Festival Gear: Volunteers will be at the base of the pier 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Monday selling San Clemente Ocean Festival T-shirts, hats and other apparel. Proceeds will benefit the July 20-21 festival and its charities. Information: oceanfestival.org.
Gas Fundraiser: During the month of May, San Clemente’s Valero station (Palizada/I-5 exit) is donating a penny of every gallon of gas sold to Help the Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation.
Cancer Support Run: Katie Hawley of Ladera Ranch won a battle against neuroblastoma at age 9 and now, at 13, she is battling it again. Friends are organizing a Beach Run in San Clemente on June 9 to help with the family’s financial burden. The 2.6-km run goes from the pier to the beach near Calle Lasuen and back. Minimum donation is $40. Information: soccerforhope.org/katie.
Local Theater: The Cabrillo Playhouse’s remaining show of the season is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (drama) June 7 – 30. The Cabrillo Playhouse is at 202 Avenida Cabrillo. Information: 949.492.0465 or cabrilloplayhouse.org.
Commission Openings: City Hall is accepting applications for seats on the Planning Commission, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission; Golf Course, Coastal Advisory, Investment Advisory, and Human Affairs Committees. Two-year terms are available starting July 1. June 13 is the deadline. Information: san-clemente.org or call 949.361.8200.
Benefit Golf: The Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation invites entries and sponsorships for a June 21 benefit golf tournament at the Municipal Golf Course. Money raised will fund scholarships for children who can’t afford city recreation programs and help build Phase 2 of Courtney’s Sand Castle playground. Call 949.276.8866 for details or signup or visit friendsofsanclemente.org.
On-going:
Return of the Chimes: The “Bells of San Clemente” are back, chiming the hour of day together with melodies from atop the Hotel San Clemente on Avenida del Mar. The city recently updated the system with more reliable digital bells.
Bus Service: A bus service is in effect in San Clemente allowing riders to take the Route 193 bus to Vista Hermosa Sports Park and San Clemente’s Target store. It is an expansion of the route that has for years gone from North Beach Metrolink station to Sears Plaza and back, via Walmart. The bus operates Monday through Friday only. For schedule, visit octa.net.
Leave a Legacy: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is inviting residents, businesses and organizations to become part of the legacy of the restored local landmark at 415 Avenida Granada. To celebrate the Casa’s 10 years as a cultural center, anyone who donates $1,000 or more to help sustain the Casa will be recognized on a floor tile at the cultural center, among other privileges. Information: 949.498.2139.
Gift of Knowledge: Do you know someone who needs help figuring how to use a computer? A digital camera? A photo-editing program? Why not sign them up for a workshop or a class at San Clemente’s Cyber Cafe, a nonprofit learning center that operates in city offices at 910 Calle Negocio? To learn what’s available, call 949.276.8866.
Give the Beach: A parking pass, good for 12 months at San Clemente’s municipal beach parking lots, is $50 for residents, $100 for nonresidents. Gift certificates are available at City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio. Information: 949.361. 8200.
Losing Weight: The local chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly invites anyone curious about losing weight to visit the group’s weekly Wednesday morning meeting to see how it’s done. Men and women are welcome to the meetings from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Community Resource Center of San Clemente at San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 Avenida de la Estrella. Information: 949.498.3052.
Fire Safety: Orange County Fire Authority has free fire-alerting devices for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing and live in apartments or other multi-family homes. Volunteers from Age Well Senior Services will install the devices. Homes must also have a smoke detector. Information: 949.855.8033.
Helping Seniors: Age Well Senior Services, which provides Meals on Wheels services to senior citizens in San Clemente and south Orange County, is asking for the community’s help in light of government cutbacks. Through its “Next Meal Club,” donors can make tax-deductible monthly contributions to provide three nutritious meals daily to homebound seniors. Information: 949.855.8033 or myagewell.org.
Playground Support: A tile fundraiser is under way for the second phase of Courtney’s SandCastle universally accessible playground. For $150, participants may have personalized glazed tiles installed at the playground in Vista Hermosa Sports Park, 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa. Information: courtneyssandcastle.com.
For Marines: Don Glasgow is asking for any golf gear you no longer need. He will pick it up and get it delivered to troops at Camp Pendleton for Wounded Warrior Battalion as well as able–bodied Marines. Information: call Don at 949.481.0116.
Surf Contest: The Surfing Heritage Foundation is seeking the people who have made interesting discoveries while viewing the foundation’s collections of surf memorabilia. Those who share their stories could win a prize. The contest is open to those 18 and older who have found records, photographs, stories, surfboards or other treasures of personal significance through the foundation’s collections. The foundation is at 110 Calle Iglesia. Information: 949.388.0313.
French Conversation: The French Conversation Club of San Clemente invites people to attend meetings for casual conversation in French from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. Information: 949.493.5228.
Losing Weight: The city chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly is celebrating its 45th year. It’s a nonprofit weight-control program. Meetings are at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 202 Avenida Aragon, and anyone is invited to stop in to find out how it works. To learn more, visit TOPS.org.
Grocery Shuttle: Ralphs Fresh Fare reminds people in southwest San Clemente that they can take a free shuttle to the Talega store from a Ralphs store closed for remodeling at 903 W. El Camino Real. The shuttle runs about every 30 minutes. Find it next to United Oil gas station from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday the construction period. It also stops at Casa de Seniors, 105 Avenida Presidio. A Ralphs receipt is required for the return trip. Information: 714.259.1046.
Downtown Parking: City Hall and the Downtown Business Associations have published an updated map of free public parking in the downtown district. It shows which lots are all-day and which have a three-hour limit, locations of public restrooms, etc. The brochures are being distributed to downtown stores and placed in the bench areas, in local hotels and in city offices. Information: City Hall, 949.361.8200.
Help for Pet Owners: If you own a pet and it dies, what do you do? The San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter offers two options for residents. The cost for simple disposal is $15 if you take your pet to the shelter and $35 if you have an animal control officer pick it up. Cremation fees range from $50 to $220. Information: 949.492.1617.
Monique Rea runs a hummingbird rescue operation in San Clemente. Come hear her speak at the Casa and learn more about these remarkable, diminutive birds at her informative presentation.
