Many happenings and new starts across San Clemente
By Bob Baker, San Clemente City Council
With the holidays in full swing and the New Year around the corner, it’s a good time to reflect on the important things in our lives. I’ll begin my second term on San Clemente City Council and look forward to continuing to help shape San Clemente. Thank you San Clemente voters for your vote of confidence. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve this great community for another four years. Allow me to share my “Baker’s Dozen“ list of things I have thought about lately:
1. Thanks so much to our men and women in uniform for all they do to keep the rest of us safe.
2. Congratulations to the new members of the National Honor Society. Great students and leaders like you will be what keeps our country great. You do San Clemente proud.
3. Welcome Chris Hamm to City Council. Young, fresh ideas are always welcome.
4. Thanks Jim Dahl for serving our city for 16 years.
5. Welcome Fr. Mike at Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Jack is a hard act to follow, but I’m sure you are up to it.
6. Welcome Z Golf at the Municipal Golf Course. I can’t wait to try out the new menu. Now if I can get the course superintendent to make the holes on the golf course a little larger maybe I’ll make a putt someday. If you haven’t played the course lately, come back. It is in great shape. Maybe the best shape ever.
7. Support your local merchants. Shop and dine locally. The food in town from north to south to east to west has never been better. Never.
8. Get to the beach and check out the fine smooth sand that our local contractor has pushed up. Mother Nature dropped it off and we grabbed it. Please Mother Earth, keep it coming.
9. Winter high school sports are fun for spectators. Hit the gym most nights and you’ll be in for some wonderful entertainment. There is a lot going on at the fields too. Support these athletes while they are representing their school and community. It takes dedication to get those kids out there. Dedication from the adults involved too.
10. Construction will be coming to our town for the next three years—major construction such as the freeway carpool lane to Dana Point, reconstruction of the Pico intersection and the La Pata extension to San Juan Capistrano. If you travel the freeway, check the traffic on Google or sigalert.com or other means before you go.
11. Traffic disasters, like the one that closed the Southbound Interstate 5 last week, happen. They are terrible and are caused by lots of different things. The most common problem resides in the space between the driver’s ears. If you get caught in one, relax, get off the freeway and take it easy. It’s out of your control.
12. Distracted driving is a major cause of fatal accidents. Pay attention while you are going 65 miles per hour in your 4,000-pound metal missile. Your mission is to get you and your passengers where you are going safely. Just like an airline pilot with one less axis of motion.
13. Best Holiday wishes from the Baker family to your family this season.
Kindest regards,
Bob, Pam, Nicholaus, Emily, Keoni and Peanut
Great list, I can see why the city re-elected you. Thank you and keep up the great work!!