February 12, 2016

LO C A L

N EWS

February 12-18, 2016

YO U

C A N

U S E

Local Surfers Dominate Seaside Reef Prime PAGE 18 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 7

Changing of the Chamber Guard Dana Point Chamber of Commerce installs new board, leadership and honors members E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 4

(L to R) Business of the Year owner Jack Loconsolo (Jack’s Restaurant) accepts his honor with last year’s awardee Elaine LaVine (State Farm Insurance), Assemblyman Bill Brough and Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Johnston at the chamber’s Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Planning Commission to Consider Mixed-use Project at PCH/Golden Lantern EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

Estrella Plaza Announces Opening Timeframe EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

www.danapointtimes.com

Dolphins Girls Hoops Takes Second in League SPORTS/PAGE 16

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

DP EYE ON DP Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING Estrella Plaza Developers Announce Timeframe for Store Openings

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week

Planning Commission to Consider Mixed-use Project at PCH/Golden Lantern THE LATEST: The Dana Point Planning Commission issued a public notice regarding a Feb. 22 meeting in which a proposed mixed-use project at 34175 Pacific Coast Highway (at PCH and Golden Lantern) in the Lantern District will be considered for approval.

According to the notice, the proposed project includes, “the demolition of the existing 9,376 square foot commercial structure and construction of a new mixed-use structure consisting of 8,730 square feet of commercial floor area and 39 dwelling units.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The staff report and resolution will be available for public viewing on the city website, approximately four days before the hearing.

However, because some residents have asked for an extended period of time to look at the development, the city included links to the project plans and sign program on the notice. The links can be found online at www.danapointtimes.com.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m., Feb. 22 at Dana Point City Hall Council Chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern FIND OUT MORE: For questions or more information, contact Evan Langan, associate planner, at 949.248.3591, email elangan@danapoint.org or visit www. danapoint.org. —Andrea Swayne

iPhone Tracker Leads to Burglary Bust THE LATEST: On Monday, Feb. 8, Dana Point deputies responding to a report of a stolen iPad tracked the mobile device to a woman who committed a string of car theft burglaries.

According to Dana Point Police Services Sgt. Rich Himmel, deputies received a call at 1:53 p.m. Monday from a man who reported his unlocked vehicle had been ransacked that morning in front of his house in Laguna Niguel and a number of items were stolen. One of the items was a cellular enabled iPad. “He used the ‘Find my iPhone’ app to Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

The Estrella Plaza project, which will bring in five major retail stores, took an extended effort from the city and business owners to come to fruition. Now, developers have set tentative opening dates. Photo: Eric Heinz

locate it in the vicinity of the Salt Creek Beach,” Sgt. Himmel said. “A deputy used the same app and it literally led him right up to a vehicle, parked in the Salt Creek Beach parking lot with the driver inside.”

The suspect, a 32-year-old woman from Aliso Viejo, was seated in her vehicle preparing to inject herself with heroin, Himmel said.

“Not only was she in possession of the iPad, but her car was filled with additional stolen property, we believe was taken from at least another four people—all victims of what we call ‘car fishing,’” he added.

Himmel went on to say that typically, these criminals try door handles of parked vehicles at night until they find an open car. They take whatever they can find and then often sell the items in order to pay for their drug habits.

“This woman also had the victim’s passport and financial documents that would have enabled her to commit some pretty substantial identity theft,” Himmel said.

“Fortunately for the victim we found the property fairly quickly.”

The woman was taken to jail for drugs and possession of stolen property but was cited and released on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

“The lesson is, don’t make yourself an easy victim of car fishing,” Himmel said.

“Now, more than ever, because of Prop 47 we have more criminals walking our streets looking for easy crimes to commit.

Locking cars is even more critical, as what were once felonies are now just misdemeanors.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Investigators are working to locate the other victims whose stolen property was recovered in the arrest.

Dana Point Police Services has had an ongoing property theft prevention program, “Hide it, Lock it, or Lose it,” that aims to educate the public about this com-

mon problem.

For more information on these types of opportunistic crimes, call 949.248.3531of visit Dana Point Police Services’ website www.hideitlockitorloseit.com. –AS

Ocean Institute CEO to Speak at Next Coffee Chat THE LATEST: The next Dana Point Civic Association’s Coffee Chat is set for Friday, Feb. 19 and will feature guest speaker Dori Dennis Moorehead, the new president and CEO of the Ocean Institute.

Before joining the institute, Moorehead most recently served as executive director for the California Museum in Sacramento and has a long career as a leader and developer of nonprofit organizations.

She is also an attorney and served earlier in her career as a Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Army. Moorehead is an Orange County native and as a 1977 field trip alumna of the Ocean Institute, a longtime admirer of the institute’s programming and offerings.

Moorehead succeeds past Ocean Institute president and CEO Dan Stetson, who stepped down from the post in early 2015.

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

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THE LATEST: Kornwasser Shopping Center Properties, working in tandem with Burnham USA on the Estrella Plaza project, has announced the timeline for stores to open within the shopping center. The center is located at the San Clemente/Capistrano Beach border on Camino de Estrella and is the former site of the Sears/Kmart and Big Lots stores.

“It currently looks like Sprouts will be open toward the end of April, as will T.J. Maxx, and as far as Ulta, Sports Authority and Stein Mart, it looks like they will open in September,” Sue Jagodzinski, a development manager with Kornwasser Shopping Center Properties, said.

The small shops around the center have remained open during construction and continue to operate business as usual.

WHAT’S NEXT: Jagodzinski said the parking lots around the area should be cleared of construction materials by the middle or end of March, depending on the weather.

“We’re doing our best to work diligently toward completion and we want to get these stores open as soon as possible,” Jagodzinski said. —Eric Heinz

CUSD Approves Increase in Pay for Teacher Subs THE LATEST: After showing interest last month in increasing pay for substitute teachers, the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved an increased rate at their Feb. 10 meeting of $105 per day and a long-term rate of $150 after 30 days. The increase in daily compensation is the first raise for CUSD substitutes in more than 15 years.

The 651 substitute teachers employed in Capistrano Unified were previously paid the lowest daily rate, and the highest longterm rate, of the districts CUSD surveyed in the county, at $90 a day, $100 per day after 10 days and $221 per day after 40 days of work.

In order to become more competitive with neighboring districts, staff recommended increasing pay to $105 a day, which will be offset by decreasing longterm pay. The majority of trustees initially asked staff to analyze increasing rates to $115 per day and $130 after 40 days, but staff reported back that the “trustees’ suggestions did not stay within the $260,000 cap” in the district’s budget.

WHAT’S NEXT: The new daily wages are effective immediately, with the long-term wages going into effect on July 1.—Allison Jarrell www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Changing of the Chamber Guard Dana Point Chamber of Commerce installs new board, leadership, honors members

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he Dana Point Chamber of Commerce inducted new board members, chose a new chairperson, and honored the business, ambassador and citizen of the year at its 2016 Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner, on Jan. 28 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort.

The event—attended by chamber members and guests, as well as a number of city and state elected officials—was, as usual, a joyous celebration of the collaboration between the chamber, the city and Dana Point’s business community.

This year’s event was emceed by chamber board member Viet Tran (Southern California Edison).

The crowd of more than 150 people dined and listened on as 2015 Chairman Enzo Scognamiglio (Brio Tuscany Grille owner) opened the annual meeting and Dana Point Mayor John Tomlinson performed the swearing in of the new board for 2016.

Following the business portion of the meeting, Scognamiglio voiced his appreciation and enjoyment of his time as chairman. He also recalled some of the

past year’s successes, such as partnering with the city in the Shop Del Prado campaign to help attract shoppers to Del Prado businesses during the Lantern District streetscape and infrastructure construction, and the chamber’s growing membership.

“We are the voice of business for Dana Point,” he said. “From the Lantern District to Doheny Village to the Harbor, we are here to help our businesses. We are committed to being financially secure and operating the chamber to the highest standards. We are a strong chamber and you have helped to achieve that. And for that I thank you.”

Scognamiglio wrapped up by introducing Mits Arayama (Minuteman Press owner) as the incoming chairman for 2016.

“I have no doubt Mits will be a spirited and effective leader for the chamber,” Scognamiglio said as he handed the gavel off to Arayama.

Arayama took the podium and invited Senator Patricia Bates to join him on stage to thank Scognamiglio for his service as chairman for the past year.

“Thanks for your strong leadership in 2015 and for the passion you have for the chamber and our members,” Arayama said. “Your enthusiasm and hard work was contagious and we are better for it.”

Bates added her praise of Scognamiglio’s leadership and thanked him for his participation both in the chamber and at a small business roundtable she held last year and presented him with a framed proclamation in honor of his service.

Arayama addressed the crowd with his hopes and plans for the chamber in 2016.

“2016 will be the extension of a threeyear plan our board set two years ago,” Arayama said. “Our chamber has done a great job in serving and representing our members and I will see that we continue

Chamber of Commerce 2016 Board of Directors Mits Arayama, Chairman MINUTEMAN PRESS

Kim Tilly, Incoming Chairwoman DANA POINT HARBOR ASSOCIATION

Enzo Scognamiglio, Outgoing Chairman BRIO TUSCANY GRILLE

Eric Medor, Treasurer LAGUNA CLIFFS MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA

Lauralyn Loynes, Secretary DANA POINT TIMES

Richard Deffenbaugh DANA POINT AUTO SERVICE

Michael Fox FOXLIN ARCHITECTURE

Jorge Luhan II LUCIANA’S RISTORANTE

Gary Macrides SURTERRE PROPERTIES

Tammy McKennon EDWARD JONES FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Mike Powers GREENFIELD COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Patti Short STAR REAL ESTATE, SOUTH COUNTY

Paul Simonds SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY

Jay Styles WIND & SEA RESTAURANT

Viet Tran SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY

Ursula Luna-Reynosa CITY OF DANA POINT (EX-OFFICIO)

on the same path. We will continue to focus on four areas: membership … fiscal vitality … advocacy … and community.”

Awards were then presented for the citizen, business and ambassador of the year. A committee of former Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year awardees is tasked each year with selecting the new

honorees and the Ambassador of the Year is chosen by fellow chamber ambassadors.

Nancy Jenkins, 2014 Citizen of the Year, introduced 2015 Citizen of the Year, Terry Walsh. Jenkins told the story of Walsh’s longtime involvement and volunteer service to the community and the chamber.

Walsh has been a longtime, dedicated member of the Dana Point Civic Association and the Historical Society and served on the Town Center Plan Committee, among many other volunteer posts on a number of local nonprofits.

Walsh said that over the last 20 years of life in Dana Point, his “like” for the city has turned into a “love,” second only to his love for his family.

“If you can love a city, I love this city; I really, really do,” Walsh said, adding that he is extremely honored to have been chosen by a vote of the past citizens of the year, his peers, for the award.

The Business of the Year went to Jack’s Restaurant owner Jack Loconsolo who during the 18 years he has operated his restaurant in Dana Point has been very involved in the community. Along with his participation in the chamber, Loconsolo has lent his support to a number of local nonprofits, including the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group and the Ocean Institute. He, along with Jenkins, was instrumental in organizing the first Del Prado Art Walk in 2015.

The Ambassador of the Year award went to Judy Brandmeier, the former owner of Beacon Printing, a chamber member of more than 30 years and a dedicated community volunteer. She has served on the chamber board of directors and been a longtime member of the ambassador board.

For more information about the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, visit www. danapointchamber.com. DP

The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2016 was sworn in at the chamber’s Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner, Jan. 28 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

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www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

DP Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

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, February 9 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Granada Drive, 34000 Block (1:48 p.m.)

A man was in a caller’s backyard, possibly trying to break in. The man left when the caller confronted him. The intruder was described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, in his 40s, with blond hair and wearing a dark shirt, shorts and tennis shoes.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street, 34000 Block (1:27 p.m.) Deputies responded to a homeless encampment behind the Community Center.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Camino de Estrella/Camino Capistrano (11:15 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man seen sitting in a black Mercedes. The caller said the man had a gray beard and a camo hat and looked suspicious but could not provide further information as to what the man was doing.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Capri, 33600 Block (10:30 a.m.)

A caller reported seeing an 18- to 20-yearold man wearing a backwards tan baseball cap and carrying an orange bag, loitering near the pool area. The caller saw the same man loitering the day before “until a woman with a green mask on her face showed up and they got into a fight over whatever was in the bag.”

Monday, February 8 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Malaga Drive, 33900 Block (10:01 p.m.)

A man called police when his female neighbor climbed his balcony and then fell after someone scared her. The woman fell onto a vehicle windshield, breaking it. The woman told the caller she was extremely drunk.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Capistrano, 34200 Block (8:47 Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2015

p.m.) A man told deputies he allowed two homeless people to stay with him and they were refusing to leave. The man said the guests told him they were mother and son but the two—a 40- to 50-year old woman and a 20-year-old man—were having sex in his bedroom, the caller said.

DISTURBANCE La Paz/Street of the Golden Lantern (10:59 a.m.) A caller contacted police a second time to report a homeless woman who was continuing to build a structure and was adding more branches and chairs. The caller was not only concerned because the woman was refusing to leave but also because she digging in the dirt, near propane tanks and wires.

carport. The caller suspected the subjects were possibly hiding drugs because this is a regular occurrence.

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street, 34000 Block (12:33 p.m.) Three men were in a fight near the restrooms, possibly using a bicycle to hit each other.

Community Meetings MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34300 Block (11:31 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man, possibly with mental illness, screaming at passersby. The man was described as in his 40s with buzzed hair, wearing brown pants, no shirt and no shoes.

City Offices Closed

DISTURBANCE Doheny Park Road, 34000 Block (1:08 a.m.) A man’s ex-girlfriend broke his windows by throwing rocks at them. The ex, a 34-year-old woman was last seen running toward Costco.

INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN Via California, 26600 Block (11:26 a.m.)

A woman was on the ground in front of a driveway. The caller said the woman was breathing but could not be roused.

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

Friday, February 19

Sunday, February 7

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34300 Block (10:56 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man who was talking to himself and waving his arms around in the Carl’s Jr. parking lot. The man was described as tall with balding hair, brown corduroy shorts, no shirt and no shoes.

10 a.m.-4:15 p.m. The Bloodmobile will be in the library parking lot. Sign up at www.redcrossblood.org using sponsor code “DPL.” Identification is required.

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

WELFARE CHECK Pacific Coast Highway/Del Obispo Street (8:59 a.m.) A drunken man in his 30s was seen carrying a jug and staggering toward Carl’s Jr. The man was wearing an old hat, leather jacket, jeans, sandals and no shirt.

Bulky Item Drop Off Event

DISTURBANCE Ritz-Carlton Drive, 0 Block (9:11 p.m.)

Hotel security called regarding a female guest who was in the bar and believed she was drugged. The woman requested the call to police be canceled but deputies responded anyway.

DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano/Sepulveda Avenue (7:43 p.m.) A caller saw a man and woman in a physical fight. The man was seen dragging the woman. The two were last seen entering a trailer park near the area.

FIREWORK VIOLATION Manzanita Drive, 25100 Block (7:11 p.m.) “Large explosives,” possibly fireworks, were being set off at a pink house on Via Elevado.

DISTURBANCE Vista Corona, 24000 Block (6:03 p.m.) A woman called deputies when her 15-yearold son was being uncooperative after having his video games taken away. The boy threw a Slurpee at her, she said.

ILLEGAL PARKED VEHICLE Camino el Molino, 34400 Block (4:43 p.m.) A woman called to report a silver Honda was blocking her driveway and she needed to back her trailer out. Two officers were sent to respond because during a previous incident, the woman caller pulled a double-barrel shotgun on her ex-husband and fought with deputies.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Stonehill Drive, 23800 Block (4:22 p.m.)

Subjects in the Villas at Monarch Beach were taking apart a light blue car in the

DISTURBANCE Corniche Drive, 0 Block (3:58 a.m.) A man called to report two people were kicking his door down.

911 HANGUP-WIRELESS Street of the Golden Lantern, 34000 Block (3:08 a.m.) A patrol check was requested when a woman said, “The person who was stalking me before is now assaulting me.”

The line disconnected and there was no answer when deputies tried to call back.

DISTURBANCE-AUTO INVOLVED Calle Paloma, 34500 Block (1:15 a.m.)

The car alarm of a black or dark blue BMW was reportedly going off all night.

The caller said this has been an ongoing problem.

ROBBERY ALARM-SILENT Street of the Golden Lantern, 32500 Block (12:52 a.m.) Deputies were notified when a silent alarm went off. The signal was coming from a panic alarm inside a freezer. A construction crew working on the walk-in freezer at El Pollo Loco was to blame. The alarm sounded again at nearly 2 a.m.

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City offices will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day. City Hall, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

City Council Meeting

American Red Cross Blood Drive

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Residents many drop off unwanted bulky items for free at two Dana Point school sites, instead of taking them to the landfill. E-waste, green waste, large appliances, furniture and other large item that don’t fit into a normal waste container will be accepted. Many of the collected items will be recycled. Goodwill Industries will be on hand to accept charitable donations.

Free document shredding services will also be available. Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern and Palisades Elementary School, 26462 Via Sacramento, www.danapoint.org.

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Planning Commission Meeting

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

EYE ON DP

SOS Seeks Lifeline

Group says MemorialCare should provide ER or sell

BY ERIC HEINZ, DANA POINT TIMES

S

ince the possible closure of San Clemente’s Saddleback Memorial Medical Center’s emergency services was brought forth, one particular organization has continuously gathered support to keep it open.

In the wake of the upcoming decision by the hospital, the nonprofit Save San Clemente Hospital Foundation, or SOS as they have come to be known, has petitioned the hospital to maintain its emergency services.

Four members representing SOS, Dr. Gus Gialamas, a private-practice orthopedic surgeon who works under Saddleback in San Clemente and Mission Hospital; Mike Clark, an ad hoc committee member appointed by the city of San Clemente to examine the hospital’s potential closure; and private-practice physicians Dr. Steve Cullen and Dr. Nick Karahalios, said they would like MemorialCare to either continue to provide the services or sell the land to another medical provider that would.

Followed by the city’s rezoning of the hospital to require the land on which it sits to provide emergency services, hospital officials have said there is nothing that could legally bind them to keeping the campus’ ER open.

MemorialCare officials said they would pursue all legal options to protect their property rights because the zoning ordinance is too restrictive to allow for alternative options to provide health care.

“What’s transpired since this thing began is everyone has said we need emergency medical services here; nobody disagrees with that,” Clark said.

SOS members are also frustrated by what they claim is MemorialCare’s inability to discuss the issues with them. They said there have been few, if any, meetings between the foundation and the San Clemente hospital’s administration.

According to documents administered by the California Attorney General, the Saddleback campus in San Clemente is designated as a “public benefit,” which SOS members said binds them to providing emergency care.

The hospital is a private nonprofit, and according to documents from the MemorialCare website, SOS members also said they think the hospital has not been utilizing its revenue in the most efficient way, citing not enough has been spent on capital and equipment, education, research and community benefit programs.

The members also said many of the amenities once provided at the San Clemente campus have been moved to MemorialCare’s Saddleback Laguna Hills campus.

Not only would the hospital’s closure affect immediate services in San Clemente, but Gialamas said it would hamper other Page 7

hospitals.

“Those hospitals that are now going to take those 2,000 additional patients from San Clemente by ambulance … those patients are going to impact that hospital and all those patients who go to the Mission Viejo hospital,” Gialamas said. “It’s a domino effect in Orange County.”

Gialamas said San Clemente’s hospital was once a trauma center and has provided emergency services since it was built in 1978.

“I think there’s overwhelming support for emergency services, and we were hoping MemorialCare would see that and still be the hero,” he said. “We still think, even to this last minute, they still have an opportunity to be the hero and build a scaled-down hospital.”

MemorialCare’s argument to that has been the inpatient service, which has supported the lion’s share of medical costs, has dwindled to an infeasible census—due to the increase in separate outpatient locations that treat people and send them home rather than at the hospital—and cannot financially and adequately support the emergency services. SOS members said they think enough outpatient surgeries still come through the hospitals.

Cullen said because the hospital has reduced service ability, many of the patients have been transferred to the Laguna Hills campus, and census numbers are counted by discharged patients, not the ones initially admitted.

“We believe they have purposely driven down the census to justify the narrative that they want to sell,” Cullen said, adding it would benefit the hospital to do that in order to advocate creating a substantial outpatient facility.

What makes it difficult to quantify these claims is even though the Saddleback revenue is public record through IRS forms, the foundation is coupled with the Laguna Hills campus and they do not separate the two campuses’ finances, at least not on 990 forms.

Despite the controversy surrounding the hospital, the SOS members commended the hospital’s achievements and accolades. They cited the hospital being named as a top 5 percent facility with excellent physicians as judged by top medical examiners.

“We want MemorialCare to keep doing what they’re doing, but if they can’t keep the emergency services, then we think they should sell to someone who will,” Cullen said.

The SOS website can be found at www. savesanclementehospital.org. DP Editor’s note: Log on to www.danapointtimes.com to read the full version of a story that ran in last week’s issue about MemorialCare’s position on facilitating emergency services in San Clemente. www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Carlos N. Olvera, Dana Point City Councilman

City Ballot Measure Best Choice for Dana Point Town Center Initiative stifling, Town Center and Public Parking Improvement Initiative key to Town Center Plan success

I

n June the residents of Dana Point will be asked to vote on two ballot measures. One will be the “2015 Town Center Initiative,” and the other will be the “2016 Town Center and Public Parking Improvement Initiative.” In talking with many of the residents, it is clear there is much confusion regarding these measures. I am writing this op-ed to give my opinion on these two ballot measures and to hopefully give some clarity on what these two measures will do.

The “2015 Town Center Initiative” keeps the status quo, which has stifled new development for more than 25 years. The measure will perpetuate the development of private parking spaces versus public parking. Presently, at the peak period of business and shopping there are over 700 surplus private parking spaces that cannot be used by the public. The Town Center Plan, as approved in 2008, did not include a parking plan but instead deferred to parking regulations as inherited from the county when Dana Point was incorporated—regulations that were never tailored to city needs in any way. The many empty lots throughout Town Center will remain.

For a good understanding of the impact approving this ballot measure will have on

Letters to the Editor CITY COUNCIL SHOWS ITS STRIPES BETTY HILL, Capistrano Beach

The recent action by the City Council adopting a ballot measure opposing the citizen’s 2015 Town Center Initiative shows a total disregard and lack of respect for the residents of Dana Point. The council admits that voting for their measure will have no effect on existing law. Their measure is meaningless, obviously intended to confuse voters at election time.

Contrary to the council’s pro-development spin, the citizens’ initiative will not stop development in Town Center. In fact, the council has already approved three, huge “Irvine” style condo buildings in Town Center, eliminating several popular businesses. These buildings have 59 foot elevator towers, a variance for a fourth floor of condos, millions of dollars’ worth Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

our city, I recommend reviewing the Town Center Initiative Impact Report, which can be found on the city’s website at www.danapoint.org. For this reason, I am opposing this measure.

The “2016 Town Center and Public Parking Improvement Initiative” promotes a pedestrian-friendly environment for shopping, dining, entertainment and a wide range of activities that give meaning and identity to Dana Point’s Town Center, now known as the Lantern District. The city-sponsored ballot measure (initiative) includes the 2008 Town Center Plan that was unanimously approved (without a parking plan) by the City Council after more than 30 public hearings held by a committee of residents, business people and council members, as well as thousands of hours spent by city staff, consultants and the Planning Commission. In addition, this ballot measure includes a public parking plan that will protect the residential neighborhoods and minimize the effects of commercial parking while increasing the number of public parking spaces.

Parking in our city has always been a priority, and this ballot measure offers a common sense solution.

For example, in the Lantern Village

of parking concessions and go over and under the alleyways to make the buildings larger and more profitable.

The city’s parking plan to drastically reduce the parking requirements for Town Center—such as restaurants to two spaces per 1,000 square feet—doesn’t provide enough parking for residents or employees of the development, let alone customers or the public. It is way too risky and gives developers a very profitable free pass on parking, unfairly transferring the risk and burden to Dana Point taxpayers.

Developers and special interests want the gravy train to continue! They have already received $20 million in street improvements, $6 million in water district improvements, have development fees reduced by approximately 85 percent with little expected return, an expected savings of millions of dollars more in parking reductions and a compliant city council.

Taxpayers are expected to pay over and over again.

Should we trust this council to make developers follow the rules of the Town Center Plan? By their actions, this city council has indicated what they intend for

north of PCH, there can be permit-only parking, keeping commercial parkers out of the neighborhoods. In the Santa Clara district south of Del Prado, because it is considered in the “Coastal Zone” and subject to the California Coastal Commission, parking cannot be by permit only. Instead, a Parking Benefit District will allow residents to park as they have been, with no restrictions, and any overflow commercial parkers will have to pay for parking. This revenue could be used to help enforce the parking program and the parking laws.

Both plans will be adopted on a street-bystreet basis but only if more than 50 percent of the residents (or property owners) on the street agree.

The Town Center Plan, allowing for residential units above boutiques and bistro restaurants, provides for a vibrant living experience that benefits the entire city. This will ensure that the charm of our city is protected. For this reason, I support this ballot measure. 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.

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

Town Center and whom they represent; and it’s not the residents and taxpayers of Dana Point. Please support the 2015 Town Center Initiative on June 7. https://www.facebook.com/DanaPointResidents

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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

CORRECTION: In last week’s special edition of the annual Dana Point Times “Best of Dana Point People’s Choice Lantern Awards,” the website for The District Salon was incorrect. The correct website is www. thedistricthairsalon.com. We regret the error. The District Salon was the winner of a Golden Lantern Award in the Best Specialty Beauty Service category and a Silver Lantern Award in the Best Hair Salon category.

Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business 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 7. The DP Times (www. danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (www.sanclementetimes. com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE DANA POINT T IMES

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DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK

Kids attend last year’s Pet Parade hosted by the Fiesta Association in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Allison Jarrell

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20: KIDS PET PARADE Noon. Families are welcome to dress in costume and bring their furry friends to the annual Kids Pet Parade, presented by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association in Los Rios Park. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the parade begins at noon. Each entrant will receive lunch and one free entry to Zoomars Petting Zoo. Ribbons will be awarded to all first- through third-place winners, and the Judges’ Choice Winner will appear in the Swallows Day Parade on March 12. $5 entry fee per category. 31747 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. For more information, email nathankbanda@yahoo.com or visit www.swallowsparade.org.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 12 ‘LOVE IS IN THE AIR’ FASHION SHOW 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Join the Dana Point Woman’s Club for a gourmet luncheon, raffle prizes, silent auction, gift baskets and a fashion show of designs by Chico’s.

Tickets $50. San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. For info and tickets, call 949.426.0605.

FISH DINNER FOR LENT 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Every Friday until March 18. Salmon, beer-battered cod, shrimp tacos with all the trimmings and dessert. $10 for adults, $7 for children. Entire family is a maximum of $40. Takeout is also available. Our Lady of Fatima Church, 105 N. Esperanza, San Clemente, 949.492.4101, www.olfchurch.net.

SOLONE SINGS SINATRA 7 p.m.-10 p.m. John Solone will perform Page 10

hits by Frank Sinatra. $5. Adele’s at the San Clemente Inn, 2600 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, 949.481.1222, www.adelesanclementeinn.com.

BALLROOM BASH VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY 7:15 p.m. The $10 admission includes a short Rumba lesson followed by dancing to recorded music that includes Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz, Cha-Cha and other Latin dances as well as soft drinks and delicious refreshments. Plenty of free parking. Singles and couples are welcome. Community Presbyterian Church of San Juan Capistrano, 32203 Del Obispo, 949.498.0233, www.ballroombash.com.

Saturday | 13 DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Seasonal produce, flowers and much more at La Plaza Park each Saturday. 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.

VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER & DANCE 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Entertainment provided by the Street Corner Symphony Band.

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple. Reservations required. Dana Point Community/Senior Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point, 949.248.3507, www.danapoint.org.

(Cont. on page 13) www.danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 10)

Sunday | 14 FIVE VINES WINE BAR VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION Noon-10 p.m. Enjoy extended hours, special wine flights and pairings and live music at night. No reservations; firstcome, first-served only. Five Vines Wine Bar, 31761 Camino Capistrano, Suite 11, 949.800.9145, www.fivevineswinebar.com.

ITALIAN VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Experience an “Evening in Florence” at the Vue Restaurant with a four-course Italian dinner with live entertainment. Priced at $105 per person, the dinner includes one bottle of Chianti per couple. Reservations required. Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, Vue Restaurant, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, www.lagunacliffs.com, 949.487.7577.

CHASE BOYLE 7:30 p.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

Monday | 15 CAPT. DAVE’S WHALE WATCHING Times vary. Get up close to marine life aboard a Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari trip. Prices vary. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.

Tuesday | 16 TINY TOTS: PARENT & ME PROGRAMS AT OCEAN INSTITUTE 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. The Ocean Institute hosts a series of programs for children ages 2 and 3 and their parents on Tues-

days through March 1. Toddlers will explore shapes, colors, textures and more with everyone’s favorite tide pool animal, the sea star. $30 per class. Register online.

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

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; The Point supplies the sound system. 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

THIRD THURSDAY SHOP & DINE SJC 5 p.m.-8 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce kicks off the new monthly event in downtown San Juan. On the third Thursday of every month, visitors and residents will have the chance to stroll through unique shops, restaurants and galleries while enjoying in-store entertainment, special events and promotions.

For more information, call 949.493.4700, email info@sanjuanchamber.com or visit www.sanjuanchamber.com.

Friday | 19 MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION DANCE-OFF 4 p.m. The students of Shorecliffs Middle School Make-A-Wish Foundation project will host a “Whip/Nae Nae” dance-off and dance mob at the Outlets at San Clemente to raise funds to grant a wish for a child with a life-threatening illness. People who want to participate can donate $5. Music will be provided by DJ RICH. For more information, call 949.842.1405 or visit www.wishnaenae.com.

Wednesday | 17 SIERRA SAGE NATURE HIKE 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Join the Sierra Sage chapter of the Sierra Club for a hike among the natural scenery of The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. Ages 16 and up. $5- $10. The Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy, call for directions, 949.489.9778, www.rmvreserve.org.

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.

PAINTING AND VINO 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Sip wine while participating in a step-by-step painting class.

Supplies provided. $45. Register at www.paintingandvino.com. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

Thursday | 18 TWEEN SCENE AT DP LIBRARY 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Hands-on experiments and activities for kids ages 9-12. This month’s activity features science and candy. Meet in the Community Room. No pre-registration needed. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

TUNE A MELT 8:30 p.m.-midnight. Live music at Brio Tuscany Grille, 24050 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

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

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

On Stage at the Coach House: Lee Ann Womack

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

C

ountry music star Lee Ann Womack spent seven years making her newest album, “The Way I’m Livin’.” The record, which has garnered critical acclaim and earned her 2016 Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song, has been worth the wait for Womack.

Working alongside her husband, Frank, and several talented musicians, Womack has put together a new album that features original work and country covers of seminal favorites.

Womack is in the midst of her 2016 tour and will perform at The Coach House Concert Hall in San Juan Capistrano on Feb. 19.

Tickets are $30 and the doors open at 6 p.m.

Womack’s vocals, whether accompanied Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

Lee Ann Womack. Photo: Courtesy

by a lone guitar or full-piece band, drive the emotion of the tracks on “The Way I’m Livin’,” which cover a wide variety of themes (love, loss) and musical genres (outlaw country, bluegrass). Womack has performed

At the Movies: ‘Hail, Caesar!’

Lingers in Disappointment

songs that delve into those themes before, but this record seems to present them in a different light.

“I love songs about real, real life,” Womack said. “Roger Miller’s ‘Tomorrow Night in Baltimore,’ that’s about a man obsessed with a stripper … ‘Chances Are’ is (about) the world’s most honest, but hopeful, barfly … Life is all those things. Maybe we just made it a little grittier than people are used to.”

Womack will perform songs off “The Way I’m Livin’” as well as tracks from her nearly 20-year career.

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. DP

Page 13

Photo: Universal Studios

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

A

fter Jay Roach gave us his dramatic biopic on the blacklisted era of 1950s Hollywood in Trumbo last November, Joel and Ethan Coen have released their own take on the time period with the satirical Hail, Caesar! Those who are fans, or at least familiar with the brothers’ unique and distinctive style, will know that their movies are in the “love it or hate it” category.

In 1951 Hollywood, we follow Capital Pictures studio head Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) around town for a day.

As the day’s events transpire, his big movie star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) is drugged and kidnapped by a secret group of blacklisted communist screenwriters, while new cowboy star Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich) is getting a public image makeover by being cast in a sophisticated romantic comedy by director Laurence Laurentz (Ralph Fiennes).

There are a lot of moments that work, such as Channing Tatum’s dance scene, a wise-cracking Esther Williamsesque Scarlett Johansson and especially Ehrenreich’s whole story arc—he’s impressively the best part of the film with his spot-on John Wayne mimic.

But what really holds back the success of Hail, Caesar! is the lack of subtlety and self-awareness it could have advanced from. The film has a cynical and harsh feel that is almost jarring.

The filmmakers want to make fun of the business side of Hollywood but come off as more hypocritical in the end.

Hardcore Coen Bros. fans might get a kick out of the picture, but movie fans who want to see a good comedy about the golden age of Hollywood may want to stick with Singin’ in the Rain. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP DP LIVING Dana Point

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: It’s History by Carlos N. Olvera

Seeking Serra School Many remember hearing the name Serra School, but where was it, and when?

I

n the past, this column has made mention of San Juan By-the-Sea, founded in 1887, the area we now refer to as Doheny Village. This is where the Serra School story begins. It all started with the beachside train station on Victoria prompting the development of the small San Juan By-the-Sea community. After having been a boom town for only about two years, San Juan By-the-Sea failed and the train stop became known as “Serra.”

By that time the small community was in need of a “local” school. And it happened on August 17, 1908, when Serra School was founded.

This new school/ IT’S HISTORY

By Carlos N. school district was Olvera formed near the beach, below San Juan Capistrano. A vacant 30foot by 32-foot private residential house on Domingo Avenue, along with lots 8, 9 and 10, were fitted up as a schoolhouse and campus. If it were not for the flag, you would drive right past it. On opening day, 11 students showed up, mostly from the San Juan School, with teacher Miss Della Wright, a Santa Ana High School graduate of the class of 1901.

In 1921 the Orange County Grand Jury criticized the school, suggesting it be abandoned and the 12 students transport-

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: Easy Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

Serra School as it stands today, modified over time and now in use only for storage of old school furniture.

The old auditorium building is to the right of the main structure shown here. Photo: Carlos N. Olvera

ed to Capistrano by bus. This prompted the trustees to seek bids for a new school.

Then in 1926, Ole Hansen of San Clemente offered $25,000 to build a school in San Clemente. Instead, in 1929, Serra School District announced the future construction of a new school in Capistrano Beach for $28,000 to be designed by architect Fay Spangler—architect of the stillstanding Dana Point Blue Lantern Fountain Lunch building. This new school was of Spanish architecture with a tile roof and consisted of 13 rooms and two classrooms for 40 students each. The triangle-shaped land was donated by the Capistrano Beach Land Co., where the bus yard is today. The original Serra School was sold at auction to Tom S. Luoncono.

As with life, things grew and so did the school, to the point that San Clemente wanted to create a new school district in

1931. The “fight” went from the Orange County Board of Supervisors to Sacramento. There, school board members, the Chamber of Commerce and the Deputy District Attorney argued their case, based on convenience and economy. They were successful.

By 1938, Serra School was part of the Union High School District, and by 1941 it was referred to as Serra Elementary School at Doheny Park. Growth brought dissension by 1960. Petitions were circulated in an effort to dissolve the Capistrano Union High School District and form a smaller district. The goal was to build a new high school at Capistrano Palisades, which resulted in the formation of the Capistrano Beach School District. In 1963, the bonds needed for the Palisades High School did not pass.

The need for a study of effective and

economical government in the Dana Point-Capistrano Beach area was obvious.

Serra School hosted a community meeting called by the Dana Knolls Homeowners’ Association, the Capistrano Beach Civic Association and the Dana Point Civic Association, then led by Don Simpkin.

The result was an election to approve the unification of four school districts in the area, and if passed, fill seven seats from 23 candidates.

The newly formed Capistrano Elementary School District was now looking to acquire a site for a third school in Dana Point (this would later become the campus of Dana Hills High School), and in 1965 the four districts were consolidated into the new Capistrano Unified School District. This brought another community meeting at the Serra School, only this time to discuss establishing a new city or annexing to an existing one. Capistrano Beach was being considered for annexation to San Juan Capistrano or San Clemente.

By the mid-1960s, Serra School was abandoned as a school but remained as the district administrative headquarters.

The building continued to be used as a community center in 1969, but was still referred to as the Serra Elementary School.

Another community meeting was called at the site, but this time it was to discuss the formation of a new city, Serra. That movement was led by the late Dr. Roger S. Sanderson who owned land in Dana Point.

The Capistrano Unified School District announced in 1971 the move of its headquarters from Serra School to the former Capistrano High School. The subsequent paving of the Serra School playground was a hot button issue when it was made into the transportation center (bus yard).

In 1976, the buildings were saved from the wrecking ball and remain in use today. 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: Clementine

T

his little darling is Clementine, an athletic pup searching for her next workout buddy. Though sometimes a tad shy, she opens up when out playing and around other dogs. Clementine is a medium sized dog with a large dog’s physique and would make a great companion for someone with an active lifestyle.

If you would like to know more about Clementine, please call the San ClementeDana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492-1617, or visit with her at the shelter, 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente. DP

Page 14

Clementine. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter

www.danapointtimes.com

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

Senior Cyclist Leaves No Carbon Footprint

I

met John Bates in Dana Point in 1990 in the parking lot of the Dana Niguel Bank, which is now the Pacific Western Bank. My deli, Tutor and Spunky’s, and other local restaurants were serving food at an outdoor Chamber of Commerce mixer.

John has always been interested in local transportation. In 1990, he was a commissioner on the Dana Point Traffic Improvement Subcommittee. I recall him telling me that day, “Our first ON LIFE AND recommendation was to LOVE AFTER 50 get rid of Caltrans and

By Tom Blake return to two-way traffic on PCH and Del Prado.”

Over the years, John and I have stayed in touch. Recently we met for coffee in the Dana Point Harbor at The Coffee Importers. He is still interested in local transportation but on a more personal level. To get

to the Harbor from his San Juan Capistrano home, he rode his bicycle.

I asked him how often he rode. John said, “All of the time. Before I retired 12 years ago, I sold my car and used my bike to commute to my Dana Point office from my home.”

“Have you always been a bike rider?”

I asked.

He said, “I got my first bike at age 8 when my family moved from Los Angeles to Pasadena. That bike was several sizes too large for me. I couldn’t sit on the seat because my feet didn’t reach the pedals, so I rode around all day in a standing position.

“But, I loved the freedom and the extended range that that bike afforded me,” he continued. “I soon learned the streets of Pasadena, the Rose Bowl, Devil’s Gate Dam, Colorado Boulevard and the Rose Parade. I knew it all and thought it was cool.

“I had several bikes during my youth and graduated from fat balloon-tire cruisers to thin-tire hot racing bikes,” John said.

“I used them all for delivering newspapers and for my basic transportation for years.

However, when I turned 16 and got my driver’s license, I put my bike away for several years.”

John said when he and his wife Judy had children, they got their son and daughter bicycles as soon as the children were able to ride. The family went on riding trips together, including a three-day trip from their Mission Viejo home to San Diego.

John added, “Years later, when my

John Bates. Photo: Tom Blake

daughter graduated from the University of San Francisco, she and I rode our bikes from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, a 360-mile trip down Highway 1 that took six days. She and I still have occasional half-day rides and always talk about the highlights of our six-day trip together.

“Now that I’m retired, I bought a battery-assisted bicycle and use my bike to get to and from the Mission San Juan Capistrano, where I’m a volunteer docent, and zip around from Mission Viejo to San Clemente and Dana Point for lunch, coffee meetings, shopping and various errands,” he said.

“At age 78, I consider myself very fortunate to still enjoy cycling,” John added.

“My bike is again my basic transportation, and, even after all these years, I still get a thrill from the freedom that riding a bicycle gives me. Once in a while I fall off, but after 70 years of cycling, I’m still in one piece and enjoy every minute on the road.

By riding my bike instead of driving a car, I get valuable exercise and am pleased that I don’t leave a carbon footprint on the environment. However, I will admit that my wife still has her car and sometimes I ride with her.

“And regarding the 1990 Traffic Improvement Subcommittee recommendation about the two-way traffic in Dana Point, it only took 25 years to make it happen, but we were right. It’s much better for all concerned.”

If more people would follow John’s bikeriding example, our cities might start to resemble European cities such as Amsterdam, where bicycles outnumber automobiles. Wouldn’t that be nice?

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 DPTimes 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 DPTimes or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 949.485.4979 info@bodymindspiritiop.com www.bodymindspiritiop.com

AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

CAFE - DELI

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

COFFEE SHOP

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Represent.xyz

949.274.0590, www.represent.xyz Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

DANCE/FITNESS

Club Salsa Dance Studio

34202 Camino Capistrano, 949.230.0543, www.clubsalsadance.com

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

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

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 Page 15

LIST LOCALS ONLY

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

View online at www.sanclementetimes.com.

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

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dolphin Report

out its regular season with an impressive 1-1 draw against top-ranked Aliso Niguel on Feb. 10. The match was the final South Coast League game for both teams. The Dolphins placed third in league.

The Dolphins had a very successful run through the tough South Coast League this season. Dana Hills (6-4-10, 3-2-3) lost only two matches, one to first-place Aliso Niguel and one to second-place San Clemente, on its way to claiming third.

Dana Hills earned a berth in the upcoming CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. The soccer playoff brackets will be released on Feb. 15 and 10 a.m.

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.

Girls Hoops Completes Turnaround, Takes Second in League In a drastic turnaround from one year ago, the Dana Hills girls basketball team captured second place in the Sea View League in 2016. Dana Hills defeated Mission Viejo and Capistrano Valley on Feb. 8 and Feb. 10, respectively, to close out the regular season and are now playoff bound.

The Dolphins (16-7, 5-2) made a drastic turnaround this season in just the second year of head coach Anne Honey’s tenure.

Dana Hills won only nine games last season, including two league contests, and placed fourth in league. This year, the Dolphins’ hit the 16-win mark for the first time since the 2007-2008 season.

Sophomore guard Peyton Romo led the Dolphins offense in a 47-37 victory over Mission Viejo on Feb. 8. The standout sophomore recorded game-highs in both points (15) and rebounds (eight). Romo also recorded five steals in the contest and, as a whole, the Dolphins recorded 22 steals against the Diablos. Senior Maddy Bloom poured in 13 points in the win.

The Dolphins capped the regular season off with a bang by scoring a season-best 70 points in a 70-30 win over Capistrano Valley on Feb. 10. The Dolphins jumped out

Dolphin Report:

By The Numbers COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE

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hrough the use of statistics, we take a look at the standout performances and moments of the 2016 winter prep sports regular season.

84 • Number of made 3-pointers by Dana Hills senior guard Parker Romo this season. As of Feb. 11, Romo’s mark of 84 3-pointers was second-best in Orange County.

5 • Number of times Romo made six 3-pointers in a game this season.

10 • Number of draws recorded by the Dana Hills girls soccer team this season.

Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

Boys Soccer Draws With Mustangs

The Dana Hills girls basketball team completed a remarkable turnaround in 2016 after winning 16 games and punching their ticket to the CIF-SS playoffs. Photo: Courtesy

to a huge 25-4 lead after the first quarter and did not let up. Bloom led all scorers with 27 points and Romo contributed 16 in the win.

Dana Hills will compete in the upcoming CIF-SS Division 2AA playoffs. Brackets will be released on Feb. 14 at 12:30 p.m.

Dolphins Water Polo Falls to Tritons in League Finale A second-half surge powered the San Clemente girls water polo team past visiting Dana Hills 10-7 in the final match of the regular season on Feb. 10.

Both teams were deadlocked at five goals apiece at the halfway point, but the Tritons outscored the Dolphins 5-2 down the stretch to seal the victory.

120 • Total goals scored by Dana Hills water polo player Sydney Baba in 2016. As of Feb. 11, Baba’s goal tally was the third-highest in Orange County.

61 • Total assists tallied by Baba this season, the fi fth-highest mark in Orange County.

419 • Season point total for the Dana Hills girls basketball team’s senior guard Maddy Bloom. Bloom led the Dolphins in scoring and finished seventh in the Orange County scoring title race. Bloom scored 20 or more points in 12 games this season.

8 • Season-best unbeaten streak compiled by the Dana Hills boys soccer team this season. The Dolphins either tied or won a match during a stretch that lasted from Dec. 4 to Dec. 29.

2 • Number of Dana Hills winter

Sydney Baba and Maia Borisoff each scored a team-high three goals and both tallied an assist.

A win would have pulled the Dolphins (14-15, 4-4 league) even with the Tritons (18-11, 6-2) in the South Coast League standings. The Dolphins finished third in league play, behind San Clemente and El Toro, respectively, and ended the regular season as the No. 9-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 2.

The third-place finish in league earned the Dolphins a berth in the upcoming CIFSS Division 2 playoffs. Playoff brackets will be released on Feb. 13 at 10 a.m.

Girls Soccer Draws With Top-Ranked Wolverines The Dana Hills girls soccer team closed

Dana Hills senior captain Trevor Allen found the back of the net in the second half against the Trabuco Hills boys soccer team in a 1-1 tie on Feb. 5, ending a three game losing skid for the Dolphins.

Dana Hills (7-7-3, 0-5-2) was set to play Laguna Hills in the final league game of the season on Feb. 11. Results were not available at press time. The Dolphins lost to the Hawks 3-1 in the teams’ first meeting of the season on Jan. 22.

Boys Basketball Closes Out Season With Game Against Rivals The Dana Hills boys basketball team was scheduled to close out its season with a South Coast League matchup against rival San Clemente on Feb. 11. Results were not available at press time.

The Dolphins (9-17, 0-7) played in several closely contested games this season, but have yet to find a win in league play.

The Dolphins lost to Mission Viejo 6851 on Feb. 9.

Dana Hills senior guard Parker Romo (10) has made 84 3-pointers this season. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

sports senior student-athletes that will be competing at the collegiate level next season. Spencer Madden, of the boys soccer Page 16

team, will play at Cal State Fullerton and Maia Borisoff, of the girls water polo team, will play at Arizona State University. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

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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!

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FURNITURE FOR SALE 3 piece beige ultra suede Italiansectional in excellent condition $350. Green silk chair $150. Dresser, chest and nightstand beautiful white wash wood great condition $350.

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REWARD!

Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

Page 17

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Cookin’ Up Seaside Excitement Local surfers claim more than 50 percent of the trophies at Seaside Reef Prime

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 55-58 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: San Clemente: 4-8’ Poor-Fair , Catalina: 8-14’ Poor-Fair Outlook: New, long period WNW swell builds in Friday as SSW swell fills in. Fun, peaky surf in the waist to head high zone Friday with bigger surf on Saturday.

Wind continues to look favorable through the end of the work week, with light offshore winds in the morning. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Griffin Colapinto of San Clemente turned in the winning performance in Boys U18 at Surfing America Prime event No. 5, Jan. 16-17 at Seaside Reef. Photo: Andrea Swayne

BY ANDREA SWANE, DANA POINT TIMES

W

inter-like waves, summer-like weather and super-athletic talent—in perfect proportions—was the recipe for an exciting and entertaining event at Surfing America Prime event No. 5 at Seaside Reef, Feb. 6 and 7, but in this case, too many cooks didn’t spoil the broth; it took it to new heights. And for San Clemente-based surfers, that meant claiming 11 of 20 podium spots.

The entire field of talented Surfing America Prime surfers made the most of the clean, consistent 3- to 5-foot surf, spicing up their heats with an entertaining mix of committed rail surfing, vertical hacks and aerial maneuvers, in what was arguably the most exciting event of the season, so far.

Seaside Reef at Cardiff State Beach was working fabulously, delivering wave after

rippable wave during the entirety of the twoday event. Surfers had their choice of long, clean-faced rights and lefts for the entirety of the contest. The only exception came late Saturday, when the tide shut off the rights during the final few hours of the event but left plenty of great lefts for everyone.

Griffin Colapinto bested the field in Boys U18, taking a convincing win over runner-up Jordan Collins (Carlsbad), 15.17 to 12.34. Fellow San Clementeans Kei Kobayashi took third and Kade Matson came in fourth.

Matson was the lone local in the Boys U16 final, taking the fourth-place finish. In his main division, Boys U14 on Saturday, Matson opted to skip Prime in favor of earning needed points in the National Scholastic Surfing Association event at Salt Creek

GROM OF THE WEEK

MICAH ALMIDA

R

ecent Hawaii transplant Micah Almida, 10, has been getting as much surfing experience as possible since moving to San Clemente about five months ago.

Micah has been surfing in National Scholastic Surfing Association Explorer events in Gold Coast, Northwest and Southwest conferences, earning spots in Super Grom division finals. In his main conference, NSSA Southwest, his performances have so far earned him a No. 7 ranking in the field of 18.

He also recently started competing in the Western Surfing Association Championship Tour in the Boy’s U12 division.

Micah is happy about his family’s move to San Clemente for the waves and the surf community but also for having more entertainment and cultural opportunities available to him.

“There’s a lot more stuff to experience here,” Micah said. On Kauai it’s one thing— Dana Point Times February 12-18, 2016

Micah Almida. Photo: WSA/Jack McDaniel

surfing, swimming, ocean, nothing else really—and there’s so much more to do here.

We’ve been to Hearst Castle, the Nutcracker, plays and stuff, and movies. We had one movie theater on Kauai and it was on the other side of the island and only played older stuff.”

Micah is an independent study, ‘A’ student working on a fourth/fifth grade curriculum.

He is an avid reader and his favorite subject is math. When he grows up he would not only like to be a professional surfer, but also an author or narrator of audio books and podcasts.

“Listening to Audible, I just liked it and thought narrating would be a good thing to

Beach in Dana Point. His absence did not affect his standing in that division, as he has already clinched the Boys U14 season title.

Boys U14 top honors went to Jett Schilling, 12.43, followed by Taj Lindblad, 12.07, in second, both from San Clemente.

In Girls U18, Meah Collins of Costa Mesa took the win, followed by second through fourth-place trophies being awarded to San Clementeans Caroline Marks (recent Florida transplant), Samantha Sibley and Kirra Pinkerton, respectively.

Alyssa Spencer (Carlsbad) was the big winner in Girls U16, clinching the season title with her win. Pinkerton was runner-up and Marks finished in fourth.

The date and location of the final event of the six-contest regular season of Surfing America Prime is yet to be determined. DP

do,” Micah said.

His other interests include tennis, golf and Legos.

Micah has so far earned sponsorship from Daniel Thompson/Tomo Surfboards, Kung Fu Tonic, Trace, Town and Country and Nezzy Surfboards. He counts his parents as his top sponsors and would like to thank them for their support. He also credits his older brother London for helping his surfing progress.

“He’s supportive—competitively supportive,” Micah said of his brother. “He’s real inclusive and nice. I learn a lot from him. We hang out a lot. We surf together, go everywhere together.”

Micah practices surfing every day, as part of a quest he hopes will eventually earn him paid sponsorship, qualification into the Surfing America Prime series and an opportunity to surf on the U.S.A. Junior Surf Team, on his journey to the pros.

“I’ve been working a lot with Mike Lamm and his coaching has been really helpful,” Micah said. “I also work with Sean Mattison and Kahea Hart. I’m focusing on rail surfing right now. A lot of the time when you’re young you just surf flat, so I’ve been working on getting on my rail and getting vertical.` —Andrea Swayne

Page 18

RESULTS Surfing America Prime, Event No. 5, February 6-7, Encinitas, Seaside Reef BOYS U18: 1. Griffin Colapinto, San Clemente, 15.17; 2.

Jordan Collins, Carlsbad, 12.34; 3. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente, 11.17; 4. Kade Matson, San Clemente, 9.34.

BOYS U16: 1. Noah Hill, Venice, 16.93; 2. Eithan Osborne, Ventura, 14.33; 3. Taro Watanabe, Ventura, 12.44; 4.

Kade Matson, San Clemente, 12.03. BOYS U14: 1. Jett Schilling, San Clemente, 12.43; 2. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente, 12.04; 3. Dimitri Poulos, Ventura, 11.86; 4. Taro Watanabe, Ventura, 7.93. GIRLS U18: 1. Meah Collins, Costa Mesa, 16.16; 2. Caroline Marks, San Clemente, 15.16; 3. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, 10.90; 4. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 8.93. GIRLS U16: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad, 12.40; 2. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 10.06; 3. Tiare Thompson, La Jolla, 9.50; 4. Caroline Marks, San Clemente, 8.77.

NSSA Open, Event No. 8, February 6-7, Dana Point, Salt Creek Beach MEN: 1. Kairi Noro, Huntington Beach, 13.83; 2. Micky Clarke, Ventura, 11.00; 3. Kade Matson, San Clemente, 6.69; 4. Eithan Osborne, Ventura, 2.30. JUNIORS: 1.

Cole Houshmand, San Clemente, 15.90; 2. Kade Matson, San Clemente, 12.90; 3. Eithan Osborne, Ventura, 12.60; 4. Dylan Hord, Huntington Beach, 11.30. BOYS: 1. Levi Slawson, Encinitas, 16.00; 2. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente, 14.77; 3. Patrick O’Connor, San Juan Capistrano, 9.07; 4. Raphael Castro, La Jolla, 6.10. MINI GROMS: 1. Lucas Owston, Oceanside, 18.34; 2. Cole McCaffray, Cardiff, 14.97; 3. Hayden Rodgers, Laguna Beach, 14.10; 4. Dane Matson, San Clemente, 12.93. WOMEN: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad, 18.63; 2. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, 17.80; 3. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 12.50; 4. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente, 6.90. GIRLS: 1. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, 14.80; 2. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, 12.83; 3. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad, 10.67; 4.

Chiasa Maruyama, Huntington Beach, 6.77.

UPCOMING EVENTS 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 13: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 6, Makeup heats from Jan. 16-17, 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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