March 18, 2016

LO C A L

N EWS

March 18-24, 2016

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Festival a Whale of a Good Time PAGE 18

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12

Who Will Qualify?

County to search for qualified private companies to serve as Harbor revitalization partner E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 4

This rendering shows a concept drawing of commercial core improvements planned as part of the county’s Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan.

Image: Courtesy of the County of Orange

Public Meeting Set for Doheny Desalination EIR EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

Man Killed in Hitand-Run Motorcycle Accident EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

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Kao Sets School Pole Vault Record at South County Classic SPORTS/PAGE 20

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DP EYE ON DP Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING EIR Prepared, Public Meeting Scheduled for Doheny Ocean Desalination Project THE LATEST: The South Coast Water District has released a Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Doheny Ocean Desalination Project, which “would produce up to 15 million gallons a day of potable drinking water” at Doheny State Beach, according to SCWD officials. An initial “demonstration phase” of the project would produce 4 to 5 million gallons a day.

SCWD said in a recent press release that the project would “provide a high quality, locally-controlled, drought-proof potable drinking water supply” for local water agencies.

SCWD will hold a public scoping meeting on Thursday, March 31 at 6 p.m. in order to present the project and the CEQA process and to gather public input and suggestions regarding the scope and content of the project’s EIR. The meeting will be held at the Dana Point Community Center, located at 34052 Del Obispo Street.

A floating pipe stretches from the Dana Point Harbor to Capistrano Beach in preparation of moving sand dredged from the Harbor floor onto the shore there. Photo: Andrea Swayne

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week

Motorcyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run Collision on Doheny Park Road PCH On-ramp THE LATEST: A 32-year-old motorcyclist died Sunday following a hit-and-run collision on the Doheny Park Road on-ramp to northbound Pacific Coast Highway. The motorcyclist has been identified as Joseph Salazar of Mira Loma, according to an Orange County Coroner press release.

At about 4:42 p.m. on March 13, Salazar, driving a 2016 Harley Davidson, and a man driving a Dodge Sprinter van entered the northbound Doheny Park Road on-ramp to Pacific Coast Highway, with the van entering ahead of the motorcycle. As Salazar approached the curve on the single-lane ramp, he applied the brakes and skidded approximately 40 feet before losing control of his motorcycle. Salazar was ejected from the motorcycle, the press release said. The driver of the Dodge van struck Salazar, stopping briefly before fleeing the scene.

Salazar was transported to Mission Hospital. Despite wearing a full-face helmet, Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

he did not recover from his injuries and died three hours later.

WHAT’S NEXT: The California Highway Patrol is investigating whether alcohol and drugs may have played a role in the fatal collision.

CHP is asking for help identifying the hit-and-run driver. The van was described as an older model, white in color with black trim—it may have damage on the right side.

Anyone with information regarding the van is asked to call CHP at 949.487.4000.

—Cameron Sadeghi

Harbor Dredging Project to Deposit Sand at Capo Beach THE LATEST: The second phase of the County of Orange’s Dana Point Harbor dredging project, that will pump sand from the Harbor onto Capistrano Beach, has begun.

A black floating pipe has been stretched from the Harbor mouth all the way to the shore at Capo Beach, in preparation for moving sand removed from the Harbor onto the beach.

The first phase, which was completed March 3, placed 7,000 cubic yards of sand onto the shore at Baby Beach.

WHAT’S NEXT: According to Harbor Director Brad Gross, an estimated 65,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed at Capo Beach.

A final completion date for the entire dredging project was not available at press time he said.—Andrea Swayne

WHAT’S NEXT: The Notice of Preparation of the EIR can be viewed at South Coast Water District offices, located at 31592 West Street in Laguna Beach, or online at www.scwd.org/NOP. The California Environmental Quality Act requires a 30-day public review period for a Notice of Preparation. Any comments or responses to the notice should be submitted in writing between March 14 and April 12 to: South Coast Water District, Attn: Mr. Andrew Brunhart, Ph. D., PE – General Manager, 31592 West Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.—Allison Jarrell

18th Annual SOCSA Opera Night Gala Set for March 20 THE LATEST: The South Orange County School of the Arts at Dana Hills High School continues its annual gala tradition celebrating opera, classical music, dance and contemporary art with “Opera Night 2016: Among the Stars,” to be held March 20 at the Soka Performing Arts Center, located at 1 University Circle in Aliso Viejo.

Opera Night is an 11-week educational program created, taught and produced

by SOCSA Director Raymond Woods and Opera Night Artistic Director Linda Rose Linnebach. Opera Night is SOCSA’s only educational program open to all area high school-age students. Capistrano Unified School District participants include students from Dana Hills, Capistrano Valley, Tesoro and San Clemente high schools.

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The gala reception will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Guests will be treated to a pre-show gallery exhibition and silent auction, with entertainment provided by SOCSA’s string quartet.

Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served.

WHAT’S NEXT: SOCSA will also present Opera Night vocal selections at a preview performance in the Porthole Theater at Dana Hills High School on March 19 at 7 p.m. An encore performance following the Soka Center gala is set for 7 p.m. on March 22 at Casa Romantica, located at 415 Avenida Granada in San Clemente.

Tickets for the March 20 Soka Performing Arts Center event are available at the Soka box office or online at www.soka.edu and www.socsarts.org. For more information, email opera@friendsofsocsa.org.—AJ

CDC Confirms First Zika Virus in Orange County THE LATEST: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed an Orange County man in his 40s tested positive for Zika virus.

“The individual, a Costa Mesa resident … contracted the virus in late January during travel to Central America and presented symptoms in early February,” a press release from Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District stated. “He was not seriously ill and has recovered.

The Health Care Agency has contacted the individual to provide counseling to prevent transmission.”

People who contract the Zika virus usually have no symptoms, but there are some who have reported sustaining fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.

“The greatest concern is related to the possible association between Zika infection in pregnant women and microcephaly (abnormally small head and brain) in newborns,” the release stated.

“There is no vaccine to protect against Zika infection,” Dr. Matthew Zahn, director of Disease Control and Epidemiology at Orange County Health Care Agency, stated in a press release. “People who travel to areas with active transmission of Zika must take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Local transmission has not been detected in the United States, the release stated, but the invasive Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit Zika virus are present in Orange County.

FIND OUT MORE: To learn more about Zika virus, visit www.ochealthinfo.com/zika.

Aedes mosquitoes information can be found at the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s website at www.ocvcd. org/invasivemosquitoes.php.—Eric Heinz www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Who Will Qualify?

County to search for qualified private companies to serve as Harbor revitalization partner

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

A

fter nearly two decades of planning and 2015 approval by the California Coastal Commission for the landside improvements, the county has taken a new step forward for the $140 million to $200 million Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan.

On Thursday, the County of Orange issued a formal Request for Qualifications, in an effort to find a suitable candidate with which to form a public/private partnership, or P3, for the revitalization of the Harbor.

Following the RFQ’s narrowing down of qualified private companies interested in taking on the job of funding, designing, permitting, building, renovating and then operating the Harbor via a master ground lease, a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be the next step in finding a project partner from the resulting short list, the notice said.

Among community groups reacting to the news is the Dana Point Boaters Association. DPBA Vice President James Lenthal responded with an update to the group’s membership in which he gave his impression of the pros and cons of the idea. Lenthal referred to the partnership as a “near certainty” due to the lack of available funds to pay for the project.

“How do you pay for a $200 million project with less than $60 million in the bank, and a county unwilling to finance construction costs from its general fund?” he wrote. “Seek a private partner willing to pay the bill.”

According to county officials, the Harbor generates more than $82 million in annual gross revenue, a number Lenthal said doesn’t pencil out as anything but a very long-term tenant/landlord relationship for Harbor-based boaters and businesses.

“A developer doesn’t invest in excess of $100 million dollars and not expect a return on their investment,” Lenthal said.

“And our Harbor doesn’t generate the sort of revenues to make a quick return on this investment. So expect this developer—our new private partner—to own a stake in our Harbor for very long time. A master lease making all of us—slip renters, shops and restaurants, yacht clubs, Embarcadero, fuel dock, ship yard, and so on—their tenants for 50 years.”

But an upside to such a partnership, Lenthal told DPBA members, is that an

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

The County of Orange issued a Request for Qualifications Wednesday to begin its search for a company to join in a public/private partnership for the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project. Photo: Courtesy

If we wait for OC Dana Point Harbor reserves to accumulate enough to fund “reconstruction of our marinas, following reinvestment in the landside portion of

the project, we’ve been told to expect a wait of 10 years or longer (our math says much longer). —James Lenthal

”

influx of private funds would provide a remedy for the long-awaited improvements on hold as a result of the county’s lack of available funds.

“If we wait for OC Dana Point Harbor reserves to accumulate enough to fund reconstruction of our marinas, following reinvestment in the landside portion of the project, we’ve been told to expect a wait of 10 years or longer (our math says much longer),” Lenthal wrote, adding that the additional wait time would amount to an added decade of wear and tear on docks that were due for replacement 10 years ago.

The county’s P3 includes a requirement that the East and West marinas and guest slips, along with the commercial core and the Dana Point Marina Inn be fully reconstructed. Other areas of the Harbor would undergo renovation.

A private developer could fund and commence marina construction right away, perhaps making it a priority,” Lenthal said.

“After all, the majority of harbor revenue is generated from the marinas; it’s the one steady, reliable source of cash flow in our harbor. It’s a sound investment. And the sorts of developers that will qualify for this project will have built quality marinas

around the country, perhaps around the world. We’re likely to get new docks and related infrastructure (utilities, security, service buildings) to rival some of the finest marinas that we envy when visiting other harbors. So, decent docks in 10 years or more or first-rate docks in two to three years?”

Lenthal also discussed a possible downside for boaters that could result from the change of how the Harbor has traditionally operated as a nonprofit entity under California Tidelands Trust rules. The Tidelands Trust does not permit revenue to be added to the county’s general fund, requiring it to instead be reinvested in the Harbor. This reinvestment, he said, has been good for boaters and is the reason slip rental fees have not skyrocketed over time.

“The same can’t be said for a private developer, master lease holder and operator,” Lenthal said. “While they will still be governed by the same Tidelands Trust, their development agreement will surely allow them to recover their investment, and then some. A private developer/operator will be in it for the profit. So where will they be allowed to make their profit? Slip

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rate increases? Reductions in services?

Deferred maintenance? Undesirable dock reconfigurations? There are all sorts of ways to increase their margins. What rules will be in place to prevent our new partner from lording over us with the leverage of their 50-year master lease? And if after the marriage we realize we made a mistake, there’s no divorce. Not after a nine-figure dowry.”

The county has committed to holding a series of community meetings to answer questions from the public and, according to their update, will be scheduling such gatherings soon.

For prospective bidders, the last day to submit questions about the RFQ is May 16 and the final due date is June 20. The county will conduct interviews with the interested parties between July 11 and July 15. As of press time, no final date for the announcement of the county’s shortlist has been set.

A DBPA-submitted list of recommendations to the county for use in its search for a project partner has been included in the RFQ. Visit www.danapointtimes.com to read the RFQ in its entirety. DP www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

Tammy McKennon Attends Conference for Edward Jones Financial Top Female Advisors Tammy McKennon, a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Dana Point, was chosen to attend the company’s inaugural Women’s Conference in February.

The conference, at Edward Jones headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, hosted just over 200, or approximately 10 percent, of the firm’s top female financial advisors.

“It was quite an honor to be chosen for this inaugural event,” McKennon said. “It was created as part of the firm’s commitment to growing the percentage of female advisors to 25 percent, far ahead of the less than 16 percent industry average.”

According to a press release from the company, currently approximately

Tammy McKennon, an Edward Jones financial advisor, was among the firm’s top 10 percent of female advisors chosen for its inaugural Women’s Conference. Photo: Courtesy

19 percent of financial advisors are women. The event was organized to recognize the most successful among them.

McKennon has been with Edward Jones since 2009. She took over the Dana Point location, at 3 Monarch Bay Plaza, Suite 107, in 2012 upon Russell Kerr’s retirement. She also serves on the board of directors of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce.

SCWD Scholarship Program Now Taking Applications High School students have an opportunity to earn up to $2,500 in scholarship money by creating a South Coast Water District public service announcement video that educates people about the value of water and conforms to one of two themes: “A Day without Water” or “The New Normal.”

The “A Day without Water” theme asks students to imagine a water emergency in which the water supply is severely limited.

“The New Normal” asks students to discuss the long-term effects of the ongoing drought and educate the public on the necessity for changing water use habits.

Videos will be judged by a committee on production quality, entertainment value, creativity/originality and the incorporation of the theme message. The first place prize is $2,000, second place is $1,000, third is $750 and a YouTube Viewers’ Choice Award is $250. As a bonus, a $500 donation will be made to the arts program at the school that submits the most entries.

Video entries can be completed individually or in a group and must be either 30 seconds or one minute in length, in one of four preferred formats (.mov, .wmv, .avi, or mp4), and must include two DVD copies.

Only students living in the South Coast Water District service area are eligible.

The application deadline is May 2. Winners will be notified in June and the winning videos will be featured on the SCWD website and social media accounts.

Before applying, students should call Sonja Morgan at 949.499.4555 ext.1 to verify eligibility. Questions may also be sent via email to smorgan@scwd.org.

An entry and release form can be found online at www.scwd.org/community/ scholarships.asp.

Weed Through the Myths: Marijuana and Our Youth The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, OC Superior Court, NCADD-OC, St. Joseph Health and the OC Department of Education have collaborated to present a 3Gs Series (guide, guard, govern) event for parents and teens on marijuana trends in schools and the community.

The presentation is set for Wednesday, March 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern in Dana Point.

The event is free and open to the public.

Attendees will be educated on the current marijuana laws, lingo and signs and dangers of use.

For more information, call Sgt. Mike Pixomatis at 714.647.1806.

Register online at www.weedthroughthemyths-3gs.eventbrite.com.

Fighting for Me to Host Luncheon at St. Regis to Raise Funds for Sexual Abuse Survivors Talk radio show “Change is in the Air with Nicole Smith,” with nonprofit organization, Fighting for Me, Inc., are hosting a seaside luncheon and show at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort on Saturday, April 30, to raise funds to provide free counseling to sexual abuse survivors and their families.

The event will include guest speakers, live music, interactive art performances and more.

“As a sexual abuse survivor, I know it is very difficult to ask for help after an assault,” said Amanda Zarate, executive director of Fighting for Me. “I’m fighting for free sexual abuse counseling to be the standard of care and I am willing to do the hard work to open every possible location and place them in communities with the most need.”

Special guests include recording artists Christine Alicia, BETH, and professional live art performer John Garcia of John Garcia Urban Art Ministry, who will share his journey from troubled teen graffiti tagger to renowned sports celebrity artist with commissioned works of Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Byrd and many others. Daniel Richins, president of Argosy University, will also share his story of overcoming struggles and how he made it to where he is now. Argosy University’s Psychology Department will have mental health and social worker professionals available to answer questions and provide and onsite information booth.

The event is open to the public.

Early bird $100 pricing ends in April.

The first 100 registrants will receive a gift at the door. The St. Regis is offering a 30 percent discount for attendees.

For more information and registration, visit www.fightingforme.org.

Democratic Women to Host Women’s History Month Panel The Democratic Women of South Orange County is inviting the public to celebrate Women’s History Month with a panel of women leaders on Saturday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano.

DPOC’s March panel of speakers features Rep. Loretta Sanchez, candidate for U.S. Senate; Kimberly Ellis, executive director of Emerge California; and Angela Hendrix, director of the PFLAG Speakers Bureau of Greater Orange County and Long Beach. The panel will be moderated

by Jennifer Muir, general manager of the Orange County Employees Association. A light continental breakfast and beverages will be served.

Tickets are $25 general admission or $19 for Young Democrats. Sponsorships for Young Democrats to attend the event begin at $100.

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

EYE ON DP

Community DP Sheriff’s Blotter Meetings

a beard and wearing black clothing. No weapons were seen.

Sunday, March 13 DISTURBANCE Dana Point Harbor Drive, 24900 Block (9:48 p.m.) A patrol check was requested at Mahé when a bartender was arguing with a drunken woman who was trying to walk out on her bill.

COMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

Electronic Waste Day

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Get rid of old computers, monitors, televisions and other unwanted electronics without having to pay for disposal at the dump. Monarch Bay Plaza, corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Crown Valley Parkway, Dana Point, www.maonarchbayplaza.com.

Recycling Event at Dana Hills High School

9 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop off plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the school parking lot for students to recycle. Funds raised are distributed by the school’s PTSA for student programs. For more information, email president@ dhhsptsa.com. Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22

Dana Harbor Toastmasters

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

South Orange County Toastmasters Meeting

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23

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.

THURSDAY, MARCH 24

Coastmasters Toastmasters Club

7 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Practice your public speaking skills every Thursday at the OC Sailing & Events Center, 34451 Ensenada Place, Building B, 6658.toastmastersclubs.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25

City Hall Offices Closed

In observance of Good Friday, Dana Point City Hall offices will be closed.

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided.

An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Prado Avenue, 24800 Block (6:26 p.m.) A patrol check was requested when drunken men were seen swinging a machete around.

Monday, March 14 LOST PROPERTY Dana Drive, 25000 Block (12:26 p.m.) A man in a red truck near the Harbor office said he lost a gun and didn’t know when or where it went missing.

TRESPASSING Granada Drive, 33900 Block (11:01 a.m.)

A caller said, “The spiky-haired drug dealer is in the stairwell again.” The subject’s presence has been an ongoing issue.

A 29-year-old male transient was arrested and taken to Central Men’s Jail. Bail was set at $500.

DEFRAUDING AN INNKEEPER Del Obispo Street, 34200 Block (10:25 a.m.) A man left the restaurant without paying and took tips off the tables on his way out. He was described as being in his 20s, wearing a black leather jacket and having tattoos on his hands and eyebrows.

UNKNOWN TROUBLE Calle Paloma, 34500 Block (9:48 a.m.) A caller reported a patient was threatening to kill his doctor and had a loaded gun. It was unknown whether the subject had the gun in his hand at the time.

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Las Palmas, 26800 Block (9:22 a.m.) A man demanded deputies give him personal information about the owner of a vehicle parked in front of his residence.

When the man was told that information is not to be released, he demanded deputies respond to the location.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway, 34200 Block (3:49 a.m.) A caller phoned deputies from Del Taco when a delivery truck driver was seen standing on top of his truck in an effort to avoid a male transient who was threatening to beat him up. The transient man was described as 5 feet 7 inchess tall, in his 40s, with a medium build, gray hair,

CITIZEN ASSIST Via Sacramento, 26400 Block (3:44 p.m.) A man wanted to talk to a deputy to inquire whether he could have his soonto-be-ex-wife removed from the property because she had been removed from the lease.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Pacific Coast Highway/Street of the Copper Lantern (1:59 p.m.) A man in his 50s, wearing a yellow shirt and tan shorts, was seen attempting to uproot a tree on city property.

RECKLESS DRIVING Camino Capistrano/Camino De Estrella (11:32 a.m.) An elderly man in a red Porsche Boxster was seen driving on the wrong side of the road. He also pulled a “donut” in the intersection and then drove slowly in the middle of the lanes on Camino Capistrano.

Saturday, March 12 DISTURBANCE Doheny Park Road, 34200 Block (1:21 a.m.) A man walked into the bar and took a swing at a customer. The man hit the railing instead. He was bleeding badly and blood was “everywhere,” the caller said.

The man left on foot.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Camino El Molino, 34200 Block (12:23 a.m.) Orange County Fire Authority responded to a garage fire.

Friday, March 11 DISTURBANCE Ritz-Carlton Drive, 0 Block (11:59 p.m.)

A drunken man was at the hotel’s Raya bar trying to fight with employees and security personnel. The caller said the man was not a hotel guest and asked deputies to remove him from the property.

Thursday, March 10 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Prado Avenue/Street of the Golden Page 9

Lantern (3:12 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man lying next to a bus stop near Ralphs grocery store. The man was described as a transient who had “secretions” coming from his nose. The caller didn’t think the man needed medical attention.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Dana Point Harbor Drive, 24800 Block (Noon) A Dana Point Marina Inn employee called police when a female guest, who said she was part of a murder investigation, found blood in her dresser and “does not want to be held accountable.”

Wednesday, March 9 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Swanway Court, 25200 Block (5:25 p.m.)

A caller found an unknown man inside the house. The subject was described as a man in his 30s with a medium build, curly dark hair and wearing jeans and an insideout T-shirt. The man looked to be on drugs due to “a glazed look in his eyes.”

The man did not take anything from the residence, the caller said.

WELFARE CHECK Pacific Coast Highway/Dana Point Harbor Drive (4:14 p.m.) A man was seen walking down the street and foaming at the mouth.

PATROL CHECK Eastwind Drive, 25700 Block (1:07 p.m.)

A caller phoned police with a trio of complaints. The caller reported an ongoing issue with an RV sticking out of a driveway, a woman running a fitness boot camp out of her home and large truck tires in the middle of the street.

Tuesday, March 8 ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY St. Michael, 0 Block (9:02 p.m.) A caller reported a man across the street was shooting rabbits with a pellet gun so he could “dispose of them on trash day.”

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY El Encanto Avenue/La Cresta Drive (9 p.m.) A patrol check was requested when a man was seen “creeping around” looking into cars. The subject, a man in his mid30s and weighing about 220 pounds had arrived in a white truck, the caller said.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Dana Strand Road, 34300 Block (11:46 a.m.) A man in his 40s told the caller, “Jack off, bi***,” as he was walking by, and then “made a motion” with his hand.

DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway/Del Obispo Street (12:59 a.m.) McDonald’s employees were afraid to leave because a male transient was banging on the windows and setting up camp outside the restaurant. www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by Jim Kempton

Why India is the Most Important Ally Americans Should Cultivate

A

n emerging colossus on the international stage, India is an opportunity America should not miss.

In a world of strategic competitors, restless allies and distant adversaries, India should be viewed as the top potential candidate in America’s global quest for stable, free-market trading partners.

At first glance, the two giant nations seem unfathomably far apart. Americans are seen as cowboys. Indians are seen as, well, Indians. But beneath the obvious differences lie surprising and symbolic similarities long ignored. A capitalist economy, a democratically elected government with western values and mindset, India is an English-speaking homeland to 1.2 billion souls, most of them yearning for the very consumer lifestyle Americans would like to export. As the world’s seventh largest nation and the second most populous, India, more than China, offers a true potential consumer market.

Once revered for its ancient cultural contribution, India’s modern multireligious, multi-cultural society is now producing outstanding human resources.

Educated, industrious and entrepreneurial, the impact expatriate Indians have had on the U.S. is staggering: 12 percent of all American scientists are Indians. An astounding one third of all doctors, NASA scientists and Microsoft and IBM employees are U.S. residents from India.

British influence, inculcated by 200 years of imposed Pax Britannica, has fash-

Letters to the Editor ‘STRANDSGATE’ LEGAL COSTS NEARING $1 MILLION JESSE “JAY” SOWELL, Dana Point

Our City Council chose to fight four lawsuits on behalf of the developer of the Strand at Headlands luxury homes development, losing all four cases, and racking up what we now know were legal costs near or above $1 million.

Through a public records request to the city of Dana Point, I was able on March 10 to view invoices related to the “Strandsgate” case from Rutan & Tucker, LLP, the firm in which city attorney Patrick Munoz is a partner. Although the invoices were Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

ioned a rare hybrid of Eastern culture and Western institutions. Courts, corporations and bureaucracies are as familiar to New Delhi as New York. Even with more than 120 major dialects, English is universally spoken across the subcontinent, the official language for business, law, government and science.

India is not without myriad problems, of course. The Times of India has said India is the only country where everyone is in a rush but no one is ever on time, where one has to look WAVELENGTHS

By Jim Kempton both ways to cross a oneway road. Cities are often populated and then planned.

While the family is a strong unit in India, there is also the old joke that success is relative—more success, more relatives (frequently first in line at the patronage trough). Often deeply embedded, these serious weaknesses have repeatedly kept American business at bay.

But punctuality, traffic congestion and a lack of urban planning is hardly unique to India. Corruption and health and safety issues have not kept the U.S. from embracing far more odious partners. Shifting production to India would reduce China’s current financial power without economic disruption on our side. India could use the help, and we could gain a valuable ally.

Politically stable and western in thinking,

India’s geopolitical position is unmatched; a friendly strategic cornerstone surrounded by the world’s most volatile nations.

The entire northeastern rim is a contiguous border with China, a barrier to Beijing’s rising belligerence and North Korea’s lunatic leader. To the northwest sits a Pakistan bristling with nuclear armaments and an Afghanistan still full of Taliban terrorist camps. Facing eastward across the Bay of Bengal lies Myanmar, ruled by hostile tyrants. Just 600 miles from its western border, an unpredictable Iran vies for regional supremacy. Across the Arabian Sea, Somalia’s brutal warlords and Yemen’s pirates and rebels wreak destruction.

America might note that along with its 3 million men in uniform, Indian nuclear warheads point at each of these nations— a reminder of the strategic value India poses. This vast emerging nation-state is vital to our future and the world’s. As the premiere English-speaking, free-market democracy in the region, this critical Asian ally needs America to help build every available bridge between us.

Jim Kempton, an armchair amateur historian, first visited India as a youngster in 1965. He is pretty sure his family stayed at the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, or at least his mother was certain they did. 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 Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN

heavily redacted, it is clear that from 2010 through December 2015, total legal fees and costs equaled just under $947,000.

Invoices for any 2016 costs could push the amount above $1 million.

The city claims that all of those costs are reimbursable by a third party, presumably the developer (Sanford Edward).

However, it appears from recent city council agenda items and records that the developer is refusing to pay the bills. I have requested a copy of the agreement to reimburse, and will request an accounting of what, if any, costs have been reimbursed to date.

This whole matter raises serious financial and ethical questions: Why did our City Council choose to spend $1 million and countless additional time and resources to further the agenda of a developer against the rights of ordinary citizens, particularly in pursuit of a case so thin that the Superior Court

termed it "a pretext for avoiding coastal program obligations?"

Will the city be able to force the developer to reimburse us, or will we be on the hook for the entire $1 million? How much more will we spend on legal fees to gain reimbursement? The agenda for the next City Council meeting, in the budget report, includes items for legal costs totaling another $520,000.

Will we have to pay the legal fees of the Coastal Commission and the Surfrider Foundation, who won the suit? If so, will that cost the city another million dollars or more?

And most importantly, when will the City Council return to representing the citizens of Dana Point instead of deeppocketed developers?

Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING PICKET FENCE MEDIA 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 Cameron Sadeghi Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 9, Issue 12. 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

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

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DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK

These shrunken heads are on display as part of the Mummies of the World exhibit, at the Bowers Museum through Sept. 5. Photo: American Exhibitions, Inc.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19: MUMMIES OF THE WORLD EXHIBIT 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Mummies of the World: The Exhibition includes more than 150 artifacts and real human and animal mummies from across the globe—the largest collection of mummies ever assembled. From ancient Egyptian and Peruvian mummies to animal mummies and shrunken heads, the exhibit includes a wide variety of examples of how mummification can take place through natural and intentional practices.

The exhibit runs through Sept. 5. More information about the exhibit can be found at www.mummiesoftheworld.com. Bowers Museum, 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, 714.567.3600, www.bowers.org.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 18 MULTICULTURAL ARTS SERIES: CARLOS VELASCO 7 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’s Multicultural Arts Series features a performance by classical Latin guitarist Carlos Velasco. A reception prior to the concert will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is $15. Space is limited, RSVP to 949.493.2688. 31495-A El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.2688, www.facebook.com/sjcfriends.

‘BODICE RIPPER’ 8 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse presents the opening night of Bodice Ripper. When a struggling author of macho detective thrillers falls for an editor of women’s fiction, he decides to try his hand at writing a romance novel.

But his long-time collaborators—fictional characters Manley Stone and the worldly Vera—are determined to sabotage his efforts. Shows run through April 3.

Tickets are $20. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

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.

Saturday | 19 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.

DANA POINT HISTORY TOUR 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. This two-hour docent-led walking tour explores the history of the Headlands area and covers approximately 1.5 miles in distance. Tours run on the third Saturday of the month and have rotating themes. Maximum tour capacity is 10 people. RSVP to wqintern@danapoint. com or 949.248.3527. Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

ST. JOSEPH’S DAY & THE RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Join Mission San Juan Capistrano in celebrating St. Joseph’s Day with live music, performances and activities. Admission is free for Mission members and volunteers, $15 for adults and seniors and $6 for children ages 4-11.

26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

(Cont. on page 15) Page 13

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 13) AMERICAN GIRLS BOOKS AND CRAFTS 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Learn about the American Girl books and make crafts related to the series. Free. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

EXCHANGE CLUB SAN CLEMENTE HOSTS ST. PATRICK’S DAY 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Corned beef and cabbage will be served. The Couchois Brothers Band will perform starting at 6 p.m. Aniar Irish Dancers will perform from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and there will be a 50/50 raffle drawing with a minimum value of $1,000.

San Clemente Community Center, 110 N. Calle Seville, 949.240.4089, www.exchangeclubsc.org.

SHACC BOOK SIGNING 5 p.m. A special screening of Bud Browne’s Locked In and book signings for Surfing in the Movies, A Critical History and Laughing At Water. General admission is $10, SHACC members $5. 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, 949.388.0313, www.surfingheritage.org.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ST. PATRICK’S DINNER 5:30 p.m.–10 p.m. A delicious traditional Irish dinner will be served. The Aniar Academy Irish Dancers will perform.

There will be games for children, a singalong and more. Tickets will be available during the Our Lady of Fatima Church’s Friday fish fry from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. or at the parish office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $7 for children ages 6 to 12 and a family maximum of $50.

It is free for children 5 and younger. Our Lady of Fatima Church, McGowan Hall, 105 La Esperanza, San Clemente, jimmosich@live.com.

Sunday | 20 SAN ONOFRE PARKS FOUNDATION PRESENTS PANHE 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Panhe, a Native American gathering and celebration of protection

UPCOMING EVENT

Children gather candy and eggs last year at Sea Canyon Park in Dana Point, during one of the city’s two annual egg hunts. Photo: Andrea Swayne

and preservation, celebrates its 10th anniversary at San Mateo Campground at San Onofre State Park. The event is free to attend. Panhe is the 9,000-yearold historic village of the Acjachemen/ Juaneño people and continues to be a sacred and ceremonial site. The event will include singers, dancers, a flute circle, food, basketry demonstrations, speakers, artisans, plant demonstrations, vendors, museum exhibits and more. Parking and round-trip shuttle service departing from Concordia Elementary School, 3120 Avenida del Presidente in San Clemente, will be available throughout the day. San Mateo Campground at San Onofre State Park, 830 Cristianitos Road, San Clemente, 949.366.8599, www.sanonofreparksfoundation.org.

VOODOO GROOVE 5 p.m. Live music at StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26: CAPO BEACH & DANA POINT EGG HUNTS 9 a.m.-10 a.m. Hop on down to Pines Park in Capistrano Beach or Sea Canyon Park in Dana Point for the city’s annual egg hunts. The events begin at 9 a.m. with a marionette show, kids’ games, petting zoo and Easter Bunny visits. The Egg Hunt begins promptly at 10 a.m. for ages up to 10 years old. Bring an empty basket to collect the plastic eggs and candy. Admission is free. For more information, call the City of Dana Point Community Services & Parks Department at 949.248.3530. Pines Park, 34941 Camino Capistrano, Capistrano Beach; Sea Canyon Park, 33093 Santiago Drive, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

Monday | 21 TEEN TIME 6 p.m-7 p.m. Teens 12 to 17 years old can enjoy a different activity every week in the Dana Point Library Community Room.

Teen Tech Week: Learn how to code and program. Bring a laptop if you like. No pre-registration required. Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

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

Tuesday | 22

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.

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.

WORLD WATER DAY AT THE ECOLOGY CENTER 10 a.m. World Water Day is a holiday that celebrates our most precious resource: water. The Ecology Center has distributed 500 rain barrels for an annual water savings of 250,000 gallons every year. Take home rain barrels for a special rate of $30 for members and $40 for non-members.

The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

Wednesday | 23 PAINTING AND VINO 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Sip wine while participating in a step-by-step painting class taught by a professional artist. All supplies provided. $45. Register online at www.paintingandvino.com. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

FREE COMEDY 9:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.218.0120, www.mollybloomspub.com.

Thursday | 24 CASA UP CLOSE: VISUAL ACOUSTICS, THE MODERNISM OF JULIUS SHULMAN 7 p.m. The lecture will include a viewing of the 90-minute documentary Visual Acoustics about Julius Shulman who was an American architectural photographer. His vast library of progressive architecture photographs currently resides at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. General admission is $12, 10 for members. Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

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: Abrams Delivers with Latest ‘Cloverfield’ Installment

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

E

ight years ago, J.J. Abrams produced the disaster movie Cloverfield and helped resurrect the shaky cam, found-footage horror technique to epic proportions, setting a new standard for viral marketing. Quickly growing a cult following and paving the way for films like Chronicle (2012), the hit movie had found its place in pop culture. But then, out of nowhere, Abrams not only announces a new Cloverfield feature, but also drops a full teaser only two months before release.

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

Titled 10 Cloverfield Lane, the new picture is surprisingly brilliant and heart-racing.

After leaving her boyfriend to start over, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is sideswiped by another car, crashing off the road.

When she awakens, she finds herself in an underground bunker. Her “rescuer,” Howard (John Goodman), a doomsday prepper, claims he saved her from the poisonous fallout of an attack. He keeps her locked in the bunker warning that the air is now too polluted to go outside.

From what can be gathered in articles and

interviews, the Cloverfield franchise is more of a shared universe with different characters and stories rather than direct continuity in plot and leads. With that in mind, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a great theater experience just like the first movie was, but with its own tone, direction and narrative. Goodman and Winstead are superb, and director Dan Trachtenberg debuts a standout effort with a unique, crazy twist. For fans of original suspense-thrillers and not a fan of shaky cameras like the 2008 movie, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a must-see. DP

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Photo: Paramount Pictures

www.danapointtimes.com

DP DP LIVING Dana Point

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Reading with Wright by Christopher Wright

On Naval Novels: Ships, Subs and SEALs

A

s moderator at next month’s Literary Orange, the Orange County Libraries’ annual literary festival, I will be leading a panel discussion about the United States Navy in fiction.

Along with the festival’s panel discussions, this year’s 10th anniversary event, set for April 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Irvine Marriott, will also feature not one but three keynote speakers: authors Melanie Benjamin, Debbie Macomber and J. Ryan Stradel.

My panel, “The U.S. Navy in Fiction: Ships, Subs and SEALs,” goes from 10:40 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. and includes a discussion of the works of three authors.

Before I was a librarian I served in the U.S. Marines for 30 years and I have two years at sea, so I’m more than familiar with our great Navy and its people. I’m also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy so I have a thorough naval education. Putting together this panel was pure joy. It’s one thing to go out and experience the world through the Navy, it’s quite another to translate that adventure into books. Two of our three authors on this panel sailed the Seven Seas and the third did not. But you would be hard pressed to figure out which one, as they are all masters of their craft.

Two are local and one is visiting from the East Coast.

Rick Campbell is a USNA graduate and a retired commander who served in submarines. He lives in the D.C. area and is now a full-time writer. His first book published in 2014, The Trident Deception, some have said (and I concur) was the best submarine novel since Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October. If this book were made into a movie, an apt description would be The Hunt for Red October meets Crimson Tide.

It’s a non-stop thriller set at sea but with many cutaways to world capitals, for added geopolitical intrigue. It’s a lean, mean Clancy-like thriller involving a Fleet Ballistic

Missile (FBM) submarine, Iran, Israel and the United States. Campbell followed this in 2015 with another possible nemesis to the United States, China, in Empire Rising, another thriller that sounds all too real.

His third book, Ice Station Nautilus, due out this year, will involve the Russians and the Arctic. Surprisingly, these three books are a series going by the name Trident Deception rather than being named after a single character.

John Gobbell graduated from USC and served as an officer aboard destroyers in Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam, protecting the USS Hancock.

He is an avid sailor and yachtsman who lives in Newport Beach. He has published seven books: two standalone novels and five books in the Todd Ingram series. And READING WITH WRIGHT just who is Todd Ingram?

By Christopher Todd Ingram is a young Wright Navy lieutenant at Midway in the first book published in 1995.

By book five, in 2014, he is at war’s end a highly decorated commander involved in some touchy negotiations with the Russians over contested Japanese islands.

Ingram is a guy who sails and steams with the best of them while also getting involved in cloak-and-dagger escapades.

I’m wondering where Gobbell’s writing will go next. With the Cold War and Korea yet to be introduced, there are plenty of opportunities for adventure.

Scott McEwen is a lawyer who grew up in Oregon and now calls San Diego home. His active interest in rifles and military history morphed into writing and advocacy for Navy SEALs. He has written both fiction and nonfiction with one of the books he co-authored being made into a movie, American Sniper. Scott’s Sniper

Pet of the Week: Max

M

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

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

ax is a fun-loving pooch who loves the great outdoors. Whether joining in on an adventurous hike or just a romp in the yard, Max enjoys staying active.

When it’s time to take a break, he is wellmannered in the home and very well housetrained. Max will make a great best friend but prefers to be the only pet in the house.

If you would like to know more about Max, 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 16

Elite series includes three books featuring Master Chief Gil Shannon. They are all rollercoaster rides of adrenalin that are not for the faint of heart. Gil Shannon is a formidable man who can be counted upon to do his duty and never waivers from the mission. He knows when not to follow orders too. If you like Tom Clancy, you will love these books. Book four, Ghost Sniper, is due out in July. McEwen also has another nonfiction book about Navy SEALs coming out this September, American Commander: Serving a Country Worth Fighting For and Training the Brave Soldiers Who Lead the Way. Co-authored with Ryan Zinke, who retired from the SEALs with 23 years of service as a commander and later was elected to the Montana House of Representatives, this book should be another eye-opening window into the lives of Navy SEALs. I hope you can attend Literary Orange and meet these authors. Online registration is now open at www.literaryorange. org. Tickets are $65 and include a choice of meal and three panels.

The Dana Point Library’s informal

group, the Tea Time Book Club, meets every fourth Monday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and tea is served.

Bring your favorite tea cup and join us. All are welcome. This month’s meeting on Monday, March 28, at 10:30 a.m., will feature The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. For a list of featured titles, call the library at 949.496.5517.

For more information about upcoming events across the Orange County Public Libraries system, visit www.ocpl.org. The site also provides access to online databases, digital copies of popular magazines, PDF copies of historical sheet music, ebooks, audiobooks, jobseeker resources and more.

Chris Wright is not sure if he lives to read or if he reads to live. He has been a public librarian with the OC Public Libraries since 2006 and currently works at the Dana Point branch. DP 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

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

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

DP LIVING

A Whale of a Good Time 45th Annual Festival of Whales wraps up in fine fashion

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he 45th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales concluded March 12 and 13 with a selection of fun traditions.

In addition to record numbers of whale sightings, festival goers were treated to a number of activities and events to wrap up the two-weekend event.

The Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club Diamond Dig, postponed from the previous weekend due to rain, went off without a hitch on Saturday. Plenty of participants returned to dig for buried treasure in this pirate themed event and the grand prize, $1,250 diamond earrings donated by Marinelli Fine Jewelry (their seventh annual diamond donation) were found by Ella Carulli, 5, of Dana Point.

(L to R) Rotary Club Diamond Dig Chairman Alan Wickstrom, Courtney Carulli, Diamond Dig winner Ella Carulli, 5, and Rotary Club President Gary Maxwell, pose for a picture with the $1,250 grand prize diamond earrings on Saturday following the event.

Photo: Michael Maxwell

GUEST OPINION: Four Kids and a Dog by Elizabeth Bottiaux

QT with a Cutie

E

xtreme chaos and ear-splitting volume is simply the norm in our home. There are four young kids fiercely competing with each other in the “Parents’ Attention Playoffs.” Each child tries to outdo their sibling in an effort to be seen or heard. Kids can feel lost in the shuffle. It can be truly exhausting and overwhelming for everyone involved.

I’ve found that taking the time to connect with each child—alone—is invaluable. Finding that alone time can be incredibly difficult. Sometimes it requires pulling the cutie out of school for a few hours or dispersing siblings throughout the neighborhood. It’s amazing how different kids act when they’re plucked from the herd.

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

Grace Andriet, 13, of The Point Restaurant and Bar team pours a cup of clam chowder Saturday, March 12 at the Whale of a Clam Chowder Cook Off. Photo: Eric Heinz

The second weekend of the event traditionally includes a volunteer beach cleanup at Doheny State Beach, giving festival attendees an opportunity to impact the ocean environment in a positive way.

Also on Saturday, the Whale of a Clam Chowder Cook Off saw RJ’s Café winning the People’s Choice Award and Waterman’s Harbor restaurant taking the Mayor’s Choice Award. Cannons Seafood Grill won Best Booth honors.

The Whale of a Rubber Ducky Derby, Art in the Park and the Marine Mammal Lecture Series were among other activities offered.

For the traditional Festival of Whales finale, a large crowd gathered Sunday at Baby Beach to enjoy a day of live music at the Whale of a Concert on the Water.

Bands performed atop a floating stage and attendees also enjoyed a tri-tip or hamburger lunch at the Whale of a Barbecue and Beer Garden.

Find the Dana Point Festival of Whales on Facebook for more about the event and visit www.danapointtimes.com for a photo slideshow. DP Without the need to outshine each other, calmness transcends. I’ve marveled at my kids’ behavioral transformation when they’re alone. They act like completely different individuals. Thoughtful conversation replaces heated yelling.

A dear friend recently asked what advice I might have to pass along to another friend of hers. The friend was in labor with her fourth baby. Without much thought I said, “regular alone time with each child.”

That’s one of the best kept secrets about how to stay sane while raising four spritely offspring. Alone time can be helpful in resetting a child’s bad behavior or poor choices. Any family with two or more kids can reap rewards from one-on-one time.

When the kids were younger and clung to me like monkeys, one-on-one quality time was a little different. Maybe it was reading a story while the others watched television in another room. It often meant doing a craft with an older child while their younger sibling napped. Sometimes it was baking cookies together while other

SCENE { I N DANA P O I NT }

Reader, Marty Chokany, snapped this photo of Deputy John Frey standing

guard at the Harbor/Doheny Beach last week, waiting for sea lion rescue personnel to arrive to help this pup. “The deputy is a hero in my eyes,” Chokany said. “And I think the sea lion pup would agree.” Photo: Marty Chokany kids played outside.

Recently I carved out “QT” with our oldest daughter. She and I were able to talk in a calm atmosphere without constant interruptions. We were able to bypass the constant sister bickering and connect in a way that simply isn’t possible with siblings present. I could listen without feeling guilty about ignoring another child.

One-on-one time can be nothing more elaborate than driving home from water polo practice with only my little swimmer in the car. It’s rare, but once in a while all the FOUR KIDS stars align and it’s just us.

AND A DOG

By Elizabeth Listening to him eagerly Bottiaux tell me about his day for the five-minute drive home? Priceless.

My younger daughter found me last night as I was trying to sneak a quick shut-eye. At first, I was irritated that I’d been discovered. But when she sheepishly

Page 18

admitted that she wanted to snuggle with me, I welcomed her under the warm covers. She simply needed me to listen with undivided attention as she categorically reviewed all of her body’s owies from head to toe. As we snuggled in bed, I could feel the day’s struggles melting away.

Kids grow up fast. By spending one-onone time with each child, a clear message is conveyed. That child understands that they matter to you. I want each of my children to know they are loved and important.

Elizabeth Bottiaux is mom to four small humans, ages 5, 7, 8 and 10. She’s a San Clemente resident and has lived in Orange County for the past 16 years. She publishes a blog, www.fourkidsandadog.com, about family life in our tri-city area. 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

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

CLASSIFIEDS

Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com FOR SALE QUANTUM ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR Value $3,000 for sale for $800 OBO Call 949-496-9541

FOR RENT RENT A SPECTACULAR OCEAN/CATALINA VIEW REMODELED DANA POINT CONDO Steps to Strand/Salt Creek Beach, 3ba, 2ba, fireplace, available now, must see, rare opportunity, $3,250 mo. long term 714-390-4927

GARAGE SALES FORSTER RANCH COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2016 8am to 12pm. X st’s Camino Vera Cruz and Camino De LosMares

HELP WANTED SEEKING PART-TIME COPY EDITOR Picket Fence Media is hiring a part-time copy editor. Responsibilities include line editing for print, web and social and working with a team of editors on deadlines for weekly community newspapers. The job is based in Capistrano Beach, CA, and is for 15-20 hours per week (Monday-Thursday) at a negotiated hourly rate. Prior newspaper/magazine/media experience required. Qualified candidates should email agarrett@sanclementetimes.com and put “COPY EDITOR” in the subject line.

POSITION WANTED LOOKING FOR LIVE-IN POSITION As Caregiver or Nanny, Professional Experience, I have excellent references, Will consider room and board in exchange for part-time assistance. 949-324-2028

SERVICES HANDYMAN CHRIS Flat screen TV’s installed, anything Electrical, Plumbing, Finish Carpentry, Drywall Repairs, Mold and Wood Rot issues, Waterproofing, Decks and Patio covers repaired, Doors, Windows, Kitchens and Baths, Water Damage Restoration, Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication and Much More.

Phone Chris – 949 510 6645

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

WOOD DECK REPAIR WIZZARD Wood Rot Repair Certified Specialist, Wood Decks, Balconies, Patio Covers + Outside Stairs Repaired / Replaced, New Decking Systems, All work Guaranteed.

Phone Chris -949 510 6645

WANTED VINYL RECORDS & MUSIC MEMORABILIA WANTED! VinylRecordBuyer.com 310-7567854 Mike Best Prices Paid Guaranteed!

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

Page 19

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dolphin Report

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

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

Kao Sets New School Pole Vault Record at South County Classic Dana Hills senior Claire Kao set a new school record in the pole vault at the South County Classic track and field meet at San Clemente High School on March 12.

Kao cleared the mark of 12-feet-6-inches at the meet, which pits programs from the South Coast and Sea View Leagues against Trinity League teams. The mark broke Kao’s old school record of 12-4, which she set as a junior.

Kao’s achievement was one of many standout performances for Dolphin athletes at the event.

The girls distance runners stood apart from the rest of the crowd, recording several top finishes. Senior Kathryn Kaloroumakis placed second in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11:24.98, senior Sienna Serrao (5:16.10) placed third in the 1600-meter run and the girls distance medley team placed second.

Junior Jennifer Daly won the 800-meter run, finishing in a time of 2:18.01. Daly’s time was over four seconds faster than the next closest competitor. Senior Colin Stein won the 800-meter run in the boys division with a time of 1:58.17.

Senior Diego Southard placed second in the boys 300-meter hurdles.

The boys distance team also had a successful day at the meet. Thomas Wilfert (9:43.04) placed third in the boys 3200-meter run, senior Jake Ogden (4:12.64) finished second in the 1600-meter run and senior Mason Coppi (4:19.36) placed fourth. The boys distance medley team finished first in the event.

In the 400-meter dash, Dolphin sophomore Max Halvax (51.93) placed third.

Senior Jack Ridder took second in the boys pole vault, clearing the 13-06 mark.

Dolphins Volleyball Falls to Warriors in Foothill Tournament Finals The Dana Hills boys volleyball team ran through the first round of the Foothill Tournament with relative ease last Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

Dana Hills senior Claire Kao set a new school record in the pole vault by clearing the 12-foot-6-inch mark at the South County Classic track and field meet on March 12.

Photo: Steve Brouwer

week. The Dolphins did not lose a game in pool play and barnstormed their way to the tournament finals, where they were upended by Saddleback Valley Christian in two sets, 25-15, 25-17.

Dana Hills (13-3) went a perfect 3-0 in pool play to start its tournament run on March 11, defeating Woodrow Wilson, Godinez and Alhambra, respectively.

The Dolphins pushed past Mission Viejo in two sets in the first round of the knockout stages and picked up another two-set win over Esperanza in the quarterfinals. Dana Hills battled its way past Foothill in the semifinals, emerging with a 23-25, 25-22, 15-13 victory.

Dana Hills opened South Coast League play with a four-set loss at the hands of Tesoro on March 15. The Titans defeated Dana Hills, the reigning league champions, 25-15, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21.

The Dolphins will compete in the Orange County Championship Tournament March 18-19 before returning to league play with a home match against Trabuco Hills on March 22.

Parrish Powers Dolphins During Win Streak Dana Hills softball’s junior pitcher Serafine Parrish has put together a stellar month of March. In five games, dating back to March 8, Parrish has pitched five

complete games, picked up five wins, and has allowed zero earned runs. The Dolphins (6-2), needless to say, have won five consecutive games.

Parrish’s dominating run started against Beckman on March 8. The Dolphins’ bats erupted and Parrish was on her game in a 17-0 victory. Parrish struck out 14 batters in the win, a start of a strikeout trend that carried over into her next four outings.

Parrish struck out seven Tritons in a 1-0 win over San Clemente on March 10. She struck out 13 in a 2-0 win over Esperanza and eight in a 5-1 win over Laguna Hills on March 12 as part of the Northwood Tournament. In a 2-0 win over Marina on March 15, Parrish blanked 14 batters, tying a season high.

The Dolphins lineup has also been catching fire of late. The Dolphins have four hitters who are batting over .350 on the season, led by senior Samantha Williams, who is batting a blistering .536 through eight games.

The Dolphins will close out competition in the Northwood Tournament with a game against Valley View on March 19 and play a rematch against San Clemente on March 22.

Boys Lacrosse Remains Perfect on the Season

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Five matches into the season, and the

Dana Hills boys lacrosse team is proving to be a tough out. The Dolphins (5-0) have yet to lose a game and recently earned wins over Mater Dei, Northwood and Sage Hills, respectively.

The Dolphins’ offense produced its highest point total to-date in a 15-5 victory over Sage Hill on March 15.

The Dolphins were set to open Sea View League play against Mission Viejo on March 17. Results were not available at press time. Dana Hills will host a talented JSerra team on March 18.

Boys Tennis Edges Stallions, Chargers The Dana Hills boys tennis team improved its record to above .500 following back-to-back nonleague victories over San Juan Hills and Edison on March 10 and March 15, respectively.

The Dolphins (3-2) were dominant in a 17-1 victory over San Juan Hills and continued their solid play in a 12-6 win over Edison.

The doubles duo of freshman Riley McCall and sophomore Ryan Burns were effective against Edison and won all three of their matches. The Dolphins singles rotation of Marek Michulka, Michael Perez and Tyler Bloom won a combined six of nine points in singles competition. www.danapointtimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Dana Wharf Fish Count DANA POINT TIMES

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Dana Hills junior pitcher Hans Crouse allowed only four hits and struck out nine in an eight-inning complete game victory over El Dorado on March 10. Photo: KDahlgren Photography

Dolphins Baseball Heads Into League Play The Dana Hills baseball team closed out its run through the Loara Tournament with a convincing 6-0 win over Woodrow Wilson on March 15. Senior pitcher Kayl Cota threw four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out three. The effort earned Cota his first win of the young season.

The Dolphins, who finished runner up in the Loara Tournament last season,

started this year’s tournament off with a win over Canyon, an extra-innings loss to Woodbridge and a 1-0 loss to Villa Park on March 8. Dana Hills bounced back with an extra-innings 2-1 win over El Dorado on March 10 and the win over Woodrow Wilson.

Dana Hills junior pitcher Hans Crouse turned in a stellar performance in the Dolphins (3-2) win over El Dorado. The junior hurler went the distance, throwing eight innings of four-hit ball while striking out nine as only one unearned run crossed the plate.

n his weekly fishing report, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching captain Brian Woolley outlined how the storms that passed through the area last week brought decent conditions for calico bass fishing.

With the water holding at 63-degrees, Woolley said the more experienced anglers were able to catch a good number of calico bass, with a majority of them being released.

Woolley said the company’s fishing trips have been hitting a lot of rockfish, as well as the bass, and that several excursions out to San Clemente Island have produced good cod fishing.

Here is the latest fish count out of Dana Wharf: March 16 • 3 boats; 67 anglers: 24 calico bass, 14 sand dabs, 11 sheephead, 10 rockfish, 6 vermillion rockfish, 2 sculpin, 1 sand bass.

March 15 • 2 boats; 67 anglers: 50 rockfish, 17 calico bass, 12 vermillion rockfish, 6 sculpin, 5 sand bass, 4 sheephead, 1 halibut.

March 14 • 1 boat; 19 anglers: 4 calico bass, 3 sheephead, 3 rockfish, 1 sand bass.

March 13 • 3 boats; 93 anglers: 43

San Juan Capistrano’s Beverly Robertson hooked a large halibut aboard Dana Wharf’s Sum Fun. Photo: Courtesy

vermillion rockfish, 41 rockfish, 28 calico bass, 9 sand bass, 4 sheephead, 1 sculpin, 1 whitefish.

March 12 • 2 boats; 36 anglers: 12 sand bass, 9 calico bass, 6 sheephead, 1 rockfish.

March 11 • 2 boards; 26 anglers: 29 calico bass, 5 rockfish, 2 sand bass, 2 sheephead, 1 sculpin.

March 10 • 2 boats; 46 anglers: 80 vermillion rockfish, 13 calico bass, 12 sheephead, 6 rockfish, 4 sculpin, 4 boccacio, 1 ling cod. DP

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Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

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GROM OF THE WEEK

KEI KOBAYASHI Kobayashi earns first WSL Pro Junior victory in Florida at Ron Jon Vans Junior Pro

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES

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still can’t believe it,” said San Clementebased surfer Kei Kobayashi on Monday, a day after winning his first World Surf League Junior Pro event when reality began to sink in.

Kobayashi, 17, emerged victorious at the WSL Vans Junior Pro in Cocoa Beach, Florida on March 13. The win, he said, was a product of hard work, good equipment, support, confidence and hospitality.

“It all came together for me in the final,” Kobayashi said. “It felt like everything was going my way. My surfboard was working.

My new Matt Biolos (Lost) board felt great all week. I stayed with the Colemans (the family of fellow surfer Tommy Coleman) and their hospitality was great. They really made me feel welcome. I’d really like to thank them for that. And I couldn’t have done it without my sponsors and my support crew back home.”

Earning the highest heat score of the

Kei Kobayashi of San Clemente is chaired up the beach by fellow San Clemente surfer Kevin Schulz (left) and event runner-up Chauncey Robinson (Florida) after earning his first WSL Pro Junior victory on March 13 at the WSL Ron Jon Vans Junior Pro in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Photo: Hank Osterkamp

event, a 17.83 with a 9.83 and an 8.00, Kobayashi comboed the field for a comfortable win over runner-up Cocoa Beach local Chauncey Robinson. John Mel (Santa Cruz) earned a third-place finish and Che Allan of Barbados took fourth.

“Everyone was surfing well all week, and the final was stacked,” Kobayashi said.

“With Chauncey, a local used to surfing this kind of mushy waves, I knew it was going to be tough. I just tried to stay really busy and focused during the heat.”

His board played an important part in his

Mongoose Cup Registration Now Open

RESULTS WSL Ron Jon Vans Junior Pro, March 10-13, Florida, Cocoa Beach, Shepard Beach Park WOMEN: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad; 2. Leilani McGonagle, Costa Rica; 3. Malia Osterkamp, San Clemente; 4. Maddie Peterson, Florida. MEN: 1. Kei Kobayashi, San Clemente; 2. Chauncey Robinson, Florida; 3. John Mel, Santa Cruz; 4. Che Allan, Barbados.

WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 6, March 12-13, Make-up heats from Jan. 16-17, Oceanside Harbor

T

he seventh annual Mickey Munoz Mongoose Cup is set for April 9 at Baby Beach (Dana Cove Park) in the Dana Point Harbor. Registration is now open at www.paddleguru.com/ races/2016MongooseCup/register.

The event is a fundraiser and includes individual stand-up paddle and prone races and relays for all ages, adaptive paddling instruction for paddlers with disabilities, SUP yoga, skills clinics and the Waterman Expo featuring board demos and the latest waterman technology, and more.

The Mongoose Cup is presented by the Sport of Kings Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps those in the surfboard manufacturing industry afflicted with life threatening and debilitating illnesses due to exposure to harmful chemicals during the surfboard manufacturing process. The first 50 Sport of Kings entrants will receive a Mickey Munoz autographed event T-shirt.

Dana Point Times March 18-24, 2016

performance, he said, noting that at 5 feet 4 inches long, 18.60 inches wide and 2.08 inches thick, it was the right equipment for the conditions—choppy 2- to 3-foot windswell—but a significant departure from his usual 5’5” x 18.14” x 2.09”.

“I got some comments about how wide it was, but it worked,” he said. “Making it out of my first heat definitely made me feel like I had the right board under my feet.”

Kobayashi also talked about preparing his body for the start of the WSL Junior Tour in an effort to kick off the season with

BOYS U12: 1. Evan Gallen, San Diego; 2. Niko Ripley, San Clemente; 3. Ryder Fish, San Clemente; 4. Cole McCaffray, Cardiff; 5. Brayden Burch, San Clemente; 6. Lucas Owston, Oceanside. BOYS U14: 1. Taro Watanabe, Ventura; 2. Hagan Johnson, San Clemente; 3. Nolan Rodgers, Laguna Beach; 4. Mick Davey, La Jolla; 5. JoJo Whelan, Costa Mesa; 6. Jacob Kelly, San Diego. GIRLS U16: 1.

Olivia Pessanha, San Diego; 2. Brooke Young, San Diego; 3. Kelly Smith, Laguna Beach; 4. Peyton Slater, Carlsbad; 5. Chiasa Maruyama, Huntington Beach. THE BALANCE OF HEATS WERE POSTPONED: Oceanside Lifeguards shut down the event because of an environmental health warning (due to rain) by San Diego County.

POSTPONED: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 7, March 12-13, Make-up heats from Jan. 16-17, Oceanside Harbor POSTPONED: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 8, March 12-13, Make-up, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty

Mickey Munoz addresses the crowd at the 2015 Mickey Munoz Mongoose Cup. Photo: Bill Schildge

Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available.

More information about the event can be found on the Mongoose Cup Facebook page and at www.sportofkingsfoundation. org. DP —AS

UPCOMING EVENTS March 19: Soul Surf Series, Event No. 6, San Clemente, Pier March 19-20: NSSA Open, Event No. 10, Huntington Beach, Pier April 9: Mickey Munoz Salt Life Mongoose Cup, Dana Point Harbor, Baby Beach April 16: Soul Surf Series, Event No. 7, San Clemente, T Street

Page 22

a good result and eventually make it to this year’s world championship.

“I really want to make it to the Pro Junior World Champs this year and I’ve been working really hard in the water and training at DSC Performance, to be ready for this,” he said. “And then I ended up sick at the beginning of last week and couldn’t surf much right before the event. But by Thursday I started to feel better and I’m stoked that my hard work paid off and carried me through. The last couple of years I didn’t even make it out of the first round, so making my first heat really gave me confidence and momentum.”

Kobayashi will turn 18 in November, making this his last year of Pro Junior eligibility.

“I’m really happy with my surfing right now,” he said. “I train every day when I’m home. There are eight events in the North American series, and I really want to be in top form and get a chance at World Juniors because it’s my last year on the junior tour.”

Kobayashi arrived home on Tuesday for a day off before jetting off to Hawaii for the Pipeline Pro Junior, the start of a twomonth stint away from home.

“Pipeline doesn’t count as a North American Pro Junior event but I want to go there for practice,” he said. “I can’t get points for this region but I can win prize money. But really I just want to get out there with three other guys and surf Pipe because it’s a great opportunity I don’t want to miss.” DP

Hobie Surf Depot to Open on Fridays Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hobie Surf Shops will open their Surf Depot (warehouse) with items at 50 percent to 60 percent off. The Surf Depot is located at 32921 Calle Perfecto, Suite A, San Juan Capistrano. For more information, call 949.487.1282.

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 59-61 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 4-8’ Poor-Fair Outlook: Fun size SW swell and leftover WNW swell slowly eases going into the weekend. Surf in the waist - shoulder high zone with bigger sets at winter standouts on Friday. Favorable conditions. Potential for new W/WNW swell to fill in late weekend. Check the premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

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