January 8, 2016

LO C A L

N EWS

January 8-14, 2016

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Dolphin Report: Prep Sports Updates from Dana Hills High School PAGE 15 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Weathering the Storm

First significant El Niño weather event hits Dana Point E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 4

People stop to take photos at “Harbor Falls,” a waterfall created by storm runoff from the Lantern District flowing down to a drainage pipe on Dana Point Harbor Drive and then directing it out to the Harbor. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Residents Encouraged to Write Legislators about Bills to Save SC Hospital ER EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

Capo Beach Neighborhood Watch Meeting Set for Jan. 12 EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

www.danapointtimes.com

Grom of the Week: Niguel Hills Student Sean Dougherty DP SURF/PAGE 18

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DP EYE ON DP Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING the hospital and ER and replace it with an urgent care facility.

“When the City of San Clemente became aware of the potential closure of the Saddleback Memorial Hospital San Clemente Campus in late 2014, it took immediate steps to understand the impacts, seek community input, involve stakeholders and seek plans to mitigate this potential impact to the city,” the release stated. “Approval of these bills will help ensure south Orange County residents are able to retain access to quality healthcare and not be forced to travel 15 miles north on the I-5 Freeway to access the nearest emergency department—a road in which the access and travel time is uncertain due to traffic congestions and road construction.”

The Dana Point City Council passed a resolution in March 2015 joining with San Clemente and other area cities in support of saving the hospital and ER.

Capo Cultivates, a committee of the Capo Cares community organization, along with the city of Dana Point, is hosting a volunteer rose pruning event, Jan. 8 at Gazebo Park on Palisades Drive. Photo: Eric Heinz

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week

Capo Beach Neighborhood Watch Meeting Set THE LATEST: Capo Cares, a community organization of Capistrano Beach residents and Dana Point Police Services will host a Neighborhood Watch organizational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Christ Lutheran Church, 35522 Camino Capistrano in San Clemente in the Capo Beach/San Clemente bluff top neighborhood.

WHAT’S NEXT: Sgt. Rich Himmel, Dana Point Police Community Services Officer; Cindy Nelson, Dana Point economic development director, and Jill Jackson, Police Services crime prevention specialist will be in attendance to discuss the proven crime prevention program.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information, call Dana Point Police Services at 949.248.3581 or visit www.danapoint. org. For info about Capo Cares, email capocares@gmail.com. —Andrea Swayne

Police Chief to Speak at First Coffee Chat of 2016 THE LATEST: The next Dana Point Civic Association’s Coffee Chat is set to return Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

Friday, Jan. 15, following its annual holiday season break. This first chat of 2016 will feature guest speaker Dana Point Chief of Police, Lt. Russ Chilton.

Chief Chilton will go through some local crime statistics and discuss the city’s Hide it, Lock it, or Lose it property theft prevention program. He will also discuss the Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something” program, aimed at raising people’s situational awareness related to terrorism.

The community gathering 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 and questions/ comments from the audience are welcome.

The event is always free and open to the public. Complimentary coffee is served, courtesy of The Coffee Importers. —AS

City Asks Residents to Write to Legislators about Hospital Bills THE LATEST: The City Council of San Clemente sent a press release asking area residents to write letters to their legislators in support of Senate Bill 787 (Patricia Bates) and Assembly Bill 911 (Bill Brough), which would authorize a satellite emergency room at the current location of the Saddleback Memorial Hospital San Clemente Campus. By state law, standalone ERs are not permitted and must be a part of a full-service hospital. In 2014 MemorialCare announced plans to close

WHAT’S NEXT: AB 911 is set to be heard in the state capitol before the Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 12. SB 787 is expected to be heard before the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Members of the San Clemente City Council will appear before these policy committees to testify in support of these bills.

Letters can be sent to State Sen. Patricia Bates and Assemblyman Bill Brough’s respective staff at Kevin.Bassett@sen.ca.gov and Jeff Montejano at: jeff.montejano@ asm.ca.gov. —Eric Heinz/AS

OCASA Announces Open Enrollment Dates THE LATEST: After failing to receive a majority approval in December from the Capistrano Unified School District, the Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts charter school has submitted its petition for approval to the Orange County Department of Education in an effort to open its doors this fall in the south Orange County area.

On Dec. 9, the CUSD Board of Trustees voted 3-3-1 to effectively deny a petition to establish OCASA within the school district. CUSD staff’s recommendation to the board was to reject the petition due to issues including an “unsound educational program” and legal concerns.

The three trustees who voted against denying the petition noted at the Dec. 9 meeting that OCASA had the option to send its petition to the county and said the county would likely approve the petition, which would eliminate any oversight the district would have had in the process.

While OCASA’s petition mentions interest in a San Clemente or San Juan Capistrano school site, representatives have repeatedly said the charter is not looking to displace one of the district’s current schools.

According to an email from OCASA

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representatives, the OCDE Board accepted the charter’s “appeals package” on Dec. 16. OCASA will make a presentation to the board on Jan. 13, and the board is expected to vote on the charter’s appeal on Feb. 11.

WHAT’S NEXT: In the meantime, OCASA has announced the beginning of the school’s open enrollment for the 20162017 school year. Enrollment began Jan. 6 and ends Feb. 28. Interested parents need to attend an information meeting before applying for enrollment.

Meetings are set to take place on Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. at Mathnasium in San Clemente, located at 1001 Avenida Pico; on Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Keller Williams Realty in Mission Viejo, located at 27101 Puerta Real, Suite 150; and on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. at Capo Beach Church, located at 25975 Domingo Avenue in Capistrano Beach. More dates will be announced in February.

For more information about the charter school, visit www.ocasacharter.org.—Allison Jarrell

Capo Cares, Parks Department Partner to Beautify City THE LATEST: Capo Cultivates, a committee of the Capo Cares community organization, has teamed up with the city’s Parks and Recreation department for a rose pruning event at 10 a.m., Jan. 8 at Gazebo Park on Palisades Drive in Capistrano Beach.

In the event of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Jan. 16.

The Capo Cultivates committee is led by resident member Mary Therese Spivey with its focus being to involve citizens in landscape beautification projects.

The event will include a lecture and rose pruning demonstration followed by volunteers pruning and fertilizing the roses at Gazebo Park.

The city of Dana Point will be picking up the clippings and will provide participation waivers for volunteers to sign.

WHAT’S NEXT: Volunteers should bring sharp pruning shears, gloves, water, sunscreen and/or a hat.

The city, through Capo Cultivates, is working with a professor and students at Saddleback College who are offering free landscape design services to enhance Dana Point’s public medians and parks.

“This city/community partnership is created to help maintain the beauty of Capistrano Beach,” said Kevin Evans, Dana Point director of Community Services and Parks. “The city is always excited to engage with the public and receive residents’ input and support with enhancing and caring for our city’s resources.”—AS www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP USE OF SANDBAGS AND PICKUP LOCATIONS | Winter 2015-2016 A sandbag barrier consists of a row of sand-filled bags placed on a level contour.

When appropriately placed, a sandbag barrier intercepts and slows sheet flow runoff, causing temporary ponding or redirecting of surface runoff; sandbags are not waterproof.

The temporary ponding provides quiescent conditions allowing sediment to settle.

While the sand-filled bags are porous, the fine sand tends to quickly plug with sediment, limiting the rate of flow through the barrier. Sandbag barriers also interrupt the slope length and thereby reduce erosion by reducing the tendency of sheet flows to concentrate into rivulets which erode rills, and ultimately gullies, into disturbed, sloped soils. Plan ahead and get sandbags early before their supply becomes scarce.

The County of Orange created a berm along the sidewalk at Capistrano Beach to prevent water, sand and rocks from infiltrating the parking lot due to high tides and storm surf brought on by the El Niño weather system.

Photo: Andrea Swayne

Weathering the Storm

First significant El Niño weather event hits Dana Point

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

F

or more than a year, predictions of this year’s El Niño weather pattern have been promising a deluge of rain, wind and storm currents to take center stage this winter. Up until this week, “weather” of any kind has been rare in Dana Point, home to what is arguably the best year-round climate in the country.

The start of the first work week of 2016 has brought rain in amounts of 1.5 to 2 inches per day (according to the National Weather Service), high winds, stormy seas and flash flood warnings to Dana Point. But with the city’s abundance of erosion-prone cliffs dropping off steeply from bluff-top neighborhoods, so far there has been little in the way of landslides and flooding.

Dana Point Emergency Services Coordinator, Aaron Rosen, said that in light of the deluge, and reports of surrounding south Orange County highways and roads being flooded out or blocked with mud, emergency and public works calls to the city have been pretty minor.

Public Works officials noted a report of only one rain-related traffic accident where a motorist hit a tree after losing

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

control of the vehicle on a slick, although not flooded, roadway. Minor slope-area erosion has occurred but no property damage caused by landslides has been reported. The wind has contributed to roadway debris, mostly in the form of palm fronds. A handful of clogged drains briefly caused road flooding but were quickly rectified, and the department has received no reports of damage caused by high surf.

“A drain on Pacific Coast Highway between Camino Capistrano and Palisades Drive was clogged briefly on Tuesday causing the northbound lane to be closed for a short time, but there hasn’t been anything really major,” Rosen said. “The Public Works Department has responded promptly to a few minor issues and taken care of them very quickly.”

Rosen reminded residents to heed the widely reported warnings related to the storms and not to delay taking general preparedness measures. Public Works officials added that residents should look out for and heed “road flooded” warning signs when driving.

“It’s been said many times before, but cleaning gutters and drains and sandbagging flood-prone areas around your home are essential,” Rosen said. “And don’t drive through flooded streets. It’s much better to be slightly delayed in your travels than to get stuck in the water.”

The city issued a Jan. 5 notice asking for residents’ help with erosion prevention, giving instructions for the free or low-cost procurement of sandbags and their proper use in redirecting rainwater and controlling sediment runoff. More on this can be found in the info box at right.

(Cont. on page 6)

Sandbag barriers may be suitable for the following uses: • Below the toe of slopes and erodible slopes • As sediment traps at pipe outlets • Down slope of exposed soil areas • Around temporary stockpiles and spoil areas • Parallel to a roadway to keep sediment off paved areas • Along streams and channels • As linear erosion control measure • Along the face and at grade breaks of exposed and erodible slopes to shorten slope length and spread runoff as sheet flow • At the top of slopes to divert runoff away from disturbed slopes • As check dams across mildly sloped construction roads • Redirecting rain water away from sensitive areas Implementation: • Locate sandbag barriers on a level surface if possible.

• Turn the ends of the sandbag barrier up slope to prevent runoff from going around the barrier.

• Allow sufficient space up slope from the barrier to allow ponding and to provide room for sediment storage.

• For installation near the toe of the slope, consider moving the barrier away from the slope toe to facilitate cleaning. To prevent flow behind the barrier, sandbags can be placed perpendicular to the barrier to serve as cross barriers.

• Butt ends of bags tightly.

• Overlap butt joints of row beneath with each successive row.

• Use a pyramid approach when stacking bags.

• Waterproof, plastic sheeting may be necessary if the purpose is to redirect rainwater and avoid water sensitive structures.

Inspection and maintenance: • Inspect prior to forecast rain, daily during extended rain events, after rain events, and weekly during the rainy

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season.

• Sandbags exposed to sunlight will need to be replaced every two to three months due to degradation of the bags.

• Reshape or replace sandbags as needed.

• Repair washouts or other damage as needed.

• Sediment should be removed when the sediment accumulation reaches onethird of the barrier height.

• Remove sandbags when no longer needed. Removed sediment accumulation and clean, re-grade, and stabilize the area.

• Degraded sandbags may rupture when removed, spilling sand.

• Ruptured sandbags must be cleaned up immediately to prevent the sand contents from entering into the street or storm drain system and then to our beaches.

FREE SANDBAGS FOR RESIDENTS Fire stations: While supplies last, the Orange County Fire Authority can provide up to 30 free sandbags per resident. Residents must provide proof of Dana Point residency. Sandbags can be picked up at the following OCFA stations serving Dana Point: • Station No. 49, 31461 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel (sand and sandbags) • Station No. 30, 23831 Stonehill Dr., Dana Point (empty sandbags only) • Station No. 29, 26111 Victoria Blvd., Dana Point (empty sandbags only) For additional information, please call 714.573.6000 or visit www.ocfa.org/AboutUs/Departments/OperationsDirectory/ Sandbags.aspx.

Dana Point Community Center: For small, localized emergencies within the city of Dana Point, private residents may obtain up to 15 filled sandbags (while supplies last) per customer, per address at the Dana Point Community Center located at 34052 Del Obispo Street. Proof of residency will be required and no sandbags will be available to commercial contractors. For additional information, please contact Robert French at 949.248.3589.

SANDBAGS FOR PURCHASE Sandbags can be purchased from the following locations: • Ganahl Lumber, 34162 Doheny Park Road, 949.496.5765. Empty sandbags are $0.59; full sandbags $2.57.

• Lowe’s, 907 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, 949.369.4644. Empty sandbags are $0.70; full sandbags are $2.09.

• White Cap Construction Supply, 33061 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.9448. Empty sandbags are $0.65.

For more information, call the city at Source: City of Dana Point 949.248.3584. www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP Weathering the Storm (Cont. from page 4) ENJOYING THE SPECTACLE For Southern California residents, stormy weather is somewhat of an anomaly compared with much of the rest of our country’s citizens, and in Dana Point it makes for some compelling and beautiful sights and “photo opps.”

When storms arrive, people get out to see, and photograph, Mother Nature’s spectacle. In Dana Point, one popular site is the waterfall at the Dana Point Harbor— dubbed “Harbor Falls” by the DP Times in 2010—rushing down from the cliffs towering over Dana Point Harbor Drive.

Although the water is really just dirty, bacteria-laden runoff from the bluff top Lantern District neighborhood, the waterfall area looks like a lush tropical island cove, prompting dozens of people each day to stop for selfies. Sight-seers should note that parking is prohibited along the inland side of Dana Point Harbor Drive and the area near the cliff is posted as a “closed area” due to the possibility of falling debris.

The water drops down the cliff and into a catch basin below then into a concrete drainage pipe running under Dana Point Harbor Drive and into the Harbor.

High surf crashing over the Harbor’s rock jetty near Baby Beach and pummel-

ing the shore and parking lot at Capistrano Beach are also popular spots to take in nature’s fury, as is the site of “rapids” flowing in the San Juan Creek channel and the city’s spectacular bluff-top views.

But with the many opportunities to enjoy the beauty and power of El Niño come dangers city and county officials ask people to be mindful of.

High surf, fast-moving water, the possibility of landslides and ocean water pollution should be considered when taking to the outdoors to experience the weather.

The county’s Environmental Health department, at www.ocbeachinfo.com, issued a rain advisory on Jan. 5 warning swimmers and surfers of the presence of elevated levels of bacteria entering ocean waters due to urban runoff during and for a few days after significant rain events.

Orange County 5th District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett also reminds citizens to sign up for instant voice and text message warnings from the county at www.AlertOC.com and find more tips for El Niño prep at www.ReadyOC.org.

After weathering this week’s storms very well, city officials urge residents to enjoy the view but stay safe during the winter’s predicted future El Niño events.

“Things around here this week have been oddly mellow, knock on wood,” Rosen said. “So far, so good.” DP

NEWS BITES

importance of protected areas such as this.

Guided tidepool hikes, sea urchin dissections and other activities will highlight this environment and the animals that inhabit it.

The day is a coordinated event by marine science centers throughout Southern California to educate the public about the statewide network of Marine Protected and Conservation Areas and explain the need for these “underwater parks.”

Activities are included with general weekend admission: $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and children ages 3-12. Members and children under 2 are free.

For more information, call 949.496.2274 or visit www.ocean-institute.org.

COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

Pageant of the Masters Casting Call Announced The 2016 Pageant of the Masters, a 90-minute stage show of “living pictures” or tableaux vivants, will hold an open casting call on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Jan. 10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at The Festival of Arts, Irvine Bowl (backstage) at 650 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The show recreates classical and contemporary works of art with real people made up and posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces.

Volunteer performers need only to be able to stay still for 90 seconds and will be measured and photographed at the casting. The Pageant is seeking volunteers of all ages and sizes. No theater experience is necessary.

Volunteers are also needed for positions in the wardrobe, makeup and headdress departments, as well as cast area coordinators and refreshment servers, among other positions.

The show will run July 7 through August 31.

For more information, call 949.494.3663 or visit www.foapom.com/pageant-of-themasters.

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

People stop to take photos at “Harbor Falls,” a waterfall created by storm runoff from the Lantern District flowing down to a drainage pipe on Dana Point Harbor Drive and then directing it out to the Harbor.

Photo: Andrea Swayne

CDPH: Norovirus on the Rise in California An open casting call for the 2016 Pageant of the Masters is set for Jan. 8, 9 and 10. Photo: Courtesy

Ocean Institute Joins Celebration of 2016 Underwater Parks Day The Ocean Institute will join in the celebration of Underwater Parks Day on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point.

Visitors can learn about and explore our local Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area (DPSMCA) and understand the

California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith announced in a Dec. 23 press release that California is experiencing an increase in norovirus cases, which includes stomach flu or winter vomiting disease.

CDPH has confirmed 32 outbreaks of norovirus in California since Oct. 1, likely resulting in hundreds of reported sicknesses in the state, and these outbreaks far exceed the number reported at this time in 2014.

“One of the most important things you can do to avoid norovirus and other illnesses this holiday season is to wash your

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hands frequently with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds,” Smith said.

“This is especially important after using the bathroom, changing diapers and before preparing or eating food. Hand sanitizers are not effective against norovirus.”

People with norovirus are very contagious; the virus can spread quickly in closed and crowded environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers, schools, cruise ships and food service settings.

People who are ill are recommended to practice good handwashing and to avoid preparing food for others while they are sick for at least 48 hours after symptoms are no longer present. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after the person has been exposed to the virus and last for one to three days. The most common symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include low-grade fever, headache and body aches. Norovirus symptoms can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults and people with other illnesses.

For more information, visit www.cdph. ca.gov.

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. www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Community DP Sheriff’s Blotter Meetings

advantage of the situation by hosting loud parties.

Saturday, January 2

COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

MONDAY, JANUARY 11

Planning Commission Meeting

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12

Dana Harbor Toastmasters

7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Fine tune your public speaking skills each Tuesday at Capo Beach Church, 26975 Domingo Avenue, Capistrano Beach, 949.492.7181, 1707. toastmastersclubs.org.

South Orange County Toastmasters Meeting

7 p.m.-8:40 p.m. Practice becoming a more confident communicator on Tuesdays at Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan Avenue, Dana Point, 949.429.1794, 3944816. toastmastersclubs.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13

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, JANUARY 19

City Council Meeting

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

Recycling Event at Dana Hills High School

9 a.m.-11 a.m. Residents can drop off plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the school parking lot—near the tennis courts and pool—for students to collect and sort for recycling. Funds collected are distributed by the school’s PTSA for student programs. Collections are held monthly throughout the school year.

Future events will be held Feb. 6, Feb. 20, March 5, March 19, April 2, April 23, May 7 and May 28, rain or shine.

For more information, email president@ dhhsptsa.com. Dana Hills High School is located at 33333 Golden Lantern in Dana Point.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25

Planning Commission Meeting

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

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

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.

Sunday, January 3 DISTURBANCE Street of the Park Lantern, 25100 Block (10:26 p.m.) An unknown number of people were reportedly sleeping on the bocce ball courts at Lantern Bay Park.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street, 34200 Block (7:19 p.m.)

A man called police after being told by a woman who appeared to be a transient that she was “going to send the Mafia to him and have them rape his friend’s little sister.” The woman was responding to the man and his friends after they laughed at a conversation she was having with herself.

DISTURBANCE Calle Naranja, 34500 Block (4:19 p.m.) A woman called deputies regarding a 16-year-old boy who was grounded. The boy hid her phone, didn’t want to follow the house rules and was trying to leave the residence, she said.

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street/Pacific Coast Highway (10:42 p.m.) A caller reported a man in a wheelchair tried to rape a woman under the bridge. The 50-yearold woman was on the ground and told the caller the man was 65 years old.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Calle Juanita/Calle Cambio (10:39 p.m.) Juveniles were putting duct tape in the street.

WELFARE CHECK Dana Point Harbor Drive, 25300 Block (10:23 p.m.) A woman requested a welfare check for her cousin, a woman in her late 20s with a mental disability and eight to nine months pregnant.

The caller said someone keeps “dumping” her cousin at the Doheny State Beach Campground. Her cousin does not have a phone, does not drive and is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build and dark hair, the caller said.

DISTURBANCE Calle Monterey, 25600 Block (2:40 p.m.) A man in his 50s, a former resident of a sober living home, was being verbally aggressive and refusing to leave the property.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Stonehill Drive/Del Obispo Street (1:05 p.m.) A caller saw someone in a silver Mercedes sell drugs to a male subject on a Razor scooter.

ILLEGAL PARKED VEHICLE Dana Point Harbor Drive/Street of the Golden Lantern (12:21 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a red Miata parked in a 15-minute loading zone behind Proud Mary’s near the dumpsters for more than a half-hour.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street/Stonehill Drive (1:01 p.m.) A tall man wearing a tan beanie, a red sweatshirt and carrying a big bottle of vodka or gin was walking in and out of traffic.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Valley View Court, 33500 Block (12:24 p.m.) A caller thought there was some sort of trouble occurring at a neighbor’s residence after seeing a woman run out of the house screaming and then driving away.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Coral Reach Street/Admiral Way (12:10 p.m.) People were seen camping for a week at various spots in the Creekside Park area.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC Calle Monterey, 26800 Block (12:16 a.m.) A drunken man was screaming, making threats and attempting to drive away from a sober living facility in a gray GMC SUV. The subject, a 54-yearold man who said he works as a farmer, was arrested, cited and released at 1:34 p.m. the same day.

DRUNK DRIVING Camino Capistrano/ Doheny Park Road (11:02 a.m.) A man in a green truck pulled over and offered a woman “speed.” The woman saw an open container of Miller Lite in the vehicle and described the driver as a man in his 40s with green/blue eyes.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34300 Block (6:57 a.m.) A female customer was throwing coins at the caller and refusing to leave.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Mariana Drive, 33800 Block (3:40 a.m.) A caller reported an ongoing issue with loud kids at the location. The father was reportedly out of town and the kids were taking

Friday, January 1 DRUNK DRIVING Dana Point Harbor Drive/ Street of the Golden Lantern (5:21 a.m.) A drunken man was found asleep behind the wheel of a red Nissan Sentra. The vehicle was in drive and stopped in a turning lane.

The 49-year-old man, who said he works as a laborer, was arrested and booked into Central Men’s Jail. He posted bond and was released the next day.

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DISTURBANCE Street of the Amber Lantern/Santa Clara Avenue (2:30 a.m.) A man and woman were seen having sex on the bluff top walkway.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Olinda Drive, 33700 Block (2:36 a.m.)

A man was screaming and “licking the railing” at a residence.

DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano, 35000 Block (1:58 a.m.) A caller’s girlfriend was reportedly drunk, tore up the house and had kicked the Christmas tree over.

DISTURBANCE Street of the Golden Lantern/ Dana Point Harbor Drive (1:31 a.m.) A caller who sounded very drunk reported a knife fight in the Mahé Restaurant parking lot.

Thursday, December 31 WELFARE CHECK Del Prado Avenue, 24500 Block (3:08 a.m.) A welfare check was requested for a man “inside the trash can” in the post office.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Dana Point Harbor Drive, 25300 Block (8:26 p.m.) Assistance was requested by the Doheny State Park Campground host after discovering a man beating a woman in the restroom near campsite 8.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Stonehill Drive/Street of the Golden Lantern (7:29 p.m.) Two “extremely loud” men were selling products door-to-door.

One of the men was described as 45 years old with a medium build and wearing a checkered shirt, dark blue pants and a white cap. He was also carrying a backpack.

ILLEGAL PEDDLING Sea Knoll Drive, 33200 Block (7:02 p.m.)

Two 18- to 20-year-old men were selling cleaning products door-to-door and dancing in the street. One of the subjects was wearing a Santa hat, blue jacket, black pants and a bowtie.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Pequito Drive/Calle La Primavera (3:56 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man selling cleaning products door-todoor. The caller thought the man was suspicious because he asked her questions about her neighbors, inquiring if they were on vacation. The man was described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall, thin and wearing his hair in braids.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Dana Point Harbor Drive, 24900 Block (1:42 p.m.) A man who appeared to be homeless was reportedly storing his property in the electrical box behind Organic Tree Juice Bar. The man had put his own lock on the electrical box. www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor LET THERE BE LIGHT IN CAPO BEACH DONNA DYKE, Capistrano Beach

As a bona fide “Capo old-timer” (a senior citizen, 50-year resident and former member of the now defunct Capistrano Beach Community Association), I think it’s time I spoke out about the lack of public street lighting in Capistrano Beach.

In years past, as is still true today, we prided ourselves on being a unique and charming community. No one was going to tell us what color we could paint our doors or houses, and no one could force us to pollute our area with street lights that would prevent us from enjoying the beautiful stars.

Well, folks, those times have changed.

With Prop 47 spilling thousands of formerly incarcerated drug and alcohol offenders onto California streets, local police tell me they can’t issue more than a minor ticket if they see someone openly using drugs on my street. Add to that the fact that we have close to 40 group homes filled with troubled addicts, and some of those homes offer little or no supervision because we have virtually no state or federal oversight to protect the recovering residents and preserve our residential neighborhoods. This may partly account for the steady increase in nuisances, petty crimes and some pretty scary stuff happening right next door to many of us.

At the same time, some great things are happening in our community and, thanks to Capo Cares, we’re starting to see some landscaping and other improvements. And in a couple of years we may even see Doheny Village get a long-overdue cleanup. Younger families with small children are being attracted to the area and are buying and renovating some of the older homes and giving them muchneeded facelifts. Imagine how a young mom and dad must feel when they realize their new dream home is on a street with sometimes multiple group homes—some right next door to each other—filled with an ever-changing population of troubled people. Don’t you think those families would feel a tad more secure if they could at least see what’s going on at night?

Many of our streets are so pitch black that you can hardly see your hand in front of your face, let alone who’s going through your trash or mailbox or trying the handle on your parked car. It’s time for this old-timer to face the facts: times are changing and we need at least some minimal lighting to keep people safe. It’s sad but true that it’s simply not always Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

safe to be stargazing on our streets these days. So let’s be practical and turn the lights on. Safety trumps charm in my book.

And, hey, you can still paint your door purple and put that flamingo in your yard, and the pizza guy may actually be able to find your house. We’ll still be unique and charming but a little safer too.

Come on, fellow citizens, let’s join with Capo Cares, our new “community association,” and ask the city to turn the lights on. We need to work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and beautiful. Let’s make sure the Dana Point City Council knows they represent Capo Beach too.

LET’S MAKE 2016 THE YEAR TO STOP RECKLESS NUCLEAR POLICY GARY HEADRICK, San Clemente

This issue will be better understood once you’ve had a chance to watch what may be regarded as one of the most significant movies of 2015, The Big Short. The film explains just how the housing crash of 2008 came about, leaving the masses holding the bag while those responsible ran off with our homes and hard-earned savings, never to be held accountable.

Basically, Wall Street bankers gambled with our livelihoods while regulators looked the other way, denying any possibility of a “bubble.” They knew all along that eventually the government (you and me) would have to bail them out once the truth was no longer avoidable. The same kind of scenario is unfolding in the nuclear industry today, specifically at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Our “bubble” consists of tons of radioactive materials being stored in containers that are known to be susceptible to cracking, possibly within just a few short years from now. Hard evidence of dirty little secrets and unscrupulous activities has been uncovered by those who are really paying attention, while countless innocent and unwary people stand in harm’s way.

Like Wall Street, Edison and its cronies seem anxious to stick us with the risk while they reap the profits. They intend to bury 89 times more radiation than was released in the Chernobyl accident, and will do so in sandstone bluffs 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean and only inches above the water table, using inferior stainless steel tanks only a half-inch thick, surrounded by concrete. Apparently, the industry’s objective is to meet the minimum standards (already lowered by its captured regulators) and get all the waste into dry cask storage before any radiation begins to escape these cheaper thin canisters.

(Other countries use containers 10 to 20 inches thick.) At that point, the waste becomes the taxpayers’ problem. Should there be a leak, it would be too late to move the highly radioactive waste, and 8.5

million people living within 50 miles could be left stranded and exposed.

Those who saw the inevitable defaults coming in 2008 invested wisely by betting against the banks, but we can’t afford to win a bet resulting in all of us becoming irradiated. Instead, we need to invest in the best storage system possible with many layers of redundant safety features, adequate emergency handling capabilities and a realistic plan to relocate this menacing waste ASAP. The appalling truth is that these already-approved plans have been made by people who are either currently under investigation or should be (see www.sanonofresafety.org).

Let’s make 2016 the year we stop a plan that would shift liability from a reckless nuclear power industry to the public, leaving us with the consequences. We must stand together and call for responsible steps to be taken to protect ourselves and our precious planet. We can’t let the insidious desires of selfish and unrepentant fools, like those who propped up the lies of Wall Street, pop this bubble. It’s not just financial; it’s radioactive!

A LOSS OF NAUTICAL PROGRAMS AT OC SAILING & EVENTS CENTER WOULD BE A BIG LOSS TO COMMUNITY STEFAN PURGASON, Dana Point

Hello, my name is Stefan Purgason and I am a Boy Scout working on my communications merit badge. One requirement is for me to send a letter to the editor of a newspaper, expressing opinions or information on a subject.

The subject I am writing about is the issue on the OC Sailing & Events Center at Baby Beach. You may already know about the details of this issue, but I will recap.

There is a plan (by the County of Orange) to turn (the management of the center over to) a private organization or business.

The problem is that this could eliminate the groups there already, including Westwind Sailing and Mariner Sea Scouts.

The Sea Scouts, specifically, is a program that builds character for the young people involved in their nautical events.

The loss of these groups would be a major loss in the community and a great disappointment for those who work to support these events and programs.

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

Page 8

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 > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Art Director > 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 Melissa Calvano Evan Da Silva Debra Holm Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 9, Issue 2. 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 2016. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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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 | 08 HANS & JANINE 4 p.m. Live music at Waterman’s Harbor, 34661 Golden Lantern Street, in the Dana Point Harbor, 949.764.3474, www.watermandp.com.

LOUIE ANDERSON 8 p.m. Louie Anderson performs live comedy at The Coach House with Cindy Burns. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 6 p.m. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

GONE COUNTRY 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Country music and dancing every Friday at The Point Restaurant.

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

Saturday | 09 TRAIL CLEARING AND WEEDING 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Volunteer with The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo to help keep the trails clean and clear weeds.

Bring work gloves if you have them.

Drinks and snacks provided. Ages 10 and up. The Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy, call for directions, 949.489.9778, www.rmvreserve.org.

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

WHALE WALK AND TALK 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn about the area’s largest mammal visitor on this 1.5-mile walk through the Dana Point Headlands conservation area on the second Saturday of the month, except October and November. Tours will also run March 5, 6 and 12 and 13 during the Festival of Whales.

Hear about California gray whale migration patterns, different whale species and learn how to spot, watch and identify whales. Bring binoculars or borrow ours.

RSVP to wgintern@danapoint.com or 949.248.3527. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

Sunday | 10 START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT HIKE 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Join the Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo for a winter hike at the Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy. Enjoy the company of fellow hiking enthusiasts, take in the fragrant aroma of dampened sage and breathe in the cool winter air.

Ages 10 and up. $10 for adults, $5 for kids, free for supporters and RMV residents.

Call for directions, 949.489.9778, www. rmvreserve.org.

18-35 months. From 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. for ages 3-5, at the Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

HALF-PRICE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Hop onboard this two-hour cruise to see dolphins, whales and other marine life in the wild. $22.50. Half price on Tuesdays but trips are available every day of the week.

Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

MATT STEPHANS 4 p.m. Live music at Waterman’s Harbor, 34661 Golden Lantern Street, in the Dana Point Harbor, 949.764.3474, www.watermandp.com.

LEROY 4 p.m. Live music at Waterman’s Harbor, 34661 Golden Lantern Street, in the Dana Point Harbor, 949.764.3474, www.watermandp.com.

ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m-7 p.m. Climb onboard a Dana Wharf luxury catamaran for this 90-minute wine cruise around the Dana Point Harbor. Tickets are $49. Every Friday and Sunday. See more events online. Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 888.224.0603, www.danawharf.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Singer/songwriters perform at The Point Restaurant open mic every Tuesday. Bring your instrument and your voice. 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

Monday | 11 TEEN TIME 6 p.m-7 p.m. Teens 12 to 17 years old can enjoy a different activity every week in the Dana Point Library Community Room.

This week will feature button and magnet making. No pre-registration required.

Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

PJ STORYTIME WITH THE SUNSHINE READERS 6:30 p.m-7:30 p.m. An energetic reading event hosted by the National Charity League Sunshine Readers for children of all ages at the San Juan Capistrano Library. Pajamas are welcome but not required. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

CAPT. DAVE’S WHALE WATCHING Times vary. Trips available every day of the week. Get up close to marine life aboard a Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari trip. Prices vary depending on the vessel. Call for more information. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.

Tuesday | 12 TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL STORYTIMES 10 a.m-10:30 a.m. Stories for children

Wednesday | 13 HOMEWORK HELP AT THE DP LIBRARY 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Free homework assistance for kindergarten through eighthgrade students by high school volunteers.

Mondays and Wednesdays through Dec. 9. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

DREAM BROTHER 4 p.m. Live music at Waterman’s Harbor, 34661 Golden Lantern Street, in the Dana Point Harbor, 949.764.3474, www.watermandp.com.

PAINTING AND VINO 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Sip wine while participating in a step-by-step painting class taught by a professional artist. All supplies provided. $45. Register online at www.paintingandvino.com. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

LECTURE: FUN WITH FUNGI 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Join The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo and explore the fascinating world of wild mushrooms with amateur mycologist Joanne Schwartz.

Learn about finding and identifying fungi in Southern California and beyond. Free.

Ages 8 and up. RMV Presentation Center, call for directions, 949.489.9778, www.rmvreserve.org.

LOCALS NIGHT AT THE POINT Open to close. Locals get a 20 percent

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On Stage at the Coach House: Vanessa Carlton

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

Vanessa Carlton. Photo: Eddie Chacon

M

ore than 14 years removed from her breakout album, Be Not Nobody, Vanessa Carlton has produced her fifth album, Liberman, a peaceful and calm record that Carlton believes makes for an intimate listening experience.

Carlton, whose hit single “A Thousand Miles” peaked inside the top-5 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2002, is in the midst of a West Coast Liberman tour and will perform at The Coach House Concert Hall in San Juan Capistrano on Jan. 23.

The tracks off Liberman are intricate and layered, driven primarily by Carlton’s performance on the piano. When she takes the stage, however, she will be accompanied by only one other musician, Skye Steele. Carlton said the two are able to recreate the record’s dreamy vibes by recording tracks live onstage, looping them, and adding additional melodies on top.

Since breaking from a major record label, Carlton said she has the freedom to produce records like Liberman, where her musical interests and artistic choices take center stage.

“It was such an incredible rejuvenation for me because it was being a part of a project and executing an album in a way that was only about ideas, musically—and nothing else. It was made outside of the machine,” Carlton said. “This record is very much a reflection of what I like to hear and what I wanted to create.”

For a full list of Carlton’s tour dates, visit www.vanessacarlton.com.

The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. For tickets and more information, call 949.496.8930 or visit www.thecoachhouse.com. www.danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT food discount on Wednesdays. Ask server for details. The Point Restaurant, 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

SCIENCE NIGHT 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Learn about current science-related topics in a family-friendly format. Science Nights generally include hands-on activities, speakers and/or displays, geared toward children. For more information, call or email dpnaturalresources@danapoint.org. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org, 949.248.3527.

Thursday | 14 KIDS’ CLUB AT DP LIBRARY 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Hands-on experiments and activities for kids ages 5 to 8. Meet in the Community Room. This month will feature an engineering challenge.

No pre-registration needed. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

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

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

At the Movies: ‘The Big Short’ Long on Stock Market Literacy

A scene from The Big Short. Photo: Paramount Pictures

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

L

ately there has been a growing trend of biopics centered on white, middleage, scumbag businessmen making shady business decisions to benefit themselves. 2013 gave us the successful satires American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street, and the most recent, following similar tone and theme, is Adam McKay’s The Big Short.

From 2005 to 2008, eccentric neurologist-turned-hedge fund CEO with mild Asperger’s syndrome Michael Burry (Christian Bale) bets against undervalued stocks and subprime mortgages believing the housing market will eventually fall. This inspires Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling) to create the collateralized debt obligation, or CDO, market by matching buyers and sellers. Vennett then recruits tempestuous fund manager Mark Baum (Steve Carell) to his side.

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

Brad Pitt and Marisa Tomei co-star.

McKay’s use of archive footage and pop culture references from last-decade characters and amusing celebrity cameos, break the fourth wall and make his lesson plan on the workings of the stock market and economy humorous and easy to follow.

Bale has been receiving the most awards-season hype of the cast and not surprisingly, as his mannerisms and interaction on screen are just as awkward as they should be. Carell, whose dramatic efforts over the last few years have been hit or miss, is perfect here as the hotheaded banker who actually means well.

The Big Short is as educational as it is entertaining and one of the best movies to end the year with—or start the new year off right. DP Page 11

DP DP LIVING Dana Point

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

Samson Finds a Home

O

n the night of Dec. 16, my partner Greta and I picked up her granddaughter, Ashley Avalos, and her two greatgrandchildren, Ava and Anthony, at LAX. They had flown in from North Carolina. We arrived at Greta’s San Clemente home at 10 p.m.

When we opened the front door to enter the house, the five of us were joined by a 150-pound German shepherd, who just walked in with us, right out of the night.

At least he was friendly. He had a collar, but no ON LIFE AND name tag. I grabbed him LOVE AFTER 50 by the collar and took

By Tom Blake him outside in case he had just gotten away from his owners. He was as strong as a horse.

The street was empty. We walked him around the neighborhood, but no one was out looking for him.

Greta telephoned her friend Jane who volunteers at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter in San Clemente. Jane suggested we telephone the shelter, but no one answered. A message on their recording gave a number to call the Sheriff’s Department. It was 11 p.m. The Sheriff said they could do nothing.

We could not keep the dog at Greta’s home because of the two great grandchildren, and Greta is allergic to dogs. Her backyard is not enclosed. What were we going to do?

The only solution was for me to take him to my Dana Point home and have him stay there with me. I had no idea how comfortable he’d be in the car, let alone the house, or whether he’d devour me on the drive to Dana Point.

We pulled into the garage, and I shut the garage door before we got out of the car. At least he couldn’t get out of the house.

He did a full inspection of the house, with me moving breakable things out of the way. I let him inspect the enclosed backyard.

I decided to Samson. Photo: Tom Blake sleep downstairs on the couch pullout bed. All I had to nourish him with was bread and water.

At midnight, I climbed into bed. He tried to do that as well. I finally got him to lie on the rug next to the bed. He was moving around most of the night. He’d put his nose under my arm every 20 minutes or so. Sleep was scarce that night.

At 3 a.m., I remembered we had one Jimmy Dean sausage croissant sandwich in the freezer. I warmed half of it for him.

He inhaled it. After that, he settled down and slept from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.

For breakfast, he got the other half of the croissant, again, inhaling it. I had coffee.

My mission: get him safely to the animal shelter, where I arrived at 10:15 a.m. No one had called.

I was assured by one of the workers that he would be adopted after a quarantine period. “He’s a magnificent dog,” she said.

This experience opened my eyes to the wonderful San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter that we are so blessed to have.

The volunteers there love dogs and cats.

Greta’s volunteer friend Jane sent a picture of him. His name was “Samson.”

That night, I found myself missing that big German shepherd who dragged me around for 12 hours.

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

Samson. Photo: Tom Blake

Photo: Alex Paris

SCENE { I N DANA P O I NT }

The big story of the week was the arriv-

al of the winter’s first significant El Niño

weather event. This photo taken from the Blue Lantern

gazebo on Wednesday shows a dark, heavy rain storm moving in over the Dana Point Harbor. To see a time-

lapse video of the storm, visit www.danapointtimes.com.

E

BY MYLES MELLOR Last week’s solution:

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

you will even be moved to adopt one of their beautiful and lonely animals that just want to go to a home.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. His latest book can be found online at www.smashwords.com/books/view/574810.

See his website at www.findingloveafter60. com (Yes, after 60; time rolls on.) To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. DP

Pet of the Week: Echo

Sudoku 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

I checked with the shelter three times over the next week. He was still there.

On Tuesday, Dec. 29, Greta and I went to the shelter to check on Samson. Good news: he was being adopted that day. The new owners had visited him four times before deciding.

We got to see him before he left for his new home. Dog trainer Esther Horn took us to his kennel and explained all the loving care the animals get there. She said, “Samson’s a big puller.” I couldn’t deny that.

It warmed my heart that this story had such a beautiful ending. Visit and support the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. It will touch your heart. And maybe

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

cho is a mellow, friendly rabbit looking for a home. Judging by the size of her ears and feet, Echo will probably be a large rabbit when she finishes growing. She is friendly and just loves to be pet. Echo is good with her litter box and would make an awesome companion for a family looking for a big, sweet bunny to share their home.

If you would like to know more about Echo, 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. DP

Page 13

Echo. Photo: San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter

www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

Dana Point Symphony Announces 2016 Lineup, its 5th Anniversary Season

DANA POINT TIMES

DANA POINT TIMES

A

T

he Dana Point Symphony Orchestra, led by artistic director Berenika Schmitz and music director and conductor Dean Anderson, is set to kick off its fifth anniversary season, Feb. 27, featuring Aya Kiyonaga on violin.

The opening night program will feature Grieg’s “Two Elgiac Melodies,” Bedrich Smetana’s “Má Vlast Moldau” and Brahms’ “Violin Concerto” and “Hungarian Dances.”

The four-concert season continues as follows: April 16 Francisco Fullana, violin • Saint-Saens, “Introduction Rondo Capriccioso” • Ravel, “Mother Goose Suite” • Saint-Saens, “Carnival of the Animals” Dana Point Symphony Orchestra. Photo: Robin Gray

May 7 Regulo Martinez, piano • Elgar String Serenade • Mozart Piano Concerto d minor • Mozart Symphony 40 K 550 June 11 Zach Dellinger, viola • Strauss, “Till Eulen-

Hobie Memorial Foundation Receives Large Donation

spiegel” • Bruch, “Romance for Viola and Orchestra” • Beethoven, “Eroica” Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students, seniors and military. A season pass for all four concerts is available for

$60. Buy tickets online or at the door on a first come, first served basis. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at St. Edward’s Church, 33926 Calle La Primavera in Dana Point.

For tickets and more information, visit www.danapointsymphony.com. DP

T

t the Dec. 11, 2015 meeting of the Hobie Memorial Foundation, Barbara Johannes, Dana Point Historical Society president, presented foundation president, Robbie Roberson with a check for $10,000.

“With this contribution the Historical Society hopes to inspire other individuals, organizations and corporations to pledge a contribution toward the memorial,” Johannes said.

With the late Hobie Alter’s contributions to the city, the foundation considers Dana Point a fitting location for a Hobie Memorial and is working toward bringing the project to fruition.

The memorial, to be designed by artist Lance Jost, will be a bronze sculpture of Hobie sailing a Hobie Cat 14 atop a base of bronze bas reliefs representing his surfing, shaping and skateboarding contributions.

For more information about the Hobie Alter Memorial or to make a donation to the fund, visit www.hobiememorial.com or email hobiememorial@gmail.com. DP

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dolphin Report

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.

Dolphins Soccer Falls to Tesoro in Mustang Cup Finals The Dana Hills boys soccer team’s season-best seven-match win streak came to an end in dramatic fashion on Dec. 30, as the Dolphins lost to Tesoro 2-1 in the championship match of the Mustang Cup Tournament.

Dana Hills (7-2-1) barnstormed its way to the tournament finals, outscoring Foothill, Segerstrom and Capistrano Valley by a combined 7-0 margin. After pushing past Foothill and Segerstrom 2-0 and 1-0, respectively, in the opening rounds, the Dolphins crushed the Cougars 4-0 in the semifinals.

But two first-half goals by Tesoro proved to be too much for the Dolphins to overcome in the championship. Dana Hills tacked on one goal in the second half but could not find an equalizer.

The Dolphins will begin Sea View League play with a road match against Aliso Niguel on Jan. 8. The Dolphins will have to navigate several talented teams if they hope to make a run at the league title. Dana Hills will have to play Tesoro, the 10th-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 2, and fi fth-ranked Laguna Hills twice.

Following the Dolphins’ league-opening match with the Wolverines, they will host Tesoro in a re-match of the Mustang Cup finals on Jan. 13.

Boys Hoops Set to Open League Against Rival Tritons The Dana Hills boys basketball team picked up some momentum just before the New Year, notching back-to-back wins over Bolsa Grande and Estancia on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29, respectively, as part of the Estancia Coast Classic.

The Dolphins (7-9) edged out Bolsa Grande 56-52 and breezed past tournament host Estancia 61-43 to close out their tournament run.

A game against defending South Coast League champion San Clemente (11-5) now awaits Dana Hills. San Clemente started the season off red hot—but lost its last two contests. Both San Clemente losses were tightly contested games against Clovis West and Troy. The Dolphins and Tritons have not played any common opponents this season.

Dana Hills is led by senior guard Parker Romo, who has been a sharpshooter from the outside this season. Romo has made 53 3-pointers in 14 games, which is the fourthhighest mark in Orange County. Romo’s 53 made 3-pointers is only three off the county leader AJ Perry of Canyon, despite Romo having played in four fewer games.

San Clemente will enter the game with a significant height advantage, especially in its starting rotation. San Clemente senior forward Cole Fotheringham and senior Dillon Waikle stand at 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-11, respectively. Both Fotheringham and Waikle are among the more productive Tritons on the roster this season. The Dolphins have only one player, senior Joey

Dana Hills senior Spencer Madden, left, juggles the ball against Tesoro in the Mustang Cup tournament’s championship match on Dec. 30. Photo: Kevin Dahlgren

Rancour, who stands above 6-foot-3.

Dolphins Water Polo Runs Through League A South Coast League matchup between the Dana Hills and Aliso Niguel girls water polo teams was scheduled for Jan. 7. Results were not available at press time.

Dana Hills (4-5) entered the game following a nonleague loss to Schurr on Dec. 19. Schurr outscored the Dolphins 7-2 in the second half en route to a 12-7 victory.

Sydney Baba scored four goals and Alex Peros scored three to lead Dana Hills.

The Dolphins will travel to play Tesoro in a league match on Jan. 14.

Wrestling Readies for Match With Mustangs The Dana Hills wrestling team had three wrestlers place at the Brea Olinda Invitational on Dec. 18. Troy Walker and Alan Aldrette placed second in their respective weight divisions and Kendall Rice placed sixth.

The Dolphins are currently 1-1 in league and will host Trabuco Hills on Jan. 12.

Girls Soccer Takes Unbeaten Streak Into League Play

Dana Hills senior Evan Bicknell (17) defends a Tesoro player during the Mustang Cup tournament championship match on Dec. 30. Photo: Kevin Dahlgren

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

The Dana Hills girls soccer team has not felt the sting of defeat since Dec. 17, when the Dolphins fell to El Toro 2-0 in a nonleague match. In the five matches that followed, Dana Hills has yet to lose, going 1-0-4 over the stretch.

Dana Hills (3-2-7) has seven draws on its resume this season, and has finished in a deadlock in three straight games. At the North Orange County Classic tournament Page 15

from Dec. 28-29, Dana Hills defeated Ayala 2-1, and drew even with Roosevelt, Vista Murrieta and Corona del Mar, respectively.

Dana Hills was set to host Capistrano Valley (5-7-2) in both teams’ South Coast League opener on Jan. 7. Results were not available at press time. The Dolphins will travel to play Mission Viejo in a league match on Jan. 12.

Dana Wharf Fish Count DANA POINT TIMES

H

ere is the latest fish count out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. There were no fishing trips Jan. 5-6 due to weather.

1/4 • Boat information not available: 70 sculpin, 20 lizard fish, 6 mackerel, 4 calico bass, 4 sand bass, 2 bonito, 1 leopard shark.

1/3 • 2 boats; 29 anglers: 6 calico bass, 2 sand bass, 1 sculpin.

1/2 • 3 boats; 71 anglers: 127 sculpin, 15 sand dabs, 4 sand bass, 3 blue perch, 2 calico bass.

1/1 • 2 boats; 37 anglers: 26 lobster, 9 sheephead, 4 blue perch, 1 sand bass.

12/31 • 2 boats; 45 anglers: 50 vermillion rockfish, 45 rockfish, 14 sheephead, 9 boccacio, 1 calico bass, 1 half-moon perch.

12/30 • 3 boats; 98 anglers: 30 sand dabs, 23 lobster, 12 blue perch, 9 sheephead, 9 rockfish, 8 vermillion rockfish, 2 calico bass, 2 sand bass, 1 boccacio, 1 halibut, 1 rockcrab.

12/29 • 3 boats; 134 anglers: 22 rockfish, 12 sheephead, 8 blue perch, 5 calico bass, 4 sand bass. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

Call 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@danapointtimes.com

Call 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@danapointtimes.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@danapointtimes.com

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

DANCE/FITNESS

Club Salsa Dance Studio

34202 Camino Capistrano, 949.230.0543, www.clubsalsadance.com

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

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Represent.xyz

949.274.0590, www.represent.xyz

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

HANDYMAN

Beach City Handyman

33292 Bremerton St., 810.569.7295, gnarlyconceptdesign.com

HAULING

Cheapest Hauling

Call Robert 949.973.6288

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

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

Statefarm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

MASSAGE

Crystal Clyde Intuitive Bodywork

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

PET GROOMING

Dawgy Style Groom Shop

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

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

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

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

949.444.6323, www.offshoreconstruction.org

Locals Only Business Listings

LIST LOCALS ONLY

USE LOCALS ONLY In print and online 52 weeks a year.

View online at www.danapointtimes.com

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com Page 16

Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com AUTOS FOR SALE

2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4x4 Silver with black interior. Bluetooth CD player with lan hookup. New Bilstein shocks. K&N air filter. In great shape. $15,500 949-633-3860

FOR SALE CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size. Typically made in 2 weeks. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyester or designer carpet. Carpet showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point. Carpet and flooring remnants also available - all shapes, sizes and kinds of flooring. We sell tile too!

Mike 949-240-1545.

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@danapointtimes.com DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

OBITUARY

William C Walter William (Bill) C Walter, born May 13,1935 in Buffalo, NY to Mildred and William Walter, Sr., died peacefully in hospice surrounded by family and friends on Dec 2, 2015.

Bill’s passion was cycling. At age 16, won Elgin to Chicago 50-mile Road Classic; at 55 won 1990 US National Champion in the Men 55-59 Sprint; in lifetime achieved over 300 medals/trophies.

Bill studied engineering at Purdue and U of Buffalo. His engineering career included rockets, geodesic domes, bulk storage tanks with Fluor and Jacobs, post-earthquake inspections, and two patents.

Bill arrived in CA in 1987, in 1996 married Judy Jones and moved to San Clemente, becoming much loved Uncle Bill to 3 sons of Judy’s sister. He was a partner, friend, supporter of Judy’s career and activism.

Preceded in death: first wife Paula and son Richard. Surviving family: daughters Kathleen (Alexander) Gilchrist & Mary (Deno) Sfikas, and wife Judith Jones.

Bill worked hard, a strong cycling competitor, enjoyed comradery after racing, quick to raise a toast saying, “I love life!”More on Bill’s life and contributing in lieu of flowers at O’Connor Mortuary website http://www.oconnormortuary.com/ obituaries/William-Walter-2/). Memorial Celebration will be 11am Sat Jan 23, 2015; email judyjones414@gmail.com for location and directions.

Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@danapointtimes.com

Page 17

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Back to the Core

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 57-60 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 4-8’ Poor-Fair. Catalina: 8-14’ Poor-Fair

T. Patterson returns company priority to building great surfboards

OUTLOOK: Stronger WNW-NW swell mix peaks on Thursday with overhead to double overhead zone surf for better breaks. Poor conditions continue as another storm sweeps in. Dropping waves with improving weather due on Friday and going into the weekend. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

T.

Patterson Surfboards owner Timmy Patterson wants to start the new year in an old direction, concentrating only on the art of building great surfboards.

The surf shop, previously on El Camino Real in the North Beach area of San Clemente, was closed just before Christmas when the company moved to its new, smaller retail location at 210 Calle de Los Molinos, Ste. B, a move Patterson said has reignited his love for his craft.

“It’s a big change,” Patterson said.

“There’s really one main reason people go to the Surf Ghetto or Shapers’ Alley or whatever you want to call it, and that’s to shop for surfboards. It’s a real community here with guys like Cole, Matt Biolos, Dewey Weber, Hamish Graham, Terry Senate, Ghetto House Glassing and UsedSurf. Boards are shaped and glassed right here and go out to surfers, including many pros, all over the world. And I’m right across the street from Brad Basham’s.

Back in the day he was one of the keys to my success. Still is. He pushed me and allowed me to make it all happen.”

Since the move, Patterson said the foot

Timmy Patterson has moved T. Patterson Surfboards to 210 Calle de Los Molinos, Ste. B. Photo: Andrea Swayne

traffic has really picked up, largely due to the location and the return to his core business.

“Name any team rider in the world and they’ve been to this little spot in San Clemente,” he said. “It’s such a well-known and concentrated area, and we see the best guys from all over the world coming to this little part of California. It says a lot about what we are all doing here.”

Patterson said he is enjoying having greater interaction with his customers— from top pro riders to beginners—and that, along with the close presence of so many other shapers, creates a community of innovators that has put the Los Molinos surf district on the world map.

“It’s really cool to get instant input from everyone,” he said. “That’s one of the coolest things about our business: input from locals and customers and the ability to make boards, start-to-finish, right here.

We all get the advantage of making a

January 9-10: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 4, Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane January 16-17: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 6, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty January 23: Scholastic Surf Series, OC Middle School, Event No. 3, Huntington Beach, Pier January 24: Scholastic Surf Series, OC High School, Event No. 3, Huntington Beach, Pier January 30: Soul Surf Series, Event No. 4, San Onofre State Park, Church Beach February 6-7: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 5, location TBD February 6-7: NSSA Open, Event No. 8, Dana Point, Salt Creek Beach February 13-14: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 7, Huntington Beach, Pier February 20: Scholastic Surf Series, OC Middle School, Event No. 4, Oceanside, Pier February 21: Scholastic Surf Series, OC High School, Event No. 4, Huntington Beach, Goldenwest Street February 27: Soul Surf Series, Event No. 5, San Clemente, T Street February 27-28: NSSA Open, Event No. 9, Ventura, C Street March 5: Scholastic Surf Series, OC Middle School, Event No. 5, San Clemente, Pier March 6: Scholastic Surf Series, OC High School, Event No. 5, San Clemente, Pier

As a member of the Niguel Hills Middle School surf team, his goals also include working hard for the remainder of the year in preparation for trying out for the Dana Hills High School team next year.

“I want to be able to land every turn I do and be more consistent in finishing my maneuvers,” Sean said.

Surfing is not the only focus for this de-

termined eighth-grader. Sean is also a bright student with a 3.90 GPA and the desire and dedication to work toward straight-A report cards.

“I work hard in school because I want to go to college, probably in Santa Barbara or San Diego, and compete on an NSSA college team,” Sean said. “I also want to be an architect after my surfing career.”

Sean developed an interest in building and architecture as a small child and a “Lego maniac.”

“My mom works at LEGOLAND, so I have enjoyed building stuff with Legos since I was a little kid,” he said. “Basically I love building stuff, finding my own way to put stuff together. I built by own surf rack and skate rack. I really like that kind of stuff.”

Sean is grateful for his family, sponsors and coach for helping him chase his dreams.

“I want to thank my sponsors, WAXTRAX and Rumaner Surfboards,” Sean said. “I also want to thank Lucas for being a great coach and getting me ready for contests, and my parents for being really supportive.”

—Andrea Swayne

GROM OF THE WEEK

SEAN DOUGHERTY

S

ean Dougherty, 13, of Laguna Niguel has been surfing since the age of 7 and intends to continue to make the sport he loves a permanent part of his life.

Sean got his start under the tutelage of his dad, along with a summer session at Cola’s Surf Camp in San Clemente. In the past year he has been coached by Dana Point surfer Lucas Taub and has begun climbing the ranks in Western Surfing Association and Scholastic Surf Series events.

In SSS Orange County Middle School Boys Shortboard Division 1, Sean is the No. 7 ranked surfer in a field of 74. In WSA Boys U14 Shortboard, he is ranked No. 11 in a field of 80.

With dreams of becoming a professional surfer, Sean practices nearly every day, making a point to surf even when conditions are not the best, and will soon be starting Dana Point Times January 8-14, 2016

Sean Dougherty. Photo: WSA/Jack McDaniel

fitness training at Dean Sports Consulting (DSC).

Sean’s goals include finishing this season in the Top 10 in both WSA and SSS, qualifying for the Surfing America Prime Series, earning a spot on the USA Surf Team and then moving on to World Surf League Junior Prime events, Qualifying Series events and then the World Tour.

UPCOMING EVENTS

board and trying it out the next day.”

The success of T. Patterson team rider, Brazilian pro and 2015 Rookie of the Year, Italo Ferreira, also provided Patterson with confirmation that taking his company back to the basics was a move in the right direction.

“Italo’s an amazing surfer, one of the best standouts last year riding T. Patterson boards, so that’s been really positive for us,” Patterson said. “It was just time to downsize, cut overhead and return to concentrating on surfboards and stocking more of what surfers want. The stand-up paddling thing had really run its course for us and was kind of confusing to some.

We don’t sell clothing or artwork anymore either. We’re getting back to the basics of how I started—making great surfboards and doing what I love. It’s refreshing to see so many new customers and old customers stopping by. It’s made it all fun again.” DP

Page 18

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