Dana Point Times

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VOLUME 4, ISSUE 47

Sunken Ship, Rising Star Six years after capsizing, a former Dana Point bait boat has become an attraction in waters off San Clemente E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 4

SCUBA divers explore the shipwrecked A.C.E., a bait boat that went down during a wind-whipped storm in November 2005. Photo by Boonchob Vijarnsorn

Ballot Initiative to Close SONGS Filed

Grand Jury Recruiting for 2012-2013 Term

SPECIAL SECTION: DP Times Holiday Gift Guide

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Eye on DP

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

DP

D a n a Po i nt

City and Business Calendar Friday, November 25 City Hall Offices Closed In observance of Thanksgiving, City Hall offices will be closed. www.danapoint.org

Saturday, November 26 Headlands Cleanup 8 a.m.-11 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Center for Natural Lands Management and the Dana Point Headlands Nature Preserve will hold a Nature Preserve Cleanup Day. Volunteers of all ages are needed to fill sandbags, trim vegetation, pick up trash and pull weeds. Bring

gloves, sturdy shoes, a water bottle and a hat and check in at the Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The next event will be January 28, 2012. There will be no cleanup in December. For more information call Lee Ann Carranza at 949.218.1145 or see www.cnlm.org.

Smith, beloved Dana Point historian and author, and Smith, a retired Marine Corps Major, died as a result of injuries they suffered in an Oct. 30 house fire. In honor of Walker-Smith’s devotion to the Dana Point Historical Society, her family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to DPHS at P.O. Box 544, Dana Point, CA 92629-0544

Doris Walker Celebration of Life 6 p.m. A celebration of life for WalkerSmith (Doris I. Walker) and husband Jack Smith will be held at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo. The public is invited. Walker-

Wednesday, November 30 Senior Tree Decorating Party 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, 949.248.3536, www.danapoint.org

D A N A P O I N T ’ s T op 5 H ott e s t T opi c s

What’s Up With...

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… SONGS?

THE LATEST: California’s Secretary of State approved a ballot initiative November 18 that seeks the closure of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the Diablo Canyon plant.

The initiative was filed by Ben Davis Jr. in April after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Davis drafted this and an earlier petition that led to the closure of the Rancho Seco power plant in June 1989.

As drafted, the latest initiative parallels existing state law prohibiting the creation of new nuclear plants until the federal government finds a solution to dispose of radioactive nuclear waste and reprocess spent fuel rods. If enacted, the initiative would essentially shut down the state’s two remaining nuclear plants by stopping them from creating additional waste until a federal solution arrives.

A state analysis said the closures would likely have major initial fiscal impacts on local and state government and billions of dollars annually because of potential outages.

Electric bills could spike too.

Davis questioned the fiscal impacts noted in the analysis because it said an accidentproduced plant closure would cost significantly less, which, to him, didn’t make sense.

WHAT’S NEXT: Davis has until April 16, 2012 to collect the 504,760 needed signatures to allow the initiative to go to voters in the fall presidential election.

FIND OUT MORE: To read the full text of the initiative, visit http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/cleared-for-circulation.htm. —Stacie N. Galang

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…the Grand Jury?

THE LATEST: The Orange County Grand Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

Jury is seeking applications from residents interested in serving as a juror for the July 2012 through June 2013 term.

According to a Superior Court of California press release, to be eligible to serve, applicants must be U.S. citizens over the age of 18, able to communicate in both written and spoken English, an Orange County resident for at least one year and of sound judgment and fair character.

“I encourage eligible Orange County residents to apply,” said Presiding Judge Thomas J. Borris. “Through its watchdog role, the Grand Jury provides an important service for residents by examining problems and identifying solutions for local government agencies.”

The Grand Jury provides oversight of county government, schools and special districts. Annual site visits include the Sheriff’s forensics laboratory and jails, John Wayne Airport, County harbors and beaches and the San Onofre nuclear power generating station. Past Grand Jury investigations have focused on timely issues such as compensation paid by Orange County cities, the condition and management of Orange County jails, and emergency preparedness of public schools, the release said.

Qualifying applicants are subject to a Sheriff’s Department background check and will be interviewed by a panel of Superior Court judges.

Members will be selected at random from the list of those nominated by the judges following their interviews.

Jurors are compensated at a rate of $50 per day, up to $250 per week.

you via mail, call the Grand Jury hotline at 714.834.6747. —Andrea Swayne

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THE LATEST: Navy Hospitalman Daniel Patrick Morgan, the suspect in the bomb scare on the first day of school at San Clemente High, remains in confinement.

Gunnery Sgt. Todd Petak, legal chief of the 1st Marine Division, said Friday that Morgan was still in the brig where he had been since his arrest by military police September 7. He is facing an Article 86, a charge related to his failure to show up for duty and Article 134, a broad punitive charge, Petak said.

When Morgan failed to report for duty September 7, military authorities searched for him at his barracks. They didn’t find him but did discover a journal that included writing about placing bombs at San Clemente High.

Camp Pendleton officials notified deputies in San Clemente who, with the aid of administrators, evacuated the school. Local and federal authorities conducted an exhaustive search of the campus and eventually declare it clear.

WHAT’S NEXT: Petak said Morgan is likely to stay in custody at Camp Pendleton, but could be transferred to Miramar or Virginia.

FIND OUT MORE: www.sanclementetimes. com —SNG

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WHAT’S NEXT: Applications must be received by Friday, January 13, 2012.

FIND OUT MORE: More information and application forms can be found online on the Grand Jury website at www.ocgrandjury. org.

To have an application packet sent to

… the SC High Bomb Scare Suspect?

…Interpretive Center Docents?

THE LATEST: The City of Dana Point is looking for volunteer docents to serve at the Nature Interpretive Center at 34558 Scenic Drive in Dana Point.

Knowledge of the history or natural

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history of Dana Point is helpful, but not necessary. Docents help interpret the cultural and natural history of the city and the headlands to center visitors and may spend part of their shifts both inside the center and outside on the trails.

The Center is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHAT’S NEXT: Interested parties should send an email to Natural Resources Officer Jeff Rosaler, at rosaler@danapoint.org.

FIND OUT MORE: www.danapoint.org —AS

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…Animal Adoptions?

THE LATEST: The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter is hoping to help the animals in their care find homes via their “Homeward Bound for the Holidays” reduced adoption fee program.

Dog adoptions have been reduced to $50, from $125. Cat adoptions that are normally priced at $100 have also been dropped to $50 and rabbit adoptions were lowered to $25 from the regular $45 price.

Adoptions include vaccinations, microchipping, spaying or neutering and a bag of food.

WHAT’S NEXT: Reduced adoption fees will be available through December 15.

Those interested in adopting can begin their search by viewing some of the shelter’s adoptable animals online on the Pet Project Foundation website, www. petprojectfoundation.org.

Animals are also available for viewing at the shelter, 221 Avenida Fabricante, in San Clemente.

FIND OUT MORE: For viewing hours and more information, call the shelter at 949.492.1617 or see www.petprojectfoundation.org. —AS www.danapointtimes.com

Eye on DP

A Sunken Ship Becomes a Rising Star for Anglers, Divers Six years after capsizing, a former Dana Point bait boat has become an attraction off San Clemente waters

By Scott Marshutz Special to the Dana Point Times

I

n August of 2010, I signed up as a volunteer diver for the annual Dana Point Harbor cleanup. While I was picking up my gear, one of the guys at the dive shop asked me if I was interested in diving a wreck just a few miles outside of the harbor. I was curious. There’s a wreck outside the harbor?

The following day, my wife Linda and I joined several other divers on the newly launched Riviera and headed out. The dive master had only bits and pieces of the wreck’s history, but after we descended to 114 feet we realized the vessel wasn’t sunk to create an artificial reef; it was an accident and we wondered what happened.

It’s a story about how a seemingly routine fishing trip goes horribly wrong and a prime example of why commercial fishing continues to be one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s Commercial Fishing Incident Database.

But in this case, luck trumps death and serious injury.

This week marks six years since the A.C.E.’s sinking, and the boat has begun a new chapter, attracting sport fishermen and divers alike.

Completely intact and resting on her portside with her mast pointing away from shore, an ecosystem is thriving on the vessel. It’s rich with strawberry and whiteplume anemones. Bass are abundant and what looks like rust in several areas are a large number of rockfish that literally carpet portions of the deck.

Back at home that afternoon, I fired up my laptop and searched the Internet. In seconds, several articles popped up about the ship’s sinking and its dramatic rescue.

Early in the morning on November 26, 2005, the A.C.E., a 58-foot drum seiner, was en route to the harbor after a night of bait fishing. The forecast for the area northwest of Oceanside called for strong offshore winds starting after midnight, which kicked up a sharp and quick chop producing vertically shaped waves breaking only seconds apart, according to interviews with crew and news and weather reports.

As the A.C.E. headed on a northeasterly course, the swells, some as high as eight to 10 feet, began slamming its portside.

Compounding the problem was a suspect deck hatch, also on the vessel’s portside, recalled crewmembers.

The only access point to check if water was leaking into the compartment was through the hatch itself. But with a foot of water covering it, there was no way the crew could open it without getting washed off the deck.

After more than an hour of relentless

Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

Above: The A.C.E. is shown here on the left side of the bait barge in the Dana Point Harbor. Photo courtesy of Everingham Bros. Bait Co. Left: From the deck of his San Clemente home, Ed Westberg points to where he saw the flare on the night the A.C.E. went down. Photo by Scott Marshutz

“I was still half asleep.

I was thinking, ‘Was that a flare I saw out there?’”

— Ed Westberg pounding, the boat started to submarine itself, and the list was becoming more radical as the boat ran in the trough.

About 2:30 a.m., the vessel was pounded by another set of waves; the first two tipped it radically and the third one rolled the 61-ton vessel into the angry Pacific.

Because the vessel flipped so quickly, the crew was unable to grab any life jackets. The emergency radio beacon failed to send a signal to the Coast Guard and the life raft failed to automatically inflate.

Amazingly, Captain Robert Machado and three crewmembers survived without serious injury and were able to swim to the 14-foot skiff the A.C.E. was towing.

Realizing the need to act quickly, Machado created flotation devices from the rubber bumpers — air-inflated fenders —that covered its perimeter. He combined parts from two flashlights to

create more illumination in one light.

Andrew Rector, the tallest of the four, held the light up and started waving it.

Machado then loaded a round in the flare gun and fired.

While each crewmember took turns waving the light, the others attempted to cut the chain that connected the skiff to the bigger boat. But it stretched too far underneath the capsized vessel and without an air supply and a light source, Machado realized the mission was too dangerous and ordered them back into the skiff.

Meanwhile, San Clemente resident Ed Westberg woke up to go to the bathroom shortly before 3 a.m. As he walked past a sliding glass door, he saw what looked like a red spark possibly from a flare. An experienced sailor, he thought it might be a distress signal and called the harbor patrol.

Westberg’s large single-family San Clemente home is a little north of the famed Trestles surfing spots. Set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, he can see Cotton’s Point, another surf spot known for its long left walls, Seal Rock straight ahead and the entrance to the Dana Point Harbor to the north.

“I was still half asleep,” said Westberg.

“I was thinking, ‘Was that a flare I saw out there?’”

He provided the dispatcher with the best coordinates he could—roughly two to three miles offshore between Seal Rock and Cotton’s Point.

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Because of the rough sea conditions, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies Russ Endsley and Diana Honicker were having a tough time seeing anything. The dispatcher connected Westberg directly to Honicker for further assistance. About this time, Honicker saw a red light and took a new compass reading and headed further away from shore. A few minutes later, they shined their searchlight on what they thought, at first, was some sort of military hovercraft but it was the A.C.E.’s engine prop sticking straight up.

In less than five minutes, they pulled the four men onto the fireboat. As they left the scene, Honicker looked back and the skiff had vanished.

Considering the rough conditions, distance to land and the water temperature, the odds of the four swimming to shore were remote at best.

According to the dispatch record, the search and rescue was completed in less than one hour thanks in large part to Ed Westberg’s involvement.

For more than a week, the Sheriff’s Search and Recovery Team, the Coast Guard, fishermen and private boat owners searched for the boat that had provided live bait to marinas from the Mexican border to Newport Beach for nearly 20 years.

By February, fishermen started to notice something on the ocean’s smooth sandy bottom where there hadn’t been anything before. “The San Pedro squid fleet would snag their nets on something in between Seal Rock and Cotton’s Point,” Machado said.

While it was no less than a miracle that the men survived, the psychological impact took a heavy toll. Two of the four are out of fishing altogether and another declined several opportunities to talk about the experience.

Westberg was recognized by the Orange County Board of Supervisors for his civic involvement and Honicker and Endsley received medals for life saving.

Soon the story faded with time.

But at 114 feet, the A.C.E. became an instant attraction for a wide variety of sea life. If bass and sculpin could talk, you’d hear them yelling, “Hey boys, look what we found.”

And for anglers in the know, it was a sweet spot and its coordinates were a closely guarded secret. Part of Dana Point’s fishing history, the A.C.E.’s resting place was akin to a sacred burial ground.

Marshutz is freelance writer based in Dana Point. His articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Scuba Diving, California Diving News and several trade journals. A graduate of Chapman University, he is also a Marine Corps veteran. DP Editor’s note: To read the extended story, visit the DP Times website at www.danapointtimes.com. www.danapointtimes.com

Eye on DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter Compiled by ANDREA SWAYNE All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD Web site.

Sunday, November 20 CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Verano, 26800 Block (4:32 p.m.)

A $4,000 Persian cat was stolen.

Saturday, November 19 DISTURBANCE Diana Drive, 33800 Block (6:53 p.m.)

A man’s girlfriend’s mother was refusing to leave. He said the mother, who doesn’t live at the location, told him to call the police if he wanted her removed.

DISTURBANCE Quail Run, 25600 Block (3:33 a.m.) A man who called to complain about his noisy neighbors said, “They’re making love, the bed is shaking too much and they go at it for a long time.” The man also said this has been an ongoing problem because he has kids who are hearing everything.

Friday, November 18 SUSPICIOUS PERSON / CIRCUMSTANCE Via California, 26300 Block (9:42 p.m.)

Deputies were contacted by a woman who said she thinks her neighbors were smoking methamphetamines because she could smell it. The caller said police should come to her house to smell what she smelled.

DISTURBANCE Stonehill Drive, 33300 Block (7:52 p.m.)

A community gate house guard contacted deputies when he heard a boy screaming for help followed by the sound of a slamming door coming from the adjacent neighborhood.

PETTY THEFT REPORT Monarch Bay Drive, 200 Block (5:35 p.m.)

A woman called to report items missing from her home after her dog walker held a party there while she was out of town.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON / CIRCUMSTANCE Del Prado, 24800 Block (4:58 p.m.)

A woman called to report a man was

bothering her 15-year-old daughter as she walked to the grocery store. The man was reportedly following the girl and asking her if her mother was with her.

PETTY THEFT REPORT Doheny Park Road, 34200 Block (3:27 p.m.) A bike was stolen from the front of a bicycle store. The thief was seen headed toward the Dana Point Harbor area. By 4:17 p.m. the bike had been found.

Thursday, November 17 UNKNOWN TROUBLE Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (3:32 a.m.) Deputies were called to the scene of a fight where a man pulled a knife on another man. The knife-wielding subject was seen leaving in a light brown compact car with another man and a woman at the wheel. No injuries were reported. The woman and one of the men were detained.

A 33-year-old woman whose occupation was listed as “student” was arrested.

DISTURBANCE Doheny Park Road, 34200 Block (6:40 p.m.) A group of men gathered to drink alcohol behind a strip mall. Their gatherings have become an ongoing problem.

CITIZEN ASSIST Ritz Point Drive, 0 Block (11:26 a.m.) A female caller told deputies a male neighbor was parked in a space in front of her resi-

dence and she thinks he is doing it to harass her. She said the man has an assigned space that he doesn’t park in.

Wednesday, November 16 KEEP THE PEACE Amber Lantern, 34000 Block (9:28 p.m.)

A woman told police she wanted her roommates out of the house because she found out they were using drugs. The caller’s boyfriend also placed a 9-1-1 call to report his girlfriend and the other female roommate were in a physical fight and he had just tried to stop it.

KEEP THE PEACE Via Sacramento, 26500 Block (4:40 p.m.) A caller contacted deputies to report a neighbor who was “tearing up the dirt on his property.”

TERRORIST THREAT Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (11:43 a.m.) Police were called after a male customer made threats to bank employees.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON / CIRCUMSTANCE Pacific Coast Highway / Dana Point Harbor Drive (10:16 a.m.) Deputies were called when a man was scaring people waiting at a bus stop by waving his arms and being loud.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Selva Road / La Cresta Drive (9:39 a.m.) A caller contacted deputies after seeing a white van with tinted windows driving up and down the street, possibly casing the neighborhood.

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

EDITOR STORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@danapointtimes.com ADVERTISING

DP

DS aannCale m

Poe ni ntet

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

Dana Point Times, Vol. 4, Issue 47. 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 2011. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA CEO Norb Garrett

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

EDITORIAL Group Editor, Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Jonathan Volzke City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne City Editor, SC Times > Stacie N. Galang ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

INTERNS Austin Patrick Reagan

Sales Associate > Angela Edwards

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, George Mackin, Rebecca Nordquist

OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

CONTRIBUTORS Tawnee Prazak, David Zimmerle

Graphic Designer > Heidi Mefferd

GUEST OPINION: Scott Schoeffel, Mayor City of Dana Point

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: By Norb Garrett

Come Together Over Dana Point Project Loss of a Friend City and citizens collaborate toward a brighter future for Doheny Village

E

arly on a recent Saturday morning roughly 100 residents from all over Dana Point gathered in a church in Capistrano Beach to begin planning an exciting part of Dana Point’s future. The event was the first public workshop for Dana Point’s Doheny Village Specific Plan Scott Schoeffel (DVSP), a project to revitalize the historic Capistrano Beach downtown area.

Public planning sessions are not rare in Dana Point. This is a city whose residents have always been deeply involved in the evolution of their town, and the rich fruit of those efforts is evident all around us today. What makes the DVSP project so remarkable is its potential to address a broad range of issues that can help vault Dana Point into that rare echelon of elite coastal communities without sacrificing its basic character and identity.

First and foremost, the DVSP offers the promise of revitalizing an area of the city that has literally seen much better days. Once the bustling transit nexus of old Capistrano Beach, the neighborhood has declined over recent years and with this downturn has come predictable challenges. This district, situated so close to the Pacific Ocean and located right off Interstate 5, deserves much better and the DVSP is intended to be just the vehicle to recapture the area’s fine heritage with a contemporary touch.

The DVSP will also allow planners and stakeholders to integrate a modern village of residential, commercial, retail, entertainment and other uses that will strengthen each other by design and should facilitate completion of the other major planned areas in the city, Town Center and the Dana Point Harbor. Imagine an eclectic, café-society sort of place that builds upon the area’s history with an eye to the future. Picture a true musician and artist district, anchored by a first-rate performing arts center, flowing into a collection of unique and interesting shopping and dining venues, all set in an attractively landscaped area adorned with public art. Surround all of this with innovative residential structures designed to meet the needs of today’s urban dweller.

Consider that the DVSP could also provide Dana Point’s nonprofit organizations with space that is badly needed to carry on the valuable community services they perform.

All of these ideas and much more are currently being considered by the renowned urban design firm, ROMA Design Group (Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica and Martin Luther King National Memorial, Washington, D.C.), Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

who the city has retained to help create the DVSP. The city’s new Arts and Culture Commission as well as its recently formed Dana Point Destiny business roundtable committee should also provide valuable input and recommendations on arts, culture and business matters as the DVSP takes shape.

Perhaps most importantly, the DVSP has great potential to overcome some of the natural and artificial barriers that separate the city’s different neighborhoods, business districts and visitor-serving areas and restrict our ability to interact with one another more freely. Improved circulation among the harbor, Town Center, Capistrano Beach and our world-class destination resorts should better each locale’s ability to work in concert to spur economic development and provide the best possible experience for residents and visitors alike. Public access to our parks and coastal resources could be vastly improved through this planning effort. With thoughtful pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic solutions built into the DVSP, it is not difficult to imagine Doheny Village serving as the drawbridge to every part of our seven square miles of paradise.

The DVSP project, which is being funded by a $340,000 grant from the State of California, is the first step in the revitalization of Doheny Village. There are many other challenges to meet down the road, such as thorough environmental vetting and determining how to finance project infrastructure without burdening Dana Point residents with additional taxes or bonded indebtedness.

But without a vision there is no beginning and without a start there is no finish. The DVSP gives the city and its residents the chance to craft that vision, and I do not think it could be in better hands. DP PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are 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.

CLARIFICATION: The story titled, “Sharing the Benefits of Bicycling” on page 17 of last week’s issue should have credited Buy My Bikes of San Juan Capistrano as the local merchant responsible for working with the Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation to secure 50 bicycles for donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. The Dana Point Times regrets the omission.

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I

t’s difficult to put into words the gutwrenching feeling that consumed me when our editor, Andrea Swayne, notified me of the fire at Doris I. Walker’s house, the death of her husband Jack Smith and Doris’ precarious condition. Later, when told of Doris’ passing, the enormity of the disaster Norb Garrett really struck home.

Doris was a dear, dear friend of ours having agreed to be a regular Dana Point Times columnist when we first started the paper and website almost three years ago. We approached her for the same reason many others in our community have over the years—she had a unique and fascinating perspective on our town that propelled her into a position of authority and respect. Through her writings, photos, books and talks, Doris helped shape the history of Dana Point. Without her valuable insights much of what is now taken as fact might not have been known—we certainly wouldn’t have had the depth of knowledge she bestowed on all who would seek her insight.

Dana Point is a town rich in its history, and we would do well to make every effort to remember the invaluable role Doris played in helping to chronicle it. That history now sadly includes a tragic chapter about one of Dana Point’s great personalities whose life was ended prematurely and terribly.

Doris, you’ll be greatly missed. DP

Letters to the Editor IF ONLY… SUSAN RAE ROUSE, Dana Point

If only the city officials of Dana Point had acted as swiftly on poor Doris Walker’s home as they did when they so swiftly pounced on a few code violations at the Holistic Health medicinal marijuana collective, tragedy would certainly have been avoided.

It is sad to think a “commercial” shop would be a safety priority over lives and families in an entire neighborhood.

SPEAK UP ABOUT CODE VIOLATIONS DAVID TANNER, Capistrano Beach

This is in response to your recent articles regarding code enforcement in Dana Point and Capistrano Beach.

As a property owner for over 20 years here, I have not (Cont. on page 8) www.danapointtimes.com

SOAPBOX All Hands, Ahoy: by Beverli Jinn

Thanksgiving Grace and the Super Lotto

S

o, Thanksgiving has come and gone once again. Somewhere I’ve read that this is the United States’ only indigenous holiday. I don’t know if this is true or not, but it makes sense to me: Pilgrims, Native Americans, turkey, pumpkin pie. It just doesn’t work anywhere else. It’s one thing for people of other nations to Americanize themselves with fat at McDonald’s or to squeeze their posteriors into skinny stretch jeans, but Thanksgiving? Can you imagine what Black Friday would be like in China.

No, this special day just reeks of your basic American mindset: “Can’t we all just get along?” (This usually means, “Can’t you change to accommodate my point of view?”)

It’s about God and country and overindulgence. It’s about dutifully reciting a prayer of gratitude for all the good things that God provides. Gratitude concerns itself with taking care of God so that, in return, God will take care of you.

But what can a human being do to take care of God? The situation seems ludicrous when you think about it, even when you factor in the power of appreciation. “Thanks, Lord, for my good health. Thanks for letting me complete that last minute pass that enabled my team to win the game.

Thanks for my family and my beautiful home and . . . “ Well, of course, it’s Thanksgiving. If we thank God enough, the metaphorical turkey will always be in the oven.

And what else can we do for God? This is the hard part.

Christians are taught that, because of Adam and Eve and that rascal serpent, it’s difficult to avoid doing things that just aren’t considered nice.

And God’s answer? He claims he loves us whether we deserve it or not.

This ambivalence confuses me, but serendipity struck

this morning and turned my life upside down. I think maybe now I understand.

It happened like this. I was on my way home from Trader Joe’s. I swung left off PCH onto Violet Lantern, looking ahead as I turned, checking the parking lot of Revelation Beauty Salon to see if owner Beverli Jinn Dayna’s car was parked in its usual spot.

Even though I pass this salon often and always consider stopping in to say “Hi,” I never stop. Well, almost never.

Today I pulled into the lot and walked in. There was Dayna, sitting at her station having her own hair styled, seemingly not the least surprised to see me.

“Want a cup of coffee?” she asked. “Need a shampoo?

How about a flat iron job?”

Before I knew it, I was in the chair and we were talking about God and GRACE. We were pretty deep into the subject when Danny walked in. Danny was going to install a new clothes dryer.

By this time, we had established the fact that God loved us whether we deserved it or not. Beyond that, we were pretty much bogged down in the why’s and wherefore’s of GRACE. There was just no explaining it. It was a relief to pour a cup of coffee and talk about the dryer, instead.

Somehow, the subject changed to the lottery. Actually, there’s not a whole lot to say about a clothes dryer, even a brand new one. For that matter, there’s not usually a whole lot to say about the lottery, either, but this time was different. “I think it’s really mean,” Dayna said, “the way they treat you when you ask them to check your ticket.

The machine just says, ‘You are not a winner.’”

I thought about that briefly before responding. “It should say, maybe, ‘You’re not a winner but you made a really good try?’”

Dayna smiled. “Good job,” she said. “It should tell me I did a good job.”

“Even if you didn’t?”

“Even if I didn’t.”

“And maybe a little trophy,” I suggested. “Like in youth sports; everyone gets a participation trophy.”

“GRACE,” she said. “We love you even if you didn’t win.”

She smiled. We were having a good time. It still didn’t make sense in human terms, yet there was an element of truth that we couldn’t resist embracing. It felt like a genuine revelation.

It was Thanksgiving all over again: a high five from the Lord!

Some years ago, at her first opportunity, Beverli Jinn retired from teaching high school English. A lot of books inside her demanded to be written. Now, several years and six published books later, an altered compulsion, the care and feeding of our ocean, drives Jinn’s pen. She believes that the residents of Orange County’s South Coast can lead the way in establishing and maintaining a healthy watershed. She is the co-founder of Dana Point’s Earth/Ocean Society and is active in the DP Historical Society. Born and raised in Orange County, she has lived in Dana Point since 2001. Jinn welcomes her readers’ feedback via email at beverlijinn@cox.net. DP PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are 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.

Letters to the Editor (cont.) only experienced the lack of accountability on the part of Code Enforcement, but I have also experienced the tactic of Code Enforcement intimidating the complainant and ignoring the complaint. This management style reduces the work load for the city’s employees. Political Science 101?

The issue regarding Doris Walker and Jack Smith is not only one of property owner rights, but also public safety.

Picking and choosing what may or may not be enforced or the inability to determine what is a public nuisance has contributed to the loss to the community.

I am not asking to create more codes—only to enforce the ones that are on the books now.

It’s time for leadership to do its job. Perhaps if one member of the city management team would take responsibility for helping the citizens be heard without the fear of reprisal, this tragedy will not happen again.

Also regarding fire safety, I recently contacted the Orange County Fire Authority regarding code violations of illegal gas lines and gas appliances blocking the only entry/exit of one of my neighbor’s homes. Not only would they not hear my complaint, they said that the only way they can investigate is if “Code Enforcement” from Dana Point requests it. I have contacted Code Enforcement twice and no action has been taken.

I hope this letter encourages people to speak up. My neighbor feels he has the right to do what he wants on his property. And you know what, even though it reduces the appeal of my home because of his right to advertise his independence, I must agree that he has the right. The question I have is: Does anyone have the right to jeopardize the lives of his family and tenants and my family and property?

I truly believe people want to do the right thing. Unfortunately, many of us don’t want to be told what that is. This belief system occurs on all levels.

Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

Response to Helen Brothers Phyllis Anderson, Dana Point

I want to respond to a letter that ran in your August 19 issue by Helen Brothers, who was upset that she couldn’t walk her dog at the Dana Point Headlands. I enjoy walking there and talking to the people who are so appreciative of the open space set aside for the public to enjoy. Many may not realize the conflict the city went through for years, to try and save the headlands from development and to provide access to people from all over the city, state and beyond, who are so enthusiastic to have this area set aside to enjoy. The land, and the wildlife that are supported by this small patch of native habitat, are in a struggle with use and misuse of their territory.

Helen looked at the development proceeding around the headlands and felt the bulldozers were more of a bother to the bunnies and endangered pocket mice than her dog would be.

Yes, the bulldozers are taking away habitat for animals in the area, and yes, we will probably notice the decline of wildlife because of construction. But the City of Dana Point and the center for Natural Land Management, who are working together to manage the remaining land and trying to take care of what we do have, should be commended, not blamed.

As far as not being able to walk her dog on the restricted trails; I don’t think anyone thinks of the dogs as “villains.” Many people have dogs and love them as much as Helen probably loves hers. But if Helen is allowed to bring her dog, then everyone will be entitled to bring their dogs, and that is where the problem lies.

Providing a safe environment for all the natural residents of the headlands, including plants and animals, is Page 8

a reasonable expectation. To say that “you can have open space only if you obey the rules of those (who?) lord over it,” seems an unnecessary criticism of those who believe that rules are made to keep the land healthy. If restricting dogs from the area is “dictating” who may use it, then Helen should recognize that rules are made to “protect,” not to punish. The headlands are available for Helen to use anytime the trails are open. But perhaps she can take an outing with her dog to a dog park or pet friendly place, where there won’t be any wildlife disrupted if Fido pees in the park.

I note a hint of sarcasm with the use of the words “environmental greenies” and “responsible earthlings.” But visitors seem to just appreciate the opportunity to be outside in nature, in an area so close to the “towering buildings and escalating traffic noise.” I don’t imagine most pet owners who show up, unaware of the dog restrictions, mind coming back later, without their four-legged friend. There is much to see on the trails if you are not distracted by trying to control a pet.

Helen, try it, you might like it!

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

2011 Holiday Gift Guide

Give the gift of LOCAL NEWS YOU CAN USE! Subscribe to the DP Times or give a subscription to a loved one. Call Andrea Swayne at 949.388.7700, ext. 113.

GETTING OUT

Go.See.Do

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

DP

D a n a Po i nt

Traditional bagpipes are a part of the annual event. File photo

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

friday

Inspecting Carol 8 p.m.

Holiday play debuts at Camino Real Playhouse. Preview night tickets $18-$24. Regular shows $24-$34. Runs through Dec. 18.

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

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Fall Into Fridays 4 p.m.-8 p.m. DaVine hosts a weekly wine tasting with live music at 5:30 p.m. Tastings are $15-$20 and include artisan cheeses & crackers paired with 4 boutique wines. 34673 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com.

Ryan Heflin 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Guitar and vocals at Quench Bar & Bistro. 2 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.276.7900, www.quenchbarandbistro.com.

Our Picks For “Turkey Leftovers” 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. San Clemente Wine Company hosts some great wines that go perfect with “Turkey Leftovers.” $15 for seven wines. 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

The Ryzing Nick Terrafranca 8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

saturday

Ice-less Skating Rink 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. The Kaleidoscope opens its first eco-friendly ice-less skating rink. At 4 p.m. there’s a Tree-Lighting Celebration. 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy., Mission Viejo, www.gokaleidoscope.com.

26

Berlin 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House. Tickets $23.50. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

Dana Point Farmers Market 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Fresh produce and much more every Saturday at La Plaza Park, intersection of PCH and Golden Lantern.

Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

PUTTIN’ ON THE GLITZ

Usher in the holiday shopping season at Puttin’ on the Glitz, a traditional San Clemente street fair put on by the 150-plus members of the Downtown Business Association and the City of San Clemente. This year’s event, made possible in part through a contribution from Southern California Edison, is set for November 26 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Avenida del Mar will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and beautifully decorated with thousands of twinkling lights to create a festive backdrop for the arrival of Santa Claus. The jolly old elf will make his way through downtown atop a fire truck to the Community Center at Avenida del Mar and Calle Seville where children can share Christmas wishes and have their pictures taken with him. Photos will be offered in the Center’s Fireside Room from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Other entertainment in the 200 block will include two horse-drawn carriages, a bounce house, face painting and a caricature artist. The 100 block—at the top of Avenida del Mar at El Camino Real—will host live jazz music, bagpipers and a passenger Christmas train. Strolling carolers, holiday food vendors and more will round out the merrymaking. Free parking is available and a shuttle bus will run to and from San Clemente High School. For more information, log onto www.villagesanclemente.org. —Andrea Swayne

Sawdust Winter Fantasy 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Sawdust Art Festival creates a winter wonderland for the holiday season featuring fine art and crafts with over 170 exhibitors every weekend through December 11 .

Tickets $3-$6. 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.494.3030, www.sawdustartfestival.org.

Orange County Wine Cruise 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Dana Wharf hosts a wine-tasting cruise on their luxury catamaran through the Harbor. $49. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

sunday

Irons’ Thanksgiving Weekend Sunday Brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday brunch buffet including live music and more at Irons in the Fire. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.542.3900, www.beachfire.com.

27

Rabbi Blue 7 p.m.–11 p.m. Live music at The Cellar.

156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

Editor’s Pick: Sand Sculpture Dedication and Tree Lighting 4:30 p.m. The 11th annual sand sculpture unveiling and tree lighting kicks off the holiday season at the St. Regis Monarch Beach. See eight tons of sand masterfully crafted into a holiday-themed display then watch as the resort’s 35-foot tree is lit at sunset. The event is free. Bring a camera to snap photos with Santa. Cookies, hot chocolate and warm cider will be served. Bring a canned food item for donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank. 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3200, www.stregismb.com.

Entropy 2:30 p.m. Live music at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

monday

28

Monday Night Laughs 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Stand-up comedy every Monday at Hennessey’s Tavern. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com.

Page 13

Open Mic Nite 8 p.m. San Clemente Community Market presents Open Mic Nite at The Co-op. Hosted by Jason Soderlund and Melody Ryan. All ages welcome.

1506 Calle Valle, San Clemente, 949.682.3002, www.sanclementemarket.com.

tuesday

29

Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Stories for kids at The Dana Point Library.

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

Jazz Vocals 6 p.m. Cheryl Silverstein and John Paul Keene perform at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

wednesday

30

Jared From Knockout 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover.

204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

Vine Wine Tasting 7 p.m.–8 p.m. Educational wine tasting at Vine featuring four wines paired with food; $40 per person. 211 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.9376, www.vinesanclemente.com.

Salsa Night 8 p.m.–12 a.m. Juan Carlos and his band spice up the scene at Brio Tuscany Grille every Wednesday. 24050 Camino del Avion, Suite B, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

thursday

Don Mariachi Concert 8 p.m. Mariachi For All presents great mariachi music performed by two local youth mariachi bands: Mariachi Capistrano and Mariachi Corazón de Capistrano. Tickets $8. 1530 West 17th St., Santa Ana.

01

Mike De Bellis 6:30 p.m. Soft jazz music on sax at Enne Cucina. 481 Via Suerte, San Clemente, 949.492.1089, www.ennecucina.com. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

4

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

DP

DS aannCale m Poe ni ntet

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.

On Life and Love After 50: By Tom Blake

A Birthday Gift Rekindles Love in the Big Apple I ’m a lucky guy. Thirteen and a half years ago, a woman named Greta ordered a fresh carrot juice in Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli. I was taken by her warm smile and kind demeanor. Without a second thought, I walked around the counter and said, “Would you like to have dinner?”

She said, “That would be lovely.” We’ve been a couple ever since.

On Valentine’s Day this year, she gave me a card that contained a gift: A romantic weekend trip to New York City to celebrate my birthday, which fell on 11/11/11. Greta had booked accommodations into a hotel called The Manhattan Club, West 56th St., a few blocks from Times Square and the Theatre District.

On November 11, we flew to New York City, arriving at the hotel at 9:30 p.m. To officially celebrate on the 11th, we had dinner at a nearby New York pub called the Old Castle. Later, we passed a bakery that was just too tempting and took a chocolate éclair and chocolate cannoli back to our room.

All weekend, we were blessed with perfect fall weather. On Saturday morning, we walked through Central Park, ate a hot dog from a cart and exited near the Plaza Hotel, where we went in for a look around.

From there, we walked down Fifth Avenue, past Trump Tower and St. Patrick’s Cathedral and watched the ice skaters at Rockefeller Plaza. We sat on the steps of the New York Public Library On Life and Love After 50 before making our way

By Tom Blake to the Shubert Theatre to catch the matinee of the 2010 musical of the year, Memphis. New York City was vibrant and teeming with people. There was energy in the air; it was cleaner than I’ve ever seen it.

Greta did an incredible job of making all of the reservations for everything—airplane, hotel, Broadway shows and the 9/11 Memorial. We were busy the entire weekend.

On Saturday night, we attended a musical titled, Million Dollar Quartet. The show was set, also in Memphis, in 1954, when Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins (Blue Suede Shoes), Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis (Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On) gathered at Sun Records for an impromptu jam session. The show had an extra special

meaning to me, as Greta was aware when she made the reservations, because I knew Johnny Cash well and had met Carl Perkins at Johnny’s recording studio in Hendersonville, Tenn., in 1976.

Sunday morning was very emotional.

We hopped a subway down to the World Trade Center for our visit to the 9/11 Memorial site (reservations required).

Security is very tight there. We saw the “Occupy Wall Street” park filled with tents and protesters (two mornings later, the police closed down the site).

The first tug on the heart strings comes as you pass the fire station from which so many of its members lost their lives in 9/11. Upon seeing the photos of the fallen, Greta said, “They were so young.”

It is hard to capture the words one feels while viewing the two spectacular pools representing the south and north towers of the fallen buildings. The names of all of the victims are embedded in the black granite walls that surround each pool. We held each other tightly as we exited the memorial site.

We then made our way to Battery Park where we boarded a ferry to Staten Island for a quick look around. Then, back in

Manhattan, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Heights followed. By then, with six miles of walking under our belt, the old legs needed a rest. A subway took us back to The Manhattan Club.

New York City has a plethora of ethnic restaurants. We chose Indian cuisine, before strolling down to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre for our final show, The Book of Mormon, which this year garnered nine Tony Awards, including best musical. The singing and dancing are outstanding; however, I was amazed at the production’s irreverence and extensive religious satire. And yet, it’s the hottest ticket in town.

Monday arrived too soon. We took a taxi to JFK and boarded our Jet Blue flight back to Long Beach. When we landed, we gave each other a high-five. I said to Greta, “Thank you for entering my life 13½ years ago and for being so thoughtful and loving.”

Yes, I’m a lucky guy to have such a special partner. Wow, what a birthday!

Tom Blake is a Dana Point business owner and San Clemente resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. To comment on his column, email him at TompBlake@gmail. com. See his website at www.FindingLoveAfter50.com. DP

DP LIVING

Couple Thankful for Wedding Ring Rescue, Men Behind It A South Coast Water District crew recovered a diamond ring that had been accidentally flushed down the toilet

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

L

ike most of us when asked what we are most thankful for each Thanksgiving season, things like family, friends and good health top our lists. But this year, Tina and Bernie Fornadley of Niguel Shores in Dana Point have added some interesting acquaintances to their list—a crew from the South Coast Water District.

Just how did SCWD’s collection systems supervisor Ernie Garcia, system operator Justin Davis, senior operations and maintenance technician Artie Garcia and closed circuit TV operator Jimmy Gomez land on the Fornadley’s Thanksgiving list? It all started on an early morning in September when Tina woke to find her precious diamond engagement ring missing from her finger.

After hours of frantic searching, Tina’s husband Bernie asked, “Are you sure you didn’t flush it?”

Tina paused and thought back to the early morning hours and remembered getting up to use the bathroom at about 5 a.m. She recalled that during the night she had moved her ring to her pinky finger because it was bugging her.

“I never take my ring off but it felt itchy that night so I moved it to another finger. I realized that it must have slipped off when I got up to use the restroom.”

So by the process of elimination—and funnily enough, during the process of another kind of elimination—the Fornadleys realized the ring had most likely gone down the toilet.

By the time they came to this conclusion, it was 9 a.m. and in the four hours that had passed, the ring could be long gone.

Bernie tried, to no avail, vacuuming the toilet drain with a shop vac, hoping that by some miracle the ring had not made it to the main drain.

The couple has been married since August of 2000 and that ring—nearly 4 carats in weight—was the ring Bernie presented to Tina when he proposed.

Both were terribly distraught, Tina even more so after calling the water district to inquire whether they would have any recommendations to offer.

“At first they said there was nothing we could do,” said Tina. “I was so upset.”

With panic and the obvious sound of desperation in her voice as Tina tried desperately to hold back tears, the SCWD customer service representative on the other end of the line told Tina she would refer the problem to Ernie.

Ernie promptly called back to tell the Fornadleys he would be sending a crew shortly.

“My first thought when I heard Tina’s story was that their home is in a low flow area so if it did go into the main line there would be a chance to catch it,” said Ernie. “I told them not to use the sinks, showers or toilets and we would do our best.”

Justin installed a debris trap—a screen inside the 8-inch diameter pipe where it flows into at a manhole downstream—to hopefully catch any heavy debris. He also brought a hydraulic line cleaner along to try to flush the ring into the trap.

“I was confident that if it was in there we’d catch it,” said Justin. “I put two traps in just to be sure.”

After that Artie, Jimmy and Ernie put a video camera inside the main line and ran the camera 176 feet down the line but couldn’t see the ring on the video monitor. Justin also cleaned the line from downstream up a couple times that day.

Despite their efforts, the crew had no luck locating the ring and they packed up their truck and left.

Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

Tina and Bernie Fornadley (center) thank the SCWD employees (L to R) Jimmy Gomez, Justin Davis, Ernie Garcia and Artie Garcia, who retrieved Tina’s flushed engagement ring from a sewer pipe. Photo by Andrea Swayne

“We had the cleanest line in Dana Point,” said Bernie, “but we still had no ring.”

Ernie suggested that Bernie call a plumber to video the line from the house. After about the third call Bernie placed, he got someone to respond. Bernie pulled the toilet off its mount in preparation for the plumber’s arrival.

The plumber told the couple that he checked the private line between the house and the main line and gave them a grave explanation—or according to Bernie, more of a sales pitch—saying the ring was most likely there but their line was clogged and had root blockage.

“The plumber had us thinking that to get the ring back the line would have had to be dug up and completely replaced, to the tune of thousands of dollars,” Bernie said. “He had us thinking that the expense to get the ring may not be worth it and he also put my wife in a panic, fearful that the pipes were busting and full of roots and our house was in jeopardy of a future flood.

Incidentally, our private lines turned out to be just fine.”

Still heartbroken, Bernie reached out to Ernie once again.

Ernie was with his boss Joe McDivitt when Bernie’s call came in. Joe encouraged Ernie to go back for another try.

The next day the SCWD crew returned and replaced the debris trap for another go at it and repeated the same procedures—again to no avail.

“Next we brought a portable camera, ran it down the toilet drain and didn’t see the ring after quite a few attempts,” said Ernie. “We were just about to tell Bernie that there was no hope. Then in a last ditch effort we finally spotted it on camera and began trying to flush it down the line with a high pressure, 1000-psi jetter hose.

The ring still wouldn’t come out but the sight of it gave us our second wind.”

The crew went in through another sewer line access point with a portable jetter. It didn’t work. They tried flushing all the toilets in the house at the same time and turned on all the faucets at once. The ring still wouldn’t budge.

Page 15

They kept trying and watched on camera as the ring started to be nudged along slowly by the water pressure and the movement of the camera.

“Once the ring was pushed into the main drain, we thought we stood a good chance of retrieving it,” said Ernie. “When we first videoed the main, once again we couldn’t see the ring but we kept flushing the line.”

Justin, who was waiting down at the manhole cover on the street, saw a pile of foam accumulating in his debris trap, but no ring. Someone on the street was doing laundry and soap suds were coming through the main line, he said.

“As soon as we shut off the water pressure to the basket and the water calmed, I looked in and there it was,” said Justin.

Cheers rang out and high fives were exchanged all around.

Artie said that in his 27 years with SCWD he had taken a couple of similar calls, but this was the first time he’d actually found a ring.

The last time SCWD found a diamond ring, a member of Ernie’s crew spotted it in another Niguel Shores debris trap in 2005 and tried to locate the owner for months. The owner never came forward and the ring was sold at auction.

“I really appreciate the efforts of the SCWD. They went above and beyond my expectations. I felt pretty stupid for flushing my ring and the guys made me feel like these things happen and I shouldn’t be too hard on myself,” said Tina. “This is my engagement ring, my treasure, something I intend to have for the rest of my life.”

Bernie also conveyed his sincere appreciation to the crew. “My wife is the most careful person—even overly careful,” said Bernie. “This was just a horrible fluke and the South Coast Water District turned what could have been a tragedy into a very happy ending.”

As for Ernie and his crew, they too were glad to be of service and felt happy to add the Fornadleys to their list of satisfied customers.

“We gave it our all trying to retrieve the ring because we could see how much this ring meant to Tina. It was all in a day’s work,” said Ernie. DP www.danapointtimes.com

Locals Only

Business Directory

The only directory featuring Dana Point businesses exclusively AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT Memories of Me Photography

ARCHITECTURE - PLANNING

LOCKSMITH

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

Dana Point Lock & Security www.danapointlock.com

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

BEAUTY SALONS Paragon Salon 34161 Pacific Coast Hwy. Salon Revelation - Dayna Dallas 34192 Violet Lantern #2

949.489.1955 949.248.8595

CAFE - DELI Coffee Importers Espresso Bar 949.493.7773 34531 Golden Lantern, www.coffeeimporters.com

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

949.388.8102

CHIROPRACTORS

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Christian Science Services 34102 La Plaza

949.661.3151

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

COINS 949.350.4692 Kevin

COMPUTER REPAIR & SERVICES San Clemente Computer & Network Services daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581

CONTRACTORs - GENERAL Creative Environments Construction 949.496.3728 Design & Build #464468

Mary Kay Cosmetics & Career 949.248.2868 Opportunities, Ind. Sales Director - Marline Adams, www.marykay.com/madams2

DENTISTS Dana Point Dental 34080 Golden Lantern, Ste 201, www.danapointdental.com

ELECTRICAL

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

949.248.1007

Fit Club - Boot Camp www.afitclub.com

949.831.7984

HAIR SALONS Monarch Bay Haircutters 20 Monarch Bay Plaza Paragon Salon 34161 Pacific Coast Hwy.

949.496.1957 949.489.1955

ICE CREAM

949.661.5664

Chick’s Plumbing

www.chicks-plumbing.com

949.496.9731

Island Inspired Pool & Spa islandinspired@earthlink.net

Insurance Services

Ocean Academy

www.oceanacademy4u.com

949.218.4464

Surf Shops

POOL & SPA SERVICE 949.547.1000

San Clemente Preschool 949.498.1025 163 Avenida Victoria, sanclementepreschool@gmail.com

Infinity Surfboards 949.661.6699 24382 Del Prado, www.infinitysurf.com Jack’s Surfboards 949.276.8080 34320 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jackssurfboards.com

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

Upholstery Beacon Printing - Brad & Judy Brandmeier 24681 La Plaza, Ste. 125 949.661.3877 Dana Point Upholstery 949.240.2292 beaconprinting@sbcglobal.net 24402 Del Prado Printing OC

949.388.4888 Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 949.240.9569 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com 34118 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jeddys.com PSYCHOTHERAPY

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

REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL

Patricia Powers 949.496.1900 License#0737080, pat.powers@cox.net Statefarm/Elaine LaVine 949.240.8944 34080 Golden Lantern, www.elainelavine.net State Farm/Ted Bowersox 949.661.3200 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy. #204 www.tedbowersox.com

949.248.1007

SURF LESSONS

Plumbing

PRINT SHOP

Prudential California Realty, Shirley Tenger www.tengerteam.com 949.487.7700 Surterre Properties Monarch Beach, 949.464.3243 McDaniel Gilmore Group 33522 Niguel Rd. Ste. 100, Monarch Beach 92629 www.mcdanielgilmoregroup.com

WINDOW CLEANING Bayside Window Cleaning www.baysidewindowcleaning.com

949.290.8230

Window Coverings Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 949.240.9569 34118 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jeddys.com

YOGA Sun Salute Yoga Studio

949.371.6097 24655 La Plaza, Ste. A, www.sunsaluteyoga.com

INTERIOR DESIGN Maureen B. Fletcher Interior Design 714.889.9597 momofletcher@gmail.com

Jeweler Dana Point Jeweler 949.489.1165 24845 Del Prado, www.danapointjeweler.com

COSMETICS

SIGNS

PRESCHOOLS EMBROIDERY

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck 949.493.7773 34531 Golden Lantern, www.coffeeimporters.com

COFFEE SHOP

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

Hurry!! Almost sold out! Last day to get your exclusive Christmas pictures with or without Santa is Saturday, December 10th for $89. 11-3pm book online at www.memoriesofmephotos.com. Great holiday photos and you leave with a cd of all images! Amazing value!! Call and book your session today!! 949.361.0680, GailMarino@cox.net, www.memoriesofmephotos.com

FITNESS PROGRAMS

Ocean Ranch Chiropractic 949.584.5000 Dr. James Slusher & Dr. Ron Berman, 32585 Golden Lantern, Ste. H, www.oceanranchchiropractic.com Pacific Waves Family Chiropractic 949.436.2926 & Alternative Healthcare 24632 San Juan, Ste. 230, www.pacific-waves.com

RESTAURANTS

949.443.1476 949.632.0081 Brio Tuscany Grille 949.493.3670 24050 Camino Del Avion, www.briorestaurant.com Jolly Roger Restaurant 949.496.0855 34661 Golden Lantern, www.aloharestaurants.com 949.388.8102 949.496.6919 Smokey’s House of BBQ 32860 Pacific Coast Hwy. #4, www.SmokeysHouseofBBQ.com

Kenny’s Music & Guitars 949.661.3984 ABC Signs & Embroidery Shop 24731 La Plaza, www.kennysmusicstore.com Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556 34135 Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste. E, www.abcembroideryshop.com 24699 Del Prado, www.danmans.com

Auto Repair Dana Point Auto 949.496.1086 34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, Dana Point, Ca 92629

LANDSCAPING/SPRINKLERS Sunburst Landscaping www.sunlandscape.webs.com

JUNIOR WATERMAN PROGRAM Ocean Academy

www.oceanacademy4u.com

949.218.4464

Junk Removal Green Dump Truck www.greendumptruck.com

949.697.4517

LANDSCAPING

delta G electrical 949.360.9282 Rocky Taylor Landscaping rjls@cox.net CA #657214, www.deltagelect.com

949.697.1770

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Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

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Page 17

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SPORTS

GROM OF THE WEEK Malia Mauch

& OUTDOORS

Age: 9, Concordia Elementary

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

5

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DP SURF

D a n a Po in t

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SCOOP S ON THE LOCAL a n C le m eDnate n a Po in t SURF COMMUNITY

Third-grader Malia Mauch started surfing three years ago and says she loves everything about it. Although she has competed in specialty contests in the past—like this year’s SC Open where she took fourth—Malia has committed to surf the entire WSA Gatorade Championship Series this season. She’s off to a great start having earned a third-place trophy in Girls U12 Shortboard at Ventura in October and fifth on November 13 at Mission Beach. She is currently ranked No. 4 in her division.

Malia can often be found practicing at one of her two favorite breaks—San O and the Pier—concentrating on doing bigger bottom turns and hitting the lip. She does very well in school and says she wants to go to college and pursue a pro surf career.

Malia also enjoys playing soccer, singing and traveling to surf around the world. So far she’s been to Australia and Costa Rica and is hoping to visit Hawaii some time in Malia Mauch. Photo by Andrea Swayne 2012. Malia says she wants to make both surfing and travel a part of her life forever.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we asked Malia who she’d like to thank for supporting her passion for surfing. “I’d like to thank my parents for letting me surf, buying me surfboards and food,” she said. “I love them, and I love surfing because you get to be in the ocean and riding waves just feels wonderful.” —Andrea Swayne

SURF RESULTS

Dolphin Report:

SSS Orange County Middle School Event No. 2, November 19, Oceanside, Harbor

SPORTS NEWS FROM DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

By David Zimmerle

BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY • At the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals at Mt. SAC on November 19, Dana Hills’ varsity girls cross country team finished in second place with 111 points behind first place San Clemente (105 points) and Great Oak (123 points) in third place. Paige Canterbury took the top spot individually for the Lady Dolphins finishing in 16th place with in a time of 18:13 while Aubrey Carr (18:17) took 20th, Molly Rinefort finished (18:27) in 23rd and Megan Geyer (18:41), Kayla White (18:44) and Sheridan Gomez (18:45) finished in 33rd through 35th places, respectively.

Meanwhile, the boys varsity cross country team finished out the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals in sixth place with 139 points. Arcadia (first place, 65 points), Rancho Cucamonga (second place, 111 points) and Great Oak (third place, 123 points) finished in the top three spots at the event. Ethan Lawrence took the top spot individually for the Dolphins as he finished in 16th place in a time of 15:17. Lance Capel (15:23) took 21st, Gavin Diem (15:39) took 35th, Jack Morgenson (15:47) finished 43rd and Conner Garcia (15:56) finished in 53rd place to round out the top five individual finishes for Dana Hills Next 7 days: Nov. 26 at CIF State Meet at Woodward Park in Fresno, 9 a.m.

GIRLS TENNIS • Go ahead and call the Lady Dolphins (17-1) the toast of the CIF-Southern Section. On November 21, the girls went on to defeat University High in the final round of the CIF-SS Division 1 Girls Tennis Championship at the Claremont Club en route to the school’s third CIF-SS title. The monumental win was spurred on by the solid star power of Cassidy Spearman and Jacqueline Stewart as the doubles duo claimed an early 6-4 win against University’s No. 1 doubles team. The team also got plenty of solid production from Alyssa Smith and Jessica Perez, who each won their singles matches in the championship round.

Full results from the win against University are as follows: Singles: Alyssa Smith (DH) def. Kyra Scott 6-0, def. Shayna Becker 6-0, def. Sarah Mae Garcia 6-0; Jessica Perez (DH) 6-3, 6-1, 6-0; Margo Pletcher (DH) 3-6, 3-6, 6-1. Doubles: Cassidy Spearman-Jacqueline Dana Point Times November 25–December 1, 2011

Stewart (DH) def. Krystal Lai-Kyla Scott 6-4, lost to Danielle Pham-Nassim Radmehr 1-6, def. Caroline Kolin-Shannon Theisen 6-2; Jessica Wilcox-AJ Gomer (DH) 3-6, 1-6, 6-3; Sabine Ludwig-Rebecca Gold (DH) 1-6, 0-6, 4-6.

Getting to the championship round was no cakewalk for Dana Hills. After beating Simi Valley in the opening round on November 10, the team fired off crushing wins against a talented field of opponents. In the second round, the Lady Dolphins rolled through Mater Dei 16-2 on November 14, next beat Palm Desert 12-6 in the quarterfinals on November 15 and followed that win up with another 12-6 win against Peninsula in the semifinals on November 17.

Results from the match against Mater Dei are as follows: Singles: Alyssa Smith (DH) def. Jordyn Kearney 6-0, def. Claire B. 6-0, def. Janie 6-0; Jessica Perez (DH) 6-0, 6-0, 6-0; Margo Pletcher (DH) 6-2, 6-0, 6-0. Doubles: Jessica Wilcox-AJ Gomer (DH) def. Lisa M.-Aubria 6-0, def. Audrey-Karina 6-2, def. Julia-Mekeila 7-6 (7-3); Adri Zuabi-Shelby Butcher (DH sub) 4-6, Sabine LudwigRebecca Gold (DH) 6-0, 6-4; Jacqueline Stewart-Sara Wickstrom (DH) 6-2, 6-0, 3-6.

Results from the match against Palm Desert are as follows: Singles: Alyssa Smith (DH) def. Tamilla Vaskman 6-0, def. Tiffany Delapaz 6-0, def. Desirae Krawczyk 6-4; Jessica Perez (DH) 6-0, 6-0, 4-6; Margo Pletcher (DH) 6-0, 6-0, 0-6. Doubles: Cassidy Spearman-Jacqueline Stewart (DH) def. Janell Gruszcynski 6-1, def. Linda Guerzize-Amber Stuhlmann 6-4, def. Jordan Eggleston-Ashley Stuhlmann 7-5; Jessica WilcoxAJ Gomer (DH) 6-0, 3-6, 3-6; Sabine Ludwig-Rebecca Gold (DH) 6-2, 4-6, 1-6.

And, results from the match against Peninsula are as follows: Singles: Alyssa Smith (DH) def. Tamilla Vaskman 6-0, def. Tiffany Delapaz 6-0, def. Desirae Krawczyk 6-4; Jessica Perez (DH) 6-0, 6-0, 4-6; Margo Pletcher (DH) 6-0, 6-0, 0-6. Doubles: Cassidy Spearman-Jacqueline Stewart (DH) def. Janell Gruszcynski 6-1, def. Linda Guerzize-Amber Stuhlmann 6-4, def. Jordan Eggleston-Ashley Stuhlmann 7-5; Jessica WilcoxAJ Gomer (DH) 6-0, 3-6, 3-6; Sabine Ludwig-Rebecca Gold (DH) 6-2, 4-6, 1-6.

Next 7 days: N/A Page 18

TEAM RESULTS: 1. Shorecliffs 207; 2. Bernice Ayer 188; 3. Marco Forster 158; =4. Niguel Hills 115; =4. Thurston 105; 6. Vista Del Mar 54; 7. Don Juan Avila 47. BOYS: 1. Connor MacLeod, Niguel Hills; 2.

Danny Kenduck, Niguel Hills; 3. Connor Dand, Shorecliffs; 4. Kei Kobayashi, Shorecliffs; 5. Lucas Taub, Marco Forster; 6. Kayl Cota, Marco Forster. BOYS LONGBOARD: 1. Rio Donaldson, Bernice Ayer; 2. Jacob Atwood, Shorecliffs; 3. David Levy, Marco Forster; 4. Luke Overin, Bernice Ayer; 5. Hunter Albrecht, Niguel Hills; 6. Connor Brashier, Thurston. GIRLS: 1. Malia Ward, Shorecliffs; 2. Malia Osterkamp, Vista Del Mar; 3. Kailey Biggs, Shorecliffs; 4. Maddy Kristensen, Thurston; 5. Coco Putnam, Thurston; 6. Maya Harrison, Bernice Ayer. GIRLS LONGBOARD: 1. Rachel Tilly, Shorecliffs; 2. Maya Harrison, Bernice Ayer; 3. Myah Bradshaw, Marco Forster; 4. Meg Roh, Marco Forster; 5. Gabriella McCormic, Bernice Ayer; 6. Kailey Biggs, Shorecliffs.

COED BODYBOARD: 1. Luke Overin, Bernice Ayer; 2. Tristan Ray, Marco Forster; 3. Walker Carvalho, Marco Forster; 4. Derek Reynolds, Bernice Ayer; 5. Patrick Bishop, March Forster; 6. Shane Kimbrough, Bernice Ayer.

NSSA Southwest Conference Explorer Event No. 4, November 12, Cardiff by the Sea, Seaside Reef First place and local finishers only. MEN: 1. Christopher Murnane, Carlsbad. JUNIORS: 1. Juninho Urcia Calle, Peru; 2. Griffin Colapinto, San Clemente; 6. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente. BOYS: 1. Jake Marshall, Encinitas; 2. Griffin Colapinto, San Clemente; 3. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente. MENEHUNE: 1. Ryland Rubens, Pacific Beach; 6.

Noah Hohenester, San Clemente. SUPER GROMS: 1. Nick Marshall, Encinitas; 2. Crosby Colapinto, San Clemente; 4. Ethan Mudge, Capo Beach; 5. Ryan Martin, San Clemente; 6. Kade Matson, San Clemente.

GIRLS: 1. Frankie Harrer, Malibu; 3. Tia Blanco, San Clemente; 5. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente. MASTERS: 1. Rick Takahashi, San Diego.

SENIORS: 1. Rick Takahashi, San Diego. SUPER SENIORS: 1. Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach. DUKE: 1. Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach.

LONGBOARD: 1. Austin Sonnier, San Diego. WOMEN: Make-up will be scheduled for a later date. Log on to www.sanclementetimes.com for full results.

UPCOMING EVENTS December 3-4: WSA Gatorade Championship Tour Event No. 5, Oceanside South Jetty December 3-4: NSSA Southwest Conference Open Event No. 6, Huntington Beach, Pier December 17-18: NSSA Southwest Conference Open Event No. 7, Cardiff by the Sea, Seaside Reef January 7-8: WSA Gatorade Championship Tour Event No. 6, Midget Smith Pier Rat Challenge, San Clemente, Pier January 7-8: NSSA Southwest Conference Open Event No. 8, Dana Point, Salt Creek January 14: NSSA Southwest Conference Explorer Event No. 5, Huntington Beach, Pier www.danapointtimes.com