November 16, 2018

LO C A L

N EWS

November 16-22 2018 YO U

C A N

U S E

INSIDE: 41st Annual Dana Point Turkey Trot Insert SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 11, ISSUE 46

It’s Turkey Time!

Run the Race Before You Stuff Your Face at the Dana Point Turkey Trot G E T T I N G O U T/ PAG E 8

Drumstick the Turkey catches sun rays at Monarch Beach Resort, ahead of the 41st Annual Turkey Trot. Photo: Chelsie Rex

A New Way to Dine: Meals for Cognitive Impairments DP LIVING/PAGE 13

Active Shooter Workshop Held in Capo Beach EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

www.danapointtimes.com

Insurance Agent Accused of Stealing Thousands EYE ON DP/PAGE 4

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What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point

Nov. 29 at the QLN Conference Center, 1938 Avenida Del Oro, Oceanside, CA 92056.—Eric Heinz

CSLC Finishes Draft Environmental Report on Reef Expansion

should know this week City Arts and Culture Commission Looks Ahead at New Events

THE LATEST: The Dana Point Arts & Culture Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Commissioners addressed old business, which included musical performances at La Plaza Park and discussed public art locations in the Park Master Plan. The commission also reviewed a list of noise regulations regarding performances.

As for new business, commissioners selected members for the Art on Display and Musical Performances at La Plaza Park subcommittees.

Ex officio member Kimberly Williams led discussions on a potential, additional summer concert called Cavalcade of the Blues, as well as a potential jazz concert that would honor the late Max Bennett, an American bassist and session musician who died Sept.

14. He had ties to the local community and performed several times in Dana Point.

Williams also proposed working with private developers to enhance the stage area at La Plaza Park for community events.

Commissioner Maria Elena Banks led discussions on a “low-key” jazz concert, similar to ones that have been hosted at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Banks also discussed exploring the idea of music on Del Prado and creating an event similar to the Christmas Walk held by the Corona Del Mar Chamber of Commerce.

WHAT’S NEXT: The next regular meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, in the Public Works Conference Room at 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 212. —Lillian Boyd

Active Shooter Workshop Held in Capo Beach THE LATEST: The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce collaborated with chambers from San Clemente, Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano to host the Active Shooter Response & Impact of Violence Training Workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Capo Beach Church.

Speakers included Dana Point Police Services Chief Lt. Margie Sheehan, SWAT Team Leader and Investigator Shane Millhollon as well as Heather Williams, Dana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

SWAT Team Leader and Investigator Shane Millhollon speaks at the Active Shooter Response & Impact of Violence Training Workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Photo: Lillian Boyd

regional peer support coordinator for Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“Ordinary citizens are now asking me whether I’ve cleared the hills or surrounding area before a major event in town,” Sheehan said. “The best thing I can do is to make this community the hardest target to hit.”

The presentation referenced specific shooting incidents and what law enforcement was able to learn from them.

“In a shooter situation, you can either run, hide or fight. There’s no certain way to know how you’ll react in a mass shooting, but being prepared and having a plan already gives you an advantage,” said Millhollon.

WHAT’S NEXT: For more information on how to create a plan for a mass casualty or active shooter scenario in your business, agency or household, visit www.embassyconsultingservices.com. —LB

NRC Expects Full Report on SONGS Canister before Thanksgiving THE LATEST: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hosted a webinar on Thursday, Nov. 8, providing more details about the Aug. 3 canister incident at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) and the courses of action going forward.

During the loading process of the spent nuclear fuel canisters at SONGS on Aug 3, one canister got snagged on an outer ring of the repository, causing detected elevated levels of radiation in the area and causing one of the two redundant straps that load the spent fuel to lose tension.

The fear from officials and concerned residents was that the canister could have dropped 18 feet, damaging it and causing an extremely unsafe environment.

Both the NRC and a San Diego County analysis conducted by its senior health physicist reported that the incident never

created an unsafe situation, despite the procedural deficiencies that led to the incident.

Two preliminary violations have been registered with the NRC pertaining to the incident: the canister incident itself and that Southern California Edison (SCE), the owners of the plant, did not report the incident in a timely fashion. Those two violations could be elevated from a baseline infraction.

Eric Simpson, the NRC’s special inspection team leader on the incident of the Region IV fuel cycle and decommissioning branch, said during the canister load, there was not sufficient supervision, possibly someone wasn’t paying close enough attention to the alignment of the canister, and that likely contributed to it snagging on the outer ring.

SCE continued by saying the drop analysis an independent analyst conducted validates its canister’s integrity and would not have been breached if a drop occurred.

SCE stopped storing spent nuclear fuel after it loaded the 29th canister of the 73 Holtec International, Inc. canisters it expects to harbor onsite at the offline nuclear power plant. There are 51 canisters in horizontal storage that have been housed onsite in AREVA-made storage units.

“Each licensee must demonstrate the ability to retrieve (the spent nuclear fuel) and put it back in the cooling pools if available,” Simpson said during the webinar. “Holtec has demonstrated that they can cut open a canister.”

WHAT’S NEXT: NRC officials said they expect the full report to be published before Thanksgiving. Per a settlement agreement that concluded last year, SONGS has a California Coastal Commission requirement to inspect the condition of the spent nuclear fuel canisters in November 2020. The officials who spoke during the webinar said the NRC does have a petition process in place if people want to petition for more regulations. More information can be found at www.nrc.gov.

The next Community Engagement Panel public meeting is at 5:30 p.m. on

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THE LATEST: The California State Lands Commission (CSLC) on Tuesday, Nov. 13, announced that it had completed its draft environmental impact report (DEIR) on the expansion of the Wheeler North Reef and will solicit comments from the public through Dec. 28.

The reef is an artificial environmental mitigation construct that’s meant to offset the impacts from San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). It’s about 174 acres underwater about a half-mile off the shore of San Clemente and San Diego County. But the reef has to meet certain thresholds in order to gain mitigation credits, and one important category, fish stock, has never reached that goal according to measurements from 2008.

In order to meet those goals, Southern California Edison, the company that runs SONGS, will expand the reef to more than twice its size. The plan is to have more fish living in and around the reef in order to provide adequate habitation.

Most of the reef expansion is planned to the north, almost to Dana Point.

WHAT’S NEXT: To read the 400-plus-page DEIR, visit www.slc.ca.gov and find the link to the document at the bottom right side of the homepage. Comments on the DEIR can be sent to ceqa.comments@slc. ca.gov. —San Clemente Times

Mayor Pro Tem Joe Muller appointed to OCTA THE LATEST: Dana Point Mayor Pro Tem Joe Muller has been appointed to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors.

The OCTA Board of Directors is comprised of 18 people who are city councilmembers, county supervisors and a public representative.

“I am honored to serve on the OCTA Board. From maintaining our assets related to public transportation, to encouraging ridesharing and bike riding, OCTA is striving to better transportation for the more than 3 million residents of Orange County, ” Muller said in a press release.

Joe Muller was elected to the Dana Point City Council in 2014 and re-elected on Nov. 6, 2018.

WHAT’S NEXT: For more information and updates on the next meeting, visit www.octa.net. —LB www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

Insurance Agent Accused of Stealing Thousands A former Dana Point State Farm insurance agent allegedly stole nearly $200,000 in insurance premium payments, leaving clients without coverage. Ann Garcia, also known as Anna Nuno-Garcia, 46, of Capistrano Beach, faces 40 felony counts of grand theft.

A press release issued by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) says that while working for an independently owned State Farm agency from September 2011 to November 2014, Garcia embezzled more than 300 checks totaling $195,626 by altering, endorsing or depositing them into her personal bank accounts. These checks were for payment of the customer’s insurance premiums or were premium refunds for the policyholder.

“Garcia’s alleged crimes are an example of why insurance fraud is not a victimless crime,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones in a press release. “In order to line her own pockets, Garcia allegedly took advantage of people who trusted her and put those people at risk of economic loss by failing to place insurance coverage intended to protect them.”

Garcia allegedly used cash payments from some clients to purchase money orders to pay premiums for other clients and set up policyholders on unauthorized State Farm installment payment plans. Victims included extended family members and elderly State Farm customers.

Garcia was arraigned on Nov. 5 at the Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana. Bail was set at $20,000. This case was handled by CDI’s Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Garcia’s license expired in April 2018 for failure to renew.

Cox Donates Funds to The Ecology Center The philanthropic arm of cable company Cox Communications recently donated funds to 12 Orange County nonprofits, including The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano.

The Ecology Center received $7,500 from Cox Charities for its experiential programming, which uses project-based lessons to teach children about science and ecology.

Cox Charities awarded a total of $65,000 to the 12 organizations it deemed as 2018 Nonprofit Grant recipients, according to a news release from the company.

Each of those recipients offers programs focused either on youth, education, conservation or supporting military families.

Some of the other organizations that received funding included the Ocean InDana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17

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 are available the first Saturday of the month. La Plaza Park, Pacific Coast Highway near the Clock Tower.

Demonstrators gather at the Camino de Estrella I-5 overpass in San Clemente, near Capistrano Beach, in support of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Photo: Lillian Boyd

stitute ($10,000) and the Special Olympics Southern California ($7,500).

Cox Charities is funded by Cox Communications employees’ payroll donations that are matched by the company. The philanthropy supports communities in Cox’s service area by providing scholarships to high school seniors and grants to nonprofits.

Protestors Gather Near Capo Beach Motorists headed northbound on the I-5 through San Clemente and Capistrano Beach on Thursday, Nov. 8 at approximately 5 p.m, may have noticed the demonstrators gathering on the Camino de Estrella overpass. A large sign read “RESIST” with other signs calling for acting Attorney General Matthew Whittaker to recuse himself from the Mueller investigation.

“This investigation needs to go through due process. They demanded it for Hillary, they demanded it for Benghazi and they saw it through. Russians hacked our election.

And we need to know what happened in order to prevent it in the future,” demonstrator Shelly Welcome told the Dana Point Times.

The group of about a dozen sign holders assembled to call for the protection of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Protests were held nationwide in support of Mueller and the Russia investigation, which demonstrators fear may be in jeopardy due to the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

“It’s about finding out the truth. We should all care about the truth, whether you’re Republican or Democrat. You should care about truth. You should care about justice,” Welcome said.

Sign up for No-Burn Day Air Alerts South Coast Air Quality Management

District launched its annual Check Before You Burn program, which comes after what it described as “a hot and smoggy summer and a record-high 33 no-burn days last winter.”

The seasonal air pollution prevention program runs from Nov. 1 through Feb. 28, 2019. During this four-month period, residents living in the South Coast Air Basin, including all of Orange County and the non-desert areas of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, are asked to help improve Southern California’s air quality by not burning firewood on designated no-burn days.

A no-burn day is a 24-hour ban on woodburning in a fireplace, stove or outdoor fire pit across the South Coast Air Basin.

When a No-Burn Day is in effect, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air is forecast to reach unhealthy levels due to air pollution and stagnant weather conditions.

The district asks residents to take the pledge to Check Before You Burn by signing up for Air Alerts at www.airalerts.org to receive an email notification in advance of every no-burn day. Residents can also call 866.966.3293 for daily Check Before You Burn information.

Second Annual Pet Food Drive The San Clemente /Dana Point Animal Shelter is hosting the second annual Pet Food Drive through Nov. 21. Donations of treats, dry/canned food for our dogs, cats and other small critters are welcomed.

You may drop off donations at the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter, located at 221 Avenida Fabricante. Business hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday, noon-3 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday. www.petprojectfoundation.org.

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A WALK THROUGH HISTORY 9-11 a.m. This walk focuses on local Dana Point History. It is designed to introduce participants to the several different main historical periods (Acjachemen, Spanish Mission, Rancho, and Modern Era). The walk is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours long, covering about 1.5 miles. The walk occurs on the third Saturday of each month and begins at the Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20

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

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21

MONARCH BEACH SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB 7 a.m. Every Wednesday, the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club people at their weekly meeting. Doors open and breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern. www.monarchbeachsunriserotary.org.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22

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.

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. www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Dana Point Rocks by Anthony Small 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 REPORTER Lillian Boyd, 949.388.7700, x113 lboyd@picketfencemedia.com SPORTS Zach Cavanagh, 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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

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

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Debra Wells (SJC)

EDITORIAL

Real Estate Sales Executive > Jennifer Guy

City Reporter, DP Times > Lillian Boyd

ART/DESIGN

Senior City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Alex Groves

Art Director > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex OPERATIONS

Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh

Finance Director > Mike Reed

Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho

General Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Copy Editor > Randall Youngman

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (SC)

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Jake Howard, Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 11, Issue 46. 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 November 16-22, 2018

Driftwood Festival Honors Veterans, Creates Community

O

n a gorgeous Sunday afternoon last weekend, Doheny State Park was filled with country music fans enjoying Driftwood Festival’s second day of craft beer tastings, barbecue and music by the likes of Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Brooke Eden and headliners Big & Rich. I caught up with Big & Rich for an entertaining chat right before they took the stage. I was also able to speak at length with John Reese, CEO of Synergy Global Entertainment (SGE) and producer of the Driftwood, Ohana and Sabroso festivals.

On this Memorial Day, the common themes that ran through both conversations were thinking of others, community and safety, especially given the tragic week of California wildfires and the horrific mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks.

“The good people in the world outnumber the bad people a million to one.

The bad guys aren’t gonna win. They can kiss our country (rear end),” John Rich shared as Big Kenny chimed in, “Art and music help bring people together without a shadow of a doubt. So we use country music, hip-hop, heavy metal, rock and roll, etc. to reunite everybody as one nation under music, without prejudice. We wear MUZIK MAFIA rings to represent Musically Artistic Friends In Alliance and nothing, I mean nothing, can come between us and all our friends and fans out there.

That's the glorious way that music brings everyone together, no matter what your little miniscule differences might be; we’re all just people in this together.”

Rich was recently in a well-publicized, politically charged Twitter battle with Americana artist Jason Isbell, but respect changed the original dynamic of the exchange.

“You can hold your ground on what you believe, but you don't have to turn it into a fist fight,” Rich said. “I responded kindly to Isbell and he appreciated it and responded correctly. I hope other artists take note and I’d like to see that tone continue in our country.”

Rich added, “We’ll never let anything separate us from those shared musical experiDANA POINT ences and the chance to ROCKS give back. We feel like,

By Anthony Small in America, you’ve got the right to dream as big and work as hard as you want and we want to help where we can. Our Redneck Riviera Whiskey has supported the Folds of Honor Foundation and we just wrote them a check to cover 31 college grants to kids and spouses of our fallen and disabled service members.”

That respect continued during Big and Rich’s set, when they brought up veterans Jayson Brave Heart and Larry Fellows and Route 91 Festival survivor Joe Ortiz of Whittier. Fellows had been honored earlier as a Hometown Hero by SGE’s John Reese and his wife Elenie Reese and presented with a signed guitar to the roaring approval of the crowd and chants of USA, USA. That guitar presentation tradition, originally

GUEST OPINION: Our Home Port by James Lenthall

most transformative, busy and challenging years in Dana Point Harbor’s history, for me there have also been so many quiet moments amid the chaos when I reflect on how much this piece of real estate, this harbor, has enriched not only my life, but those of so many thousands of others who have spent a moment or a life here.

OUR HOME PORT We have drawn so

By James Lenthall much from this place, so perhaps now is the occasion to offer some immense gratitude in return. So be it, here are some thanks at Thanksgiving.

Foremost, thank you, Dana Point

The One with All the Thank Yous

I

strive to avoid cliché. I turn and run from overt Hallmark moments. I try not to write the easy things. So making this column about offering thanks at Thanksgiving feels like surrender to a recycled formula. Yet during one of the

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known as Metal of Honor, was started by Elenie Reese at SGE’s Mayhem Festival.

SGE’s John Reese started in the concert and festival business in 2004, working with Robert Smith of The Cure and he now owns and produces 35 music festivals and 54 brands, creating the artwork and choosing the artists and integrated concepts for each show. SGE is one of only two national festival companies and their Lost Lands Festival was just named Festival of the Year, Reese said.

“Our number-one responsibility isn't fan experience, it is public safety. No one’s going to scare me and I don’t want anyone to scare or hurt my customers. We all will always go above and beyond to ensure that safety.”

These are consistently world-class events that have meaning, create awareness and give back to the community via Elenie Reese’s involvement and coordination with local nonprofit organizations like San Onofre Parks Foundation, Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association, Surfrider Foundation, SeaLegacy, Surfing Heritage & Culture Center, Wyland Foundation and the Rob Machado Foundation.

Reese concluded, “I’ve lived in South Orange County since 1991 and now my youngest daughter goes to Dana Hills. To be able to bring all this to my hometown and share it with my family, our friends and our community is very special.”

Anthony Small is Chairman of the City of Dana Point Arts and Culture Commission, front man for the local rock band Small World and a solo singer-songwriter. Small and his family have lived in Dana Point for 21 years. Facebook: Small World Band YouTube: Anthony Small Music. 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

Harbor, for fostering a wildly diverse community drawn here by your sweeping variety of activities and diversions and delights. Yet ours is also a community united by our collective affection for the sea and seafaring; we come here with an assortment of aspirations, but we’re all connected by our common bond to this harbor’s peculiar character and charm.

We’re members of a proud fraternity where relationships are forged, friendships nourished, romances kindled, and enduring memories sown. Personally, it’s this harbor’s foundation for so many of my most cherished relationships for which I am most grateful.

Thank you, Dana Point Harbor, for your generous clubs, organizations,

www.danapointtimes.com

SOAPBOX

businesses and citizens that atone for the embarrassment of riches we’re so blessed with here by endeavoring to share them with others who may not have the same privilege. Not a week goes by without a whale-watching tour offered to underprivileged kids, or a fishing charter for veterans, or a sailing cruise for the disabled. Our yacht clubs have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity, and have fun doing it. The list goes on. Ours is a community of philanthropists aspiring to convey our good fortune to others.

Thank you, Dana Point Harbor, for your dazzling classroom. For generations, the Sea Scouts program has instilled independence, ocean-mindedness and seafaring skills in our kids. The Ocean Institute inspires ocean appreciation and conservation and provides lessons on America’s maritime past. Our yacht clubs offer youth sailing programs in which kids are introduced to the science and fun of harnessing the wind and skipping across the water, perhaps motivated to continue a path of seamanship. Westwind, Dana Outrigger, and so many others add to the breadth of options to grow on the

water.

Thank you, Dana Point Harbor, for such a motivating place to exercise.

Sweat drips just a little cooler here.

Calories burn faster, or maybe just easier.

Walking, rowing, running, paddling, yoga, paddling yoga, Jazzercise (yes, it’s still a thing here). Whatever it is, stepping out is just more rewarding, more inspiring here. By the way, a paddle around the island is 1.85 miles. And it’s almost exactly three miles walking/running from the Harbor Patrol building to the Ocean Institute and back. In case you were wondering.

Thank you, Dana Point Harbor, for being home to so many great shops and restaurants and businesses. The old school tavern at Turk’s, the new school vibe at Waterman’s, fine dining at Harbor Grill, cool Mai Tais at Wind and Sea, the Saturday night lounge at Harpoon Henry’s, the locals’ breakfast at The Brig.

And a special thanks to Coffee Importers for the patio where everyone knows your name.

Thank you, Dana Point Harbor, for everyone I missed who contributes to your beauty, your charity, your education,

your camaraderie.

Now some very personal thanks to the dear friends and colleagues who contribute directly the joy and reward I find in this harbor. Too many people to name here, so I’ll go with initials.

If you see yours and are wondering if I mean you, yes, of course, I do. The DPBA team: SC, AE, AJ, RB and DS. The dedicated DPHAB members: JM, DP and DP, DK, BK, BH, JY, GM, SB and MD. And so many more: GM, MH, B&B F, RM, PH, SS, GH, JM, LH, BM, KH, DH, LB, JD, VC, BR, TS, SL, VS, SL, AC, JU, DW, BW, and, of course, K&J S. Thank you to DR for getting me started on these columns, and LB for carrying them on. And as you read this, please know that I am already punishing myself for those I missed.

And many thanks to you for reading this far. Writing this column has been an unexpected reward and outlet for what’s been on my mind this year about our harbor. Thank you for giving me someone to write for, even if you’re the only one reading this.

Finally, my deepest and most profound thank you to the people who

matter most to me. My wife Stephanie, for your love, support and patience as I strive to contribute in some small way to this community; and for your own contributions to this this harbor and all its young sailors. To my boys, Carsen and Riley, who I am raising in this harbor, and who I am so grateful to see enriched by all it has to offer. And to my parents, Jim and Linda, who raised me in this harbor and gave me a place to call home and to dedicate so much of my passion and energy to.

By the way, this is my 10th Dana Point Times column this year and by far the quickest and easiest to write. Offering thanks is thankfully so easy.

Thank you, Dana Point Harbor.

James Lenthall is a lifelong Dana Point resident and boater, and presently serves as president of the Dana Point Boaters Association, chair of the Dana Point Harbor Advisory Board, and as a director on the board of Dana Point Yacht Club. 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

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies: ‘Suspiria’ is a Literal Horror

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 | 16 DRYSUIT DEMO DAYS 10 a.m.-7 p.m. If you’ve wanted to try out a drysuit for scuba diving, now is your chance. Beach Cities Scuba is hosting a drysuit demo event at 34283 Pacific Coast Highway. Bring your gear and staff will outfit you in a drysuit to try in the pool.

Call 714.527.1500 to let staff know you’re coming. www.beachcitiesscuba.com.

Saturday | 17 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 | 18 AN EVENING OF GRATITUTDE 6-8 p.m. Find your gratitude and connect with your inner self and your heart chakra with the spiritual power of cacao. Join So Hum Cacao for a ceremony of guided meditation and cacao consumption. Purchase your $40 ticket at www.studiopilates. yoga. The event will be held at Studio A Pilates and Yoga, 24849 Del Prado. Call 949.218.0233 with any questions.

Monday | 19 BINGO AT GOODY’S TAVERN 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month. Cards are $1 per sleeve, and raffle prizes are offered.

Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real.

949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

Tuesday | 20 SCIENCE NIGHT 6:30-8 p.m. Come out for the Science Night Dana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

Photo: Courtesy of Sandro Kopp / Amazon Studios

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

O

EDITOR’S PICK Adam Paskowitz, Santa, and elf “Doc” (named for his grandfather “Doc” Paskowitz) ride tandem at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel’s annual Surfing Santa Competition in 2017 at Salt Creek Beach. Photo: Jack Biehl

SATURDAY, NOV. 17 AND SUNDAY, NOV. 18: SURFING SANTA AND S.U.P. COMPETITION 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The Annual Surfing Santa and Stand Up Paddle Board Competition is a celebration of the season that supports efforts to raise money for Surfers Healing, an organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of kids living with autism by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing. The contest will be held at Salt Creek Beach.

Visit www.surfingsantacontest.org for more information.

Blacks Christmas Tree Lot, Dana Point at 34111 Pacific Coast Highway.

presentation, “The Moon - A Look at Our Nearest Neighbor in Space” with Spencer Murray, of Orange County Astronomers.

This event is a nontechnical presentation addressing the Moon’s origin, its features and phases. It also discusses eclipses, tides and the space race. Science Night will be held at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street. Call 949.248.3527 or email DPnaturalresources@danapoint.org for more information.

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

Wednesday | 21 CHRISTMAS TREE PREVIEW PARTY 6-9 p.m. Time to spread some Christmas cheer for the Eighth Annual Santa Clause and Big Wednesday Christmas Tree Preview Party. Get your family photos with Santa, thanks to Matthew Morgan Photography. There will be games, fresh popcorn and drinks. The event will be hosted by

IHEARTYOGA IN THE PARK 10 a.m. Donation-based outdoor yoga for everyone. A variety of classes and styles are offered every day at 10 a.m. in front of the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, Dana Point in Lantern Bay Park.

Come join hundreds of yogis weekly at this beautiful ocean-front class. Bring your dog, kids and friends to Dana Point’s most popular yoga class. Suggested donation $8. No reservations needed. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.

Thursday | 22 DANA POINT TURKEY TROT 6-11 a.m. Run the race before you stuff your face. If you haven’t already registered, go to www.turkeytrot.com for regular pricing through Monday, Nov. 19. Late registration is available online and onsite Nov. 20-22. Choose between two separate 5K races, a 10K and the Kid’s Gobble Wobble race. The first race starts at 8:30 a.m.

Go online for more scheduling, prices and more. Call 949.496.1555 with questions or email turkey@danapointchamber.com.

Page 8

nly a year after achieving stellar success with his adaptation of Call Me By Your Name (2017), Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino follows up with something completely different. Reuniting with a lot of his team from A Bigger Splash (2015)— including actresses Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton, and screenwriter David Kajganich—Guadagnino takes on the unlikely task of remaking Dario Argento’s arthouse cult horror classic, Suspiria (1977). And its new take is 10 times even more polarizing.

In 1977 Berlin, Germany, a respected dance company is run by and only hires women. Sometimes, girls will disappear or quit the company under mysterious circumstances. Local psychologist Dr. Jozef Klemperer (“Lutz Ebersdorf”) is convinced the place is secretly overrun by witches. Some of the dancers who claim as much are shrugged off as hysterical. For Susie (Johnson) and Sara (Mia Goth), their journey into the darkness is just beginning.

Jessica Harper makes an appearance 40 years after playing Susie in the original; and last month “Ebersdorf” was revealed to actually be Swinton in heavy prosthetics. Swinton plays multiple characters in the film, which is the most impressive part of the film and helps distract from Johnson’s ugly orange wig. Suspiria is what it was four decades ago: style over substance. But the previous version was so influential and intriguing with its aesthetics and direction that it was enough to make up for the lack of plot. This time the style is so grotesque and over the top, it’s just unpleasant. Thom Yorke’s score is a fine effort, though his theme song aids in making the cartoonish final act laughable. Suspiria proves that Hereditary is the superior cult-themed horror film of 2018. DP

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Run the Race Before you Stuff your Face THANKSGIVING DAY | NOVEMBER 22, 2018 Thousands will gather Thanksgiving morning on Nov. 22, for the 41st annual Dana Point Turkey Trot where families, friends, neighbors, teams, clubs and volunteers will convene to race in, cheer on and support contestants.

The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce is bringing novice and experienced competitors of all ages together to race along the scenic course winding through the Dana Point Harbor, Doheny State Beach and alongside California’s famed Pacific Coast Highway. The Thanksgiving tradition consists of a 10K, two 5K races and a one-mile Kids Gobble Wobble, as well as a health and wellness expo and a costume contest. The 5K races will be open to all age divisions. The first race will start at 8:30 a.m. and the other one at 9:30 a.m. Race results will be available after the 9:30 race.

Race-Day registration opens at 6 a.m. with the first race, the 10K kicking off at 7 a.m.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Drumstick, the beloved Turkey Trot mascot, who’s always up for a photo. Call 949.496.1555 or visit www.turkeytrot.com for additional information on race-day registration, race packet pick-ups and more. Online registration will remain open through race day but price increases will take effect Nov. 20. Register online to skip the lines.

Register Now! Turkeytrot.com

@DPTurkeyTrot

Share your race-day photos using #DPTurkeyTrot

DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

A New Way to Dine A Dana Point Retirement Community Leads Way in Feeding MemoryImpaired Residents

BY LILLIAN BOYD, DANA POINT TIMES

C

hef Paul Granados has a special mentality in his approach to preparing each meal at the Fountains at Sea Bluffs senior living facility.

“I imagine the people I’m serving are my parents. How would I want them to be treated? I’d want to make sure they were given the best, treated with respect and dignity and served the best quality meal,” Granados said.

The same philosophy is especially applied when preparing Thrive Dining meals—a special menu for residents with cognitive disabilities or residents in the memory care program. The program focuses on independence, dignity and accessibility. Kitchen staff transforms traditional menu items into nutritional, aesthetically pleasing portions that can be consumed without utensils while retaining all the flavor. The hors d’oeuvres-style meals are intended to be eaten by hand.

“Often times, our residents in our memory care program struggle to use utensils. Mealtime becomes a source of anxiety. Thrive Dining restores the dignity and independence back to our residents,” said Terry Brown, executive director at The Fountains.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there were less than two million people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease when President Ronald Reagan declared November to be Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Now, that number has grown to more than five million. That means one in nine people over age 65 in America have Alzheimer’s. Half a million American’s have Parkinson’s disease. Older Americans who have experienced strokes, dementia and physical injuries may have difficulty using a knife and fork, causing mealtimes to become less enjoyable, independent and healthful. Officials with The Fountains said this often means their food is commonly fed to them by a caregiver, or their diet relegated to chicken nuggets, fish sticks and other processed foods often lacking in variety, nutrition and taste.

Watermark Retirement Communities— the parent company to The Fountains at Sea Bluffs—is a national senior-living

Dana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

(Clockwise from left) The Fountains at Sea Bluffs is a retirement community offering accessible, handheld meals to residents with cognitive impairments. Chef Paul Granados prepares special meals for residents who struggle to use utensils. Photos: Lillian Boyd and courtesy of The Fountains at Sea Bluffs

company that prides itself on leading the way in new methods of care. Its Thrive Memory Care Program at The Fountains is based on more than 25 years of experience of innovative programming in a residential environment.

The concept behind Thrive Dining allows patients with cognitive or physical challenges to eat without assistance, utensils or distractions. It makes a difference in the diets of residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or cognitive impairments, Brown said.

People can eat on the go if they need to or they can sit and enjoy the nourishment.

The meal tradition begins with a warm towel for a resident to clean their hands with and a lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate and increase appetite. The residents begin their meals with a clean palate to taste the food, which is delivered with upscale presentation and arrangement.

Brown said that Watermark is one of the first companies to roll out a program like this in a wholesale manner.

“Often times, the patients battling these kinds of impairments are wasting away. This has been a solution to that problem,” Brown said. “All 50 Watermark communities in the country are implementing this solution.”

When Watermark rolled out the Thrive Dining program about a year ago, The

Fountains sent Chef Granados to Des Moines, Iowa for special training. Granados spent a week learning the mechanical process of breaking down foods and how to present them to clients.

“The inventors showed me how to measure ingredients out, how to modify regular meals into a Thrive Dining version.

I learned how to operate the equipment to ensure meals are always consistent for the resident,” Granados said. “It was a process. It took steps. I had to provide training to my staff when I got back. Now they have fun with it and enjoy it.”

Granados has been the executive chef at Sea Bluffs for nine years, but he’s spent a total of 17 years with the company, beginning his career in high school.

“Some of the residents here have watched me grow up. They’ve watched me move my way up in the kitchen,” Granados said. “Each resident deserves the same kind of dignity you would show your own family. I strive to deliver that level of care in each meal we present,” Granados said.

Menu items like chef’s salad, Thanksgiving tortes, orange chicken, lobster crepes, beef wellington, French toast, pancakes and cheese casserole are a few of the items chef Granados has transformed into grinded down, processed, handheld meals. The transformation into a

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new visual arrangement is what makes the program so unique, Brown said.

“You eat with your eyes first. The way our kitchen prepares these meals is like a work of art. The preparation and arrangement is what you could expect at any fine dining restaurant,” Brown said.

The menu selection is kept fresh with a rotating cycle for new dishes every five weeks.

Andrea Furch is the Memory Care Director, overseeing the facility that houses residents struggling with memory.

“The most noticeable difference has been less weight loss,” Furch said. “People are excited about mealtime again,” Furch said. “It has been amazing to see dignity restored to residents and their families while dining. We have seen a significant difference as it relates to increased appetite and participation during the dining process. As a result we’ve seen overall health improve.”

Chef Granados and sous chef Hazel Zuniga are inviting the public for a complimentary lunch tasting and demonstration at The Fountains at Sea Bluffs. It will be the third and final public tasting in a planned, a threeevent series for the holiday season. The event will be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 25411 Sea Bluffs Drive.

You can RSVP by calling 949.234.3000 or by going on line at www.seabluffs.watermarkcommunities.com. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING GUEST OPINION: Book Talk by Dan Deneve

A Plague on Both Your Parties

T

ucker Carlson of Fox News Channel continues to take aim at Capitol Hill in his latest book, Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution. Carlson pulls no punches from the start. He asserts that: “Trump’s election wasn’t about Trump.

It was a throbbing middle finger in the face of America’s ruling class. It was a gesture of contempt, a howl of rage, the end result of decades of selfish and unwise decisions made by selfish and unwise leaders. Happy countries don’t elect Donald Trump president. Desperate ones do… In retrospect, the lesson seemed obvious: Ignore voters for long enough and you get Donald Trump. Yet the people at whom the message was aimed never received it. Instead of pausing, listening, thinking, and changing, America’s ruling class withdrew into a defensive crouch.”

Carlson then goes on to point out how both sides are now very much the same and have morphed into an oligarchy, which no longer even pays lip service to listening to the voters.

Therefore, he argues, you end up with someone like Donald Trump as president.

Carlson goes on throughout the book to point out the hypocrisy of both sides.

Among the numerous examples, he points out is how the Democrat party was the party that was usually against war, i.e. the Vietnam War. That does not seem to be the case anymore, especially with war hawk Hillary Clinton having run for president. He also points out how women’s organizations supported Bill Clinton despite the Monica Lewinsky scandal because he supported abortion and that issue trumped abuse of power or sexual misconduct toward women. Other issues Carlson looks at include unions vs. illegal immigrants and NAFTA, climate change vs. just picking up trash and caring for

waterways, sexuality, and, of course, free speech vs. silencing those we don’t agree with, especially with violent acts.

Sadly, this last issue should not even be an issue because free speech is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately, even our institutions of higher learning, which were incredibly liberal in the ’60s and were always a place where even the craziest ideas could be floated and debated, have become close-minded. It used to be that the BOOK TALK attitude was, “I may not

By Dan Deneve like what you have to say, but I’ll defend my views.” Now the attitude has become “I don’t like what you have to say, so you are a racist, so just shut up, or, failing that, we will resort to violence.” The hypocrisy, especially on college campuses is troubling.

Free speech is only free to some, not all.

What becomes clear is that the oligarchy, as he calls it, is only it for themselves.

Carlson likens our government to “a private equity firm sizing up an aging conglomerate, and when it fails, they’re gone.” He’s right on the mark. Carlson points out that the government only represents the rich and corporations, which means they are beholden to boards and shareholders, not the electorate that voted them into office. Along the way, these public servants get rich while claiming to serve the little guy.

Carlson points out that if you keep ignoring those you rule over long enough, you will have some serious problems.

Trump is just a warmup.

One drawback to the book is that he offers no real solution of other than to continually practice democracy, whatever that

Dana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

ashore near Dana Point. According to the photo’s description on the Los Angeles Public Libraries website, this Landing Craft Infantry (L.C.I.) became a fishing barge but a “bad northwester” put it on the beach below Dana Point. It reportedly sustained no damage as it was constructed to come into the surf.

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.

means to him. He also suffers from being part of the group he takes to task. While he may not be a billionaire, he isn’t suffering. He also isn’t living in a poor, rundown neighborhood, which he accuses many in government of not doing, even though they claim to support the little guy. I’m not saying he is a hypocrite, but he may suffer from a slight bout of cognitive dissonance.

Lastly, there is no question he definitely attacks the left and Democrats more often and with more vigor than the right and Republicans. If he was honest, both sides would get equal treatment as they are both responsible. At this point, it isn’t about who has done more damage or worse damage.

Both sides have done enough damage.

The book is a quick read and whether you agree with him or not, he will make you question what the federal government is doing and why, no matter where you stand on the issues. The library owns a copy of this book.

Dan DeNeve is a 15-year employee of the Orange County Public Library. He currently works at the Dana Point Library as the Adult Services Librarian. He is an avid reader of history, biographies and sports. 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

BY MYLES MELLOR

DANA POINT TIMES

Katherine and Spencer. Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo depicts the aftermath of the Dixie boat washing

Sudoku

Pets of the Week: Katherine and Spencer

K

Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Libraries

atherine and Spencer are a closely bonded pair of cuties looking for a new home. Katherine is a gorgeous Rhinelander-dwarf mix, spayed female rabbit, and Spencer is a handsome, black New Zealand neutered male rabbit. Both are around 4 and a half years old and very sweet. They are litter-box trained and would be a fabulous pair of bunnies for a loving home.

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

Last week’s solution:

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

Page 14

See the solution in next week’s issue.

www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

Driftwood Draws Country Lovers Crowds Gathered Veterans Day Weekend for Craft Beer and Tunes

BY LILLIAN BOYD, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he Driftwood Country Music Festival was held Nov. 10-11, playing host to craft beer, BBQ and at least a dozen country artists on the lawn of Doheny State Beach.

The audience enjoyed performances from musicians including Chase Rice, Big & Rich, Michael Ray, Kristian Bush (of Sugarland), Carly Pearce, Jamestown Revival and more. Concertgoers who arrived before 4 p.m. were able to enjoy complimentary beer tasting with a selection of more than 200 beers. Driftwood producers partnered with Orange County-based Brew Ha Ha Productions to offer the wide selection for unlimited tastings.

Veterans were able to get discounted

Concertgoers enjoyed unlimited beer tasting, line dancing and country music at Doheny State Beach for the Driftwood Country Music Festival. Photos: Scott Schmitt

tickets, had access to free shuttle rides and were given other perks in light of the holiday event. Larry Fellows, a member of the military, was honored as the “Hometown Hero” and brought on stage during

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INSURANCE SERVICES

Patricia Powers

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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

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

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools 949.493.5683, 32032 Del Obispo Street, www.cvcs.org

SPECIALTY BEAUTY

Belant Studio

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Massage Therapy

Paul Svoboda, CAMTC #76690 (310) 387-2560, Monarch Beach Studio or Outcall

the show to receive a guitar signed by Driftwood artists.

Big & Rich closed out the concert on Sunday, Nov. 11. Dana Point Times Guest Columnist Anthony Small had backstage

access to the festival and had a chance to meet with several of the performing artists, including Big & Rich. Read more about his experience in our Soapbox section on page six. DP

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dolphin Report

Cross Country Teams Advance to CIF-SS Finals

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

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

Girls Tennis Earns Division 1 Runner-Up Silver When the final point was scored on Friday, Nov. 9, between Dana Hills’ girls tennis team and Mira Costa, the result wasn’t unexpected. In fact, it was the same score as the first match between the two teams two months ago.

However, for the Dolphins, it wasn’t just about the result. It was the fact they were even competing in the match in the first place.

Despite another singles sweep for Dana Hills senior Courtney Swift, Mira Costa beat Dana Hills at its own game in the doubles, and the top-seeded Mustangs defeated the Dolphins, 13-5, to capture the CIF-SS Division 1 championship at the Claremont Club.

“It’s huge,” Dana Hills coach Justin Green said of making the final. “We came in and beat a lot of seeds through the tournament.

Dana Wharf Fish Count Halibut Derby leaderboard grows in good November weather

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

M

ore names are added to the Halibut Derby leaderboard, and bonito, skipjack and bluefin find their way into the counts at Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

In his weekly report, Captain Brian Woolley said this has been a great November week for the fleet. The weather has clean water along the beach with high visibility and temperatures at 66-67 degrees.

It was another strong week for bonito catches. Woolley said the bonito is a great fish for the half-day trips because it pulls hard making it a fun catch. The trips also pulled in some skipjack, despite being a tougher catch lately.

In the deeper water, there were catchDana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

The Dana Hills girls tennis team poses with their silver CIF-SS Division 1 runner-up plaque after the Division 1 Final on Nov. 9. It was the 12th Finals appearance for the Dolphins program. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

We beat teams that we supposedly weren’t supposed to beat and got better through the year. It’s a big deal. It was a fun run.”

Dana Hills beat San Marcos, 10-8, on the road in the first round and upset No. 3 seed Beckman, 11-7, in the second round.

In the quarterfinals, the Dolphins avenged a regular-season loss to Murrieta Valley, 10-8, and moved on to defeat Troy in a

hard-fought match, 10-8, to reach the final.

“It was a lot of fun,” Swift said of the run.

“Especially because we hadn’t been to a final in any of my years here. Everyone was super excited about it. Everyone cared a lot and tried their best.”

It was Dana Hills’ first trip to the CIF-SS Final since the Dolphins won the title in 2011 and their 12th appearance overall.

The Dana Hills running program is back for its yearly trip to the CIF-SS Finals and will look to continue that traditional run to the State meet.

At the CIF-SS preliminaries on Nov. 10 at Riverside Cross Country Course, the Dolphins boys finished third to sit snugly in the qualifying top eight of its Division 1 heat by running as a pack.

The Dana Hills boys posted the best five-man gap in Division one with only a three-second separation. Senior Hayden Stein was credited as the first Dana Hills runner across the line in 20th at 15:33.3, but senior Garrett Hough, junior Carrick Denker and senior Cole Stark all finished within two-tenths of a second of Stein.

Sophomore Brandon Pizano finished two spots behind Stark at 15:37.2.

The Dana Hills girls finished sixth in their heat to qualify for the Finals. Junior Marisa Gaitan paced the Dolphins in 10th with a time of 18:10.8. Senior Leila Keyvan was the second Dolphin to finish in 20th at 18:28.7, and senior Sarah Meng was the third Dolphin across the line at 19:04.1.

The CIF-SS Finals run on Saturday, Nov. 17, again at the Riverside Cross Country Course. The top seven teams will advance to the State Championships on Nov. 24 at Woodward Park in Fresno. DP

es of rockfish, reds and bocaccio.

The longer trips found some good bluefin action with catches of 20 to 60 lbs. A 1.5 day trip on the Fury brought in 46 fish for 23 anglers aboard.

In the Halibut Derby, a 25-pound catch on the first trip of the season still tops the leaderboard, but the total on the leaderboard is up to 15 entries. The Halibut Derby runs through the end of March, and more information can be found at danawharf.com/halibut-derby.

Here’s the latest fish counts out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching: Nov. 14 • 1 boat, 19 anglers: 14 calico bass, 6 sand bass, 8 sheephead, 59 bass released Nov. 13 • 2 boats, 30 anglers: 7 calico bass, 14 sand bass, 2 sheephead, 6 whitefish, 22 rockfish, 9 vermilion rockfish, 14 bocaccio, 1 bonito, 132 bass released Nov. 12 • 4 boats, 129 anglers: 16 calico bass, 17 sand bass, 5 sheephead, 52 whitefish, 66 rockfish, 45 vermilion rockfish, 52 bocaccio, 33 mackerel, 170 bass released

A longer trip on the Fury pulled in a strong haul of bluefin with catches between 20 to 60 lbs. Photo Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

Nov. 11 • 5 boats, 146 anglers: 46 bluefin tuna, 27 bonito, 8 calico bass, 12 sand bass, 3 sheephead, 2 whitefish, 5 halibut, 161 bass released, 3 halibut released Nov. 10 • 5 boats, 133 anglers: 6 skipjack tuna, 182 bonito, 8 calico bass, 4 sand Page 16

bass, 7 whitefish, 57 rockfish, 32 bocaccio, 78 bass released Nov. 9 • 3 boats, 54 anglers: 6 calico bass, 12 sand bass, 1 sheephead, 3 halibut, 4 treefish, 1 copper rockfish, 80 bass released. DP www.danapointtimes.com

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

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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.

FOR SALE FRENCH BULLDOG PUPPY Sweet female French Bulldog puppy for sale.

She is 8 weeks old and adorable. AKC and upto-date on shots. Please call Tawnya at: (909) 496-5616.

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.

OTHER STUFF APPLY TO BECOME A MENTOR WITH BREAKTHROUGH SJC’S COLLEGE MENTOR PROGRAM! Breakthrough SJC, a local nonprofit that supports students from middle school through college graduation, is seeking community members to serve as mentors for its College Mentor Program. Mentors are paired with Breakthrough’s high school juniors, and are trained to assist and advocate for students through the college application process. Each year, we are grateful to have mentors develop strong relationships with students, and we value the enthusiasm and commitment that they bring to this work. If you are interested in serving as a mentor for 2019-2020, please access our application on breakthroughsjc. org/mentor. For more information, contact Alex Serna at alex.serna@smes.org, or 949.661.0108, ex. 1322.

Dana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

Page 17

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Another Morning with the Tritons at T Street With a 7-0 record this year, the San Clemente High surf team keeps the legacy rolling

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

I

t was 7:30 in the morning, and there were a couple dozen teenagers swarming the only peak at T Street. The surf was an inconsistent 1-to-3 feet. The conditions were glassy. Given how small it was, it actually looked pretty fun.

Among the kids was former World Tourcompetitor-turned-San Clemente-family-man Neco Padaratz. A father with two kids at Concordia Elementary School, he still rips.

Earlier in the week, with a little more wave energy in the water, Matt Archbold was testing the T. He’s got a similar story as Neco, but it’s just more intertwined in local lore.

In the water, one kid flawlessly crossstepped his way across an inside runner on his longboard. Out the back, another kid found a fun-sized set wave and arced into a mature, powerful forehand carve. It was a typical dawn-patrol surf practice for the San Clemente High School surf team, as Kai McPhillips got out of the water with an old Mach 7-7 Morey Boogie bodyboard.

Led by standouts Ethan Mudge, Matt Economos and Trevor Sutton (right to left), it was another undefeated season for the powerhouse San Clemente High surf team, which went 7-0 this year. Photo: Jake Howard

“I grabbed this from my dad… I think I had more fun than anyone out there,” he said as he laughed, his hair still dyed blue from Halloween. Kai’s father is world champion longboarder Colin McPhillips. The family has grown up in the local waters.

It was another strong year for the Triton wave-riders. Going undefeated during the regular season with a 7-0 record, this week they’ll look to keep the dream alive at Upper Trestles for the individual league championship. There’s a southwest pulse forecast for the contest, and it looks as if the Santa Ana conditions may persist.

“It was another amazing year; we’ve got a really great group of kids and they’ve all pulled together to go undefeated,” said Coach John Dowell, watching from stairs

GROM OF THE WEEK CROSBY COLAPINTO

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

C

apping a breakout year, 17-yearold Crosby Colapinto just won the WSL’s Live Like Zander Junior Pro in Bathsheba, Barbados. The contest, named after Barbados surfer Zander Venezia, who drowned while surfing last year, marks the second victory in Colapinto’s 2018 campaign.

“It’s the best feeling, and it means so much to win this event in honor of Zander,” Colapinto said after the award ceremony.

“He was such a good kid, and to win here at his home is amazing. I knew what I was

Dana Point Times November 16-22, 2018

Crosby Colapinto. Photo: Courtesy of WSL

coming here to do, and I was fired up.”

Colapinto faced San Clemente friends Kade Matson and Jett Schilling, as well as Mexico’s Alan Cleland in the final. Opening

at T Street.

With a 5-month-old of his own at home, it’s been a busy season for Dowell and his tight-knit crew of surfers. He said he’s proud of his team’s ability to win, but he’s also proud of the good people they’re growing up to be both in and out of the water.

“You have to keep it all in perspective; it can’t just be about the surfing,” Dowell said.

Midway through practice, seniors Ethan Mudge and Reef Tsutsui trotted down the stairs. They gave their coach a hearty good morning and checked the surf. Mudge has made a name for himself this season, carrying the team by riding both this shortboard and his longboard in competition.

“At the beginning of the year, I told him to focus on one or the other, and he

with a 9.33 (out of a possible 10), he backed up that score with a 6.57, which left everyone else needing excellent scores for a shot at catching him.

“Kade, Jett, and I, and all the San Clemente boys are so supportive of each other and we’re like brothers, so that was really cool to share that final with them,” Colapinto said.

The win was enough to move Colapinto into No. 2 on the WSL North American Pro Junior ratings and qualify him for the World Junior Championships. He’ll join his buddies, Matson and Cole Houshmand, at the World Junior Championship in Jinzun Harbor, Taiwan, this December.

“Now with Kade and Cole both in, we’re all going to travel together and can’t wait to finish off the year there,” Colapinto said. DP

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started out on the shortboard. But then he asked if he could do the longboarding, too, so we tried it out and he’s been incredibly successful,” said Dowell.

“I prefer short boarding, but longboard is always a good alternative. It’s good to mix it up,” Mudge said when asked what type of craft he would rather ride.

In terms of how this class of Triton surfers sees themselves in the grand scheme of things, they’re humble, appreciative and quick to credit those that have come before them.

“There have been so many good guys that have come through this program, I feel like we’re carrying on the legacy,” Tsutsui said.

“Guys like Kevin Schultz and the Gudauskas brothers, there’s a ton of good guys; it’s really inspiring,” Mudge said.

The Triton surf team has been so successful over the years and not just because San Clemente is home to Lower Trestles and the kids grow up with a great wave in their backyard. Nor is it because guys such as Neco and Archy and the Gudauskas boys are ripping role models—or because Coach Dowell is arguably the best surf coach in the country. They’re successful because of all those things.

The winning ways of the San Clemente High surf team also benefit from a community effort. After practice, as one of the kids walked up the beach, Coach Dowell pointed to his leash. Local company XM Surf More made the entire team custom red-and-black Triton leashes, and 10 percent of the sales go back to the surf team.

“How cool is that? Our own leashes! It’s so rad to have that kind of support and have people believe in the kids and the program like that,” Dowell said. “It means a lot.” DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 60-65 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-8’ Fair Outlook: Modest blend of northwest and southwest combo swell through the weekend for continued waist-shoulder high (3-4’) surf at best spots. More small to modest combo swell for next week, keeping the surf fun size at better breaks. Winds are lightest in the mornings with mainly favorable conditions, before light to locally moderate onshore winds kick in each afternoon. Be sure to check Surfline.com for all the details and longer range outlook.

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