March 8, 2019

LO C A L

N EWS

March 8-14, 2019

YO U

C A N

INSIDE:

U S E

Check out the 61st Annual Swallows Day Parade Guide SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 12, ISSUE 10

Let’s Talk About Sex (& Gender)

Capistrano Unified School District Approves Sex Ed Curriculum E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 5

The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a new curriculum for sex education with new implementations in adherence to state code. Graphic: Chelsie Rex

Business Beat: New Restaurant in Dana Point DP LIVING/PAGE 12

Judge Tentatively Rules Against MNWD in Lawsuit EYE ON DP/PAGE 4

danapointtimes.com

Editor’s Pick: Second Weekend for Festival of Whales GETTING OUT/PAGE 8

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

DP EYE ON DP

Dana Dana Point Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week Ten Speakers Address Misogyny Allegations at City Council THE LATEST: The Dana Point City Council meeting held on Tuesday, March 5, heard from 10 speakers during a public comment period regarding allegations of misogyny Councilwoman Debra Lewis made against Mayor Joe Muller and city council.

The wave of commentary comes after a Dana Point Times article on Lewis’s allegations, published Feb. 22, and the Feb. 19 council meeting when Lewis accused councilmembers of discrimination while on the dais.

One speaker likened behavior on council to the Holocaust, another likened it to domestic abusers.

“I was further vexed by the mayor’s quoted comments in the Feb. 22 edition of Dana Point Times, regarding Ms. Lewis acting differently,” said one speaker, Annette Szlachta. “I was a criminal court advocate for the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and their victim clients.

Each and every abuser blamed his partner’s behavior to justify his emotional, verbal and physical abuse, including murder.”

Schlachta concluded her statement by calling for Muller’s resignation.

Another speaker, Toni Nelson, referenced similar treatment to Cindy Fleming when she had spoken publicly on Measure H in April 2016.

“Many others had spoken similarly, but he chose to publicly chastise only Ms. Fleming for allegedly speaking too often in public comments as is her right as a citizen. This behavior has a chilling effect on female inclusion in civic politics,” Nelson said. “Women must feel respected, safe and welcome at city council. There is no place for this kind of discrimination in 2019, or ever.”

After public comment, Mayor Muller proceeded to follow the council agenda, which included a presentation by the city’s actuary regarding pension valuation and discussion on the General Fund Reserve Policy. Council voted to have the Financial Review Committee—once assembled—to further examine the pension valuation and make recommendations.

City council also received a mid-fiscal year status report, with staff requesting authorization for budget amendments, which council unanimously approved.

Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

WHAT’S NEXT: The next Dana Point City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at 6 p.m.—Lillian Boyd

Dana Point Added to Lawsuit Over Lack of Homeless Shelters THE LATEST: Orange County Catholic Worker, along with the Emergency Shelter Coalition and Housing is a Human Right Orange County, filed a suit on Feb. 27 against the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine and Aliso Viejo, because they said the cities have not done enough to provide for a homeless shelter.

A report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department last week stated the county’s homeless mortality rate had spiked from about 120 in 2014 to more than 210 last year.

“Homelessness has become a critical focus for many communities across the nation. The City of Dana Point understands the need to coordinate resources to provide services,” said Mark Denny, Dana Point City Manager.

Dana Point currently contracts with Mercy House to provide outreach efforts six days per week. The monthly client load comprises 30 individuals. In 2018, Dana Point had a combined total of 634 interactions with individuals and families through the city’s homeless outreach efforts.

Officials made 22 housing placements and 147 linkages to services.

Dana Point allows emergency shelters up to 20 beds permitted by-right in the Community Facilities Zones. Churches are permitted up to 10 beds by-right. The city has supported efforts to establish permanent supportive housing in Dana Point, and Dana Point Homes for the Homeless, a grassroots community effort, was established in 2018 to raise private funds to assist Dana Point’s homeless in obtaining stable housing, according to a statement issued by the city.

“What is needed now is constructive dialogue and appropriate solutions,” said Dana Point Mayor Joe Muller. “We remain committed to our outreach work to the homeless and working with the county and other partners to find more permanent solutions.”

San Clemente recently updated its housing element to allow for more SB 2-compliant land (SB 2 was the bill that mandated cities at least zone areas to allow for adequate homeless shelters).

In 2017, an Orange County Superior Court judge dealt San Clemente an injunction, which lasted nearly a year, on building permits and other functions as it was deemed the city had not complied with laws that mandate cities establish space for a shelter. Basically, the entire El Camino Real corridor was barred from

Representatives for South Orange County Wastewater Authority say that maintenance issues at its Coastal Treatment Plant could have been addressed and paid for had Moulton Niguel Water District paid the roughly $2 million owed. Photo: Lillian Boyd

development along with areas in North Beach and the medical/hospital-zoned areas adjacent to Capistrano Beach.

After tense negotiations and backlash from residents who wanted nothing to do with the shelter, the city established areas in the San Clemente Business Park that were accepted by the court and the injunction was lifted.

San Clemente City Attorney Scott Smith said he wasn’t sure if this lawsuit, should the judge rule in favor of the plaintiffs, would affect the city’s recently enacted trespassing laws, but he said the challenge was mainly related to arrests on public property. The city has trespassing laws for public property as well, but Smith said there haven’t been any arrests or removals of homeless people since the Ninth Circuit ruling that stopped cities from removing homeless people who camp without a secondary location for them.

“What jumps out is how far beyond the law they seek to extend the law,” Smith said. “This demand is just miles beyond the Ninth Circuit. . . . This is an attempt to bring, in San Clemente’s case, a second challenge to the housing element that was recently upheld weeks ago. The Emergency Shelter Coalition brought a series of challenges, and the last one failed.

“We’re just digesting it, and we’ll take it up with the city council,” Smith said a day after the suit was filed.

According to federal court documents, a hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 2 at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Santa Ana. City officials from San Juan Capistrano on Tuesday defended the city’s efforts to help homeless individuals find resources to get off the streets.

During a public comment portion of San Juan’s city council meeting that night, local resident Jenny Friess said she was relieved to hear about the latest lawsuit and that federal judge David O. Carter “is now forcing the cities down here to face the problem.”

“No more turning a blind eye. No more

Page 3

saying that our hands are tied. Nope, it’s simply time to buckle down and come up with a solution,” she said. “I wish that cities did not have to be forced to do this, but with how complicated the issue is and how reluctant some people can be to deal with it, well, I do see why we were forced to face this.”

Addressing Friess’ comments, City Manager Ben Siegel highlighted the work that’s been done. Siegel noted that the city currently contracts a full-time homeless liaison officer from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to help connect homeless individuals to services.

“We also have good relationships with our local nonprofit service providers, Mercy House (and) FAM—Family Assistance Ministries,” he said.

Recently, the city and several other South County cities, Siegel added, were successful in securing grant funds under joint application through the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP). He explained that the cities have used the funds to contract Mercy House to provide outreach services this spring.

“We have an ongoing dialogue with our neighboring cities,” Siegel said. “Obviously now the conversation will be focused more on litigation, but we will certainly continue to offer the services that are available to our homeless individuals going forward.”

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Brian Maryott called the lawsuit “frustrating,” because the city and local law enforcement have been working closely with the county while being “very mindful of the threat of legal action.”

“We’ve worked in good faith to begin to figure out some answers,” he said, noting that the increasing population of homeless individuals in the county have made it a difficult issue to resolve. “That, in and of itself, is very, very difficult to react to and deal with,” Maryott said. “So it’s frustrating to get hit with a sledgehammer while we’re working on things in a fairly ambitious way to benefit the homeless.”

(Cont. on page 4) danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) “Because these issues implicate all 34 cities in Orange County, the city manager, the mayor, and the police chief of each city in Orange County is invited to attend the hearing, and is respectfully requested to provide an update about any emergency and transitional shelter sites within each city and Health Care Service Planning Area,” Carter stated in a report on March 5. —Eric Heinz, Lillian Boyd and Shawn Raymundo

Court Tentatively Rules MNWD Must Pay its Share of Treatment Facility Improvements THE LATEST: A preliminary court ruling issued last week places Moulton Niguel Water District on the hook for roughly $2 million in delinquent payments related to capital improvement and maintenance costs for a wastewater treatment facility at Aliso Creek.

The Riverside County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 26, tentatively ruled that Moulton Niguel is responsible for paying its share of the bills toward the Coast Treatment Plant’s upkeep in Laguna Niguel until February 2030.

Moulton Niguel “is legally obligated to pay its proportional share of all costs, in-

cluding capital costs and items, necessary to operate and maintain the Coastal Treatment Plant,” the tentative ruling states.

As members of a joint agreement with the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA), Moulton Niguel, South Coast Water District, Emerald Bay Service District and the city of Laguna Beach are each required to pay a certain portion of costs to maintain the treatment plant.

Back in May 2017, SOCWA filed a lawsuit against Moulton Niguel, alleging that since July 2016, the agency had stopped making payments toward the upkeep of the facility, which serves several cities, including Dana Point, Laguna Beach and parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

“In all points that we brought forward for judgment, it was a clean sweep, and it’s such a good decision and day for South Orange County taxpayers,” said Steve Greyshock, a spokesperson for SOCWA. Moulton Niguel Assistant General Manager Matt Collings explained that Moulton Niguel doesn’t send any water to the treatment plant, so its customers don’t reap any benefits from the facility.

“The central issue from the SOCWA lawsuit continues to be: the Coastal Treatment Plant is too big, too expensive and too burdensome, resulting in millions of dollars of subsidies by our customers who receive no benefit,” Moulton Niguel said in a prepared

statement on the tentative ruling.

WHAT’S NEXT: Collings said that a decision has not been made yet as to whether Moulton Niguel will appeal the tentative ruling.—LB and SR

Boneyard Beach Café Announces Closure THE LATEST: Boneyard Beach Café, the beach concession stand that operated at Doheny State Beach for five seasons, has announced it will not be returning for a sixth season.

Kim Tilly partnered with George Gregory and Jim Miller, the owner of Coffee Importers, to open Boneyard Beach Café in August 2013. The business obtained its liquor license in 2015.

“We’ve done our best to always be a positive part of the community and feel we’ve been good stewards of the space,” Tilly said.

“We reinvented this venue from a worndown concession stand to a place where families could bring their children, enjoy a drink and be part of the community.”

Boneyard Beach Café had been operating month to month after its sublease under Wheel Fun Rentals with the state of California expired in 2017.

“We will miss everyone. We had such a good time and we’re so thankful for the loyal

customers and wonderful staff who have been on this journey with us,” Tilly said.

Miller and Tilly are working on incorporating Boneyard menu items into the Coffee Importers menu.

WHAT’S NEXT: The restaurant had been closed after last summer, but the decision not to reopen was announced on social media on Monday, March 4.

“The community outpour has been so supportive and we truly appreciate it,” Tilly said. “We ask that you continue to support local business. Come out to Coffee Importers.” —LB

Coffee Chat Guest to Discuss Gray Whale Migration THE LATEST: The Dana Point Civic Association will hold a meeting March 15 at 8:30 a.m. at Jim Miller’s Coffee Importers.

The guest speaker will be Todd Mansur, who will discuss the migration of the gray whales in celebration of the Festival of Whales held every year in Dana Point.

Coffee will be complimentary, courtesy of Coffee Importers. All are welcome to attend.

Coffee Importers is located at 34531 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. Coffee Chats are typically held on the third Friday of each month, subject to change based on weather. —LB

EYE ON DP

Let’s Talk About Sex (& Gender)

Others at the meeting also voiced criticism that the curriculum isn’t age-appropriate for middle school students, and some also believe that it encourages students to experiment with their sexuality.

“I don’t think it does that at all,” Hill told The Capistrano Dispatch and the Dana Point Times. “The law doesn’t do that … we really try hard to be on that happy medium. Our role is to educate, our role is to teach.”

CUSD Moves Ahead With Implementation of New Sex Health Education

Getting Community Input

BY LILLIAN BOYD AND SHAWN RAYMUNDO, DANA POINT TIMES

A

new sexual education curriculum for middle school students will be rolled out this May, as the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Feb. 27, approved the implementation of updated instructional materials required under state law.

In a 6-1 vote, with Trustee Jim Reardon dissenting, the board adopted the 12-part lesson plan on comprehensive sexual health education that will be taught to seventh- and eighth-grade students near the end of the school year.

To comply with the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), which was enacted in 2016, CUSD made updates to the sexual health curriculum to include additional information on developing healthy relationships, HIV prevention, and sexual harassment and abuse. It also recognized same-sex relationships in the curriculum, requiring that it include instruction on gender identity.

“Typically, we do not bring individual lesson plans to the board for approval, but due to the great deal of attention this mandate has created—and in order to fully support the board’s value of transparency—we are here tonight to seek your approval,” said Susan Holliday, the associate superintendent of Education Services at CUSD.

Community Concerns

Dozens of parents and community stakeholders attended the Feb. 27 meeting, with more than 30 individuals signed up to speak on the curriculum.

During the public hearing portion, several speakers, which included some middle school and high school teens, were critical of the lesson plans, stating that they didn’t do enough to include information on abstinence.

Kaden Stephen, a 17-year-old senior at San Clemente High School, expressed concern for what the new curriculum would mean for his siblings, who are currently in middle school.

“Throughout the entire curriculum,

Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

Photo: iStock/Cnythzl

there seemed to be a lost oblivion to the option of abstinence, and this gave me the notion that everyone must be having or contemplating sexual activity already at 12 years old,” Stephen said. “Now there’s certainly language that implies that abstinence is the only way to be 100 percent safe from STDs and such, but there’s almost no language that suggests it as a more viable option.”

A section in the curriculum titled “Pregnancy Outcomes and Birth Control” has students participate in a discussion on the benefits of abstinence and also includes a homework assignment for students to discuss benefits of abstinence with their parents or guardians.

The addition of gender-inclusive language was one of the major changes to the new curriculum, per the CHYA. The new curriculum advises teachers to consider using “they” pronouns (instead of he or she) and to be inclusive of all genders and gender identities. The instruction states it is critical for students to keep in mind their own values about gender and sexuality, although it may make them feel uncomfortable.

The CHYA states in Education Code 51933 (d)(5) that instruction and materials shall affirmatively recognize that people have different sexual orientations and, when discussing or providing examples of relationships and couples, shall be inclusive of same-sex relationships. In a section titled “Anatomy and Gender,” the curriculum delves into definitions of gender identities and the impacts of stereotyping.

Opting Out

During the Feb. 27 meeting, Trustee Reardon asked Joshua Hill, assistant superintendent of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction, for clarification on whether parents could have a student opt

out of a section of the instruction rather than the entire curriculum.

“There’s been so much confusion around this, and it’s very simple,” Hill said. “A parent can opt out of the entire curriculum. The education code is very clear on that. If a parent wants to opt out of a part of the instruction, it depends on which part.”

If a parent wants a student to opt out of healthy relationships, educators would have to have a conversation with the parent to explain that several lessons contain the topic of healthy relationships. Educators would provide all information necessary in that case for the parent to make a decision on opting out, Hill said.

“Obviously, the more sensitive issue is about gender, which is where there’s been a lot of confusion,” Hill said. “If a student is only opting out of instruction about gender and nothing else, that is not allowable in the law. So if you want to opt out of all of it, yes. But if you want to opt out of some of it, it will depend.”

The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network provided resources and data for the lessons on gender and sexual orientation. The organization conducts surveys of schools across the United States every few years on how LGBTQ+ students are treated and subsequent impacts, both positive and negative.

“All students deserve schools that are safe and inclusive. They deserve schools that give the comprehensive education they need to make healthy and informed choices,” said Sophia Arrendondo, director of Education and Youth Programs.

“GLSEN supports respecting young people’s right to the information and resources they need to protect their health, make responsible decisions, and lead safe lives. Inclusive sex education ensures all students are seen and validated.”

Page 5

To gather community feedback and suggestions on the proposed lesson plans, CUSD put together a task force comprising about 20 individuals, mostly parents and a few teachers. Hill said the district selected people with diverse views and were willing to voice their opinions.

“Through this process, we believe we have compromised and have delivered balanced lessons in light of diverse views,” Hill said to the trustees.

When disagreements regarding topics couldn’t be resolved, he also noted, district staff looked for information from organizations that California’s education code identified as medically accurate, including the Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.

Between April and December of last year, the task force met seven times.

According to Hill, seventh-grade students will receive lessons one through six, while eighth-graders are taught lessons seven through 12 of the curriculum.

Students currently in eighth grade this school year will receive all 12 lessons.

According to an outline of the curriculum, the lesson plans for seventh-graders will include healthy relationships, healthy decision-making, anatomy and gender, creating a safe school and body image.

Students in eighth grade are set to learn about pregnancy, including outcomes and birth control, sexually transmitted infections, and relationships—both healthy and unhealthy. Both seventh- and eighth-graders will also receive instruction on sexuality being a normal part of human development and engaging in such topics with parents, guardians and trusted adults.

A list of addenda presented at the meeting will also be incorporated into the curriculum. Hill explained that the changes are meant to augment and strengthen areas of the lesson plans, as well as clear up confusing sentence structures and grammatical errors.

For a detailed overview of CUSD’s sexual education curriculum for seventh- and eighth-graders and further explanation on changes made compared to previous instruction, visit capousd.org. DP

danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

Tiffany & Co. Foundation Commits $25,000 to Ocean Institute The Tiffany & Co. Foundation has committed $25,000 to support the expansion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs at Ocean Institute.

Science (GIOS) Conference, which was launched in 2005, is a nationally recognized program that aims to provide inspiration and spark curiosity in middle and high school students through handson science workshops and interaction with accomplished female scientists.

Scientists who headline the GIOS Conference represent diverse, ocean-scientific fields of study, like coral conservation and research. “(We are) pleased to support Ocean Institute’s ocean education programs for youth in Southern California—in particular, young women—to inspire future generations of ocean advocates and marine scientists,” said Anisa Kamadoli Costa, chairman and president of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. “Younger generations today, as environmental stewards of the future, are an important source of hope for the long-term health of our oceans.”

High school students will take part in the GIOS Conference this month, working side by side with scientists in Ocean Institute’s science labs and on its research vessel, R/V Sea Explorer. This program provides access for students and their mentors to explore the 3.5-square-mile Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area adjacent to Ocean Institute’s waterfront campus. Students rotate through various ocean-related topical stations and collaborate with scientists to actively conduct research and experiments during the conference.

A portion of the grant from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation will provide access and hands-on STEM education experiences for one hundred underserved students across Southern California.

RH Dana Elementary Gets New Water Bottle Filling Station Richard Henry Dana Elementary School is now South Coast Water District’s (SCWD) first school to receive a Murdock water fountain. The unit comes with two traditional water fountains and one water bottle filler. It is also accessible to students with physical disabilities.

The idea first came to SCWD General Manager Rick Shintaku and Public Information Officer Sonja Morgan when they Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Each Saturday, California farmers bring fresh produce to sell at the Dana Point Farmers Market. Craft vendors are available the first Saturday of the month. La Plaza Park, Pacific Coast Highway near the Clock Tower.

MONDAY, MARCH 11 South Coast Water District provided its first Murdock water fountain to Richard Henry Dana Elementary School. Photo: Courtesy of Principal Kristen Nelson

learned that schools in the service area sell bottled and boxed water to students every day.

“Selling bottled water sends a mixed message to kids,” said SCWD President Bill Green. “Tap water is a safe, quality alternative to drinking bottled water. It costs much less at just pennies per gallon and protects our ocean environment.”

SCWD Board member Rick Erkeneff is an RH Dana alumnus.

“By providing each student with a reusable water bottle, we can help remove plastic from our environment,” said Erkeneff.

“Plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade and can kill mammals in the ocean habitat just off our beautiful beaches.”

South Coast Water District has already purchased another fountain that it will install in another local school and hopes to expand the program to other important community locations.

For more information on your water quality, visit South Coast Water District’s website at www.scwd.org.

FPPC Issued Warning Letters to Former City Council Candidates According to documents obtained by Dana Point Times, the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission issued warning letters to the campaigns for Mark McGinn, Charles Payne and Joe Jaeger.

The division enforces provisions of the Political Reform Act. The letters were in response to a complaint filed against the three candidates regarding an alleged violation of campaign reporting requirements by failing to disclose a non-monetary contribution in a timely manner.

The FPPC found that the committees failed to disclose receipt of catering services received on Oct. 3, 2018 at the Headlands Clubhouse.

“This in-kind contribution was not disclosed on the pre-election campaign statement for the reporting period of September 23, 2018 through October 20, 2018 due on October 25, 201,” the warning letters stated.

Any goods or services received by a campaign committee at no charge are considered non-monetary contributions.

Campaign committees are required to disclose on their campaign statements all contributions they receive valued at $100 or more.

The Enforcement Division stated in the letter that the agency is issuing a warning rather than a fine, due to amendments made to campaign statements.

“Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act in the future will result in monetary penalties of up to $5,000 for each violation,” the letter said.

In an article titled Clash of the Candidates, published Nov. 2, 2018, Dana Point Times reported on a meet-and-greet held Oct. 3 and receipts for Pacific Thyme Catering & Events, which listed services totaling $1,069.27.

To read more on the original complaints and the meet and greet in question, visit danapointtimes.com.

FEMA Public Outreach Meeting on Open Pacific Coast Study An informational public meeting will take place on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) update to coastline flood insurance rate maps (FIRM). At the meeting, FEMA staff will provide an update regarding the recent Open Pacific Coast Study, which analyzed and updated flood elevations along the California coastline. FEMA staff will also be available to discuss impacts on coastline properties and the flood insurance requirements for properties within coastal flood zones.

Page 6

PLANNING COMMISSION 6 p.m. Dana Point Planning Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting in City Hall’s Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210, Dana Point.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

MONARCH BEACH SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB 7 a.m. Every Wednesday, the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club welcomes people interested in making a difference in the local community and changing the world at their weekly meeting. Doors open and breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point. monarchbeachsunriserotary.org.

The meeting will take place 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the Dana Point Community Center Auditorium, 34052 Del Obispo, Dana Point.

SONGS Decommission Update Meeting The California State Lands Commission (CSLC) recently announced a meeting on the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) decommissioning project regarding the Unit 2 and 3 offshore intake conduits. The agenda has not yet been posted for the meeting, which is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on March 21 at the QLN Center in Oceanside. The agenda, and updates regarding meetings, can be obtained when it is available at slc. ca.gov.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more.

We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com. danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS GUEST OPINION: Wellness and Prevention by Susan Parmelee

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 danapointtimes.com

HOW TO REACH US CITY REPORTER Lillian Boyd, 949.388.7700, x113 lboyd@picketfencemedia.com SPORTS Zach Cavanagh, 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

Lauralyn Loynes, 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@picketfencemedia.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@picketfencemedia.com GENERAL MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Debra Wells (SJC)

EDITORIAL

Real Estate Sales Executive > Jennifer Guy

City Reporter, DP Times > Lillian Boyd

ART/DESIGN

Senior City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Reporter, The Capistrano Dispatch > Shawn Raymundo

Art Director > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex OPERATIONS

Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh

Finance Director > Mike Reed

Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho

General Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Copy Editor > Randall Youngman

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (SC)

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Jake Howard, Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 12, Issue 10. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (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 2019. All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE DANA POINT T IMES

FACEBOOK.COM/DANAPOINTTIMES • INSTAGRAM@DANAPOINTTIMES TWITTER.COM/DANAPOINTTIMES • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

Preparing Students

T

imes have changed. Not just normal evolutionary change, but a dramatic reshaping of our lives. The World Economic Forum calls it “the greatest transformation human civilization has ever known.” We are entering a cyber-physical world in which the number of corporations is declining and person-to-person commerce is increasing. Old systems are crumbling, while new ones are just beginning to form.

Our schools, from kindergarten to college, have not kept up with this rapid transformation, leaving students mentally exhausted, financially strapped and without the necessary skills for success—even if they hold a degree. This Fourth Industrial Revolution is redefining pathways to well-paying jobs and challenging the way we need to prepare our students for their future.

We are so focused on college admissions that we are not looking at what happens once students are there or whether the substantial investment of time and money is worth it for all of them. Sadly, progressing every student through the same educational funnel is not working for the vast majority. Of 100 students entering ninth grade, 57 will go on to college and only 28 will graduate with a degree in six years. Accounting for the 12 who are likely

Letters to The Editor IGNORANCE OR INTENTIONAL? CAROL WILSON, Capistrano Beach

Laura Muller wrote a letter last week defending her husband against misogyny involving Councilwoman Lewis. A couple of the definitions Mrs. Muller offered on this were “contempt of women, sex discrimination, belittling of women.” As someone who has attended Dana Point City Council meetings for a number of years and observed this behavior from now Mayor Muller, one has to wonder if she has ever been to observe a council meeting or ever viewed any of the recorded meetings.

Citizens who go to meetings see this on a

to be underemployed, this means that only 16 out of 100 students are making it to a job that requires a degree, according to the Manhattan Institute. Whether they earn the promised higher income is not guaranteed. It depends on their personal character, chosen field, social competence and, increasingly, technical abilities.

In today’s work environment, there are B.A. holders who earn more than those with an M.A. degree, A.A. holders who earn more than those with a B.A. and many certificate holders who earn more than any degree holder, according to a Georgetown University report in 2018.

College is an “if-or-when” decision; students need to attend if it is required for their field of interest and they can now choose when to attend. The Digest of Education StaWELLNESS AND tistics shows 40 percent PREVENTION

By Susan of undergraduates are Parmelee adults over the age of 25.

Completing formal education right after high school is no longer required or even necessary, although some form of post-secondary training is essential. New educational pathways allow students to save time and money by staging certificates and degrees to suit their needs and circumstances.

This generation of students, particularly those in high school, have been caught between two worlds, and we have no time to lose. We must help them gain real-world exposure to new ways of working and create opportunities for them to develop the necessary skills. The standardization of our K-12 school system has resulted

in students who know how to conform, individually achieve and interact in structured environments with same-age peers.

These abilities will not serve them well in an economy that values adaptability, collaboration and problem-solving. Luckily, the traits they need are decidedly human ones, learned through a broad spectrum of experiences and relationships. Difficult trade-offs need to be made to create time for critical real-world exposure. Parttime jobs, CTE courses, apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing and even meaningful volunteering can provide insight into new ways of working and inspire students to find a focus. Although each family will determine its own priorities, limiting extracurricular activities and reducing course loads, such as AP and honors classes, are good ways to begin.

To learn more about the opportunities for youth during and after high school that will help them be ready for the changing economy, attend Pam Roy’s lecture, “Teen Toolbox,” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday, March 18, in the Little Theater at San Clemente High School, 700 Avenida Pico. Reserve your seat at wandpc.eventbrite.com. Questions? info@ www.wpc-oc.org.

Follow her blog, pamroyblog.com.

Susan Parmelee is a mental health social worker and one of the founders of the Wellness & Prevention Center, San Clemente. She can be reached at susan@wellnessandpreventionsanclemente.com. DP

regular basis, it is recorded for anyone to see who wants to look, and it’s blatant. If it were not going on, would so many people be coming to city council meetings speaking up about it (as I have done myself on several occasions)? Nope, no one would be talking or complaining about it.

So that leads one to ponde: is Mayor Muller just ignorant of how he conducts himself, especially at council meetings?

And if so, since this behavior is not acceptable according to city regulations of city employees, is it time that three of our male councilmembers attend educational training sessions on this subject?

On the other hand, if personal grudges, jealousy, or hatred of Councilwoman Lewis is the motivation, then it is intentional and this leaves the City of Dana Point open to discrimination lawsuits. This also leaves certain councilmen who continue to demonstrate this behavior open to lawsuits.

This is distressing to women, and our male citizens as well. Perhaps our city man-

ager can provide our councilmen direction on the proper conduct toward female councilmembers and save the city some legal fees. I sure hope so, because it is uncomfortable for all involved and needs to stop.

Editor’s Note: The Dana Point Harassment Policy states that all employees, volunteers and city officials are required to receive harassment training in accordance with state law.

Page 7

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to lboyd@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning.

Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.

danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

cover footwork, choreography and rhythm of traditional flamenco dancing. Tickets can be purchased at lavivaflamenco.com.

Held every Monday at the Dana Point Community Center. 34052 Del Obispo St., Dana Point.

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF

Tuesday | 12

HAVE AN EVENT?

BEND AND BREW 6-7 p.m. This is a one-hour yoga class, followed by a pint of beer. It’s a great way to get to know your local fellow yogis and beer drinkers. Cost is $10. Left Coast Brewing Co. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.76.2699. leftcoastbrewing.com.

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

Friday | 08 LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Join Iva Lee’s for live music every Wednesday through Sunday. For the ultimate live music experience, be sure to reserve a lounge table on Fridays and Saturdays. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. Check their website for the latest scheduled performances. ivalees.com.

Wednesday | 13 Photo: File

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MARCH 9-10: FESTIVAL OF WHALES 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Festival of Whales will host its second and final weekend of celebration for the gray whale migration. You won’t want to miss out on the 8th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off, the Diamond Dig or the Whale of a Concert on the Water. Events will be held throughout the day in Dana Point Harbor. Refer to the Festival of Whales Event Guide at danapointtimes.com or visit festivalofwhales.com for more information.

Saturday | 09 OIL SPILL! WILD WEEKEND SERIES 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Much of the oil that spills into our ocean is a direct result from human activity in the form of motor oil, industrial runoff, and roadway runoff. Come to this Wild Weekend session to explore how oil runoff impacts the ocean, prevention methods, and how difficult oil is to remove once in the ocean.

Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

8TH ANNUAL WHALE OF A CLAM CHOWDER COOK-OFF 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sample a variety of tasty chowders from local restaurants and organizations and then vote for your favorite at the grassy area by Baby Beach. Tasting packets will include taste sampling tickets, tasting cups and spoons. It cost $10 for the chance to taste every sample. The Perpetual Trophy will be presented at 4 p.m. This year, adults over 21 with a valid driver’s license can enjoy a Beer & Wine Garden. Baby Beach, 34551 Puerto Place, Dana Point. festivalofwhales.com.

SOUTH COUNTY PET EXPO 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The 4th annual South County Pet Expo will offer plenty of pets to adopt, plus demos, vendors and food. Special guest W. Bruce Cameron, the author of the bestseller, A Dog’s Way Home, will make an appearance. Lake Forest Sports Park, 28000 Rancho Parkway, Lake Forest.

949.858.1000. adoptocpets.org.

Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

BALLROOM BASH 7-9:30 p.m. Classes begin with a brief ballroom lesson, followed by an evening of dancing, including foxtrot, swing, waltz, tango, cha-cha, rumba and salsa. Cost is $10 per person, and admission includes refreshments and soft drinks. Singles or couples are welcome. No stiletto heels. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street.

949.248.3527. ballroombash.com.

FIELD TRIP FEST Noon-6 p.m. Celebrate Docent Brewing’s second year in business by joining the brewer for its inaugural Field Trip Fest at Reata Park in San Juan Capistrano. This family-friendly event will also include a group bike ride from Docent Brewing to the festival beginning at 11 a.m. The event will feature a variety of Docent beers and others from guest breweries for tasting from noon to 4 p.m. The cost is $25 for a Field Trip Festival Pass and $40 for a Field Trip Deluxe Tasting Pass. Parking will be available at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park for $5.

Free shuttles will be available to transport guests to and from the event. Reata Park.

28632 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.767.8170. docentbrewing.com.

Sunday | 10 VILLAGE ART FAIRE 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Downtown Business Association hosts the Village Art Faire the first Sunday of every month along Ave-

nida Del Mar. Vendors offer an array of exceptional work handcrafted by artisans.

949.395.7008. villagesanclemente.org.

Monday | 11 INTRODUCTION TO BRIDGE 9:30-11:30 a.m. A beginner’s class will take place. Lessons will be offered on subsequent Mondays. 31461 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano, 949.248.1268. janedober@gmail.com. socb.center.

OPEN MIC AT BARNOA 7-10 p.m. Orange County singers and songwriters join host Gary Wright on the first three Mondays of every month to share their musical talent. Bring your musical instruments and love of live music.

The stage is set with everything you need.

Must be 21 and over. Barnoa Wine and Craft Beer Bistro. 831 Via Suerte, San Clemente. 949.388.4378. barnoawinebar.com.

BINGO AT GOODY’S 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month.

This month’s beneficiary is the San Clemente Art Association. Cards are $1 per sleeve, and raffle prizes are offered.

Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real.

949.492.3400. goodystavern.com.

ADULT BEGINNERS FLAMENCO DANCE CLASS 6:30 p.m. This beginner dance class will

Page 8

IHEARTYOGA IN THE PARK 10 a.m. Donation-based outdoor yoga for everyone. A variety of classes and styles are offered every day at 10 a.m. in front of the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Lantern Bay Park. Join hundreds of yogis weekly at this beautiful oceanfront class.

Bring your dog, kids and friends to Dana Point’s most popular yoga class. Suggested donation $8. No reservations needed.

Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. iheartyoga.org.

FREE COMEDY AT BLOOMS IRISH SPORTS BAR 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Blooms Irish Sports Bar, with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120.

Thursday | 14 NEIL DIAMOND BY KENNY HALE LIVE 7-10 p.m. Come out for cocktails, locally sourced dishes and live entertainment at StillWater Spirits & Sounds, a prohibition era-themed bar and restaurant. Kenny Hale will be performing hits by Neil Diamond. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

LADIES NIGHT OUT 6-9 p.m. Gather your girlfriends, bring an auction item or cash donation, and enjoy The Shea Center’s Ladies Night Out. Hosted by the Gala committee, this fun evening provides underwriting support for the 2019 Shea Center Annual Gala. The evening includes a rider demonstration, dinner, drinks, and live and silent auctions.

Feel free to dress in your favorite 1980s attire. Closed-toe shoes are required. J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center. 26284 Oso Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.240.8441.

Reserve tickets at sheacenter.org. danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT

At the Movies: ‘Greta’ So Close, Yet So Far

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

G

reta is one of the very few Hollywood movies for which French cinema royalty Isabelle Huppert crossed overseas. Huppert is by far one of the most talented and intriguing actresses to come out of France, and yet when she broadens out to the States about once every decade, it’s usually in mediocrity.

Directed by Neil Jordan and co-starring Chloe Grace Moretz, the horror-thriller is so close, yet so far, from being a success.

In downtown Manhattan, Frances McCullen (Moretz) is living with her childhood best friend, Erica (Maika Monroe), after her mother suddenly passes away.

While riding on the subway after work, she spots a lost black handbag that belongs to an older woman named Greta Hideg (Huppert). After returning Greta’s belongings to her, Frances finds that the woman is lonely from both her husband’s death and daughter moving out of the country.

Rather quickly, the two become a surrogate mother-daughter pairing that Erica thinks is a little strange for comfort. Frances

Photo: Focus Features

doesn’t see the big deal—until she finds something alarming in Greta’s house.

Greta is directed by Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan, who first broke through with testosterone-heavy features such as The Crying Game (1992). Here and with Byzantium (2012), Jordan proves that he has a genuine interest in creating projects centered on women. But while his characters are interesting, the recent scripts have hit a weak spot in his career.

Throughout Greta, we receive almost amateurish execution of tropes and exposition that you would see in a student film. It’s a shame, because Jordan and the actresses had a lot more potential than this movie allowed them to realize. DP

On Stage at The Coach House: Meat Loaf Presents BAT

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, DANA POINT TIMES

W

hen the Neverland Express, the official band of legendary rock artist Meat Loaf, takes the stage at The Coach House on Sunday, March 17, fans should expect to get “punched in the face with melody and lyrics,” said guitarist Paul Crook.

The show, “Meat Loaf presents BAT,” will feature the Neverland Express alongside 2014 American Idol winner Caleb Johnson as they perform Meat Loaf’s hit album, Bat Out of Hell, in its entirety.

“It’s just going to be a high energy, rockand-roll show … very theatrical,” said Johnson, who will be fronting the band while Meat Loaf recovers from back surgery.

During a phone conference with the Dana Point Times, both Crook and Johnson stressed that no one can ever replace Meat Loaf, a Grammy Award-winning vocalist.

Acknowledging that Meat Loaf’s operatic stage presence is “very physically demanding,” Johnson said “it’s an incredibly daunting task” to fill in for the rock star.

“He’s just such an amazing singer,” Johnson said. “The vocal performances on those albums is incredible. I’m incredibly honored to be asked to be part of this, because first and foremost I’m a fan.”

Johnson also noted that as a fan he inDana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

Photo: Courtesy of BAT

tends to perform from a fan’s perspective and without dressing like Meat Loaf.

“It’s 100 percent me singing these songs,” Johnson said. “It’s 100 percent of the emotions that I had when I first heard (them).”

Crook boasted that there’s a lot of talent at the BAT shows.

“The talent coming off the stage is pretty staggering. Caleb is obviously one of the greatest singers in the world; I’m not blowing smoke … the band is unbelievable,” he said, later adding, “We’re so lucky to have these songs to play.”

Tickets to see the Neverland Express featuring Caleb Johnson at The Coach House are $38. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the concert starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.

The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

For tickets or more information, call 949.496.8930 or visit thecoachhouse.com.

DP Page 10

DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Pet of the Week: Princess DANA POINT TIMES

P Pricess. Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente/ Dana Point Animal Shelter

rincess is a 9-year-old beauty looking for a fresh start. While she might be past her kitten stage, she’s definitely not past her prime. Princess is very sociable and loves to greet new visitors at the door. She would make a great companion for someone in search of a mellow and mature lap cat.

If you’d like to know more about Princess, call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617 or visit with her at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. DP

Manny and Veronica Diaz, owners of Bistro Provincia, a new restaurant in Dana Point. Photo: Jenna Ross

Business Beat News from Dana Point’s business community

BY JENNA ROSS FOR THE DANA POINT TIMES

New Business BISTRO PROVINCIA 34081 La Plaza, Dana Point 949.482.1011, bistroprovincia.com A new dining experience will soon be coming to the La Plaza Center on Pacific Coast Highway. What was once The Wine Bistro and Whiskey Bar will soon be Bistro Provincia, a fusion bistro owned by Manny and Veronica Diaz.

The name Bistro Provincia originates from Manny Diaz’s background and heritage. He has been working in bistrostyle restaurants since he was 16 and grew up in a small province, or provincia, of Durango, Mexico called Colonia Minerva.

He chose the name to serve as a reminder of his hard work and humble origins.

The original location of Bistro Provincia was in Covina, but the married couple wanted to experience what Orange County had to offer. After attempting to move their restaurant to Newport Beach, they decided instead on relocating to Dana Point.

Manny Diaz has a background working with French chefs and doing restaurant consulting. He moved to Los Angeles County at the age of 16 and took a job as a dishwasher, but he always knew he wanted to be more involved in the restaurant industry.

“He was always sneaking into the kitchen to watch the chefs,” said Veronica Diaz.

Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

Manny gradually worked his way up the chain in the restaurant world, from being a dishwasher, to becoming an executive chef who developed a menu for the Four Seasons in Singapore, and eventually to opening his own restaurant.

Veronica was involved in the mortgage world, processing commercial loans, when Manny came to her and said, “I can’t do this on my own.” She dropped everything to help him pursue his dream and became the frontrunner of the business while Manny perfected recipes behind the scenes.

They have known each other since they were 9 years old living in Mexico. Veronica made the move to California first at the age of 15, and Manny soon followed. They have been married for 33 years.

Bistro Provincia focuses on high-quality fusion food that incorporates recipes, spices and ingredients from a variety of cuisines, including French, Italian, Latin, Mexican and Asian. “(We) want to combine food from all over the world,” Manny said.

He focuses his menu on traditional meals with quality organic ingredients.

They will source hormone-free meats, pesticide-free produce and some locally produced wines.

Manny and Veronica plan to do wine pairing dinners every two months. These dinners will also host Napa wine producers themselves, who will speak on the tasting notes and production of the wines.

A prix fixe menu with wine pairings will be a nightly option alongside the standard dinner menu. They also dream of opening a tapas restaurant in the future.

Bistro Provincia held its opening day on Tuesday, March 5, and is now open to the public.

Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library

FROM THE ARCHIVES This is a photo of land agents in Dana

Point. It is estimated that it was taken between 1927 and 1929 and is part of the Lorna Mills/Laguna Federal Collection.

Every week, the Dana Point Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to lboyd@picketfencemedia.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

Page 12

See the solution in next week’s issue.

danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

First Weekend for the Festival of Whales

BY LILLIAN BOYD, DANA POINT TIMES

P

articipants withstood the weather to compete in the sand sculpting contest, and passersby near Baby Beach had the chance to visit the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center, a 1,000-square-foot exhibition on wheels with a 4-D multisensory theater and interactive learning stations.

On Sunday, the skies cleared, and the crowds enjoyed the So Cal Woodies and Legendary Corvettes car shows.

The second weekend of the Festival of Whales will be held Saturday

and Sunday, March 9-10. Visitors can look forward to the Cardboard Classic Dinghy Dash & Expo, the 8th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off, Captain Dave’s Under the Sea Eco Carnival, the Whale of a Concert on the Water and BBQ , and much more. The Diamond Dig is now scheduled for Sunday, March 10 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information on the festival and for the latest updates, visit festivalofwhales.com or read the Festival of Whales Event Guide at danapointtimes. com. DP

Photo: Jenna Ross

Artist Spotlight: Melissa Salazar

BY JENNA ROSS, FOR THE DANA POINT TIMES

Melissa Salazar is a jewelry designer and metalsmith currently living in San Clemente and working in Dana Point. She started her artistic career as a printmaker, but transitioned to metalsmithing and jewelry making four years ago Q: How did you get into jewelry making?

A: I’ve always been involved in the arts in some way or another. I went to UC Santa Cruz for fine art, and my focus was printmaking. After that, I had internships and worked out in Washington, D.C. and New York for printmaking, papermaking and bookmaking. After that, I started with jewelry in 2015. There’s this awesome facility in Irvine called the Irvine Fine Arts Center, and they have a huge range of classes as well as open studios. So I started by taking a couple metalsmith fabrication classes, and from there I just started using the open studio hours and really was able to refine my craft independently.

Q: What is your creative process like?

A: I have a pretty big collection of rocks that I purchase from different lapidaries. A lapidary is a person who cuts and polishes rocks. There are times when I draw out a sketch of something beforehand, but typi-

Q: What is your favorite part about the work in general?

A: I love the physicality of it. It’s why I’ve preferred all of the art processes I’ve done, whether it’s print, paper, bookbinding or now metalsmithing. They are all very tactile. You’re hammering, sawing, filing, sanding or wielding a torch. There’s so much physical motion within the entire process, it’s like a dance. You can put it on, and know it’s something that was crafted lovingly, intentionally, by hand. That’s really special to me.

Q: What inspires you while creating pieces?

A: The raw materials I use—silver, copper, any of the gemstones or rocks—they all come straight from the ground beneath us, which is pretty miraculous, in my opinion. I guess what inspires me is the beauty of the earth itself, and how it’s able to produce these materials. I feel like a lot of my work is very textural. This makes my work very reminiscent of landscapes and goes back to being inspired by the earth itself.

You can inquire about Melissa’s work via her website msmetalworks.com or her Instagram, @_melissa_salazar_. DP Melissa Salazar msmetalworks.com Instagram: @_melissa_salazar_

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dana Point Times will be spotlighting artists based in Dana Point or whose work is featured in the community. If you are an artist (musician, painter, sculptor, etc.) whose creativity contributes to the Dana Point community, or if you know of a candidate, contact Lillian Boyd at lboyd@picketfencemedia.com.

The Festival of Whales continued its celebration of the gray whales’ migration along the California coast despite rainfall on its first day. More fun-filled events are planned for the festival’s second weekend on March 9-10. Photos: Jenna Ross Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

cally that’s not how I work. I sit with it and start to visualize in my brain what I want to do with the stone itself, and how I want to display it to really do it justice.

Page 13

danapointtimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES TO A DV E RT I SE : 9 4 9 . 3 8 8 . 7 7 0 0 , E X T. 1 0 0 • FAX : 9 4 9 . 3 8 8 . 9 9 7 7 PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF DANA POINT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT on MARCH 19, 2019 the City Council of the City of Dana Point will conduct a hearing to consider the following: Local Coastal Program Amendment LCPA19-0001/Zone Text Amendment ZTA19-0001: Minor text amendments to Chapter 9.31 (Floodplain Overlay District) and Chapter 9.75 (Definition and Illustrations of Terms) of the Dana Point Zoning Code, updating the City’s Floodplain Ordinance to comply with minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements pursuant to Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Sections 59, 60.3 60.6 and 65.3.

Project Number: Project Location: Applicant/Owner: Environmental: Hearing Date: Hearing Time: Hearing Location:

Local Coastal Program Amendment LCPA19-0001/Zone Text Amendment ZTA19-0001 Citywide City of Dana Point The project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), as the code amendments have no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, thus the proposed amendments are exempt from the provisions of CEQA. March 19, 2019 6:00 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as possible) Dana Point City Hall, Council Chambers, Suite 210, 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, California 92629

Those desiring to be heard in favor or in opposition to this item will be given an opportunity to do so during such hearing or by writing to the City Council at 33282 Golden Lantern, Ste. 203, Dana Point, California 92629, Attention: City Clerk. Please reference hearing title and date of hearing in any correspondence. For further information, you may contact the City Clerk at (949) 248-3505.

Any petition for judicial review of a decision of the Dana Point City Council is controlled by the statute of limitations provisions set forth in Sections 2.50.010 and 2.50.020 of the Dana Point Municipal Code and Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. Any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, or void any decision of the Dana Point City Council is controlled by Section 2.50.010 and Section 2.50.020 of the Dana Point Municipal Code. In any such action or proceeding seeking judicial review of, which attacks or seeks to set aside, or void any decision of the Dana Point City Council, shall be limited to those issues raised at the hearing as provided in Chapter 2.50 of the Dana Point Municipal Code. Copies of the procedures for the conduct of City Council public hearings are available from the City Clerk.

KATHY WARD, CITY CLERK

LOCALS ONLY

BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, San Clemente, 949.485.4979, info@bodymindspiritiop.com, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

CAFE - DELI

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

COFFEE SHOP

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

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

State Farm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

MASSAGE THERAPY

Paul Svoboda CAMTC #76690 Monarch Beach Studio or Outcall, 310.387.2560 MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.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

UPHOLSTERY & INTERIORS

Jeddy’s Interiors

34118 Pacific Coast Highway, Ste. 2, 949.240.9569. www.jeddys.com

Want to be featured here?

Email lloynes@picketfencemedia.com for pricing.

Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the Dana Point Times.

• Fictitious Business Notice (FBN/DBA) • Name Changes • Lien Sale • Alcoholic Beverage License • Notice to Creditors • Petitions for Probate • Trustee Sale • Summons – Divorce – Civil • Annual Report • Non-Responsibility • Dissolution of Partnership TO ADVERTISE: LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM | 949.388.7700, EXT. 100

CLASSIFIEDS

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

Submit your classified ad online at danapointtimes.com GARAGE SALES

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

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED-PICTURE FRAMER Mat cutting, picture fitting. Must be good at addition and measuring, clean in your work.

Cortador de mats. Ensamblador de cuadros para posters. Que conosca medidas del metro, que sea limpo en trajabo. Nosotros entrenamos a la persona Part Time or Full Time available. Medio tiempo complete. Available hours Monday-Friday between 7:00am-5:00pm $12.50-$14.00 depending on experience. Will train right person. 949-388-8403 ask for Scott

OBITUARIES

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Paul James Michael Gregory

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

Oct. 5, 1951 - Feb. 26, 2019 Paul “PJ” Gregory passed away at the young age of 67. Born in New York state to Sidney and Frances Gregory, he grew up with his two siblings, Warren (New York) and Laraine (California). Paul began playing guitar in his youth and often performed on stage in a mask and cape, using whatever pseudonym suited his mood.

Paul studied in Mexico and received his degree in Mesoamerican Anthropology, then traveled the world working for United Airlines.

He enjoyed discovering new cultures throughout his life. He also received his Juris Doctorate, becoming a member of the California State Bar. He loved living near the ocean in Dana Point, where he lived for over two decades, daily strolling Strands beach and the headlands. Any day you might find him humming songs while tending to his vast yard filled with unique palms and exotic plants. He was an attorney by trade, a passionate guitar player, Vespa enthusiast, and an avid reader.

Paul was a loving father and a playful grandfather to his three grandchildren, Zöe(15), Booker(6) and Frances(3). He is survived by his daughter, Kara, his son, Michael, and mother of his children, Coleen. He is dearly loved and will be deeply missed.

Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

Page 15

danapointtimes.com

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dana Wharf Fish Report Fishing picks back up as Halibut Derby enters final four weeks

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

A

fter a cold and blustery February, the fishing is picking right back up at Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

In his weekly report, Captain Brian Woolley said the fleet has been hitting rockfish limits through the morning each day.

“Every boat on the coast is hyped to be back to catching fish,” Woolley said.

The overnight trips also saw good action over at San Clemente Island. The Fury pulled in its own strong hauls of rockfish along with good portions of whitefish and sheephead and a yellowtail catch.

There is still some bits of rain in the forecast, and Woolley said they’d welcome the weather sorting itself out.

March is the final month of the Halibut Derby as it runs through March 31. Brian Dancer’s 26-pound, 10-ounce catch currently tops the leader board, and the top

five is all catches of 22 lbs. and above.

Four weekends remain in the Halibut Derby.

Here are the latest fish counts from Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching: March 5 • 2 boats, 43 anglers: 12 sculpin, 20 whitefish, 101 rockfish, 225 vermilion rockfish, 50 bocaccio, 1 copper rockfish, 11 bass released

Dolphin Report

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

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

March 4 • 3 boats, 53 anglers: 12 sheephead, 31 whitefish, 111 rockfish, 161 vermilion rockfish, 42 bocaccio, 1 copper rockfish, 25 sculpin March 3 • 4 boats, 91 anglers: 3 yellowtail, 6 sheephead, 98 whitefish, 259 rockfish, 464 vermilion rockfish, 1 bocaccio, 4 copper rockfish, 7 sanddab, 1 lingcod March 2 • 2 boats, 42 anglers: 1 yellowtail, 1 calico bass, 2 sculpin, 21 sheephead, 200 whitefish, 160 rockfish, 168 vermilion rockfish, 2 copper rockfish, 6 sanddab, 4 blue perch March 1 • 5 boats, 109 anglers: 1 lingcod, 1 sand bass, 12 sculpin, 3 sheephead, 177 whitefish, 260 rockfish, 50 vermilion rockfish, 19 bocaccio, 1 blue perch, 12 bass released Feb. 28 • 1 boat, 23 anglers: 2 calico bass, 3 sculpin, 2 blue perch, 13 bass released DP

Baseball Splits Capo Valley to Open League The Dana Hills baseball team took a winning streak into South Coast League play and extended it to four games before a pair of one-run defeats.

The Dolphins (5-4) opened league at home with a 6-2 win over Capistrano Valley on Feb. 27. Dana Hills followed that up with a 1-0 loss to Coast View rival Aliso Niguel on March 1.

The Dolphins returned to league on Tuesday, March 5, again at home against Capistrano Valley.

The game opened well enough for Dana Hills as Logan Gallina hit a tworun home run in the first inning that scored Zach Waters, and Beau Johnson scored on a CJ Zwahlen groundout for a 3-1 lead in the opening frame. Chase Hill responded with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings on the mound.

However, the Dolphins couldn’t add to the lead, and Capistrano Valley grinded out a comeback to take a 5-3 lead. As the light was fading, dark clouds closed in and the game reached its final stanza, the Dolphins scraped out one more run with a RBI single from Dante Jackson to score Ryan Lewis, but that was Dana Hills’ last push in a 5-4 loss.

Dana Hills played El Toro at JSerra on Thursday, March 7, but results were not available at press time. The Dolphins play at San Juan Hills in the El Dorado Steakhouse Tournament on Monday, March 11, and Dana Hills returns to league play on Wednesday, March 13, at Tesoro and at home against Mission Viejo on Friday, March 15.

Softball Opens Strong, Upsets Mater Dei

Fishing has picked back up along the coast with rockfish catches regularly hitting the limits. Photo: Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

Dana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

The Dana Hills softball team has opened the season well through the Northwood Tournament and dodging the rains.

The Dolphins (6-3-1) went 2-1-1 in the Northwood Tournament with wins over Woodbridge and El Modena and tie with

Page 17

Dana Hills baseball opened South Coast League play with a split against Capistrano Valley. The Dolphins continue in league play next week against Tesoro and Mission Viejo. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Yorba Linda.

On Feb. 28, Dana Hills scored an upset as the Dolphins hosted Mater Dei. Madi Wood threw a five-hit completegame shutout with five strikeouts, and Sam Montero knocked an RBI double to score Jasmine Gallegos in the seventh for the walk-off win over Mater Dei, 1-0.

Dana Hills played at Tesoro on Thursday, March 7, but results were not available at press time.

The Dolphins host Woodbridge on Thursday, March 14.

Boys Lacrosse Starts with Back-to-Back Wins The Dana Hills boys lacrosse team is off to a strong start under first-year head coach Trent Cooper.

On Feb. 27, the Dolphins beat Mission Viejo, 17-5, in their season opener at home. Sam Martin and Noah Thompson each scored five goals for Dana Hills.

On Tuesday, March 5, Dana Hills knocked off Northwood, 12-9.

The Dolphins continue at home against Santa Barbara on Saturday, March 9, and Centennial of Corona on Monday, March 11. Dana Hills opens the Sea View League on Wednesday, March 13, against San Juan Hills. DP

danapointtimes.com

DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

San Clemente Schools Dominate NSSA Scholastic Championships Tritons, Seahawks keep tradition of excellence going another year

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

L

ast weekend was a big one for San Clemente’s student surfers. From the middle school to the college ranks, area schools dominated the NSSA Interscholastic State Championships. Held in playful, knee- to waist-high surf at Seaside Reef in San Diego, the tradition of excellence was on full display.

Since 2006, the Shorecliffs Middle School Surf Team has not surrendered the NSSA State Title. Last weekend marked its 14th consecutive crown, a feat unrivaled in the history of the NSSA. “This has got to be a testament to head coach David Hennings, who now must be considered one of the greatest surf coaches in the history of our sport,” read a NSSA Facebook post shortly after the latest title was clinched. “The Shorecliffs Surf Team has established a level of excellence others must now strive to match.”

Keeping pace with the Seahawks, the San Clemente High Tritons also found themselves atop the podium when the

GROM OF THE WEEK

IAN GOTTRON

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

R

epresenting Dana Hills High School, battling through round after round at the NSSA Interscholastic Championship last weekend, Ian Gottron deserves a tip of the cap for finishing third in the highly competitive men’s varsity final.

The result is all the more impressive because not only does Gottron rip on a shortboard—he ranks among the best in an area renowned as a hotbed of talent—he’s doing it on his terms, in true surfer fashion.

He’s just as comfortable cross-stepping to the nose at Doheny as he is launching an air at Salt Creek, and that takes some real talent.

A naturally stylish surfer, he also rips on less conventional craft such as fishes and singleDana Point Times March 8-14, 2019

San Clemente High School and Shorecliffs Middle School won their respective state championships at NSSA Interscholastic State Championships over the weekend at Seaside Reef in San Diego. Photos: Courtesy of NSSA

spray settled. It was another varsity and junior varsity sweep for head coach John Dowell’s squads, the Tritons’ 16th varsity state title and eighth junior varsity state title.

Incredibly, San Clemente’s Malia Ward, surfing for the University of Southern California, captured the Women’s College State title as well, tallying a pair of eightpoint rides in the final to take the win.

Her father, Chris Ward, a former World Tour competitor and NSSA National Champion, was on hand to chair her up the beach and join in the celebration.

As far as individual successes, there was no shortage of podium-topping performances from the local contingent.

The Tritons’ junior varsity team stormed the final with Raiki Nishida taking the victory, followed by Luke Blackwill in the runner-up spot and Miles Biggs in third. Matt Economos rounded out the six-person final in a very respectable fifth place.

The lady Tritons proved to be just as dangerous, with teammates Julia Guild and

Emily Anderson finishing 1-2 in the JV final.

For the Tritons’ varsity squad, Kai McPhillips led the charge, finishing second, only 0.3 of a point off the lead. When the horn finally sounded at the end of the fiercely fought heat, it was Newport’s Jojo Whelan who came away in the top spot.

San Clemente’s Ethan Mudge won the Varsity longboard division, while Griffin Glenn got third in the JV Longboard final.

And for the Middle School crew, it was an all-star showing for Shorecliffs. Sawyer Lindblad blasted her way into first place in the middle school girls’ division, while Dane Matson, Tyrone Fomenko and Brayden Burch all made the final of the boys’ division. Dax McPhillips won the Middle School longboard title.

From San Diego to Dana Point and on up to Santa Cruz, there’s no shortage of talent in the water along the California coast, but year in and year out, San Clemente schools have had the most dominant surf programs in the state. This has led to San Clemente’s well-earned reputation as the hotbed for up-and-coming talent in America.

Look no further than what some area surfers have been able to accomplish on the global stage since graduating from T Street. The city currently has two surfers on the WSL Championship Tour—Kolohe Andino and Griffin Colapinto—while Greg Long has cemented his reputation as one of the premier big-wave riders in the world. Kirra Pinkerton is the reigning Junior World champion. And surfers including the Gudauskas brothers, Ian Crane, Luke Davis and Tia Blanco, as well as a handful of others, are inspiring surfers around the world to go chase their own surf dreams. None of this is possible without a solid foundation in academics and support from within the community.

Huge credit goes to the coaches, administrators and parents who make all of this possible. It’s not always easy (or fun) standing on the beach in the wind and the rain, but when it all comes together like this, all those long days and long weekends pay off in remarkable ways. Congrats to all of the winners and their supporters for another history-making season. DP

SURF FORECAST fin eggs. Gottron is that rare breed of surfer who can jump on any board and make it sing.

As a testament to his talent, at the end of last year, Gottron won both the longboard and shortboard titles at the South Coast League individual finals at Trestles, a first for a surfer from Dana Hills.

Growing up in San Juan Capistrano, the oldest of five kids, Gottron is currently finishing his senior year at Dana Hills. With a bright future in surfing ahead of him, he’s got the support of sponsors Katin and XCEL Wetsuits, while local shaper Donald Brink has been putting well-designed boards under his feet. Gottron’s even been experimenting with shaping his own boards.

Nikki’s Café in Dana Point named a donut after the little legend. If a maple bar topped with crispy bacon is your thing, cruise in and ask for the “Gato Son” (Grotton’s nickname). DP

Water Temperature: 55-58 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 10-15’ Outlook: Mix of swells will be easing through this weekend with northwest swell and southwest swell gradually dropping from knee-waist high+ (2-3’+) on Saturday to under waist high for Sunday and Monday.

Light and generally favorable morning winds for the weekend, then onshore winds develop for each afternoon. Expecting better South Pacific swell for next week, so be sure to check Surfline.com for all the details and the longer range outlook.

Ian Gottron. Photo: Instagram/@gato_so

Page 18

danapointtimes.com