Dana Point Times by Dana Point Times

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, EVENTS AND MORE A U G U S T 1 0 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1 6 , 2 0 1 2

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

C A N

U S E

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 32

State of the Beaches Local groups dig deep to supplement the programs at Doheny, San Clemente and San Onofre state beaches E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 5

Steve Long, retired superintendent of the area beaches and San Onofre Foundation board member, and Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association president Bill Brooks discuss the importance of the nonprofit organizations and the upcoming Doheny Surf Festival. Photo by Andrea Swayne

Six Throw Hats in the Ring for Water District Election

GROM OF THE WEEK: Jacob Atwood of Capistrano Beach

Doheny Surf Festival Kicks Off Saturday

EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

DP SURF/PAGE 18

SPECIAL PULLOUT SECTION

EYE ON DP

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.danapointtimes.com

HOW TO REACH US

Dana Point Times, Vol. 5, Issue 31. 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.

EDITOR STORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@danapointtimes.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

ADVERTISING

CEO Norb Garrett

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Accounting Manager > Tricia Zines

RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@danapointtimes.com

Sports & News Reporter > Steve Breazeale

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller

City Reporter, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park

Sales Associate > Angela Edwards

CONTRIBUTORS Tawnee Prazak

PRINT AND ONLINE

EDITORIAL

Lauralyn Loynes, 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@danapointtimes.com

Senior Editor, SC Times > Stacie N. Galang

DISTRIBUTION

D a n a Po i nt

BILLING Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@danapointtimes.com

ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

INTERNS Kevin Dahlgren, Sara Gold, Lindsey Jones, Neville Roane-King, Andrea Maben

DANA POINT’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With... 1

…Marina Project?

THE LATEST: OC Dana Point Harbor issued a community advisory August 3 announcing that the public hearing on the Dana Point Harbor Marina Improvement Project’s latest environmental impact report planned for Wednesday, August 8 has been postponed. Boaters 4 Dana Point Harbor leader Bruce Heyman responded with an email to the organization’s members accusing the county of purposefully neglecting to give boaters enough time to properly review the report. “The citizens of Orange County deserve better from their government than to only have six days to read, understand, digest and respond to this 1,421 page document,” Heyman wrote in his email. Harbor Director Brad Gross said he feels the project is moving forward at a comfortable pace but that the county decided to postpone the hearing to give boaters more time with the documents. “If boaters feel that the process is moving too quickly, we are happy to accommodate their request for more time,” Gross said. The project plan includes changes and upgrades throughout the east and west marinas, federally required accessibility improvements to gangways and docks and construction of new docks along the eastern breakwater, the county staff report says. The report also says the project will include the installation of 2,293 slips but means a net loss of 116 slips. WHAT’S NEXT: Once a new meeting date is set, a revised announcement will be sent, along with the new agenda, related material and legally required meeting notices, the advisory said. FIND OUT MORE: See www.danapointtimes. com or www.ocdph.com. —Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times August 10–16, 2012

… Water District Elections?

THE LATEST: With three board member spots up for grabs in both the South Coast and Santa Margarita water districts, candidates have pulled paper in hopes of being elected in November. In the South Coast Water District, which serves Dana Point and areas of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, six candidates for have pulled papers as of August 6. Current board President Wayne Rayfield and Vice President Ingrid Mcguire are among the sitting members who have pulled papers for reelection. Joel Bishop, Dick Dietmeier, Rick Erkeneff and Gary Langdale round out the list of candidates. The Santa Margarita Water District, which services the Talega development in San Clemente, has had three candidates pull papers for election. Among those who have pulled papers is current board member Charley Wilson, a board member since 2000. Fred Carr and Chuck Gibson have also pulled papers. WHAT’S NEXT: The candidates have until August 10 to get the needed signatures and return their forms in order for it to become official.

WHAT’S NEXT: The investigation of SONGS is on the Wednesday, August 23 agenda for the Public Utilities Commission. FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.danapointtimes.com for updates. —Stacie N. Galang

FIND OUT MORE: Visit the Santa Margarita Water District at www.smwd.com and the South Coast Water District at www. scwd.org. — Steve Breazeale

Last week, five groups, including the Division of Ratepayer Advocates and the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, sent a letter to commissioners, saying little information about the costs to plant owner Southern California Edison has been made public. The commission had the investigation on its Thursday, August 2 agenda but postponed it. For its part, SCE said in a statement that its cost to purchase power in the absence of San Onofre’s reactors was $117 million as of June 30. Some of the costs with the two reactors, which have been offline since January, may be covered by the original 2005 authorization to replace the steam generators for $665 million in current dollars, the company said. SCE also indicated that the steam generators are covered by warranty, and the company also carries outage insurance. “SCE will pursue recoveries arising from available agreements and insurance, but there is no assurance that SCE will recover all of its applicable costs pursuant to these arrangements,” the statement said.

… SONGS?

THE LATEST: Activists want the California Public Utilities Commission to forge ahead quickly with its investigation of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the costs to ratepayers for the outage of its two reactors.

… Ramp Closures?

THE LATEST: Upgrades to the southbound off-ramp at Camino De Estrella mean it will be closed for 55 hours from 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 10 to 4 a.m. Monday, August 14. The upgrades, by Caltrans, will add another exit lane to the off-ramp and widen the off-ramp from a single lane to a twolane exit, according to a news release. Local street improvements include widening the over-crossing structure from five

Page 3

lanes to seven lanes, adding an additional westbound left turn lane from Camino De Estrella to the southbound 1-5 on-ramp and adding another eastbound through lane at Camino De Estrella, the release says. WHAT’S NEXT: Message signs will alert motorists of the weekend closures. FIND OUT MORE: For more information, contact Caltrans District 12 at 949.724.2000 or visit www.dot.ca.gov/dist12. —SNG

…the Drifter Bandit?

THE LATEST: The “Drifter Bandit,” responsible for four Orange County bank robberies last year, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four felony counts each of second degree robbery and second degree commercial burglary with sentencing enhancements for eight prior strike convictions for four robberies and two assaults using a firearm in 1988 and two robberies in 1986, a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s office said. Michael David Marano, 46, of Santa Ana, was responsible for a string of heists last year when he robbed a Chase Bank and a Farmers & Merchants Bank in San Juan Capistrano, a U.S. Bank in Dana Point and a Citibank in Laguna Niguel between May and July of 2011. After leaving his shirt near the scene of the fourth robbery, the Bank Robbery Apprehension Team, made up of an investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and FBI agents, recovered the garment and linked Marano to the crime through DNA. Marano was arrested July 8, 2011. WHAT’S NEXT: Marano was sentenced to serve 30-years in state prison. FIND OUT MORE: See www.occourts.org. —AS www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

State of the Beaches

the center to be open by the end of the year. “The funding for the remaining work is secured; we just to need to complete the last few details—stucco, the door, carpeting and a life support system for the ocean animals,” he said. “We are ordering display cabinets and are about ready to fill aquatic displays with water and introduce specimens.”

Local groups dig deep to supplement the programs at San Onofre, San Clemente and Doheny state beaches By Stacie N. Galang and Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

n the surface, the area’s three state beaches — San Onofre, San Clemente and Doheny — glisten with raw beauty and beckon to visitors as they always have. Mother Nature provided their majestic coastal cliffs, pristine shores and killer breaks, making them among the most popular in California’s park system. But local supporters and officials say the trio of beaches, like other state-run programs, are in need of plenty of belowthe-surface care, gone neglected because of tight budgets. “It’s always a game of cat and mouse,” said Parks Superintendent Rich Haydon, who oversees the three state beaches in south Orange County and north San Diego County. “The infrastructure is old. We have our share of deferred maintenance.” In particular, Doheny State Beach’s water delivery system and sewer treatment stand in desperate need of repair, Haydon said. These projects are among the $1.3 billion in infrastructural improvements needed across the 180 parks in the state system. Haydon said some of the pipes were replaced in the 1980s, and years of use and their ocean setting have caused them to wear down and break. Within the last month, the park maintenance staff has had to find and repair a 4-inch water main, and it’s a constant challenge to fix the leaks and make the emergency repairs. Sacramento Woes Because of their popularity, the area’s three state beaches were never on the list of 70 state parks or beaches slated for closure earlier this year. Nevertheless, due to strapped state budgets, much needed, large-scale repairs have been postponed. In Sacramento, a scandal in recent months over $54 million in unreported state funds has prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to call for greater scrutiny across all state accounts. In the meantime, two top leaders in the California State Department of Parks and Recreation resigned. Last week, Brown said in a news release that he would use the found money to keep more state parks open and “fix serious park maintenance problems.” “The disclosure that the parks department had millions in additional revenues is mixed—it’s better to have more money than less, but it’s totally unacceptable for Dana Point Times August 10–16, 2012

Doheny State Beach is one of three local state beaches—along with San Onofre and Doheny—to benefit from the efforts of the San Onofre Foundation and Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association. File photo

Parks personnel to squirrel away public funds,” he said in Friday’s release. “I extend my deepest appreciation for the donors who have come to the aid of our parks in this time of need. I ask for their patience as we take all necessary steps to make sure this never happens again.” But patience won’t plug leaky pipes, and local officials have no idea yet whether their projects will be among those selected for improvements. Steve Long, the retired superintendent of the area beaches and a San Onofre Foundation board member, noted that all the fees collected locally go back to Sacramento. The popularity of the regions parks does not mean they keep what they make. “There’s always chronic underfunding if you will,” Long said. He described the recently discovered money as “a drop in the bucket.” “Yeah, it’s an unfortunate story,” Long said. “Not all of the information is well understood … I do know our task is to address the educational programs. They are not funded.” Let’s Go Surfing Now In the meantime, the San Onofre Foundation—for San Onofre and San Clemente state beaches—and the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association are concertedly raising funds to keep the educational component of the parks available to the public. This weekend, the two nonprofits have joined together to host the Doheny Beach Surf Festival. Over two days, the groups plan to host live music, surf demonstrations and vendors as well as booths and exhibits from like-minded organizations. Bands like ALO and musicians like Eddie Money will perform at Doheny State Beach over the two-day festival. From learning how a surfboard is made and shopping for the newest in products

and technology to watching tandem, outrigger and SUP demonstrations, visitors will be completely immersed in all things surf at the festival. The public can enjoy the festival for the cost of parking, which is $15. Tickets to the concert are $29 in advance and $34 at the door. A shuttle from Dana Hills High School will take visitors to and from the park for $5 per person or $15 for a family. “Our main goal is to assist our local state parks,” said Jim Kempton, CEO and executive director of the San Onofre Foundation. “So we’re never doing good enough because there’s always more that can be done to make the parks better, to educate park visitors and to improve the quality of the experience.” Because the Doheny Surf Festival is a fundraiser organized expressly to support local state beaches, the event and its supporting nonprofit organizations recently took some heavy criticism on a KFI-AM radio show in light of the discovery of millions of dollars of the unreported money that should have been available while the state parks system reported a $22 million deficit and planned to close 70 parks. “My best analogy of a cooperative association like ours is that it does what a PTA does for a school or a football booster club does for the team,” said Bill Brooks, president of the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association. “That’s an important thing for the public to understand. Our fundraising efforts provide support for the extras that would otherwise not be funded by the state, whether the state funding is there or not. The visitors’ center and aquarium, for example, wouldn’t necessarily get state money.” The visitors’ center and aquarium at Doheny—closed for repairs since 2007—is in the final phase of renovation, and while Brooks said he can not yet announce a firm opening date, he expects

Page 5

Line in the Sand Brian Ketterer, Orange Coast district superintendent, said last year’s district budget was $14.2 million to pay for operating expenses and salaries at Orange County’s state beaches, including Huntington, Bolsa Chica, Crystal Cove, El Moro and the three local beaches. Because of what’s happening in Sacramento, he has not received the final budget amount for this year. Locally, the state funding must care for 2,106 acres at San Onofre, the 254 acres at Doheny and 117 acres of San Clemente state beaches, according to Ketterer. Last year, 1.28 million people visited Doheny State Beach, 379,248 visited San Clemente State Beach and 1.62 million hit the beach at San Onofre, the district superintendent said. The funds raised by the cooperating organizations provide educational programs for visitors and area students. In 2010, the San Onofre Foundation’s total revenue was $90,578, and the Doheny State Beach Interpretative Association’s revenue was $62,288, according to their most recent available tax filings. Kempton said that one of the reasons the groups are putting on the surf festival is to expose more people to the area’s state beaches and what they provide. “It’s a gift that California gives itself, these parks, and they are the most special places we have,” he said. “Ours are particularly amazing because we have so many different activities that we do in them.” One of the most recent examples of supplemental funding is the purchase of a new set of kayaks to be used for providing public kayak tours at Doheny, and the printing of Junior Ranger coloring books for program participants, according to Brooks. The organization also applied for and won a $10,000 grant from Odwalla to buy trees for the park and is working on obtaining a matching grant. “Everyone in the organization is passionate about our parks,” Brooks said. “We all absolutely love them, use them and want to make sure that they last for everyone to enjoy—for our children and grandchildren and their children and grandchildren.” Brooks noted that the best way to keep our ocean healthy is through education. “When people learn about the abundance of life under the waves, they become more attuned to how what they do on land affects the creatures in the water,” he said. “I hope the state has the wisdom to see that it costs more to close the parks than to keep them open.” DP www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter SPONSORED BY

Dana Point Police Services www.HideitLockitOrLoseit.com COMPILED BY KEVIN DAHLGREN 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.

Monday, August 6 WELFARE CHECK Camino Capistrano, 34200 Block (11:24 p.m.) Four children, ranging in age from 2 to 15 years old, were spotted sitting on the sidewalk with skateboards. The caller was worried the children could get hurt by themselves. A patrol check was performed

and it was found that parental supervision was present. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Vista Grande, 33700 Block (6:36 p.m.) A woman called police after returning home to her residence to find her patio furniture misplaced around her front yard. Her house key also did not open her front door. She believed that her house may have been burglarized and was waiting at a neighbor’s house until police arrived. FOUND PROPERTY La Cresta Drive, 24600 Block (8:07 a.m.) A backpack full of cell phones and credit cards was on a resident’s driveway near the back gate. The man called police after the bag was not claimed for more than a week. The caller had to leave but would leave the bag on his front porch to be picked up.

KEEP THE PEACE Spin Drift Court, 33500 Block (3:27 a.m.) A 23-year-old man called police after a guest at his party stole a cell phone and was refusing to give it back. The caller said many people had been drinking at the party but was unsure exactly how many people were there.

ASSAULT Ritz-Carlton Drive, 0 Block (10:47 p.m.) Hotel employees called police after a man with blood on his clothing came into the lobby claiming he had been “jumped” by a group of 15 to 25 unknown males. The man was unable to give descriptions of any individuals but said they may have had gang affiliations. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Pacific Coast Highway/Ritz-Carlton Drive

Dana Point Relay for Life organizers will host a planning meeting Tuesday, August 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street. Those interested in helping with the effort to find a cure for cancer by participating or donating are welcome. The meeting is open to the public and captains of existing relay teams are encouraged to attend.

Well Done Commander Snyder Commander Joe Snyder of Dana Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934 was recently featured on the national VFW website in an article honoring his work and the work of his fellow VFW members. The article says that after serving for 25 years and piloting a Marine Aircraft Group 39 helicopter in Vietnam, the retired Marine Corps Colonel’s loyalty to that unit has never faltered. “Three years ago, Snyder’s post ‘adopted’ the unit, which consists of over 5,000 Marines. Since then, they’ve helped supDana Point Times August 10–16, 2012

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Cheltam Way, 33300 Block (3:45 a.m.) Police were called after a woman walking to her car noticed a tall man, carrying a bottle of vodka, was looking into cars in the alley behind the location. No description of the man could be given due to the darkness of the alley but the caller believed the man was attempting to break into cars.

Friday, August 3

SHOTS HEARD Santiago Drive, 33100 Block (9:09 p.m.) A woman called police when several car alarms began sounding on the street after what was thought to be a gunshot was heard somewhere nearby. A patrol check revealed that several children had set off fireworks at a park in the area. DRUNK DRIVING Camino Capistrano/Palisades Drive (12:17 p.m.) A gold colored Mercedes-Benz was reported, by multiple callers, driving erratically and crossing over the median. Several eyewitnesses reported that the car had sideswiped more than 10 vehicles parked on the side of the road. The driver

CITIZEN ASSIST Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (1:29 p.m.) A drawstring bag containing a crack pipe and several other items of drug paraphernalia was found at a local business. Store employees told deputies that transients regularly use drugs near the establishment.

The County anticipates receiving at least $30 million over the term of the 25 year lease. The water park is projected to open in May 2014. “This represents a good balance of generating revenue, creating jobs and preserving a popular Orange County business,” said Supervisor Patricia Bates.

Compiled by Andrea Swayne

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO DP Relay for Life Planning Meeting Set for August 13

was eventually involved in a non-injury collision at Avenida Pico and Pacific Coast Highway

BRANDISHING A WEAPON Stonehill Drive/Del Obispo Street (5:47 p.m.) A man was driving down the street when a man riding in the passenger seat of a grey Honda Accord pulled up next to him at a stoplight, flashed a knife and said, “I am going to cut you.” The Honda then sped away quickly. The man with the knife was wearing a white T-shirt and had a scar on his hand. The driver of the Honda was a female with blonde hair.

Saturday, August 4

Sunday, August 5

NEWS BITES

(2:57 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man in his early 30s who was seen taking pictures of women in bathing suits near Salt Creek Beach. The man was sitting under an umbrella and attempting to hide as he took the pictures. He was last seen sporting a pair of multi-colored swim trunks.

port the unit in many ways: troop support events, emergency financial assistance, fundraisers and care packages, to name a few,” the article says. Snyder was also named All-American Post Commander this year. “Post 9934 is one of the best Posts around,” said Carla Darnell, Coordinator, M.A.P. and Adopt-a-Unit, VFW National Headquarters. “Their ability to engage the public and their strong relationship with Marine Aircraft Group 39 are proof of that.” “My guys are always willing to put in the time. We will never stop working for these veterans and their families. We’re the post that never sleeps,” Snyder said. To find out more, log on to www.vfw.org.

Pendleton Historical Society to Host Fundraising Event Courtesy photo

and (bottom row L to R) Alyssa Niedziela and Sean Smith put the club’s hula hoops to creative use in creating the Olympic rings for a photo.

Water Park to Relocate

Supporting a Local Hero Kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley caught “Olympic fever” and were inspired to come up with a way to cheer on the home team and, specifically, to show support for local hero volleyball player Jennifer Kessy. Members (top row L to R) Natalia Johnson, Angel Bonilla, Garret McGahey

The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a lease with Wild Rivers this week to construct and operate a new water park in Irvine on County property. Located at the former MCAS El Toro, the 17 acre park will be constructed across from The Great Park on property the County received after the former Marine Corps Air Station closed. Wild Rivers’ previous lease with the Irvine Company expired last year after operating successfully for 27 years on Irvine Company property adjacent to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

Page 6

The Camp Pendleton Historical Society is sponsoring its annual fundraising event to support the base’s historical programs, including the preservation and restoration of the Ranch House and the Las Flores Adobe. The fundraiser will be Saturday, August 11 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ranch House, located at 1344 Vandegrift Blvd. in Oceanside. Admission is $50 per person. The event includes a tour of the Ranch House, a live band, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and raffles. For more information, contact Don Gressly at 760.727.7126 or marinedag@sbcglobal. net. Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more. Forward a picture along, too! We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com.

www.danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT

AT THE MOVIES: KILLER JOE IS CRAZY, WILD AND STUPID

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

SD a naCnleam

Pe notei n t

Matthew McConaughey in Killer Joe. Courtesy of LD Entertainment

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

friday

MOVIES IN THE PARK 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy a free screening of “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmeron” at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. There will also be games, activities and food for a fee. 30753 La Pata Ave., San Juan Capistrano,

THE AMERICANS 8 p.m. Live music at StillWater. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissancedanapoint.com. WINE TASTING 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. San Clemente Wine Company welcomes ONX Winery. Seven tastes for $15, plus cheese and chocolate. 2 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com. MARTINA MCBRIDE 8:15 p.m. Concert in the Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair. Tickets start at $33.75. 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, www.ocfair.com.

saturday

DOHENY SURF FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Two-day festival at Doheny State Beach with live music, exhibits, surf demonstrations, environmental education, outrigger & SUP exhibitions, food and drink, and more. Tickets $29 presale, $35 day of. VIP also available. Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 619.954.4276, www.dohenysurffest.com.

BARK & BREAKFAST 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Bring the family and your dog(s) to Bella Collina VR Farm for a free continental breakfast and coffee, and there will be snacks for the dogs too. Drinks for purchase and a veterinarian will be visiting as well. 200 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente, 949.498.6604, www.bellacollinagolf.com. ILLUMINATION OF HOPE 6 p.m.-10 p.m. South Orange County’s fundraiser for the American Cancer Society hosts this inaugural event at The Strand at Headlands Private Beach Club, featuring entertainment, food, an auction and more. $125. 27 Strand Beach Drive, Dana Point, 949.567.0612, http://gala.acsevents.org/illumination. Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2012

Filmmaker William Friedkin isn’t a newcomer to shocking his audiences, this is the same man who brought us the horror film classic The Exorcist (1973) and won an Oscar for The French Connection (1971). But he has really outdone himself by adapting the notoriously strange and dark play Killer Joe by Tracy Leets into a full-length NC-17 rated film. The film centers around a whole family of rejects in a seedy Dallas neighborhood. Drug dealer Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch) is in debt with a shady client and comes up with the idea to kill his own abusive mother so he can pay it back with her insurance money. Dad Ansel (Thomas Haden Church), sister Dottie (Juno Temple) and stepmom Sharla (Gina Gershon) all think it’s a fine idea. And the best guy to do it is a cop that moonlights as a hit man named Killer Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey). A few scenes of full frontal nudity by Temple and Gershon and two pretty violently intense sequences of Hirsch getting a rough beating account for the NC-17 rating. McConaughey and Temple share an eerie bond that results in two of the better performances in the film. Killer Joe is alarming, satirical and unpredictable throughout its 103 runtime, but one of those films that sticks with you and leaves you wondering what the heck you just watched. —Megan Bianco

SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artists and artisans line the streets of downtown San Juan Capistrano with art, crafts and much more. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org LIVE MUSIC CRUISE 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Dana Wharf hosts the music cruise on the 95-foot Dana Pride with a full bar and more. Cost $19. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

sunday

SUMMER CONCERT IN THE PARK 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Dana Point’s outdoor concert series continues at Lantern Bay Park featuring ‘70s disco by Boogie Nights, and opening act Wake the Street . 25111 Park Lantern Road, Dana Point, 949.248.3530, ww.danapoint.org.

MURDER BY THE MISSION 6:30 p.m. Murder mystery dinner at Sarducci’s. $59. 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.9593, www.capistranodepot.com.

tuesday

PUSSYCAT PALOOZA The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter is having an adoption event through August 31. Cats can be adopted for $50. 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente, 949. 492.1617, www.petprojectfoundation.org.

KALEIDO-KIDS: LEGO PLAYTIME 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Every Tuesday is a fun event for kids at the Kaleidoscope for their summer event series. Free. 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy., Mission Viejo, www.gokaleidoscope.com.

wednesday

OPEN MIC 7:30 p.m. Perform in front of a crowd at Agostino’s open mic night every Wednesday at Agostino’s. 34700 Pacific Coast Hwy., #100, Capistrano Beach, 949.661.8266, www.agostinosbythesea.com.

THE KALAMA BROTHERS 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Locals’ night at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

FIESTA STREET FESTIVAL 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The annual classic car and motorcycle show along Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente, also featuring food, games, drinks, arts & crafts, kid’s activities, the famous Salsa Challenge, lots of live music and more. 949.493.4700, www.scchamber.com.

SAN JUAN SUMMER NITES CONCERT & EXPO 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Swing and jazz concert with Close Harmony and a business expo with activities, food, drinks and more at Historic Town Center Park. 31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

JAMES DURBIN WITH DELTA ROSE 8 p.m. The Coach House. $17.50. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

thursday

ASHUN 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Live music at Wind and Sea Restaurant. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

monday

KIDS’ ACTING CAMP: PETER PAN’S ADVENTURES 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse hosts week-long acting camps for kids. $250. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.actingacademyforkids.com.

SLAM IN THE RIBS POETRY NIGHT 8 p.m. Open mic at The Rib Joint Roadhouse. 34294 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949. 661.9500, www.ribjointdanapoint.com. Page 8

DP CHAMBER MIXER 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Dana Point Chamber mixer at Tudor & Spunkys. 34085 Coast Hwy., Suite 116, Dana Point, 949.496.1555, www.danapointchamber.com.

SAWDUST FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-10 p.m. The annual arts & crafts exhibit features more than 200 Laguna artists. $7.75. Runs through Sept. 2. 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.494.3030, www.sawdustartfestival.org. GARDEN ANGELS 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Meet at Los Rios Park to volunteer, meet friends and more. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com. Have an event? Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

D a n a Po i nt

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

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

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50: Tom Blake

Older Couples: Get off the Couch, Out of the House O

lder couples who have been together for years can become complacent and take each other for granted. They might stay home too much or not venture too far from home. My partner ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 Greta and I have been By Tom Blake together for 14 years. We both lead busy lives. It’s important—on occasion—to get away and spend fun time together. I decided to surprise her with a weekend trip and added a bit of intrigue and spice by marking the words, “Plan nothing” on her desktop calendar for July 28 and 29. Of course, she wanted to know what I had up my sleeve. I gave her a clue a day for 10 days and that’s when she said, “I’ve got it!” Greta said that among the clues, these four were the most vital to her solving the puzzle: Pack an overnight bag. Sarducci’s is more than a restaurant. Wake up at 6 a.m. Saturday. Dude. To Greta, the Sarducci’s clue meant we were taking the train, which stops adjacent to Sarducci’s Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano. She also speculated that getting up early meant a trip of three or more hours, which meant heading northward toward Los Angeles and beyond. The fourth most vital clue was “Dude.” Greta knew I refer to my favorite entertainer, country singer Alan Jackson, as “The Dude.” When she searched online for Jackson’s concert schedule, she saw he was playing July 28 at the outdoor bowl in Santa Barbara. When Greta guessed the destination, she didn’t know I had not yet been able to book a room. During the peak summer months, Santa Barbara hotels and motels require a two-night stay. I was a little Dana Point Times August 10–16, 2012

Sally, Carm, Greta and Tom enjoy a meal at La Super-Rica Taqueria in Santa Barbara. Courtesy photo

nervous about being able to deliver on the surprise. For help, I was referred to Ruth McCombs, who has been finding hard-to-get accommodations in Santa Barbara for 20 years. She assured me she’d find us a room in the final days leading up to July 28, when the hotels ease their two-night requirement. True to her word, McCombs booked us into the Castillo Inn, a boutique motel, near the beach. On Saturday, the 28, we boarded the northbound train at 7:34 a.m. The four-hour ride was enjoyable. Immediately, Greta and I noticed a dramatically improved passenger service attitude on Amtrak. A conductor recommended we sit in rear-facing seats for the first-leg of our journey, because when the

train departed Union Station in Los Angeles, those seats would become forwardfacing for the scenic part of the trip along the ocean. We arrived in Santa Barbara just before noon. The Castillo Inn was a 10-minute stroll from the train station. Dan Fitz, the general manager, gave us helpful walking maps of Santa Barbara, and he pointed out the stop locations of the electric trolley shuttle that runs along the beach and up State Street, the thriving commercial area. The trolley fare for seniors is a quarter. At 4:30 p.m., my Jackson, Mich., high school classmate of 55 years ago, Carm, and his girlfriend Sally picked us up at the inn and took us for an early dinner at the La Super-Rica Taqueria, a local favorite

Page 14

that has no exterior sign. Julia Child went here often and helped make it famous. The wait to order was just 20 minutes; I’m told it’s usually much longer. I knew the food would be excellent when the owner, an older Mexican gentleman, took our order at the walk-up window. He said they’ve been there 32 years. Nothing fancy: cash only, menu on a chalk board, daily specials, paper plates, plastic cutlery, inexpensive. Tastiest Mexican food I’ve ever had. I hate to think of what the cheese and bacon soup did to my cholesterol level but it sure pleased my taste buds. I am particularly partial to restaurants that aren’t part of a chain. Our friends dropped us off at the Santa Barbara Bowl for the Alan Jackson concert. His eight-piece band is amazingly talented and he’s very personable. “Summertime Blues,” one of Jackson’s best songs in my opinion, was fabulous. Sunday morning, after a refreshing sleep at the quaint, clean and delightful Castillo Inn, we caught the 9:38 a.m. train back. Amtrak service is vastly improved and includes complimentary Wi-Fi. By taking the train, we saved 10 hours of driving. Catching the train in San Juan Capistrano is convenient for South County residents. Overnight parking is available on the top deck of the parking structure. Keep McCombs’ telephone number, you might need her to find you a room. On the train we saw mature single women traveling alone and there were a few senior women traveling together. And for couples, it’s an enjoyable way to refresh the relationship. So, get off the couch and head for Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara travel contacts and websites: www.hotspotsusa.com Ruth McCombs, 800.793.7666; www.sbcastilloinn.com Dan Fitz, General Manager, 805.965.8527. DP www.danapointtimes.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY DP DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

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

HELP WANTED MAINTENANCE/FACILITIES MANAGER Orange County Arts facility is seeking a self motivated part time/full time facilities manager. Successful applicant would be responsible for maintenance of historic building and grounds. Responsibilities include but are not limited to grounds keeping, cleaning, handyman work, electrical, plumbing, preventative maintenance, tile and carpentry work, banquet and event set up and tear down and other functions as required. May require some evening and/or weekend hours. Information Technology or audio experience a bonus. Drug/alcohol test and references required. Please send employment and wage history to crccghr949@gmail.com.

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

WEEKEND/NIGHT SITE SUPERVISOR: Orange County Arts facility is seeking a flexible individual interested in performing maintenance and setup/teardown for Exhibitions and Private events. Duties include day of event support, routine groundskeeping and cleaning. Weekend and night work is a requirement. Drug/Alcohol test and references required. Please send employment and wage history to crccghr949@gmail.com.

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

MISCELLANEOUS TRANSPORTATION MOTORCYCLE RENTAL WANTED I want to rent your bike for SC Vacation Aug 26-Sept 7. Nothing fancy needed. Experienced, insured 54 yr old. brianlee@suddenlink.net or 903-466-6666

Do you want to reach 10,000+ people in the Dana Point area every week? Then you need to be in the Dana Point Times. Call us today! 949.388.7700 ext. 102

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Dana Point Times August 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;16, 2012

Page 15

www.danapointtimes.com

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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

ARCHITECTURE - PLANNING Nona Associates-Raymond J. Nona A.I.A 949.496.2275 26901 Camino de Estrella, www.raynona.com

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

BEAUTY SALONS 949.500.2909 949.248.8595

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

REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL

POOL & SPA SERVICE

logo. Four weeks in print and online.

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

Island Inspired Pool & Spa islandinspired@earthlink.net

949.496.9731 949.366.2691

SURF LESSONS 949.547.1000

949.498.1025

Dylan’s Ding Repairs 949.607.9406 www.facebook.com/dylansdingrepairs

Pacific Waves Family Chiropractic 949.436.2926 & Alternative Healthcare 24632 San Juan, Ste. 230, www.pacific-waves.com

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

COINS 949.350.4692 Kevin

COMPUTER REPAIR & SERVICES

PRINT SHOP

HAIR SALONS

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

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

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

Beacon Printing - Brad & Judy Brandmeier 24681 La Plaza, Ste. 125 949.661.3877 UPHOLSTERY Mobile Salon Malina 949.500.2909 beaconprinting@sbcglobal.net www.salonmalina.com Dana Point Upholstery 949.240.2292 Printing OC 949.388.4888 The Captain’s Chair 949.496.1957 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com 24402 Del Prado 20 Monarch Bay Plaza, www.thecaptainschairdp.com Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 949.240.9569 34118 Pacific Coast Hwy, www.jeddys.com PSYCHOTHERAPY Coffee Importers Scoop Deck 949.493.7773 34531 Golden Lantern, www.coffeeimporters.com

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

JUNIOR WATERMAN PROGRAM

Ocean Academy San Clemente Computer & Network Services www.oceanacademy4u.com daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581

COSMETICS

949.218.4464

SURFBOARD REPAIRS

PRESCHOOLS San Clemente Preschool 163 Avenida Victoria, www.sanclementepreschool.com

Surterre Properties Monarch Beach, 949.464.3243 McDaniel Gilmore Group 33522 Niguel Rd. Ste. 100, Monarch Beach 92629 www.mcdanielgilmoregroup.com Ocean Academy www.oceanacademy4u.com

ICE CREAM

CHIROPRACTORS

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

PLUMBING Chick’s Plumbing www.chicks-plumbing.com SC Plumbing www.sanclementeplumbing.com

YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

only $100! Write-up of 50 words with

AUTO REPAIR

Mobile Salon Malina www.salonmalina.com Salon Revelation - Dayna Dallas 34192 Violet Lantern #2

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

949.218.4464

LOCKSMITH

Dana Point Lock & Security www.danapointlock.com

949.496.6916

MUSIC INSTRUCTION Kenny’s Music & Guitars 949.661.3984 24731 La Plaza, www.kennysmusicstore.com Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556 24699 Del Prado, www.danmans.com

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

WINDOW CLEANING Bayside Window Cleaning 949.215.2323 www.baysidewindowcleaning.com Clear Windows 949.485.8793 San Clemente, www.clearwindows-llc.com

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY” This handy, cost-friendly, go-to reference tool keeps your business in front of potential customers 24/7. GET YOUR BUSINESS LISTED TODAY. Call Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or e-mail aedwards@danapointtimes.com.

SPORTS

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

D a n a Po i nt

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

REC LEAGUE ROUNDUP

As the summer rec league season winds down, the line between playoff contenders and playoff pretenders becomes clearer. But with one game left for each team in the kickball leagues and two games remaining on the softball schedules, who knows what might happen. Here are the updated rec league records (X-X) along with this week’s scores. Kickball (Beginner) Hot For Teacher (3-1-1) 3, Ballbarians (4-1) 1 Blue Ball Crushers (2-1-2) 4, Hairy Larrys (0-5) 0 Cobra Kai (3-1-1) 6, bAllstars (2-3) 4 Kickball (Advanced) GROG (4-0) 5, Puff n Suds (1-3) 3 Ron Swanson’s P&R (2-1-1) 6, Saved by the Balls (1-3) 3 BOHICA (2-2) 7, Just Can’t Kick Enough (0-3-1) 2

Making a Splash Dana Outrigger Canoe Club Performs Well at Whitey Harrison Classic By Steve Breazeale Dana Point Times

s the host club of the Whitey Harrison Classic, one of the bigger outrigger canoe races of the season in Southern California, Dana Outrigger Canoe Club had several outstanding performances on August 4, with the club’s top men’s and women’s canoes placing in second and fourth, respectively. The Whitey Harrison Classic is an annual 20 mile canoe race that features hundreds of boats racing for dozens of clubs from as far away as Hawaii. The 2012 edition of the Whitey Harrison course started out near the jetty of Dana Point Harbor, stretched up the coastline to Main Beach in Laguna Beach, jutted out into the ocean for several miles and then returned back to the north side of Doheny State Beach. In the women’s/co-ed bracket, the Dana Outrigger women’s-unlimited No. 3 boat finished in fourth place, breaking the three-hour mark with a time of 2:56.10. Lanakila Outrigger Canoe Club from Redondo Beach ran away with the women’s/co-ed title after posting a 2:47.13 time, five minutes ahead of their nearest competitor. The No. 3 Dana Outrigger men’s-unlimited canoe had

Dana Outrigger Canoe Club racers Nick Scheel, (left), Dana Rambo and Gabbi McGahe were part of a youth co-ed team that competed at the Whitey Harrison Classic. Photo by John Clark

a great race and narrowly missed out on a first place finish, posting a time that was three seconds slower than the eventual winner, the Newport Aquatic Center’s No. 88 canoe. Dana Outrigger even held the lead with about one mile left in the race, but they were overtaken by the Newport boat down the home stretch. “We made a push and got ahead of them right before the last turn,” said longtime Dana Outrigger racer Rob Pelky, who was in the boat at the time. “We gave it our all but came up a little short…It was a good race.” One of the most surprising storylines of the day came from the Dana Outrigger’s youth movement as two of their boats came up big in their own way. The 19U boys’ team beat out some experienced pad-

On a Hot Streak Dana Point’s Rob Pelky Has Career Month, Wins Big in Newport Lifeguard Competition

n July 21 Rob Pelky, a rescue boat captain and paramedic for the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, won a dory race and an Ironman competition at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. On August 4 he helped paddle the Dana Outrigger Canoe Club to a second-place finish in the Whitey Harrison Classic. And right in the middle of those two events, Pelky was able to find the time to finish first in overall points at the 30th Annual 2012 California Surf Lifesaving Championships in Newport Beach on July 27. The lifesaving championships individual title stands out among Pelky’s recent accomplishments. At 45 years of age, Pelky was competing against top-level lifeguards, Dana Point Times August 10–16, 2012

Dana Point resident Rob Pelky (arm extended) and dory boat racing partner Mitch Kahn had to fend off a stray boat en route to their first place finish at the San Clemente Ocean Festival July 21. Courtesy photo

some of whom were decades his junior, many in their late teens among a field of competitors with an average age of 25. But age doesn’t matter to a man like Pelky, Page 17

Softball (Monday) Feel the Heat (5-0) 9, Bring Out the Gimp (2-3) 2 Honey Badgers (2-3) 13, The Trivista Subs (1-4) 6 Hennessey’s New Kids (4-1) 13, T-B-D (1-4) 9 Softball (Wednesday) Baby Brigade (5-0) 12, Capo Beach Calvary (0-4-1) 8 Team Ricardo’s (4-1) 14, Luxe Restaurant (2-2-1) 9 Bagel Shack (2-3) 12, Who’s on 1st (1-4) 11 League Highlights: Feel the Heat and Baby Brigade continue to win and remain undefeated in the softball bracket. BOHICA pulled off a win in kickball, which brought them to .500 on the season. The first rounds of the post season tournament are set to begin August 20 and run through August 22. —Steve Breazeale

dlers in the men’s bracket and finished 18th overall in a field of 34 canoes. One of the group’s co-ed junior teams, made up of mostly 13 to 15 year olds, surprised its coaches by finishing the entire race in 3:38. “For most of the kids in the (junior co-ed) boat it was their first ever nine-man race,” juniors coach Mike Eisert said. “I didn’t know what to expect… I kept tell them to go a little bit further just to see how they were doing… and they just kept going.” Because the race is so long, the constant shifting and rearranging of paddlers in the canoe is a crucial part of staying fresh and competitive. To counteract fatigue, new paddlers jump into the boat to switch out with those who are tired about every 10 to 15 minutes through the use of escort boats. Each team’s escort boat will follow the canoe, then when it’s time to make a switch, the escort boat will race ahead of the canoe, drop the fresh paddlers into the water while those in the canoe jump out simultaneously. It’s not an easy feat, and sometimes it can mean the difference between winning and losing, according to Pelky. The 2012 Whitey Harrison Classic was a success on all levels for the Dana Outrigger Canoe Club. The men’s group went down to the wire with another local, successful club, the women’s group finished strong in fourth place and the youth movement made a big splash. “We finished out strong and came through,” Pelky said. “I think it shows the character of the people who are paddling with us…We don’t quit, no matter the circumstance.” DP who has been competing and training in lifeguard events since he was in his 20s. “It was good just to know that I can compete at that level and the skills that I have and to challenge everyone,” Pelky said. “I know I’m not what I was 15 years ago but whatever percentage I’ve lost I’m still above the average person who’s training for these events.” What makes his victory more remarkable is the fact that he was competing on a bum calf muscle, an injury he sustained while competing at last month’s Ocean Festival. Despite his injury, he was able to grab the overall points title by placing first in four different events. “I didn’t know how (the lifeguard competition) was going to go. But my injury didn’t affect me that much, and all of a sudden I was in the lead,” Pelky said. Next on tap for Pelky is a busy schedule full of training for the Dana Outrigger Canoe Club’s upcoming race in Cabo San Lucas. He’s also rededicating himself to his stand-up paddling training, he said. DP —Steve Breazeale www.danapointtimes.com

DP SURF

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

D a n a Po i nt

GROM OF THE WEEK Jacob Atwood Age: 13, Shorecliffs Middle School Jacob Atwood started out longboarding but began competing on a shortboard last year as part of the Shorecliffs Middle School surf team. In SSS competition he was the middle school longboard champion and took first place at state and second at nationals. Jacob kicked off the new WSA season August 4 with a third-place finish in U18 Longboard. This summer he has been working toward advancing his shortboarding skills for the new season and plans to enter both divisions throughout. On a Tuesday practice session at Lowers, Jacob came face-to-face in the lineup with his favorite pro surfer Julian Wilson. The two exchanged small talk, Jacob Atwood. Photo by Jack McDaniel Jacob congratulated Wilson on his U.S. Open win and Wilson gave him half of a surfboard he snapped that morning. “It was pretty cool meeting him,” Jacob said. “In basketball you can’t just go down to the floor and talk with the pros.” Although focused on a pro surfing career, education comes first, he said. Jacob is an ‘A’ and ‘B’ student who speaks Spanish fluently and would like to become a bilingual attorney. Having learned Spanish from his mom is something that has also added tremendously to his enjoyment of surf trips to Mexico. “I want to thank my parents for helping me, not only in surfing but with my education and life in general. I love them very much. I love my brother Noah too and hope we surf together for the rest of our lives,” said Jacob. “I owe all my success to my family and to God.” —Andrea Swayne

A New Beginning

SURF RESULTS WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 1 August 4, San Onofre State Park, Trail 6

Western Surfing Association kicks off a fresh season of amateur surf competition in Southern California By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

he San Clemente-based Western Surfing Association sent out the first amateur series heats of the new 2012-2013 competition season August 4 and 5 at San Onofre State Park’s Trail 6. The lineups—two separate areas running six-man heats—provided a weekend full of challenging and exciting competition for longtime competitors and many newcomers as well. Some of the new local surfers making their contest debuts are also some of the sport’s youngest, all 8 years old or less. In his very first contest, San Clemente resident Brayden Burch won the Micro Grom Boys/Girls U9 Shortboard Push-in division. Burch was one of four San Clemente surfers who dominated the division. WSA veteran Dane Matson took second, first timer Bane Corbett took fifth and, in his third season, Eland Hansler came in sixth. The new season continues over the next two weekends as other Surfing America member series, PacSun Surfing America Prime and National Scholastic Surfing Association, hold their first events of the season. Surfing America Prime Event No. 1 is set for August 11 and 12 at Camp Pendleton’s Del Mar Jetties, and NSSA

The WSA held the first amateur series contest of the new season August 4 and 5 at San Onofre State Beach, Trail 6. Photo by Sheri Crummer/ seasister.com

gets the season rolling with back-to-back Southwest Explorer events No. 1 and 2, August 25 and 26 at the Huntington Beach Pier. It’s not too late to throw your hat in the ring and vie for season titles and invitations to next year’s national championships. Combined, the three organizations’ schedules also offer competition opportunities for surfers of all ages in both longboarding and shortboarding. More information on how to compete can be found online at www. surfwsa.org, www.surfingamerica.org and www.nssa.org. Stay tuned to the Dana Point Times all season for information on upcoming events, stories and results. DP

Local finishers only. MICRO GROM BOYS/GIRLS SB U9: 1. Brayden Burch, San Clemente; 2. Dane Matson, SC; 5. Bane Corbett, SC; 6. Eland Hansler, SC. BOYS/GIRLS U10: 1. Jett Schilling, SC; 2. Nicholas Coli, SC; 3. Patrick O’Connor, San Juan Capistrano; 4. Taj Lindblad, SC. BOYS U12: 4. Kade Matson, SC; 5. Ethan Mudge, Capistrano Beach; 6. Ryan Martin, SC. BOYS U14: 2. Kade Matson, SC; 4. Ethan Mudge, CB. BOYS U16: 2. Brighton Reinhardt, Dana Point; 5. Conner Dand, SC. BOYS U18: 1. Dylan Sonderegger, SC; 6. Jordan Kudla, SC. GIRLS U12: 3. Kirra Pinkerton, SC; 6. Samantha Sibley, SC. GIRLS U14: 3. Alexxa Elseewi, SC; 6. Tera Richardson, CB. GIRLS U16: 4. Tiarah Blanco, SC. GIRLS U18: 3. Malia Osterkamp, SC; 4. Tiarah Blanco, SC. BOYS LONGBOARD U14: 4. Ian Diamond, DP. JR. LONGBOARD U18: 3. Jacob Atwood, CB. GIRLS LONGBOARD U18: 1. Emmy Lombard, SC; 2. Rachael Tilly, CB; 3. Teresa O’Connor, SJC; 4. Lulu Erkeneff, DP. MEN 18-29: 1. Ricky Lovato, SC. LEGENDS 50+: 5. Parry Foskett, SC. OPEN MEN: 2. Cody Canzoneri, SC; 5. Dylan Sonderegger, SC. OPEN WOMEN: 1. Colleen Mehlberg, SC; 5. Kassy Eldridge, SC. OPEN MEN LONGBOARD: 1. Cody Canzoneri, SC; 6. Rick Ekstein, DP. OPEN WOMEN LONGBOARD: 1. Rachael Tilly, CB; 2. Tory Gilkerson, SC; 3. Emmy Lombard, SC; 4. Lulu Erkeneff, DP; 5. Teresa O’Connor, SJC.