December 27, 2013 by Dana Point Times

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VOLUME 6, ISSUE 52

A snapshot of stories that made headlines this year E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 4

A compilation of cover images featured on the Dana Point Times throughout 2013. Staff photos

www.danapointtimes.com

Laguna Commissioners Approve Portion of $90 Million SCWD Project

Family, Friends Honor, Celebrate Kenneth English’s Life

Boys Basketball on Roll, Boys Soccer Faces Tough Opposition

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

CITY AND BUSINESS CALENDAR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1 Holiday Observance—City offices closed. Due to the holidays, the city of Dana Point’s operations will be dark through Thursday, January 2.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28

D a n a Po i nt

Farmers Market 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Seasonal produce is on the ticket at the outdoor market, located at 34111 La Plaza Street. Call 949.573.5033 to find out about renting a booth.

this weekly market at La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza Street. The first Saturday of the month, hours are extended to include a craft fair, highlighting locally made goods. Call 949.573.5033 or visit www.danapoint.org for information about becoming a vendor.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31 Senior New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Seniors are invited to dance the night away and ring in the New Year early at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street. For more information call the Dana Point Senior Center at 949.496.4252.

Nature Tour 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m. The Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, hosts this two-hour, docent led walking tour, exploring the ecology and natural history of the area. Advanced registration is required. For more information, call 949.542.4755.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 Craft Fair and Farmers Market 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Admission is free, for

DANA POINT’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With... 1

… CUSD Mello Roos?

THE LATEST: Talega residents were given a victory last week as the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to rehear a resolution approved last fall that failed to return funds from a recent refinancing to taxpayers. But long term questions remain to be settled for the development and its schools. In August, members of the board approved a refinancing of a community finance district, or Mello-Roos fund, for the area, along with a CFD for the Las Flores area of Rancho Santa Margarita. The refinancing would have allowed savings to be returned to taxpayers, or to keep the difference in a facilities fund or to keep half the savings in the fund and return half to the taxpayers. The board approved returning the funds to the Las Flores residents but voted to keep Talega CFD funds, pending the result of a district-wide survey assessing the maintenance needs of its schools. Susan Hattan, a tax attorney who lives in Talega, said the district should not view the Talega CFD as a handout it can use for any project. “This is not about a tax break for Talega residents,” Hattan said. “Where there’s a perceived windfall … it’s very easy for officials to spend other people’s money.” WHAT’S NEXT: In 2006, the board determined Talega taxpayers paid for the facilities they were required to, including Vista del Mar Elementary School, San Juan Hills High School and improvements at San Clemente High School, but the issue of where Talega students will end up for high school is still not entirely decided. After hearing from residents on two occasions, the board, minus the recused John Alpay, voted 5-0 to rehear the issue in January.

FIND OUT MORE: Follow developments at www.danapointtimes.com.—Jim Shilander

… the I-5 Drug Bust?

THE LATEST: U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man at the Interstate 5 checkpoint south of San Clemente for smuggling narcotics last week. Agents encountered a 26-year-old Mexican national in a 2004 Nissan Quest around 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 16 and directed him to a secondary check station. A K-9 team was deployed and altered agents to substances in the vehicle. A search uncovered two heroin bundles, weighing more than four pounds, inside the right, rear quarter panel. The narcotics have a street value of more than $55,000. WHAT’S NEXT: Federal agents arrested the man for possession of a controlled substance and turned the vehicle and drugs over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

… the $90 Million SCWD Tunnel Project?

THE LATEST: Laguna Beach planning commissioners gave their OK on a portion of the South Coast Water District’s $90 million project to repair a 60-year-old underground tunnel carrying upwards of one million gallons of wastewater a day from Dana Point and South Laguna. The commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit and costal development permit December 11 for a portion of the project lying within Laguna Beach’s local coastal zone, but other areas of the

Dana Point Times December 27, 2013–January 2, 2014

WHAT’S NEXT: The 2-mile tunnel runs along South Coast Highway from Three Arch Bay to Aliso Beach Park, which the district describes as undersized, deteriorating and unsafe. Plans include widening the tunnel from 6- to 9-feet in diameter and installing a pipeline encased in concrete. The tunnel will also be stabilized with concrete as the current dirt and wooden beam support system is set for replacement. With the planning commission’s approval, the utility can move forward with portions of the project within the city’s discretionary authority. The district expects a construction team to be in place and a review by regional agencies to be complete by September 2014. FIND OUT MORE: Follow water district news at www.danapointtimes.com.—AP

FIND OUT MORE: Track breaking news on Twitter @Danapointtimes.—Andrea Papagianis

project will need California Coastal Commission approval. “There is an enormous need for this project,” said Joe McDivitt, SCWD director of operations. “It must be done to protect our environment and the crews that maintain this vital piece of infrastructure.”

… a County Vicious Dogs Website?

THE LATEST: Orange County will not set up a website for dangerous dogs, much like those for sex-offenders, after supervisors Pat Bates, John Moorlach and Shawn Nelson voiced concerns with the site’s establishment, maintenance and potential to stigmatize pet owners. The board unanimously approved a tiered standard Tuesday for dealing with dogs posing a threat or inflicting harm on humans and other animals, but did not take the website into consideration. Supervisor Todd Spitzer raised concerns in September, leading Ryan Drabek, the

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county’s animal care director, and staff to establish new standards. The adopted resolution clarified the county’s definitions of “potentially dangerous” and “vicious” dogs. Dogs that, without incitement, have caused minor injuries to humans or seriously injured or killed another animal, twice within 36 months, could be labeled “potentially” dangerous under the county’s definition. Vicious dogs include any canine trained for fighting or that cause severe injury or death to humans. WHAT’S NEXT: The resolution allows the animal care director to impose restrictions and conditions of owners of potentially dangerous and vicious labeled dogs, including requiring liability insurance of upward of $100,000, sterilization, posting of public warnings, restraints and muzzling. Owners whose pets are deemed dangerous reserve the right to a hearing and can appeal the decision in an Orange County Superior Court. FIND OUT MORE: Go to www.danapointtimes.com.—AP

… City Hall Closures?

THE LATEST: In observance of the New Year’s holidays, the city of Dana Point and certain municipal governing bodies will go dark as 2014 approaches. City offices closed Tuesday, December 24 and will reopen Thursday, January 2 at 7:30 a.m. WHAT’S NEXT: A regularly scheduled City Council meeting was scheduled prior to Christmas, but was canceled. City Council will reconvene Tuesday, January 7 at 6 p.m. for its first scheduled meeting of 2014. FIND OUT MORE: For a full calendar of city meetings, visit www.danapoint.org.—AP www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Looking Back on 2013 A snapshot of stories that made headlines this year Dana Point Times

ana Point made plenty of headlines in 2013 and shepherded in several changes likely to have lasting impacts on citizens, visitors and the city’s overall landscape. While the city’s $19 million Town Center revitalization project saw its longawaited groundbreaking, aside from story poles, surveying and zoning suggestions, revamp efforts for the Dana Point Harbor and Doheny Village saw little outside movement this year. Development has provided some of City Hall’s most contentious debates as efforts to relocate the downtown post office failed, a hotel developer asked for a height variance and officials moved to sell unused parkland. The city remained embattled in litigation with the California Coastal Commission and Surfrider Foundation over gates and hours of access to Strand Beach, as well as a handful of former medicinal marijuana shop members for imposed zoning regulations, dating back to 2009. The city also saw the return of the Dana Point Symphony, record-breaking crowds at the two-weekend Festival of Whales, the opening of the Ocean Institute’s Maddie James Seaside Learning Center and welcomed dozens of colorful Asian elephant sculptures for a 10-week show. Here are just a few of the highlights 2013 brought. JANUARY Whale of a Walk: Coming off a six-year migratory hiatus, whales once again donned the walkways of Doheny State Beach. A California gray whale returned in early January and was joined by orca and humpback whales, as volunteers armed with paintbrushes and rollers took to their pavement canvas to paint life-sized portraits of the marine mammals.

An aerial view of the Whale Walk s at Doheny State Beach. Volunteers painted three life-sized whales on the coastal walkway in January. Courtesy of Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association

Dana Point Times December 27, 2013-January 2, 2014

Former mayors Steven Weinberg (right) and Wayne Rayfield, the current board president of the South Coast Water District, revel in the groundbreaking of the Town Center downtown revitalization project. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

Harbor Sees Height: Wooden storypoles were erected, showing signs of possible changes coming to the Dana Point Harbor as part of the county’s $140 million revitalization project. Poles demonstrated the scale of buildings slated to replace existing Harbor structures constructed in the late 1960s. FEBRUARY Gateway Groundbreaker: Dana Point broke ground on its first Town Center related project since the California Coastal Commission approved the $19 million revamp in 2008. The retro-fitted sign received mixed reviews and left many wondering what the sign was welcoming visitors to. Later in the month, the Dana Point City Council unanimously approved a phased construction plan to kick-start the revitalization project. Good to Have Friends: After a threemonth closure, Friends of the Dana Point Library board members agreed to a licensing contract with the county library system allowing the nonprofit to reopen its bookstore. The store was closed November 1, due in part to unresolved issues between Friends factions. Rising Bus Rates: Commuters utilizing public transportation saw a 20 percent increase in Orange County Transportation Authority rates, with adult fares rising from $1.50 to $2, day passes from $4 to $5 and 30-day passes jumping from $55 to $69. Silencing Train Horns: Train horns went silent this month as Dana Point joined eight other quiet zone communities in Orange County. Safety improvements at the Palisades Drive and Beach Road crossing from an $85 million OCTA project, paved the way for silence along the city’s tracks. I-5/Ortega Construction Begins: After

more than a decade of planning and preparation, Caltrans broke ground on its $86.2 million Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange project. Boys & Girls Club Names its Youth of the Year: For his “sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community,” 17-year-old Yossymar Rojas, now a Dana Hills High School graduate, was named Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

ing Station, eyed a summer restart of the plant that hadn’t produced power since January 2012. Edison weighed a partial reup to cover peak season energy demands. APRIL

MARCH Sea Lion Rescues: The Laguna Beachbased Pacific Marine Mammal Center saw a record number of sea lion rescues this spring. In March, the center rescued nearly 300 malnourished sea lions from south Orange County beaches, the last two of which were released December 8 at Crescent Bay Beach. Teachers Take Top Honors: Dana Hills environmental science and oceanography teacher Randy Hudson received top honors from the CUSD Board of Trustees. Hudson along with two other educators where named the district’s teachers of the year. Water District Gets it Moving: The South Coast Water District Board of Directors unanimously approved moving ahead with a $5 million infrastructure project for Town Center’s future development, including replacing water and sewer lines down Pacific Coast Highway and Del Prado Avenue. History has a Home: The Dana Point Historical Society was welcomed into a new museum space at Dana Point City Hall, featuring original plans and notebooks of the city’s planner, Sidney H. Woodruff. SONGS Summer Start-up: Southern California Edison, the operator and majority owner of the San Onofre Nuclear Generat-

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Yossymar Rojas became only the second member from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley to be named the state Youth of the Year. Rojas would go on to compete in the Boys & Girls Club of America’s national competition. Courtesy photo

Plastic Bags No More: Phase one of Dana Point’s ban on single-use plastic shopping bags went into effect on businesses with annual taxable sales exceeding $4 million, like Ralphs, Smart & Final, Albertsons, CVS and Chevron. The plastic bag ban for all other businesses rolled out in October. Short-term Rentals get Regulated: After years of debating the legality of vacation rentals, and the city’s absence of enforcement, City Council adopted an ordinance permitting and regulating short-term rentals, of less than 30 days, in a 4-1 vote. Such rentals are now subject to the transient occupancy tax, a 10 percent bed tax and the city’s largest source of revenue. The ordinance rolls out January 2014. Pot Shop Plea: John Melvin Walker, 56, former owner of Safe Harbor Collective, a marijuana dispensary, pleaded guilty to federal allegations of drug and tax offenses. According to federal authorities, www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP Walker earned more than $25 million over six years in marijuana sales, under the radar of the Internal Revenue Service. Walker was sentenced to 262 months —(nearly 22 years)— in prison. Grassroots Pressure Builds: A band of citizens, with years of experience in local government and business, pressed city officials to act on Town Center. Members of the Dana Point Town Center Organization held a series of meetings and made powerful pleas to the City Council to get the revitalization project moving. State Youth of the Year: Yossymar Rojas becomes only the second member from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley to win the state Youth of the Year award, beating out eight other contestants. MAY Zoning Marijuana Dispensaries: In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court gave local jurisdictions the authority to use zoning and land-use ordinances to ban marijuana dispensaries. City leaders applauded the decision. Fitzgerald Found in Florida: Four years after disappearing from Dana Point, Edward Sellers Fitzgerald, 60, a former broker accused of defrauding local residents of more than $1.5 million, is arrested in Delray, Fla. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office accused Fitzgerald of defrauding 26 people through yacht investment and sales schemes. He is awaiting trial. Seaside Learning Center Opens Doors: After ten years in the making, the Ocean Institute’s waterfront interactive center opens. Named in memory of a 5-year-old girl from Capistrano Beach, the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center was completed after Maddie’s family raised $1 million for the project. Funding Town Center: City Council unanimously allocated $9.2 million for Town Center revitalization costs on PCH, despite concerns from Del Prado Avenue business owners, who wanted to see the council fund the entire $19 million project. JUNE SONGS Permanently Closes: Southern California Edison announced it will permanently retire the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which had been shut down since January 2012 due to a small leak found in the Unit 3 reactor. Doheny Revamp Zoning: ROMA Design Group, who is also working on Town Center facelift plans, suggested the city alter zoning established in 1989 to better fit their view for future Doheny Village development. City staff said their hope was to have plans to the council before 2013’s end. Textbook Denial: The CUSD Board of Trustees declined to purchase new textbooks for a new Advanced Placement World History class at Dana Hills and Capistrano Valley high schools after board members objected to both the content and quality of the text. Dana Point Times December 27, 2013-January 2, 2014

a settlement with Garrison Williams, former owner of a Dana Point medicinal marijuana shop that was closed in 2011. The agreement effectively ended litigation that had been ongoing since 2009, when the city accused pot shops owners of violating municipal zoning codes. Rack Receives Eight Years: Former Shorecliffs Middle School teacher Richard Rack was sentenced to eight years in state prison on four charges related to the sexual abuse of three former students. Rack was ordered to pay restitution and will be placed on the National Sex Offender registry. NOVEMBER Elephant Parade co-founder Mike Spits (left) and U.S. parade ambassador, Dana Yarger, enjoy crowds bidding the herd farewell. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

Trolley Receives Funding Boost: Dana Point was approved for a $2.45 million OCTA grant to create and maintain a summer, weekend and special events shuttle, expected on the roads early next year. JULY Poche Pollution Woes: After months of good bacteria readings, summer news was mixed at Poche Beach, as pollution levels had the waterfront jumping from low to high Heal the Bay letter grades. Throughout the year, county officials used ultrasonic devices, a falconer and coyote decoys to ward off seagulls, the believed primary pollutant. Beach Fires Targeted: In a narrow 7-6 vote, the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District placed restrictions on fire rings on beaches throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. Initially SCAQMD staff proposed a blanket ban on all beachside fires and rings, but allowed wood burning fires in areas with a 700-foot buffer and 100 feet between each pit. Harkey Pays $10 Million: Investors involved in a lawsuit against Orange County real estate lender Dan Harkey, husband of Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, were handed a victory when a jury awarded 40 plaintiffs more than $10 million in damages. Harkey was accused of defrauding investors—many of whom are elderly— out of more than $43 million. King of the Pacific: Yossymar Rojas continued his winning ways by being named the Boys & Girls Club’s Pacific Region Youth of the Year. With the win, Rojas earned another $15,000 scholarship and a place in the club’s national competition. AUGUST Seeking Higher Opinion on Strand: Dana Point filed a petition for review with the California Supreme Court regarding gates and hours of access at Strand Beach. The gates have been embroiled in debate since being installed in 2008 and are at the heart of two lawsuits. The move came more than a month after a state appellate court denied the city’s request for rehearing,

Gates at two access ways that cut through the Strand at Headlands development are at the center of an ongoing dispute between Dana Point, the California Coastal Commission and the Surfrider Foundation. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

over a June ruling that said the city must prove it acted in “good faith.” High court review was denied. CUSD, Teachers Union Agree: CUSD officials and the district’s teachers union agreed to a new deal that increased instructional days to 177, from 175, and partially reduced class sizes. SEPTEMBER Town Center a Go: SCWD crews dug their first hole to replace underground water and sewer utilities along PCH. The presence of heavy machinery and work crews along the roadway marked the second sign of visible change coming to Dana Point’s downtown corridor. Boarding Barred on Six Streets: Dana Point banned skateboarding down six public streets and sidewalks throughout the Monarch Bay Terrace neighborhood, located at Pacific Coast Highway and Crown Valley Parkway. Municipal code allows the council to designate any public roadway or sidewalk as a no roller-skating, skateboarding or bicycling area. Trunk of a Show: Dozens of colorful life-sized baby Asian elephant statues called Dana Point’s parks, docks, hotels and library home for 10 weeks this fall, as the Elephant Parade was introduced to America after stops in Singapore, Milan and Amsterdam. The parade is the Asian Elephant Foundation’s marquee fundraising event, bringing awareness and funds to saving the endangered species.

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OCTOBER Mary Jane Settlement: The city reached

Pushing the Height Limit: Resident concerns about density, traffic, height, deliveries and parking were voiced as the Planning Commission neared a decision on the more than 250-room, two- to fivestory hotel proposal for the southwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Dana Point Harbor Drive. Commissioners continued a decision on the Doheny Hotel until February 2014. Pendleton Marines: Four U.S. Marines were killed November 13 while clearing unexploded arms from a training area on Camp Pendleton. All were experts on an explosive ordnance disposal team with combat experience, military officials said. No Reprieve for Shawkey: The state’s highest court denied review of an appeal by, Gary Shawkey, a Virginia man convicted of luring 71-year-old retired software businessman Robert Vendrick to Dana Point, killing him and disposing of his body at sea for financial gain. Shawkey is serving out his life sentence in San Diego. Vendrick’s body was never recovered. Harkey v. Wyland: A legal scuffle between two Republican state lawmakers vying for a seat on the Board of Equalization ended, with Assemblywoman Diane Harkey dropping a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Sen. Mark Wyland. The dispute stemmed from comments Wyland made at a Tea Party event in July about a high-profile lawsuit against Harkey’s husband, Dan. DECEMBER Charitable Park Lands: After pleas and a petition from area residents not to sell an unused parcel of Capistrano Beach land, the City Council unanimously approved a $3.625 million deal with the Charitable Light Foundation for the 3.2 acres, once set aside for park use. A New Council: A split City Council vote reversed the roles of Steven Weinberg and Lisa Bartlett. Each year, the fivemember body rotates its lineup by voting two council members, mayor and mayor pro tem. In a 3-2 vote, with councilmen Carlos Olvera and Bill Brough dissenting, Bartlett took over Weinberg’s role. The pair wound up flip-flopping their council titles, both having served in the positions before. DP www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Best of the Blotter

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NEWS BITES

Compiled by Andrea Papagianis

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO Dana Hills Sustainability Students Receive Award, Prize for Energy Solution Ideas Two students in Rick Stinson’s intro to renewable energy class at Dana Hills High School received recognition and prizes last week for their ideas on local energy conservation. Senior Laura Hirst and junior Troy Chimenti were awarded $150 and $100, respectively, by ARS, a residential heating and air conditioning company, for their conservation ideas surrounding nano-technology, eco-industrial parks, LED lighting and recycling. “My essay focused on innovation and implementing ideas now,” Hirst said. “We should be implementing ideas now, because if we wait for them to be perfect, they will never be implemented.” ARS partnered with the Capistrano Unified School District Foundation earlier this fall for the first “Think Green” contest, encouraging students in seventh- through 12th-grades to think about energy conservation. Two middle school students from Niguel Hills were also awarded prizes. “The students impressed us with the level of creativity and enthusiasm they brought to the project, and we hope this will be the first of more green community initiatives,” said Colin Martodam, ARS regional manager. A $500 donation was also made to the CUSD Foundation. For more information on the CUSD foundation, visit their website at www.cusdfoundation.org.

COMPILED BY STAFF 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 website.

December SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Dana Strand Road, 34300 Block (Sunday, December 1, 2:39 p.m.) A caller reported seeing a man in his 20s on a skateboard carrying “something white that appeared to be a gun,” where Selva Road meets the Strand Beach parking lot. The man reportedly then got in an “old ambulance” and left the area.

Aidan, 8 (left), and Madeleine Heller, 10, present Jennifer Stinett, shelter supervisor of the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter with a donation they raised collecting cans around their Dana Point neighborhood. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

November

the siblings recruited their neighbors in a recycling effort to benefit the San ClementeDana Point Animal Shelter. Last Wednesday, the two dropped off a $200 donation they accumulated through the collection and selling back of aluminum cans, benefitting both the shelter and the environment. “So many of our younger customers and students in the area are willing to give back to the shelter,” said Jennifer Stinett, shelter supervisor of the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. “Instead of accepting gifts for them, kids are asking for donations, and it’s amazing to see young kids helping shelter animals.”

Inspiring the Next Generation of Jewish Civic Leaders

Pictured (L to R) Dana Hills Principal Jason Allemann, Laura Hirst, Troy Chimenti, Rick Stinson and Landon Brewer. Hirst and Chimenti were recognized for their essays on energy conservation last Wednesday. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

Youngsters Recruit Neighbors to Assist Shelter Animals Brother and sister team, Aidan and Madeleine Heller, ages 8 and 10, took an idea their veterinarian mother and father suggested and ran with it. Over the last four months, Dana Point Times December 27, 2013-January 2, 2014

The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards is seeking nominations of Jewish teens who are actively engaged in social action. Up to 15 teens from across the country will be selected to receive $36,000 each for their leadership in projects that embody the value of tikkun olam, or “repairing the world.” Since 2007, this annual program of the Helen Diller Family Foundation has recognized 40 Jewish teens with nearly $1.5 million to further their projects and education. Community members can nominate young leaders now for the 2014 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards online at www.dillerteenawards.org. All Jewish teen volunteers between 13 and 19 years old at the time of nomination are eligible. For questions, contact dillerteenawards@sfjcf.org or call 415.512.6432. The nomination deadline is January 19, 2014.

DISTURBANCE Stonehill Drive/Del Obisop Street (Saturday, November 23, 3:43 p.m.) A member of a campaign group seeking to impeach President Barack Obama said a man ripped down their signs and threw water at them. The man, described to be wearing a black shirt, light blue pants and a red backpack, was last seen running through a parking lot.

October SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Dana Strand Road, 34300 Block (Wednesday, October 23, 1:34 a.m.) Several people wearing black were seen coming out of the water on the south end of Strand Beach, near the Dana Point Headlands. The caller said there were more than 10 people who appeared to be undocumented immigrants.

September SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Pointe Sutton, 32600 Block (Wednesday, September 11, 7:25 p.m.) A woman reported seeing a man standing in an open garage wearing only bikini underwear. She told deputies she was concerned because she checked the Megan’s Law website and found that a sex offender lived on the street.

August GRAND THEFT REPORT Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (Saturday, August 24, 1:10 p.m.) A woman called deputies from Taco Surf saying her sister had stolen her laptop computer. Dispatch reported that the caller sounded suspicious and acted as if she were intoxicated or high.

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July CITIZEN ASSIST Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (Friday, July 12, 12:01 p.m.) After filling up his tank, a man drove away from the Shell Station with the fuel nozzle still inserted in his car.

June WELFARE CHECK La Cresta Drive, 24200 Block (Saturday, June 22, 5:57 p.m.) A drunken woman was seen stuck in the fence at R.H. Dana Elementary School holding a glass of wine. It was later reported that a passerby helped the woman down from the fence, where she proceeded to pass out in a planter. The intoxicated woman’s young son was riding his bike in the schoolyard while the incident occurred.

May DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34300 Block (Sunday, May 12, 8:28 a.m.) Two men were seen fighting in a parking lot in front of a laundromat. One was swinging a chain and the other had an ax. Both subjects were detained then released by deputies. No injuries were reported and no further action was taken.

April CITIZEN ASSIST Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (Monday, April 8, 3:13 p.m.) A man received a picture text message of his girlfriend throwing all of his clothes and belongings outside. His girlfriend sent the message and left the home the two share before sheriffs arrived.

March SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Pacific Coast Highway/Crown Valley Parkway (Monday, March 18, 12:44 p.m.) A female hitchhiker wearing a poncho and white fuzzy boots was yelling at passing motorists.

February VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Olinda Drive, 33800 Block (Tuesday, February 27, 8:04 p.m.) A man called police to report seeing two people rubbing paint all over his Volkswagen GTI. One subject was a female wearing a red tutu. No description of the male was given.

January DISTURBANCE Street of the Golden Lantern, 34600 Block (Saturday, January 19, 1:08 a.m.) A Los Angeles County Fire captain called and said he was locked inside Turks Restaurant and could not get out. The dispatcher could hear loud yelling and the caller appeared to be intoxicated. Orange County Fire Authority responded to the location for the municipal code violation of overcrowding. www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Family, Friends Remember, Celebrate Ken English’s Life

ecently, Dana Point lost a friend and 14-year resident, Kenneth Edward English, who passed away suddenly on November 27. He was 67. Ken English married his best friend and soul mate, Yvonne English, on December 30, 1994. They moved from Illinois to Dana Point to escape the weather in 1999, never looking back. It was rare anyone would see English alone. He and his wife were constantly together, working, living and relaxing. After 20 years of marriage they still held hands, and their glances found each other first upon entering the room. Ken partnered with Yvonne in their landscape architecture business, Legends Design Studio, Inc. He managed the computers and software, installations and the labor-intensive work within the company after retiring from his career with AT&T Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies. Having served in the Vietnam War as an E5 Specialist in communications in the U.S. Army, it was his honor to put together benches for the recent visit of the traveling Vietnam Wall. English happily enjoyed the Dana Point climate, always wearing a Hawaiian shirt, flip-flops, shorts and baseball cap. He also enjoyed his other roles as a Dana Point hill

and beach walker, dog trainer, grandpa and dad, Chicago Bears fan and grill master. When English spoke it was either funny or incredibly insightful. Patient and kind as a Kenneth English. rule, no one ever heard Courtesy photo him complaining, but rather he would look to the cause of an issue and find a solution ensuring dignity for everyone involved. English was a hero to all who knew him, but in particular to his wife and family. His kids wonder how they will ever be able to navigate this world without his quiet guidance and perspective on life. His grandchildren will be inundated with stories that begin with “One day your grandpa …” Yvonne feels cast adrift, but knows her life is richer and so much more valuable because of her profound bond with Ken. The family held a memorial service Sunday, December 22 at the Veteran’s Memorial at Strand Vista Park and encouraged attendees to celebrate English’s life with smiles, jigs, tears, long deep hugs and colorful Hawaiian shirts. DP —Submitted by the English Family

Newspapers to Return to City Hall, Community Center in San Juan By Brian Park Dana Point Times

ewspapers are coming back to San Juan Capistrano’s City Hill and Community Center, following an agreement between the city and a local newspaper that filed a lawsuit over the removal of news racks. On Thursday, December 19, attorneys for the city and Community Common Sense, publishers of a monthly newspaper, met in court for the second time to negotiate a deal to bring news racks back to the two city properties. Following about 45 minutes of negotiations inside a jury room, Orange County Superior Court Judge James Di Cesare announced that news racks would be located to the right of the entrances at City Hall and the Community Center. The court order also allows Common Sense to place 10 copies of their paper in the Community Center’s senior reading room. The judge’s decision follows the City Council’s closed session vote earlier this month to temporarily bring back news racks, although representatives for Common Sense said the city’s proposal fell

short of their expectations. Phillip Kohn, an attorney for the city, said Di Cesare’s order is similar to the council’s proposal. “Needless to say, I’m satisfied. The order simply puts into writing what the council was prepared to do,” Kohn said. In November, Common Sense filed a lawsuit against the city, City Attorney Hans Van Ligten and the council majority of Mayor Sam Allevato and councilmen Larry Kramer and John Taylor for the trio’s closed session vote to remove news racks in August. The lawsuit accused the parties of violating the First Amendment’s protection of free speech and states the city’s decision came only after they placed their own papers at the two locations, despite two other papers, The Capistrano Dispatch and the Capistrano Valley News, having racks there for at least a decade. The two sides are due back in court February 27 to consider continuing the order. Tate considered the Di Cesare’s order a victory. “I think my client prevailed and more importantly, freedom of speech and the freedom of the press prevailed,” Tate said. DP

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Dana Point Times, Vol. 6, Issue 52. 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 2013. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

ART/DESIGN

OPERATIONS

EDITORIAL

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

Finance Director > Mike Reed

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Accounting Manager Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

Group Senior Editor > Andrea Swayne

RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@danapointtimes.com

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

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

City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente) > Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano) Locals Only Business Listing Manager

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Quinn Conway, Tawnee Prazak, Dana Schnell, Tim Trent, Michael Vogeler

GUEST OPINION: The Water Column by Lisa Zawaski, Senior Water Quality Engineer, City of Dana Point

It’s Your Doody to Keep Our Water Clean Do your part, Please don’t let Fido foul the water

id you know that bacteria from dog doo can cause our beaches to be posted with health warning signs? Yes, there is a connection and some call it “poo-llution.” There are a lot of responsible pet owners out there that always “doo their doody” but surprisingly there are many who do not pick up after their pets. We see dog droppings all over town, and it’s really quite alarming. Beside being a pet peeve and nuisance to our neighborhoods and beautiful beach community, doo that is not picked up and properly disposed of can result in bacteria loads that will eventually get flushed into our creeks and beaches from rain or sprinkler water, contributing to beach pollution. So, unless we want to swim, surf or step in dog doo, it is very important for every pet owner and caretaker to pick it up, because “It’s your doody.” Did you know that it is actually against the law to leave dog droppings on public or private property that is not your own? Below are some pet care tips for the health and safety of your pet and the environment, including beautiful dog-friendly spots to take your dog. Pet Care Tips to Protect Our Health and Recreational Waters • Always carry a few bags to clean up after your dog. It’s the law. Throw the bag in the trash or flush the doo (not the bag) down the toilet. • Change your pet’s food and water regularly to avoid pest infestation. Uneaten food should be removed to avoid unwanted critters. Unattended water bowls can facilitate mosquito breeding, so please don’t leave pools of unattended water around, however small. • Wash pets indoors or on absorbent ground, such as the lawn, with non-toxic soaps. Dirty wash water is prohibited from

only, at city parks, but please never leave any doo. The city provides pet waste bags at many locations, so pet owners are not without a bag to pick it up. Please find a proper receptacle for the doggie bags.

Cartoon courtesy of the city of Dana Point.

entering the streets and storm drains. • If using flea control products (yes, these are pesticides), consider non-toxic products, read the instructions and apply carefully. Dispose of unwanted quantities at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. The nearest facility is the Prima Deshecha Landfill at the end of La Pata Road, south of Ortega Highway. Get a License Did you know that pet dogs require a license by the time they are four months old? You can license your pet at Dana Point City Hall in the Police Services Department or at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter at 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente. Dana Point Dog Fun Zones and City Parks The city has five Dog Fun Zones, fenced areas where dogs can run free, at Creekside, Crystal Cove, Heritage, Sea Canyon and Sea Terrace parks. Please monitor your pet and read and understand the rules which are posted at these dogfriendly zones. Pets are allowed, on leash

Dana Point Times December 27, 2013-January 2, 2014

Dog-Friendly Coastal Destinations Dogs are not allowed on any public beaches in Dana Point. Please be mindful as to where you take your dog. However, there are certain areas where dogs can enjoy our beautiful coastal town. Dogs are welcome at Doheny State Beach in the campground and day use/picnic areas only. All dogs must be leashed and attended to by an adult at all times. When camping, dogs must be contained in a vehicle or tent overnight. Dogs are also welcome at the walkway along Strand Vista Park. Fido isn’t the Lone Water Fouler Please remember it isn’t only dog doo that can cause water pollution. Our fine feathered friends and felines also do their fair share of “poo-llution” deposits. Although undomesticated animals pose certain challenges to control, we can do our part by not feeding the sea birds at our beaches and picnic areas. It’s not good for them and it’s not good for the water. This column is 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 DP CORRECTION: Last week’s issue of the Dana Point Times incorrectly listed kelly Slater’s achievements in “maddie and Hugh’s Big Adventure.” Slater is an 11-time Association of Surfing Professionals world champion. The DP Times regrets the error. Page 8

Letters to the Editor WHAT HAS THE BAG-BAN ACCOMPLISHED EIGHT-MONTHS IN? DICk RuDolPH, Dana Point

Now that the Dana Point plastic bag ban has been in place for over eight months, what has been the effect? Well, all the grocery stores are giving out paper bags instead of plastic ones, and the use of heavier duty bags brought in by shoppers appears to have increased. All good, you say? Well, according to environmental groups who address the plastic versus paper issue, No. Paper bags in their production and recycling are more harmful to the environment than plastic bags are. Has there been a significant decrease in the plastic bag litter on the beaches, in the streams or along the roadways? I don’t see it, but then I didn’t see it before the ban since I considered it a completely false straw man argument by the ban’s proponents. What is the cost to the city to have this ban in place? Not just enforcement, but revenue loss from those who, like me, no longer grocery shop in Dana Point. Perhaps one of the good council folk could educate us on these issues, or not. Merry Christmas everyone.

COUNCIL REORGANIZATION PROCEEDINGS WERE SHAMEFUL ON ALL ACCOUNTS HARolD kAuFmAn, Dana Point

I have been deeply involved in the city’s www.danapointtimes.com

SOAPBOX

Letters to the Editor (cont.) government since before we were a city. I was president of the Dana Point Civic Association when we led the successful effort to incorporate Dana Point. I served on the incorporation committee and acted as a liaison between the Capistrano Beach and Dana Point committees. I saw the infighting between the two, and between Laguna Niguel and Monarch Beach, during those days. I was the very first chairman of the very first Planning Commission. I sat through the establishment of the first General Plan and the establishment of the first zoning code. I chaired the committee that consisted of residents and business people who argued over and eventually wrote Dana Point’s first sign code. I spoke up at the City Council meetings when the first body discussed and then adopted the Redevelopment Agency. I spoke against our adopting that agency and I watched the word “redevelopment” became a fourletter word in Dana Point. I sat on the City Council when we argued over the Headlands and adopted the Headlands Specific Plan; during the days when Toni Gallagher spent 20 minutes each meeting reading her “statement for the record” into the minutes, when her husband and some other gentleman got into a fist fight in the audience of a council

meeting; when people used to tell me that they would rather watch the City Council meetings on TV than any other show because they never knew what strange things would happen or be said (reality TV before there was reality TV). I also fought a recall election orchestrated by the no-growth, no-Headlands faction when some citizens did not like that Judy Curreri, Karen Lloreda and I voted to enter into a joint venture with the Capistrano Unified School District to develop the joint-use Sports Park at Dana Hills High School. I was on the losing end of an election when a local developer tried buying his own City Council, and watched as the next council tried stripping Harry Otsubo’s name from the Harry Otsubo Gardens for purely political reasons. In all that time and through all that turmoil, I was never once ashamed of what the council had done. I was upset sometimes. I was angry sometimes. I was even embarrassed sometimes. But I was never ashamed. At the last City Council meeting when members were reorganizing the council and electing a new mayor, I was ashamed. Six different people came up to the podium to say the exact same thing: “Lisa Bartlett and Scott Schoeffel have done a wonderful job and should be elected may-

or and mayor pro tem respectively.” The words each used were almost identical. It was obvious that either someone had orchestrated the crassest electioneering campaign I have ever seen, or a miracle had occurred that would rival the parting of the Red Sea. The political posturing was, well, disgusting. I was ashamed for the council in general and for each of them in particular. Being mayor does not grant you any privilege over any other council member. You still only have one vote. You do have a little more control over the agenda, but any other member can get items on the agenda they wish to have discussed. Mayor is a title. It requires you run the council meetings. If you do the job properly you also represent the council at civic functions, although that is not mandatory and we have had mayors never, or very rarely, appeared at public functions. I was on the City Council for eight years. For the first four years I was on the losing side of a 3-2 or 4-1 vote many, many more times than I was on the winning side. I could not get the council to appoint me Dog Catcher (wait a minute, they did appoint me to the CASA Board but that was because no one else wanted it). I had no chance of becoming mayor. In my second term, we had a council that was a

little friendlier toward me so I was able to be mayor in my sixth year on the board (and I had a great time as mayor). But I never campaigned for the job. I never saw anyone campaign for the job. But I did at the last council meeting, and I was ashamed. In the article that appeared in the Dana Point Times, (“Contentious Council Shakeup,” December 6-12, Vol. 6, Issue 49) Rick Erkeneff and Ross Teasley each said they did not know the other was going to say anything about the topic. I believe them. What I also believe is that whoever set this up asked each person to come to the podium and say those words. They were probably not told there would be others doing the same thing. But they were told what to say. Who would have had the motive to orchestrate this? Whose ego has grown so big that the title has become greater than the job? I have my suspicions. Whom do you suspect? 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.

GETTING OUT

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

D a n a Po i nt

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

friday

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: TOTEM 8 p.m. Special performance at the Orange County Great Park. Shows through December 29. Tickets available online. 6950 Marine Way, Irvine, 866.829.3829, www.cirquedusoleil.com.

NATE HANCOCK 8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com. THE REFLEXX 8 p.m. Concert with ‘80s new wave music at StillWater Spirits & Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

saturday

DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh produce and much more at La Plaza Park in Dana Point every Saturday. 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

NATURE HIKE 9 a.m. Participate in a 5-mile nature hike at Crystal Cove State Park. 8471 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949.494.3539, www.crystalcovestatepark.com. WHALE WATCHING Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari offers 2.5-hour trips daily. View whales and dolphins eye-to-eye underwater, aboard a hi-tech catamaran sailboat. $39–$59. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com. THREE MUSTACHES 9 p.m. Live cover band at Brio Tuscany Grille. 24050 Camino del Avion, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

sunday

FREE FISHING FOR KIDS Noon. A fishing lesson for kids at Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Dana Point Times December 27, 2013–January 2, 2014

AT THE MOVIES: YOU’LL FALL FOR ‘AMERICAN HUSTLE’ David O. Russell’s American Hustle opens with the text “Some of this actually happened” and from the start, sets the right satiric mood for this rather loosely based crime flick. Actors Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper—with their extra tacky styling, fake accents and a background track of classic rock and smooth jazz—transport viewers back to 1978 and the coordination of the FBI’s ABSCAM sting operation. Bale and Adams play partners in crime and love, Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser, who make a living as con artists. When they get caught by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Cooper), he blackmails them into a job that requires lying and stealing from the mafia and the unaware Camden mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). Jennifer Lawrence plays Irving’s hilariously © Sony Pictures immature wife Rosalyn. Jack Huston, Alessandro Nivola, Louis C.K. and Michael Peña also co-star. Any reference to American Hustle as a GoodFellas (1990) rip-off would be unfair to the creators. Russell’s signature use of quick direction and smart-talking characters seep through, and Cooper’s and Adams’ comedy roots help lead the film to successful satire status. Bale is unrecognizable behind his beer belly and purple sunglasses and Lawrence easily steals all of her scenes. American Hustle is heavy on dialogue and character development and low on sex and drugs, which work in making it one of the best ensemble pieces this season. —Megan Bianco

GOT UKULELE? 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Ukulele players and fans are invited to a Hawaiian music lesson and jam session every Sunday. Call for location and more details. 949.829.2675, www.ekanikapilakakou.com.

monday

WINE SCHOOL 5 p.m. Wine class with expert Ian Blackburn at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

SMOKEY KARAOKE 8 p.m. Your turn to get onstage at BeachFire. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

tuesday

OVERVUE LOUNGE NYE PARTY Ring in the New Year in the ocean-view OverVue Lounge at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa. Celebrate with live entertainment by Groove All Stars, a champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. Cost $25 per person. 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.661.5000, www.lagunacliffs.com.

NYE DINNER AT VUE 5 p.m.-9 p.m. An exclusive dinner at Vue restaurant in the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa with complimentary valet and live entertainment. Cost $99 per person. 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.661.5000, www.lagunacliffs.com. SENIORS NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER DANCE 5 p.m.-10 p.m. NYE event for seniors at the Dana Point Community Center. 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, 949.248.3536, www.danapoint.org. MILLERTIME BOOGIE AND NYE PARTY 6 p.m. Live music, dinner and an early 9 p.m. NYE celebration at Shorecliffs Golf Club. No cover party. Reservations for dinner required. 501 Avenida Vaquero, San Clemente, 949.492.1177, www.shorecliffsgolfclub.com. ST. REGIS NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE GREAT GATSBY 8 p.m. Enjoy the Roaring’ 20s at this Great Gatsby-themed NYE celebration at the St. Regis Monarch Beach including food, drinks, dancing and more. Cost $95-$165. 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3200, www.stregismb.com. Page 13

RAYA NEW YEAR’S EVE 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Celebrate NYE at Raya at the Ritz-Carlton with a special four-course meal and more. Cost $115 each. 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000, www.ritzcarlton.com. DONAVON FRANKENREITER NYE 8 p.m. The surf/ soul/rock artist performs a special concert at The Coach House. Tickets $45. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com. LOBBY LOUNGE NEW YEAR’S EVE 8 p.m. Celebration in the Lobby Lounge at St. Regis Monarch Beach with music, dancing and a midnight champagne toast. Cost $75 each. 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3200, www.stregismb.com.

wednesday

COMMITMENT DAY NEW YEAR’S 5K 9 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Join hundreds of runners at William R. Mason Regional Park for a nationwide 5K running event and commit to leading healthy, active lives in 2014 and beyond. Cost $40-$45. University Drive, Irvine, www.commitmentday.com/irvine.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.–7 p.m. Fresh produce and more every Wednesday at El Camino Real and Yorba in San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.4700.

thursday

GARDEN ANGELS 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Volunteers meet every Thursday in front of the Montanez Adobe at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano to help maintain the garden and more. Bring Gloves, wear close-toed shoes. 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

SATIN BLUES 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com. Have an event? Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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.

GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

Difficulties of Senior Dating As we age one question remains, Why is dating after 50 so difficult?

n 2001, I was interviewed by Matt Lauer on the “Today” show. He asked, “Why is dating after 50 so difficult?” I responded, “Some of us haven’t had a date in 30 years. We’re out of practice.” During the interview, I outlined the five main reasons that made dating after 50 difficult. Twelve years later, people still ask the “why is dating difficult” question, but now they add “after age 60, 70 and beyond.” Here’s my 2013 answer: 1. We aren’t prepared. After a long-term marriage or relationship, perhaps of 35 plus years, our spouse or significant other may be gone. We had prepared to spend our retirement years together, not prepped to date again. But now, that’s what we’re faced with, and we don’t know how to begin, where to go or what to do. It’s perplexing, daunting and scary. 2. There aren’t places to go where there are relatively even numbers of single men and women in our age range. One night a month, Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli, sponsors a Meet and Greet

gathering for singles aged 50 to 90. Many widowed people attend. The women-to-men ratio is often 4- or 5-to-1. That’s about par for age 60-plus singles events across Orange County. 3. More on the ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 dreaded ratio of women By Tom Blake to men. Census statistics reveal that as people reach their 60s and 70s, the number of single men decreases significantly. What can women do to overcome the lack of single men? At an AARP convention, Dr. Ruth Westheimer said, “The ratio is a fact of life, you can’t change it. However, if you put your mind to having a nice appearance, and an openness to meeting new people, and a willingness to do social things, and you’re positive, you can effectively reduce the ratio. Commit to having a good life, with or without a man.” 4. We’ve aged. At 70, singles don’t have the energy they had before—and dating

takes energy (and time and money). We’ve added wrinkles and wear and tear to our bodies. Some older singles go to bed early. The last thing they want is to be out on a date at 9 p.m. seeking love. For many, it’s easier and less complicated to be curled up and reading a book at home. 5. Compatibility is difficult to find. As we age, we are more set in our ways. We know what we want and what works for us. We’re not going to accept someone to share our life who doesn’t measure up. Often, adult children object to a widowed parent dating again, but the pool of available compatible people shrinks with each passing year. Dating after 60 is difficult, but not impossible. At the deli Meet and Greets, Dave, a widower, 93, met a new love and is very happy. Fred, also a widower, kept putting off attending. Once there, he met Joanne and they are now a couple. One reason fewer men than women attend is that women keep capturing them and taking them away.

Some of these men don’t come back. Why? I’ve asked a few that I’ve seen at Costco or the hardware store. The gist of their replies: “My new partner doesn’t want me to attend anymore.” I wink and say, “Perhaps she’s afraid you’ll meet someone else.” They smile and give me thumbs up. But, don’t let the dreaded ratio or your age stop you from getting out and about. There’s a lot of life to live—with or without a man or woman. To comment and share advice, email Tom at tompblake@gmail.com. Tom Blake is a Dana Point business owner and San Clemente resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at www.findingloveafter50.com for more dating advice. DP PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com

PALISADES STUDENTS TAKE A RIDE ON SANTA’S SCHOOL BUS

anta Claus ditched his reindeers and sleigh for a yellow school bus to give students at Palisades Elementary School an early holiday surprise. When the bell rang to signal the last day of school before the winter break, six special needs students were greeted by jolly old Saint Nick, who ushered them home Friday afternoon. Danny Llamas has been a bus driver with the Capistrano Unified School District for 23 years, but for the last 18, he’s

Dana Point Times December 27, 2013-January 2, 2014

donned Santa’s red and white garb to take students to and from school during the holiday season. Llamas, who began the holiday tradition with just a red Santa hat before buying two suits through a J.C. Penney catalog, said he was inspired to start dressing up simply for the smiles. “I know the kids love Santa, and I love the kids,” Llamas said. Llamas has bussed students at Bergeson, Las Palmas and Marblehead elemen-

tary schools, R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility and several other CUSD schools, according to Sharon de Armas, the district’s safety and training supervisor. Palisades Principal Steve Scholl watched as kids stopped to greet Santa and said there was no better way for kids to start the winter break. “Kids love him. They’re so excited,” Scholl said. “Who wouldn’t want Santa driving their bus?” —Brian Park

Page 14

For the past 18 years, Danny Llamas, a bus driver for the Capistrano Unified School District, has been dressing as Santa Claus to pick up and drop off students during the holiday season. Photo by Brian Park

www.danapointtimes.com

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com FOR SALE TRUCK FOR SALE Ford Super Duty Pickup F350, Crew Cab, 4x4, Diesel 6 Speed Standard, A/C, Tow Pkg, Brush Guard, Nice truck $13,999 OBO, call 714-323-2130 MENS SMALL WETSUIT Mens Rip Curl Wetsuit, short-arm, full suit. New condition. Size small $85. Call or text 949.533.9761.

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

HELP WANTED SALES PERSON WANTED Picket Fence Media, owner of the San Clemente Times, Dana Point Times and Capistrano Dispatch, is looking for an advertising sales rep to join our dynamic team. We’re looking for an organized, hard-working individual with a great personality who can create marketing solutions for local businesses and push for growth in both print and online media platforms. Ideal candidate will have prior experience with media sales. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Alyssa Garrett at agarrett@sanclementetimes.com.

SERVICES LOCAL HOUSEKEEPER OR OFFICE CLEANING Reliable, affordable, meticulous. Excellent references. 949-456-2376

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

ARCHITECTURE - PLANNING

MUSIC INSTRUCTION (CONT.)

ELECTRICAL

949.496.6556 delta G electrical 949.360.9282 Danman’s Music School 24699 Del Prado, www.danmans.com CA #657214, www.deltagelectrical.com

PET GROOMING

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Nona Associates-Raymond J. Nona A.I.A 949.496.2275 IMAGES/Creative Solutions 949.366.2488 26901 Camino de Estrella, www.raynona.com 2927 Via Gorgonio, Ste. 100, www.imgs.com

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

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

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

CONSTRUCTION/REMODELING Mills Construction 949.212.7699 Dana Point, www.millsbuilds.com: CA # 973483

DERMATOLOGY Vorteil Dermatology and 949.276.2600 Aesthetic Science 33971 Selva Road, Ste. 200, www.vorteildermatology.com

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

INSURANCE SERVICES Patricia Powers 949.496.1900 24551 Del Prado, Ste. 364, 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

LOCKSMITH Dana Point Lock & Security www.danapointlock.com

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

949.496.6916

Dawgy Style 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Unit 112, www.alphadoggroomshop.com

949.496.3315

Dream Team Properties 949.481.1788 Mike Rosenberg, Broker Capistrano Beach, www.FindMyOCHome.com

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

PLUMBING A to Z Leak Detection www.atozleakdetection.com Chick’s Plumbing www.chicks-plumbing.com

REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL

WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLATION 949.499.4464 Offshore Construction www.offshoreconstruction.org 949.496.9731

949.444.6323

POOL SERVICE & REPAIR Palisades Pool Service & Repair 949.542.7232 Capistrano Beach, allenesommo@cox.net

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

PSYCHIATRY

Dr. Robert Dobrin, M.D. 949-707-4757 Kenny’s Music & Guitars 949.661.3984 Child/Adolescent/Adult Psychiatry/Behavioral Pediatrics 33971 Selva Rd. Ste, 125 24731 La Plaza, www.kennysmusicstore.com

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY” This go-to reference tool keeps your business in front of potential customers 24/7. GET YOUR BUSINESS LISTED TODAY. Call Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

D a n a Po i nt

OUTDOOR SPOTLIGHT

DOLPHIN REPORT: BY THE NUMBERS

67—Dana Hills senior center James Taylor’s field goal shooting percentage through nine games played. Taylor leads the team in the category. 46—Senior guard Eric Matheis’ 3-point shooting percentage on the season. Matheis has made 12 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc. 6—Consecutive wins for the Dana Hills boys basketball team during a stretch from December 5 to December 18. The Dolphins were set to compete in the final two rounds of the Irvine World News Tournament from December 20-21. Results were not available at press time. 4—Number of top-10 teams in the CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer coaches poll that the Dana Hills boys soccer team will face in the preseason. From L to R: Dana Hills’ James Taylor, Jack Sheffield and 9—Number of games in which Dana Hills girls water polo’s Madison Baba has led Jack Clendenen and the boys basketball team are 8-1 to the team in scoring. Baba tallied a season high seven goals in games against La Serna start the year. Photo by Steve Breazeale and Cathedral Catholic. The Dolphins are off to an 8-4 start to their season. 54—New season high in points for the Dana Hills girls basketball team. The Dolphins defeated Rancho Alamitos 54-42 on December 17 to notch their first win of the season. —Steve Breazeale

2013 Dana Point Sports-Outdoors Year in Review By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

ith 2013 coming to an end, we look back on the top stories, events and people that made up the Dana Point sports and outdoors scene. JANUARY Dolphins Boys and Girls Basketball Claim Holiday Tourney Titles Both the Dana Hills girls and boys basketball teams claimed the Maxpreps Holiday Classic Tournament on the same weekend. The girls team defeated San Dimas and the boys team beat Cathedral City to claim their respective championships. FEBRUARY McCall Fights in UFC 156 Dana Point native Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall earns a bid to fight in UFC 156 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. McCall, who fights in the flyweight division, squared off against Joseph Benavidez. Benavidez defeated McCall by way of unanimous decision. McCall’s record fell to 1-4-1 MMA, 0-2-1 UFC at the time. MARCH Dana Hills Boys Basketball Makes Deep Playoff Run The Dana Hills boys basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 1A Championships, where they fell to Santa Monica. The Dolphins earned a bid to the State Championship tournament, where they lost by one point to Mission Hills in the first round. APRIL Crash Mars Foust’s Hopes for X Games Gold Capistrano Beach’s Tanner Foust, a professional rally cross racer and host of the popular television show Top Gear USA, crashes in the Ford RallyCross Championships at the 2013 X Games in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, ending his hopes for the gold medal.

MAY Top Racers Compete in Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling The seventh installment of the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling occurred on May 5, attracting some of the top criterium racers in the nation. The course wound its way through the streets of Dana Point and hundreds came out to watch the 13 different races provided. JUNE Pirates Draft Taylor With the 51st overall pick of the 2013 MLB first-year player draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Dana Hills senior pitcher Blake Taylor. Taylor started 10 games for the Dolphins in 2013, compiling a 2.57 ERA. Taylor’s reported signing bonus was slated to be $1,065,400. JULY Locals Part of So Cal Blues Regional Championship The So Cal Blues girls U19 soccer team defeated Hawaiian champion Express to claim the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships. Dana Hills alumni Danielle Spriggs, who currently plays collegiate soccer for Rice University, was a member of the team. Dana Outrigger Captures Iron Perpetual Trophy The Dana Outrigger Canoe Club emerged from a field of 33 other canoe clubs to claim the 2013 Outrigger Iron Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the club that accrues the most points over the course of the racing season. Scambray Named to U.S. National Team Dana Hills senior volleyball player Tia Scambray was named to the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Volleyball Team. Scambray and the USA squad competed in the 2013 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championships in Thailand. Pelkey Wins California Waterman at Ocean Fest Dana Point resident Rob Pelkey compiled the most points out of every other waterman on the first day of the San Clemente Ocean Festival to take home the coveted California Waterman Award.

Dana Point Times December 27, 2013-January 2, 2014

Riders in the Dana Point Grand Prix fist-bump before their Category 4 race. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

AUGUST Celtic Games Find Home in Dana Point Sea Terrace Community Park plays host to the California Celtic Classic and World Highland Games in late August. Dozens of top athletes turned out to compete in events like the hammer throw, stone putt and strong man competitions. SEPTEMBER Will Schmidt Paddles Across Channel Islands Dana Point resident Will Schmidt completed an unassisted stand-up paddleboard trek that covered roughly 220 miles, touching all five of the Channel Islands, and ultimately ended in Dana Point Harbor. Schmidt, a former Marine, completed the journey in seven days and raised money for the Wounded Warriors Project and Casa Hogar. DP Hosts Battle of the Paddle The top stand-up paddleboarders in the world descended upon Doheny State Beach to compete in the 2013 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle. Travis Grant and Annabel Anderson took home the men’s and women’s elite distance race titles, respectively.

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OCTOBER Dolphins Girls Tennis, Volleyball Win League Both the Dana Hills girls volleyball and girls tennis teams repeat as South Coast League champions. NOVEMBER Gore Wins So Cal Open Professional golfer Jason Gore bested the field at the revived So Cal Open, hosted at Monarch Beach Golf Links. Ogden Wins CIF-SS X-C Title Dana Hills sophomore runner Jake Ogden won the individual title at the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships on November 23. Dana Point Turkey Trot a Hit More than 11,000 runners took to the streets of Dana Point to participate in the 36th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot. Runners were treated to 10K, 5K and kids’ 1-mile Gobble Wobble races. DECEMBER Dolphins X-C Goes to Nationals The Dana Hills boys cross country squad traveled to Oregon to compete in the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals event. The Dolphins placed 18th overall. DP www.danapointtimes.com

GROMS OF THE YEAR

DP SURF

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

Rachael Tilly, 15, Capistrano Beach Karina Rozunko, 17, San Clemente This year’s Grom of the Year honors are shared by two talented surfers who both made a splash on the world stage. San Clemente High School students, Rachael Tilly of Capistrano Beach and Karina Rozunko of San Clemente, both surfed their way to the podium in world championship longboard competition. In September, Rachael earned a silver medal at the International Surfing Association World Longboard Championship in Brazil. Her performance helped Rachael Tilly. Photo by ISA/Rommel Gonzales Karina Rozunko. Photo by ASP/Poullenot the U.S. team move up one ranking to No. 7 from No. 8 in 2012. In November, Karina earned a third-place finish at the Association of Surfing Professionals Women’s World Longboard title event, the Swatch Girls Pro, in Hainan, China. A second-time qualifier for the ASP event, Karina also took third in 2012. Along with numerous mentions throughout the year, in this and other local newspapers, both were also seen elsewhere in the media. Rachael appeared on the cover of the April edition of OC Family magazine and Karina was featured in the allwomen longboard surf movie, Say No More, which was released in July.—Andrea Swayne

D a n a Po i nt

Kudos to the Kids By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

hroughout the year we celebrate the tri-city area’s talented, young student athletes who have chosen to make surfing an important part of their lives. Groms of the Week (grom is short for grommet and means young surfer)are featured here, on the surf page. And each week we are impressed with the quality of wave riders we find and honored to share their hopes, dreams and victories. We gather the full 12 months’ worth of groms together at the end of each year to highlight these amazing up-and-coming surfers once again. So here’s to the New Year and the promise of a bright future, not only for the sport of surfing but for our community as a whole, thanks to our local youth. DP

COLTON OVERIN

BRIGHTON REINHARDT

CONNOR MATEER

JACKSON HINKLE

PACSUN USA SURF TEAM

TERA RICHARDSON

KEI KOBAYASHI

BETHANY ZELASKO

AUGUST RILEY REINHARDT

BRYCE PINKERTON

KIRRA PINKERTON

ALEXXA ELSEEWI

ETHAN MUDGE

JACK BENJAMIN

CHAD CLIFTON

TAJ PENIATA

CANNON CARR

DANE MATSON

RACHAEL TILLY

MEG ROH

KEVIN SCHULZ

BREYDEN TAYLOR

TREVOR THORNTON

SCHS & SHORECLIFFS SURF TEAMS

COLE HOUSHMAND

KAIMANA TAKAYAMA

JARED BERNIER

CARSON CARR

HAGAN JOHNSON

IAN CRANE

CAMERON DUBY

DAX MCPHILLIPS

NATHAN CARABBA

DAVID ECONOMOS

BRYCE CRANE

JARIC FINK

SAIGE REALE

HAYLEY POWELL

TYLER VESQUE

MARLEY PENIATA

JOSH HOFFMAN

LIAM MATEER

DANNY KENDUCK

RILEY SHIROKE

MATT ECONOMOS

JAKE SHIROKE

KARINA ROZUNKO

LIAM MURRAY

COLE THOMPSON

BRIAN CLARKE

Dana Point Times December 27, 2013-January 2, 2014

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