August 4, 2017

LO C A L

N EWS

August 4-10, 2017

YO U

C A N

U S E

OC Tavern Offers Unique Off-Track Gambling Experience PAGE 16 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 31

Moving Forward Raintree Partners Begin Construction on Prado West E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 3

Renderings of Prado West show what the completed Pacific Coast Highway project could look like. Photo: Courtesy of Raintree Partners

Dana Hills High School Principal Role Filled EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

Book Depicts life of Capistrano Beach’s First Icons DP LIVING/PAGE 14

www.danapointtimes.com

Father Discusses Raising World Champion Daughter DP SURF/PAGE 18

GO TO DANAPOINTTIMES.COM FOR THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS AND SPORTS

DP EYE ON DP

Dana Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week Dana Point Lobster Fest Tickets on Sale THE LATEST: The 8th annual Dana Point Lobster Fest is returning to Doheny State Beach this month to raise money for local organizations.

The Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club hosts the event every summer to support groups such as Make-A-Wish, Boys & Girls Club, Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group and more.

Last year, more than 500 people filled Doheny State Beach to eat, play games and listen to live music.

Through Aug. 19, general admission all-you-can-eat tickets are $105 online and $120 at the door, general admission for one lobster is $85 online and $100 at the door, and the Tail Table all-you-caneat lobster tickets for a single person is $150.

For those who cannot make the event, but wish to sponsor a Marine, may do so online at www.danapointlobsterfest.org/ buy-tickets.

Parking at Doheny State Beach will be $15 per vehicle, or guests can pay by the hour. Two free VIP parking passes are included with the Tail Table.

During the event there will be appetizers, a bar, lobster, smoked tri-tip steak, desserts, live music and dancing.

WHAT’S NEXT: Lobster Fest will be held on Saturday, Aug. 19, starting at 4 p.m.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.danapointlobsterfest. org. —Kristina Pritchett

Dana Hills High School Principal Role Filled THE LATEST: Joshua W. Porter, Ph.D., was announced as the new Dana Hills High School Principal, on Monday, July 31, according to Capistrano Unified School District officials.

According to a press release, Porter’s first day was Tuesday, Aug. 1, and was appointed during the Board of Trustees’ July 26 meeting.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a school with a proven legacy of educational excellence in its community,” Dana Point Times August 4-10, 2017

Porter said in a statement.

Jason Allemann left the school at the end of June to fill the role of Laguna Beach High School principal. He was at Dana Hills for six years and is a Dana Hills graduate.

Porter previously has served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal and positive behavior intervention and support coach. Since 2014, Porter has been the principal at Carlsbad High School.

WHAT’S NEXT: The first day of school is Tuesday, Aug. 22.—KP

Raintree Partners Begin Construction on Prado West THE LATEST: Officials at Raintree Partners announced construction has begun on the mixed-use multi-family property in the Lantern District.

Prado West will include 109 luxury residences with nearly 3,000 square feet of restaurants, shops and public outdoor space.

According to the press release, residents including the mayor, have worked with Raintree on some of the project’s specifications.

“Specifically, Raintree Partners has increased public courtyard space within its project, eliminated the project’s controversial roof decks and reduced the height of several elevator towers at the building,” according to a statement by Raintree.

Jason Check, managing director for Raintree, said since the company has become involved with the project, they’ve been working to address some of the concerns from the community.

“We are very excited about the future of the Lantern District and are fortunate to be a part of its revitalization,” Check said in a statement. “Our goal is to create a place that connects people and businesses, increases the walkability of the city’s Lantern District, and drives economic growth by attracting desirable new retailers and restaurants to the community.”

During the construction, one block of Amber Lantern between PCH and Del Prado Avenue will be closed. While closed, drivers traveling west on PCH can access Del Prado by using Ruby Lantern. Eastbound PCH traffic can access Del Prado by using Violet Lantern. To access businesses with entrances on the alley south of PCH, drivers can use the temporary access driveway from PCH. Officials said they anticipate Amber Lantern reopening in early 2019, but could not confirm a date.

WHAT’S NEXT: Officials say the project will be completed in early 2019.

Construction phases for the project

Renderings of Prado West show what the completed Pacific Coast Highway project could look like.

Photo: Courtesy of Raintree Partners

include the commencement of vertical construction, re-opening of Amber Lantern, the opening of Prado West and the opening of the garage for public use.

For more information, visit www.pradowest.com.—KP

City Attorney Costs Up for Discussion THE LATEST: The city’s Financial Review Committee is moving forward with their research regarding city attorney costs.

During the Wednesday, July 26, meeting, the committee requested Assistant City Manager Mike Killebrew to reach out to other cities about whether they have in-house attorneys versus how much cities pay outside attorneys, among other information.

Chairman Brian Porter said he felt there was a lot the committee will need to look at when comparing cities.

“We have to understand what neighboring cities are doing. How are they budgeting for it? We need to create that data first,” Porter said.

Committee member Buck Hill said the reason for doing this was to make it “more economic for Dana Point.”

“There are other possible ways we can improve instead of changing the total structure,” Hill said.

Committee member Larry Rolapp said another factor they needed to take into consideration was how “aggressive” cities are when pursuing litigation.

WHAT’S NEXT: Killebrew could come back during the next meeting with the information he received from the cities.

As of press deadline, a meeting was not scheduled online and an agenda was not available.—KP

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Congressional Candidate Forum Aug. 12 THE LATEST: The League of Women Voters (LWV) will host three democratic candidates running for the California 49th Congressional district seat during a candidate forum on Saturday, Aug. 12.

Currently, Rep. Darrell Issa, a republican who has held the seat for 17 years, represents Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.

The three candidates include Ret. Col. Doug Applegate, Mike Levin and Paul Kerr.

Applegate was the 2016 congressional candidate who ran against Issa. He currently resides in San Clemente and retired from the Marine Corps in 2006.

Levin, a San Juan Capistrano resident, announced his candidacy on the democratic ticket shortly after the 2016 election.

According to his website, Levin is a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County and worked as an attorney “focused on environmental and energy regulatory compliance and government affairs.”

Kerr is the latest democrat to join the list of candidates. Kerr is a three-year veteran of the Navy, having served on a destroyer ship based out of San Diego.

His platform centers on healthcare and environmental issues.

Candidates will be given two minutes to make an opening statement and audience members will be able to submit questions. Candidates will have one minute to respond and if a question is directed to a specific candidate, they will have the chance to respond first.

WHAT’S NEXT: The forum is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 1234 N. Santa Fe Ave. in Vista, California.

—Staff www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Community Meetings SATURDAY, AUGUST 5

FARMERS’ MARKET AND CRAFT FAIR 9 a.m. There will be fresh produce and treats for sale at the Farmers Market.

Every first Saturday of the month there are craft vendors. La Plaza Park. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point. 949.279.3122.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8

VETERAN’S ASSISTANCE 1:30 p.m. The Dana Point VFW Post 9934 provides veterans with assistance. Dana Point Community Center.

34052 Del Obispo, Dana Point. Contact Bob Fowler at rfnamvet@gmail. com or call 949.275.3412.

DANA HARBOR TOASTMASTERS 7-8:30 p.m. Fine-tune your public speaking skills each Tuesday at Capo Beach Church. 25975 Domingo Avenue, Capistrano Beach. 949.492.7181. www.toastmasters.org BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) MEETING 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday. BILY helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. 119 Avenida De La Estrella, San Clemente. www.bilysc.org.

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Registration for Lantern District Car Show Open Registration for the Dana Point Lantern District Classic Car & Motorcycle show is open.

The event is held by the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and features custom and classic cars and motorcycles along Del Prado.

The event will be held on Sunday, Sept.

17, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Admission is free for spectators.

Registration to enter a car or motorcycle can be found at www.danapointchamber. com.

Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are also available by visiting the Chamber’s website or emailing operations@ danapointchamber.com.

Dana Point Resident Recipient of Saddleback Memorial Foundation Scholarship A Dana Point resident was one of the recipients of the Saddleback Memorial Foundation scholarships.

During the annual Scholarship Awards for Saddleback Memorial employees, Dana Point resident Jennifer Calley was the recipient of the Scholarship Endowment Award.

Calley was among 21 other employees who were awarded $50,000 in scholarships

Registration for the Lantern District Car Show, scheduled for September, is now open. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

to further their higher education.

This year, more than $1 million was distributed, according to a press release.

To receive the scholarship, the employees must be full- or part-time employees with a minimum of one full year of employment. They must be taking courses for credit and must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Each applicant had to fill out an application which included a supervisor’s recommendation letter.

Shopping Extravaganza to Benefit Local Organizations During the Outlets at San Clemente’s third annual Shopping Extravaganza, local

organizations can benefit from shoppers.

The event will provide shoppers with exclusive discounts at the Outlets’ brand name stores and the opportunity to win prizes.

Lunch, wine, beer and cocktail tastings will be provided as well as live music. Proceeds will benefit more than 30 local charities.

Shoppers can choose the ticket of their favorite charity, which will receive a $25 donation per ticket.

Some local charities include: Because I Love You (BILY), Doheny State Beach Interpretive Center, Just Like Me Foundation, Pet Project Foundation and more.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7. For more information, visit www.outletsatsanclemente.com/tickets.

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10

SOUTH COAST WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING 6:30 p.m. The Board of Directors will meet in Dana Point Council Chambers.

Dana Point City Hall. 33282 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. www.scwd.org.

COASTMASTERS (TOASTMASTER’S) 7-8:30 a.m. Join the members of the Coastmasters every Thursday to improve your speaking and leadership skills. 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point. Adjacent to Baby Beach at OC Sailing & Events Center. www.coastmasters.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11

ACTION ASSOCIATES 7:30 a.m. Members of the networking group meet every Friday at RJ’s Café for networking. Membership is $45 per month and includes breakfast. Guests must RSVP before the meeting at actionassoc@gmail.com. 25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

Dana Point Times August 4-10, 2017

News Next Door

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

City Enters into Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Ganahl Lumber for Lower Rosan Ranch The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, Aug. 1, to take the next step in negotiations with Ganahl Lumber Company for the sale and development of the Lower Rosan Ranch—a 15-acre property off of Stonehill Drive.

Three members of the City Council—two members were absent—approved an exclusive negotiation agreement with Ganahl Lumber for the property. The approval marks the next step in the overall sale and development process, which staff said will take a bit longer to complete. City staff is actively working with Ganahl on a site plan.

Ganahl Lumber’s proposal includes the Ganahl facility in the center of the property, a restaurant concept at the southern edge of the site, and self-storage and car storage for neighboring auto dealers on the northern portion of the property.

The family-owned lumber company currently has 10 facilities in Southern California, including a store in Capistrano Beach. Ganahl President Peter Ganahl said the company will eventually close its Capo Beach location and move those operations to the Stonehill Drive property.—Allison Jarrell The Reserve, City of San Clemente Sue TCA on Environmental Settlement The Reserve Maintenance Corporation homeowner’s association and the city of San Clemente filed lawsuits on Friday, July 28, against the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) for what they claim were violations of California’s open meetings act laws.

TCA officials said at a forum on June 5 that not building a toll road is also an option. The roads are intended to alleviate traffic jams in South Orange County, but opponents of the roads have said once the I-5 expansion in San Clemente is complete, traffic should stabilize.

The lawsuits are based on a settlement of various lawsuits from the Save San Onofre Coalition and multiple environmental agencies, which was forged in November 2016.

The agreement established an “avoidance

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area” that ensures no toll road could be built through the San Mateo Watershed and Trestles south of San Clemente.

The lawsuits also mentions a protective agreement between CalTrans and the TCA, which litigants are asking the court to declare illegal. The Orange County Board of Supervisors, the California Department of Transportation and the TCA’s Board of Directors are also being sued by the city.

In the city’s lawsuit, it states that Mayor Kathy Ward, the city’s elected liaison to the TCA who at the time of the vote was the Mayor Pro Tem, was not briefed on the current litigation of the TCA and the environmental groups and that she felt uncomfortable voting on closed session items without sufficient background information.

City attorneys are asking the Superior Court to prohibit actions regarding the protective agreement until they can be vetted by requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and to halt any proposals related to the protective agreement.

The next TCA board meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, at the TCA headquarters, located at 125 Pacifica in Irvine.—Eric Heinz www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Council’s Corner by Mayor Pro-Tem Paul Wyatt

We Cannot Arrest Our Way Out of Homelessness “We have a homeless problem and it’s getting worse!”

I

f I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this I’d be rich. In January of this year, I was appointed to represent the City Council on the Dana Point Homeless Task Force. I immediately started doing my homework, attending meetings, reading articles, looking at other cities to find best practices, talking to businesses and residents, and this statement keeps coming.

During this six-month period, I’ve heard a lot of statements, such as: the headline of this article, “we cannot arrest our way out of homelessness,” “many homeless are service resistant,” “if we take care of them it will encourage more to come,” “feeding them COUNCIL'S enables them,” “it’s much CORNER less expensive to house

By Paul Wyatt them than to leave them homeless,” and many more. My concern with all these statements is that they are accurate, but incomplete and leave everyone throwing up their hands in frustration.

Dana Point residents’ level of concern was proven at the June 20 City Council meeting. Not only did a significant number of residents attend this meeting to hear Police Chief Russ Chilton’s “Presentation Regarding Homelessness on Hillsides and Neighborhoods,” they stayed for six hours until after midnight for the presentation

GUEST OPINION: Straight Talk by Al Jacobs

Why the Money Dissipates

A

n interesting presentation appeared on television recently. It revealed the federal government owns thousands of parcels of property throughout the country, many with buildings that have been vacant for decades. As pictures of various boarded up structures were displayed, the show’s host remarked that the cost to the taxpayer amounted to billions of dollars each year.

I happened to drive by a multi-family residential building in the Inland Empire Dana Point Times August 4-10, 2017

and their chance to express their experiences and concerns.

This past week’s Task Force meeting was the first since October 2016, the first since I was appointed. After hearing status updates from the county and the police chief and concerns expressed from the committee members and residents on the pace of progress, I concluded that the Task Force needed to meet monthly and become more action focused. My goals for the Task Force are: (1) to set a clear charter for the Task Force, (2) to establish realistic goals for reducing or eliminating homelessness, (3) to develop an action plan for achieving those goals, and (4) to combine our efforts with our neighboring cities to have a regional impact.

Getting back to those statements that I quoted above, here’s how I’d like to complete each of the statements: • “We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness.” By showing and insisting on mutual respect, we can hold the homeless to the same standards of conduct that all other residents and visitors to our city are held to. We can and will always connect them to a care coordinator to ensure we are aware of their needs and that they have access to all the services available.

• “Many of the homeless are service resistant.” We have not established the level of trust to make them believe we want to help them and not get rid of them.

We cannot provide services and housing for our benefit, we must provide services and housing for their benefit.

• “If we take care of them it will encour-

city of Hemet, California, that has been boarded up for many years. Though it’s a formidable structure in a favorable location, it sits there unused as it deteriorates.

It’s my guess it was acquired through a bank foreclosure during the Great Recession of the past decade.

After discussing with my wife what appears to be bungling by a pair of prominent bureaucracies, she casually remarked, “Why don’t both the bank and the government do something about it?”

The reason they don’t do something about it is fundamental. It’s because there is no “they.” Search STRAIGHT TALK as you may, there’s not

By Al Jacobs one government official, nor one bank employee, with a dime’s worth of proprietary interest in any of these parcels. If an individual must expend thought, time and effort in correcting a

age more to come.” By implementing our regional approach, the same standards are imposed and the same services are provided, no matter the entry point.

• “Feeding them enables them.” Gaining access to the services they need enables the care coordinators to build the rapport and trust needed to assess their needs. By always having care coordinators at every feed, every meal moves them one step closer to being permanently housed.

• “It’s much less expensive to house them than to leave them homeless.” Those savings are given directly to the housing providers to allow them to continue to expand their services.

There is a lot more to be said on this subject and I’ll welcome your ideas. For those of you who would like to learn more about this topic, go to (1) OC.gov website and read Susan Price’s “An Assessment of Homeless Services in Orange County,” dated Oct. 18, 2016. Ms. Price is the Orange County Director of Care Coordination. And (2) unitedwayoc.org website and read “Cost Study of Homelessness, Executive Summary” produced by Orange County United Way, Jamboree and University of California, Irvine.

Join us for our Wednesday, Aug. 30, Task Force meeting or send me an email at pwyatt@danapoint.org. 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

problem in which they receive no personal benefit, the problem will remain uncorrected. It’s for this reason money-losing operations of this sort continue indefinitely.

There’s a special significance when a negative cash flow comes out of your pocket. But when the cost can be spread to someone else, particularly the nameless and faceless taxpayer or permanently absent stockholder, the impetus disappears. This is why mammoth institutions, both governmental and corporate, function as they do.

If there’s a moral to be stressed, it’s that accountability cannot be collective. It must be singular.

Al Jacobs, a professional investor for nearly a half-century, distributes a monthly newsletter. You may view it on www.roadwaytoprosperity.com. DP

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HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Kristina Pritchett, 949.388.7700, x113 kpritchett@picketfencemedia.com SPORTS Steve Breazeale, 949.388.7700, x110 sbreazeale@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Group Managing Editor > Rachael Mattice City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Tim Trent

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point) Dana Point Times, Vol. 10, Issue 31. 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 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE DANA POINT T IMES

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com

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DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK

Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.6171. www.dohenystatebeach.org.

AN EVENING OF THREE ONE-ACTS 8 p.m. The Cabrillo Playhouse will host three one-act plays starting Friday, Aug. 4. The three acts are Drive In by Richard Hellesen, Act Three, Scene Five by Terry Ortwein and The Actor’s Nightmare by Christopher Durang. Tickets $20. Performances are Aug. 4-6 and 11-13. They start at 8 p.m. each day and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

LIVE MUSIC: BRIO TUSCANY GRILLE 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. On Fridays, there is live music featuring top 40s, rock & roll and 90s dance. Music starts at 8 p.m. Brio Tuscany Grille. 24050 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point. 949.443.1476. www.briorestaurant.com.

Photo: File

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6: EMERGENCY EXPO, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND SUMMER CONCERT 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Join the city of Dana Point and Dana Point Police Services at the combined day-long event. The event includes equipment from the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have members from SWAT, the Bomb Squad, K9, bloodhounds, boats and helicopters. Live entertainment will be provided by Redneck Rodeo and SMITH. The event is free to attend. The expo runs from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. the concert runs from 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and National Night Out is from 6-8 p.m. Sea Terrace Park. Coast Highway and Niguel Road. www.danapoint.org.

The List

Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.496.5794. www.danawharf.com.

COMPILED BY STAFF

FIRST FRIDAY FILM 7-9 p.m. The Friends of the Library presents La La Land at La Sala Auditorium in the San Juan Capistrano Library. $2 donation supports the library. 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.2688, www.facebook.com/ SJCFriends.

What’s going on in and around town this week

Friday | 04 SUNSET AT SALT CREEK 5:30-9 p.m. The beach event will benefit Mary Erickson Community Housing which contributes to providing families with a home. There will be multiple food stations from the Monarch Beach Resort, the Melting Pot, Left Coast Brewing, Sonny’s Pizza and more. There will be live music, a live auction and a raffle. A shuttle will be available for guests which runs from the Salt Creek Beach parking lot tunnel. Tickets are $85. North Shore of Salt Creek Beach. 949.369.5419. www. maryerickson.org.

ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m. Join Dana Wharf for a 90-minute evening cruise aboard the luxury catamaran. The cruises run Friday and Sunday evenings. Tickets are $49. Dana Wharf Dana Point Times August 4-10, 2017

LIVE MUSIC: THE REFLEXX 9 p.m.-midnight. Listen to The Reflexx perform. StillWater Spirit & Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point.

LIVE MUSIC: THE TONES WITH ROADSIDE COYOTES 9:30 p.m. The Tones with Roadside Coyotes will perform live. Tickets are $5 at the door. OC Tavern, 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, www.octavern.com.

Saturday | 05 WEEKLY ROAD RIDE 7:30 a.m. Join Bike Religion during their weekly group rides. The 7:30 a.m. departure is for riders looking to challenge themselves and push their fitness. The 8 a.m. ride is more about getting outside and enjoying a loop with friends. Each ride is about 40 miles long. The route begins at the Dana Point store. Bike Religion.

34150 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point.

949.205.1131. www.bikereligion.com.

LIVE MUSIC: ROD FRIAS 7:30-11:30 p.m. Listen to Rod Frias perform. Harpoon Henry’s. 34555 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.493.2933. www.windandsearestaurants.com.

LIVE MUSIC: MIKE SCARPELLO 7:30 p.m. Listen to live music at Wind & Sea. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.496.6500. www.windandsearestaurants. com.

DOHENY CAMPFIRE PROGRAM 8 p.m. Retired Doheny State Beach Ranger Jim Serpa presents “Truths and Myths” on local sharks during Doheny’s Campfire Program. He will guide participants through the mysterious lifestyle of sharks of Orange County and around the world. Campfire Center, Doheny State Beach. 25300

SMALL SPACE GARDENING 9 a.m. Learn how to make the most of outdoor space with unique ideas to maximize any available area. Armstrong experts will cover containing gardens, vertical gardening and more. No registration is required for the free class. Armstrong Garden Center. 32382 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.6666. www.armstronggarden.com HEADLANDS NATURE WALK 9 a.m. The walk focuses on the plants and animals that can be found in the Dana Point Headlands. It’s designed to introduce participants to the local plant communities.

The walk occurs the first Saturday of each month and is about 1.5 miles long. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527 to RSVP. www.danapoint.org.

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FREE SATURDAY FILM 10 a.m.-noon. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library welcomes families to enjoy free popcorn and a movie at La Sala Auditorium. This month’s film is Sing.

31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.2688. www.facebook.com/ SJCFriends.

OCEAN INSTITUTE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join Ocean Institute scientists on a whale watching cruise aboard the R/V Sea Explorer to view wildlife that make the coastal waters of Dana Point their home. Trips go out every Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $45 for adults, $35 for seniors and active-duty military and $25 for children. Members receive a 10 percent discount. Ocean Institute. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.

SUNSET SAFARI 5-7:30 p.m. Enjoy a safari with dolphins, whales and other marine life with Capt.

Dave. During the trip, guests can enjoy wine or beer. Naturalists will explain how the animals live and other information.

Tickets are $65 per adult, $45 for kids 1-12, and $20 for infants. Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.488.2828. www.dolphinsafari.com.

LIVE THEATER: ‘INTO THE WOODS’ 6:30 p.m. Be careful what you wish for in this musical! A childless baker and his wife will take on an extraordinary journey to lift the family curse. Along their journey, familiar to fairy tales Cinderella, Jack, Little Red collide as each character attempts to fulfill their wish. Guests will learn about wishes, consequences of pursuing wishes and discover what can happen after happily ever after. Tickets range from $15-$20.

Crown Valley Amphitheater. 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel. www. lagunanigueltheatre.org/tickets.

LIVE MUSIC: MICHAEL WALLACE 7-10 p.m. Michael Wallace will perform live. There is live music Wednesday-Saturday. Salt Creek Grille. 32802 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.661.7799. www.saltcreekgrille.com.

LIVE MUSIC: OC ELVIS SCOTT ROBERTSON 7:30-11:30 p.m. Listen to live music. Harpoon Henry’s. 34555 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.493.2933. www.windandsearestaurants.com.

LIVE MUSIC: CHRIS CRAM 8 p.m. Listen to live music at Wind & Sea. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.496.6500. www.windandsearestaurants. com.

(Cont. on page 10) www.danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 8) LIVE MUSIC HARBOR CRUISE 8-9:30 p.m. Every Saturday join Dana Wharf for a live music harbor cruise.

Tickets are $25, and the event is for 21 and older. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. www.danawharf.com.

Sunday | 06 WOMEN OF SURFING: ART & HISTORY Surfing Heritage & Culture Center (SHACC) has partnered with the Huntington Beach Art Center (HBAC) for the Women of Surfing: Art & History, the art center’s second exhibition of a threepart-series celebrating women in the arts, delving into the artworks of national and international artists who have an intimate relationship with the ocean and the sport of surfing. The exhibit runs until Sept. 2. 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente.

949.388.0313. www.surfingheritage.org.

GUIDED NATURE HIKE 8-9:15 a.m. Join an Orange County Parks Ranger for a one-mile hike around Bell Canyon in Caspers Wilderness Park.

Parking is $5, the hike is free. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.

BEND & BREW 11:30 a.m. iHeartYoga holds a Bend & Brew session at Left Coast Brewing Company in San Clemente. It’s a one-hour yoga class followed by a pint of beer. Admission $10. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente.

949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

LIVE MUSIC: THE CREEPERS 4-7 p.m. Listen to The Creepers perform.

StillWater Spirit & Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point.

Monday | 07 FREE GUITAR LESSONS 5-6 p.m. Free beginner level acoustic guitar lessons for middle school to college age youth every Monday. Guitars provided or students can bring their own. 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

YOGA IN THE PARK 5:30 p.m. Join iHeartYoga for yoga in the park every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this summer. Bring a mat, water bottle and suggested donation of $8. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.

Tuesday | 08 TINY TOTS: PARENT AND ME PROGRAM 9:30-10:30 a.m. Join the Ocean Institute for a six-week, maritime-themed series of exploration and play suitable for children Dana Point Times August 4–10, 2017

there is an open hour of Legos. Dana Point Library. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point.

949.4963.5517.

At the Movies: Charlize Theron is the ‘Atomic Blonde’

KARAOKE AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 7 p.m. Sing karaoke, imbibe and eat free popcorn at The Swallow’s Inn’s karaoke night with Bobby and Joel. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

W

hen Angelina Jolie semi-retired from film acting, it looked like Scarlett Johansson was going to take her place as Hollywood’s top action superstar for blockbusters with her success in the Marvel flicks and Lucy (2014). But Ghost in the Shell, which bombed on the spot back in March, is evidence to the contrary. Instead, Jolie’s replacement is turning out to be her contemporary and fellow allstar Charlize Theron, with Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017) and now Atomic Blonde.

In 1989 Berlin, in the midst of the Cold War, MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is investigating the murder of her partner and former flame. On top of that, she’s also given an assignment to recover a secret list of double agents roaming around

Germany. She teams up with a shady station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) to show her the ropes, and also hooks up with undercover photographer Delphine Lasalle (Sofia Boutella).

Atomic Blonde is directed by David Leitch, who previously worked on the sleeper hit John Wick (2014), which in many ways is the spiritual predecessor to Blonde. At the heart of the matter, the action piece is essentially a two-hour retro music video.

The ultra-stylized violence and chase sequences—including some pretty obvious CGI at times—and the neon cinematography distract enough from the plot holes and predictable tropes. Theron proves that she’s still fully capable of carrying an entire action film physically, but the most frustrating aspect is that the song “Atomic” by Blondie is nowhere on the soundtrack. DP

ages 2 and 3. Stretch your child’s imagination through creative play that supports language development, social interaction and problem-solving. Cost is $30 for a single class. Program runs through August 15. Register online. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.

KARAOKE AT GOODY’S 8 p.m. Karaoke every Tuesday night at Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente.

206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.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.

CASA YOGA 9 a.m. The class offers a blend of various disciplines to create a unique, integrated practice customized to the level of practitioners that are present. The class is for both beginners and seasoned practitioners.

General admission is $5 and members are free. Casa Romantica. 415 AVenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. www.casaromantica.org.

SUNSHINE READERS STORYTIME 11:30 a.m. The Sunshine Readers will entertain children of all ages during the hour-long storytime. Dana Point Public Library. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 6-10 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.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 7:30 p.m. All musicians and singers welcome. Brio Tuscany Grille. 24050 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point. 949.443.1476. www.briorestaurant.com.

Wednesday | 09

CASA KIDS: STORY TIME 10 a.m. Children can listen to picture books being read next to the Beehive Fireplace in the courtyard. Casa Romantica. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente.

949.498.2139. www.casaromantica.org.

FRENCH CONVERSATION CLUB 2-4 p.m. Every Wednesday. Look for the table with the French flag surrounded by a group of people speaking French. No cost to join. Café Calypso. 114 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.493.5228, or 949.369.5482.

LEGO CLUB 3-4 p.m. Join the Lego club and learn how to build different things. Every month there is a new challenge. From 1-2 p.m.

Page 10

FREE COMEDY AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s with food and drink specials. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

Thursday | 10 LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS 8:30-10:30 a.m. Join Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens volunteers, students and teachers at the Montanez Adobe inside Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Help care for and maintain native plants and butterflies while enjoying a little dirt therapy and friendship. Every Thursday. No experience needed. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net.

BEACH CONCERT 6 p.m. Head down to the beach and enjoy music and surf. Fisherman’s Restaurant will provide a BBQ dinner for $8 per person while the Ultimate Stones performs.

The concert is part of the city of San Clemente’s beach concert series. 7 Pier.

622 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.

DANA POINT SCIENCE NIGHT 6:30 p.m. This month’s topic is “Saving America’s Lion” presented by Lynn Cullens. Participants will be able to learn about mountain lions and how critical they are to the ecosystem. Every month there are science related topics in a family-friendly format. There are generally hands-on activities and/or displays. Each month there is a different topic. Dana Point Community Center. 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point. 949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

LIVE MUSIC: BRANDON WILDISH 6:30-9:30 p.m. Brandon Wildish will perform live. There is live music WednesdaySaturday. Salt Creek Grille. 32802 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.661.7799. www.saltcreekgrille.com.

SESSIONS AT STILLWATER 7 p.m. Listen to live music when artists from around the world perform together.

Stillwater Spirits and Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. www.danapointstillwater.com.

HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to Dana Point Times by going to www.danapointtimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

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DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: On the Ocean by Nathan Taxel

The Upcoming Solar Eclipse Rare total eclipse to occur Monday, August 21

O

LOCALS ONLY

BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

949.485.4979, info@bodymindspiritiop.com, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

ASSISTED LIVING HOME FOR ELDERLY

Assisted Senior Home

949.248.9415, www.assistedseniorhome.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

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

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

PET BOUTIQUE

Naked Dog Bistro

424 Forest Ave., LB, 949.715.9900, www.NakedDogBistro.com

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

1001 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

SPECIALTY BEAUTY

Amazing Lash Studio

32932 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 9, 949.484.7676, www.AmazingLashStudio.com

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

n Monday Aug. 21, 2017, the United States will experience its first coastto-coast total solar eclipse since 1918. This 90-minute event will cover 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the earth and sun during a new moon. During these rare events, the earth, moon and sun briefly form a straight line while traveling along their orbits.

There are three types of solar eclipse: a total eclipse, like the one we are having on Aug. 21, is when the orbits are exactly aligned and moon appears to totally cover the sun. The second is a partial eclipse, which is when the moon only covers part of the sun, and an annular solar eclipse is when moon appears much smaller than the sun and passes across its face.

Due to the curvature of the earth, only those within a narrow 100-mile-wide path will see “totality” where the moon covers the whole face of the sun during a total solar eclipse. For a brief period right before, during and right after totality, observers will experience a dusk-like darkening of the sky. For everyone not in the direct path, the intensity of the sky darkening will decrease as you get further away from the path of totality.

For those of us in Southern California, the closest place to view totality will be in central Idaho, about 900 miles away. But check before you go because hotels in prime viewing locations along the eclipse’s path have been sold out for months.

The last time a total solar eclipse came anywhere near Southern California was 1991 when totality was visible in Southern Baja, Mexico (about 1,000 miles away). The next time a total solar eclipse will come any closer to us is in 2045 when totality will be

visible in Northern California. However, if you want to wait to see totality here in Dana Point you will have to wait until July 14, 2121.

On Aug. 21, 2017, the eclipse will begin at 9:06 a.m., reach maximum coverage (61 percent) at 10:22 a.m., and end at 11:45 a.m.

At our distance from the eclipse’s path, any changes to daylight will be nearly imperceptible, but with the proper equipment we will be able to view the moon ON THE OCEAN passing across the face of

By Nathan Taxel the sun.

It is extremely dangerous to look directly at the sun at any time, even with sunglasses during a solar eclipse when some or even most of the sun is obscured. There are ways to view the eclipse safely though including the use of properly filtered telescopes or binoculars, a homemade pinhole camera or eclipse projector, number 14 welders glass, or manufactured eclipse glasses/ viewers.

The Ocean Institute will have eclipse related activities and displays throughout the month of August and on eclipse day (Aug. 21), we will open one hour early at 9 a.m. The first 50 people through the door will receive a complimentary set of eclipse viewers.

Nathan Taxel is the director of outdoor education for the Ocean Institute. 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

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 Last week’s solution:

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Offshore Construction

877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

Page 13

www.danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

Legend of Surf Culture Book depicts life of Wayne Penn-Schafer, one of Capo Beach’s first icons

BY ERIC HEINZ, DANA POINT TIMES

F

rench guards at the 1968 Olympic Winter Games were not amused when a group of Americans came in to film the premier skiers in Grenoble.

Wayne Penn-Schafer, a Capistrano Beach resident, along with surf photographers and videographers seeking the latest in human thrills, risked punishment across foreign lines. They were the shutterbug pioneers before the era of the GoPro and the selfie stick, and the footage took much longer to develop.

At the time, the French government didn’t want foreigners to film their Olympics. In order to pull it off, the Californians had to rent film equipment in Switzerland. They then disguised themselves by growing out beards and saying nothing to the authorities.

That’s how lax security was at the time.

“I was a real estate broker for years, and a friend of mine, Bruce Brown, had an office in Dana Point, and we knew a ski film producer who was also a surfer,” PennSchafer said. “My friend called me about someone in Huntington Beach who wanted to move to Dana Point. I gathered up a couple houses to show him.”

That someone was Dick Barrymore.

From then on, Penn-Schafer said Barrymore had assimilated into the Southern California surf culture. The two forged a relationship and Barrymore asked PennSchafer to help film the Olympic ski races.

“France said they were going to use their own photographers,” Penn-Schafer said. “We contrived a bootleg, so to speak.

It was before the Mission Impossible guys.

We probably would have gone to jail if we’d been caught.”

Unfortunately, they found out when they got to the airport that they couldn’t take the film back with them and no copies exist, unless they’re sitting in the catacombs of a French customs exchange material room.

This is just one of the many dramatic stories Penn-Schafer has in his mental vault and that is featured in the newly released adventure and surf-focused biographical book titled, Indian: The Life of Osage Waterman Wayne Penn-Schafer, written by Joe Dunn.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend Penn-Schafer still lives in the nimbus of the 1960s surf culture, where a grassroofed hut is situated and an outrigger canoe sits as a centerpiece. Inside, he has various trinkets and pieces of art from various cultures of the wave-riders.

Dana Point Times August 4-10, 2017

Wayne Penn-Schafer, who was involved with the start of the southern California surf culture movement, still lives and thrives in his Capistrano Beach home. Photo: Eric Heinz

INDIAN: THE LIFE OF OSAGE WATERMAN WAYNE PENN-SCHAFER The book Indian: The Life of Osage Waterman Wayne Penn-Schafer is available for purchase for $30 per book (plus postage if outside of South Orange County) by calling author Joe Dunn at 949.496.7899 or 949.370.3971. They can also be purchased by contacting the publisher at 626.793.9796 or by email at hello@ prospectparkbooks.com. People may also contact Penn-Schafer himself at pennschafer@gmail.com.

“Just like in the early days, we had people who would show surf films and travel around showing different films,” Penn-Schafer said. “It could be a milliondollar business in some cases.”

Shortly after that, more people started advocating for surf culture.

“The government realized they were going to have to deal with us (the surfers),” Penn-Schafer said.

At the time, the summers of love were in full swing, and surf music was the anthem of beachgoers.

Penn-Schafer went by the nickname “Indian” because of his Native American Osage Nation heritage. It was a different time.

Penn-Schafer said knowing Hobart “Hobie” Alter was a tremendous experience in his life, having been his friend for 40-plus years.

“I first met him in 1950. I looked him up to shape my first surfboard,” Penn-Schafer said. “From then on, we were friends. I bought all my next boards through him. Hobie was working out of his garage in Laguna

Wayne Penn-Schafer, pictured in circa 1960, was on the ground floor of the surf culture movement of the mid-20th century. A new book, titled ‘Indian’ has been published on the details of his life. Photo: Courtesy of Joe Dunn

Beach; he was just a teenager at the time, and his dad—to get him out of the garage— bought a piece of property in Dana Point for about $2,500 where he put his shop.”

Surfing was a “sub-culture” in the 1950s and 1960s, Penn-Schafer said. He said the surfers were viewed as rapscallions and

Page 14

countered the straight-edge norms of the time.

“They were just trying to access surf, and I was at LA City College from 19481950. A lot of veterans coming back from the war were surfers,” Penn-Schafer said.

“I got started surfing at San Onofre and places like that.”

Penn-Schafer said his favorite place to surf was Trestles and Cotton’s Point.

But living in the same area that his family purchased in Poche and Capistrano Beach, he always had a surf break out back to get his wave fix.

“The sign Poche for the trains is where the beach gets its name,” Penn-Schafer said.

Joe Dunn, the author of the book, said the story of Penn-Schafer’s life was just “too good not to do it.” Dunn is an admitted amateur writer who does it for the love of writing.

“I know Wayne, so I had some time on my hands,” Dunn said. “I researched the background of the Osage people and the treatment they endured by the United States government. That all kind of tied in to make a more interesting story.”

Dunn said he knew Penn-Schafer’s life story from the 1950s on, but his family’s heritage was the most intriguing for him.

“We would typically meet on weekends at Wayne’s yard,” Dunn said. “But I learned that one weekend he took a 2,200-mile roundtrip journey to Mexico by himself, so that’s when I thought, OK, it’s time to write about him.”

When Penn-Schafer returned, Dunn said he wanted to write a biography on his friend. The book took about six months to research, write and publish.

The Book The story of Penn-Schafer’s life, chronicled in the book Indian: The Life of Osage Waterman Wayne Schafer details his life from the beginning to today. It is filled with quotes from notable waterman as well as some who are dear to Penn-Schafer’s upbringing. It also shows a development of the surf world from its humble beginnings to the worldwide phenomenon that it is today. Not wanting to give too much of the book away, it is available for purchase through the independent publishing methods mentioned above. DP

Pet of the Week: Nala

F

our-month-old Nala is sweet kitty ready to make your acquaintance.

This petite little girl loves to spend her days playing with toys and snuggling the other kittens. Nala would make a wonderful addition to the family with her sleek coat and happy disposition. If you would like to know more about Nala, please call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or visit with her at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. DP

Nala. Photo: Courtesy

www.danapointtimes.com

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com FOR SALE CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size. Typically made in 2 weeks. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyesters, or designer carpet. Showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point: 24662 Del Prado, Dana Point. Carpet and flooring remnants also available. All shapes and sizes and kinds of flooring. We sell tile too! Call Mike at 949.240.1545

GARAGE SALES YARD SALE - SATURDAY, AUG. 5 AT 7 AM 26962 Calle Dolores, Capistrano Beach.

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@danapointtimes.com DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY. No phone calls please.

HELP WANTED DANA POINT MARINA INN–NOW HIRING Breakfast room attendant. Maintenance worker – full time. Housekeeping positions.

Laundry, Runner. Apply in person. 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

WANTED STAMPS! Buying Large Postage Stamp Collections!

Nick (619) 672-0434

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

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

949.388.7700 ext. 102 Dana Point Times August 4–10, 2017

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

Page 15

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Picking a Winner OC Tavern Grill and Sports Bar offers unique off-track betting experience

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES

I

t’s 3:29 p.m. on a hot Thursday afternoon and the off-track horse betting room inside OC Tavern Grill and Sports Bar is buzzing with excitement.

Race 5 at the Del Mar Racetrack is about to start, and there is a large amount of money riding on the outcome in this room that is covered wall-to-wall in high definition TVs. “This race is wide open. Any one of these horses can win,” a lady at a nearby table says out loud to no one in particular behind a stack of betting forms.

“Any one of these dogs could win,” a man sitting at the bar blurts out.

I’m starting to like my chances.

I came to OC Tavern wanting to get a feel for what the popular San Clemente restaurant’s off-track betting site was like.

I was a product of the poker craze of the mid-2000s, so I’m no stranger to lowstakes gambling. When it comes to horse betting, however, I’m a pure novice.

But I like winning, and the lure of betting on two different horses with longshot odds (Mac McLovin and Lucky Pegasus) on this particular Thursday was too strong to ignore. I wasn’t going to waste my hardearned $2 bet on the overwhelming favorite.

I was rooting for an upset and a nice payout.

As the horses in Race 5 thundered their way down the track and the tension, and volume, in the room grew louder, I started to think about what OC Tavern owner Michael Merrigan told me just 30 minutes earlier. Sure, you can earn $20 any day and be satisfied. But winning $20 is a different feeling entirely.

Merrigan, 52, knows what it feels like to have a longshot bet pay off big.

Back in 2010, OC Tavern Grill & Sports Bar in San Clemente needed to find more customers during the day. The local restaurant was doing well on nights and weekends, but was in trouble financially due to a lack of foot traffic at lunchtime.

California was in the process of passing legislation that would allow restaurants and bars to open off-track betting sites, which in turn would boost the horseracing industry. Merrigan thought it could be a benefit both to his business and to the community of horse-racing fans in Southern California.

Merrigan wanted to bring off-track

Dana Point Times August 4-10, 2017

Paul Valente, left, and Michael Valente examine the odds of an upcoming horse race at OC Tavern Grill and Sports Bar in San Clemente. Photo: Eric Heinz

betting to OC Tavern, but he had his doubts. The cost to get the operation off the ground was considerable. He knew in order for it to work, he would have to change the way his clientele viewed gambling establishments by offering a fun, clean environment.

Plus, no other sports bar in the state had offered this before. With no proof of concept to rely on, he would be entering uncharted waters.

“Am I doing the right thing?” Merrigan remembers asking himself.

While he was weighing the pros and cons of his decision, Merrigan serendipitously went to the movies to see the newly released film Secretariat. The film’s true-story plot revolves around a historic, record-breaking horse and an owner who refused to quit on him.

Merrigan drew inspiration from the character of Penny Chenery (played by Diane Lane), who owned the Triple Crownwinning horse. Chenery’s detractors in the movie were saying her horse had no shot.

But the confidence she had in the horse, and in herself, eventually won out.

“Everyone was telling (Cherney) to give up on the horse. But she believed in it. She never gave up and that’s the same thing that happened here,” Merrigan said. “I went with a gut feeling and said, ‘This is going to be good’. I knew I had to go for it.”

After a 16-month accreditation process, OC Tavern became the first sports bar in California to offer off-track betting in 2010.

Seven years later, Merrigan is sitting in his restaurant smiling and reminiscing about his decision.

“It saved the business,” Merrigan said of the facility’s instant success. “It makes us stand out and it really completed our sports bar theme.”

The off-track betting facility at OC Tavern is open every Wednesday through Sunday, broadcasting live feeds from tracks across the country. There are clerks on-site, employed by the state, to assist and take bets. Several automated betting machines that look like ATMs line the walls.

OC Tavern Grill and Sports Bar owner Michael Merrigan brought off-track betting to his restaurant in 2010.

Photo: Eric Heinz

Page 16

It may seem intimidating at first, but Merrigan and his staff ensured me that betting was simple once you learn the lingo.

After I fumbled my way through placing my first bet I grabbed a seat near the bar, where I met San Clemente residents and father-son duo Fred and Gabriel Richardson. Whenever his wife goes out of town to visit relatives, Fred takes Gabriel to the OC Tavern to enjoy a beer and make a few wagers.

“It’s kind of our little tradition,” Fred Richardson said.

A man who called himself Bill noticed me struggling with the betting lingo at the counter and saddled up next to me to offer an unsolicited crash-course in Horse Betting 101.

Bill told me about pick-four and pick-six betting strategies, which is a way to maximize profit with little risk by picking winners in multiple races. He pulled dozens of busted betting slips out of his pocket to show me how he nearly turned $2 into $45 earlier in the day. I know what betting on a horse to win, place (second or better) or show (finish in the top-3) means, but Bill was operating on a higher plane of gambling existence.

Listening to Bill’s advice, I began to understand how horse betting is an art form.

It takes skill to come out with more money than you came in with. By hedging multiple bets throughout the day, you can theoretically improve your odds, which gives the gambler a fighting chance. This strategy takes a deep understanding of the different kinds of bets, coupled with the skill of identifying choice horses across the board.

I thanked Bill for his words of wisdom right as the ponies jolted out Del Mar’s starting gate in Race 5.

The opening minute of the race was glorious. My horses were running in the second and third spot the whole way. But as they made the final turn, both of them faded fast. The odds-on favorite did what was expected and won by a length.

There was a photo finish for third place between my longshot pick and a horse named Fake News. After a lengthy review, my horse finished out of the money behind that bit of irony.

I lost, but it was hard to shake the feeling of excitement that just washed over the place.

Those of us in that room were taking part in what makes watching live sports great. Some wanted one outcome, others wanted another. All of us had our own unique reasons why: money, the adrenaline rush, the satisfaction of picking a winner.

The beauty of it all was the fact another race was starting at Santa Anita Park in just five minutes. I immediately started thinking about my next bet and reliving the excitement all over again.

Merrigan was right, I thought to myself.

The prospect of winning my money was a different feeling entirely. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP DP SURF Dana Point

DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

A Dad’s Story

GROM OF THE WEEK

SAMANTHA SIBLEY

Carissa Moore’s father discusses raising a barrier-breaking, world champion daughter in self-published book

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

T

his week, the U.S. Open of Surfing is taking place in Huntington Beach.

The world’s best men and women surfers have amassed in Surf City to battle it out for valuable WSL qualifying points and some much-needed prize money.

The road to U.S. Open glory is a long one that typically starts when kids are barely teenagers. Over the last couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of working with women’s world champion and former U.S. Open champion Carissa Moore and her father, Chris, on a book project detailing exactly what it takes to get to the top. In 2015, Chris approached me, explaining that he wanted to tell the story from a parent’s perspective and needed some editorial help. It was a story that hadn’t been told before, and seeing so many kids and parents over the years rise up through the ranks of pro surfing, it seemed like an important subject. We spent the next two years bouncing manuscripts back and forth until we finally decided to self-publish on Amazon.

The following is an excerpt of when Carissa entered the Quiksilver King of the Groms. Needless to say, surfing has matured considerably since then, but it does serve as a valuable parable that life ain’t always fair, no matter how well you surf: “When she was fifteen she competed in the Quiksilver King of the Groms, a surf event featuring Hawaii’s top boys under the age of sixteen. Carissa’s sponsor at the time was Roxy, the sister brand to Quiksilver, so it was easy for me to ‘sneak’ her into the event.

Quiksilver was happy to accommodate.

After all, if she did well it was good publicity for the brand.

My instinct told me this was a smart event for her to compete in. The site of the annual contest was Kewalo Basin, where, during the summer months, she surfed almost daily alongside many of the boys in the event. This was a spot where Carissa was comfortable and confident—the two C’s that have long been part of her recipe for success.

By now Carissa had no problem surfing with and against her male peers. Carissa was a good surfer and the boys knew it, so there was a level of respect she’d earned. In addition, by this point she had been surfing against the boys for so long—though I am sure they were sometimes less than pleased Dana Point Times August 4–10, 2017

Samantha Sibley. Photo: Joe Foster

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

C Carissa Moore. Photo: Courtesy of the World Surf League

with her attendance—that they were used to her entering competitions and getting the better of them.

We looked at it as a no-lose situation. I told her that, being a girl, no one expected her to do well, and besides, “it’s good practice” and “you get to be the underdog.” She wholeheartedly took on the challenge. She knew that when she surfed against the girls there was an expectation and pressure to win, but against the boys there was never any expectation, and certainly no pressure to win.

For the King of the Groms, I prepared her to win. Carissa was excited to surf—a bad omen for the Hawaiian boys. The waves at Kewalos showed up, too. They were big and well-shaped. It was one of the best days of the summer. There was a lot of scoring potential for both the turn sections and the barrels.

Carissa found both. In the semifinals she rode one of the best barrels she’s ever caught out at the break, a full, deep backdoor drainer that completely engulfed her for a moment. It was enough to win the heat and send her into the final.

In the finals, she was patient. This particular contest featured a one-wave “claim” format in which a surfer raised their hands after a completed ride to signify to the judges that they wanted that score counted for their heat. But once they claimed, their heat was over. One by one, the boys claimed average scores, and with their claim, they had to paddle in. Carissa was left sitting out the back alone for the last five minutes of the heat. She knew exactly what type of wave she was looking for. The waiting paid off. A set loomed; she took off and ripped the wave all

the way through until it petered out into the channel. She claimed it. Victory was hers.

Unlike the previous year, there was no formal presentation. There was no lining up and announcing of final results. There was a rushed trophy handoff and that was it.

Peering dejectedly from a distance, the boys were in such disarray that not a single one of them was in a mood to celebrate. Kewalo Basin was a very somber place that day.

There would be no King of the Groms, but there would be a queen.”

The book, First Priority: A Father’s Journey Raising World Champion Carissa Moore is now available on Amazon.com.

DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 70-74 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: Local: 5-7’ Poor-Fair Catalina: 15’ Fair Outlook: Easing southerly swell blend the back half of the week as wave heights slowly come down through the upcoming weekend.

Still plenty of rideable surf though. Light morning winds. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Page 18

urrently ranked second on the WSL North American Women’s Junior Tour, Samantha Sibley is enjoying a summer to remember.

Seeded into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Pro Junior event, she’s looking to put a win on the board and take over the top spot. Of course, it’s a huge surf contest and she’s up against a stacked field, including San Clemente pal Kirra Pinkerton (who’s less than 100 points away from her on the WSL rankings) and young Bella Kenworthy (who’s also been ripping in the U.S. Open skateboard event).

Before the U.S. Open, Sibley was hard at work improving her game.

Spending a bit of time in the Land Down Under, she finished second in Billabong’s Occy Grom Comp on the Gold Coast. After that, she entered the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro in Oceanside, where she held her own against a talented field of international competitors. Billed as “the world’s largest women’s surf event and festival,” Sibley made her first couple of heats before going down in Round 3. Every surfer aspires to go deep in a contest like this, but for 15-year-old Sibley, the experience is invaluable and will serve her well as she pursues loftier ambitions.

Sibley’s also a distinguished member of the United States national development surf team. She’s been logging practice sessions with coach Joey Buran and the rest of the squad in the buildup to the 2020 Olympics. And when it comes to her hometown roots, Sibley was a key member of the San Clemente Board Riders Club’s victory at the recent West Coast Boardriders Cup. It’s only the first week in August, and the girl has a lot of runway left to accomplish great things this summer.

DP www.danapointtimes.com