December 7, 2018

LO C A L

N EWS

December 7-13, 2018 YO U

C A N

U S E

Editor’s Pick: Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights PAGE 10 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 49

DHHS Winter Sports Previews Take a look at the upcoming Dolphin sports season S P O R T S / PAG E 1 4

Dana Hills girls soccer looks to build on its experiences from a year ago and compete in league play and playoffs. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Ocean Safety in Wake of Surfer Death SURF/PAGE 18

New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem Selected EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

www.danapointtimes.com

Aftermath of Capo Beach Destruction EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

DP EYE ON DP

Dana Dana Point Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week

Cleanup and Planning in the Works for Capo Beach THE LATEST: Crews with OC Parks have begun the cleanup process at Capistrano Beach after weather damage and high surf resulted in the collapse of its boardwalk and steps.

Capo Beach and its parking lot have been closed due to weather damage as of Friday morning, Nov. 30. A portion of the boardwalk and steps collapsed due to high surf on Thursday, with further damage seen the next day. An OC Parks employee said on Saturday, Dec. 1 that people who cross the yellow tape will be cited. OC Parks is the agency overseeing the beach’s cleanup and stabilization.

“We will not have any damage estimates or timelines until we are able to get an engineering assessment done,” Marisa O’Neil, a spokesperson for OC Parks, said in an email.

No citations have been issued yet, and the agency asks the public’s cooperation in staying out of the area for their own safety.

Crews started removing debris on Tuesday, Dec. 4. OC Parks had been awaiting utilities clearance, which had not been received until the end of Monday, Dec. 3.

“The focus is clearing debris and hoping to do as much as possible to stabilize the area where the basketball courts and restrooms were prior to the upcoming storm and high tides. Long-term planning and assessment will take more time, so we don’t have any estimates on that yet, or when it will reopen to the public,” O’Neil said.

In a Dana Point City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4, Councilmember Debra Lewis addressed the destruction at Capo Beach and asked city staff what was being done.

“We are aware of the situation, and we have reached out to OC Parks,” said Dana Point City Manager Mark Denny. “They’ve said they’re in the process of putting together a long-term plan. We have spoken to OC Parks to let them know we’ll support them in any way they need.”

WHAT’S NEXT: In an email, O’Neill also added that because long-term planning and assessment will take more time, there are no estimates on that yet, or when it will reopen to the public. O’Neill said the County filed an emergency permit with the California Coastal Commission to stabilize the damaged area with a rock wall, also known as “riprap.” The OC Public Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

The storm- and surf-related destruction at Capistrano Beach was taped off on Saturday, Dec. 2. It remains closed to the public as cleanup crews remove debris. Photo: Lillian Boyd

Works on Wednesday, Dec. 5 used heavy machinery to begin placing 1,000 tons of rocks along the stretch of beach that collapsed last week. —Lillian Boyd

New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem for Dana Point THE LATEST: Dana Point City Council said goodbye to Councilmember John Tomlinson on Tuesday, Dec. 4, before inducting Councilmember Jamey Federico. Tomlinson fulfilled his four-year term and opted not to run for re-election; now Federico will fill the District 3 seat.

Early in the meeting, city council discussed a proposed ordinance on story poles, which would require stakes to be constructed that depict the elevations and silhouette of a proposed structure or an addition to an existing building. City staff had recommended the council discuss the ordinance and vote on whether to send the proposal to the Planning Commission.

Councilmember Debra Lewis favored sending the proposal to the commission, saying story poles would help residents get a visual for developments and serve as a tool for understanding how projects would fit into the neighborhood.

Tomlinson said he initially agreed with the ordinance but no longer found it necessary, since existing codes regulated height and dimension. Councilmember Joe Muller described the proposal to use vague language and questioned how it helped a community understand the height of a building or how story poles showed bulk and mass.

“I want to respect the Planning Commission’s time, and they’ve already voted against this proposal,” Muller said.

The proposal was voted down 3-2, with Mayor Richard Viczorek, Muller and Tomlinson voting against it and Lewis

and Councilmember Paul Wyatt voting in favor. The council also voted to display “In God We Trust” in a prominent location within Council Chambers.

Tomlinson then received recognition from the city, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, Dana Point VFW Post 9934, State Assemblyman Bill Brough, Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett and State Senator Patricia Bates.

WHAT’S NEXT: Muller was voted Dana Point’s new mayor. He nominated Federico to serve as mayor pro tem, but the motion was voted down when Federico voted against himself. Lewis nominated Wyatt for mayor pro tem, and the motion was approved with votes from Federico, Lewis and Wyatt. —LB

Planning Commission Grants Permits to St. Edward Catholic Church

THE LATEST: The Dana Point Planning Commission held a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 3 that included a public hearing regarding a conditional use permit and site development permit for the demolition of a parish hall and construction of a new pastoral center at St. Edward Catholic Church.

The special meeting was held at the Dana Point Community Center to accommodate more public input. Two community meetings had been held previously by the city and the church to gather feedback. The special meeting on Monday brought a full house in the community center meeting room, both with parishioners in support of the project and some neighboring residents against it.

Some of the speakers at the podium expressed concern over the noise, traffic and environmental impacts the project at 33926 Calle La Primavera would yield.

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“I’m a pediatrician, and I have concerns about how construction will affect the health of children living nearby and those attending the school,” one speaker said.

Another speaker alluded to instances where projectiles were thrown from the vicinity of the church to her property below, narrowly missing her child.

City staff conducted a review that determined the project qualified for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Class 32 exemption. An independent traffic analysis and noise analysis found that there would be no change to the level of service at intersections and that noise levels would not exceed what was allowed. The project was also found to comply with air quality thresholds set by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

A condition of approval does require a final Water Quality Management Plan approval prior to issuance of any permits for the site.

WHAT’S NEXT: Commissioner Eric Nelson made a motion to approve the permits to St. Edward Catholic Church with six conditions: (1) There be upgraded signage, perhaps a flashing warning light, if feasible; (2) an acoustical engineer conduct a sound analysis after the pastoral center is constructed, but before use; (3) a 6-foot wall with a 10-foot buffer of landscape be constructed, with exceptions to areas that are pinched and could create inaccessibility; (4) all doors be closed during events and accordion doors be removed; (5) a limit placed on ground use (a response to objects being thrown from property); and (6) Benches be set back an additional 10 feet. The motion was approved unanimously.

Any individual wishing to file an appeal of the approval has 15 days to do so after the date of approval. Appeals would need to be filed to city council through the city clerk. —LB

CEP Meeting Lays Out Enforcement Schedule, Resumption of Storing Spent Nuclear Fuel THE LATEST: It was an emotional meeting for many members of the public as well as the Community Engagement Panel (CEP).

On Nov. 29, the CEP met to discuss the next steps of enforcement related to a canister incident at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) on Aug. 3.

Going forward, Southern California Edison (SCE), the majority owner and operator of SONGS, will take part in a public hearing in Texas, where the NRC’s Region IV is headquartered, in order to determine how the operators will better train staff and ensure anyone who starts working (Cont. on page 4) www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) for the contractors will have the appropriate knowledge and skillsets.

The root cause of the canister incident was identified as contractors without the proper training working on the transfer process. As the properly trained contractors left, there apparently wasn’t enough oversight to make sure the new contractors had the necessary training.

“This event was unacceptable. We failed to provide the oversight, and the contractor failed. We own this and Holtec owns this,” Tom Palmisano, SCE’s vice president of decommissioning and chief nuclear officer, said during the CEP meeting.

Holtec International, Inc. is the designer of the latest canisters being stored at SONGS and is contracting services for the transfer process.

The violations the NRC cited related to the incident were the improper loading of the canister and SCE waiting too long to make an official notice of the incident. The canister could have dropped 18 feet due to a lack of tension in its line when the operators were lowering it into a concrete repository, which has concerned many people who follow the issues at SONGS closely.

“Once the licensee has identified the cause and the corrective actions, we will do another

formal inspection, once they say they’re ready,” said Scott Morris, the NRC deputy regional administrator for Region IV. “I don’t know when that will be. We will inspect in detail the cause analyses and the corrective actions, and ideally, we’ll be able to make a final regulatory conclusion that would support the licensee continue to do what they intend.”

Palmisano said that may be able to happen by late January. A detailed process of the next steps for SCE include committing to better training programs, more detailed procedures, more “intrusive and effective” oversight, improvements to canister loading by installing cameras and alarms, as well as creating a corrective action program.

Prior to the meeting, a man had visibly irked CEP board chairman David Victor, Ph.D., and was nearly escorted from the QLN Conference Center.

Some audience members frequently interrupted the meeting, angry about the lack of notice the operators gave regarding the incident. Many people who criticized SCE for its handling of the operations said they want the California Coastal Commission and NRC to revoke SONGS licenses to store the fuel on-site.

Multiple public speakers said they had concerns with SCE going forward with the storage of spent nuclear fuel near the San Clemente coastline.

WHAT’S NEXT: SONGS officials said during the meeting that they could resume transferring nuclear fuel rods to dry cask storage, as long as the operators can demonstrate they can safely and effectively complete the transfer process and that certain operational procedures are improved.

At the beginning of the meeting, Victor said that next year could be the best chance advocates have at changing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, which currently doesn’t allow for temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel. Congressman Darrell Issa introduced several bills to amend it along with Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, but none of them got further than the House. Victor said the reason for that is because of the new Congress and Senate, but that if it isn’t passed next year, it could be delayed further due to 2020 being an election year.

FIND OUT MORE: A special extreme situation CEP meeting is still planned for the first quarter of 2019, but an official date had not yet been announced. —Eric Heinz

Surfer Dies at Upper Trestles Saturday Morning THE LATEST: The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the surfer

who died after struggling with the waves at Upper Trestles early Dec. 1 morning as Ellis John Manugo Pontillas, 53. He was listed in the Examiner’s report as an Orange County resident.

Capt. Luke Weaver, the Camp Pendleton Media Engagement Officer, said the Marine base’s fire department responded at 7:06 a.m. at the beach and attempted CPR. Pontillas was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:35 a.m.

Rich Haydon, the superintendent of the California State Parks Orange Coast District, said the man was seen surfing Saturday morning. Haydon said other surfers said they saw him “struggling” with a duck dive after paddling out. The next time Pontillas was seen, he was floating in the water and unresponsive. Other surfers brought him immediately ashore.

According to the National Weather Services in San Diego, the entire Orange and San Diego County coastlines were under a beach advisory at the time of Pontillas’s death. It was forecast that the surf conditions were capable of creating rip currents and waves were estimated to be as high as 7 feet in some places. At Trestles, those waves can get bigger than the average, nearby breaks.

WHAT’S NEXT: An official cause of death had not yet been determined as of the report on Tuesday, Dec. 4. —EH

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

Ribbon-cutting Held for Hobie Memorial A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the unveiling of the Hobie Memorial statue for Hobie Alter on Monday, Dec. 3.

The monument honors Dana Point legend Hobart “Hobie” Alter, the founder of the Hobie brand and the original Hobie Cat. His concept of the Hobie Cat—which was created to emulate Hawaiian canoes— developed from collaboration with his fellow surfers to develop a simple, easy design. The Hobie Cat 14 was then created in 1968.

City officials, members of the Hobie Memorial Foundation, representatives for South Cove developer Zephyr, as well as friends and family, all gathered near the statue’s installation on Pacific Coast Highway near the intersection with Camino Del Obispo.

“Hobie didn’t just shape boards, he shaped the surf industry here in Dana Point,” Councilmember Richard Viczorek said.

Alter passed away at age 80 in 2014.

Soon thereafter, those close to Alter set out with an initiative to commemorate his legacy with a statue.

“I’m not sure how my father would feel about this. He didn’t care much for accolades. He’d be more concerned about the design of the boat,” Hobie’s son, Jeff Alter, said at the ribbon-cutting. “But I know he’d be proud of this design. It’s unbelievable to see this incredible memorial for my father today.”

The Hobie Memorial awaits a few lastminute details to be finalized before it is ready for public viewing. It’s the first monument erected for Watermen’s Plaza.

The park will pay tribute to local icons that contributed to the surf industry.

New DPHB Slip Agreements Cause Confusion with Boaters Within about a month of the lease agreement being finalized between Orange County and the Dana Point Harbor Partners, the harbor’s new landlords have issued new slip license agreements to boaters.

“Unfortunately, the first outreach efforts created plenty of confusion and no shortage of frustration and angst,” said a press release sent out by the Dana Point Boaters Association. “Over the last two weeks, our 2,400 Dana Point Harbor wet

Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

SATURDAY, DEC. 8

FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Each Saturday, California farmers bring fresh produce to sell at the Dana Point Farmers Market. Craft vendors join in on the fun every first Saturday of the month as well. The Dana Point Farmers Market is located in La Plaza Park on Pacific Coast Highway near the Clock Tower.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for a statue commemorating Hobie Alter was held on Monday, Dec. 3 near Doheny State Beach and the South Cove development. Photo: Lillian Boyd

slip boaters were contacted by marina management and instructed to sign new slip license agreements. West Marina boaters received it at least twice. In many cases, boaters saw adjustments to their slip rates—some up, some down. There was something mentioned about amnesty.

And all of this was dispatched with (in our opinion) insufficient explanation…”

Every Dana Point boater is now considered a tenant of the Dana Point Harbor Partners. Part of DPHP’s agreement with the county was to update slip license agreements with boaters. Most of the terms in the new SLA were carried from a previous version, but even new language was approved by the county.

According to the release, most West Marina boaters received the SLA twice, with the first version containing errors and missing language that had been negotiated and agreed upon.

As stated in the agreement, slip fees will be calculated by the length of the slip or the overall length of the vessel, whichever is greater. While the rate-per-foot remains the same, boaters whose vessels exceed the length of their slip are being notified that their rate is increasing commensurate with the amount of their overhang. The Dana Point Boaters Association advises boaters who disagree with their measurement to contact the marina office, and they will re-measure in the boaters’ presence.

Dana Point’s menorah is one of more than 15,000 large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad in more than 100 countries around the world—including in front of landmarks such as the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Kremlin—helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.

The event will be held at 34111 La Plaza.

For more information about Hanukkah and a local schedule of events visit www.jewishdanapoint.com.

Future Kids OC Kicks Off with Dec. 15 Event Future Kids OC is a new nonprofit based in Laguna Niguel that is geared toward promoting accurate and effective science education for local kids. In addition to fundraising events, the nonprofit is also planning other educational activities to promote hands-on science education for early development. Proceeds from the events fund local schools’ science education programs.

The first official event on Saturday, Dec. 15 will be a family science event in which Orange County families will be able to tour the organization’s science lab, where they will instruct children on how to build robots for a fun race. More information about Future Kids OC can be found at www.futurekidsoc.org.

First Ever Public Menorah Lighting Event A 9-foot Public Hanukkah Menorah will be lit at La Plaza Park, followed by a community-wide celebration on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m., the last night of Hanukkah. Festivities will include music, dancing, latkes, doughnuts, photo booth, crafts for the kids and more.

Police Services Honors 40th Anniversary of Richard T. Steed’s Death San Clemente Police Department officer Richard T. Steed remains the only San Clemente-based fatality in the history of the department and its successor, Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

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WHALE WALK AND TALK 9 a.m.-11 a.m. This walk focuses on the offshore visitors that can be frequently seen from the Dana Point Headlands.

It is designed to introduce participants to our whale seasons, which are November to May. Participants will learn about Gray Whales, which migrate past Dana Point in the winter and spring months, and Blue and Humpback Whales (in the summer months). Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive. RSVP to DPNaturalResources@danapoint. org or 949.248.3527.

MONDAY, DEC. 10

DANA POINT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6 p.m. The Dana Point Planning Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall in Council’s chambers. 33282 Golden Lantern. www.danapoint.org.

THURSDAY, DEC.13

COASTMASTERS (TOASTMASTERS) 7-8:30 p.m. Join the members of the Coastmasters every Thursday to improve speaking and leadership skills. 34451 Ensenada Place. Adjacent to Baby Beach at OC Sailing & Events center. www.coastmasters.org.

On Thursday, Nov. 29, members of the San Clemente Police Services hosted an event at the Outlets at San Clemente to commemorate the officer’s heroism that fateful night in 1978.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more.

We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com.

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LOCALS ONLY

BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, San Clemente, 949.485.4979, info@bodymindspiritiop.com, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

CAFE - DELI

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

COFFEE SHOP

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

ICE CREAM

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

Patricia Powers

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

State Farm/Ted Bowersox

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

State Farm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

MASSAGE THERAPY

Paul Svoboda CAMTC #76690 Monarch Beach Studio or Outcall, 310.387.2560 MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

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

Bill Metzger Plumbing

1001 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

SPECIALTY BEAUTY

Belant Studio

Monarch Bay Plaza, 949.520.1771, www.belantstudio.com

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Dana Point Times, Vol. 11, Issue 49. 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 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

Letters to the Editor THANK YOU, JOHN NANCY WEAGLEY, Capistrano Beach

Although John Tomlinson could be categorized as the “quiet contributor,” he has had, fortunately for his constituency, a great four-year run as a Dana Point councilman and mayor. He deserves a big thank you for his hard work to achieve positive results in the progress of our community.

Under his leadership, John worked with the council to resolve years of expensive litigation between the city, the Coastal Commission and the Surfriders Foundation.

John has promoted arts and culture in our city. Two bronze sculptures have been placed in Capistrano Beach, and the most recent is placement of a sculpture honoring one of Capistrano Beach’s most famous residents, Hobie Alter.

During John’s four years on council, he has also accomplished the addition of much needed safety improvements in Paloma Park and increased public safety in Capistrano Beach by having excessive plant growth trimmed to prevent blind intersections.

The city also successfully completed a special election for Measures H and I, along with a general municipal election to make the residents heard through the election process. Also, the city responded to residents’ concerns relative to the short-term rental issue without having a referendum process.

The city re-enacted the Specific Planning Process for Doheny Village by hosting a series of community workshops to address the expectations of the residents and business owners, as well as continuing the economic momentum of the Town Center Specific Planning Project by approving Raintree development.

It would be impossible for me to reiterate all of the accomplishments during John’s council term. Therefore, I will mention one last thing: the city continued its strong commitment to a community-based policy program of service by our law enforcement team to ensure we remained one of California’s safest cities.

So, again, thank you, John, for your much-appreciated service to our city.

VIOLENCE AND PTSD RON HERBERT, San Clemente

Our lawmakers need to address the alltoo-common occurrence of violence in this country. I suggest we begin with a comprehensive PTSD care program, not just for

veterans but for anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. I suggest this care should be of no cost to the person in need.

Secondly, common-sense gun laws should be enacted. I feel this can be done while still respecting the Second Amendment if our lawmakers stop acceding to the demands of the NRA and if the public would stop the vitriol and begin thinking of what is best for our country and not just themselves individually. The secret, just like everything in life, is compromise. Someone in our federal government needs to develop the courage to lead the way. That person, if he or she can be found, will be revered as a national hero. It is our only hope.

MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUES TO PLAGUE NATION MAURA MIKULEC, San Clemente

We have serious problems in our nation with information. In order to make important decisions, we all need accurate and factual information. Attacks on our press and an abundance of propaganda machines posing as news sources are central to the problem.

But another critical problem is that so many of us get a lot of our information/ news from each other, primarily through social media. Why is that a problem (besides the obvious)? Let me tell you about a recent experience I’ve had that perfectly illustrates the issue. I recently wrote and published a piece to dispel myths about the availability of homeless shelters in South County, because there are people who are passionate and prolific contributors to local groups who don’t fully understand the facts and repeatedly share misinformation. The misinformation greatly influences how the issues are viewed and possibly even impacted recent local elections. Think the telephone game with consequence.

In order to ensure that the citizens have the facts—so we can work together on solutions—I shared my article to two different city-centered social media groups, and it was shared by others, too, including to one other local group. In those groups, people expressed how informative the article was and how much they learned. Some, finally armed with accurate information, seemed to be motivated to (correct) action. However—and here’s the problem—the people who continually spread the misinformation in these groups created a ruckus in every single group, trying to disprove the facts (with their cursory, inexperienced “research”) and levied personal attacks on people who questioned them. Due to the controversy and negativity created—not the content of the article—the article was removed from all three groups. Now the prevailing misinformation remains out there. How can we ever see the issues accurately and

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work together to find proper solutions to problems if a small group of people, who are not credentialed experts, have so much control over the information so many people have? And, yes, it’s not lost on me how this activity in South Orange County mirrors what has happened on a national level.

TAKE ACTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE LARRY KRAMER, San Juan Capistrano

Climate change is real, with both worldwide and local effects. The federal government just issued a report discussing its real-world effects. The report concludes “that the evidence of human-caused climate change is overwhelming…” While the cause is worldwide, we are seeing the effects in our local area, including extreme heat in the summer, more drought, a gradual change from a Mediterranean climate to a desert climate, more danger of fires, tropical diseases moving north, sea-level rises and the ocean becoming more acidic.

We are past the point of discussion. It is time for action. You can either sit on your hands or begin to take action. Do you want to tell your children and grandchildren that you knew about climate change but did nothing?

Most positive changes in our society have begun by a few people at the local level.

There is much that the city can do and has already done and much that you can do. Feel empowered. Tell the City Council, as well as your state and federal officials, that you are concerned. Look for ways that you can reduce your use of carbon fuels.

Do you want examples? When buying a car or truck, look for the most fuelefficient models. The Ecology Center is a great place to buy locally grown food, thereby reducing fuel usage for transportation. Buy a bike and ride it for local errands. Consider installing solar power.

Plant drought-tolerant plants. Give up meat one day a week. Wash clothes in cold water. Change to LED lighting.

Join the Citizens’ Climate Lobby for our monthly meetings as we discuss ways to move forward. We are a nonpartisan group meeting on the second Saturday of each month at St. Andrews by the Sea UMC on 2001 Calle Frontera at 9:30 AM.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to lboyd@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning.

Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.

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DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies: ‘The Favourite’ is a New Kind of Cinderella Story

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

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.

Friday | 07 POUR & PAINT “SANTA AND HIS SLEIGH” 6:30-8:30 p.m. Show off your creativity while enjoying food and beverages.

Participants will be painting “Santa and his Sleigh.” There will be easy step-by-step instructions with the art instructor. Bring your family or friends and have a great time. RSVP is required. Go to www.eventbrite.com to reserve your tickets. 24701 Del Prado Avenue.

Photo: Atsushi Nishijima/Fox Searchlight Pictures

EDITOR’S PICK

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

Enjoy two weekends of the 44th Annual Boat Parade of Lights at the Dana Point Harbor. Photo: File

DEC. 7, 8, 14 AND 15: DANA POINT HARBOR BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS 4:30-10 p.m. OC Parks and Dana Point Harbor invite families to celebrate the season with “A Western Wonderland” at the 44th Annual Boat Parade of Lights. Enjoy festive family activities with a western twist on December 7, 8, 14 and 15 by the water’s edge. Dana Point Times will help judge entries and present awards. 34624 Golden Lantern Street. 949.

923.2255. www.danapointharbor.com.

Saturday | 08 SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. The car show attracts hundreds of car enthusiasts each week. No registration is required and spectators are welcome. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. www.southoccarsandcoffee.com

Sunday | 09 DANA POINT’S 1ST MENORAH LIGHTING 4 p.m. A 9-foot public Hanukkah menorah will be lit at La Plaza Park, followed by a community-wide celebration on the last night of Hanukkah. Festivities will include music, dancing, latkes, donuts, photo booth, crafts for the kids and more. 34111 La Plaza. www.jewishdanapoint.com. For more information, contact Rabbi Eli at rabbi@jewishdanapoint.com.

Monday | 10 DRIVE FOR A CURE & HOPE GOLF TOURNAMENT 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Trace3, in partnership with the Project Hope Alliance, would like to invite you to participate in its 2nd Annual Drive for a Cure & Hope golf tournament at Monarch Beach Golf Links. Organizers hope to raise $40,000 in the fight against pancreatic cancer and to end the cycle of Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

homelessness in Orange County, one child at a time. To enter and for more information, visit www.projecthopealliance.org. 50 Monarch Beach Resort North. 949.248.3002.

HOLIDAY TEA 2:30-3:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy the timeless tradition of Afternoon Tea at Raya, featuring an array of tea, savory canapés, and sweet bites in an elegant ocean view setting at The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel.

Holiday Tea is served Monday through Thursday, Nov. 26 through Dec. 13, with seating from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and $75 per person. Reservations can be booked in advance by calling 949.240.2000. One Ritz Carlton Drive. www.ritzcarlton.com.

burger on the menu including the featured Burger of the Month and get the second burger free. Dine-in only; bring your friends and enjoy. Hennessey’s Tavern, 34111 La Plaza. 949.488.0121.

Wednesday | 12 IHEARTYOGA IN THE PARK 10 a.m. Donation-based outdoor yoga in front of the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, Dana Point in Lantern Bay Park.

No reservations needed. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.

Thursday | 13

Tuesday | 11 MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE 1-5 p.m. Create a winter wonderland gingerbread (graham cracker) house using candy and frosting at the Dana Point Public Library. This event is hosted by MOMs Club of Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano. All materials are provided.

33841 Niguel Road. 949.496.5517.

TWO TIMIN’ TUESDAYS 6-9 p.m. Hennessey’s presents Two Timin’ Tuesdays, where all day every Tuesday, all year long, customers can choose from any

TIDEPOOL HIKE 2-4 p.m. Join the Ocean Institute for a tide pool hike led by expert naturalists. The hike goes through the rocky Marine Conservation Area located directly behind the Ocean Institute. Families can explore the area and search for snails, crabs, sea stars, and other animals that make the tide pools their home. The winter months are the best time to explore these magical marine ecosystems. Tickets are $15 per person.

Reserve tickets online at www.ocean-institute.org. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive.

949.496.2274.

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A

ccording to screenwriter Deborah Davis, it took almost 20 years for The Favourite to finally become a major motion picture.

Supposedly back in 1998, Hollywood was claiming period pieces as unpopular and the lesbian arc too risqué.

Over the years, attempts had been made to get the film officially greenlit, with A-list actresses such as Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet rumored to be attached. Now we get arthouse filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos’ first film without himself as an additional writer: The Favourite.

In the early 1700s, Queen Anne of Great Britain (Olivia Colman) has to deal with political relations and possible war with France while fighting serious health issues after contracting gout. While ill, the majority of Anne’s government duties are taken over by her longtime close friend and personal advisor, Duchess Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz). At the same time, Sarah’s cousin and newly appointed castle employee, Abigail Hill (Emma Stone), aids Anne as an assistant. Soon jealousy, secrets and betrayal are exposed among the three women.

Nicholas Hoult and Joe Alwyn co-star as the male supporting characters. The Favourite has all the aesthetics and necessities of a quality costume drama, but with Lanthimos’ usual quirky and slightly bizarre style to make it uniquely intriguing for fans of period films.

Stone portrays possibly her most interesting and versatile role to date, and Weisz is a powerhouse. The sexual content and foul language might feel too much at first, but the taboo content ultimately works in context. The dark satire is like a racy Cinderella—if the poor maid had found her way into the castle how Eve Harrington did in All About Eve (1950). DP

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DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Wellness and Prevention by Susan Parmelee

Keeping Spirits Bright

A

s we transition from Thanksgiving into the winter holidays, I find myself both excited and a little anxious, as in the past I was known in my family for being so worried about the perfect Christmas that I often turned into the Grinch.

Now a few years older and wiser, I can enjoy the traditions that we have built over the past 30 years as a family.

For many of us, relaxing and lowering the anxiety that accompany the holidays can be difficult. In many households, a lot of the planning often falls on one person, and that can be overwhelming. After several years of struggling, my family started sitting down in the beginning of December to discuss our holiday commitments, helping everyone to enjoy the season and keeping the Grinch out of our home.

Prioritizing events and activities is particularly important for families with teens.

Involving the entire family in choosing which parties, family dinners and community events to attend allows each family member ownership of the calendar. Parents should be prepared that teens might like to be excused from some holiday events in order to have some down time or to spend time with friends.

This can be a tough transition for some families, and parents can have some nonnegotiable commitments on the calendar.

By planning the month out ahead of time, family disputes may be avoided. Teens need to feel they have some ownership over their social life, and inclusion in the planning

empowers them to identify some of their social priorities.

The one mistake I made as my children hit the high school years was dropping some of our regular holiday traditions.

My thought was that some of our annual events were not for older kids. I had forgotten that family traditions offer important connections to each other and continuity with the past, which is critically important in our fastpaced society.

The hours in front of the TV watching The Year without a Santa Claus, Rudolph, and The Grinch were just as important as the packages WELLNESS AND on Christmas morning.

PREVENTION These moments allow

By Susan our family to be in touch Parmelee with the cycle of the seasons and memories of earlier years.

Over the past few years, we have had the benefit of adding two daughters-in-law to our holidays. They bring added creativity and recipes to our annual New Year’s pasta party, include our sons in their family traditions and add some challenges to how we schedule events to accommodate both sides of their families.

These are happy challenges, so long as we remember to recognize everyone’s voice in planning activities and opting out when necessary. Teens and young adults as well as parents need some down time during these weeks. High school and col-

Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Libraries

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo was taken by Herman J. Schultheis, who was

born in Aachen, Germany in 1900, and immigrated to the United States in the mid-1920s.

He worked in the film industry from the late 1930s to the mid-1940s, most notably on the animated Walt Disney features Fantasia and Pinocchio. Schultheis was an avid amateur photographer who traveled the world with his cameras. It was on one of these photographic exhibitions in 1955 that he disappeared in the jungles of Guatemala. His remains were discovered 18 months later. This photo captures a trailer and a tent in Dana Point.

Every week, the Dana Point Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to lboyd@picketfencemedia.com.

lege students just finished hectic semesters and late nights studying for finals.

Planning a pajama day when everyone stays home to watch movies is also one of my favorite family traditions and probably the one I look forward to the most.

The next Wellness and Prevention Coalition meeting will be at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 189 Avenida La Cuesta, San Clemente. The Coalition will discuss its upcoming Wellness Fair, held in February.

Susan Parmelee is a mental health social worker and one of the founders of the Wellness & Prevention Center, San Clemente.

She can be reached at susan@wellnessandpreventionsanclemente.com. DP PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, Dana Point 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 Dana Point Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com

Pet of the Week: Pixie Sudoku

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

Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

DANA POINT TIMES

BY MYLES MELLOR

T

Last week’s solution:

aped inside a small cardboard box and discarded in a parking lot, Pixie was initially very nervous when she first arrived at the shelter. Through the gentle care of volunteers and staff, she began to trust again and has become quite the sweet kitty. Pixie is estimated to be about 5 years old and would do best in a quiet home, where she can get all the love she deserves.

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

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

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See the solution in next week’s issue.

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

2018 Dana Hills Winter Sports Preview

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he winter sports season is well underway as the bump-up of the CIF calendar extends to the fields, pools, courts and mats. In our annual preview, we highlight all of the winter sports programs at Dana Hills High School as they enter the holiday tournament season and approach league play in the new year.

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

GIRLS BASKETBALL The Dana Hills girls basketball team made history last season with its first outright league title in program history and its first since sharing the league title in 2013.

After a first-round bye, the Dolphins’ good feelings ended as quickly as they arrived, however, as Dana Hills lost at home in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2A playoffs.

The championship was a culmination of four years of work by Coach Anne Honey and a group of players that had grown up together. So while the Dolphins do have some strong returning players, the team also has work to do to match its previous success.

“We’re going from where we were last year and rebuilding all at the same time,” Honey said. “We’re really coming together as a team, and everybody is understanding what their strengths and roles are. Everyone knows to do their job.”

The Dolphins’ leading scorer from a year ago is sitting out the season to focus on academics, but Maya McArthur, who was just 0.2 points off the team lead in points per game, returns for her senior season. McArthur, who will come back from an injury in a week or so, transferred to Dana Hills last season and made a major impact with double-double averages of 14.3 points and 14.7 rebounds per game.

McArthur is one of a trio of senior leaders the Dolphins will count on, along with Olivia Chambers and Camille Deol.

“Olivia and Camille have really embodied what it means to play like a senior, be a leader like a senior,” Honey said “They’ve left it all on the floor.”

Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

Camille Deol is one of three senior captains that will lead the Dana Hills girls basketball team into the South Coast League with big aspirations. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Dana Hills’ defense creates its offense as the Dolphins like to get out in transition. Honey said the team will break things down in the half court a little more than last season, but they’ll still get out and run.

Dana Hills is 5-4 through early tournaments as they prep for the move up to the South Coast League.

“We’re ready for the challenge,” Honey said. “We’re excited to be playing in a very competitive league. They thrive on that.

They’re gamers, competitors.”

The Dolphins will reunite with longtime rival San Clemente to open league play on Jan. 10.

BOYS BASKETBALL The Dana Hills boys basketball team began last season with promise. They looked like a much improved group ready to take on league play, but the Dolphins fizzled down the stretch.

This season, Dana Hills is off to another stellar start in tournament play and hopes it has learned lessons from last season.

The Dolphins are 7-3 to begin the season, with their three losses coming by a combined nine points to Ontario Christian, Edison and San Clemente. Dana Hills also sports wins over Irvine, El Modena, Laguna Beach and Capistrano Valley.

The unquestioned leader for the Dol-

phins is senior Ben Carr. The 6-foot-4 wingman was the leading scorer for Dana Hills last season and can both attack the basket and shoot from distance.

Junior Harrison Wiese is also a strong contributor for Dana Hills utilizing his 6-foot-6 frame.

The Dolphins are average in size with most players listed at 6-foot or 6-foot-2, but Coach Tom Desiano, in his 17th season at the head of the Dana Hills program, knows how to make his team versatile.

Dana Hills will take on Woodbridge in the North/South Challenge on Dec. 22 before moving on to the Rancho Mirage Holiday Invitational on Dec. 26.

The Dolphins open league play at home against San Juan Hills on Jan. 9 and play at league favorite Tesoro on Jan. 11.

BOYS SOCCER The Dana Hills boys soccer team enjoyed a marked improvement last season.

After two seasons without a league win and only four league wins in the previous four seasons, the Dolphins went 3-3-2 in league play last season to make their first playoff appearance since 2013.

Dana Hills struck in the third minute of that first playoff game but went on to lose, 4-1.

The Dolphins lose much of the core of

Page 14

that team, including its leading scorer and goalkeeper, so several players will need to step up for second-year head coach Mark Torriani.

The Dolphins are 1-1-1 this season, with a loss to St. Margaret’s, a win over Laguna Beach and a draw against El Toro.

Seniors Peyton Moore and Mason Mills and junior Colton Fox each scored a goal in the win over Laguna Beach. Senior goalkeepers Casey Burns and junior Nikolas Tanski each put up a scoreless half in the draw with El Toro.

Junior Michael Bogdonavich returns to bolster the defensive backline and is joined by senior Christian Adame.

Dana Hills has a busy nonleague schedule with dates against San Juan Hills on Dec. 12 and Capistrano Valley on Dec. 14.

Over the holiday break, the Dolphins will compete in the Marina Tournament.

Dana Hills will renew an old rivalry at San Clemente on Jan. 3 before opening Sea View League play at Laguna Hills on Jan. 7.

GIRLS SOCCER Last season, the Dana Hills girls soccer team took their lumps early before finding its form in the South Coast League portion of its schedule.

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DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

GARAGE SALES

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your garage sale to info@danapointtimes.com DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

HELP WANTED HELP WANTEDDANA POINT MARINA INN Dana Point Marina Inn is looking to fill the following opening: Front office/reservations/ desk clerks (AM and PM shifts) Housekeeping Supervisors (Full Time - Days) Dana Point Marina Inn Apply in Person at 24800 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629 949-496-1203

HELP WANTED-RDA/RDAEF We have a beautiful, modern office, a wonderful patient population, an enthusiastic team and a sincere periodontist dedication to quality care. Three to four days a week, possible leading to full-time. Previous dental experience, a great attitude and strong work ethic are our first priority. Bilingual is a plus!

Please send resume and a paragraph about yourself to: southcountyperio@aol.com. We look forward to meeting you.

Do you want to reach 10,000+ people in the Dana Point area every week?

Then you need to be in the Dana Point Times. Call us today!

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Page 15

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Lauren Bellavia returns as the leading scorer for a loaded Dana Hills girls water polo team that looks to break through in the South Coast League and CIF-SS. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

(Cont. from page 14) Dolphins coach Zaid Malkosh, now in his second year, was focused on building a new system for the team and building the culture of the Dana Hills program.

The Dolphins have had strong girls soccer teams, but Malkosh saw the potential that’s continuing to emerge this season.

“Last year, we focused on cultivating a more positive culture to train in and grow in,” Malkosh said. “This year, we’re focusing on intensity, discipline, performance.

We’re hoping to do big things this year.”

Last season, Dana Hills went 2-6-2 in its nonleague schedule but turned it around to post a 3-3-2 league record. That flip was evidence of Malkosh’s new system and culture taking hold.

That culture change continued into the offseason as the Dolphins lost seven seniors and Malkosh trimmed to a young group.

“We cleaned up house this year,” Malkosh said. “We cut a lot of players to make sure we have players that can perform and want to be there to create a better culture and help the program grow.”

Malkosh said he’s excited about the skill his team possesses and that the style

Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

they play will give a lot of players opportunities to score and shine.

Early on, Dana Hills has gotten strong play from Camryn Marshall and Abbie Klabouch.

The Dolphins are 1-0-1, with an opening scoreless draw at Capistrano Valley and a 2-1 win at El Toro.

Dana Hills has matches against Northwood, Trabuco Hills and Huntington Beach before the holiday break, and then the Dolphins open up South Coast League play at Aliso Niguel on Jan. 8. The Dolphins’ first match against San Clemente is on the road on Jan. 17.

GIRLS WATER POLO The Dana Hills girls water polo team has been cast in bronze. The Dolphins have taken third place in the league for four consecutive seasons.

The Dolphins won a CIF-SS Division 2 wild card game last season, but then lost in the first round.

However, with its top two goal-scorers, top two in assists, top two in steals and No. 1 goalkeeper all returning, Dana Hills might be ready to make a run.

Senior Lauren Bellavia led the Dolphins

in goals last season at 66 and currently leads Dana Hills through seven games with 15. Bellavia has only played in five games. She also led Dana Hills with 46 assists last season and was second in steals.

Julia Reznicek also returns as a senior after scoring 51 goals last season. Bellavia and Reznicek combined for 117 of the Dolphins’ 252 goals last season.

Kaylyn Pierce is the senior returner in net and made 7.6 saves per game last season, led the Dolphins in steals and was second in assists with 43.

Dana Hills also has a complement of youth as sophomore Kat Besanceney is the early steals leader with 16 and is second in goals with eight.

Dana Hills is 4-3 to open the year against tough tournament competition.

The Dolphins have wins over Estancia, Villa Park, Peninsula and JSerra.

Dana Hills has four more games on its pre-holiday schedule before the Dolphins come back for league play at Aliso Niguel on Jan. 8.

WRESTLING The Dana Hills wrestling program took a hit as it graduated six seniors, including

Page 17

some of its most successful wrestlers in program history.

Dana Hills had seven wrestlers earn silver medals at the Coast View Athletic Association finals to qualify for the CIFSS tournament and one wrestler advance to CIF-SS Masters, but only two of those seven return for the Dolphins.

Senior captain Levi Jones returns after his league silver. Jones finished just outside of the CIF-SS top eight.

Josh Harkey returns at 182 lbs. as a sophomore and showed great promise as a freshman with that league silver. In the first tournament of the season for Dana Hills at Westminster’s Cossarek Classic, Harkey earned second place with three wins by fall in 1:25, 1:18 and 1:39.

Three more Dana Hills wrestlers placed in the top eight at the Cossarek Classic. Jesse Villagran finished sixth at 113 lbs., Gavin Walker finished sixth at 145 lbs. and Eliseo Miramontes finished eighth at 220 lbs.

The Dolphins have upcoming dual meets against Mater Dei, Capistrano Valley, Yorba Linda and Aliso Niguel. Dana Hills will wrestle at the San Clemente Rotary Tournament on Dec. 22.

League Finals will take place on Jan. 19. DP

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

A Serious Note about Ocean Safety After a death at Trestles last weekend, the issue of water safety and emergency response is more important than ever

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

L

ast weekend, after a deluge of rain earlier in the week and subsequent stormy conditions, on Saturday morning, Dec. 1, a surfer was found face down in the water at Upper Trestles.

Witnesses reported seeing Ellis John Manugo Pontillas, 53, “struggling” while attempting to duck dive and paddle out to the lineup. He was later found unconscious in the water. Surfers responded to the emergency situation and attempted to revive him on the beach. Camp Pendleton Fire Department personnel responded to the call but were unsuccessful in their resuscitation efforts. According to Camp Pendleton media officials, Pontillas was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:36 a.m.

It is unclear at this point if the man’s cause of death was related to the surf, which was in the waist- to shoulder-high zone, or if there were health factors such as a heart attack in play. As of press time, the San Diego County Department of the Medical Examiner had yet to release the official cause of death.

GROM OF THE WEEK

BODHI AGUILAR

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

T

ip of the cap to all the groms who got after it last weekend at the San Clemente Pier for the Western Surfing Association competition. The conditions weren’t tropical, and they weren’t easy, but the kids didn’t shy away from them.

Grom of the Week honors go to Bodhi Aguilar of San Clemente. Surfing in the final with his friends, Bodhi, aka @bodacious_bojangles on Instagram, earned himself a very respectable third-place finish. Just as stoked to be out in the water with his friends as he was to get a trophy, Dana Point Times December 7-13, 2018

A man was pronounced dead after seen struggling in the water at Upper Trestles on Saturday, Dec. 1. Photo: File

When it comes to tragic situations in the lineup like this, surfers are typically the first responders, and the more prepared they are to render first aid or CPR, the more likely there will be a positive outcome to the situation.

This is not to say that anything different could have been done in this particular case, but there are instances where lives can be saved and a little bit of water safety training can go a long way. Look no further than the shark attack at San Onofre in 2017, where surfers were able to get the victim out of the water, onto the beach and begin administering first aid while lifeguards and medics were still en route to the scene.

They very likely saved a life that day.

The Big Wave Risk Assessment Group (BWRAG) was established by legendary

Hawaiian waterman Brian Keaulana, as well as San Clemente’s Greg Long and a number of the world’s other top big-wave surfers, for this purpose. While initially developed to help the big-wave surfing community be safer, the stated goal of the organization is to develop and teach the “best practices for critical rescue, first aid, surf knowledge and personal preparedness.” Any surfer, whether surfing 2-foot Old Man’s or 30-foot Mavericks, can benefit from such training.

“You never know when you’re going to be confronted with a situation in the water, or even out of the water, and having the knowledge, ability and confidence to step in can mean the difference between life or death,” said BWRAG’s Danilo Couto during a training seminar in Oceanside last summer.

he was as appreciative of the experience as the result.

“I got to compete in San Clemente today at the SC Pier with my friends and it was so fun!” Bodhi posted on his Instagram feed. “I got third place in the U9 division and I’m so stoked for my friend @ brodyfish_buck who got first place and Tanner @the_sandvigs who got 2nd and my buddy Zion @wherewall who got 4th.

The ocean was stormy and rough and it was rad seeing everyone make the best of the tough conditions. Congrats to all my friends in the U10 division.”

Amazing result, amazing sportsmanship, and he can write, too! Stay stoked, Bodhi. You’re an epic ambassador for the local surf scene. DP

Bodhi Aguilar. Photo: Courtesy of WSA

Page 18

“Even if the waves are small and you’re in an ordinary situation, a lot of times things can get intense. Whether it’s you helping someone else…there are a lot of weird things that can happen when you’re surfing on an ordinary day,” Hawaii’s Shane Dorian said in a recent interview with the World Surf League.

The fact is, you don’t need to be a bigwave surfer to be prepared for an emergency situation. There are more surfers in the water than ever, a fact that’s not likely to change anytime soon. The more we all pursue the training and education necessary to potentially save a life—whether it’s a heart attack, a shark attack, or a near drowning— the better the chances are that everyone gets back to the beach safely. DP

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