December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
LO C A L
N EWS
YO U
C A N
U S E
Dana Point’s Year in Sports PAGE 12
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 52
E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 4
www.danapointtimes.com
The Best of the Dana Point Sheriff’s Blotter for 2014 EYE ON DP/PAGE 5
Tom Blake: A 2014 Christmas Message for Singles DP LIVING/PAGE 10
Honoring Grom of the Year: Jett Schilling SURF/PAGE 14
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DP EYE ON DP Dana Point
LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING city to collect more information. — Jim Shilander
CUSD Looks to Cut Dana Hills Intervention Specialist
Advocates for keeping Saddleback Memorial San Clemente hospital spell out “SOS” on the beach near San Clemente Pier. Photo” Courtesy Erik Leist
What’s Up With... Five things Dana Point should know this week Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash on Stonehill Drive THE LATEST: A 61-year-old man died Friday in Dana Point after crashing into a wall while driving a motorcycle, authorities said. The man, identified as Larry Mooty Jr. of Laguna Niguel, was driving westbound on Stonehill Drive just east of Monarch Beach Drive at about 11:30 a.m. when he crossed into eastbound lanes and collided with the south curb line and a wall, said Lt. Jeff Hallock, Orange County Sheriff’s Department public information officer. Mooty was pronounced dead at 12:02 p.m. at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo, according to the Orange County Coroner’s Office. WHAT’S NEXT: The cause of the accident is under investigation. It does not appear drugs or alcohol were involved and deputies are looking into the possibility the man may have had a medical emergency, Hallock said. —Andrea Swayne
Hundreds Rally to Save San Clemente Hospital THE LATEST: Hundreds gathered to rally near the San Clemente Pier Saturday, the culmination of several days of efforts for advocates of keeping the current San Clemente hospital and emergency room open. Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
The nonprofit group “Save San Clemente Hospital” made a show of force and San Clemente Mayor Chris Hamm, who also presides over the city’s hospital advisory committee, spoke before the crowd. “The machine that kept this story underneath the radar for the first couple months was doing a fantastic job, but with everybody out here today, we’re making people aware of what’s happening in our community,” Hamm said. MemorialCare announced in August that the company is exploring the potential of razing the hospital—the nearest hospital and ER to Dana Point—and replacing it with an advanced urgent care facility. That decision would result in the loss of both the in-patient facility and ER, since state law does not allow an ER without an in-patient wing. At Wednesday’s meeting of the hospital advisory board, members discussed ways of delaying the proposed March decision by the MemorialCare board, as well as potential ways to maintain ER services without an in-patient facility. Public speakers at the meeting included residents of Capistrano Beach opposing the closure. Hospital administrator Tony Struthers told the board that while a vocal part of the community wants to see the ER stay, that isn’t enough under current law. “Residents want to keep the emergency room, but I’m not sure an in-patient hospital is as high on the list,” Struthers said. WHAT’S NEXT: A two-year pilot program to study the potential for transporting certain emergency patients to outpatient facilities is underway; however, it is unlikely to include San Clemente. A legislative solution, allowing for a freestanding ER, could also be sought. Struthers said the hospital would be open to designing the new site to accommodate such a facility. Hamm and a city administrator will meet with MemorialCare to discuss delaying a decision on the hospital’s fate to allow the
THE LATEST: The future of Dana Hills High School’s intervention specialist position, held by former CUSD trustee Mike Darnold, remains uncertain following a Nov. 19 letter from Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Kirsten Vital, to the city of Dana Point calling for the elimination of the program. Since 2009, Darnold, who is contracted and paid by the city, has collaborated with the city, sheriff’s department and school faculty, through a Memorandum of Understanding, to support at-risk students battling drug and alcohol-related problems and other issues. Orange County Fifth District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, former Dana Point mayor, wrote a four-page letter to the school district dated Dec. 1, extolling the virtues of the position and urging the school board to reconsider. City Manager Doug Chotkevys said the program has been successful at identifying at-risk kids early on due to its pro-active rather than re-active approach. WHAT’S NEXT: Heading into CUSD’s winter break, Chotkevys said the city is still in talks with the district and that Darnold would continue in his role for now. Superintendent Vital could not be reached for comment. FIND OUT MORE: For the full story, visit www.danapointtimes.com.—Allison Jarrell
Del Prado Streetscape Improvement Project Updated THE LATEST: The start of the new year will bring the start of the next phase of street improvement work on Del Prado Avenue from Ruby Lantern to Copper Lantern. According to the city of Dana Point’s latest construction alert for Phase 2A of the Town Center Lantern District Streetscape Improvement Project, remaining work on Del Prado will take place from Jan. 5, 2015 through Jan. 23, 2015 following the completion of South Coast Water District’s underground water and sewer work, barring unforeseen weather or other issues. Work will begin on the north/inland side of Del Prado beginning at Ruby Lantern, then on to median improvements up coast to down coast, followed by south/ ocean side improvements beginning at Ruby Lantern. Diseased tipu trees from both sides of
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Del Prado will be removed—to eventually be replaced with mature date palms—and traffic signals at the Del Prado/Amber Lantern and Del Prado/Violet Lantern intersections will be replaced with stop signs. Overhead lighting will remain until new lighting can be installed. Del Prado inland side work includes demolition to allow for the construction of a new curb and gutter, underground electrical, sidewalk, trees, landscaping and lighting. Construction of the Lantern District Archway is also set to begin. WHAT’S NEXT: The city’s Del Prado work is scheduled for completion by September 2015. FIND OUT MORE: More information can be found on the city’s website at www. danapoint.org or by sending an email to ssharke@danapoint.org to subscribe to email updates.—AS
County Seeks Help Counting Homeless THE LATEST: Volunteers are being sought for the “Point-in-Time Count of the Homeless” coming up in January. The count—taken every two years—is a federally mandated requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needed to preserve the county’s $16 million in federal funding for homeless programs and services. Information gathered is also used to obtain funds from other sources, and to provide data for the county’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Every two years, the county and its nonprofit partners conduct the one-day count of the county’s unsheltered and sheltered homeless population. This year’s event is set for Saturday, Jan. 4, 2015 and 1,500 volunteers are needed. According to the PIT website, the January 2013 count found approximately 12,700 homeless people living in the county over the course of the year, a 23 percent increase over the 2011 count. WHAT’S NEXT: There are five deployment centers across Orange County where volunteers will gather on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 24 to count from approximately 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. A three-hour training session, offered on various days leading up to the event, is required prior to the day of the count. The local fifth district volunteer deployment center will be located at Family Assistance Ministries, 1030 Calle Negocio in San Clemente. FIND OUT MORE: Log on to www.pointintimeoc.org.—AJ/AS www.danapointtimes.com
EYE ON DP and Pacific Coast Highway. Officials cited the project’s size, density and variance requests as reasons for denial. The developer unsuccessfully appealed the project plan to City Council and withdrew their application in October, indicating an intention to reapply with a new project. MAY
Harbor Revamp OK’d: The Dana Point Planning Commission approved Orange County’s application to demolish and rebuild much of the Dana Point Harbor’s aging structures. The project is the landside portion of the $140 million Harbor Revitalization Plan that has been in the works for more than 15 years. The county still awaits a decision by the California Coastal Commission on whether an existing appeal of the project is valid. Commercial construction could begin in 2015.
Former mayor Lisa Bartlett swears in three new coucilmen (L to R) Richard Viczorek, John Tomlinson and Joe Muller. Photo: Andrea Swayne
2014: Year In Review
JUNE
The year brought City Council changes, new development and more DANA POINT TIMES
I
t’s been an eventful year in Dana Point with construction underway in the Town Center-Lantern District, proposals for hotel and mixed-use development across town, the election of three new members to City Council and other ongoing issues. As we get set to enter into the New Year, let’s take a look back at a few of the stories that made headlines in 2014, Dana Point’s 25th year of cityhood. JANUARY
Barbershop Blaze: A two-alarm fire started on Sunday Jan. 19 in the Kings Club Barbershop on the 34000 block of La Paz. The fire, believed to have been caused by an unspecified electrical failure, resulted in about $225,000 in damages according to authorities. More than 50 firefighters responded and no injuries were reported. Vacation Rental Permits Denied: Nearly a week after the Jan. 15 application deadline for vacation rental permits, speakers from Niguel Beach Terrace urged City Council to recognize their applications. The city denied permits in that condo complex and others because city ordinances give neighborhood homeowners’ associations the right to choose. The council agreed that no permits for vacation rentals would be granted to neighborhoods with CC&Rs prohibiting them. FEBRUARY
Battle of the Paddle Moves: A Doheny State Beach tradition came to an end when organizers announced the seventh annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry LopezBattle of the Paddle would be moved to Salt Creek Beach. Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
SEPTEMBER
Changes at Strand Beach: The Dana Point Planning Commission rejected a County of Orange proposal to charge for parking at Strand Beach. Orange County appealed the decision to City Council. In November the Council moved to overturn the Planning Commission’s decision, approving the addition of pay stations. OCTOBER
City Council Approves Majestic Project: City Council voted to approve the mixed-use project proposed by Majestic Housing and Development for the city’s Town Center/ Lantern District Area, overturning a previous Planning Commission decision. In its final iteration the plan calls for 109 residential units and 32,500 square feet of retail space on seven lots, to be built in three phases. The plan includes two variance requests.
CUSD Superintendent Retires: CUSD Superintendent Joseph Farley retired after four years at the district. Farley was credited by board members with helping to steer the district through a difficult financial and political period and providing stability after several turbulent years. The board hired his successor, Kirsten Vital from Alameda Unified, in June as well.
MARCH
Rain on Our Parade: Due to inclement weather, the 43rd annual Dana Point Festival of Whales parade was canceled. The parade was not rescheduled but the two-weekend festival continued as planned. Remembering Hobie: Surfing industry legend Hobie Alter passed away March 29. Skatepark Movement Takes Shape: More than 50 local skateboarding supporters formed the community organization Skatepark of Dana Point and gathered to let the City Council know they want a skatepark in town. The city said no suitable city-owned site exists, and suggested looking toward other potential venues—Doheny State Beach or land owned by the school district, water district or the city of San Juan Capistrano. In December, San Juan selected El Camino Real Park as the preferred location for a skatepark in that city. APRIL
Visitors’ Center Complete: Doors of the Doheny State Beach visitor’s center reopened for the first time since 2007. The center is now home to the largest public aquarium in the state park system and works to educate the public on marine ecology and environmental action. New Chief of Police: Lt. Lynn Koehmstedt left his post as Dana Point’s Chief of Police Services for a new post at Orange County Sheriff’s Department Homeland Security Division. Former city councilman Russ Chilton was appointed to replace him.
High School Locked Down: Dana Hills High School was locked down for four hours after an empty gun case was discovered in the school parking lot. No weapons were found and no arrests were made. Lantern District Phase 2 Funded: City Council voted to reallocate $7.7 million from various reserves to fund the second phase of the Town Center-Lantern District revamp along Del Prado Avenue. With two-way traffic returned to PCH, and construction on Del Prado set for completion by September 2015, the project continued moving forward through the end of the year. JULY
Fowl Zoning Considered: In July, Dana Point City Council began to rethink the current rule against chickens in residential neighborhoods. Council members voted to task the Planning Commission with addressing municipal code and zoning question on the matter. In December the Planning Commission continued discussion and tasked city staff with providing more information on guidelines in place in other cities.
In October, City Council approved the Majestic Housing and Development mixed-use project for the city’s Town Center-Lantern District. Photo: Andrea Swayne
Development on Del Obispo OK’d: A mixeduse project calling for construction of 168 condos and 2,471 feet of commercial space was approved for the former site of a mobile home park at Del Obispo Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway. NOVEMBER
Bring in the New: Voters chose three newcomers to local politics to fill three open seats on City Council. Attorney and Marine Corps Reserve Lt. Col. Richard Viczorek and property management business owners John Tomlinson and Joe Muller came out on top of the nine-person race. The three open seats were vacated by Mayor Lisa Bartlett, who was elected to the Fifth District seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors; Councilman Bill Brough, who was elected to the California Assembly 73rd District seat and Mayor Pro Tem Steven Weinberg, who termed out.
AUGUST
Doheny Hotel Proposal Denied: The Dana Point Planning Commission unanimously voted to deny the 250-room hotel proposed for the corner of Dana Point Harbor Drive
Group Home Concerns Raised: Residents, mostly residing in Capistrano Beach raise concerns to City Council over the proliferation of group recovery homes and associated problems in the community. The discussion continued through the end of the year and in December city staff met with residents to discuss solutions.
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DECEMBER
Olvera Chosen Mayor: Councilman Carlos Olvera was chosen to serve as Mayor of Dana Point for 2015. Newly-elected Councilman John Tomlinson was selected to serve as mayor pro tem for the coming year. Viczorek, Tomlinson and Muller were sworn in. DP www.danapointtimes.com
EYE ON DP
Best of the Blotter 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.
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December TRESPASSING Pacific Coast Highway, 34200 Block (Friday, Dec. 12, 2:04 a.m.) A 50- to 60-year-old man wearing a leopard print towel was harassing guests and refusing to leave the Best Western Plus Marina Shores hotel. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Sea Bright Drive, 33300 Block (Monday, Dec. 8, 2 a.m.) A woman found an unknown man sleeping inside her car on her driveway. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Quail Run, 25600 Block (Monday, Dec. 1, 4:55 p.m.) A man wearing a red hat, black pants and a pink bra was wandering around the complex talking to himself.
November SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street/Pacific Coast Highway (Thursday, Nov. 27, 5:58 a.m.) A naked man was seen running southbound on PCH. He appeared to be cold. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Breezy Place, 33400 Block (Tuesday, Nov. 25, 4:37 p.m.) A caller reported seeing a neighbor “taking potting soil into poopy bags” and throwing it into the community trash bins. The subject was described as a woman with her hair in a “bunny thing” and wearing a blue flannel shirt over a white shirt and light blue pants. DISTURBANCE Doheny Park Road, 34000 Block (Sunday, Nov. 23, 3:55 p.m.) An employee at a dollar store reported a disturbance caused by a man who was “eating the merchandise” and “thinks he lives on another planet.” ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCYPacific Coast Highway/Ritz-Carlton Drive (Sunday, Nov. 23, 9:48 a.m.) Deputies received a call reporting a suspicious “puffed up” 2-liter bottle in the Salt Creek Beach parking lot. CITIZEN ASSIST Del Prado Avenue, 24400 Block (Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7:54 p.m.) A man called to report his wife was handcuffed as a joke inside a restaurant. The Santa Ana Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
Police Department officer who cuffed her forgot that he did not have his cuff keys with him. The caller’s wife began having a panic attack after being cuffed for 45 minutes and the officer, who went home to get his key, had not yet returned.
October DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY La Paloma, 0 Block (Tuesday, Oct. 21, 11:09 p.m.) A caller reported his neighbor singing “at the top of his lungs” from a balcony and talking to another individual about Amsterdam. SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Doheny Park Road, 34000 Block (Monday, Oct. 20, 10:24 a.m.) A man chased another man with a wooden spoon in the parking lot of Smart & Final. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Prado, 24800 Block (Sunday, Oct. 12, 7:45 p.m.) A man was seen with two bricks of marijuana in his pockets and two large butcher knives. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Palisades Drive/Pacific Coast Highway (Saturday, Oct. 11, 6:27 p.m.) A woman was seen walking on the beach wearing her “surfer’s suit” halfway down leaving her upper body exposed.
September CITIZEN ASSIST Malaga Drive, 33800 Block (Monday, Sep. 22, 4:53 a.m.) A caller complained to police that his neighbor’s alarm clock was too loud for his liking. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Pacific Coast Highway, 32800 Block (Sunday, Sep. 7, 7:13 p.m.) An older man with a gray beard, a black cap and Bermuda shorts was smoking cigars near the propane tanks at the Chevron gas station. When the man was informed of the danger, he said, “I don’t care if I blow up the neighborhood” and then lit up another cigar. DISTURBANCE Amber Lantern Street, 34100 Block (Thursday, Sep. 4, 4:31 p.m.) A woman said her fiancé has been growing 200 pot plants in her apartment and she “can no longer take it.” PATROL CHECK Island Way Bridge (Monday, Sep. 1, 3:24 p.m.) The captain of a white 20-foot outboard ski boat with orange trim stopped two docks from the bridge in the West Basin and was jumping off the boat to “show off for females.”
DEFRAUDING AN INNKEEPER Street of the Golden Lantern, 32500 Block (Sunday, Aug. 17, 6:10 p.m.) A Burger King employee reported a woman who was hiding in the bushes nearby, grabbed food that was being handed to a customer through the drive-through window and ran away. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Santa Clara Avenue/Street of the Amber Lantern (Friday, Aug. 8, 5:31 p.m.) A man was seen near the overlook on Amber Lantern “spreading pot all over the sidewalk” and “mad-dogging” people as they walked by. He was wearing red lens sunglasses and a dark shirt.
July MISSING ADULT Washington D.C. (Tuesday, July 15, 12:56 p.m.) Officials received a call from a man in Washington D.C. who had been jailed for the last 10 years for tax evasion. The man could not locate his wife and wanted to report her missing. The couple lived in Dana Point for a time and he believed she was still in the area. The caller said he couldn’t do a story on “60 Minutes” until a missing persons report was filed. DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street, 33800 Block (Sunday, July 13, 9:03 a.m.) The caller reported a woman living above her was “torturing her with her shoes.” The caller claimed the other resident was stomping on the floor and slamming a sliding glass door.
June 9-1-1 HANGUP Ensenada Place, 34400 Block (Monday, June 30, 1:32 p.m.) Children called authorities and asked for a cheese pizza delivery. The young callers found it humorous and proceeded to laugh. DISTURBANCE Alcazar Drive, 34000 Block (Sunday, June 29, 11:30 p.m.) Sheriff’s deputies received a call about a drunken man howling at the moon. KEEP THE PEACE Cortes Drive, 24300 Block (Sunday, June 15, 6:46 p.m.) The caller’s neighbor began yelling out his window after her grandson’s ball went over the fence. The informant felt threatened by the neighbor who yelled he was going to come over and steal the chicken they were barbecuing.
August
KEEP THE PEACE Street of the Blue Lantern, 34000 Block (Friday, June 14, 6:33 p.m.) Sheriff’s deputies responded to a dispute in which the caller’s dogs were being wet down by a hose-wielding neighbor. The caller claimed it is an ongoing problem.
DISTURBANCE Via California/Camino Capistrano (Thursday, Aug. 28, 7:57 p.m.) A caller reported a neighbor was shooting at rodents from his patio.
CITIZEN ASSIST Street Kitts, 0 Block (Wednesday, June 4, 1:30 p.m.) A resident told officials that her neighbors putting “dates in her dryer exhaust hose.”
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May TRAFFIC HAZARD Pacific Coast Highway/ Dana Point Harbor Drive (Monday, May 26, 2:49 p.m.) Drivers stopped in the roadway near the pedestrian bridge on PCH to let a family of ducks cross the road.
April SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Camino El Molino, 34400 Block (Tuesday, April 22, 8:57 p.m.) An unknown blonde woman in a bathing suit was in the caller’s backyard hot tub. The caller said the woman had a temper and refused to leave. KEEP THE PEACE Doheny Park Road/Domingo Avenue (Sunday, April 6, 2:25 p.m.) Authorities were asked to keep the peace during a custody exchange for a dog.
March SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Camino Capistrano/Camino De Estrella (Monday, March 31, 3:27 p.m.) A caller said a shoeless man in his early 20s had just walked up to a house, picked some flowers and took out a flask. The caller thought the man may have been drinking alcohol. When authorities made contact with the man, they found the flask was filled with water. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE La Cresta Drive/Street of the Violet Lantern (Saturday, March 29, 2:56 p.m.) A suspicious man wearing sunglasses was seen playing “air drums” in the bushes.
February DRUNK IN PUBLIC Doheny Park Road/Victoria Boulevard (Tuesday, Feb. 25, 5:32 p.m.) Deputies performed a patrol check for a 60-year-old drunken man who was stumbling into traffic while attempting to sell crocheted hats. DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (Monday, Feb. 17, 3:37 p.m.) Authorities received a complaint about “loud music or bad karaoke” occurring at the Monarch Coast apartment complex.
January BRANDISHING A WEAPON Victoria Boulevard, 26100 Block (Wednesday, Jan. 8, 4:58 p.m.) Dispatch received notice of a dispute between neighbors. The caller reported being chased by a nearby resident with an axe. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Santa Clara Avenue, 24500 Block (Saturday, Jan. 4, 12:46 a.m.) A caller reported receiving a text message that read, “I hid the body, now what?” www.danapointtimes.com
EYE ON DP DEL PRADO BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Riding Tandem An Infinity made possible through dedication, acceptance of changes BY THE CITY OF DANA POINT, SPECIAL TO THE DANA POINT TIMES
“She really learned how to swim once she started surfing with me,” Boehne said. The Infinity brand was born in 1970 when Boehne designed the brand’s first board—a 7-foot, single-fin, balsa wood board with “#1” printed on the tail. He and Barrie married in 1971 and opened the first Infinity shop in Huntington Beach. At one point in time, Infinity had shops in San Clemente, San Diego and Mission Viejo. But since 1986, Infinity, and the Boehnes, have called Dana Point home. With Barrie on the books, Steve on the planer, eldest son David on the design and marketing plans and younger brother Dan, a local dentist, in the shop shaping boards on the weekends, Infinity has thrived. But as Boehne put it, right now “is actually the best time over the last 40 years.” DP
Santa Claus greets 700 kids at Marco Forster Middle School on Dec. 13. Photo: Courtesy of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano.
NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF
Pageant of the Masters 2015 Seeking Models
W
hen looking up the definition of tandem in the dictionary, it would be fitting to find a picture of Steve and Barrie Boehne. They’ve worked side-by-side for more than four decades—as tandem surfers, as a married couple and as business partners. It’s a partnership that has traversed the globe with Steve and Barrie sitting amongst the top tandem surfers. It saw the birth of two sons, the beginning of a brand, the evolution of sport and the creation of more than 40,000 surfboards—most at the hands of Boehnes—bearing the infinity symbol. And so, Infinity Surfboards has stood the test of time, due, in part, to Boehne’s ability to embrace change without reserve. Long, short, tandem and stand-up paddle, name the board and Infinity shapers make it. They haven’t fought surf’s cultural transformation; rather, they’ve accepted trends and ridden their waves. “Surfboards are like clothing, in that they are things that evolve and styles that change,” Boehne said. Boehne started surfing at 12. It was 1959 and he hit spots in Torrance and Redondo Beach. He shaped his first board a year later and landed a job with Gordie Surfboards in 1968. Soon after, he met Barrie— she was an accomplished tandem surfer, while Boehne was a novice.
Infinity Surfboard Co. Photo: Andrea Swayne
Barrie and Steve Boehne, owners of Infinity Surfboard Co. Photo: Courtesy
Residents looking to be part of a south Orange County tradition will get their opportunity in the coming weeks. Anyone capable of standing still for 90 seconds may be a part of Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. In preparation of the 2015 show, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” the pageant is looking for men, women and children to volunteer. People of all sizes and ages are needed to be cast members in the world’s most famous presentation of tableaux vivants (living pictures). The casting call will be held at the Irvine Bowl Park (650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach) during the following times: Friday, Jan. 9 and Saturday, Jan. 10 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 11 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The summer 2015 performances of the Pageant of the Masters will run nightly at 8:30 p.m. from July 8 to Aug. 31, 2015. Call 949.494.3663 for additional information. Casting call is a fun experience for all involved. Prospective volunteers will be measured and photographed, enjoy refreshments and meet the behind-thescenes pageant staff. No theater experi-
ence is necessary. The only requirement is the ability to stand still and have fun. Pageant volunteers are also needed for positions in the wardrobe, make up, and headdress departments, as well as cast area coordinators and refreshment servers, among other positions. By volunteering for the pageant, students can earn credit towards community service requirements.
Santa Claus Visits 700 Kids at Marco Forster On Dec. 13, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus greeted 700 local San Juan kids atop a fire engine during the Rotary Club’s annual Saturday morning Santa’s visit at Marco Forster Middle School for 5- to 10-yearolds. Two hundred volunteers helped with the event—70 from Marco Forster Middle School, 60 from San Juan Hills High School and 60 from Capo Valley High School—and Principal Carrie Bertini’s students wrapped more than 700 gifts a few days before the event. Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted each child individually and presented each with a wrapped gift. While waiting for their turn to see Santa, student volunteers entertained the kids with games, songs and face painting. Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more. We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com.
DP SOAPBOX Dana Point
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS But, she was no mousy candy striper. Ultimately, she knew she was needed most on the battlefields where the suffering was greatest. Despite governmental resistance, Barton slipped through lines during the battle of Cedar Mountain—in northern Virginia in August 1862—and arriving at a field hospital at midnight with a wagon-load of supplies driven by a four-mule team. The surgeon on duty, overwhelmed by the human disaster, later wrote: “I thought that night if heaven ever sent out an angel, she must be one.” Thereafter, Barton was known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” providing aid to troops in most of the major battles. At Antietam’s bloodbath, she ordered the WAVELENGTHS drivers of her supply By Jim Kempton wagons to follow the cannon and traveled all night, actually pulling ahead of military medical units. While the battle raged, she dashed though the frontline inferno—nursing, comforting and cooking for the wounded. In the apex of the carnage, a bullet tore through her sleeve and killed the man she was treating. Unfazed, she continued to help the wounded. When the war ended, she helped locate thousands of missing soldiers, including identifying the dead at Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Barton tirelessly lobbied three United States presidents for national recognition
GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by Jim Kempton
Angel of Christmas ‘Angel of the Battlefield,’ Clara Barton’s, selfless humanity personifies meaning of Christmas
C
lara Barton was born on Christmas morning in 1821. An American nurse, suffragist and humanitarian she is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross. But, she was much more than that. She was an astounding human with the courage, commitment and charity of the universe’s better angels. A fearless and groundbreaking woman from the start, Barton began educating during a time when most teachers were men and was among the first women to gain employment in the federal government. Notice was taken as she single-handedly organized supply depots to aid wounded soldiers during the Civil War. A genius at organizing, Barton’s contribution was also intensely personal as she read to hospitalized invalids, wrote letters, listened to personal problems and prayed with them.
Letters to the Editor UNION STATION TOUR WAS TOPS RICK MORGAN, Dana Point
I’d like to take an opportunity to express my gratitude, on behalf of my wife Tracy and myself, to Joel Bishop, former Dana Point councilman and mayor, as well as Mike Leahy, Dana Point Historical Society member and formerly in management with RTD/Metro and the TCA, for arranging the most fabulous personal VIP tour of Los Angeles’ Union Station and adjacent transportation facilities last month. This tour was achieved with the cooperation of Historical Society President Barbara Johannes, and the tour itself was conducted by Kenneth E. Pratt, director of Union Station Property Management in Los Angeles. The group of about 30 left the station at San Juan Capistrano at 8:45 a.m. aboard a Metrolink train and, upon arrival in
Los Angeles, spent the next couple of hours under the guidance of Ken and Mike—who have been best friends since childhood—getting a complete and entertaining behind-the-scenes tour of this beautiful, 75-year-old structure. The tour included the historic ticket hall, waiting room and a bar that served thousands of American servicemen (including my father, Grey Morgan) during World War II, as well as the more modern Metro Transportation HQ and Transit Plaza across the tracks to the east. The restoration of the station, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, has been nothing short of amazing under the guidance of Pratt, with further renovation of little-seen sections ongoing. In addition to serving ever-expanding rail and bus service, portions of the station have served as location shoots in numerous films over the years, including Chinatown, Blade Runner and Silver Streak. Union Station was built in 1939 over the original Chinatown, southeast of City Hall in downtown LA. One amazing factoid about the Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission Moderne architecture is that,
Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
of the International Committee of the Red Cross. At age 60, she founded the American Red Cross in 1881, becoming president of the American branch and leading it for the next 23 years. Her intense devotion to serving others resulted in enough achievements to fill several ordinary lifetimes. Throughout the rest of her life Barton helped people in distress, rushing to various hurricane, flood, famine, sickness and war emergencies—cementing the hallowed reputation the Red Cross has earned. Barton’s force of personal example opened paths to the new field of volunteer service. She remained active throughout several foreign wars and domestic crises and continued her compassionate work until her death in 1912 at the age of 91. Her courage, kindness, sheer energy and commitment to humanitarian causes have made her one of the most honored women in American history, a symbol of charitable self-sacrifice. No one could represent the spirit of Christmas better. Jim Kempton grew up on military bases and has been active for many years with the Wounded Warriors program. He knows that every nurse and every casualty, from Belleau Woods to Walter Reed and China Beach to Bagdad, owes a debt to Clara Barton. 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
even by today’s standards, it exceeds the most stringent California earthquake regulations. (The main beams in the waiting room and ticket hall, while wood in appearance, are actually steel beams overlaid with wood.) There is so much more to learn about this wonderful landmark, but I would encourage anyone who is interested to make reservations for your own tour via Union Station at www.metro.net/about/ union-station. Again, our thanks to Ken, Mike, Joel and Barbara for a very memorable day.
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.
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HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@danapointtimes.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE
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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett
> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)
EDITORIAL
> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)
Picket Fence Media Group Senior Editor, City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne
Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick
City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor, > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING PICKET FENCE MEDIA Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)
OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Kevin Dahlgren, Catherine Manso, Dana Schnell, Steve Sohanaki, Tim Trent
Dana Point Times, Vol. 7, 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 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
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DP GETTING OUT Dana Point
YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER
The List
EDITOR’S PICK
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT STILLWATER 6 p.m. Buffet dinner, champagne toast and live music at StillWater Spirits & Sounds. Lineup includes Sega Genocide, The Blind Man’s Rodeo and a special guest DJ. 24701 Del Prado Ave., Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.
What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF
Friday | 26 BOXING DAY WITH JUMPING JACK FLASH 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT WIND & SEA 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Live music by Chris Cram. Dinner served from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Reservations recommended. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www. windandsearestaurants.com.
THE REFLEXX 9 p.m. Live music at StillWater Spirits & Sounds. 24701 Del Prado Ave., Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.
Saturday | 27 DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Seasonal produce, flowers and much more at La Plaza Park each Saturday. 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org. WINTER WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m-7 p.m. Climb onboard a Dana Wharf catamaran for this 90-minute wine cruise around the Dana Point Harbor. Tickets are $49. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Jan. 20. See more events at www.danawharf.com. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 888.224.0603.
Sunday | 28 RABBI BLUE 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com. BROKEN RECORDS 1:30 p.m. Live music at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.
Wednesday | 31
Photo: Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel
OCEAN-THEMED GINGERBREAD DISPLAY Each year the chefs of the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel create an amazing gingerbread display in the hotel lobby. This year’s work is ocean-themed, paying tribute to the IlluminOcean holiday light display at the Dana Point Harbor, also running through Jan. 4. Stop by to see dolphins, turtles, sea otters, octopi, sharks, a whale and more as they frolic among 6-foot waves of royal icing. Santa is also seen fishing and a trio of dogs ride the wave on a longboard. One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000, www.ritzcarlton.com/lagunaevents.
Monday | 29
Tuesday | 30
WINTER BREAK KIDS CRAFTS 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Kids get crafty at the Mission. A different craft is featured every day of the week Dec. 26 through Jan. 2. Parent or sitter must be present to participate. $3 for non-members; $1 for members. 949.234.1320, www.missionsjc.com/activities/holiday-crafts.php.
OPEN MIC NIGHT 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Singer/songwriters perform at the Point Restaurant open mic every Tuesday. Bring your instrument, bring your voice, The Point supplies the sound system. 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.
CAPT. DAVE’S WHALE WATCHING Times vary. Trips available every day of the week. Get up close to marine life aboard a Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari trip. Prices vary depending on the vessel. Call for more information. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.
HALF-PRICED WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Hop onboard this two-hour cruise to see dolphins, whales and other marine life in the wild. $22.50. Half price on Tuesdays but trips are available every day of the week. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT HARPOON HENRY’S 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Live music by Phil Shane. 34555 Golden Lantern St, Dana Point, 949.493.2933, www.windandsearestaurants.com/harpoonhenrys.
Thursday | 01 NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH AT THE RITZCARLTON 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $80 adults, $40 children. One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000, www.ritzcarlton.com/ lagunaevents.
NIGHTLY THROUGH JANUARY 4 ILLUMINOCEAN HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Dana Point Harbor sparkles with holiday lighting displays including 22 large-scale oceaninspired holiday sculptures and 23 miles of glowing LED strands. Weekends will feature street performers, glow merchandise and “Whale Eyes” 3D glasses that give the lights a holographic look. The event is free. Dana Point Harbor Drive, www.mydanapoint.com/dana-point-illuminocean. For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com. Have an event? Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com
On Stage at the Coach House: The English Beat BY CATHERINE MANSO
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Dave Wakeling of The English Beat. Photo: Bryan Kremkau
Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
he English Beat, starring Dave Wakeling, is coming to The Coach House on New Year’s Eve. The Birmingham-bred band with the infectious reggae, ska, punk and pop sound, is back and ready to celebrate the New Year with fans from south Orange County, Wakeling’s “adopted home.” The set list will be pulled from the band’s impressive catalog of songs spanning three decades, including such hits as “Save it for Later,” “I Confess” and “Tears of a
Clown.” Songs from General Public, another band Wakeling co-founded, will also be performed—“Tenderness,” and “I’ll Take You There,” included. The New Year brings a new start for The Beat with the 2015 release of their fourth studio album, “For Crying Out Loud.” Wakeling promises to reveal a few pieces from the new album—“If Killing Worked it Would Have Worked by Now,” and “The Love You Give Lasts Forever”—songs he says will have the audience dancing. Members of the current touring band Page 8
include Rythmm Epkins on drums, Matt Morrish on sax, Kevin Lum on keyboard, Larry Young on bass, Jared Palozolla and Wakeling on guitar. “I always look forward to the Coach House … I’ve been playing there for decades,” Wakeling said. “From the stage it looks like a fiesta.” Doors open at 6 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $48 and dinner reservations with priority seating are also available. For tickets, call 949.496.8930 or go to www.thecoachhouse.com. DP www.danapointtimes.com
DP DP LIVING Dana Point
PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY
Everybody Play R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility in Dana Point unveils playground upgrades courtesy of the Assistance League of Laguna Beach
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embers of the Assistance League of Laguna Beach joined R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility school Principal Judy Dore on Dec. 10, for the official dedication and grand opening of the school’s newly improved playground. R.H. Dana ENF is a Capistrano Unified School District site for children through fifth-grade age. Enrollment is based on eligibility for special education and recommendations by the Individualized Education Program team. The school is located in Dana Point and enrolls students from across the district, including San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. The Assistance League, which has members from across south Orange County, donated $25,000 for playground improvements, designed to improve its accessibility to children with a wide range of disabilities. Most of the funds were raised via the organization’s thrift shop in Laguna Beach, along with private donations, said Judy Soulakis, the organization’s president. “This school was brought to our attention by members who have had children who came here,” Soulakis said. “We visited and fell in love with the school and wanted to know what we could do to help.
Assistance League of Laguna Beach members joined R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility school Principal Judy Dore (fourth from the right) for the official dedication of the school’s new playground equipment, funded by the League. Photo: Andrea Swayne
It turned out playground equipment was a need, so we were thrilled to contribute.” Equipment additions included an interactive wall, festooned with a number of interactive activities designed to be easily reachable by all students, whether ambulatory or wheelchair-bound. Sand diggers with longer handles and special swings were also added to accommodate play by children in wheelchairs. “We have a program at our chapter
called the Early Intervention Program that supports babies from 0 to 12 months, who are developmentally delayed, and when they get to be school-aged, many of them come to school here as the next step,” said Gayle Whitaker, the Leagues’ philanthropic programs chairwoman. “We really felt a connection here. It makes a circle for us to expand our support to this school.” Amid the cheerful sounds of children
laughing and happily exploring the new equipment, Principal Judy Dore stood for photos with League members and expressed thanks for their support. “This gives all of our children access to the playground equipment and for that we are very appreciative,” Dore said. “Children who are wheelchair bound now have swings they can be placed into. The children are having the time of their lives. They are loving it.” DP
PET OF THE WEEK: ANVIL
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y name is Anvil and I am looking for a home to fill with holiday cheer! I am about 2 years old and love to play—and sometimes I don’t even mind a little dress-up fun. While I do really enjoy outdoor activities, my human friends sometimes call me a couch potato since I like to lounge around and relax when I’m not playing. I would be a really fun friend for an experienced owner. To find out more about Anvil, call the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or stop by for a visit at the shelter, 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente. DP
Zachary Stoddard can’t get enough of the new swings, installed as part of the recent improvements to the R.H. Dana ENF playground, designed to make play accessible to all of the school’s children with disabilities. Photo: Andrea Swayne
Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
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DP LIVING GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50: By Tom Blake
A 2014 Christmas Message for Singles
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ach year, the Christmas week column is the most difficult article to write. This year is no exception. Why? Well, Christmas is a joyous time for families and children and one would expect that a columnist would come up with some joyous message or experience that fits right in with the Christmas spirit. But my primary focus is on singles age 50+. Yes, married people tell me they read the column as well, and I appreciate that, but my main concern is the singles. For many of those singles, the December holidays are a sad time—a reminder that they don’t have a significant other in their lives. Sure, many will get to spend Christmas day with their families and relatives, and that is a treasure. But there is also an emptiness that goes along without having a gift under the tree from or for a lover. Not to mention that singles are often reminded this time of year by well-meaning friends and family that they don’t have a mate. They hear comments like, “What a shame that you don’t have someone to share Christmas with,” or, “You should work a little harder to meet someone.” Most singles just finesse those comments outwardly, but inside, the comments can grind at them. The December holidays magnify emotions. Some people decide to get divorced or to break up during this time. It’s probably because they want to start the New Year off heading in a new and different direction. But when that happens, it can be a real downer for both sides of a busted relationship. I speak from experience. On Christmas Eve, 1993, my wife of six years cleaned out the house and moved out of my life. No notice, just, “See ya later Thomas.” I was pretty shocked, unprepared and angry. Christmas wasn’t very merry that year. But out of the ashes came opportunity. A better life. And it opened the door for me to meet Greta, with whom I’ve been
blessed to spend 16 years. That event also launched my writing career, although when it happened, I wasn’t a writer. However, six months later, my first newspaper column was published, titled “Home Alone with ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 Only Dogs for Company.” By Tom Blake Since then, I’ve written more than 3,000 columns on Finding Love After 50, published four books, and appeared on the “Today Show” and “Good Morning America.” These things would have never happened had my ex not left. My message this Christmas for all older singles: adversity and loneliness often lead to opportunity, hope and a new direction in life that can be rewarding and exciting. But, it’s up to each person to look for that opportunity, seize it, and move forward with a new bounce in his or her step. Everybody has a talent, all you need to do is find it, and grow it. I often think this time of year of what a woman reader told me long ago: “I’ve been married and unhappy and single and unhappy. And single and unhappy is better—because I am free to make changes to my life today, tomorrow or next week, without having to go through the divorce process.” So rejoice in your singleness this Christmas, because a new and exciting life awaits you. Seize the opportunity. Tom Blake is a San Clemente resident and Dana Point business owner who has authored three books on middle-aged dating. For dating information: www.FindingLoveAfter50.com. To comment: tompblake@ gmail.com. 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:
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 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet
CLASSIFIEDS
Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com FITNESS EQUIPMENT PILATES REFORMER Black Aero pilates reformer. Folds up for easy storage. Great workout at home. $175. 949.533.9761
FOR SALE CASH REGISTER Cash Register for sale-All in working order. Great for a small or new business. Keys included. $60. Please contact: 949.933.0122 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.
GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@danapointtimes.com Deadline 5 p.m. Monday. No phone calls please.
LOST/FOUND LOST WHITE GOLD DAVID YURMAN BRACELET with heart in Forster Ranch. $200 reward. Please call 949-338-7103
SERVICES LOCAL HOUSEKEEPER OR OFFICE CLEANING Reliable, affordable, meticulous. Excellent references. 949-573-8733
Do you want to reach 10,000+ people in the Dana Point area every week? Then you need to be in the Dana Point Times. Call us today! 949.388.7700 ext. 102 Dana Point Times December 26, 2014–January 1, 2015
PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@danapointtimes.com
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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE
Dana Point Sports Year in Review s 2014 draws to a close, we look back at the stories, people and moments that shaped the Dana Point sports scene over the past 12 months.
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summit Mt. Aconcagua, Mt. Lhoste and Mt. Everest. Mt. Aconcagua, located in Argentina, is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere while Mt. Lhoste is the fourth highest peak on Earth.
JANUARY
MARCH
Rugby Club Finds Home at Dana Hills Behind a student-run initiative, the Dana Rugby student interest club is created at the start of the new year. The club is made up of students from Dana Hills and San Clemente High School, who come together to play the sport of rugby.
Capo Coyotes Shine in Inaugural Season The Capistrano Coyotes ice hockey team, playing in their inaugural season in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League, blow away the competition to claim the league’s varsity 2A Division with a 9-3 win over Damien on March 7. The team was made up of players from Dana Hills High School.
COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE
FEBRUARY
Boyd Embarks on Epic Summit Trek In late April, Dana Point resident Dusty Boyd, 49, embarked on a month-long journey during which he attempted to
The Dana Hills High School football team hosted their annual Honor the Valor game, presenting military veterans with custom jerseys. Photo: Alan Gibby, zone57.
APRIL
JUNE
OCTOBER
Yacht Club Competes in Newport to Ensenada Race The Dana Point Yacht Club defends their perpetual trophy at the 2014 Newport Ocean Sailing Organization’s Newport to Ensenada race on April 25. The DPYC won all three major perpetual trophies, awarded to the yacht club with the most club winners, most entries and most firstplace winners.
Local Students Honored for Creative Hoops League The Buddy Basketball League, co-created by Dana Hills High School students Jake Wallin and Jack Rager, wins the top prize in the Pitch to Play Secondary Level at the 2014 Destination Imagination Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee. The league offers athletic instruction to children with special needs in the Dana Point community.
Dana Point Hosts Battle of the Paddle Dana Point plays host to the seventh annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle at Salt Creek Beach Oct. 4-5. The event moved from Doheny State Beach to Salt Creek for the first time in event history, drawing hundreds of the world’s best SUP racers vying for the $26,000 prize purse.
MAY JULY
Dana Point’s Will Schmidt made headlines when he completed a border-to-border SUP journey in 2014. Courtesy photo
Dolphins Baseball Advance to CIF-SS Quarterfinals The Dana Hills High School baseball team makes their deepest postseason run since 2010, advancing all the way to the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals. The Dolphins lost to Temecula Valley, 2-1, May 30.
Capo Girls Softball Wins State Championship The Capo Girls Softball 14U All-Star team defeats rival Garden Grove 7-4 to claim the American Softball Association C State Championship on July 19. It was the first time in program history a 14U team had won a state championship. The team ended the year with a 59-4 overall record and went on a stretch that saw them win seven consecutive tournaments. AUGUST
Will Schmidt Completes Border-to-Border SUP Journey Dana Point resident and longdistance stand-up paddleboarder Will Schmidt completes a 1,386-mile solo SUP trek that spanned from Canada to Mexico. It took Schmidt 61 days and 1.1 million paddle strokes to complete the journey. Schmidt raised $8,000 prior to leaving on the trip, to be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Dana Hills Football Honors the Valor The Dana Hills High School football team hosted their annual Honor the Valor game on campus on Oct. 30. The Dolphins hosted 63 military veterans, wore custom camouflaged jerseys with veterans’ names on the backs, and presented the jerseys to the veterans following the game. NOVEMBER
Dana Hills Beach Volleyball Wins IBVL Championship The Dana Hills boys beach volleyball team bests the field at the Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League Championship tournament on Oct. 11, claiming the Southern Pacific title. The team was made up of several Dana Hills High School students. Dana Point Hosts 37th Turkey Trot Thanksgiving day marked the 37th running of the Dana Point Turkey Trot. Roughly 10,200 runners descended upon the city to take part in the time honored holiday tradition. DECEMBER
SEPTEMBER
Salt Creek Beach hosted the seventh annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle in 2014. Photo: Tony Tribolet/www.xpsphoto.com
Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
Dolphins Football Returns to South Coast League In a move that shook the high school football landscape in southern Orange County, the Dana Hills High School football team moved from the Sea View to South Coast League in 2014. The Dolphins went 0-4 in league play. Page 12
Dolphins Cross Country Finish Season Strong The Dana Hills boys cross country team ends their season with back to back second-place finishes at the CIF-SS Cross Country Finals and CIF State Cross Country Championships. The Dolphins were led by juniors Jake Ogden and Mason Coppi and senior Alex Smith. 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 Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100!
DANCE/FITNESS
Club Salsa Dance Studio
34202 Camino Capistrano Capistrano Beach, 949.230.0543, www.clubsalsadance.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
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
INSURANCE SERVICES
Patricia Powers
24551 Del Prado, Ste. 364, 949.496.1900, pat.powers@cox.net
BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT
YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100! Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online. Contact Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com
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
Contact Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com.
Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
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
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PET GROOMING
Dawgy Style Groom Shop
34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Unit 112, 949.496.3315, www.dawgystylegroomshop.net
PLUMBING
Chick’s Plumbing
949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing.com
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Corinne Rupert PhD, PsyD, MFT
33971 Selva Rd. Ste. 125, 949.488.2648, www.danapointpsychotherapy.com
REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL
Dream Team Properties, Mike Rosenberg, Broker 949.481.1788, www.FindMyOCHome.com
UPHOLSTERY
Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 34212 Pacific Coast Hwy, Unit C, 949.240.9569 www.jeddys.com
Locals Only Buisness Listings
LIST LOCALS ONLY
USE LOCALS ONLY In print and online 52 weeks a year. View online at www.danapointtimes.com Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@ thecapistranodispatch.com
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DP DP SURF
DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:
SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY
Dana Point
Go Groms Go By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times
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ach week a young surfer (or surfers) from the area is chosen as “Grom of the Week” and featured with a photo, profile and rundown of recent accomplishments. This week we highlight the groms of 2014 once again. So here’s to them, to those we will meet in 2015 and to watching as a bright future for the sport of surfing, and our community, unfolds as they grow. DP
SURFING AMERICA PRIME EVENT NO. 3 LOCAL FINALISTS
ALEXXA ELSEEWI AND GUS DAY MALIA AND HENDRICK OSTERKAMP
ALLYSON HEINEMEYER
DAWSON TARNOWSKI
TIA BLANCO
CROSBY COLAPINTO
JACK SMALL
KEITH CHRISTL
NOAH HOHENESTER
LILY BENJAMIN
JIMMY WYNNE
ELIJA SCHOENIG
RILEY NATTRASS
NOA DUPOUY
RICKY FODOR
SAMANTHA SIBLEY
SURFING AMERICA USA TEAM
CONAN CRAIG
RHYN CHAMBERS
MALIA WARD
SEBASTIAN MENDES
JAYME LINNES
JASON PARSONS
GAVIN PELLKOFER
LEXI ALSTON
BEN BRANTELL
JOSH GREENE
HEATH HAWKINS
ERIKA HUNTING
ALAINA HEATER
JACK FRANCHEK
MATTHEW FRANCHEK
SHAE FOUDY
HANA JOHNSON
AZURE REEF TRUJILLO
KOLTON SULLIVAN
SAWYER LINDBLAD
MAX BEACH
DEISEL RATHGEBER
BLUE ENGELKING & KEATON ROSE
KEVIN KRAATZ
BELLA KENWORTHY
IZZY HOPKINS
KEI KOBAYASHI
SC HIGH SCHOOL SURF TEAM
HAYDEN MILLERICK
DANE MATSON
HAGAN JOHNSON
MADDIE OBERG
COLE MEZAK
GROM OF THE YEAR
JETT SCHILLING
Jett Schilling, 10, of San Clemente has come a long way since first being featured as a Grom of the Week in January of 2012. Back then he had less than a year’s worth of competition under his belt, but caught our attention with wins in the Micro Grom divisions of the San Clemente Seafest and Western Surfing Association contests. At
Dana Point Times December 26, 2014-January 1, 2015
that time he had recently relocated to San Clemente from Northern California and was enjoying practicing every day, getting to know his new home breaks. Since then, this uber-talented goofy footer has become one of the area’s most formidable competitors. Currently rated No. 8 in the NSSA Explorer Boys and No. 2 in NSSA Open Boys, Jett has also qualified to join the invitation-only elite ranks of the Surfing America Prime series. At the last Prime event, Dec. 14 at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, Jett mas-
tered the big swell all day, building on his performance round-by-round. In the final, he became apex predator of The Point, killing it to seal the win on a big left set wave. Jett airdropped in late and immediately squared off the bottom, setting himself up for a committed floater on a super ledgey section. He then followed that up with two high-noon-vertical hits on the inside for a perfect 10-point score. We can’t wait to see what 2015 brings for this dedicated and skilled athlete.—Andrea Swayne
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Jett Schilling. Photo: Jack McDaniel
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