August 10, 2018

LO C A L

N EWS

August 10-16, 2018

YO U

C A N

U S E

Check Out Our Annual Inside/Outside Home Guide SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 11, ISSUE 32

True VIPS

A closer look at the volunteers working hard behind the scenes for Dana Point Police Services E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 5

Dana Point Volunteers In Police Services (VIPS) program members stand with Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputies D. Chapple and L. Bernice, as well as the head of the VIPS program, Crime Prevention Specialist Jill Jackson. Photo: Courtesy

City of Dana Point Releases Residential Recovery Facility Update EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

Man Arrested for Allegedly Starting Holy Fire EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

www.danapointtimes.com

Renovation to Begin on Capistrano Seaside Inn EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

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

DP EYE ON DP

Dana Dana Point Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING Election Update: Eight Candidates Have Pulled Papers as Deadline Looms

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week

Holy Fire Puts 20,000 people under evacuation orders, May Have Been Set Intentionally THE LATEST: About 20,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders after a Southern California fire, which authorities say was set intentionally, spread to more than 6,000 acres this week.

The Holy Fire started Monday, Aug. 6, in the Cleveland National Forest and has so far destroyed 12 structures, according to fire authorities on Aug. 9. The Holy Fire has burned 6,200 acres and is 5 percent contained. Schools have been closed in Menifee, Perris and Lake Elsinore.

A man has been arrested in connection with the fire that is wreaking havoc near the border between Orange and Riverside counties, among the most populous counties in California.

Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, was being held at the Orange County jail on Wednesday on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, a count of felony threat to terrorize and a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge, the Cleveland National Forest said via Twitter.

The charges being leveled could carry a life sentence, said Susan Schroeder of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Witness statements, physical evidence and burn patterns connected the man to the fire, said Shane Sherwood with the Orange County Fire Authority.

Before he was arrested, Clark allegedly told a cameraman he was asleep when the fire started and had no idea how it began.

“Who would go out with low humidity, and high wind and the highest heat temperatures this time of year and intentionally set the forest on fire?” asked Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer during Wednesday’s press conference.

Fire officials warned residents to heed evacuation orders.

An excessive heat warning for the fire area has been issued with temperatures higher than 100 degrees.

WHAT’S NEXT: The American Red Cross set up an evacuation center at the Rancho Santa Margarita Bell Tower at 22232 El Paseo as well as at San Juan Hills High School, 29211 Stallion Ridge, for people affected by the fire. —Daniel Ritz Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2018

City staff have confirmed that demolition could begin as early as this week, Friday, Aug. 10, on the Capistrano Seaside Inn. Photo: Daniel Ritz

Renovation of the Capistrano Seaside Inn Confirmed to Begin THE LATEST: Dana Point City Staff have confirmed that preliminary and demolition work could begin as early as this week, Friday, Aug. 10, on the Capistrano Seaside Inn. In April of 2018, Mark Adams of the California Receivership Group (CLR) was appointed to take possession and control over the landmark hotel. According to court documents, the Sunshine Group, LLC, who owns the property, has failed to comply with notices and orders to repair the property.

On Sept. 1, 2016, the city red-tagged the site after conducting an inspection in conjunction with the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Upon finalization of a reconstruction, Sunshine Group, LLC will have the ability to purchase the property and inherit development costs, in order to maintain ownership.

If they choose not to do so, CLR may sell the property to a new owner on an open-market.

The property was constructed around 1930 with some office space and 28 motel rooms. It was noted as one of the last remaining roadside motels in Dana Point, which helped shaped California car culture.

Previously, the property qualified as a “low cost affordable accommodation,” due to the proximity to the beach and the low average daily rates ($120-$150) and smaller room sizes.

Matt Schneider, a planning manager at the City of Dana Point said that Adams and CLR were specifically chosen for this job due to past experience renovating historic hotels.

WHAT’S NEXT: Schneider said that initially, demolition and construction will

THE LATEST: The Dana Point City Council 2018 election is underway, and eight candidates in three districts have pulled nomination papers.

So far, the residents who have pulled papers are current incumbent Mayor pro-tem Joe Muller, Joseph Jager and Amy Foell for District 1, current incumbent Mayor Richard Viczorek, Mark McGinn, and J. Scott Schoeffel for District 2 and Jamey Federico and Charles Payne for District 3. Candidates must pull nomination papers and circulate them to obtain enough signatures before officially filing. More candidates are likely to pull papers as the weeks go on.

not be highly visible to the public as preliminary safety checks and subterranean valve shut-off ensues. As of print deadline, development plans were unavailable. Stay tuned to this story on www.danapointtimes.com for updates. —DR

WHAT’S NEXT: The deadline to pull nomination papers is Aug. 10, the same deadline to file a ballot initiative with the city. The Dana Point Times will offer a final listing of candidates when that window closes the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 10 on www.danapoitntimes.com. —DR

City of Dana Point Puts out Statement on Sober Living Home Litigation Action

Waves Resort Hotel Heard by Coastal Commission Friday, Aug. 10

THE LATEST: On Aug. 6, 2018, the City of Dana Point put out a press release updating residents on legal action to ensure residential recovery facilities operate within the law.

“The City of Dana Point has continued its work to take action to ensure legal compliance in connection with the operation of residential facilities, commonly referred to as sober living homes, within the city,” the release reads.

To date, Dana Point has taken legal action against 14 homes with new cases being filed on an ongoing basis. Since the city has begun efforts to ensure residential recovery facilities are complying with state licensing requirements, 12 have closed.

“We want to let your community know that we have a systematic approach to taking action against residential recovery facilities that not operating in a legal manner,” City Attorney Patrick Munoz said. “Our approach is working.”

THE LATEST: The fate of construction of a 35 thousand square foot commercial development consisting of a 57-room hotel, 52 bed hostel, a 4,000 square foot restaurant, a visitor center and a 174-stall parking garage on a 1.6 acre vacant lot in Dana Point will be considered by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) during their meeting on Friday, Aug. 10 in Redondo Beach.

In their meeting on Dec. 15 at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, the CCC heard an appeal from the Surfrider Foundation concerning the Wave Resort at the Strand.

Filed on Oct. 20, this appeal was heard in a “substantial issue-only hearing,” where Surfrider claimed various inconsistencies with the certified Local Coastal Program (LCP), which for present purposes is the Headlands Development and Conservation Plan (HDCP) and the City of Dana Point’s certified LCP where the HDCP is silent.

In a 5-5 vote, tie going to the appellate, the Commission determined that the resort’s coastal development permit did hold a “substantial issue,” and will now be considered at greater length by CCC staff.

WHAT’S NEXT: The City of Dana Point claims it will continue to participate in city and state discussions including Sober Town Hall meetings with Senator Patricia Bates and State Assemblyman William Brough as well as participate in the Association of California Cities Orange County Task Force.

“We encourage residents to notify the sheriff’s department any time a violation of law is observed,” City Manager Mark Denny said in the release. —DR

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WHAT’S NEXT: A staff report, which can be seen at www.coastal.ca.gov , recommends passage of the CDP permit. It may only pass with a majority vote of CCC commissioners present. —DR www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

OCSD Harbor Patrol to Host Facebook Live Question and Answer Session At 12 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Harbor Patrol will host a Facebook live question and answer session. Recently, the OCSD Harbor Patrol has been under review, including a request to District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett made by the Dana Point Harbor Advisory board to examine and evaluate the cost share and cost effectiveness of the Dana Point Harbor Patrol.

Residents are encouraged to send in their questions via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The event will be hosted on the OCSD Harbor Patrol Facebook site. www. facebook.com/OCSDHarborPatrol.

Surfing Heritage and Culture Center to Host Shaun Tomson on Aug. 18 Join the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center for a special evening with Shaun Tomson as he talks about the influence of positive values on success in life based on his own experiences of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges, in and out of the surf. An attitude of commitment and positivity is the basis for his unique empowering philosophy based on his book “The Code”. Under age 18 are free; parents, family and supporters over 18 are $5.

Doors open at 4 p.m. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to 200.

Participants under 18 receive a copy of “The Code” free. Pizza and drinks will be available for purchase onsite. Registration is filling up, but more space is available, especially for groms and their families. For planning purposes, SHACC is asking everyone to pre-register at www.shacc.org.

President of American Opal Society to Speak at Aug. 15 SOCGEMS Meeting Pete Goetz, the president of the American Opal Society, will present a slide show and samples of opals from around the world at the monthly meeting of the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society (SOCGEMS), on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 7:15 pm, San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville.

The public is invited to attend and learn more about this fascinating gem that was originally discovered in ancient times in Slovakia. In the 19th-century major deposits were found in Australia, which then the world’s largest source of opals. Today, Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2018

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11

FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m. -1 p.m. Each Saturday, California farmers bring fresh produce to sell at the Dana Point Farmers Market from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Craft vendors join in on the fun every first Saturday of the month as well. The Dana Point Farmers Market is located in La Plaza Park on Pacific Coast Highway near the Clock Tower.

MONDAY, AUGUST 13

Dana Point resident Christine Bisbee (left) was recently awarded the Nurses4Nurses Award by the Saddleback Memorial Foundation. Photo: Courtesy

Ethiopian opal production is competitive with Australian.

Goetz has been president of the American Opal Society for over ten years. He graduated from San Diego State University after studying structural geomorphology or the processes and interactions that form landscapes. After a career in retail, he returned to his earth science passion and taught physical science, earth science and astronomy in the Anaheim School District for 22 years.

Meetings of SOCGEMS are held the third Wednesday of the month, 7:15 p.m. in the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente (next door to the library). Guests are welcome at no charge.

For more information visit www.socgems. com or on www.facebook.com/socgems to receive information on upcoming programs.

The 56-year-old nonprofit club serves the entire South Orange County community.

Local Nurse Recognized

by Saddleback Memorial Foundation Select Memorial Care Saddleback Medical Center employees were awarded scholarships toward higher education at the Saddleback Memorial Foundation’s 41st annual Scholarship Awards event on July 26, 2018.

Christine Bisbee, a registered nurse and Dana Point native, works in the cardiovascular observation unit and was awarded the Nurses4Nurses Award.

The award recipients were commended

by Ryan Olsen, COO of Saddleback Medical Center, for their pursuit of education.

He also acknowledged the difficulty of balancing a full-time job with going to school, as well as juggling family obligations.

In total, the Scholarship Program has distributed $1,093,000 to 618 employees.

This year’s 26 employees received scholar-

ships totaling more than $49,000.

Many of the scholarship recipients were registered nurses attaining their bachelors or masters degrees, even nurse practitioner degrees. These types of degrees were important for the hospitals recent designation as a magnet hospital, which recognize nursing excellence.

The Foundations’ Scholarship Committee reviewed the applications to determine awardees and amounts. Awards are named after the donors who have generously gifted funds for this program.

“Our generous scholarship donors believe in the power of education.”said Cecilia Belew, president of Saddleback Memorial Foundation. “It’s wonderful for them to come to this ceremony and see the impact of their investment in our employees futures.”

Dana Point Native Serves in U.S. Navy, Supports NATO Mission Command Master Chief David Marcus, a 1997 Dana Hills High School graduate and Dana Point native is living on the coast of Spain and participating in critical NATO ballistic missile defense (BMD) mission while assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney.

Command Master Chief Marcus is the command master chief aboard one of the four advanced warships forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, a small village on the country’s southwest coast 65 miles south of the city of Seville.

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.

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PLANNING COMMISSION 6 p.m. The City of Dana Point Planning Commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall in City Council Chambers. 33282 Golden Lantern. Ste. 210. www.danapoint.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14

DANA HARBOR TOASTMASTERS 7-8:30 p.m. Join the members of the Dana Harbor Toastmasters every Tuesday to improve speaking and leadership skills. Capo Beach Church, 25975 Domingo Ave., Capistrano Beach. www.1707.toastmastersclubs.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15

TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING 4 p.m. The Dana Point Traffic Improvement Subcommittee will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall in the Public Works Conference Room. Ste. 212. www.danapoint.org.

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

COASTMASTERS’ (TOASTMASTERS) 7-8:30 a.m. Join the members of the Coastmasters’ every Thursday to improve speaking and leadership skills.

34451 Ensenada Place. Adjacent to Baby Beach at OC Sailing & Events center. www.coastmasters.org.

www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Manny Jurado, 77, is a Dana Point resident and one of 15 active Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) for Dana Point Police Services. He considers himself “retired,” despite volunteering the equivalent hours of a part-time job every month. Photo: Daniel Ritz

True VIPS A closer look at the volunteers working behind the scenes for Dana Point Police Services

BY DANIEL RITZ, DANA POINT TIMES

W

alking into the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Dana Point Police Services (DPPS) offices at City Hall, one could expect to be greeted by an on-duty, inuniform deputy or possibly a stressed out plainclothes administrative assistant.

Instead, you may be greeted by Manny Jurado, a 77-year-old resident of Dana Point with a radiant smile and comforting demeanor. Jurado is one of 15 active members of the Volunteers in Police Services, affectionately called VIPS, a program at OCSD Dana Point Police Services. VIPS such as Jurado perform a plethora of tasks to assist patrol deputies and administrative staff.

The VIPS program began in 1991 and has since donated more than 800,000 volunteer hours. In the 2017 fiscal year alone, the VIPS volunteered over 4,600 hours, saving DPPS more than $120,000 dollars.

Jill Jackson is a Crime Prevention Specialist with DPPS and leads the VIPS team.

She explained that the current 15 members are an eccentric group of characters largely comprised of retired but active seniors.

Jackson explained that the volunteers perform any one of a variety of vital tasks including van patrols, bicycle patrols, special event assistance and providing front counter administrative assistance.

When performing van patrols, VIPS patrol the city in a marked Dana Point vehicle serving as an extra set of eyes and ears for Police Services. They look for suspicious activity to report to Sheriff’s Dispatch, patrol and check parks, report any roadway hazards, issue citations for parking violations, check neighborhoods for illegally posted signs and graffiti and assist with traffic control when necessary.

Van patrol is also responsible for providing residence checks when requested by

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a homeowner that will be on vacation or away from their home for an extended period of time.

Bike patrol functions much like van patrol, but focuses primarily on the beaches and the Dana Point Harbor. Bike VIPS work in teams of two, looking for anything suspicious and issuing citations to illegally parked vehicles at the beaches and harbor.

With the number of annual special events Dana Point hosts, VIPS provide help in setting up and providing security at the Sheriff’s Command Post as well as assisting with traffic control, issuing equipment and offering patrol support. Over the past year VIPS have supported OCSD at special events including Doheny Blues Festival, Ohana Fest, DUI checkpoints, National Night Out, Veterans of Foreign Wars car wash, Dana Point Winter Fest, Dana Point Grand Prix, Festival of Whales, Dana Hills High School graduation and Paw Patrol.

The VIP position also works inside the station at DPPS, providing assistance to the public when they come to the front desk and via telephone. They are the first point of contact and are responsible for providing information to citizens and visitors to best of their ability. When necessary, they will request a deputy to take a report, sign off on a ticket or provide more thorough information on a crime that may have occurred. Volunteer statistics, hours and other miscellaneous housekeeping duties are handled from this position.

Manny Jurado, mostly volunteering at the front counter, has been doing the VIPS job since 2010 and says he enjoys being the first face of the Sheriff’s office program.

Not only enjoying the invaluable civic duty of enabling OCSD DPPS deputies to carry out their roles, Jurado states that he feels as if he is continuing to actively contribute to his community.

“I want to be relevant,” Jurado said. “As you age, I think most of us want to know we are still contributing. I am still an asset to this community.”

Anyone interested in participating in the VIPS program is encouraged to contact Jill Jackson and DPPS. Dana Point City Hall. 33282 Golden Lantern Ste. 140.

949.770.6011. www.danapoint.org. DP www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

Letters to the Editor SENATE NEEDS TO CONFIRM KAVANAUGH FOR SCOTUS

HOW TO REACH US

LISA HAZELTON, San Clemente

CITY EDITOR Daniel Ritz, 949.388.7700, x113 dritz@picketfencemedia.com

As a long time South Orange County resident and a native Californian, I am a lover of liberty and believe in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”

Deciding the next Supreme Court justice is not something our Senators should take lightly. It's imperative that this role is filled by an individual who is qualified, unbiased, upholds the Constitution, and honors the separation of powers by letting Congress legislate.

President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next associate justice of the Supreme Court, and Judge Kavanaugh is clearly an excellent pick who is prepared to serve.

Kavanaugh’s more than 300 written opinions on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit as a federal judge demonstrate an exemplary record of being an articulate and thoughtful jurist who can build consensus. At home, he is a devoted father and husband who serves his church and community.

As citizens, we should urge U.S. Senators to quit playing politics and consider Brett Kavanaugh based on his merits.

The Senate should act swiftly to confirm Kavanuagh to the Supreme Court.

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

Real Estate Sales Executive > Jennifer Guy

EDITORIAL City Editor, DP Times > Daniel Ritz Senior City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Alex Groves Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed General Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Jake Howard, Tim Trent

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano) Dana Point Times, Vol. 11, Issue 32. 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 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2018

SAN JUAN NEEDS TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF SAN CLEMENTE’S BOOK DEIDRA HILL, San Juan Capistrano

Dear Capistrano Valley Mobile Estates residents and San Juan Capistrano city officials, A very observant neighbor of ours came across a very enlightening and informative news article in the June 26-Aug. 1 edition of the San Clemente Times regarding problems with transients, trespassers and homeless in the city of San Clemente. In this regard, San Clemente is in no way different than our city of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Santa Clarita, or even LA or San Francisco.

San Clemente seems to be diligently trying to get on top of this problem and minimize the impact of this vagrant dilemma.

The photo in the article is not really representative of the amount of trash and debris that accumulates in these encampments. I still, in my mind’s eye, can see the mountain of encampment refuse that Caltrans had scooped up as they were clear-

ing the landscaping just before they began the freeway-widening project between the Beach Cities and Camino de Estrella ramps. I was stunned! And don’t forget the news stories just after our first heavy rain of the 2017-2018 season, of the contamination of the ocean off Doheny Beach from untreated human waste washed down the San Juan Creek, and the numerous hypodermic needles washed up on the beach. It’s all still accumulating, perhaps not so much along the freeway now, but even closer to where we live. And don’t get me started on the problems my brother has in his trucking yard down along the creek between the DoubleTree Hotel and Stonehill Drive.

video with “theThestory,drone although long

and slow-moving, will give you an indication in the first few minutes of how big an encampment can be just yards from where we live or drive.

”

The drone video with the story, although long and slow-moving, will give you an indication in the first few minutes of how big an encampment can be just yards from where we live or drive.

I won’t spend more time now except to remind everyone of the fire hazard.

I love landscaping and there many good reasons to have beautiful, healthy landscaping, but it has to be maintained.

It should be trimmed low, pruned up high and kept green and weed-free so as not to provide cover for trespassers and to avoid a fire hazard.

WHAT SMOKING BAN? DAN JENGARO, Dana Point

They say Dana Point is a smoke-free city. Am I the only one who sees people smoking everywhere, and our OCSD deputies working hard on real crime? This is no coincidence.

There is absolutely no way, absolutely no reasonable way we should expect our well paid, highly qualified and hardworking deputies to spend their time and our money writing citations and tickets for cigarettes?

It seems there are quite a few people that are quick to champion the success of OCSD, then encourage pushing legislature making their jobs even more difficult than it already is.

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TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE TOLL ROADS JENNIFER NICHOLSON GELLER, San Clemente

If you’re not outraged by the future extension of the 241 Toll Road because you “don’t get involved in politics” or think “it will never happen,” it is time to reconsider. This isn’t a game of politics but your quality of living, your children’s health and your home values are at stake. The threat is real and the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) is moving forward.

Toll roads in Orange County have never served the vast majority of motorists, only those who can afford to pay. Did you know we (through Caltrans) are footing the ongoing maintenance bill for these roads that most of us don’t or can’t use? We were duped into paying for the toll roads through development fees, loss of open space and public lands, in addition to some of the highest tolls in the country. Due to TCA mismanagement and faulty projections, these roads may never be free as they were ultimately intended.

Now, the TCA wants to bulldoze through our town. Although they deny having chosen a specific route, there is no denying that their efforts are locked on a proposed route that would wind straight through the center of town. This route would destroy thousands of homes, divide our city and come dangerously close to parks and schools. Most visible would be its encroachment on and over San Clemente High School. The toll road will blaze through miles of the city’s open space. The TCA has been secretive and dishonest in their attempt to push their road through, strategically pitting us against other groups.

Although their 2016 settlement with the Surfrider Foundation and the Save San Onofre Coalition “saved” Trestles, the foundation made a sour deal, agreeing not to take a position on any future proposed routes.

This effectively pushed the TCA back to reconsider the San Clemente route that they themselves had rejected years earlier due to the destructiveness of the route.

There has been an groundswell of support from local citizens and public officials to stop the toll road, but it is still a Davidversus-Goliath effort. Educate yourself, write a letter, display a lawn sign, donate to www.gofundme.com/stop-the-toll-road.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@ danapointtimes.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

www.danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

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

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.

Photo: Walt Disney Pictures

Friday | 10 DANA WHARF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE MUSIC CRUISES RETURN 8-9:30 p.m. Dana Wharf’s Dana Pride rocks every Saturday night with classic rock, reggae artists, and a live rock band on board. The cruise takes passengers along the shores of Dana Point Harbor.

The cruise is priced at $25 per person, and each guest is greeted with a glass of the famous Pride Punch. A cash bar is also available. To book a cruise, go online at www.danawharf.com or call 949.496.5794 ext 7. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

EDITOR’S PICK

Saturday | 11

Post 9934. Limited parking available on Stonehill Drive, Niguel Road and Pacific Coast Highway. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Community Services Department at 949.248.3530 or email at recreation@ danapoint.org.

WHALE WALK AND TALK 9-11 a.m. This walk focuses on the offshore visitors that can be frequently seen from the Dana Point Headlands.

It’s designed to introduce participants to the whale “seasons” (i.e. November to May equals Grays and Summer Blues).

Participants will learn about Gray Whales, who migrate past our shores in the winter and spring months, and Blue and Humpback Whales in the summer months. In particular, this walk focuses on what types of marine mammals we see, how to identify them, where and when to look for them, and how to responsibly view marine wildlife. The walk is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours long, covering about 1.5 miles. 34558 Scenic Drive. Please RSVP to DPNaturalResources@danapoint.org or 949.248.3527.

Sunday | 12 DANA POINT CONCERTS IN THE PARK: THE CURL RIDERS AND SURF’S UPBEACH BOYS TRIBUTE 3-6 p.m. Free concert at Sea Terrace Park.

A Spirit Garden will be available to purchase alcoholic drinks with proceeds benefiting the 5th Marine Regiment Support Group. BBQ food items will be available for purchase and the proceeds will benefit the Dana Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2018

Bend and Brew in Dana Point this Tuesday, August 14 at 6 p.m. at Fair Dinkum Coffee and Beer on Pacific Coast Highway. Photo: Courtesy

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14: BEND AND BREW COMES TO DANA POINT 6 p.m. Bend and Brew is coming to Dana Point! iHeartYoga is linking up with Fair Dinkum Coffee and Beer to bring you yoga and beer every Tuesday for $15. This is a one hour yoga class suitable for all levels followed by a cold beer to socialize with your fellow beer drinking yogis. Tacos served afterwards. Fair Dinkum Coffee and Beer. 34150 Pacific Coast Hwy. www.iheartyoga.org.

33282 Golden Lantern, 2nd floor.

Wednesday | 15

Monday | 13 OC WING CHUN WOMEN’S SELFDEFENSE WORKSHOP 1 p.m. This short, concise and practical 4-week course will teach you to walk with confidence and not in fear! You will discover situational awareness skills to recognize potential danger so you can avoid it before it happens, simple, practical self-defense skills against the most common assaults scenarios against women and develop the mindset to go from prey to predator – essential for surviving and escaping assaults. Cost $65. The Dragon Institute 34241 Pacific Coast Hwy. Ste. 105.

949.542.8470. www.ocwingchun.com.

DOHENY STATE BEACH VISITOR CENTER 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Join the volunteer team at the Doheny State Beach Visitor Center. It’s fun and easy. Open every day. If interested in volunteering and welcoming Doheny’s many visitors, contact Kathy at volunteer@ dohenystatebeach.org or Vicki at vicki. wiker@parks.ca.gov.

Thursday | 16

Tuesday | 14

THE WONDERS OF ALGAE AT THE OCEAN INSTITUTE 6-8 p.m. From dentistry to the deep sea, come explore the wonders of algae. Make your own algal molds and slime your way through chemical science. Families of adorable otter puppets will compete over tasty purple urchins in a trophic cascade event. Take a peek into the ecology of the most powerful group of oxygenators for our world! $10 per person. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr. www.ocean-institute.org.

CHANGES TO VFW WALK-IN LOCATION During the renovation of the Dana Point Community center building, the VFW Veteran’s claim walk-in counseling will be held at the City Hall Council Chamber.

The following dates Aug. 14, Sept. 11 and Oct. 9 will be affected for walk in claims.

WHISKEY THURSDAY AT CRAFT HOUSE 5-9 p.m. 50 percent off featured whiskey and 20 percent off all whiskeys and add $2 for a prohibition-style Old Fashioned, perfect Manhattan or Sazerac. 34094 Pacific Coast Hwy. 949.481.7734. www.eatcrafthouse.com.

Page 8

At the Movies: ‘Christopher Robin’ Grows Old

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

T

win-films effect strikes again.

Every once in a while, two movies will be released not far apart from each other with very similar themes or plot. In this case, it’s Winnie the Pooh-related. Last autumn, we had Goodbye Christopher Robin, a straightforward, typical biopic on A.A. Milne’s career that was just okay and a little depressing. Now we have Disney’s Christopher Robin, which isn’t about the real people behind the iconic characters but rather grownup sequel of sorts.

Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood, the classic children’s characters Pooh, Piglet, Eeyeore, Tigger and Co. are without their human friend Christopher Robin because he’s chosen to grow up. Christopher (portrayed by Ewan McGregor) is now middle-aged and has his own family, including wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael).

Summer’s just around the corner and it’s apparent Christopher is going to choose work over spending time with the family. That’s when he gets a surprise visit from some old friend.

Marc Forster’s Christopher Robin takes a cue from Steven Spielberg’s Hook (1991) by having an iconic character grow up, become a workaholic in the “real world” and get a wakeup call from the make-believe world. But for all its flaws, Hook did manage to be memorable and produce a sense of wonderment. While Christopher is cute, it also treads the line on charming and boring. It is intriguing to see the classic Disney design of Milne’s character with CGI for the first time.

But we can also see why Pooh works best with short films rather than a full-length feature. DP www.danapointtimes.com

e m o c Wel Redesigning a home can be a fun endeavor but also one riddled with questions about the best paint colors, the best design materials and the best decorative accents to use. A novice home designer might even wonder what the best house plants are for sprucing up a space. Fear not, because Picket Fence Media has the answers. This year’s INSIDE OUTSIDE has information on both interior and exterior design for a variety of purposes and price points. It also has information on various South Orange County shops and realtors who can help you with your design objectives. Whether you want to redesign your home with the latest trends, get it ready for sale or find that perfect piece of wall art that sparks a conversation, this edition of INSIDE OUTSIDE has everything that you need.

Home Sale

Prep 101 CHECK-LIST FOR WHAT TO FIX

BY Alex Groves

S

izer and open windows to air the space out.

Weintraub said another trick of the trade is to bake some sort of treat such as cookies before a showing.

“I’ve been through plenty of open houses where someone has just prior baked some chocolate chip cookies and you can smell them,” she said.

Let in more light // Letting more light into a space can help make it more welcoming.

Echelberger recommended that where possible, homeowners get rid of heavy draperies and window coverings that could possibly obstruct light from coming in.

It’s also not a bad idea to have someone come in and professionally clean the windows to get the optimal amount of light in, according to Julie Merlino.

elling a home can sometimes be a daunting and overwhelming task, especially since home buyers shift their tastes with the changing times.

That said, there are some rules of thumb that realtors recommend to make your home more alluring to a potential buyer and can be as simple as eliminating gaudy wall colors to changing up outdated furniture.

Don’t overlook the outdoors // In Southern California, the outdoors is frequently an entertaining space and sellers often forget to turn their lackluster backyards into a selling point, Echelberger said.

He said they should trim up bushes and trees, put down top soil where needed and put out some nice outdoor furniture.

Ensure curb appeal // A buyer’s first impression is very important so making sure a home looks in good repair from the outside and has curb appeal is top priority, according to realtor Tracy Weintraub of Surterre Properties.

Weintraub recommends a home seller look at the outside of their home and take stock of what needs to be done. A new coat of paint? Is anything broken?

Could plants be trimmed?

Distinctive Coast Properties agent Julie Merlino recommends to her clients to make sure that outdoor planter areas have a fresh coat of mulch and some flowers to add color to the landscape.

Get your house professionally staged // All the realtors agree – getting a home professionally staged can go a long way to helping a person sell their home faster than they might otherwise sell it.

“If you use a home stager, you will sell it quick and you will sell it for top dollar,” Merlino said.

There are different levels of staging. Echelberger said the most expensive form of staging can run anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 and involves removing the furniture from a home and replacing it with furniture and accessories that are a better fit and which give a buyer that “model home” feel.

Different pricing packages exist, however, and people who would like to take a more modest approach can have a stager rearrange existing furniture and only replace a few items.

People who don’t want to get their homes staged should at least have a designer consultation to get a list of things that should be replaced or moved, according to Echelberger.

He said the consultation could run as much as $150 but a lot of high-end real estate companies offer it as a built-in service.

“I can guarantee something will come out of that meeting that they’ll get a benefit from in the sale of their house,” he said.

Repaint the walls // Local realtor and resident Doug Echelberger, lead agent of the Echelberger Group, Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty and an experienced agent of over 20 years, says it’s important to look at the colors of your walls and determine if they need to be changed.

“There are a lot of colors left over from the early 2000s that just seem to turn buyers off,” Echelberger stated. “Buyers are still really into much lighter colors – shades of white, even shades of white-grey.”

He also noted that lighter colors have the added benefit of making a space look larger and more open.

Jennifer Katke, whose business specializes in getting homes sale-ready, shared a similar sentiment.

“You can walk into a home and just the color alone can make you feel anxious,” Katke said. “What we want to do is, when you walk in, we want it to be light, bright and inviting.”

Toss that stained carpeting // If you have stained carpet or worn flooring, it’s not a bad idea to replace it.

Echelberger shared that for some homes, vinyl laminate flooring may not be a bad option. He noted the material doesn’t have the negative connotations it once did.

“Because the product has gotten so good,” he said, “in fact, a lot of it is waterproof right now so you are able to run it into the bathrooms and really make it look like a high-end expensive wood flooring.”

Get rid of messes and bad odors // Removing clutter is an essential step to help keep the space feeling open and clean, according to Doug Echelberger.

Odors are another important area that a homeowner needs to be cognizant of when selling their home. Pet odors can irk potential buyers and it’s a problem that Weintraub says she comes across frequently.

She recommended that people find a good deodor-

Have professional photos of your home taken // Having a professional photographer come into your for-sale home and work their magic can be a big leg-up in selling, especially in today’s social media-driven world.

“The thing that’s changed so dramatically over the last five years is photos and impressions that people have,” Echelberger said. “They live off of Instagram and Facebook and Pinterest, and so for a lot of these properties to get them the correct exposure you really have to have some great shots.”

Check those lightbulbs // Echelberger said he’s also seen lots of instances of homeowners with different types, shapes and sizes of lightbulbs throughout their homes that they’ve collected over the years.

“You’ve got to change them all out to LED or you’ve got to change them all out to be consistent because they just look goofy,” he said.

Echelberger recommends LED lights because he says they get bright right away whereas older models don’t. He stated that’s a problem during a house showing because a person can be in and out of a room before the bulb gets to full brightness.

The

Green Room HOW TO STYLIZE YOUR HOME BY USING PLANTS, OUTDOOR MATERIAL

BY Eric Heinz Plants used as decoration create a life force. They help oxygenate rooms; they can bring a pacifying element to private spaces; plants can also provide pieces that help show or decorate a home. But where to start?

We spoke with some local experts and found some helpful information for designing your home with natural elements.

Stylizing Your Home with ‘Natural Elements’ Marie Waisner, an owner and CFO of Melrose in the OC Lifestyle in San Clemente, has decorated her home with many different plants. As a designer, Waisner said she enjoys looking at different ways to utilize all space in her home with the natural elements.

“The practicality of it is that you want to work in these spaces that are open to the backyard or to a porch, and you’re trying to blur the lines (between outdoors and indoors),” Waisner said.

Layering is an important design tool in beginning to decorate as well as lighting in order to make it visually appealing, Waisner said. She said she tries to balance the space the natural elements use.

“You don’t need to put a lot of things in here, it’s just to create a harmony,” Waisner said.

“You want contrasting elements of brass and cement or rope, but try to keep it open.”

Using metals could be the next trend coming, Waisner said, but varieties of plants will surely stay in fashion.

“You can use a lot of small succulents to create an impact or use just one large item,” she said. “Succulents will be here for a while. People are creating walls and using them in so many different things, they’ll trend for a while.”

Helpful Tips and Ideas Melissa “Missy” Anderson, the owner and creative director of Roots Living Art Design in San Clemente, said there are many ways for plants other elements to culminate pleasantly.

“It’s always about the client’s needs first and foremost—what they try to achieve in the space and with the current décor, and we try to match with that so we’re not over-styling,” Anderson said. “We consult with them to find their needs. It’s hard to overdo it with plants, but their shape and function add to the space rather than something that’s less attractive. The most important thing to recognize is what level of care you can provide for your plants. If it’s not much, choose plants that are easier to maintain or something like an air plant, but every plant is a living organism so it needs care.”

Anderson said some of the easiest plants used to decorate the home include Sansevieria, also known as “mother-in-law tongue,” which is a high-oxygen-producing plant.

“It actually cleans the air and gives the home a more modern esthetic,” Anderson said. “Dracena marginata has a little red in the leaves that highlight colors in the home. We try to make it aesthetically pleasing with color or pattern and the design. The biggest point is to balance the plant material so that it feels alive and lived in.”

Anderson said giving the plant something to work with is also beneficial for design, installations with driftwood or other items add to the whole ambiance.

“We do that with a lot different elements and metals and different unique pottery,”

Melrose in the OC Lifestyle

Roots Living Art Design

Roots Living Art Design

she said. “It can add a different element and something unique to the space that wasn’t there.”

Anderson said when decorating Salon Blue in San Clemente, she put together a large interior living wall with plants hanging vertically. She’s chiseled into volcanic rocks to make a plant bed, with the plants growing and living within the human-made home.

Living chandeliers are another interesting way to decorate. With plants hanging down in a center space, people can mount them and design them in their own way.

“We wrapped one in with a copper pipe holder and a metal salt that turned it turquoise and juke rope and pulleys, and we were able to raise and lower it to make maintenance on it and then tied it back up on the wall,” Anderson said.

Benefits of Interior Design with Plants More Oxygen // A few plants like orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

Place these type plants in bedrooms to refresh air during the night.

Releasing Water // Plants release moisture vapor, which increases humidity of the air around them. Place several plants together and you can increase the humidity of a room.

Purifying Air // Plants remove toxins from air, such as formaldehyde (present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette smoke and grocery bags).

Source: www.bioadvanced.com.

LOC A L

KN OW LE D GE

Wallpaper: Everything You Need To Know About This Comeback Design THE HISTORY You may think of wallpaper as a “thing of the past,” but trendy wallpaper is making a serious comeback, and the modern-day wallpaper brands—Cole and Company, Magnolia Home, Brewster Wallcoverings—offer styles to spruce up any space.

Knowing Native

MIKE EVANS AND TREE OF LIFE NURSERY EXPLAIN WHY RESIDENTS SHOULD EMBRACE THEIR NATIVE CALIFORNIA PLANTS

Tree of life nursery

BY Daniel Ritz

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itting inside an old barn, soaking in the early afternoon heat at Tree of Life Nursery early one afternoon, founder Mike Evans pointed out the small brown bats returning home to rest behind an antique painting hanging on one of the walls.

“Muir, I believe it was one of the transcendentalists, said that it’s less about going out into the mountains, and more about inviting the mountains into you,” Evans said with a smirk.

Although Evans is quick to quote the late innovative California naturalist John Muir, he is equally as quick to point out you do not have to travel to exotic locations such as Muir’s favorite stomping grounds, Yosemite National Park, in order to experience true nature, and appreciate its inherent benefits.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks,” Muir said.

Evans believes that most people in this modern world don’t know how much they need to foster their connection to a natural world.

“One of the disadvantages, but most beautiful parts of our local natural environment is that it doesn’t smack you in the face,” Evans said. “There’s a lot of hot words like ‘mindfulness’ and ‘gratefulness,’ that people are turned onto at the moment, but I think we simply need to pay attention to the beauty that surrounds us and realize that it’s through its simplicity that we can learn to survive.”

“I think a lot of us are suffering from ‘nature deficit disorder,’” Evans continued. He voiced that although current generations grow up with “the internet in their pockets,” that can actually be an asset. He spoke of

smart-phone applications that can identify plants simply by taking a photograph.

“Commonly, with social media and the glamorization of grandiose, “wild” adventures, people overlook the available beauty beneath their feet,” Evans said. “I think connecting, and understanding the beautiful nature that surrounds us starts with simply getting outside and surrounding ourselves with it. Be still, be quiet and be calm. Be attentive.”

Evans suggests one appreciates the simplicity and durability of the native chaparral, integral to its evolutionary success.

Evans compares the appreciation of native plants to recent changes in the food industry.

“We at Tree of Life Nursery are focused on educating the people, one by one, and starting a genuine grassroots movement because that is the only way the powers that be are going to begin to listen,” Evans said, suggesting that government agencies and homeowners associations utilize different agricultural models for financial reasons. “The only way native, local California plants are going to be returned, will be when the people ask for it. Costco doesn’t carry organic food types because they want to, they carry them because people in the last decade started demanding it.”

Tree of Life Nursery hosts a variety of classes and seminar discussions on native ecology most weekends at their farm on Ortega Highway, just west of Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano. They also offer a wide variety of native plants for sale. You can learn more on www.californianativeplants.com.

THE TRENDS Bright and bold metallics like gold and silver add an extra touch of luxury. For a current and trendy look, introduce warmer colors such as bronze, copper and rose gold. Metallics give off a sleek and stately look ideal for dining rooms and foyers. Keep in mind: less is more with this trend, so cover just one wall as a focal point.

Oversized floral patterns are currently in vogue, creating a unique atmosphere in any room—and a true conversation starter! Add character to a room by adding large scale prints or soft, vintage-inspired botanicals.

Keep in mind: the best home décor stores will show you wallpaper designs to suit any personality—delicate, exuberant, even subtle patterns.

Organic shapes and nature designs bring the outside IN to your home. Think organic elements like geodes and crystals, and other patterns emulating natural stones. Keep in mind: don’t forget to look up! Throw a whimsical paper above your head to cover the ceiling of any room and frame the room in a chunky crown molding for a real WOW. 3-D patterns that look all-too real are popular this year, including brick patterns, shiplap, hand-carved panels, reclaimed wood, or tin ceiling tiles. Perfect for the home or a stylish office building the texture will create a dramatic impact.

Keep in mind: at Peppertree Lane, you will see wallpaper inspired by white bricks, chevron patterned reclaimed wood and more. Use in-store wallpaper displays as inspiration for your own space!

THE HOW-TO: EASY AS 1-2-3 1) Peppertree Lane at Outlets at San Clemente has a few hundred wallpaper styles to select from and offer services to narrow down the search for that perfect wallpaper. Wallpaper rolls range in price from $100 up to $200 per roll.

2) Next step, we order samples and have clients tape them to the wall for a few days, making sure they are in love with the commitment they are about to make!

3) Last step, we order wallpaper and schedule our installer—all that’s left is years of enjoyment!

THE FAN FAVORITE Bree Kennedy designed the VIP Lounge at Outlets at San Clemente with wallpaper to capture the essence of what it means to live near the ocean, including the rhythmic movement of sand and waves. It is one of our proudest installations to date!

Wild

Inside

SIX WAYS TO WELCOME THE OUTDOORS INSIDE YOUR HOME

BY Daniel Ritz Shore Gardens

While even one succulent is a step in the right direction, why not take it a step further and update the interior of your home or office to a more natural state.

We asked experts at Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano and Shore Gardens in San Clemente for their best suggestions for bringing the wild inside.

1.

Get on Your Level

3.

Live Large

5.

Let it all Hang Out

Don’t go crazy. If you’ve never run more than two miles, you probably wouldn’t sign yourself up for running a marathon tomorrow, would you? Same goes with welcoming the wild into your home. If you don’t have a green thumb or a lot of time on your hands, be realistic and choose plants that suit your lifestyle. There is something for everyone.

Local Recommendation: Eternity Plant:

If you’re short on time and/or patience and don’t want to find yourself taking care of hundreds of little flowerpots, go for large plants. Not only will they cut down on your plant watering time, they can also play a vital part in the interior of your home or office. Placed strategically, they have the power to create more privacy and visibly divide the space into designated sections. Local Recommendation: Fiddly Fig

One simple little trick to making your space into one of those envy inducing Instagram picture perfect plant homes: layering. The key is to not only have plants of differing heights, but to also place them on different levels. Stage one large potted plant on the floor, some crawling plants hanging from the ceiling, and then some on your shelf or various tables throughout. Local Recommendation: Pothos

2.

4.

6.

Bling your Bedroom

If you’re used to seeing plants exclusively on living room windowsills and kitchen counters, go out of your comfort zone and experiment with placing some greenery in your bedroom. Plants are proven to improve sleep quality, help air purification and make you feel more tranquil. Turn your bedroom into the oasis of peace and quiet you desire.

Local Recommendation: Snake Plant

Don't Forget the Bathroom One of the best ways to wow a guest is having plants in the bathroom. For some reason, most bathrooms are kept quite sterile of anything living, but we say - go for it. There are a number of plants that prefer growing in dark and humid environments, so having no windows with natural sunlight should not be a problem. Local Recommendation: Calathea

Big Improvements, Small Packages Gardening is not simply a one size fits all case of “go big or go home.” If you don’t fancy anything dramatic, go for smaller plants - they might be smaller in size, but are no less effective. This will also give you the opportunity to experiment with a larger variety of different species in the same amount of space! Local Recommendation: Raphis Palm

Making the most of

Your Wall Space

BY Alex Groves

E

very once in a while, a home could use some sprucing up and one of the easiest ways to make a visual impact is making changes to the walls.

Those pondering the best way to decorate their walls can remain calm and not fret. Picket Fence Media recently spoke to Haideh Mehr, artist and cofounder of the Dana Point store Bella Bazaar. The store sells art and decorative items and the staff there can be requested for interior design projects.

From paint to decorative elements, Mehr went over what’s needed in 2018 to be trendy while also making sure a home fits an owner’s individual style.

Paint & Accents

Some of the hottest color trends this year are metallic, deep onyx and ultra violet, but warm greys and neutral tones remain the most popular, according to Mehr.

Mehr said it’s also fun to play with textural elements.

Limewash paints give walls an aged patina look for rustic charm. Textural wallpaper or wood planks are also fairly popular and can be used on one wall as an accent.

Art by Haideh Mehr

Mehr said Bella Bazaar can turn that surfboard into something extra special.

“We’ll take their old surfboard and paint a great scene on it or do a cool design on it and that looks amazing and takes up a good amount of wall space,” she said.

Macramé

Las Catrinas SJC

3D Art Pieces

Mehr said three dimensional artworks that jut out from otherwise flat walls are currently in style.

Some examples include metalwork, shelving topped with decorative accents, hanging baskets and containers with cascading plants.

The pieces can be items that make a statement about what a homeowner loves. A music lover might hang up a guitar and a surfer might place an old surfboard up.

Macramé, a form of ornamental knotting, was a fad in the ‘70s and was used for everything from wall decorations to tablecloths. A decade later it had fallen out of style.

The textile has since had a resurgence and a search of Instagram will yield pictures of macramé planter coverings, macramé dresses, macramé bracelets and of course – macramé wall decorations.

Trendy mall stores such as Urban Outfitters and smaller boutique shops alike sell these pieces in every shape, size and color. Mehr said it’s another great way to add texture to an otherwise barren wall in a space such as a bedroom, but should probably match existing décor within the home.

that as you walk into the home there’s a mirror,” she said.

Original Art Pieces & Photographs

Mehr said it’s always worth it to find that one of a kind item that makes a statement.

She said South Orange County is full of places for people to find unique and individually-crafted artwork

Mirrors

Have a wall that you’re not sure what to do with? Try a mirror.

A mirror not only fills space, but can also change the lighting of a room and make it feel larger.

Mehr recommends placing a mirror in an entryway, and not just because it looks good there.

“If people are into Feng Shui (a mirror) bounces off any negative energy so it’s kind of good

Plant Depot

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE

Don’t Get Left in the Dark When Going Solar

from niche stores such as Bella Bazaar and San Juan Capistrano’s Las Catrinas, to San Clemente’s monthly Village Art Faire.

One of a kind paintings, drawings, woodwork and metal work can be found at the locations and can add a truly unique flair to any space For people who want to decorate with something more personally meaningful, photos can make for a nice addition.

Mehr said photos of a place a person got married, a place that resonates with them or even a great family photo can liven up a space.

Keeping items that you like just because something is trendy, doesn’t mean it speaks to everyone.

Mehr said she’s had to redo homes where a person decorated with what’s popular, only to want to change it again because it didn’t fit their style or their personality.

She said when in doubt, people should go with their gut and pick the things they like.

“Most people don’t realize that the things they’re drawn to have some kind of connection whether it’s the style, whether it’s the feel – it does have some kind of connection and it tends to always go together one way or another,” she said. “I always say don’t ever buy something that’s the trend if you don’t love it.”

for more information Contact Haideh Mehr at Bella Bazaar Bella Bazaar (located in Dana Point Harbor) 34467 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 949.429.6200 // bellabazaar.com

Over 15,000 homeowners in San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) utility territory have gone solar this year, and the vast majority are likely unaware of the financial impact they will experience as a result of new solar rates. A typical homeowner may lose tens of thousands of dollars in savings over the lifetime of their solar power system if it is not designed to consider the new solar rules and rates.

Under former solar rules, it was simple for companies to design a solar power system that resulted in a $0 bill utility bill. A solar company looked at how much energy a household used on an annual basis and designed a solar power system to produce that same amount of energy per year, regardless of when the system produced energy or when the home consumed energy.

Since April 1, solar customers in SDG&E’s territory have been on new solar rules, which includes placement on a mandatory “time-of-use” rate. An in-depth analysis is now needed to design a solar power system because with time-of-use rates, SDG&E charges more for the electricity depending on when a home uses energy in a day, not just how much the home uses in a given month.

SDG&E now charges solar homes on time-of-use $0.29 for electricity consumed during the daytime “off-peak” hours, and $0.54 for energy consumed in the evening “onpeak” hours. Solar doesn’t work at night when the utilities want to charge more, so a battery allows homeowners to store their solar power and use it when electricity is most expensive. Systems not equipped with a battery will not be able to mitigate these new charges as effectively as system with batteries, according to Southern California-based Sullivan Solar Power.

A typical family who goes solar with a battery saves roughly $80,000 over a 20-year period. If their neighbor goes solar without a battery at the same time, the neighbors will pay hundreds of dollars per year in additional unavoidable costs. Over 20 years, using a six percent rate escalation, the family without a battery will have missed out on $8,400 in savings.

“Many local solar companies are saying batteries are unnecessary or are only for back-up power, and that’s patently false - batteries allow solar customers to maximize their return on investment,” said Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of Sullivan Solar Power, “The majority of families going solar in Southern California have no idea about the huge financial impact these new rates are going to have because their solar company doesn’t fully comprehend it, therefore these companies do not teach people the importance of incorporating a battery.”

For more information about solar paired with energy storage, the public is invited to attend the San Clemente Solar Education Series on October 6th at the San Clemente Community Center. To learn more about this event, visit www.solarseminar.info.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE

California Real Estate Market Check-Up! According to the chief real estate economist at the California Association of Realtors, Leslie Appleton-Young, “The Great Recession” is officially over, due to so many factors in California economically: 1. We added back all 1.3 million jobs, plus an additional 1.3 million jobs.

2. Unemployment has dipped below 5 percent for the first time in more than a decade 3. The stock market is near all-time highs across most major indices 4. Interest rates remain near historic lows for mortgages 5. The state government is currently running a budget surplus, even if it rests on a very narrow base 6. California remains a very popular destination for the rest of the world, with nearly 25 million international travelers this year 7. Home prices overall continue to rise, not fall The factors above show that stability is back in the real estate market, including in San Clemente.

Additionally, the banks today are very strict for all loans, and have been like that for almost 10 years. Clients we’re helping today have a lot of equity now saved up, and continue to be paying down loan amounts and adding to their equity position. The following are examples worth mentioning. If you bought a house in the year 2000, and have been paying that down for almost 20 years, you should be in a situation where you have at least 75 percent or more, equity position. You can refinance to lower your payment significantly. We also have a lot of clients who bought in 2009-2012 era and even with a low-down payment of 10 percent or 20 percent, those clients are in a 50 percent or more equity position since prices have gone up about 45 percent since the bottom of the market. Most people are using this equity to get a bigger home or one with a better location. We also have a lot of people downsizing and paying cash for the next property to be mortgage free. These are all reasons why the local real estate market will continue to be stable for the foreseeable future.

If you are interested in buying or selling, please contact us! We are a third-generation, family owned business and have been serving the community for more than 55 years, racking up thousands of residential and commercial sales and purchases. Email us at info@conradrealestate.com, visit us online at www.conradrealestate.com or call us at 949.492.9400!

Picket Fence Media's

Where to buy

2018 Home Decor Picks

1. Palm Leaf Pillow • $50

BELLA BAZAAR (Dana Point Harbor) 34467 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 949.429.6200 • bellabazaar.com

OUR FAVORITE INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS & WHERE TO FIND THEM AT LOCAL SHOPS

S

BY Chelsie Rex

ummer may be coming to an end; however, these design trends will make you want to un-pack your bags from that end of summer trip & plan your next ‘stay-cation’. Whether you’re looking to re-design your entire home or just add a few statement pieces- these current design trends are sure to transform your living space into a stylish retreat that you’ll want to ‘vacation’ at year-round. From Coastal to Bohemian-here are a few of our favorite things.

2. Coffee Table • $1,599

PEPPERTREE LANE 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa suite 558 San Clemente, CA 92672 949.441.7275 • peppertreelane.net

5.

3. Fur Bench • $375

MELROSE IN THE OC LIFESTYLE 150 #D Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 949.366.0561 • melroseintheoc.com

1.

4. Blue Velvet Chair • $2,200

THE WAREHOUSE ON DEL MAR 112 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 949.388.0027 • @thewarehouseondelmar

5. Chandelier • $420

SEA & SKY 24625 Del Prado Ave, Dana Point, CA 92629 949.276.7833 • seaskyhome.com

6.

6. Mid Century Sofa • $389

SC FURNITURE & MATTRESS 109 Calle De Los Molinos San Clemente, CA 92672 949.492.5589 • southcoastfurniture.com

3.

2.

7. Rug • $250

LAS CATRINAS SJC 31742 Los Rios St San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949.441.7182 • lascatrinassjc.com

8. Hanging Macramé • $229.99

9.

PLANT DEPOT 32413 San Juan Creek rd.

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949.240.2107 • plantdepot.com

9. Ottoman • $460

4.

TUVALU HOME 222 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672 949.542.8242 • tuvaluhome.com

7.

8.

GETTING OUT

A Buffalo at the Bluff The White Buffalo and Matt Costa to perform at Salt Creek

BY DANIEL RITZ, DANA POINT TIMES

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he white buffalo, considered sacred by a number of North American Native American communities, is a rare animal that occurs an estimated one out of every 10 million bison births.

Also rare is the appearance of a musical act so revered and sought after as Jake Smith, known as The White Buffalo, who will perform at the OC Parks Concert in the Park on Thursday, August 16 ,at Salt Creek Beach Park.

The White Buffalo, a native Californian, has recently seen a rise in success from singing and performing songs for hit television series shows such as Sons of Anarchy and Californication. Smith’s success grew roots in California coastal culture after his song “Wrong,” was discovered and used by surfer and filmmaker Chris Malloy in his hit surf film Shelter.

Even after mass-market success, Smith

The White Buffalo will perform at the OC Summer Concert series on Thursday, August 16, at Salt Creek Beach Park. Photo: Courtesy of the White Buffalo

said he believes a free concert in a park is an essential experience in the career of a performing musician.

“Free concerts are an incredible opportunity to appeal to your fans; those that came for you, as well as those that just came for the event,” Smith said via telephone. “It’s a special experience to inspire, to make a new fan with your live performance.”

Smith said fans can expect a good mix of familiar favorites as well as new music.

His latest studio release “Darkest Darks, Lightest Lights,” was released in 2017. DP

DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

A Senior Woman Blames Men for Relationship Problems

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his January, I wrote an online column about LAT (living apart together) relationships. In the article, I quoted a male reader, who said the 1976 song “I’d Really Like to See You Tonight”

by England Dan and John Ford Coley, described his relationship with his woman friend perfectly.

A woman, age 69, whose name I am withholding, emailed a response to the man’s comment.

She wrote, “The older and wiser I become, the more I understand how it’s been a man’s world, and that song started irritating me, when I realized it was about a noncommittal, friend-with-benefits arrangement, which men are always looking for. It’s the same for senior men as young men.

Somewhere in their middle ages, men are able to commit and settle into a real relationship, albeit many cheat even when committed.

Then after the divorce, which they usually blame the wife for, they go back to their youth when it was all about ‘getting some’ with no commitON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 ment.

By Tom Blake I’ve spent the last couple of years dumping guys (in their 60s) who made it clear that’s all they want. It has made me feel I am not worthy of a man’s true love and commitment.

The LAT (living apart together) relationship is perfect for men. They can do whatever they want when you’re apart. The woman may be sitting in her own house, painting pictures, but I doubt if the man is doing that; he’s probably on the dating sites checking out the candy store (as men have told me they see it), especially now when there are so many single old ladies to single old men. I am not cynical, just realistic.”

Note from Tom: Regarding LAT relationships, more senior women than men tell me they prefer a LAT-relationship arrangement.

She continued, “I have nice male friends who still are old-fashioned enough to want a traditional relationship, and that’s what I would like.”

“If you’re going to spend most of your time with someone anyway, why not have the financial benefits of sharing expenses and the legal benefits of having the doctors consult your significant other in an Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2018

emergency?

I don’t see why two people can’t live together and still have their separate interests and separate rooms, etc. To each his own, but personally I want someone I can go to sleep with every night and wake up with every morning, and not wonder if it’s ok to call them because they might be busy doing whatever.

I don’t blame men for their wandering eye because it’s biologically programmed in them to spread their seed and produce children, so the urge to mate is very strong. What I’ve seen is that a woman needs to keep a man close to her and be available because, as the Stephen Stills song says, ‘If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.’

I interpret those lyrics to mean that men need to be near the one they love, or their eye wanders, a natural thing, but this behavior can ultimately break up the relationship.

With every man I meet, there is always something ‘wrong,’ and I’m just getting lonelier and more independent. The last one I recently met at one of the places I go to dance. It was the first time in four-five years I felt a real connection with someone, and he was so into me.

After a couple of days of dancing and some long phone conversations, he found out I am four years older than he, and he said he needs to have someone in their 50s. I am 69 and he is 65. I couldn’t believe it! So, life goes on...”

Remember, that email was sent to me in January.

This week, she emailed, “I have removed myself from all dating sites and decided I’m over the whole thing of trying to find a man; all of them have been crazy in one way or another.”

Comment from Tom: When people blame others for their lack of dating success, the first action they need to take is to look in the mirror.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his websites www.findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www. travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@ gmail.com. DP PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, Dana Point 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 Dana Point Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com

Photo: Courtesy of Orange County Archives

FROM THE ARCHIVES The Dana Point Scenic Inn in 1929.

The Scenic Inn was a covered picnic area that quickly became a popular spot for day trippers..

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 editorial@danapointtimes.com.

Pet of the Week: Sulu DANA POINT TIMES

S

ulu is a gentle soul looking for a fresh start in life. At 9 years old, Sulu was abandoned by his family and left at the shelter. With the help of shelter volunteers and a couple of friendly dogs, he is slowly but surely learning to trust again. Sulu would greatly benefit from a family that could spend lots of time with him and teach him new tricks. If you would like to know more about Sulu, please call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617 or visit with him at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. DP

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

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:

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See the solution in next week’s issue.

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

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Anna Gillis (left) and Eric McArthur Jr. (right) met, began dating and earned scholarships to the University of Wyoming through the hammer throw competition at Saddleback College. Photo: Courtesy

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Couple meets and earns college scholarships through hammer throw

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

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either Anna Gillis nor Eric McArthur Jr. knew what they were getting into or where they would end up going when they picked up the hammer throw at Saddleback College.

Neither had any direct connection to the hammer throw. Gillis threw shotput and discus at San Clemente High School, but hammer throw isn’t orchestrated at the high school level. McArthur wasn’t on the track team at Dana Hills High School, and after a quick attempt, he had no interest.

“I remember picking up my sister from track practice at Dana,” McArthur said. “A coach told me to pick up the discus and throw it counterclockwise. I just straight up ducked it. It never worked out.”

Both were eventually pulled to the Gauchos’ throwing ring by throwing coach Shaun McGinley with Gillis as a recruit and McArthur by his hammer-throwing sister. While both were throwers by choice, the hammer discipline wasn’t as much of a choice as it was an expectation.

“It’s (McGinley’s) specialty,” Gillis said.

“He really pushed it on us. If you’re at Saddleback, you have to throw hammer, basically. The other events are thrown to the side.”

Neither Gillis nor McArthur realized then the power the hammer would wield in their lives. The hammer throw opened up opportunities, provided a love connec-

Page 23

tion and is now sending both Gillis and McArthur to the University of Wyoming on athletic scholarships.

First came the sport.

Hammer throw is a very particular discipline in track and field. It’s not pure brute force or athleticism. It’s a combination of strength, technique and physics.

“It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve done in my life,” Gillis said. “There’s so much technique and effort, but not enough effort to mess it up. The other throws you just go out and throw it. It’s more of a fluid motion. It’s really pretty (the throwing motion) once you get.”

Then came the love connection, but it didn’t come with a “meet cute” or a grand gesture.

“We were kind of just friends just going through the throwing process,” McArthur said. “There was a two-three week period where I hung out with her every day. It was kind of mutual. I didn’t really ask her out formally. I think I just kind of came to the realization that I liked her a lot.”

“I think I asked her ‘are we dating?’”

McArthur said with a laugh.

That was two years ago.

Since then, Gillis and McArthur have only grown closer off the field while succeeding on it. Last season, McArthur won the CCCAA state men’s hammer throw at 54.54 meters, and Gillis won the Southern California women’s hammer throw at 51.59 meters.

Gillis and McArthur leave on Aug. 13 for Laramie, Wyoming, the small town they fell in love with on their official visit and will call home together for at least the next two years.

“My jaw was dropping every five seconds at Wyoming,” Gillis said. “I kept telling Eric every five seconds, ‘I love this.’”

All thanks to the power of the hammer.

DP www.danapointtimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Q&A: Local Lacrosse Player Named College All-American

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

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ick Shanks has a notable history of athletic excellence in the tri-city area.

As a young boy, Shanks led the Dana Point-based Patriots Junior All-American football team to a Super Bowl title, and later, his San Clemente flag football team won a State Championship. In high school at St. Margaret’s in San Juan Capistrano, Shanks won CIF and State titles in football and lacrosse while being a high honors student.

Now in college, Shanks took his talents to the east coast and as a sophomore for Tufts University in Massachusetts, he was named a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division 3 FirstTeam All-American in lacrosse while being named to the Dean’s List.

The Dana Point Times spoke with Shanks about his accomplishment and his local history: DP Times: Congratulations on the AllAmerica selection, Nick. What did it mean to you to receive the honor?

Shanks: It was great that a lot of the other college coaches out there saw what I was bringing to the table. I’m very appre-

Dana Wharf Fish Count Hot summer continues to bring the bass

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

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he heat of July continued into August to keep the water warm and the bass fishing hot last week out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

In his weekly report, Captain Brian Woolley said they received “some real good downhill current” that refreshed this part of the coastal waters, but the water temp stayed in the 74-77 degree range.

Some of the kelp areas did not respond to the warm water, but even still, the bass fishing has been “lights out good,” according to Woolley. The water temperatures plus a strong collection of sardine and anchovy bait have played into awesome bass fishing.

Yellowtail have popped up in small numbers along the coast, and the ones that are being caught are big, 30 pounds or more.

The offshore trips aren’t getting too much in the last couple weeks. Some yellowtail and dorado, but Woolley doesn’t think it’s enough for a full day trip yet.

Here is the latest fish count out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching: Aug. 8 • 4 boats, 147 anglers: 105 calico Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2018

ciative. It’s a high honor. It was cool to see my name on there with some of my other teammates. My real goal is a national title.

Do you think the national title is a realistic possibility?

I think it’s realistic. Wesleyan, the national champions, we beat them twice.

Tufts is a perennial powerhouse in Division 3 and has one twice in the last six years. It’s definitely in our sights. That’s the mantra going forward in the program.

What brought a California kid out to the east coast? Was it just the higher level of lacrosse?

It’s a great school, one, academically. I also knew I wanted to play lacrosse in college. There’s only a handful of teams west of the Mississippi that have programs. I wanted to find the right fit academically and found that in Tufts. It’s the polar opposite from Southern California, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

What do you remember most about playing youth sports in South Orange County?

From the youngest age up to high school, you’re playing against the best competition in the country. With the Patriots for Junior All-American, I played

Tufts University sophomore midfielder Nick Shanks (20) was named a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division 3 First-Team All-American. Shanks grew up playing sports in Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Courtesy

against Juju Smith-Schuster, who’s now on the Pittsburgh Steelers. I played baseball against Sam Darnold. Whether you played against them or alongside them, it was really cool. We spend a lot of time at the beach, but we take our sports seriously.

What’s your best memory from playing sports in South Orange County?

My junior year at St. Margaret’s we won the CIF championship in football and the State title in lacrosse. That was pretty

unbeatable. We felt like we couldn’t lose.

This little school was a force on the state level. Playing for the Patriots, even with my college experience, the biggest crowd I’ve ever played for was against the Inglewood Cherokees at Mission Viejo High School. The whole stadium was filled. To think that was just for a bunch of sixth graders, to see how the whole community came out to support and just appreciate the game was really special. DP

bass, 33 sand bass, 1 sculpin, 11 sheephead, 5 whitefish, 1 rockfish, 20 bonito, 1 halibut, 257 bass released Aug. 7 • 7 boats, 266 anglers: 2 yellowtail, 151 calico bass, 27 sand bass, 9 sculpin, 17 sheephead, 13 whitefish, 4 rockfish, 6 bonito, 50 blue perch, 742 bass released Aug. 6 • 10 boats, 262 anglers: 242 calico bass, 48 sand bass, 3 sculpin, 22 sheephead, 10 whitefish, 3 rockfish, 1 bonito, 14 blue perch, 807 bass released Aug. 5 • 11 boats, 313 anglers: 2 yellowtail, 202 calico bass, 35 sand bass, 2 sculpin, 32 sheephead, 82 whitefish, 78 rockfish, 15 boccacio, 17 barracuda, 15 bonito, 99 sanddab, 1 mackrel, 33 blue perch, 1,026 bass released Aug. 4 • 14 boats, 409 anglers: 280 calico bass, 26 sand bass, 3 sculpin, 27 sheephead, 17 whitefish, 9 rockfish, 4 barracuda, 13 bonito, 3 halibut, 1 China croaker, 21 blue perch, 8 Spanish jack, 1,135 bass released Aug. 3 • 12 boats, 308 anglers: 1 dorado, 2 yellowtail, 281 calico bass, 40 sand bass, 1 sculpin, 34 sheephead, 6 whitefish, 1 barracuda, 2 halibut, 20 blue perch, 913 bass released Aug. 2 • 10 boats, 239 anglers: 3 yellowtail, 176 calico bass, 17 sand bass, 3 sculpin, 20 sheephead, 1 whitefish, 5 bonito 8 blue perch, 556 bass released

The bass fishing has continued to fill the boats in this incredible warm summer run. Photo Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

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DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

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OTHER STUFF NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on August 10, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in Department C-14 of the Orange County Superior Court-Central Justice Center, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, Petitioner Alyssa Garrett intends to apply for an order, pursuant to California Government Code §§ 6008 and 6020, declaring Dana Point Times to be a newspaper of general circulation for the city of Dana Point and County of Orange, State of California. 08/03/2018

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

The Not-So Ancient Practice of Memorial Paddle-Outs Uncovering the roots of surfing’s preferred way of sending off fallen friends and loved ones REPRINTED FROM ADVENTURE SPORTS NETWORK, BY JAKE HOWARD

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he traditional memorial paddle-out, a time-honored tradition celebrating the life of a surfer that’s moved on to the next wavelength. Where did it come from? Nostalgists claim it’s a derivative of an ancient Hawaiian practice. Historians say it’s much more modern.

First, a quick dive into Polynesian history. It’s currently believed that the Hawaiian island chain was settled somewhere between 1000-1100 CE (http://www.jstor. org/stable/41001774).

Early Hawaiian’s religious traditions were tied to the concept of mana. Think of it kind of like the Force in Star Wars. Everything has mana and your actions directly affect your mana. The only ways to boost your mana was through violent or sexual conquest.

No wonder the Islands are such a passionate place.

According to anthropological research, Hawaiians had ten different ways of disposing of the remains of the deceased.

A few of the more routinely practiced ones included: • Cremation: Typically considered a form of punishment • Sea/Freshwater Disposal: Applicable only if the deceased’s guardian spirit was a sea creature • Cave Disposal: Being left high and dry in a secret cave • Monument Construction: Reserved for island VIPs

• Sand and Earth Burial: One of the more common methods utilized by the peasant class.

• Heiau: Usually the site of religious sacrifices.

Nowhere in the research does it indicate that Hawaiians paddled out to sea, joined hands in a big circle and spread the deceased’s ashes. Almost everybody was disposed of on land. As noted above, only if you were some kind of bad dude were your remains cremated. And your spirit animal had to be some kind of fish or whale or dolphin for you to be deposited back into the sea.

When the European missionaries dropped in on the Hawaiians in the 1820s they did their damnedest to stamp out most of the indigenous customs. Had it not been for a dedicated crew of revivalists at the turn of the 19th and 20th Century, affectionately referred to as “Beach Boys,” even surfing, “the sport of kings,” was almost lost to the ages.

Not only are the Waikiki Beach Boys, paramount among them Duke Kahanamoku, responsible for re-introducing to the world of wave-riding, but it’s largely believed that they created the concept of the memorial paddle-out.

The concept is simple enough. Friends, family and well-wishers gather on the shore with their boards and the cremated remains of their loved one. The remains are paddled out to sea, where everyone joins hands in a circle. A memorial is given, then the ashes are set free in the water. At this time everyone throws flowers and leis into the circle and splashes

GROM OF THE WEEK

KIRRA PINKERTON

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

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rowing up isn’t always easy, especially when everyone’s watching.

Sixteen-year-old San Clemente surfer Kirra Pinkerton is a gritty, experienced competitor. She’s currently leading the North American junior ratings. She’s already won three events this year and stands a very strong chance at winning the North American junior title. Her surfing continues to get stronger and matures just about every time she paddles out. It’s a wonderful thing.

Dana Point Times August 10-16, 2018

U.S. Open 2018 trials winner Kirra Pinkerton is growing up fast. Photo: WSL

Last week, she won the trials at the U.S. Open of Surfing, a big feat in and of itself.

For the effort she earned herself a ticket into the main event. Surfing against six-

A paddle-out will be held for Tim O’Connor, a Dana Point resident and surfer who died surfing Doheny State Beach on July 24. Photo: Rick Erkeneff.

water up to the heavens.

Early Hawaiian waterman Wally Froiseth recounted that the first one he participated in was back in 1926, when he was six years old.

“I don’t know of any place that did it before Waikiki,” Froiseth told The New York Times in a 2010 story about the paddle-out for three-time world champion Andy Irons.

Ninety years old at the time of the story, Froiseth passed away in 2015.

Over the years there have been some massive paddle-outs, including the 1968 service in Waikiki for Kahanamoku, presided over by Reverend Abraham Akaka.

“Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was a man of aloha. God gave him to us as a gift from the sea, and now we give him back from whence he came,” said Akaka.

Iconic Hawaiian lifeguard Eddie Aikau’s paddle-out at Waimea Bay in 1978, musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s service at Makaha in ’97 and Iron’s in both Huntington Beach and on Kauai in 2010 are also among some of the most well attended paddle-out services and serve as prime examples of the spiritual power of the practice.

The concept of the memorial paddle-out may not be directly derived from the ancient Hawaiians, but it was definitely born time world champ Stephanie Gilmore and 2017 U.S. Open champion Sage Erickson, all of a sudden she went from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a very big pond.

But Pinkerton, wise beyond her years, was composed and surfed with heart. Of course, she was nervous. What 16-yearold wouldn’t be (not counting Caroline Marks)? She had the opportunity to surf two heats against the best women in the world, and while it was apparent she wasn’t satisfied with her performances right after getting out of the water, they will prove to be invaluable experiences that she’ll be able to draw from for years to come. It was one of those “building character” moments that every champion has to go through on their way to the top. DP

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Tim O’Connor Paddle-Out Celebrate the life of Tim O’Connor with his family and friends on Sunday, August 12th.

In honor of the late Dana Point surfer Tim O’Connor, there will be a paddleout from 10-11 a.m. out at Strands (Ramps) immediately followed by a memorial service in which all may share love, hugs, tears, smiles, and memories that they have shared with Tim. The memorial service will be hosted on the bluff of Niguel Shores. There will be snacks, refreshments, and story time.

Please park in the Strands parking lot off of Selva, and come down the North end staircase, you will have direct entrance to the Niguel Shores Bluff.

in the Islands. Nearly one hundred years since the early surfers of the modern era came up with the idea, the paddle-out remains a key component in the rich tapestry that is today’s surf culture. DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 70-73 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-8’ Fair Outlook: Hurricane John expected to send tropical swell for Fri-Sat along with some small S hemi swell and NW windswell for waist-shoulder high (3-4’) surf and possible larger sets at focal points.

Tropical swell expected to trend SW Sun-Mon as a new SSW southern hemi swell builds in. Morning winds expected to remain light with afternoon onshore flow. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

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