Dana Point Times

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 15

Tapping the Pacific Decision nears on whether to proceed with South County desalination plant SPECIAL SECTION

www.danapointtimes.com

A coalition of five South Orange County cities and water agencies has been working for more than six years to learn if ocean water can be converted into drinking water. iStock photo

GROM OF THE WEEK: Dana Hills Student Lulu Erkeneff

Nation’s Top Nuclear Chief Pledges Safety First at SONGS

Pot Shop Attorney Files Lawsuit Against Dana Point

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

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D a n a Po i nt

City and Business Calendar SATURDAY, APRIL 14

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18

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 a booth for $25, call 949.573.5033. www.danapoint.org

Arts & Culture Commission Meeting 6 p.m. City Hall, Council Chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern. For info, contact Monique Leon at 949.248.3557 or mleon@danapoint.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 17

FRIDAY, APRIL 20

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. City Hall, Council Chambers, 33282, Golden Lantern, 949.248.3501, www.danapoint.org

Civic Association Coffee Chat 8:30 a.m. Dana Point Civic Association presents Coffee Chat on the third Friday of each month at Coffee

Importers, 34531 Golden Lantern in the harbor. The public is welcome.

Guest speakers and discussion topics vary. Free coffee, courtesy of Coffee Importers. For more information, call Pat Fairbanks at 949.661.9999.

Foreign Film Friday 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, hosts a free screening of Before Your Eyes (Turkey/ Germany 2011) with English subtitles.

For more info, call 949.496.5517 or see www.ocgov.com.

DANA POINT’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

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... SONGS?

THE LATEST: The two reactors at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station continue to sit idle for the third month and with no restart date in the offing.

A visit last week by Gregory Jaczko, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, only amplified attention of the power plant, which has come under scrutiny not only for its technical woes but its age and location along fault lines.

Tubes on both of the relatively new steam generators have begun displaying premature wear, and the causes are likely different for each and not yet known, the nation’s top nuclear chief said.

Until plant owner Southern California Edison can pinpoint the problems and satisfy the NRC’s concerns about safety, SONGS won’t be generating power.

Jaczko said he had come to the power plant because of the seriousness taken by the NRC. “We’ll take whatever enforcement efforts necessary,” said Jaczko during a press conference in Dana Point.

SCE took SONGS’ Unit 2 reactor out of service January 9 for planned upgrades and refueling. Unit 3 underwent a rapid shutdown January 31 after what has been described as a small water and radiation leak in its steam generator tubes.

WHAT’S NEXT: Investigators continue to test the generators and their tubes. Eight tubes in the Unit 3 generator have been plugged after failing high-pressure tests.

FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.sanclementetimes.com —Stacie N. Galang

2

…Pot Attorney Suing City?

THE LATEST: The City of Dana Point on April 3 was served with a lawsuit filed by Dana Point Times April 13–19, 2012

attorney Jeffrey Schwartz alleging that the city’s closure of the medical marijuana dispensary where he previously filled his prescriptions, as well as other dispensaries, is a violation of his constitutional rights.

Schwartz, the attorney who represents closed medical marijuana dispensary Beach Cities Collective and Malinda Traudt, a blind and severely ill San Clemente woman who unsuccessfully sued the city alleging the closing of the shop violated her constitutional rights to medication, will be representing himself in the case.

Schwartz remains a member of the Beach Cities Collective but now says that since the dispensary’s—along with other Dana Point and Orange County shops— closure he is forced to travel to Los Angeles County for his prescribed medication instead of making the short, less than 2-mile trip to the Dana Point shop.

Beach Cities Collective was one of three remaining medical marijuana dispensaries the city red-tagged in 2011 citing municipal code violations.

The case also attempts to reverse the city’s ban on dispensaries and obtain a court decision on whether such bans are constitutional.

The case is very similar to the Traudt case, Schwartz said. Although that case ended when the Supreme Court decided in March not to take up the issue, he believes the question of whether cities have the right to single out and prohibit marijuana remains unanswered.

Schwartz argues that physicianrecommended medical marijuana, like Oxycontin, or any other prescribed drug, is a form of health care protected by the California Health Care Decisions Law. In his complaint, Schwartz alleges that the city’s actions interfere with “his fundamental rights to autonomy, privacy and to control the course of his medical treatment, in concert with his physician.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Dana Point city Attorney Patrick Munoz declined to comment but said the city will decide on its next course of action shortly.

FIND OUT MORE: Log on to www.danapointtimes.com to read Schwartz’ filed complaint. —Andrea Swayne

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…CUSD’s New Finance Director?

THE LATEST: Clark Hampton is the new Capistrano Unified School District Deputy Superintendent, Business and Support Services, taking the $191,000-a-year post after another man accepted, then rejected the job.

Hampton is currently the Assistant Superintendent, Business Services for the Westminster School District.

Pasadena Unified’s Chief Financial Officer John Pappalardo accepted the job at $198,000, but balked when CUSD officials then offered a reduced salary, leading Capistrano to offer the job to Hampton.

CUSD has a budget of $325 million, but is facing $33 million to $50 million in cuts.

WHAT’S NEXT: Hampton begins his new position on May 1. He will oversee the business, facilities, maintenance and operations, and food and nutrition services departments while serving on the Superintendent’s cabinet.

FIND OUT MORE: See the contract at www. sanclementetimes.com —Jonathan Volzke

4

…a Zone Change at Former Mobile Home Park?

THE LATEST: The City of Dana Point announced it will hold a public hearing to consider the California Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications to the

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city’s approval of a zoning change for the 8.9-acre property at Pacific Coast Highway and Del Obispo.

The land at 34202 Del Obispo—formerly a mobile home park—changed hands in August from Makar Properties, LLC to A&M Capital Real Estate, LLC—a private equity and asset management firm—of El Segundo.

A&M Capital, since purchasing the property has continued to pursue a change in the property’s zoning from “Dana Point Specific Plan – Coastal Recreation Space” to the new General Plan and zoning designation “Residential/Commercial” that dates back to 2009.

WHAT’S NEXT: The meeting is set for Tuesday, April 17, 6 p.m. at Dana Point City Hall, Council Chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210 in Dana Point.

FIND OUT MORE: Log on to www.danapoint.org, www.coastal.ca.gov and www. danapointtimes.com for more information.

Questions may also be directed to the City Clerk by phone at 949.248.3501. —AS

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…Distracted Driver Campaign?

THE LATEST: Dana Point Police Services issued a statement via the city website reminding residents that they are once again joining California’s 2nd annual Distracted Driving Awareness Month by stepping up “zero tolerance” enforcement of hands-free cell phone and no texting laws.

WHAT’S NEXT: Violators will face a minimum fine of $160 for a first time violation.

FIND OUT MORE: See www.danapoint. org for the full announcement or contact OCSD Public Affairs Office at 714.647.7042. —AS www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter SPONSORED BY

Dana Point Police Services www.HideitLockitOrLoseit.com 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.

Wednesday, April 11 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Mariner Drive, 23700 Block (10:30 p.m.)

Police were looking for two males riding bikes in the golf course after a caller reported the two had been casing the neighborhood. The caller also told police there has been an ongoing issue with stolen bikes in the area.

DISTURBANCE Coast Highway/Beach Road (5:55 p.m.)

Deputies were notified when unknown subjects were seen shooting water balloons with a slingshot at passing vehicles.

Another call to police was placed at 8:49 p.m. by someone who said they had information regarding the people who were throwing the balloons and would direct officers to the subjects’ residence.

TRAFFIC HAZARD La Plaza, 24600 Block (3:22 p.m.) Five juveniles were skateboarding in the park, parking lot and street causing a traffic hazard.

CITIZEN ASSIST St. Michael, 0 Block (12:43 p.m.) A woman gave police the license plate numbers from vehicles of numerous people she believes have been following her over the last three months. She said she believes that they are trying to burglarize her residence for her son’s DJ equipment or possibly to steal her Escalade.

PETTY THEFT Pacific Coast Highway, 34300 Block (2:16 a.m.) A man stole a 12-pack of beer and took off northbound on PCH in a white 2-door Acura.

Tuesday, April 10 ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Breezy Place, 33300 Block (6:07 p.m.) The Orange County Fire Authority responded to a residence that was emitting a strong odor of turpentine. OCFA also noted a possible forced entry at the location.

DISTURBANCE Doheny Park Road, 34000 Block (5:09 p.m.) A 30- to 40-year-old irate man holding a skateboard was accusing a store cashier of not giving him the correct change.

Monday, April 9 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (11:56 p.m.) A caller told police his wife saw an “older” woman open the door of a maintenance closet directly across from his home to let an approximately 30-year-old

WELFARE CHECK Doheny Park Road/Victoria Blvd. (4:04 p.m.) A male transient was lying in the middle of a veterinary clinic parking lot.

The man was not moving.

NEWS BITES

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE View Point Drive E., 26000 Block (11:12 a.m.) A man came to a caller’s door and tried to open it without knocking. The caller wasn’t expecting anyone and didn’t recognize the subject. The subject, described as a slender white male, 5 foot 10 inches tall, wearing a black baseball cap, black T-shirt and black pants and driving a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.

man in and then closed the door behind them. The caller said he believed the two were still inside the closet at the time of the call.

DISTURBANCE Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (8:12 p.m.) A woman called to report her daughter’s husband was punching and kicking walls and cars. The caller said she didn’t know if the man was taking any drugs but that he is unstable, has a history of mental issues and she wanted him out of the house. No weapons were seen.

DISTURBANCE-FAMILY DISPUTE El Encanto Avenue, 34000 Block (7:15 p.m.) A woman said her husband took her laptop and left in a rented silver Camry.

Saturday, April 7 PROWLER Alta Vista Drive, 24400 Block (10:22 p.m.)

A man called deputies to report receiving a phone call from his wife who told him there was someone outside her window communicating some kind of threat against her and the children. She couldn’t see the subject but took the children upstairs. The man arrived home a few minutes later and walked around the home looking for the subject. No one was found and the caller told police he suspects the prowler was a neighborhood drunk.

Compiled by Andrea Swayne

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO Coastmasters Honors Gwen Earle

(L to R) Tracey Nicholson, Terry McCann award nominee; Lucille McCann, wife of the late Terry McCann and Gwen Earle. Courtesy photo

Gwen Earle of Dana Point has been chosen as the 2012 recipient of Coastmasters’ Terry McCann Award.

Earle has been a member of Toastmasters since May of 2008 and is the Immediate Past President of Dana Point Coastmasters Club No. 6658 and currently serves as public relations chairwoman for Toastmasters International Division G, Founders District.

She has also served as the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program Mentor and Youth of the Year Program judge for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

She has over 29 years of experience in corDana Point Times April 13–19, 2012

porate telecommunications and is currently a professional business consultant and certified master coach. She and husband Richard are 13-year residents of Dana Point.

The award is named after the late 1960 Olympic gold medalist wrestler Terry McCann who made a lasting impact on Toastmasters International and the Dana Point club where he was a long-standing member.

It is awarded each year to a club member who has followed in McCann’s footsteps with an ongoing commitment to Toastmasters and showing excellent leadership skills in the club and the community.

Earle was nominated for the award, along with runner-up Tracey Nicholson (also of Dana Point) by a committee made up of club members who are previous Terry McCann award winners.

“Both nominees were excellent candidates,” said James Fullenkamp, club vice president of public relations and local financial advisor. “Each exhibits strong leadership skills and involvement in the community, the club and their careers.”

Coastmasters is an affiliate of the nonprofit Toastmasters International that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback in local clubs.

Coastmasters meets every Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Jolly Roger res-

taurant, 34661 Golden Lantern, in the Dana Point Harbor. Guests are welcome. For more information, see www.coastmasters.org.

Ocean Institute Honors Jack Goffman

Jack Goffman and Ocean Institute President Dan Stetson. Courtesy photo

The Ocean Institute has selected Jack Goffman as its 2012 Volunteer of the Year.

He is a long-time volunteer who donates more than 300 hours of his time annually.

Goffman is a retired engineer and geologist and has lived in Dana Point for nearly four decades. He was also chosen for the same honor in 2006.

“Jack is a model volunteer and a gifted teacher,” said Linda Blanchard, the Insti-

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tute’s volunteer director. “He always looks for ways to improve our programs…even purchasing materials himself and refusing reimbursement. Jack’s knowledge, enthusiasm and efforts are invaluable to students and staff alike. We’re deeply indebted to him for his efforts and look forward to working with him for many more years to come.”

Goffman has participated in 34 of the Institute’s “Earth’s Changing Climate” programs this school year, often teaching from 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. He also did the investigation necessary to pinpoint the location of the ACE fishing boat that sank off San Clemente so that the Institute could use its side scan sonar during a training cruise to gather images of this local dive site.

Goffman says he enjoys working with young people, both children and the recent college graduates on the Institute staff. “I do it for the fun,” he said. “It provides children with a great introduction to oceanography.”

The Ocean Institute, at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, can be found online at www. ocean-institute.org.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at the Ocean Institute, contact Linda Blanchard at 949.4962274, ext. 221 or lblanchard@ocean-institute.org. www.danapointtimes.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

EDITOR STORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

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Dana Point Times, Vol. 5, Issue 15. 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 2012. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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ALL HANDS, AHOY: By Beverli Jinn

If Ever or Ever a Wiz There Was ...

S o there I was, the yellow brick road stretching before me toward the clear blue sky beyond, not to Oz but to Saddleback Mountain. Of course it wasn’t really a brick road, yellow or otherwise. Basically it was your average blacktop, worn and gravely and . . . not so much stretching as, well, plodding.

I’d been drawn back to this spot, dissatisfied by my first visit three weeks earlier when I’d carelessly referred to the area as “the thirty acre wood.” I’d allowed myself to imagine that this South Coast Water District parcel of land exuded some kind of magical aura that might, down the road, reveal itself to be populated by fairies and leprechauns and hobbits (Oh, my!). After all, my imagination could conjure up beautiful San Juan Creek flowing to the sea. I could romanticize railroad tracks carrying trains that clickety-clacked passengers southward along seemingly endless stretches of sandy beaches and crashing waves. (And maybe a soulful horn calling into the star-filled night.)

Anyway, here I was again, armed with my voice recorder, determined this time to get it right. Even though there were no signs telling me to keep out, somehow I felt like an intruder. On my right, the

Doubletree Suites seemed squeezed into the hill that supported the highway and onramps between PCH and the I-5. Concrete! Darkness! Dampness! This time the real Beverli Jinn creek water, brown and polluted, sat motionless in the channel of the creek, becoming deeper as it reached the sand berm that had been created by bulldozers to prevent the pollution from reaching the surf. Three colorful mallards paddled disinterestedly beneath the bridge. I wondered if one of them was Mal, the duck who, with his wife—we’d assumed she was his wife—had paddled around our association swimming pool two weeks before.

Hundreds (thousands?) of seagulls, squawking endlessly as they swooped and circled and arrived and departed, gave the scene an aura of unrest, of competition for survival. I allowed myself to imagine what the creek might have looked like 180 years ago when Richard Henry Dana sailed by. What might it look like 180 years from now?

A big truck, the kind that pulls a trailer carrying cars, was squeezing into the

entrance behind me. I turned, saw that a second truck was behind the first one and decided I’d better get out of the way. Just ahead, on my right as I faced Saddleback in the distance, an open area about 20 yards wide offered safety. I hurried out of the way, moving toward the railroad tracks.

On the other side of a chain link fence that paralleled the tracks, the tops of buildings along Doheny Park Road helped me get my bearings. To my right, a eucalyptus-covered hill supported the onramp. To my left was a large storage area behind a chain link fence covered with sun-worn black plastic. There would be many such enclosures, some bigger, some smaller, that I would encounter before my survey was finished.

I watched the trucks as they rattled past like prehistoric monsters before disappearing into a storage area in the distance.

I could only guess what was stored in that particular one: cars maybe?

I examined both sides of the road as I walked. After a while it became déjà vu all over again: old construction equipment and materials, vehicles that have seen better days and mysterious stuff that only a contractor could identify, all partially

obscured by weathered plastic fastened to chain link and all securely padlocked.

On the western side of all these areas was the concrete-lined creek bed that was probably quite beautiful before Dana Point was discovered by Sidney H. Woodruff in the 1920s.

It is never to be beautiful again, I fear, with or without Winnie the Pooh, with or without the Wizard. From Saddleback to the sea, our watershed collects pollutants and deposits them in Capistrano Bay. The 30 acre dump is doing the only job left for it to do: generating income that can be used to provide clean water that will enable us to survive.

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. Jinn welcomes her readers’ feedback via email at beverlijinn@cox.net.DP

SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: Roger Worthington, President Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation

Grand Prix of Cycling: 23 Days until Race Day, Sign Up Now W

e’re No. 1.

No really. The Dana Point Grand Prix is the top ranked bike race in the country. USA Cycling has advised that in 2011, we attracted the most licensed racers for a single day criterium event.

That’s “all you.” And, on behalf of the City of Dana Point, we thank you.

Are we happy? Yes. Satisfied? No. We can always do better. As my high school football coach used to bellow, “The day you stop getting better, is the day you start getting worse.”

The Dana Point Grand Prix will not coast.

We will not rest on our laurels. At the risk of sounding like the Once-ler, that rapacious capitalist creep in “The Lorax,” we do aim to get bigger and bigger.

Bigger fields. More spectators. More kids. More excitement. More action. More primes. More burgers. More beers. More money for the 5th Marine Regiment Support Group and Boys & Girls Club. More love and respect for cancer survivors and their families.

Listen up. It’s trite but true, but we couldn’t have done it without you. Five years ago when we were forced to channel the race course through “dead man’s alley,” you supRoger Worthington ported us. In 2008 when we hosted the Master State Championships and had to finish the race about 100 feet from a sharp right turn, you courageously supported us.

And when, praise the heavens, we finally moved the start/finish line onto the legendary Pacific Coast Highway, you not only supported us, you made us No. 1. That’s cool. And that’s the power of listening, learning, committing the resources and getting it right.

Am I blowing my horn? Yes. Who wouldn’t? Who wouldn’t be happy working with the West Coast’s finest band of up-tempo bike advocates—champions like Councilman Steven Weinberg, Brad Fowler, Cyndi Elders, Kozo Shimano, Lynn Kelly and Russ Ames. Thank you team. You rock!

Roger Worthington leading the pack. Courtesy photo

And a big bear hug to Amgen for believing in our little bike race. Amgen gets inundated with proposals for charity events daily. They saw that we had the players, the vibe, and they invested. The Pacific Ocean, the palm trees and the harbor didn’t hurt.

The take-home: Register now. Today.

Several fields are already more than 50 percent full. We’re way ahead of last year’s record setting pace. Don’t be that guy at the registration desk whining about getting turned away. We expanded the fields, but our smart guys in the windowless rooms wearing the green shades calculate that we’ll still sell out.

Sign up now and participate in the rocking-est bike concert in the land.

Oh, the Dana Point Grand Prix also sports unofficially the country’s best kid’s races. Last year over 325 kids furiously pedaled the clean streets of Dana Point.

So, parents, bring your bikes and your kids and their bikes. We have memories to make.

Cheers!

To register or for more information, log on to www.danapointgrandprix.com. 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 QUIET ZONE FOR DP? CAROL LANCEY, Dana Point

Here in Dana Point we are denied a quiet zone because the city of Dana Point is afraid of the liability involved. According to the Orange County Transportation Authority the completion of the safety measures in all of Orange County now make most of the crossings eligible for quiet zones. That is where the trains are not required to sound their horns because the danger of someone getting hit by a train is negligible. The safety measures that have been installed make it impossible for anyone to enter the crossing when the train is near. Many Orange County cities have taken this opportunity to make their crossings quiet zones.

I feel that we here in Dana Point are prohibited from having a normal quality of life and must endure the never ending trains that blow their incessant horns (not two short and one long, like regulations say) but one continuous incessant horn from far before each of the countless trains approach until far after each one recedes into the distance.

I sometimes feel as though I am living in a torture chamber more than in my own home. For all of the real estate taxes levied on the residents of Dana Point, I think that we should be entitled to at least enjoy some semblance of a good quality of life to match the beautiful surroundings.

I hope that the Dana Point City Council and the city’s administrators will have a change of heart and let us have a quiet zone.

I hope that they can imagine how they would feel—a in their very own homes—if they were trying to enjoy a nap, TV, or just talk with their family and get jolted out of their skin by an unnecessary, very loud, train horn. And this happens many times per hour.

I hope that they can realize that our “quality Dana Point Times April 13–19, 2012

ONLINE POLL

of life” leaves much to be desired.

Congratulations to San Clemente City Council and the administrators for allowing their city to have a quiet zone. I am happy that you care enough about your community to allow your citizens to have a little well deserved quiet. I hope Dana Point will take the good example provided by San Clemente and let the people of Dana Point enjoy the same comfort in our homes.

IS SOUTH OC SAFE? ROGER JOHNSON, San Clemente

On March 29 the National Academy of Sciences released a 460 page report about cancer risks associated with living near a nuclear power plant. They recommended six areas in the United States for intensive studies of possible cancer links. Our area was one of the chosen six: they want epidemiological studies done for towns within 30 miles of San Onofre. Is south Orange County becoming the poster child for a place where it is dangerous to live, work, or bring up a family?

While many are concerned about accidental radiation leaks such as those in January, the dirty little secret is that reactors routinely release radiation without announcement. Air ejectors release radioactivity into the atmosphere and pumps discharge radionuclides into the ocean. Regulations on the deliberate release of radioactivity are specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Part 20, Appendix B. Reference is made to the acronym ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable). Knowing that nuclear power plants cannot operate without regularly releasing low level radiation, government agencies allow them to do so.

Without monitoring, we have no idea what is released or when. Edison is not required to

announce either the dates or concentrations of these secret releases. They do post yearly averages, but we have no way of knowing if the numbers are the result of possibly dangerous levels on some days averaged with no releases on other days. The industry claims that these doses are low for adult males, but to have radiation released year after year, decade after decade is problematic, especially for children.

If you want to know what San Onofre released two years ago, study Edison’s own reports to the NRC. In 2010, the list included 34 radionuclides including some of the most toxic substances on the planet. There were 44 hours of atmospheric batch releases and 550 hours of liquid radioactive releases into the ocean. How many surfers are aware of this? In addition, Edison trucked 27 flatbed trailers of radioactive solid waste to Utah (going through San Clemente and lots of other towns).

Many have difficulty fearing invisible microscopic radioactive particles. We do know that radiation causes cancer, but some disregard health threats that take years to develop. Individual doses are made to sound insignificant, but the effects are cumulative.

Children are 15-20 times more vulnerable to radiation, and the fetus is 30-50 times more sensitive. Studies in Germany and France have reported that children living near nuclear power plants are twice as likely to get childhood leukemia. In California alone, there were 56,030 cancer deaths in 2011 and 163,480 new cases of cancer. No one knows the exact cause of most cases, but experts tell us that the vast majority of cancer has environmental origins.

Perhaps the main lesson learned from Fukushima is the collusion between government and industry. The government and the

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How green/environmentally friendly do you think your lifestyle is?

Extremely. I make every effort to be green in all aspects of my daily life.

20% Very. I do many green things daily but realize there is more I can do.

40% Somewhat. I have adopted a few green habits.

40% Not at all. I either don’t believe it’s necessary, don’t think it would make a difference, or just don’t care.

0% Make sure to sound off on the “DP Times Poll of the Week” at www.danapointtimes.com.

Bookmark Dana Point Times today!

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

nuclear industry in Japan lied about radiation dangers before, during and after the meltdown. The tab for Fukushima is already $300 billion and still rising. It seems reasonable that anyone living in the shadow of San Onofre should be skeptical of those who are willing to risk our future. We should trust scientists long before we trust those who profit.

In 2006, Gorbachev remarked that it was Chernobyl which really caused the downfall of the USSR. One serious accident here might do the same thing to our country.

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

SD a naCnleam

Pe notei n t

THE LIST A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

friday

OC WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m. Dana Wharf hosts a 90-minute wine cruise with wine tastings, appetizers and more overlooking the Harbor. Cost $49. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

AT THE COACH HOUSE: ALLAN HOLDSWORTH If it’s a little out of the mainstream that a world-renowned guitarist would eschew Los Angeles and New York to live in San Juan Capistrano, well, that’s just Allan Holdsworth, who has been working outside the mainstream his entire career. Holdsworth was born in Bradford, England, where his father, an accomplished amateur musician, tutored him in musical theory and jazz. He played the dance-club circuit until he was discovered in the early 1970s. As he developed, he pushed the edge on cutting-edge fusion jazz. He has designed guitars and sound equipment, and preferred to record in his independent studio. Frank Zappa once lauded him as “one of the most interesting guys on guitar on the planet.” Eddie Courtesy photo Van Halen was quoted in Guitar Player saying Holdsworth “is bad! He’s fantastic; I love him.”

He uses fingerpicker chords with complex effects and volume swells to make his guitars sound a bit like a horn and saxophone. His resourcefulness isn’t limited to his music, either. A beer aficionado who called his private studio The Brewery, he invented a beer pump called “The Fizzbuster.” He’s also an avid cyclist. Allan Holdsworth plays the Coach House on Sunday, April 22 with Electric Soul Parade and Tom Griesgraber. Doors for the all-ages show open at 5 p.m., while the concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. See www.thecoachhouse.com. DP —Jonathan Volzke

saturday

SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The San Juan Chamber presents the monthly art event showcasing 60 artists, craftspeople and musicians along the streets of Camino Capistrano, Yorba, Verdugo and Los Rios. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.

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THE FOUR CORNERS BAND 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant.

34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

BILLY WATSON 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

RUM SOAKED RAISIN 9 p.m. Live music at Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.3400, www.goodystavern.com.

ALOHA FRIDAY 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Live music and dress “Island style” for happy hour all night, all at Irons in the Fire. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.542.3900, www.beachfire.com.

CAT SHELTER GRAND OPENING 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter and the Pet Project Foundation will host a grand opening celebration for the new Lori J. Hoenow Cat Adoption Center. The center features an 1,100 square foot addition with eight spacious multi-cat suites equipped with climbing towers, cat walks and windows. The event will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. followed by an array of fun and educational activities for the entire family. Tour the new facility, browse pet product vendor booths, learn pet first aid, visit the “ask an expert” station for answers to questions about pet health and behavior or adopt an animal for $25 off the usual fee. The “Just Chillin’” ice cream truck will hand out tasty treats and the SoCal Honda Dealers will present new adoptive families with free collars and leashes. There will also be free animal-themed crafts and face painting for kids. 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente, 949.492.1617 (shelter), 949.595.8899 (PPF), www.petprojectfoundation.org.

DIRTY PINTS 10 p.m. Music at Molly Blooms. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

SHEEP SHEARING AT THE MISSION 11 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. Special event at Mission San Juan Capistrano where you can learn how to shear sheep.

Free with admission, $5–$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

AMBROSIA 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House. Tickets $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Event at Goin Native featuring a guest butterfly expert. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

Dana Point Times April 13–19, 2012

SONIC PARK 9 p.m. Live music at Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.3400, www.goodystavern.com.

AN EVENING WITH TAJ MAHAL 8 p.m. Special blues & roots music concert at The Coach House. Tickets $49. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

TIM DISMANG & FRIENDS 8 p.m. Special concert at Camino Real Playhouse with music and entertainment featuring originals and covers.

Tickets $20. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

SPELLING BEE 8 p.m. New musical debuts at Cabrillo Playhouse. Shows through May 6. Tickets $20-$25. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

DANA POINT SYMPHONY SPECIAL CONCERT 7:30 p.m. The world premiere of “Symphonic Genesis: Celebrating the Birth of the Dana Point Symphony Orchestra” at St. Edwards Church. $8-$12. 33926 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point, 301.832.0388, www.danapointsymphony.com.

MISSY ANDERSEN 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

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MARC FORD & NEPTUNE BLUES 10 p.m. Live music at Molly Blooms Irish Bar & Restaurant. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

SECOND STAGE STAND UP 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse presents stand-up comedians on stage for two performances. Tickets $12.

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

sunday

BIRD WALK 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Join guest leaders Robert Scrimger and Gary Meredith for a bird walk at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Cost $5-$10. Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

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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.

LOCAL SUNDAY SESSIONS 6 p.m. Music at Cabrillo Playhouse the third Sunday of the month featuring Lindsay Law, Freako Suave and Richfolk.

Suggested donation of $5. Beer and wine served for donation. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, www.facebook. com/localsundaysessions, laurel.zwilling@yahoo.com.

(Cont. on page 23) www.danapointtimes.com

Thursday, April 19

earth Day

events

Get Your Green on at these local Earth Day happenings

Saturday, April 14

We Are Earth Day Celebration and Seedling Sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free Earth Day

event at The Ecology Center with a scavenger hunt, live music, dancing, local food, the annual Spring Plant and Seed Sale, educational fun ways to learn about implementing practical ecological solutions, and more. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.org.

Earth Day Event 9 a.m.-4 p.m. San Juan Capistrano Community Center Gym. 20 earth friendly, interactive exhibits. Stop by South Coast Water District’s booth to test your knowledge at “Water & Sewer Jeopardy” and get water-saving items. 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, www. sanjuancapistrano.org.

Saturday, April 21

Backyard Skills: Make Your Own Veggie Box 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Build your own back-

yard veggie box to take home and grow your own at The Ecology Center (cost $25 + $20 materials), and also check out their ongoing “Tools for Change” interactive sustainability exhibition. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.org.

E-Waste Disposal, Shredding, and Compost Giveaway 7 a.m.-12 p.m. The city

of San Juan Capistrano and the Goodwill host a free E-waste event/document shredding, as well as compost giveaway with CR&R all at City Hall. 32400 Paseo Adelanto, SJC, 949.234.4413, www.sanjuancapsitrano.org.

Adventure Day Featuring Socal Wildf lower Fest 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Special family event

SoCalGas, volunteers will plant, weed, spread seeds, water and trim bushes and stencil trash and recycling bins. Family members of all ages are welcome.

A light breakfast and coffee will be provided. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

Gardenfest 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The San Clemente

Garden Club hosts the annual event at the SC Community Center featuring a plant sale, garden flea market, contests, art shows, educational programs and more. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, www.sanclementegardenclub.com.

Transition Laguna Earth Day Festival

9 a.m.-5 p.m. All-day celebration in downtown Laguna Beach in conjunction with Kelp Fest with speakers on relevant topics, environmental organizations, exhibits, activities, art project for kids, cooking demos, live music, films and more. Free admission. Takes place off Park Ave. and PCH. transitionlagunabeach@gmail.com.

celebration at San Mateo Campground in San Onofre State Beach featuring Native American speakers, arts, crafts, food, speakers and more fun hosted by the San Onofre Foundation. Free shuttle from Concordia School. More info: More info: 949.366.8599, www.sanofoundation.org/site/events.

at San Mateo Campground in San Onofre State Beach. More info: 949.366.8599, www.sanofoundation.org/site/events.

Earth Day Clean-Up 8 a.m.-noon Hosted by

2nd Annual eWaste Fundraiser 9 a.m.1 p.m. Shorecliffs Middle School is having its second annual eWaste Fundraiser for Earth Week where you can dispose of old electronics and more.

Additional drop off will be April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 240 Via Socorro, San Clemente, 949.498.1660.

Earth Day at Panhe 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Earth Day

Earth Day San Mateo Trail Restoration Project 8:30 a.m. Clean-up and restoration event

beach, and the jetty, and plant native plants. Another cleanup on April 21. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496-6172, www.dohenystatebeach. org.

Salt Creek Beach Cleanup 10 a.m. – noon, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.

The beach cleanup is a fantastic way for neighbors and friends of The Ritz-Carlton to get together and care for our marine environment, while learning from Jean-Michel Cousteau how fragile our beach and ocean are. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive Dana Point, www.ritzcarlton.com.

Sunday, April 22

at Caspers Wilderness Park featuring activities and games, guest presentations, educational programs and exhibits, raffles, contests, and more. Free event. 33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210, www.ocparks.com/caspers.

Native Tree Planting Project and Beach Cleanup 9 a.m.- noon. Clean San Juan Creek, the

Earth Day Beach & Creek Cleanup 9 a.m.noon. Clean San Juan Creek, the beach and the jetty in honor of Mother Earth Day and plant native plants. Meets at the new Lifeguard Headquarters at Doheny State Beach. Please bring your work gloves. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496-6172, www.dohenystatebeach.org.

Earth Day San Clemente at Parque Del Mar. File photo

Earth Day San Clemente 8:30 a.m.; 10 a.m.2 p.m. Begins with a beach cleanup at the Pier at 8. Then starting at 10 a.m. celebrate Earth Day at Parque Del Mar featuring live music, demonstrations, giveaways, displays, mini tide pool, photo booth, children’s crafts area and more. 949.366.2326, Info@SCwatersheds.com, www.SCwatersheds.com.

Headlands Cleanup 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit the Nature Interpretive Center, adjacent to the Headlands Conservation Park, at the end of Green Lantern for clean up supplies and directions, if you choose to help clean up the area while you hike.

34558 Scenic Drive, 949.542.4755.

Plant Design Class 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Design a living succulent wall at Goin Native. Cost $25 plus plant costs. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

Earth Day Yoga + Potluck 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Join The Ecology Center and guests from Yoga Works for an afternoon of free yoga with instructor L.B. Iddings and a post-yoga potluck. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.org.

Earth Day and Recycling at the Ocean Institute 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Event at the Ocean

Institute for the family featuring eco-friendly crafts, stories for kids, marine mammal activities, and recycling for your old electronics and athletic shoes. Get free admission if you participate in the institute’s beach/harbor cleanup from 9 a.m. -11 a.m. Admission $4.50-$6.50. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

NABA Butterf ly Walk 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join the North American Butterfly Association on its annual search for butterflies at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Cost $5-$10.

Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

tapping

the Pacific

Decision nears on whether to proceed with South County desalination plant

BY JONATHAN VOLZKE

I

t’s something of a paradox.

The series of canals, pumps and pipelines that supplies Southern California’s drinking water is as shaky as the ground around the San Andreas Fault. But lapping up on Orange County’s 42 miles of coastline is the endless Pacific Ocean.

Some see the ocean as at least part of the answer to Southern Orange County’s water woes, where 95 percent of the water is imported from elsewhere.

Others, however, see the ocean as more an oasis than a solution.

A coalition of five cities and water agencies has been working for more than six years to find the truth. Together, they’ve invested $3.3 million — combined with $2.8 million in grants — to drill beneath the ocean floor, pump out briny, brackish water and ram it through a series of super-fine filters to produce drinkable water in a pilot project.

San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach County Water District, Moulton Niguel Water District and South Coast Water District, which primarily supplies Dana Point, are the project participants. The Municipal Water District of Orange County is working with them.

After 18 months of pumping, the pilot plant housed in a shipping container at Doheny State Beach is scheduled to shut down April 27. After a few more tests, the participating agencies will be asked whether they want to continue to a full plant -- with a price tag of $175 million. That “go, no-go” decision will be made in 2013.

If it works, the plant would produce 15 million gallons of drinking water a day, enough to provide about 22 percent of the agencies’ future needs, said Karl Seckel, assistant general manager of the Municipal Water District of Orange County.

But it’s expensive. Not just to build, but to operate. Forcing the seawater though the reverseosmosis membranes requires a tremendous amount of electricity. Current estimates, Seckel said, put the cost of water produced by the plant at $1,500 for an acre foot – 325,851 gallons. This month, the cost of buying an acre foot of water through the Metropolitan Water District was about $900.

Seckel said predictions show that the cost of Metropolitan water will continue to climb, while the costs of producing water in the desalination plant would rise much more slowly. The price of water from both sources, he said, is expected to be the

A crew works on installing the submersible pump in the slant well at the Doheny State Beach test facility.

Photo courtesy of Municipal Water District of Orange County

same around 2025.

That’s not good enough for San Juan Capistrano, though. When each participating agency was asked to pony up another $23,000 to finish some tests last month, Capistrano city leaders balked, voting 3-2 to pull out of the project. San Juan is just now getting its $35 million groundwater recovery plant working properly, and the Utilities Department is battling a $6 million deficit. San Juan Capistrano is one of the few agencies in South County with a significant supply of groundwater.

“It’s frankly frightening, the economic picture of this nation and this state,” Councilman Sam Allevato said. “This would allow us to get to a decision point, but I’m afraid of the answer.”

Seckel admitted the project has been a science experiment from the beginning.

While ocean desalination is used around the world, the State Water Plan says just six such plants were operating in California in 2009, producing just a little more than 4.5 acre feet of water a day. That’s a drop in the bucket even when compared to the state’s 20 groundwater-recovery plants – Dana Point also has one – that produce about 225 acre feet of drinking water a day.

Part of the problem is mitigating the environmental impacts. The Poseidon Resources desalination plant in Carlsbad – which will be one of the biggest in the country when completed, took 10 years to plan and six more to get permits. The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board approved another Poseidon Resources desalination plant in Huntington Beach, but environmentalists have appealed that decision to the state Coastal Commission.

One of the chief concerns with traditional desalination plants: The intake pipes that suck water from the ocean also suck up sealife. Poseidon’s plans rely on existing power plants, which already draw in seawater for cooling.

South Orange Coastal Ocean Desalination Project avoids that – and has not drawn fire from Surfrider or other environmental groups – by using a “slant well” technique that burrows intake pipes beneath the ocean floor at an angle. That means the water is not draw directly from the ocean, but from beneath the sea floor. That avoids drawing in sea life and also

uses the earth as an additional filter.

If built, the project would use nine slant wells, drawing 30 million gallons of water daily.

But the success of the slant well also raised new issues. Plant operators weren’t sure when, and how much “young” ocean water they would draw in the treatment facility as they tapped underground aquifers. The initial water was old -- 7,500 years old – and contains iron and manganese. Building additional facilities to remove the iron and manganese adds about $50 million to the price tag, which is already included in the $175 million estimate.

“We thought we’d find it, but as we connected to the ocean, we thought we’d pump through the iron and manganese,” Seckel said. “We may still do that, but the science right now is inconclusive.

Scientists put tracer materials in the lagoon at Doheny, and waited to see them turn up in the plant water, tracking the flow of groundwater in the area.

Capistrano voiced concern that pumping water from beneath the ocean could somehow affect the San Juan Basin aquifer and hamper the operations of the city’s groundwater plant. The final $23,000 from each participant was to finish the work including the groundwater modeling of the underground basin to help address that question.

Six different metals were also tested for the plant’s equipment, Seckel said, to see which best resisted corrosion in the desalination process.

Still ahead would likely be more test borings into the ocean floor, drilled traditionally, to help define the aquifer and determine the makeup of the water, eliminating the possibility that the slant well has struck something unknown in the under-ocean basin.

“We don’t have a full understanding of the geology under the ocean – (it is) very expensive to do that work,” Seckel said.

Even with some questions unanswered, Wayne Rayfield, president of the board at South Coast Water District, said he’s been pleased with the project.

“I think it’s going well. We’ve learned an awful lot,” he said. “I think also the project is technically feasible and needed. Maybe it’s not needed next year, but it certainly will be needed in the future.”

Those in the industry, water dogs, they’re called, say the public looks at it wrong when it looks only at the cost of water. At some point, it won’t be how much water costs, but whether they can get it at all.

“We’re in a coastal desert, our imported water supplies are going to continue to get more scarce and more expensive,” Rayfield said. “Desal the only good option.”

For San Clemente, which essentially sits at the end of the pipeline for water coming from the north and the Colorado River, desalination provides an alternative tap, noted Mayor Jim Evert, who represents the city on the project. Any major disaster could cut off the city from its much-needed water supply.

“I think in the future years ahead it’s going to potentially be one of the major supplies of water,” Evert said.

Another mistake made when looking at the project, Seckel said, is failing to look long term, and remember that the water situation changes quickly.

“I think the (economic) environment is working against us, but it wasn’t very long ago, three or four years ago, that people were asking us how quickly we could get this project done,” Seckel said.

“So you have to ask the question, what are we doing to improve our reliability?”

For more information about the South County Ocean Desalination project, see http://www.scwd.org/ water/potable/oceandesal.asp •

Bye Bye Bags

Farewell Foam

Surfrider Foundation, others continue to push for plastic bag and foam bans

BY ANDREA SWAYNE espite a few setbacks in the tri-city area, Surfrider Foundation and other environmental groups have kept up a fight to curb the distribution by retail establishments of single-use plastic bags and foam food service containers in and around San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

The effort, aimed at keeping polystyrene — or Styrofoam as its popularly known — from fouling local watersheds, beaches and the ocean environment has been a top priority for the group since launching their Rise Above Plastics campaign in 2008, said Alexis Henry, Surfrider Foundation communications manager.

Since then, Dana Point voted in March to expand a voluntary restriction discouraging the use of polystyrene foam and passed ordinances prohibiting point-of-sale distribution of both the foam food containers and single-use plastic bags.

San Clemente in January 2011 responded to requests from residents by adopting an ordinance banning polystyrene containers at retail facilities.

This change expanded on a 2004 policy banning the use of the foam containers at city events, facilities and by vendors doing business with the city.

The city chose to table the issue of a bag ban in fall of 2011, but since the polystyrene ban became effective on July 1, 2011, the city website asks residents who have witnessed businesses still using polystyrene food containers to file an anonymous report via an online reporting form.

In San Juan Capistrano restricting single-use plastic bags has yet to be considered, although it too adopted an ordinance in 2004 banning the use of foam food service containers within its facilities and events and has also asked business owners to

D

voluntarily restrict their use of the material.

Shwack Beach Grill in Dana Point is among the growing list of area businesses embracing the change.

In the days leading up to the Dana Point vote, Surfrider enlisted Shwack owner Max Fisher to ask customers to sign a petition to request City Council to enact a polystyrene ban.

Fisher gladly agreed to help as he had been using eco-friendly products in his restaurant since opening in July and said he often receives positive comments from customers thanking him for his eco-friendly choice in food service containers.

And, even if he needed to pass the few-cent difference on to customers, Fisher said he wouldn’t expect it to be an issue as he strongly believes his restaurant’s effort to protect the environment— aside from the award-winning food—is among the reasons people choose to eat at his establishment.

“As an ocean-themed restaurant doing business in a place that’s so beautiful and so near the ocean, it’s important both to me and my customers to do whatever we can to help the beaches stay clean and the water stay clear for future generations,” said Fisher.

Rick Erkeneff, chairman of Surfrider’s South Orange County Chapter, said the group is very pleased with the recent progress made within the tri-city area both with regard to bans and Surfrider’s success at educating citizens about the harms of singleuse plastics in marine and coastal environments.

“More still needs to be done, and we hope this year to get bag bans implemented in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano as well as many more of the inland cities in South Orange County,” Erkeneff said, “so by Earth Day next year the region is plastic bag and polystyrene free.” •

Get Paid to Upgrade, Save the Environment

rom toilets to turf, rebates are available to residents and business owners willing to embrace more efficient products – or plants as the case may be – in their daily lives. Local utilities will help ease the swap out of the old with the new by offering the financial incentives.

But planning is key to maximizing the rebate returns. Most municipalities or utility companies offering the rebates require some advance notice – whether that’s filing the paperwork ahead of time or requesting an inspection.

Call the respective utility or visit the websites to view a list of the available rebates, which can include clothes washers, ice-making machines, irrigation controllers, nozzles, plants, toilets and turf.

The incentives, which range from a few dollars to the thousands of dollars, can vary for residential, multi-home properties and commercial customers.

Each city has its own unique rebates. In San Juan Capistrano, for example, a swap out of a toilet older than 1993 can qualify a resident for a $200 rebate for up to two toilets, said San Juan’s Water Conservation Coordinator Francie Kennedy. Already, 650 porcelain thrones in the city have been replaced and plenty of rebate dollars remain, she said.

“Each toilet, over its lifetime, uses about an acre foot of water,” Kennedy noted.

By paying the $200 now, San Juan expects to save upwards of $600 in water.

In San Clemente, turf replacement can be combined with the city’s qualified plant rebate of up to $300, according to Dan Dyer of San Clemente’s Utility Department. The city lists 61 different plants, shrubs and trees to choose from.

Don’t lose out on the chance to pocket extra money while also helping the environments and keeping utility costs at bay.

Rebate websites: www.socalwatersmart.com, www.mwdsaveabuck.com, www.scwd.org/conservation/residential/rebates.asp Check your city’s website for specific rebates: www.sanjuancapistrano.org, www.san-clemente.org, www.danapoint.org • — Stacie N. Galang

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What in the World… It’s Earth Day

BY LISA ZAWASKI, SENIOR WATER QUALITY ENGINEER, CITY DANA POINT, LINDA HOMSCHEID, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, SOUTH COAST WATER DISTRICT

W

hat do “Bridge over Troubled Water,” “All My Children,” and the New York City Marathon have in common? They all made their debut in 1970—the same year that Earth Day was inaugurated as a national day of environmental awareness and action. And, just like the Simon and Garfunkel tune, ABC soap opera and 26-mile race, Earth Day is still going strong 42 years later.

Renew, Reuse, Recycle. April is a fitting month for Earth Day because it marks the start of spring, and the season of Earth’s renewal. So, take a moment this month to consider some behaviors that impact the environment and make a conscious choice to change them—even a little. For example: • Turn sprinklers off when it rains; let Mother Nature water your yard for free.

• Read the directions on pesticides and fertilizers so that they are applied sparingly; excess chemicals

pollute our creeks and ocean. And don’t apply right before rain is expected.

• If you wash your car in the driveway, use sand bags to keep the dirty wash water from going down the storm drain. Divert the water to your yard for a free watering. Or, collect with a wet vac and dispose in a sink rather than down the storm drain.

• Grab a reusable shopping bag from your car before you go into the store.

• Think twice about flicking that cigarette butt out the car window; it will end up in our waterways.

This year, in honor of Earth Day, we hope you take time to explore ways that you can help prevent ocean water pollution, conserve water and energy and reduce waste—while still enjoying our fabulous quality of life in our tri-city area. Be sure to turn to the events calendar page in this pullout section for a list of local options for celebrating Earth Day.

What in the world? What do Monday Night Football, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Matt Damon have in common? You’ve got it; they all made their “debut” in 1970 and, like Earth Day, they’re still going strong.

Happy Earth Day to all. Thank you for being stewards of our most precious resources and for doing your part to make every day Earth Day. This article was adapted from the regularly featured DP Times column Harboring the Good Life, a cooperative effort of the City of Dana Point and South Coast Water District to cultivate conscious living to protect and preserve our coastal neighborhoods and resources. If you have any suggestions for topics, please feel free to direct questions to lzawaski@danapoint.org (City of Dana Point) or lhomscheid@scwd.org (South Coast Water District). •

Green Living simple steps for everyday success

Earth Day a chance to spark interest in environment

BY JESSICA WATKINS

W

hat do you think of when you think of living green? Do visions spring to mind of your hybrid-driving, yoga-practicing, organicbuying, quinoa-eating, tree-hugging friend? While some folks are able to dedicate themselves fully to environmental concerns, being “green” doesn’t require going from gross consumer to eco-nut overnight. It starts with getting informed and understanding that an individual’s every action affects the natural environment and the environment of others.

And, if each person chose more thoughtful actions, systemic change would take hold.

April 22 marks the 42nd annual observance of Earth Day in the United States. According to the Earth Day Network, more than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. “Earth Day is a reminder for each of us,” said local Harry Helling, president of the Crystal Cove Alliance and board chairman of The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, “to shift our perspective from our normal human point of view to, instead, a much broader humanity point of view so that we might see, with greater clarity, our collective relationship with the planet.”

With Earth Day drawing near, it’s time to shake off the tree-hugging stereotypes and get yourself ready to join the global green community. From ecobeginner to expert, there are many simple things you can do to live greener every day: • Got morning breath? Make sure in your groggy, pre-coffee state that you turn the water off while you brush your teeth.

• Do a lot of driving? Before making the big leap to go hybrid, simply check and make sure your tires are inflated properly. Low air pressure decreases miles per gallon.

• Hate watering the lawn? Replace it with attractive, draught-tolerant, California-native landscaping.

Reduce your water footprint and harmful ocean runoff and save a ton on your water bill, too.

• Ready for some spring cleaning? Before you spray, consider this: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that air pollutant levels

The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Photo by Scott Sporleder/The Ecology Center

inside our homes can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels due to toxic ingredients found in some cleaners and fragrances. Check labels, or, better yet, make your own cleaners out of all natural ingredients.

• Drink water? Did you know it takes up to three times as much water to produce a plastic bottle of water as compared to drinking the same amount of tap water? Use a reusable bottle, and you’ll save that precious resource every time. Plus, you’ll save energy by eliminating freight energy to ship that packaged water to you. It comes out of your spigot for almost free.

• Want to eat better? Buy natural food as local as possible to avoid premature, tasteless harvests and massive air and land freight energy costs. Take it up a notch and have fun growing your own fruits and veggies in raised beds or containers.

We all know the adage “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” and most of us in Southern California are pretty good at the last one. But, did you know that roughly 30 cents of every dollar consumers spend on packaged goods goes towards paying for the packaging? And most packaging promptly gets recycled or thrown away? Consider the first two Rs before falling back on recycling. Do you really need that new product? Or can you make do? Can you repair or reuse what you already have? Can you buy it packaging-free at a consignment or bulk store?

Consider how your buying dollars speak, too, since consumer demand affects the marketplace.

Choose to spend a few more pennies now on select items of better quality, higher standards, and non-genetically modified organisms and industry standards and pricing will improve in time. Great examples of this are the increased number of organic products at competitive prices now available in the supermarkets as compared to 10 years ago.

Since 2009, The Ecology Center — adjacent to South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano — has helped people discover attainable solutions by breaking down environmental ecology into five accessible categories of living: food, water, shelter, waste, and energy. Through year-round program-

ming and hands-on workshops for all ages, the center engages people in “eco-education” to equip everyone to make better choices, challenging people to pledge action, tracking and encouraging those pledges, and exemplifying what it means to be eco-conscious. Executive Director Evan Marks considers the work of the center as “a bridge to sustainability for the community.” And what does sustainability really mean? “Giving back more than you take.”

There are many information resources that can help you go green. Check out any of the following websites to get started or delve deeper into ecoawareness: • A Billion Acts of Green: act.earthday.org • Local insights into food/water/energy/waste/ shelter: TheEcologyCenter.org/resources • Surfrider Foundation’s action center www. surfrider.org/take-action • Rankings of best and worst companies social and eco-awareness: betterworldshopper.org So whether you are young or old, whether you live in a big house or a studio apartment, whether you have a lot or a little to invest, think about what actions seem accessible and spark your interest.

Then, join in a community that shares your interests; gain some new ideas and give encouragement and expertise to others. Conquer your green-phobia and take a step toward making every day Earth Day--we will all benefit.

Local Event Call-out: The next opportunity to gain some of The Ecology Center’s hands-on eco-education is this Saturday at their annual “We Are Earth Day Festival and Seedling Sale.” Learn about our eco-system by touring their learning landscape, taking the scavenger hunt, eating local food and drink and getting your hands dirty planting a garden or building a terrarium. Commemorate your visit by making a pledge. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano. Special street parking will be available.

Jessica Watson can be reached at jessica@theecologycenter.org. •

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 10) SUNDAY FUNDAY 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Food, music and more at Irons in the Fire.

150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.542.3900, www.beachfire.com.

WHALE AND DOLPHIN TOURS Capt. Dave’s Safari has daily 2.5 hour whale and dolphin watching tours on a high-tech catamaran with underwater viewing pods and more. Call for times. $55 adults, $35 children, 2 and younger free. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.

ASHUN 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant.

34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

monday

OPEN MIC NITE 8 p.m. Open Mic Nite at The Coop the third Monday of the month presented by San Clemente Community Market, and hosted by Melody Ryan and Jason Soderlund. 1506 Calle Valle, San Clemente, openmicatthecoop@gmail.com.

16

TACO TUESDAY 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Homemade Hawaiian-style tacos and much more fun at Hapa J’s. 2016 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.276.6657, www.hapajs.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ELLIOT UNPLUGGED 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite. com.

RARE & RESERVE WINE TASTING 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. The 3rd Annual California Wine Festival kicks off with the Sunset Rare & Reserve Wine Tasting featuring a Champagne reception, great wines, appetizers and live jazz. Some wines being poured are no longer in distribution; some are proprietor’s reserves and end-ofvintage wines.Tickets $99 in advance or $125 at the door.

Ticket price includes an 18-ounce keepsake wine glass.

Complimentary valet parking. Dana Point Yacht Club, 24399 Dana Drive, Dana Point, 800.797.7753, www.californiawinefestival.com.

wednesday

18

GYPSY GROOVE 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

KIDS STORYTIME AT THE CASA 10 a.m. Casa Romantica hosts storytime for youngsters ages 3-5; free. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

WINE TASTING AT VINE 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.

MONDAY NIGHT LAUGHS 9 p.m.-11 p.m. Live stand-up comedy every Monday night at Hennessey’s Tavern. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com/dana_point. html.

KARAOKE 7 p.m. Joel and Les host Karaoke at Swallow’s Inn. Plus $2 tacos and free popcorn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

IAN BLACKBYRN’S WINE CAMP 7 p.m.-11 p.m. The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

thursday

tuesday

MOLLY BLOOMS’ ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT 11 a.m. Molly Blooms hosts the tourney at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course to benefit Wounded Warriors. $80 each, includes round of golf, dinner and drink. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

17

COOKING CLASS: ITALIAN FEAST 6:30 p.m. Cooking class with Chef Caroline Cazaumayou at Antoine’s Café. Cost $50 each; includes recipes, dinner and a glass of wine. 218 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.1763, www.antoinescafe.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 20

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 BEACHSIDE WINE FESTIVAL 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Day two of the California Wine Festival features unlimited tasting of wines from all over California, appetizers, craft beers and live Caribbean music. Advance tickets $69, $80 at the gate. Early entrance tickets are available for $94 (gate price $105) for those who want to avoid the crowds and lines and enter with the press and VIPs at 11:30 a.m. Ticket price includes an 18-ounce keepsake wine glass. Net proceeds benefit the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association. Parking $15. Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 800.797.7753, www.californiawinefestival.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22 LIFE ROLLS ON FUNDRAISING CONCERT 8 p.m. Special event at The Beachcomber to benefit Life Rolls On Foundation featuring eight regional bands and entertainers in a live-radio-style variety show format.

Tickets $10. 16278 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 562.592.1321, www.donthebeachcomber.com.

19

WHALE WATCHING 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Daily two-hour whale watching trips departing every hour at Dana Wharf. $19-$32. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

LADIES’ NIGHT 8 p.m.–12 a.m. Local bands and DJs with fun for the girls at Brio Tuscany Grille. 24050 Camino del Avion, Suite B, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

EARTH DAY AT OCEAN INSTITUTE 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering for a beach and harbor cleanup from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and receive free admission to the Ocean Institute. Then from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. learn about California native plants, xeriscaping, composting, water conservation and natural rodent control. Plant wildflower seeds in a decomposable pot and take it home. Native plants will be available for purchase from the Tree of Life Nursery. Get a reusable shopping bag and decorate it with fun items. Bring your old electronics and athletic shoes for recycling. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274 or visit www.ocean-institute.org. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com

DOHENY WOOD ROLLS IN APRIL 14

C

Doheny Wood 2011. Photo by Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times April 13–19, 2012

lassic car enthusiasts will be coming out of the woodwork (literally) for the Doheny Wood all woodie car show, as members of the Southern California Woodie Club host this 15th annual event on April 14. The show will be held at Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nearly 200 wood-paneled surf wagons representing a variety of domestic and foreign makes and models will be lined up in the south day use area of the park, along the beach side of Coast Highway, across from Olamendi’s Restaurant.

See wagons, hot rods and retro rods in a dazzling spectrum of shining colors, sparkling chrome and polished wood as well as a number of more “naturally aged” woodies sporting original paint and the patina of years past.

Page 23

Aside from the obvious eye candy, the show also features a variety of food, musical entertainment and raffle prizes like a hand crafted wooden surfboard, stand-up paddleboard, a hand made woodie quilt, original artwork and more.

Raffle proceeds support the Dana Point and San Clemente Junior Lifeguard programs, the Huntington Beach Children’s shelter, and new this year, the San Onofre Foundation.

Admission is free, but the State Park charges $15 for parking. Additional spots are available along both sides of Coast Highway.

For more information, visit www.socalwoodies.com. DP —Andrea Swayne www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

4

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

DP

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

D a n a Po i nt

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

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50: Tom Blake

Managing Dating Finances: Money, Ensure and Splitting Expenses Couples must learn to communicate on money matters or face conflict

O

ne of the first songs released by Elvis was “Money Honey.” In that song, Elvis wanted to know what his woman needed from him. Her answer: “Money honey, if you want to get along with me.”

Can money affect a senior relationship? According to a woman named Barb, it’s affecting hers.

Barb said, “I have an issue that is fast becoming major in my 3 ½ year relationship: Money!”

Barb and her male friend are both 73; they don’t live together, but have an exclusive relationship. They frequently go dancing, to the movies and have dinner. She has suggested several times that they split the costs as both are on fixed incomes, although she earns a little more than he.

Here’s Barb’s beef: “Now he has started itemizing everything, down to ‘You had a cappuccino and I only had

a coffee, so you owe me.’ Or, ‘You only had chicken and I had steak so I owe you.’ I don’t want this to be so petty, and told him so.

I believe it washes out eventually.

ON LIFE AND “And what about LOVE AFTER 50 the times he eats at my

By Tom Blake home? He never cooks at home. But he brings me Ensure and goodies sometimes, so I feel that’s OK. “This is becoming a big problem! And he becomes very defensive about this and starts complaining.”

Barb is looking for answers. Her situation reminds me of one of my former relationships. I was dating a woman exclusively and we shared expenses. We took a trip to New York. On the United Airlines flight back, I had nothing better to do so I itemized the trip expenses.

Proud of myself for capturing all of the detail, I handed her the list and said, “You owe me $44.87.”

Oh my gosh! Not only did she not speak to me for the rest of the trip, she decided that I was too tacky and cheap and ended the relationship. It was the 87 cents that annoyed her.

Why, in Barb’s case, has her guy started itemizing expenses after 3 ½ years? It might be due to something other than money.

When she tries to discuss this with him, he gets defensive, which means their lines of communication are not as open as before.

When I shared this story with Gloria, a regular Tutor and Spunky’s Deli customer, she replied, “If I was Barb, I’d dig a little deeper. In my experience, a change signals an interest in another woman. When he starts criticizing and picking, it can mean the beginning of

the end.”

I agree with Gloria. If Barb’s guy doesn’t put his calculator away and isn’t willing to discuss his newly adopted downto-the-penny behavior, she may have to find a new dance partner.

Of course, doing so could eliminate her source of Ensure so she has to be prepared for that.

Oh wow—the issues that older singles have to consider.

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

DP LIVING

All Hopped Up on Fun

Hundreds attend Dana Point egg hunts Text and photos by Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

H

undreds of children hopped on over with their families to Pines Park and Sea Canyon Park on April 7 for the annual City of Dana Point egg hunts.

Kids of all ages enjoyed a petting zoo, face painting, photos with the Easter Bunny and an array of games until the egg and candy hunts began.

After about an hour of activities children, eager for the main event, began lining up by age group outside four roped-off areas.

You could see the anticipation in their eyes as they surveyed the lawn dotted with hundreds of brightly colored Easter eggs and a mouthwatering selection of candies.

Just as the kids began to get a bit fidgety, a horn sounded at 10 a.m. sharp, setting off a mad dash to fill up Easter baskets. And a crescendo of laughter and the sounds of clicking camera shutters filled the air.

Here is a sampling of photos from the Pines Park event. DP

Jaydyn Rojas, 1 and her mom Jordan Hitchcock of Dana Point were celebrating Easter and Jayden’s first birthday at the Pines Park event.

Zakary Novak, 3, of Capo Beach and Drew Lapalme, 4, of San Clemente get ready to hunt for eggs and candy.

Dominique Stevens, 4, of Dana Point was especially interested in seeing the baby pig at the petting zoo.

The Bailey family of Monarch Beach (L to R) Jeff, Jordan Ann, 4, Grant, 5 and Shawn posed for a photo with the Easter Bunny.

Roman, 10; German, 11 and J.J. Salgado, 2, of Dana Point enjoyed petting the alpaca’s soft wool.

You could see the intense concentration on the faces of the egg and spoon race competitors.

Dana Point Times April 13–19, 2012

Logan Weckerle hands out prizes to participants of the spoon and egg race.

Page 25

Gene Burrus of Dana Point volunteered to help distribute City of Dana Point calendars and recreation guides. www.danapointtimes.com

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

DP

D a n a Po i nt

5 BEST BETS SOCCER

A’s vs. Angels, Angel Stadium

April 14, 7:30 p.m.

April 16, 7:05 p.m.

After falling to Kansas City last week, the Galaxy aim to get back on track with a weekend win against Portland.

After slugging it out against the Yankees on the road, the Halos head back home for the first of a 4-game series with Oakland.

Info: www.lagalaxy.com

Dolphin Report: SPORTS NEWS FROM DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

By David Zimmerle

BASEBALL • After beating Westchester to open up the first round of the Anaheim Lions Tournament on March 31, the Dolphins (1-3 SCL, 9-8) shut down Dorsey High in a 14-0 win that same day.

The team then rolled past Mira Costa High on April 2 by the final score of 13-3 before closing out the tournament with two straight losses—the first a 3-1 edge to Servite on April 3 and the second a 4-1 defeat to Long Beach Poly on April 4. The team went on to face San Clemente on the road April 10 before hosting the Tritons on April 11.

Next 7 days: April 18 vs. *Tesoro, 3:15 p.m.; April 20 at *Tesoro, 3:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL • The Lady Dolphins (0-1 SVL, 3-14) faced Chino High on April 3 and went back home after suffering a tough 2-1 loss to its opponent.

Next 7 days: April 17 vs. *Capistrano Valley, 3:30 p.m.; April 19 at *San Clemente, 3:30 p.m.

GOLF • The Dolphins (1-2 SCL, 7-4) lost

BASEBALL

Timbers vs. Galaxy, Home Depot Center

both of their recent rounds to El Toro.

Dana Hills fell 198-204 to the Chargers on April 3 before losing 193-207 to El Toro on April 4 at Monarch Beach Golf Course.

Next 7 days: April 16 vs. La Costa Canyon at La Costa GC, 3 p.m.; April 17 vs. Aliso Niguel at El Niguel CC, 2:30 p.m.; April 18 vs. La Costa Canyon at El Niguel CC, 3:15 p.m.; April 19 vs. Aliso Niguel at Aliso Viejo CC, 2:30 p.m.

BOYS LACROSSE • The Dolphins (1-4 SCL, 7-6) lost to San Clemente on April 3 by the final score of 15-12. Next, the team faced Tesoro on April 5 and lost 14-6 to the Titans.

Next 7 days: April 17 at *Mission Viejo, 5:30 p.m.; April 19 vs. *Trabuco Hills, 5:30 p.m.

GIRLS LACROSSE • The Lady Dolphins (1-3 SCL, 6-6) couldn’t get past San Clemente on April 3, losing 9-8 to the Lady Tritons. Echo Myer had a team high three goals in the game while

Info: www.losangeles. angels.mlb.com

BOYS BASEBALL

SOFTBALL

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Titans vs.

Dolphins, Dana Hills High

Dolphins vs.

Tritons, San Clemente High

Breakers vs.

Dolphins, Dana HIlls High

April 18, 3:15 p.m.

April 19, 3:30 p.m.

April 20, 6 p.m.

Following a break in class and on the diamond, the Dolphins get back to business with a game against Tesoro.

Cross-town rivals square off in South Coast League action as San Clemente hosts Dana Hills in this key game.

The Dolphins are in the driver’s seat as the team hits up home court for a nonleague match against Laguna Beach.

Info: www.dhhs.net

Info: www.sctritons.com

Info: www.dhhs.net

Annie King finished with two goals. The team went on to face Tesoro on April 5.

Next 7 days: April 17 vs. *Mission Viejo, 5:30 p.m.

BOYS AND GIRLS SWIMMING • Both varsity levels of the Dana Hills swim team traveled to take on Tesoro on April 3 as the boys team lost 105-64.

Next 7 days: April 17 vs. *Trabuco Hills, 3 p.m.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL • The Dolphins (5-0 SCL, 19-3) took down rival San Clemente in four set on April 3, winning 25-19, 25-19, 18-25 and 25-23. Bryce Yould finished with 18 kills, Christian Hessenauer slammed down 16 kills and Doug Hamann had eight. The team beat Tesoro on April 5, winning 25-17, 25-13 and 25-21. Yould led with 14 kills.

Next 7 days: April 17 vs. *Mission Viejo, 6:15 p.m.; April 20 vs. Laguna Beach, 6 p.m.

BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD • The Dolphins traveled to the Arcadia Invite April 6-7. Senior Tori Usgaard took first place in the girls heptathlon with a point total of 4,432. Usgaard also placed third in the long jump and javelin and fourth in the 800. Her

point total is the seventh best in county history. Senior Keith Messinger (6,077 points) finished in second place in boys decathlon, tied for first in the pole vault with a clearance of 14-3¼, was second in discus, fourth in the javelin throw, fi fth in the 110 hurdles and sixth in the 1500.

The team next competed at the OC Championships at Mission Viejo High on April 14.

Next 7 days: April 18 at *Aliso Niguel, 3 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS • The Dolphins (3-3 SCL, 4-7) rolled past Aliso Niguel 12-6 on April 2.

Dana Hills next faced Capo on April 5 and lost 12-6. Results are as follows: Singles: Alec Dardis lost to Coastin Piruu(CV) 4-6 ,def. Nick Zane (CV) 6-3 def. Ethan Moseans (CV) 6-3; Chase Masciorini(DH) 6-2,6-2,6-4; Bayan Yazdi (DH) 0-6,3-6,1-6.

Doubles: Jelic/James (DH) lost to Kanaan/ Hong (CV) 3-6, lost to Alstan/Alstan (CV) 0-6 def. Cota/Cross (CV) 6-2; Alami/Funato (DH) 3-6,4-6,1-6; Wong/Uddberg (DH) 2-6,0-6,6-7.

Next 7 days: April 16 vs. Tesoro at LNRC, 3 p.m.; April 17 vs. San Clemente at LNRC, 3 p.m.; April 19 at Trabuco Hills, 3 p.m.

Log on to www.danapointtimes.com for the full listing of stats and scores.

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

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

AUTO REPAIR

BEAUTY SALONS 949.500.2909 949.489.1955 949.248.8595

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

949.388.8102

CHIROPRACTORS 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

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Christian Science Services 34102 La Plaza

949.661.3151

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

COINS GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

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

Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100! Write-up of 50 words with

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

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

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

DENTISTS 949.661.5664

ELECTRICAL delta G electrical 949.360.9282 CA #657214, www.deltagelect.com

949.248.1007

Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556 Jolly Roger Restaurant 949.496.0855 24699 Del Prado, www.danmans.com 34661 Golden Lantern, www.aloharestaurants.com Smokey’s House of BBQ 949.388.8102 PLUMBING 32860 Pacific Coast Hwy. #4, Chick’s Plumbing 949.496.9731 www.SmokeysHouseofBBQ.com www.chicks-plumbing.com

SURF LESSONS

POOL & SPA SERVICE Island Inspired Pool & Spa islandinspired@earthlink.net

949.547.1000

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

PRINT SHOP

949.831.7984

HAIR SALONS

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

949.218.4464

SURF SHOPS 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

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

REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL

Mobile Salon Malina 949.500.2909 www.salonmalina.com The Captain’s Chair 949.496.1957 20 Monarch Bay Plaza, www.thecaptainschairdp.com Paragon Salon 949.489.1955 34161 Pacific Coast Hwy.

Ocean Academy www.oceanacademy4u.com

Beacon Printing - Brad & Judy Brandmeier English Tutoring by Susan 949.481.0481 24681 La Plaza, Ste. 125 949.661.3877 Mathnasium 949.388.6555 beaconprinting@sbcglobal.net 32411 Golden Lantern, Ste. Q, www.mathnasium.com Printing OC 949.388.4888 UPHOLSTERY 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

PSYCHOTHERAPY

FITNESS PROGRAMS

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

Bayside Window Cleaning 949.215.2323 Prudential California Realty, Shirley Tenger www.baysidewindowcleaning.com www.tengerteam.com 949.487.7700 Surterre Properties Monarch Beach, 949.464.3243 WINDOW COVERINGS McDaniel Gilmore Group Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 949.240.9569 33522 Niguel Rd. Ste. 100, Monarch Beach 92629 34118 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jeddys.com www.mcdanielgilmoregroup.com

YOGA

RESTAURANTS Brio Tuscany Grille 949.443.1476 24050 Camino Del Avion, www.briorestaurant.com

Sun Salute Yoga Studio 949.371.6097 24655 La Plaza, Ste. A, www.sunsaluteyoga.com

INSURANCE SERVICES 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

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

JUNIOR WATERMAN PROGRAM Ocean Academy www.oceanacademy4u.com

949.218.4464

JUNK REMOVAL Green Dump Truck www.greendumptruck.com

COSMETICS

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

Sign up to be featured as our monthly

Fit Club - Boot Camp www.afitclub.com

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

YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

logo. Four weeks in print and online.

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

Mobile Salon Malina www.salonmalina.com Paragon Salon 34161 Pacific Coast Hwy. Salon Revelation - Dayna Dallas 34192 Violet Lantern #2

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

949.697.4517

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

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Dana Point Times April 13–19, 2012

Page 29

www.danapointtimes.com

DP SURF

6

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

DP

D a n a Po i nt

GROM OF THE WEEK Elenna “Lulu” Erkeneff Age: 16, Dana Hills High School In honor of Earth Day and this week’s “Green Issue” of the Dana Point Times, the Grom of the Week is accomplished surfer, high school junior and defender of the environment Elenna “Lulu” Erkeneff. Despite a challenging course load of AP and other advanced classes, Lulu attended every recent Dana Point City Council meeting when the topic of single-use plastic bags and polystyrene foam bans appeared on the agenda. She was a mainstay in the audience at the meetings leading up to the March vote that made both bans official—sometimes doing homework patiently waiting to hear the discussion, sometimes reading over her notes in preparation for addressing the council in support of the bans. In surf competition this season Lulu has been turnLulu Erkeneff at a Dana Point City Council meeting. Photo by Andrea Swayne ing in amazing performances left and right. In WSA competition she is ranked No. 1 in Open Women Shortboard and No. 2 in Open Women Longboard, Girls U18 Shortboard and Girls U18 Longboard. Lulu is also the No. 4 rated surfer in the elite, invitation only Surfing America Prime series. Lulu, vice president of her school’s Surfrider Foundation Club, says her love for surfing is the guiding force behind her interest in protecting the environment. “As surfers we’re always in the ocean, so we should protect the place we love so much,” Lulu said. “I intend to keep working on environmental issues for my whole life. It’s just as important to me as surfing.” —Andrea Swayne

USA Surf Team Panama Bound

UPCOMING EVENTS April 14-15: WSA Gatorade Championship Tour, Event No. 9, Huntington Beach, Goldenwest Street April 28: NSSA Southwest Explorer, Event No. 9, Dana Point, Salt Creek April 28: NSSA Southwest Explorer, Event No. 8, originally scheduled for March 24 was postponed due to flat surf and rescheduled to run concurrently with Event No. 9 at Dana Point, Salt Creek. April 28-29: Surfing America Prime West, Event No. 6, Camp Pendleton, DMJs

Juniors team set to compete at ISA World Championship

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

T

he PacSun USA Surf Team will board a flight to Panama in the wee morning hours of April 12 en route to the Dakine/Billabong International Surfing Association World Junior Surfing Championships at Playa Venao, April 14-22.

Surfing America, the ISA-recognized national governing body for the sport of surfing in the United States, is sending a travel team of 12 boys and five girls to test their skills among a field of the best U18 surfers from 30 countries around the world.

Excitement and nervous energy has been building in the days leading up to the team’s departure. But that hasn’t interfered with their stepped-up training schedule to prepare for, what for most, will be their first time facing international-level competition against the sport’s most elite talent on the planet.

The event is the closest thing to the Olympics that the sport of surfing has

Griffin Colapinto San Clemente

Trevor Thornton San Clemente

Jake Davis Capistrano Beach

Colt Ward San Clemente

Photos courtesy of Surfing America

and is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee, said Surfing America Executive Director Greg Cruse.

“The team has been training hard as a cohesive unit and everyone is supporting one another, really working as a team,” said Cruse “I think we have the talent and the depth to do well and we’re excited to take on the best in the world.”

The team includes talented local surfers Jake Davis of Capistrano Beach and from San Clemente Trevor Thornton, Colt Ward and Griffin Colapinto.

The balance of the team is made up of Colin Moran (Costa Mesa), Cam Richards (South Carolina), Kanoa Igarashi

(Huntington Beach), Jake Marshall and Taylor Clark (Encinitas), John Mel (Newport Beach), Nic Hdez (Santa Cruz), Jake Halstead (La Jolla), Nikki Viesens and Emily Ruppert (Florida), Quincy Davis (New York), Frankie Harrer (Malibu) and Harley Taich (La Jolla).

The team will be accompanied by four team parents, Cruse, head coach Ian Cairns, assistant coaches Sean Mattison and Jim Hogan, girls chaperone Chloe Cruse and medical director Kevyn Dean.

To watch the event, log on to www.isasurf.org and click on the live webcast link.

The link can also be found on the Surfing America home page at www.surfingamerica.org. DP

SURF FORECAST Water temp: 55-58˚F Water visibility and conditions: Local: 6-10’+ Poor; Catalina: 10-15’+ Fair Short range: Surf size is running knee-waistchest high (2-3’+) for most better breaks on Thursday, with a few plus sets for top combo exposures to around shoulder high (4’). Our mix of swells builds further Friday. Good breaks see knee-waist-shoulder high (2-4’) waves, with larger surf late in the day. Conditions are poor as a front moves through the region.

Long range: A mix of West-Northwest and Southerly swells prevails through weekend. Size for good exposures is running knee-waist-shoulder high (2-4’) this weekend, with peaky shape and a few larger sets for top West and combo exposures. Check Surfline.com for updates.