January 22, 2016

LO C A L

N EWS

January 22-28, 2016

YO U

C A N

U S E

GROM OF THE WEEK: Sierra Downer PAGE 18

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 4

Experience is the Greatest Teacher Dana Hills High School students attend newly-expanded annual Festival of Whales field trip E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 6

Dana Hills High School student Shaun Phaneuf deployed two GoPro cameras affixed to an 8-foot pole to capture underwater footage during the annual Festival of Whales field trip. This is one of the many shots he captured of common dolphins.

City Council Considers Competing Ballot Measure to Town Center Initiative EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

City Council Approves Ordinance Prohibiting Cannabis Sales, Deliveries, Cultivation EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

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DP EYE ON DP Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

Members of the Save San Clemente Hospital Foundation, which includes Dana Point/Capistrano Beach residents, attended Tuesday night’s San Clemente City Council meeting in droves, many holding signs and sporting red T-shirts in support of keeping the hospital and ER open. Photo: Eric Heinz

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week

City Council to Prepare Competing Ballot Measure to Town Center Initiative THE LATEST: The Dana Point City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to explore the possibility of preparing a ballot initiative which would compete with the Town Center Initiative in the June election.

Council members cited the receipt of questions from constituents unclear about Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

what they signed up for when supporting the Town Center Initiative, as motivation for the possibility of creating a competing ballot initiative.

Their aim is to clarify the Town Center/ Lantern District Plan as it is now, as was approved by the California Coastal Commission back in 2006, as well as the City Council’s recently approved parking plan amendment, now before the California Coastal Commission.

WHAT’S NEXT: Councilmembers asked the city attorney to review and return with a legal opinion on how such a competing measure would be put together.

FIND OUT MORE: Read the city’s Town Center Initiative Impact Report on the city website at www.danapoint.org. A link is on the home page under “City News.”

To read the full Town Center Initiative, visit http://2015towncenterinitiative. nationbuilder.com. —Andrea Swayne

City Council Approves Ban on Cannabis Sales, Deliveries, Cultivation THE LATEST: City Council, on Tuesday, unanimously approved a second reading of an ordinance that will prohibit all marijuana-related uses in the city, including commercial sales, delivery and cultivation.

The item was part of the meeting consent calendar and was passed without discussion. The second reading and vote made the adoption of the ordinance official.

Council approved the first reading of the ordinance at a special meeting on Dec. 14, set in response to the state’s new law, The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. The law, which took effect on Jan. 1, established a combined state and local licensing system for commercial marijuana businesses and required cities wishing to enact bans on the cultivation and delivery of cannabis to adopt specific ordinances before the state’s March 1 deadline.

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WHAT’S NEXT: The law will not prohibit qualified medicinal marijuana patients in Dana Point from filling their prescriptions at legally operating dispensaries outside of the city but they may neither grow nor receive marijuana via delivery service.

For cities that choose not to adopt their own ordinances, state law will take precedence.—AS

City Approves Re-Zoning of Hospital Land THE LATEST: Per a zoning ordinance passed unanimously by San Clemente City Council on Tuesday, Saddleback Memorial Medical Center will be bound to provide emergency care services on the land on which the hospital sits.

In August 2014, MemorialCare, the hospital owner, announced its intention to transform its Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente campus—Dana (Cont. on page 4) www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) Point’s nearest hospital and ER—to an advanced urgent care facility. Current law prohibits ERs from existing apart from full-service hospitals.

The zoning amendment requires emergency services to continue on the 6.8-acre hospital campus, but that does not mean MemorialCare would not be able close its doors altogether, as the hospital is operated by a private entity operating as a nonprofit for public benefit, which is able to operate without paying property taxes.

People who spoke during the public forum said the time it would take to go to Mission Hospital or Saddleback’s Laguna Hills location would be too long when life or death situations arise.

During the meeting, hospital administrator Tony Struthers said he would not be able to commit to a five-year extension proposed by the city in order to ensure the hospital could continue to operate efficiently. Struthers said because the hospital does not have the inpatient numbers needed to sustain itself, this would further hinder the services it could provide.

Councilman Tim Brown said he would have liked to have been able to have a more amicable discussion regarding hospital options, but as the situation for emergency health services is in a critical state, he said he had to vote in favor of the re-zoning.

“This site and property has been operating as a hospital since before I was born, and it could save the lives of those who need emergency care,” Brown said. “The problem is the residents of San Clemente lose a very important option if they don’t have this hospital.”

On Jan. 12 and 13, legislative representatives of San Clemente’s district presented similar bills, with support of city officials, to respective state Assembly and Senate Health committees that would allow for a free-standing or satellite emergency room in San Clemente. Both bills failed to move forward in the Legislature after committee members had concerns regarding the services MemorialCare could provide, as well as questions regarding an adequate blood bank and cardiac or stroke emergency care.

WHAT’S NEXT: During the meeting, representatives from MemorialCare said they would be prepared to take legal action against the city, citing the action would be discriminatory “spot zoning” that prohibits them from adjusting to an acute medical facility.—Eric Heinz

Community Forum with CUSD Superintendent on Jan. 25 THE LATEST: Parents and community members are invited to participate in a “Conversation with the Superintendent” of the Capistrano Unified School District.

The discussion will focus on the disDana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

trict’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports plan and provide an update on CUSD’s counselors and the impact they are having in helping our students achieve school and life success. Counselors are available in grades K-12 and are located at all school sites.

The goal of MTSS is for all students to be college and career ready and help students who are at-risk. MTSS was developed to provide a systematic approach for identifying at-risk students through universal screening. Interventions are in place to meet the needs of academic, social-emotional and behaviorally at-risk students.

WHAT’S NEXT: The “Conversation with the Superintendent” will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25, at the CUSD Education Center, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano.—EH

Dana Point Resident Wins More Than $775,000 in Powerball

The Ocean Institute’s new six-week Tiny Tots: Parent & Me Programs for kids ages 2 to 3 is set to run on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 26. File photo.

THE LATEST: Elizabeth Rinaldi of Dana Point won $779,264 in the Jan. 9 California Lottery Powerball draw, according to a press release from the California Lottery.

In an email to the California Lottery, Rinaldi said she usually plays Powerball when the jackpot is more than $250 million.

The jackpot was finalized at $947.9 million.

Rinaldi said she and her husband got in their car and drove to a Chevron in Dana Point on Pacific Coast Highway. One of the 10 tickets they purchased ended up matching five of six numbers (16-19-32-34-57, missing only the Powerball number 13).

“I had to read (the winning ticket) like 10 times,” Rinaldi said in the release, adding that she was in “disbelief, kind of silent, kind of in shock.”

Rinaldi said she has not decided what she and her husband will do with their winnings.

“I’m still praying about it,” she said. “It’s a lot of responsibility.”

According to the California Lottery’s website, Powerball is a multistate game played in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

WHAT’S NEXT: Powerball draw times are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:59 p.m.

Ticket sales are suspended from 7 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. the day of the draw. Tickets are $2 apiece.—EH

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

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

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

Ocean Institute Introduces Program For Children Ages 2-3 The Ocean Institute will offer Tiny Tots: Parent & Me Programs for children ages 2 and 3 and their parents on Tuesdays, Jan. 26 through March 1, from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. The six-week adventure includes exploring shapes, colors, textures and more with a tide pool favorite: the sea star. Each Tuesday session includes an activity and an animal encounter.

Cost for the six-week series is $150, or $30 for a single drop-in class. Register online at www.ocean-institute.org/parentchild-programs.

The Ocean Institute is located at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive in the Dana Point Harbor. For more information, visit the website or call 949.496.2274.

Dana Hills Students to Hold Coat Drive The Dana Hills High School Student Government Community Service Committee is hosting the One Warm Coat drive, Feb. 1 through Feb. 12.

The students are seeking help from the community with collecting as many coats as possible for less fortunate people in need of warmth this winter season.

Coats in good condition should be dropped off at the school at 33333 Golden Lantern. Collection bins will be located just outside the front office.

For more information contact the student community service commissioner at ellemonoh@aol.com.

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Peek at La Pata Event on Saturday, Jan. 23 San Clemente City Councilwoman Lori Donchak invites the community to participate in “A Peek at La Pata” hike from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, along the Forster Ranch Ridgeline Trail.

Participants will see up close the progress being made on the county’s Avenida La Pata/Camino Del Rio Extension Project, the planned completion of improvements identified in the County of Orange Master Plan of Arterial Highways.

The improvements are designed to reduce congestion and improve regional mobility in South Orange County by providing a north-south alternative to Interstate 5 between Ortega Highway to the north and Avenida Vista Hermosa to the south.

The event will begin at the Camino Del Rio trailhead at the end of Camino Del Rio, where street parking will be permitted during the hike.

Walkers of all ages are welcome and advised to wear a hat, closed-toe hiking shoes and bring a water bottle.

The approximately 2-mile trail is hilly and not baby stroller-friendly. Pets are not allowed per the county’s permit.

Joining Donchak will be San Clemente Deputy Public Works Director Tom Bonigut and Nardy Khan, Orange County Public Works manager and Strategic Communications Officer Shannon Widor, who will be available to answer questions about the project.

A 360-degree panoramic view of the La Pata project, Catalina, Dana Point, Saddleback Peak and Camp Pendleton can be seen from the trail.

Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com. www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Experience is the Greatest Teacher

Dana Hills High School students attend newlyexpanded annual Festival of Whales field trip

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he swell buoy off the coast was measuring 7-foot-plus waves at 17-second intervals on the morning of Jan. 8; just a day after the first major El Niño storm of the season hit the Dana Point area. The weather and storm chop on the ocean had cleared but the residual swell had the water off the coast mimicking the ups and downs of a rollercoaster for the more than 170 high school students who set out aboard whale watching boats with their teachers and a handful of professional artists for their annual Festival of Whales pre-event field trip.

Since festival coordinator Penny Elia first approached Dana Hills High School digital photography and ceramics teacher Natalie Hribar-Kelly in 2011 with an idea for the creation of a logo design contest for art students and an invitation to display their artwork at the festival, a whale watching trip aimed at inspiring the school’s young artists has been a highlyanticipated yearly event.

The now five-year collaboration between the Festival of Whales and Dana Hills expanded this year with the addition of math,

STUDENT SHOTS

Dana Hills High School students, teachers and artists aboard Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari boat Manute’a are photographed from the second boat on the Jan. 8 Festival of Whales field trip, Dana Wharf’s vessel, Dana Pride. Photo: Allison Jarrell

science, English and culinary students to the pre-festival fieldtrip once reserved only for the school’s photography, digital art, drawing and painting students.

Aboard two vessels, donated by Dana Wharf Whale Watching and Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari, the 171 students set out to search for whales, dolphins, other sea life while exploring the natural environment, not only to find inspiration for their artwork but also applying the experience to lessons in the other subjects.

Bringing STEM subjects—science, technology, English and math—together with art to form a “STEAM” linkup with the field trip was the perfect way to satisfy the growing interest among teachers and students, Rhibar-Kelly said. Elia agreed, referring to the expansion as the perfect platform for the fulfillment of one of the event’s central missions: to involve and

educate the entire community and to highlight the talent of the city’s next generation of leaders.

Students and teachers from the school’s sculptural ceramics, culinary arts, English, calculus and marine biology class were along for the ride this year, busy working on curriculum created by their teachers to tie the outing into their lessons.

While culinary students have been involved in the past two festivals, this year they were treated to a visit to the Wind & Sea kitchen afterward to visit with the restaurant’s chefs. The rest of the kids were treated to an Ocean Institute tour, following the boat trip, to discover more inspiring ocean- and wildlife-related subject matter.

The teens were armed with professional camera gear, paper, pens, pencils and their ever-present cell phones, enthusiastically

documenting the experience, despite a few cases of seasickness brought on by the rolling waves.

Jake Schwartzberg, calculus teacher and chairman of the school’s mathematics department, said he brought 20 of his senior calculus students on the trip to collect data via their cellphones’ compass feature, to be taken back to the classroom for a lesson in vector analysis and using the tool of the law of cosines to determine distance, rates and times, as well as learning how GPS global positioning systems work.

“They do distances all the time in mathematics, with right triangles using the Pythagorean theorem, but he law of cosines allows us to do distances in oblique or non-right triangles, opening the door to a whole different branch of mathematics,” Schwartzberg said. “Now, vector analysis and the law of cosines don’t really turn them on, but still, I think this is one of the ways that we’re supposed to be showing them how math is really used.”

Schwartzberg related his lessons to how math is used in global positioning systems, triangulation, how signals bounce off cell towers and teaching the kids how their cell phones really work, he said.

“I can’t imagine not doing this again next year ,” Schwartzberg said, adding that he found it, “a worthwhile, valid trip where they get to get outside and enjoy whale watching, collect a little data along the way and use that data in a meaningful way back in the classroom.”

Drawing and painting teacher Chau Tran, or “Sensei” as his students call him, has been bringing students on the trip since the beginning of the program and said he still enjoys seeing not only their reactions to what they see on the journey and the way they use their inspiration in the paintings and prints they make for show and sale at the festival, but also how

As part of our annual coverage of the Festival of Whales field trip, photography students submit their best shots for consideration of publication in the print and online editions of the Dana Point Times. Here is a selection of photos chosen, along with Shaun Phaneuf’s underwater cover shot, for the honor.

For more student photos, visit www.danapointtimes.com.

Nikki Navid

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

Page 6

Luke Salari

Lindsay Webb

Madison Wand

Ashley Shubin www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP the experience opens their eyes to career possibilities they may have never considered.

“The students absolutely love it,” Tran said. “For some kids, it’s the only time they get to actually go on the water. The trip provides them a memorable opportunity that they’ll carry with them the rest of their lives. I like to see their eyes open to new opportunities to learn. Maybe they’ll do a major in conservation or marine biology or something else. Maybe they’ll become interested in sailing or water sports.”

Randy Hudson, the school’s marine ecology teacher brought 16 students, eager to provide them with a close-up view of the marine mammals his classes were in the process of studying in the classroom. The students brought with them a good background knowledge of the dolphins and whales spotted during the outing and were looking to weave in what they’d already learned with observations of currents, waves and tides—physical factors of the ocean—and how those, along with pollution, effect the biological ocean inhabitants.

“We used currents to kind of understand the current situation of plastic pollution in the ocean and how … singleuse plastic items … make their way out to the ocean,” Hudson said. “We don’t see it because it gets kind of entrained in these larger-scale currents offshore …

We think it goes away but we’re learning about how it all ultimately comes back to us. We’re learning about how we are finding whales with plastic in their gut and chemical effects in their blood.”

Hudson said the science department would also embrace the addition of art to the study of science by using the day’s inspiration to create a sculpture out of common household plastic items for display at the festival, to illustrate the problem discarded plastics creates for marine life.

Not long after leaving the Harbor, passengers of both boats caught sight of a large and pod of common dolphin, cetaceans of the toothed whale variety.

Photography student Shaun Phaneuf sprang into action, deploying two GoPro cameras attached to an 8-foot pole, in an effort to capture underwater footage of the playful marine mammals. His efforts were immediately met with success as the pod stayed near the boat for nearly an hour.

“I got 1,800 photos and about 30 minutes of underwater footage,” Phaneuf said. “We’re going to put together a video and submit it to a contest. It’s going to look great.”

Shortly thereafter, the boats caught sight of a migrating California gray whale and moved in for a closer look. The giant whale seemed to oblige the audience making a few dives and showing its tail fluke before continuing its journey to warm Baja waters.

Camden Butterworth, the student Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

whose artwork was chosen as the official logo for the upcoming 45th annual festival, was among the excited group snapping away in search of the perfect shot.

“I’m excited to be on this trip again taking pictures and gathering inspiration for artwork for the show,” she said. “I had a couple of pieces in the show last year and I even sold a few. I’m hoping to do that again this year.”

Photography student Bradley Burke said he appreciated the chance to get a glimpse of wildlife photography as a career.

“This is a great experience for high school students, capturing the beauty the ocean has,” he said. “It helps kids get a better feel of what a career in photography might be like and I think it is just a wonderful time to interact, get inspired and just take it all in.”

English Department chair and Poetry Club advisor Molly Coghill accompanied three students.

“They are gearing up for a slam poetry competition in April at the Orange County School of the Arts, our third year in the competition,” Coghill said, adding that the students would be writing poems about the grey whale migration, their sense of the environment and the imagery and the feelings they were experiencing on the trip. “They’re also going to perform spoken word poetry at the festival.”

Carlisle Huntington, the student who founded the now 20-member Poetry Club, said they placed second in last year’s slam poetry competition and she and her peers were looking to the day’s adventure as a catalyst for the creativity needed to win at this year’s contest.

“I feel like being raised by the beach, you kind of take for granted how amazing the ocean actually is,” Huntington said. “I can’t believe there are some people who live their entire lives and never see stuff like this or experience how humbling it is.”

She went on to express her wish that the inclusion of high school scholars on the trip continues as a longstanding tradition, for its intrinsic value in sparking creativity and wonder.

“The ocean is the source of all life on Earth, basically, so it’s a great place to draw inspiration,” Huntington said. “Your mind just kind of goes blank and you can just actually think and observe. It’s interesting because from the primordial ooze from which we came, now we’re on top of the ocean; we’re soaring. Look how far we’ve come! Twenty percent of the ocean is still unexplored, so there’s still the possibility of mermaids and megalodons, which I’m really excited about.”

Speaking more specifically on how she intends to apply her experience in preparing for the upcoming slam poetry competition, Huntington summed it all up by saying, “Direct experience is always so much more valuable I think than what you think you know.” DP Page 7

EYE ON DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

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, January 19 DISTURBANCE Buccaneer Street, 32900 Block (4:34 p.m.) Police were called to a large group eating dinner in their backyard, yelling profanities and being “very loud.”

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34200 Block (12:12 p.m.) A transient man was at the Subway bothering customers.

WELFARE CHECK Dana Drive, 25000 Block (10:41 a.m.) A man who was possibly drunk and walking with a bike kept falling over. The caller was concerned he might get hit by a car.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Palm Beach Court, 0 Block (9:09 a.m.) A man said someone was trying to shoot him, but he wasn’t making sense and talking very fast. It was undetermined who was trying to shoot him.

DISTURBANCE-MECHANICAL Park Lantern, 25100 Block (1:38 a.m.) Police were called to the Laguna Cliffs Marriott for loud “metal, clanking noises” coming from the outdoor employee area. Nothing was found by police.

Monday, January 18 PATROL CHECK Camino De Estrella, 26900 Block (7:20 p.m.) Police were called regarding an ongoing issue of transients sleeping on the upper balcony on the front and the back of the building and setting small fires to keep warm.

PATROL CHECK Green Lantern/Cove Road (2:02 p.m.) A man in a grayish-white Chevy Impala was seen throwing large amounts of trash from his vehicle into the protected area of the Headlands.

PETTY THEFT REPORT Buccaneer Street, 32900 Block (9:31 a.m.) A woman said plants and a rug were stolen from her front porch the previous night.

DISTURBANCE Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (6:08 a.m.) A caller could hear a woman screaming “get away from me.”

The caller thinks the woman and whomever she was screaming at know each other.

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

Sunday, January 17

DISTURBANCE Westborne Drive, 25400 Block (4:07 p.m.) People were throwing oranges at a house.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Green Lantern/Cove Road (11:12 p.m.) Police were called regarding two people having sex in a silver Volkswagen Bug.

Friday, January 15 SAFE KEEPING Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (3:14 p.m.) A man was holding his “assault-type” shotgun and three classic swords while completing an eviction.

The serial numbers on the weapons were documented by police.

GRAND THEFT REPORT Del Obispo Street, 33600 Block (10:34 p.m.) A woman at Albertsons said a customer reported a surfboard and rack missing from her car.

The board was in a purple bag.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Capistrano, 35300 Block (9:27 p.m.) A man was seen knocking on the side door to the residence and jiggling the door handle. The man was described as middle-aged with dark hair and possibly wearing a white T-shirt.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Crown Valley Parkway/Camino Del Avion (8:11 p.m.) A caller was concerned about a hang glider with pink and blue lights flying in the dark because planes fly through the area in low light. The caller thought the glider was too high and might get hit.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway/ Granada Drive (3:25 p.m.) A man was outside begging and refusing to leave. He was reported as possibly drunk.

PETTY THEFT Pacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (12:17 p.m.) A man ran out of the store with two cell phones.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Prado Street/Violet Lantern (11:42 a.m.)

A caller said a few juveniles were passing something around that is producing “big smoke” that could be a controlled substance.

DISTURBANCE Park Lantern, 25100 Block (3:49 p.m.) A woman reported a loud party happening near a dumpster at Laguna Cliffs Marriott. The caller said the employees who were making the noise did it “deliberately,” and when she informed the front desk at the hotel they “made her mad.”

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Mariana Drive, 33700 Block (2:25 p.m.)

A woman said her ex-boyfriend broke into her house and woke her up. She didn’t know where he went.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Camino Las Ramblas/ Highway 1 (10:26 a.m.) A metal bedframe was impeding traffic.

Saturday, January 16

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Priscilla Drive/Aquilla Drive (7:45 a.m.) A caller reported someone had dumped paint thinner into the gutter. The caller was not sure who dumped it but wanted a deputy to help determine that upon arrival.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Golden Lantern, 34600 Block (12:46 a.m.)

Two people were heard talking about stealing items from fishing boats.

Thursday, January 14 DISTURBANCE Barbados Drive, 24300 Block (7:01 p.m.) A caller said two men were talking loudly about heroin and one made an “inappropriate sexual comment” to the caller’s wife.

CITIZEN ASSIST Polaris Drive, 24500 Block (3:49 p.m.) A woman said she sold items to someone on Craigslist and received two checks that were more than the actual value of the items. She said she had not cashed the checks but would like to speak with a deputy about the matter.

911 HANG-UP/WIRELESS Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (2:17 p.m.) A Spanishspeaking man said he needed police help and to hurry. He hung up before a translator got on the line. A 35-year-old man who said he works as a housekeeper was arrested and is in custody at the Central Men’s Jail. Bail was not set.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34200 Block (8:14 p.m.) A man inside a restaurant was being verbally aggressive and threatening to assault employees.

Wednesday, January 13 CITIZEN ASSIST Golden Lantern, 33200 Block (9:19 p.m.) A taxi driver said he found something that looked like drugs in his car.

Community Meetings 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.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

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 be-

coming 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 27

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, FEBRUARY 2

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo, 33500 Block (9:54 p.m.) A Circle K employee told police a man was harassing customers.

DISTURBANCE/LOUD PARTY Via California, 26400 Block (8:55 p.m.) A caller complained about loud drums being played at the residence next door to him. The caller said this is an ongoing issue.

TBID Meeting 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The Tourism Business Improvement District meets at City Hall, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

DRUNK DRIVING Selva Road/Pacific Coast Highway (6:03 p.m.) A gray Lexus was seen bouncing off the guard rails traveling north on Pacific Coast Highway.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34200 Block (5:15 p.m.) A possibly drunken, transient man was falling down and scaring the customers in front of Salon Rouge.

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

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City Council Meeting

www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor I LOVED GROWING UP IN A TOWN LIKE MAYBERRY THERESA NOWAK, Capistrano Beach

I attended the Jan. 12 Capistrano Beach neighborhood watch meeting and found it quite informative.

There was a large attendance, which made me believe many are interested and wanting to be involved in their community.

One of the first things that popped up on the large screen was a picture of “The Andy Griffith Show” characters. The speaker was referencing it with what she was saying. It made me think. I loved that show and I loved growing up in a town in California in the ’60s that had the feel of Mayberry. It was a town where neighbors looked out for neighbors. Kids played safely in the streets until the street lights came on. I guess the point I am driving at is: isn’t that what we all want? Mayberry may be a fictional town, but just think: if we all looked out for one another, we would have the essence of a Mayberry.

If you aren’t old enough to know Mayberry, check out “The Andy Griffith Show” on TV Land. I always thought it should be part of our children’s curriculum in school. All the wonderful lessons taught to Opie from Sheriff Andy, his pa, who was loving and honorable. Of course there was the town drunk or a bad guy who came to town, but somehow as a community, with their honorable Sheriff Andy taking command of the situation, the town was always saved from harm.

Yes, it is probably safe to write, “There is no Mayberry anymore,” but by getting involved and joining your neighborhood watch, maybe as a community we might catch a glimpse of it!

VALET? NO WAY! LYNN WELLS NELSON, Dana Point

On Sunday we drove to the Harbor for a morning walk. In the lot surrounded by commercial businesses (El Torito to The Brig parking lot), we found posted “Valet Parking.” We inquired about this new addition. The vendor told us that he wanted to secure a contract for valet parking and was doing this for free for the time being.

His argument was that he could park straighter than most people and move cars around better.

In the 1990s, paid parking was instituted at the Harbor. It was subsequently removed.

Local residents don’t want paid parking, and it is my guess neither do they want valet parking. We strongly advise the Harbor management to disallow valet parking.

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

WHO’S PAYING CITY’S LEGAL BILLS FOR STRAND BEACH CASE? Jesse “Jay” Sowell, Dana Point

There have been many articles lately in both the Dana Point Times and the Orange County Register about the city’s losing battle against the California Coastal Commission and the Surfrider Foundation concerning locked gates accessing Dana Strand beach through the multi-million dollar Headlands development. According to the Orange County Register, the city has until Jan. 29 to respond to the Coastal Commission’s demand that the gates be removed. To date there have been four lawsuits, all of them litigated for Dana Point by City Attorney Patrick Munoz, who lost all four cases. In the latest ruling, the Superior Court’s Statement of Decision refers to the city’s urgency ordinance justifying the gates as a “pretext for avoiding coastal program obligations,” and that there “was not, in fact, a nuisance or prospective nuisance at the time the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance was enacted.” And who paid the legal bills for this foolhardy battle over access to the county-owned beach through the exclusive development?

Presumably you, the taxpayer.

“how much has been spent We don’t know exactly

ments in the Sept. 30, 2015 financial report “most of the increase [in city attorney fees] is attributable to costs reimbursable to the city by outside sources.” In addition, there is another expense category called “Professional Services” which is $180,000 over budget, including, according to city management, $91,000 for “one time reimbursable services.” That seems to imply that part or all of the legal and/or professional fees for the Strand suits are actually being paid by another party. And who might that be? Dana Point city taxpayers have a right to know, especially since the beach in question is actually owned by the county and not the city.

A Freedom of Information Act request has been submitted to the city clerk asking three fundamental questions: What is the total amount of legal and professional fees attributable to the Strand lawsuits from 2008 to date? How much, if any of these fees are reimbursable by others?

And, if any such costs are reimbursable, exactly who is paying the city’s legal bills?

We sincerely hope that the city did not engage in these expensive lawsuits, using not only a considerable amount of staff time and attention, but your tax dollars, if such lawsuits may have been pursued in the interests of other parties and not the city itself. Was our city attorney merely acting at the behest of “outside sources?”

Stay tuned for answers.

JACOBS’ STRAIGHT TALK TRIGGERS SNIGGERS

on this litigation to date...

I would imagine this is not

MICHAEL STRIEGL, Dana Point/Lake Forest

”

a small amount.

We don’t know exactly how much has been spent on this litigation to date, but considering usual hourly rates for prestigious firms such as Rutan and Tucker, Mr. Munoz’s employer and the Newport Beach law firm representing the city of Dana Point, I would imagine this is not a small amount. The city’s financial report for Sept. 30, 2015, the first quarter in this fiscal year, was presented at the Nov. 17, 2015 City Council meeting without comment. Page 4 of this report refers to “city attorney” costs which were over $400,000 at the end of the first quarter, representing a 32 percent increase over the prior year and over half of the annual budget for fiscal year 2016. The council agenda for the Jan. 19 meeting contains a list of payments including another $183,830 in legal fees for October and November. So, with seven more months left the fiscal year, our city has spent close to $600,000, almost the entire annual budget for legal fees. Presumably, at least some, if not most, of these fees can be attributed to “Strandsgate.”

According to city management’s com-

I have a slight revision to make to Al Jacobs’ Straight Talk column in the Jan. 15 issue. Rather than titling the column “The Horse’s Mouth,” he should change it to “The Horse’s Ass.” His contention that “the principal reason public corporations exist is so their officers and directors can draw benefits from them” is strange and wrong. He provides no examples or evidence to support his view, despite advising readers in the next paragraph that “most of what life is about is attending to the details.”

Once I stopped laughing, I had to put pen to paper just to point out this unusual assertion. I still look forward to seeing the DP Times in my driveway every week!

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 10

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 4. 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.

FOLLOW THE DANA POINT T IMES

www.danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

VANESSA CARLTON 8 p.m. Live music at The Coach House featuring Vanessa Carlton, Skye Steele and Nilu. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 6 p.m. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 22 OCEAN INSTITUTE RED HOT JAZZ FESTIVAL 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and Jan. 23. The Ocean Institute’s popular jazz fundraising weekend event combines renowned jazz artists with an elegant evening of epicurean dining, cocktails, and live and silent auctions.

Featured performers include Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Louis Price. Since 2003, this event has raised more than $1 million to benefit Ocean Institute handson, ocean-oriented educational programs.

Tickets from $95. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.oijazzfestival.com.

SHOWOFF! INTERNATIONAL PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL 8 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse presents seven original 10-minute plays written by seven different directors. $18. Shows run through Jan. 24. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

RODEO REVIVAL 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Live music at The Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

DJ AND DANCING 9:30 p.m. Dance the night away as the DJ spins the tunes every Saturday night.

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

Sunday | 24 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.

ECOLOGY CENTER COMMUNITY TABLE DINNER 4 p.m.-7 p.m. The Ecology Center’s Community Table is a unique experience that’s part farm-to-table dinner and part education, where guests can enjoy delicious local food and meet the rancher/farmer and chef who are responsible for making the meal. Chefs Flemming Hansen and Mette Helbaks of Stedsans in Copenhagen, Denmark, will be applying their expertise to locally sourced California produce for a truly unique meal. Tickets are $115 for members, $125 for non-members, and can be purchased at www.theecologycenter. org. The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223.

GONE COUNTRY 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Country music and dancing at the Point Restaurant. 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

BURTON CUMMINGS 7 p.m. Live music at The Coach House featuring Burton Cummings and The Dinosaurs. Tickets are $35. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

Saturday | 23

Monday | 25

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

949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

TEA TIME BOOK CLUB 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Tea and book chats held on the fourth Monday of the month. Bring your favorite cup for tea.

Call the library for a list of featured titles.

No registration required. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

PAINTING AND VINO Noon-3 p.m. Sip wine while participating in painting class. All supplies provided. $45.

Register at www.paintingandvino.com.

StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

DUSTIN FRANK & THE TRADERS 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

PJ STORYTIME WITH THE SUNSHINE READERS 7 p.m-8 p.m. Reading event for children of all ages, accompanied by a parent or guardian. Wear your pajamas if you like.

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

Page 12

GETTING OUT

Tuesday | 26

LOCALS NIGHT AT THE POINT Open to close. Locals get a 20 percent food discount on Wednesdays. Ask server for details. The Point Restaurant, 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

TINY TOTS: PARENT & ME PROGRAMS AT OCEAN INSTITUTE 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Jan. 26 marks the start of a six-week series of programs for children ages 2 and 3 and their parents on Tuesdays through March 1. Toddlers will explore shapes, colors, textures and more with everyone’s favorite tide pool animal, the sea star. Each session includes an activity and an animal encounter. The cost for the entire series is $150 or $30 per single, drop-in class. Register online.

Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www. ocean-institute.org/parentchild-programs.

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 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.

WINTER AFTER SCHOOL CLUB 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Winter After School Club series runs on Tuesdays from Jan. 5 through Feb. 23. After School Club is for children ages 5 and older. A variety of activities are provided, including stories and crafts. San Clemente Library, 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sc.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Singer/songwriters

Thursday | 28 TWEEN GAMING 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Gaming for kids ages 9-12.

Play Wii, Xbox Kinect and traditional board games. No pre-registration needed.

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

EDITOR’S PICK Cabrillo Playhouse actors rehearse “The Man from Earth.” Photo: Courtesy

THURSDAY, JAN. 22–SUNDAY, FEB. 7: ‘THE MAN FROM EARTH’ 8 p.m. The Cabrillo Playhouse presents its third production of the season, “The Man from Earth,” running through Sunday, Feb. 7. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. The play is written by the author of the original “Star Trek” series and “The Twilight Zone,” Jerome Bixby. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

perform at The Point Restaurant open mic every Tuesday. Bring your instrument and your voice; The Point supplies the sound system. 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

Wednesday | 27 JOY OF LIVING BIBLE STUDY 9:15 a.m.-11 a.m. Women of all ages are invited to this interdenominational group that meets Wednesdays through June 1.

A start-up fee of $30 is requested. Free child care is provided. The study includes worship, discussion groups, inspirational

THE KALAMA BROTHERS 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

UPCOMING: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

talks and monthly luncheons. Talega Life Church, 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, 949.493.1980.

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.

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

AMBROSIA 8 p.m. Live music at The Coach House featuring Ambrosia, Detour 91 and Southland. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 6 p.m. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

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.

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

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

At the Movies: ‘Spotlight’ Slightly Misdirected

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

D

Photo: Open Road Films

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

espite the irony that Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight won Best Acting Ensemble, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture at the Critics’ Choice Awards last weekend, your local movie critic doesn’t feel entirely confident with those accolades. Two weeks ago, Spotlight’s hype was overshadowed by The Revenant at the Golden Globes, and now it’s up in the air which of the films could win big at the Oscars.

Editor Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) is hired at The Boston Globe in 2001, and right away he thinks the paper’s top priority should be investigating overlooked incidents of child molestation among Catholic priests.

He gives the assignment to the spotlight department for long-term research consisting of journalists portrayed by Michael Keaton,

Page 13

Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Brian d’Arcy James.

The things that Spotlight does well is give the viewer plenty of thorough information on the tragedy, and McAdams, Stanley Tucci and Schreiber don’t miss a beat with their acting. But the tone and structure of the film feels a bit too technical, while some directing choices from McCarthy are a bit heavy-handed. Most confusing is the fact that Ruffalo—who displays fidgety characteristics that are distracting and almost seems like he’s in a different movie—is getting the most performance hype. Spotlight is a good way for those who want to learn more about the subject, but as far as Best Picture contenders go this season, I’m still with The Big Short and Fury Road. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP DP LIVING Dana Point

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

Willie Nelson: Still Going Strong at 82

L

ast August, Willie Nelson was scheduled to perform at the Orange County Fair. My life partner Greta Cohn and I, and our Dana Point friends, Ron and Lee Cohan, had tickets for the concert at the Pacific Amphitheatre, an outdoor venue. The four of us realized it would probably be our last chance to see Willie, a country music legend; he turns 83 this April 29.

Most, not all, of the audience appeared to be ages 50 to 90. We were in our seats; the band’s instruments were in place on the stage. And then it started raining hard; the show was canceled.

Three months ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 later, when the four of

By Tom Blake us heard Willie would be performing this Jan. 6 at the Grove in Anaheim, we purchased tickets.

On the night of the concert, it rained again, but the Grove is an indoor venue, so we knew the show would go on. I will admit, however, the possibility of a raincaused cancelation crossed my mind as we made the drive to Anaheim.

Frankly, my expectations about Willie performing were modest. I imagined that his family members, including his sons Micah and Lukas on guitars and “little sister” Bobbie, as Willie calls her, on piano, would be the primary performers, and that Willie would sing only a few songs.

When the lights dimmed, Willie led his band onto the stage. He was wearing a Tshirt with “Maui” printed on the front and his usual red bandana headband.

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 January 22-28, 2016

Willie picked up Trigger, the name he’s given to his ancient Martin N-20 classical guitar that he’s had for 47 years—the one with a gaping hole and faded autographs from famous people such as Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings on it. He began with one of his classics, “Whiskey River.” The four of us were surprised by how great Willie and his band sounded.

He was on stage nonstop for more than 90 minutes. He sang: “Georgia on My Mind,” “On the Road Again,” “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” “Crazy,” “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” “Good-Hearted Woman,” “Always on My Mind” and about 25 other songs, all of them familiar.

He was gracious and personable. Fans kept tossing cowboy hats onto the stage.

Willie would wear the hats for a couple of songs and then toss them to the crowd Frisbee-style. He also threw five headbands to the crowd.

Another Orange County friend, Ken Stetter, and his girlfriend Peggy McGuire, were seated in the same aisle about 20 feet away, although I didn’t know that until a week later.

“I, too, went to see Willie Nelson, with

Tom Blake and Greta Cohn happy to have a second chance to see Willie Nelson perform. Photo: Courtesy

Sudoku by Myles Mellor Hard

8

2 2

6 3

1 5 1 3

5 6

2 1 2 7 8 8 8 7

9 1

6 9

{ I N DANA P O I NT }

This shot of snowy mountains behind

the Ocean Institute and the Dana Point

Headlands was taken during a Festival of Whales whale watching field trip with Dana Hills High School students on Jan. 8. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Peggy,” Ken said. “We also had tickets this summer at the fair. I thought his ‘little sister’ Bobbie was a huge plus—really good musician. I had a great night, like you. Two thumbs up!”

“Little sister” Bobbie is 85 years old.

Greta and I didn’t know if we’d ever see Willie again. However, a week later we did—only this time it wasn’t in person. On Friday, Jan. 15, we watched on PBS TV station KCET, Willie receiving The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

He had received the award on Nov. 18, 2015, in Washington, D.C. A multitude of entertainers performed his music as he and his wife sat in a booth above and to the side of the stage.

Johnny Cash’s daughter, Rosanne, performed “Pancho and Lefty,” and Alison Krauss of the group Union Station performed, “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.” Paul Simon and Neil Young also

sang. It was an incredible night of music.

After Willie received the award on stage, he strapped on Trigger and did a few songs with all of the guest performers joining him. With a career that spans six decades, his final song was, appropriately enough, “On the Road Again.”

Greta said, “Just because we are older doesn’t mean we stop doing what we love.

To Willie, 82 is just a number.”

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 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

Pet of the Week: Frankie

4 6

7

SCENE

3

F

ive-year-old Frankie is just about as sweet as they come. Afflicted with a genetic eye disorder, Frankie is slowly going blind. He isn’t letting his condition hold him back and still loves to play and go on walks. Frankie is patiently awaiting a loving home with a family that will give him the chance he so deserves.

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

Page 14

Frankie. Photo: San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter

www.danapointtimes.com

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

CLASSIFIEDS

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

MUST SELL!!

2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4x4 Silver with black interior. Bluetooth CD player with lan hookup. New Bilstein shocks. K&N air filter. In great shape. $13,900 949-633-3860

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.

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.

Do you want to reach 10,000+ people in the Dana Point area every week?

Then you need to be in the Dana Point Times. Call us today!

949.388.7700 ext. 102

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@danapointtimes.com Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

Page 15

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

COLUMN: Breazeale Banter

By Steve Breazeale

Finally, We Get A Team...

But Will We Embrace Them?

Confessions of a 26-year-old sports fan who grew up in NFL limbo

A

re you ready for some football?

For many in Southern California, excluding those in the San Diego area, that answer is, and has been, an emphatic ‘Yes’ for some time.

The Los Angeles Rams, formerly of St. Louis, are returning home thanks to team owner Stan Kroenke and his relocation initiative that was approved by NFL owners in a 30-2 vote last week.

Kroenke plans to build an estimated $2.6 billion, 298-acre state-of-the-art stadium and entertainment complex on the grounds of the old Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood by 2019, right BREAZEALE next door to The Forum.

BANTER And while the Rams

By Steve are set for a triumphant Breazeale return home, I can’t help asking myself, ‘Will we embrace them?’.

My gut says yes, we eventually will, but I’m left with a feeling in the back of my mind that it will not be easy to win everyone over. I know for a fact that it’s too late for me.

I was 6 years old when the Rams left town for St. Louis. With no NFL team nearby, the NBA and MLB reigned supreme in my world. Kobe, Shaq, Piazza, Mondesi, Karros, Hearn and Scully were the names, voices and faces of Los Angeles sports to me. The NFL, while always on my radar, remained a blip in the distance. My friends and I filled the football void, instead, by watching the Trojans and Bruins duke it out on Saturdays.

The life of a now 20-to-30-something Los Angeles-area football fan has been a weird one. Rumors of a team returning to L.A. swirled around me from the time I learned how to ride a bike, when I got the keys to my first apartment and up until the

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

Hundreds of Los Angeles Rams fans gather outside of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in support of the team’s relocation to the area.

Photo: Courtesy Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams Facebook

first time I had to pay for health insurance.

Talk about a longtime tease. We have been kept waiting in the wings, watching other cities and franchises have all the fun.

As a result, the area’s football allegiances have turned into a giant melting pot.

There is a large, local camp of San Diego Chargers fans (who might get a belated Christmas gift if the team announces it will join the Rams in L.A. in the near future), and then there is everyone else. Southern California is home to plenty of Raiders and San Francisco 49ers fans and I see Patriots jerseys and Packers cheeseheads emerge every January when the playoffs roll around.

While there are many native Angelinos, the vast sprawl of Los Angeles County is full of transplants from all across the nation. When I tune in to watch the Rams play in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum next season for the first time, my fear is seeing a large swath of visiting fans cheering for the 49ers or Seahawks, not the home team.

I may sound jaded, but can you blame me? Living in NFL limbo is not exactly a fun spot to be in.

It may be too late for me to fully embrace these Rams, but there are two key demographics the team needs to tap into

if they are to become the darling of the Southland: the very young and those who remember.

There is a sizeable and loyal fan base of Rams fans over the age of 30 who felt betrayed when the team up and moved to St. Louis in 1995. Some still hold a grudge against the franchise for skipping town 21 years ago, but many, based on the outpour of emotion and positivity online, seem to be happy that the team is back.

I asked my dad, a disenfranchised Rams fan, what he thought about the team returning to L.A. He said the people of his era would be eager to welcome the Rams back into the fold and hopes the franchise can build on its L.A. tradition.

There is no doubt Kroenke’s endeavor will make money hand over fist. The Los Angeles market, the second largest in the nation, has been starved of the country’s most popular sport for two decades. Once Kroenke builds his massive Kubla Kahn of a stadium/entertainment complex, the people will come.

But if the franchise wants to fend off the army of visiting fans that is sure to invade its territory in the coming years, as well as plant new roots of its own, then the Rams need to capture the attention

Page 16

of the Los Angeles-area youth. It’s too late for my generation to get swept up by this team, but youngsters from Los Angeles to Orange County will have a chance many of us missed out on to have a team they can confidently call their own.

They will get to see those brilliant blue and gold uniforms take the field on Sundays with a clean slate and with fresh eyes. Many will grow up knowing only the Rams, and possibly the Chargers too, and L.A. football.

Which is why it is important for the Rams to win and win soon. The team has been mired in mediocrity for years. The Rams have compiled a 50-109 overall record with zero playoff appearances over the past 10 seasons. A huge part of the Rams’ ability to succeed with the fans in L.A. will be their ability to capture the attention of the kids, re-capture the trust of the bitter ones and honor the devotion of the diehard holdovers. The best way to do that is simple: by winning.

After all, they will be playing in Los Angeles, and there is nothing that market loves to do more than embrace winners.

Steve Breazeale is the sports editor of the Dana Point Times. He is still slightly bitter that both the Raiders and Rams left town when he was in first grade. DP www.danapointtimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

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.

Bloom Scores 26 in Crucial Win Against Mustangs Dana Hills senior guard Maddy Bloom scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Dolphins girls basketball team past Trabuco Hills 57-53 in a Sea View League game on Jan. 14. The victory separated the Dolphins (12-4, 2-0 league) from the rest of the pack in league play and now sit in first place. The Mustangs fell to 2-2 in league play following the loss.

Dana Hills held a 35-22 lead over Trabuco Hills at halftime and held on in the second half to earn the win. Trabuco Hills mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Dolphins 17-8 over the final eight minutes, but it was not enough.

Bloom continues to lead the Dolphins in the scoring department this season.

The senior is averaging 20.5 points per game and has scored in the double-digits

in all but one contest this year. Bloom also pulled in three rebounds and dished out an assist against Trabuco Hills.

Dana Hills was set to play El Toro in a league game on Jan. 21. Results were not available at press time. As of Jan. 21, the Chargers (13-8, 3-0) were locked in a tie for first place with the Dolphins in the league standings. The game will be the first of two meetings between the two teams.

Girls Soccer Readies for Tough Slate The Dana Hills girls soccer team was set to play back-to-back South Coast League games against rival San Clemente and defending champion Aliso Niguel on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23, respectively. Results for the Dolphins’ game against San Clemente were not available at press time.

Both the Tritons (third) and Wolverines (first) are ranked inside the CIF-SS Division 1 top-3.

Dana Hills (4-2-8, 1-0-1) is off to a solid start in league play. The Dolphins defeated Capistrano Valley 2-1 on Jan. 7 and tied 0-0 with Mission Viejo on Jan. 12.

Water Polo Looks to Stay Afloat in League Play After knocking off Tesoro 18-5 to improve to 2-0 in South Coast League play, the Dana Hills girls water polo team was scheduled to play in its biggest match of the year against El Toro on Jan. 21. Results were not available at press time.

The Dolphins (9-7, 2-0) entered the match as the No. 7-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 2. The Chargers were ranked second in the division.

Dana Hills will travel to play Huntington Beach in a nonleague contest on Jan. 25 before hosting rival San Clemente on Jan. 26. The Tritons are the No. 4-ranked team in Division 2.

Boys Soccer Ends Losing Skid A 0-0 draw with Trabuco Hills in a Sea View League match on Jan. 15 ended a

Boys Hoops Set for Showdown With Diablos Dana Hills junior Blake Nourse goes up for a ball against Tesoro during a nonleague game.

Photo: KDahlgren Photography

three-game losing skid for the Dana Hills boys soccer team. The Dolphins (7-4-2, 0-2-1) lost twice to Tesoro and once to Aliso Niguel earlier this season.

Dana Hills will host Laguna Hills in a league match on Jan. 22. The Hawks (8-3-2, 2-0) are among the teams to beat in the Sea View League and have wins over Tesoro and Aliso Niguel on their resume this year. Laguna Hills has not lost since Dec. 29.

The Dana Hills boys basketball team will look for its first win in South Coast League play on Jan. 22 when it hits the road to play Mission Viejo. The Dolphins (8-12, 0-3) lost three straight games against San Clemente, El Toro and Aliso Niguel, respectively, to open league play.

Dana Hills ended a three-game losing skid with a 50-48 nonleague win over Santa Fe on Jan. 18.

Like the Dolphins, Mission Viejo (9-10, 0-2) will be seeking its first win in league on Jan. 22.

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

HANDYMAN

Beach City Handyman

33292 Bremerton St., 810.569.7295, gnarlyconceptdesign.com

MASSAGE

Crystal Clyde Intuitive Bodywork

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

DANCE/FITNESS

Club Salsa Dance Studio

34202 Camino Capistrano, 949.230.0543, www.clubsalsadance.com

HAULING

Cheapest Hauling

Call Robert 949.973.6288

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

ICE CREAM

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

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

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

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

949.444.6323, www.offshoreconstruction.org

Statefarm/Elaine LaVine

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

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

LIST

Page 17

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

A Legacy of Love

RESULTS WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 6, January 16-17, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty

Third annual Big Kahuna Koncert for a Cause to raise funds for children with special needs in honor of the late Terry “Tubesteak” Tracy

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

T

erry “Tubesteak” Tracy of San Clemente died in 2012 leaving more than his legacy as a surfing pioneer—his passion for helping children with autism and other special needs has also endured in the form of the annual Big Kahuna Koncert for a Cause.

The third annual benefit concert is set for Saturday, Jan. 30, from 7 p.m. to midnight at OC Tavern, 2369 S. El Camino Real in San Clemente.

The event will feature live music by Common Sense and Missing Persons, DJ Fluffy of Venice, art displayed by Roy Gonzalez, raffles and a silent auction.

Tickets are $25 online at www.octavern. com or at the door. OC Tavern will also be donating 20 percent of all food and drink purchases.

Proceeds will benefit some of Tracy’s favorite charities: Surfers Healing, a San Juan Capistrano-based surf camp for kids with autism; Rock the Autism, a San Clemente-based music program for kids with autism; Therasurf, a surf camp in Malibu for all kids with special needs; Red Autismo, an organization providing therapy services for children 2 to 12 with autism spectrum disorders in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico; Great Opportunities,

Terry “Tubesteak” Tracy.

Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Tracy

a San Juan Capistrano program helping disadvantaged kids learn about the ocean; and OC Autism, an organization providing information and guidance for individuals with autism and their families in Orange County.

For more information or to donate raffle or silent auction items, call 949.370.1083. DP

GROM OF THE WEEK

SIERRA DOWNER

W

e caught up with Sierra Downer, 10, of San Clemente, following her Girls U12 semifinal heat at the Western Surfing Association event No. 6, on Jan. 17 in Oceanside, where she battled through big waves and strong current to make it through to the semifinal round.

Directly after her semi, the remainder of the event was postponed due to the conditions.

Her strength, bravery and confidence in the water are testament to the hard work she’s put into the sport since she first paddled out at the age of 6. Not from a surfing family, Sierra first took an interest in wave riding, thanks to her friends. Since then she’s practiced a minimum of two days a week, coached by Collin Crook and Neco Padaratz.

“I told my parents I like to try new things and I really want to learn to surf,” she said.

“And they have always been super supportive.”

Dana Point Times January 22-28, 2016

Sierra Downer. Photo: Andrea Swayne

The highlight of her amateur career so far was taking a big win at last year’s Stoke-oRama at T Street.

“I want to thank my coaches, my parents and my friends for cheering me on and helping me be a better surfer,” Sierra said. “And l love living in San Clemente because the people are really nice and the whole town kind of supports us surfers.”

Although surfing is Sierra’s favorite sport, she also enjoys golfing, basketball, soccer and football.

BOYS U16: 1. Taro Watanabe, Malibu; 2. Ethan Mudge, Capistrano Beach; 3. Kai McPhillips, San Clemente; 4. Hagan Johnson, San Clemente; 5. Tanner Ford, San Diego; 6. Brayden Chalfant, San Diego. BOYS U18: 1.

Hagan Johnson, San Clemente; 2. Gavin Doan, Carlsbad; 3. Quinten Rubalcava, Ojai; 4. London Almida, San Clemente; 5. Chad Clifton, San Clemente; 6. Liam Murray, San Clemente. GIRLS U18: 1. Kiersten Noonan, Encinitas; 2. Elle Sampiere, Solana Beach; 3. Brooke Young, San Diego; 4. Chiasa Maruyama, Huntington Beach; =5. Paetyn Parman, Elfin Forest; =5. Maya Saulino, San Marcos. BOYS LONGBOARD U14: 1. Jimmy Wynne, San Clemente; 2. Jonah Shannon, Pacific Grove; 3. Cash Cherry, Manhattan Beach; 4. Caden Evans, San Clemente. JR. LONGBOARD U18: 1. Kevin Skvarna, San Juan Capistrano; 2. Trevor Anderberg, Encinitas; 3. Benjamin Goldstein, Carlsbad; 4. Koby Gilchrist, Encinitas; 5. Ethan Mudge, Capistrano Beach; 6. Alex Fry, Manhattan Beach.

GIRLS LONGBOARD U14: 1. Sive Jarrard, Carlsbad; 2.

Hana Catsimanes, San Clemente; 3. Molly Tuschen, San Diego; 4. Brooke Carlson, Calabasas; 5. Malia Mauch, San Clemente; 6. Claire Stokes, Aliso Viejo. GIRLS LONGBOARD U18: 1. Soleil Errico, Malibu; 2. Liv Stokes, Aliso Viejo; 3. Julie Shuman, Encinitas; 4. Betsey Lee, Topanga; 5. Aine Dwyer, Coronado; 6. Naomi Collins, Bonsall. MEN 18-29: 1. Cody Canzoneri, San Clemente; 2. Even Sandison, Laguna Niguel; 3. Lucas Taub, Dana Point; 4. Drew Stanfield, Westminster; 5. Gentry Gard, Laguna Niguel; 6. Kai Matteo, Oceanside. MASTERS 30-39: 1. Jonathan Warren, Long Beach; 2. Michael Kent, Camarillo; 3.

Ryan Aguilar, San Clemente; 4. James Flores, Boulder, Colo.; 5. Aparajit Bhowmik, San Diego; 6. David Morgan, Los Angeles. SENIOR MEN 40-49: 1. Vincent Duprat, Encinitas; 2. Pedro Diaz Rangel, Oceanside; 3. Rick Takahashi, San Diego; 4. Gavin Haughey, Laguna Niguel; 5. Stephen Fitzsimmons, San Diego; 6. Jason Penning, Huntington Beach. LEGENDS 50+: 1. Jeff Jessee, San Clemente; 2. Dave Hansberry, Los Alamitos; 3. Marcell Guinaldo, Huntington Beach; 4. Bill Perry, West Hills; 5.

Chas Wickwire, Seal Beach; 6. Mike Glevy, San Diego.

OPEN MEN: 1. Yoshiumi Ohkubo, Chiba, Japan; 2. Tyler James, Durban, South Africa; 3. Cameron Griggs, Mission Viejo; 4. Drew Stanfield, Westminster; 5. Jared Fearon, San Diego; 6. Lucas Taub, Dana Point. OPEN WOMEN: 1.

Maile Davis, Carlsbad; 2. Elle Sampiere, Solana Beach; 3.

Brooke Daigneault, Huntington Beach; 4. Jordyn Barratt,

“When I’m in a heat I’m so excited that I got the wave,” she said. “Competing isn’t easy at all but I like it because it helps me get better and it’s a challenge. I really just want to do my best in my heats and keep getting better.”

Her surfing goals include continuing to improve in the WSA, qualifying for Surfing America Prime, landing a spot on the USA Junior Surf Team and then continuing on to World Surf League Pro Junior and Qualifying Series events.

This studious Concordia Elementary fifthgrader enjoys going to school to be with her friends but also loves learning new things and takes her grades very seriously, earning top marks.

Along with her dream of becoming a professional surfer, Sierra is also passionate about art and would like a career in that field someday as well. She also practices her art as much as possible, lately concentrating on nature scenes including the beach and sunsets, because, “It’s my favorite place. I’m a surfer so it’s where I love to be,” she said.

—Andrea Swayne

Page 18

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 57-60 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 4-8’ Poor-Fair Thursday: Old West-WNW and SW swells ease through the day. The blend will continue to provide waist-chest-shoulder high+ surf for the better exposures of the county, with some lingering plus sets at combo standouts. Note Big high tide early in the morning keeps many spots sluggish. Favorable conditions as light/variable offshore wind prevails in the morning, before a light to moderate onshore sea-breeze rises up over the afternoon.

Outlook: A new West-WNW swell will arrive on Friday bumping surf size back up into the weekend. Winds continue to look favorable through the end of the work week, but are a little dicey to start the weekend. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Encinitas; 5. Claire Loughlin, Ventura; 6. Sasha Natalie, La Jolla. OPEN MEN LONGBOARD: 1. Kevin Skvarna, San Juan Capistrano; 2. Trevor Anderberg, Encinitas; 3. Koby Gilchrist, Encinitas; 4. Jameson Roller, Laguna Beach; 5.

Liam OCallaghan, Carlsbad; 6. Jorge Barba, Oceanside.

OPEN WOMEN LONGBOARD: 1. Soleil Errico, Malibu; 2.

Betsey Lee, Topanga; 3. Keili McEvilly, Carlsbad; 4. Bianca Dootson, Aptos; 5. Aine Dwyer, Coronado; 6. Brooke Carlson, Calabasas. SR. MEN LONGBOARD 40+: 1. Jorge Barba, Oceanside; 2. Kurt Greenbaum, Newport Beach; 3.

Kerry Pedlow, Laguna Beach. ADAPTIVE STANDING: 1.

Ryan Gambrell, San Diego; 2. Danielle Burt, San Diego; 3.

Rodney Roller, Oceano; 4. Matt Foushee, Orange. ADAPTIVE SEATED/PRONE: 1. Alana Nichols, San Diego; 2.

Charles Webb, Oceanside; 3. Spike Kane, Seattle, Wash.; 4. Mark Thornton, Carlsbad; 5. Whitney Tyler, San Diego; 6. Chris Oberle, Los Angeles. DIVISIONS NOT COMPLETED DUE TO BIG SWELL AND STRONG CURRENT. MAKEUP DATE TBD: Micro Grom Boys U9, Micro Grom Girls U10, Boys/Girls U10, Boys U12, Boys U14, Girls U12, Girls U14, Girls U16.

UPCOMING EVENTS 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, Encinitas, Seaside Reef 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 March 12-13: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 8, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty March 19: Soul Surf Series, Event No. 6, San Clemente, Pier March 19-20: NSSA Open, Event No. 10, Huntington Beach, Pier

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