Dana Point Times

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CUSD and SCWD Candidates Sound Off

DORIS WALKER: Blue Whales in Dana Point

Kenny’s Music Introduces Contessa Black to Dana Point

EYE ON DP/PAGES 6–8

DP LIVING/PAGE 28

DP LIVING/PAGE 24

O C TO B E R 8 –1 4 , 2 0 1 0

LO C A L

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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 41

Transforming Lives The Ocean Institute educates, inspires and transforms the lives of students, E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 6 visitors, volunteers and staff E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 5 Ocean Institute Vice President of Operations Bentley Cavazzi and President/CEO Daniel Stetson oversee the Ocean Institute’s world-class facility and educational programs.

Photo by Andrea Swayne

www.danapointtimes.com

Eye on DP

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

DP

D a n a Po i nt

City and Business Calendar Saturday, October 9 Farmers Market 9 a.m.–1 p.m. La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza Street. Admission is free. For more information or to inquire about purchasing a booth for $25, please call 949.573.5033 or 951.271.0669. www.danapoint.org

Monday, October 11 City Council Meeting Canceled 6 p.m. Dana Point City Hall Council Chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3501, www.danapoint.org

Tuesday, October 12

Story Time 10:30 a.m. Free story time for kids at the Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, 949.496.5517, www.ocgov.com

949.493.2759, www.monarchbeachrotary. com

Toastmasters 7 p.m. Dana Point Harbor Toastmasters meets every Tuesday at the Dana Point Library. 33841 Niguel Road, 949.496.2275, www.danaharbor.freetoasthost.ws

Civic Association Coffee Chat 8:30 a.m. Coffee Importers, 34531 Golden Lantern in the harbor. Dana Point Civic Association presents Coffee Chat on the third Friday of each month. This month’s topic is the school board election and recall vote.

Bring your questions for representatives of both sides of this hotly contested subject.

The public is welcome. Free coffee will be served, courtesy of Coffee Importers. For more information, call Pat Fairbanks at 949.661.9999.

Friday, October 15

Wednesday, October 13 Sunrise Rotary Club 7 a.m. the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at the Ritz-Carlton. 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive,

Dana Point’s Top 5 Hottest Topics

What’s Up With...

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…Chamber to Host City Council Candidates Forum?

THE LATEST: The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce has planned an educational Candidates Forum on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 a.m. at the Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive. The Coffee Importers will provide a continental breakfast.

All five candidates vying for three open spots on the City Council are expected to attend.

The Chamber said in an event press release that because it believes an informed electorate is central to a viable democracy, it is part of their duty to help keep the business community informed about the candidates and issues affecting our city. To this end, the Chamber has organized this event in hopes of creating a venue where citizens will have an opportunity to hear first hand the candidates’ stand on local issues and to help cultivate a bond between city leaders and the business community in Dana Point.

The forum is free for Chamber members who have made reservations by Friday, October 15. After the deadline, members will pay $10 at the door. The cost for non-members is $20.

WHAT’S NEXT: Call the Chamber at 949.496.1555 to make your reservation.

Remember that the deadline to register to vote in the November 2 general election is October 18.

FIND OUT MORE: Log on to the candidates’ websites and stay tuned to the DP Times for continuing pre-election coverage leading up to the election. Candidate websites are as follows: Lisa Bartlett, www.lisa4dp.com; Joel Bishop, www.joelbishop.com; Bill Brough, www.bill4dp.com; Dana Kislig, www.danafordanapoint.com; Steven Weinberg, www. weinbergfordanapoint.com —Andrea Swayne

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…Deceased Man Found in the Water at Dana Point Jetty Identified?

THE LATEST: The body of a man found www.danapointtimes.com

washed up on the rocks of the jetty behind the Ocean Institute at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive on the morning of October 1, 2010 has been identified as 71-year-old Ford Park of Anaheim said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino.

According to Dana Point Police Services Deputy Gardner, a call came in at about 10:05 a.m. on the morning of Friday, October 1 alerting authorities to the discovery of a body that had washed up along the jetty rocks.

The body was removed from the water with the help of the fire department and Harbor Patrol. The body did not appear to have been in the water for very long said Gardner.

Park’s vehicle was found nearby, unlocked and with the keys in the ignition. A search of the car by investigators yielded neither signs of foul play nor a suicide note.

WHAT’S NEXT: OCSD will continue its investigation of this case.

Park’s cause of death is still unknown; pending toxicology reports, which could take a few weeks to be completed, said Amormino.

FIND OUT MORE: www.ocsd.org

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—AS

…More Pay Cuts at CUSD?

THE LATEST: Capistrano Unified School District classified employees agreed to a pay cut that will help the district restore a 2 percent reserve used to balance the budget while negotiations were underway.

The two-year contract settlement with the California School Employees Association (CSEA), approved by the CUSD Board of Trustees earlier this month, saves the district $5.3 million and helps restore the state-mandated budget reserve at 2 percent.

WHAT’S NEXT: The district’s classified workers, who include employees such as instructional assistants, occupational therapists, food service workers and clerical staff, overwhelmingly ratified the contract on September 15. They will take between five and 12.5 unpaid days, accept a 0.7 percent pay reduction effective retroactive to September. 1, forgo automatic pay increases for individual

employees for one year and consolidate work hours and calendars.

With the CSEA contract, CUSD employees groups have contributed approximately $27 million in salary and benefit concessions, which contributed significantly toward closing the estimated $34 million shortfall the district faced for 2010-11.

FIND OUT MORE: See the full story at the Beyond the Blackboard blog at www.danapointtimes.com —Jonathan Volzke

4

…Life for Man Who Killed, Froze Daughter?

THE LATEST: Clarence Eugene Butterfield, 57, formerly of San Clemente, was sentenced Wednesday to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his daughter and keeping her body in a freezer in his recreational vehicle.

He was found guilty by a jury Aug. 19, 2010, of one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of torture and mayhem and one felony count of assault with a firearm.

In December 2006, Butterfield murdered his 21-year-old daughter, Rebekah Butterfield. He tortured the victim and made her suffer by repeatedly shooting her in the leg, foot, knee, side of her head and body parts that would not cause fatal injuries. He tied his naked daughter’s ankles together and hands behind her back and stuffed her in the freezer of his RV while she was still alive.

Butterfield suffocated his daughter to death in the air-tight freezer.

For two years, Butterfield lived in the RV in and around the Dana Point/Capistrano Beach area with his daughter’s body in the freezer.

In September 2008, Butterfield was arrested on an unrelated case in Orange County for obstructing a police officer and was sent to Nevada on an unrelated criminal warrant from that state. His RV, which was left in the alley of an acquaintance’s Capistrano Beach business, was towed.

Sheriff’s deputies found Butterfield’s decomposed daughter wrapped in plastic inside the RV’s freezer.

WHAT’S NEXT: The victim’s mother and

uncle submitted written statements to the court for the sentencing. “To the same extent that my daughter, Rebekah Butterfield, was an exceptionally good and loving person, she was tortured and murdered in an extremely terrible way by the person she loved the most, her own father,” Catherine Butterfield wrote.

“She was beautiful inside and out, but she felt the heartache of betrayal and excruciating pain both inside and out.”

FIND OUT MORE: See the full story at www. danapointtimes.com —JV

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…$10,000 Reward Posted for Dana Point Bank Robbers?

THE LATEST: The FBI-Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Bank Robbery Apprehension Team (BRAT) has posted a $10,000 reward for original information leading to the arrest and conviction of the bank robbers suspected of being responsible for the July 28 robbery of the Bank of America at the corner of Del Prado and Golden Lantern in Dana Point. The same suspects are believed to have perpetrated two other bank robberies in Orange County—July 13, Wells Fargo, Mission Viejo and Sept. 30, Wells Fargo, Ladera Ranch.

The trio of black males has been dubbed the “pop-the-lock-crew” because their MO includes one of the robbers jumping over the counter to unlock the teller area gate so the second robber can enter. The third bandit waits outside in the getaway vehicle. All three have been described as wearing head coverings and athletic clothing.

According to authorities all three vehicles used in the robberies have been recovered.

Two additional vehicles have been used as either switch or casing vehicles and have been described as a silver or gray mini-van and/or a black Nissan Titan.

WHAT’S NEXT: The search continues. Anyone with information is urged to call the BRAT Team at 866.TIP.OCSD or 866.847.6273.

FIND OUT MORE: Log on to www.danapointtimes.com for photos of the robbers on the OCSD/BRAT wanted poster.

—AS October 8–14, 2010 • Dana Point Times • Page 3

Eye on DP

Transforming Lives The Ocean Institute educates, inspires and transforms the lives of students, visitors, volunteers and staff

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

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o transform the life of another is not only one of the highest callings a human can aspire to, it is also an honor to those who manage to accomplish it. Dana Point is lucky to have an organization that does just that—The Ocean Institute.

Ocean Institute (OI) President and CEO Dan Stetson is honored to be at the helm (pun intended) of one of the world’s premier marine science and maritime history facilities and to be entrusted with carrying out the Institute’s mission—To inspire all generations through education to become responsible stewards of our oceans.

Vice President of Operations Bentley Cavazzi pointed out the fact that every aspect of the OI’s programs include a common denominator—the ocean. Whatever the specific topic of an offered class or presentation may be, learning about the ocean is always central to the lesson. From maritime history to ecosystem studies illustrating how watersheds all lead to the coast, all of the programs offered lead back, in some way, to the ocean.

When Stetson came to OI 19 years ago, he was in charge of the maritime programs surrounding the Institute’s tall ship, The Brig Pilgrim and had a hand in turning the program into a model which was then taken to other organizations such as the Star of India in San Diego, the San Francisco Maritime schooner the C.A. Thayer and the Falls of Clyde in Hawaii.

“One of our greatest goals is to serve as a learning laboratory to develop new and innovative programs and then to disseminate them to other organizations,” said Stetson.

Closer to home, the OI hosts thousands of school children annually to educate and inspire the next generation in the care and keeping of the earth’s ocean environment.

As a nonprofit organization, the OI relies on many fundraising events to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the programs regardless of their school’s or family’s ability to pay.

Events such as the Dana Point Yacht Club’s R.H. Dana Charity Regatta and the Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle play a huge part in funding these programs that truly transform the lives of young people throughout California.

Home Raffle ticket sales are happening now and will be wrapping up this month. The October 20 deadline to purchase the $150 tickets is fast approaching.

“Winning the $1 million dollar home or cash award, along with the other prizes, is yet another way we can transform a life,” joked Stetson.

This is the sixth year of the Home Raffle and it remains

Above: Fisler School students (L to R) Jacob, Christine and Joshua are learning lessons about watersheds on a recent fieldtrip to the Ocean Institute. Right: Chief Aquarist Julianne Steers introduces students from the Fisler School in Fullerton to some of the Ocean Institutes 200 or local coastal living specimens. Photos by Andrea Swayne

one of the most important fundraising events of the year.

“It’s what helps us keep the doors open and the lights on,” said Cavazzi.

Other lives transformed through contact with the OI are those of the many volunteers and employees that passionately serve the public through their work here.

The Institute has a staff of 120 (less than 50 are full-time salaried employees) along with a pool of about 450 dedicated volunteers who put their heart and soul into the facility and its programs. Many volunteers have dedicated more than 20 years of their lives to inspiring students and visitors and say that they, in turn, have reaped the benefits through their own inspiration and have also felt that their own lives have been transformed through their service.

Susan Goggin is one such volunteer. “My husband Greg and I came on board in 2006 to help the Ocean Institute raise money while raising awareness with the introduction of the Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle. We are proud to lead a team that has raised over $12 million to date,” she said. “This annual event helps the Ocean Institute reach more kids and adults with their Adopt-a-Class program, the Wyland Mobile Learning Center and the Artist by the Sea series which brings leading environmentalist, artist, scientists and athletes to our community. We take pleasure in identifying and developing partnerships with like-minded organizations that help increase our influence and capacity while supporting OI’s mission.”

When asked why she personally has been so devoted

Interesting Facts You May Not Know About the Ocean Institute DID YOU KNOW? The tall ship replica, The Brig Pilgrim, was originally destined to be featured in front of a waterfront restaurant in Monterey, California’s first capitol. The restaurant never got off the ground and filed for bankruptcy and the ship found a home at the Ocean Institute.

Steve Hillenburg, the creator of Spongebob Square Pants was inspired to create the Spongebob and Patrick Star characters while working as a marine biology lab instructor at the Ocean Institute.

The Institute offers VIP one-hour tours on the first and third Thursday of every month. Patrons taking the tour not only get to meet the President and a board member, they also get a behind-the-scenes look at the facility including the many ocean animals housed there.

The inaugural Walter Cronkite, National Maritime Historical Society award and two National Science Foundation Awards are only a few of the many honors bestowed upon the Ocean Institute since its founding in 1977.

Eight acres of ocean just off the coast of the 2.4-acre campus is designated as a Marine Life Refuge area.

Equipment for gathering weather information is located on campus allowing the Ocean Institute to serve as a National Weather Service Coastal Observation Station, the official weather station for Dana Point. Weather information broadcast by news media via radio and television is provided by data gathered there.

The Institute educates over than 115,000 students, 8,000 teachers and 50,000 public visitors annually via their more than 63 marine science and maritime history programs.

The Ocean Institute operates overnight science and history camps for fourth- through sixth-grade students at the Lazy-W Ranch in the Cleveland National Forest.

The Ocean Institute is located at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive.

They can be reached by phone at 949.496.2274. To find out more about the Institute, visit their website at www.ocean-institute.org.

www.danapointtimes.com

to serving the OI, Goggin had this to say. “I grew up by the ocean and saw thriving tide pools disappearing in the ‘70s due to DDT dumped off our coastline and saw beaches closed in the ‘80s due to pollution. The ocean represents life, joy and beauty for me and the Ocean Institute’s mission to introduce kids to the importance and wonders of the ocean resonates. If we all become stewards to the big blue, then future generations can enjoy it too,” she said.

Goggin’s sentiments were repeated over and over among the visitors, employees, volunteers and students we spoke to on a recent visit to the Ocean Institute and all one needs to do, in order to become part of that is experience, is pay a visit to the facility. It truly has the power to both inspire and transform.

If you would like to play a part in helping the Ocean Institute to continue to carry out its important mission, please consider purchasing a Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle Ticket before the October 20 deadline. Log on to the website at www.ocean-institute.org to buy it online. Or, better yet, stop by and see for yourself just how wonderful a facility we have right here in Dana Point.

Log on to www.danapointimes.com to see a photo slide show of behind-the-scenes images from the Ocean Institute.

See a jelly fish hatchery, a tidepool habitat, get a sneak peek at some of the research activities school children experience daily on a field trips to the facility and meet some of the dedicated staff and volunteers who make it all happen. DP October 8–14, 2010 • Dana Point Times • Page 5

EYE ON DP

CUSD Candidates Discuss State of the District

By Jonathan Volzke Dana Point Times

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his week, we asked Capistrano Unified School board candidates the following question:

Capistrano Unified School District achieves well academically, but seems mired in political disputes that seem to capture more headlines than the student achievement. Is that a real problem and what is the key for the district to move forward with the confidence of the community behind it?

Here are their answers, unedited, in the order in which they will appear on the ballot:

TRUSTEE AREA 5 JOHN ALPAY San Clemente Commissioner/ Businessman, www.johnalpay.com The Board will say that API scores are at all-time highs and that we are the highest performing “large school district.” What they fail to mention is that “large school district” means they compare CUSD to other school districts in Santa Ana, Long Beach and Los Angeles. South Orange County institutions have no business comparing themselves to urban-based entities. Given what we pay in property taxes, we expect more than that. If we compare CUSD to other Orange County suburban districts, the API scores put us at the bottom of the pack. So despite our high taxes, our children receive a sub-standard education.

CUSD’s decline is directly the result of self dealing at its highest levels. Two years ago, in response to a District Attorney’s report critical of CUSD’s efforts to follow the law, the Board responded that it would hire inhouse counsel and moved to fill the position.

Once attorney Mike Winsten assumed office, he quashed the process and our taxpayer dollars started flowing to his fellow trial lawyers.

Taxpayer money intended for the classroom is now diverted to the trial bar, directly impacting the quality of education and is reflected in our test scores.

To cover up his misdeeds, Winsten seeks to divert our attention by falsely claiming this election is a Union takeover. As a Board candidate and Member-Elect to the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee, I refuse to be affiliated with any public employee unions. The removal of deceptive and misleading figures and the elimination of self dealing from the Board are necessary to restore community trust and allow us to rebuild our once proud school district.

MIKE WINSTEN Attorney/Independent Businessman, www.cusdfacts.com I’d like to challenge the premise of this question.

Perhaps the real problem is the local media’s systematic choice to give more Page 6 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

Capistrano Unified School District headquarters are located at 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano. Photo by Jonathan Volzke

headlines to the public policy debates and political drama going on in CUSD, than on the less sensational but positive stories of how well CUSD provides a free world-class education? Obviously, political drama is what sells full-page ads to the well-funded union-backed candidates and their affiliated Children’s First slate during election season. The truth, however, is that the same public policy debates are also happening in other school districts, counties, cities and states across our country. Measured by the passion our children and their parents have for our schools, our community is strongly behind CUSD. To suggest otherwise is incorrect political grandstanding by far left wing teachers’ union leaders—who called last April’s strike for selfish political propaganda reasons—despite our global fiscal crisis—and their supporters. Our children’s continued achievement and success is all that is truly important—not political disputes. CUSD is successfully educating our children, showing year over year test score increases. Nonetheless, I believe we can do better with innovation and competition. My opponents fight to protect their unsustainable status quo by controlling both sides of the bargaining table. This is untenable.

My Board colleagues and I showed the tough leadership you elected us to provide by making the mature decision to seek concessions totaling 10 percent from all our employees, because Sacramento’s diversion of money from public education required us to, and for no other reason. The Orange County Republican Party officially endorsed a “No” vote on the union backed recall. www.cusdreform.com

TRUSTEE AREA 6 GARY PRITCHARD Community College Professor, www.pritchardforcusd.com When CUSD is known more for its disruptive political climate than its accomplishments, the problem is absolutely real and points to a failure of leadership.

The current board has succeeded in polarizing our district. The current trustees have failed to take ownership of any of the district’s problems and instead have blamed teachers and parent groups.

We don’t elect trustees to pit parents against teachers, especially during difficult economic times. When many families are struggling to make ends meet, this board has suggested that our children’s teachers are greedy.

Quality teachers are the single most important asset in high performing public school districts. Our trustees should know this. How can we attract and retain the best and brightest when there is so much turmoil in CUSD? Who would want to teach in a district where the school board thinks teachers are “thugs” and “greedy?”

The way forward is simple. We need to elect a new board of trustees who know something about public schools. We need

leaders who are invested in student achievement. We need a school board who will listen to all stakeholders when making crucial decisions regarding district finances. Trustees must be willing to listen to criticism. Quality public schools are a community effort. We all benefit from a successful CUSD. We must protect our excellent schools from politicians selling “reform.”

GARY V. MILLER Retired Teacher Declined to submit an answer.

PAUL HEBBARD Certified Public Accountant, www. paulhebbard.com One could hypothesize that the political morass which has entangled CUSD for the past 4 years has driven out some of its more talented teachers and administrators. If that is truly the case, then students’ core testing scores may have been affected. It seems that the number of CA Distinguished Schools awards have dropped from a previous decade ago, and it might be because of the political infighting that begun back in the Fleming days.

I can think of three former principals who were well respected in CUSD that are now working in other districts. One of my missions is to seek out those competent administrators and recruit them back to CUSD. If we can get these personnel back into the www.danapointtimes.com

Eye on DP schools where they were not only respected but adored, the community will begin to turn around the perception that CUSD is dysfunctional.

Because a high majority of the families in CUSD put a great emphasis on education, the high achievements of its students will never drop to the levels of LAUSD or any other ungovernable district. But as Trustees, we need to equip the parents with the means to help their children succeed in their academic pursuits, including but not limited to effective teachers and clean facilities. In time, the achievements of our students will begin to push away the political headlines that have crippled CUSD for the past 4 years.

KEN LOPEZ MADDOX Businessman/Tax Consultant, www.cusdfacts.com I’ve been a member of the Board of Trustees for approximately two years.

Student achievement has improved each of those two years. CUSD has never in its history, attained the results it is achieving today.

We are the highest achieving large school district in the state. During my term, CUSD has exceeded expectations by every measurable definition of success.

The teachers’ union and their allies have managed to place a costly recall election on the ballot. Their definition of success is much different than that of the average taxpayer and parent. The district and the union were engaged in contract negotiations this past year which proved to be exceedingly difficult.

California is out of money. Our district received millions of dollars less in funding.

Labor costs account for roughly 86 percent of our general fund. Difficult decisions had to be made in order to preserve jobs, hold the line on class size and balance the budget.

We were successful in doing all three without new taxes.

I’ve resisted the demands to force another parcel tax on the homeowners of this district to pay for increased teacher salaries. Californians already pay too much in taxes.

The Republican Party of Orange County and many local elected officials are officially on record in opposing this blatant abuse of the recall process.

The Board of Trustees recently hired a new superintendent. He is in the process of putting into place an exceptional management team. We are a great district with outstanding teachers. But there is always room for improvement. Together we can attain even greater accomplishments.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the education of your children.

TRUSTEE AREA 6 ANNA BRYSON Capistrano Unified School District Governing Member, www.abryson.com For many years, the perception—because of the indictment of Superintendent Fleming —was that the district had many problems, and at that time, the perception was accurate. www.danapointtimes.com

The reform effort was initiated by parents who wanted transparency, higher education standards, and better facilities.

The reform board has kept its word on all points, but the media commentary has not caught up with the reality. We have been the highest-performing large district in the state academically for 2 straight years, something not attained in the past.

The reform board has had the confidence of the majority in the community for 4 straight years, through three elections.

The community has witnessed the board’s changes: a focus on classroom excellence, a leaner administration, and living within our means—balancing the budget after years of Fleming profligacy SAAM ALIKHANI University Student, www.alikhaniforcusd.com Sadly, partisan politics has plagued Capistrano Unified for years, with the taxpayers and students paying the price. Under the ineffective leadership of the current Board, Capistrano Unified is now a failing institution by Federal standards and has been classified as a “program improvement district.” With the Board’s ideology that money should be spent on attorneys that are close associates of current board members and on dubious settlements to campaign donors, there is little prospect for improvement. The “fiscal conservatism” in which they campaigned on has been forgotten.

This Board seeks to run Capistrano Unified dry, through their blatant nepotism and wasteful spending. Trustee Anna Bryson’s husband pushed Capistrano Unified towards his own failed math program. Bryson also decided to hire her boss’ attorney for school business even though he was sanctioned twice by the State Bar, and her boss has since called this attorney unqualified. To make matters worse, she sought to have the District retain her boss for sound financial and investment advice. Good thing she failed because she works for Chriss Street, Orange County’s Treasurer, who has been stripped of his authority after his questionable financial practices.

Our community has lost confidence and trust with the Trustees due to their secret meetings conducted in violation of the Brown Act, as well as their unwillingness to listen to their constituency. The Board must engage in an open dialogue with the community as well as listening to their needs. I am committed to bringing all stakeholders to the table to restore our District. We must regain the community’s confidence through respect, accountability and accurate representation.

TRUSTEE AREA 6 MARTHA MCNICHOLAS Engineering Entrepreneur, www. mcnicholasforcusd. com Capturing headlines has more to do with partisan journalism

than it does with noteworthy accomplishments—academic or otherwise. And it often involves a few noisy, law-suit happy people diverting attention, and resources, away from student achievement. In CUSD, the confidence of the community will be restored when the trustees demonstrate that they are willing to listen to, work with and respect their constituents - parents, students, teachers, employees and community members in the district.

ELLEN ADDONIZIO Certified Public Accountant, www. cusdfacts.com Voters elected me to the CUSD Board of Trustees to restore honesty, integrity and accountability to CUSD­—and the community should be proud of all we’ve accomplished.

Bringing reform and positive change is especially difficult in a district which spends approximately 85 percent of its budget on salaries/benefits for public employees—most of whom are represented by powerful union leaders fighting to preserve an unsustainable status quo.

Despite continuous union opposition, we have successfully balanced the budget; stopped deficit spending; refused to increase taxes; reduced bloated administration; reduced union contract expenses by 10.1 percent; enacted strong anti-nepotism policies; created a district-wide facilities assessment; promoted conservative fiscal policies and family values; and fought to keep smaller class sizes.

This year, student achievement in CUSD soared to its highest levels. In fact, this year Capistrano Unified was the State’s highest achieving large school district!

The community should be confident the future of CUSD remains very bright.

TRUSTEE AREA 7 LARRY CHRISTENSEN Capistrano Unified School District, Governing Board Member, www.cusdfacts.com Though there are two very vocal factions amongst the constituents who have their children in CUSD schools, most of the populous simply desires that their children obtain the best that public education can give; politics be darned.

As a result of decades of improprieties that culminated in the indictment of the then superintendent who was “under the watch” of the then trustees, reform came swiftly whereby all of the current board members were elected by overwhelming margins. In short, the public was “fed up” with the shenanigans and the union control.

Due to the necessary imposition of minor cutbacks to employee benefits by the courageous current reform trustees during our declining economy, CUSD did not have to fire teachers and increase class sizes as the union desired. As a

result, recent test scores have been at an all time high. It’s about time!

In retaliation the union has backed the other vocal faction who wants to replace the reform trustees with their own so that, as stated by the union, they “can elect our own bosses.” One shudders at the thought!

The current reform trustees are endorsed by the Republican Party; the union backed candidates are not (though they infer that they are). The union wants to take control of the board by election, by recall and by Measure H which disenfranchises everyone’s vote.

Allow the reform trustees to complete their uphill battle against the well-healed special interest unions by keeping all of the existing trustees in office and by defeating Measure H. Protect the younger teachers from being fired and assure that whatever little funds are left will be directed to the classroom.

LYNN HATTON Small Business Owner, www.hattonforcusd.com Ten years ago, CUSD was one of the best large districts in California and, arguably, in North America. Unfortunately, we have spent most of the last six years focused on adult issues and politics rather than on creating a sound educational environment for our children.

Currently, CUSD is achieving academically on the state accountability system but has failed the federal accountability system. If we keep the status quo, it will not be long before failure permeates the system. Because of the strife at the leadership level, we already have lost many talented site level leaders to outside districts. Too much is at stake and we must act now to effect positive change and restore the focus on our students. To rebuild the district and the confidence of our community, we must: Be visible and present at our school sites and community events Collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure success Build partnerships with local universities and businesses Invest in our strong teachers and leaders to constantly improve learning Create multiple supports and pathways for options to college and career Be fiscally responsible and creative in finding new sources of money I have the experience in education and in running my small businesses. At the same time, since my children currently attend our schools, I have a vested interest in our district. The boards is one of the most important elected offices as it makes decisions that directly impact children’s lives and the economic stability of a community. Let’s work together to remove politics and restore our district and our community to its culture of excellence.

Vote Lynn Hatton, Area 7 Capistrano Unified School Board. DP COMING NEXT WEEK... Next week will be the third round of questions directed at Dana Point’s City Council candidates.

AND UP AHEAD... Look for our special election edition on October 29 that will continue to highlight key local issues while also including an at-a-glance guide at how the nine City Council candidates view some of the hot topics in town.

October 8–14, 2010 • Dana Point Times • Page 7

EYE ON DP

SCWD Candidates on the Issues

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

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s part of our ongoing pre-election coverage, the Dana Point Times will continue to publish the answers of the three candidates vying for two open seats on the South Coast Water District (SCWD) Board, to questions regarding the issues facing the District now and in the future.

We hope that their responses will bring some insight into each candidate and provide you, the voters, with solid information to help you make your best decisions on Election Day. We also invite you to send in suggestions for questions you would like to see answered in upcoming issues. To submit a question for consideration, please send it in an email to editor@danapointtimes.com.

What do you feel are the most important issues South Coast Water District is facing and why?

RICHARD D. RUNGE Years in Public Office: Dana Point Sanitary District 1981-1999; SCWD 1999-2008 Occupation: Retired civil engineer Education: California State University, Long Beach, B.S., Civil Engineering Website: www.VoteRunge.com SCWD has two extremely important and necessary functions; the first is providing a clean, safe supply of water and the second lesser-known function is the removal of sewage from many of the same areas we serve with water.

California has mandated a goal of zero spills. The penalties for even small sewage spills are expensive.

I support the proposed desalination project and was instrumental in getting the groundwater recovery facility built, it currently provides approximately 10% of our water locally.

Unlike many north and central county water districts, SCWD does not have an aquifer to rely on for its water. Most of SCWD’s water supply is imported from the Colorado River and northern California. Those resources have been drastically cut and will continue to decline as federal judges reallocate

supplies that formerly came to us. We have had many years of drought and need to maintain and obtain storage areas for water supplies when we do get rain.

I support the South Laguna Tunnel Project because the pipes are in dangerous condition. Built in the 1950s, it has been repaired but needs to be replaced. The tunnel handles one million gallons of raw sewage per day. If there were a major break, that raw sewage would spill directly out onto our beaches and there is no way to shut off the flow.

The pollution would destroy everyone’s south coast beach life and enjoyment for a very long time.

RICHARD E. DIETMEIER Years in Public Office: SCWD 20002004 and 2006-2010 Occupation: Director, SCWD Education: University of Washington, 1962, B.A., History; Pepperdine, 1977, M.A., Human Resources Management Website: www.richarddietmeier.com South Coast Water District provides water and waste water services to approximately 44,000 residents who reside in four communities on the coast of California, along with some 2,000,000 yearly visitors who stay in our hotels and frequent our beaches. The water must be of high quality and the beaches must be useable for both residents and visitors. Both services are regulated by the state and the federal government. Issues which must be faced on a daily basis are the quality of service, along with the adequacy of supply.

In the last four years we have begun to emphasize conservation of the water resource. Regional drought has tightened supply availability. Fortunately, our client/owners are both intelligent and perceptive. Approximately 80% of you are actively participating in water conservation efforts.

Our ability to communicate effectively and your ability to inspect your private property and take corrective actions are critical. We are working to shift our sources of available water from the Colorado River and the Sacramento Delta to local groundwater and in future years, ocean desalination. Global availability of useable water is being reduced

by growing populations and we all need to get more efficient at using our water resource. Thank you for helping us to be successful.

BOB MOORE Years in Public Office: Board Member SCWD 14 years Occupation: Retired businessman Education: LA City College; U.S. Armed Forces Institute; U.S. Naval Law School; UCLA Extension Website: Facebook: Bob Moore for Director Our number one challenge is ensuring water availability today and every tomorrow. We can control development of new sources such as more local groundwater, ocean desalination, participation with nearby agencies in new above-ground storage of water, conservation and the use of more recycled water for commercial landscaping.

Our second most important issue is proper control and disposal of wastewater and street runoff by expanding existing facilities to keep ocean and beaches clean. We need to collaborate with upstream cities and districts to accomplish this goal now.

The third issue deals with repairs or replacement of existing infrastructure being based on need rather than want.

What we want and what we need are often two very different things. Directors must exercise strict financial control over the entire organization so the above can be accomplished. As I work for you, I have repeatedly expressed concern about the increases in the district’s overhead and fixed expenses.

In 2009, the average per SCWD employee compensation and benefits was about $116,000 annually, yet our district experienced very little growth in that time in number of service connections and population. I am the only Director to vote ‘NO’ on the last two budgets and on the issuance of 2010 B Revenue Bonds that put you in additional debt to the tune of $19,350,000. SCWD directors must control the budget of dollars that are available without excessive increase of rates, fees or bonds. All bonds should be voter-approved. DP

News Next Door

What’s going on in our neighboring towns, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano SAN CLEMENTE

Murder-Suicide House a Hard Sell A home for sale at 31 Campanilla in San Clemente’s Sea Pointe Estates where five people were found dead in November 2008 is in backup offers, according to the Southern California MLS. The gated-neighborhood home was owned by Manas Ucar, 58. His body was found May 25, 2008 in a downstairs bedroom along with his wife, Margrit, 49, his twin daughters, Grace and Margaux, 21, and his mother-in-law, Fransuhi Kesisoglu, 72.

Investigators found no reason for the tragedy. “To this day, it’s still a mystery,” Sheriff’s Investigator Dan Salcedo said.

The home was listed for sale at $995,000 on November 9.

The ocean-view home has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and has 3,150 square feet of living space on a .26-acre lot. The listing spent a brief period off the market and then was relisted July 22 of this year for $825,000. Its last listing price before it received backup offers was $810,000.

Anyone with information on the Ucar case is asked to call Salcedo at 714.647.7049. —David Zimmerle

SunCal CEO Facing $230 Million Hit There’s a big reason why the 248-acre oceanfront property known as Marblehead Coastal has stalled in its completion, and it has to do with its property owner SunCal. Page 8 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

Bruce Elieff, chief executive of SunCal Cos., a large, closely held developer, hit a major obstacle in 2008 when its biggest lender, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., filed for bankruptcy, forcing SunCal to suspend work on 20 large residential property developments, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal.

If SunCal cannot find a way to finish the projects or sell them to a developer who can, Elieff could be personally responsible for as much as $230 million. And Lehman plans to hold him to his promises The Journal reported.

The total price Elieff must pay and whether he will eventually have to or not is determined by the outcome of Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy liquidation. Both sides are pointing fingers at this point with Lehman saying Elieff is liable, while he said Lehman would ultimately be held responsible for paying the obligations.

Elieff filed a lawsuit against Lehman in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana last year in an effort to restructure the debt and cancel bond obligations.

See the full story at www.wsj.com —DZ

Progress on Tri-City Trolley The City Council voted to move ahead Tuesday with phase two for the Go Local Bus/Shuttle Service Planning of the Tri-City Trolley.

The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors created the “Go Local” program to partner with cities to develop a community-based transit vision that increases the use of Metrolink by residents, visitors and employees.

Despite a lack of input from several large hotels in Dana

Point, council members voted to keep the project going as there is no fiscal impact on the city right now.

The proposed amendment is to extend the cooperative agreement term for an additional 12 months, to complete the project in conjunction with the OCTA System-Wide Transit Study (SWTS). Thus, the agreement will be extended to December 20, 2011, to coincide with the SWTS schedule.

“I recently talked with one shop owner who feels this service could definitely help their business,” Councilwoman Lori Donchak said. —DZ SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

City Manager’s Pay Cut, Home Depot and Downtown Hotel Moving Forward A long City Council meeting on Tuesday delivered many key decisions for San Juan Capistrano residents, affecting the city budget, future growth and commission structure.

City Manager Joe Tait agreed to take a 5 percent salary cut in his $324,000 annual contract, after City Council member Mark Nielsen voiced displeasure that county officials had backed out of a previously agreed to salary cut.

For the city’s growth, the council agreed to enter an exclusive negotiating agreement with The Home Depot for the Lower Rosan Ranch property off Stonehill Drive. The council also unanimously approved a proposal for a three-story, 124room hotel in the downtown. That development would go on the site of the old Mission Inn and Walnut Grove restaurant.

—Jonathan Volzke www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP HARBOR HAPPENINGS

Not at the Expense of Boaters!

Troubling language in the revitalization plan LUP and a look back at recent harbor history

T

he California Coastal Commission (CCC) has asked the city of Dana Point to include the following language in their approval of the Land Use Plan (LUP) for the Harbor Revitalization: “That the height of the buildings be consistent with the character of the community.”

This item was passed at the second reading before the Dana Point City Council at the September 27 meeting.

However, there seems to be an inconsistency within this LUP, in that there is also a sentence B Y B A R B A R A which allows buildings in the MERRIMAN harbor to reach a height of up to 60 feet. That, in my mind, is not in keeping with the character of our community. I would love to see our harbor revitalized, and it has been a long process just to get to this point, but I do not want to see buildings with a huge height and a huge footprint that will take away boater parking, boat trailer parking and dry boat storage space. Our 5th District Supervisor, Pat Bates, last week in her State of the County address before the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, called the harbor revitalization project a controversial move to increase commercial space for the city.

On October 13, in Oceanside, the CCC will either pass or reject this LUP with the inconsistent language. Residents can and

should speak to this issue.

Several years ago, the harbor merchants banded together and formed the United Harbor Merchants, a helpful association that allowed the merchants to make suggestions and hear success stories, problems and allowed a way to deal with problems. In the fall of 2006, an association of boaters was begun, basically by one man, Bruce Heyman. He had several one-on-one meetings with three of the merchants, from the White Pelican, Wind & Sea, and Coffee Importers and learned how their organization worked and why. He also met with then City Councilman Wayne Rayfield, Dave Drennick of Vessel Assist, trailer boater John Gabel, Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) President Walt Kadyk and boaters Tom Smith, Jim Dahl, Vito Feraluto and me. Other interested boaters began meeting at Ball Park Pizza in San Juan Capistrano one night a week to develop a mission, write by-laws and get a website going. When that happened, little by little, a few more boaters joined and the Dana Point Boaters Association (DPBA) was formed. It was a difficult process to get started and to alert boaters in the harbor about the association, but a board of directors was formed and suddenly the boaters were represented. This new group was able to have productive meetings with the Harbor Department and that has led to some improvements in the plan that is becoming more boater-friendly. Sadly, after two years, there were some serious disagreements among the board members, causing two or three to leave the board, and two to be expelled from the organization.

At that time, another group was formed,

Boaters for Dana Point Harbor (B4DPH).

This is not a dues-collecting group and doesn’t have regular meetings, but they communicate via email, and it’s a group that has the best interests of the boating community at heart.

The leader, Bruce Heyman, still has meetings with members of the CCC staff and with members of the CCC. He speaks at hearings in front of the City Council, the County Board of Supervisors, and the CCC. Both associations want to help the boating community, but there are some basic differences. B4DPH wants zero slip losses and zero boater parking losses. Loss of shipyard space does not seem to be a top priority for DPBA, but B4DPH maintains that the shipyard should be allowed to keep all their acreage, because unlike other harbors, it is the only one shipyard we have in this harbor.

A harbor is for boats. Because of the wording in the Coastal Act which states commercial business cannot be developed that will take away resources from recreational boating, there is some controversy; mainly because of the enormous buildings currently designed. These will take away space for boaters. But underlying the plan is a desire to make changes that will be an improvement for all concerned—not just the boaters, but also the businesses in the harbor and the harbor visitors. Check out the official plan for revitalization at the harbor department website, www.ocdphplan.com. You can also look at the two boater advocacy groups and see what their concerns are for boaters.

The websites are www.boaters4dph.com and www.dpba.com. You should find the information you need to understand the recent

Acronym Alphabet Soup We get so bombarded with acronyms each day, it’s often difficult to keep up and follow what is actually meant by all these letters.

With Harbor Revitalization plans being widely reported, both online and in print, here is a quick acronym glossary to help decipher this “alphabet soup.”

CCC LCP LCPA LUP

California Coastal Commission Local Coastal Plan Local Coastal Plan Amendment Land Use Plan (deals with policies) IP Implementation Plan (shows hard-core numbers) CDP Coastal Development Permit B4DPH Boaters for Dana Point Harbor DPBA Dana Point Boaters Association DPHN Dana Point Harbor Now (the merchant association) OCDPHD Orange County Dana Point Harbor Department RBOC Recreational Boaters of California

harbor history.

Barbara Merriman grew up in Illinois but spent many years in Connecticut before relocating to California in 1994. She is a former public school music teacher with a love for outdoor sports, primarily sailing and golf. She keeps a sailboat at Dana Point Harbor, has a passion for protecting the environment and serves on the Board of Directors at the Ocean Institute. She often travels from her Dana Point home to Massachusetts to visit her daughter Anne, son-in-law and their two boys.

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are solely those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the Dana Point Times staff. We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@danapointtimes.com.

Big Fun Catching the Big One Dana Wharf Kids Club Fishing Tournament sees kids reeling in both fish and fun

O

n September 12 Dana Wharf Sportfishing’s Second Annual Kids Club Fishing Tournament went searching for a big one aboard the Sum Fun. The tournament was sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, Okuma, and Angels Baseball.

Mark Franco from Bass Pro Shops came along on the trip to assist the crew and teach new techniques to the excited young anglers. Captain

BY MONIQUE Chris Pica and GANNON his crew members started the trip off by heading over to the bait dock in the harbor to fill the boat bait tank with live bait. Some of the kids were so anxious to start the tournament they tossed their lines out into the harbor.

Within the first 15 minutes of the tournament an 11-year-old fisherman by the name of Tristan, who has been fishing with Dana Wharf since he was a little guy, hooked something big. Tristan cranked and cranked the handle of his reel and there it was, a beautiful halibut rising

to the surface. Captain Pica and deckhand Marcus assisted Tristan with getting the giant fish on board. All the other anglers cheered for Tristan as he let the group know how he caught it using squid for bait.

A frequent Dana Wharf angler who fishes once a week and has never missed a tournament, is a seven-year-old named Max. Max was fishing with his dad and suddenly he hooked something gigantic and everyone on the boat heard squealing sounds from the line running off his reel. The fish he hooked was a fighter and Captain Pica stayed by his side as they followed the fish that moved from the stern to the bow several times. All the other anglers followed the action as Max used all his power to reel in this massive fish. Max and the Captain fought this fish for close to an hour when finally the line on Max’s reel gave in and snapped. Nobody on the boat was able to get a glimpse of the fish but it was speculated to be a black sea bass. Max was amazingly positive and simply shrugged and said, “Sometimes these things happen.”

As the tournament came to an end, the kids showed off their catch and weighed their fish to see who the winners were. Tristan ended up winning the tournament with his big halibut that weighed in at nine-pounds.

Page 10 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

goodie bag from Bass Pro Shops, an Angels Backpack with a hat and a bobble-head, and a Dana Wharf lunch box full of goodies.

The tournament was a huge success and the majority of the kids were able to use the skills they learned at Kids Club Summer Camp and made memories that will last a lifetime. To learn more about upcoming kids events, make reservations, purchase tickets, or to get our trip schedule visit Dana Wharf Sportfishing online at danawharf. com or call 1.800.979.3370. Dana Wharf would like to thank the sponsors and all the kids and parents that participated in our Kids Club Tournament. We look forward to your next big one!

Dana Wharf Kids Club Fishing Tournament winner Tristan (11) with his nine-pound halibut and runner up Justin (13) with his two-pound yellowfin croaker are all smiles aboard the Sum Fun. Photo by Monique Gannon

Our sponsors awarded Tristan with an Okuma tackle bag and Fin Chaser spinning rod and reel, and a first place trophy from Dana Wharf. Justin (13), came in second with a twopound yellowfin croaker and Ashley from San Clemente came in third with a one-pound sand bass. Both were presented with an Okuma Fin Chaser rod and reel. All the kids received a

Monique Gannon (formerly Monique Berry) is the Kids Club Coordinator for Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching. She has been living in San Clemente for four years and has been delighted to spend that time passing on her love of fishing to young anglers.

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are solely those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the Dana Point Times staff. We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@danapointtimes.com.

www.danapointtimes.com

Eye on DP

News Bites

Compiled by Andrea Swayne

Props, Recognitions and Morsels of Info Please join Hope 4 Kids—a nonprofit (501c3) foster care and adoption agency licensed by the State of California (#306099614) and founded in 1995 to serve children and families in the Southern California—for their annual luncheon, “Somewhere Out There.’ The event is set for Sunday, October 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point, One Ritz-Carlton Drive.

Enjoy a wonderful afternoon and learn about how you can help more children find their “forever” families. The cost is $60 per person and seating is limited. Please RSVP to Toni at 949.496.9430, ext. 14 or send and email to tonif@hope4kids.com. Hope 4 Kids is committed to providing loving foster and adoptive homes for abused, abandoned and disadvantaged children area. Look them up on the web at www.hope4kids.com.

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Elizabeth Stephens (right) and Sheila Fujimoto hosted a lemonade stand to raise money for the SC/DP Animal Shelter. Courtesy photo

Elizabeth Stephens loves animals and wanted to do something to help the homeless pets in the area, so she held a bake sale and lemonade stand recently in her Dana Point neighborhood with her friend, Sheila Fujimoto in an effort to raise money for the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter’s support organization, the Pet Project Foundation. The girls took all of their proceeds to the shelter and during the visit, Elizabeth fell in love with an adorable cocker spaniel mix named Toby who was in need of a home. The Stephens family returned the next day to adopt him. “He has been a wonderful addition to our family and a great friend for our terrier mix, Doogan, that we found through an animal rescue previously, said Elizabeth’s mom Valerie.

“There are so many wonderful pets that are homeless and available for adoption through shelters and animal rescue groups.” Shelter staff have noticed an increase in owner relinquishments recently due to the tough economy and are feeling a greater need for both donations to help care for shelter animals and families willing to bring an animal into their home. Elizabeth and her family are sharing their experience with both donating and adopting, in an effort to encourage people to consider giving a loving home to one of these animals and in honor of this month’s National Pet Adoption Week, last week. “We feel very lucky to have such an amazing and caring animal shelter so close to our home where we were able to find such a lovable dog!” said Valerie.

If you too would like to make a donation, contact the Pet Project Foundation at 949-595-8899 or via email at info@petprojectfoundation.org. To see the shelter’s many wonderful adoptable pets visit in person at 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente or log on to www.petprojectfoundation. org. The shelter can be reached directly at 949.492.1617.

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Photo by Mark Montgomery/ markmontgomeryphotography.com

The time for our Marines to gather to celebrate the hallowed tradition of their Marine Corps’ 235th Birthday is rapidly approaching. On November 10 at The Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa the 5th Marines Birthday Ball will gather troops together for an elegant and festive celebration. The cost of tickets, the alteration of dress blue uniforms, the procurement and mounting of medals for bravery and purchasing a ball gown for one’s spouse are very expensive in comparison to a Marine’s monthly wages. In an effort to defray the expenses that will be incurred by our younger Troops, the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group has donated over $10,000 to our 5th MAR Ball Fund and would appreciate the community’s help in reducing the cost of tickets even further by sponsoring a Marine or table of Marines. To learn more about this celebration and to sponsor the event, log on to www.danapoint5thmarines.com and use PayPal to make your secure and deductible donation.

Contributions may also be sent to: Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group, P.O. Box 471, Dana Point, CA 92629-0471. Your generous support and outreach will be greatly appreciated.

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Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more. Forward a picture along, too! We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com.

DP Sheriff’s Blotter Compiled By Ma d i Sway n e All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Web site (www.ocsd. org) and reflects data available from calls placed from the field by the responding officer(s). An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD Web site.

Thursday, September 28 SUSPICIOUS PERSON Pacific Coast Highway/Doheny Park Plaza (11:32 p.m.) An employee reported a male Page 12 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

subject loitering in a plot of land near parked vehicles. The subject was described as being around 40 years old, bald, wearing a dark shirt with jean shorts. The subject was also carrying a backpack. The caller was concerned because a fellow employee’s tires had been slashed the night before. The caller did not report seeing any weapons, but the subject was reportedly going in and out of his backpack.

Friday, September 29 SUSPICIOUS PERSON Pacific Coast Highway, 34000 Block (12:10 a.m.) A female customer at a restaurant called to report someone had put gasoline in her coffee. She also told the manager of the restaurant. The caller said she would wait outside for deputies, away from all lit cigarettes.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34300 Block (1:04 a.m.) Authorities were contacted in regard to a male transient who was loitering and making sexual comments to both customers and employees.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Castano Drive, 33700 Block (11:17 a.m.)

Have you always wanted to learn to play the guitar? Maybe you think it will be too difficult or just don’t know where to go. The Dana Point Recreation Department has just the class for you.

Beginning on October 21, guitar instructor Ron Gorman will be starting his five-week program for beginning guitar students. The class is designed to build a strong foundation for those with no previous guitar experience and tuition is only $90. Aspiring musicians, ages 10 and up, will learn various styles of strumming, single note melodies and three classic rock songs. Students must bring their own acoustic or electric guitar. The class meets on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

There will be no classes on Oct. 28, Nov. 11 or Nov. 25. The class meets at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street. Registration can be done online at www.danapoint.org or in person or by calling 949.248.3533. This is just one of the many class offerings at the Community Center. Log on to the website to see the Fall 2010 Recreation Services and City Guide.

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A caller reported a large amount of blonde hair hanging on her front door upon returning from vacation.

sive to passersby.

Saturday, September 30

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway/Del Prado (2:03 p.m.)

A male and female were standing outside of the post office. They were both using foul language while holding a sign that compared President Obama to Hitler. The caller was most concerned about the foul language used by the subjects.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Via Sacramento, 26400 Block (7:43 a.m.)

An informant called to tell authorities about an elderly male, possibly at Via Gomez, coming out of his residence to yell at the caller for parking near his house.

The man kicked her car in the process, causing damage.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Pacific Coast Highway, 32900 Block (10:03 a.m.) Authorities were notified about a subject who had reportedly been living out of his car. After investigation, authorities discovered he did not live out of his car, but rather slept in it during his work break and lunch break. The report came from an offsite property manager.

DISTURBANCE Doheny Park Road, 34200 Block (2:36 p.m.) Deputies were called in regard to two male subjects in front of the post office. The men were protesting President Obama and were being verbally aggres-

Sunday, October 1

KEEP THE PEACE La Serena Drive, 34000 Block (6:23p.m.)

A woman called to report that her landlord had thrown out her belongings without giving 30 days notice.

Monday, October 2 DRUNK IN CAR Dana Point Harbor Drive/Del Obispo Street (12:27 a.m.) Deputies investigated a woman in a yellow Jeep. The subject went through the drive-through while swerving, causing her to get very close to the walls, nearly sideswiping them. The subject was parked and eating food by the time 911 operators got the call. www.danapointtimes.com

SOAPBOX

2

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

DP

D a n a Po i nt

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 EDITOR STORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@danapointtimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@danapointtimes.com BILLING Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times, Vol. 3, Issue 41. 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 2010. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA CEO Norb Garrett EDITORIAL Group Editor, Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Jonathan Volzke City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne City Reporter, SC Times > David Zimmerle ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Heidi Mefferd

Letters to the Editor DOWNTOWN DANA POINT NEEDS HELP NOW! FRED S. PARDES, ESQ., Dana Point

My interest lies in establishing a viable downtown Dana Point.

I have been trying to organize the Dana Point Downtown Business Association with little success as there has been no support from the city. They are waiting for the Business Improvement District (BID) for Town Center Revitalization which is many years in the future. That strategy does nothing for today’s downtown merchants.

It appears to me that the city is just sitting on its hands waiting for the economy to improve. That is not the proper course to take. We have a Community Development Department, but I don’t see any pro-active efforts at development.

What is the city doing about actively soliciting a major anchor tenant, who will bring foot traffic to the Town Center in the foreseeable future? In my opinion, nothing. I think the city should be much more pro-active.

I am sure that the city will say, “Look at all the concerts, plays and movies ‘in the park,’ we are sponsoring.”

Regretfully, events in the park don’t help the downtown merchants. Everyone brings food in their ice boxes and buy nothing from our local merchants. How about holding a children’s carnival, car shows or craft fairs somewhere in the downtown, other than just the Plaza?

We have to be honest with ourselves, without a large anchor tenant to draw people downtown, the Town Center is just a figment of our imagination.

Yes, the economy is not good, but that should not stop the city from aggressively trying to solicit good anchor tenants.

What is the city doing to force development of those empty lots, which prevent development of the downtown? They have been empty since the city was incorporated, and are a blight to the community. The downtown businesses need immediate action to fill up the vacancies and develop those empty lots.

Assuming an anchor tenant can be located, is the city willing to offer any tax or other incentives like other competing municipalities? They are not sitting on their hands waiting for a miracle to occur.

Will the city be willing to buy parcels of real estate in the Town Center and offer them via a land lease to the anchor tenant for one dollar a year?

If that anchor tenant needs an additional lot or two to get the necessary square footage it needs for a profitable project, if negotiations fail, would the city invoke “Eminent Domain,” a very necessary evil if we want to develop the Town Center in the near future, rather than waiting years for the economy to turn around?

I am not unrealistic and believe these things are easily done in this down market, but that doesn’t mean we have to wait until the market turns, in two or three years and then wait another two or three years for plans to be approved and construction completed.

It is my opinion that the city can be doing far more than it is presently doing, in developing and helping the merchants of downtown Dana Point.

During these upcoming elections, we should ask and press our present and prospective leaders what they intend to do Page 18 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

INTERNS Kirsten Amavisca Sacher, Madi Swayne

> Sergio Sanchez (San Juan Capistrano) Sales Associate > Angela Edwards > Buddy Purel OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, George Mackin, Rebecca Nordquist CONTRIBUTORS Tawnee Prazak, Christina Scannapiego

ONLINE READER POLL Have you been to a Dana Hills High School football game yet this season?

regarding downtown Dana Point?

Otherwise, it appears that nothing will get done in our lifetimes! www.danapointdowntownbusinessassociation.org

Yes. I love going.

19%

STONEHILL HOME DEPOT AGAIN?

No, but I intend to get to at least one.

38%

VIRGINIA RILEY, San Juan Capistrano

Here we go again, and I think most of us would like to have the Rosan Property (on Stonehill at the San Juan/Dana Point border) resolved, but let’s not be led down a path that we might regret not thinking about our town and the whole community that we love and appreciate.

Most of the council members keep talking about having that hometown feel in our community. Making the downtown area have small town atmosphere and then they are looking just a short distance away to put a big box cement building on Rosan property. The Rosan land has to be raised out of the flood plain, levy height and then some, in order to put a 35-foot plus cement building that will reach half way to heaven. Then there is the traffic and environmental noise, diesel fuel, carbon, etc. issues on Stonehill. Yet the downtown curb appeal has not changed one bit over the years and so we do not attract profitable businesses after spending money on experts and studies plus salaries.

Have we forgotten about the small businesses that we have depended on for years? My thoughts led me to other businesses such as Plant Depot, Pacific Roofing Company, Ferguson Enterprises Plumbing, Armstrong Nursery plus other businesses that might be affected. What will happen to them? I am not alone with these concerns.

The other day when I visited Denault’s, I wondered what would happen to our small town businesses that have served us so well over the years. Peter the salesman that helped me with my purchase was so helpful and informative and pointed out “true value slogan” that we have heard over the years and I could tell he was proud of the company that he worked for. Denault’s is a special place to a lot of us. Now I do shop at Home Depot in Mission Viejo off Crown Valley for large items, but for all other items, I go to Denault’s. I believe I have purchased from every department at Denualt’s and have also purchased many items from Ganahl Lumber.

The past councils and planning divisions put all their focus and expense on the auto companies and Home Depot for more than six years. When Home Depot failed we purchased the front acreage back from Home Depot for three times its value. Now we are stuck with that debt. It seems that you keep on zeroing in on this property as the answer to all our financial woes. Will our financial problems go away? Not if we pay our City Manager a salary of $324,000 for two contracts for a 30-hour week for a population of 37,000. This is almost close to what we pay our President of the United States!

Dana Point, Capistrano Beach and San Juan Capistrano are small towns and should be kept that way. You all seem to be trying very hard to put a large peg in a small square hole that will not fit. The community believes that you all work very hard doing what you think is best for the community and we do appreciate that, but you might try thinking “out of the box.”

No. Football is just not my thing.

42% Make sure to sound off each week on the “DP Times Poll of the Week” at www.danapointtimes.com. Then go to our community Message Board and share your opinions. www.danapointtimes.com. Bookmark it today!

The DP Times Online Reader Polls are not scientific and do not reflect the opinion of the DP Times.

DON’T TELL ME WHAT MY WORTH IS SARAH FONTANES, San Clemente

I am not one to usually write this type of letter. I am usually the one that sits back and, shamefully, lets others take the front seat. I have a laid back attitude about most things. But, I have found myself in a situation where I have to speak up not only for myself, but for my wonderful colleagues. I am a teacher in Capo Unified. I have been for 14 years. I love my job! I get to teach children how to write their names, how to count, and how to read. I will teach them to tie their shoe if that’s what they need. I will teach them when to say please and thank you, and when to use their words when they are frustrated. I teach them how to make friends, and how to keep friends. I simply listen when they come to school crying that mommy or daddy moved out and “they are not coming back.” I teach them about patience and understanding. How to respect others, and how to respect the earth. When they scrape their knee on the playground I give them a band-aid and a hug. I do these things because I care. So, how dare you Board of Trustees try to tell me what my “worth” is. You think that you have the students’ best interest at heart by the decisions you are making don’t you? Fast-forward five, 10, 15 years from now. If you walk down the street and pass right by one of Capo’s amazing students they will not recognize your face or know your name. But, I guarantee in 20 years time I, or any other teacher, walks down that same street and sees a past student, they will not only remember our face and probably our name, but will remember the impact we had on their lives. That is how I judge my “self worth.” Not by the pay that I receive or the medical benefits that I have. Go ahead and sit in your little cushy chairs and have your secret meetings about how you will divide and conquer. It will not work! The teacher’s of this district will not be bullied. That is one of our district policies isn’t it: Zero tolerance! So, pack up your bags of propaganda and your wagging fingers and go elsewhere because you have picked the wrong district to mess with!

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

GETTING OUT

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

DP

D a n a Po i nt

The List

A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town this week. Compiled by Tawnee Prazak

friday08 forecast: partly cloudy • high: 75° low: 56°

OC Auto Show

Go See Do

Pan Dazzles at Performing Arts Center

The classic tale of Peter Pan is Neverland.

A dozen projectors deliver the now showing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, but J.M. 360-degree presentation, which Barrie’s 1904 play is transformed producers say is the world’s first with the modern technical wiz360-degree projected movie for a ardry reminiscent of “Soarin’ Over live theater performance.

California,” letting characters take But it’s not all high-tech: The to the sky and weave through the animals in the play, including the London skyline. crocodile, are puppets.

Flight to Neverland. Photo by Kevin Berne The performances of the 22 The production, shown in the actors are outstanding— Itxaso Moreno plays Tinkerbell with round, opened in May 2009 in Kensington Gardens, where such attitude she should be called “Stinkerbell”—but the Barrie was inspired to write the story. It played for 16 sold out 360-degree CGI theater set steals the show. The production weeks and the audience included Prince Charles and Camilla is a in a tent beside the Performing Arts Center, and the inteParker Bowles. It premiered in the U.S. in April 2010. Peter Pan rior of the tent is lined with more than 15,000 square feet of plays at the PAC through November 21. Tickets are $30 to high-resolution video—three times the size of an Imax screen $75, and special tours and packages are available. See www. that immerses the cast and audience in 360 degrees of CGI OCPAC.org or call 714.556.2787.

OC Fire Authority Open House

Jazz Brunch

Dana Point Farmers Market

Kids’ Fishing

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Families are invited to the county’s headquarters to meet firefighters, learn about safety, see demonstrations and more. 1 Fires Authority Road, Irvine, www.san-clemente.org.

9 a.m.–1 p.m. Fresh produce and much more every Saturday at La Plaza Park, intersection of PCH and Golden Lantern.

Jeffrey Michaels Band

8:30 p.m. Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

A Date With Nature

12 p.m.-10 p.m. Weekend-long showcase of cars, crossovers, trucks, pre-production models and more at the Anaheim Convention Center. Weekend hours vary. $10 adults, $6 seniors, $5 for students; free kids 12 and under. 800 West Katella Ave., Anaheim, www.orangecountyautoshow.com.

2 p.m.-7 p.m. Family-oriented celebration of wildlife featuring activities and food hosted by The Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy and The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. Free event; please register. 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org/ADWN.

Live Latin Guitar

8 p.m. Charlie Brown comes to life at Cabrillo Playhouse.

Through Oct. 24. Tickets $15-$25. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

6 p.m.-9 p.m. Hang out at the Ritz’ newest ocean-front lounge, 18oblu, and enjoy live music, drinks, appetizers and more. One Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.5088, www.ritzcarlton.com.

Undercover

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown

Big Night Out

8 p.m.-11 p.m. Top-40, funk, R&B and dance music at Salt Creek Grille. 32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.661.7799, www.saltcreekgrille.com.

5 p.m.-close. Melting Pot offers diners a chance to win a trip for two to France while dining on French-inspired dishes. Other prizes available. 647 Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, 949.661.1966, www.meltingpot.com.

Songs, Smiles N Soul 3

Bat Boy: The Musical

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tom Morey entertains at Salt Creek Grille.

32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.661.7799, www.saltcreekgrille.com.

12 p.m. Free fishing clinic on the dock followed by a half-day fishing trip for kids hosted by Dana Wharf every Sunday. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Ukulele Night at Hulaville

5 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring your Ukulele or just come and sing along.

Every Sunday. 2720 Camino Capistrano, San Clemente, 949.369.1905, www.hulavillecafe.com

Hope 4 Hanna

7 a.m. participate in a 10k or 5k walk/run to benefit autism research, finding a cure and awareness. Meet at the Plaza Pacifica shopping center. 951 Avenida Pico, www.hope4hanna.com.

Mission Tours

11:15 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 2:15 p.m.; 3:45 p.m. Special tours at Mission SJC to enhance your experience and learn the history of Mission grounds and California history. Admission $5–$9 plus $1-$2 for tour. 26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Oktoberfest

2 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Old World in Huntington Beach celebrates German style with beer, bratwurst and more. 7561 Center Ave #49 Huntington Beach, 714.895.8020, www.oldworld.ws.

3 p.m.; 8 p.m. The Department of Theatre Arts at Saddleback College presents a campy musical comedy that’s playful and “spoofical.” Shows through Oct. 17. General admission $13, students/seniors $12, $9 with ASB card. 28000 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu/arts.

monday11

8 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse presents a hilarious romantic comic opera with pirates, buccaneers and maidens. Great for the whole family. Through Oct. 31. Tickets $28-$30. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women

GreG de Yong

8 p.m. Unique concert at The Coach House also with The Hula Girls and Whalen. Tickets $15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

7:30 p.m.-close. Live music at Mahe. 24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.6243, www.eatatmahe.com.

J Rickards Vineyards Wine Tasting

Live Music Harbor Cruise

9 p.m.–1 a.m. The night starts with live comedy and continues with karaoke at 11 p.m. at Hennessey’s Tavern. No cover. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com.

8 p.m. A benefit concert at The Coach House featuring The Ken Garcia Band, Dr. Jeff Briney & His All-Star Band, Passion Gitana and Sasha Evans. Tickets $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

PirateS of Penzance

5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. San Clemente Wine Company welcomes Sue Straight from J Rickards Winery. Tasting fee is $15 for seven wines. Plus they will be raffling off a few bottles. 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. One Shot Warning (’80s music) performs onboard Dana Wharf’s live-band music cruise; features indoor/outdoor seating and a full bar. Tickets $10. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

saturday09

Tossed Salad

forecast: sunny • high: 84° low: 59°

Second Saturday Art Fair

10 a.m.–4 p.m. The monthly event features 60 artists, craftspeople and musicians in San Juan Capistrano along Camino Capistrano, Yorba, Verdugo and Los Rios. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.

Antique Show

9 a.m.-3 p.m. The city and San Clemente Woman’s Club present the 11th annual Benefit Antique, Estate Jewelry Show and Sale with Appraisal Clinic at the SC Community Center. Admission donation. Door prize drawings. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.481.5357, 949.361.0069, www.san-clemente.org. www.danapointtimes.com

8 p.m.-10 p.m. Drag queen dinner show at Adele’s. 18 and older.

2600 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, 949.366.1121, www.adelesatthesanclementeinn.com.

sunday10 forecast: sunny • high: 85° low: 58°

San Clemente Seafest

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Annual Seafest at the pier featuring a Chowder Cook-off, arts & crafts show, surf contest, business expo, U.S. Coast Guard, kids’ rides and more. Free shuttle parking is available at San Clemente High School. 949.492.1131, www.scchamber.com.

forecast: partly cloudy • high: 74° low: 55°

Comedy & Karaoke

7th Annual Columbus Day Drive for Special Olympics

10 a.m. Fundraising golf tournament to benefit Special Olympics Orange County at Marbella Country Club. Individuals $250; foursomes $1,000; dinner guests $50. 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano, 949.249.1280, www.columbusdaydrive.com.

$5 Mondays

5 p.m.-8 p.m. Join SC Wine Company for happy hour featuring three wines for $5, glasses of selected wines for $5 and mugs of beer from $5 & up. 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

Jazz Lab in Concert

7 p.m. Jazz Lab Ensemble of Saddleback College don their intergalactic space suits and play the music of Sun Ra. $10 general; $7 student/seniors. 28000 Marguerite Pkwy., Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu/arts.

(Cont. on page 22) October 8–14, 2010 • Dana Point Times • Page 21

GETTING OUT

DP Times Restaurant Spotlight

By Rachel Namson and Madi Swayne

Mr. B’s Pizza Kitchen

RATE IT!

31111 Rancho Veijo Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.240.8100, www.mrbspizza.com BEST KNOWN FOR: Italian pizza, sandwiches and pasta MOST POPULAR ITEM: The Godfather Pizza A taste of Italy—or should we say, a slice of Italy—awaits at Mr. B’s Pizza Kitchen. Owner Richard Bracamonte has been serving up homemade Italian food since opening in February 2010. His menu boasts a variety of favorites, including the Godfather pizza. Topped with cheese, sausage, pepperoni, bell peppers, black olives, onion and capicola, this pie really is a meal you can’t refuse. Another favorite, the Torpedo sandwich, is served with salami, provolone, mortadella and all the fixings. Customer care sets Mr. B’s Pizza apart—they aim to please by offering pizza of every thickness, from super thin to extra thick, with every topping from fresh tomato to meatballs. Everything is made to order, just the way you like it. Mr. B’s also puts a regional twist on the traditional with the brand new Capistrano pizza. The Capistrano’s toppings uphold the town’s south-of-the-border flare with beans, jalapeños and chorizo.

A tasty way to top off your meal is with a homemade cannoli—a pastry shell filled with sweet Ricotta cream and chocolate chips, lightly dusted with powdered sugar—delizioso!

Owner Richard Bracamonte (center), with Luis Galindos and Jose Perez.

Photo by Madi Swayne

PRICE RANGE: $3.45-$25.95 RESERVATIONS: Not necessary

PAYMENT: Cash, credit card HOURS: Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Have you eaten at this restaurant?

Go to www.danapointtimes.com and rate your overall experience.

We’ll post the results in next week’s issue of the DP Times.

Last week online voters gave

Enne Cucina Italiana 831 Via Suerte, San Clemente, 949.492.1089 (Rated on a scale of 1–5 stars)

ABOUT OUR REVIEWS: In each issue we’ll highlight universally critical points including “Most Popular Dish,” “Best Known For” and “Price Range.” But most importantly, we’re inviting you to participate each week and rate the restaurant based on your experiences. Go to www.danapointtimes.com and under “Restaurant Guide” rate it from 1 to 5.

(Cont. from page 21)

tuesday12 forecast: partly cloudy • high: 72° low: 55°

NIXON IN SAN CLEMENTE: THE WESTERN WHITE HOUSE YEARS

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Casa Romantica presents an exhibit featuring the impacts President Nixon made on SC with memorabilia, stories and more. $7 adults, $6 members, kids free. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

STORYTIME

10:30 a.m. Dana Point Library offers storytime for youngsters.

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

LESLIE LOWE

8 p.m. Female artist at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

2-FOR-1 TUESDAYS

Half price on all fishing trips, whale watching and other adventures at Dana Wharf every Tuesday. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

TOTALLY TUESDAY ’80S NIGHT

7 p.m. Taco-Tuesday night at Caliente Coastal Cantina, plus popular DJs spinning ’80s hits and drinks specials for those in ’80s attire. No cover. 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.493.0549, www.calientecoastalcantina.com.

wednesday13 forecast: showers • high: 71° low: 56°

JOB WORKSHOP

6 p.m. The Dana Point Library hosts the event. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

BRANDI SMITH & JASON FOSTER

6 p.m.-9 p.m. Duo performs at Salt Creek Grille. 32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.661.7799, www.saltcreekgrille.com.

COMEDY NIGHT

9:30 p.m. New comics every week at Molly Blooms Irish Bar & Restaurant, 21+ no cover. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente 92672, 949.218.0120, www.mollybloomspub.com.

ACOUSTIC JAM

8 p.m. Music by Jared Palazzolo at BeachFire. No cover. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

DAN LEFLER

7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Rock, blues and more from every era at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

Page 22 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

thursday14 forecast: sunny • high: 73° low: 56°

FOOD TRUCK & FARE THURSDAYS

AT THE MOVIES

The Social Network Succeeds

11 a.m.-2 p.m. A variety of gourmet food trucks that changes weekly at the OC Fair & Event Center. 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, www.ocfair.com.

DP AFTERSCHOOL CLUB

4 p.m. Dana Point Library offers after-school activities for kids ages 5 and older. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

THE WEEPIES

8 p.m. Duo presents acoustic/pop sounds of their “Be My Thrill Tour” at The Coach House also with Parlor Hawk and Sarah Wallace. Tickets $15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

MUSIC FOR ALL AUDIENCES: TRIBUTE TO LOUIS GOTTSCHALK

7 p.m. Jazz concert at Casa Romantica with pianist Frank French portraying the classical and early American jazz composer.

Members $12, non-members $15, students/kids $7. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, wwwcasaromantica.org.

CALL + RESPONSE

6:30 p.m. VIP screening of the rockumentary film on modernday slavery and human trafficking with Q&A at the Casino San Clemente. 140 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente, 949.370.8102.

DONNY GOLDBERG

7:30 p.m.-close. Live music at Mahe. 24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.6243, www.eatatmahe.com.

LADIES NIGHT

8 p.m.–12 a.m. Dance the night away to current top-40 hits, Latin and R&B music at Brio Tuscany Grille. 24050 Camino del Avion, Suite B, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

UPCOMING: October 16

THE VINTAGE: FAREWELL TO THE SWALLOWS

6 p.m.-10 p.m. Annual celebration at the Mission featuring food, live entertainment, casino, auction and more. Proceeds benefit local businesses. Tickets $75 each or $850 for a table for 10.

26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.493.4700, www.thevintagesjc.com.

For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com

Jesse Eisenberg as “Mark Zuckerberg” in The Social Network. © Columbia Tristar

Twenty years ago, if you worked with computers on a daily basis you were either an engineer or bona fide nerd. But now these types of people can also be the brains behind the most popular websites on the Internet. And with this in mind, enter David Fincher’s latest feature film, The Social Network.

Set in Fall 2003, a genius Harvard undergrad named Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) goes on a date with a girl he likes (Rooney Mara), but discovers by the end of the date that she was completely turned off by his overall persona. He ends up getting drunk and ranting about her on his blog, and ultimately creates a poll by the end of the night comparing college girls’ faces—obtaining pictures of them through illegal hacker means.

Mark gains notoriety overnight and is then hired by two hot shot Harvard athlete twins (simultaneously played by Armie Hammer) to build a social network exclusively for Harvard students.

Mark agrees, but decides midway through the project to make the network his sole creation—bringing along his best friend Eduardo (Andrew Garfield), Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) and over a million college student members to his private online community called Facebook.

The Social Network isn’t about Facebook and its content or users, but the odd guy who made it all happen just to gain some attention, and ended up having it explode his face. Much like Citizen Kane, Mark is a rather lonely protagonist who tries to change all that with a mixture of excess and success. Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin spend little time showing us the actual site, tapping into the arrogance and thoughtlessness of these brash kids who thought they couldn’t go wrong. Sorkin’s sharp dialogue, Fincher’s cinematic vision, fresh acting from Eisenberg, Garfield and Hammer and a unique, electronic score

by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, collaborate to give us the most interesting film of the fall season so far, which by the last scene, still feels like it’s only begun. DP —Megan Bianco www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

4

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

DP

D a n a Po i nt

SUDOKU

by Myles Mellor Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3X3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium Last week’s solution:

SOLUTION SOLUTION SOLUTION SOLUTION See today’s solution in next week’s issue.

Blooming With Talent

Home Tour Highlights

Recent Dana Point transplant Contessa Black finds support for music in Kenny Williams

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times Liz Claus (center) gives a tour of the Cook Pointe compound. The property is on the market for $11.65 million. Photo by Bob Fairbanks

F

or singer/songwriter Contessa Black, making the move to Dana Point from Los Angeles was more about the quest for a serene lifestyle in a picturesque beach town and the adventure of buying her first home than about advancing her budding music career.

Black recently made the decision to leave LA where she grew up, and with her sister, she ventured south looking for an opportunity to embark on the adventure of becoming firsttime home buyers in search of a haven far from the noise and crowds of the big city.

The duo found a home—a real “fixer upper”—and this summer, the renovations commenced. “It’s been a little rough so far as far as building codes and inspection goes,” said Black. “This is all new territory for me.”

Though embarking on this new territory, Black has leaned on a part of her life that is anything but new—music. According to her family, she has been singing her whole life—possibly since before she could talk—they say. With a newly completed first album under her belt, this talented songstress left one of the world’s music capitols for little Dana Point not knowing what, if any, opportunities she’d find in the world of music here.

Enter Kenny’s Music. Dubbed the “biggest little music store” in Dana Point, owner Kenny Morris is known as one of the area’s most enthusiastic champions of local musical talent.

“I think Dana Point is blooming with talent—much of it undiscovered. But we also have some legendary performers living in the area too. I’m always encouraging people like Tessa (short for Contessa) to come out and play at the local jam nights and music venues because I believe that someday Dana Point could be a hot spot for music, sort of like Seattle was in the ’90s. At least I’m hoping so,” said Morris, a musician himself for 50 years. “I’ve seen many eras of music come and go, so I always get excited to hear new talent in all musical styles.

I think Tessa’s got what it takes to be sucPage 24 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

T

Kenny’s Music owner Kenny Williams and Contessa Black. Photo by Andrea Swayne

cessful with her fusion of the past and today.

That’s what I hear in her music—a lot of Billie Holiday kind of jazz and blues influence and that’s exciting to see. We are always welcoming talent like hers around here and are more than willing to help.”

Morris went on to describe Black’s album, Sick Woman (Looking for a Healthy Man) as Billie Holiday meets Bonnie Raitt.

It’s not your typical gut-bucket blues but a melding of jazz and blues that has a very soulful and mature sound.

“You can’t call it jazz and you can’t call it Mississippi blues either. It’s a fusion of the two—past meets the future,” said Morris. “I was surprised when I met her to see such a young person and thought to myself, ‘That can’t be her. She’s not old enough.’ There’s a maturity to the sound of her music and then when you see her, she’s such a sweet young lady. It’s kind of hard to put the two together.”

Black’s songs have a sort of “old soul” sound to them that is very contemporary sounding and lyrically relatable at the same time. Audiences both young and old are embracing the sound.

“I think the younger generation does embrace the old. Take Amy Winehouse for instance,” said Morris. “She’s got an old-school sound but it’s very appealing to a younger audience as well. I am even seeing this with my music students. The kids want to learn classic rock and old blues. Through the media and games like Guitar Hero, young people are being exposed to this type of sound.”

Black is not the only young talent featured on her album, all of the musicians in her band, except for a guest artist drummer from the Steve Miller Band, are in their early 20s.

Stop by Kenny’s Music pick up a copy of Contessa Black’s, Sick Woman (Looking for a Healthy Man.) The CD, with 10 all original tracks, sells for $13.

For more information on Contessa Black, log on to her website at www.contessablackmusic.com.

Kenny’s Music Store is located at 24731 La Plaza, on the corner of La Plaza and Golden Lantern in Dana Point and is open Mon. through Fri. from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p. m. Their website is www.kennysmusicstore.com. DP

he Dana Point Society Home Tour on Sunday, October 2 was the largest in the event’s 11-year history said President Carlos N. Olvera.

The Tour included 11 stops, saw more than 500 event goers in attendance and utilized the assistance of over 150 volunteers.

The car show, a new addition to the Tour, featured 32 classic autos and, according to Olvera, was such a popular component of this year’s event that it will now become a permanent part of the program.

Proceeds from the day’s event topped $17,000. The money is earmarked to be uses for acquisition of Dana Point historical memorabilia and the Historical Society’s archive digitization project.

Sponsorship was also up for the year, eclipsing last year’s sponsor lineup significantly.

“This year’s Home Tour was a huge success. Attendance was up from previous years and the visitors came at a steady stream— many from outside of the local area, said Olvera. “The car show was obviously a hit too while wives looked at the homes and the men looked at the cars. The favorite comment there was ‘I used to have one of those.’ There were many comments about the tour, but one that seemed to prevail was about the our use of golf carts instead of busses. The carts provided a unique way for visitors to mingle and people really seemed to enjoy them.”

This event also celebrated the 175th anniversary of Richard Henry Dana’s visit to the California coast.

To find out more about the Dana Point Historical Society, log on to their website at www.danapointhistorical.org.

Log on to www.danapointtimes.com to see a slide show of the day’s happenings. DP —Andrea Swayne www.danapointtimes.com

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W W W . D A N A P O I N T T I M E S . C O M

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

DC Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning www.dcplumbing.net 949.365.9044 Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.1321 www.oasisair.com

ARCHITECTURE - PLANNING Jim Ettinger Design 949.246.0224 33742 Big Sur St., jimettingerdesign@cox.net Nona Associates - Raymond J. Nona A.I.A. 26901 Camino de Estrella, 949.496.2275 www.raynona.com

ATTORNEY James D. Hornbuckle, Esq. 949.499.7370 34204 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.dixonlawcorp.com

BEAUTY SALONS

EXTREME ROOM MAKE OVER IS YOUR HOUSE READY FOR HOLIDAY GUESTS? I WILL DO A ONE-DAY MAKEOVER ON ANY ROOM, ANY SIZE. I will Visit, Assess, Integrate, Rearrange and Shop. $595 Fee plus any Items purchased. Call now for the 10% off October SPECIAL!! Maureen B. Fletcher, BFA, 714.889.9597 Visit my website at: www.interiorconsultants.net Email: maureen@interiorconsultants.net

Azalea Salon & Boutique 949.248.3406 DENTISTS 24452 Del Prado Ave. Ste. A, Dana Point Dental 949.661.5664 www.azaleasalonandboutique.com 34080 Golden Lantern, Ste 201, Paragon Salon 949.489.1955 www.danapointdental.com 34161 Pacific Coast Hwy. Dr. Hannah Lewis, DDS 949.496.5713 Salon Revelation - Dayna Dallas 949.248.8595 24655 Unit E La Plaza, www.danapointsmiles.com 34192 Violet Lantern #2

DOG GROOMING

Bookkeeping

Dawgy Style Accurate Bookeeping 949.412.5345 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste. 112, lisathebookkeeper@yahoo.com www.todawgystyle.com

949.496.3315

EMAIL MARKETING Concept2Design Marketing 949.240.5875 www.concept2design.net

Capistrano Beach Steam Clean cbstmclean@gmail.com

Smokey’s House of BBQ 32860 Pacific Coast Hwy. #4, www.SmokeysHouseofBBQ.com

949.276.6921

EMBROIDERY

CATERING 949.388.8102

949.661.3151

CLUTTER CONSULTANT Organize/Simplify - Terri Hochman hochmans@cox.net

949.248.1007

949.521.1632

COFFEE SHOP Coffee Importers Espresso Bar 949.493.7773 34531 Golden Lantern, www.coffeeimporters.com

COMPUTER REPAIR & SERVICES

LANDSCAPING/SPRINKLERS

Fit Club - Boot Camp 949.831.7984 www.afitclub.com Jazzercise, O.C. Sailing & Events Center 34451 Ensenada Place, 949.492.7817 www.danapointjazz.com

SIGNS

Sunburst Landscaping 949.632.0081 www.sunlandscape.webs.com 949.493.3670 ABC Signs & Embroidery Shop 34135 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste. E, www.abcembroideryshop.com LOCKSMITH Dana Point Lock & Security

949.496.6919

949.248.1007

Surf Shops

Girl in the Curl Surf Shop 949.661.4475 34116 Pacific Coast Hwy., www.girlinthecurl.com Kenny’s Music & Guitars 949.661.3984 Infinity Surfboards 949.661.6699 24731 La Plaza, www.kennysmusicstore.com 24382 Del Prado, www.infinitysurf.com Danman’s Music School 949.242.4431 Jack’s Surfboards

949.276.8080 24699 Del Prado, www.danmans.com 34320 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jackssurfboards.com

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

TUTORING 949.212.1277

Painting LH Painting, CA LIC. # 647760 949.240.8795 33391 Sea Bright Dr., www.lhpainting.com

PET GROOMING Dawgy Style 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy #112, www.todawgystyle.com

949.496.3315

Beach Cities Pizza

34473 Golden Lantern St. 34155 Pacific Coast Hwy.

English Tutoring by Susan 949.481.0481 Mathnasium 949.388.6555 32411 Golden Lantern, Ste. Q, www.mathnasium.com

Upholstery Dana Point Upholstery 949.240.2292 24402 Del Prado Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 949.240.9569 34118 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jeddys.com

WINDOW CLEANING

PIZZA

FITNESS PROGRAMS

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Christian Science Services 34102 La Plaza

ABC Signs & Embroidery Shop 34135 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste. E, www.abcembroideryshop.com

ROOFING

Party Hosting

949.360.9282 Coffee Importers Espresso Bar 949.493.7773 delta G electrical CA #657214, www.deltagelect.com 34531 Golden Lantern, www.coffeeimporters.com

CARPET CLEANING

Jeweler

Dana Point Jeweler 949.489.1165 Capistrano Roofing, Inc. 949.246.7740 24845 Del Prado, www.danapointjeweler.com Lic# 936828, www.caporoofing.com

The Party Girl www.ocpartygirl.com

ELECTRICAL

CAFE - DELI

Statefarm/Elaine LaVine 949.240.8944 RESTAURANTS 34080 Golden Lantern, www.elainelavine.net 949.661.8266 Ted Bowersox

949.661.3200 Agostino’s By The Sea 34700 Coast Hwy., Ste 100, 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste 204, www.agostinosbythesea.com

www.statefarm.com Brio Tuscany Grille 949.443.1476 INTERIOR DESIGN 24050 Camino Del Avion, www.briorestaurant.com 949.496.0855 Maureen B. Fletcher Interior Design 714.889.9597 Jolly Roger Restaurant 34661 Golden Lantern, www.aloharestaurants.com www.interiorconsultants.net 949.388.8102 Norma Mardian Interior Design 949.492.6271 Smokey’s House of BBQ 32860 Pacific Coast Hwy. #4, www.nminteriordesign.com www.SmokeysHouseofBBQ.com

949.496.0606 949.496.2670

Plumbing

Bayside Window Cleaning 949.290.8230 www.baysidewindowcleaning.com Wonderful Windows 949.369.7263 www.wonderfulwindows.com

Window Coverings

Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 949.240.9569 A to Z Leak Detection 949.499.4464 34118 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jeddys.com www.atozleakdetection.com Chick’s Plumbing

949.496.9731 GIFT BASKETS 34172 Doheny Park Road, www.chicksplumbing.com Under-Wraps Gift Baskets 949.291.0300 DC Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning mariannedorsey@cox.net, www.dcplumbing.net 949.365.9044 www.giftbasketsbyunderwraps.com Mission Plumbing & Heating 949.492.4303 www.missionplumbingandheating.com HANDYMAN SERVICES Robert’s Professional Handyman Services Lic. # B853695

949.606.6425

PRINT SHOP

Beacon Printing - Brad & Judy Brandmeier 24681 La Plaza, Ste. 125 949.661.3877 beaconprinting@sbcglobal.net 949.496.1957 Printing OC

949.388.4888 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com 949.489.1955

San Clemente Computer & Network Services HAIR SALONS daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581 Monarch Bay Haircutters Solution Tek-nologies 949.400.0080 20 Monarch Bay Plaza www.solutiontek-nologies.com Paragon Salon 34161 Pacific Coast Hwy. CONTRACTORs - GENERAL Utopia Salon 949.661.1664 Creative Environments Construction 949.496.3728 Barry 949.661.1664 Design & Build #464468 Gary 949.231.9755 Morgan 949.433.3960 Contractors - Painting 24582 Del Prado, #B, www.barrysutopia.com LH Painting, CA LIC. # 647760 949.240.8795 ICE CREAM 33391 Sea Bright Dr., www.lhpainting.com Coffee Importers Scoop Deck 949.493.7773 34531 Golden Lantern, www.coffeeimporters.com COSMETICS

Insurance Services Mary Kay Cosmetics & Career 949.248.2868 Opportunities, Ind. Sales Director - Marline Adams, Patricia Powers 949.496.1900 www.marykay.com/madams2 License#0737080, pat.powers@cox.net

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Corinne Rupert PhD, PsyD, MFT 949.488.2648 33971 Selva Rd. Ste. 125, www.danapointpsychotherapy.com

REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL Prudential California Realty, Shirley Tenger www.tengerteam.com 949.487.7700 JHill & Associates 949.488.7653 25471 Evans Pointe, www.hillrealty.org Lantern Bay Realty 949.661.6441 34179 Golden Lantern, Ste. 103, www.lanternbayrealty.com

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY”

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Get your business listed today.

Call Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or e-mail aedwards@danapointtimes.com.

DP S a n C le m e n te

D a n a Po i nt

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Classifieds

Submit your ad online at www.danapointtimes.com

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE SATURDAY, OCT. 9 - 8AM TO 1 PM Baby items, vintage stroller, household items, and more! Multi-family sale! 24481 Alta Vista Drive in the alley (Cross-street: Alta Vista & Blue Lantern) GARAGE SALE SATURDAY OCTOBER 9TH Cordova St in Dana Point (cross street between Golden & Violet Lantern) Household items, Kitchen stuff, Clothing, Shoes, Furniture, Collectibles, Jewelry, Antiques, Rugs,VHS, CD’s, Asian Art Pieces, Twin Bed, A Dinged Surfboard, American Standard Toilet, Tools! 7:30 am - 2pm

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@danapointtimes.com DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY. No phone calls please.

MISC. EDUCATION SERVICES IN-HOME TEACHER I am credentialed and have a Masters Degree in Education. I will develop lessons for students based on their current needs. I have 10 years experience in all grade levels and a high success rate with student grade improvement even with the most reluctant learner. Excellent references upon request.

Call 949-363-8414.

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

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October 8–14, 2010 • Dana Point Times • Page 27

DP LIVING ONCE UPON THIS COAST: By Doris I. Walker

The Three-ton Tongue

By Doris I. Walker Dana Point Times

T

he three-ton tongue welcomes the mass of seawater that rushes into the gigantic open mouth, because with it comes tons of tiny krill, which is the creature’s lunch. Being a rorqual whale, its throat and underDoris I. Walker belly are outfitted with more than 300 pleats that expand to increase the amount of water and food that can be trapped in each gulp.

The challenge to this weighty tongue came next: Pushing the water back out through the mouth’s front door. Hanging there are 300-plus plates of black baleen filters to trap the twoinch-long krill bodies inside—four million of them a day.

The huge creature’s very small four-inch-

Biggest tail on Earth: Blue whales don’t lift their heavy heads out of the sea, and most of them don’t show their flukes as they dive. But this one provided a momentary, but unforgettable view of a 20-foot-wide fluke, with the water they stirred cascading behind them. The small dorsal fin visible at left, by comparison, is only one foot long. Photo by Doris I. Walker

diameter gullet (throat)—yes, that’s four inches—allows only such tiny food to pass into the gigantic stomach. And this would be only one of several mouthfuls a day necessary to sustain the gigantic marine mammal’s weight of at least 150 tons.

The blue whale is the largest animal species ever known to live on land or sea—growing up to 100 feet in length. It matches the size of the fuselage of a Boeing 737 or an Air Force C-130. Numbers and comparisons are the only way to describe it; observing it in person is the only way to absorb its enormity.

Though this gigantic animal, like all whales, originated on land eons ago, its evolved form could not exist there today. Gravity would crush it, while it remains comfortably buoyant at sea.

Now this record-sized visitor to the waters off Dana Point is making the winter capital of gray whales also the summer host of the twice-as-big blues. Marine zoologist Mike Bursk, who has been captaining the Ocean Institute’s research vessel Sea Explorer for a dozen years, explains that some blues were visible around the Channel Islands, but were first seen with any regularity near Dana Point in 2004. Now they are hanging around, becoming an additional attraction for whale lovers. It’s the presence of an ample food supply that keeps them here, Bursk says.

They must eat heartily for eight months, so they can fast for four by living off their inches-thick layer of blubber as they move from the equator to the Arctic and back again each year. While very low on the food chain, the tiny shrimp-like krill sustain the largest bodies on earth right in our front yard. All these amazing facts came together for me during the hours Capt. Bursk maneuvered the ship around the synchronized swimming performances of bottlenose dolphin mothers

RELAY FOR LIFE

Community rallies to put an end to cancer

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

T

his year’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life Dana Point saw more than 200 citizens, city officials and area business owners come together to raise money, foster a greater awareness and become personal advocates for ending cancer.

A highlight of this year’s event was a dunk tank. City Attorney Patrick Munoz was the first city official to take a turn in the tank. In a full business suit and tie, Munoz’ dousing raised more than $200. Fire Chief Rick Robinson was next, followed by Dana Point Chief of Police Lt. Mark Levy.

George Gray of The Weakest Link served as emcee for the 24-hour event and attendees enjoyed shaved ice, popcorn and Papa Murphy’s pizza.

The top fundraising team this year was team “Craig the Crab” formed in honor of Craig Brandmeier, son of Dana Point residents and Beacon Printing owners Judy and Brad Brandmeier. The team name “Crab” was chosen because it was the nickname of Craig who passed away on August 28 following a two-year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia—a form of blood cancer. The team exceeded their fundraising goal of $5,000 and raised over $7,300.

Page 28 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

Photo by Peter Bo/peterbo.com

“Together we raised over $55,000!” said Relay for Life Dana Point Chair Kathy Martino. “Mark your calendars for October 1 next year to join us once again.”

To find out more about the Relay for Life, log on to www.relayforlife.org/danapointca.

Please visit www.danapointtimes.com for a photo slideshow of the event. DP

Tiny whale food: A vial of krill in the hand of an Ocean Institute staffer shows how small these sea creatures really are. It takes tons of them a day to feed each blue whale. Photo by Doris I. Walker

and calves, while he searched for signs of big blues.

WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE I knew not to expect a big head to pop out of the water. Blues are too heavy to breach their bodies into above-water gravity. But they must come to the surface to breathe every 10 to 20 minutes. They announce their presence with 25-foot-high spouts. Then with a full supply of oxygen, the whale begins its descent again by raising just its back (sometimes 60 feet of it!) above sea level to begin lowering itself.

We also knew not to expect flukes, as most times they don’t appear with the blue.

But wait! This time the dramatic action happened—20-foot-wide flukes suddenly rose up, trailing cascades of water. We watched in awe. Then it was all gone, leaving only a large flat footprint on the water to mark its moments in the sun. But I did snap this photo! (Left) It’s difficult to infer the size of this moving leviathan from a small photo. The dorsal fin of an adult blue is only one-foot high. In my image here you can see the fin at the left about to go under water, to be followed by the massive flukes. While many blues never show their flukes at all, they still must lift their double blowholes into the air at regular intervals to breathe anew.

Blue whales need large bodies of water to accommodate their massive size, so they exist in all of earth’s oceans. Our local visitors are part of the North Pacific population.

By the way, they only look blue when viewed from a top deck, covered by some water.

When whaling was decimating nearly all of the other whale species during the past century, the blues were safe because they were too big and too heavy to be lifted out of the ocean. Then in the 1920s came huge factory ships with harpoon guns that could explode this whale internally, and bring it aboard on a mechanized ramp. Because a full-sized blue gave 120 barrels of oil, its numbers worldwide quickly dropped from an estimated 300,000 to 12,000, when they became protected internationally in 1966.

Today there are about 3,000 to 4,000 left in the Northern Hemisphere, more in the Southern.

The one good thing that whaling did for science was that—as the bodies were being dismembered aboard the ships, scientists were able to weigh the big blues’ parts, including the three- or even five-ton tongues, to determine the animals’ total size. While a

lifespan of 100 years was once thought possible, those living today are probably much younger.

And while the larger females can reach 100 feet in length, the current older ones are less.

Speaking of females; every other year they each give birth to an average three-ton, 25-foot calf, then nourish it with their 40 percent butterfat milk for several months. On that diet alone, the baby gains about 200 pounds a day (or eight pounds an hour), switching to a krill diet when it reaches a length of 52 feet, weight of about 23 tons and has grown its baleen. Will the numbers never cease?

WHALEWATCHING ALL AROUND No, here are more: Dana Wharf Sportfishing, where we created our Festival of Whales in 1972, reports that its various boats have spotted more than 200 blue whales this year, the season set from May through October. Capt. Dave’s Dolphin Safari has a website that carries a neardaily count of whales sighted from its glassbottom catamaran. And the Ocean Institute’s research vessel has offered five-hour cruises focused on blues. What a wonderful fleet we have in our own home port to interact with visiting whale populations!

If that is cause for applause, let’s let the blue whales do the job. They make the loudest and deepest sounds on earth—yet another record.

These animals the size of airplanes can sound out at 188 decibels, louder than jet engines that produce only 140. The blues’ combination of groans, moans and whistles underwater can be heard by other blues as far away as 1,000 miles—if the way is clear of obstacles. This ability also helps them sonar-navigate in dark ocean depths.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA.gov) lets you hear online a recording of these massive whales “singing the blues.” And if you want to feel really insignificant, measure out 100 feet somewhere and realize how long these creatures can be.

Then head for a large zoo and consider that one blue whale’s weight is as much as a herd of 25 elephants combined.

If you don’t go blues watching while they continue to hang out here, you will be missing one of Dana Point’s romantic attractions, and you will have to wait until the big kids come back again to visit. Maybe they have sounded the story of our Festival of Whales around the underwater world! For more insight into the personal lives of blue whales, I recommend the reading of naturalist Sally Carrighar’s The Twilight Seas. It follows a mother and calf in and out of the feeding and whaling zones, with strong descriptive passages. © 2010 by Doris I. Walker www.danapointtimes.com

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

DP

5 BEST BETS FOOTBALL

SOCCER

BOYS WATER POLO

GIRLS TENNIS

BASKETBALL

Cougars vs. Dolphins, Dana Hills High School October 8, 7 p.m.

Toronto FC vs.

Chivas USA, Home Depot Center October 9, 7:30 p.m.

Chargers vs.

Dolphins, Dana Hills High School October 12, 5 p.m.

Dolphins vs. TriNuggets vs. Cliptons, San Clemente pers, Staples Center High School October 14, 7:30 p.m.

October 14, 3 p.m.

The boys in blue and white get set for an interesting match up with Capo Valley as Dana Hills looks to snap a three game skid.

Head out to the Home Depot Center to watch another solid MLS battle on the pitch as Chivas USA hosts Toronto FC.

Info: www.dhhs.net

Info: www.homedepotcenter.com

The Dolphins are ready to bring the heat and continue their dominating ways as they host a tough El Toro crew in a key match.

Keep it down during rallies and service for both sides, but make it a point to hit the tennis court in support of the Lady Dolphins.

Info: www.dhhs.net

Info: www.dhhs.net

D a n a Po i nt

Dolphin Report SPORTS NEWS FROM DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

By David Zimmerle

NBA preseason basketball is in full swing. Head to Los Angeles if you have the time and take in a fun game as the Clippers host the Denver Nuggets.

Info: www. nba.com/clippers

A Battle Like No Other

Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle attracts huge crowd at Doheny State Beach

yards rushing, while Mason had 56 yards and Tyler Shirozono finished with 44 yards rushing.

Bedolfe led in receiving with 69 yards, while Mason capped the evening with 145 yards through the air. Next 7 days: Oct. 8 vs. Capo Valley, 7 p.m.

BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY • Both teams participated in their first South Coast League cluster meet of the season on October 7. Next 7 days: Oct. 9 at Clovis Invitational in Fresno, TBA

Dolphins quarterback Trent Mason is tackled by a trio of Charger defenders. Photo by Alan Gibby/Zone57.com

FOOTBALL • The Dolphins (2-3) dropped its third straight game losing 23-14 while on the road at El Toro on October 1.

Dana got on the board first off a 6-yard touchdown run by Will McKinley for a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

However, the Chargers answered to tie the game at 7-7 when Dominique Jackson ran in a 5-yard scamper. The Dolphins then answered as quarterback Trent Mason connected with Mathias Bedolfe for a 2-yard touchdown and the 14-7 lead.

But before the half closed, El Toro put up three more points as kicker Wes Harris nailed a 24-yard field goal through the uprights cutting the lead 14-10.

Dana Hills remained scoreless in the third while Chargers kicker Harris hit another solid boot from 35 yards out as El Toro trailed 14-13 heading into the final quarter.

The Dolphins offense continued to sputter in the fourth as they hit another scoring drought while the Chargers rolled to victory off another deep boot by Harris, this time a 51-yard field goal, and a sharp 41-yard touchdown strike from El Toro quarterback Connor Manning to Cody White.

Overall, Dana finished with 316 yards of total offense, while El Toro racked up 437 total yards on the night.

Chris Kearney led the Dolphins with 65 Page 30 • Dana Point Times • October 8–14, 2010

GIRLS GOLF • The Lady Dolphins (2-2 SCL, 7-2) beat La Costa Canyon 215-229 on September 29 and then followed that up with another 168-205 victory against Trabuco Hills on October 4. Against Trabuco, Elizabeth Soewondo medaled on the round with a 31 (-1). The team then played Mission Viejo October 5, Capo Valley October 6 and Aliso Niguel October 7. Next 7 days: Oct. 11 vs. Aliso Niguel, 3 p.m.; Oct. 12 vs.

El Toro, 3 p.m.; Oct. 13 vs. Mission Viejo, 3 p.m.; Oct. 14 vs. Capo Valley, 3 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS • Dana Hills slammed out a 15-3 win against Tesoro on September 30. The team then played Laguna Hills October 5, Corona del Mar October 6 and Capo Valley October 7. Next 7 days: Oct. 14 at San Clemente, 3 p.m.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL • After beating Fountain Valley 3-0 on September 28, the Lady Dolphins (0-1 SCL, 11-7) lost 3-1 to Mater Dei on September 30 and 3-0 to San Clemente on October 5. The girls then traveled for a match against Trabuco Hills on October 7. Next 7 days: Oct. 12 vs. El Toro, 6 p.m.; Oct. 14 at Capo Valley, 6 p.m.

BOYS WATER POLO • The Dolphins (2-0 SCL, 12-7) hit a slight non league skid going 2-3 at the Villa Park Tournament September 30 to October 2 beating JSerra 16-12 and Cathedral Catholic 10-8 before closing the tourney with a 12-4 loss to El Toro, a 13-8 defeat to Huntington Beach and a 20-16 loss to La Serna. Dana Hills then lost to Laguna Beach 15-5 on October 5. Next 7 days: Oct. 12 vs. El Toro, 5 p.m.; Oct. 14 vs. Canyon (Anaheim), 5 p.m.

The winner of the Battle of the Paddle Elite Women’s race, Candice Appleby of San Clemente, Rainbow Sandals owner Jay “Sparky” Longley and Elite race runner up Brandi Baksic. Photo by Tom Servais/Rainbow

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

T

he Third Annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle California, October 2 and 3, saw an actionpacked field of stand-up paddle (SUP) events at Doheny Beach as a huge field of paddlers took to the water in what has become the biggest SUP festival and exposition in the world.

With 863 entries and about 10,000 spectators on the beach, the Battle of the Paddle California was center-stage for worldwide SUP athletes, enthusiasts and fans.

“SUP has grown exponentially since the first Battle of the Paddle as one can see from this year’s huge turnout. It’s really hard to say when the growth will slow down but I don’t think it will ever phase out,” said Rainbow Sandals Marketing Director Pat Huber.

“We are honored to sponsor such a great event. In addition to sponsoring it, we built it and designed a race like no other in this world. We do it solely because we believe SUP is good for the family as it is something most everyone can do. It has brought a lot of families closer together, including our own.”

From young beginners, to elite racers to those just curious to see what the world of SUP has to offer, the Battle of the Paddle offered something for everyone.

The Elite races saw fierce competition as

some of the world’s most fit athletes gave it all they have in a quest for SUP glory in front of a live audience of thousands and the countless more tuned into the live-feed webcast across 60 countries. The 5-mile course included a technically challenging 4-lap buoy circuit with 100-yard beach sprints in between.

San Clemente’s Candice Appleby and Brandi Baksic exchanged the lead position a number of times during the Women’s Elite race. In the end it was Appleby (1:10:31) who pulled ahead to take the win and the $2,500 prize. Runner-up Baksic (1:11:03) earned $1,250 and third place finisher Jenny Kalmbach (1:13:20) was awarded $1,000.

In Men’s Elite competition it was Danny Ching of Redondo Beach (57:45) who came away with the win and the $5,000 prize. Ching battled fiercely with nine-time world paddleboard champion and last year’s winner Jamie Mitchell of Australia. Mitchell came in second with a time of 59:36 and took home $3,500.

Slater Trout of Maui finished third with a time of 1:00:39 and $2,500 for his efforts.

On Sunday Ching made a second visit to the winner’s podium and added another $1,100 to his weekend take when he emerged victorious in the 10-mile distance race. San Clemente’s Rob Rojas (1:02:59) came in second, followed by Chuck Patterson (1:03:52) of Dana Point in third. See www.danapointtimes. com for a photo slideshow and full results. DP www.danapointtimes.com