dana point times

L O C A L N E W S Y O U C A N U S EA P R I L 2 2–2 8 , 2 0 1 1

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 16

www.danapointtimes.com

YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

Marcos Costas, general manager of Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, is proud to lead one of a handful of businesses recycling food scraps. Photo by Andrea Swayne

South Coast Water District to Move Forward

with Rate IncreasesEYE ON DP/PAGE 4

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT: Harbor Grill

GETTING OUT/PAGE 13

Experimental program tests food-scrap recycling in South

County restaurants.S P E C I A L I N S E RT

Experimental program tests

Doggy Bag or Compost Pile?

INSIDE: The Green Issue Offers Tips to Reduce, Reuse

and Recycle


THE LATEST: The Planning Commission on April 18 voted to table a decision whether to certify the Environmental Impact Report for changing Pacific Coast Highway and Del Prado into two-way streets as part of the city’s Town Center revitalization plan.

The EIR was originally scheduled for ap-proval at a March 21 meeting, but met with objection from a local business fearing the change would negatively impact their busi-ness in the area.

At that meeting, Kyle Butterwick Director of Community Development recommended that the item be continued to the April 18 meeting to allow for staff time to review and respond to correspondence received earlier in the day from a lawyer representing American Commercial Equities Management a company that rents residential, office and retail space along PCH and Del Prado.

WHAT’S NEXT: The project will be re-noticed after preparation and recirculation of the supplement to the Environmental Impact Report.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information, log on to the city website at www.danapoint.org. —AS

What’s Up With...D A N A P O I N T ’ s T O P 5 H O T T e s T T O P I c s

…Two-way Streetson PCH and Del Prado

Delayed Again?

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1LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTINGEyE on DP

www.danapointtimes.comDana Point Times April 22–28, 2011

…Mission HospitalLeader Stepping Down?

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THE LATEST: Peter Bastone, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mission Hospital since 1996, is stepping down in June.

An announcement from the hospital, which operates in Mission Viejo and South Laguna Beach, said Bastone resigned “to pursue other opportunities.”

“Peter will be greatly missed by so many people throughout our health system,” Deborah Proctor, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health System, said in a statement. “Over the years, he has helped us advance healthcare for the people of South Orange County. He and his team have worked hard to ensure the people of our community have access to the highest quality of care and for

(Cont. on page 4)

City and Business Calendar

Friday, April 22

City Hall Offices Closedcity Hall offices located at 33282, Golden Lantern will be closed for the holiday weekend. For city information, log on to www.danapoint.org.

Earth Day Nature Preserve Restoration 9 a.m.-noon Dana Point Nature Inter-pretive center, 34558 scenic Drive. Volunteers are asked to bring their own shovel, gloves and drinking water. For more information, call Jeff Rosaler at 949.542.4755 or send him an email at [email protected].

Saturday, April 23

Egg Hunts-Sea Canyon Park and Pines Park 9 a.m. The free, annual spring time events begin at 9 a.m. with a visit from the easter Bunny, children’s games, face painting and a petting zoo. egg hunts begin promptly at 10 a.m. and are for children age 10 and under only. Don’t forget to bring a basket. Two egg hunts are held simultaneously, one at Pines Park, 34941 camino capistrano in capistrano Beach and another at sea canyon Park, 33093 santiago Drive in Dana Point. For more information, call 949.248.3530 or log on to www.danapoint.org.

Monday, April 25

City Council Meeting 6 p.m. city council chambers, 33282, Golden Lantern, 949.248.3501, www.danapoint.org

Tuesday, April 26

Ocean Water Quality Subcommittee Canceled 3 p.m. city council chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3597, www.danapoint.org

Thursday, April 28

South Coast Water District Meeting 6 p.m. Dana Point city council chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.499.4555, www.scwd.org

DPDana Point

…Harbor Revitalization Updates?3

THE LATEST: On April 13, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) voted unani-mously to approve the Revised Findings and Suggested Modifications to the Local Coastal Plan Amendment (LCPA) Imple-mentation Plan (IP) for the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization.

WHAT’S NEXT: This approval finalizes the action taken at the January 12, 2010 Commission hearing by clarifying several specific provisions in the IP, said 5th Dis-trict Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates in a statement.

The document—including the Land Use Plan (LUP) and the IP—will be sent to City

Council for approval. Then back to the CCC for final clarification of the LCPA, needed before the county and begin finalizing plans for construction, parking, marina and harbor enhancements and other proposed improve-ments.

Next, zoning issues will be worked on, following a month-long referendum period. After that, final approval by the Coastal Commission Director will allow the county to begin filing for permits.

Construction would begin only after a public input process by the city with regard to specific construction design and building heights and approval by the Planning Com-mission.

A Subsequent EIR, prepared by the Har-bor Department to study proposed marina improvements is expected to be completed some time this summer.

FIND OUT MORE: Log on to www.danapoint-times.com to see the Revised Findings and Suggested Modifications. —AS

THE LATEST: At the April 14 Dana Point Civic Association Third Friday Coffee Chat, residents, city officials and advocates for the homeless gathered to discuss issues sur-rounding sheltering and providing services for the city’s homeless population.

The city’s only emergency winter home-

…Sheltering theHomeless in Dana Point?2

less shelter at Capo Beach Calvary Church shut down early this year after the city enforced the 10-bed rule that is part of the Dana Point’s housing element.

Pastors Steve Hagy and Bill Devin of Capo Beach Calvary both spoke about the urgent need for a place for area homeless to go, not only to find shelter, but to be matched up with and sent out to the correct services—mental health, rehab, etc. They also expressed a willingness to try to work more collaboratively with the city to find a solution.

“This is a problem that is not going to go away,” said Hagy as he reported that a nightly average at the shelter brings in and average of 35 people, one third of whom are women and even a small number of chil-dren. “If we work together as a community, we can accomplish great things,” he said.

City Manager Doug Chotkevys said he is also concerned about caring for the home-less in Dana Point but that it doesn’t negate the need to follow the rules. “We have to remember public safety issues as well,” he said. He went on to agree that he would also like to collaborate with homeless advocacy groups as well to work toward a solution

WHAT’S NEXT: Representatives from other groups that work to feed and bathe the homeless, like Breakfast Together Outreach and Interfaith Homeless Out-reach Project (iHope), are also struggling with finding permanent places, approved by the city, in which to operate. Breakfast Together was recently removed from it’s Town Center location for operating without a special use permit. Capo Beach Calvary asked iHope to limit its mobile shower ser-vice trailer—that had been parking in the church’s parking lot—to once a month.

Nancy McIntyre, a representative for iHope said that although the San Felipe de Jesus Catholic Church is allowing their mobile showers to use their property on Saturdays when no other events are going

on, they really need a permanent location. “It’s difficult to inform the homeless of loca-tion changes since most have no access to phones and no permanent addresses.”

A group of volunteers who helped found the Calvary shelter formed a new orga-nization they call Safe Harbor Homeless Ministry. This new group was created with the mission of working together to find a place to operate a permanent shelter in Dana Point—one that could legally handle the 30 to 45 homeless seeking shelter each night during the cold winter months.

Chotkevys said the city simply does not have the funds to operate a permanent shelter.

An alternative to a large shelter, Safe Harbor reps say, is working with other area churches to form a network of 10-bed shelters throughout the city.

Hagy said the Calvary shelter will try to work with the city to raise the bed limit, but if that doesn’t happen, they will abide by the 10-bed limit next winter.

FIND OUT MORE: Stay tuned. —AS


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DP Sheriff’s Blotter

Compiled By pantea ommi mohajer

all information below is obtained from the orange County Sheriff’s department Web site (www.ocsd.org) and reflects data available from calls placed from the field by the responding officer(s). an arrest doesn’t represent guilt. the items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the oCSd Web site.

Monday, April 18

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCYDel Prado, 24500 Block (1:55 a.m.) Police helped the fire department with a possible heroin overdose. An adult male was found not breathing and unresponsive. Firefight-ers were able to get him to breathe again, but were unable to get any further response. Authorities had difficulty getting additional information from the man’s very distraught wife who was at the scene.

Sunday, April 17

DISTURBANCEBayport Way, 33600 Block (9:09 p.m.) A woman called to report three men smoking marijuana directly behind the wall surround-ing her property.

PETTY THEFTPacific Coast Highway and Amber Lantern (9:03 p.m.) A man was arrested after stealing beer from a liquor store. He was found running down Pacific Coast Highway.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONDana Strand Road, 34300 Block (8:26 p.m.) A man reported an abandoned baby stroller at the bottom of the stairs of his apartment unit. The stroller had been there for a while and the man thought it was very odd.

MISSING CHILDMonarch Bay Plaza / Pacific Coast High-way (7:24 p.m.) A woman called police, hysterical and screaming, when her nine-year-old son went missing. The child was later found.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONCopper Lantern / Selva Road (1:53 p.m.) A caller reported seeing a woman hiding things in the bushes on the side of the road.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONDel Obispo Street, 34100 Block (1:50 p.m.) Police were sent to investigate a man who was seen running into the South Coast Water District driveway, looking over his shoulder. He was covered in mud and looked like he had fallen.

DISTURBANCESilver Lantern, 34000 Block (1:35 p.m.) A caller’s two sons were fighting and

yelling because they did not want to go to school.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONGolden Lantern / Camino Del Avion (10:27 a.m.) A concerned passerby called 911 to report an elderly man at a bus stop. The man had only one sock on, was holding a cane and looked distraught. The caller would not provide any further description and hung up.

DISTURBANCEGranada Drive, 33700 Block (7:38 a.m.) A neighbor reported a group of people who had been drinking since a party from the night before. They were now racing mini bikes up and down the street.

WELFARE CHECKLas Vegas Avenue / Doheny Park Road (3:30 a.m.) A man called to ask police to check on his ex-girlfriend. They had recently broken up and she had started cutting her arms. Police went to her mother’s house, where the ex-girlfriend was reported to be living, but were unable to make contact with her.

DISTURBANCELa Plaza, 34100 Block (1:43 a.m.) After the fifth fight of the night broke out, a bar employee called police asking for as-sistance clearing the place out. Saturday, April 16

DISTURBANCECalle Rosita, 34600 Block (10:35 p.m.)

A group of kids were reportedly putting tape across the street for vehicles to hit. The kids ran up the street, when the caller yelled at them.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCELeeward Drive, 25500 Block (9:38 p.m.) A caller who is going through a bankruptcy reported an ex-partner showed up at his residence, knocked on the door and when the caller answered, told him, “Now I know where you live.” The ex-partner was accom-panied by two or three other subjects who sat waiting in a dark colored four-door car with tinted windows. The caller said that a month ago, the ex-partner had threatened to “take care of getting his money back the old fashioned way.”

DRUNK IN PUBLICPacific Coast Highway / Ritz Carlton Drive (4:48 p.m.) A passerby called police after being offered tequila from a man near the lifeguard tower. The man appeared to be drunk.

TRAFFIC HAZARDDana Drive / Island Way (6:20 p.m.) Police were called to assist an elderly woman stuck in the traffic lanes. Her new red Camaro had stalled, leaving her stranded on the road.

SHOTS HEARDCamino El Molino, 34100 Block (6:26 p.m.) Two to four men were seen (and heard) shooting either a shotgun or a bb gun. The men were standing on the balcony of a halfway house, shooting into the air.

(Cont. from page 3)that we will forever be grateful.”

Among the accomplishments officials credited were his “strong management skills [that] contributed to the successful acquisition and financial turnaround of Mission Hospital Laguna Beach after its acquisition in July 2009.”

WHAT’S NEXT: “It is with mixed emo-tions that I announce my plan to resign,” Bastone said in the announcement. “With many of my personal and professional goals for Mission Hospital accomplished, I am excited about moving on to explore new challenges. At the same time, I leave behind an incredible staff, a hospital and health system that I have been proud and privileged to serve and a tremendously supportive community to which I remain deeply committed.”

Hospital officials said a national search will be conducted to find Bastone’s re-placement.

FIND OUT MORE: See the full announce-ment at www.danapointtimes.com —Jonathan Volzke

THE LATEST: Officials at South Coast Water District are studying whether to in-crease rates for its 12,400 water customers in Dana Point and South Laguna Beach.

The increases are proposed per CCF, which is a measurement of a hundred cubic feet or 748 gallons of water, and tiered to water usage. Now, those using between one and five CCF pay $1.52 per CCF. That is proposed to increase to $1.91 per CCF in 2011-12 and to $2.01 per CCF in 2012-13. Heavy water users, above 63 CCF, pay $7.60 CCF and will see that rise to $3.69 in 2011-12 and $3.89 in 2012-13, if the increase is approved.

A typical SCWD uses 12 to 20 CCF a month, officials said.

Water district officials say the increase is because of higher costs of imported water and other factors.

Residential sewer rates are 77 cents per unit and would climb to 97 cents per unit in 2011-12 and 99 cents the following year.

WHAT’S NEXT: A public hearing on the proposed increase will be held at 6 p.m. on June 23 at Dana Point City Hall, 33282

…Possible Waterand Sewer Rate Increases?5 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

Community forums to discuss the po-tential increases will be held at the Ocean Institute at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on June 1. The Institute is in Dana Point Harbor.

FIND OUT MORE: See www.scwd.org —JV

On the Bubbleother topics making news this week

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A TURTLE NAMED MADDIE: Maddie James, the Capistrano Beach girl who passed away at the age of 5 on March 13, was remembered with a mural painting in her honor at a school assembly on April 12. Maddie succumbed to an incurable brain tumor called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) only three months after her diagnosis.

Students, teachers and family members gathered at St. Anne School in Laguna Niguel, where Maddie attended kindergar-ten, to paint with famous marine life artist Wyland.

“A Mile for Maddie” fundraising walk is planned for April 14. The 1.2-mile walk will take participants from the Strand through the Headlands trails and ending up at the Ocean Institute. The Ocean Institute will host an open house following the walk.

Log on to www.danapointtimes.com to read the full story and see a photo slideshow.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO HOST LOCAL SURF LEGENDS: On Wednesday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. the Dana Point Historical Society will present guest speaker Surfing Heritage Foundation founder Dick Metz.

Metz will present a colorful slideshow on the history of surfing.

He will begin with a talk emphasizing Dana Cove’s role in the Killer Dana era and Dana Point’s impact on surfing in general.

Both a legendary and visionary surfer, Dick grew up here with such notables as Hobie Alter. Metz has donated his extensive surfboard collection—now on dramatic display at the foundation’s San Clemente museum.

The free program will take place at Dana Hills Tennis Center, 24911 Calle de Te-nis—off Golden Lantern, just seaward of Del Avion. The public is invited.


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ers in the first place.Linda Sadeghi said by email early this

afternoon that she had no comment on the lawsuit.

Oderman said the city has 30 days to re-spond to the lawsuit. He, basically, dismissed it. “We don’t believe the lawsuit has any merit,” the city attorney said. —SNG

Mission Unveils Historical Collection

“Mission Treasures: Historical Collec-tion Revealed,” the Mission’s new exhibit will be unveiled May 27 and continue until September 5, showing off some rare Mission artifacts and documents for the first time. Among them: The document signed by President Abraham Lincoln returning the Mission to the Church from private owner-ship.

The exhibit features rare paintings, pre-cious religious and historic artifacts, and documents related to the Mission’s history.

“In accordance with museum standards for the first time our institution will be able to publicly exhibit baptismal records dedicated to the Mission by Father Serra’s himself,” Mission Executive Director Mechelle Law-rence-Adams said in an announcement. “The exhibit will only be out for a limited time and offered during limited hours each day.”

The treasures include:A Presidential Connection—The Patent of

Title, also known as the Lincoln Document, was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on March 18, 1865. The signing ended any individual land claims for Mission San Juan Capistrano and returned the property to the Catholic Church. Before this, the Mission was privately owned by John Forster, who had bought it from his brother-in-law and then-Mexican Governor Pio Pico for $710 in 1845. Lincoln was assassinated 27 days after signing the document.

A 19th Century Spanish Colonial Tab-ernacle—This tabernacle with its intricate carvings and vibrant paint was purposefully designed to stand out from the other furnish-ings within a chapel and to inspire reverence and devotion for the contents housed inside.

Father Serra’s Vestment Set—The vest-ment consists of garments worn by Father Serra during Mass, including the Chasuble, Stole and Maniple. The Chasuble is chief among the garments, covering the priest’s entire torso.

Paintings—The collection includes a vari-ety of art by renowned California artists such as Charles Percy Austin and Joseph Kleitsch as well as a painting of the Mission by Mount Rushmore sculptor John Gutzon Borglum.

See www.missionsjc.com for more infor-mation.

The business owner acknowledged that the Painters & Allied Trades is one of the creditors to whom money is owed. He said he intends to pay his debts to them and every one of his creditors.

However, Schneider would prefer to keep the issue of finances separate from his employees’ decision to part ways with the union. —Stacie N. Galang

Playa del Norte Developers Sue City

Playa del Norte Developers Linda and Shaheen Sadeghi have sued San Clemente, ultimately requesting that the results of defeated Measure A be thrown out.

City Attorney Jeff Oderman said at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting that the Sadeghis—and Measure A supporter Jeanne O’Grady—filed their lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court April 8, and the City Clerk was served a copy April 12. Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelly is also named as a defendant.

Linda and Shaheen Sadeghi own LAB Holdings, Inc., the Costa Mesa develop-ment company selected by San Clemente for its Playa del Norte plan to transform North Beach with a retail and restaurant development. The concept went to the voters March 8 as Measure A, but was rejected.

Oderman said that through their lawsuit the developers question the ballot title as misleading, challenge the city attorney’s impartial analysis, question the decision to leave out the entire text of the referendum in voter documents and challenge the City Council’s decision to take the issue to vot-

Union Protests Paint Business Owner with

Inflatable Rat

A resident of West Avenida San Antonio became the target of a trade union this week when members began picketing his home, choosing to inflate an oversized rat to make their point.

Eliot Schneider, owner of GPS Paint-ing and Wallcovering in Santa Ana, said between six and 10 members of the Altadena-based Painters & Allied Trades District Council 36 showed up at his house Sunday at 7:30 a.m. They brought the inflatable rat and signs and stayed until about 10:15 a.m. Another 10 or so protesters returned Tuesday morning shortly after 5 a.m., he said.

Schneider contends the union is upset that his nearly 60 employees voted to leave Painters & Allied Trades.

Mike Gutierrez, director for District Council 36, said Schneider has failed to pay nearly $800,000 into his workers trust fund, which pays out health care, pension and vacation benefits to his workers. The union has filed one charge of unfair labor practices against Schneider with the National Labor Relations Board.

Gutierrez also said Schneider is being sued for violations of federal labor laws related to meal and break times and the hours granted to employees.

The union director said his organiza-tion has the right to protest, even in front of Schneider’s house.

Sgt. Scott Kennedy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in San Clemente said deputies were called to the home twice Sunday and once Tuesday. He said they checked to make sure the picketers were obeying the law and came to keep the peace.

The paint business owner said he has no problem with the union protesting but believed they should do so at his offices or at his work sites.

“There’s a place and time for this,” he said. “Why get my neighbors involved?”

The picketers were rude and threaten-ing, even videotaping him and his wife. Schneider said the union is out to intimi-date him, his family and his neighbors.

Schneider said the trouble started after his employees took a vote in February—unbeknownst to him—to leave the union.

Later that month on February 26, he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Schneider and his attorneys made a number of requests of the court, includ-ing a motion that his company be let out of the collective bargaining agreement with Painters & Allied Trades. The judge agreed April 13, sparking the recent pro-

News Next DoorWhat’s going on in our neighboring towns, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano

SAN CLEMENTE

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

tests outside his home, said Schneider, who has owned GPS for nearly nine years.

About 2 1/2 years ago, two former em-ployees had sued, alleging they had been denied proper breaks and charging the com-pany violated other federally regulated labor practices, according to Schneider. He said the union originally formed at his company as part of the settlement.

Current employee Jaime Cuevas support-ed Schneider’s version of events. He said he is one of six employees who make up a com-mittee that governed painters. Since the vote was taken, they, too, have been harassed.

Gutierrez also said GPS employees were pressured to leave the union and he doesn’t believe they truly want to part ways with their collective bargaining unit.

“If these guys don’t vote the way they want them to vote, they no longer have a job,” Gutierrez said.

He also denies the charges taken out against the union. As for the use of the rat outside Schneider’s home, he thinks it’s heavy handed leaving workers out in the cold.

The director said he’s tried to reach out to Schneider, but to no avail. The union has been left with no alternative.

“People can say what we’re doing is wrong, but is it fair for him not to pay his responsibilities to workers,” Gutierrez said. “I think that’s unfair.

Now, Schneider said he is simply honoring his employees’ wishes to be rid of the union. He said after the vote, the union urged him to fire his employees. Schneider said he thinks the union would prefer GPS go out of business than break ties with them.

“My guys voted the union out on their own. They took care of it,” he said.

Picketers with the Painters & Allied Trades District Council 36 protest outside San Clemente resident Eliot Schneider’s home. Courtesy photo

Starr Ranch Invites Public In

u On Sunday, May 15 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. the Sierra Sage Group of the Sierra Club will host the 12th Annual Starr Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary BBQ to celebrate the 100th anni-versary of the Sierra Club’s Angeles Chapter. Event proceeds are shared by the Audubon Starr Ranch Conservancy and the Sierra Sage Group in the ongoing effort to maintain and preserve open space in Orange County.

The Starr Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, a 4000-acre ranch that straddles Bell Canyon Creek hidden in eastern Orange County near Dove Canyon, provides a home to deer and other wildlife. Entry is by invitation only, mak-ing this a rare opportunity.

Planned activities include several hikes of different lengths and levels of difficulty and bird walks with an experienced birder. As part of its research efforts, the Starr Ranch staff sets video monitors to observe the nests and baby chicks of various birds including hawks, owls, etc. Looking in as the mother birds raise their young has always been a high point of the day. The BBQ menu will include salads, fresh fruit, beans, salsa, chips, hamburgers and veggie burgers with all the traditional accompaniments.

For more information and to purchase tickets—$30 adults, $15 children 12 and under—please contact Mike and Patty Sap-pingfield, 949.768.3610, [email protected], or by mail to 26352 Via Juanita, Mission Viejo, CA 92691. Please include a self-ad-dressed stamped envelope so tickets can be mailed to you. A map to Starr Ranch and a pass through the gated community of Dove Canyon will be included with the tickets. For more information on Sierra Sage visit www.angeles.sierraclub.org/sage

Local students honored

u The San Clemente Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which represents members from southern


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Orange County, recently honored local students at a luncheon where they received certificates and monetary awards. First place winner, awarded the Norma Wilson Scholar-ship, was Claire Mari Hirashiki from Dana Hills High School. Other school winners included Rianna Pearson from San Juan Hills High School, Ryan Sandzimier from Cap-istrano Valley High School and tie winners from San Clemente High School are Justin Scott Hauser and Andre Leo Vleisides. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Program recognizes outstanding high school seniors on the quali-ties of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism where individual actions are taken to an outstanding degree. The D.A.R. has recognized these students nationally for over 50 years. In California, over 500 accredited high schools participate annually.

Japanese Students to Return to Beach Cities

u The all-girl Aikoku School of Tokyo had such a good experience in 2010 that they plan on coming back July 22 through August 10 this summer. Last year these enthusias-tic English learners toured the Dana Point Harbor, the Ocean Institute and enjoyed the area beaches. Several families from Dana Point hosted the students and this year the girls are hoping for more local hospitality. “The idea is that the honor student is ac-cepted into the family like a long lost cousin for her 18-day stay,” said Patricia Drewes, program coordinator. Each girl has had at least two years of English and her homework involves conversational questions. Visit-ing students are mostly high school juniors and seniors. Their classes are held at Ocean Hills Church in San Juan Capistrano on Del Obispo Street, Monday through Friday. Host families are welcome to join in on class trips to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm—at group discount rates—as well as excursions to other local points of interest. Interested families with a sense of adventure who are proud of our little corner of the world are invited to call Pat Drewes at 949.487.7979 or email her at [email protected] for more information.

AAUW Announces Scholarship Winners and Home/Art Tour

u Four local middle school girls have been awarded scholarships to attend Tech Trek, a one week science and math camp at UCI this summer. Tech Trek was developed by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to encourage middle school girls to explore the fields of math and science. While at the camp, girls participate in hands-on science projects, go on field trips and meet with women in science and math careers. In a recent survey of past Tech

Trek participants, 96 percent were enrolled in college—far exceeding national norms for college attendance—and 53 percent indicated that they were majoring in science or math fields, a figure much higher than the national average.

The San Clemente-Capistrano Bay Branch of the AAUW is pleased to announce this year’s Tech Trek scholarship recipients: Francelia Lievanos of San Juan Capistrano (Marco Forster Middle School), Sophia Baginski of San Clemente (Vista del Mar Middle School), Haley Fryer of San Juan Capistrano (Bernice Ayer Middle School) and Sara Vivian of San Clemente (Shorecliffs Middle School).

Tech Trek scholarships are funded by proceeds from AAUW’s Home/Art Tour, “Private Collections of Artists and Artisans: An inside Look at Their Homes and Art” featuring the homes and art of five San Clemente and Capistrano Beach artists. The self-guided tour will be held on Sunday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the following locations: San Clemente - Curves, San Clemente Art Supply, Kelly’s Hallmark, Villa Cucina and

Russell Stationers; Dana Point - Coastal Life-styles by West Marine in Dana Point Harbor; San Juan Capistrano - Melanie’s Hallmark and Two Doors Down; or by mailing a check payable to AAUW, c/o Peg Coggins, 33666 Scottys Cove, Dana Point, CA 92629. For more information call 949.488.7765, email [email protected] or log on to www.aauw-sccb.com.

Doheny Beach Earth Day Cleanup Saturday

u Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering to help clean up Doheny Beach, San Juan Creek and the grounds at Doheny State Park, this Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the lifeguard headquarters. Vehicle entrance fees will be waived for volunteers.

VFW Post 9934 Seeks Wall Sponsorships

u Dana Point VFW Post 9934, will host the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall—a traveling three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.—in Dana Point from May 11 to 16. The visit of the traveling tribute requires a significant expenditure. To help defray costs, they are currently seeking financial support from veterans’ organizations, civic groups, area businesses and individuals. Those wishing to make a tax deductible donation to help fund this memorable event should log on to the post website at www.vfwpost9934.org for more information.

News BitesP R O P S , R E C O G N I T I O N S A N D M O R S E L S O F I N F O

Compiled by Andrea Swayne

Have something interesting for

the community? Tell us about awards,

events, happenings, accomplishments

and more. Forward a picture along,

too! we’ll put your submissions into

“News Bites.” send your information

to [email protected].

(Back row L to R) Mary Lou Rodearmel, (State DAR Good Citizens Chairman), Ryan Sandzimier, Andre Leo Vleisides, Justin Scott Hauser, (Front) Rianna Pearson and Claire Mari Hirashiki. Courtesy photo

The Aikoku School students were intrigued with stories of Richard Henry Dana. Photo courtesy of Pat Drewes

AAUW Tech Trek scholarship winners Francelia Lievanos, Sophia Baginski, Haley Fryer and Sara Vivian. Courtesy photo


San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTSSOAPBOX

ONLINE POLLIs recycling a part of your everyday life?

Make sure to sound off on the “DP Times Poll of the Week” at www.danapointtimes.com. Bookmark Dana Point Times today!The DP Times Online Reader Polls are not scientifi c and do not refl ect the opinion of the DP Times.

Absolutely. I recycle everything I can.

73%

No. It is either too much trouble or it just slips my mind.

9%

Sometimes. I could do more.

18%

Dana Point Times, Vol. 4, Issue 16. The DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (www.sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

CEO Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL

Group Editor, Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch> Jonathan Volzke

City Editor, DP Times> Andrea Swayne

City Editor, SC Times> Stacie N. Galang

ART/DESIGN

Senior Designer> Jasmine Smith

Graphic Designer> Heidi Mefferd

ADVERTISING/MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING

Associate Publisher> Lauralyn Loynes

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

> Sergio Sanchez (San Juan Capistrano)

Sales Associate> Angela Edwards> Buddy Purel

OPERATIONS

Finance Director> Mike Reed

Business Operations Manager> Alyssa Garrett

Distribution Manager> Andrea Swayne

INTERNSPantea Ommi Mohajer, Madi Swayne

SPECIAL THANKSRobert Miller, George Mackin, Rebecca Nordquist

CONTRIBUTORSTawnee Prazak, Christina Scannapiego,David Zimmerle

EDITORSTORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 [email protected]

ADVERTISINGPRINT AND ONLINE

Lauralyn Loynes, 949.388.7700, x102 [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, [email protected]

BILLINGAlyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 [email protected]

HOW TO REACH US

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

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

DPDana Point

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

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are solely those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the Dana Point Times staff. We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to [email protected].

Letter to the EditorPARENTS, KIDS HEAR DRUG PREVENTION MESSAGE BY BILL AND SUSANNAH FAIRBANKS, Dana Point

An extremely important town hall meet-ing took place Monday at Dana Hills High School. The subject was teenage drug use.

Like most parents in the area we felt we knew enough about drugs, but we dragged our reluctant 8th grade son to the school for his education. He will attend Dana next year.

We were amazed at the impact the event had on us as well as on our son. Any parent with a child entering or already in high school would have benefi ted greatly from this jolting experience.

There is nothing as powerful as hear-ing directly the stories of kids who fell into drugs and survived.

There were also stories from parents of children who have overdosed and did not survive. The emotional factor of these

courageous testimonials was overwhelm-ing, something a parent and more impor-tantly a child, will never forget. It was real, heartbreaking and inspirational. Knowing this, we must give our children this experi-ence we cannot provide by just parenting from home.

Moderator Mike Darnold told us he was available to all of us if a drug problem develops with our own youngsters. Mike has done many interventions at Dana Hills just this year. He got rave reviews from the kids telling their stories.

We heard from good youngsters who made simple mistakes, reminding us that this could happen to our kids. Some were athletes, ‘A’ students, coming from great families. But one simple mistake, often by falling in with the wrong new friends, can quickly lead to drug use, less study-ing, getting poor grades, lowering college

Calling the Future Cyclists of Americahe Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation is once

again pleased to present our 5th annual marquee event—the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling.

On Sunday, May 1, cycling action zooms into Town Center, showcas-

ing world-class athletes and competition. Of course, that is not all the Dana Point Grand Prix has to offer. The event is full of fun for the entire family. We’ll have a Fan Zone Expo, gourmet food trucks, In-N-Out Burger and, new for this year, a Kids Zone. The Kids’ Zone will be the center for fun all day with BMX demonstrations, demos from the Discovery Science Center and Ocean Institute and even a bicycle rodeo! Bring your kids down early to take part in

T

GUEST OPINION: By Steven H. Weinberg, Director/Treasurer Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation

a bicycle safety class that teaches them how to handle common obstacles while still having fun. And of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without the FREE kids’ races that promise to be a big hit with the entire family.

The free kids’ races begin at 1 p.m. and are organized into several groups based on age. Professional cyclists ride along with the kids, engaging them in a bit of friendly competition, while demon-strating the ins and outs of the cycling. You can pre-register your kids at the Dana Point Community Center or register on race-day from 8 a.m. to noon. Each future cyclist will receive an offi cial race number, T-shirt, swag bag and a medal at the fi nish line. All racers must wear their helmets.

Through the Dana Point Grand Prix, the nonprofi t Dana Point Community

Cycling Foundation introduces kids to the sport of cycling. The DPCCF is dedicated to advocating the safe use of bicycles as an alternate mode of transportation and pro-motes the healthy benefi ts of cycling for fun and sport. The Foundation introduces kids to the joys and benefi ts of cycling and encourages it as part of a healthy, active lifestyle.

If you want fun, action and the best photo ops of the season, come on down to the Dana Point Grand Prix! You can pre-register your kids through our website by visiting www.danapointgrandprix.com. For up to the minute news, follow us on Twitter @DPGP and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DanaPointGrandPrix.

Steven Weinberg

expectations, etc. And that mistake can even lead to losing one’s life.

As parents we know we must watch our children. But how many of us lock up our prescription drugs? Do we really know the parents of our kids’ new friends? Do we drug test our youngsters? That test can pro-vide sobering facts, create a deterrent and help give a kid an excuse not to use drugs when pressured by peers.

We all have our own style of educating our kids on drugs. This was an unforget-table experience that can only give us and our children the consequences of drugs: Defi nite pain and possible death.

Living GreenEDITOR’S NOTE: Jonathan Volzke

reen is defi nitely a fashionable color these days.

Some want to “go green” because it’s good for the environment, others because it’s less expensive in some ways—especially with the price of gasoline well over $4 a gallon.

And many of us probably feel a gnawing sense that was should try to live a little greener, just because it’s the right thing to do. But how? Turns out the answer can be as complicated as replacing toilets, plant-ing gardens and putting solar panels on your roof. Or it can be as simple as chang-ing your decisions on where to eat out.

Tucked inside this issue of the Dana Point Times, you’ll fi nd our fi rst effort at helping you live with a smaller footprint in our “Green Issue.”

Not only are there stories and graphics about living green, but the special section is also full of businesses advertising green alternatives. We hope you enjoy our effort and fi nd it useful. And when you’re fi n-ished with it, please remember to recycle.

Jonathan Volzke is Picket Fence Media group editor.

G

Comedy Show 9:30 p.m. Comedians get some laughs at Hennessey’s every Monday night. Free. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com.

AnnuAl Juried Student Art exhibition 2011 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Student art on display at Saddleback College through May 11. 28000 Marguerite Pkwy., Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu/arts.

$5 mondAyS 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Join SC Wine Company for happy hour featuring three wines for $5, glasses of se-lected wines for $5 and mugs of beer from $5 & up. 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

JoSh hArt ProJeCt 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Talented blues artist at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

FAmily PAJAmA Story time 7 p.m. Reading event at the Dana Point Library. Wear your PJs. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.496.5517, www.ocpl.org.

eArth dAy reStorAtion And CleAnuP ProJeCt 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Help out at the Dana Point Nature Interpre-tive Center. Bring a shovel and gloves. Also on Saturday at

Doheny State Beach/San Juan Creek. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point, 949.542.4755, www.danapoint.org.

leS miSerAbleS, the muSiCAl 7 p.m. San Juan Hills High School students perform the classic play on the Main Stage. Buy tickets at the school’s website. Additional show dates: April 23, 28, 29 & 30. 29211 Vista Montana, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.5900, www.sjhhs.org.

JAlohA 5:30 p.m. Entertainment at Irons in the Fire. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.542.3900, www.beachfire.com.

wAterStone wine tASting 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. San Clemente Wine Company welcomes Waterstone Winery. $15 for seven wines, snacks. 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

bedAzzled drAg Queen Show & FundrAiSer 7:30 p.m. Adele’s hosts a fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Come for dinner at 6 p.m. Show tickets $10. 2600 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, 949.481.1222, www.adelesatthesanclementeinn.com.

See how they run 8 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse presents a British comedy with performances through April 24. Tickets $18-$24. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capist-rano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

eArth dAy CelebrAtion 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Ocean Insti-tute celebrates with earth-friend-ly educational activities, crafts and more. Adults $6.50, kids $4.50, or free with beach clean-

up participation; call for details. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.


San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

GETTING OUT

DPDana Point

The ListA day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town this week. Compiled by Tawnee prazak

friday22

saturday 23

eASter brunCh 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday with brunch at Iva Lee’s. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855, www.ivalees.com.

ChAmPAgne eASter brunCh buFFet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Enne Cucina hosts an Easter Brunch with appetiz-ers, pastas, lamb, salmon, fresh fruit, omelet and desserts. $35 adults; $16 for children up to 10. 831 Via Suerte, #101, San Clemente, 949.492.1089, www.ennecucina.com.

sunday 24

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER4.22 Mostly Sunny H: 65° L: 50°4.23 Mostly Sunny H: 65° L: 50°4.24 Few Showers H: 67° L: 52°

4.25 Sunny H: 71° L: 52°4.26 Sunny H: 71° L: 51°4.27 Sunny H: 71° L: 50°4.28 Sunny H: 71° L: 53°

monday25

Kelly FitzgerAld 11 a.m. Live music during brunch at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

nAte hAnCoCK 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

KidS’ FiShing 12 p.m. Free fishing clinic on the dock followed by a half-day fishing trip for kids hosted by Dana Wharf every Sunday. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Free gArden tour 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Goin Native hosts garden tours at Taylor’s Garden. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

bluegrASS brunCh & muSiC 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Brunch at The Next Door with lively and harmonious bluegrass music starting at 11 a.m. 647 Camino de los Mares, 949.940.8845, www.nextdoorsc.com.

The Fifth Annual Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling—a USA Cycling National Racing Calendar event—is set for Sunday, May 1. This year, the Grand Prix introduces presenting sponsor AMGEN’s Breakaway from Cancer, an orga-nization working with nonprofit partners to raise awareness of resources available to cancer patients. The event includes professional criterium races, and amateurs and kids’ races through the streets of Dana Point. The excite-ment of bikes whizzing past at breakneck speed isn’t the only entertainment on tap. A Fan Zone expo with food, beverages and vendor booths and a Kids’ Zone featuring a bicycle rodeo and Discovery Science Center, Ocean Insti-tute and BMX demos, promise fun for the whole family. The kids’ 12-and-under races are free and registration is open from 8 a.m. to noon on race day. Kids’ races start at 1 p.m. and riders are grouped by age. All racers must

wear helmets. The Breakaway Walk will also be held on race day at 3:45 p.m. All are invited to join cancer survivors, family members and caregivers to celebrate life and raise awareness of mesothelioma. A kick-off reception will be held April 30 at the Dana Point Yacht Club from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. featuring food, drinks, entertainment and silent auction. To buy tickets for the gala ($60), or find out more about the Grand Prix, log on to www.danapointgrandprix.com. —Andrea Swayne

go.SEE.Do Free Wheelin’ Fun

Photo by Andrea Swayne

WIN FrEE CONCErT TICkETs!The first three people to email us with DP Times Free Con-cert Tix in the subject line will receive a pair of free concert tickets from The Coach House to see The Motels on April 23. Include your name and phone number in the email. email: [email protected]

tiJuAnA dogS 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Band playing great music at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

dAnA Point FArmerS mArKet 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Fresh produce and much more every Saturday at La Plaza Park, intersection of PCH and Golden Lantern.

egg huntS 9 a.m. The city of Dana Point hosts egg hunts for kids, visits with the Easter Bunny, activities, petting zoo and more at two locations: Pines Park, 34941 Camino Capistrano, Capist-rano Beach, and Sea Canyon Park, 33093 Santiago Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3530, www.danapoint.org.

JAmQueSt 9 p.m. Live at BeachFire. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

ArtiSt’S oPening: olivier PoJzmAn’S route 66 6 p.m.–12 a.m. The KONA Gallery and Photojournalism Center, 412 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.481.3747.

the motelS 8 p.m. Popular band from the late ’70s at The Coach House. $15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.


GETTING OUT

UPCOMING: FRIDAY, APRIL 29

California Wine festival 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Two-day wine event with tastings, appetizers and more. Friday’s events at the Ritz-Carlton-Laguna Niguel. Satur-day’s events are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Doheny State Beach. $65-$224. 800.797.7753, www.californiawinefestival.com.

all star CoMeDY HiP HoP niGHt 9 p.m. Celebri-ty host Cher Rue presents a comedy show at Coconuts to benefit Red Cross. $10. 34235 Doheny Park Rd., Capist-rano Beach, www.allstarspecialevents.com.

UPCOMING: SATURDAY, APRIL 30

WaG-a-tHon 8:30 a.m.- 10 a.m. Pet event at Dana Point Harbor Island with activities, 4k walk, contests and more. Admission $30, includes T-shirt, goody bag and refresh-ments. 949.595.8899, www.petprojectfoundation.org.

PaDDle for HuManitY: PaDDleboarD & suP raCe 8 a.m. A race at Doheny to benefit Surfaid Interna-tional. Multiple divisions offered. Entry $50. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point, www.doit4humanity.org.

Go to www.danapointtimes.com and under “Getting Out” share your thoughts about this week’s restaurant.

soCal WMa oPen MiC niGHt 7 p.m.-9 p.m. The Worship Musicians Association invites musicians to an evening of music and praise hosted by Community Presbyterian

Church. 32202 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano.

san CleMente frienDs of tHe librarY bookstore silent auCtion 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Books will be displayed in the library lobby. Bids taken through June 5 at the Friends Bookstore only. 242 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.276.6342, www.sanclementefol.org.

tWo-for-one at tHe WHarf Dana Wharf has half price on all fishing trips and whale watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com

ben PoWell 7 p.m.–11 p.m. Live music at The Cellar. 156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663, www.thecellarsite.com.

CHerYl silverstein & JoHn Paul keene 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Jazz duo at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

Will HearD 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

tuesday 26

saDDlebaCk biG banD 7 p.m. Big band music concert at Saddle-back College in McKinney Theatre. Tickets $7-$10. 28000 Marguerite Pkwy.,

Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu/arts.

DuPP brotHers 8 p.m. Live “hippy hillbilly” music at The Rib Joint. 34294 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.661.9500.

olD CaPistrano farMers Market 3 p.m.–7 p.m. Every Wednesday at El Camino Real and Yorba in San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.4700.

vine Wine tastinG & fooD PairinG 7 p.m.–8 p.m. Educational wine tasting at Vine featuring four wines paired with food; $40. 211 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.9376, www.vinesanclemente.com.

Dan lefler 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

CoMeDY niGHt 9:30 p.m. Get some laughs at Molly Bloom’s Irish Bar & Restaurant. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.218.0120, www.mollybloomspub.com.

JareD froM knoCkout 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

Have an event?Send your listing to [email protected]

*For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com.

Club nite: Catalina Wine Mixer 8 p.m. The Coach House and Dirty Hype Productions host a club night with DJs and dancing. 18 and older.

Tickets $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capist-rano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

thursday 28

wednesday 27

34499 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 949.240.1416, www.harborgrill.com

BeSt Known For: Fresh mesquite-grilled seafood MoSt PoPuLar IteM: Pacific swordfish marinated Japanese style

John and Wanda Hicks opened The Harbor Grill in Dana Point 27 years ago. Today their son Keegan watches over the restaurant, famous for its fresh seafood and dedicated clientele. “Our local fan base keeps us busy,” says Lisbeth Levor, a manager at the restaurant. It’s not just the locals who keep coming back. “Tourists who come for lunch, always come back for dinner,” says Levor. The dedication is due to a list of unique fresh fruit martinis, as well as a menu that uses ingredients picked from The Harbor Grill’s very own fresh herb garden, grown right outside the restaurant. They offer live music nightly, and a Sunday champagne breakfast. Join them on Thursdays for oyster night, watching the sun set on the harbor

while you enjoy “succulent oysters with a refreshing glass of wine.” Don’t forget to “Like” The Harbor Grill on Face-book. Fans of the page are frequently surprised with fun ways to win meal deals.

PrIce ranGe: $6–$58 reServatIonS: Recommended on weekends PayMent: Cash, credit card HourS: Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

By Pantea Ommi MohajerDP Times Restaurant SpotlightThe Harbor Grill

Photo by Pantea Ommi Mohajer

AT THE MOVIES

To find and view a good computer-ani-mated family film that wasn’t distributed by Pixar or Dreamworks is few and far between. Especially when Dream-works has released Antz (1998), Shrek (2001)

and Megamind (2010), while Pixar has given birth to clas-sic after classic with Toy Story (1995), A Bug’s Life (1998), Monsters Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003) and The Incredibles (2004). And yet, 20th Century Fox and Carlos Saldanha have managed to create one of the most memorable and visually stunning family features of the past year titled simply Rio.

In this animal-oriented story, the protagonist is a domesti-cated blue macaw named quite fittingly, Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg). He is raised and loved by Minnesota bookworm, Linda (Leslie Mann) until one day a bird expert named Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) from Brazil comes in search of him with the possibility of saving Blu’s species. Thinking it’s the right thing to do, Linda and Blu fly back to Rio de Janeiro in hopes of Blu mating with another rare (female) macaw named Jewel (Anne Hathaway). The only problem is, soon after arriving in Rio, Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by bird smugglers to be sold for money. Naturally, Blu and Jewel scheme to escape, but there’s only one small problem: Blu is afraid of flying.

Saldanha, previously known for directing the kids franchise Ice Age and Robots (2005), has chosen to go back to his upbringing with Rio, by setting it in his home country (with the aid of screenwriter Don Rhymer). And while the film is animated and produced though computer-generated imagery or CGI, it leaves Brazil looking gorgeous and as colorful as it can in reality. Eisenberg, Hathaway and Jemaine Clement bring their animal roles to life fully, and Jamie Foxx, George Lopez and Tracy Morgan bring the voices of comic relief to their characters and the film. This bird fest’s only flaw would be that it forces two out-of-place musical numbers in a movie that is already charming and entertaining on its own, visually. Nonetheless, Rio succeeds in being a pleasurable weekend view for fans of animation and South America. DP

Take You To RioBy MEGAN BIANCO

roCktanGle 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Dance and rock ‘n’ roll band at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

fooD truCk & fare tHursDaYs 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Gourmet food trucks at the OC Fair & Event Center. 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, www.ocfair.com.

senior tWiliGHt Dinner 5 p.m. Event for seniors at the Dana Point Community Center. 34052 Del Obispo St., Dana Point, 949.248.3536, www.danapoint.org.

kellY fitzGeralD 5:30 p.m. Entertainment at Irons in the Fire. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.542.3900, www.beachfire.com.


4San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITYDP LIVING

DPDana Point

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are solely those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by the Dana Point Times staff. We appreciate, however, their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to [email protected].

SUDOKUby 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:

SOLUTIONSOLUTIONSOLUTIONSOLUTION

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

Should Women Lose Weight Before Dating?n the 17 years I’ve written about dating and relationships, I’ve

learned that the most incendiary topic a male journalist can tackle is anything having to do with a woman’s weight.

The issue came up again this week when Cynthia wrote, “I am, 56,

divorced and haven’t been on a date in 10 years. I need to lose at least 55 pounds. Do you recommend I do that before I try to meet someone?”

Frankly, I’m a chicken when it comes to voicing my opinion on weight loss and single women because it always gets me in trouble; women are sensitive about their weight. So, I take the easy way out and seek the opinions of women. The weight- loss advice pill is easier to swallow when it comes from women instead of me. Here are some of their opinions on Cynthia’s weight-to-date issue.

Jennifer, Irvine, said: “Prior to re-enter-ing the dating world, Cynthia should lose the weight and do whatever else is needed to maximize her appearance. Is she flabby and in need of better muscle tone? Is she saggy and wrinkly and in need of a face lift? Is she gray and needs to color her hair? Are her clothes flattering and up-to-date or does she need a new wardrobe?

“A good appearance will help her put her best foot forward in the dating world. The No. 1 turnoff for men is an overweight woman. When I look at the senior women who have been unable to find a partner, I mainly see a collection of women who are overweight or physically unattractive for one reason or another.”

Can you imagine if those rather direct words had come from me? I’d be deep in the dog house with women who are weight- sensitive.

Jennifer continued, “Women can rant and

I

On Life and LOve after 50: By Tom Blake

On Life and LOve after 50

By Tom Blake

as it is amazing! I am so much thinner; it makes such a difference in my every day outlook.

“I reached my goal weight in January. I look better, have so much more energy, went down six clothes sizes and am hav-ing fun shopping for a new wardrobe. I’m happy and even smile a lot more than before.

“I’m at a point where I will go out with my gal friends and even go out by myself, which has been a very big step for me. I’m enjoying life so much more. Every day, I’m thankful that I finally realized I needed to do something for me and that was to be healthy. I am now more confident about meeting men.”

Cheryl, Huntington Beach: “Her health and wellness is everything—perhaps a daily walking routine for starters.”

Karen, Sherman Oaks: “I once weighed 275 pounds, now weigh 107. I agree about

rave all they like about the superficiality of appearance, but looks remain the first thing that men notice. To deny this is to fly in the face of reality. Men have been this way all their lives, and they remain that way well into old age. Going back into the dating world is a lot like going back into the job market. First impres-sions are often critically important.

“I suggest Cynthia get more active in local activities. She should get out of the house at least three nights or days a week. She should find a weight-loss program and join an exercise program. She should join clubs and groups that do things she likes to do. Becoming an ac-tive, involved person will make her more interesting to people of both sexes.”

Charli, Tustin, said: “I was 72 when I joined Weight Watchers last July and have lost 46 pounds, and I encourage Cynthia to get involved with this program

the weight being a top priority, because of health issues...plus the fact that she will feel better about herself and look much younger.

“We all know about the dating roller coaster ride. Cynthia needs to be prepared, and realize that it is different today than 10 years ago.”

Merijoe, said: “I’m a 51-year-old nurse; I suggest Cynthia definitely take care of herself before thinking of someone else. If I don’t feel at my best, it shows. If the weight is no issue to her, then rock on.”

Sounds like most women feel Cynthia should wait to date until she loses weight. I agree, but just saying that will get me in trouble again.

Reader comment: Carl, 59, Dana Point: “Women usually don’t venture out alone; there are often up to four out together. They talk to each other, dance together and don’t give much in the way of inviting a man to their table. If you approach them, they usually reject you, having to appear in control and selective. If you are a guy out alone, you appear to be a loser to women and on the prowl.

“If you have a woman with you, you get the smiles and looks as if other women want to see if they can steal you away.

“When you take a lady out on a nice date, rarely will she offer to split the tab or pay the tip. It says a lot about the character of a woman if she at least offers.”

Tom’s comment: No wonder single guys stay home.

To comment: [email protected]. DPTom Blake is a San Clemente resident

and Dana Point business owner who has authored three books on middle-aged dating. To read Tom’s previous columns, see www.FindingLoveAfter50.com

The subject of weight loss is often taboo for women re-entering the dating scene but well worth discussing. File photo


EyE on DP

Rollin’ Relics

he 14th Annual Doheny Wood woodie car show rolled into Dana Point on April 16. Nearly 200 of the classic

wood paneled cars lined Doheny attract-ing throngs of appreciative spectators to delight among the sparkling chrome and candy colored paint as well as the more “naturally aged” automobiles.

The iconic woodies looked right at home parked near the sand and palm trees at the beach south day-use area. The sight of so many slowed traffic along PCH to a crawl as passersby inevitably let up on the gas to get a look at the long line of surf culture on wheels.

Event organizers, the Southern Califor-nia Woodie Club, held a raffle and silent auction to benefit junior lifeguard programs in Dana Point and San Clemente and the youth shelter in Huntington Beach.

Club member Dougger Anderson strolled among the cars wearing a hat with a crow perched on top. The crow was hold-ing a sign that said “raffle tickets” making it easy for would-be donors to get their tick-ets. Anderson said that he was proud to don

T

Doheny Wood 2011. Photos by Andrea Swayne

Jets vs. Sharks

utting on a full-scale musical produc-tion like West Side Story—1950s take on the tale of Romeo and Ju-

liet—is no small feat. But it’s one that the South Orange County School of the Arts (SOCSA) has taken on wholeheartedly.

“This production hasn’t been done here in over 10 years and when we announced that it would be this year’s spring musical, the excitement among students was out of this world,” said Steven Sloan, SOCSA vice president of public relations and parent producer for the musical. “The kids took to it—Sharks, Jets— separated them-selves, got totally into character and had a great time acting out a friendly rivalry during rehearsal days.”

The kids’ enthusiasm for theater arts shows in everything from the lively music and dancing to acting, costuming and set design. The play’s leads, Emma Werde-man (Maria) and Tyler Hartung (Tony) really shine in their roles as do the dozens of other cast members. From other main

P

South Orange County School of the Arts presents West Side Story

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

Photos by Andrea Swayne

the “crow hat” for such a good cause. “Last year we were able to donate $1000 to the junior lifeguard program alone,” said Anderson. “This year we are happy to also include the Huntington Beach

characters and chorus to orchestra and props, the students’ passion for the stage shines through in each and every act.

“This has been a really awesome experi-ence for all of us,” said director and musical theater, acting and dance teacher Brit-tany Casey. There are over 100 students involved—56 cast members, a 24-member band and 22 students on crew. “Because of the hard work and passion of everyone involved—parents and staff included—we have created a very high level of art with this production.”

The show opened to a sold out house on April 14 and the crowds continued through-out the two other premier weekend shows. The demand led to the addition of an April 20 show which also sold out. Three more performances are scheduled for this Thurs-day through Saturday, April 21 through 23 at 7 p.m. the Porthole Theater at Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern. Tick-ets are $10 to $12 and can be purchased at www.socsarts.org or at the door.

For a toe-tapping, tear-jerking great time at the theater, be sure to catch one of the final performances this weekend. DP

By Andrea Swayne Dana Point Times

14th Annual Doheny Wood car show invades Doheny State Park

Youth Shelter as a beneficiary as well.” Lucky winners and high bidders took

home items including custom made wood surfboards, leather sandals, T-shirts, wetsuits and a handmade woodie-inspired

quilt and other original art.The Southern California Woodie Club

website can be found at www.socalwoodies.com. For a photo slideshow of the event, log on to www.danapointtimes.com. DP

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Tritons vs. Dolphins, Dana Hills HighApril 28, 5:30 p.m.

Cross town rivals clash yet again as the Dolphins host San Clemente High in a key backyard brawl for bragging rights.Info: www.dhhs.net5San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SPORTS& OUTDOORS 5 BEST BETS

Alumni Game,Dana Hills HighApril 23, 6 p.m.

Spend your Saturday night reliving those glory days as Dolphins young and old compete for fun at the annual Alumni GameInfo: www.dhhs.net

Stallions vs. Dolphins, Dana Hills HighApril 26, 3:30 p.m.

Hoping to stay perfect in the Sea View League the girls will take on another test as they get ready to face San Juan HillsInfo: www.dhhs.net

A’s vs. Angels,Angel StadiumApril 27, 4:05 p.m.

Before embarking on a road trip, the Angels will wrap its three-game series with the Oakland A’s. Info: www.losangeles.

angels.mlb.com

BOYS VOLLEYBALL GIRLS SOFTBALL BASEBALL BOYS LACROSSE BOYS BASEBALL

Chargers vs. Dol-phins, Dana Hills HighApril 29, 3:15 p.m.

The Dolphins are eyeing another South Coast League title but will have to stay poised against El Toro.Info: www.dhhs.net

Dolphin ReportS P O R T S N E W S F R O M D A N A H I L L S H I G H S C H O O L

By David Zimmerle

BOYS GOLF • The Dolphins (6-1 SCL, 12-4) chalked up another big-time win beating Aliso Niguel 205-213 on April 14. Slater Shaw medaled on the round with a two-under 34 on the front nine at El Niguel Country Club. Shaw’s epic score included two birdies on the day. The team went on to defeat La Costa Canyon 205-214 on Tues-day, April 19 as James Frahm (39) and Mike Souloulos (39) each medaled on the round. Next 7 days: April 21 at Corona del Mar, 2:30 p.m.; April 25 vs. La Costa Canyon, 3:15 p.m.; April 28 vs. Mission Viejo, 2:30 p.m.

BASEBALL • The Dolphins (5-1 SCL, 12-6) picked up two big wins against the San Clemente Tritons recently beating its opponent 2-0 on April 13 followed by an 8-0 victory on April 15. In the fi rst game against the Tritons, the Dolphins got both of its runs in the fi rst and fourth innings as Eric Hsieh and Trevor Scott each had a run scored with Scott also registering a RBI on the game. Hsieh went all seven innings from the mound giving up no runs and three hits. The boys then followed it up with another brilliant shutout win against its cross town rival leading the Tritons 5-0 heading into the third inning be-fore putting up three more runs in the top of the seventh to seal the win. Hsieh fi nished with three RBI, while Ryan Kehlet knocked in two RBI. Eric Pierce pitched a gem going distance throughout seven innings while only allowing three hits.

Dana Hills then beat Western High 9-1 on April 16 in a non-league game. Scott fi nished with a solo homerun on the day, while Liam Parsekian led the team with three RBI. Nick Carter got the complete win from the mound pitching all seven innings and giving up only one run off three hits.

The team next went on to face Tesoro on Wednesday, April 20 followed by another showdown with the Titans on Friday, April 22. Next 7 days: April 23 vs. Valencia (DH) at USC, 4 p.m./7 p.m.; April 27 at El Toro, 3:15 p.m.; April 29 vs. El Toro, 3:15 p.m.

SOFTBALL • The Lady Dolphins (3-0 SVL, 11-9) went on to shutout San Clemente 5-0 on April 14. Reggie Roeder was 3-for-3 on the game with two triples, two RBI and a run scored, while Olivia Baltazar (6-0) pitched all seven innings. The girls went on to face Trabuco Hills on

the road on Friday, April 22. Next 7 days: April 26 vs. San Juan Hills, 3:30 p.m.; April 28 at Aliso Niguel, 3:30 p.m.

BOYS LACROSSE • The Dolphins (2-6 SCL, 6-7-1) picked up action on the fi eld recently following a signifi -cant break from competition but unfortunately lost 9-8 to Mission Viejo on April 12. However, Dana Hills did pick up back-to-back wins following the loss by beating University High 15-4 on April 15 and edging Trabuco Hills on the road by the fi nal score of 10-9 on Monday, April 18. Next 7 days: April 23 vs. Servite, 10 a.m.; April 26 vs. El Toro at Serrano Middle School, 4 p.m.; April 28 vs. San Clemente, 5:30 p.m.

GIRLS LACROSSE • The Lady Dolphins (0-9 SCL, 1-13) suffered another set of losses recently as the girls were mashed 19-7 against Trabuco Hills on April 14, followed by a crushing 18-11 defeat at the hands of Capo Valley on Tuesday, April 19. Against the Lady Cougars, Dana Hills trailed 9-5 after the fi rst half and couldn’t keep its opponent from scoring nine more goals in the second half despite netting six goals of its own.

Dana Hills next faced Temecula Valley in non-league action on Thursday, April 21. Next 7 days: April 26 vs. El Toro, 5:30 p.m.; April 29 at San Clemente, 5:30 p.m.

DPDana Point

BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD • Both levels went on to compete at the OC Championships on April 16. For the boys varsity team, Devin Harrison (22-3.5) fi nished fi rst in the long jump, while as a whole the team won its fi fth straight OC Championships title with 77.25 points while also becoming the fi rst school to ever win four straight county team titles. With its fi fth title in hand, Dana Hills has tied Saddleback for the most team titles in the history of the meet. Meanwhile, Harrison (22.32) also fi nished fi fth in the 200 and second in the 400 with a time of 48.54. Ricardo Campuzano (4:14.32) took second in the 1600, Lance Capel (9:29.75) took second in the 3200 followed by Connor Kaddatz (9:36.99) in fi fth place. Nick Ahrold (40.37) took seventh in the 300 hurdles, Trevor McCloud (42-9.75) fi nished third in the triple jump, Keith Messinger (13-9) took fourth in the pole vault and Dylan Gourd (52-3/5) fi nished fi fth in the shot put. For the varsity girls, senior Alaina Alvarez took fi rst in the 3200 with an 11:03.70 while junior Tori Usgaard won the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.42. Dana Hills went on to face Aliso Niguel on Thursday, April 21. Next 7 days: April 27 vs. El Toro, 2:30 p.m.

BOYS AND GIRLS SWIMMING • Both levels are get-ting geared up to compete at the Palm Springs Invitational on Saturday, April 23. Next 7 days: N/A

BOYS TENNIS • Following its 13-5 win against Capo Val-ley on April 14, the Dolphins (7-1 SCL, 8-6) were slammed with its fi rst South Coast League loss this season follow-ing a 10-8 defeat to San Clemente on Tuesday, April 19. Results for the match against the Tritons are as follows: Singles: 1. Ivan Jelic (DH) lost to Ryan Mariano (SC) 1-6 lost to Kevin Marino (SC) 0-6 lost to Wilcox 0-6; 2. Chase Masciorini (DH) 7-6, 1-6, 6-0; 3. Trevor Dell (DH) 6-0, 7-6, 6-0; Doubles: 1. Labarre/Bloom (DH) def. Stanley/Par-melee (SC) 6-1 def. Howren/Glenn (SC) 6-2 def. Valko/Greenberg (SC) 6-3; 2. Uddberg/Alami (DH) 1-6,0-6,1-6; 3. Fuanto/Corley (DH) 5-7, 4-6, 1-6.

Dana Hills went on to face Tesoro at home on Thursday, April 21. Next 7 days: April 26 at San Clemente, 3 p.m.; April 28-29 at Ojai Valley Tourney, 3 p.m.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL • The Dolphins (4-1 SCL, 15-8) bounced back from an earlier loss to San Clemente beat-ing Tesoro 3-2 on April 14. The team won 25-23, 31-29, 25-17, 22-15 and 17-15 as Christian Hessenauer led with 17 kills. Next 7 days: April 23 at Alumni Game at Dana Hills, 6 p.m.; April 26 vs. Mission Viejo, 6 p.m.; April 29-30 at Redondo Tourney, TBA

Dana Hills varsity softball team members (L to R) Jenny Hurst, Reggie Roeder, Megan Largey, Danielle Ingraham and Olivia Baltazar all had stand-out performances in the last two games against Capo Valley and San Clemente. We caught up with them at an April 20 practice preparing for today’s road game against Trabuco Hills. Photo by Andrea Swayne


SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITYDP SURF

6San Clemente

DPDana Point

Age: 16, San Clemente High SchoolFor Earth Day we wanted to highlight a local surfer who is passionate about the environment and makes a concerted effort to volunteer, educate and lobby for change. SCHS senior Madi Swayne fits that bill. As founder and president of the Surfrider Foundation Club and Environmental Club presi-dent, Madi has instituted many environmentally conscious changes among her peers both by example and through service programs. She introduced “Power Down Fridays” enlisting the help of faculty to use half the usual electricity in classrooms on Fridays. With fellow club members, she held

several beach cleanups and hosted outreach booths to educate the public about the need to avoid single-use plastics. At one event, volunteers focused on picking up tiny pieces of polystyrene foam. Madi devised a method for accurately count-ing over 37,000 pieces of the stuff that poses such grave danger to wildlife who mistake it for food. She took her passion and data to speak at city council meetings in favor of the recently passed ban. Madi also traveled to Sacramento twice this year to lobby for the plastic bag ban movement gaining momentum in the state and the world. Next year she will be attending USC—on a full-tuition academic scholarship—to major in environmental science and pre-med. “I am, especially interested in the effects of environmental issues on global health,” she said.

Grom of the WeeKMadi Swayne

Madi Swayne. Photo by Andrea Swayne

an Clemente High School surfers are already a lucky bunch—and last year they got even luckier. SCHS alum, John Cooper, who has owned and operated the Costa

Azul Adventure Resort for the past 20 years, has—for the second year in a row—brought San Clemente High surfers to San Pancho, Mexico to represent the resort at the second annual Punta Sayulita Longboard and Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Classic. The event, which marked its second successful year as a highly anticipated contest venue for longboarders and SUPers and included an offshore SUP distance race went off without a hitch on March 12 and 13.

“We’re a local San Clemente business so we wanted to go directly to our high school,” said Pam Nagle, Costa Azul Ad-venture resort’s sales manager. They based their invitations on recommendations from surf coaches as well as seeing that potential riders met certain academic standards. “We were

La Buena Vida

By Christina ScannapiegoDana Point Times

S

Water temp: 58-62˚F Water visibility and conditions: San Clemente: 8-10’ Poor+; Catalina: 8-14’ Poor+ Remarks: Easing South-Southwest groundswell is on tap Thursday, as a small combo of building Southwest groundswell and rebuilding Northwest windswell moves in on Friday. Surge is light-moderate and visibility is generally low, making for poor+ diving conditions. Short range: An easing South-Southwest groundswell prevails on Thursday good for 3-4’+(waist-shoulder high) surf at better breaks. Top exposures see a few slightly larger peaks around the correct tides. Shape is walled at the beach breaks with conditions clean in the morning. A new mix of Southwest groundswell and Northwest windswell takes over on Friday providing 2-3’+(knee-chest high) surf.Long range: A decent sized Southwest groundswell prevails over the weekend. Better exposed breaks are good for 3-5’(waist-head high) surf on Saturday and Sunday with light morning winds out of the South looking likely. Stay tuned to Surfline.com for updates.

SuRf foReCAST

BOARD SHORTSBud LighT LiMe SuRf SeRieS CoMing To SAn o, VenTuRA On April 4 Anheuser-Busch announced it has reached an agreement to title sponsor the Bud Light Lime Surf Series, a new ASP North American Specialty Event managed by IMG. The Bud Light Lime Surf Series will consist of two new events along the California coast in 2011, bringing together 32 top men and eight women to compete for more than $100,000 in total prize purse. The events will be held at Church Beach in San Onofre State Beach on Memorial Day weekend, and the Point in Ventura on Labor Day Weekend. “We want to focus on the athlete as much as the contest and the prize money,” said Benji Weatherly, member of the Bud Light Lime surf team and Surf Series Contest Manager. “We’re creating a platform to showcase athletes who may not compete as much as others—if they compete at all—but still remain some of the most recognized athletes in the sport.” See www.BudLightLimeSurfSeries.com.

CALifoRniA SuRf MuSeuM To hoST VinTAge SuRf SWAp Oceanside’s California Surf Museum and the California-based Long-board Collector Club are collaborating to bring a vintage surf swap meet to downtown Oceanside, Saturday, April 30 from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The meet will be held in the parking lot located just east of the California Surf Museum, 312 Pier View Way, behind the Sunshine Brooks Theatre at Pier View Way and Tremont Street. There is no ad-mission fee and the public is welcome to browse and buy. There will be a range of prices and something for everyone, including vintage surfboards, photographs, magazines, posters, aloha shirts and much more. All proceeds from the California Surf Museum’s table will benefit the museum’s Archives and Collections Department. The museum will open early that day at 6 a.m. Free parking is available, one block west of the swap meet site on Cleveland Street. For more information call 760.721.6876 or log on to www.surfmuseum.org.

UPCOMING EVENTSApril 23-24: NSSA Southwest Conference Open Event No. 10, Oceanside, Jetty May 3-7: 6.0 Lowers Pro, San Onofre State Beach, Lower Trestles May 3-7: Oakley Pro Junior, San Onofre State Beach, Lower Trestles May 7-8: NSSA Southwest Confer-ence Explorer Event No. 9, San Diego, Pacific Beach PierMay 14-15: WSA Gatorade Hoppy Swarts Memorial West Coast Championship, San Onofre, Church Beach May 18-22: NSSA West Coast Championship, Huntington Beach, PierMay 21-22: Scholastic Surf Series Middle School State Championships, Oceanside, Harbor May 21-29: Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, Peru June 16-18: NSSA National Interscholastic College, High School and Middle School Championships, Dana Point, Salt Creek June 18-19: Surfing America USA Championships, Huntington Beach, PierJune 21-25: Surfing America USA Championships, San Onofre State Beach, Lower Trestles June 25-July 3: Billabong ISA World Surfing Games, Panama, Play Venao June 26-July 3: NSSA National Open, Explorer and Airshow Championships, Huntington Beach, Pier

emmy Merrill (SC) and Chuck patterson (dp) at Sayulita. Courtesy photo

looking for talent in surfing but also for kids who did very well in school. Both had to be in place,” Nagle added.

So this year Hallie Rohr, Hallie’s younger brother, Perry and Emmy Merrill returned—with Karina Rozunko as a new addition. They made the easy trek down to the little oasis found just north of Puerto Vallarta to join big names like Dana Point’s Chuck Patterson, Mary Osborne, Garrett McNamara and Julie Cox. Emmy Merrill, who placed sec-ond in the Women’s Open Pro Longboard Division last year, advanced to the semi finals in SUP as the only female com-petitor among some of the best men in the world and placed first in the 10k distance race for women. “It was great to see her down there—a local San Clemente girl charging hard,” said Patterson, one of last year’s defending champs. “She’s a multi-talented athlete and it was cool to see her shine amongst all the guys.”

“Our kids held their own against some big names,” agreed Nagle. “We’re going to keep inviting them back.”

Plus, the Punta Sayulita Foundation, the non-profit organization focused on supporting various local commu-nity initiatives that puts on the event, donates funds to Reef Check (dedicated to the conservation of tropical coral and California rocky reefs). “The event was awesome. There were so many great athletes were down there and every-one who ran it did such a great job,” Patterson said. “Great people, delicious food—it was nice that local [San Clem-ente] kids got to share in that experience.” DP

High school surfers, pros return to Mexico for 2nd annual Punta Sayulita Longboard and SUP Classic

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pecial thanks to San Clemente-based artist and surfer Drew Brophy for providing the Green Issue cover art.

Brophy has been a professional artist for more than 20 years and currently works out of his studio in San Clemente’s Los Molinos District. Through hard work and dedica-tion—as well as the help of his wife and partner Maria—Brophy has become world- renowned for putting his lively and colorful work on everything from clothing and shoes to guitars and surfboards.

The cover art was inspired by a song Bro-phy heard at the April 17 Earth Day event at Panhe—a former village and still sacred site for Acjachemen/Juaneño Band of Mission Indians in the San Mateo Creek bed.

“The Acjachemen Indians spoke of how their songs have echoed in San Mateo Creek for hundreds of years,” said Brophy. “I imag-ined the land as it once was, in all its glory, and how the tribal speaker said ‘the land

Drew Brophy. Courtesy photo

On the Cover

must be happy to hear these songs again.’” To learn more about Brophy and see more

of his art, log on to his website at www.drewbrophy.com. —Andrea Swayne

BY JONATHAN VOLZKE

Doggy Bag or Compost Pile?Experimental program tests food-scrap recycling in South County restaurants.

sed to be that the food you didn’t fi nish at a restaurant went home in a doggy bag or straight into the

eatery’s trashcans.But now, depending on where you’re din-

ing, those uneaten scraps could end up in a mountain of compost 150 miles away and maybe even ultimately help grow the food you’ll eat on another night out.

Participating restaurants in eight Orange County cities—including Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano—and the unincorporated areas served by CR&R Waste and Recycling Services have joined in a yearlong experiment to keep food waste out of landfi lls. Just like the push to recycle paper, aluminum and glass, offi cials are studying the logistics, costs and practicality of turning food waste into compost.

Every city in California is required to di-vert at least 50 percent of all its waste away from landfi lls. A restaurant, on average, disposes of more than 50 tons of organic waste every year. Californians overall throw away more than 5 millions tons of food scraps each year, said Maria Lazaruk, CR&R’s environmental manager.

Funded by a $400,000 grant from the county, the participating restaurants in the Stanton-based trash hauler’s program kept close to 1,000 tons of food scraps out of county landfi lls in the past 12 months, Lazaruk said.

Dana Point restaurants participating included the Ritz Carlton, St. Regis and Salt Creek Grille, while San Clemente’s participants included Adele’s Café, The Fishermans Restaurant and Tommy’s Family Restaurant. In San Juan Capistrano, the facilities recycling food scraps were a little more diverse and included Farm to Market, a grocery market with a deli, El Campeon

Mexican restaurant, El Adobe and Casa de Amma, a live-in facility for adults with special needs.

Since the program started, Dana Point restaurants have diverted 272.38 tons of food scraps, San Clemente 109.80 tons and Capistrano 157.97 tons, Lazaruk said.

Also in the program: Two public schools, Ladera Ranch Middle School and Chap-arral Elementary School, also in Ladera. Other restaurants started the program but dropped out.

It doesn’t take much to be in the program, said Marcos Costas, general manager at Salt Creek Grille. Participating restaurants are given additional collection cans to keep inside the restaurants, and employees sort the waste among traditional recyclables such as glass and paper, refuse and the food. CR&R picks up the food scraps twice a week, Costas said. The food-recycling cans are lime green.

“The restaurant’s been open 15 years, so there was 15 years of habits,” Costas said. “I posted signs where employees punch in for work and put them up where they get information on the daily specials … it took a little bit to get the muscle memory down, but CR&R made it so easy on me.”

Costas said the food-scrap recycling

didn’t cause any problems.“It’s one of those things you can be proud

of for doing, but if I felt it was causing any kinks in the armor operationally, we wouldn’t participate,” Costas said. “It’s not, so we’ve never been prouder.”

Reyes Gallardo, general manager at El Adobe in Capistrano, agreed the program was easy on the restaurant, made famous as one of Richard Nixon’s favorites.

When the scraps leave the restaurants, they are trucked more than 150 miles to Thermal, the home of California Bio-mass, which has permits that allow it create 140,000 tons of compost a year, said Mi-chael J. Hardy, one of “The Hardy Boys” who founded Bio-Mass with his brother in 1991.

The food scraps don’t add much value to the compost Bio-Mass creates from the ma-nure and other waste it composts because it is so high in nitrogen, Hardy said. But the sheer mass amounts of compost created by Bio-Mass means the food scraps are “like a needle in a haystack” and don’t hurt it, either. But Bio-Mass charges CR&R to take in the waste, then charges customers—most large agricultural operations—for the compost it creates, too.

The process of taking those food scraps (Continued)

U

S

GOING GREEN The food-scrap recycling program was one of the efforts cited when The South Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce this month awarded CR&R its “Going Green” Award.

CR&R converted its hauling fl eet to clean-burning liquefi ed natural gas, offi cials said, and also spear-headed a bottle and can school recycling program that resulted in one school district receiving approxi-mately $59,000 from CR&R for their collection efforts.

For more information, see www.socchambers.com

Adele Lux, owner of Adele’s Café in San Clemente, shows off one of the food-waste collection bins. Photo by Jonathan Volzke

Doggy Bag or Compost Pile?(Continued)

and turning them into compost takes about 13 weeks. Upon arrival, the waste is chopped up. Again, because of the huge amounts of materials being mixed, Bio-Mass can blend in dairy scraps and meat products—materials backyard composters can’t work with because they take so long to break down they can pose a health hazard.

The materials are molded into windrows on the 80-acre Bio-Mass property, and turned by machines. Regulations call for monitoring to ensure the material reaches at least 132 degrees for 15 days to kill off harmful bacteria, Hardy said.

Although permitted for 140,000 tons a year, Bio-Mass is doing about 70,000. That’s enough to put it in the top half of compost companies in the state, but leaves plenty of room for the food-waste programs to expand. “Our ambition is to keep moving these prod-ucts forward,” Hardy said.

For now, it’s working without the Vintage Steakhouse in Capistrano. Vintage is one of those that withdrew from the program, said Matthew Timmes, one of the owners. While the Vintage owners fi gured out how to handle the lime green food recycling bins in the res-taurant, the eatery’s outside trash bin areas

were too crowded. “Space wise, it was a challenge,” Timmes said.

Still, he added, Vintage—green in an-other way because it grows basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon, onions and mints in an herb garden in front of the restaurant—would be happy to rejoin the program in the future.

They, and all restaurants, might have to in the future, Lazaruk said. The pilot program is determining how much the program costs CR&R to operate, and in the future the hauler will work with cities to determine how the program can be imple-mented with minimal impact on ratepayers, such as charging less for the food scraps than for non-recyclable waste.

But with the changes in participating res-taurants, the tonnage generated in the pilot program was less than expected, she said, and the equipment costs a little higher than expected. Those lessons are spurring CR&R to ask the county to extend the program past its original end date this month to No-vember. That will allow them to better nail down their costs and get more feedback from restaurant owners.

“We don’t want this program to go away,” Lazaruk said.

Neither does Adele Lux. The lifelong San Clemente resident owns Adele’s Café at the San Clemente Inn, where she recycles so much—glass, papers, cooking oils and now food waste—that she foresees a day when she might not send anything off to a landfi ll.

“My customers appreciate it,” she said. “But this is where I live, and that ocean is where I swim. It all makes a difference.”

Guerilla Gardenersatricia and Tom Southern live on La Ventana atop the bluff overlooking the Pacifi c at the corner of Coast

Highway and Camino Capistrano. Situ-ated at the border of San Clemente and Capistrano Beach, this corner is heavily traveled by both locals and visitors and, until recently, was nothing great to look at. Patricia decided to do something about it.

“I got tired of seeing this area looking so bad, full of trash and looking like an abandoned lot,” said Patricia, who with Tom began cleaning up the corner.

“We really wanted to improve our com-munity so we started by planting plumeria cuttings from our garden and picking up the trash. Little by little, we have been planting wildfl ower seeds and adding drought resistant and native plants to help with erosion and make this corner a beau-tiful part of our neighborhood.”

Those original plumeria cuttings, placed there about two years ago, took hold and the Southerns were encouraged to keep going.

“A couple of neighbors saw what was happening on the corner but didn’t know it was us, said Patricia. “When they fi gured it out, some of them joined in to help. It has become a pride of neighborhood type of movement,” she said.

Tom admitted that when Patricia fi rst approached him with the idea of what she wanted to do, he was resistant. The lot

BY ANDREA SWAYNE

was in really sad shape and looked like a huge undertaking, he said.

Now the duo, along with help from a few others, have brought that eyesore of a corner from a patch of crumbly, clumpy dirt riddled with trash to a colorful and beautiful corner of the world.

“It’s called guerilla gardening, and I’ve re-ally gotten into it,” said Tom. “This is a pretty big movement in cities all over the country and it works here too. In Los Angeles folks are beautifying vacant lots, planting near the fl ood control channels and turning ugly little pieces of dirt into beautiful gardens. All of this is being done completely by volunteers “on the sly” at no cost—aside from a bit of elbow grease—with cuttings and offshoots from existing gardens. We are hoping that this inspires others to see what they can do to improve their own neighborhoods.”

P

Patricia and Tom Southern work on beautifying the bluff face at the corner of Coast Highway and Camino Capistrano. Photo by Andrea Swayne

Solar panels not only help reduce the effects of global warming, but also offer an alternative source of energy. “They generate electricity at a very cost effective rate compared to your tradi-tional utility company, and they are the best source of alterna-tive energy,” says Donn Reese, CEO of Living Green Inc., a San Clemente based company, which offers energy solutions. “Solar panels will last as long as your home. They are an investment in your home that will last not just months, but years,” says Reese. Go to www.livinggreenincsc.com for more information. Rainbow Sandals had solar panels installed on their offi ces last October, and “now they’re kicking in gear for summer,” says Pat Huber. They not only try to be a more eco-friendly company by recycling and conserving energy, but they believe people can “save the earth by making and using products that last.” You can fi nd those products at www.rainbowsandals.com.

An energy calculator on the San Diego Gas & Electric web site, www.sdge.com, lets you see how much electricity everyday appliances use. One hour per week with your hair dryer can total up to 62 kWh per year, which translates into $12 per year. Visit their site for more calculating fun, and fi nd ways you can save energy and money.

Rain Barrels

Harvesting rainwater is an ancient practice, fi nd-ing its way back into our modern society, due to the rising price of water, as well as use restrictions drought has placed on many US cities. For more information on Rain Catchment Systems, call Eco-Space Green Pro Services at 949.218.5900

COMPILED BY PANTEA OMMI MOHAJER

Home Green Home

Water Conservation

You can save 5,000-50,000 gallons of water annually by following these simple steps:• Convert sprinklers in your lawn to rotating nozzles, and sprinklers in you planters to drip irrigation.• Replace old toilets and clothes washer with high-effi ciency models.• Fix leaking faucets, pipes and sprinkler systems immediately.For more tips on how to save visit www.san-clemente.org

Plastic

What’s the big deal about plastic? According to the Surfrider Foundation, and their Rise Above Plastic mission, “plastics do not biodegrade, instead they photodegrade-breaking down under the exposure of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, into smaller and smaller pieces…virtu-ally every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form.” Rise Above Plastic’s mission is “to reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising aware-ness about the dangers of plastic pollu-tion and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics.” Visit www.surfrider.org for more information.

Composting

Why compost? According to www.compostguide.com, a blog designed to help you understand why and how to compost, “Landfi lls are brimming, and new sites are not likely to be easily found. For this reason there is an interest in conserving exist-ing landfi ll space and in developing alternative methods of dealing with waste.” By using your reusable waste, you not only save landfi ll space, but save your garden too. Replacing your fertilizer with compost “improves soil fertility and stimu-lates healthy root development in plants,” explains compostguide.com

Carpooling

According to census data, around 75 percent of commuters in the US drive alone. That’s a lot of cars, lead-ing to a lot of gas use and pollution. Carpooling offers a solution. Why share? The folks at www.erideshare.com have a few good reasons: “Driv-ing is stressful. Socializing is good for you.” The website offers resourc-es for people who are interested in sharing a ride to work, in order to save money and the environment.

Habitat Gardens

You might love tropical plants, but they’re hard to grow in the desert. Habitat gardens are designed around your environment, making the best use of what you have, to grow what you can. The use of native, drought tolerant plants means you save on water, while giving back to the ecosystem what it needs most to fl ourish. Visit the California Native Plant Society at www.cnps.org for more informa-tion on your habitat.

Electricity

Solar Panels

“Take care of the earth, and she will take care of you.” We see this saying on pillows and horseshoes, but how often do we see it in our lives? Take a walk through our Home Green Home, for tips on how to take better care of the earth we live on, in the hopes that she will take care of us, and our children for generations to come.

BY JONATHAN VOLZKE

Kick the Battery,Get a Bucket.

Sound Body, Sound Earth

his May, Saddleback Memorial Hos-pital in San Clemente will go live with their Electronic Medical Records sys-

tem as part of a federal program designed to make the offi ces of all medical care provid-ers paperless by 2014.

The San Clemente hospital will be the fi nal facility in the MemorialCare System to complete the process, and among only 10 percent of hospitals nationwide, ac-cording to data on the American Medical Association website, to put the program in place since former President George W. Bush established the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology posi-tion in 2004. The position was designed to help implement the move toward paperless medical offi ces, with a deadline set for 2014, putting Saddleback years ahead of the game.

The AMA suggests the high cost of the transfer prevented many from making the switch faster. On average, an EMR system can cost about $20,000, making the cost of transferring high, and the fi nancial benefi ts few.

Financial problems can also arise should medical care providers not meet the dead-

BY PANTEA OMMI MOHAJER

For the Love of Butterflies

an Clemente State Park Interpreter Cr-yssie Brommer led the charge last Earth Day to beautify the park by creating a

gardening program aimed at reintroducing native plant species that attract pollinators such as butterfl ies and hummingbirds to the area. Since then, volunteer gardeners from the San Clemente Garden Club, San Clem-ente High School Environmental Club, city residents, park visitors and others have culti-vated and cared for what has become known as the Butterfl y Trail pollinator gardens just inside the campground entrance.

A group of about 100 volunteers gathered at the park on April 16 to continue work on the gardens and clean up the area in honor of Earth Day and see some of the butterfl ies the plants have been attracting.

“This year’s Earth Day grant allowed us to add a live butterfl y exhibit in addition to planting 300 new plants focusing on a different bed in the Butterfl y Trail pollinator gardens,” said Kris Ethington, San Clemente Garden Club Junior Gardener Program Chair. “These native butterfl ies will be released into the park that now, through the help of volun-teers, has everything they need to continue their life cycle.”

The butterfl y tent allowed park visitors to get an up close look at the butterfl ies and learn about the plants the habitat restora-tion project is using to attract them to the gardens. Once inside the tent, people were allowed to attract the butterfl ies to land on them with fresh cut oranges. Monarchs, Mourning Cloaks, Painted Ladies, West Coast

BY ANDREA SWAYNE

C Waste & Recycling is giving each customer who visits one of Orange County’s four Household

Hazardous Waste Collection Centers from Tuesday through Friday, April 19 to 23, a battery bucket. “The buckets are a great reminder to do the right thing with your batteries,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Campbell. “Batteries contain hazardous materials and don’t belong in the landfi ll. The bucket is a reminder to properly dispose of your batteries. Having the bucket in your home makes proper

disposal convenient.”To get the Earth Day reward, residents need

only bring some household hazardous waste to one of the centers for proper disposal. Centers are located in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine and San Juan Capistrano. Once the bucket is full of batteries, residents bring the bucket to a collection center. The batter-ies are properly removed and the residents take the bucket back home to fi ll again.

The closest collection center is in San Juan Capistrano, at 32250 La Pata Avenue, south of Ortega. See www.oclandfi lls.com for more details.

Ladies fl uttered around often landing on those eager to have a closer look at them. Visitors also got a chance to see the but-terfl y life cycle from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to fl ight.

Visitors were surprised to see tiny tags with a phone number printed on them at-tached to the outside wing of some of the Monarchs in the tent. The tags were part of a study that began last November to track and monitor Monarch butterfl ies as they either pass by San Clemente on their annual migration or establish a home in the park.

“There are two taggings going on here,” said Ethington. “My daughter Dani is doing one study to tag and test butterfl ies for OE—a protozoan parasite that is a predator affecting butterfl y health—in the park and other gardens in San Clemente.” The fi rst tagging program, started last fall, will con-tinue to monitor the migrating butterfl ies that stop here and migrant populations to answer questions such as: Where do San Clemente-born butterfl ies go and do they have a greater or lesser incidence of OE in-fection than the migrant butterfl ies? “They can live with OE. It doesn’t eliminate them but it does affect reproduction, Kris said.

To learn how you can volunteer, or for more information about interpretive programs at San Clemente State Park, log on to www.calparks.org. To fi nd out more about the volunteer work of the San Clem-ente Garden Club, visit www.sanclement-egardenclub.com.

line. Medical facilities that do not meet EMR system standards by 2015 will have their Medicare funding reduced.

“An EMR system is essentially a patient’s health history and medical information stored in electronic, rather than paper format,” said Elisabeth Seznov of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center. According to a news release by Seznov, the network is highly secure and easily accessible to healthcare providers, making it easier for medical professionals to share a patient’s pertinent fi les, in order to help them faster and more effi ciently.

Electronic health records also reduce the amount of paper being used by medical of-fi ces, replacing the endless walls of paper fi les often seen behind the receptionist’s desk at doctor’s offi ces, with electronic fi les instead.

According to Seznov, transferring to elec-tronic fi les not only makes it faster and easier for doctors to access a patient’s medical history, but also reduces the amount of paper being used, and the space those expired fi les can take up in landfi lls. The transfer to EMR systems makes it easier for people to lead healthier lives, while making the earth a healthier place as well.

S

O

T

A tagged Monarch butterfl y is seen at San Clemente State Park. Photo by Andrea Swayne

BY ANDREA SWAYNE

By living the change that I think the Earth needs. I always think about my impact with everything that I do and I’m not afraid to tell others how they can lessen their negative impact on the environment. I also try to pass my passion on to my students at San Clemente High School.

—LISA KERR, SAN CLEMENTE

I separate the recyclables like bottles and cans at home, and I try to pick up trash in my neighborhood. In Boy Scouts we do beach cleanups, too.

—TROY NUEVA, 10, SAN CLEMENTE

I take an hour-long walk around Dana Point every day and pick up trash along the way. I also make it a point to volunteer for local cleanup, restoration and planting projects.

—ROBBIE ROBINSON, DANA POINT

I make it a point to get outside to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful place we live in. My family and I all do our best to recycle and to avoid single-use coffee cups and water bottles. We all carry our own reusable CamelBak water bottles.

—PETER SODERIN, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

When shopping for food, I try to buy only free-range, humanely treated animal products at stores like Marbella Farmers Market and locally grown organic produce at South Coast Farms and everyday groceries at a mainstream grocery store. It takes a little extra effort to shop at three stores but it is worth it. Oh, and when shopping, I take my own reusable shopping bags.

—MAGGIE LANDES, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

I make my own homemade soaps and together with a friend of mine, make bags and purses out of recycled packaging. Also, I recycle everything I can at home.

—TERI HIRASUNA, SAN CLEMENTE

What do you do to make every day Earth Day?

We use the Brita water filter system after realizing how many plastic water bottles we were going through in a day. We were surprised at how easy it is and how much money we save. And the water tastes great, too.

—LARRY LANDES, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

I retired from teaching in June and this year I helped Marblehead Elementary School start their own garden. Just a few days ago we counted our 625th student planting in the garden. I also volunteer in the State Park butterfl y habitat project.

—STEPHANIE ANFINSON, SAN CLEMENTE

I try to set a good example for my son by recycling, use Earth-friendly products, avoiding polystyrene foam; things like that. I am also very concerned about stopping the practice of killing sharks for their fins. I went to Monterey recently for a speaking engagement on the subject. Shark fi n soup sells for over $100 a bowl in Asia and an estimated 100,000 sharks a year are killed. It is an incredibly cruel prac-tice where fi shermen catch a shark, cut off the fi n, and then throw it back to die.

—JIM SERPA, DOHENY STATEBEACH SUPERVISING RANGER

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