-08:00

Reporting from Camp Pendleton -- The signs -- mostly hand-drawn, all heartfelt -- told a story of stress and joy as 300 Marines and sailors returned Sunday to their base at Camp Pendleton after a year in Iraq."Welcome Home From Iraq, Half Of My Heart Has Returned.""Welcome home Daddy! Can I have a puppy?""Kayla Loves Riley.""Babe, 386 Days of Deployment Over!"Along with the signs came stories of

A New Estate on the Grounds of the Former Western White House

2009-01-26T19:42:00.000-08:00

RISMEDIA, January 22, 2009-President Richard M. Nixon came to San Clemente, California in 1969 and established a Western White House where dignitaries gathered, treaties were signed, and where the Nixons resided at the time of the David Frost-Richard Nixon interviews.The grounds of the Western White House were subdivided into 16 lots in the 1980s. Construction of a new estate on a parcel just two

San Clemente Man Advances on American Idol

2009-01-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

San Clemente’s Kai Kalama was featured on American Idol for nearly five minutes at the show’s San Francisco audition, which aired on Fox on January 20. The 26-year-old musician advanced to the Hollywood round of the popular show after performing “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”, a 1930s show tune later covered by dozens of musicians including Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. Kalama

Ocean Minded™ Expands Global Headquarters

2009-01-13T19:39:00.000-08:00

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 January, 2009 : - - San Clemente -- Ocean Minded™ is proud to announce that they have expanded their global headquarters by moving to a 6,050 square foot building at 3005 South El Camino Real in San Clemente, California. The company’s new home is significantly larger than the space they previously occupied, and allows plenty of room for future growth and

'Business casual' robber holds up San Clemente bank

2009-01-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

SAN CLEMENTE – A man wearing a gray hat, a black sweater and gray pants robbed a Washington Mutual branch this morning after handing over a note to a teller demanding cash, authorities said.The man was dressed in "business casual" attire and walked out of the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, said Lt. Fred Furey of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.The robbery occurred at the 900

CARTER OUT AT CUSD

2009-01-07T19:00:00.000-08:00

The Capistrano Unified School District late Tuesday voted 6-1 to put Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter on paid administrative leave. The announcement was made without explaination after a four-hour closed session.More than 500 people had packed the trustees' meeting room before the closed session. Board President Ellen Addonizio limited public testimony to just over an hour. Four speakers urged a

Talega Golf Club Celebrates Change With a Grand Reopening Party

2009-01-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. – Beautifully nestled in the rolling hills of the beach city of San Clemente, Talega Golf Club will host a grand reopening celebration Sunday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering gatherers complimentary blue cheese sliders, two hours of $1 draft beers, putting contests for prizes and giveaways by future pro shop vendors Hurley, Oakley, Rainbow Sandals and Adidas. Also

Coach accused of molesting boys held on $1 million bail

2009-01-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

An intramural sports coach appeared in court Friday on charges that he molested four boys, ages 11 to 13, after befriending their families and spending time alone with the victims, prosecutors said.Cameron Joseph Baca, 27, of San Clemente, requested that his arraignment be delayed until Jan. 9, said Susan Schroeder, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office.Baca was arrested

Rumors of an In-N-Out in Capo Beach

2009-01-05T21:02:00.000-08:00

THE LATEST: After failing in its bid to place a franchise in San Clemente two years ago, rumor has it that In-N-Out Burger possibly is coming to Dana Point. According to at least one well-placed source, the popular family-owned fast-food eatery was looking at a location on Camino Capistrano in Capistrano Beach where the Hank Lloyd tennis store once was. That however, is not true. Next month,

New Year's Day dip promises clean water to a village in Africa

2009-01-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

San Clemente's Bret Daniels and others jump in the ocean and raise $2,260, so far, toward building a well for villagers in Malawi.Beth Foskett of San Clemente was sitting on the couch this morning, watching the Rose Parade on TV, when she saw a newspaper piece about a New Year's Day dip in the Pacific to raise money to build a well for a village in Africa."Let's do it!" she told those around her.

Man Jumps off Bridge onto I-5

2008-12-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

At 3:08 a.m. on Christmas Eve, a 25-year-old Latino man dove head first into southbound traffic on Interstate 5 from the Camino de Estrella overpass in Dana Point, just on the San Clemente border, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Jim Amormino. For the full story, go to www.sanclementetimes.com.Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see more of San Clemente at

Credit-Crisis Threat to SC Toll Road Suits Surfers

2008-12-18T16:11:00.000-08:00

Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Wall Street’s credit crisis may be the death blow for a planned toll-road extension that California surfers have been fighting for 10 years. Surfers contend that the road would destroy a prime spot for riding waves. They’re joined by environmentalists, including the California Coastal Commission, which ruled against the project. Toll-road authorities appealed to the U.S.

SC Park ranger sues over sexual harrassment

2008-12-18T16:07:00.000-08:00

A park ranger has sued the California Department of Parks and Recreation, saying she was harassed and discriminated against during the six years she worked at San Onofre and San Clemente state beaches because of her gender and sexual orientation. Jennifer Donovan, in a lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court, said sexually explicit material was regularly posted in locker rooms and elsewhere in

Proposed Ralphs/Village Courtyard in South San Clemente

2008-12-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

THE LATEST: Owners of a proposed development on El Camino Real on the southern end of San Clemente are now hoping for a thumbs up from City Council following a denial of their plan by the city’s Planning Commission last week. The Village Courtyard project, located at 911 S. El Camino Real, had received approvals from all other city agencies leading up to their planning commission meetings before

Police make arrest in sexual exploitation of child

2008-12-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

On Dec. 4, Jonathan Peter Christy, 47, was arrested in a joint investigative effort between the Parker Police Department, members of the Orange County Sheriff's Office and FBI SAFE (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) Task Force in San Clemente, Calif., on charges of sexual exploitation of children, Internet exploitation of a child, Internet luring of a child and promotion of obscenity to a minor.

CAPISTRANO VALLEY HIGH TEACHER ARRESTED

2008-12-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

Capistrano Valley High history teacher and volleyball and surf coach Aaron Westbrook, 25, was arrested Monday on allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a student, Orange County sheriff's officials said. Authorities said a friend of the alleged victim told school officials about the suspected relationship, and school officials reported it to authorities. Westbrook, a San Clemente

Family Assistance Ministries seeks donations for Christmas toy giveaway Dec. 13

2008-12-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

A FAM CHRISTMASFamily Assistance Ministries is putting out a call for toys, food and volunteers for its eighth annual Christmas toy giveaway set for 11 a.m. Dec. 13 at the San Clemente Community Center.FAM will distribute donated toys to children from needy families while serving them a meal. Call 949-492-8477 if you'd like to help. Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see more of San

Pat Gudauskas joins brother Dane in Round 5 of Vans Triple Crown

2008-12-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

The Gudauskas twins from San Clemente are still in contention, while the younger brother has been eliminated from the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach on Oahu's North Shore.Patrick Gudauskas, with a second-place finish in a four-man, fourth-round heat, will join twin brother Dane in the fifth round of a Vans Triple Crown of Surfing event that will resume Wednesday.Patrick, whose tube

State’s Largest Manmade Reef Completed in San Clemente

2008-12-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

SAN CLEMENTE -- Southern California Edison (SCE) celebrated the completion of a 175-acre-manmade reef and kelp bed Nov. 10 with an unveiling of a commemorative plaque in memory of biologist Wheeler J. North. After months of construction, which included barging and depositing 120,000 tons of rock on the ocean floor, the completed reef is expected to produce the nation’s largest sustainable

Beach cleanup: City decides to can trash bins with ads

2008-12-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

It's adiosto ads on trash cans on San Clemente's city beaches. On Tuesday night, the City Council ended a 10-year deal under which a company called Adopt-a-Beach has provided free trash cans with ads on them.On a 4-1 vote, the council decided to put more refuse cans on the beach and beach trail, while also adding 92 recycling cans. There will be 92 movable refuse cans, 92 movable recycling cans

SunCal's Marblehead Development Files for Bankruptcy

2008-11-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

The future of San Clemente’s stalled Marblehead Coastal development is in further doubt after the 248-acre project was placed in Chapter 11 bankruptcy by the management of Irvine-based SunCal Cos. Master developer SunCal on Wednesday filed involuntary petitions for Marblehead and three other projects it is trying to develop in Los Angeles and Riverside counties.Marblehead is the largest and most

Ucar Deaths Ruled Suicides, Homicide

2008-11-18T14:26:00.000-08:00

Authorities have ruled on the deaths of a San Clemente family of five, whose badly decomposed bodies were discovered earlier this year in their Sea Pointe Estates home. Four were determined to be suicides and the fifth a homicide.The gated-neighborhood home was owned by Manas Ucar, 58. His body was found on May 25 in a downstairs bedroom along with his wife, Margrit, 49, his twin daughters, Grace

SC bids farewell to a teacher who changed lives

2008-11-12T19:25:00.000-08:00

It's a measure of how many lives Jeff Spear touched that the San Clemente High School gymnasium could fill on a Saturday, over a holiday weekend, to pay him respects.Spear, a 47-year-old math teacher at the high school, lost his battle with nonsmoking lung cancer on Oct. 30. Today, more than 1,000 of his students, former students, teaching colleagues and friends packed the gymnasium to bid him

Father of Accused Killer Charged in Alleged Threat

2008-11-12T19:22:00.000-08:00

From the District Attorney's OfficeA father has been charged with threatening to kill a 19-year-old woman while at a hearing for his son, who is charged with murdering the woman's friend. Michael John Needham, 54, San Clemente, is charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal threats and one misdemeanor count of battery. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of one year and six months in

New kelp reef dedicated in San Clemente

2008-11-12T19:15:00.000-08:00

Prepare to be entertained if you attend today's 10 a.m. reef dedication at the end of the San Clemente Pier.Southern California Edison, which has developed a $40 million artificial reef covering 150 acres of ocean floor off the coast of San Clemente, will celebrate by showing a two-minute video of what the test reef built in 1999 looks like with a healthy kelp forest.The new reef – installed this

San Clemente Villas - Luxury Senior Living

2008-11-06T00:20:00.001-08:00

eSanClemente.com welcomes another local San Clemente business:San Clemente Villas by the SeaA warm and inviting retirement community with the best services available, San Clemente Villas by the Sea is the right community for your loved ones. Our community is appointed with the full service amenities you expect and deserve to enhance any style of living. Choose from a selection of designer studio,

Election Results

2008-11-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

CITY COUNCIL: VOTERS MAKE A CHANGEWith all the votes in, Robert "Bob" Baker will replace Steve Knobloch on the City Council. Jim Dahl was returned to the five-member panel. Here are the results:JIM DAHL 8,443 21.6% ROBERT "BOB" BAKER 8,216 21.0% STEVE KNOBLOCK 7,606 19.5% CHARLES MANN 7,357 18.8% CHRIS MCCORMACK 2,530 6.5% JOHN M. ALPAY 2,041 5.2% PATRICK "MOOSE" CROSBY 1,297 3.3% GARY CHRONISTER

San Clemente Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested

2008-10-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Federal Bureau of Investigations on Tuesday, Oct. 21, announced the arrest of a man known as “The Chatty Bandit,” who allegedly was responsible for up to six bank robberies in Orange County, including one in San Clemente on Oct. 3. Benjamin Giovanni Gates, 29, of Tijuana, Mexico, was apprehended at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on the US-Mexico border.The FBI has charged him with one count of

Capistrano Trolley Plan Moves Ahead

2008-10-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

A tri-city trolley plan proposed by San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente has passed to the second tier of consideration for approval by the Orange County Transportation Authority. As part of the renewed Measure M, the OCTA gave cities $100,000 to study solutions for local transportation problems. Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente teamed up for a regional trolley system that

Firefighters monitor chemical fire in San Clemente

2008-10-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

SAN CLEMENTE – About 60 firefighters are monitoring a chemical fire that has been burning for almost four hours today in an unincorporated area of the county, authorities said.A chemical fire inside a polypropylene container on property owned by TRW was reported at 9:49 a.m. in the 33000 block of Avenida Pico. The flames caused a small brushfire nearby, but it was quickly extinguished, said Capt.

CAMP PENDLETON ON FIRE

2008-10-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

Two wild land fires are burning in Camp Pendleton this afternoon, according to base spokesperson Second Lieutenant Riley Whaling. One is burning in the central area of the base known as the whiskey impact area, and the second is burning near the San Luis Rey housing area. Residents are being evacuated. Whaling did not know the size of the fire or if outside agencies had arrived on scene to help

Save the nude beach?

2008-10-06T00:12:00.000-07:00

Someone alerted us to this YouTube video:Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see more of San Clemente at eSanClemente.com

BOY HOSPITILIZED AFTER CRASHING INTO POLICE CAR

2008-10-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

A 10-year-old San Clemente boy is in the hospital this morning after crashing his bike head-on into a police car on Calle Bahia at 7:53 a.m., according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino. “He was going southbound in the northbound lane and crashed head on into the vehicle,” he said. “He was transported with serious injuries to Mission Hospital.” The injuries are not

No more smoke on San Clemente trails

2008-09-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

Starting Sept. 29, there will be a smoking ban on San Clemente's recreational trails.By Kristen SchottPublished: September 25, 2008The ban is a continued effort by San Clemente's Watershed Task Force and Adopt-a-Beach program to lower the amount of smoking trash found on the city's beaches and trails. The decision will extend to the Coastal Trail, one of the city's easily accessible and highly

War vet pleads not guilty to killing girlfriend

2008-09-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

SANTA ANA, Calif.—An Iraq war veteran has pleaded not guilty in the beating death of his 19-year-old live-in girlfriend. John Wylie Needham entered his plea Friday. The 25-year-old is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Needham was arrested and charged after Orange County sheriff's deputies found Jacqwelyn Joann Villagomez earlier this month in his San Clemente condo severely beaten. She died

San Clemente boy's lifesaving action rewarded

2008-09-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

Tootsie rolls, Smarties fruit flavored candy and lollipops had just flown out of a demolished piñata. Children were all over the sweets. The birthday girl Delaney Dutton, 5, had begun opening presents when it happened: Her brother Christian, 10, started to choke on a piece of a Smarties tart candy.Her mother, Julie, who for two decades was a 911 police dispatcher and a supervising manager with

Safety Lapses Cited at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

2008-09-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station south of San Clemente admits that over several years employees committed willful violations of procedure in seven events. An example: For five years, an employee falsified records, recording that she had performed fire checks when, in fact, she hadn’t. When SONGS became aware of this, it reported the events to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. “All of these

Olympic Gold Medalist to Speak at SCHS TODAY

2008-09-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tom Hoff, team captain of the United States’ Gold Medal Olympic men’s volleyball team, will be speaking Wednesday night, Sept. 10, at the San Clemente High School gym at 5 p.m. Tritons girls volleyball coach Rob O’Rear invites all members of the community to attend this free event.Thanks to the SC Times for this information.Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see more of San Clemente at

Villagomez's murderer arraigned

2008-09-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Memorial Service planned for Thursday.John Wylie Needham, 25, the man suspected of murdering former Pitman High School track star Jacque Villagomez, 19, was arraigned at the Orange County Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on Wednesday morning. Needham entered a plea of not guilty, and is being held on $1 million bail at the Orange County Central Jail medical facility.Orange County Sheriff's

Boost Mobile Pro surfing contest on hold

2008-09-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

The competition window for the Boost Mobile Pro at Lower Trestles near San Clemente opened today, but contest director Mike Parsons lighted the red light because of inconsistent surf. So the Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Tour competition will almost certainly commence Monday and run through at least Friday.Read the entire LA times article here.Yours Truly,SC Local------Send feedback or see

Sept. 11 Remembrance Services

2008-09-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

The Orange County Fire Authority announced that all of its stations will participate in remembrance services to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The services will be held at all OCFA fire stations. The San Clemente stations include Station 50 at 670 Camino de los Mares; Station 59 at 48 Avenida La Pata and Station 60 at 100 Avenida Presidio. The

Appeal of Marblehead Outlet Mall Signage Ruling

2008-08-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

THE LATEST: On Friday, August 22, Steve Craig, president and CEO of Craig Realty Group, announced that his company will not appeal an Orange County Superior Court judge’s ruling that voided a sign exception permit for additional freeway-facing signs at his outlet mall project in San Clemente.“We’ve decided not to appeal the court’s decision on the signage,” said Craig. “The biggest thing here is

Judge: Nudists allowed at San Onofre State Beach

2008-08-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—Nude sunbathers can continue to let it all hang out along a secluded stretch of San Onofre State Beach, unless someone objects.Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Fell ruled Wednesday that state parks officials can cite sunbathers and swimmers in the buff only if a private citizen complains.It's the same policy that has been in place since 1979, but complaints of lewd

The Passing of Midget Smith

2008-08-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey “Midget” Smith—legendary shaper, Association of Surfing Professionals judge, local surfing icon, father and grandpa—passed away Saturday, August 23 at the young age of 56. Midget spent his last remaining days surrounded by his loving family, dogs and close friends in the comfort of his home in San Clemente. Midget’s 22-year battle with cancer has sadly come to an end. Midget touched the

Local SC Fraud?

2008-08-12T21:47:00.001-07:00

This was sent in to us to post on the eSC blog:TalegaLocal says..."Some guy took down my wife's credit card # for some 5 week Sunday Register Newspaper deal on August 10th. The next day we have charges at gas stations in Bakersfield. This Happened at the ALBERTSONS out Pico by Talega. Has this happened to anyone else?"If so please email me at excursions@scpres.org Yours Truly,SC Local------Send

Superintendent: Trustees Violated Privacy

2008-08-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Two Capistrano Unified School District trustees were in the superintendent’s office on Friday, July 25, when the district headquarters were closed and the superintendent was at a conference. It’s one more chapter in an already-heavy chronicle of strife among CUSD board, staff and constituency members. “I am extremely uncomfortable with this,” Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter said Thursday. “I