February 20, 2014

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE F E B R U A RY 2 0 -2 6 , 2 0 1 4

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

C A N

U S E

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8

Finding Fixes South County schools dealing with major facility needs EYE ON SC/PAGE 4

Las Palmas Elementary School is one of several Capistrano Unified School District campuses that require moderate to extensive facilities upgrades. Photo by Brian Park

Developer Provides Update on Marblehead Outlet Mall Progress

Tritons Girls Water Polo Team Flexes Muscles

INSIDE: 43rd Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales Event Guide

EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

SPORTS/PAGE 18

PULLOUT SECTION

EYE ON SC

1

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SC S a n C le m e n te

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Mayor Sam Allevato has amassed more than $67,000 in his campaign war chest to counter a recall effort against him, according to contribution papers filed Jan. 31. The Friends of Sam Allevato Against the Recall committee received donations from about 90 individuals and organizations, ranging from $100 to $5,000.

Notable contributions include $1,000 from Councilman John Taylor and $1,000 each from Rancho Mission Viejo President Tony Moiso and former Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates.

Former San Juan mayors Wyatt Hart, Tom Hribar and Joe Soto contributed $150, $500 and $1,000, respectively. Allevato’s campaign has already spent $34,820, including more than $18,600 to Bieber Communications, a Santa Ana-based political marketing firm, and $7,500 for political consultant, Eileen Padberg.

DANA POINT

NEWS

NEXT DOOR WH AT ’S GO I N G O N I N OU R NE IGH B O R I N G TOW N S

The Doheny Hotel developer and its communications consultant donated a combined $1,650 to Dana Point Mayor Lisa Bartlett’s campaign for Orange County Supervisor last quarter, contribution records show. Bartlett announced her candidacy to replace Pat Bates as the Orange County Board of Supervisors 5th District representative in October. Councilman Robert Ming, of Laguna Niguel, and Frank Ury, a Mission Viejo councilman, are also in the running. Last week, the Planning Commission continued a public hearing on the proposal at Pacific Coast Highway and Dana Point Harbor Drive. The developer has plans for a modified proposal that would use 0.76 acres of Lantern Bay Park. If plan changes gain commission approval, and the project moves forward, an easement onto parkland would need City Council consent. The land in question was deeded to the city by Orange County for park use.

SAN CLEMENTE’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

1

…Marblehead Coastal?

THE LATEST: The developer behind the newly dubbed Outlets at San Clemente, appeared before the San Clemente City Council Tuesday to update the project, which is set to begin construction this spring.

Steve Craig said the project, which will eventually build 580,000 square-feet of retail and restaurant space, could cost $100 million to build in its complete form. The full project will likely take five years, he said.

Craig estimated the project will provide 1,500 construction jobs in its first phase, with another 1,000 restaurant and retail positions once stores come online. The project was approved by the city in 1999.

The project will be done in San Clemente’s traditional Spanish Colonial revival architecture and will include a commitment to help promote visiting downtown San Clemente businesses. Craig said the outlets are projected to bring in more than $157.5 million in sales tax revenue to the city in its first year, with up to $400 million a year once the complex is finished. The city receives 1 percent of all such revenue.

WHAT’S NEXT: A groundbreaking is set for Monday, March 31. Craig said construction should be completed in June 2015 but the first stores will not open until the fall.

The council indicated it would like to hear more about planned signage for the mall at a future meeting. The city was sued in the last decade over approved signage at the site, which was deemed too large. Richard Boyer, who brought the suit, noted three of the council members who supported the signage were ousted in three consecutive elections.

FIND OUT MORE: For more on the story, visit www.sanclementetimes.com.

– Jim Shilander San Clemente Times February 20-26, 2014

2

…Avenida Vaquero?

THE LATEST: Avenida Vaquero will be restriped later this year to provide more room for bicycles and eliminate the center turn lane for much of the street, following a 3-2 City Council vote Tuesday.

The council considered two restriping plans. One, favored by bicyclists, eliminated the center lane and narrowed the lanes to 10 feet, expanded the current bike lanes to 8 feet and added a 2-foot striped barrier between cyclists and drivers. The option favored by residents kept the center lane, narrowed the traffic lanes and had slimmer bike lanes.

Residents said the street, which carries an estimate 6,500 car trips per day, is already dangerous due to speeding cars and buses, which often make backing out of their driveways unsafe.

Bicycle advocates said the street provides one of the city’s few paths to the beach not requiring cyclists to cross freeway on- or off-ramps.

WHAT’S NEXT: The council was narrowly divided on the issue, though they agreed something needed to be done to slow traffic on the street. Mayor Tim Brown and councilmen Chris Hamm and Jim Evert, voted to eliminate the center lane except at major intersections and choke points.

FIND OUT MORE: See www.sanclementetimes.com. – JS

3

…the Superintendent Search?

THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unified School District is asking for the community’s input in their search for the

district’s next superintendent.

Parents, students, community members and CUSD employees are invited to participate in an online survey and two public forums to provide input on desirable attributes of the next superintendent.

Last Wednesday, the school board selected national firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to conduct the search.

Superintendent Joe Farley has announced he will retire on June 30, after four years at the head of the district and a 40-plus-year career as an educator.

WHAT’S NEXT: Community forums are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24 and Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Education Center, 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.

The online survey, which will be up until Sunday, March 2, can be accessed at http://goo.gl/Q0DQvp. The search firm will take public input and present it during the board’s March 12 meeting.

The district expects to name a new superintendent in May, according to a press release.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information, visit the district’s website at www.capousd.org. – Brian Park

4

…Crossing Guards?

THE LATEST: The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to provide $8,600 for crossing guards at Concordia and Vista del Mar elementary schools, after staff found very high traffic rates at both sites warranted the addition. Council members stressed, however, that a permanent solution must still be found at both schools.

Traffic Engineer Tom Frank said the city received eight other requests in the past but did not move on them, aside Page 3

from informing Capistrano Unified School District of the issue.

Concordia parents who spoke to the council said students had to deal with increasing traffic on Avenida del Presidente, which often kept them from crossing the roadway for several minutes.

WHAT’S NEXT: Councilman Bob Baker said he wanted a report from Franks about the effectiveness of the guards once the school year ended. Councilwoman Lori Donchak also said the expense should be paid for the by the school district, not the city.

FIND OUT MORE: For news updates, follow @S_C_Times on Twitter. – JS

5

…Poche Beach?

THE LATEST: Although Poche Beach received its first county water warning of the year last week, members of the San Clemente’s Coastal Advisory Commission believe the city has turned a corner in the fight to keep the waters off the beach clean.

Commission chair Bill Hart said the “light was at the end of the tunnel,” since the city had identified the sea gulls that frequent the area as the largest source of pollution. Potential courses of action could include sending treated water from the nearby Prima Deshecha watershed into a nearby sewer discharge, rather than collecting in a pond, a frequent hang out for birds.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city will look at its sewer master plan later this year, which could include such a tie-in. Commissioner Michael Smith urged the city to hold a Poche workshop to solicit ideas from the community.

FIND OUT MORE: For more on Poche, go to www.sanclementetimes.com. —JS www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Prioritizing Needs, Finding Fixes South Orange County schools dealing with major facility needs

By Andrea Papagianis and Jim Shilander San Clemente Times

the district’s oldest. Originally built in the late 1920s, Las Palmas was demolished and rebuilt in the ’70s. An estimated $400,000 in general upgrades is needed.

Palisades Elementary School wears visible signs of its 50 years with dated buildings and worn roofing. The Capistrano Beach school has $463,000 in immediate needs for general maintenance and painting.

R.H. Dana Elementary School was built in 1969. General facilities upgrades and window replacements have been pegged as needed, bearing a $547,000 cost.

San Clemente High School has some of the district’s highest dollar needs. More than $6.145 million in upgrades and repairs were identified for this school built in 1965, including roofing, artificial turf, fire alarm upgrades, painting, flooring, lockers and performing arts center repairs.

Shorecliffs Middle School sits near the Dana Point-San Clemente border needing an estimated $2.545 million in general upgrades, roofing, flooring and painting.

Some of the school’s portable classrooms also need reconstruction and/or repairs.

Shorecliffs was built in 1977.

and non-native English speakers—with increased funding. The law also gives local districts more control on how state funding is spent.

“Instead of prescriptive commands issued from headquarters here in Sacramento, more general goals have been established for each local school to attain, each in its own way,” Brown said in his speech. “This puts the responsibility where it has to be: in the classroom and at the local district.”

The increased flexibility comes with some stability in funds. In 2012, California voters approved Proposition 30, which allowed increases to both the state sales tax and on incomes greater than $250,000, which were earmarked for education funding. The proposition didn’t increase funding, but rather maintains funds by preventing further cuts to education.

The district is now considering its facility funding options. In a December 11 board presentation, staff suggested trustees consider issuing Certificates of Participation for upfront funding from Talega’s Community Facilities District.

But those funds are limited to new construction at school’s serving the community’s students. The district originally considered Talega’s Mello-Roos funding as a source to mitigate San Clemente’s needs, but a recent refinancing of the fund will return an estimated $17 million to taxpayers in the area.

District staff also recommended looking at School Facility Improvement Districts for areas without CFDs. The funding comes from region-specific general obligation bonds that would pay off CFDs, providing funds for higher-needs schools.

This option requires an additional viability analysis.

Additionally, district staff indicated that school facility bonds could make it to the 2014 ballot, giving voters the say into funding facility needs across the state.

But with specific-use limitations on various funds, the district has yet to earmark funds for projects and has not set construction timelines for when work could occur.

action should remain at the local level.

“With six million students, there is no way the state can micromanage teaching and learning in all the schools from El Centro to Eureka,” Brown said. “And we should not even try.”

In July, Brown signed sweeping legislation to overhaul the ways California’s public education system is funded, providing one of the biggest changes to K-12 funding in decades.

At the crux of Assembly Bill 97 was the Local Control Funding Program, aimed at providing districts serving higher-needs students—such as lower-income students

GETTING BACK TO BASICS For CUSD, like many of its educationalcounterpart agencies, 2008’s economic downturn meant severe budget cuts at the district level and steep downfalls in state and federal funding.

“Given the magnitude of these cuts, we witnessed a reduction in the school year, increase in class sizes, steep cuts in teacher and staff compensation and the evisceration of deferred maintenance,” Alpay said.

In 2009, class sizes were up to 31 students in elementary schools. The school (Cont. on page 6)

W

ith Gov. Jerry Brown’s new Local Control Funding Program giving school districts statewide greater authority over funding and budgeting, districts are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And for the first time in years, the Capistrano Unified School District is discussing what can be done versus what couldn’t or had to be cut.

While returning to a full school calendar and reducing class sizes to previous levels remains at the forefront of discussion, the district is starting to address long-overdue maintenance needs in aging schools in south Orange County, from San Clemente to Aliso Viejo.

One year ago, outgoing Superintendent Joseph Farley said the district’s facilities needs were pushing toward $1 billion, highlighting a multi-year goal to complete upgrades and modernization efforts at several campuses. Needs were more narrowly defined in December as CUSD’s Board of Trustees readdressed a 2009 study by consultant WLC Architects where needed maintenance estimations topped out at more than $822 million across the district.

“The district has acknowledged many of our sites have needs,” district spokesman Marcus Walton said in an email. “Staff is addressing those needs as resources allow.”

While the district has needs everywhere, San Clemente and Dana Point are home to some of the oldest schools in the district, many of which pre-date the district’s formation in 1965. The increasing maintenance costs inherent in older buildings meant the economic downturn affected those buildings more, said Board of Trustees President John Alpay, who represents San Clemente.

“With many of CUSD’s oldest campuses located in the southern portion of the school district, San Clemente and Dana Point based facilities took a disproportionate hit,” Alpay said.

Eight aging schools from San Clemente to Aliso Viejo were identified by staff as having immediate essentials in need of repair, with costs totaling $13 million.

At San Clemente High School, those needs are estimated at $6.145 million for new roofing, fire alarm upgrades, artificial turf, flooring, painting and other general maintenance. For Dana Hills High School the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system needs replacing. Estimates place the project costs at $2.5 million.

Shorecliffs Middle School along with, Las Palmas, Palisades and R.H. Dana elementary schools also made the list, with combined repairs and general updates sitting near the $4 million mark. Those south county schools were all built prior San Clemente Times February 20–26, 2014

Schools across South Orange County are in need of upgrades. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

SOUTH COUNTY’S FACILITIES NEEDS Overall District Need: Estimated $822 million Available Funding: $44.8 million Hypothetical: If available funds were spread out evenly between all Capistrano Unified School District schools, each school site would have $801,000 available. But the heating and cooling system repair needs at Dana Hills High School are priced at about $2.3 million. Additionally, at San Clemente High School, costs for roofing and fire alarm upgrades are estimated at more than $3 million.

Proposed Projects: CUSD has selected eight schools as having priority needs, including elementary, middle and high schools in Aliso Viejo, Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and San Clemente. Many of the south Orange County schools have aging facilities with highdollar needs.

Dana Hills High School was built in 1973. The school’s heating, cooling and air conditioning system is in need of repair or replacement. Costs to replace the school’s HVAC air handlers, which circulate air throughout the school’s buildings, are estimated at $2.5 million.

Las Palmas Elementary School is one of to 1977, with Shorecliffs being the most recent addition.

But with an estimated $44.8 million in available facilities funding, the district has just 5 percent of monies required to cover all its needs. Projects at Dana Hills and San Clemente high schools could soon go out to bid, but until numbers come back, district efforts to identify funding sources are a bit premature.

GAINING MORE CONTROL Brown’s reemphasis on local control during his State of the State speech in January made his position clear: Educational

Page 4

www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 4) year was reduced to 175 days during the 2011-2012 school year, but the district restored two additional days in 2013.

Trustees expect to restore a full 180-day school year for 2014-2015. An agreement with the Capistrano Unified Education Association, signed in August, begins to bring down class sizes.

“Next year we will witness an increase in funding, and the trustees have made clear the first priorities will be on reducing class size and restoring the school calendar,” Alpay said. “The level of funding is simply not there to add facilities improvement to the list of immediate priorities; at least not yet.”

“Once funding is available, schools in dire need of facilities upgrades, San Clemente High School being a prominent example, will receive the extra attention they need and deserve,” Alpay said.

At a meeting last year, Alpay discussed the possibility of constructing a new pool at the high school. Alpay suggested upgraded facilities could serve as a selling point for parents, who could soon decide between sending their children to San Clemente or San Juan Hills high schools, once the La Pata gap between San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano is connected.

Since Talega residents helped pay for construction at San Juan Hills through a CFD, those students are given attendance priority but currently attend SCHS.

Members of the SCHS arts community have asked the district for a performing arts facility to replace the downtrodden Triton Center. The center is old and is badly in need of repairs. Mainly the ceiling needs fixing to cover a gaping hole.

Walton emphasized that the health and safety of students and staff is always a priority for the district. He added the district had consistently addressed facility issues using the resources available during the downturn.

Alpay said past talks between the district and city had centered around a performing arts center collaboration, since the city has access to grant funding.

The district estimated building a new theater at SCHS would cost $17.3 million. The number is based on recent construction of a similar facility at Capistrano Valley High School, accounting for subsequent increases in construction costs.

New arts facilities at Capo Valley were paid with Mello-Roos funding from Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo, along with grant funds.

Without those sources of funding, SCHS Principal Michael Halt is realistic about what can be done in the immediate future.

When he toured the campus during his interview process last year, he understood needed improvements would take some time to complete.

“It was clear the physical condition of the school was going to be a challenge,” Halt said.

Deferred Maintenance monies were received from the state for projects to repair roofs, driveways, sidewalks, playgrounds and more. The district matched state funds.

With changes to the state’s funding formula, funds can be used for multiple purposes. Additionally, the district does not have to provide matching funds for deferred maintenance.

Developer Fees are paid to the district to mitigate new construction. The fees are paid prior to building permits being issued, and fees are adjusted every two years by the State Board of Equalization.

Redevelopment Agency Pass Through funds continue to filter into the school district as redevelopment agency funds are being liquidated. The state eliminated such agencies in 2010, but successor agencies will hand down money until redevelopment agency obligations are satisfied.

State Facilities funds are matched by the state for school modernization a new construction projects. Currently, the district’s only source of matching funds

DISTRICT FUNDING SOURCES

However, the school’s staff has continued to make the best of the hand they’ve been dealt, by balancing teachers’ wants and the true needs of the school.

“They’re facing challenges that other teachers don’t have,” Halt said. “But

comes from RDA pass through and CFDs. School Facility Improvement District is a special tax district of approved region-specific general obligation bonds. It passed in 1999 with 73.3 percent of the county vote.

Starting in March 2000, the district issued three series of bonds for $65 million. The revenue is used to pay off bond debts.

Community Facility District money sources are also known as Mello-Roos funds. The funds come from a 1982 state law titled the Community Facilities Act, co-written by Sen. Henry J. Mello and Assemblyman Mike Roos. CFDs are assessed to homeowners in new developments to fund neighborhood infrastructure such as streets, lights and new school facilities.

Funds are limited to new facilities.

At the beginning of the fiscal year, the district had about $57 million in facilities funds with limited uses. Leaving out spoken-for funds, the district has about $44.9 million available, but CFD funds can only be used for new facilities at certain schools and other funds have limits on their uses, making the financing of projects difficult.

Figures courtesy of the Capistrano Unified School District they’re professionals and they’re doing the best job they can.” Halt added he felt confident talks with the district could help address some of San Clemente high’s needs. SC Brian Park contributed to this report.

EYE ON SC Monday, February 17

SC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY CATHY MANSO All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Tuesday, February 18 PETTY THEFT El Camino Real/Avenida Barcelona (7:03 a.m.) A caller informed authorities of a possible theft. A man with long, blond hair kept trying to take an unlocked silver bike from in front of Ralphs but would put it back every time someone walked out of the store.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Avenida San Gabriel, 100 Block (12:50 a.m.) A caller said a subject who lived in the neighborhood was screaming out their back window.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real/Avenida Victoria (11:17 p.m.) A woman called authorities after an unknown man jumped on her car while she was driving by. She then made a U-turn, and the man jumped on her car again. The woman said the man wanted to fight her boyfriend.

KEEP THE PEACE Avenida Teresa, 600 Block (10:28 a.m.)

A resident tried to speak with a construction crew working in the area about leaving debris and tools on his property. When the resident confronted the foreman of the crew he was cursed out.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Avenida Pico, 100 Block (7:07 a.m.)

A man in his 40s was seen walking along the train tracks, talking to himself.

DISTURBANCE El Camino Real, 200 Block (2:04 a.m.)

A bearded man, wearing a black trench coat, returned to Goody’s Tavern after being asked the previous night not to come back.

The man, who was in his late 60s, refused to leave.

Sunday, February 16 DISTURBANCE Avenida Cabrillo, 200 Block (10:10 p.m.)

A caller informed authorities that the neighbors were loud, drinking and smoking marijuana. The smoke began to fill the caller’s house.

man, in his 20s, did not look like he was hit by a vehicle.

DISTURBANCE La Ronda, 100 Block (9:37 p.m.) Juveniles were seen playing soccer in the neighborhood and hitting vehicles with the ball.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Miramar, 100 Block (3:08 p.m.)

A resident called sheriff’s deputies when he got into an argument with a drunken homeless man. The man was behind the resident’s home all morning.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE Cristianitos Road, 100 Block (5:35 p.m.)

On Saturday, cyclists parked their car to go mountain biking. A white Ford still remained parked and the identity of the bikers was unclear. The caller was unsure the bikers ever made it back from the trail.

Saturday, February 15 SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Esplanade/Paseo De Cristobal (10:50 p.m.) Juveniles were reported drinking, loitering and urinating in the parking lot by the beach.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC Avenida Del Mar, 200 Block (8:34 p.m.)

Authorities were asked to remove a falling drunken customer at a restaurant.

INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN Avenida Del Mar, 200 Block (8:26 p.m.)

A passed out man wearing black pants, a black shirt and holding a duffle bag was found behind a white pickup truck. The

Friday, February 14

DISTURBANCE Avenida San Gabriel, 100 Block (5:27 a.m.) Authorities were informed of a neighbor “going crazy.” The caller told police that the neighbor kept on throwing objects outside the house.

Thursday, February 13 VANDALISM El Camino Real/Avenida San Gabriel (10:41 p.m.) A caller told police that an unidentified person kicked out the back window of their white Honda Accord and tried to get one of their friends sitting in the back seat.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC Avenida La Cuesta, 200 Block (8:46 p.m.)

Dispatch received notice of a man in his 40s walking uphill and that he appeared to be drunk. The man, described as wearing a black and red plaid shirt was seen staggering and veering into the street.

EYE ON SC CITY AND COMMUNITY CALENDAR Thursday, February 20 Chat with Jose 11 a.m.-noon. Chat with a senior healthcare specialist at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center. 117 Ave. Victoria, San Clemente, 949.498.3322.

Friday, February 21 TGIF Party Noon-1 p.m. Lunch and entertainment by Rick McClellan at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center. 117 Ave. Victoria, San Clemente, 949.498.3322.

Saturday, February 22 Vista Del Mar Clothing and E-Waste Drive 9 p.m.-3 p.m. Drop off unwanted clothing and e-waste at the Vista Del Mar School parking lot for recycling. 1130 Avenida Talega, 949.234.5950, www.vdmes.capousd.ca.schoolloop.com.

Sunday, February 23 San Clemente Farmers Market 9 a.m.1 p.m. Fresh produce, flowers and more every Sunday along Avenida Del Mar.

Monday, February 24 Toddlertime 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Stories for children ages 2-3 with adult participation at the San Clemente Library 242 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3493, www.ocpl.org.

Tuesday, February 25 Toastmasters 7 p.m.–8:40 p.m. Practice public speaking every Tuesday in a friendly and supportive atmosphere at the Baha’i Center. 3316 Ave. Del Presidente, 6463.toastmastersclubs.org.

Special City Council Meeting 4 p.m.

Meeting on long-term financial planning at the Community Center. 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

NEWS BITES

Compiled by Jim Shilander

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club Presents ‘The Big Event’ The San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club will host their annual fundraiser, newly dubbed “The Big Event.” The event will include a sit down dinner, a new addition to the group’s largest fundraiser. The evening will include cocktail hour, silent and live auctions and dancing. The Big Event will be held on Saturday, March 15, at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person.

Live auction items include a weekend getaway for two in Las Vegas with a two-night stay at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Celine Dion tickets.

The San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club is a group of women who support local charitable organizations in the community by raising awareness and volunteering their time. Each year the club donates thousands of dollars and more than 3,000 hours to local philanthropies. Some past beneficiaries have included Family Assistance Ministries, Laura’s House, iHOPE and Courtney’s Sandcastle.

For tickets or more information on how to sponsor the event, visit www.scjwc.org or email thebigevent@scjwc.org.

The group also gathered on Feb.10, at the RIO Adult Day Health Care Center in San Clemente to celebrate the 66th anniversary of the group’s founding.

San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club past presidents from the last five decades celebrated the group’s 66th birthday at a recent function. Courtesy photo

ship, scholarships and more can be found at www.sanclementegardenclub.com.

Camp Pendleton Seeks Donations

SC Collaborative Hosting Membership Event

The Camp Pendleton Officers’ Wives Club will host its annual fundraising Margaritaville Auction March 21 at the Pacific Views Events Center at Camp Pendleton, Building 202850, Jacinto Road, Camp Pendleton south. The event is open to all ranks and will be attended by more than 200 Marines, their spouses, retirees, local business leaders and friends of the Marine Corps. The auction is the primary fundraiser for the OWC military dependent scholarships and community enrichment grants.

Donations must be received by March 1 to be included in the Margaritaville Auction.

Questions can be directed to Janelle Field, Margaritaville Auction Committee Chairperson, at 2ndvicepresident@cpowc.org.

The deadline to submit applications for the 2014 club scholarships and community enrichment grants is a week away. Covering the 2014-2015 academic year, the undergraduate college scholarships are awarded to children and spouses of active duty, retired and deceased members of the United States military who are stationed aboard or living near Camp Pendleton.

Community enrichment grants are awarded to support local, charitable, or select government organizations or schools that directly benefit the military community. Applications for scholarships and grants must be postmarked no later than Feb. 28.

For more information and eligibility information, check the OWC website at www.cpowc.org.

The San Clemente Collaborative is inviting the public to participate in a winter general meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, beginning at 6 p.m. at the San Clemente Community Center’s Ole Hanson Fireside Room. The topic will be volunteer opportunities.

Garden Club Program Focuses on Brightening Garden in Spring

Volunteers Provide for Hunger Charity

The San Clemente Garden Club will present its next talk Wednesday, March 5 at 1 p.m. The subject will be “Spring Color for the Garden” and feature Quinn Bork of Shore Gardens Nursery. Bork is a former recipient of the Garden Club’s scholarship, which helped him receive a degree from Saddleback College. The event will be held at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, 2001 Calle Frontera. Refreshments will be served.

Further information regarding San Clemente Garden Club membership, events, sponsor-

Volunteers from around south Orange County gathered Feb. 8 at San Clemente Presbyterian Church to produce meals for international relief agency Stop Hunger Now. Volunteers from San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, Laguna Beach and Oceanside joined in on the effort. Several local churches, business owners and youth groups raised $2,500 and recruited more than 60 volunteers including children, teens, parents and grandparents who packaged more than 11,000 meals in roughly two hours.

Wednesday, February 26 Kiwanis Meeting Noon. The club meets at Carrows. 620 Avenida Pico, 949.290.8729, www.sanclementekiwanis.com.

SC Rotary Club Noon. Pride of the Pacific Bar & Grill, 150 Avenida Magdalena, 949.361.3619, www.sanclementerotary.org.

Thursday, February 27 Wall of Recognition Nominations Due 5 p.m. Deadline to for submit nominations of an outstanding citizen.

949.361.8237, www.san-clemente.org.

San Clemente Times February 20–26, 2014

Volunteers from all across south Orange County participated in a volunteer event packing food for hunger relief organization Stop Hunger Now at the San Clemente Presbyterian Church. Courtesy photo

Page 9

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

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

CITY EDITOR Jim Shilander, 949.388.7700, x109 jshilander@sanclementetimes.com

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San Clemente Times, Vol. 9, Issue 8. The SC Times (www.sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.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 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

Finance Director > Mike Reed

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano) Locals Only Business Listing Manager

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Catherine Manso, Shelley Murphy, Tawnee Prazak, Dana Schnell, Tim Trent

Group Senior Editor > Andrea Swayne City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander

GUEST OPINION: by Downtown Business Association President Christina Carbonara

DBA Stronger Than Ever New president hopes to build bridges, strong ties with community

T

he Downtown Business Association of San Clemente made some positive changes recently by bringing on new leadership and continuing to grow current programs and events. The DBA has been well-established for nearly 22 years and is excited to continue its tradition of bringing business and community to the downtown San Clemente area.

The DBA’s new executive board includes: President Christina Carbonara, Carbonara’s Trattoria; Vice President Dawn Mednick, The Cellar; Secretary Laurie Wodiske, Variant and Angel Wings; Treasurer Josie Rietkerk, AMO Construction; and Executive Board Member Chen Yen, Café Calypso and Sunrise Café.

Longtime executive board member Michael Kaupp is still actively involved in the DBA but has chosen to take a step back from leadership to allow fresh faces in town to find their niche within the organization.

Veteran chair of the iconic Annual Car Show, Dave Anderson, has retired from

San Clemente’s Downtown Business Association has a new executive board dedicated to forming close relationships with the city and other organizations. Photo by Jim Shilander

the role after many years of service. The DBA is still moving forward with this signature event and plans are going smoothly. The 2014 Annual Car Show will be held on Sunday, June 8 and will continue to be

a great community event as it has been in previous years. The DBA has solidified great sponsorships and the first volunteer committee meeting will take place soon.

The meeting is open to anyone who is interested in helping out or learning more about the event.

Compared to recent history, membership throughout the DBA is up this year.

As more businesses move into the downtown area, more owners are recognizing the benefits of joining the long-standing community organization.

The executive board has been working diligently to form a close relationship with Marblehead Coastal so that downtown is still promoted through the construction of the new shops and businesses. The organization has also been strengthening partnerships with the city and with the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, along with many others. So much good is in the future for the DBA. Make sure to keep an eye out and an ear open for exciting upcoming events. See you all at the Annual Car Show.

YOU’RE INVITED! 8 a.m. Friday, February 21

at Café Calypso John Alpay, San Clemente’s representative on the Capistrano Unified School District’s Board of Trustees, and the board’s president, will be this week’s guest. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Jim Shilander. All are welcome.

Christina Carbonara was elected President of the DBA’s executive board in December. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC 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 SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

Letters to the Editor ONE MAJOR WATER USER GOES UNPUNISHED PETER CASSIMATIS, San Clemente

Southern California is in the grips of a severe drought. We’re also living in a desert but figure what a drought in a desert really means. Most seem to “get it”— lawns looks like hayfields, but that would be an insult to hayfields everywhere.

Who doesn’t seem to get it is the school district. While the rest of us are subject to (for now) informal watering restrictions due to cost, at least one school seems to feel water is worth just what they pay for San Clemente Times February 20–26, 2014

it—nothing. Any night the sprinklers are operating at Shorecliffs Middle School, the gutters run with hundreds of gallons a minute of “free” water, putting thousands of gallons a week into the Poche pond.

After being circulated through the $3 million to $5 million “cleaning” system, all this water sits in a pond at Poche Beach, waiting for its next rotation through the pipeline to nowhere.

Schools need and should have green grass and plants. The fields at Shorecliffs are not only used by the students but also as a community meeting place for everything, from yoga classes to soc-

cer and rugby to powered hang gliders, serving uses far beyond the schoolhouse walls. Leadership of a few dedicated teachers and contributions from parents and local businesses have given Shorecliffs a learning garden that should be the envy of every school in the nation. These are excellent uses of water, even during times of shortage. Washing down the gutters and filling Poche pond, not so much.

Perhaps Tom Bonigut, our city environmental engineer, needs to take time off from surveying catch basins and threatening to fine San Clemente companies that might violate some obscure section

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of Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality Management District, City Council or Water Quality Management District regulations to discuss with the school district what can be done to stop this significant waste of water.

To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@ sanclementetimes.com. San Clemente 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. Please limit your letters to 350 words. www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: Evan Chaffee, San Juan Capistrano Planning Commissioner

The Curious Case of the OC Public Administrator The decision to merge the position with the DA’s office is more a ‘sideshow’ than ‘true solution’

W

hile most midterm elections are generally bland events with minimal voter participation, it appears the 2014 election cycle is starting to get spicy. Due to term limits, south Orange County will be seeing a turnover in several significant state and county offices, including the 73rd Assembly seat, 38th Senate District and the 5th District Board of Supervisors seat. Considering the recent news of 73rd Assembly candidate, and Rancho Santa Margarita councilman, Jesse Petrilla’s 2001 felony assault with a firearm conviction and Rep. John Campbell’s (R45th District) retirement from Congress, the election season is alive with notable headlines.

To add to the list of interesting election situations is the case of the Orange County Public Administrator, formerly an elected seat that had been vacant since 2012, when its occupant, John Williams, resigned. This was, in part, due to scathing mismanagement charges detailed in two 2009 Grand Jury reports.

In a recent supervisor’s agenda, county staff defined the role of Public Administrator as one that “protects the assets and affairs of deceased residents who, at

the time of their death, leave no heirs, no will, no named executor or an executor who is ineligible and whose estates have no person willing to serve as an executor or administrator for whatever reason.”

Evan Chaffee After William’s resignation, the Board of Supervisors voted to cut the position’s full-time, six-figure salary to a part-time position, earning $30,000 annually, as a step to dissuade potential corruption. Additionally, the supervisors opted to include ballot Measure A in the 2012 general election to turn the seat into an appointed position rather than an elected office every four years. Rejecting the measure, Orange County residents overwhelmingly voted to keep the Office of Public Administrator on the ballot with 60 percent of the vote.

Less than two years later, after several candidates filed to run for the vacant seat in 2014, the Board of Supervisors voted at their Jan. 28 meeting to merge the Public Administrator office with the District Attorney’s office. As a subsidiary of the DA’s office, there will be little or no cost savings

for taxpayers, as the Public Administrator’s budget will be absorbed by the DA. There will be less transparency for voters with the position’s accessibility and visibility reduced in the process. While the DA’s office is qualified to manage these cases, it would seem that their efforts should remain devoted to their mission statement; enhancing public safety and welfare through the enforcement of criminal and civil laws.

Regardless of the Public Administrator office’s tarnished reputation, merging the office with the DA seems to be more of a sideshow than a true solution. The supervisors made some effort to fix the problem in 2012. Measure A appropriately gauged voter opinion that the electorate retain the right to choose their public administrator. The requirement that appears to be missing is a professional standard to run for and hold the office of Public Administrator.

For example, in order to stand for Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector candidates must be certified public accountants, and the DA must be a licensed attorney.

Considering that the role of Public

Administrator relies heavily on probate law, it would have been more appropriate if the board had established a professional standard requiring membership in the California bar to be eligible to hold this office.

Prior to the action of the board of supervisors, two qualified licensed attorneys filed to run for the office. Nevertheless, three of the five members of the board voted to merge the Public Administrator office into the DA’s office, effectively preventing these candidates from running and ignoring the message of Measure A. Evan Chaffee is a lifelong resident of San Juan Capistrano and is currently serving his first term on the city’s Planning Commission. He serves as campaign manager for Orange County Supervisor candidate Lisa Bartlett. He is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared.

The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columni sst alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

SC S a n C le m e n te

THE LIST A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

thursday

TASTE OF SAN JUAN 6 p.m.9 p.m. Local restaurants offer samplings of their food, drinks and more. Attendees are invited to vote for favorites at this event hosted annually by the Fiesta Association. Tickets $20. El Adobe de Capistrano, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1976, www.swallowsparade.com.

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friday

SOCSA IMPROV NIGHT 7 p.m. South Orange County School of the Arts performance in the Porthole Theater at Dana Hills High School.

33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.240.1994, www.socsarts.org.

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FOUR CORNERS BAND 7 p.m. Live blues, jazz, pop, rock and dance music at Zona’s Restaurant. Band members hail from San Clemente, Alaska, Boston and South Carolina. 647 Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, 949.940.8845, www.zonasitalianrestaurant.com.

LORD OF THE STRINGS CONCERT 7:30 p.m.9:30 p.m. Clive Carroll, acoustic fingerstyle guitar master from the UK performs at the Lord of the Strings series at the Dana Point Community House. Admission $30.

24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point, 949.842.2227, www.lordofthestringsconcerts.com.

BALLROOM BASH 7:15 p.m. Dance event at the SC Community Center the third Friday of the month, featuring a lesson in the tango followed by open dancing to ballroom, swing and Latin music. Tickets $10, includes refreshments. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.498.0233, www.ballroombash.com.

SOLO JAZZ PIANO PERFORMANCE 8 p.m. Pianist Geoffrey Keezer performs at Soka University. Tickets $21-$28. 1 University Circle St., Aliso Viejo, 949.480.4000, www.soka.edu.

San Clemente Times February 20-26, 2014

AT THE MOVIES

‘THE MONUMENTS MEN’ DISPLAYS PLENTY Eight years ago, a fascinating documentary titled The Rape of Europa chronicled the work of a small platoon of historians and curators who attempted to rescue a number of timeless art being destroyed by the Nazis throughout Europe. The documentary received much acclaim. Last year, George Clooney got a surge of inspiration to shoot his own screen adaptation of the story with his usual collaborators, as well as some new ones, in The Monuments Men. The onscreen platoon includes Americans Frank Stokes (Clooney), James Granger (Matt Damon), Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), Walter Garfield (John Goodman), Preston Savitz (Bob Balaban), Frenchman Jean Claude Clermont (Jean Dujardin) and Brit Donald Jeffries (Hugh Bonn© 2013 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Twentieth eville), with the help of French rebellion member Claire Simone (Cate Blanchett) Century Fox Film Corporation. to save art history in 1943 France. Taglines for the film hail it as “the greatest heist of all time.” Audiences might notice that the film is almost like a WWII version of Ocean’s Eleven, but the ensemble seeks art instead of money and Blanchett is the female role instead of Julia Roberts. Many of the actors have collaborated before and seem to have kept their celluloid chemistry intact. But while Clooney’s new biopic is fun and lighthearted, it doesn’t keep us as intrigued as Europa or entertained as Eleven, due to a lack of heart and genuine thrills. —Megan Bianco

saturday

OC CHILL WINTER TRAIL RUN SERIES 7 a.m. Participate in a 5-, 7- or 10-mile trail run through O’Neill Park that benefits Trails4All, with a post event chili and campfire, race swag and more. $38-$40. 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon, www.bookthatevent.com/trailrun.

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LIVE MUSIC AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 8 p.m. Live blues, jazz, pop, rock by The Four Corners Band. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.218.0120, www.mollybloomspub.com.

SATURDAY AT THE SWALLOWS 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Flock of 80’s play classics at The Swallow’s Inn, then at 8:30 p.m. Von Cotton hits the stage. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

DICK DALE 8 p.m. Legendary surf rock guitarist performs at The Coach House. Tickets $25. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

BACKYARD SKILLS WORKSHOP: CHEESE MAKING 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Gain hands-on skills at The Ecology Center to make your own cheese. Understand culturing techniques, tools, materials and ingredients. $20-$30. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

WYLAND’S ART LESSONS IN THE WILD 9 a.m.noon. Kids ages 3-12 are invited to Dana Wharf for an art lesson presented by Wyland, via video feed, plus a twohour whale watching trip on the Dana Pride; $5 donation.

34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

sunday

KID’S PET PARADE Noon-5 p.m. The Fiesta Association hosts the annual event at Zoomars Petting Zoo where kids and pets can dress up, join the parade and participate in the contest. Entry $3. 31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1976, www.swallowsparade.com.

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SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday on Avenida Del Mar. Rain or shine.

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MIDDLE RIDGE HIKE 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Invigorating, steady-paced hike starting off at the 500-year-old Mother Oak at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Admission $5-$10. Call for info and directions. 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

monday

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SMOKEY KARAOKE 8 p.m. Take your turn on the mic at BeachFire. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

tuesday

COOKING CLASS: COMFORT FOODS 6:30 p.m.

Cooking class with Chef Caroline Cazaumayou at Antoine’s Café featuring Guinness beef stew with carrots and gorgonzola mashed potatoes. Cost $50 each; includes recipes, dinner and a glass of wine. 218 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.1763, www.antoinescafe.com.

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wednesday

SCHS FOOD TRUCKS 5 p.m.-8 p.m. An array of food trucks gathers every Wednesday at San Clemente High School in the parking lot. Take dinner to go or dine there while enjoying live music. Proceeds benefit the marching band. 700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, 949.492.4165, www.sctritons.com.

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RUBEN GONZALEZ 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

CHRIS CRAM 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at Iva Lee’s.

555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

WINEMAKER DINNER WITH STEMMLER WINERY 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Special dinner and wine event with a featured winemaker at San Clemente Wine Company. Call for reservations. 212 ½ Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.sanclementetimes.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@sanclementetimes.com www.sanclementetimes.com

ART FROM THE START Dana Hills High School students get glimpse into professional art careers, create festival art High school is a time for exploring college options, developing new interests and beginning to formulate a plan for the future. For art students at Dana Hills High School, the Festival of Whales provides just such an opportunity. It’s an opportunity program organizers hope could give start to budding art careers.

Now, in its third year, a joint program between Festival of Whales organizers and DHHS

Sarah Holen

Sarah Holen designed the official logo for this year’s Festival of Whales. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

gives local teens a chance to design the official logo and to create and display their work among professional artists at the Art in the Park exhibition and sale, held both festival weekends.

The program includes an inspirational field trip whale watching aboard a Dana Wharf Whale Watching vessel and exploring the Ocean Institute’s brig Pilgrim. Ninety students take photos, sketch and film the experience to serve as inspiration for work they will display at Art in the Park, and for the 2015 logo design contest.

Raechel Grable

Madeline McGrath

ALL ABOARD Visit the festival for less with Metrolink and OCTA

Courtesy photo

The Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink will once again offer an environmental- and budget-friendly route to and from the Dana Point Festival of Whales.

Just $10 buys a Metrolink weekend pass, valid for system-wide travel all day Saturday and Sunday. Weekend passes are available for purchase at all Metrolink station ticket machines.

To get to the Festival of Whales from the San Juan Capistrano train station, take OCTA Bus Route 91 south to Dana Point. Bus transfers are

free with your Metrolink ticket.

Bicyclists, take your wheels with you onboard one of Metrolink’s specially marked “bicycle cars.” Then from the San Juan station, follow the San Juan Creek bike trail for three miles to Dana Point.

For full bus and train schedules, log on to www.octa.net/whales2014.

OCTA and Metrolink can also help you get great deals at local businesses when you mention these offers and present your Metrolink ticket, OCTA bus pass or 91 Express Lanes

Festival organizer Penny Elia said, as the program has grown and evolved, students are being provided a new level of guidance as teachers use a curriculum that more closely mimics real-world commissions.

The quality of the student work shows an increasing professionalism and students, including this year’s logo design winner Sarah Holen, say the experience has piqued an interest in the possibility of pursuing art-related careers.

Holen, a 2013 Dana Hills graduate, is now attending Saddleback College where she plans to finish two years before transferring to a four-year university. Her career interests include business marketing, the automotive industry and art.

“I was really excited to have my art work join that of famous artists, like John Van Hamersveld and Wyland, who have done logos in the past,” Holen said. “Designing a Festival of Whales logo is like being a part of Dana Point’s history.”

The four runners-up are Raechel Grable, Madeline McGrath, Sophie Gutteridge and Renee Richardson.

Be sure to stop by Art in the Park to check out the work of our talented local youth.

—Andrea Swayne

Sophia Gutteridge

Renee Richardson

transponder.

WHALE WATCHING: Receive a 50 percent discount at Dana Wharf Whale Watching or the Ocean Institute. For more information and to make reservations call Dana Wharf at 949.496.5794 and the Ocean Institute at 949.496.2274.

HOTEL: The Dana Point Marina Inn, 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive at the Dana Point Harbor, is offering a special $79 rate, single or double occupancy. For reservations, call 949.496.1203.

COFFEE: Buy one premium coffee beverage at The Coffee Importers and get a second one free. Coffee Importers is located at 34531 Golden Lantern Street, in Mariner’s Village at the Harbor. Offer expires March 31.

APPETIZER: Receive one free appetizer (chef’s choice) at Wind & Sea Restaurant. One per table, with purchase of entrée in the dining room. Offer valid March 1-9. Wind & Sea is located at 34699 Golden Lantern in the Harbor.

For reservations, call 949.496.6500.

Welcome to the 43rd Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales

By Lisa Bartlett, Mayor of Dana Point It is that magical time of year again when the majestic gray whales migrate through the waters off the Dana Point coastline, making the city a premier location for up close viewing.

To celebrate this spectacular yearly occurrence, we are honored to host the 43rd Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales.

We begin with the Festival of Whales Parade, through downtown on Pacific Coast Highway, March 1 at 10 a.m. and flow into two weekends, jam packed, with activities and events for the whole family.

I am proud to announce this year’s Parade Grand Marshal is Jay “Sparky” Longley, owner of Rainbow Sandals and the Community Grand Marshal is 2014 Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and longtime parade announcer Gene Burrus.

Attractions include music, art, classic cars and boats, stand-up paddling, foot races, marine exhibitions, environmental education and more. Many of the activities and events are free of charge. Whale excursions are also available, and I encourage you to look into the many opportunities for first hand viewing on the ocean. You just cannot imagine how large and spectacular the gray whales are until they come up next to your ocean vessel, and you are close enough to see how gracefully they navigate through the water.

The festival includes venues throughout the city, providing many opportunities to explore Dana Point. The Harbor, Town Center Lantern District, Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center high on the Headlands overlooking the Harbor, Lantern Bay Park, Doheny State Beach and the Ocean Institute are but a few places we hope you will visit.

Don’t miss the Dana Point Symphony’s third season kick-off performances March 7 and 8 aboard the brig Pilgrim at the Ocean Institute.

Detailed information on events and activities, an area map, schedule and more can be found on the pages of this program or online at www.festivalofwhales.com. festivalofwhales.com | Page 3

EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS ARTS AND CULTURE Art in the Park March 1, 2, 8, 9; 10 a.m.4 p.m. Local artists along with students from Dana Hills High School display a variety of artwork on the grassy areas at the corner of Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive. 12 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale March 1, 2, 8, 9; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Art show and sale on the Harbor boardwalk along the boat docks in Mariner’s Village. Works by many award-winning local artists will be available for purchase. 7 Public Reading of Two Years Before the Mast March 7, 8, 9; March 7, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; March 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and March 9, 9 a.m.-noon.

The Dana Point Historical Society hosts the fourth annual volunteer public reading of Richard Henry Dana Jr.’s Two Years Before the Mast at the Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive. Free. 949.899.0907. 5 Walking Tour of Town Center March 1, 2, 8, 9; 2 p.m. Meet a guide from the Historical Society at 34091 Pacific Coast Highway—at Blue Lantern and PCH—for this historic Town Center tour of buildings, homes and landmarks circa 1924 to 1939. Free. 9 Polynesian Connection March 1; 10 a.m.4 p.m. The Hula Connection (Leinani Hula Hui’ana) presents a day of Polynesian culture with music, dance, food and hands-on educational experiences for all ages at Baby Beach.

Activities include lei-making, fire knife and hula/ Tahitian dancing, poi-ball twirling, air-brush tattoos, face painting, coconut husking, outrigger canoe demonstrations and more. 15

a state-of-the-art whale research, rescue and whale watching vessel named Lily. The boat was named after a gray whale, wrapped in gill net, that made national headlines when Capt. Dave and rescue team members disentangled her. His rescue work also landed him a television appearance on the “Ellen Degeneres Show.” Attendees will be invited to have some hands-on fun with research and rescue equipment. Signed copies of Capt. Dave’s book, Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey, will be available for purchase. 4 Captain Dave’s Carnival March 8; Noon2 p.m. Drop by Capt. Dave’s Dolphin Deck at 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive (near Baby Beach) for free activities and prizes. Kids of all ages will have fun with games, crafts, a bounce house and more. Face painting and animal balloons will be available for a small fee. It’s fun for the whole “pod.” 4 Movie Viewing March 1, 2, 8, 9; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit the Dolphin Deck for a free viewing of Capt. Dave Anderson’s award-winning documentary Wild Dolphins and Whales of Southern California. In 1995 Capt. Dave mounted an underwater camera and hydrophone on the bow of his boat and began taking his cameras on every trip. It took five years to create the documentary, an experience Capt. Dave says that has forever changed his life. Screenings held every hour. 4

CLASSIC CARS & VINTAGE BOATS So Cal Woodies March 1, 2; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Woodie cars from the Southern California Chapter of the National Woodie Club will be on display at the grassy areas along the Harbor walkway. 11

CAPTAIN DAVE’S WHALE WATCHING AND MORE 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com Whale Watching March 1, 2, 8, 9; Departure times vary For information about Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari, call, check out the website or turn to “Whale Watching Excursions” on page 12. 4

Antique & Classic Boat Society March 1, 2; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Classic vessels from the Southern California Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society will be displayed in the water and on land along the Harbor walkway. 11

Lily, a Gray Whale Tribute March 1; 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Capt. Dave presents a free tour, whale rescue and research lecture and book signing aboard his new 62-foot catamaran,

Porsche 356 Club March 8; 10 a.m.4 p.m. The Southern California chapter of the 356 Club displays classic Porsche models at Waterfall Park on Dana Point Harbor Drive. 14

Whale of a Classic Car Display March 8, 9; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Cal Rod Car Club will display a variety of classics and hot rods, along the Harbor walkway. 11

DANA WHARF WHALE WATCHING AND MORE 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com Whale Watching March 1, 2, 8, 9; Departure times vary For information about Dana Wharf Whale Watching, call, check out the website or turn to “Whale Watching Excursions” on page 12. 3 Kids Free Fishing Clinic and Fishing Trip March 1, 2, 8, 9; clinic noon12:30 p.m., fishing trip 12:45 p.m.-5:45 p.m. Free dockside fishing clinic followed by a fishing trip where kids 12 and under fish for free. Adults are $39, plus license and equipment. 3 Kids Adventure Expo March 2; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Inagural event features hands-on experiences promoting a variety of ocean activities: boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, diving and more. Held at the Dick Simon Yachts parking lot near Dana Wharf. Free. Games and rides offered for a nominal fee. 9 Marine Mammal Lecture Series March 1, 2, 8, 9; 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast at Harpoon Henry’s while marine biologists present recent findings on whales, dolphins and other marine mammals.

March 1: Dean Gomersall, California Sea Lions; March 2: Doug Thompson, Gray Whales; March 8: Alisa Schulman-Janiger, Gray Whale Census and Killer Whales; March 9: Todd Mansur, Gray Whale Migration and Blue Whales. Then climb aboard Dana Wharf’s OCean Adventures catamaran for a 2.5-hour whale watching trip at either 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. Tickets are $55 for adults, $35 for seniors and children 3–12, and children 2 and under are free. Lecture only, $5. 13 Wyland Whale Watching Art Lessons in the Wild March 1, 2, 8, 9; 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Learn from renowned environmental artist Wyland via a dockside video presentation and art lesson aboard Dana Wharf’s OCean Adventures catamaran. Children can enter their art in a contest to win great prizes. $5 per child.

Proceeds benefit the Wyland Foundation. 3

DIAMOND DIG Diamond Dig March 2; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Dig for buried treasure at the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club Diamond Dig at Baby Beach. Dress as a pirate and get a head start.

Cost is $10 per shovel. Last year, toys, bicycles and a diamond necklace were among the booty found. 949.842.0594, www.monarchbeachrotary.com. 15

DOHENY STATE BEACH Doheny State Beach’s Mobile Marine Mammal Museum March 9; 11a.m.-3p.m. A variety of genuine marine mammal artifacts will be on display at Doheny State Beach’s Visitor Center, near the park entrance, for visitors to actively learn and gain an appreciation of these magnificent creatures of the sea. Please alert park staff upon arrival so they can direct you to free, onehour parking. Free. Rain cancels. 949.496.2704, www.dohenystatebeach.org. 16 Whale of a Beach Cleanup March 8; 9 a.m.-noon. Bring work gloves and a recyclable bag or bucket and help clean up Doheny State Beach. Meet Park Interpreter Vicki at Lifeguard Headquarters to learn about how you can help maintain precious coastal resources. Free. 16

FOOD Polynesian Connection Luau March 1; 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Experience the unforgettable sights, smells, sounds and tastes of beautiful Polynesia with an authentic luau at the OC Sailing & Events Center. Tickets are $50.

949.973.7281, www.hulaconnection.com.

8 Whale of a BBQ March 2; 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Delicious barbecue specialties at affordable prices will be served up adjacent to Baby Beach during Ocean Awareness Day. 15 Whale of a Clam Chowder Cook Off March 8; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sample a variety of tasty chowders from local restaurants and organizations and then vote for your favorites along the Harbor walkway near Island Way. Cost is $10 to taste every entry. www.fishforlife.org. 11 (Cont. on page 6)

#=Event location. See map on page 8. For more information, see www.festivalofwhales.com.

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(Cont. from page 4) Whale of a Concert BBQ March 9; Noon5 p.m. Concessions for scrumptious barbecue specialties will be available at the OC Sailing & Event Center adjacent to Baby Beach. A Spirits Garden will be available for those over 21 with a valid ID. 15 Whale of a Pancake Breakfast & Raffle March 2; 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Start your day with a delicious pancake breakfast, raffle prizes and entertainment, hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934 and Ladies Auxiliary at the OC Sailing & Event Center’s Dana Cove Room. Adults $6, children under 12 are $3. Show your Grunion Run racing bib for $1 off. 949.275.3142. 8

GRUNION RUN 6th Annual Grunion Run March 2; Registration, 6:30 a.m.; 10K, 7:45 a.m.; 5K, 8 a.m.; Kids’ 1K, 9 a.m.; Awards, 9:15 a.m. The sixth annual Festival of Whales Grunion Run 10K, 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ 1K Run will take place in Doheny State Beach. This is a fast and flat scenic run/walk. Entry fees are $45 for the 10K, $40 for the 5K and $20 for the 1K. www.festivalofwhalesgrunionrun.com. 16

MERCHANDISE Festival Logo Merchandise T-shirts and sweatshirts will be on sale throughout the Harbor during both festival weekends. Merchandise is also available for purchase online at www.festivalofwhales.com.

MICKEY MUÑOZ MONGOOSE CUP STAND-UP PADDLE Mongoose Cup SUP March 8; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Stand-up paddle with famous surfing icon and legend Mickey Munoz and friends in the fifth annual Mongoose Cup at Dana Cove Park and Baby Beach. Enjoy a great day of fun, SUP clinics and camaraderie. Activities include a Wounded Warrior Project Paddle, Waterman Expo & Paddling Skills Clinics, Sport of Kings Races, Luck of the Draw relays and a delicious barbecue too. Clinics will cover paddling and training techniques, SUP racing skills, water safety, fitness, adventure paddling, SUP yoga and more. 949.276.4431, www.festivalofwhales.com. 15

MOVIE IN THE PARK Finding Nemo March 1; Dusk/6:30 p.m. Finding Nemo will be presented free of charge by

the city of Dana Point’s Community Services and Parks Department at Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern Road. Free popcorn, hot beverages and snacks will be available. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinner to enjoy an evening of entertainment under the stars. 949.248.3530, www.danapoint.org. 18

MUSIC Symphony Spectactular March 7, 8; March 7, 7 p.m.; March 8, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Dana Point Symphony presents Symphony Spectacular aboard the brig Pilgrim, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive at the Ocean Institute. The show is an ocean-themed extravaganza with the symphony, singers, dancers and high-flying aerialist dancers from the Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles. Tickets are $25 for adults and children 15 and over. Children under 15 free at Saturday’s matinee. 301.832.0388, www.danapointsymphony.com. 17 Harbor Music Series March 1, 2, 8, 9; Noon3 p.m. Live music performances in a variety of styles will be presented by the Dana Point Harbor Association in the Dana Wharf courtyard, the grassy area near Harpoon Henry’s and Mariner’s Alley. Free. 10

OCEAN INSTITUTE WHALE WATCHING AND MORE 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org Whale Watching March 1, 2, 8, 9; Departure times vary. For information about Ocean Institute whale watching, call, check out the website or turn to “Whale Watching Excursions” on page 12. 6 World of Whales March 1, 2, 8, 9; March 1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; March 2, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and March 8-9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Take a hands-on journey into the mysterious and fascinating world of whales and explore a variety of fascinating phenomena unique to these magnificent animals. There will be opportunities to examine how they communicate and eat, to see how pollution can affect them and create fun whale-themed crafts. Additional activities in the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center include animal feedings, ROV driving and tide pool touch tanks. Admission price is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for children 3-12, children 2 and under are free.

Members are free. 6

Ocean Institute Jazz Festival Feb. 28, March 1, 2 Opening night, Feb. 28 kicks off with a wine and appetizer reception and concert. March 1 is the gala evening with a cocktail reception, silent auction, gourmet dinner prepared by chefs from local resorts and a jazz performance. A relaxed lunch and encore performance will be held March 2.

All events benefit educational programs at the Ocean Institute. 949.496.2274 ext. 337, www.oijazzfestival.com. 6

Whale’s Tale Tall Ship Sailing Adventure March 1, 8; 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. From “devil fish” to “friendliest whale,” explore how time and discovery have shaped man’s perception of the magnificent gray whale. Join the Ocean Institute for an exciting tall ship sailing adventure and gain new insights into man’s evolving relationship with the ocean and the giants that roam our California coast. Non-member price is $40 for adults and $23 for children 12 and under. Members are $36 for adults and $21 for children. Minimum age to participate is 4. 6

Whale of a Concert and BBQ March 9; noon1 p.m., 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

Bands perform at Baby Beach atop a floating stage. Free. Bring beach chairs, towels and blankets and enjoy an afternoon of musical entertainment. Barbecue specialties will be available for purchase, along with a Spirits Garden for those over 21 with a valid ID. 15

Seashore Interpretive Family Hike March 1, 2, 8, 9; Times are based on tides Take a guided family tide pool hike through the Dana Point Marine Protected Area with Ocean Institute naturalists. Hikes are available on a first come, first served basis. Sign up at the front desk of the Ocean Institute. Free with paid admission. 6

OCEAN AWARENESS DAY

PARADE

Ocean Awareness March 2; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Dana Point Harbor Association presents interactive displays, demonstrations and entertainment showcasing ocean and environmental programs and issues. The event is free and located near Baby Beach at the OC Sailing & Events Center, 34451 Ensenada Place. 15

Festival of Whales Kickoff Parade March 1; 10 a.m. The parade features floats, bands, horses, giant balloons, community organizations and more related to the Festival theme, “Magical Migration.” Parade route runs along Pacific Coast Highway from Selva Road to Golden Lantern. 1

RUBBER DUCKY DERBY Whale of a Rubber Ducky Derby March 2; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hosted by the Dana Point Women’s Club, this fun spin on a traditional rubber ducky race is held at Baby Beach.

Duckies can be purchased in advance by calling 949.859.5706 or the day of the event at the DPWC booth at Baby Beach. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers. Duckies are $6 each or two for $10; need not be present to win. www.danapointwomensclub.org. 15

SAND SCULPTING Whale of a Sand Sculpting Competition March 2; 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. OC Parks presents a competition on the sand at Baby Beach. Teams, from families and friends to hard-core sand sculpting enthusiasts are welcome. Sculpting areas are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Compete in one of five categories: castles, whales and ocean creatures, pirates and ships, woodies and surfboards or patriotic emblems. Judging begins at 2:30 p.m. with awards to follow. Bring buckets and tools.

Dyes and stabilizers are not allowed. 15

SAILING AND PADDLING 949.492.3035, www.westwindsailing.com Sailing Rides March 1, 2, 8, 9; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Westwind Sailing, at the OC Sailing & Event Center, teaches passengers how to sail a Capri 14. Half-hour sessions are $15 per boat, three people max, ages 5 and up. 8 Stand-Up Paddling Clinics March 1, 2, 8, 9; 10 a.m.3 p.m. Join the SUP craze and learn why it’s the fastest growing water sport today. Westwind Sailing hosts 45-minute on-the-water clinics, on the hour, for ages 12 and up. Cost is $10 per person and lifejackets will be provided. 8

STREET FAIR La Plaza Street Fair March 1; 10 a.m.2 p.m. The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce invites you to the annual Street Fair Festival for an unforgettable day of food, games, music and entertainment for the whole family. The carnival-style fair, with vendor booths and a farmers market, begins immediately following the Festival of Whales Parade at La Plaza Park.

949.496.1555. 2

#=Event location. See map on page 8. For more information, see www.festivalofwhales.com.

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Parking Shuttle Stop Event Whale Watching Excursions/Viewing Festival Merchandise Drinking Fountain Shuttle Route Parade Route Shuttle Route First Saturday

GETTING AROUND

HELP US KEEP THE FESTIVAL OF WHALES CLEAN AND GREEN

WATER TAXI NEW THIS YEAR Daily service will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the two festival weekends. Service runs between Dana Wharf and the Ocean Institute for $3 round-trip per person. Tickets may be purchased at Dana Wharf Whale Watching or at the Ocean Institute. Park and then ride this fun new water taxi, taking in all the great sites from the water. Your captain will share interesting facts and features about the Dana Point area and its fascinating history. Ride all day for only $5 per person.

PARKING AND SHUTTLE SERVICE FREE shuttle service will be available every day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended service hours the morning of the parade (March 1) and the afternoon of the Whale of a Concert (March 9). Parking in the Harbor is free, but limited to four hours and is strictly enforced.

Parking at Doheny State Beach is $8 for the entire day.

FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE

PARADE DAY SHUTTLE (MARCH 1) FREE shuttle service will be available one hour prior to and at the conclusion of the Festival of Whales Parade. Park in the Harbor or Doheny State Beach and then ride to the drop-off location for the northerly parade announcer stand. At the conclusion of the parade, meet at the drop-off location and the shuttle will return you to the Harbor.

WHALE OF A CONCERT SHUTTLE (MARCH 9) FREE shuttle service will extend until 6 p.m.

STREET FAIR SHUTTLE (MARCH 1) FREE shuttle service will be available from all Harbor locations to the Street Fair from noon to 3 p.m.

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T-shirts (long and short sleeve) and hooded sweatshirts will be on sale throughout the Harbor during both weekends of the festival.

WALKING DIRECTIONS FROM OCTA BUS STOP For those utilizing the OCTA bus stops on Pacific Coast Highway, the festival can be reached by walking down Dana Point Harbor Drive to the Harbor’s Golden Lantern entrance or you can enter Doheny State Beach (direction sign at bus stop near bridge), walk along the green barrier fence, then proceed toward the beach to the marked Festival of Whales shuttle stop. Ride the shuttle FREE to all event locations.

The Dana Point Festival of Whales is an ocean-friendly event with many of our booths, displays and exhibits being very close to water’s edge.

We ask that all our sponsors and exhibitors keep this ocean location top-of-mind and refrain from using balloons, stickers, tattoos, flyers, single-serving water bottles or other materials that might find their way to the receiving waters of the Pacific Ocean.

We also ask all of our guests to keep these practices in mind as they spend a glorious day or weekend taking in the beauty of this special location.

Drinking fountains are plentiful for the refilling of water bottles that can be purchased at multiple event locations.

Or bring your own and refill throughout the day.

See the event map above for water fountain locations.

Please help us keep the Festival of Whales clean and green for generations to come.

Thank you. —Dana Point Festival of Whales

EVENT SCHEDULE WEEKEND 1 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

6 12th Annual Ocean Institute Jazz Festival 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Ocean Institute

SATURDAY, MARCH 1 7 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village 12 Art in the Park 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 1 Festival of Whales Parade 10 a.m.-Noon.

Pacific Coast Highway 2 Street Fair 10 a.m.-2 p.m. La Plaza Park 11 So Cal Woodies and Antique & Classic Boat Society 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Harbor walkway 15 Polynesian Connection 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Baby Beach and Baby Beach Park 8 Sailing and Paddling Lessons 10 a.m.4 p.m. Westwind Sailing at OC Sailing & Event Center

16 6th Annual Festival of Whales Grunion Run 10K, 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ 1K Run 6:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Doheny State Beach 8 Whale of a Pancake Breakfast and Raffle with Entertainment 8 a.m.-11 a.m.

OC Sailing & Event Center 15 Whale of a Sand Sculpting Competition 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Baby Beach 7 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show and Sale 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor Walkway near Mariner’s Village 12 Art in the Park 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 8 Sailing and Paddling Lessons 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Westwind Sailing at OC Sailing & Event Center 11 So Cal Woodies and Antique & Classic Boat Society 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Harbor walkway 9 Kids Adventure Expo 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Dick Simon Yachts parking lot

13 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 3 Wyland Whale Watching Art Lessons in the Wild 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. OCean Adventures catamaran at Dana Wharf Dock 10 Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Dana Wharf courtyard, Harpoon Henry’s grass area, Mariner’s Alley

3 Wyland Whale Watching Art Lessons in the Wild 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. OCean Adventures catamaran at Dana Wharf Dock 13 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 15 Ocean Awareness Day 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Baby Beach Park

3 Kids Free Fishing Clinic and Free Fishing Trip Noon-5:45 p.m. Dana Wharf Docks

15 Whale of a Rubber Ducky Derby 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Baby Beach

6 Ocean Institute Whale’s Tale Tallship Sailing Adventure 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Ocean Institute

15 Diamond Dig 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Baby Beach

6 Seashore Interpretive Family Hike Time TBA based on tides. Tide pools near Ocean Institute 4 Lily: a Gray Whale Tribute 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari

15 Whale of a BBQ 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Baby Beach Park 10 Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Dana Wharf courtyard, Harpoon Henry’s grass area, Mariner’s Alley

9 Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour of Town Center 2 p.m. Blue Lantern and PCH

9 Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour of Town Center 2 p.m. Blue Lantern and PCH

8 Polynesian Luau 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. OC Sailing & Event Center

6 Seashore Interpretive Family Hike Time TBA based on tides. Tide pools near Ocean Institute

6 12th Annual Ocean Institute Jazz Festival 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Ocean Institute 18 Movie in the Park: Finding Nemo Dusk.

Lantern Bay Park

6 12th Annual Ocean Institute Jazz Festival 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Ocean Institute

WEEKEND 2 FRIDAY, MARCH 7 5 Dana Point Historical Society Public Reading of Two Years Before the Mast 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Headlands Nature Interpretive Center 17 Dana Point Symphony’s Symphony Spectacular 7 p.m. Public pier adjacent to the Ocean Institute

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 5 Dana Point Historical Society Public Reading of Two Years Before the Mast 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Headlands Nature Interpretive Center 15 5th Annual Mickey Munoz Mongoose Cup & BBQ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Baby Beach 16 Whale of a Beach Cleanup 9 a.m.-noon.

Doheny State Beach 7 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor Walkway near Mariner’s Village 12 Art in the Park 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 11 3rd Annual Whale of a Clam Chowder Cook-Off 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Harbor walkway beginning at Island Way 13 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 11 Whale of a Classic Car Display 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 14 Porsche 356 Club Southern California 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Waterfall Park on Dana Point Harbor Drive 3 Wyland Whale Watching Art Lessons in the Wild 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. OCean Adventures catamaran at Dana Wharf dock 8 Sailing and Paddling Lessons 10 a.m.4 p.m. Westwind Sailing at OC Sailing & Event Center 4 Movie Viewing: Wild Dolphins and Whales of Southern California 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari 10 Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Dana Wharf courtyard, Harpoon Henry’s grass area, Mariner’s Alley

4 Captain Dave’s Carnival Noon-2 p.m.

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari 4 Lily: A Gray Whale Tribute 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari 6 Ocean Institute Whale’s Tale Tall Ship Sailing Adventure 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Ocean Institute 9 Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour of Town Center 2 p.m. Blue Lantern and PCH 17 Dana Point Symphony Presents: Symphony Spectacular 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Public pier adjacent to the Ocean Institute 6 Seashore Interpretive Family Hike Time TBA based on tides. Tide pools near Ocean Institute

SUNDAY, MARCH 9 5 Dana Point Historical Society Public Reading of Two Years Before the Mast 8 a.m.noon. Headlands Nature Interpretive Center 7 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariner’s Village 12 Art in the Park 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 13 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 3 Wyland Whale Watching Art Lessons in the Wild 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. OCean Adventures catamaran at Dana Wharf Dock 11 Whale of a Classic Car Display 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 8 Sailing and Paddling Lessons 10 a.m.4 p.m. Westwind Sailing at OC Sailing & Event Center 16 Doheny State Beach’s Mobile Marine Mammal Museum 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Doheny State Beach’s Visitor Center 15 Whale of a Concert on the Water, BBQ and Spirits Garden Noon-5 p.m. Baby Beach 10 Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Dana Wharf courtyard, Harpoon Henry’s grass area, Mariner’s Alley 9 Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour of Town Center 2 p.m. Blue Lantern and PCH

3 Kids Free Fishing Clinic and Free Fishing Trip Noon-5:45 p.m. Dana Wharf docks

6 Seashore Interpretive Family Hike Time TBA based on tides. Tide pools near Ocean Institute #=Event location. See map on page 8. For more information, see www.festivalofwhales.com. festivalofwhales.com | Page 9

GET TO KNOW THE GREAT MIGRATORS Gray whales travel past the Dana Point coast each year as part of their annual 10,000-mile migration

By Sean Vogt, Natural Resources Protection Officer, City of Dana Point Gray whales are known as the great migrators. The grays seen during winter off the coast of Dana Point have already traveled nearly 5,000 miles. In the longest migration of any mammal, gray whales travel over 10,000 miles roundtrip from Arctic feeding waters to calving waters in Baja California, Mexico. Many people ask why this species of whale travels so far each year.

The answer is simple: female gray whales are fantastic mothers. Gray whale calves have the best chance of survival if they are born in the sheltered lagoons of Baja.

Entering the world in these warmer, more saline waters means calves can stay warm and easily float to the surface to breathe without wasting energy, thus expending more energy building up their blubber for the trip back to the Arctic. In addition, their main predators, orcas (also known as killer whales), are less able to gang up and kill calves while within these shallow lagoons. If orcas venture too close, adult gray whales can come together and use violent tail slaps to fend them off.

Generally, pregnant gray whales start arriving in Baja by late December, with most of them giving birth in January and February. Since gestation is approximately 12 to 13 months for this mammal, this is also the time that adult, non-pregnant females begin estrus and breeding. While it is possible for females to give birth each year, they typically give birth and mate in alternate years. Gray whale breeding behavior is complex, but quite the party, with groups mating during the southward migration and in the Baja lagoons from late November through early February.

Calves are approximately 14 feet in length and weigh a whopping 1,500 pounds at birth.

They spend approximately two months nursing.

The calves drink up to 50 gallons of milk, which is 53 percent fat, each day, before their mothers leave the protection of the lagoons and escort them to the Bering and Chukchi Seas off the Alaskan coast. During the northward migration, calves continue to nurse, relying on their protective and loving mothers to fend off predators and deliver them safely to their Arctic feeding grounds by June or July.

Mothers slowly wean their young off milk while teaching them how to feed on bottomdwelling invertebrates—mostly shrimp-like crustaceans. Gray whales spend the summer months in the Arctic building up fat reserves by feeding on up to 1 ton of little critters per day.

When fully grown, grays can weigh up to 40 tons and reach lengths of 45 feet. Instead of Page 10 | festivalofwhales.com

A gray whale raises its tail fluke while swimming off the coast of Dana Point. Photo by Debra Kettler

teeth, a gray whale’s upper jaw holds numerous overlapping plates of long, stiff hair-like structures called baleen. To feed, the whale sucks in water and sediment from the ocean floor, closes its mouth and forces the water and mud through its baleen, trapping millions of tiny invertebrates.

It then uses its 1-ton tongue to break up and swallow its catch.

When days begin to shorten in October, Arctic waters begin to cool and the ice pack increases. This signals the start of yet another southward migration and the natural cycle repeats itself.

Many press releases this winter have touted a dramatic increase in near-shore gray whale sightings this migration season. This December and January, monitors on the Palos Verdes peninsula counted the third-highest number on record since the 1980s. However, large-scale trends and anecdotal evidence actually indicate a decrease in near-shore sightings in southern California since the early 1970s. This is despite a consistent increase in the number of gray whales. The trending movement away from near-shore routes may be a result of natural factors, but more likely is due to increased noise pollution from sonar and boat engines, harassment by recreational and commercial vessels and ship strikes near the coast in shallow-water fishing spots and shipping lanes.

Because gray whales are intelligent animals with average life spans similar to humans (up to

Sean Vogt, Natural Resources Protection Officer for the city of Dana Point. Photo by Andrea Swayne

80 years), it seems reasonable to hypothesize these creatures communicate with each other and avoid areas where they were previously harassed. Currently, only a fraction of migrating grays actually follow the Southern California shore. Most are too far off shore to see from the mainland—using the Channel Islands as navigational markers—so it would be a shame to force these special few away. The federal government passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, or MMPA, to combat the issues that

could cause many of the approximately 20,000 remaining gray whales to steer clear of a nearshore route.

Amended in 2012, the MMPA is the most recent national protective legislation in response to a long history of whaling. The MMPA is a piece of comprehensive legislation designed to protect all marine mammals in the United States, including otters, manatees, seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales. The MMPA states that “the act of hunting, killing, capture, and/or harassment of any marine mammal; or, the attempt at such” is illegal. Gray whales in the Pacific Ocean are still hunted by humans—mostly legal subsistence hunting by indigenous populations in Russia and the U.S.—and were nearly hunted to extinction by the early 1900s. European and U.S. whalers killed at least 10,000 gray whales between 1840 and 1900 along the west coast of North America. Thankfully, the International Whaling Commission made it an international crime to hunt gray whales (as well as most other whale species) in the 1940s, which is likely the only reason grays still exist on our coast. Atlantic gray whales were not as lucky, as they were likely hunted to extinction by European whalers prior to the end of the 18th century.

In order to be in compliance with the MMPA, the average person simply needs to learn about how these majestic creatures interact with the environment and avoid disrupting their behaviors. For example, boats should travel at a safe speed and never cut in front of a marine mammal’s path of travel or encircle it. The MMPA states that all vessels must observe from a safe distance of at least 300 feet. Whales can be curious and often approach boats. Viewing them in this manner is not illegal, as it is beyond the boater’s control. In this case, place the boat in neutral and enjoy the whale until it is ready to move on. Perhaps the whales will put on a show and leap out of the water, creating an unforgettable moment. For those that do not do well on boats, the conservation areas atop the Dana Point Headlands offer some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants in Orange County.

Sean Vogt has a Master of Science degree from CSU, Fullerton and more than 10 years of experience studying marine biology. As the Natural Resources Protection Officer for the city of Dana Point, Vogt manages the Nature Interpretive Center at the Dana Point Headlands, open-space parks adjacent to the Center for Natural Lands Management Preserve and the Marine Protected Area along the city coastline.

With the help of nearly 100 volunteers, Vogt launched citizen-science wildlife monitoring programs late last year, including surveying marine mammals visible from the Headlands.

WHALE WATCHING EXCURSIONS See why Dana Point is the ‘Whale Capital of the West’ Most boat excursions are 2-3 hours long. Reservations are recommended.

Dana Wharf Whale Watching Expert captains and certified naturalists narrate each excursion, detailing the whales’ movements through their natural migration path.

As the originator of whale watching in Orange County, Dana Wharf remains family owned and operated and is exclusively endorsed by worldrenowned marine life artist Wyland. Marine Mammal “rain checks” ensure you see a good show of whales or dolphins, or your next trip is free. Excursions depart every hour, on the hour, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during festival weekends.

Trips run approximately two hours. Tickets are $45 for adults, $35 for seniors and military, children 3-12 years $25 and children under 2 are free. Want a whale of a deal? All 8 a.m. trips are

just $15 per person.

Marine mammal lecture and whale watching trip combos are offered both weekends for a oneon-one educational experience with guest marine biologists. Tickets are $55 for adults, $35 for seniors and children 3-12, and children under 2 are free. Tickets include the lecture and continental breakfast at Harpoon Henry’s, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a 2.5-hour whale watching trip aboard the luxurious 63-foot, state-of-the-art, OCean Adventures catamaran at 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. A specially priced sunset trip with cocktails, wine and beer, runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $25. For reservations call 800.979.3370 or 800.590.9994 or log on to www.danawharf.com.

Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari The most unique whale watching trips in the world puts visitors eye-to-eye with dolphins and whales via underwater viewing pods. It feels like swimming with wild dolphins and whales but without getting wet. Capt. Dave’s high-speed, high-tech catamaran Lily comfortably carries only 49 passengers and a smaller, more intimate catamaran carries 20 passengers, so trips are never crowded. Listen in on the sounds of marine mammals below the surface with a research hydrophone while an experienced marine naturalist narrates how the animals live. Trips are often led

by Capt. Dave Anderson himself, whose award winning film on wild dolphins and whales has drawn people from all over the world to Dana Point.

Courtesy of Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari

Ocean Institute Gray Whale Adventure Cruise More than just a whale watch, the Ocean Institute’s Gray Whale Adventure Cruises introduce participants to whales and many other marine animals using state-of-the-art equipment including satellites, plankton nets, sediment samplers, touch tanks, viewing aquariums and video microscopes. Two viewing levels and a bowsprit stretching out over the water provide visitors with a breathtaking view of dolphins, whales, sea lions and other ocean life. Learn about feeding strategies, migration and behavior patterns from the Institute’s experienced and knowledgeable captains and educators. Indulge your inner scientist with this unique opportunity to experience one of the greatest mammal migrations on Earth, aboard the Ocean Institute’s 65-foot research vessel R/V Sea Explorer. As Page 12 | festivalofwhales.com

an educational platform the vessel is ideal. This floating lab plays an important part in the nationally recognized, nonprofit educational facility’s educational programming. Throughout the year, research conducted aboard the vessel is integrated into the Ocean Institute’s curriculum offered to over 15,000 students annually.

The 2.5-hour cruises are offered at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on festival weekends. Member pricing is $22 for adults and $19 for children 4 to 12 years old. Children must be at least 4 years old to attend. Non-member pricing is $35 for adults and $22 for children. Weekend admission to the Institute is included with the cruise ticket purchase. For more information and reservations, call 949.496.2274 or log on to www.ocean-institute.org.

Courtesy of The Ocean Institute

The fronts of Capt. Dave’s catamarans are low to the water offering an up close view of sea animals. An onboard whale and dolphin micro-museum adds an extra fun and educational opportunity to learn more about marine mammals. Trips are broadcast live on www. whalewatchingtv.com so you can wave to family and friends tuned in online at home. And one of the best perks of the trip is Mrs. Captain Dave’s delicious triple fudge brownies, served as a special treat on the ride back. Mention this article for 10 percent discount. Special offer is good during the Festival of Whales only. Call 949.488.2828 or visit www.dolphinsafari.com for more information and reservations.

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Thank You to the following donors for their generous support which made the 2013 GREAT FUTURES START HERE Dinner & Auction an outstanding success.

Over $175,000 was raised for educationally enriching and impactful youth programs!

S P E C I A L

T H A N K S

AUCTION ITEM DONORS

BIG AMBITIONS SPONSOR EDISON INTERNATIONAL

BRIGHT FUTURES SPONSORS ASSURANT SPECIALTY PROPERTY THE ROOS FAMILY IN MEMORY OF WOODY STINGLEY

LIGHT THE WAY SPONSORS BEMUS LANDSCAPE INC. SADDLEBACK MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER – SAN CLEMENTE

SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC

GOAL-SETTERS SPONSORS DR. WYATT SIMONS, DDS FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK BOB & NANCY HUNT RYAN SHECKLER

THE GREG & KRISTOFER LERUM INSURANCE AGENCIES THE TOLL ROADS

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SC LIVING

4

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

SC S a n C le m e n te

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:

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

Stemming the Tide

Marblehead Elementary finds ways to attract students and families

By Jim Shilander San Clemente Times

A

20 percent loss in school population might be seen at some schools as a crisis. At Marblehead Elementary, however, it’s being looked at as an opportunity.

The school, located just off Avenida Vista Hermosa, saw its population dip from 550 students to 440 this year.

One possible explanation as to why parents have shied away from the school is its designation as a Title I school, according to Reagan Nilsson of the school’s Aloha Education Foundation, which raises funds for the school.

Title I funding goes to schools with a high percentage of low-income students who qualify for free or reduced school lunches. Just over 42 percent of the school’s students qualify.

The other Title I school in the city, Las Palmas Elementary, offers a special

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Established 1963

Third grade students at Marblehead Elementary receive a special science lab lesson on the states of matter.

The lessons are part of a broader effort to make the school more attractive for parents. Photo by Jim Shilander

Spanish-language immersion program, making it attractive to some families in the school choice period. The program is not available at Marblehead.

However, Nilsson and Marblehead Elementary’s new principal Faith Morris are using the designation as an opportunity to use the grant funding to help improve the school and make it more attractive to potential parents.

“Schools go through cycles,” Morris said, noting that if students age out of the school but stay in the area, the school’s

population would decrease but not necessarily have a student to replace them. “But I would like to see something closer to 600.”

Those efforts have taken a number of forms. Morris has brought in a new math program created by the MIND Research Institute in Irvine, a nonprofit educational software developer, which allows students to visualize math concepts before introducing numbers or word problems. Teachers can receive information on how students are progressing and can also see during class time if students are getting stuck.

Morris said programs like this are important given the changes to the curriculum with the introduction of Common Core, which hopes to force students to learn to think more critically, rather than simply regurgitating numbers for a test.

The $49,000 cost for the program, which is higher at startup, was paid for using the Title 1 grant.

Nilsson, the parent of first and thirdgraders, said both have had extremely positive experiences using the program, who share their lessons learned on the way home from school.

She also said her son and daughter have been excited by their experiences in the newly-upgraded science lab, which was the result of a PTA donation. In addition to new tables, the lab has a new “smart board.” The lab also receives monthly visits from educators from Discovering Science, which provides fun, hands-on science instruction for students.

“Teachers would love to be able to do hands-on, but it can be difficult to set up and clean up,” Morris said.

There’s also been an effort to work on simply beautifying the campus. The foundation, Nilsson said, funds music education at the school for Kindergarten through third grade, as district funding for music starts at fourth grade. The foundation also got award-winning editorial cartoonist Bill Schorr to help create murals on the school’s handball courts. SC

Did you know that...

• “National Association of Realtors” (NAR) report-

There have been approx. 196 homes sell between

ed they estimate over 4.9 Million homes to sell in

$1,000,000 and $3,000,000, while approx. 750

2014 here in the United States, while approx. 5.09

homes sold under $1,000,000

Million sales happened in 2013 • Since the bottom of the market in 2011-2012 • There have been approx. 7 homes to sell above

here in San Clemente, home prices have appreci-

$3,000,000 here in San Clemente over the last 12

ated about 18-20% in the last 24 months

months.

SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach by Shelley Murphy

Raising Boys: There’s More than Meets the Eye Boys sometimes have more going on than you’d think

O

ver the years I’ve become accustomed to hearing, “You are so lucky, it’s so much easier raising boys than

girls.”

Most recently, I heard this again as some friends with daughters lamented the lengthy to-do lists in preparation for the high school’s annual winter formal. A sampling of some tasks included: ordering an assortment of different dresses to choose from, searching for special shoes the correct color and heel height (which, after being worn for pictures, are discarded for the rest of the night), finding sparkling jewelry and petite purses and making salon appointments for finishing touches to make-up, hair and nails.

When it comes to outfitting boys for dances, I agree, we moms have it pretty easy. My son’s closet consists of a good suit, a couple collared dress shirts, the same worn-in pair of dress shoes he’s had for years and a hand-me-down belt. Once his girlfriend decides on a dress, I select a coordinating neck tie. After showering, and drowning in Axe, my son’s ready to walk out the door in about 15 minutes.

I wish someone would’ve warned me about the infatuation teenage boys have

with blanketing themselves in that pungent body spray. I’m convinced there’s a direct correlation between the amount of Axe sprayed by teenage boys and the depletion of the Earth’s LIFE’S A BEACH ozone layer.

By Shelley Murphy Sometimes I overhear girlfriends swapping mother-daughter shopping stories. Sure, it would be fun to shop with someone who doesn’t complain.

But I figured out a few years ago, if the trip to the mall includes a hearty lunch and a visit to Game Stop, my boys can shop a full 30 minutes before their eyes roll back in their heads and they claim they’ve contracted a lethal shoppingrelated illness.

There exists one major benefit to shopping with boys: I’m never asked if they can borrow anything I buy. My favorite jeans and shoes can always be found safe and sound in my closet.

When it comes to conversation, I think it’s unfair to compare boys’ communication skills to their female counterparts.

It’s my experience that boys converse

concisely and unpredictably. When the recent winter formal neared its end, my son’s bus driver called and asked me to text my son and his girlfriend his cell number so he could find them in the moonlit sea of suits and sequins. My son’s girlfriend immediately sent me a lengthy reply and added that she and my son had been crowned junior prince and princess.

My son replied with, “K.” Last year, the author who penned “Queen Bees & Wannabes” (the basis for the 2004 movie Mean Girls and a parenting bible for some parents raising adolescent girls), released her boy version of that book, “Masterminds & Wingmen.”

She interviewed over 160 boys and admits many of her long-held assumptions about boy behavior proved wrong. She said we sometimes assume boys are easier because they keep quiet, “… what looks like their ‘easiness’ is actually our own ignorance.”

In part, boys are viewed as easier because they don’t demand attention the same way as girls. Most boys can answer almost any question with, “It’s fine.” The author said boys are way more complex than we think, and as a result it’s challeng-

ing to crack the adolescent boy communication code.

When girlfriends say I have it easy raising boys, they’re usually quick to remind me there’s a consequence looming on the horizon. Sooner or later someone says, “A son is a son until he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter for all of her life.”

I admit the old adage isn’t my favorite so I choose to counter with, “A mom doesn’t lose a son, but gains a daughter.”

It’s true, I’ll never be the mother of the bride, but I’ll also never be featured on an episode of the reality show “Bridezilla.”

After almost 20 years on the job, the truth is parenting both boys and girls is extraordinarily difficult and none of us have it easy. But, I do agree that I am lucky. Everyday my boys make me feel incredibly lucky.

Shelley Murphy has lived in San Clemente with her husband and two sons for the past 14 years. She’s a freelance writer and contributor to the SC Times since 2006. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC 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 SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

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Page 17

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SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SC S a n C le m e n te

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

Tritons Freshman Hoopers Make History

The San Clemente High School freshman basketball team made history on Feb. 13 after holding on for a 49-45 win over league rival Trabuco Hills. The victory brought their record to 24-1 overall, including a perfect 8-0 record in Sea View League play, good enough for the best record compiled by a freshman team in school history.

The Tritons went on a 19-1 scoring run to close out the first half of play against the Mustangs, but saw the lead dwindle in the second half. With Trabuco Hills lurking behind at 47-41 with just over one minute to play, the Tritons were able to make free throws and hold on for the win.

The season was filled with wins, including victories at the El Toro and Laguna Hills Holiday Tournaments.

The San Clemente boys basketball freshman team includes: Blake Birmingham, Bren Eissman, Roberto Medrano, Kurt Crapo, Jake Bang, Hunter Knights, Sean Carroll, Trevor

The San Clemente boys frosh basketball team won the Laguna Hills Holiday and El Toro Tournaments in 2014. Courtesy photo

Ankrom, Kai Hadsall, Matt Kerr, Luke Melby, Jimmy Varos, Michael Moran, Chris DeGrazia, Tyler Hickey, Joey Spurgeon, Myles Blazer, Daniel Mircheff, Ricardo Ashe, Isaac Rex, James VanGinkel, Evan Banks, Zach Cochrun and Eric Ord. The team is coached by Oscar Montecinos and John Smetona. —Steve Breazeale

Triton Report

By Steve Breazeale

The CIF-SS playoffs are officially upon us, which means for each San Clemente winter sports team that has advanced to the final tournament, every game from here on out is the most important one of the season. This week’s Triton Report will break down the playoff matches that have already taken place and prime you for the games still to be played this week.

For in-game updates and news throughout the playoffs, follow us on Twitter @ SouthOCsports.

Cooper Bird celebrates his second period goal in the Capistrano Coyotes 6-1 win over Long Beach Prep.

The win clinched the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League varsity 2A division for the Coyotes.

Photo by Leslie Bird

TRITONS GIRLS WATER POLO FLEXES ITS MUSCLE San Clemente girls water polo head coach Logan Powell saw something in his team’s 24-5 drubbing of visiting Millikan in

Capistrano Coyotes Clinch Title in Inaugural Season

By Steve Breazeale San Clemente Times

I

n a season filled with firsts, the Capistrano Coyotes ice hockey team clinched the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League Varsity 2A division on Feb. 10. The newly formed team, which draws players from across the Capistrano Unified School District, accomplished the feat in its first season in the league.

The Coyotes (13-0-1) put up another convincing stat line in a 6-1 victory over Long Beach Prep, which sealed the league title.

Dana Point High School’s Paul Boutoussov scored first for the Coyotes to give them a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.

It was in the second period where

San Clemente Times February 20-26, 2014

the Coyotes signature high-powered offense took off. The team scored four unanswered goals, including another by Boutoussov and contributions from Cooper Bird, Alec Grollman and Max Kamper.

Zach Wollivar netted the Coyotes final goal in the third period on a feed from Dylan Zanki and Connor Reed. The assist from Reed was his fourth on the night, which put him at the top of the league scoring leaders with 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists).

The Capistrano Coyotes remained the only unbeaten team in regulation and earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ADHSHL playoffs. As a No. 1 seed, they will have a bye in the first round. Their quarterfinals match is set for Feb. 28 at Anaheim Ice. They will play the winner of the No. 7 and No. 8 seeded matchup. SC

the opening round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs on Feb. 18—the ability to put the pedal to the floor from the first whistle and not let up.

The recently-crowned South Coast League champion Tritons (22-7, 8-0 league) came into the match riding a hot streak, and with the win over Millikan, out of the Moore League, San Clemente has now won 12 in a row. They will host Rosary in the second round of the tournament on Thursday at 5 p.m.

The Tritons burst out of the gate in the first period, forcing turnovers and converting them into fast break goals.

The Tritons first two goals came by way of Amber McCutcheon. After netting a pass from Alaina Cousineau to go up 1-0 early, McCutcheon drove straight to the net following a Tritons steal on the next possession. Cousineau found McCutcheon again and got the same result.

The Tritons forced four Millikan turnovers in the period and got goals from Cousineau, Rachel Brownell and Sabrina Schundler to take an 8-2 lead into the second.

(Cont. on page 20)

San Clemente sophmore Alaina Cousineau scored a game-high six goals in the Tritons’ 24-5 win over Millikan in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2 Championships on Feb. 18. Photo by Steve Breazeale

Page 18

www.sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS Triton Report (Cont. from page 18) Both Cousineau and McCutcheon would tally six goals on the night to lead the team, and nine Tritons players each scored goals.

In the third period, the Tritons put on a clinical display of passing that involved four players. After bringing the ball into the offensive zone, Makenna Smith passed to Lauren Mathews, who was in position down near the goal. Mathews lobbed a pass to McCutcheon, who decided to make one more pass, this one to a wide open Cousineau on the other side of the net for an easy goal. The efficient passing play put San Clemente up 16-5.

The offense was potent, but the defense was just as good for the Tritons. Defenders Smith, Schundler and Brownell all took turns defending the two-meter spot and denied Millikan easy goals down low. When passes would come in to the center, the trio collapsed on the ball to break down the play, or get a steal. The San Clemente defense forced 10 Millikan turnovers in the match.

Powell said the win was a good start for a team that has let the opposition creep back late in games.

“I liked that we had a little killer instinct. We’ve kind of had trouble in the past with putting teams away and they did well tonight … We took care of business which is good,” Powell said.

“It’s all about building momentum in the tournament and playing well and getting confident and I think we did that. We’re right in a position where we can make a run and it should be a good CIF tournament.”

The Tritons will host Rosary (19-10, 2-2), the third-place finisher out of the Trinity League, on Feb. 20. San Clemente narrowly edged the team 8-6 back on Jan. 11.

DE GREE MAKES HISTORY, TRITONS GIRLS HOOPS EYES EDISON IN CIF OPENER The San Clemente girls basketball team topped off another perfect run through the South Coast League on Feb. 12, defeating Aliso Niguel 98-67 to finish unbeaten in league play for a second straight year. The league championship marks the 15th in the girls basketball program’s history.

The Tritons (18-8, 8-0) have had a good amount of support throughout their lineup, but at the center of it all is senior post player Jessica de Gree, who has put together one of the most stellar performances in the area this season.

De Gree was already on pace to finish the season averaging a double-double stat line, and what she did against the Wolverines on Feb. 12 served as an exclamation mark to the regular season.

De Gree dropped a school record 50 points in the win, eclipsing the old mark of 48 points held by Cassie Harberts, who now plays for USC. San Clemente Times February 20-26, 2014

marred only by a 2-1 loss to rival Capistrano Valley in South Coast League play.

The Tritons rebounded nicely following the loss and recorded four consecutive shutouts to cap off the regular season.

In their last six games, the Tritons have outscored their opponents 12-2.

Mira Costa (8-8-5, 3-3-1) finished third in the Bay League standings.

BRUBAKER SET TO ATTEND FRESNO STATE San Clemente senior Taylor Brubaker will attend Fresno State University to play volleyball next fall. The senior outside hitter helped lead the Tritons to a 13-13 overall record and an appearance in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1AA Championships in 2014.

Brubaker was second on the team in total kills (206) and averaged 2.7 per set.

Her season-high in kills came against rival Dana Hills on Oct. 17, when she tallied 19 in a 3-1 loss.

Senior post player Jessica de Gree, left, and Hailey Ord will captain the San Clemente girls basketball team into the CIF-SS Division 1AA playoffs. Photo by Steve Breazeale

Junior Joe Mann and the San Clemente boys basketball team will face Rancho Verde in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1AA Championships on Feb. 21.

Photo by Steve Breazeale

Katie Milberger, center, and the San Clemente girls soccer team will host JSerra in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs on Feb. 21.

Photo by Brian Miller

De Gree made 21 field goals and shot 65.6 percent from the field, both new school records.

Head coach Lacey Burns pinpoints last offseason as the moment when de Gree shifted from role player to standout offensive focal point. The coaching staff approached her with the idea of stepping up her offensive production. The soon to be senior bought in. She finished the regular season averaging 23.2 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.

“At the end of her junior year the coaching staff met with her to construct a workout plan that would transition her from a role player to the main scorer,” Burns said. “She has stepped up tremendously … You want your best player

to be your hardest worker, and that’s Jessica.”

The Tritons now head into the CIF-SS Division 1AA playoffs with an opening round game against a familiar opponent in Edison.

The two teams squared off in early January and the Tritons came away with a 66-57 victory. The game is set to take place at San Clemente on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.

TRITONS BOYS SOCCER READY TO DEFEND CIF-SS TITLE The San Clemente boys soccer team will begin their CIF-SS Division 1 Championship title defense on Feb. 20 with a match against Mira Costa at 3 p.m.

The Tritons (21-2-1, 5-1) put together another strong regular season performance, Page 20

TRITONS GIRLS SOCCER SET FOR MATCH WITH LIONS The San Clemente girls soccer team drew a tough one in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs and will host JSerra Catholic out of the Trinity League on Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.

San Clemente is coming off a 3-0 victory over rival Dana Hills on Feb. 12 that sealed a second-place finish in the South Coast League. The Tritons got goals from Nikki Faris, Natalie Higgins and Katie Milberger. Farris’ goal was her team-leading 20th of the season.

The Lions finished third in the competitive Trinity League this season, compiling a 14-3-5 overall record and 3-2 record in league play.

HEALTHY TRITONS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM HEADS INTO PLAYOFFS Despite losing two of their last three Sea View League games, the San Clemente boys basketball team finished third in the standings, punching their ticket into the CIF-SS Division 1AA Championships.

The Tritons (12-14, 3-5) will travel to play Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley in the first round on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.

Injuries have been a concern for the Tritons all season, but one spot of good news is that reigning league MVP Sam Darnold is set to return for the firstround matchup, according to the team’s website. Darnold missed the opening portion of the season due to a fractured foot and played in only eight games before breaking his hand in a game against Trabuco Hills on Jan. 17. When Darnold was on the court for the Tritons, he performed well, averaging 14.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest.

Rancho Verde went 19-6 overall and 10-2 in the Inland Valley League. If the Tritons advance, they will face the winner of the West Ranch and Millikan game on Feb. 25 in the second round. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SURF

6

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

SC S a n C le m e n te

GROM OF THE WEEK LILY BENJAMIN

Age: 14, Marco Forster Middle School When her school surf team needed girl shortboarders, Lily Benjamin, a longboarder since the age of 6, answered the call. “I was definitely up for the challenge,” she said. She is now in eighth grade and in her third year on the team, competing in the Scholastic Surf Series, where she is ranked No. 6. She also surfs in the Christian Surfing Federation and Western Surfing Association. In the WSA ratings, she holds down the No. 9 spot in Open Women Longboard, No. 13 in Girls U16 Shortboard and No. 17 in Open Women Shortboard. Lily credits her family, coaches Patrick Derry and Dustin Martnick and shapers the Boehne Bros. for her surfing success. At school, Lily takes an extra period Lily Benjamin. Courtesy photo helping as an aide in the special education class taught by her surf coach. “I learn so much from that class, interacting with the kids and from Mr. Derry,” she said. “It’s mind-blowing. I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s my favorite part of the day.” School is of utmost importance to Lily and she is determined to finish middle school having never earned anything less than straight-As. She is college-bound and although traveling the world as a pro surfer appeals to her, she says it will never take precedence over her education. “I’m not sure about what I want to study in college or do after that, but I’ve definitely thought about a career as a special ed teacher,” Lily said.—Andrea Swayne

The Race is On

RESULTS WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 7, February 15-16, Huntington Beach, Pier. First-place and local finishers only.

KEY: SC=San Clemente, DP=Dana Point, CB=Capistrano Beach, SJC=San Juan Capistrano.

WSA end of season competition reaches new heights, locals excel

By Andrea Swayne San Clemente Times

W

ith only two contests left in the Western Surfing Association regular season, the competition is heating up as surfers scramble for late series points on the hunt for season titles.

For many local surfers this end-of-season push has been a boon to their ratings.

Event No. 7 (of nine) played out Feb. 15-16 at the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier in 2- to 4-foot surf. The contest had more than 400 entries in 24 divisions.

With the West Coast Championship looming —May 10-11 at Church Beach— competitors need to ensure they have the required five contests to surf in the WCC and/or the necessary seven events to qualify for season titles. But WSA results aren’t the only thing on the line. Surfers are vying for spots in the Surfing America USA Championships in June and for the 18 and under athletes, good results could mean an invitation to the Surfing America Prime series.

“The end of the season is always fun to watch because everyone is really intense

Four of the Boys U12 finalists at the Feb. 15-16 WSA event in Huntington Beach are San Clemente residents. Finalists are (L to R) 1. Kade Matson, San Clemente; 2. Jabe Swiercocki; 3. Jett Schilling, San Clemente; 4. Kai McPhillips, San Clemente; 5. Jack Stewart and 6. Hagan Johnson, San Clemente.

Photo by Sheri Crummer

San Clemente Times February 20–26, 2014

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

Three local surfers made podium appearances in WSA Girls U14 Shortboard division, Feb. 15-16 at the Huntington Beach Pier. Finalists are (L to R) 1.

Alyssa Spencer; 2. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente; 3. Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente; 4. Tiare Thompson; 5. Cameron Duby, San Juan Capistrano and Gabriella Knudson. Photo by Sheri Crummer

in the lineup, but on the beach we still see the usual good times and camaraderie,” said Mary Lou Drummy, WSA executive director of the San Clemente-based amateur surfing organization. “Even this late we try to keep a nice balance of intensity and good vibes at our events.”

Local surfers occupied more than a third of the podium spots, many taking home trophies in multiple divisions.

Double finalists from San Clemente were Cody Canzoneri (Open Men, Open Men Longboard), Kade Matson (Boys U12, U14), Kei Kobayashi (Boys U16, Open Men) and Kaimana Takayama (Jr. Longboard U18, Open Men Longboard).

Cameron Duby of San Juan Capistrano took home three trophies in Girls U14, U14 Longboard and Open Women Longboard. Triple finalists from San Clemente were: Kirra Pinkerton (Girls U12, U14 and U18), Malia Osterkamp (Girls U16, U18 and Open Women) and Samantha Sibley, who made the finals in Girls U12, U14 and Open Women.

“I’ve improved my mental game a lot and have to keep working on my technique, but I feel pretty good going into the last two contests. I think I have a good shot at some titles,” Sibley said. “There’s

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 59-61 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12’+ Fair Immediate: Modest northwest swell mix continues through the day, getting some reinforcements late. Look for mainly waist-chest high (3-4’) surf to show for the better winter exposures, while select magnets produce occasional slightly larger waves/peaks to shoulder/head high. Light+ offshore flow prevails through the morning, giving way to a light to moderate westerly sea-breeze through the afternoon. Size holds fairly steady on Friday as a modest new south-southwest swell joins in, with generally favorable conditions continuing in the morning before a westerly sea-breeze develops in the afternoon.

Long Range Outlook: A modest to locally fun-zone blend of old northwest swell mix and peaking new south-southwest swell shows through the weekend. Expect the most size at top combo exposures, with peaky shape likely for the beachbreaks. Winds look to remain favorable for the mornings, before onshore flow develops each afternoon. Check out Surfline. com for all the details!

really good competition, and the girls in U14 especially keep getting better and better. It makes me work harder. I really like surfing WSA because in the water, when it’s on, it’s on. But on the beach is where I’ve met some of my very best friends.”

For full schedules, results and ratings, visit www.surfwsa.org. SC

Page 22

MICRO GROM BOYS/GIRLS U9: 1. Hayden Rodgers, Laguna Beach; 2. Bryce Pinkerton, SC; 4. Cannon Carr, SC; 6. Dane Matson, SC. BOYS/GIRLS U10: 1. Noa Dupouy, Mimizan, France; 4. Brayden Burch, SC; 6. Dax McPhillips, SC. BOYS U12: 1. Kade Matson, SC; 3. Jett Schilling, SC; 4. Kai McPhillips, SC; 6. Hagan Johnson, SC. BOYS U14: 1. Dagan Stagg, Carlsbad; 3. Kade Matson, SC; 4.

Noah Hohenester, SC. BOYS U16: 1. Kei Kobayashi, SC; 6.

Curran Dand, SC. BOYS U18: 1. Jay Christenson, San Diego; 4. Drew Hemnes, SC. GIRLS U12: 1. Kirra Pinkerton, SC; 2. Samantha Sibley, SC. GIRLS U14: 1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad; 2. Samantha Sibley, SC; 3. Kirra Pinkerton, SC; 5. Cameron Duby, SJC. GIRLS U16: 1. Malia Osterkamp, SC. GIRLS U18: 1. Lea Taylor, Indialantic, Fla.; 2. Malia Osterkamp, SC; 4. Kirra Pinkerton, SC. BOYS LONGBOARD U14: 1. Ricky Fodor, DP; 4. Jimmy Wynne, SC. JR. LONGBOARD U18: 1. Nick Anderberg, Encinitas; 2. Kaimana Takayama, SC. GIRLS LONGBOARD U14: 1. Cameron Duby, SJC; 5. Malia Mauch, SC. GIRLS LONGBOARD U18: 1. Frankie Seely, Topanga; 2. Emmy Lombard, SC; 3. Teresa O’Connor, SJC; 5. Kyla Kelley, CB. MEN 18-29: 1. Daniel Sanchez, Westminster; 2. Ricky Lovato, SC. MASTERS 30-39: 1. Steve Moore, Encinitas; 6. Jimmy Bray, SC. SENIOR MEN 40-49: 1. Pedro Diaz Rangel, Oceanside. LEGENDS 50+: 1. Dale Baker, SC. OPEN MEN SHORTBOARD: 1. Jarrod Bell, Huntington Beach; 4. Cody Canzoneri, SC; 5. Kei Kobayashi, SC. OPEN WOMEN: 1. Malia Osterkamp, SC; 2. Samantha Sibley, SC. OPEN MEN LONGBOARD: 1. Trae Candy, Malibu; 4. Kaimana Takayama, SC; 5. Cody Canzoneri, SC; 6. Eric Skvarna, SJC. OPEN WOMEN LONGBOARD: 1. Cameron Duby, SJC; 4. Lexi Morgan, SC. SR. MEN LONGBOARD 40+: 1.

Terry Gillard, Imperial Beach; 4. Michael Takayama, SC; 5. Eric Rendon, SC. ADAPTIVE SURFERS: 1. Chris Oberle, Los Angeles.

For full results, see www.sanclementetimes.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS March 1-2: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 8, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty March 1-2: NSSA Open, Event No. 8, Ventura, C Street March 22: SSS, OC Middle School and High School, Event No. 5, Huntington Beach, Goldenwest Street March 22-23: NSSA Explorer, Events No. 9 and 10, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty March 29-30: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 9, Dana Point, Salt Creek Beach March 29-30: WSA Championship Tour, Event No. 9, Dana Point, Salt Creek Beach April 19-20: NSSA Open, Event No. 9, Oceanside Harbor, South Jetty April 26-27: NSSA Open, Event No. 10, San Onofre State Park, Upper Trestles May 10-11: WSA West Coast Championships, San Onofre State Park, Church Beach May 15-18: NSSA West Coast Championships, Huntington Beach, Pier May 31-June 1: Surfing America Prime, Event No. 6, Oceanside, Harbor North Jetty (New date) June 13-15: Surfing America USA Championships, San Onofre State Park, Church Beach June 17-21: Surfing America USA Championships, San Onofre State Park, Lower Trestles

www.sanclementetimes.com