June 9, 2017

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

June 9-15, 2017 C A N

U S E

Hard-Throwing Pitcher Hans Crouse Prepares for MLB Draft PAGE 28 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 23

An Celebratory Moment Dana Hills High School Class of 2017 Graduates INSIDE: SPECIAL SECTION

Dana Hills High School Class of 2017 throws their caps in celebration during graduation on Thursday, June 1. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

Ocean Institute to Host Shark Expert to Discuss Recent Activity, Behaviors EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

City, Headlands Reserve Enter Settlement Agreement EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

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Down the Line: There’s a Lot Happening at the Beaches SURF/PAGE 30

GO TO DANAPOINTTIMES.COM FOR THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS AND SPORTS

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

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Reserve for reimbursed legal costs at the same rate the city pays its attorney. It also formally rescinded and withdrew its fraud allegation, including the personal allegation it made against Edward, concluding no fraud occurred.

The improvements to the center are estimated to be completed by August 2018. —KP

Five things Dana Point should know this week

Congressman Darrell Issa Wades through Questions on Federal, Local Issues from the Public

Ocean Institute to Host Shark Expert to Discuss Recent Activity, Behaviors THE LATEST: Each week more sharks are being spotted in our local waters. To discuss the increased sightings of the animals and their behaviors, the Ocean Institute will be hosting a shark expert.

Chris Lowe, Ph.D., director of the Shark Lab at Cal State University Long Beach, will be at the Ocean Institute on Thursday, June 15 from 6-8 p.m. to discuss sharks along with the research being done in the lab.

The cost of the lecture is $10 and registration can be done online at www. ocean-institute.org/event/guest-lectureseries-sharks or by calling 949.496.2274.

On Tuesday, June 6, Lowe appeared at the San Clemente City Council to discuss the recent activity.

“What we’re seeing is something that hasn’t happened in (southern) California in 200 years,” Lowe said during the meeting. “This is not their main hangout.”

Lowe said the sharks he’s tracked from Belmont Shore have been tracked to Dana Point; however, the sharks tracked in Dana Point have not been leaving.

WHAT’S NEXT: Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the lecture will begin at 6:15 p.m.

After, Ocean Institute naturalists will have the touch tanks open and hands-on activities. —Kristina Pritchett

Council Asks City Staff to Cut $600K from Proposed Budget THE LATEST: For the next budget conversation, city staff is being asked to cut $600,000 from the current proposed budget of the city’s expenditures and avoid a deficit in the future.

Originally, Mayor Pro-Tem Paul Wyatt said he would like to see what “wiggle room” staff had in each of their budgets.

When Acting City Manager Mike Killebrew asked for a specific number, Mayor Debra Lewis said she would like to see $600,000 cut.

“We aren’t in a position yet to say what to cut, all we can do is rely on [staff] and what they can do better and have them Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

Chris Lowe, Ph.D., director of the Shark Lab at CSULB, speaks about the recent shark activity in South Orange County during the Tuesday, June 6, San Clemente City Council meeting. Photo: Eric Heinz

give us their best input,” Wyatt said. “If they don’t think there’s any room to cut without having a huge impact, we’ll have to deal with it.”

Currently, the proposed budgets for the general fund are $34.1 million for fiscal year 2018 and $35 million for fiscal year 2019.

At the May 23 budget workshop, changes were made which totaled $54,000 in savings. Council agreed to cut the State of the City Sponsorship funding of $25,000, Other Community Activities for $5,000 and the Federal Legislative Advocate funding for $24,000.

Previously, Council asked staff to return with a detailed report regarding staff time and metrics for city events. The report was not provided during the June 6 meeting.

WHAT’S NEXT: Council will discuss the budget during the June 20 meeting.

The city’s Financial Review Committee could discuss the budget at its upcoming June 13 meeting. The agenda was not made available by press time. —KP

OC District Attorney to Speak at Upcoming Coffee Chat THE LATEST: Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas will be the next featured guest at the Dana Point Civic Association’s Coffee Chat on Friday, June 16.

Rackauckas joined the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in 1972, and ran for District Attorney in 1998.

Coffee Chat is held the third Friday of every month at Coffee Importers in the Dana Point Harbor.

Complimentary coffee will be provided for those who attend, courtesy of Jim Miller, DPCA president.

WHAT’S NEXT: Coffee Chat begins at 8:30 a.m. and is located at 34531 Street of the Golden Lantern. —KP

City, Headlands Reserve Enter Settlement Agreement THE LATEST: After months of litigation, the city of Dana Point and the Headlands Reserve, LLC have entered a settlement agreement.

The settlement dismisses all complaints by and between the parties, who agreed the community of Dana Point “will be better served by spending resources improving public facilities,” according to a statement from the city.

The Reserve will contribute a $248,200 donation toward capital improvements to the city’s Community and Senior Center.

According to the statement, the city will need to spend an additional $200,500 of city funds to complete the center’s improvements.

In August, the city filed a lawsuit against the Reserve and developer Sanford Edward, stating an indemnity agreement was not upheld. The lawsuit said he did not pay for some legal fees and costs incurred by the city while defending legal and administrative claims created by the Headlands project.

Later, Edward filed a counter lawsuit against the city saying the city “fraudulently billed” the developer more than $600,000.

In October, city officials announced they would enter mediation with Edward.

In November, Edward withdrew his offer to mediate with the city and called it a “publicity stunt.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The city agreed to bill the

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THE LATEST: Like many of his colleagues in Congress, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA, of the 49th district hosted a town hall meeting and faced questions from a large group of locals.

Issa hosted the town hall meeting on June 3, at San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano.

More than 500 people came to the town hall, some of whom could not get in because the venue was filled to capacity.

Protestors and supporters were outside San Juan Hills High School for the duration of the meeting.

The topic of the day was healthcare, specifically regarding the American Health Care Act, which is currently making its way through the Senate. It already passed the House of Representatives.

The Congressional Budget Office has forecasted the bill would leave 23 million Americans without healthcare. The Office also predicts that the bill would reduce healthcare costs for individuals by 50 percent.

Issa said he voted to move the bill to the Senate with the belief that more than 10 million of the people who “will lose their healthcare will choose, simply, not to be insured.”

Along with health care, Issa discussed the toll roads, President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding the Paris climate accord and the bipartisan climate change caucus he recently became a member of.

WHAT’S NEXT: To read a full version of the story, visit www.danapointtimes.com.

—Eric Heinz

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA, of the 49th district, speaks to an audience at a packed auditorium on Saturday, June 3, at San Juan Hills High School. Photo: Eric Heinz

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Sullivan Land, 11, Ladera Ranch, was the grand prize winner in the 2017 Wyland’s Whale and Dolphin Adventure Art Lessons in the Wild program. Photo: Courtesy

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Grand Prize Winner Named in Wyland Art Contest A Ladera Ranch resident was named the grand prize winner in the 2017 Wyland’s Whale and Dolphin Adventure Art Lessons in the Wild program.

Sullivan Land, 11, was selected by Wyland for his creation. As the grand prize winner, he received a “Sea Life Below” signed giclee on canvas. The work depicts the wilds of an untamed reef as dolphins cruise in the distance and a hammerhead looks for food.

The program, sponsored by Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, is a family-based marine life educational outreach initiative designed for children ages 3-12. Dana Wharf has been involved with the program since 2013.

During the seasonal program, kids are able to go on a two-hour whale watching trip followed by an art lesson with Wyland.

Winners from each age category received a $25 gift certificate to the Wyland studio in Laguna Beach and two free whale watching tickets from Dana Wharf Whale Watching.

The winners in the age-categories include Nico Morughan (ages 3-5), Maya Graves (ages 6-8) and Sydni Harden (ages 9-12).

OCTA Offers Youth Summer Pass The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is encouraging youth to explore their community this summer using the discounted OCTA Youth Summer Pass.

The 30-day Youth Summer Pass is a limited-time discount on the youth monthly pass. It’s being offered to children ages 6 to 18 and costs $20, half off the regular price. It is valid for unlimited rides on the 65 OC Bus routes from June 1 to August 31. The Youth Summer Pass can be purPage 4

chased using the mobile ticketing feature of the OC Bus app.

As part of this year’s promotion, OCTA is offering prizes, including Knott’s Berry Farm tickets, movie theater tickets and gift cards, to a lucky winner each week. To enter, participants are asked to hop on an OC Bus, take a selfie with the special summer bus decal and share their photos on social media using #OCSummerBus. To find out more about the OCTA Youth Summer Pass, visit www.octa.net.

Gem And Mineral Society Meeting is June 21 South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society (SOCGEMS) will hold its monthly meeting from 7:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on June 23 at the San Clemente Community Center, located at 100 N. Calle Seville.

The topics of discussion will center on turquoise, which will be presented by Dayton Simmons, a turquoise trader from New Mexico who has spoken throughout the U.S. Simmons speaks around the country on the criteria of education from the Gemological Institute of America. He will bring many samples and will have items for sale. Bring your own turquoise to be identified. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.

For more information, visit www.socgems.com.

Local Company Seeks South Orange County Applicants Architecture Design Collaborative (ADC), a top 30 National Design Firm is hiring for its Corporate Headquarters located in Laguna Hills. Currently we have a need for PM’s, job captains, entry-level or intern designers. To learn more about ADC visit our web-site at: www.adcollaborative.com. Call today at 949.267.1660 and ask for Shaun Garrett or email sgarrett@ adcollaborative.com.

Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com. www.danapointtimes.com

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News Next Door

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

ground in south San Clemente. On Monday, SafeWize, which tracks FBI data of cities, ranked San Clemente the 25th “safest city” in California. —Eric Heinz

SAN CLEMENTE

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

OC Coroner: Skull Found in San Clemente Determined to be Human At 1 p.m. on Friday, June 2, Orange County Sheriff’s Department announced the remains found in San Clemente on Thursday, June 1, are from a human being. The investigation is now being turned over to the OCSD homicide unit.

Lt. Lane Lagaret of OCSD said the remains that were found included a skull and some pieces likely from it. Some teeth were also found in it, and the Orange County Coroner will examine them for dental records to possibly identify the deceased. Nothing else was found, Lagaret said. OCSD will also check missing persons records.

The remains were found by a “hiker” early afternoon on Thursday, June 1, according to police, but some witnesses have said it was a biologist in the area doing field work.

The hillside where the remains were found is known to have multiple encampments of homeless people where deputies frequently issue trespassing citations and have them removed.

Because of the remote location, OCSD used helicopters to airlift deputies and experts in and out of the area, according to Lt. Lane Lagaret, and make it safer and more effective than making them walk through the foliage.

It could take some time for forensics to extract any DNA from the bones, and officials said they don’t have a timeline for when more information will be released. San Clemente has had few homicides in the last five years. One in 2014, a murder-suicide, and another in 2015 in which a homeless man was killed near the San Mateo Camp-

San Juan’s Free Weekend Trolley Service Starts June 9 Following a year-long hiatus, the San Juan Capistrano summer trolley service is set to return on June 9 for 13 consecutive weekends. The free trolley service will run through Labor Day, taking riders along a continuous loop from downtown San Juan to the Dana Point trolley connection stop at Stonehill Drive and Del Obispo Street.

The city is leasing two trolleys this year, built in Crandon, Wisconsin. City staff said that by adding a trolley to this year’s service, wait times should only be 20 minutes rather than the 40-minute waits riders may have experienced in 2015.

“I am excited to see the growth of our San Juan Capistrano summer trolley program,” said Mayor Kerry Ferguson. “Staff members have implemented many adjustments to this year’s program to build on the success of our first program two years ago. By expanding to two beautiful new trolleys, we have been able to connect with Dana Point’s trolleys and cut our wait times in half.”

Hours of operation are Fridays 5-10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Riders can use a trolley tracker app called “Ride Services” to see the realtime schedule of each trolley.

The majority of the $154,000 trolley program is funded with Measure M2 and air quality grants from the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Any questions or comments regarding the trolley service can be directed to the city’s public works office at 949.443.6339.

—Allison Jarrell

The San Juan Capistrano Summer Trolley will return on Friday, June 9. Photo: File

Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

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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.

Tuesday, June 6 ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY La Paz Avenue, 33800 Block (3:21 p.m.) A man said a dog ran out of a house and reportedly attacked him.

DISTURBANCE Danamaple, 24900 Block (2:09 p.m.) Police were called for four juveniles playing “ding dong ditch.”

OPEN DOOR Calle Portola, 34500 Block (11:07 a.m.) A man said he saw his neighbor’s dog outside and went over and the door was wide open.

DISTURBANCE-MECHANICAL Camino Capistrano/Del Rey (5:47 a.m.) Police were called for a loud delivery truck behind the business.

FISH & GAME VIOLATIONS Seal Rock (3:39 p.m.) Police were called for a person fishing in the marine protected zone.

INDECENT EXPOSURE Sherwood Way, 24800 Block (1:01 a.m.) Two men were reportedly walking back and forth across the street naked and laughing.

Monday, June 5 DISTURBANCE Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (9:50 p.m.) Police were called for six individuals who were reportedly being loud in the jacuzzi.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Dana Point Harbor Drive/Street of the Golden Lantern (9:34 p.m.) A bike, backpack and a duffel bag were found on the corner.

DRUNK DRIVING Street of the Amber Lantern, 33900 Block (7:53 p.m.) Police were called for a man seen sitting in his vehicle drinking beer.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34400 Block (6:05 p.m.) A caller told police they received information about a person who may have been breaking into vehicles.

RECKLESS DRIVING Pacific Coast Highway/ Dana Point Harbor Drive (3:54 p.m.) A driver was seen cutting off drivers and driving at a high speed.

Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

GRAND THEFT J Dock #49 (2:02 p.m.) A man told police two of his paddleboards were missing. He said they are approximately $2,000.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Beach Road, 35000 Block (10:34 a.m.) A caller told police someone was flying a drone near the helicopter.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Stonehill Drive, 33300 Block (8:20 a.m.) Police were called about two women and a man who were reportedly knocking on doors and asking for items.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Del Obispo Street/Quail Run (9:26 a.m.)

Police were called for people who were reportedly drinking and blocking the trail.

DISTURBANCE Camaron, 32700 Block (7:51 a.m.) A woman was seen going door to door to ask for a ride.

Sunday, June 4 DISTURBANCE La Cresta Drive, 24200 Block (9:32 p.m.) Police were called for people being loud while playing basketball.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Quail Run, 25600 Block (12:07 a.m.) Police were called for man who was seen digging in the grass and it looked like he was attempting to remove a sprinkler head.

Thursday, June 1

DISTURBANCE Dana Point Harbor Drive, 24900 Block (8 p.m.) A caller told police a woman was refusing to leave and was reportedly harassing other customers.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT Quail Run, 25600 Block (9:50 p.m.) A driver hit a fire hydrant.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Palo Alto Street, 33500 Block (8:08 p.m.) A woman reportedly walked into the caller’s house and refused to leave.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Dana Point Harbor Drive, 25300 Block (6:06 p.m.) A man was seen walking in the area with a syringe in his hand.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway/Del Obispo Street (7:51 p.m.) A woman told police a man was spitting and cursing at her and refused to leave her alone.

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street, 34000 Block (1:32 p.m.) Police were called for two men and a woman reportedly in a physical fight.

DISTURBANCE Captains Lane/Lighthouse Drive (7:52 p.m.) Two children were seen going door to door to sell candy.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT Crown Valley Parkway/ Sea Island Drive (10:42 a.m.) A single vehicle hit the median.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Doheny Park Road, 34100 Block (5:42 p.m.) A man and a woman were seen smoking out of a glass pipe inside a vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE El Encanto Avenue, 33700 Block (5:03 a.m.) A woman told police two or three men rang her doorbell and asked her for help.

DRUNK DRIVING Pacific Coast Highway/ Camino Capistrano (5:18 p.m.) A driver was seen running red lights and swerving.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Via Valor/ Camino Capistrano (12:51 a.m.) Police were called for people playing beer pong in the backyard.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Pacific Coast Highway/Street of the Golden Lantern (4:12 p.m.) Police were called for skateboarders in the park.

Friday, June 2 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE South Coast Highway/Pacific Coast Highway (8:38 p.m.) A caller told police a man was driving with multiple bikes on the top rack and believed they belonged to someone else.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT Pacific Coast Highway, 34600 Block (8:56 p.m.) A car and a motorhome were involved in a crash.

DISTURBANCE Via Sacramento, 26400 Block (7:39 a.m.) A woman told police she could see a group of juveniles passing around a white bong.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (8:17 p.m.) A man reportedly broke down a price sign.

DISTURBANCE Quail Run/Del Obispo Street (1:58 a.m.) A caller said they could hear people yelling from the bike path and could see their flashlights from their bikes.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT Street of the Golden Lantern/Acapulco Drive (2:15 p.m.) Four vehicles were involved in an accident.

DISTURBANCE Street of the Golden Lantern/ Selva Road (1:18 p.m.) Juveniles were seen throwing notebooks and papers all over the sidewalks.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Pacific Coast Highway/Ritz-Carlton Drive (5:05 a.m.) A man was seen driving in the area randomly.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Azul Drive, 27000 Block (5:34 a.m.) A man was seen checking door handles and then reportedly ducking and hiding behind parked cars when a car drove by.

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Community Meetings SATURDAY, JUNE 10

Dana Point Farmer’s Market

9 a.m. There will be fresh produce and treats for sale at the Farmers Market.

La Plaza Park. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point. 949.279.3122.

MONDAY, JUNE 12

Planning Commission Meeting

6 p.m. Members of the Planning Commission will meet in Council Chambers.

Dana Point City Hall. 33282 Street of the Golden Lantern.

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

Veteran’s Assistance-VFW Post 9934

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.

Financial Review Committee Meeting

4 p.m. Members of the Committee will meet in Dana Point Council Chambers.

Dana Point City Hall. 33282 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

Because I Love You (BILY) Meeting

7-9 p.m. every Tuesday. BILY helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. 119 Avenida De La Estrella, San Clemente. www.bilysc.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

Third Thursday Mixer

5:30-7:30 p.m. Join the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce for the third Thursday mixer at Bella Collina. Tickets are $12 for members, $20 for prospective members and guests. 200 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente. www.danapointchamber.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 16

Action Associates

7:30 a.m. Members of the networking group meet every Friday at RJ’s for networking. Membership is $45 and includes breakfast. Guests must RSVP before the meeting at actionassoc@ gmail.com.

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DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

by Norb Garrett

Welcome to the Team!

W

e’re pleased to announce and welcome Rachael Mattice to the Picket Fence Media team.

Rachael joins us as our new Group Managing Editor. An excellent writer and editor, Rachael joins us after gaining experience at such media outlets as OC Weekly and The Indianapolis Star.

She also worked most recently as managing editor for the content team of a local health services company and has been living in the San Clemente area for the past few Picket Fence Media’s months. Welcome new Group Managing aboard, Rachael! DP Editor Rachael Mattice.

Letters to the Editor WILD LIFE AND THE SAN JUAN CREEK CRAIG SINK, Dana Point

We live in the hills above the San Juan Creek near the Harbor. Last month a wild mallard hen walked into our garage through an open door. She had 11 young ducklings in tow and she appeared to be stressed. She must have been stressed to approach one of her natural predators; humans. The indigenous Indians, who lived along San Juan Creek before the Spaniards arrived, tied stones to woven nets so as to cast the nets over the ducks to catch them.

They also fished and took turtles from the creek. You can see artist’s renditions of this at the Mission San Juan Capistrano.

My guess was that our visitors were the decedents of the ducks that Indians had hunted for hundreds, if not, thousands of years.

We didn’t try to eat our visiting ducks but we fed them instead. They stayed in our backyard for four days with mother duck flying down to the San Juan Creek daily. She would fly back up after a few

GUEST OPINION: Council’s Corner by Mayor Pro Tem Paul Wyatt

City Government Needs Community Engagement

W

hen I decided to run for Dana Point City Council, one of my campaign promises was to give a voice to the residents; to be their representative to city government. Accomplishing this goal requires great two-way communications with a broad cross-section of the residents. As I approach six months in office, I’m learning that keeping this promise is more difficult than expected.

I’ve had many discussions with my fellow council members and with city staff where decisions could have benefited by a better understanding of the residents’ priorities.

The Institute for Local Government encourages cities to move from community communications to community engagement; to effectively involve the community in priorities and policies.

Online technologies can allow residents to provide input at their convenience and make it possible to reach diverse audiences. A broader audience provides a broader perspective that better represent the larger community. A small number of residents are very involved in city government, they attend Council meetings or watch them online, speak to or email the Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

Councilmembers and provide feedback.

These interactions, while helpful and appreciated, provide a very limited perspective that we in government must work to broaden.

As the city of Dana Point enters Fiscal Year 2018 on July 1, the City Council has directed the city staff to initiate a prioritybased budgeting process. A key input to this is a poll of the residents. It is the intent of the city to repeat this poll every two years so priorities can be adjusted at each budget cycle. For this to be as effective as possible the polls need to reach all residents and the residents need to believe that participating in the polls is worthwhile. This is one tool that the city hopes will result in a sustained engagement with its residents.

Community engagement relies on and promotes better informed participants.

Traditionally cities have relied on the news media for their communication with residents and today this is still largely true. City web sites contain event information and meeting minutes for those specifically seeking this information but do not publish information to a broad au-

hours and stay the night. On the third day she returned with a drake and on the fourth day she led her ducklings down to the San Juan Creek on foot, across Del Obispo Street!

I’m pleased that wild ducks still return to the San Juan Creek and nest in the hills above it, but I’m saddened and disappointed that the water quality in the creek is so poor. It doesn’t have to be that way. In the May 19-25, 2017 issue of Dana Point Times there was mention that “at Salt Creek, the city operates an ozone treatment facility that treats dry weather flows at the outlet for bacteria and potential pathogens” and that “the city has made vast improvements in water quality.” The dry weather water in the San Juan Creek could be treated too.

We may have to treat further upstream to benefit wildlife but that is do-able on a regional basis, with other cities and perhaps the County of Orange participating.

Improvements in the environment improve our lives and the lives of future generations. It’s worth the effort to clean up our creeks and streams.

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.

dience. The Western Cities Magazine, June 2017 article titled “10 Changes Shaping Local Government Communications,” states that cities can “no longer rely on the media to interpret and distribute our organization’s news COUNCIL'S CORNER and perspectives.” TechBy Paul Wyatt nology now provides cities, and everyone else, direct, unfiltered, immediate access to their audiences. But tools and access only provide the opportunity; transparency, accuracy, and authenticity are essential to overcome skepticism and truly engage our residents.

Once trust is established, the city can provide essential information with appropriate levels of detail to better inform residents. Whether the audience likes the message or not, trust is built by trustworthy, relevant communications.

When all segments of our community are engaged in key public decisions and the decision-makers’ choices are driven by their best sense of the public’s interest, I’ll feel that I have achieved my campaign promise…but not until! DP

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

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Group Managing Editor > Rachael Mattice City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

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

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point) Dana Point Times, Vol. 10, Issue 23. 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.

FOLLOW THE DANA POINT T IMES 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

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Top Student Aims to Motivate Classmates for Future Successes Scholar of Scholars SPEECH By Jazi John, Dana Hills High SchooL CLASS of 2017 President McNicholas, Dr. Amerson, Dr. Allemann, Parents and Family, Staff, and the Class of 2017: Dana Hills, it feels absolutely fantastic to graduate at last, but we must never forget to express our gratitude to those who helped us achieve our accomplishments: thank you faculty, administrators, custodians, teachers, and, of course, family.

Now before spreading our wings, or fins, we mustn’t forget the fun of laughing at all those

memes, memorizing incoherent rap lyrics, cringing at those “dabs” and “whips,” and regurgitating nonsensical “inside jokes” from social media. The nostalgia is palpable.

Regardless, we should look forward towards our future goals and aspirations, future achievements and, most importantly, future failures. I would love to say that a fertile breeding ground for opportunity awaits our arrival into the grownup realm, but unfortunately, it’s not waiting for anyone. This is why, we, as proud Dolphins, need to dive into the world prepared, yet we also have to be ready and unafraid to fall flat on our faces.

At the moment, our generation, as all generations before us, is stereotyped as being lazy, naïve, rebellious, and worst of all, afraid to fail. But as Dolphins, we can lead the charge against these stereotypes with self-direction and internal motivation.

Whether we are headed to higher education or working toward the beginning of a career, let us take some responsibility for perpetuating some of these negative stereotypes. We must prove to skeptical baby boomers and generation Xers that we can

utilize our array of advancing technologies and make positive impacts on our society in fields of work or study that may not even exist yet. We must use our innovative and creative minds to improve every area of our existence, from our environment to our economy and even to our humanity. Most of all, though, we have to exemplify the ideas of self-motivation and redemption for our generation by inspiring others with our own success stories.

I am happy to be overly optimistic when I assume that all of us will be successful because, after all, failure is inevitable. Yet learning and trying again after a failure is a success in itself. So to truly inspire our future coworkers and classmates, we must be willing to fail far more than any previous generation. However, we must also be willing to try harder and repeatedly more than any previous generation. I understand its cliché Dana, but here’s my advice to you: you will fail, it’s inevitable, but when you get knocked down, show your grit, overcome, and persevere.

Thank you, Class of 2017.

Dana Hills High School GRADUATING Class of 201 Scholar of Scholars Jazi John Valedictorian’s (students with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher) are listed in bold type. The Scholar of Scholars (the student with the highest weighted GPA) appears in blue. Students earning academic distinction for GPAs of 3.5 to 3.99 are noted with an asterisk (*). National Honor Society students are in italics.

Sheila Abazari Alyssa Acevedo Diana Acuna Haya Adhami* Nikita Adickes Jason Aguilar Kristen Ahmann Carla Albear Rose Albert Kyle Alexander Anneka Allert Sydney Allison* Salma Alonso Escobar Isabella Alston Irvin Alvarez Alvin Andraca Karina Aparicio Allison Aplin Alexis Apresa John Arce Sarah Arce

Christopher Arizmendi *Charlotte Armani* David Aronne Nicole Auch Calvin Joshua Aurelio Nathaniel Avila Kiana Aznavian Manqing Ba* Sydney Baba* Nikole Bainum Christopher Barker Maarten Barnhoorn* Trevor Bashor Lainey Bayr* Lauren Beatty Costa Beavin* Haley Becker Sarah Bell* Terence Bello Henny Beltran* Kelin Benrubi Maximus Bevan Joseph Birecree-Escalona Madisen Bishop Thomas Blackwelder Owen Bolt Rebecca Bonar Charles Bortnick Nicholas Botts Michael Boutoussov Erol Boyar Kelso Bradshaw

Emma Bray Molly Brennan* Jasmine Brewster Michael Bridgeman* Brian Brocato David Brothers Hailey Brower* Troy Brown Stephen Brugger Everett Brunelle Blake Brunenieks Maggy Budreau Blake Bunce Emma Bunim Bradley Burke* Sean Cahillane Elvis Calderon* Litzy Calzado Ortega Easton Campbell Dylan Campeau

Josh Canales Cameron Canizales Mishelle Carbonell Luis Cardoza Soto Edwin Carney Maddison Carney Cassidy Carpenter Nicholas Carr Austin Carroll Carson Carroll* Emily Carter Lauryn Carter Kaelyn Casazza* Ramon Castaneda Allison Cease Brendan Cerutti* Adam Champ Katie Champ* Sarah Champ Brian Chen Derek Cheng Lance Chimenti* Makayla Chute Leslie Cigarroa Jeremy Ciolek Avery Clark Shannon Cleary* John Cobb Jack Cochran* Meagan Cocuzzo* Adam Cole Tyler Conger* John Connole Madison Conrad* Madeline Conry Ashley Coon Brandon Cornell Chloe Corral Jessica Cortes Velasquez Jeremy Cortez* Javier Covarrubias Aguirre River Covey Natalie Craig Rosin Crosby* Hans Crouse Cameron Crugnale

Mitchel Csermak Cody Curtis Jacob Dalton Jennifer Daly* Kamran Damavandi Camille Damore Anastassios Daoussis* Margaret Daugherty Sean Davis Yashoda De* Nathan Dean Joseph DeBaca* Paige DeFiori* Hunter DeGraw Davis DeGroote Katelyn Deichmann* Travis Deming Berkeley DePrisco Thomas DeStefano* Dean Diakov Godfrey Diamsay Alan Diaz Michael DiCamillo Alexander Dodson Ivana Donahoe Kate Donaldson* Brenna Dougherty Brittney Dunn Erika Dunning* Diana Duran Dylan Dusablon Roscoe Eastin Harrison Edmunds Andrew Efthymiou* Seth Eisenberg Thomas Elliott Amanda Ellis Kevin Ellison Marcus Espinoza Iris Estrada Rowan Everly Delaney Ewing* Elizabeth Ewing David Fabian Gutierrez Kalani Fajardo (Continued)

Caroline Fallon* Shayla Fant Kamand Farahbod* Sophia Fazli Megan Finch Ezra Fisher James Fitch Alexander Fleming Maxwell Fleming Hannah Flores Riley Forbes Jonathan Foster Carly Fox* Abygail Fredrick Christopher French Courtney Frickman Alexander Friend Christopher Gabriel Lyhzy Garcia Mario Garcia Aguirre Griffin Garrett Matthew Gartlan* Chloe Gaynor Camryn Geske* Jacqueline Getz* Mona Ghalbi Jennah Ghanem Nicholas Giaccone Dalila Gomez Natally Gomez Maria Gonzalez Keelen Goodfield Reilly Goodfield

Hannah Gregory Conner Griffo* Sydney Gunn Kara Hadley* Maya Hahn* Margaux Hakkaart Kyra Hale* Kyler Haley Madison Haltom Brandon Hamedani* Sydnie Harder* Kaley Hardgrave Jacob Harkey* Evan Harper* Benjamin Harris Kiana Hashemi Jack Hattabaugh Shane Healey Cristian Hernandez Martin Hernandez Jorge Hernandez Flores Hayden Hill* Sarah Hill Tawny Hines Michael Hoagland Erik Hoostal Hannah Hornby Yasaman Hosseinipour Brandon Hough Alyssa House Chase Howard Gabriella Howard Mason Howard

Nicole Hughes* Jeremy Ingraham Tamara Jafar Scott James* Nathan Jenkins* Caroline Jensen Michael Jersey Bridger Johnson Natalie Johnson Parker Johnson Jazi Jon Jenna Jones Madeline Jones Steven Jones Jake Justesen Kathryn Kaloroumakis Spencer Kammerman William Kari Reece Kartchner Sara Kelly Daniel Kenduck* Fatemeh Khanmohammadi Kacy Kim* Matthew Kirk Alec Kirste Katherine Kivinski Gillian Klabouch Hannah Klause* Krystal Klause Brandon Klein Karli Kuch Trevor Kuntz (Continued)

Edina Kuras Caitlin Kwok Halle Lacy Jose Lagunas Fabian Neyla Lara Lisa Lawrence Riley Lawsin Brandon Laxson Juanito Ledezma Hiromi Lee Sandra Lee* Scout Lemire Adam Levy Mariah Lightner* Isabella Lino Alexa Liriano* Angelica Liuzzi* Kaylee Lizakowski Mikayla LoBasso Anthony Lombardo Jennifer Lomeli Hernandez* Adrian Lopez* David Lopez Oscar Lopez Ramos Elisabeth Raye Louis Humberto Loya Ryder Lynch Cole Lyon Bradon Macaluso Katelyn Mackey Aidan Mahony Heather Maitino

Theodore Malpass Kimberly Mancilla Merida Kiana Mannani Benjamin Maranda Grant Marcoux Adrian Marietti Grecia Marin Lauren Marocchi Benjamin Martin Ithan Martin Zambrano

Karla Martinez Patsy Martinez Riann Martino* Brian Mason Sophie Matsumoto Jordan Matthews Cameron Mayo Samantha McGowan Jack McLaughlin Rachel McNeal

Sophie Means Yousef Medhat Alexis Mendez Monica Mendoza Valladares* Veronica Mendoza Valladares* Madison Mesko Ashley Michel Justus Miertschin Annabelle Miller Jason Miller

Nicholas Miller* Justin Minagar Makenzie Mitchell Ashlyn Molyneaux* Benjamin Momtahan Theodore Moore Melenie Morales Oscar Moreno Perez Jasmine Mosavi Amanda Moscoso Tinsley Moser Daniel Moynahan Patrick Mullen Luke Myer Madison Myers Sylvia Nalbantian Jessica Nash Stefanie Nava Rumbo* Jordyn Neal Kayla Nease Nathan Nelson Maxwell Neuharth Hannah Newkirk* Rachel Newman Thanh Ngo Jordan Nolte Blake Nourse* Jaylene Nunez Morgan Nusz Camryn O’Brien Alexander Olea (Continued)

Evan Oliver Reagan Orloff Maximilien Osborne-Thacker Michael Padilla Emily Pai Natalie Parada Sade Parks Rachel Parriott Serafine Parrish Elise Parsaee Caitlin Pasqualino Ashley Patrick* Michaela Patterson* Mitchell Paul Rachel Payne Trent Pellini* Samantha Perez Sergio Perez Kimberly Perez Flores Steven Perkins Brendan Petersen Maxwell Peterson Jackson Phan Jacob Phillips Tatum Phillips Mason Pieri Joseph Pineda Orozco Taylor Plett Gianna Poching Jarod Poching Arjun Ponmalai Christion Pouchie Madison Psutka Giovanna Putrino* James Quick Fisher Quigley Jackson Rager Mika Rajkumar*

John Rapp Payton Raymer Katherine Redden Maximilian Reichardt Meryl Reinhart* Alora Reyes Joseph Rice Claire Richards Taylor Richardson Taylor Riedl Alexander Riiska* Lillian Riley Jennifer Rinefort Alexis Rios Calvo Charlyn Ritchie Ashly Rivadeneyra Aiza Alexandra Roberto Rhiannon Rode Marcel Rodriguez Shawn Rodriguez Vanessa Rodriguez Abigail Rodriguez-Ortiz Annika Roe Stephen Rogers Leslie Rojas Charles Roman Lucas Ronai* Nancy Rosales Pliego Alexandria Rosas Gregory Ross Juliet Ross Christian Roth Jason Rothman Jacob Rowley Brigette Ruch Jordy Ruiz Joseph Rusciano* Carlee Russo

Mariah Ryan Kyle Saavedra Desiree Sabri Saman Sadeghi Luke Salari Gissel Salgado Branson Salhus Joshua Sanchez Rachel Sanchez Yazbecht Sanchez Manuel Santiago Natilie Santillan Jack Sarkissian* Payton Saso* Albert Satanek Sarah Scalisi Kenneth Schuelke Zachary Schuman* Maximilian Schwarz Carson Schwegmann Vladyslav Shaternik Amanda Shontere Tovie Shreves Ashley Shubin Chandler Sieverts* Robert Sim Amber Sislin* Kyle Skjonsby Joan Soewondo Joseph Sosa Loretta Sosa Ortiz Michael Sostenez Osorio Anastasia Soteropoulos Adam Soto Colin Sowers Eddie Spencer Hayley Sperber Paige Spoelder* Cameron Stairs Kyle Stanfield Lyla Steen

Alexandra Stephens Trevor Stephens Kaeley Sterkel Sean Stippick Hannah Stirling* Zachariah Stirtz Brian Suarez Loryssa Tade Sasha Tamaddon Natalie Tapia Adrienne Taylor Skyla Taylor* Elaina Thompson* Megan Thurman Sidney Timsit* Shaylee Tompkins Matthew Tonks* Sydney Toole Paul Topps Connor Tornez Rebecca Toubman Tanner Tracy Natalie Tran Nhi Tran* Tatum Trottman John Turner Jonathan Uhler* Angel Valdez Deven Valenzuela Christopher Valeriano Thomas Van Hoomissen* Madison Vance Eliana Vangelos* Ariana Vargas Yasmine Vargas Justin Vas Elizabeth Vasquez Angel Velasquez Gomez Anayeli Velazquez Olvera Yasmeen Villamil Mary Villanueva

Ricardo Vivas Annalese von Gremp Jarod Vujovich Whitney Wachtel Nicholas Wagener Abby Wagner Noah Wagner Brian Wahlstrom* Troy Walker Jacob Wallin Kyle Watkins Dylan Watson* Lindsay Webb Matthew Wehan Anthony Wells Brad Wesselman Aaron Wetzel Allyson White* Alyssa White* Rachel White Katherine Whitham Thomas Wilfert Alexandria Williams Logan Williams Hayden Williamson* Talia Williamson Kaylynn Wilson* Maylee Wilson Russell Winer Alison Witmer Justin Wolcott Miranda Wolford Saranya Wongtawan Zachary Worcester Keilani Wright Cara Young Asenath Younger Skylar Zimmerman* Jack Zimmermann Cooper Zoch Ariana Zokaeiyazdi

Awards Honors National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students Erol Boyar Stephen Brugger Derek Cheng Natalie Craig Dean Diakov Jazi Jon Spencer Kammerman Brandon Klein Adam Levy Sophie Masumoto William Mol Reagan Orloff Alyssa White

National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist Taylor Plett Kyle Stanfield

National Merit Special Scholarship Recipient Mitchel Csermak

National Hispanic Recognition Program Recipients Sara Kelly Marcel Rodriguez Edward Spencer Kyle Stanfield

California Scholarship Federation Highest Honors Kristen Ahmann Kiana Hashemi Jasmine Hosseinipour Katie Kivinski Caitlin Kwok Heather Maitino Kiana Mannani Sophie Matsumoto Jason Miller Patrick Mullen Reagan Orloff Elise Parsaee Caitlin Pasqualino Taylor Plett Charlyn Ritchie Charlie Roman Juliet Ross

Amanda Shontere Hayley Sperber Loryssa Tade Sydney Toole Natalie Tran Whitney Wachtel Nicholas Wagener Alyssa White Aly Witmer

California Scholarship Federation Honors Allison Aplin Mandy Ba Natalie Craig Patrick Mullen Emily Pai Mitchell Paul Gissel Salgado Thomas Van Hommissen

Golden State Seal Merit Diploma Sheila Abazari Haya Adhami Nikita Adickes Kristen Ahmann Carla Albear Rose Albert Sydney Allison Isabella Alston Allison Aplin Sarah Arce Charlotte Armani Nicole Auch Manqing Ba Sydney Baba Maarten Barnhoorn Lainey Bayr Costa Beavin Sarah Bell Henny Beltran Kelin Benrubi Madisen Bishop Thomas Blackwelder Rebecca Bonar Charles Bortnick Nicholas Botts Michael Boutoussov Erol Boyar Kelso Bradshaw Emma Bray Molly Brennan Jasmine Brewster Michael Bridgeman Brian Brocato Hailey Brower Everett Brunelle Emma Bunim Bradley Burke Sean Cahillane

Elvis Calderon Litzy Calzado Ortega Easton Campbell Cameron Canizales Maddison Carney Carson Carroll Kaelyn Casazza Allison Cease Brendan Cerutti Adam Champ Katie Champ Sarah Champ Brian Chen Derek Cheng Lance Chimenti Avery Clark Shannon Cleary Jack Cochran Meagan Cocuzzo Adam Cole Tyler Conger John Cannole Madison Conrad Madeline Conry Ashley Coon Brandon Cornell Jessica Cortes Velasquez Jeremy Cortez River Covey Natalie Craig Rosin Crosby Cameron Crugnale Mitchel Csermak Cody Curtis Jennifer Daly Camille Damore Anastassios Daoussis Yashoda De Joseph DeBaca Paige DeFiori Hunter DeGraw Katelyn Deichmann Thomas DeStefano Dean Diakov Godfrey Diamsay Michael DiCamillo Kate Donaldson Brenna Dougherty Erika Dunning Dylan Dusablon Andrew Efthymiou Seth Eisenberg Thomas Elliot Amanda Ellis Kevin Ellison Marcus Espinoza Delaney Ewing Kalani Fajardo Caroline Fallon Shayla Fant Kamand Farahbod Carly Fox Abygail Fredrick Christopher French Courtney Frickman Alexander Friend Matthew Gartlan Chloe Gaynor Camryn Geske Jacqueline Getz Jennah Ghanem Nicholas Giaccone Natally Gomez (Continued)

Keelen Goodfield Reilly Goodfield Conner Griffo Kara Hadley Maya Hahn Kyra Hale Madison Haltom Brandon Hamedani Sydnie Harder Kaley Hardgrave Jacob Harkey Evan Harper Kiana Hashemi Shane Healey Hayden Hill Sarah Hill Michael Hoagland Hannah Hornby Yasaman Hosseinipour Brandon Hough Alyssa House Nicole Hughes Jeremy Ingraham Tamara Jafar Scott James Nathan Jenkins Caroline Jensen Michael Jersey Bridger Johnson Natalie Johnson Parker Johnson Jazi Jon Madeline Jones Steven Jones Jake Justesen Kathryn Kaloroumakis Spencer Kammerman William Kari Sara Kelly Daniel Kenduck Fatemeh Khanmohammadi Kacy Kim Alec Kirste Katherine Kivinski Gillian Klabouch Hannah Klause Krystal Klause Brandon Klein

Caitlin Kwok Lisa Lawrence Riley Lawsin Brandon Laxson Hiromi Lee Sandra Lee Scout Lemire Adam Levy Mariah Lightner Alexa Liriano Angelica Liuzzi Kaylee Lizakowski Mikayla LoBasso Anthony Lombardo Jennifer Lomeli Hernandez Adrian Lopez Elisabeth Louis Cole Lyon Aidan Mahony Heather Maitino Kiana Mannani Benjamin Maranda Grant Marcoux Lauren Marocchi Benjamin Martin Riann Martino Brian Mason Sophie Matsumoto Rachel McNeal Sophie Means Yousef Medhat Monica Mendoza Valladares Veronica Mendoza Valladares Madison Mesko Justus Miertschin Annabelle Miller Jason Miller Nicholas Miller Justin Minagar Ashlyn Molyneaux Benjamin Momtahan Theodore Moore Jasmine Mosavi Patrick Mullen Luke Myer Madison Myers Stefanie Nava Rumbo Jordyn Neal

Kayla Nease Maxwell Neuharth Hannah Newkirk Rachel Newman Thanh Ngo Jordan Nolte Blake Nourse Morgan Nusz Evan Oliver Reagan Orloff Maximilien Osborne-Thacker Emily Pai Natalie Parada Sade Parks Rachel Parriott Serafine Parrish Elise Parsaee Caitlin Pasqualino Ashley Patrick Michaela Patterson Mitchell Paul Trent Pellini Sergio Perez Steven Perkins Brendan Petersen Maxwell Peterson Jackson Phan Mason Pieri Joseph Pineda Orozco Taylor Plett Gianna Poching Arjun Ponmalai Madison Psutka Giovanna Putrino James Quick Fisher Quigley Jackson Rager Mika Rajkumar Katherine Redden Meryl Reinhart Claire Richards Taylor Richardson Taylor Riedl Alexander Riiska Jennifer Rinefort Charlyn Ritchie Alexandra Roberto Marcel Rodriguez

Shawn Rodriguez Stephen Rogers Charles Roman Lucas Ronai Juliet Ross Christian Roth Jason Rothman Brigette Ruch Joseph Rusciano Carlee Russo Desiree Sabri Gissel Salgado Natilie Santillan Jack Sarkissian Payton Saso Kenneth Schuelke Zachary Schuman Maximilian Schwarz Carson Schwegmann Amanda Shontere Chandler Sieverts Amber Sislin Kyle Skjonsby Joan Soewondo Loretta Sosa Ortiz Eddie Spencer Hayley Sperber

Paige Spoelder Kyle Stanfield Alexandra Stephens Kaeley Sterkel Hannah Stirling Zachariah Stirtz Loryssa Tade Skyla Taylor Elaina Thompson Megan Thurman Sidney Timsit Shaylee Tompkins Matthew Tonks Sydney Toole Rebecca Toubman Natalie Tran Nhi Tran John Turner Jonathan Uhler Christopher Valeriano Thomas Van Hoomissen Madison Vance Eliana Vangelos Ariana Vargas Mary Villanueva Ricardo Vivas Annalese von Gremp Whitney Wachtel Nicholas Wagener Noah Wagner Brian Wahlstrom Troy Walker Jacob Wallin Kyle Watson Dylan Watson Aaron Wetzel Allyson White Alyssa White Rachel White Katherine Whitham Tyler Wick Thomas Wilfert Alexandria Williams Logan Williams Hayden Williamson Kaylynn Wilson Alison Witmer Justin Wolcott Miranda Wolford Skylar Zimmerman Cooper Zoch Ariana Zokaeiyazdi

South Orange County School of the Arts (SOCSA) 2017 Graduates Gold Medals Maggy Budreau Carson Carroll Brian Chen Mitchel Csermak Michael DiCamillo Erika Dunning James Fitch Maya Hahn Jeremy Ingraham Michael Jersey Kacy Kim Katherine Kivinski Bella Lino Adrian Lopez Taylor Plett Dylan Watson Silver Medals Hannah Hornby Elisabeth Louis Ashley Patrick Jason Rothman Julian Torres Talia Williamson Bronze Medals Rose Albert Alyssa Acevedo Costa Beavin Blake Brunenieks Elvis Calderon Allison Cease Trevor Kuntz Mikayla LoBasso Kiana Mannani Justus Miertschin Hannah Newkirk Rachel Newman James Quick Remington Rapp Alora Reyes Marcel Rodriguez Desiree Sabri Ashley Shubin Loryssa Tade Elaina Thompson Sidney Timsit Maddy Vance Lindsey Webb

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

SWING FESTIVAL 6-10 p.m. The San Clemente Community Center will be jumping with sounds of music, dancing and good times during the 24th annual “Big Bad-Swing Night.” Period attire from the 1940s and 1950s is welcome! 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente.

949.361.6529. www.sanclementerotary.org.

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF

LIVE MUSIC HARBOR CRUISE 8 p.m. Every Saturday through October 28, join Dana Wharf for a live music cruise around the Harbor. Cali Conscious will perform aboard the Dana Pride. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

34675 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. www.danawharf.com.

Friday | 09 ADULT COLORING CLUB 10 a.m. Bring our your inner artist during the Dana Point Library’s adult coloring club. The class occurs every Friday 10 a.m.-noon. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point.

949.496.5517.

MISSION ART WALK 11 a.m. A docent-guided tour highlighting the art collection of rare paintings related to the Mission’s history. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.234.1300. www.missionsjc.com.

Photo: File

FRIDAY, JUNE 9: DANA POINT TROLLEY HOP 2 p.m. Ride the trolley around the city and participate in the third annual trolley hop. More than a dozen city restaurants will have food and drink specials. A $10 trolley hop mug must be purchased to participate. www.danapointlda.com.

ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m. Join Dana Wharf for a 90-minute evening cruise aboard the luxury catamaran. The cruises run Friday and Sunday evenings. Tickets are $49. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.496.5794. www.danawharf.com.

LIVE MUSIC: OVERVUE LOUNGE 8-11 p.m. Listen to live music in the OverVue Lounge every Friday and Saturday evening. Marriot Laguna Cliffs.

25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.lagunacliffs.com.

MOVIE IN THE PARK 7:30-10 p.m. Bring the family and enjoy a free screening of Zootopia. Bring a low-back chair or a blanket and join the city this summer during the movies in the park. There will be free popcorn. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern Road, Dana Point. 949.248.3536.

SUNSET MOONRISE HIKE 8-10 p.m. Join The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo for a hike in the twilight and the moonlight. The event is for ages 8 and up. Register by Thursday, June 8 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. The Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy. 28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.

LIVE THEATER: STEPPING OUT 8 p.m. The comedy chronicles several months in the life of a beginning dance class. Each of the eight students, who come from a variety of backgrounds, has his or her own reasons for joining. Along the way there is drama, but by the end, not only have the dancers developed some degree of skills, but they’ve overcome inhibitions, awkwardness and personality conflicts. The show runs through July 2.

Tickets range $15-$20. Cabrillo Playhouse.

202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente.

949.492.0465. www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

LIVE THEATER: MORE… SENIOR MOMENTS 8 p.m. When elderly Rose catches her husband with another woman in the nursing home, she decides to go on a quest for sexual adventure. The show continues through June 11. Tickets are $20. Camino Real Playhouse. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

Saturday | 10 SHARK SAFARI 8 a.m. Captain Dave is hosting a shark safari aboard the Fast Cat which offers guests an up-close view at the animals.

The vessel has a capacity of 12 passengers, and seats fill quickly. Tickets are $65.

Shark Safaris run Tuesday through Sunday. Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari.

24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.488.2828. www.dolphinsafari. com/shark-safari.

WHALE WALK AND TALK 9 a.m. The walk focuses on the offshore visitors that can be seen from the Dana Point Headlands. The walk occurs the second Saturday of the month. The two-mile walk begins at the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. RSVP to dpnaturalresources@ danapoint.org or call 949.248.3527. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point.

FROGS ARE YOUR FRIENDS: PONDS AND PUDDLES IN THE GARDEN 9:30-10:30 a.m. Learn from Dr. Leon Baginski about the benefits of having living water in your garden. Leon will discuss how to build and keep a pond. Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

SHARK SEARCH ADVENTURE 11:30 a.m. Join Dana Wharf aboard the OCeanAdventures Catamaran and search for great whites, mako, thresher, blue and hammerhead sharks during a two hour trip. Tickets are $45 per person, $29 for children. Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching. 34675 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 888.2240603. www.danawharf.com.

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Head to the Swallow’s Inn for a full day of music. Food from Lisa’s Kitchen will be available throughout the afternoon. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

SOUTH COAST SINGERS: THROUGH THE YEARS 4 p.m. The musical group will take guests on a fast-paced stroll through the musical lanes of the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Songs from artists Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Everly Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra and more will be included. Tickets range $10-$20 and can be purchased at www. southcoastsingers.org/our-concerts. St. Andrews by the Sea. 2001 Calle Frontera, San Clemente.

Page 23

Sunday | 11 OCEAN INSTITUTE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m. Hop aboard the Ocean Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer this spring for whale watching excursions. Tickets range from $25-$45. Visit the Institute’s website for more dates and times. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.

BEND & BREW 11:30 a.m. iHeartYoga holds a Bend & Brew session at Left Coast Brewing Company’s tasting room in San Clemente. It’s a one-hour yoga class followed by a pint of beer. Admission $10. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

BLUEGRASS & BBQ 4-7 p.m. Enjoy the authentic sounds of Burning Heart Bluegrass Band while dining on barbecue selections.

At 4:30 p.m., Burning Heart Bluegrass will give a special workshop where they’ll discuss the origins of bluegrass music, the role of individual instruments, vocal syles and the state of the music today. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door for adults, children 12 and under are $10 in advance and $13 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at www.lagunabeachlive.org or by calling 800.595.4849. Laguna College of Art & Design. 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

Monday | 12 THIRD STREET WRITERS GROUP INK 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Serious writers who are working on projects including short stories, novels and plays, can meet and share feedback and support. Laguna Beach Library. 363 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach.

949.497.1733.

(Cont. on page 24) www.danapointtimes.com

• • • • •• • •• • • • build with the club running from 3-4 p.m.

There are monthly challenges and guests can learn how to build new creations.

Dana Point Public Library. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point.

6:15 p.m. Cost is $10. Register online at www.ocean-institute.org/guest-lectureseries-sharks or call 949.496.2274. Ocean Institute. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

FREE COMEDY AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 9:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

BEACH CONCERT 6 p.m. Head down to the beach and enjoy music and surf. Fisherman’s Restaurant will provide a BBQ dinner for $8 per person while Wigs & Ties performs. The concert is part of the city of San Clemente’s beach concert series. 7 Pier. 622 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.

Thursday | 15 EDITOR’S PICK Photo: File

SUNDAY, JUNE 11: SAN CLEMENTE CAR SHOW 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Downtown Business Association will host the 22nd Annual Car Show in downtown San Clemente. The show is expected to bring in more than 300 show cars from classic to exotic. The event is free to the public. There will also be slot car races, a rock climbing wall, food trucks and a live band. Family Assistance Ministries will raffle items all day. Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.218.5378. www.villagesanclemente.org.

(Cont. from page 23) COMBAT GOLF TOURNAMENT 11 a.m. Join the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group during the 8th annual tournament to benefit 5th marines and wounded warriors. Tickets are $200 and include golf, lunch, dinner and prizes.

Individuals can also sponsor marines or wounded warriors to play. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club.

26772 Avery Parkway, Mission Viejo. www.danapoint5thmarines.com/ events/2017-combat-golf.

YOGA IN THE PARK 5:30 p.m. Join iHeartYoga for yoga in the park every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this summer. Bring a mat, water bottle and suggested donation of $8. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.

COA IMPROV & COMEDY CLUB 6:30-8 p.m. Community Outreach Alliance is partnering with San Clemente High School Theatre Arts Improve Team to keep teens laughing all summer long. The event is every Monday evening. The event is free and kids middle-school through college are welcome. 1050 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. For more information, contact Teri Steel at coa.teristeel@gmail.com.

Tuesday | 13 HALF-PRICE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Hop onboard this two-hour cruise to see dolphins, whales and other marine life in the wild. $22.50. Half price on Tuesdays but trips are available every day of the week. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.496.5794. www.danawharf.com.

SUNSHINE READERS STORYTIME 11:30 a.m. The Sunshine Readers will entertain children of all ages during the hour-long storytime. Dana Point Public Library. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point.

PEAPOD ACADEMY CHILDREN’S STORYTIME 10:30 a.m.-noon. Join the Peapod Academy for story time. Children can enjoy books, music, finger plays, hands-on activities, arts and crafts and more. Each week there is a different theme. No registration is required. Laguna Beach Library. 363 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach. 949.497.1733.

SHARK LECTURE AT THE OCEAN INSTITUTE 6-8 p.m. Chris Lowe, director of Cal State University Long Beach Shark Lab, will discuss sharks, their behavior and the research done at the lab. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the lecture will begin at

SESSIONS AT STILLWATER 7 p.m. Listen to live music when artists from around the world perform together.

Stillwater Spirits and Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. www.danapointstillwater.com.

LIVE MUSIC: NOT FOR PROFIT BAND 7-10 p.m. Listen to live music at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente.

949.361.2855. www.ivalees.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: ‘Wonder Woman’ Finds Her Way Home

OPEN MIC NIGHT 6-10 p.m. Singer/songwriters perform at The Point Restaurant open mic every Tuesday. Bring your instrument and your voice; The Point supplies the sound system. 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.464.5700. www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

I

t only took over half a century, but after numerous comics, cartoons and TV shows, we finally received a Wonder Woman feature film. Lots of hype had been generated since Gal Gadot was announced as the title character, and expectations waned after the disappointments of the first three attempts by Warner Bros.’ new DC franchise with Man of Steel (2013), Batman vs. Superman (2016) and Suicide Squad (2016).

On a magical Amazonian island, Princess Diana (Gadot) is raised by her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) and her aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright), to be a strong warrior.

When a male stranger by the name of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) suddenly crashes into their world, Diana discovers that there is a war going on back on Earth in 1918. Diana decides to follow him back to his home, not only to help fight, but also to discover her own family background.

Patty Jenkins directs Wonder Woman and makes big steps forward from Zack Snyder’s and David Ayers’ previous

LECTURE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY 7-8:30 p.m. Join the Reserve and discover the weird and wonderful world of bats. Michelle Rivers, bat enthusiast and UK Bat Worker, will tell different facts about the bats that live in neighborhoods and the rest of the world. Participants should register by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13. The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. 28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.

KARAOKE AT GOODY’S 8 p.m. Karaoke every Tuesday night at Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente.

206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

Wednesday | 14 LEGO CLUB 1-4 p.m. All ages are welcome to the Lego Club. From 1-2 p.m. there is a free Page 24

© 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment,, Inc. and Ratpac Entertainment, LLC. Photo Credit: Clay Enos/ TM & © DC Comics

failed attempts with DC. This new movie has a coherent plot and narrative, and the editing is competent this time around.

Gadot and Pine are fine leads with a surprisingly high level of chemistry, and Gadot, in particular, proves the naysayers wrong that she was miscast physically.

The one thing that makes the film decent, rather than great, is the script—particularly the dialogue—which at times comes across as cliché and corny. But for a blockbuster with some new flashy girl power, Woman does fine. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

Recent Widower Thinks Women Should Be Motivated to Date Him

S

teve, a recent widower, contacted me about dating. He wrote, “I just ‘stumbled’ onto your Finding Love after 50 website, trying to educate myself on dating and my next phase in life.

I became a widower in January of this year after a terrific 40-year marriage (together 44, married 40).”

“I am 66 and still working. My wife suffered an accidental death. She was ON LIFE AND an only child, and I am LOVE AFTER 50 now responsible for her

By Tom Blake parents, ages 94 and 93.”

“To get myself moving, I have gone on a couple of dates. The dates went OK, but I have no plans to continue calling them because I see no willingness on their part to continue dating, let alone, have a relationship.”

“My guy friends say I am wrong to give up. I say to let the women ‘get motivated.’ I would like opinions from both genders.”

To comply with Steve’s request for opinions, I asked my On Life and Love after 50 eNewsletter readers for their inputs. Some responses: Kit said, “I’ve been a widow for 25 years.

I urge Steve to get out with groups of people.

He will be ready to move on with another woman when stripping his home of his wife’s special touches does not break his heart. I suggest when he is ready to sell his home, he will make a new place for himself to be comfortable in his singleness. It’s then that he will be ready to form a new relationship.”

Nikol emailed, “I was in a widow and widower support group. My experience with new widowers was they were all in the same big panic to replace their wives. This panic usually lasted two years, and after this period of adjustment, some of them relaxed a bit.

After they learn to live alone and make a nest, they become more comfortable and don’t think about marriage as much.”

Thomas shared, “Regarding men wanting to replace the wife they lost, they rush into it too fast. I have a very good friend who did just that and he is not a happy camper after 10 years.”

Stella was direct, “Steve, at five months widowed, the full impact hasn’t even hit you Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

yet. Allow yourself time to go through all the stages of grief. Get out and about, have fun and be patient. Your time will come.”

Sally stated, “My dad was married to my mom for 42 years, then he married the church casserole ladies: Verna for 15 years, then Clara five years, then he dated Hazel (at 93) who said to him, ‘No, I won’t marry you because all of your wives die!’ She was funny, and they enjoyed a friendship until dad died at 98. He loved the ladies. Some men just need a wife, nurse or a purse.”

Maria said, “Steve is just lonely right now and he’s rushing forward. I’d be scared off if I was asked out by a guy whose partner died five months before.”

Joanie suggested, “Steve might consider taking dance lessons. There are always more women than men, and it’s a way for him to get out into a social scene, meet many women without having to be on a date, and eventually he will meet one who is compatible with him.”

Tom’s thoughts: Likely, the two women that Steve dated sensed he wasn’t ready for a relationship. After all, he had been with his wife since he was 20 years old. What often happens when a new widower begins dating, a nice woman falls in love with him.

A little later, he realizes it’s too soon and pulls the rug out from under her, resulting in a broken heart for her. Not good.

Socializing with new people is important, but entering a dating relationship too soon usually doesn’t work. Widowed people need time to grieve and heal. Besides, he is caregiving his deceased wife’s elderly parents, which is admirable. Most women will not want to interfere with that.

At 66, Steve is still young. When his head is clear and his heart is ready, he will meet some very fine women. But for now, he needs to heal and learn to be on his own.

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. Email: 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

Deputy Zachariah Scott of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and Dana Point Police Services, was honored in front of the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 6. Photo: Courtesy of Dana Point VFW Post 9934.

Deputy of the Year Honored

BY KRISTINA PRITCHETT, DANA POINT TIMES

D

eputy Zachariah Scott of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, was honored on Tuesday, June 6 in front of the Orange County Board of Supervisors in Santa Ana for being the VFW and Orange County Deputy of the Year, as well as the VFW National Deputy of the Year.

Scott is a Dana Point Deputy and was

honored by Dana Point City Council previously for both recognitions.

In attendance was Dana Point Police Chief Lt. Russ Chilton, the commander of operations for Orange County Sheriff’s, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Dana Point VFW Post 9934 Quartermaster Bill Manes, VFW Post 9934 Commander Wayne Yost. DP

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR 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: Medium

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Pet of the Week: Rosebud

R

osebud, 6 months old, is a pretty little kitty in need of a great home.

Though she can be a tad shy, Rosebud loves pets and also gets along well with other cats. Rosebud is a fairly low maintenance kitty who would do best in a quite home with a friendly feline companion.

If you would like to know more about Rosebud, please call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or visit with her at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. DP

Page 26

Rosebud. Photo: San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

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34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

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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

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

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SPECIALTY BEAUTY

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

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Throwing Heat Hans Crouse’s big arm, energy sends him to MLB Draft June 12

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

W

atching Hans Crouse pitch is similar to watching a symphony orchestra play out on a baseball

diamond.

First, the conductor grabs the attention of the crowd.

Before every outing, Crouse, a 6-foot5-inch right-hander, stands behind the mound, takes off his hat, bows his head and points upward as a sign of his faith.

As he settles into his windup, which can fluctuate between a traditional delivery, a shimmy-shake offering or even a quickpitch, the dozens of big league scouts in attendance raise their radar guns in unison behind home plate, signaling to the audience that they are about to witness something special.

Then the music starts.

A devastating 96 mph fastball is the opening note, accompanied by the “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” of the fans in attendance at Dana Hills High School, where Crouse spent the last three years baffling varsity players.

His sharp, downward breaking curveball offers a change in tempo.

His body language, whether he’s laboring through an at-bat or cruising to a one-hit shutout, delivers the excitement of a percussion section. His delivery, which comes across his body, is violent. The fist pumps he makes when he executes would make Tiger Woods proud.

He’s also not afraid to let out a roar when he ends a pressure-packed inning.

“I’m always going to be competitive.

I don’t think it’s something I can tame because it’s who I am out there on the mound,” Crouse said. “After the game I’m fine with being your friend, but during the game I’m not trying to be your friend. My mentality is to attack every hitter and get outs for my team.”

All parts of Crouse’s game add up to a highly-touted prospect that many are projecting to be a first-round pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft on June 12.

Baseball America has Crouse ranked 37th overall in its 2017 draft rankings, and www.mlb.com ranked him the No. 8 high school prospect in March.

The journey to the draft has been a fulfilling one for Crouse, who went from being the skinny freshman to dominating hitters on the world stage in the span of three years.

Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

Hans Crouse celebrates throwing a no-hitter against Tesoro High School in 2016. Crouse was the Dana Hills baseball team’s ace starting pitcher for two seasons. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

HANS CROUSE 2017 SEASON STATS

Hans Crouse is expected to be a first-round pick in the MLB amateur draft on June 12.

Photo: KDahlgren Photography

Crouse broke through onto the Dolphins team as a sophomore, pitching behind his older brother, Marrick. Marrick, who now pitches for USC, was the team’s top pitcher and Hans was No. 2. The desire to get to his brother’s level, coupled with a timely growth spurt that added 15 pounds to his frame, vaulted Crouse into another stratosphere.

He hit 90 mph on the radar gun as a sophomore. The following summer he hit 95 mph.

As a junior, Crouse pitched 73 innings, amassing a 1.15 ERA to go along with 96 strikeouts. He pitched four complete games, threw a no-hitter and won a wild-card playoff game in the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships. In October of 2016, Crouse helped the USA Baseball

IP

W

L

ERA

K

BB

Opp. Avg.

67

7

3

0.88

99

17

.152

18U National Team capture gold at the COPABE Pan American Championships in Mexico. He was the winning pitcher in the gold-medal game against Cuba, where he allowed no runs and struck out 11 in seven innings.

He also developed a slider that summer, which he used to great effect during his stellar senior campaign.

Scouts and large crowds were a regular occurrence at Dolphin Stadium whenever Crouse took the mound this season. The pressure could have gotten him off his game but Crouse never wavered.

Crouse pitched 67 innings as a senior, striking out 99 batters while compiling a microscopic 0.88 ERA. Crouse was the main attraction when the Dolphins played their opening game of the high-profile National High School Invitational in North Carolina in March, where scouts outnumbered fans in the stands.

“I actually enjoy it. It’s a good time for me,” Crouse said of the herd of scouts

Page 28

watching his every move. “The radar guns don’t bother me. It actually gets me more pumped up.”

“I love when he’s pitching because he’s so focused. He’s got a knack for being locked in on everything that’s going on in a baseball game,” Dana Hills coach Tom Faris added.

Crouse recently put the finishing touches on his resume, and now he will wait and see where he goes in the draft.

He recently threw a bullpen session for the Miami Marlins and went to Angels Stadium for a workout on June 6. He said the Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox have also shown serious interest.

Regardless of where he goes, Crouse will be ready to take his wide range of talents with him.

“I have a bit of nerves going. The draft can be such an unpredictable thing. But I’m really excited,” Crouse said. DP www.danapointtimes.com

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.

HELP WANTED LOOKING FOR A DENTAL ASSISTANT TO JOIN OUR FUN, PROFESSIONAL TEAM IN A HIGH-END PERIODONTAL PRACTICE LOCATED IN SAN CLEMENTE! We are a busy, patient centered practice whose mission is to provide the best dental care possible. We are looking for someone who is dynamic, highly self-motivated, fun, positive and professional. Experience in dental Back and/or Front Office is a plus, but we are willing to train the right person.

Current x-ray license and experience taking digital x-rays is a plus.

Duties will include: - Assisting the doctor - Assisting hygienist when needed - Greeting and seating patients - Taking patient x-rays - Taking impressions and pouring models - Sterilization - Room setup and break down - Dental tray setup - Occasional front office tasks (filing, answering phones, making appointments, etc.)

Applicant Should: - Have professional appearance and a customer service approach - Be capable of working in a fast-paced environment - Have excellent phone, conversational, verbal and written skills - Be a proactive team player and work well with all members of our team - Be detail-oriented and extremely wellorganized - Be comfortable working with computers and be able to quickly learn dental software - Be an excellent multi-tasker and efficient with prioritizing tasks - Have a positive personality that is energetic and always motivated to do your best work Pay determined by experience.

Please respond via e-mail to: pammylee987@ gmail.com with resume. We will call you for a quick phone screen, then schedule an inoffice interview.

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Dana Point Times June 9–15, 2017

Page 29

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Down the Line

GROM OF THE WEEK

BREYA BURTON

There’s a lot happening at the beach this June

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

O

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he schools are out and summer is at hand. Now what? Well, there’s not much we can do about the June gloom and sharks, but there’s plenty to look forward to over the next month. There are surf contests, surf camps, musical jams, historical celebrations and all kinds of good stuff to stoke out the soul. For those organized types that keep a calendar and don’t live life based on the surf forecast, here are the key dates to pencil in.

June 13-17: Surfing America 2017 USA Surfing Championships This is the big one! For all the under 18 surfers out there, the USA Surfing Championships have become one of the marquee contests. Taking place in Oceanside this year, San Clemente and Dana Point have a number of rising talented surfers who will vie for a national title. As of press time, Cole Houshmand, Kade Matson and Crosby Colapinto are all sitting in the top 10 of the under 18 rankings, and Matson and Colapinto are sitting first and second in the under 16 division, respectively. If you want to see what the future of American surfing looks like, this is the contest to check it all out. For more information, visit www.surfingamerica.org.

June 17: International Surfing Day This is the best excuse you’ll have all year to blow off work and go surf. The Surfrider Foundation has beach cleanups and events set up around the country. Over the last decade, the movement has helped clear more than 20 tons of trash from beaches. Their goal this year is to get 1 million people to the beach on June 17, and you can be one of them. More information is available at www.surfrider.org.

June 17-19: NSSA National Interscholastic College, High School and Middle School Championships Going down at Salt Creek, the NSSA National Interscholastic Championships is where academics and surfing meet.

San Clemente High School, Shorecliffs Middle School and Saddleback College all enter the contest as favorites to win the title. All three schools are packed with talent and a proven success record. In the words of the Beach Boys, “Be true to your school.” More information is available at www.nssa.org.

Dana Point Times June 9-15, 2017

Crosby Colapinto of San Clemente was crowned the 2016 Boys U16 national champion and earned a spot on the USA Junior Surf Team. This year’s USA Surfing Championships are June 13-17 in Oceanside.

Photo: Surfing America/Jack McDaniel

June 21: Surfers Healing at Doheny This year, Surfers Healing celebrates 20 years of stoke. Their stated goal is “to enrich the lives of people living with autism by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing.” Founded by Israel and Danielle Paskowitz, the work the organization does is truly life-changing. The camp at Doheny this summer is already full for participants, but if you’re keen to lend some moral support, cheer on some real heroes and bask in the sunshine, it’s well worth the effort. For more information, visit www.surfershealing.org.

June 24: Harbour Surfboards Retrospective, Surfing Heritage and Culture Cultural Center Having a resource like the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center right in our backyard should be taken advantage of at every opportunity. Kicking off their summer exhibitions is a retrospective look back at Seal Beach’s Harbour Surfboards. One of the oldest surf brands and surf shops still in operation, in 1959 Rich Harbour started building boards and the tradition continues to this day. Also, SHACC offers ukulele classes on the third Tuesday of every month. More information can be found at www.surfingheritage.org.

State Beach, which is nice. More information is available at www.dohenystatebeach. org.

June 26-July 3: NSSA National Open and Explorer Championships For the hordes of grommets that toil away on the NSSA circuit all season long, the effort comes to a culmination at the annual National Open and Explorer Championships. Stationed at the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, the week-long contest draws kids in from around the country.

The brightest talent from Hawaii, the East Coast and all up and down California shows up in hopes of claiming a national title. Last year, San Clemente’s Cole Houshmand won the open juniors title, and Kirra Pinkerton finished runner-up in the open girls.

If you’ve kept an eye on the Grom of the Week updates you’ll notice that this year the South Orange County competitors are especially savvy. Support the next generation by spending a day or two in Surf City.

Find out more at www.nssa.org. DP

n a mountain bike, the soccer field or at the beach, Breya Burton’s all about making the most out of every minute she has. An 11-year-old at Lobo Elementary School, she counts her brother and father among her biggest surfing influences, inspirations and admirers. We caught up with Breya to find out what keeps her so stoked.

When did you first begin surfing?

I started surfing when I was 8 years old.

My dad taught me at Linda Lane. It’s kind of funny, he taught me to surf by making me stand up on the board before the wave came and then pushing me into it.”

And where’s your spot?

I usually go to San Onofre or T Street.

Sometimes we still go back to Linda Lane.

Besides going surfing, do you enjoy watching the contests?

Yeah, I like to watch the world tour contests on the computer. Sometimes my brother and I make bets over who’s going to win. My favorite surfers are Bethany Hamilton and Mick Fanning. They’re both really inspiring to me.

What’s your favorite thing about surfing?

My favorite thing about surfing is that it’s something I can do with my brother and my dad. I love it.

What’s your idea of a dream surf trip?

If I could go on any surf trip, I’d want to go back to Costa Rica. I went there last year, (but) I had an eye problem. I couldn’t really see, so I couldn’t surf. I want to go back there and surf and enjoy the place with my whole family. DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 60-64 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-7’ Poor-Fair

June 24-25: Doheny Surf Festival Billed as a “menehune” contest, the Doheny Surf Festival will have a little something for everyone. In addition to a contest for the kids, they’re bringing a classic woody car show to the beach, as well as live music, great food, healthy living demonstrations and a beer garden, sponsored

by Kona Brewing (ages 21 and up only).

Proceeds from the event go to Doheny

Outlook: Wave heights gradually come down the back half of the week with small surf due to close out the upcoming weekend. More modest Southern hemi swells due in the longer range. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Page 30

Breya Burton. Photo: Courtesy

www.danapointtimes.com