LO C A L
N EWS
August 1-7, 2014
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Local Surfers Crush Early US Open Rounds PAGE 18
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 31
Painting the Park Pink Pink Helmet Posse skates out of love, desire to alter perceptions S P O R T S / PAG E 1 4 The Pink Helmet Posse, a group of five young female skateboarders ages 6 to 15, is spreading their love and passion for skateboarding to young girls throughout Southern California. Pictured (L to R) Bella Kenworthy, Relz Murphy, Sierra Kerr, Ryann Cannon and Jordyn Barratt. Photo: Jason Kenworthy Photography
Harbor Revamp Appealed to Coastal Commission EYE ON DP/PAGE 3
Orange County Native Recalls Forgotten San O History DP LIVING/PAGE 12
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City Holds Workshop on Town Center Plan, Downtown’s Future EYE ON DP/PAGE 5
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plan mentioned the construction of a gymnasium for one of the middle schools. He asked Deputy Superintendent Clark Hampton if any other middle schools had gymnasiums. Hampton said they don’t. The master plan includes some ambitious elements and not all of its recommendations are expected to be acted upon, Hampton told the board. Even so, the question of equity remained Alpay’s primary concern. “We should bring all of the schools up to the level of the current top school, as far as facilities are concerned, and then continue to work up from there,” Alpay said. At the meeting, San Clemente Mayor Tim Brown urged board members to return excess funds to Talega residents from a 2006 refinancing of a CFD.
Five things Dana Point should know this week Residents Say ‘No’ to Rubber-playground Mulch THE LATEST: Residents and city staffers gathered at Sea Canyon Park on Wednesday evening to discuss freshly installed loose, rubber-playground mulch that led to the play scape’s closure. “We had some resident feedback on the surface and we wanted to meet with them and address their concerns so that we can use a material that is suitable and safe for the children utilizing the playground equipment,” said Kevin Evans, the city’s director of Community Services and Parks. The city recently removed sand from the playground, which is tucked in a residential neighborhood off Acapulco Drive and Golden Lantern, and replaced it with a rubber-composite made from recycled steel-belt tires. A similar material was also installed at Thunderbird Park. But after a young neighborhood resident got a puncture wound from metal bits in the rubber, residents raised their voices, said Susan Rouse, a 25-year Sea Canyon neighborhood resident. Chain link fences have since gone up around the play place and Wednesday’s meeting brought nearly 50 residents together. Aside from the material’s quality, which residents believed contained more metal pieces, attendees brought up issues with a lack of public input into the mulch being installed, Rouse said. WHAT’S NEXT: The city may replace rubber mulch with a solid rubber composite much like what is currently installed in the park’s musical/noise area. The playground will remain closed for the time being.—Andrea Papagianis
San Clemente’s Porcelain Doll Mystery Solved THE LATEST: Instances of mysterious porcelain dolls appearing on family doorsteps that brought San Clemente national headlines last Thursday appear to be a case of good intentions being misinterpreted. Last week, eight families in the San Clemente development of Talega had porcelain dolls left on their front porches. Each doll, it was reported to authorities, looked similar to a young, elementaryaged girl living in the home, ultimately Dana Point Times August 1-8, 2014
(ABOVE) Chain-link fences block entry to Sea Canyon Park’s playground. The city is currently evaluating newly installed rubber-playground mulch that has drawn the ire of many local residents. The park will remain closed until further notice. (RIGHT) Residents have asked the city to replace rubber mulch, like this pictured at Thunderbird Park, that was recently installed at Sea Canyon Park’s playground with sand or another material. Photo: Jim Shilander
leading to an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. OCSD officials collected all eight dolls and investigated where the dolls were manufactured or purchased, said department spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock. Word spread quickly the morning of July 24, with news outlets from Los Angeles to Kansas City and New York reporting the strange findings. Investigators met with concerned families who questioned the motive of the doll deliverer. That meeting led investigators to interview a woman living in the neighborhood who admitted to leaving the dolls, Hallock said. She claimed to have left the dolls as gifts, he said. WHAT’S NEXT: One Talega mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said her family received a doll sometime during late morning or early afternoon hours. She thought it was a prank until she heard of other families receiving dolls. According to officials, no crime was committed.—Jim Shilander
SJC Commission Reviews Senior Community THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission got their first look at a plan to build a 418-unit retirement community on the current distribution site of Armstrong Garden Center last week. Spieker Senior Development is proposing to build the community, which includes a health care center and memorysupport facility, on a 35-acre site, located at 32382 Del Obispo St. Supporters of the project came dressed in blue shirts that read “I Heart SJC.” Troy Bourne, partner at Spieker, noted that under state law, potential senior living communities are required to assess
WHAT’S NEXT: Although the meeting was only an informational session, the board will eventually vote on a facilities plan. A vote on the Talega CFD is likely to come in August.—Steve Sohanaki demand for their projects by providing information and establishing a wait list. Opponents criticized the density of the project and some noted that the community would put increased strain on the city’s infrastructure. WHAT’S NEXT: With Commissioners Sheldon Cohen and Ian Gardiner absent from the Tuesday, July 22 meeting, and with Commissioner Evan Chaffee having to recuse himself because of his residence nearby, the five-member body lacked a quorum and had to continue the introductory meeting. The commission reconvened Monday, July 28 and appointed Commissioners Tim Neely and Roy Nunn to an ad-hoc committee to work with the developer on architectural design. —Brian Park
Capo Unified Looks to Address School Needs THE LATEST: Trustees of the Capistrano Unified School District got their annual look at the district’s master plan regarding facilities needs across the district on Wednesday, July 23. With needs identified, the board must now grapple with how to fund the needed infrastructure upgrades. During the discussion, board members unanimously agreed that equity, or keeping schools at a similar state, was their chief concern regarding facilities updates. The issue surfaced when Trustee Anna Bryson said CUSD shouldn’t expect funding from the state next year. Bryson added that much of needed money would have to come from community facilities districts (CFD) or facilities bonds. Board president John Alpay pressed the issue further when he noticed the master
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Harbor Revamp Goes to Coastal Commission THE LATEST: Orange County’s longdiscussed $140 million project to give the aging Dana Point Harbor a facelift is on hold as an appeal works its way through the California Coastal Commission. After the Planning Commission granted the county a development permit for the revitalization project’s landside element, a recreational boaters group appealed to the City Council. Plans include the demolition of 13 existing structures and reconstruction of seven commercial buildings with 30,000 square feet of new retail. The county also plans to build a 35,000-square-foot park, a two-level parking structure, and, eventually, a dryboat storage facility to house 400 vessels. The five-member council heard comments from boaters who fear the new storage facility will greatly alter the relationship between man and boat. Some also raised concern that certain boating amenities could be negatively impacted, such as parking. Harbor business owners countered, saying residents, businesses and visitors had waited long enough for necessary infrastructure changes. City council members unanimously denied the appeal. Boaters 4 Dana Point Harbor took their appeal to the Coastal Commission. Two coastal commissioners also appealed the development permit. A hearing was expected within 49 days of filing at the CCC’s Aug. 13-15 meeting, but a waiver was granted, said Teresa Henry, the CCC’s south coast district manager. WHAT’S NEXT: The hearing date has not been rescheduled.—AP www.danapointtimes.com
EYE ON DP
NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS
Ocean Institute Home Raffle Turns 10 The deadline to enter early-bird drawing to win $10,000 in the Ocean Institute’s 10th annual Laguna Beach Gold Coast Raffle is quickly approaching. Participants must register by Thursday, Aug. 21 to be entered into the early-bird drawing on Friday, Sept. 5. All early-bird entries will have a chance at the grand prize: $1 million dollars or a Laguna Beach home. The final drawing will take place Saturday, Nov. 8 at noon. The event will be held at the Ocean Institute, located at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive. The final deadline to purchase raffle tickets is Thursday, Oct. 23 at 11:59 p.m. Tickets are $150 each. Proceeds benefit educational programs at the Ocean Institute. A maximum of 21,000 tickets will be sold. The raffle has awarded nearly $11 million in prizes since 2005. Over the last nine years, only one grand prize winner has chosen the Laguna Beach home. Each Thursday, from now until Oct. 16, 10 “gold rush” winners will be announced and awarded $1,000 for first place and $300 for each subsequent one. To purchase tickets, call 949.542.3600 or print the entry form available online at www.ocean-institute.org/raffle and fax it to 949.542.3601.
CUSD Students Appointed to Military Academies Nine Capistrano Unified School District graduates have accepted appointments to one of four United States Service Academies and were honored by the school board on Wednesday, June 25. From San Juan Hills, Jessica Boerner will be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. From Capistrano Valley, Andrew Carroll and Chadney Hill will be attending the Air Force Academy and Austin Earnest will be
Capistrano Unified Trustee Jim Reardon (left) and Board President John Alpay (right) recognized San Juan Hills High School graduate Jessica Boerner, who will be attending the United States Military Academy. She is one of eight CUSD students who have accepted appointments to U.S. service academies. Courtesy of the Capistrano Unified School District
Dana Point Times August 1-7, 2014
attending the Merchant Marine Academy. From Aliso Niguel, Kaitlin Pang and Christina Santala will be attending the Air Force Academy and Arthur “Evan” Riddle will be attending the Merchant Marine Academy. Connor Panick from Tesoro and Dylan Struthers from San Clemente will both be attending the Naval Academy. Each cadet will receive a full scholarship, including tuition, books, housing, meals and a monthly stipend. Upon graduation, they each receive a commission as an officer in their respective branch of military service.—Brian Park
Humpback Whales Spotted Near Dana Point
A humpback whale comes to the water’s surface Sunday, July 20 off the coast of Dana Point. The adult humpback was spotted by local whale watching companies with a young calf. Photo: Shane Keena, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching
Two humpback whales gave outdoor recreationists aboard local dolphin and whale watching vessels an all-day show Sunday, July 20 as the mother and calf appeared to play hide-and-seek along Dana Point’s coast. On the first trip of the day, Capt. Frank Brennan with Dana Wharf Sportfising & Whale Watching spotted what he thought were three humpback whales. It turned out to be just two humpbacks and one fin whale. The mother and calf remained in the area throughout the day, playing what appeared to be games and giving whale watchers a show. Both Dana Wharf and Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching captured aerial drone footage of the humpback whales, which have been spotted on other days since. Such footage has given researchers a new perspective into the behaviors of many different dolphin and whale species. “As we watched the mother and calf we saw another startling behavior that I had never seen before,” said Dave Anderson. “The mother actually extends her left pectoral flipper toward the calf for several minutes ... and then, just before a dive, touches the calf’s chin, as if to lift its head or blow hole out of the water to exhale before diving. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like human mother who is holding her child’s hand.” Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com.
News Next Door
WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS
SAN CLEMENTE The city of San Clemente may look to hold on to some of its surplus property including a parcel at the corner of Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida La Pata, which it might consider leasing. The city is examining its surplus property holdings for the first time since 2002 as a consequence of changing its computer maintenance management system. The inventory found the city owns a number of parcels that it could not sell due to small size. However, three properties, including the La Pata/Vista Hermosa corner, the former fire station at Calle Negocio and a property at 754 Avenida Acapulco, could be declared surplus and made available for sale or lease. At the City Council’s July 15 meeting, Mayor Tim Brown suggested that rather than selling the properties, the city should consider leasing them, since they are almost certain to increase in value. Brown was particularly interested in leasing the Vista Hermosa/La Pata corner property for a gas station, since there is only one east of Interstate 5 and a number of Talega residents have expressed an interest in having a gas station closer to their homes. The city has already been approached by developers with regard to that property, including one proposing a gas station, said Erik Sund, the city’s assistant city manager. The property could also be subdivided to allow for additional retail at the site.—Jim Shilander
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO A Mexican market in San Juan Capistrano may have to close its doors after the Planning Commission postponed consideration of a potential solution to the store’s parking woes because the five-member body lacked a quorum. The commission was scheduled to consider Mercado El Rey’s request to establish a shared parking plan. But Commissioners Sheldon Cohen and Ian Gardiner were absent from the meeting, and Commissioner Roy Nunn had to recuse himself because of his business relationship with Dan Friess. Friess, owner of Friess Property Investments, has a building and several tenants near the market. He successfully sued to have the City Council’s 2011 approval of the market overturned because it did not have sufficient parking, which he said adversely affected his and nearby businesses. Commissioners Tim Neely and Evan Chaffee continued the hearing to Monday, July 28. The market is under a court-ordered injunction to close the business by Aug. 1 if the commission does not take action before the deadline. Dan Malcom, who owns the building, said the continuation felt “a bit prejudicial,” since the market’s owners, as well as a crowd of employees and patrons, had come to the meeting in support. Malcolm said he would be out of the country and would not be able to attend the rescheduled meeting, but he and the commission agreed that he would be allowed to send a 15-minute video testimony.—Brian Park
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Community Meetings SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Nature Tour
9 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Join a docent from the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center on this two-hour walk through the Headlands. RVSP required. Call 949.248.3527 or email wqintern@danapoint.org to reserve a spot. Tour leaves from 34558 Scenic Drive.
Farmers Market & Craft Fair
9 a.m.–3 p.m. Each first Saturday, the farmer market’s hours are extended until 3 p.m. to include a craft fair featuring handmade arts and crafts. Stop by La Plaza Park to pick up a week’s worth of fresh produce and specialty food items. SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
Concert in the Park
2:30 p.m.–6 p.m. Head over the Sea Terrace Park, located at Pacific Coast Highway and Niguel Road, for this free concert. The Fabulous Ultratones and the Sam Morrison Band perform. MONDAY, AUGUST 4
Lantern District Community Workshop
6:30 p.m. The city of Dana Point hosts this meeting to provide residents with an overview of the Town Center Plan. Boris Dramov, with ROMA Design Group, the firm behind much of the plan, will make a presentation. The meeting will be held at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo St. Go to www.danapoint.org or call 949.248.3563 for more. TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
City Council Meeting—Canceled. South County Toastmasters
7 p.m.–8:40 p.m. Practice becoming a more confident communicator each Tuesday at the Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan Ave. Find out more information by calling 949.280.9777 or visiting 3944816.toastmastersclubs.org. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6
Farmers Market & Craft Fair
3 p.m.–7 p.m. Shop organic produce and one-of-a-kind goods during this weekly outdoor market at Capo Beach Church, 25975 Domingo Ave. Call Steve Crossen, 949.573.5033, for more on becoming a vendor. www.danapointtimes.com
EYE ON DP
City Holds Community Meeting on Lantern District ANDREA PAPAGIANIS, DANA POINT TIMES
W
ith infrastructure work moving forward on downtown streets and developers presenting proposals for large-scale, new construction, the city of Dana Point is hosting a community meeting to reintroduce residents to the Town Center/Lantern District Plan that was approved nearly eight years ago. The meeting will be held at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo St. It starts at 6:30 p.m. This community workshop comes on the heels of a proposed mixed-use development that has drawn the concern of many local residents. Planning commissioners and residents heard from Majestic Housing & Development LLC on Monday, July 14 about its project which would build three structures, 111 residences, 28,000 square feet of retail and two-levels of subterranean parking on either side of Amber Lantern between Del Prado and PCH. “This is the test project,” Commissoner Gary Newkirk said at the meeting of the proposed development that could help shape future development in downtown. In 2006, the Dana Point City Council initiated a plan to revamp the city’s downtown corridor. The plan, designed by ROMA Design Group, a San Franciscobased firm that specializes in landscape
DP Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS
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.
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Dana Point Police Services www.HideitLockitOrLoseit.com
Tuesday, July 29 DISTURBANCE Ensenada Place, 34400 Block (3:17 a.m.) Six or seven men were drinking and smashing bottles in a Dana Point Harbor parking lot near the Ocean Institute. DISTUBRANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Sepulveda Avenue, 34100 Block (12:47 a.m.) Authorities received four calls regarding a loud party where underage drinking was believed to be occurring. Sheriff’s deputies responded Dana Point Times August 1–7, 2014
architecture and urban design, earned the California Coastal Commission’s authorization and council approval. But in 2008, the infrastructure project that would see large-scale changes to Pacific Coast Highway and Del Prado Avenue, both above and below the street, was halted. A project revival effort was successful last year and council members approved spending $9.2 million for the project’s first phase on PCH. Construction began in September 2013 with the South Coast Water District replacing water and sewer lines on PCH, as part of its $5 million commitment to the project. The city followed soon after with street-level work to return PCH to a two-way roadway. That work is expected to end in early September. The utility will now start water and sewer work on Del Prado. A timeline for Dana Point’s work to make Del Prado into a more pedestrian-friendly road by adding medians, replacing stoplights with stop signs and encouraging mixuse development where people can live, work and play has not been determined. In a 3-2 vote on June 15, the council approved spending $7.7 million to finish out the project. The work has not yet gone to bid. Boris Dramov, ROMA’s Town Center consultant, will give an overview of the Town Center Specific Plan. DP
each time, but the caller said partying would start up again once they left. The caller refused to sign an official complaint.
Monday, July 28 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Camino Capistrano, 35000 Block (10:20 p.m.) While investigating an active car alarm, the caller checked through his garage and noticed all his cabinets were open. He did not know if anyone was inside the garage. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Kara Bay, 23800 Block (9:06 p.m.) Niguel Shores security guards reported numerous teens for running away from them on foot. According to the caller, the group was believed to be camping out at a residence whose owner was out of town. MISSING CHILD Pacific Coast Highway, 33300 Block (4:59 p.m.) Two 12-year-old boys were separated from their family at Salt Creek Beach. Lifeguards at Tower 4 contacted officials. The young boys were reunited with their family before deputies arrived on scene. DISTURBANCE Dana Drive, 25000 Block (2:51 p.m.) A group of young skateboard-
Members of the Dana Hills High School Interact Club volunteer at the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club’s Lobster Fest last year. Tickets for the fifth annual event, which sold out last year, are now available online. Photo: Andrea Papagianis
Lobster Fest Tickets Still Available Rotary Club’s annual benefit for area nonprofits just two weeks away ANDREA PAPAGIANIS, DANA POINT TIMES
T
ime is running out. With just two weeks to go until the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual Lobster Fest hits the beachside picnic areas at Doheny State Beach, organizers are urging people to get their tickets sooner rather than later because last year’s event sold out early.
ers were detained by deputies after a caller said they were using the Richard Henry Dana Jr. statue, located on the Dana Point Harbor Island, as a ramp. INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN Doheny Park Road, 34000 Block (2:19 p.m.) Orange County Fire Authority personnel responded to the Smart & Final parking lot where an elderly woman had fallen. The woman had a head laceration and injured her shoulder.
The event’s fifth installment will be held on Saturday, August 16 at 4 p.m. Proceeds raised at the event benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Dana Point 5th Marine Support Group and other local charities. Attendees can also sponsor a lobster feast for a Camp Pendleton-based Marine. Tickets are $85 and jump to $100 at the door the day of the event. Each ticket includes a steak, lobster and seafood dinner, complete with corn, potatoes and lots of butter for lobster dunking. Seats at tables with complimentary beer, wine and cocktails are available for $150. There will be a no-host bar, silent auctions and live music and dancing throughout the evening. To purchase tickets, visit www.danapointlobsterfest.org. And to find out more about the Rotary Club, go to www.monarchbeachrotary.com. DP
Wednesday, July 23 DISTURBANCE Sepulveda/Camino Capistrano (8:17 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a young man, possibly 15 years old, drinking a 40-ounce beer. The subject was of thin build and was wearing a black shirt, baggy pants and a backwards hat.
DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street, 33800 Block (10:28 a.m.) The caller reported hearing yelling, screaming and things being thrown from a nearby apartment.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-NON INJURY Pacific Coast Highway/Street of the Golden Lantern (6:59 p.m.) A man suffered minor forearm and leg lacerations from an accident between two gray sedans. County fire and medical personnel responded to the scene.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Las Vegas Avenue/Doheny Park Road (5:03 a.m.) A man in his 30s was lying on the ground and yelling in pain. No blood was seen and the man was wearing no shirt. The man was transported to an area hospital.
DRUNK DRIVING Del Obispo Street/Pacific Coast Highway (5:45 p.m.) The driver of a black Chevrolet Tahoe was swerving in traffic lanes before stopping in a crosswalk. The caller last saw the vehicle heading toward the Dana Point Harbor.
DISTURBANCE Street of the Golden Lantern, 33800 Block (3:27 a.m.) Two calls were made regarding a 26-year-old drunken female who had fallen down a flight of stairs and was bleeding. The young woman became combative and the caller believed everyone in the house was in danger.
ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Doheny Park Road, 34200 Block (5:35 p.m.) Crew members with the Orange County Fire Authority put out a small brush fire near the intersection of Las Vegas and Domingo avenues. The caller believed the fire was started by people living in an encampment.
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DP SOAPBOX Dana Point
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS
GUEST OPINION: Evan Chaffee, San Juan Capistrano Planning Commissioner
Stepping up to Support Veterans
Navigating the VA system can be tough, but local efforts can go a long way
M
any Americans are still reeling from the negligence revealed in the Veterans Health Administration scandal, from which an internal audit of the VA released in June found that more than 120,000 veterans were left waiting or never got care. In this same audit, it was found that schedulers established unofficial lists or made it appear that waiting times for care were more favorable. This investigation was sparked after 35 veterans died while waiting for care at the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Shortly after the release of the audit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a criminal investigation of the VA. While the federal government appears to have performed its duties to veterans poorly or not at all, that is not the case with local organizations dedicated to veterans issues. With the third largest veteran population in the state of California, Orange County has an important responsibility to serve, support and respect the men and women who have fought to protect our freedoms. It has been reassuring to see our local municipalities rise in support of our servicemen and women in the form of city-sponsored military units. For instance, San Juan Capistrano provides support for the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment; San Clemente supports the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and Dana Point has adopted the 5th Marine Regiment. With Camp Pendleton sitting at our southern border, it is reassuring to know
that these support groups will be able provide aid, comfort and assistance to our Marines, Sailors and their families. In 1978, the Orange County Board of Supervisors formed the OC VetEVAN CHAFFEE erans Advisory Council Planning to advise the board on Commissioner issues pertaining to veterans and their dependents. At one recent meeting, the council provided a presentation from the city of Anaheim introducing their veterans’ resource center. Anaheim city staff displayed a page devoted to veterans services now found on their city website. This page includes information regarding housing, benefits, compensation, job fairs, a job directory and a resource directory. In some cities a dedicated city staffed resource center is not economically viable. Understanding this, the Veterans Advisory Council has been urging cities to provide a centralized veterans support section on city websites that, at minimum, directs local veterans to helpful resources provided by the county, state and federal governments. While Anaheim utilizes its staff to manage this network, the city of Dana Point has established an alternative method of serving its veteran community. Currently, Dana Point has provided office space at city hall for its local, highly active Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9934 to utilize their volunteer services to provide aid to
our vets. Many of these volunteers have already started or completed the long and arduous process to obtain the benefits the VA owes them. In many cases these men and women have had to wait years to finally get their earned benefits. With that in mind, Dana Point VFW post members volunteer to help other veterans with this process. They have learned, out of necessity, the ins and outs of this application process and have become a knowledgeable resource for other veterans. These men and women provide a true public service without any real recognition. Our Orange County cities have an opportunity to better serve our veterans by establishing a resource page on each city’s website, and additionally, by partnering with local veterans’ organizations to create advisory committees and regular volunteer-manned offices at every city hall. Local cost would be minimal, but the impact for our veterans community would be tremendous. Evan Chaffee is a lifelong resident of San Juan Capistrano and is currently serving his first term on the city’s Planning Commission. He serves as campaign manager for Orange County Supervisor candidate Lisa Bartlett. 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
HAROLD KAUFMAN, Dana Point
I do not usually respond to letters to the editor because it is usually a waste of time. It won’t change the minds of people that have already had their minds made up. They are not interested in listening to the truth. But when the facts presented by the letter writer are so completely and utterly incorrect, I just had to at least try to get the correct facts out for the people who read the editorial comments and may think the letter writer knows what he is talking about. So, Mr. Herald (“Where’s the Lantern District Outcry Citizens,” Dana Point Dana Point Times August 1-7, 2014
phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.danapointtimes.com
HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Andrea Papagianis, 949.388.7700, x112 apapagianis@danapointtimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE
Lauralyn Loynes, 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@danapointtimes.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@danapointtimes.com BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@danapointtimes.com
PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett
> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)
EDITORIAL
> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)
Group Senior Editor > Andrea Swayne
OPERATIONS
City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis
Finance Director > Mike Reed
Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale
Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett
City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith
Letters to the Editor TIME TO GET YOUR LANTERN DISTRICT FACTS STRAIGHT
34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
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Times, July 18), here are the real facts: 1. The city did not issue a bond for $24 million for the Lantern District. The city has no outstanding bond for this or any other projects. That’s zero, nada, zilch, none. No debt whatsoever. We are debt free. 2. The height limit in the Lantern District is 40 feet. Not 35 feet. 3. The Majestic project consisted of three separate buildings with a total of 111 living units. There are 227 parking spaces in the plans for the living units, 47 parking places for the retail spaces and 63 spaces that are in-lieu spaces to be provided from the more than 1,200 surplus peak time spaces available in the Lantern District. Oh, and Mr. Herald, there was an outcry of the citizens regarding the Lantern Page 7
District. Ninety percent of the people surveyed said completion of the town center was, after police protection and maintenance of streets, the most important project in Dana Point. Mr. Herald, feel free to call me if there is anything here you cannot understand (I am in the book). WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@ danapointtimes.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.
Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)
Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Amanda Huffman, Catherine Manso, Sean Robb, Dana Schnell, Steve Sohanaki, Tim Trent
Dana Point Times, Vol. 7, 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 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
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animals that provide vital nourishment to fish and whales. Collect and study your own samples straight from the Dana Point Harbor. Ages 4 and up. Cost is $7 per person, $25 per family. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.
What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF
Friday | 01 GODSPELL 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this two-night performance of skits and songs inspired by the gospel according to St. Matthew. Bring blankets and low-back lawn chairs. Seating starts at 6 p.m. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu. FIRST FRIDAY FILM 7 p.m.–9 p.m. Join the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library for a showing of Heaven is for Real, a film based on a book of the same name about Colton, a young boy who recounts his visit to heaven after a near-death experience. $2 donation. San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.sjcfol.org.
Saturday | 02 NATURE TOUR 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Explore the ecology and natural history of Southern California on this 2-hour, docent-led walk through the Dana Point Headlands. Occurs the first Sunday of each month. RSVP required to 949.248.3527 or wqintern@danapoint.org. Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org. FARMERS MARKET & CRAFT FAIR 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Seasonal produce, flowers, handmade crafts and much more are available at Dana Point’s downtown La Plaza Park each Saturday. 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org. EVENING OF THE MIND 7 p.m. Carl Christman, a teacher, author and mentalist will guide the audience on a journey into the mind with magic, mind reading, hypnosis and a dash of comedy. $35. The Shed Fine Art Gallery, Dana Point, 24471 Del Prado Ave., Dana Point, 949.429.5591, www.the-shed-danapoint.com.
Sunday | 03 THE VILLAGE ART FAIRE 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Shop and stroll along Avenida Del Mar the first Sunday of each month where close to 70 gifted artisans sell their handcrafted art and fine crafts. Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.395.7008, www.villagesanclemente.org. Dana Point Times August 1-7, 2014
EDITOR’S PICK Grab the family and head over to Sea Terrace Park for the city of Dana Point’s free summer concert series. This week, enjoy live tunes from The Fabulous Ultratones and the Sam Morrison Band. Photo: Andrea Papagianis
CONCERTS IN THE PARK 2:30 p.m.–6 p.m. San Diego’s ultimate wedding band, The Fabulous Ultratones, takes the stage at Sea Terrace Park as part of Dana Point’s summer concert series. And delivering 100 percent Southern Rock hits will be the Sam Morrison Band. Bring blankets, low-back chairs and lunch. Free. Pacific Coast Highway and Niguel Road, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org. HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR 1 p.m. Join the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society for a 1.5-hour tour through town, including the Los Rios Historic District, the Egan House and adobes. Meet at the train depot platform on Verdugo Street. Donation $2 for adults, $1 for children. 949.493.8444, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.
GHOST THE MUSICAL 7:30 p.m. Relive the iconic moments from the Oscar-winning, love-story Ghost in this new brand of Broadway musical that follows Sam, a man trapped between two worlds who refuses to leave love Molly when he finds out she’s in grave danger. Tickets start at $25. Runs through August 10. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787, www.scfta.org.
Wednesday | 06 BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY 7:30 p.m. Buddy Holly’s short but spectacular career is told through classic songs like “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue.” Favorites from the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, who died in a plane crash alongside Buddy, will also be featured. Tickets start at $41. Runs through August 10. The Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787, www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
Thursday | 07
ORPHEUS DESCENDING 2 p.m. The On-Impulse Acting Troupe and Emmy-nominated producer/director Pamela Peak present a passionate love story that takes place in an Alabama town in 1950. Tickets $15. Calbrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.
NETWORKING AT NOON 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Join the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce the first Thursday of each month for an afternoon of networking with a side of lunch. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Thai This, 24501 Del Prado Ave., Dana Point, 949.496.1555, www.danapointchamber.com.
Monday | 04 MOVIE MONDAY: SWEET CHARITY 8 p.m. Watch Shirley MacLaine in one of her greatest performance as Charity Hope Valentine, a lovelorn gal dreaming of oldfashioned romance who gives her heart away to underserving man after undeserving man. Free. Bring beach chairs, blankets and picnic dinners. Set-up beings at 5:30 p.m. with short-animated films leading up to the night’s feature. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Arts Plaza, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787, www.scfta.org.
Tuesday | 05 FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT 6 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Learn about one UC Irvine scientist’s exciting research into the world of zooplankton, the microscopic
ART TALK: RUNWAY MADNESS Noon–1 p.m. One week after the popular Festival of Arts runway show, participating artists will discuss their designs, inspiration and let guests get up close to their creations. Admission $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors. Festival of Arts Grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 800.487.2787, www.lagunafestivalofarts.org.
UPCOMING: ORANGE COUNTY SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Noon–7 p.m. Sample ceviche, lobster, crab, paella, fish tacos and all the seafood your heart desires at this festival celebrating food coming straight from the sea. Also, taste your way through California’s wineries at the Orange County Wine Mixer and enjoy live tunes. Admission is free. Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point, www.ocseafoodfestival.com.
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Dickey Betts and his band Great Southern are set to perform at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, Aug. 21. Photo: Courtesy
On Stage at the Coach House: Dickey Betts and Great Southern
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ock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts will be making a stop at the Coach House on Thursday, Aug. 21, as part of his U.S. summer tour. Born in Florida, Betts was introduced to a myriad of string instruments at an early age, mastering the guitar at just 16 years old. Performing in several small rock and roll bands during his early 20s, Betts toured around Florida before getting his first taste of success at 26 as a sessions player for Phil Walden of Capricorn Records. Through Walden, Betts met Gregg and Duane Allman, creating the beginning of the Allman Brothers Band. Betts is now touring with his band, Great Southern, which includes his son Duane Betts. Playing bluegrass and mellow Southern rock, Dickey Betts and Great Southern are a fun jam band filled with masterful guitar solos and root bluegrass melodies. Make a night of it and enjoy dinner before the show. Receive reserved priority seating, in front of general admission seating and closer to the stage, with a dinner reservation. Minimum food purchase applies. Call or log on to the Coach House website for more information. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased, along with dinner reservations, at www.thecoachhouse.com or by calling 949.496.8930. The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. —Victor Carno
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 DP LIVING Dana Point
PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY
GUEST OPINION: It’s History by Carlos N. Olvera
Buried Treasure: Fact or Fiction? Long-told legends keep search for buried treasures alive
L
egends are stories that have been passed on from storyteller to listener of a historic fact, woven with threads of plausibility that cannot be disproved. Sometimes they are enhanced with time, as you may read here, and not realize it. Whether it is gold, silver or jewels that were believed stolen or hidden for protection or a marked location having been moved by man or nature, long-told legends leave one to question: Was the treasure ever retrieved or is it still there? Earlier this year, we read of a Northern California couple who found 1,400 gold coins buried on their ranch under an elm tree. The inventory was valued at $11 million and dated from between 1847 to 1894. They were struck at the San Francisco IT’S HISTORY By Carlos N. mint, kept in eight cans Olvera and still had their near mint luster. Their origin? Well, that’s the beginning of a legend too. A legend surfaced in 1893 that $40,000 worth of golden treasure laid buried near
the mouth of Brea Canyon in the town of Fullerton. A bandit told his sweetheart who in turn told her next love after his demise. Its location, it was said, was “feet from the full shadow of a sycamore tree at noon during the month of a full moon.” In July 1896, a young man, buying up miner’s supplies in Santa Ana, said he was off to San Juan Capistrano, where tradition held there was unfound wealth beneath the ruins of the Mission San Juan Capistrano. No return report was ever filed. Around the county, strange diggings were found, leaving the impression that one was after a supposedly buried treasure once reported in 1899 in Santa Ana. Then in December 1908, a search began near the ruins of the old Serrano ranch house on the Trabuco mesa, nine miles north of San Juan Capistrano. This was part of the O’Neill Ranch where wealth obtained from the cattle-hide trade was reportedly hidden. All that was found were aged and decaying picks and shovels and a rock with a cross carved into it. In 1915, an old map from a San Quentin inmate marked a spot where the first original mission site stood, about three miles east
At coastal-low tide along the Dana Point Headlands, a cave, created by the natural weathering of the rock above, appears. This cave was used by rumrunners during the Prohibition Era. Some even believe pirates once used the cavern and that unfound treasure may be hidden there. Photo: Paul Lawrence
of its present location. The initial wealth of the Mission was believed to be buried due to the settlers returning to San Diego because of an uprising working its way south. A year later the settlers returned to the current site. Local history frequently refers to the Mission San Juan Capistrano and the attempted robbery by an Argentine pirate Capt. Hippolyte Bouchard in 1818. He stopped at several places along the coast on his sail south. He found nothing but drink and merriment for his men. But his approach was forewarned and residents with accompanied soldiers went into Trabuco Canyon with a supposed chest of gold ordainments from the altar of the Mission. In 1887, it was rumored that the pirates real intent was to bury treasure from previous raids, not steal it. This in turn brought even more treasure seekers. Trabuco Canyon seemed to be the favorite spot for the hidden treasure. In 1923, seekers again scoured the area, this time looking for keys that were left in a notch of a sycamore tree, indicating the
buried chest’s location. By this time, the area had pits and mounds, numbering about 100, looking like huge gopher or mole hills. With each new rumor of a location soon after large holes were found. Most of the explorations here in Orange County have taken place in Trabuco Canyon. But the only treasure retrieved was a cache along a trail in Santiago Canyon up to Robber’s Peak. Then of course there is the “secret” hidden cave at the mouth of the Headlands, seaward side, which seems to continuously increase in size by clandestine night time digging looking for the pirate bounty identified by a confidential map, or so I am told. Carlos N. Olvera is Vice Chair of the OC Historical Commission, and a Dana Point Councilman. 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
Sudoku BY MYLES MELLOR
Last week’s solution:
On a recent Monday afternoon, Palisades Gaezbo Park offered an { IN DA NA P O INT } impeccable view of the Dana Point Headlands, Pacific Ocean, Dana Point Harbor and Doheny State Beach. Photo: Andrea Papagianis
SCENE
Dana Point Times August 1-7, 2014
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 Page 10
See today’s solution in next week’s issue.
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DP LIVING
Recalling the Forgotten Orange County native publishes article on the history of San Onofre BY AMANDA HUFFMAN, DANA POINT TIMES
A
lthough many know San Onofre for its nuclear power plant or the U.S. Marine Corps base that sprawls across its southern border, its past is mostly forgotten. History professor Ryan Jordan hopes to change that. His recently published paper, “Remembering the Forgotten Village of San Onofre: An Untold Story of Race Relations,” in The Journal of San Diego History brings to light San O’s untold story. Jordan, a history professor at the University of San Diego, grew up in San Clemente. He was always drawn to the past but it was his professors at UCLA who encouraged him to pursue graduate studies in history. After completing his doctorate at Princeton in 2004, Jordan worked as a lecturer and adjunct professor before joining the staff at USD. Jordan studies the period of time from
Stephen Cruz, the foreman of Haven’s Ranch, which was located in San Onofre near the border of Orange County and Camp Pendleton, stands in front of his home. With the federal government in control of the area since the ’40s and Interstate 5 running through where many buildings once stood, much of the location’s past has been forgotten. Photo courtesy of Ryan Jordan
the Revolutionary to Civil wars in America but with the encouragement of the editor of The Journal and fellow USD history professor, Iris Engstrand, he began researching Camp Pendleton. His interest in the history of race, and race relations, led him to study San Onofre—the area between Camp Pendleton and the south San Diego line. “In doing some research I discovered that very little had been written about the settlement at San Onofre and its Japanese American population in particular,” Jordan said.
Originally an Indian village named Panhe, the San Onofre area served as a ranchería, or a small connected settlement of natives, for San Juan Capistrano after the Spanish settled. “The area was actually home to a larger number of Juaneño Indians than San Juan Capistrano,” he said. After the failure of the small farming town Forster City and the creation of a train depot in 1888, the land eventually moved into the hands of the Haven family in the 1920s. The Havens, who owned Haven’s Ranch, leased approximately 1,400 acres in and around San Onofre from the late ’20s into the ’60s. San Onofre also had an increase in Japanese-American residents, growing from just 10 in the 1920s to 208 in the 1940s. Although there was an increase in population, land ownership amongst JapaneseAmericans fell disproportionately. The Alien Land Law of 1913 prohibited immigrants from owning land or holding long-term leases, but allowed for shortterm leases, lasting less than three years. A similar law passed in 1920 was meant to prevent immigrants from leasing land for any amount of time. Japanese internment during World War II also led to a large drop in land ownership—although some of the JapaneseAmericans in San Onofre avoided interment. “Many of the families at San Onofre were able to voluntarily evacuate to Utah
due to the kindness of a Mormon seed salesman named Ezekiel,” Jordan said. Once they were allowed to return home, many Japanese-Americans found they were unable to return to their old farms, thus losing out on prime land. Jordan spoke to Fred Oyama, a Japanese-American who lived in San Onofre. Oyama’s father owned farmland in Chula Vista, located in southern San Diego County, under his son’s American name to avoid the Alien Land Laws. Once he returned from Utah, Oyama’s father challenged the laws in court. He played a pivotal role in overturning them, as the case, Oyama V. California, went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The federal government came into possession of the San Onofre area in 1942, eventually building Camp Pendleton. San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station followed in the ’60s, and San Onofre State Beach was created in 1971. Why then, was all this history largely forgotten? Jordan believes that a lack of historical buildings helped erase San Onofre’s past. “The freeway literally runs over an area where several buildings used to be,” Jordan said. Though San Onofre’s history is unknown to many, Jordan’s article reveals its forgotten past, allowing locals to learn more about such a familiar place. The article can be found online at www.sandiegohistory.org. DP
DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE
Painting the Skatepark Pink Pink Helmet Posse skates out of love, desire to alter perceptions BY SEAN ROBB, DANA POINT TIMES
A
group of young Southern California skateboarders have built a brand around their ability to thrash on rails and drop into large bowls. With their pink helmets glimmering in the sun and their pink tutus flapping in the wind, it’s easy to spot members of the Pink Helmet Posse. The Pink Helmet Posse is made up of five young girls, ranging in age from 6 to 15, all with a passion for skateboarding. Recently, the pink-wearing, skate-as-hardas-the-boys boarders have been gaining national attention with online profiles from the New York Times and Sports Illustrated. Since starting in 2013, the Pink Helmet Posse’s mission has been to spread the love of skating to girls. The movement has now become a brand including pink skateboarding gear like helmets, skateboards with their black and pink star logo on the bottom and Pink Helmet Posse clothing. And while they may be young, these girls have been skateboarding for years. “My dad would go skateboarding with my brothers and I wanted to try it too,” said Bellatreas Kenworthy, a 7-year-old from Dana Point, who goes by Bella. Fellow posse members Sierra Kerr, 7, and Relz Murphy, 7, also took up the sport to keep up with the boys in their families. Since the beginning, these girls have been skating at a high level, causing heads to turn at skateparks throughout Orange and San Diego Counties. This level of skating comes from a simple love of the sport—it has little to do with the gender of the rider. “It’s 2014, these stereotypes that have been put on girls have been going on for too long,” said Kenworthy’s dad, Jason, an action sports photographer. “They like to skateboard because it’s fun regardless of if they are a boy or a girl. Fun is fun.” The group’s pink helmets and boards have become staples at the Alex Road Skatepark in Oceanside, the Magdelena Ecke Family YMCA Skatepark in Encinitas and etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest. “I like hanging out with the boys at the skatepark because I get to skate with my brother and he and other boys teach me cool tricks,” said Murphy, who is also one to be reckoned with in the judo/jujitsu arena. Dana Point Times August 1-7, 2014
The Pink Helmet Posse, a group of five elementary to high school aged girls who are changing the face of the skateboarding community, is known around Southern California for their bright pink skateboarding gear. Pictured here, Relz Murphy, 7, skates before the pros in Huntington Beach. Photo: Sean Robb
“
It’s 2014, these stereotypes that have been put on girls have been going on for too long.
—Jason Kenworthy
”
Fifteen-year-old Jordyn Barratt from Encinitas is the oldest member in the group and its de facto older sister. Like the posse, she’s also been gaining recognition by competing in skateboard tournaments all across Southern California. On Tuesday, July 29 she was one of three female amateurs competing in the Vans Skateboard tournament at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. She finished tenth out of the 30-competitor field. “There usually are not a lot of tournaments but the one at the US Open is by far my favorite because it is a big event and just a lot of fun,” Barratt said. While posse members seem older than their young age, they still share fears with children their age. “When I skateboard I get scared of the mega ramp because you get a lot of air and you can fall really bad,” said Kerr, a 7-year-old from San Diego and daughter of professional surfer Josh Kerr.
Ryann Cannon, a member of the all-girl skateboarding group the Pink Helmet Posse, wears her game face as she prepares to drop in during a demonstration at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Also pictured 7-year-olds (L to R) Relz Murphy and Bella Kenworthy. Photo: Sean Robb
On Tuesday morning before Barratt headed to the competition course, the Pink Helmet Posse took to the skatepark at the US Open for a demonstration. Professional skateboarders and BMX bikers alike watched as the girls skated the same course the pros would be competing on later in the event. And while this kind of exposure has led to a heavy amount of positive feedback and support from the skateboarding and surfing community, there has been some negative response as well. Jason Kenworthy, a long time skater himself and father of four, said that the
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older part of the skateboarding community has not fully accepted the role the Pink Helmet Posse is playing. “I’ve gone to some skate shops and tried to have them sell our board but they just won’t because they say girls don’t come into the store,” Kenworthy said. “But really, they don’t come in because they don’t sell anything for girls.” It’s not always easy playing with the boys either. In sharing experiences at the park, Bella Kenworthy said she sometimes gets mad at boy skaters because they snake in front of her run and don’t wait their turns. Aside from trying to get more girls involved in the sport, the Pink Helmet Posse has also made it a mission to show cities without skateparks, like Dana Point, that there are young skaters who enjoy skateboarding but are forced to drive long distances in search of a safe and legal place to skate. While there are plenty of old beliefs that the Pink Helmet Posse is attempting to debunk, one pink helmet and skate demo at a time, the bottom line is that the group was created out of a love for skateboarding and posse members want other girls to discover the fun the sport has to offer. For more information on the Pink Helmet Posse, check out www.pinkhelmetposse.com. DP www.danapointtimes.com
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Dana Point’s Will Schmidt completed a solo stand-up paddleboard journey that stretched from Canada to Mexico. Courtesy photo
Will Schmidt Completes Canada to Mexico Solo Paddle COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE
D
ana Point resident Will Schmidt completed the journey of a lifetime on Saturday, July 26 by completing a 1,386-mile solo stand-up paddleboard trek from Canada to Mexico, which began on May 24. Schmidt, who has made headlines in recent years for his long distance paddleboard trips, finished the trip in 61 days, according to a press release. Schmidt set out from Neah Bay, Wash. near the Canadian/American border and finished at the Mexico border fence in Border Field State Park in Imperial Beach. Schmidt estimates that he made 1.1 million paddle strokes over the course of 61 days, averaging roughly 28 miles traveled
per day. The farthest distance he covered in one day was 42 miles. Schmidt’s body was put to the test and he says he burned an average of 3,850 calories per day. Since leaving the U.S. Marine Corps, Schmidt has made it a mission of his to raise awareness for wounded veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. In previous long distance paddles, he has raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project through online crowdfunding sites. His most recent journey from Canada to Mexico has raised $8,000 to date, according to the release. For more information on Schmidt’s fundraising efforts, visit www.areyouinspiredyet.com. DP
Dana Wharf Fish Count DANA POINT TIMES
O
ffshore waters near the Dana Point Harbor are still teeming with fish. According to Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching general manager Donna Kalez, the month of July has seen the best fishing in the area since 1997. The promise of yellowtail, tuna and dorado have been attracting a large amount of anglers to the water. Here is a recent fish count out of Dana Wharf. 7/30 8 boats; 331 anglers: 114 yellowtail, 65 calico bass, 52 rockfish, 41 sand bass 35 bonito, 8 sheephead, 7 sculpin, 5 bluefin tuna, 5 dorado, 1 barracuda. 7/29 7 boats; 218 anglers: 81 calico bass, 71 bonito, 11 sheephead, 11 rockfish, 6 sand bass, 3 yellowfin tuna, 2 sculpin, 2 lingcod, 1 bluefin tuna, 1 barracuda. Page 15
Dana Point’s Jeff Prozinski shows off a large sheephead caught aboard the Sum Fun out of Dana Wharf. Courtesy photo
7/28 7 boats; 268 anglers: 37 calico bass, 35 bonito, 26 rockfish, 12 yellowfin tuna, 3 yellowtail, 3 sand bass, 2 sheephead, 1 bluefin tuna. 7/27 10 boats; 334 anglers: 377 bonito, 52 calico bass, 45 sand bass, 34 rockfish, 26 yellowfin tuna, 26 bluefin tuna, 11 yellowtail, 4 sculpin, 3 sheephead, 1 opah, 1 barracuda. 7/26 7 boats; 229 anglers: 67 bonito, 62 calico bass, 38 sand bass, 16 rockfish, 10 yellowtail, 4 yellowfin tuna, 3 bluefin tuna, 1 sheephead. DP www.danapointtimes.com
DP LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS
DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet
AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING
Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, 949.420.1321, www.oasisair.com
ARCHITECTURE - PLANNING
Nona AssociatesRaymond J. Nona A.I.A
26901 Camino de Estrella, 949.496.2275, www.raynona.com
AUTO REPAIR
Dana Point Auto
34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086
CAFE - DELI
Coffee Importers Espresso Bar
34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
COFFEE SHOP
Coffee Importers Espresso Bar
34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
DANCE/FITNESS
Club Salsa Dance Studio
34202 Camino Capistrano Capistrano Beach, 949.230.0543, www.clubsalsadance.com
Dana Point Times August 1–7, 2014
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IMAGES/Creative Solutions
117 Del Gado Road, 949.366.2488, www.imgs.com
ICE CREAM
Coffee Importers Scoop Deck
34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT
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PLUMBING
Chick’s Plumbing
949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing.com
POOL SERVICE & REPAIR
Palisades Pool Service & Repair
949.542.7232, allenesommo@cox.net
PSYCHOTHERAPY INSURANCE SERVICES
Patricia Powers
24551 Del Prado, Ste. 364, 949.496.1900, pat.powers@cox.net
State Farm/Ted Bowersox
34085 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 204, 949.661.3200, www.tedbowersox.com
Statefarm/Elaine LaVine
34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net
LANDSCAPING
Organics Out Back
449 Avenida Crespi, 949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com
LOCKSMITH
Dana Point Lock & Security
949.496.6916, www.danapointlock.com
Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online.
Corinne Rupert PhD, PsyD, MFT
Contact Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com
REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL
MUSIC INSTRUCTION
Danman’s Music School
24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com
Kenny’s Music & Guitars
24731 La Plaza, 949.661.3984, www.kennysmusicstore.com
PET GROOMING
Dawgy Style
34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Unit 112, 949.496.3315, www.alphadoggroomshop.com
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33971 Selva Rd. Ste. 125, 949.488.2648, www.danapointpsychotherapy.com
Dream Team Properties, Mike Rosenberg, Broker 949.481.1788, www.FindMyOCHome.com
UPHOLSTERY
Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors
34118 Pacific Coast Hwy, 949.240.9569 www.jeddys.com
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Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com FOR SALE TV STAND FOR SALE 3 levels black glass. Hides cords. Great condition. Please call or text for more info and pictures. $90 (949) 633-3860 HARLEY HANDLE BARS Chrome, 8-inch, T Bars (drag specialties). Slight curve back. $70. Can send pictures. Text or call 949-633-3860 for more info.
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Margaret Jane (Peggy) Bivens Margaret Jane (Peggy) Bivens passed away on July 15, 2014 at her Dana Point home of 44 years. Peggy was born on May 21, 1935 in Los Angeles, and raised in Inglewood, CA, the daughter of Charles Lane and Therese McCann Guthrie. She married Jack Bivens (1934-2005) in 1955. They made their home in Redondo Beach, CA and then Torrance, CA, where they raised four children: Martin Lane, Matthew Wayne, William Michael, and Molly Jane Bivens (now Paulinski). The family relocated to Dana Point in 1970. Peggy became a legal secretary, and was a fixture in the Law Offices of Matthew E. Neale for 20 years. A devout Christian, Peggy retired in 2000. She is survived by her four children, and four grandchildren: April Renee Bivens, Sara Jane Paulinski, Shawna Layne Paulinski, and Shannon Marie Bivens, two sisters: Kathy Zeutzius of Orange, CA, and Mary Jo Billups of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, son-in-law Mark Paulinski and daughter-in-law Heather Bivens, both of Menifee, CA. A Memorial Service will be held in Dana Point on August 3, 2014 for family and friends. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.ord) or the American Cancer Society. Dana Point Times August 1–7, 2014
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SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY
Last of the Locals San Clemente-based surfers crush early rounds at the US Open Men’s Prime, by Wednesday only Andino remained BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES
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housands of fans have gathered in Huntington Beach to witness the world’s best pro surfers take on the competition at the annual US Open of Surfing, and so far, supporters of local talent have had plenty of hometown surfers to cheer on. Beginning with the trial rounds July 27, Ian Crane of San Clemente and Capistrano Beach’s Luke Davis took first and second place, respectively, in Trial Round 1. Crane posted 15.20 points (out of 20), the highest two-wave heat total of the round. Both moved on to the Trial Quarterfinal. The quarterfinals brought Davis’ campaign to an end but Crane moved on to the Trial Semifinal where he was ousted by a slim 1.10 points behind runner up Bino Lopes of Brazil. Although the trial rounds didn’t result in placing any locals into Round 1 of the main event, San Clementeans Nathan Yeomans, Tanner Gudauskas, Evan Geiselman, Patrick Gudauskas and Kolohe Andino were
SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 66-70 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 10-15’ fair+ Catalina: 15-20’ fair-good Immediate: Friday will see a small mix of easing SSE tropical swell from Hernan, SW-SSW swells, and NW windswell. Surf will generally hang around waist high or less throughout the region over Friday, with only the standout spots around waist high on sets. Marine layer and patchy fog will start off the early mornings for most areas of the coast, before skies gradually clear up through the mid to late morning and into the afternoons, becoming mostly sunny. Expect light/variable wind in the early mornings, before light to moderate westerly flow rises up each day. Longer Range Outlook: Small mix of new SW swell and NW windswell due for the weekend. Cleanest conditions will be found in the mornings. Check out Surfline for more details!
Dana Point Times August 1-7, 2014
Kolohe Andino of San Clemente won his opening heat at the Vans US Open of Surfing men’s Prime event in Huntington Beach on July 29. Photo: © ASP/ Morris
seeded in. Geiselman and Patrick Gudauskas went down in that round. On Wednesday, Yeomans and Tanner Gudauskas took third and fourth in their Round 2 main event heat. Andino took first in the final heat of the day, becoming the only local remaining to advance to Round 3. As of press time Thursday, the results were unavailable. For a full schedule of events, scores, highlights and a live webcast, log on to www.vansusopenofsurfing.com. DP
AN ‘ENDLESS’ SUMMER CELEBRATION The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, 110 Calle Iglesia in San Clemente, is hosting an Endless Summer party Friday, Aug. 1, as part of the 50-year anniversary celebration of the famous surf movie. Special guests include surfers Robert August and Mike Hynson, as well as the artist who designed the film’s iconic poster, John Van Hamersveld, and others.
RESULTS
The party starts at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. The event includes a screening of behind the scenes footage by Bob Bagley, the former business manager for Bruce Brown Films, The Endless Summer producer. For more information visit the SHACC website at www.surfingheritage.org or call 949.388.0313.—AS
GROM OF THE WEEK: JACK FRANCHEK
California State Games, July 20, Camp Pendleton, Del Mar Jetties First place and local finishers only. GIRLS SHORTBOARD 9-12: 1. Olivia Pessanha, San Diego; 2. Izzy Hopkins, Dana Point. GIRLS SB 13-15: 1. Coral McDuffee, Oceanside. GIRLS 16-18: 1. Sara Kohrogi, Hermosa Beach. OPEN GIRLS: 1. Maddie Malmsten, Santa Barbara. BOYS 9-12: 1. Kauli Vaast, Tahiti; 2. Max Beach, San Clemente; 4. Luca Aza, San Clemente. BOYS 13-15: 1. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente. BOYS 16-18: 1. Jack Matt, Carlsbad. OPEN BOYS: 1. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente; 4. Max Beach, San Clemente. GIRLS LONGBOARD 9-12: 1. Liv Stokes, Aliso Viejo; 2. Izzy Hopkins, Dana Point. GIRLS LB 13-15: 1. Cate Stokes, Aliso Viejo. GIRLS LB 1618: 1. Claire Loughlin, Ventura. BOYS LB 13-15: 1. Andrew Neal, Manhattan Beach; 2. Juan Magra, San Clemente. BOYS LB 16-18: 1. Kyle Davis, Carlsbad. OPEN BODYBOARD COED: 1. Joey Gregory, Costa Mesa; 2. Boston Stenlake, Capistrano.
UPCOMING EVENTS August 2-3: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 1, San Onofre State Park, Trail 6 August 9-10: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 1, Camp Pendleton, DMJs August 2324: NSSA Explorer, Event No. 1 and No. 2, Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier September 6-7: NSSA Explorer, Event No. 3 and No. 4, Huntington Beach, Pier
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hanging out with friends. Jack Franchek, 10, of San “School is just OK,” he said. Clemente is certain that “I guess I sort of like learning his future holds a career as a professional surfer. He’s math but I like surfing way wanted it as far back as he more than school.” Jack will be going into fifth grade this can remember. Jack practices year at Saddleback Valley at least four times a week Christian School in San Juan and studies the style of his favorite pro surfer John John Capistrano. Florence, in an effort to make Looking ahead, Jack would like to go to college at UCLA it happen by the age of 20. to study math and history and As a toddler watching his Jack Franchek. is also interested in the posdad surf, Jack wanted nothing Photo: Andrea Swayne sibility of becoming a Marine. more than to get out into the ocean on a surfboard. “He stood me up on For now, he is focusing his attention on having a great summer of surfing, working a surfboard and pushed me into waves. on his aerial maneuvers and taking a few That’s how I learned to surf,” he said. “I surf trips to Mexico. like to stand up on my board and feel the “I want to thank my mom and my dad breeze of the wind. And I just love being in the water. It’s my favorite part of surfing.” for raising me, teaching me how to surf, In school, Jack gets As and Bs but bringing me to the beach and sponsoring me.”—Andrea Swayne admits that the best part about school is www.danapointtimes.com