LIFEGUARD ASSOCIATION SALUTES CARLSON
At a meeting of the California Surf Lifesaving Association held Oct. 9 in San Clemente, the association issued an Award of Valor to the family of Ben Carlson, a Newport Beach lifeguard who lost his life July 6 in massive surf while making a rescue.
“Only 41 lifeguards across the country have ever received the USLA Medal of Valor,” said Huntington Beach Marine Safety Lt. Mike Beuerlein, president of the state association. “Never before has the USLA Medal of Valor been awarded posthumously.”
San Clemente lifeguards hosted a daylong conference for the association at the Ole Hanson Beach Club. The group described Carlson as an expert waterman who saved hundreds of lives during his 15-year career with Newport Beach lifeguards. Carlson’s parents, Chris and Teri Carlson, accepted the honor.
“The fire and marine and lifeguard community has been amazing to our family,” Chris Carlson said.
RETIRED PLAYGROUND GOING TO ECUADOR
A playground retired from San Clemente’s Max Berg Plaza Park will find new life in Pillaro, Ecuador, in the Andes region.
Kids Around the World, a faith-based nonprofit that builds playgrounds for communities around the United States and abroad, plans to travel to Ecuador from Jan. 24-31 and invites volunteers to help.
The cost is $1,750 single or $1,450 double, plus airfare, including food, lodging and transportation within Ecuador. Nov. 20 is the application deadline.
For details or an application form, call Chris Marshall in Kids Around the World’s San Clemente office at 808-276-5286.
AARP RECRUITING TAX VOLUNTEERS
An organization that provides free tax assistance in Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano during the tax-filing season is seeking volunteers.
Go to aarp.org/taxvolunteer to sign up. The AARP program trains the volunteers and operates at senior centers. While most clients are 60 and older, younger taxpayers with low or moderate income may be eligible.
Volunteers are needed for the Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano senior centers. The program will no longer operate at San Clemente’s senior center due to room-size limitations, volunteer Audie Sturla said, and San Clemente taxpayers will be invited to visit the other two senior centers.
San Clemente TO HOST BAND TOURNAMENT
Fifteen Southern California high schools are set to appear in town Nov. 8, participating in the first San Clemente High School Marching Band Tournament.
The event, from 2 to 8 p.m. on campus at 700 Avenida Pico, is part of a competition series sponsored by the Southern California Judges Association, said Tony Soto, San Clemente High School’s instrumental music director, via email.
The community is invited to watch. General admission is $10, children under 6, free. “The music boosters will have plenty of great food for sale including the famous Triton Taco Stand, hot dogs, hamburgers, Manna Kettle Corn, baked treats, hot chocolate, and San Clemente’s own Surf Side Pizza with be making a special appearance,” Soto wrote.
SENIOR CENTER celebrates 3 years
The Dorothy Visser Senior Center celebrates three years of operating in a new facility at 117 Avenida Victoria with festivities at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 24.
The public is invited but should call 949-498-3322 by Tuesday to reserve a seat.
NINETEEN STREETS TO GET MAKEOVERS
Nineteen San Clemente streets are due to get Slurry Seal coatings this fall as part of an annual program to refresh streets and add to their longevity.
The $200,000 project includes Camino San Clemente, 13 streets in Shorecliffs, four streets off Camino Vera Cruz and the full extent of Calle Seville on each side of Avenida Del Mar.
The streets off Vera Cruz are Via Blanco, Costa, Charco and Campo Raso. In Shorecliffs they are Vista Torito, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, Corbina, Montezuma, Arboleda, Casa Loma, Santo Tomas, Montecito, Verbena, Vistosa, Bandita and Lado.
EAGLE PROJECT SUPPORTS THE HUNGRY
Cole Grace, a Boy Scout with Troop 737 in San Clemente, reports that he collected 2,742 pounds of food plus $492 in other donations to support Family Assistance Ministries’ work. He and his team of volunteers put in 241 hours as his Eagle Scout service project. To help FAM, call 949-492-8477.
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