February 13, 2015

LO C A L

N EWS

February 13-19, 2015

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Pet of the Week: Tigger Looking for New Home PAGE 11 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 7

One Dream Down, More to Go

Tutor and Spunky’s Deli owner Tom Blake has retired, sold the business and looks forward to traveling the world E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 4 Tom Blake and some of his employees gather for a farewell photo shortly after finalizing the sale of his Dana Point restaurant, Tutor and Spunky’s Deli.

Photo: Andrea Swayne

Plans for Shopping Center on Camino De Estrella Move Forward EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

Locals Shine on Podium at Surfing America Prime DP SURF/PAGE 14

www.danapointtimes.com

DHHS Boys Soccer Beats Titans, Falls to Mustangs SPORTS/PAGE 12

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DP EYE ON DP Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING responsible for through the decommissioning process, is considered to be doing well. —Jim Shilander

Plans for San Juan Skatepark Roll Forward THE LATEST: Local nonprofit Great Opportunities is continuing its effort to assist the youth of San Juan Capistrano in getting a skatepark built. After some initial planning and discussion in the city’s Youth Advisory Board and the Parks, Recreation & Senior Services Commission, the group’s first official meeting was held Feb. 11 at the Mission Grill.

Those in attendance, including Great Opportunities co-founders Eric and David Groos, Councilwoman Kerry Ferguson, Commissioner Gerry Muir and a group of passionate skateboarders and community members, discussed the design of the park and their budget.

In December, the San Juan Capistrano Parks, Recreation & Senior Services Commission unanimously approved El Camino Real Park as the preferred location for a skate-friendly development. The location is accessible and has ample parking, bus stops and pre-existing bathrooms.

In order to appease walkers, bikers and skaters, Eric Groos said the idea for the skate-friendly zone may need to be scaled back into a more transitional space, with skateable benches, rails and low ramps that allow for a variety of uses. At this point, the design and location are still tentative as the group begins setting priorities and raising funds.

The San Juan skatepark idea stems from discussions held in October and November of 2014 that centered on youth and community leaders from Dana Point and San Juan seeking to launch a skatepark in the area.

Neighboring cities will continue to play a part in emergency preparedness for the now-shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, as county’s plan remains in place. Photo: Andrea Swayne

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week Development Director to Speak at Coffee Chat THE LATEST: The Dana Point Civic Association’s Coffee Chat on Feb. 20 will feature guest speaker Ursula Luna-Reynosa, the city’s director of community development.

Luna-Reynosa will be discussing the various projects on the horizon as the Town Center- Lantern District revitalization project continues.

The discussion will include those projects already approved and those in various stages of the planning process.

The chat will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Coffee Importers, 34531 Golden Lantern in the Dana Point Harbor.

All are welcome.

WHAT’S NEXT: Coffee Chats are held on the third Friday of each month.

Guest speakers and discussion topics vary to include issues and items of interest to Dana Point residents.

The event is always free, open to the Dana Point Times February 13-19, 2015

public and complimentary coffee is served, courtesy of Coffee Importers.

—Andrea Swayne

County to Maintain SONGS Emergency Plan THE LATEST: Orange County’s emergency plan in case of an accident at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will remain in place despite the decommissioning of the plant, Donna Boston, the County’s Emergency Services Manager said Thursday at an educational meeting hosted by Southern California Edison at San Clemente Presbyterian Church.

Boston said that while the county believes the threat of an accident has been significantly reduced since the plant ceased actively producing power, the county maintains plans to send its own radiation dose assessment team if there is ever an issue.

WHAT’S NEXT: The next skatepark meeting will take place March 11 at 5 p.m. at the Mission Grill. Designing T-shirts and fundraising will be the main topics of discussion. To learn more about the movement, follow Great Opportunities on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreatOpportunities. –Allison Jarrell

WHAT’S NEXT: Boston said the three cities nearest the plant, San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano will continue to play an active part in all future emergency planning discussions.

An annual meeting to discuss the Wheeler North mitigation reef, located in the waters off San Clemente south of the San Clemente Pier, will likely be held later this spring, Edison Environmental Project manager Kim Anthony said. The reef, which Southern California Edison remains

Building, Signage Plans for Estrella Plaza Still in Process THE LATEST: Plans for the redesign and refurbishment of the Estrella Plaza shopping center—at the San Clemente/ Capistrano Beach border on Camino de Estrella—are still in the planning process.

But the first phase of the proposed project, the redevelopment of the former Kmart into three separate stores, has advanced,

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San Clemente Associate City Planner Sean Nicholas said Wednesday. The developer has also submitted an application to be a part of that city’s master sign program.

The project’s first phase, which would split the Kmart into three separate stores, Sports Authority, Stein Mart and Sprouts, is currently going through a second round of comments from the city, Nicholas said.

The San Clemente Planning Commission approved architectural and site plan permits for the redevelopment of the store last October, giving the planning department a wide berth to discuss changes to the proposal with the applicant in the hopes of jumpstarting the project.

WHAT’S NEXT: Nicholas said building permits for the second phase of the project, which includes the redevelopment of Big Lots into a T.J. Maxx and provide a new look for the remaining stores in the plaza (with the exception of Citibank), will likely be submitted for comment later this month or in March. The developers of both projects have targeted a late-summer opening for the new stores.—JS

City Council Updates THE LATEST: The Dana Point City Council scheduled for Feb. 17 has been canceled, according to a posting on the city website.

Also, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday, City Hall and the Community Center will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16.

Applications by interested Dana Point residents to serve on city commissions and committees will continue to be accepted through Feb. 27 The Planning Commission and Traffic Improvement Subcommittee will both have three open seats as current members term out, however all current Planning Commissioners have been asked to reapply in order for the three newly-elected city councilmen to get to know the full five-member body.

WHAT’S NEXT: Applicants for commissions/committees must be Dana Point residents, registered voters and at least 18 years old. Applications are available online at www.danapoint.org or may be picked up at City Hall, 33282 Golden Lantern.

Completed forms must be returned to the City Clerk, via mail or in person, by 4:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 27. Interviews will be in March and April.

The next meeting of City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at City Hall Council Chambers, beginning at 6 p.m. —AS

Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about?

••• Send your suggestions to editorial@danapointtimes.com. www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

One Dream Down, More to Go

Tutor and Spunky’s Deli owner Tom Blake has retired, sold the business and looks forward to traveling the world

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

I

n every town there are places where locals gather and by the third visit are considered a regular. There are cafés, coffee shops, watering holes, and in southern California even surf breaks-where people meet to shoot the breeze, reminisce and simply enjoy each other’s company. In Dana Point, one of these places is the lunch time favorite, Tutor and Spunky’s Deli.

After 26 years, Tom Blake—the man who started it all and is just as much of a fixture in town as his restaurant—is retiring and has sold his beloved deli to travel with his life partner of over 16 years, Greta Cohn.

The deli officially changed hands on Jan. 30 and Blake has since remained on hand, training the new owners and working through what has seemed an impossibly long goodbye, to his restaurant and his employees—some of whom have been there since the start.

GETTING STARTED Twenty-seven years ago, while working in the corporate world as a national sales manager selling point-of-sale cash register systems to restaurant chains, Blake moved to Laguna Niguel and the idea of going to business for himself began to take shape.

“I wasn’t able to enjoy living in southern Orange County as much as I had hoped to because I was traveling nearly every week,” Blake said. “Since I had been in the restaurant industry for eight years working for a restaurant chain called Victoria Station, I thought that maybe I had enough restaurant knowledge to open a coffee shop or deli.”

In 1988, after noticing a storefront for rent at Pacific Coast Highway and Amber Lantern, across from Ruben’s Imports and next to a donut shop, Blake decided to make his move.

“I called the listing agent, Robert Prophet,” he said. “We met and I signed a five-year lease without knowing if I could even get a permit from the County of Orange to put a deli there.”

As opening day neared, Blake realized he was going to need some help and fate answered his call.

“A woman named Teresa Gonzalez, who was working at the nearby Taco Bell stopped by and said, ‘Do you need any help?’

I hired her on the spot,” Blake said.

Tutor and Spunky’s—Spunky was the nickname Blake had given his then wife for her personality, and Tutor, her nickname for him because of the help he gave her boys with their homework—opened on Dec. 22, 1988.

The business grew quickly and three months later, he asked Gonzalez if she knew of anyone else who needed a job and would make a good third member of the team.

Gonzalez recommended Rosalinda Ceballos (Rosa), and then there were three.

The deli continued to thrive at that locaDana Point Times February 13-19, 2015

Tom Blake shares a tearful goodbye with 26-year employee Teresa Gonzalez. Photo: Andrea Swayne

tion for 17 years until 2006 when the city began making plans to revitalize the Town Center area.

The landlord, believing in the potential for a huge profit from future investors, would not renew his lease, Blake said, and the deli would either have to relocate or close its doors.

Greta Cohn—the woman who entered Blake’s life on June 24, 1998, when she came into the deli and ordered a carrot juice and he asked her out, thus beginning a long-term relationship still going strong today—found the deli’s current space for rent in 2006 in the Blue Lantern Plaza, about 400 yards away. A year later he expanded, renting the adjacent space.

THROUGH THE YEARS Blake says the thing he is most proud of is not all the awards, or the estimated four to five million sandwiches made in the deli over the years—although both of these are great—it’s the human relationships forged inside its walls.

“Over 26 years we have employed nearly 300 people in our time and that is what I am most proud of,” Blake said. “We’ve had wonderful young people come to work for us, many from Dana Hills High School, spend a year or more, mature, grow up, and move on with their lives. Every week, at least one or two former employees come back to say hello.”

Those who have worked for him are

Ruben’s Imports employee J.P. Bonetto in front of the original Tutor and Spunky’s location in 1980. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Blake

considered family, Blake said, especially Gonzalez and Ceballos, who have been with him since the start. The two even became U.S. citizens with his support.

“We never expected to become citizens,” Gonzalez said. “He helped us with the paperwork and sponsored us. I owe him a lot. He gave me the first opportunity for a job here when I couldn’t even speak English.”

Gonzalez recalled how Blake helped her

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learn the language as well, writing notes to help her learn the names of all the kinds of bread, meat, cheese and vegetables. She also said she is thankful for other support he’s lent in the past, such as helping the single mother out when her children were small and she found herself in need of extra money for rent.

“I am so happy for him, because 26 years, it’s a hard job running this deli. He had to make sure everyone got paid. In the beginning, sometimes he would take money from his pocket to pay us,” she said. “He built this deli on his shoulders, working really hard and has given so many kids the opportunity to learn how to work. I wish him the best, as always. I consider him a friend, my boss, my family.”

Blake was brought to tears as he listened to her and looked around at the business he’d built, the people he employed and the customers enjoying their lunches, many of whom only have to order “the usual” when they visit.

“That’s tough, but in a good way,” he said, wiping away a tear. “Just as you focus on leaving, you think about these things but kind of brush them aside a bit. But when I stop and really look at the human aspect of what I have here, that’s what I have to be most thankful for.”

Aside from being known as the gregarious owner of the award-winning deli—the shop has taken Best Sandwich honors in the Dana Point Times Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards for the last six years in a row—Blake has also become one of the city’s most well-known residents, as an authority on dating in middle age and beyond. He is the author of four books— three based on his column on middle-aged dating and the other a memoir of his time with a restaurant chain where he hired and became good friends with Johnny Cash— and has published a column, “On Life and Love After 50,” in local newspapers, the last four years for the DP Times.

MAKING THE DECISION Blake said he had been seriously pondering retirement over the past five years but that he kept putting it off for “one more year,” until a trip to Palm Springs with Cohn in January 2014 when he decided it was finally time to move on. On March 21, 2014 he set the wheels in motion. By June, he had hired local business broker Bob Baumgarten to handle the sale.

“I felt the only way to make a full break was to sell,” Blake said. “I didn’t want to be tied to the deli because if so, I wouldn’t be free to pursue the dreams that Greta (Cohn) and I have been planning for years. We love to travel and I don’t want to be in Austria or somewhere and have to worry about the business.”

Blake said his main concern was finding new owners who would treat the employees www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP well and not make major changes to the deli. On Aug. 20, an agreement to sell was reached with the new owner, Jim Mouzakis, and the five-month escrow began.

“Letting go is very difficult. The employees are family to me. The customers are dear friends,” he said. “But, I know that it’s time. Your body tells you, your mind tells you. You want to go out on your own terms, standing upright, a bit proud, and not on someone else’s terms.”

MOVING FORWARD Blake says he wants to do three things in retirement: travel, write books and columns and go stand-up paddling in the Harbor. “I’ve been doing it (SUP) since October and find it exhilarating,” he said. “It’s good exercise and it’s good for the head—looking up at the cliffs, seeing seabirds diving, sea lions swimming and the women going by in bikinis.

“When I handed over the keys to Jim (Mouzakis), the hauntingly beautiful song by Waylon Jennings, ‘Dreaming My Dreams’ entered my mind,” Blake said. “It goes like this: ‘Someday I’ll get over you. I’ll live to see it all through. But I’ll always miss, dreaming my dreams with you.’

“I have been fortunate to live the American dream, to have a Cheers-type sandwich shop in the most beautiful place to live in the world. Bless my employees; bless Tutor and Spunky’s and thank you Dana Point and all of its wonderful residents. It’s been a great ride.”

DP Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER

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.

SPONSORED BY

Dana Point Police Services www.HideitLockitOrLoseit.com

Tuesday, February 10 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES El Encanto Avenue, 34100 Block (11:45 p.m.) A woman reported a man and a woman on her patio. She wanted officers to contact them through the garage. The woman had called earlier about a man claiming to be an officer who said her home was going to be raided.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Stonehill Drive/Street of the Golden Lantern (10:15 p.m.) Four subjects in a small green sedan were parked in the pool area possibly smoking marijuana. The caller was concerned because of recent malicious mischief near some of the buildings.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Pacific Coast Highway/Via Mentone (5:24 p.m.) A man pulled up fast in a truck, tires squealing. He jumped out of the vehicle and left it in a red zone and then ran northbound on Pacific Coast Highway.

Monday, February 9 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Fortuna, 34700 Block (1:52 p.m.) A man came to the door of a home saying he used to live there. The caller said he was very jumpy and “acting weirdly.”

DISTURBANCE Callita Drive, 3400 Block (10:27 a.m.) A woman was in an argument with her exboyfriend. The man was refusing to leave but lived at the home.

Sunday, February 8 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Crown Valley Parkway/Pacific Coast Highway (7:04 p.m.) The caller noticed a woman who appeared disoriented walking behind Gelson’s. The woman then sat on a bench behind the store. There was a bright yellow Volkswagen next to the store the woman may have been affiliated with.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Calle Carmelita/Calle Juanita (11:03 a.m.)

Two pit bulls were loose and were charg-

ing people. A third dog, a Labrador, was not being aggressive. The dogs belonged to people who lived in the area, but they were not home. The fence was low and the dogs had jumped over it.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Ritz-Carlton Drive, 0 Block (1:47 a.m.) A woman, a possible transient, was in the hotel lobby claiming to have been robbed and sexually assaulted. The woman said she had spoken with deputies earlier in the day.

Saturday, February 7 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Dana Point Harbor, 24200 Block (10:58 a.m.) A man was walking near the Ocean Institute toward Baby Beach shouting he would kill Shamu.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Doheny Park Road, 34200 Block (7:45 a.m.)

A caller found a large fire safe in a dumpster area near the rear of the property. The safe appeared to have been forced open and documents were inside.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street, 33500 Block (2:46 a.m.)

The caller said they saw seven or eight “ghost-like” figures who kept circling the store and then peeping through the windows. The caller said it may have been “a graveyard shift thing.”

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor WHAT’S THE RUSH? CARMEN FEDDERSEN, Capistrano Beach

Why is MemorialCare rushing a vote on the new medical center they are proposing that will demolish our existing San Clemente hospital and replace it with an advanced urgent care (a fancy way to say urgent care with diagnostic equipment and lab), an outpatient surgery center and doctor’s offices? The public just heard about this in September, but MemorialCare is rushing to a vote this March.

Resolutions in opposition of closing the hospital have been passed by San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Mission Viejo. State Senator Pat Bates and State Assemblyman Bill Brough have requested a delay on this project until a workable solution can be reached that will be beneficial to the community and to MemorialCare.

Local residents have spoken at City Council meetings, demonstrated, signed petitions, written letters and emails, voiced their concern and still MemorialCare pushes on to their March deadline.

Since MemorialCare owns an imaging center across the street from the current hospital, and has bought out and now owns most of the doctors’ practices under another Memorial moniker (doctors are now employees of MemorialCare), has an existing physicians’ office building across the street, will the east side of Camino De Los Mares turn into a ghost town of empty buildings?

The studies MemorialCare touted that support their project have now been disclosed to be “in house” studies, not a study by an independent company. Did anyone contact you asking your opinion about losing your hospital and emergency room and replacing it with the Memorial proposal? They sure didn’t call me.

Has it been disclosed that 49 percent of this new center will be owned by a corporation that builds outpatient surgery centers and MemorialCare will own 51 percent? Did you know it will go from a nonprofit healthcare company to a forprofit medical center?

One can only wonder; is there something really big to hide by rushing into a decision that will affect the lives of so many people?

WHY WON’T MEMORIALCARE PLAN TO SERVE EVERYONE? ANNEMARIE ROSS, Capistrano Beach

Seeing the front page of the DP Times last week, the “Save Our Hospital” movement is front and center in Dana Point—finally.

Although the Saddleback Memorial San Dana Point Times February 13-19, 2015

Clemente Hospital is used more by the southernmost part of Dana Point (Capistrano Beach), demolishing this hospital and emergency room will affect people who don’t ever go to the San Clemente hospital. How? Once the ER is closed, the patients seen there, especially patients with serious or life threatening issues will be going to whatever hospital you are relying on to help them. What this causes a domino effect. When one ER is full, ambulances are diverted to other ERs even further away. That increases the wait time you will experience in the waiting room at Mission Hospital—even if you go there on a gurney with paramedics—as there won’t be an ER room available for you.

If you go to Mission Laguna, the ER is currently operating due to a $10 million donation from the Gross family. Were you aware that Mission Laguna has closed down their intensive care unit rooms and any serious patients have to be transported to Mission Hospital in Laguna? Some people are dying in the ambulance on the way from Laguna to Mission Viejo. A $50 million earthquake retrofit is needed at Mission Laguna and it doesn’t appear St. Joseph Healthcare thinks its worth the money to fix it, so ultimately it too will close down.

If both San Clemente Hospital and Mission Laguna close down, that will leave just 64 ER beds for 385,000 people in the surrounding cities that use Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and Saddleback Laguna Hills. That reduces your chance of survival living in south Orange County, due to transport time to a facility that has room for you, not to mention the impact on your property values if there is no hospital nearby.

Saddleback Memorial (MemorialCare) could help the community instead of hurt the community if they would delay their March vote on closing San Clemente Hospital and work with the community to get what they want and give the community what we need. There are several approaches to this issue that will allow us to keep the hospital and ER and still allow Saddleback their vision of healthcare of the future. The question is; why is MemorialCare refusing to work with the community for a plan that will serve everyone?

HISTORY SHOULD BE OUR GUIDE JIM BIEBER, San Clemente

It is curious and yet always predictable that an “enlightened, worldly” American steps up to belittle patriotism that arises from a cultural event– the latest target from the smug elite is the blockbuster hit American Sniper.

Jim Kempton’s op-ed “Patriot Aims” plays the familiar canard—America as equally as bad as fill-in-the blank with any tyrannical government or movement, and that because of our actions as a world leader, we basically have it coming to us, ala chickens coming home to roost. Kempton zeros in Page 6

on the opening scene in the movie where the hero has to decide whether to shoot a woman who is using her child as a suicide bomber. Because there is no equivalent example of Americans using our children as suicide bombers, he paints an elaborate “reverse” scenario of an evil occupying military in California where an American woman would use her child in the same fashion using a Macy’s store satchel.

There is no need to create a fantasy scenario of “why wouldn’t Americans/Westerners use our children as human shields or suicide bombers, if the situations were revised.” The people of France, Holland and several other European countries suffered under real brutal invaders (Nazis) who occupied their lands. With a welldocumented history of active resistance fighting and sabotage there is no recorded example of these westerners using/ abusing children as bombers or shields. I would go so far as to say it did not occur to them because of our shared western values that have us loving our children more than we hate our enemies.

The use of children as suicide bombers is unique to the Islamic/Arabic world.

There is no moral equivalent in western Christian Judeo thought or action–period.

Kempton’s snarky attempt at moral equivalency is on par with a 10th-grader who grasps at one historical item and seeks to parlay that into a “gotcha” argument ad nauseam. His final snip is stating that he “believes our own history should be our guide.” I agree, which is why those who want history to be our guide don’t need to go to such lengths to create imaginary situations to paint us as moral equals to Islamic enemy combatants.

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

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@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

> 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

LAGUNA POST OFFICE WORTH A LOOK

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

SUZI SCALLON, Laguna Beach

Special Projects Editor, > Andrea Papagianis

With all the bothersome downtown construction, I would like to invite the good people of Dana Point to check out South Laguna Post Office, conveniently located at 31677 Virginia Way, between 3rd and 2nd avenues, off Pacific Coast Highway.

While the hours are a bit difficult, presently Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., it’s still worth a look.

Absolutely the best kept secret in Laguna, a true gem, complete with plenty of no hassle, free parking—a rare find in Laguna Beach.

This is the “go to” place for stamps, quaint post office boxes and a great place to chat with neighbors. Kwon, the super-friendly lady behind the counter is so helpful. There is rarely a line and the view is fantastic!

Laguna Beach: more than just a pretty face. A great post office too. Check it out.

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, Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 8, Issue 7. 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 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE DANA POINT T IMES

To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@danapointtimes.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

www.danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 13 JIMI JAMES 8 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

DJ AND DANCING 9:30 p.m. Dance the night away as the DJ spins the tunes every Friday and Saturday night. The Point Restaurant, 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

Saturday | 14 HUNT FOR HEARTS IN NATURE—VALENTINE’S DAY WALK 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Join The Reserve to search for hearts in nature along the Sycamore Loop Trail. Ages 8 and up. Adults $10, children $5, free for Reserve supporters and RMV residents. Participants must be registered by 4 p.m. on Feb. 13. The Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy, call for directions, 949.923.2210, www.rmvreserve.org.

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.

MARIACHIS AT THE MISSION 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. On the second Saturday of each month, enjoy live mariachi music at the Mission performed by the talented Capistrano Community Mariachi Program. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

SECOND SATURDAY BOOK SALE 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The Friends of the Dana Point Library have a book sale on the second Saturday of the month, in the storage room adjacent to the library.

Books at bargain prices. 33841 Niguel Road, 949.489.3956, www.ocpl.org.

SCOTT ROBINSON OC ELVIS 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Live music at Harpoon Henry’s. 34555 Golden Lantern St, Dana Point, 949.493.2933, www.windandsearestaurants.com/harpoonhenrys.

Dana Point Times February 13-19, 2015

Sunday | 15 SEA OF LOVE 10 a.m.-3 p.m. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Ocean Institute presents activities related to relationships under the sea, including which animals stay together forever and which are not so willing to commit to a lifetime love. Themed crafts, scavenger hunts and a dissection to observe the three hearts of a squid.

The program is included with admission to the institute. $4.50-$6.50 and free to members. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

Monday | 16 COUNTRY DANCIN’ WITH PATRICK AND FRIENDS 6:30 p.m. Every Monday at The Swallow’s Inn with steak night and happy hour prices. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188.

Tuesday | 17 TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES 10 a.m-10:30 a.m. Stories for children 18-35 months, and 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. for ages 3-5. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No pre-registration required. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

Wednesday | 18 NATIVE AMERICAN BASKET WEAVING 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn the traditions and capture the culture of basket weaving at Mission San Juan Capistrano. First and third Wednesday of every month. Free with paid admission. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Thursday | 19 JOHN TROY 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Taste blends from the West Coast’s smallest, finest wineries accompanied by vibrant small plates and live music. Wine tastings run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and Saturday 2 p.m.-9 p.m. DaVine Food & Wine, 34673 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com.

For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com.

Have an event? Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com

Page 8

At the Movies: ‘The Humbling’ is Less Than Inspiring

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

I

t’s unfortunate for Barry Levinson that his latest film The Humbling, comes to audiences only three months after the huge success of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman. Not only do both films focus on fictional former relevant A-list actors, but the opening of Humbling even resembles a scene during the climax of Birdman.

Levinson brought on star Al Pacino and screenwriters Buck Henry and Michal Zebede to collaborate on adapting the Philip Roth novel, but to underwhelming results.

Aging actor Simon Axler (Pacino) is convinced by his therapist (Dylan Baker) and agent (Charles Grodin) to move back into his old country home when it’s apparent he’s having trouble distinguishing reality from imagination. Not only does Simon meet a mentally unstable divorcee Sybil (Nina Arianda) at group therapy,

Al Pacino in “The Humbling.” Photo: Millennium Films

but the daughter of his best friend (Dan Hedaya), Pegeen (Greta Gerwig), randomly pops up to begin an affair with him despite being a lesbian.

The Humbling and Birdman don’t just share the similarities of fantasy and dysfunctional female characters during an actor’s late-life crisis, but its depiction of lesbianism is more akin to Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy (1997) in its denial of bisexuality, and the older man/younger woman pairing is like a less believable, gender-swapped reminder of The Graduate (1967); also adapted by Henry. Levinson’s subversive, nonlinear direction and storytelling is fascinating and creative, but the tropes are messy with stereotypes. In the end, The Humbling just makes viewers want to watch the previous, better films.

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. A, 949.420.1321, www.oasisair.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 February 13-19, 2015

DRAPERY

JACKIE LEE ASID-CID 949-493-6694

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

State Farm/Ted Bowersox

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

34085 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 204, 949.661.3200, www.tedbowersox.com

Statefarm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

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

REAL ESTATE - RESIDENTIAL

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

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

32032 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.5683, www.cvcs.org

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

Page 10

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 LIVING Dana Point

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

A Gift to Grads

Lessons for the Long Haul Four takeaways for older singles revealed in upbeat message from Borneo

T

his week, I received an email from Borneo, sent by a man who is no stranger to this newspaper. Chris Anastasio, 80, San Clemente, formerly of Dana Point, who was featured in the Sept.

28, 2014 issue, sent a message from a cruise ship he is on.

You may recall that Chris and his girlfriend of 12 years, Tina, have the longest, long-distance relationship I have heard of in my 21 years of writing about senior dating: 5,419 miles. Tina lives in Buckingham, England.

In late August, Chris was hospitalized for emergency triple-bypass and open-heart surgery.

In that September article, he said, “The ON LIFE AND operation really slowed LOVE AFTER 50 me down. Sometime in

By Tom Blake the not too distant future I will be dancing and traveling again. Tina and I are taking an 11-day cruise in late January departing from Singapore.”

Chris kept his word. Last Wednesday, he wrote: “Email is almost impossible from the ship. So far, we have had a wonderful cruise and have been to some great and interesting places: Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Danang, Vietnam; Hong Kong; Manila, Philippines, and yesterday we spent the day on a beautiful beach on the Philippine island of Boracay.

“We are now heading towards Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo. The weather has been almost perfect; we’ve had no rain. The sea has been calm except for one day when it got a little choppy.

“It has been interesting to see different countries and how people live, as expected there are the rich and the poor.

Chris Anastasio and long-distance girlfriend Tina, stand with Greta (Tom Blake’s life partner) and Tom Blake, in front of Blake’s deli of 26 years. Photo: Courtesy

We like the ship although it is rather old; the crew and food are excellent. We send our love and hugs to our south county friends.”

There are four lessons older singles can learn from Chris: 1. Love at 80 can thrive, and be as fulfilling as love at 50.

2. Even though most of us will face health issues as we age, we should not let those issues stop us from pursuing joy in our lives.

3. A positive attitude can help us heal, get through hard times and live life to the fullest.

4. Long-distance relationships can work, even if there are 5,419 miles between partners.

Chris flies home from England at the end of this month. The first thing he will do is visit the people living at the San Clemente Villas, where he volunteers and dances with the women residents there.

He is an inspiration to older singles.

PET OF THE WEEK: TIGGER “The wonderful thing about Tiggers, is Tiggers are wonderful things!”—Robert M. Sherman, for “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” Hi there. My name is Tigger and I definitely think that song was made just for me because I know we would be wonderful together. Bounce on over for a visit and I’m sure we will be the best of friends!

If you would like to know more about Tigger, please call the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or visit him at the shelter, 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente.

Dana Point Times February 13-19, 2015

19th annual Taste of Dana set for March 27 at Dana Hills High School

A scene from a past Taste of Dana event.

Photo: Courtesy DANA POINT TIMES

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR SINGLES • Love is in the air at the bookstore. On Sunday, Feb. 15, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., dating columnist Tom Blake and romance writer Cheryl Gardarian, will be discussing and signing their books on love and relationships.

Free. San Juan Capistrano Library Bookstore, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

For information, call 949.493.2688.

• Singles Age 50-plus Meet and Greet, Thursday, Feb. 26, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tutor and Spunky’s Deli, 34085 Coast Highway, Dana Point. For info, call 949.248.9008.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and former 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

T

he annual Taste of Dana event will be held March 27, with food from more than 20 local restaurants, a silent auction, music, raffle and fun, to raise funds for Grad Nite 2015 at Dana Hills High School.

Taste of Dana is the primary fundraiser for Dana Hill’s annual “Safe and Sober Grad Nite” and will be held at the school from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Pre-sale tickets are $15 until March 26, and $20 at the door.

Tickets are also available for the grand prize Elite Island Resorts vacation raffle—a $3,000 value at the 4-Star St. James’s Club, Antigua.

Prize includes seven nights, double occupancy, a $1,000 Resort Card and a $1,500 American Express Card.

Tickets are $20 each, or six for $100.

Tickets and more information can be found online at www.tasteofdana. com. DP

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 11

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

www.danapointtimes.com

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dolphin Report

per game.

Sophomore Joy McArthur also enjoyed a solid season, pulling in a team-high eight rebounds per contest while averaging 1.9 blocks.

The Dolphins should return plenty of depth to next year’s roster, as they lose only three seniors to graduation.

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the Dana Hills High School winter sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

Boys Soccer Beats Titans, Falls to Mustangs

Wolverines Erupt for Three Second-Half Goals in Win Over Dolphins

The top-ranked Aliso Niguel girls soccer team lived up to their billing on Feb. 11 in a match against visiting Dana Hills, scoring three second-half goals en route to a 3-0 victory and their second straight South Coast League title.

The Dolphins (4-7-2, 2-3-1 league) needed a win in order to stay in the playoff hunt but following the loss, a shot at the postseason seems unlikely.

The Wolverines’ Lauren Miller had a huge impact on the game by notching two goals. Miller ignited Aliso Niguel’s scoring barrage nine minutes into the second half on a headed shot. Miller scored again later in the game and, one minute after that, Macie Danna scored from 30 yards out to close out the game.

Dana Hills struggled during preseason play, going 2-4-1 over seven games, but showed signs of life in league play. They defeated Capistrano Valley twice and tied with rival San Clemente on Feb. 9 to keep their playoff hopes alive until their final game of the season.

The team will lose several seniors this season, including impact players Alexie Marietti and Meghan Shaver, who are continuing their playing careers at the collegiate level.

Water Polo Upsets Tritons, Finish Third in League

A strong second-half defensive effort

Dana Hills senior Jameelah Powell corrals a ball against Aliso Niguel during a South Coast League game on Feb. 11. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

pushed the Dana Hills girls water polo team to a 13-10 victory over visiting San Clemente on Feb. 11. The win sealed a third-place finish for the Dolphins in the South Coast League while the loss dashed the Tritons hopes at splitting the league title with El Toro. San Clemente settled for second place in league.

Dana Hills held a 7-6 lead at the half and took command of the game during the third quarter. The Dolphins went on a 3-0 run in the third and held on as the San Clemente offense woke up in the fourth.

The Tritons tacked on four goals in the final quarter but the Dolphins were able to outscore the visitors 6-4 over the final two frames.

The Dolphins were led by Maddie Baba’s six-goal effort. Maia Borisoff scored four goals and notched an assist and Blaire Borisoff recorded eight saves.

Dana Hills will learn of their playoff seeding for the CIF-SS Division 2 Championships when brackets are released on Feb. 15.

Dolphins Girls Basketball Set to Close out Season Against Wolverines

Mired in a three-game losing skid, the Dana Hills girls basketball team will get a chance to right the ship in their final game of the season in a nonleague contest against Aliso Niguel on Feb. 13.

Dana Hills (9-16, 2-6) finished Sea View League play with three straight losses to Trabuco Hills, El Toro and Mission Viejo, respectively.

Although they finished in fourth place in the five-member Sea View League, the Dolphins made considerable improvement over last year’s effort. The Dolphins won four more games than they did in 2014 and won two league games, compared to zero league wins last season.

Guard Peyton Romo will be a player to watch next season following her breakout freshman campaign. Romo led the team in points per game (14.3) and steals (3.4) and averaged 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists

The Dana Hills boys soccer team earned a 2-0 Sea View League victory over Tesoro at home on Feb. 6, clinching their first league win of the season. Dana Hills (4-13-1, 1-5-1) followed the win up with a 5-3 loss to Trabuco Hills on the road on Feb. 10.

Senior Paul Romero scored twice for the Dolphins and Dante Romero scored once in the loss to Trabuco Hills. The Mustangs’ Kendrick Nguyen scored a hat trick in the victory.

Dana Hills was set to finish their season with a league match against first-place Laguna Hills on Feb. 12. Results were not available at press time.

The Dolphins were a very young squad this season and will graduate only four seniors. Season highlights for this year’s team includes a win over Laguna Beach and Paramount.

Dolphins Boys Basketball Finishes Season With Tritons The Dana Hills boys basketball team had a chance to play spoiler to rival San Clemente’s season on Feb. 12, as the Tritons were set to travel to the Dolphins home court for their final league game of the year. A win would secure the first undefeated league season for San Clemente in school history. Results were not available at press time.

Wins were hard to come by for the Dolphins (6-19, 1-6) this season, as they regrouped from losing a talented 2014 senior class.

Dana Hills’ lone league win came against Mission Viejo on Jan. 30.

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.

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FOR SALE CASH REGISTER Cash Register for sale-All in working order.

Great for a small or new business. Keys included. $40. Please contact: 949.933.0122 QUEEN MATTRESS SET $75 Two years old. New condition. Call or text for info or pictures. 949.533.9761

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@danapointtimes.com Deadline 5 p.m. Monday. No phone calls please.

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE FRIDAY FEB. 13TH AND SAT. 14TH. Starting at 11am. Estate Sale. Many “High End” items. Furniture, Decorative items, Bed’s as well as children clothing and shoes, plus much more. Located in Capo Beach on California and Via Lopez. Signs will be posted.

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 February 13-19, 2015

Page 13

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 60-62 degrees F

GROM OF THE WEEK

REEF TSUTSUI

Water Visibility & Conditions: 6-10’+ Poor-Fair Thursday And Friday: Old West swell winds down on Thursday, still offering fun-zone surf in the 2-3’+ range (knee-waist-chest high) for better exposures as standouts are good for a few lingering plus sets. Late in the day a new WNW swell moves in, and is good for waistchest-shoulder high waves at good breaks on Friday. Look for some larger sets to develop for standout winter magnets in the afternoon.

Moderate+ offshore Santa Anas prevail Thursday, lightening some for Friday.

The Boys U14 finalists at Surfing America Prime, Event No. 5, Feb. 7-8 at Upper Trestles were (L to R first to fourth place) Kade Matson, Noah Hill, Griffin Foy and Kai McPhillips. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Moving on Up at Uppers

Local surfers take half of 20 finalist spots at Surfing America Prime, Upper Trestles

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

S

ummer-like weather and waves in the 4to 6-foot range, with occasionally larger sets, made for exciting times at Surfing America Prime, Event No. 5, Feb. 7 and 8 at San Onofre State Beach, Upper Trestles.

The conditions remained consistent throughout the weekend, aside from slightly smaller surf on Saturday and a bit more wind on Sunday. A few heats in the semifinal and final rounds, made for exciting, edge-or-your-seat viewing.

Of the 20 possible podium spots, San Clemente surfers claimed 10 and won

three of the five divisions.

Samantha Sibley, took the win in Girls U16 with 13.27 points, to runner-up Kirra Pinkerton, 11.90.

The Boys U16 division was commanded

by Cole Houshmand with 15.83 points and the highest average wave score among all of the boys finals—8.33.

The highest wave score among the girls division finalists went to Malia Osterkamp, with an 8.90.

The closest final of the contest came on Sunday in the Boys U14 division, when the top three finishers, ended with scores separating first and second, as well as second and third place, by 0.27 points. Kade Matson, 12.94, took top honors, followed by runner-up Noah Hill, 12.67 and Griffin Foy in third, with 12.40. Fourth-place finisher Kai McPhillips had a great run to the final but just didn’t find himself on a wave with high scoring potential and ended his run with a 4.90.

Division victories not claimed by locals— Girls U18 and Boys U18—went to Santa Cruz surfers Autumn Hays and John Mel. A location for event No. 6 of the six-event regular season has yet to be announced. DP

Longer Range Outlook: Fun WNW swell prevails through the weekend, good for more waist-chest-shoulder high waves at decent exposures and larger sets for standouts. Morning winds are favorable before a sea-breeze develops each afternoon. Check out Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook!

SURFING AMERICA PRIME RESULTS Girls U16 1. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, 13.27 2. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 11.90 3. Autumn Hays, Santa Cruz, 9.84 4. Alexxa Elseewi, San Clemente, 4.34 Girls U18 1. Autumn Hays, Santa Cruz, 14.53 2. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente, 14.50 3. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 12.90 4. Ashley Held, Santa Cruz, 10.83 Boys U18 1. John Mel, Santa Cruz, 14.43 2. Colt Ward, San Clemente, 13.20 3. Nolan Rapoza, Long Beach, 10.70 4. Jordy Collins, Carlsbad, 9.84 Boys U16 1. Cole Houshmand, San Clemente, 15.83 2. Ryland Rubens, Pacific Beach, 13.34 3. Gunner Day, San Clemente, 8.67 4. Griffin Foy, Huntington Beach, 8.63 Boys U14 1. Kade Matson, San Clemente, 12.94 2. Noah Hill, Venice, 12.67 3. Griffin Foy, Huntington Beach, 12.40 4. Kai McPhillips, San Clemente, 4.90

Reef Tsutsui. Photo: Andrea Swayne

R

eef Tsutsui, 13, from Oahu’s North Shore, moved to San Clemente on Jan. 20 with his family of surfers. He is in the eighth grade at Shorecliffs Middle School.

Since his arrival, Reef has competed in two series—a National Scholastic Surfing Association Open event at Salt Creek, and as an alternate at last weekend’s Surfing America Prime at Upper Trestles. He is also planning to begin competing in the Western Surfing Association Championship Tour.

In school, he has been getting mostly As and Bs and is determined to continue earning high marks.

“I like the schools better here because they’re more professional and I learn more.

Also it’s more fun and the people here are really friendly,” Reef said. “It’s cool that there are a bunch of kids to surf with before school, after school and hopefully as part of the team.”

Reef says he is ready to focus his efforts on achieving his goal of becoming a pro surfer and then follow that up with a second career elsewhere within the surf industry.

“Right now I want to surf as much as I can, dedicate as much time to it as possible so that I can be in the best I can physically be,” he said. “And I will do as many contests as I can, to get more heat time in and be more experienced.”

He also says he feels like San Clemente is a great place to make it happen.

“I really like that the kids here have big goals and are more dedicated and driven to do what they are good at and what they really want to do,” Reef said. “It helps me to set a higher standard so I can do better. It’s a really good influence. And the waves have been really good so far too.”—Andrea Swayne