31 CENT ICE CREAM

Tonight from 5-10pm, Baskin Robbins is selling a single scoop of ice cream for 31 cents to help honor America's firefighters.

There are 2 locations in San Clemente.

104 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA (949) 492-2440
979 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, CA (949) 361-9099

TOLL ROAD APPEAL COMMENTS

Beginning yesterday April 28th, the public will have 30 days to tell the federal government whether it should overrule the state Coastal Commission and allow the long proposed Foothill South toll road to be built.

The appeal to the Commerce Department is the last chance toll road supporters have to resurrect the project that the Commission rejected in February.

"Pursuant to regulation, the public and interested Federal agencies may submit any comments on this appeal from April 28, 2008 to May 28, 2008. All comments should be directed in writing to the NOAA Office of General Counsel for Ocean Services, 1305 East-West Highway, Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or via e-mail to gcos.comments@noaa.gov. "

For more information about this project, visit Fastrak, Surfrider or the Ca Coastal Commission websites.

San Juan Capistrano Historic Building Tour

Tickets go on sale today for the City of San Juan Capistrano's annual Historic Building Tour. These buildings are along California's oldest continually occupied residential street and the City's library.

May 12th begins National Historic Preservation Week. Events and the tour will focus on the 25th anniversary of the Los Rios Historic District being listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the 25th anniversary of the opening of the renowned Michael Graves-designed Regional Library and the 50th anniversary of the Swallow's Day Parade.

For more information, visit the city website.

A PIECE OF COMMERCIAL HISTORY

Originally built for City Hall in 1928 this commercial space has been may things over the years including San Clemente's Firestation and a bank.

Located in downtown San Clemente, this Ole Hanson has 2 retail spaces available. Make your business a piece of San Clemente's history. Call Bob Hesse for more information on these commercial lease spaces at 949.276.8000.

Park Semper Fi Get’s Stairs

The City is making improvements to Park Semper Fi’s slope, making it easier to climb up the hill and enjoy the marine monument. A landscaping company will install rustic timber steps along the slope and will lay a decomposed granite surface. These improvements will make it safer and easier to walk from the Pier Bowl parking lot up to the marine monument and back. Just in time for summer!

RECORD BROKEN FOR OC

You would think this to be a good topic, but we are talking about foreclosures and notice of default. Banks file a notice of default after a home owner has missed 3 consecutive payments. This is the first step in the foreclosure process. According to DataQuick, banks recorded 7,082 notices of default in the first quarter of 2008; just in Orange County.

March alone had 2,476 notices of default which is up from the record breaking 2,352 in January 2008. These records were last set in 1996 when March was also the peak month at 2,320 with the first quarter at 6,422.

SAN CLEMENTE BEACH VACATION HOME

Have you been considering a vacation home but are not sure what the market is doing? Offered at $265,000, this charming 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo may be just what you are looking for. The community boasts babbling brooks and streams with lush landscape.

The condo is on the lower level with no stairs. The bedrooms are both master suites situated at opposite ends of the unit. The patio is perfect for BBQ's or simply relax while listening to the stream after a long day at the beach.

Additional amenities include RV and boat parking, community clubhouse and pool. For more information on this condo, please contact Cecilia McDermott or Bob Hesse at 949.276.8000

A Picture or Vision of the Highest Worth

The perfect description for this Bluff Front income property on Buena Vista. Prestine renovations inside and out accompanied by the unobstructed panoramic views, make this 2 building, 4 unit property a hidden treasure.

The up and coming North Beach location affords tenants dining, entertianment and beach access within walking distance. Fully furnished, the two front units could be listed as vacation rentals (one unit was booked solid last summer at $5200 per month).

These units easily bring income of over $100,000 annually. More information and photos can be found at http://www.blufffront.com/


Please contact Brooke Mackenzie or Elly Harris with questions. 949.276.8000

LAGUNA BEACH CLOSURE

If you plan to head to the beach this weekend, avoid Laguna Beach. Due to a broken sewer pipe, PCH has been closed since 3pm yesterday. They hope to have PCH open any time now but beaches from Cress Street to Rockledge Road may be closed for the weekend so inspectors can check for contamination.

PRICES AND FORECLOSURES

Homes in or facing foreclosure currently account for more than one-third of sales. Activity in Southern California increased in March while the median price falls. According to DataQuick, nearly 38% of Southern California homes sold in March had been foreclosed at some point in the prior year, up from 8% in March 2007.

The traditional spring home-buying season is off to its worst start in 20 years, with sales so weak that foreclosures now account for more than one-third of all market activity. Home sales typically pick up in spring, when parents with school-aged children look to buy and move before the new school year starts.

This year was no exception: March sales in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties were up 18.8% from February. But that increase pales in comparison to previous seasons. For the last 20 years, March home sales have on average been 38% higher than February sales, DataQuick said.

Information taken from April 16th LA Times

HOME PRICES IN ORANGE COUNTY

Home prices in Orange County fell in March to 2004 levels – down almost 20% from a year ago. March was the 30th consecutive month where total sales failed to beat last years level and last month’s buying was 59% below average March sales since 1988. March typically marks the start of “spring fever” house buying but this year it only produced 13% more sales than February. In San Clemente prices are down 2.5% in 92672 and 11% in 92673 compared to last year and sales volume is off roughly 50% compared to last year.

CONCRETE JUNGLES IN CALIFORNIA?

Even though we are currently in a housing slump, reports say that California needs over 200,000 new homes every year. In a year or two when the housing market picks up again, the debate will become what type of housing to build.

In an effort to keep our greenspaces, builders are petitioning the state to allow vertical communities. Skyscrapers, like in New York, would keep our greenspaces but what would it do to our skyline? Is California going to have the next Concrete Jungle?

According to The Sacramento Bee, "The major venue for the debate, however, is a bill carried by Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, the incoming Senate president pro tem. His measure, Senate Bill 375, is being backed by a coalition of environmental advocates and, in simplest terms, would strongly push local governments into adopting anti-sprawl, high-density, greenhouse gas-reducing policies. State funds, most importantly transportation funds, would be the stick to enforce the dictum."

CREATING AN ARTIFICIAL REEF

In June Edison will begin building an artificial reef one half mile off the coast of San Clemente between the Pier and San Mateo Point. Required by the Coastal Commission, this project is designed to offset the said impact on fish habitats that is created by the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant.

Southern California Edison is currently working on Catalina Island to collect quarry rocks for this project. The reef will cover approximately 128 acres of ocean floor about 30 to 45 feet deep. The kelp that will grow in these reefs should be visible in 2-3 years. Edison will watch the San Clemente shore line to make sure the amount of kelp is not increased and will support any clean up efforts necessary.

According to their EIR, there will be no impact on the surf.

Read the Final Report on the Findings and Recommendations of the Experimental Phase of the SONGS Artificial Reef Mitigation Project.

ARE HOMES SALES UP

There has been a lot of talk in the media lately that home sales and home prices are on the rise. Is this true for San Clemente as well? Here are some statistics:

In the 92672 zipcode comparing week to week starting 1/27/08:
Sales have doubled, the number of homes for sale is 1/2 of what is was, and the average price per square foot is down 14%

In the 92673 zipcode comparing week to week starting 1/27/08:
Sales and inventory are staying pretty consistant and the average price per square foot has only dropped 2%

SAVE MONEY ON GASOLINE

...what a hot topic of conversation. When your car burns gasoline, it does not burn the liquid form that we put in the tank. The gasoline mixes with oxygen and converts the liquid to a vapor. One way to save money is to get gas in the cooler hours of the day. You reduce vapor loss when the air temp is below 68 degrees.

Orange County Gas Prices is a website that depends on the public to post gasoline prices. This website allows you to search for gas prices by city, station and grade of gasoline. Today they report the least expensive gas in San Clemente is $3.87/gallon at the 76 station on Camino de los Mares.

Might be worth checking the next time you go to fill up. You could save 30-50 cents per gallon.

SOUTH COUNTY RAIL SYSTEM CLOSURES

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority has scheduled closures for the South County train every weekend beginning this Friday April 11th. The closures will be from 11:00pm Friday to 5:00am Monday. They will hope to have the rail system open for Monday morning commuters.

During these closures, Metrolink will run south to Mission Viejo and then bus passengers to their final destination. Amtrak will not have bus service and will run from Irvine, North.

If you live close to one of the closures, be prepared for a lot of dust and noise from tractors and back up beepers. Crews will be working around the clock with bright lights. The closure schedule is as follows:
4/11-4/14: Pedestrian underpass installation at Mariposa Point in San Clemente
4/18 - 4/21: San Clemente MetroLink Station to Beach Road
4/25-4/28: Beach Road in Capo Beach to Avenida Aeropuerto
5/2-5/4: Del Obispo Street crossing in San Juan Capistrano. Yes, Del Obispo will be closed that weekend.

THE GOD MOTTO

Huntington Beach has become the latest Orange County city to incorporate "In God We Trust" as part of their city motto and to be displayed at City Hall in council chambers. San Clemente recently approved this motto, while Cypress and Westminister were first in Orange County.

Tustin and Mission Viejo are currently considering the display.

How do you feel about it?

SPRING IN SAN CLEMENTE

Spring has sprung and Spring Break is here. It's the first day; are your kids bugging you yet? "Mom, I'm bored". Bring them to San Clemente.

San Clemente beaches are open and so are the snack bars. The weather is only suppose to get warmer this week.

So load up the car and come to San Clemente where you can stroll along Avenida Del Mar, stop for an ice cream, build a sand castle and play in the water.

EXPERIENCE TOMORROW'S ARTISTS TODAY

Join the Casa Romantica and experience the 5th annual San Clemente Student Art Exhibition. Over 200 works of art by students of San Clemente High School, Shorecliff Middle School, Bernice Ayer Middle School and Vista Del Mar Middle School will be on display. Weekly exhibition hours are Tuesday 1-4, Wednesday - Sunday 11-4. Admission is $3

WHO WON THE OFFICIAL DRINK OF SAN CLEMENTE?

On March 27, the Chamber’s Official 2008 San Clemente Drink Contest was held. Judges included Brooke Mackenzie, John Hall, Mike Burke, Mary Lee Wood and Shelly Kindred. If you saw the write up in Saturday's Sun Post News, you would have assumed 3 judges participated in this event. No so, there were 5.

As pointed out in today's Sun Post News by John Hall, writer of Around Town and conductor of HAT, he and Brooke Mackenzie of Distinctive Coast Properties were left out of the photo. While we are certain that John and Brooke enjoyed the free drinks and lively atmosphere, we want to make sure credit is given where credit is due.

Entries included drinks from Gordon James Grill, El Mariachi, OC Tavern, the Melting Pot, Taka-O's, Adele's and Ole's Tavern. "Taka-O’s Chocolate Covered Martini was to die for" according to Brooke Mackenzie. Ultimately, the winner of the 2008 Official Drink Contest was the sour-apple-flavored Pucker-Up, by Adele Lux of Adele’s at the San Clemente Inn (who also won last year), and the caramel-and-chocolate-flavored O.C. Night Cap, by O.C. Tavern’s Kirsten Garber.

TAX TIPS

Have you filed your taxes yet? If you are like one of the many people that wait until the last minute, don't forget these all important deductions.

Additional charitable gifts

Mortgage refi points

Moving expenses

Many medical costs

Job hunting costs

Retirement tax savings

Military personnel travel

Educational expenses

Child, and more, care credit

Residential energy upgrades

State Beaches will go without lifeguards over Spring Break

Due to budget cuts, Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre state beaches will not have seasonal lifeguard posted over spring break. Authorities recommend using the City Beaches that will have lifeguards at their stations. Budget cuts could also effect service throughout the summer.

Hot Property of the Day: Ocean view homes in the hills of San Clemente now starting at $699,000. Call Elly Harris for more information. 949.276.8000