March 10, 2017

LO C A L

N EWS

March 10-16, 2017

YO U

C A N

U S E

On Our Website: Official Guide to the 59th Annual Swallows Day Parade SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 10, ISSUE 10

Dana Hills Spring Sports Preview Dolphins prepare for a new season S P O R T S / PAG E 1 4 (L to R) Jordan Matthews, Joe DeBaca, Hayden Williamson, Hans Crouse and the Dana Hills High School baseball team is primed for a big season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Search for New Dana Point City Manager Continues EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

First Weekend of Festival of Whales Makes a Splash EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

www.danapointtimes.com

Spring Training: Getting Prepared for the Surf Season Ahead DP SURF/PAGE 18

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

DP EYE ON DP Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week First Weekend of Festival of Whales Makes a Splash THE LATEST: The first weekend of the 46th annual Festival of Whales brought sea creatures, treasure digging, pirates and even Darth Vader to Dana Point.

The two-weekend event kicked off with a parade down Pacific Coast Highway with maritime balloons, city officials, organizations and groups—and even some Storm Troopers.

On the first day, there was a street fair at La Plaza Park, a “Woodie” and Corvette car show in the Harbor and a sand sculpting contest at Baby Beach. On Sunday, a minke whale was added to Doheny State Beach’s Whale Walk. In the Harbor, guests learned how to paint a whale tail. There was also an art in the park exhibition as well as Ocean Awareness Day festivities at Baby Beach.

The Rubber Ducky Derby was canceled due to the rain and has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 12 at 11 a.m.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Festival continues March 11 and 12 throughout Dana Point.

To see more photos, turn to page 13. To see the event guide, visit www.danapointtimes.com. —Kristina Pritchett

City Approves Contract to Demolish Dana Point Harbor Inn THE LATEST: Emergency demolition of the Dana Point Harbor Inn can now progress after City Council approved a contract for the project Tuesday night, March 7.

According to a staff report, an inspection of the Inn in February revealed several hazardous conditions, which required immediate demolition of the building.

The property owner of Dana Point Harbor Drive Land, LLC was notified in writing regarding the order, staff said.

The site sits across from Doheny State Beach and has been vacant since 2013, after the city declared it substandard.

Since closing, there has been three fires at the site.

The city authorized the emergency contract with RB Holt, Incorporated for demolition and disposal of the Inn on Feb. Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

The 46th annual Festival of Whales parade started at Salt Creek Beach and made its way down Pacific Coast Highway on Saturday, March 4. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

14. City code allows this exemption since the building currently presents extremely hazardous and dangerous conditions and jeopardizes public health and safety, the staff report said.

The total cost of the abatement is $162,985.73, and the property owner is required to reimburse the city for these costs.

During the meeting, staff were asked what the property owner planned to do with the site.

Director of Community Development Ursula Luna-Reynosa said the area is part of the Dana Point Specific Plan, which means it’s zoned for a hotel or a hostel, but there are other uses that are allowed but not preferred.

It was not mentioned what the property owner plans to do with the site.

WHAT’S NEXT: According to a staff report, the work will take approximately four weeks to complete. —KP

Search for New City Manager Continues THE LATEST: The search for a new Dana Point city manager is in the works, according to city staff.

During the Council meeting on Tuesday night, March 7, acting city manager Mike Killebrew gave an update on search for a person to fill the position. Council decided to hire Bob Murray & Associates to conduct an executive search to find qualified candidates.

Killebrew told staff the recruiting firm has placed ads in different publications as well as printed and distributed a brochure.

The contract for the firm, which was approved by Council, is not to exceed $24,900. Council had in-person interviews in December with the firm and specified

what they are seeking in a city manager.

The closing date for the receipt of resume is Friday, March 17. Mayor Debra Lewis expressed concerns about not having enough time for applicants but the Council did not vote to extend the period.

On Nov. 1, former City Manager Doug Chotkevys officially retired in lieu of termination after working for the city for more than a decade. His retirement came a month after the city hired Deputy City Manager Mark Denny, formerly the chief operating officer for Orange County.

WHAT’S NEXT: The consulting firm will use criteria from the Council to screen resumes and conduct preliminary interviews of candidates, before finalists interview with Council. Killebrew said the Council could potentially interview candidates around April 17, but it wouldn’t occur sooner.

Killebrew said the projected date for a newly appointed city manager is to be determined. —KP

Council Amends Procedures of Financial Review Committee THE LATEST: A lengthy discussion seeking to clarify the objectives and jurisdiction of the Finance Review Committee (FRC) broke out among Council members during the March 7 meeting.

In January, Mayor Debra Lewis introduced a concept of revamping the FRC into a financial watchdog group. From there, each Council member chose a resident to serve on the board. The FRC met for the first time on Feb. 27 and selected the chair and vice chair. Along with the nominations, they also discussed the purpose of the committee.

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Also during that meeting, FRC member Toni Nelson said she had been in talks with Lewis—who appointed her to the committee—about what the mayor would like to see the committee do.

On Tuesday night, Councilman Joe Muller said he had concerns about the committee and how the guidelines were set up.

“There’s a lot of things in here I want to talk about,” Muller said. “There are five people up here that are making this discussion and you can’t shut us down and then go behind the scene and have a conversation. I find that troubling.”

Lewis said she has a right to speak to members of the public.

Councilman Rick Viczorek said he was under the impression the committee was going to be a watchdog committee, which is something he agreed to having in the city.

“I think we should have a watchdog committee,” Viczorek said. “I expected something to come back talking about their role and how they would carry it out.

There are some questions that I have that are unanswered.”

He stated the committee should have access to documents but as a watchdog committee, they should be looking for fraud, waste and abuse.

Councilman John Tomlinson said he shared some of Muller’s concerns.

By the end of the discussion, Viczorek motioned to make changes to the documents including those saying that the committee will serve as a watchdog committee and not a policy-making committee, and that before the committee can have access to documents, they must have a majority vote to do so. The last change was that the committee will meet quarterly but can meet more often if they vote on it.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Council voted unanimously in favor of the changes, and many members said they were excited to see the committee moving forward. —KP

Coffee Chat Scheduled for March 17 THE LATEST: The Dana Point Civic Association Coffee Chat will return to Dana Point on Friday, March 17 after two straight rain cancellations in January and February.

Director of Community Development Ursula Luna-Reynosa and her staff will give an update on various projects around town, including the future Dana Point Surf Park.

Coffee Chat will be held at Coffee Importers in the Harbor from 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Complimentary coffee will be provided for all attendees courtesy of Jim Miller, Dana Point Civic Association president.

WHAT’S NEXT: Coffee Chat is held the third Friday of every month. —KP www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY STAFF

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.

Monday, March 6 DISTURBANCE Street of the Silver Lantern, 33800 Block (9:12 p.m.) People were working on vehicles in the driveway and playing loud music.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Dana Strand Road, 34000 Block (5:35 p.m.) Police were called for two people and a dog in a gold van. The caller said they believed there was drug activity occurring due to the number of people coming and going from the van.

DRUNK DRIVING Pacific Coast Highway/ Beach Road (5:22 p.m.) A driver was seen swerving and almost causing collisions with oncoming traffic.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Sea Bright Drive, 33200 Block (4:49 p.m.) A caller told police when they entered their home, they found it had been ransacked. The caller was unsure if anyone was inside.

RECKLESS DRIVING Dana Strand Road, 34300 Block (3:52 p.m.) A caller told police several vehicles were racing and doing donuts in the lot.

Sunday, March 5 DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34700 Block (7:24 p.m.) A man staying in a room told the business’s front desk operator that a woman staying in another room left drugs in his room and that she was making threats to have someone beat him up.

DISTURBANCE Calle Los Robles, 34500 Block (5:24 p.m.) A woman told police her “estranged husband” threw food at her.

DISTURBANCE La Plaza, 34100 Block (4:56 p.m.) A group of five men were reportedly about to get into a fight. The caller said two men were holding one back.

PETTY THEFT Street of the Golden Lantern, 32500 Block (2:48 p.m.) Police were called for a man reportedly taking five boxes of Mucinex and stuffing them into his pants.

PETTY THEFT Cortina, 0 Block (12:59 p.m.)

A woman told police her computer was taken, and she believed it was another employee who took it.

Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

Community Meetings SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Whale of a Beach Cleanup

9 a.m. Help celebrate the migration of the gray whales by making sure the beaches are clean. Volunteers will meet at the lifeguard headquarters and are asked to bring gloves. Doheny State Beach. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive.

TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Orange County Board of Supervisors Meeting

9 a.m. The Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet in the Board Hearing Room. 333 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana. The room is located on the first floor. Meetings can be viewed at www.ocgov.com/gov.

Veteran’s Assistance

1:30 p.m. The Dana Point VFW Post 9934 provides veterans with assistance. Dana Point Community Center.

34052 Del Obispo, Dana Point. Contact Bob Fowler at rfnamvet@gmail. com or call 949.275.3412.

CUSD Community Forum

7 p.m. Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Kirsten Vital will hold a forum in the District Board Room. 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano.

Thursday, March 16 Third Thursday Mixer

5:30 p.m. Join the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce every Third Thursday for a mixer. This month’s location is Amazing Lash Studio. 9 Monarch Bay Plaza, Dana Point. $12 for Members, $20 for prospective members and guests. www.danapointchamber.com.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Selva Road/Dana Strand Road (12:26 p.m.)

Two younger men were seen hopping the fence into the Headlands area. The caller said they believed another group hopped the fence earlier and may still be there.

RECKLESS DRIVING Del Obispo Street/Stonehill Drive (11:12 a.m.) A caller told police a driver pulled into the lot after driving on the wrong side of the road.

DRUNK DRIVING La Plaza, 34100 Block (1:53 a.m.) Police were called for a man seen falling down while trying to get into his vehicle.

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DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Council’s Corner by Joe Muller

Save Capo Beach

T

he last few years of storms and weather have not been kind to the beautiful little corner of sand in our town that we all affectionately refer to as Capo Beach.

Officially known as Capistrano Beach Park to its owner, the County of Orange, Capo Beach has perhaps the longest history in Capistrano Bay of providing public access to a wide range of recreational opportunities. From the heyday of the Capistrano Beach Club to the famed Capistrano Beach Fishing Pier, Capo Beach has been the place where everyone from South County and as far away as San Diego and Los Angeles came to enjoy what Richard Henry Dana called “the only romantic spot on the coast.”

The county has entrusted its regional parks agency, OC Parks, with the stewardship of our little corner of happiness in Capo Beach. They keep the restrooms clean, keep the basketball court painted and equipped with fresh nets and even recently installed nice, new cement picnic tables for people to enjoy an oceanfront meal.

They have had less success, however, in protecting the beach and the public-serving assets from the onslaught of waves and tides that have overwhelmed the under-

Letters to the Editor

WE, THE VOTERS, NEED THE FACTS HEIDI CASCARDO, Ladera Ranch

The story of the Trump administration’s connections to Russia during the elections appears to be quickly snowballing from a mere suspicion to a major incident.

Seemingly every day, new disclosures are revealed about previously undisclosed, and possibly illegal, contacts between senior members of the Trump administration and Russia, including the Russian ambassador. All of a sudden, Mr. Trump’s joke that perhaps Russia should hack Mrs. Clinton’s emails seems less humorous.

Our elected representative, Congressman Darrell Issa, has thus far flip-flopped between calling for an independent investigation and then voting against an independent investigation. A lot of voters are Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

sized rock revetment structure that was built to protect the public’s access.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, I threw my hat in the ring to serve on the County’s OC Parks Commission. I wanted to COUNCIL'S CORNER see how we could ensure

By Joe Muller that our fair share of resources gets dedicated to protecting our public coastal resources.

I asked OC Parks Director Stacy Blackwood to present an update to the Commission on what’s going on and when we can expect to finally see some progress in saving our beach before the access is washed away.

The good news is that the county, and OC Parks, are fully supportive of protecting and saving Capo Beach. They have plans and are ready to move forward with repairing the old revetment wall of rocks with new, larger rocks, like what you see at Strands, where the Headlands development was recently built.

The disturbing part is the opposition to this common-sense project from staff of the California Coastal Commission. It seems some on the Coastal Commission staff have bought into the idea that what should be happening at Capo Beach is something they euphemistically call “Managed Retreat,” meaning let the parking lot, facilities and beach wash away—public access be damned. In opposing OC Parks repairs last year, they put unobtainable conditions on the project that made it impossible to move forward.

However, their own policies recommend protecting public access. That is why Californians adopted the California Coastal Act—to protect the public’s access to public beaches. Their own strategy is to “protect public trust lands and resources, including as sea level rises.” Seems pretty clear to me.

“county, and OC Parks, are

The good news is that the

fully supportive of protecting

”

and saving Capo Beach.

What’s next is for OC Parks to submit a permit application with the Coastal Commission, again, for repair of the rocks that protect the beach. I think the time is now for action, to let the Commission know that the public wants its beach protected.

We need to save Capo Beach. Join me in letting your voice be heard on Facebook on the Save Capo Beach page, www. facebook.com/savecapobeach. “Like” the page and post a message of support. Let’s show the Commission that the public is not going to stand by while they watch our beach “retreat” away into nothing.

Joe Muller has served on the Dana Point City Council since being elected in 2014.

Email him at jmuller@danapoint.org. 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.

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.danapointtimes.com

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Kristina Pritchett, 949.388.7700, x113 kpritchett@picketfencemedia.com SPORTS Steve Breazeale, 949.388.7700, x110 sbreazeale@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

Lauralyn Loynes, 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@picketfencemedia.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@picketfencemedia.com BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Group Managing Editor > Matt Cortina City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell

asking: did he choose party politics over national security? If the Russian interference in our elections is true, we will have a crisis much larger than Watergate on our hands. Darrell Issa must understand this is not the time to play politics; this is the time for truth.

DISHEARTENED BY DISRESPECT ANNETTE SZLACHTA-MCGINN, Dana Point

Five years ago, my family and I were delighted to purchase a house in the small neighborhood of Sunset Hills and make our home in the community. Our life there was pleasant until early November. I volunteered for Hilary Clinton’s election campaign and thus received two small signs, one of which I secured to the fence gate at the side of our house. It was ripped from its place, late on the evening of Nov. 3. I subsequently put the second sign on our garage door, where it resided until early evening, March 4. It, too, was torn from its fasteners. Every American feels the ideological divisions that have plagued our nation for months. Every American has the

right to express herself respectfully and freely, without threat of subjugation and violence. That someone is emboldened to enter our property to commit an act of vandalism because of a difference of opinion represents the degradation to which our society has succumbed as manifested by our country’s current leadership. Our family is disheartened by the disrespect someone in our community has shown to us. We will, however, stand tall with our convictions and continue to uphold the values on which the United States was founded and which have expanded and evolved as our country and society have.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@ danapointtimes.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

Page 5

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Debra Holm Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 10, Issue 10. 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 2017. 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

GARDENING WORKSHOP: IDENTIFYING BACKYARD BIRDS 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tree of Life Nursery’s Alisa Flint will share some helpful tips on identifying local birds by sight and sound, while also identifying which native plant species are irresistible to native birds. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 10 LIVE MUSIC: HANS & JANINE 4 p.m. Join Waterman’s Harbor for live music with Hans & Janine every Friday.

Waterman’s Harbor. 34661 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.764.3474. www.watermandp.com.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THE ASH GIRL’ 7:30 p.m. The Saddleback College Department of Theatre Arts presents The Ash Girl, a modern riff on Cinderella that focuses on “otherworldly elements behind the magic.” Show runs through March 12.

Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. 949.582.4656. www.saddleback.edu/arts.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THREE BANDITS AND A BABY’ 8 p.m. In this family-friendly musical melodrama, three successful and happily unmarried villains get a surprise inheritance of a little girl. Forced to do the right thing and take care of the baby, the three hopeless and hapless babysitters make an attempt until their pasts finally catch up with them. Tickets start at $20. The show runs through March 12. Camino Real Playhouse.

31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THE MIRACLE WORKER’ 8 p.m. Based on a remarkable true story, this inspiring and unforgettable play is an American classic that tells the story of Annie Sullivan and her student, Helen Keller. Tickets are $20, and the show runs through March 26. Stage II at the Camino

The walk begins at the Nature Interpretive Center. RSVP requested. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

DANA POINT FESTIVAL OF WHALES 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The two-weekend celebration of the 46th annual Festival of Whales continues on Saturday with the dinghy dash, an art show and much more. The festival celebrates the annual migration of the California gray whale and now welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year. Event also runs Sunday, March 12. For more information, visit www.festivalofwhales.com.

Photo: Courtesy

FRIDAY, MARCH 10: ACOUSTIC GUITARIST LAURENCE JUBER PERFORMS 7:30 p.m. Listen to live music from acoustic guitarist and former lead guitarist of Wings, Laurence Juber. Tickets are $30. Dana Point Community House. 24642 San Juan Avenue, Dana Point. 949.842.2227. www.lordofthestringsconcerts.com.

Real Playhouse. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE THEATER: ‘ANGEL STREET’ 8 p.m. Angel Street focuses on a seemingly normal couple, but it turns out the suave Jack Manningham is slowly torturing his wife, Bella, into insanity under the guise of kindness. Angel Street was a hit on Broadway and still stands as one of the longestrunning non-musicals in Broadway history.

Tickets are $20, and the show runs through March 26. Cabrillo Playhouse. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

Saturday | 11 STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD YOGA 8-9:30 a.m. Join iHeartYoga instructors at Westwind Sailing for a class on doing yoga atop waterborne stand-up paddleboards. Workshop is for all skill levels. Cost is $35 with board rental, $25 if you bring your own.

34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point.

949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

WHALE WALK AND TALK 9 a.m. This 1.5-mile walk focuses on the offshore visitors that can be frequently seen from the Dana Point Headlands.

MANTRA AND MEANING Noon-2 p.m. Join Anusha Wijeyakumar for a workshop that will be focused on learning the essence and meaning behind two of the most popular and powerful ancient Vedic Mantras, the Gayatri Mantra and the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. Admission is $50. Jamie Hanson Yoga. 34207 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. www.shantiwithin.com. www.jamiehansonyoga.com.

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. A day of live music kicks off with music from Dalton Gang at 2:30 p.m., followed by a performance by the Rob Staley Band at 8:30 p.m. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to Dana Point Times by going to www.danapointtimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

At the Movies: ‘Before I Fall’ is a Teen Repeat

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

T

een movies, like musicals and romantic comedies, are not as hot of a commodity in Hollywood as they used to be. And the rare times we do get a movie focusing on teens, it’s usually a young-adult drama adaptation, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) or The Spectacular Now (2013). Which is exactly what Ry Russo-Young’s Before I Fall “falls” under. If Groundhog Day (1993) and Mean Girls (2004) were to morph into 2017, this

Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

would be the result.

On Valentine’s Day, Pacific Northwest high school student Sam Kingston (Zoey Deutch) thought she was experiencing just another Friday at school and another house party at an old friend’s house. But she is actually repeating the same Friday over and over again, and no one in her life is aware of it except herself. Her best friend, Lindsay (Halston Sage), is mean to outcast Juliet (Elena Kampouris); and Sam’s boyfriend Rob (Kian Lawley) wants to go to the next level,

while Kent (Logan Miller) has a thing for her.

Viewers who will enjoy Before I Fall the most are fans of the original novel by Lauren Oliver. Russo-Young and screenwriter Maria Maggenti don’t really add anything to teen melodrama we haven’t already seen before.

Deutch and the other young actors are fine, even if they all naturally look too old to be playing teenagers in traditional Hollywood fashion. The themes are too on the nose and cliché, and waste some good cinematography and a catchy soundtrack. DP

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Photo: Awesonemess Films

www.danapointtimes.com

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

949.485.4979, info@bodymindspiritiop.com, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

ASSISTED LIVING HOME FOR ELDERLY

Assisted Senior Home

949.248.9415, www.assistedseniorhome.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

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

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

PET BOUTIQUE

Naked Dog Bistro

424 Forest Ave., LB, 949.715.9900, www.NakedDogBistro.com

SPECIALTY BEAUTY

Amazing Lash Studio

32932 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 9, 949.484.7676, www.AmazingLashStudio.com

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

ICE CREAM

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Contact Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com

GETTING OUT THE DISH

PRIME RIB ON THE BONE AT THE RIB JOINT

T

here are large parts of the U.S. that can endearingly be called prime rib country. On any given night in usually rural communities from Montana across the plains to the Ozarks, folks gather around a modest diner or steakhouse and visit with each other. There’s usually a salad bar and prime rib specials, and people move from table to table with sweaty glasses of tea or bottles of Budweiser and catch up.

It’s a romantic scene—prime rib country— that puts on a pedestal the simple joy of community. Now for all South Orange County has to offer, you wouldn’t think there’s enough room for a slice of prime rib country to have a satellite office. But step inside The Rib Joint in Dana Point and see for yourself.

Everything—the salad bar, the old wooden and vinyl dining booths, the hunkered down bar, the easy conversation, the Game Show Network on TV—feels earnest. So does the food.

A menu of chicken, beef and pork barbecue makes it hard to decide, but the prime ribs on the bone just seem right.

By cooking the meat on the bone, the

beef is imbued with the rich, earthy, umami flavor of the cow. It’s a natural taste that might surprise those who’ve only had processed beef or the deboned, ground and cellophane-wrapped red stuff. Rib Joint does not shy away from the meat’s essence, and elevates it with a simple rub and a tangy barbecue sauce. Steak fries and home-made cornbread are natural accompaniments.

Other barbecue joints may embellish their meats with buzz words and interior design, but Rib Joint is righteous and truly stands out in South Orange County.

The Rib Joint.

34294 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point.

949.661.9500. www.ribjointdanapoint.com.

On Stage at the Coach House: G. Love & Special Sauce DANA POINT TIMES

T

he last time G. Love (Garret Dutton) and Special Sauce played The Coach House, they felt like they blew out the venue in support of their rollicking and rock-heavy album Love Saves the Day. They’re fond of the intimate, mostly seated venue, and have played it numerous times over their 20-year career, but Dutton says this tour— which will feature their greatest hits and deep cuts from their catalog of rock, R&B and hip hop music— is much more suited to the San Juan venue.

“Every show (on this tour) is completely different and custom tailored to the room as opposed to a standard show we take on the road,” Dutton said.

It’s been 20 years since G. Love and Special Sauce burst onto the music scene with their signature sound. Albums have ranged from drippy R&B tunes to plucky acoustic front porch songs to the simply poppy and catchy, all while retaining the signature G. Love sound.

Call it a product of the times, but Dutton has—to mixed reaction—taken to social media recently to speak up for those in the progressive movement. He said it’s cost him

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some fans, but since his days as a young protestor, social justice has always been important to him.

“Certainly its reflected in my music,” Dutton said. “Go back and listen, and you’re going to find social and political commentary.

If you (didn’t think I had a political opinion), you haven’t been listening.”

Dutton, who lived steps away from the site of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, used the tragedy as an example for the urgency with which musicians and those with a microphone need to stick up for the righteous.

“Isn’t it funny how there could be a bomb in Boston by Photo: Courtesy immigrant kids and yet Boston was the first city to say, ‘No we’re not going to uphold the travel ban. Everyone come in,’” he said.

But music speaks for itself, and more than anything, Dutton said, it unites.

“When we go on stage, we’re there to throw down,” he said. “We’re there to bring a night of the hip hop blues and let it all hang out for two hours.”

Tickets for the show start at $32.50, and the show starts at 8 p.m., with doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House Concert Hall. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.496.8930. www.danapointtimes.com

DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

Delivering a Letter to Johnny Cash

O

n Wednesday night, Feb. 22, while packing suitcases for a weeklong trip to Nashville and Memphis, my partner, Greta, and I found a letter inside a baggie attached to the front door of our Dana Point home.

The hand-printed letter read: “Mr. Cash, I love you. I like ‘A Boy Named Sue.’ It’s funny.

I’m named Cash too.”

It was written by a 5-year-old boy named Cash. He is the son of ON LIFE AND our neighbors, Cody LOVE AFTER 50 and Victoria, who live

By Tom Blake across the street. When we first met them, they told us their son was named Cash, and their daughter was named Waylan Jane.

“Why?” we asked.

“Because we love Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and country music,” they said.

They were surprised when I told them that I worked with Johnny in 1975 and 1976, and had been friends with him.

When I mentioned that Greta and I were going to Nashville with my brother, Bill, and his wife, Linda, to visit the Johnny Cash Museum and other country music places, they said, “Maybe you could do us a favor?”

Cody and Victoria knew that their son Cash, a huge Johnny Cash fan, would want to send a letter to Johnny and wanted to know if we would hand-deliver it for him. Of course, young Cash didn’t comprehend that Johnny and his wife, June Carter, had both passed away in 2003.

We said we would somehow get the letter to Johnny, in one way or another.

The trip was the first time I had been to Nashville since 1976, when I co-produced an album of train songs with Johnny, at his recording studio in nearby Hendersonville.

In Nashville, after a visit to the Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, we walked to the Johnny Cash Museum. I wanted to meet the museum founder and owner, Bill Miller, to give him a copy of I book I wrote, titled Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station. The book features the details of when I worked with Johnny and has a picture of Johnny and me on the front cover.

While waiting to meet Miller, the four of us took the museum tour. And that is where our young neighbor Cash’s letter was delivered to Johnny.

Later, we met Miller. He was most gracious, and gave us a tour of the soon-

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to-open Patsy Cline Museum, which is located on the second floor above the Cash Museum. He also invited us to a private Johnny Cash birthday anniversary party for the following day.

The next morning, we visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. The highlight: the rotunda where each of the 130 Hall of Fame members have plaques on the wall.

From there, it’s a short walk to the Johnny Cash Museum. We spent time with W.S. Holland, Johnny’s only drummer. I had known him when I worked with Johnny. And since he is mentioned in my book, I signed a copy for him. We enjoyed attending the birthday party for Johnny in a private room.

That night, we went to the Grand Ole Opry and enjoyed a backstage tour during the concert. We saw Vince Gill practicing his guitar in his dressing room before his appearance and watched a part of the show from behind the stage. There were nearly 20 performers that night, making it a stellar evening.

On Sunday, we drove 212 miles on the “Music Highway” to Memphis, where we visited Graceland, the home of Elvis. I recalled, while listening to Detroit’s WJR radio in 1956, saying to my brother, “I just heard some singer named Elvis sing a song called ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ it’s going to be a huge hit.” So, being with brother Bill at Graceland 61 years later was very nostalgic for me.

Our trip concluded with a visit to Sun Records in downtown Memphis, where Sam Phillips launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, also known as the Million Dollar Quartet, and many others. It was special to stand in the very spot where Elvis recorded his first song and to hold the microphone he used.

Our trip to Tennessee was a success.

We delivered our young neighbor Cash’s letter to Johnny.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his websites at www.findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www. travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com or email at tompblake@ gmail.com. 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

www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

Vicki Wiker, Doheny State Beach park naturalist interpreter, shows two children different things that can be found in the ocean during Ocean Awareness Day on Sunday, March 5. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

46th Annual Festival of Whales The 46th annual Festival of Whales kicked off last weekend with a series of events around Dana Point. There was a sand sculpting contest, an arts and crafts fair and a parade, which took over Pacific Coast Highway. The Festival continues March 11 and 12 throughout Dana Point. To see the event guide, visit www.danapointtimes.com.

Children dug through the sand as part of the Festival of Whales’ Diamond Dig at Baby Beach.

Photo: Kristina Pritchett

Marines from Camp Pendleton participated in the Festival of Whales parade on Saturday, March 4.

Photo: Kristina Pritchett

The 46th annual Festival of Whales parade started at Salt Creek Beach and made its way down Pacific Coast Highway. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

Pet of the Week: Matzo

D

on’t miss out on your chance to adopt Matzo, a neutered male, brown and white, German Shepherd mix. Matzo is about 5 years old and was rescued from an overcrowded shelter, where he may not have been given the best chance at adoption.

However, at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter, staff and volunteers have been giving Matzo all the TLC our pets deserve. If you are interested in Matzo, please contact the Animal Shelter for more information and to start the adoption process. We can be reached at 949.492.1617. We are closed on Mondays and major holidays. DP

Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

Matzo. Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

A whale coming out of the water won first place during the Festival of Whales sand sculpting contest.

Photo: Kristina Pritchett

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

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: Medium

Last week’s solution:

Page 13

See the solution in next week’s issue.

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dana Hills High School Spring Sports Preview

BY STEVE BREAZEALE AND MATTHEW LANEY, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he spring preps season is underway at Dana Hills High School and in our annual preview, we get you caught up to date on all of the Dolphin programs that will be in action this year.

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

Baseball It is shaping up to be a special spring for the Dana Hills baseball team.

The Dolphins are loaded with returning talent, a potential top MLB Draft pitching prospect and an intriguing mix of young talent.

This group will also be tasked with navigating its way through the toughest schedule of games in program history.

The Dolphins, who opened their season with a two-game series against Orange Lutheran, are competing in the Loara Tournament this week, and head to North Carolina to play in the prestigious USA Baseball National High School Invitational on March 29.

Coach Tom Faris purposefully set a tough schedule knowing that this team has the potential to make a postseason push.

Senior right-handed pitcher Hans Crouse will be the main draw for fans and

Major League scouts alike at Dolphins games this season. The senior hurler is coming off a spectacular junior season and an offseason that saw him start the gold-medal clinching game for the USA Baseball 18U National Team at the PanAmerican Championships.

Crouse, a USC commit, is regarded as one of the top high school arms in the state, if not the country.

Joining Crouse at the top of the rotation will be junior Jack Sterner.

The Dolphins lineup features several impact bats and future collegiate players. Jeremy Ciolek (Cal State Dominguez Hills), Joe DeBaca (UC San Diego) and Jordan Matthews return to anchor the lineup. Newcomers like sophomore shortstop Zach Waters and freshman outfielder Thomas Buckanavage add to the Dolphins’ depth. —Steve Breazeale

Boys Golf After losing five seniors to graduation in the offseason, the Dana Hills boys golf lineup has been open for competition.

Returning senior Blake Brothers played a large role on last year’s South Coast League championship team and is leading the way in the early going with a scoring average that is hovering around 38. Senior co-captain Hayden Hill also returns.

Outside of Brothers and Hill, the Dolphins roster is filled with players who have been on the junior varsity team and are getting their first taste of varsity competition.

Sophomore Quentin Hill is having a breakout start to the season and is second on the team in scoring average. Sophomore Connor Beveridge, seniors Cody Curtis, Connor Griffo and junior Matt Frandell are all battling to stay in the top-6 of the Dolphins’ rotation.

“From day one this team has shown it is eager and hungry,” coach Glenn Forster said. “They want to get better and improve themselves, and it’s exciting.”

The Dolphins opened their tournament season with a strong fourth-place showing at the Servite Invitational on Feb. 27. —SB

L to R: Jordan Matthews, Joe DeBaca, Hayden Williamson, Hans Crouse and the Dana Hills baseball team are poised for a big season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

against Mater Dei on March 2, the Dolphins got banged up in a 16-0 loss that featured five injuries to impact players.

The injuries presented the Dolphins with early adversity, but they are determined to get through it.

Regardless of the injuries, head coach Chris Iltis described this Dolphins group as “the best overall group we’ve ever seen as far as skill level across the board.”

Dana Hills’ strength this season lies in its attack, which features seniors Greg Ross and Ben Martin. The Dolphins’ defense is led by senior defender Shawn Rodriguez, who was one of the players injured against the Monarchs, Luke Thayer and goalie Gunnar Steele.

The Dolphins will have a busy nonleague slate with games against Woodbridge and Huntington Beach before

opening Sea View League play on March 16. —SB

Boys Swimming The Dana Hills boys swim team continued its dominance by claiming the South Coast League championship for the fourth consecutive season in 2016. With experienced swimmers coming back for the 2017 season, Dana Hills will look to extend its impressive winning streak.

Junior freestyler Owen Kao is looking to build off of his impressive sophomore season. As a sophomore, Kao placed second in both of his CIF-SS events and swam in Olympic time trials over the summer.

Seniors Trent Pellini and Michael Smith are looking to have successful final sea-

Boys Lacrosse

Sophomore Jackson Philbin and the Dana Hills boys golf team will look to defend their South Coast League title in 2017. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

The Dana Hills boys lacrosse team did not start the 2017 season off on a high note. In fact, it’s been tough going for the team that narrowly missed out on its firstever playoff berth one year ago.

In the team’s season-opening game

Nate Pellini will look to earn points for the Dana Hills boys swimming and diving team this season.

Photo: Kim Ward

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Jake Ward and the Dana Hills boys swim team will defend their South Coast League title in 2017.

Photo: Kim Ward

Marek Michulka and the Dana Hills boys tennis team hope to contend for a South Coast League championship this season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

sons. Both Smith and Pellini are committed to Purdue University.

Pellini will be competing in individual medley and breaststrokes and Smith will compete in freestyle and butterfly stroke events. Smith missed last season due to a shoulder injury but is back to full health.

“Our top end strength is definitely good.

We’ve got five or six really good athletic top-end guys that are strong swimmers that no one else in the county has,” Dana Hills coach Matt Rosa said.

—Matthew Laney

to be a big team leader who hits for power.

Meryl Reinhart, Tori Sickmeier and Cozette Zoch help round out the Dolphins lineup. —ML

Softball After a strong 2016 season that ended with a loss in the second round of the playoffs, the Dana Hills softball team looks to continue its success by mixing things up.

Rather than rely solely on the arm of standout pitcher Serafine Parrish like last season, the Dolphins are using a one-two punch from the pitching circle in 2017.

Kate Donaldson, a transfer from Utah, has joined the squad and offers another top arm that adds to the team’s depth.

Parrish had a monster junior season that saw her toss 180 innings, rack up 253 strikeouts and win 13 games.

Through seven games the Dolphins own a 4-3 record. Parrish owns a 2-1 record in four appearances and Donaldson is 1-1 in three showings. Both pitchers have combined to record 48 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings this season.

Junior first baseman Jessie Nagel looks Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

Boys Track and Field Dana Hills will be entering the 2017 season with a new head coach.

Keith Chambers has served as the programs’ boys and girls sprint coach for the past four years, but this will be his first head coaching job.

Finishing second in the South Coast League last season and second at the Orange County Championships left a bitter taste in the Dolphins’ mouths, Chambers said. Coming up close and not being able to hold on for the win is a trend they don’t want repeating itself.

Junior Jack Landgraf, the Dolphins’ top cross country runner this fall, will be leading the way for the distance crew competing in the 800- and 1600-meter events, while Max Halvax looks to be the Dolphins top sprinter.

“They’re young but they’re learning,” Chambers said. “I always tell them they have to grow up fast if they want to reach those goals they want to get to.” —ML

Girls Track and Field The Dana Hills girls track and field team is used to finishing either first or second in the competitive South Coast League

year in and year out. But last season was a different story. For the first time in several years, the Dolphins placed third in league.

An experienced group of returners, led by a strong sophomore and junior class, want to push the Dolphins back to the top in 2017.

Jennifer Daly looks to be one of those leaders while competing in the 800-meter, 4x400-meter relay and one-mile runs.

Leading the distance crew will be Kathryn Kaloroumakis, and Kyra Hale looks to be the Dolphins top hurdler.

As the Dolphins quest to the top of the league standings begins, they are approaching the season with a new mindset.

“The girls and I are calling this season ‘An unexpected journey’. Good or bad, it’s going to be a journey and by expecting good and bad to happen, that will keep us prepared for anything,” head coach Ryan Crane said. —ML

Boys Tennis Depth will be the key to success for the Dana Hills boys tennis team this season.

The Dolphins, who placed second in the South Coast League and advanced to the first round of the CIF-SS Team Championships last year, return nine players to their roster, including seven starters.

One group that did not experience any turnover to graduation was the Dolphins’ top doubles group of sophomore Riley McCall and junior Ryan Burns, who are vying to break through with a league doubles

Page 15

Riley McCall (pictured) and Ryan Burns make up the Dana Hills boys tennis team’s top doubles group.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

title. In three matches this season, McCall and Burns have won seven of a possible nine points.

Marek Michulka and Michael Perez will anchor the Dolphins’ singles lineup.

Dana Hills has had an up-and-down start to its season, but has been playing against tough opposition. The Dolphins lost their season opener to Woodbridge, defeated Newport Harbor, and lost to Northwood. —SB (Cont. on page 16) www.danapointtimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS (Cont. from page 15)

Boys Volleyball In a unique twist, the Dana Hills boys volleyball team’s roster consists entirely of seniors this season. But that does not mean the Dolphins are heavy on experience.

Dana Hills returns only a handful of players with varsity experience and a large amount of players who have spent the last three years coming up through the ranks of the program. Now that they are seniors, they are getting the chance to play on varsity.

But the Dolphins still have a solid nucleus of veterans and will be led by three-year starters Thomas DeStefano and Dylan Campeau. DeStefano will be the team’s libero and Campeau will play outside hitter.

Setter Troy Brown and middle blocker Trevor Weinert also return.

The Dolphins team has played a tough nonleague slate, and pulled off a signature win over Orange Lutheran on March 7.

Dana Hills was playing against the Lancers without Brown, which caused coach Oz Simmons to use as much of his roster as possible to see what would work with the team’s primary setter absent. The Dolphins were able to rally after losing the first set and win in five.

“We were a little nervous (early against Orange Lutheran). Then we came out fired up and everything seemed to click.

Everyone had energy and it was more of a team effort,” DeStefano said. “It shows that anyone can come in the game and contribute for us.” —SB

Girls Swimming In an effort to focus on having more explosive racing power, the Dana Hills girls swim team has spent a lot of hours training outside of the pool this offseason.

The Dolphins have been doing more

The Dana Hills girls swimming team has been experimenting more with dry land training this offseason in the hopes of gaining explosive racing power.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

dry land training than in year’s past, and coach Cynthia Carlson believes the effects are beginning to take hold.

Dana Hills will be led by a returning core of swimmers and a few impact freshmen.

Sophomore Devon Forker will swim the 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and relays. Junior Madeline Wiese will power the sprints and junior Courtney Prefontaine will swim the 100-meter backstroke and relays.

Freshmen Sydney Querner and Anna Nemeth have made an early impact and

Dylan Campeau, left, and Thomas DeStefano bring valuable experience to the Dana Hills boys volleyball team.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

will be called upon to win the Dolphins crucial points.

Dana Hills lost a closely contested nonleague dual meet against rival San Clemente by two points, and they were edged

by Capistrano Valley last week. —SB

Girls Lacrosse For the second time in as many years, the Dana Hills girls lacrosse team will have a new head coach. The Dolphins

didn’t have to go far in searching for the team’s new leader this time around.

Dana Hills alum and former player Alejandra Moraga will helm the Dolphins program in what is her first-ever season as a coach. Moraga played for the Dolphins lacrosse team in the program’s inaugural season.

The Dolphins are deep at midfield this year and are led by juniors Gabby Ahad, Sydney Deindoerfer and senior Madisen Bishop. All three are co-captains, along with senior midfield/attack Tracy Mann. —SB

L to R: Sydney Deindoerfer, Chloe Plantamura, Kylie Quinley, Gabby Ahad and the Dolphins girls lacrosse team enter the season with a new look and a new coach. Steve Breazeale

Page 16

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DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com 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.

GARAGE SALES 10TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE RUMMAGE SALE Saturday, March 11th from 7 a.m. to 12 noon Presbyterian Church of the Master. 26051 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo

HELP WANTED ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Best Version Media, certified as a “Best Place to Work” by Fortune Magazine, has an open Account Executive position in Laguna Niguel.

If you thrive in a supportive, encouraging, but challenging environment, we want to hear from you! Send your resume to dana@ bestversionmedia.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

MAINTENANCE DAY SHIFT IMMEDIATE OPENING Guest calls relating to immediate maintenance needs. Guest room preventative maintenance program. Ongoing Painting and repairs. Apply in Person (Starts at $12.00 per hour – full time). Dana Point Marina Inn, 24800 Dana Point Marina Inn. Tony

Call 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@picketfencemedia.com

SERVICES HANDYMAN CHRIS Flat screen TV’s installed, anything Electrical, Plumbing, Finish Carpentry, Drywall Repairs, Mold and Wood Rot issues, Waterproofing, Decks and Patio covers repaired, Doors, Windows, Kitchens and Baths, Water Damage Restoration, Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication and Much More. Phone Chris – 949 510 6645 WOOD DECK REPAIR WIZZARD Wood Rot Repair Certified Specialist, Wood Decks, Balconies, Patio Covers + Outside Stairs Repaired / Replaced, New Decking Systems, All work Guaranteed. Phone Chris -949 510 6645

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY GROMS OF THE WEEK

San Clemente High School and Shorecliffs Middle School Surf Teams

San Clemente High School’s Curran Dand.

Photo: Kurt Steinmetz

It’s time to prepare for a long season of summer surfing in South Orange County. Photo: Jake Howard

Spring Training Getting prepared for the surf season ahead

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he birds are chirping. The sun is shining. The hills are alive with the sound of music—so they say. Spring has certainly sprung around Dana Point and San Clemente. All one has to do is take a stroll down the trail to Upper Trestles to see what a difference one of the wettest winters in history has made. And for those paying attention to what’s happening in the local waters lately, you’ve probably noticed a steady uptick in south swells. That can only mean one thing: warmer water, warmer weather and longer beach days are right around the corner.

Over the course of this long, stormy winter, perhaps you indulged in some serious comfort food sessions. All good, but it’s now time to get back in the rotation at your preferred lineup. I’m not going to spew some nonsense about “getting your beach bod ready for summer,” but I can offer five good tips to make sure you stay in the water longer and catch more waves this spring and summer—and it doesn’t require going to the gym. Consider this your spring training primer for the surf season ahead: 1. Get out in the sunshine. Of course, your springtime revival should start in the sun. Chances are after all that rain you’re as pasty as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. A little vitamin D will do you right.

Take the dogs for a walk or the kids to a park. Get out and pull some weeds in the Dana Point Times March 10-16, 2017

garden. Or go stone skipping at the beach.

Whatever you do, soak in the sun… and be sure that when you’re choosing a sunscreen, you make it an ocean-friendly one.

2. Inflate your lungs. Running isn’t for everyone, but the beach trail in San Clemente is a great jaunt for anyone that wants to get their body moving. There are also some mean sets of stairs in the Dana Point Harbor if you want to get your Rocky Balboa on. But if getting around on your own two feet isn’t your thing, jump on a bike.

There’s a certain amount of cardio work that goes into surfing, and if you’re going to be chasing south swells this summer, you don’t want to be huffing and puffing.

A little bit of road work that gets the blood pumping and the lungs expanding will go a long way.

3. Jump in the pool. Kelly Slater once said, “The best training for surfing is surfing.” That may be true for a freak of nature like the 11-time world champ, but most of us need to do a little bit extra to stay in peak surfing shape. The fact of the business is, it’s hard to stay in surfing shape around here because of the extended flat spells and weeks between sizable swells.

The San Clemente Aquatics Center on Vista Hermosa is an amazing facility to log some laps, and if you show up on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, they offer longcourse lap swim—which can feel a heck of a lot like being adrift in an ocean. The Ole Hanson Beach Club is open once again.

The refurbished facility is an ideal spot to check the surf at North Beach and get your swim workout in. Check with the city of San Clemente for hours of operation.

4. Stretch it out. The ocean has a tendency to rag doll humans. Maybe that’s why we enjoy playing in it so much. Regardless, make some time in your schedule to get

in some quality stretching. Taking a yoga class a couple times a week will loosen up the body, as well as improve flexibility, strength and mindfulness. Another great option is signing up for a regular Pilates class. In last week’s edition of the paper, Kolohe Andino noted how he gets up every morning before dawn to do Pilates and meditate. He’s currently ranked fourth in the world. There’s probably something to it.

5. Mind your fuel. With all this exercise, you’re probably going to be hungry enough to eat twice your weight in burritos. The urge to pop into your favorite taco shop to reward yourself is going to be strong. Don’t do it! If you’re going to put in all the hard work, don’t spoil it by over-stuffing your body or filling it with too much comfort food. There are so many healthy alternatives in the Dana Point and San Clemente area, all you have to do is exert a little willpower. Easier said than done, I know, but a poke bowl and some brown rice will get you much farther down the road than a bean and cheese burrito. DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 57-60 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-7’ Poor-Fair Outlook: Small to locally fun size (knee-waist occ. chest high) blend of SSW and NW swells through the upcoming weekend. Morning winds look generally light. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Page 18

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

M

assive congratulations to all the surfers at San Clemente High School and Shorecliffs Middle School. This week, you’re all Groms of the Week.

Last weekend, the 2017 NSSA Interscholastic State Championships went down at Seaside Reef in Cardiff in playful two- to three-foot surf. San Clemente High swept both the Varsity and Junior Varsity titles, while Shorecliffs came away with another title in the Middle School division.

For San Clemente High’s J.V. squad, it was a commanding performance.

Capturing their third consecutive state title, they had five of the six surfers in the Men’s final with Curran Dand topping the podium.

And when it comes to Shorecliffs, there really is no middle school program in the state that compares. This was their 12th consecutive title and the 15th in their storied history. The team dominated every facet of the contest, notching wins in all three divisions.

Kai McPhillips won both the Middle School Boy’s and Middle School Longboard divisions. In fact, just like the S.C. High J.V. team, Shorecliffs featured five of the six finalists in the Boy’s division. Meanwhile, Taylor Stacey won the Girl’s division and was joined in the final by Makayla Moss.

It’s also worth noting that Point Loma Nazarene took top honors in the collegiate championships, which was won by San Clemente’s Jordan Kudla.

Congrats to all that represented their schools with pride over the weekend.

Great surfing and great studying. www.danapointtimes.com