February 5, 2016

LO C A L

N EWS

February 5 - 11, 2016

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BE SURE TO PICK UP OUR SPECIAL ‘BEST OF DANA POINT PEOPLE’S CHOICE LANTERN AWARDS’ EDITION OUT THIS WEEK VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6

Clarity or Confusion

Will City Council’s competing initiative to Town Center Initiative provide better information for voters or further confusion?

E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 5

City Council approved the addition of a council-sponsored competing initiative to the publicly petitioned Town Center Initiative at the June 7 elections. The initiatives will clarify the direction of the Town Center/Lantern District as the Town Center Plan moves forward. Photo: Alex Paris

Local Students Push for Solar Energy in School District EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

CUSD Approves Joint Facilities Agreement, CFD with City EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

www.danapointtimes.com

Dana Hills Student Athletes Take Part in National Signing Day SPORTS/PAGE 15

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DP EYE ON DP Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week

CUSD to Continue Substitute Pay Discussion Feb. 10 THE LATEST: After showing unanimous interest on Jan. 13 in increasing the proposed pay for substitute teachers, the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees directed staff at their Jan. 27 meeting to further analyze pay raise options, which will be brought back before the board on Feb. 10.

The increase in pay will be the first for CUSD substitutes in more than 15 years.

The 651 substitute teachers employed in Capistrano Unified are currently paid the lowest daily rate, and the highest longterm rate, of the districts CUSD surveyed in the county—$90 a day, $100 per day after 10 days and $221 per day after 40 days of work. According to staff, several veteran substitutes recently “sent letters or have simply resigned, citing insufficient pay as the reason.”

In order to become more competitive with neighboring districts, staff recommended on Jan. 13 increasing pay to $105 a day, which would be offset by decreasing long-term pay. The majority of trustees agreed that pay rates need to be increased beyond $105 per day and asked staff to analyze increasing rates to $115 per day and $130 after 40 days.

Staff came back with an array of options on Jan. 27, and several trustees reiterated wanting to increase the daily rate to $115 while bumping up an increase to $130 after day 11 rather than waiting 40 days, which is similar to policies of other districts such as Garden Grove.

Superintendent Kirsten Vital noted that such a scenario would be more costly than allowed for within the budget. She recommended staff come back with a two-tiered system that would reflect a 10 percent increase in pay for substitutes with a hike in pay after 11 or 15 days of work rather than 40.

WHAT’S NEXT: Staff will present their findings and recommendations to the board for approval on Feb. 10. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at CUSD district offices, located at 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.

To view the rest of the board’s agenda, visit www.capousd.org. —Allison Jarrell Dana Point Times February 5 - 11, 2016

CUSD Approves Joint City Facilities Agreement, CFD with City THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees voted at their Jan. 27 meeting to approve a Joint City Facilities Agreement with the city of Dana Point, which includes the approval of a Community Facilities District for the mixed-use development project located at Pacific Coast Highway and Del Obispo Avenue.

The agreement entails the developer pay $4.37 per square foot with the possibility for an additional 53 cents per square foot “if there is money remaining after bonds are sold and all obligations are paid,” according to CUSD staff.

While staff said the CFD would generate approximately $1,010,000 for schools, Trustee Jim Reardon pointed out that it will generate a great deal more—$24 million—for parks.

“So when the developer starts telling everybody that the CFD is for schools, are we going to be able to stop them from doing that?” Reardon asked.

The board’s motion carried 4-1-2 to approve the agreement, with Trustee John Alpay dissenting.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Dana Point City Council voted Jan. 19 to open a public hearing for the creation of the Doheny Beach CFD and continued the item to their Feb. 16 meeting.

The formation of a CFD was initially requested by Zephyr Partners to provide funding for required public improvements and public agency fees associated with their mixed-use condo project under construction in the former mobile home park.

On Nov. 17, the council voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution declaring its intent to establish a CFD. No protests had been filed with the city clerk as of the Jan. 19 meeting.—AJ and Andrea Swayne

Local Students Petition for Solar Energy in School District THE LATEST: A coalition of student clubs within four Capistrano Unified School District high schools began petitioning this week to install solar panel arrays on every high school campus in the district.

The “Dear Capistrano Unified School District: Let’s Go Solar!” petition on change.org launched Monday and had already garnered more than 230 signatures Thursday afternoon from students,

parents, faculty and supporters interested in reaping the benefits of utilizing solar energy in schools.

The San Juan Hills High School’s Ecology Action Team, led by sophomore and club president Russell Tran, has taken charge of the student-led movement with assistance from KyotoUSA, a Berkeleybased nonprofit organization that works with cities, public school districts and communities to develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Other clubs involved with the petition include The Ecology Club at Dana Hills High School, the Blue Oceans Club and SC Goes Green at San Clemente High School, and the Conservationism Club and Ecology Club at Tesoro High School.

Tran said the idea to encourage the district to install solar panels has been percolating since his freshman year of high school when the SJHHS Ecology Action Team was advised by their principal that such projects are usually implemented district-wide, not just at a single high school. He met with KyotoUSA representatives at a Bay Area ice cream shop last summer and learned about the pro bono advice they give to school districts regarding energy projects.

“You could say the revolution started in an ice cream shop,” Tran said.

The San Juan Hills sophomore designed

The San Juan Hills High School Ecology Action Team is leading the charge to push for the implementation of solar panel arrays on all high school campuses within the Capistrano Unified School District. Photo: Courtesy of Russell Tran

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www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP The San Juan Hills sophomore designed the www.cusdsolar.org website, also launched Monday, which lists an array of facts about the school district’s energy use compared to the benefits of installing solar panels, including the increased efficiency and lowering price of solar technology.

He points to neighboring school districts in Los Angeles, Irvine, NewportMesa and Santa Ana that have successfully implemented solar array projects, and said following suit would mean helping the environment while cutting energy expenses and making a solid economic investment.

“The money saved can go back into our education,” Tran said. “In today’s world, it’s economically sound. That’s why we think the project will go far, because it’s backed by numbers.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Tran said the coalition of students will present their petition to the CUSD Board of Trustees at a future meeting. In addition to signing the petition, he encourages students looking to get involved to join one of their school’s ecology or environmental clubs.

“Students represent the citizens of the next generation, so by getting students involved in activism or being proactive in society, we can build a better world that way,” Tran said. “We’re demonstrating what we learn in school about freedom of speech and democracy—we want to show the district that we’re taking initiative.

We’re building our future now, because why wait?”

For more information on the studentled movement or to sign the petition, visit www.cusdsolar.org. —AJ

San Clemente Hospital Officials Explain Emergency Services Issues THE LATEST: Officials of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in San Clemente, the city’s only inpatient emergency services provider, maintain their stance that the emergency facilities are not financially feasible to maintain.

The hospital has made an effort to change the legislative requirements for freestanding emergency rooms within the city of San Clemente, but two bills that would have done so were shut down in respective California Senate and Assembly committees in January.

“When we acquired the campus in 2005, we were concerned with the impact of the trend in healthcare away from inpatient hospitalization and substantially moving towards outpatient services—and the fact that multiple previous owners had major challenges in operating the facility and had downsized the property and services,” Struthers added.

Because of the advances in medical

care facilities that are independent of large hospitals, more outpatient services have driven the inpatient services down, which, Struthers said, “is a good thing,” but because people aren’t paying the price of admission to a hospital bed, it drives the revenue down and makes it less or not sustainable.

WHAT’S NEXT: Although the hospital is zoned now to provide emergency services, that doesn’t mean the hospital or its emergency room will stay open, as Saddleback is a private nonprofit.

When asked when a decision will come regarding Saddleback Memorial Medical Center’s future intentions, officials said a decision will come “soon.”—Eric Heinz

Community Engagement Panel Announces 2016 Meeting Schedule THE LATEST: The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station’s Community Engagement Panel meetings were recently announced for this year. The CEP is a collection of community leaders, nuclear energy experts and Southern California Edison representatives that works to educate the public on the latest information regarding the SONGS deconstruction and storage of spent nuclear fuel. The panel is not an

advocacy group.

Recently, the city of San Clemente passed a resolution to gather support for an amendment to the Department of Energy’s policy in storing spent nuclear fuel—H.R. 3643: Interim Consolidated Storage Act of 2015—to allow for temporary storage facilities to store the spent fuel, and the San Clemente City Council has asked neighboring cities for their support.

WHAT’S NEXT: CEP meeting venues will be listed in the Dana Point Times as they become available. The schedule is as follows: First Quarter: March 24, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., QLN Learning Center, 1938 Avenida Del Oro, Oceanside.

Second Quarter: June 16, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., venue TBA. Third Quarter: Aug. 25, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., venue TBA. Fourth Quarter: Oct. 27, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., venue TBA. FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.songscommunity.com for more information.—EH

Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about?

••• Send your suggestions to editorial@danapointtimes.com.

EYE ON DP

Clarity or Confusion Will City initiative provide better information or further confusion?

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he Town Center Initiative will be joined by a competing initiative on the ballot in the upcoming June election, thanks to a 3-2 vote in favor by the City Council on Tuesday. Councilmen Scott Schoeffel and Carlos Olvera cast the two dissenting votes.

The council-sponsored initiative was drafted in an effort to provide clarity for residents, who some council members said have been raising concerns over their uncertainty with what they were actually signing up for when they added their signatures to the Town Center Initiative.

All but one of the public speakers at the meeting voiced opposition to the citysponsored initiative, contending that it amounted to a “smoke screen” by council members in an effort to confuse the voters.

The City Council’s initiative would affirm the Town Center Plan as originally approved, along with the addition of parking amendments adopted by the council.

The Town Center Initiative would make changes to the Town Center Plan that authors, a community group dubbed Dana Point Residents for Responsible Development (DPRRD), feels would correct parking shortages and the granting of variances contrary to the intent of the Town Center Plan due to what it perceives as the City Council’s favoring of developers over residents. It would also require future changes be put up for a vote by residents.

At Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Doug Chotkevys agreed with a need for a competing initiative due to Town Center Initiative petition signers’ confusion. He confirmed his belief in the existence of such confusion, as he had personally been asked to sign the Town Center Initiative petition by a DPRRD member, who did not recognize him at the time, and was unable to answer his questions regarding the content of the document. That encounter, he said, confirmed clearly to him that confusion among petition signers exists.

According to City Attorney Patrick Munoz, the cost of the addition of the city’s initiative to the ballot will be $8,500.

He also recommended that, for clarity, the city’s initiative include language specifically stating it is in direct opposition to the Town Center Initiative.

Among the more than a dozen members of the public speaking out against the

Dana Point Times February 5 - 11, 2016

city’s proposed initiative was Sandie Iverson, who, like a number of other speakers, vehemently denied the existence of a problem with the accuracy of fellow DPRRD members’ presentation of the facts when gathering signatures and alleged the council was spreading a rumor that some didn’t know what they were signing.

Resident Harold Kaufman, the lone public speaker in favor of the city’s competing initiative, said he had personally asked people at the grocery store directly after they signed the petition why they signed.

“I listened to what they were told,” Kaufman said. “They had information that was absolutely 180 degrees out from what was really going on.”

Resident Buck Hill joined other members of the public accusing the council of creating the competing initiative as an effort to undermine the Town Center Initiative, rather than to offer voters more information and a side-by-side choice at the polls.

“I think this (city) initiative is purely something to confuse voters,” Hill said.

“And you should be ashamed of yourselves …”

Debra Lewis also disagreed with the assertion that people didn’t know what they were signing when lending their signatures to the Town Center Initiative and chided the council, alleging they drafted a competing initiative instead of listening to the will of the people. “Let the people have an up and down vote, and we can go from there,” Lewis said.

Former planning commissioner Gary Newkirk criticized the addition of a competing city initiative as unnecessary, as it would merely affirm the existing Town Center Plan.

“If passed it does nothing … it’s already on the books, it’s already law,” Newkirk said. “The public is going to view it as a smoke screen.”

Councilman Joe Muller expressed his displeasure with public speakers who questioned the truthfulness of his belief of the existence of confusion by Town Center Initiative petition signers, due to his being questioned directly by members of the public on the issue. He did, however, agree with public comments questioning the title of the city’s initiative, in that the proposed name was too close to the Town Center Initiative and should be changed for clarity.

“Just because I don’t agree with you all the time doesn’t mean that I don’t hear you,” Muller said, adding that the city initiative is “definitely not a smoke screen.”

Councilman Richard Viczorek agreed.

“We do hear what the public has to say,” he said. “The intent of this is to clear up confusion … some have signed something that they don’t understand … it is going to have the opposite effect of what people think they were signing on to.”

By 4-1 vote, with Councilman Schoeffel dissenting, the name of the city initiative was changed to, “Town Center and Public Parking Improvement Measure,” the city

Resident Debra Lewis speaks out at the Feb. 2 City Council meeting against the council-sponsored initiative to compete with the Town Center Initiative in the June election. Photo: Courtesy

attorney was directed to prepare an impartial analysis, a motion calling for the City Council to submit and argument in favor of the 2016 Town Center measure was adopted and $8,500 from the general fund was approved to pay for election services.

BACKGROUND In March 2013, DPRRD, filed notice with the city of its intent to begin collecting petition signatures for the Town Center Initiative. The DPRRD felt the Town Center Initiative ordinance was necessary to allow a vote of the people to correct City Council actions they feel run contrary to the original intent of the Town Center Plan (now renamed the Lantern District Plan) by favoring developers over residents’ wishes and to require that future changes to the plan be voted on by the public.

At issue with the DPRRD were city spending and the granting of variances they feel are detrimental to the plan’s objectives—creating a pedestrian-friendly village with a mix of shops, restaurants, residences and ample parking—in the areas of density, height, views, traffic and parking. The Town Center Initiative includes amendments to the Town Center Plan the DPRRD believes will “close developer loopholes … and strengthen protections for Dana Point residents,” such as a strict three-story, 40-foot height limit for buildings and the return to the parking plan in place (a plan inherited from the county before the city was incorporated) when the Town Center Plan was completed and approved in 2006.

A central focus of the DPRRD’s initiative was due to variances granted for the Majestic mixed-use development and the city’s approval of a parking plan for the district.

City Council, in 2015, approved a height variance for the Majestic project in order to accommodate extra height needed only for elevator towers and safety railings to be added to rooftop decks. The proposed buildings, however, meet the 40-foot height requirement. A variance was also granted for a residential portion of the project, not fronting the street, to have four stories of housing instead of the three stories allowed by the plan. The height of the four-story section of the structure would not increase to accommodate the

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extra floor.

Prior to the City Council’s July 2015 approval of a parking plan for the Town Center/Lantern District, the original Town Center Plan had no parking plan included within its text. Members of the DPRRD argued that the city’s plan would ultimately provide too little parking and favored developers by allowing them to pay in lieu fees to satisfy parking requirements for their projects. The city’s plan was crafted using information provided via a parking study by consultants Nelson Nygaard that found existing parking more than adequate to handle increases, sitting 44 percent empty at peak hours, and that the city’s parking regulations inherited from the county were inappropriate for the type of district the Town Center Plan aimed to create and the higher-than-necessary requirements would be discouraging of development. The city plan—subject to approval by the California Coastal Commission—includes shared parking as well as provisions for parking benefit districts and preferential parking districts.

The Town Center Initiative petition, filed by resident Betty Hill, on behalf of DPRRD, received and filed 4,240 signatures in September 2015, exceeding the minimum requirement of 3,080, 15 percent of the city’s 20,398 registered voters. The Orange County Registrar of voters certified the Town Center Initiative in October 2015. In November 2015, City Council certified it—and authorized $13,672 from general fund reserves be paid to the registrar to cover the signature verification costs—but asked for a staff report before deciding whether to adopt the initiative ordinance or set it for either special or general election.

After hearing the report in December—which included cost estimates for a stand-alone special election of $109,272 to $120,597—the council voted unanimously to set the Town Center Initiative for the June 7 regular election.

The impact report, prepared and presented in December by Kathe Head, managing principal for Keyser Marston and Associates, found the Town Center Initiative likely to result in the Town Center/Lantern District area’s failure by rendering it unable to attract developers due to the changes’ damaging effects on land values.

On Jan. 19, the council, again by unanimous vote, chose to explore the possibility of preparing its own ballot initiative to compete in the June election with the Town Center Initiative. The idea was raised when Councilman Joe Muller cited interactions with residents confused about the Town Center Initiative and what its adoption would actually mean for the Town Center/Lantern District’s future.

Visit www.danapointtimes.com to read the Town Center Plan, the Town Center Initiative, the Town Center Initiative Impact Report presented to City Council on Dec. 1 and the draft of the city’s competing initiative. DP www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY ALLISON JARRELL

All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Wednesday, February 3 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Big Sur Street, 33000 Block (2:58 p.m.)

A possibly drunken subject on a skateboard was carrying a large pink bag and going through trash cans.

WELFARE CHECK Pacific Coast Highway/ Doheny Park Plaza (12:10 p.m.)

A caller reported a tan motorhome was parked in the corner of the plaza near the Laundromat for at least three days.

The caller was concerned because a man covered in tattoos, who was living in the motorhome with a 4- to 5-year-old girl, seemed to be on illegal substances.

KEEP THE PEACE Camino De Estrella/Camino Capistrano (9:27 a.m.) A man driving a gold Kia said his 16-year-old son was high on marijuana, refusing to go to school and walking away from the car.

CITIZEN ASSIST Malaga Drive, 33800 Block (9:24 a.m.) A caller wanted to make a police report about a neighbor cutting down the caller’s plants.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Santa Clara Avenue, 24600 Block (8:29 a.m.) A caller reported a woman sleeping in a white Audi SUV with New Mexico license plates. The caller told police that the woman has been in the area for several months and was parked at Heritage Park before recently switching to sleeping on the street near the caller’s home.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Dana Point Harbor Drive, 24200 Block (7:55 a.m.) A man parked his vehicle too close to the breakwater and was fishing in a protected marine area.

Tuesday, February 2 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Dana Strand Road, 34300 Block (9:07 Dana Point Times February 5 -11, 2015

p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a subject sleeping on a tan sleeping bag by the tables on the north side of the park.

WARRANT ARREST Del Obispo Street, 34000 Block (6:21 p.m.)

A man at a baseball field said he saw three male transients smoking at the park and getting ready to “camp out.” Police arrested a 40-year-old unemployed man, who is being held on $20,000 bail at the Central Men’s Jail.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 32800 Block (5:17 p.m.) A male transient was refusing to leave Salt Creek Grill.

DISTURBANCE Del Prado, 24600 Block (3:45 p.m.) A drunken man was standing in front of a music school and refusing to leave. The man was heard repeating everything the caller said.

KEEP THE PEACE Monarch Bay Drive, 400 Block (3:27 p.m.) A woman told police her homeowners association had planned a sidewalk going through her backyard.

She said she had a court date the next day for a restraining order to have them stop building it.

VANDALISM REPORT Street of the Blue Lantern, 33600 Block (1:30 p.m.)

A caller reported a nail in one of the tires of their white Nissan. The caller said it was the third time a nail had been found in a tire and suspected that someone was putting them there on purpose.

Monday, February 1 DISTURBANCE Granada Drive, 33900 Block (10:20 p.m.) A caller heard two men screaming and yelling at a “rehab house.”

The caller said it sounded like they were “trying to get another guy to leave.”

DRUNK DRIVING Pacific Coast Highway/ Dana Point Harbor Drive (8:45 p.m.)

A patrol check was requested for a blue Chrysler van with Iowa plates driving southbound on Pacific Coast Highway and swerving all over the road. The car hit the curb several times, had frontal damage and had hazard lghts on.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Naranja, 34300 Block (8:37 p.m.)

A woman reported that she had been in a car accident in Aliso Viejo earlier in the day and the other party tried offering her cash for the damage, which she refused at the time. The subject then showed up at her residence with another man who he said was the subject’s private investigator. The two men were trying to get the woman to take cash instead of turning it over to the police.

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PATROL CHECK Crown Valley Parkway/Pacific Coast Highway (8:34 p.m.)

A potentially drunk driver in a silver Porsche SUV was seen pulling into Salt Creek Grill, getting out of his vehicle and stumbling, and then getting back into the car and attempting to leave before finally pulling back into the parking spot.

DISTURBANCE Doheny Park Road, 34200 Block (4:17 p.m.) A man at Pepi’s Sports Bar and Grill called police saying he asked a woman to quiet down and was now being threatened by the woman and her boyfriend.

RECKLESS DRIVING Del Obispo Street/Camino Del Avion (2:51 p.m.) Two BMWs were seen racing each other toward Pacific Coast Highway.

WELFARE CHECK Santa Clara Avenue, 24400 Block (2:21 p.m.) A man found a dog and returned it to its home address. The caller opened the front door and put the dog inside. He told police that another dog was inside the house, but no one answered the door and he was concerned for the homeowner, “whoever he is.”

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Selva Road/Alcazar Drive (1:47 p.m.)

A patrol check was requested for a man driving a gray or silver Chrysler that had paper covering the plate. The man was seen driving around the housing complex casing garages.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Street of the Copper Lantern/Pacific Coast Highway (12:37 a.m.)A patrol check was requested for an 18to 19-year-old man lying down and talking on the phone in the middle of the intersection.

Thursday, January 31 TRAFFIC HAZARD Camino Capistrano, 35000 Block (8:11 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a tree that fell onto the power lines near a residence.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Niguel Road/Pacific Coast Highway (7:24 p.m.) A passerby told police that the Niguel Road sign was about to fall down. Public Works was en route and requesting police standby until they made it to the scene.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Selva Road/Street of the Golden Lantern (6:14 p.m.) Traffic signal lights “fell completely off” on Selva Road.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Pacific Coast Highway, 34400 Block (3:01 p.m.)A caller from the DoubleTree Hotel reported a large palm tree had fallen down over the railroad tracks.

Community Meetings THROUGH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12

DHHS One Warm Coat Drive

Dana Hills High School Student Government Community Service Committee hosts a One Warm Coat drive for those in need of warmth this winter season.

Coats in good condition should be dropped off at the school. Collection bins will be located just outside the front office. Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6666, www.dhhs.net.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Planning Commission Meeting

6 p.m. Dana Point City Hall, Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

City Offices Closed

City offices will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day. City Hall, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

City Council Meeting

6 p.m. Dana Point City Hall, Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Bulky Item Drop Off Event

7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Residents may drop off unwanted bulky items for free at two Dana Point school sites, instead of taking them to the landfill. E-waste, green waste, large appliances, furniture and other large items will be accepted.

Many of the collected items will be recycled. Goodwill Industries will be on hand to accept charitable donations.

Free document shredding services will also be available. Dana Hills High School and Palisades Elementary School, www.danapoint.org.

Recycling at Dana Hills High School

9 a.m.-11 a.m. Residents can drop off plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the school parking lot for students to collect and sort for recycling. Funds collected are distributed by the school’s PTSA for student programs. Collections are held monthly throughout the school year. For more information, email president@dhhsptsa.com.

www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Business Beat News from Dana Point’s business community

STORIES AND PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON

HONORS CASANOVA RISTORANTE 33585 Del Obispo Street, Suite C 949.496.0992 www.casanovaristorante.com Casanova Ristorante Honored as Dana Point Business of the Month for January The city of Dana Point has chosen Casanova Ristorante as the Business of the Month for January.

In 1968, owner Chris Lagaris and Stefano Xenos, general manager, came to the United States from Greece and started working in the family restaurant business. After saving up $9,000, the two cousins opened their first restaurant together.

For the past 47 years they have owned and operated 27 successful restaurants in Southern California.

Lagaris and Xenos have continually strived to make their restaurants comfortable, inviting and with personality, so

that anyone who walks in their door feels at home, they said.

When the opportunity came up for them to buy the restaurant in 2012, the duo found the friendly environment of Dana Point to be a perfect fit with how they have always envisioned their restaurants. Not only was the restaurant a perfect fit, but so was Dana Point, they said, as it reminds them of their town in Greece right by the water.

For the past three years Casanova has blossomed and while still holding on to that friendly neighborhood restaurant feeling, it has become a destination restaurant attracting people from all over the country.

The most popular menu items include the Burrata Plate, Cioppino alla Venezana and the Shrimp fra Diavolo.

Casanova is packed every day during happy hour from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. with many familiar faces as well as many new customers.

Giving back to the community that they enjoy so much is important to Lagaris and Xenos. They proudly support the Ark of San Juan, Dana Hills High School, and often provide meals for the Twilight Dinners at the Dana Point Senior Center.

The City Council and staff congratulates Casanova Ristorante for being selected as the Business of the Month for January and wishes Lagaris and Xenos many years of continued success in Dana Point.

Heather Johnston, Dana Point Chamber of Commerce executive director; restaurant general manager Stefano Xenos; Mayor John Tomlinson and restaurant owner Chris Lagaris stand at the City Council dais at the presentation of Business of the Month honors to Casanova Ristorante.

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor PINES PARK NEEDS ATTENTION ANNA C. BRACE, Capistrano Beach

What has Capo Beach residents upset?

The state of Pines Park.

The city of Dana Point has been flooded by calls of residents upset with the state of the park. There have been many, many stories that residents have been told: that the water was shut off in October and nobody turned it back on; that recycled water trucks are no longer being used since neighbors complained about the noise, etc.

However, in many areas there is no remaining grass. The famous Pines Park Easter Egg Hunt is going to be a mud pit this year. I fear for the guests and brides that will have to walk through the mud for spring weddings which are held at the park.

Now the city staff advise that the issues have arisen because of the Govenor's restrictions on water and that all of the parks are in the same condition.

Capistrano Beach residents are puzzled why the northern parks have full green grass that looks great, but Pines Park is bare. The city has really let this gem be destroyed and refuses to solve the problem.

purposely ignored the residents they should be representing. The City Council and their backers fear passage of the grass roots “2015 Town Center Initiative” signed by over 4,000 Dana Point voters.

That is why, over strenuous objection from the many speakers in the packed council chamber, the City Council decided to spend more of our tax money to put a competing initiative on the ballot. Let’s be clear.

The council’s initiative has one purpose: To confuse voters and defeat the peoples’ initiative.

Don’t be fooled by misinformation. The “2015 Town Center Initiative” does not stop development, contrary to the council’s spin. What it stops is development contrary to the original intent of the original 2008 Town Center Plan approved by the Coastal Commission to provide a business district with shops, restaurants and convenient parking. Most importantly, the peoples’ initiative forces the council to bring any changes they want to make to the Town Center Plan to the voters for approval.

Stand with the thousands of Dana Point voters and take back control of our city.

Help preserve the village atmosphere and quality of living we enjoy. Vote for the 2015 Town Center Initiative on June 7.

The Town Center Initiative can be found online at www.2015towncenterinitiative. nationbuilder.com.

CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION MAY BE WEAKENED BY A FIRING KEVIN NELSON, San Clemente

CITY COUNCIL IGNORES RESIDENTS SANDIE IVERSON, Capistrano Beach

Once again, the Dana Point City Council

GUEST OPINION: Straight Talk by Al Jacobs

Neither Rhyme nor Reason

S

everal years ago I wrote an article titled “Why is Modern Poetry So Bad?” In it I contended that the nation’s schools of the humanities have become profitable because thousands of functional illiterates are now being enrolled in and graduated with literary degrees. I suggested this was possible only because the once majestic highland of poetry devolved into a swampland of mediocrity, such that “. . . verse produced by any high school sophomore is indistinguishable from that of a poet laureate.” As

Dana Point Times February 5 - 11, 2016

Since the 1970s, the Coastal Commission has been the protector of last resort for so many environmental issues.

But the Commission’s executive director you might have predicted, I received my fair share of castigation.

On Dec. 23, 2015 we had the chance to consider my claim, when Juan Felipe Herrera, the United States Poet STRAIGHT TALK Laureate memorialized

By Al Jacobs in poem the terrorist attack which befell San Bernardino, California, earlier that month.

The following is a portion of that verse.

I’ll take a bullet for you Detective Jorge Lozano said from the chasm of sprinklers spilling and leaving he walked the living wounded he did not utter words it was his heart that moved the innocent followed Reflecting on these words, I cannot help but recollect the memorializing of an earlier tragedy by the Nineteenth Century

might lose his job due to the politics of greed and over-development.

Here is a small sampling of the agency’s achievements: • A toll road would now be rammed through San Onofre State Park. Despite immense pressure, the Commission killed this travesty at a 2008 Del Mar Fairgrounds hearing packed with 3,000 enthusiastic protesters, keeping the park and Trestles as originally conceived. (I attended this rare event when people showed how much they cared.)

• Banning Ranch in Newport Beach, although a piece of amazing habitat and land to be considered by the agency in March, would be buried under condos.

• Marblehead in San Clemente would be much more densely packed without the public trails and arroyo preservation the Commission required.

• Crystal Cove between Corona Del Mar and Laguna would be covered by Newport Coast homes to the bluff.

• Beaches in communities like ours would not be accessible without the strong enforcement policies written into the California Coastal Act. • The action to push out a key executive in the Commission risks the longterm health of this agency. Though it probably has imposed unnecessary delays on many small projects, it’s the best tool we’ve got for environmental protection.

• If a development-first mindset succeeds in firing Executive Director Charles Lester at their upcoming February hearing in Morro Bay, we will lose a man with strong allegiance to the ethics of conservation.

Poet Laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred “Forward, the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns!” he said Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

Tennyson’s lines remain revered 160 years since their composition. I can only ask, will Herrera’s lines be remembered by anyone the day after tomorrow?

Al Jacobs, a Dana Point resident and professional investor for nearly a half-century, issues a monthly newsletter in which he shares his financial knowledge and experience. You may view it online at www. onthemoneytrail.net. DP PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

Page 8

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HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@danapointtimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Picket Fence Media Group Senior Editor, City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick

City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING PICKET FENCE MEDIA Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Melissa Calvano Evan Da Silva Debra Holm Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 9, Issue 6. The DP Times (www. danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (www.sanclementetimes. com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 05 FAMILY FILM FEATURE 10 a.m.-noon. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library presents a familyfriendly matinee film the first Saturday of the month. Free admission and popcorn.

Call the library for more information. La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH ALLIANCE OPEN MIC NIGHT 7:30 p.m. Open mic night for anyone wanting to perform or just enjoy live, local music. Sign up during the night to perform solo, with friends or with our professional house band. “The Venue,” Talega Life Church, 1050 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, 949.388.0114, coamusicarts@gmail. com, www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

‘THE MAN FROM EARTH’ FINAL WEEKEND AT CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE 8 p.m. The Cabrillo Playhouse will present its third production of the season, The Man From Earth, opening Friday, Jan. 15, and running through Sunday, Feb. 7. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. The play is written by the author of the original “Star Trek” series and “The Twilight Zone,” Jerome Bixby. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

GONE COUNTRY 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Country music and dancing every Friday at the Point Restaurant.

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

Saturday | 06 OUTLETS FIRST ANNUAL CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 11 a.m. Families are invited to celebrate the Year of the Monkey at the Outlets at San Clemente. The event will feature more than 60 performers, dragon and lion dances as well as interactive activities.

The events are presented by the Irvine Chinese School and the Three Treasures Cultural Arts Society of San Diego. There will also be a 30-foot Dragon Dance at 12:45 p.m. Outlets at San Clemente, CenPage 10

Photo: Courtesy

SATURDAY, FEB. 6: OUTLETS AT SAN CLEMENTE FIRST ANNUAL CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 11 a.m. Families are invited to celebrate the Year of the Monkey at the Outlets at San Clemente. The event will feature more than 60 performers, dragon and lion dances as well as interactive activities.

The events are presented by the Irvine Chinese School and the Three Treasures Cultural Arts Society of San Diego. There will also be a 30-foot Dragon Dance at 12:45 p.m. Outlets at San Clemente, Center Court, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, 949.535.2323, www.outletsatsanclemente.com. ter Court, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, 949.535.2323, www.outletsatsanclemente.com.

DANA POINT NATURE TOUR 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. This 1.5-mile, two-hour docent-led walk explores the ecology and natural history of the Headlands area.

Tours occur on the first Saturday of each month. Tour capacity is a maximum of 10 people. RSVP required to wqintern@ danapoint.org or 949.248.3527. Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

PAINTING AND VINO Noon-3 p.m. Sip wine while participating in a step-by-step painting class taught by a professional artist. All supplies provided. $45. Register online at www.paintingandvino.com. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

CREATE A HEART-SHAPED SUCCULENT WREATH 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Join local nonprofit Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens and learn how to create a beautiful water-wise decoration for Valentine’s Day. $65 class fee includes materials. Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens, 31661 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano, www.goinnative.net.

DOKKEN 8 p.m. Live music at The Coach House featuring Dokken and Striker. Tickets are (Cont. on page 13) www.danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT

At the Movies: ‘The Finest Hours’ is Left at the Altar

(Cont. from page 10) $30. Doors open at 6 p.m. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

Sunday | 07 ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m-7 p.m. Climb onboard a Dana Wharf luxury catamaran for this 90-minute wine cruise around the Dana Point Harbor. Tickets are $49. Every Friday and Sunday. See more events online. Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 888.224.0603, www.danawharf.com.

Monday | 08 HOMEWORK HELP AT THE DP LIBRARY 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Free homework assistance for kindergarten through eighthgrade students by high school volunteers.

Mondays and Wednesdays through Dec. 9. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

CAPT. DAVE’S WHALE WATCHING Times vary. Trips available every day of the week. Get up close to marine life aboard a Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari trip. Prices vary depending on the vessel. Call for more information. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.

Tuesday | 09 TINY TOTS: PARENT & ME PROGRAMS AT OCEAN INSTITUTE 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. The Ocean Institute hosts a series of programs for children ages 2 and 3 and their parents on Tuesdays through March 1. Toddlers will explore shapes, colors, textures and more with everyone’s favorite tide pool animal, the sea star. Each session includes an activity and an animal encounter. $30 per class. Register online. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute. org/parentchild-programs.

WINTER AFTER SCHOOL CLUB 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Winter After School Club series runs on Tuesdays from Jan. 5 through Feb. 23. After School Club is for children ages 5 and older. A variety of activities are provided, including stories and crafts. San Clemente Library, 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www. ocpl.org/libloc/sc.

TACO TUESDAYS AT SUNSETS 4 p.m. Tacos for $2 and $3, $5 margaritas and tequila and $4 Mexican beers and a DJ starting at 7 p.m. Sunsets Bar & Grill Capo Beach, 34700 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point Times February 5 - 11, 2016

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: Allison Jarrell

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ROTARY CAR SHOW 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The 13th annual San Juan Capistrano Car Show will feature more than 400 hot rods, muscle cars, classics, cruisers and vintage automobiles. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 11 to 17 and free for children 10 and younger. Proceeds from the event benefit Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort and other rotary charities. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome. San Juan Capistrano Community Center and Sports Park, 25925 Camino Del Avion, 949.547.9081, www.sjcrotary.org.

Capistrano Beach, 949.276.8880, www.sunsetsbar.com.

ADULT DROP-IN COLORING CLUB 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Relax, destress and re-center while escaping reality for a bit and enjoying the company of other colorists. The Drop-in Coloring Club series runs the second Tuesday of each month for ages 18 and older. All skill levels welcome. Coloring pages and supplies will be provided. San Clemente Library, 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl. org/libloc/sc.

DANA HARBOR TOASTMASTERS 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Fine tune your public speaking skills each Tuesday at the Capistrano Beach Church, 26975 Domingo Avenue, Capistrano Beach, 949.492.7181, 1707.toastmastersclubs.org.

Wednesday | 10 MONARCH BEACH SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB 7 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Join members of the volunteer-centered club for breakfast and a meeting each Wednesday at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, www.monarchbeachrotary.com.

JOY OF LIVING BIBLE STUDY 9:15 a.m.-11 a.m. Women of all ages are invited to this interdenominational group that meets Wednesdays through June 1.

A start-up fee of $30 is requested. Free child care is provided. The study includes worship, discussion groups, inspirational talks and monthly luncheons. Talega Life Church, 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, 949.493.1980.

SCIENCE NIGHT 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Learn about current science-related topics in a family-friendly format. Science Nights generally include hands-on activities, speakers and/or displays. For more information, call or email dpnaturalresources@danapoint.org. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org, 949.248.3527.

Thursday | 11 KIDS’ CLUB AT DP LIBRARY 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Hands-on experiments and activities for kids ages 5 to 8 in the library meeting room. This month make Valentine Slime. No pre-registration needed.

Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

MARINE MAMMALS IN SAN CLEMENTE Ramiro Barbuzano, Jr. from Pacific Marine Mammal Center of Laguna Beach will share the mission and programs of the organization and discuss the marine life along the Orange County coastline.

Tickets are $10 for members and $12 for general admission. Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, www.casaromantica. org, 949.498.2139.

UPCOMING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13:

VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER & DANCE 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Entertainment provided by the Street Corner Symphony Band.

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple. Reservations are required.

Dana Point Community/Senior Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, 949.248.3507, www.danapoint.org.

Page 13

Photo: Disney Enterprises. Inc.

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

T

aking a break from Oscar season for a moment, we now have our second big studio film for 2016 (after 13 Hours) with Disney’s The Finest Hours. The film features an impressive batch of actors, a big budget for effects and presents to a true spectacle that was interesting enough to adapt on screen. But, once again, Disney’s recent original, non-franchise films have trouble pleasing both critics and audiences.

Set in 1952 Chatham, Massachusetts, Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) is a Coast Guard crewman who falls in love and finally meets operator girl Miriam Pentinen (Holliday Grainger) after months of pen-palling. They become engaged right around the time an oil tanker is struck by a violent rainstorm on its way home, eventually splitting the tanker into two. The main engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) scrambles to get the crew to remain calm and logically hold on until help is found.

Bernie is assigned the task of rescuing the ship’s crew.

Eric Bana plays the station commander, and Ben Foster assists Webber on the risky mission. The Finest Hours is directed by Craig Gillespie, who started as a promising indie filmmaker 10 years ago but decided to work in the studio system. He’s a bizarre choice for a visual epic of this sort, and unfortunately his lead, Pine, is also at his most wooden and stiff. The special effects for the storm are decent, as are the performances by Grainger and Foster, but the execution of the story doesn’t fully grab your attention. DP

www.danapointtimes.com

DP DP LIVING Dana Point

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy: By Marianne Taylor

Got the Winter Garden Blues?

Get outside and plant bare root plants while you still have time

Y

ou’ve worked diligently in your garden this past fall planning, preparing, pruning, planting and mulching, lying in wait for the glorious spring to showcase the fruits of your labor. With the work now done, it’s time to take a break and rest from your laborious efforts.

A gardener rest? Heck no! Say goodbye to the winter garden blues—it’s time to grab your gloves and mosey on over to your local nursery. This is the ideal time to stock up and save money on bare root trees, shrubs DIRT THERAPY and rosebushes. But you

By Marrianne Taylor better move quickly, as these hearty plants need to get into the ground during the cold days of January in order to thrive.

If you are not familiar with bare root plants, they are deciduous plants that have been grown in the ground and dug up while in their dormant state. The soil is removed from the root, giving rise to the term “bare root.” Bare root plants come in a variety of flora, from trees to shrubs to roses—popular varieties include berries, artichokes, grapes, wisterias and

strawberries. Fruit trees come in bare root form, saving you money and giving you an abundance of produce in the summer.

This is the perfect time to stock up on the varieties of plants that are readily available at half the cost.

What exactly is the process of uprooting and growing a bare root plant? After the plant is dug up, the top of the plant is pruned to a compact size and the roots are sized and pruned in balance with the top of the plant. Plants are gently packaged in moist sawdust wrapped in paper or plastic or sold in bulk containers with damp planting mix.

My three favorite local nurseries, Dana Point Nursery, Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Hills Nursery, have knowledgeable and skilled staff to help you select the right plant for your landscape. Plants are sold online as well, but they’re best from the nursery so you can inspect the plant and root systems before bringing them home. One thing is for certain: once you’ve purchased your bare root plants, they need to be in the ground before the weather warms up. Sometimes February surprises us in south Orange County with a heat wave, so don’t wait.

There are many advantages to purchasing bare root plants. They are far more cost effective than a container plant, especially if your plans include a huge rose garden or a fruit orchard. If you purchase to online, bare root shipping costs are lower due to the size and weight of the plant. When purchasing from a local nursery, you can easily stack several packaged plants in the back of your vehicle.

Most importantly, when buying a bare root plant, you can inspect the root system and ensure the roots are robust, well spread, undamaged and moist before purchasing.

The only disadvantage of bare root plants is that these small, pruned beautiesto-be may die due to improper or untimely planting. You must move quickly upon

Sudoku

Selecting Bare Root Plants: 1. Make sure the plant is still dormant and doesn’t have too many newly sprouted leaves or stems on twigs. A little green is okay.

2. Look for balanced placement of branches so the tree will grow evenly and not to one side.

3. Make sure the root system is moist and not dried out. Check out the roots if it’s in a bulk bin.

4. When in doubt, ask for help at the nursery. Personnel are well trained and will guide you through the selection process.

Planting a Bare Root: 1. If you’re unable to plant the day of purchase, put your plants in a bucket of water in a cool shady place.

2. Follow the planting directions from the nursery or the plant manufacturer for success. Moving quickly with the cool temperatures is the key.

3. Check the soil weekly, making sure it’s is moist, not saturated. Also check that the plant hasn’t sunk below ground level, causing roots to drown and rot.

4. In the spring, give new plants light fertilizer.

If you have never enjoyed the many benefits of bare root gardening, you’re in for a huge treat. Your garden will produce copious fruit and flowers this summer and fall and for seasons to come.

Dana Point Nursery. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Interested in gardening or growing your garden skills? A Free Smart Gardening Series begins Feb. 6 at Reata Park in San Juan Capistrano. Classes will be hosted

by Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens and taught by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Orange County. For more information, visit www.goinnative.net.

Marianne Taylor, of San Juan Capistrano, is the founder and executive director of Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens, a 501(c)(3) teaching gardening and life skills as a way of empowering, engaging and connecting people. Goin Native focuses on educating local families, special needs adults, seniors, at-risk youth and members of the military. DP PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com

Pet of the Week: Apricot

BY MYLES MELLOR

A

pricot is ready for her big debut! A recent addition to the shelter’s residents, Apricot is now available and looking for her new home. She is a fun and energetic dog who absolutely loves to play.

At only 18 months old, she would make a great companion for someone with an active lifestyle.

If you would like to know more about Apricot, please call the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492-1617, or visit with her at the shelter, 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente. DP

Last week’s solution:

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Very easy

Dana Point Times February 5 - 11, 2016

purchasing these gems and plant them as soon as possible. Our Southern California cool season has a small window of opportunity when planting with bare roots—it is best to plant in January and within the first few weeks of February. Remember, these same plants in a container can be planted all year, but you will pay almost triple the price or more.

Page 14

Apricot. Photo: Courtesy of San ClementeDana Point Animal Shelter Frankie. Photo: San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Signing Day Celebration at Dana Hills High School Dolphins take part in NLI signing ceremony PHOTOS BY KEVIN DAHLGREN, TEXT BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

D

ana Hills High School held its National Signing Day ceremony on campus on Feb. 3 and 19 Dolphin student-athletes took part in the festivities. Student athletes from the sports of football, boys soccer, girls soccer and girls water polo were the only ones officially able to declare their college of choice that day. The school held a ceremony that honored its athletes that signed in the fall and there is another official signing period for the remaining sports in April.

Here is a list of the 19 Dolphin studentathletes that will continue their careers at the next level:

Dana Hills High School student-athletes gathered in the gym for a signing day celebration on Feb. 3.

Water Polo: Maia Borisoff, Arizona State University; Bennett Williams, Stanford Baseball: David Clawson, Brigham Young University Cross Country/Track and Field: Mason Coppi, Furman; Jake Ogden, Furman; Claire Kao (Track and Field), Cornell

Claire Kao will compete on the Cornell track and field team.

Golf: Clay Feagler, Pepperdine, Matt Fry, Cal State San Marcos; Tanner Podres, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Dana Hills softball player Frankie Tago, right, poses with principal Jason Allemann on signing day. Tago will play for Idaho State.

Swim: Shane Forker, University of California Berkeley Diving: Chris Labella, Yale Volleyball: Jake Freeman, Loyola of Chicago; Lana Walker, New York University, Gradyn Yould, University of California Santa Barbara Softball: Hailey Hoklotubbe, Rutgers; Frankie Tago, Idaho State; Samantha Williams, Iowa State Soccer: Spencer Madden, San Diego State University; Kate Summer, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Dana Point Times February 5 - 11, 2016

Dana Hills High School principal Jason Allemann addresses the Dolphin student-athletes on signing day.

Page 15

Dana Hills’ David Clawson, left, and head baseball coach Tom Faris on signing day. Clawson will play baseball for BYU.

www.danapointtimes.com

SPORTS

Dolphin Report

Dolphin Soccer Team Gaining Momentum

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the Dana Hills High School winter sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

Girls Hoops Win Streak Snapped by Wolverines

The Dana Hills girls basketball team’s four-game win streak came to an end on Jan. 30 following a 71-41 nonleague loss to Aliso Niguel. Aliso Niguel, which plays in the South Coast League, powered its way to the win behind a big 22-9 run in the third quarter.

Dana Hills (14-6, 4-1 league) returned to Sea View League competition on Feb. 2 and dropped its first league contest of the season in a 61-53 loss to Trabuco Hills.

Dana Hills senior Maddy Bloom scored 22 points in the loss to the Mustangs. Bloom made only five field goals but converted 11 of 14 free throw attempts.

The loss knocked the Dolphins down to second place in the standings. Dana Hills was set to play against first-place El Toro (15-9, 5-1) on Feb. 4. Results were not available at press time. The Dolphins defeated the Chargers 44-28 on Jan. 21.

Following two back-to-back victories, the Dana Hills girls soccer team made a positive move up in the South Coast League standings. The Dolphins (6-3-9, 3-1-2) are now in second place, one game ahead of rival San Clemente.

Dana Hills shutout Capistrano Valley 2-0 on the road on Jan. 28 and scored two second-half goals to overtake Mission Viejo 2-1 on Feb. 2. Isabelle Barnett and Reid Morrison each scored a goal for the Dolphins against the Diablos.

Dana Hills will travel to play San Clemente on Feb. 8. The two teams drew to a 0-0 tie in their first meeting of the season on Jan. 21.

Boys Basketball Team Lose Close Battles With Chargers, Wolverines

In search of its first South Coast League win of the season, the Dana Hills boys basketball team suffered back-to-back tough-luck losses.

The Dolphins lost closely contested games against El Toro and Aliso Niguel on Jan. 29 and Feb. 3, respectively. The combined margin of victory for the Chargers and Wolverines was five points.

Dana Hills lost in overtime 61-58 against the Chargers and were narrowly edged by Aliso Niguel 54-52.

Garrett Arico scored a game-high 19 points for the Dolphins in the loss to El Toro while Nathan Hernandez chipped in

13. Harold Hall’s 15 points led a balanced offensive attack for Dana Hills in the loss to Aliso. Aliso Niguel’s Lucas Parks scored a game-high 21 points and made four 3-pointers.

Dana Hills will travel to play a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills on Feb. 5 before returning to league play with a home game against Mission Viejo on Feb. 9.

Girls Water Polo Bounces Back With Win

On the heels of a closely contested 11-9 loss to rival San Clemente, the Dana Hills girls water polo team got back on track Jan. 28 in an 11-8 victory over Aliso Niguel. Alex Peros and Sam McGowan each scored three goals in the win. Dana Hills’ Sydney Baba scored twice and recorded five assists and two steals.

The Dolphins were scheduled to play Tesoro on Feb. 3. Results were not available at press time.

Boys Soccer Shutout by Titans

The Dana Hills girls soccer team, seen here in a game against San Clemente, have won two matches in a row and sit in second play in the South Coast League standings. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

The Tesoro boys soccer team scored one goal in each half en route to a 2-0 shutout victory over Dana Hills on Feb. 3. The Dolphins were shutout 2-0 by Aliso Niguel on Jan. 29, dropping them to fi fth place in the Sea View League standings.

After winning seven of their first nine matches of the season, the Dolphins have failed to find traction in Sea View League play. Dana Hills (7-7-1, 0-5) will host Trabuco Hills on Feb. 5.

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 949.485.4979 info@bodymindspiritiop.com www.bodymindspiritiop.com

AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

CAFE - DELI

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

COFFEE SHOP

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Represent.xyz

949.274.0590, www.represent.xyz Dana Point Times February 5 - 11, 2016

DANCE/FITNESS

Club Salsa Dance Studio

34202 Camino Capistrano, 949.230.0543, www.clubsalsadance.com

HANDYMAN

Beach City Handyman

33292 Bremerton St., 810.569.7295, gnarlyconceptdesign.com

HAULING

Cheapest Hauling

Call Robert 949.973.6288

ICE CREAM

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

Patricia Powers

24551 Del Prado, Ste. 364, 949.496.1900, pat.powers@cox.net

State Farm/Ted Bowersox

34085 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 204, 949.661.3200, www.tedbowersox.com

Statefarm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

MASSAGE

Crystal Clyde Intuitive Bodywork

32840 Pacific Coast Highway, Ste. E, 949.584.2462, www.crystalclyde.com

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Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

32032 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.5683, www.cvcs.org

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

949.444.6323, www.offshoreconstruction.org Page 16

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MUST SELL!! SEATS 7!

2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4x4 Silver with black interior. Bluetooth CD player with lan hookup. New Bilstein shocks. K&N air filter. In great shape. $13,500 949-633-3860

FOR SALE CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size. Typically made in 2 weeks. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyester or designer carpet. Carpet showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point. Carpet and flooring remnants also available - all shapes, sizes and kinds of flooring. We sell tile too!

Mike 949-240-1545.

FOR RENT BEAUTIFUL VIEW, SENIOR COMMUNITY Shorecliffs Mobile Home Park, SC, 2 bedroom 2 bath 1,560 s.f., $1,900/mo. plus utilities Available March. No smoking or pets 949-310-0117 / 949-581-7149

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Nick, 619-672-0434

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Dana Point Times February 5–11, 2016

Page 17

www.danapointtimes.com

DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

GROM OF THE WEEK

SURF FORECAST

HAGAN JOHNSON

Water Temperature: 55-58 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 4-8’ Poor-Fair , Catalina: 8-14’ Poor-Fair

H

agan Johnson of San Clemente has been turning in some impressive performances in competition this winter, as well as lighting up the local breaks with his rapidly improving skills.

In December at the San Clemente Pier, he took home trophies in three divisions, winning both the Boys U14 and U16 divisions and taking third in Boys U18 at Western Surfing Association event No. 5. He followed that up in January at WSA event No. 6 in Oceanside, with two podium appearances, winning the Boys U18 division and earning a fourth-place trophy in Boys U16.

Also in January, Hagan had a great run at the Surfing America Prime event in big, challenging conditions in Santa Cruz at Steamer Lane. Although he narrowly missed the trophy rounds in both U14 and U16, his skilled surfing carried him through to the semifinals of both divisions of the highly competitive, invitation only event.

We look forward to watching Hagan continue to climb the ranks in WSA and Surfing America Prime, where he is currently ranked No. 12 in U14 and No. 16 in U16.

OUTLOOK: Selective WNW swell builds in Friday for some spots and continuing into the weekend.

Small SSW swell fills in Saturday. Wind continues to look favorable through the end of the work week, with light offshore winds in the morning. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Xavier Math, 4. William Tex Mitchell. GIRLS U14: 1.

Kalohe Danbara, 2, Noelle Walker, 3. Kennedy Hurley, 4. Tess Booth. BOYS U16: 1. William Tex Mitchell, 2. Kai McPhillips, 3. Carter Sieverts, 4. Max Beach.

GIRLS U16: 1. Kalohe Danbara, 2. Tess Booth, 3. Lani Morales, 4. Grace Gilles. BOYS U18: 1. Liam Murray, 2. Parker Swoish, 3. Chandler Sieverts, 4. Holden Geary. GIRLS U18: 1. Elle Callen, 2, Grace Gilles, 3.

Lauren Scribner. BOYS JUNIOR LONGBOARD: 1.

Ricky Fodor, 2, Cole Thompson, 3. Jimmy Wynne, 4. Josh Hoffman. MEN U30: 1. Cody Canzoneri, 2.

Parker Swoish, 3. Levi Gregory, 4. Kieran Anderson.

MEN 30+: 1. Paul Pugliesi, 2. Jeff Jessee, 3. Brent Jessee, 4. Don Saunders.

Scholastic Surf Series, OC High School, Event No. 3, January 24, Huntington Beach, Pier

RESULTS Soul Surf Series, Event No. 4, January 30, San Onofre State Park, Church Beach Hagan Johnson surfed his way into the semifinal rounds of both U14 and U16 at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz last month at Surfing America Prime event No. 4. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Highly dedicated to his sport, Hagan trains hard and practices often and at only 13 years old, his surfing skill belies his years, every time he paddles out to the lineup, whether in competition or free surfing.

—Andrea Swayne

MICRO GROMS U7: 1. Caden Francis, 2. Hayden Suess, 3. Lennin Ferguson. MICRO GROMS U8: 1.

Petey Romaniuk, 2. Caden Francis, 3. Jonas Hurley, 4. Brooks Montoya. MICRO GROMS U9: 1. Chase Niemann, 2. Timmy Simmers, 3. Taylor Francis, 4. Caleb Everett, 5. Zach Van Meter. BOYS U10: 1. Makai Bray, 2. Hudson Saunders, 3. Azure Trujillo, 4. Brady Hurley, 5. Timmy Simmers. GIRLS U10: 1. Isabelle Kryger, 2. Annie Lopez, 3. Juliana Romaniuk. BOYS U12: 1. Bane Corbett, 2. Callan Emery, 3. Kadin Naber, 4. Ashton Saint. GIRLS U112: 1. Caitlin Simmers, 2.

Isabelle Kryger, 3. Jenna Clark, 4. Hannah Dunfee.

BOYS U14: 1. Kai McPhillips, 2. George Williams, 3.

TEAM: Laguna Beach High School, 66, def. Santa Margarita Catholic High School, 16; JSerra Catholic High School, 45, def. El Toro High School, 5; St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, win, bye. MEN: 1.

Jake Levine, Laguna Beach; 2. Liam McCue, Laguna Beach; 3. Noah North, Laguna Beach; 4. Zach Levine, Laguna Beach; 5. Sebastian DeLaFuente, JSerra; 6.

Jet North, Laguna Beach. MEN LONGBOARD: 1.

Ryan Mesiberger, Laguna Beach; 2. Garrett Kuntz, St. Margaret’s; 3. Gaal Shonfeld, Laguna Beach; 4.

Jameson Roller, Laguna Beach; 5. Austin Locke, St. Margaret’s; 6. Nick Coppola, JSerra. WOMEN: 1. Kelly Smith, St. Margaret’s; 2. Ayla Fox, St. Margaret’s; 3.

Destiny Rae Thompson, Laguna Beach; 4. Anika Pitz, Laguna Beach. WOMEN LONGBOARD: 1. Anika Pitz, Laguna Beach; 2. Lola Fisher, Laguna Beach; 3. Chantz Norris, St. Margaret’s; 4. Chloe Norris, St. Margaret’s.

COED BODYBOARD: 1. Travis Booth, Laguna Beach; 2. Ryder Montano, JSerra; 3. Bailey Kotez, Santa Margarita; 4. Baxter Marcus, St. Margaret’s.