September 4, 2015 by Dana Point Times

LO C A L

N EWS

September 4–10, 2015 YO U

C A N

U S E

Prime Season Kicks Off with a Bang PAGE 18 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 36

From the Core and to the Point Longtime Salt Creek surfers place Larry ‘Flame’ Moore memorial at Salt Creek point E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 5

An unpermitted commemorative rock and plaque depicting the late Larry ‘Flame’ Moore was placed on the point at Salt Creek in the middle of the night. Will it be allowed to stay? Photo: Andrea Swayne

Arts and Culture Commissioners Chosen to Fill 3 Openings EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

It’s History: The Big DP Bank Robbery LIVING/PAGE 13

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Dolphins X-C Coach Pens First Book SPORTS/PAGE 15

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Lantern, Del Prado and Amber Lantern, Del Prado and Violet, and Del Prado and Old Golden Lantern. The brick pavers will match the installed pavers in the medians on Del Prado. This three- to four-week project is expected to be completed by the end of September. Also in late September, the remaining areas affected will return to two-way traffic.

Five things Dana Point should know this week Weekend Trolley Met Minimum Ridership, Will Return Next Summer THE LATEST: City Council on Tuesday received and filed a report on the free summer weekend Dana Point PCH Trolley confirming the pilot program not only met but exceeded ridership goals this summer, and for that reason will continue next year. The target ridership of 10 boardings per hour (500 per day)—needed to secure grant funding from the Orange County Transportation Authority for its operation—was nearly doubled, said Brad Fowler, director of public works and engineering. WHAT’S NEXT: The success of this year’s inaugural program will allow the city to expand the service to seven days a week next summer, Fowler said. The vehicle contractor will also be able to purchase open-air trolleys, similar to those utilized in Laguna Beach, to replace the leased shuttle vans used this summer. This weekend’s service has been extended to include Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, which will be the last day of operation this summer. Trolleys will run from noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Trolleys arrive at stops every 15 minutes. FIND OUT MORE: A trolley route map is available online at www.danapoint.org. For real-time arrivals, visit the Trolley Tracker at www.dptrolley.com. —Andrea Swayne

New Arts and Culture Commission Members Chosen THE LATEST: City Council on Tuesday interviewed prospective Arts and Culture Commissioners to fill seats open due to expiring terms of three commissioners. The trio of seats was awarded to Kimberly Williams and incumbents Nancy Jenkins and Karin Schnell. The terms of commissioners Janie Raub, Jenkins and Schnell expired on June 30. Jenkins and Schnell reapplied; Raub did not. The terms of the other two commisDana Point Times September 4-10, 2015

FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.danapoint. org under “City News” and the tab “Project Link” under “PCH/Del Prado Project Street Design/Construction.” Follow updates on Facebook at www.facebook. com/danapointcityhall and on Twitter @ cityofdanapoint. For further questions, email ssharke@danapoint.org and to subscribe to the email update list. —Eric Heinz

This map shows the areas in where brick pavers will be installed. Map: Courtesy of the City of Dana Point

sioners on the five-member body, Judith Nowland and Berenika Schmitz, are set to expire on June 30, 2017. Initially 14 applications were received during the April 16 to May 15 recruitment period but three applicants—Brittany Casey, Mark Rosen and Kathy Wiltse— have since pulled their names from the list. Prospective commissioners were Bob Russell, Michael “Mac” McDonald, Nicholas “Nick” St. George, Marta Riojas, Kimberly Williams, Anthony “Tony” Small, Martin Chokany, Ann Schultz, Lynn Smith, Jenkins and Schnell. The commission was created in 2011 to act as an advisory board to the City Council in regard to aesthetic, artistic and cultural matters. WHAT’S NEXT: The commission meets quarterly on the third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.—AS

Water District Temporarily Increases Watering Days from 1 to 2 THE LATEST: On Aug. 27, the South Coast Water District Board of Directors increased the number of allowable potable watering days using a sprinkler system from one to two through Oct. 31, 2015. Government/commercial/HOA watering days from now through Oct. 31, 2015 are Wednesday and Saturday. Residential watering days are Monday and Thursday. According to SCWD Director Rick Erkeneff, the relaxation of the restriction is a result of SCWD customers’ successful water-saving efforts which in July amounted to a 33 percent reduction, significantly better than the state mandated 24 percent.

WHAT’S NEXT: Effective Nov. 1, 2015, in accordance with SCWD Ordinance 206, potable watering days using a sprinkler system will go back to a limit of one per week through March 31, 2016. Erkeneff also said that the water district is considering removing the ban on refilling swimming pools within the next few months. For updates and more information, visit www.scwd.org. —Allison Jarrell/AS

Dana Point Downtown Construction to Finish by Late September THE LATEST: According to the city of Dana Point construction updates, Phase 1 of the Lantern District Street Improvement Project is expected to be mostly completed by Sept. 4. This includes the projects on Ruby Lantern and Violet Lantern on Del Prado. The majority of Phase 2 is expected to take place of the remaining Lantern District Archway architectural elements, stucco and more will be constructed and completed by the end of September. Intersection improvements at Golden Lantern and Del Prado include traffic signal modification work, street improvements and median modification work. This will enable two-way traffic to resume at the intersection and along Golden Lantern. Concrete banner poles on PCH between Del Prado and Ruby Lantern, which are mostly already on-site, are being staged on Del Prado near Ruby Lantern. Asphalt repair work and placement of final asphalt will begin along the entire project area from Ruby Lantern to Golden Lantern and should be mostly completed this month. Once final paving is complete, brick paver crosswalk installation will begin at the intersections of Del Prado and Ruby

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Ortega Highway Interchange Opens Sept. 4 THE LATEST: After roughly two and a half years of construction, improvements to the Ortega Highway Interchange at Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano and are expected to finally open to traffic this Friday, Sept. 4. The entire Ortega Highway bridge and on- and off-ramps will open to drivers around 5 a.m. Friday, according to Orange County Transportation Authority officials. “The opening of the Ortega Highway Interchange will help ease traffic delays through the heavily traveled interchange, especially during the peak morning and evening commutes,” officials said in a Wednesday press release. Work led by Caltrans and OCTA began in February 2013 to reconfigure and widen the roadways—an effort to alleviate traffic that has cost a total of $81.3 million. The project was funded by the State Transportation Improvement Program and Corridor Mobility Improvement Act, as well as the city of San Juan Capistrano and Measure M, the county’s half-cent transportation sales tax. WHAT’S NEXT: While major improvements are set to open early Friday, officials said timing is “subject to change depending upon weather and scheduling.” “Crews will continue working to the east and west of the interchange for several weeks, which could periodically affect lanes and traffic flow,” the release stated. For more information and updates, visit www.octa.net/ortega.—AJ

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

From the Core and to the Point Longtime Salt Creek surfers place Larry ‘Flame’ Moore memorial at Salt Creek point BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

he late Larry “Flame” Moore was much more than a legendary surf photographer and photo editor. To the local surfers he shot, helping to get their talent noticed and sparking professional careers for many, Flame was a mentor, a friend and a member of the “the family.” So when a memorial stone for Moore appeared on the point at Salt Creek Beach near the lifeguard tower last month, a crowd of longtime area surfers showed up to celebrate and the news spread like wildfire on social media. And its controversial, and unpermitted, placement drew the ire of county officials, which in turn, raised the hackles of local surfers. PLACING THE STONE Upon Moore’s passing in 2005, a group of longtime Dana Point/Salt Creek Beach area surfers from the ’60s and ’70s known loosely as “the Salt Creek Core” gathered in the parking lot after his memorial and talked about what they could eventually do to commemorate the life of Moore, to honor the man they loved and admired. Steve Cox recalls a conversation that day with fellow Core member Gary Dapelo in which the two discussed the idea of somehow creating a tribute to their departed mentor and friend. “Ten years later we reconvened with David Gilovich to join, in synergy, our separate talents and really work on making it happen,” Cox said. “We wanted to honor him and his legacy at Salt Creek in bronze. Larry “Flame” Moore was an ambassador of goodwill to all he encountered and we wanted to honor him and his rich legacy at Salt Creek.” Cox said that early on they intended to apply for the proper permits through the county but after being frustrated by “red tape” they decided to just get it done on their own. “There was too much bureaucracy, too many meetings,” he said. “There were just too many cooks in the kitchen so we took matters into our own hands.” A large stone, weighing an estimated 3,300 pounds, with a brass plaque emblazoned with the most well-known picture of Moore holding his camera, appeared on the point in the middle of night between Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 and county park officials were not pleased. On Aug. 3 Dapelo spoke Dana Point Times September 4-10, 2015

on the phone with Steve Bonhall, administrative manager for Orange County Parks South Coastal Operation. “I owned up for having been the one who placed the rock and apologized for not going through protocol but it seemed like everyone wanted to put their mark on it and I just wanted to make it happen. Ideas for things like a memorial wall and involvement by the Ritz-Carlton hotel were being talked about,” Dapelo said. “To me it was meant as a simple gesture, a private gift to the public. I probably should have done it differently but it was done. I told Bonhall I’d really like for it to stay until we could get the proper approvals.” Dapelo explained that the memorial was funded privately by surfers as part of a promise he and others had made to Moore’s family. “It was an act of honor,” Dapelo said. “I made a promise and I tried to keep it.” After speaking with Bonhall, Dapelo received an email from Bonhall thanking him for taking responsibility for the placement of what Bonhall referred to as the “unauthorized memorial rock and brass plaque,” and informing him that he would be assisting Dapelo with the removal of the memorial from county property. The letter went on to question how Dapelo would be providing insurance, necessary to obtain a permit from OC Parks for the removal of the rock and plaque from county property. Bonhall questioned whether the Bobcat tractor Dapelo had used to move the rock, from the back yard of his Monarch Bay home to the beach, was owned or rented and whether Dapelo had an equipment company or contractor’s license that could provide insurance for its operation on public property. “I identified the commemorative rock (from my yard in Monarch Bay) as that of a private gift to the public. My intentions were and remain honorable in all Page 5

respects,” Dapelo’s Aug. 4 response read. Dapelo went on to say that, as the rock was placed “well below the mean high tide line,” he did not believe it was actually on county property. Aside from the tide line, Dapelo also told Bonhall another reason for his belief that it was not on county land was the presence of sharp rusted spears of iron rebar sticking out from chunks of concrete among the rocks surrounding the point as retention material. Surely it was not county property, because the county would not have allowed the dangerous condition to exist, he wrote, and reiterated his intention to work with the county to find a compromise that would allow the rock to remain. The next morning the county added rocks covering the identified dangers, Dapelo said. “They actually enhanced the area,” Cox said. “We were pleasantly surprised.” On Aug. 6, Dapelo received correspondence from OC Parks Division Manager, Bill Reiter, who said that after investigating the question of whether the rock was on county property it had been determined that it was actually on state property and the county would therefore defer to the state of California, namely the State Lands Commission and the California Coastal Commission on issues surrounding the “gift” to the public. With that, Reiter said, the issue was out of the county’s hands. SHOULD IT STAY OR SHOULD IT GO? Cox said the argument for keeping the commemorative rock in place is backed by Moore’s important contribution to the area’s surf history, culture, the lives of local surfers and the launching of more than a few professional surf careers. “Larry came and put Salt Creek on the map with his beautiful photography,” Cox said. “He was an equal opportunity

photographer. You didn’t need a bunch of sponsor stickers on your board or a pink wetsuit to get in the magazines. He loved everyone and everybody loved him. The point was Larry’s lair. He shot so many magazine photos and cover shots from that point. It is such a fitting spot.” Chris Carmichael, who said he has been surfing at Salt Creek at least three times a week for over 50 years, took one look at the rock and agreed wholeheartedly that it should stay. Carmichael said he was immediately struck by the feeling that it was, in place and in structure, a very fitting and appropriate way to honor Moore and people’s memories of the man who meant so much to so many. “It’s an absolute honor,” he said. “Larry was a big part of our lives growing up and surfing here. He gave the young guys exposure. It was such a thrill to see ourselves in the magazines. He put Salt Creek on the map, took it worldwide. He taught us to have respect for Mother Ocean and for other surfers. That is a lifetime achievement, as far as I’m concerned and that’s why it should stay.” Carmichael said he is not alone in his feeling that Dapelo did a great thing by putting the rock there. “When we’re on the point checking the surf or out in the lineup, our friend is still with us,” he said. “It’s already a part of the heartbeat of Salt Creek and taking it away would be a grave mistake. It’s part of the authenticity of the spot.” WILL IT STAY? Reiter said he has referred the issue to the state but, as of yet, has received no response. “I can appreciate their dedication to their friend,” Reiter said, adding that the county’s initial response to the memorial was due to policy. “We don’t do memorial plaques right now. We are in process of creating a policy that would allow that, but for now, we just don’t do it.” As for what the response by the state will likely be, Reiter says he really doesn’t know, nor does he have any idea what the time frame for expecting a response could be. “It is what it is at this point and it’s all in the state’s hands,” Reiter said. “It is funny that it showed up at midnight. And as far as I’m aware the county has no plans on going after him for transporting it (across county property) in the middle of the night.” Dapelo is hopeful that the state will listen to the wishes of the public and allow the rock to remain in place. “With regard to the state, if we’re not affecting the tidepools, we may have landed the rock in a no man’s land,” Dapelo said. “What I really want is to keep the rock there as long as we can. It’s just a commemorative rock. It doesn’t have a negative impact on anything. If anything, it is a tremendous addition to the area, a true gift, like Moore was to so many.” DP www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter

(10:34 p.m.) An intoxicated man told police one of the two women he was “chatting up” in the restaurant slapped and pushed him and then told him, “’You don’t know who my father is, I could have you murdered.’”

COMPILED BY EVAN DA SILVA

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.

Tuesday, September 1 SHOTS HEARD-NO SUSPECT INFORMATION Calle Juanita, 27000 Block (2:38 a.m.) A single shot or explosion was heard coming from behind the location. DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Cordova Drive, 24700 Block (1:03 a.m.) A caller reported an ongoing problem with their neighbors who reportedly drink and are loud every night in their back yard. The caller explained whenever the neighbors see police cars pull up, they go inside and turn off all the lights, staying quiet until the deputies leave.

Monday, August 31 DISTURBANCE La Plaza, 34000 Block (1:03 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a “wild” transient person who was shouting, throwing items and showering with a hose behind the location.

Sunday, August 30 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street, 34200 Block (11:16 p.m.) Second-hand information was received about a man who was looking into vehicles. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Street of the Golden Lantern, 34600 Block

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

Hope 4 Kids Raising Funds for Foster Program in South Africa Development Solutions, DBA Hope 4 Kids, a licensed foster care and adoption agency in Dana Point, has launched a new fundraising campaign in hopes of taking their experience and expertise to South Africa to help set up a foster care and adoption system so that children there can remain in their own culture with families they know and those that are not able to stay will find homes that can provide a safe and loving environment. Dana Point Times September 4-10, 2015

CAR FIRE Niguel Road, 33800 Block (5:29 p.m.) While driving his white Ford Excursion, a man saw flames come out of the dashboard. He parked the car in the library parking lot and exited the vehicle. The car was then quickly engulfed in flames and totaled. Orange County Fire Authority extinguished the flames, but a nearby white Mercedes-Benz SUV suffered damage and part of the Ford’s parts became melted into the asphalt. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Palisades Drive/Pacific Coast Highway (2:43 p.m.) A transient man walking northbound on Palisades was allegedly acting like he had a gun. BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Calle Real, 26900 Block (2:20 p.m.) An “uncooperative” man told police another man took $10,000 in cash and other items from his vehicle. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Niguel Road/Stonehill Drive (12:24 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a 20-year-old man who was walking very slowly towards the St. Regis while masturbating.

Saturday, August 29 PATROL CHECK Camino Capistrano, 34200 Block (8:40 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for an elderly woman wearing a cloth on her head who was walking around saying there was a fire. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Naranja, 34300 Block (6:52 p.m.) A woman told police the neighbor behind her home had some sort of gun and shot

Hope 4 Kids will be sending a small group of people to Huntington, a South African village, at the end of the month to set up foster homes for 168 children in need, in hopes of preventing them from ending up in orphanages until they are adopted. Donations made to the Hope 4 Kids Indiegogo fundraising page will be used to provide these children with food, shelter, clothing, medicine, mosquito nets and blankets. The campaign fundraising goal is $15,000, an amount that will sustain foster homes for the children until permanent placement can be found. To donate, visit www.indiegogo.com and search “help orphans in South African Village.” For more information about Hope 4 Kids, call 949.496.9430, find them on Facebook or visit their website at www.hope4kids.com.

a bird out of the air. When she confronted him, he went back into his home. PATROL CHECK Dana Point Harbor Drive/ Street of the Golden Lantern (4:44 p.m.) A caller from the Marriot was requesting police search a nearby park for a yoga class the caller felt was presenting a safety hazard. The instructor set up a tight rope between two trees, and the caller believed it was unsafe. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (4:42 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a man in the Chamber of Commerce parking lot who had his pants pulled down. DISTRUBANCE Dana Strand Road, 34300 Block (4:17 p.m.) A man was in a verbal confrontation with other people in the parking lot. He was heard telling another man he was going to kill him. 9-1-1 HANGUP Street of the Silver Lantern, 33700 Block (2:19 a.m.) Emergency operators heard a woman call someone stupid in Spanish and then the line disconnected.

Friday, August 28 WELFARE CHECK Dana Point Harbor Drive, 24200 Block (8:50 p.m.) Two subjects were seen huddling close to the cliffs below Harbor Point Park at the Marine Protected Area behind the Ocean Institute. The caller did not know if they were stuck due to the high tide, but was afraid they could not make it to the staircase. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Caspian Sea Drive, 32700 Block (7:26 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a man who was riding a bike into the middle of the street while taking pictures of oncoming traffic.

Veterans Resource Fair Assemblyman Bill Brough and Senator Pat Bates will be hosting a Veterans Resource Fair on Saturday, October 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Capistrano Valley High School, 26301 Via Escolar in Mission Viejo. The event will kick off with the presentation of colors by the MAG-39 Color Guard, an invocation and the singing of the National Anthem by the CVHS Choir. The first 500 attendees will be treated to a free lunch. Dozens of providers will share information about federal, state and local resources for veterans. For more information, contact Brough’s district office at 949.347.7301. 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.

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Community Meetings FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Summer Trolley Service Ending after Labor Day Weekend Noon-10 p.m. Fri-

day, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. Trolleys are free and arrive at stops every 15 minutes. See trolley route map at www.danapoint. org. For real-time arrivals, visit the Trolley Tracker at www.dptrolley.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Labor Day City Hall offices closed. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club

7 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Join members of the volunteer-centered club for breakfast and a meeting each Wednesday at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, www. monarchbeachrotary.com. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Doheny Village Planning Charrette

5 p.m.-7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the opening presentation by Opticos Design, Inc. discussing the plan for the four-day Doheny Village planning workshop on Sept. 8. On Sept. 9 and 10, attend the public open studio time for the daily progress report. Capo Beach Church, 25975 Domingo Avenue, Capistrano Beach, www. danapoint.org. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Doheny Village Planning Charrette Closing Presentation 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Final presentation from Opticos Design, Inc. showing results from the public open studio times. Capo Beach Church, 25975 Domingo Avenue, Capistrano Beach, www.danapoint.org. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Planning Commission Meeting 6 p.m. Dana Point City Hall, Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. at Dana Point City Hall, Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org. www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Business Beat News from Dana Point’s business community COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

FINAL TROLLEY HOP OF SUMMER Grab your Trolley Hop mug and join the celebration. Having met ridership goals set for the free Dana Point PCH Trolley this summer, the city has announced it will be returning next summer with openair trolleys and operating seven days a week. In an effort to thank participants of the Dana Point Lantern District Alliance’s Trolley Hop program—a Sunday restaurant/pub crawl where riders with a Trolley Hop mug enjoy food and drink discounts at participating bars and restaurants— and celebrate this win for the city, the DPLDA has planned an end-ofsummer Trolley Hop Finale on Sunday,

Sept. 6 from noon to 8 p.m. Participating locations will offer food and drink specials for patrons riding the trolley and in possession of a Trolley Hop mug. For those that don’t already have one, the few remaining mugs can be purchased at Luxe Restaurant & Martini Bar or online at www.danapointlda.com.

Specials can be viewed on the website as well. Participating Locations and hours are as follows: Noon-7 p.m. Boneyard Beach Cafe (at Doheny Beach) Noon-8 p.m. Coffee Importers Harbor Delicatessen/Slice of New York Hennessey’s Tavern JC Beans Mahé Olamendi’s Stillwater Spirits & Sounds Sunsets Bar and Grill The Point Waterman’s Harbor Wine Bistro 2:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Gemmell’s 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Luxe Restaurant and Martini Bar 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Jack’s Restaurant 4 p.m.-7 p.m. The Shwack Beach Grill

Trolley Hop mugs are still available for the final end of summer Trolley Hop finale event on Sunday. Photo: Andrea Swayne

5 p.m.-8 p.m. Brio Tuscany Grill Luciana’s Ristorante

Passengers enjoy the ride on the first weekend of summer trolley services. Photo: Andrea Swayne

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www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths By Jim Kempton

Playing the Trump Card Could it be that “The Donald” really is the guy who should be running the country?

onald Trump is an American icon. But when you run for president, almost every candidate is criticized for one thing or another. That’s why “The Donald” could be such a powerful candidate. On every issue he’s got the others beat—call it a trump card. The big crisis with Bill Clinton when he ran was the charges of womanizing. That would be no problem. Trump knows exactly how to handle pesky media snoops: “You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media writes as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of a**.” It makes a great campaign slogan: He could simply ask “Are you better off than you were four wives ago?” George W. Bush was accused of evading combat duty by joining the National

Letters to the Editor A BIG MISTAKE: HOTELS CANCEL ILLUMINOCEAN JIM MILLER, Dana Point

The creation of the IlluminOcean holiday Harbor light show, put on by the four major hotels of Dana Point using the funding from Tourism Business Improvement District, was a home run. I was very proud of our TBID, our hotels and our city for stepping up and creating an event that in years to come would have made Dana Point the most popular destination for hotel guests and visitors our city has ever been. Last year IlluminOcean saw over 250,000 visitors attend the 40 nights of lights with many returning two or three times bringing aunts and uncles, grandparents in wheelchairs, little children, family and friends. All year long I have heard from my customers about how great the event was and how they were planning on having family come from out of town to see it this year. I was told and have read in the City Council meeting agenda and reports from Dana Point Times September 4-10, 2015

Guard. Trump on the other hand has done battle with Barbara Walters, Lindsey Graham and seen hand-to-hand combat with Rosie O’Donnell. John Kerry’s presidenWAVELENGTHS tial campaign was damBy Jim Kempton aged by the “swift boat” accusations that because he was shot in the buttocks he wasn’t really a war hero. Taking an open watercraft down enemy rivers in a full-on firefight only qualifies if you are hit in the right spot. But “The Donald” trumped that accusation by a rifle length. “John McCain’s not a war hero,” Trump recently said. “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.” Apparently being tortured for five years in a Vietnamese prison after being shot down over enemy territory doesn’t count either. Obama has gotten into hot water for his stance on the definition of marriage. That’s another area where Trump has everyone beat. Trump knows the definition of marriage perfectly—it’s between an old, very rich, multiply-divorced man and a much younger woman. Woody Allen never ran for president, but he was ostracized for dating and then marrying his wife’s adopted daughter. That’s no issue in Trump’s mind. As he said in a 2006 interview regarding his daughter Ivanka, “she does have a very nice figure. I’ve said if Ivanka weren’t my

Sept. 4, 2014, that “the event will attract visitors from across the region and become an annual holiday attraction for years to come.” I was told, as were many others that it was to be an annual event and the hotels were committed, knowing it would take a few years to put what they call “heads in beds.” In fact in the budget that was approved by City Council on Oct. 21, 2014 for the 2015 budget, the light show was referred to as, “the IlluminOcean light display event to bring overnight visitors in the nonpeak season.” And the budget reflected this in a line item that reads: Event Production and support $800,000. Why did the four hotels cancel IlluminOcean? It wasn’t for lack of funds. It wasn’t for lack of attendance. Even if it was canceled for the reasons they would have the public believe, the decision was still a mistake. Fact: Do you know that the city of Laguna Beach has been looking at sponsoring its own holiday light show? That would be a slap in our face, after canceling our Christmas light show, to let Laguna steal the TBID’s concept. I would prefer visitors come to our city. If IlluminOcean is really canceled, then the TBID has $800,000 budgeted for this Page 8

daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.” Ronald Reagan was accused of mixing entertainment with politics. When asked if it was hard adjusting to being president after being an actor, he replied that he couldn’t imagine anyone being president without being an actor. But Reagan was talking about communication; Reagan called out Russia to “tear down this wall.” Trump topped the Gipper; he called out a Senator’s cell phone number. George Bush was excoriated for raising taxes, even though it prevented the continuation of a massive deficit. Trump has a far superior solution to debt: he just declares himself insolvent. His three bankruptcies cost banks and bondholders millions. But they didn’t read his lips. Jimmy Carter literally lost his second term bid by failing to negotiate the Iranian hostage crisis in time. Trump meanwhile has the unmatched achievement of brokering a peace treaty on Celebrity Apprentice between Gary Busey and Meat Loaf. But don’t ever sell Donald Trump short. Anyone who can pull off that hairdo is capable of miracles. Jim Kempton is an Orange County writer who knows one this for sure—the only group that will be totally devastated if Trump is eliminated from the Presidential race are the comedians. 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

Clarification: In last week’s issue of the Dana Point Times, Ralphie Andrews was misidentified. Andrews is a coowner and business partner of Killer Dana Surf Shop founder Gary Wright. fiscal year. What are they going to do with all that money during the remainder of fiscal year 2015? I have been told the displays delivered did not meet the expectations of the TBID. I have been told that all the work/displays from last year are unusable. My question is this: Are those displays under warranty? This question needs to be answered. If they are under warranty they should be repaired. I believe the OC Harbor Department would be prepared to assist to make any version of IlluminOcean happen this coming holiday season. Let’s keep IlluminOcean alive as something special for our city. We are going to have thousands of people coming to Dana Point this holiday season; let’s not disappoint them. The city must step up and not let IlluminOcean fade into darkness. Make it happen and make sure no other coastal city steals what is Dana Point’s own IlluminOcean.

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OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Evan Da Silva, Dana Schnell, Alison Shea, Tim Trent

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point) Dana Point Times, Vol. 8, Issue 36. 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.

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DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies: ‘Queen of Earth’ an Unsettling Retro Arthouse Piece

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 04 MIKE HAMILTON 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live music at Salt Creek Grille each Friday with Mike Hamilton. 32802 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.661.7799, www.saltcreekgrille.com. PHIL SHANE 8 p.m.-midnight. Live music at Harpoon Henry’s. 34555 Golden Lantern St, Dana Point, 949.493.2933, www.windandsearestaurants.com/harpoonhenrys.

Saturday | 05 DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET & CRAFT FAIR 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Seasonal produce, flowers and much more at La Plaza Park each Saturday. On the first Saturday of the month, hours are extended to include a craft fair. 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org. DANA POINT NATURE TOUR 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. This 1.5-mile, two-hour docent-led walk explores the ecology and natural history of the Headlands area. Tours occur on the first Saturday of each month. Tour capacity is a maximum of 10 people. RSVP required to wqintern@ danapoint.org or 949.248.3527. Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org. HARBOR MUSIC CRUISE: FLOCK OF 80’S 8 p.m. Enjoy live music aboard the 95-foot vessel Dana Pride while cruising the Dana Point Harbor and watching the sunset. Boat features a full bar. Occurs each Saturday through Oct. 17. Must be 21 or over, with proper ID. $19. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Sunday | 06 CASPERS NATURE HIKE 8 a.m.-9 a.m. Join OC Park rangers every Sunday morning for an easy 1-mile hike on the nature trail, which takes visitors through grassland, oak woodland, riparian and sandy cactus scrub communities. Admission is free, parking is $5 per vehicle. Participants should meet at the Old Corral day use area and wear comfortable clothing and hiking shoes. Sunscreen, water Dana Point Times September 4–10, 2015

A scene from a past Toshiba Tall Ships Festival. Photo: Andrea Swayne

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11: TOSHIBA TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The sights, smells and sounds of authentic working tall ships is set to return to the Dana Point Harbor as the Ocean Institute hosts the 31st annual Toshiba Tall Ships Festival. The event kicks off Friday, Sept. 11 with a sunset parade sail with participating vessels in the waters just off of the Harbor and continues through the weekend of Sept. 12 and 13. Enjoy live music, food, arts, crafts and demonstrations of seafaring days past by reenactors—pirates, British and American Revolutionary period and western vaqueros from the time of missions and ranchos. Inside the Institute, see mermaids, interactive activities and sea life. Admission to the Institute and ship deck tours is $5 for members and $8 for non-members, ages 3 and up. Tickets to sail aboard a tall ship during the sunset parade, pirate adventure sails and mock cannon battles are $30-$65 and available for ages 4 and up. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

and insect repellent are recommended. Rain will cancel the hike. Caspers Wilderness Park. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210, www.ocparks.com/caspers.

Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

PAPERMOON GYPSYS 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Live music every Sunday at the Point Restaurant. 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

CAPO BEACH FARMERS MARKET Noon-6 p.m. Visit the area’s latest weekly market where locally-grown, organic produce and regional artisans are featured. Capo Beach Church, 25975 Domingo Ave., 949.573.5033, www.danapoint.org.

Monday | 07 LABOR DAY PIG ROAST 1 p.m. The Capistrano Eagles Motorcycle Club is hosting its 17th annual Labor Day Pig Roast at the Swallow’s Inn. The carving and buffet begins at 1 p.m. Live music will be performed by Family Style from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A $15 donation includes food. For more information, call 714.321.9923. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

Tuesday | 08

Wednesday | 09

Thursday | 10 YAPPY HOUR 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Follow Fido to the last Yappy Hour happy hour of the season at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, a monthly cocktail party for dogs and their humans. Four-legged friends can enjoy complimentary biscuits while lapping up chicken, cheese, beef and bacon flavored water. Their human counterparts can purchase burgers, brews and wine. Proceeds help support Canine Companions for Independence. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, www.ritz-carlton.com.

TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES 10 a.m-10:30 a.m. Stories for children 18-35 months and from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. for ages 3-5 at the Dana Point Library, 33841 Page 10

For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com. Have an event? Send your listing to events@danapointtimes.com

Elisabeth Moss in ‘Queen of Earth.’ Photo: Courtesy IFC Films

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

lex Ross Perry unapologetically takes direct influence from 1960s-1970s arthouse dramas for his latest independent film, Queen of Earth. The trailer even features an old-fashioned voice-over common during that era. Fans of that period of cinema may assume Perry is a fan of, and likely inspired by, Persona (1966), 3 Women (1977) and Mulholland Drive (2001), as evidenced by the film’s claustrophobic and surreal mood as well as a storyline centering on two women. As a summer tradition, Catherine (Elisabeth Moss) and Virginia (Katherine Waterston) meet at Virginia’s family’s cabin for a week, to catch up and hang out. Catherine is delusional and unstable, spiraling downward following the death of her father and a breakup with her boyfriend, while Virginia has an attitude problem. They’ve been lifelong friends because their fathers were best friends. In non-linear fashion, we see the two women’s interactions in summers past, how they’ve drifted apart and the caustic and passiveaggressive nature of their friendship. Kentucker Audley and Patrick Fugit co-star as Virginia’s ex-boyfriend and current love interest, respectively. Like any small-setting character study, Queen of Earth depends heavily on its actors and performances, and the actresses here are brilliant. Moss doesn’t hold back emoting rollercoaster-like mood swings and Waterston is perfect as the friend who doesn’t know how to call out her BFF without being rude. For fans of Perry and the cast, Queen of Earth is worth a look. And those who are familiar with Perry’s inspiration will likely feel moved to watch those films over again. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP DP LIVING Dana Point

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Reading with Wright By Christopher Wright

Quests: Real and Imaginary

ooks that are quest themed are almost always interesting reads. I remember as a boy reading KonTiki by Thor Heyerdahl and Cervantes’ Don Quixote and just being absolutely enthralled by men on a mission and all the strange encounters and vicissitudes endured by the participants. Here are some new and some not-so-well-known books in both fiction and non-fiction about quests. Pym by Mat Johnson (2011): It’s literary, dystopian, fantasy, sci-fi, satire, an epic quest, and also very humorous. It’s about race and revolves around a little known Edgar Allan Poe story. A black professor is denied tenure because he sees himself as an English professor and not some token to be put on Diversity Committees. His obsession is the story by Poe. He ends up networking with some others (all black and some of them family) to go to Antarctica and search for a fabled land while drilling for fresh water. They soon meet a yeti-like race of white “snow monkeys” and a clash of cultures ensues. There’s literary analysis as digression while a modern survival drama takes place. The satire is serious though when you contemplate current events. The Plover by Brian Doyle (2014): It’s like Life of Pi meets Kon-Tiki meets The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. It’s got some great writing and lines like, “Maybe the ocean feels every boat like a scar on its skin and only permits them to pass so that its knowledge of men deepens,” or “Another time the sky was so stuffed with stars and so many of them shooting stars that you would swear the stars were plummeting into the sea faster than the sea could drink them.” At first it’s an epic solo journey of man across the Pacific, but not for long, as friends

and strangers join him for a meandering detour that’s called life. It’s real and surreal with the magic realism. There’s a dreamer and there’s a villain. There’s revenge and redemption. There’s solitude and community. READING WITH WRIGHT It’s a beautiful book that By Chris Wright I didn’t want to finish. It’s about healing and finding yourself. Both of the above authors also have new books out in 2015. Here’s a nonfiction quest that I’ve been recommending for people who want a historical book that reads like a thriller. In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides (2014). This is a masterfully told and riveting story. I had heard of the Jeannette Expedition but knew nothing of its high hopes or the heroism of its crew. It was to that time like space exploration is to our time. It was a private/government collaboration with a news media mogul writing the checks and what a character—Gordon Bennett—the financier of this expedition was. He’s a story by himself. Also Admiral Melville, who accompanied Captain De Long, displayed a MacGyver-like ability to make things work. His loyalty and devotion to duty was truly exceptional. I can see why he was promoted to admiral and a building at the Naval Academy was named for him. It’s an epic adventure story with a cruel ending in the wilds of Siberia. Chris Wright is not sure if he lives to read or if he reads to live. He has been a public librarian with the OC Public Libraries since 2006 and currently works at the Dana Point branch. DP

PET OF THE WEEK: TRIXIE

ay hello to Trixie, a very sweet rabbit in need of a good home. Mother to five bouncy baby bunnies, Trixie is finally ready for some “me time” and would love to spend it with you! She is mild-mannered, curious and loves a nice petting. With such a great personality, Trixie would make a great rabbit companion in almost any household. If you would like to know more about Trixie, please call the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or visit with her at the shelter, 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente.

Dana Point Times September 4-10, 2015

Page 12

DP LIVING GUEST OPINION: It’s History By Carlos N. Olvera

The Big DP Bank Robbery, Mysteries Remain

he bank robbery sometimes referred to as the largest in United States history happened in Dana Point in 1972. It wasn’t named Dana Point then but rather Laguna Niguel—nevertheless, in our own back yard. Books have been written about it, television programs have depicted it, and it made national headlines at the time. There are even Facebook pages today. Still, few residents are aware of it. After reading sources documenting this great robbery, the truth lies hidden somewhere in between all the stories. The mastermind, Amil Dinsio, in his book says he was framed, but yes he did it. His partners IT’S HISTORY By Carlos N. have a different verOlvera sion, but they didn’t get their fair share. And the authorities put two and two together and felt 3.8 was close enough. Back in 1972, Richard Nixon was president. He had cleaned Jimmy Hoffa’s clock in December 1971, by talking him into making a $3 million “campaign contribution” in exchange for Hoffa’s pardon. Hoffa paid and got out of jail but held a grudge for having to pay for his freedom. Hoffa also knew where Nixon was keeping his campaign “contributions,” dubbed “Nixon’s Milk Money.” It was in a vault at the United California Bank in Monarch Bay Plaza. This was money originally collected in 1971 from the Texas Dairy Farmers to fix milk prices. Hoffa knew the bank, which safe deposit boxes it was in and was told that the total take, including the contents of all of the other boxes, could be in the range of $30 million. All he wanted was his $3 million back. All this “secret” information was somehow funneled to a group of bank robbers in Youngstown, Ohio led by Dinsio, who was experienced in specific bank alarms

A vault full of safety deposit boxes, some of which contained President Nixon’s money, at the United California Bank in Laguna Niguel was targeted by thieves in 1972. Photo: Courtesy of the Olvera Collection

and safes. The crew consisted of five men, with two tagging along as a favor. The haul would be the cash in the safe, stocks and bonds, jewelry and the Nixon money. A February 1972 trip to Orange County was needed to facilitate the plan with the job scheduled for March 17. A condo on East Nine Drive was leased, a mile from the bank. The robbers had their tools, drills, ropes, lights and explosives pre-staged, hidden in the brush below the hill behind the grocery store near the bank. On their final trip to Laguna Niguel, the tools went missing. Months later the tools were found to have been turned into the police. On a Thursday the plan was set into motion and new tools were bought locally. With walkie talkies and spotters in place, they made their way to the bank’s roof, cut a hole in it and lowered all their equipment on to the top of the bank vault above the false ceiling of the bank, a distance of about eight feet. A ladder was needed to get to the roof. One was quickly procured

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 Dana Point Times September 4-10, 2015

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

This is an evidence photo of a ladder with the name Mel Pierce written on it that was stolen from South Shores Church and found at the scene of the crime. Photo: Courtesy of the Olvera Collection

from nearby South Shores Church. The thieves’ real work began late Friday night after the theater and gas station closed. With explosives, and sandbags over the site, the 18-inch cement vault roof was penetrated. For the next two nights they systematically punched out the locks on some 500 safety deposits boxes. The newspapers at the time touted the take as $30 million but the actual dollar amount stolen is still unknown. The total robbery amount has long been the subject of speculation. Although widely reported at $30 million, because the contents of all the boxes were unknown and not everything was taken, the true amount stolen will remain a mystery. And who knows whether the owners of the safety deposit boxes were inflating their stolen property claims? The bank’s actual cash on hand

Page 13

was about $48,000 and the Nixon money was reportedly $12 million, stored in bundles of $500 and $1,000 bills. Left behind were some securities and a spilled urn of ashes. As the robbers left they jammed the timed lock to the vault door. The bankers didn’t realize they had been robbed until late the next Monday. But for the robbers, the good times did not last long. By June, five had been arrested in Ohio. But that was not until after the whole Orange County area was scoured for clues. Maybe it was a local job, authorities thought. The ladder found at the scene had the name Mel Pierce written on the side. Yes, it was the property of the late Mel Pierce who passed away recently, as confirmed last week by his wife Helen. While researching this story and thinking of longtime residents who would have remembered the robbery, I decided to call Helen. When I asked her if she remembered the incident, she started laughing and told me the FBI came knocking on their door because the ladder had his name on it. Mel had left it at the South Shores Church after doing some volunteer maintenance, Helen said. The authorities also stated that, after finding the condo the robbers had lived in for a month, the dishwasher revealed unwashed dishes which led to fingerprints. But this revelation was discounted by the suspects as a made up story since they maintained they would not have been that dumb. Hoffa was given about $1 million back by the robbers. This required a stop in Las Vegas to launder the money at a 3 percent fee. All of the robbers served some time in prison. The total amount of money stolen is not the only remaining mystery surrounding the incident. An unrelated, and as of today unsolved, crime was discovered as a result of the robbery investigation. An unsigned letter believed to have been written by a resident of the Monarch Bay/Laguna Niguel area was found in Ohio among a pile of stolen goods—evidence from the robbery that had likely been part of the contents of one of the safe deposit boxes. The envelope containing the letter read, “Open after my death.” Inside the writer begged for forgiveness for killing his brother’s wife. Carlos N. Olvera is chairman of the OC Historical Commission and the mayor of Dana Point. 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

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dolphin Report

Dolphins Cross Country Coach Pens First Book BY EVAN DA SILVA, DANA POINT TIMES

im Butler, longtime head coach of the Dana Hills High School boys cross country team, has mastered nearly every aspect of the sport as both a coach and athlete. After five CIF-SS Division I titles, four Division I state titles, seven Nike Cross National titles and seven selections, Butler has begun a new career as an author. His newly released book, The Authentic Runner, originally started five years ago as an instructional hand out for parents and their students interested in joining his cross-country team. However, the project grew as Butler saw an opportunity to help the growth process of young athletes and offer advice to fellow coaches through his program. “As my son Peter put it (about my program),” Butler said, “the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. When people look at my program and other programs around, I think that quality is what’s unique about mine, training kids to become men, to love and to serve.” The Authentic Runner portions itself into three main areas of focus, with the first being Butler’s experiences as an athlete and coach in addition to his mentors and influences who have formed his life and coaching tenets. This is followed by highlighting his five core philosophies, or, five C’s: Control, Contact, Contentment, Commitment and Character. The book culminates with alumni testimonials of

Dana Point Recreation League Roundup DANA POINT TIMES

he City of Dana Point’s recreation sports league season has come to an end following the crowning of the Wednesday co-ed kickball league champions on Sept. 2. Here is a breakdown of the recreation league’s kickball and softball postseason tournaments. For more information on upcoming Dana Point recreation sports leagues, visit the city’s website at www.danapoint. org.

Dana Point Times September 4-10, 2015

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

second round of the CIF-SS Southwest Division playoffs last season, won their Week 0 matchup against Palos Verdes 21-7. Corona del Mar is led by its junior quarterback Chase Garbers, who completed nearly 80 percent of his passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns last week. Garbers’ top target appears to be senior receiver Peter Bush, who reeled in 11 catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns against Palos Verdes.

Tustin Topples Dolphins in Season Opener

Dolphins Golf Wins Three in a Row

The Dana Hills football team’s season got off to a rocky start on Aug. 28 when they traveled to play Tustin in their season opener. The Tillers ran wild, scoring five times in the first quarter to ensure a convincing 74-14 victory. The Dolphins entered Week 0 with a young, inexperienced roster and, days before their first game, learned that their top returning player, senior Connor McCloud, would be transferring to Tesoro. Down their top playmaker, the Dolphins (0-1) struggled to find a rhythm. Tustin held a 54-0 lead when the Dolphins broke through for their first score of the night on a seven-yard David Dylan Aronne touchdown run. Sophomore quarterback Corey Cisowski hit senior receiver Eddie Wood for a seven-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring for Dana Hills. The Dolphins will continue their difficult nonleague schedule on Sept. 4 with a home game against Corona del Mar at 7 p.m. The Sea Kings, who advanced to the

The Dana Hills girls golf team won three straight matches over Newport Harbor, Laguna Beach and Trabuco Hills, respectively, to start their season. Dana Hills’ (3-0) Joan Soewondo continues to be one of the Dolphins’ top golfers and medaled in all three matches. The Dolphins will host Trabuco Hills at Monarch Beach Golf Links on Sept. 15.

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

Tim Butler. Photo: Courtesy

whom Butler has coached and watched grow through his program. “The book not only talks about the purpose of sports but it delves into the purpose of life,” Butler said. “It takes things beyond the playing field, beyond having a wife, kids and a career. Hopefully it will get people to think about what they are doing (in life).” Assisting Butler with the editorial process was JSerra Catholic’s cross country coach Marty Dugard, who has co-penned books with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly. A portion of the proceeds Butler receives from his book sales will be given to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization that he has led at Dana Hills since he first arrived in 1973. Copies of the book can be found on Butler’s website, www.theauthenticrunner.com. DP

Girls Tennis Defeats Northwood In a matchup that featured two 2014 playoff teams, the Dana Hills girls tennis squad defeated Northwood 10-8 in their season opener on Sept. 1. The Dolphins (1-0) got a boost from their doubles teams, which won all nine available points. The Dolphins’ lone point in singles competition came from Courtney Swift, who won one of her three sets. Dana Hills will travel to play Corona del Mar on Sept. 9. DP

Wednesday Kickball No. 2 seed Grass Kickers pulled off an upset victory over top-seeded Luxe Restaurant in the tournament finals on Sept. 2. Grass Kickers was able to shutout the previously unbeaten Luxe Restaurant team 2-0 in the championship. Grass Kickers earned a trip to the finals by defeating Just Can’t Kick Enough 3-0 in the semifinals. Monday Kickball There were no upsets in the Monday kickball bracket, as top-seeded Hairless Harriets played No. 2 The District in the championship game on Aug. 31. Hairless Harriets continued their winning ways by pulling off a 5-0 victory. Hairless Harriets outscored their postseason opponents 14-4 over two games.

The Grasskickers won the Dana Point Recreation's Wednesday kickball league. Photo: Courtesy

Monday Softball There was no stopping Feel the Heat’s offense once the Monday softball postseason tournament kicked off. Feel the Heat,

which entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and earned a first-round bye, scored 21 runs in two games, including a 10-run effort in the championship game against Dead Pull, vaulting them to the top.

Page 15

Feel the Heat defeated Dead Pull 10-4 in the title game on Aug. 31. Dead Pull was the No. 1 seed heading into the postseason and narrowly won their semifinal game 11-9 over The Gimps. DP www.danapointtimes.com

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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

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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

IMAGES/Creative Solutions

117 Del Gado Road, 949.366.2488, www.imgs.com

DANCE/FITNESS

Club Salsa Dance Studio

Statefarm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

MASSAGE

Crystal Clyde Intuitive Bodywork

HAULING

Cheapest Hauling

Call Robert 949.973.6288

ICE CREAM

32840 Pacific Coast Highway, Ste. E, 949.584.2462, www.crystalclyde.com

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

Patricia Powers

34202 Camino Capistrano Capistrano Beach, 949.230.0543, www.clubsalsadance.com Dana Point Times September 4–10, 2015

GRAPHIC DESIGN

24551 Del Prado, Ste. 364, 949.496.1900, pat.powers@cox.net

State Farm/Ted Bowersox

34085 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 204, 949.661.3200, www.tedbowersox.com Page 16

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

PET GROOMING

Dawgy Style Groom Shop

34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Unit 112, 949.496.3315, www.dawgystylegroomshop.net

PLUMBING

Chick’s Plumbing

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

UPHOLSTERY

Jeddy’s Yacht & Home Interiors 34212 Pacific Coast Hwy, Unit C, 949.240.9569 www.jeddys.com

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

949.444.6323, www.offshoreconstruction.org

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Turning Up the Base

GROM OF THE WEEK

ELIJAH FOX

Prime kicks off with a bang at Camp Pendleton BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

fter weeks of small surf, a nice swell turned up as if on cue to welcome Surfing America Prime surfers to the first event of the season, Aug. 29 and 30 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Del Mar Jetty at the Del Mar Beach Resort. San Clemente and Dana Point surfers made a great showing, claiming eight of the possible 20 podium spots when all was said and done. Cole Houshmand of San Clemente was the weekend’s highest placing surfer from the area, taking the win in Boys U16. The talent pool of invitees to this eighth season of Prime—vying to qualify for the 2015-2016 Surfing America USA Championships and coveted spots on the Surfing America USA Surf Team—made for a thrilling show of high-level skill and finesse. And the excellent conditions and beautiful sunny weather helped make for a successful and entertaining season opener. The addition of priority rules this season also had the effect of letting the athletes’ talent shine brighter by removing the stress of jockeying for position. Competitors were welcomed to the new season with a pre-event primer by head judge Bill Seitz, on the newly adopted fourman priority rules. As heats got underway Saturday, 3- to 5-foot surf, with occasional 6-footers, set the stage for day one—Boys U18 and Girls U18 competition. With the better sets arriving about 10 minutes to as long as 20 minutes apart, the first three heats of the day alternated between abundant rides and “longish” lulls, but by the start of Boys U18 round two— and throughout the rest of the event—the ocean consistently offered up plenty of rippable waves and ample opportunity for surfers to showcase their full arsenal of maneuvers. Braden Jones (Arroyo Grande) and Jake Marshall (Encinitas) were early standouts in Boys U18 competition, with committed rail surfing and crisp, vertical snaps. In the first Round 2 heat Marshall picked off the highest wave score of the day, a 7.60 and then backed it up with a 7.17 for a heat-winning two-wave total of 14.77. Marshall’s score in this round held up through the remainder of the event, and although he missed out on the final, it led to his eventual claim to the Sun Bum high wave score of the day award. In a nail-biter of a quarterfinal, San

Dana Point Times September 4–10, 2015

Elijah Fox. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Cole Houshmand of San Clemente took top honors in Boys U16 competition at the Surfing America Prime season eight opener, Aug. 29 and 30 at Camp Pendleton, DMJs. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Bethany Zelasko of Dana Point, as the Girls U18 division runner-up, was the highest placing surfer among the girls. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Clemente’s Elijah Fox, needing a 7.11 to turn the tables on Micky Clarke (Ventura) to advance, earned a 7.10. Fox’s score saw him tied with Clarke, both with a combined two-wave score of 11.83. Clarke won on a countback with his second best wave score, a 4.73 to Fox’s 4.33. Boys U18 top honors went to Jordan Collins who topped runnerup Braden Jones, 13.10 to 13.00, respectively. In Girls U18 competition, Maddie Peterson had a strong and steady run to the final where she posted the highest heat score of the day among the girls—12.33. On Sunday in Boys U16 Round 1, Sage Burke (Newport Beach) snagged an 8.33-point tube, the best barrel ride of the weekend. Noah Hill (Santa Cruz) won his quarterfinal heat handily, striking early with an 8.50 and 8.33 on his first two waves and leaving the others in catch up mode. The victor, Houshmand, had an outstanding final beating runner-up Crosby Colapinto, also of San Clemente, 14.57 to 9.00. In the Girls U16 division, Kirra Pinkerton (San Clemente), Bethany Zelasko (Dana Point), Alyssa Spencer (Carlsbad) and Tiare Thompson (La Jolla) all took out their first round heats with two-wave scores in the double digits. For Pinkerton and Zelasko—who, with a 12.57, earned the highest heat score of the day among the girls—the semis marked the end of the road and Spencer and Thompson were

joined by Samantha Sibley (San Clemente) and Kiersten Noonan (Encinitas) in the final. Spencer took the win over Sibley by an 8.16-point margin, 15.83 to 7.67. In his Prime series debut, Levi Slawson (Encinitas) wowed the crowd with a convincing win—12.40 to San Clementean Kade Matson’s 8.96. “It’s exciting to watch the level of these under 18 surfers—the best in the nation— continue to rise, especially when they have good waves. And the four-man priority alleviates the pressure of having to hassle the other surfers so the kids can focus on their talent,” said Ryan Simmons, Surfing America Team USA head coach and Prime announcer. “It’s all about letting your surfing do the talking rather than positioning and hassling. It is going to raise the level all year and allow the surfers to focus more on their own act in the lineup.” Surfing America Prime event No. 2 is set for Oct. 3 at San Onofre State Park, Church Beach. DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 72-75 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 15-20’ Fair-Good Friday: Fun blend of SSW swell and NW windswell prevails. Better breaks are in the kneewaist-chest high range (2-3’+), with larger peaks for standout exposures. Winds are lightest and most favorable in the morning, before a moderate Westerly sea-breeze develops in the afternoon. Outlook: Long-period new SW/SSW and SSE swells build through the weekend, peaking early next week, as small NW swell-mix blends in. Fun zone surf in the knee-waist-chest high range prevails Friday, with more size by the weekend. There may even be some selective SSE tropical swell blending in late this week. Morning winds look favorable. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

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lijah Fox, 16, a recent transplant to San Clemente from Kauai, Hawaii, made a strong showing at the Surfing America Prime season opener, Aug. 29 at Camp Pendleton, DMJs. Elijah put the stamp on his Round 2 Boys U18 heat win by landing a big air reverse. “I took off on a right and it looked like there was a little section so I didn’t even bother doing the first turn,” Elijah said. “I just got speed and went for an air reverse and ended up pulling it.” Elijah’s surfing was looking to be of the caliber necessary to take him all the way to the final but despite his obvious talent and contest readiness a bit of bad luck got in his way. His campaign came to an end in the quarters when in a valiant effort in the final seconds of his heat he ripped a 7.10-point wave—only 0.10 less than he needed to advance—tied for second and then lost on a countback by a mere 0.4. Having moved to San Clemente just three months ago, Elijah said he is really enjoying his new home and having a lot of fun surfing with friends. “Living here is cool because I have a lot more friends here,” Elijah said. “And living so close to Lowers is cool too. I can just ride my bike down there and surf every day. His presence in the lineup, both at contests and free surfing, has not gone unnoticed and is a nice addition to the local talent pool. Welcome to the area Elijah.—Andrea Swayne

RESULTS Surfing America Prime, Event No. 1, August 29-30, Camp Pendleton, DMJs BOYS U18: 1. Jordan Collins, Carlsbad; 2. Braden Jones, Arroyo Grande; 3. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente; 4. Eithan Osborne, Ventura. GIRLS U18: 1. Maddie Peterson, New Jersey; 2. Bethany Zelasko, Dana Point; 3. Rachel Presti, Florida; 4. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente. BOYS U16: 1. Cole Houshmand, San Clemente; 2. Crosby Colapinto, San Clemente; 3. Tommy McKeown, Oxnard; 4. Eithan Osborne, Ventura. GIRLS U16: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad; 2. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente; 3. Tiare Thompson, La Jolla; 4. Kiersten Noonan, Encinitas. BOYS U14: 1. Levi Slawson, Encinitas; 2. Kade Matson, San Clemente; 3. Taro Watanabe, Malibu; 4. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente.

UPCOMING EVENTS September 5-6: NSSA Open, Event No. 1, Huntington Beach, Pier September 19-20: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 2, Ventura, Surfers Point September 19-20: NSSA Open, Event No. 2, Oceanside, Jetty