February 9, 2018

LO C A L

N EWS

February 9-15, 2018

YO U

C A N

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Jake Howard’s Experience at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch PAGE 14 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 6

Sign Here Dana Hills High School student-athletes choose colleges on National Signing Day S P O R T S / PAG E 1 2

www.danapointtimes.com

On Feb. 7, 17 Dana Hills High School student-athletes signed their letters of intent to attend a variety of prestigious universities on athletic scholarships. Photo: Alan Gibby

John Wilkerson to Speak on Local Geological Formations EYE ON DP/PAGE 4

SONGS Fuel Storage Begins

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Former Dana Hills Teacher Charged in Child Pornography Indictment EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

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Five things Dana Point should know this week Former Dana Hills Spanish Teacher Charged in Three-Count Child Pornography Indictment THE LATEST: A federal grand jury named Ezequiel Christopher Barragan, 51, of Aliso Viejo, in an indictment that accuses him of traveling to China to engage in illegal sexual activity with a 16-year-old and taking sexually explicit photographs of the victim.

Formerly a Spanish teacher at Dana Hills High School, as well as a youth baseball coach, Barragan was charged in a three-count indictment that accuses him of producing child pornography, traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in a foreign place.

WHATS NEXT: Barragan, who is currently serving a state prison sentence in an unrelated case will be arraigned on the indictment in the coming weeks.

The charge of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years. The charges of international travel and engaging in illicit sexual activity each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.— Daniel Ritz

SONGS Fuel Storage Begins; Settlement Reached in Rate-Payer Obligation to Decommissioning Costs THE LATEST: On Jan. 30, Southern California Edison (SCE) spokesperson Maureen Brown sent an email to the San Clemente Times reporting that the first spent nuclear fuel rods, currently housed in cooling tanks at the offline San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), have been transferred to dry-cask storage. The operators of the nuclear power plant will store a total of 73 casks with the radioactive fuel rods, in addition to the 51 already onsite.

“We safely and successfully loaded the Dana Point Times February 9-15, 2018

first multi-purpose spent fuel canister at San Onofre, and we transferred that canister to the new independent spent fuel storage installation today (Jan. 30),” the email stated. “We are on track to complete the transfer of all of the spent fuel to dry cask storage by mid-2019 or earlier. As you may recall, we previously loaded and transferred 50 canisters of spent fuel to the existing dry cask storage facility. Transferring spent fuel from wet to dry cask storage is a well-understood process that has been repeated hundreds of times at nuclear plants across the country over the last three decades. More background is available on our website.”

The storage containers, constructed

by Holtec International, are stainless steel, five-eighths of an inch thick and were approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and permitted by the California Coastal Commission in 2015.

Opponents of the storage on-site at SONGS, which is located next to the Pacific Ocean, have voiced concerns for years over the move.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is the lead agency on where the fuel can be stored. The spent fuel rods can only be stored where the DOE sees fit. Temporary storage of the spent fuel rods has been debated at the federal level, with several bills failing to be passed, to amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to allow for such confinement. As of now, temporary storage is not permissible by law.

WHAT’S NEXT: In other news, on the same day, SCE and several energy watchdog organizations settled a lawsuit based on the cost of decommissioning the nuclear power plant, which went offline in 2012.

The settlement removes the requirement for ratepayers to San Diego Gas & Electric, which owns stock in SONGS, paying the cost of the project.

According to a press release from SCE: “Customers of SCE and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. will no longer pay for $775 million in San Onofre-related investments that had not yet been recovered by the utilities under a 2014 settlement; SCE customers’ portion of that total reduction is worth roughly $68 per residential customer over the next four years; and because the agreement awaits approval by the commission, any amounts collected by the utilities in excess of the $775 million while the proposed settlement is pending will be refunded to customers.

“In addition, the plaintiffs in a federal court lawsuit challenging the commission’s approval of the 2014 settlement have agreed to dismiss that case in its entirety following commission approval of the revised settlement announced (on Jan. 30),” the release continued.

SCE will reimburse SDG&E for SDG&E’s $151 million share of the $775 million. This provision will not reduce the

The City of Dana Point announced its 2018 special events calendar which include the popular Concert in the Park series. Photo: File

revised settlement benefits SCE customers receive, the release stated.

The California Public Utilities Commission will make the final determination as to whether to accept the proposed settlement. —Eric Heinz

WHAT’S NEXT: Coffee Chat will begin at 8:30 a.m. at The Coffee Importers, located at 34531 Street of the Golden Lantern.

Complimentary coffee will be provided for all attendees, and anyone is welcome.

—DR

2018 Special Events Calendar Announced

Dana Point Community Forum to Address Homelessness on Feb. 13

THE LATEST: At their meeting on Feb. 6, the Dana Point City Council approved the 2018 special events calendar, consisting of more than 85 events, and their recommended venues.

After soliciting competitive bids from four different companies, city staff chose to award Southern California Stage & Lighting with a $38,000 contract to provide quality stage and sound equipment and professional technical staffing for the Festival of Whales and the Concerts in the Park series.

WHAT’S NEXT: A full list of special events, beginning Feb. 11, can be seen on www.danapoint.org. —DR

Coffee Chat to Feature Stacy Blackwood, Shannon Levin on Feb. 16 THE LATEST: On Friday, Feb. 16, the Dana Point Civic Association will hold its coffee chat. Guest speakers will include Stacy Blackwood, the recently appointed director of Orange County Parks. Blackwood has responsibility for over 60,000 acres of open space, wilderness, parkland, beaches and the Dana Point Harbor.

Also speaking will be Dana Point Harbor Manager Shannon Levin.

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THE LATEST: In a presentation to City Council during their Feb. 6 meeting, Dana Point Economic Development Manager Kelly Reenders announced a community forum to address homelessness will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb.13.

There will be formal presentations by Dana Point City Manager Mark Denny, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Mercy House Outreach Coordinator Stephani Ogas.

“We hope the community will join us to learn about how Dana Point is addressing homelessness,” said Denny. “Recently, we have moved 16 individuals off of our streets, but we know more needs to be done. Collaboration between the city, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, faith-based institutions and community groups is essential to addressing this issue. We welcome the community to send questions in advance of the forum to outreach@danapoint.org.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Any member of the Dana Point community can join the discussion on homelessness by emailing their questions to outreach@danapoint.org

by Monday, Feb. 12. The forum will take place at Capo Beach Church, located at 25975 Domingo Avenue. www.danapointorg.—DR www.danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP tual Living based in Golden, Colorado, who was awarded a doctorate in divinity by the International Centers for Spiritual Living in 2011. Music will feature popular songs by local singers and musicians.

Guests can enjoy a cocktail happy hour, dinner catered by Evan’s Catering and dessert with a champagne toast. Cost to attend this special event is $50 per person and can be purchased on the website at www.cslcv.org.

JUST Water to be Implemented in All CUSD High, Middle Schools

John Wilkerson, a local history teacher and naturalist at Olympic National Park, will be speaking on South Orange County’s unique geological formations at the Dana Point Community Center on Thursday, February 15.

Photo: Kevin Van Fleet

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Dana Point Headlands Conservation Science Night on Feb. 15 The Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area invites locals and visitors to their Science Night event to learn more about the unique geological formations found throughout Orange County, including the Dana Point Headlands, Laguna Beach caves, Balboa peninsula and the San Onofre breccia.

John Wilkerson was a local natural history teacher for 30-plus years, spending his summers as a naturalist at Olympic National Park for the last 40 years. He currently leads geology tours at several OC Wilderness Parks and Crystal Cove State Park. The event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dana Point Community Center, located at 34052 Del Obispo Street.

Bulky Item Clean-Up to be Held on Feb. 10 Dana Point residents will have a chance to drop off their bulky items for free instead of taking them to the landfill.

Residents can bring e-waste, green waste, large appliances, furniture and other bulky items that don’t fit in a normal waste container. Many of the items collected at these events can be recycled. Goodwill Industries, Dana Hills High School and Palisades Elementary School will be accepting charitable donations from Dana Point residents in order to help others in need. For Dana Point Times February 9-15, 2018

more information, contact 949.248.3571 or janderson@danapoint.org.

Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group Deployment Donations The 5th Marine Regiment will soon deploy on a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) to the Middle East. The Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group will provide morale and encouragement during these long months starting with the upcoming spring deployment.

Local donations can help fund immediate needs, including pre-deployment dinners for a Marine and their family and more. Soon, the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group will be unrolling a plan where citizens can adopt a single Marine or a Marine and their family during this long deployment and be part of the Operation Joining Forces program.

Locals can let Marines know they are appreciated by visiting www.danapoint5thmarines.com.

The Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley Celebrates 50 Years The Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley turns 50 this year and will celebrate with an anniversary party featuring special guest speakers, music, dinner and a champagne toast at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, in the Center’s Sanctuary, located at 1201 Puerta Del Sol, Suite 100.

The 50th anniversary party will include keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Kenn Gordon, the spiritual leader for the Center for Spiri-

A sustainable and recyclable water container will replace all traditional plastic water bottles sold at Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) middle and high schools after a successful campaign was implemented by a San Clemente High School club.

Team Zissou, an environmental club at the school, began a campaign in January to get feedback from students on using recyclable alternatives from JUST water, a company that promotes sustainable products. The containers they make are comprised of sugar cane and paper. Due to the support among the three high schools that were tested, CUSD has decided to implement them districtwide.

Kristin Hilleman, director of Nutrition Services at CUSD, said the plan is to have all middle and high schools in the district serving JUST water in all the secondary schools as of Feb. 26. Elementary schools may receive the water containers as well, but may receive them in weeks following.

Back to Natives Plant Reserve on Feb. 11 Back to Natives is requesting assistance in restoring habitat for animals at the Back to Natives Native Plant Reserve at Cuesta Kato in Dana Point. They will be removing non-native plants along a steep slope so volunteers should bring washed or new gloves (to avoid the spread of weed seed) and wear long pants, sunscreen, a hat and closed toed shoes (hiking shoes preferred). Bring a snack and a re-usable water bottle filled with water. The group will meet at the Albertsons parking lot at 9 a.m. and then walk together to the volunteer site. Volunteers under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This is a habitat restoration event so pets are not allowed as they can compromise habitat areas through scent and scat markings. 33601 Del Obispo Street. www.backtonatives.org.

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

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

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Community Meetings SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10

FARMERS’ MARKET 9 a.m. There will be fresh produce and treats for sale at the farmers’ market.

La Plaza Park. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point. 949.279.3122.

WHALE WALK & TALK 9-11 a.m. The Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center puts on an educational walk along the Dana Point Headlands to talk about (and hopefully see) whales off of our Southern California coastline. Participation is free. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point.

949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE EVENT VALENTINE’S SOCK HOP Enjoy a catered dinner and live band with the 50s Sock Hop theme. Poodle skirts, cardigan sweaters or leather jackets are encouraged. $20 per person. $35 per couple. For more information, contact Monique Leon at 949.248.3507.

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6-8 p.m. The Dana Point Planning Commission will meet at Dana Point City Hall in Council Chambers.

33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210. www.danapoint.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14

MONARCH BEACH SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB 7 a.m. Every Wednesday, the Rotary Club welcomes anyone interested in making a difference in the local community and changing the world to join them in their weekly meeting. Doors open and breakfast begins at 7 a.m., with a program from 7:30-8:30 a.m.

Marriott Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.monarchbeachsunriserotary.org.

DANA HARBOR TOASTMASTERS 7 a.m. Join the members of the Dana Point Toastmasters to improve speaking and leadership skills. Capo Beach Church. 25975 Domingo Ave., Capistrano Beach. www.toastmasters.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15

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

34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point. Adjacent to Baby Beach at OC Sailing and Events Center. www.coastmaster.org. www.danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Welcome to Picket Fence Media, Emily!

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

HOW TO REACH US

BY RACHAEL MATTICE, GROUP MANAGING EDITOR FOR PICKET FENCE MEDIA

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

P

lease join me in formally welcoming Emily Rasmussen to Picket Fence Media as The Capistrano Dispatch Editor. Emily joins the newsroom having previously worked as a community news reporter for the OC Register. She covered city council meetings as well as developed personal interest stories for the South Orange County communities of Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Hills.

Emily was also a news editor at The Edge Long Beach, a weekly newspaper where she broadened her topic cover-

Letters to the Editor A SHROUD OF THE TRANSPARENCY OF GOVERNMENT NANCY LEONARD, Dana Point

Since 2002, the City of Dana Point has contracted Rutan & Tucker, LLP for city attorney services. Recently, the Financial Review Committee (FRC), a Council appointed citizens committee, prepared a report that compares the retainer and hourly fee Dana Point pays Rutan & Tucker for contract legal services to our neighboring cities of Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel.

The study found that Dana Point pays more for legal services than neighboring cities, some who are also served by Rutan & Tucker. Given the alarming figures and that the city has not engaged in a competitive bidding process for City Attorney services since 2002, the FRC recommended that the City Council open a competitive bidding process for the city attorney contract.

This item was included as a closed session agenda item for the Feb. 6 meeting under the guise of it being a Brown Act item.

The Brown Act is a 1953 California law intended to insure public participation on all agenda items before the governing body takes action. Closed meetings/sessions not expressly authorized by the Brown Act are in violation of the Brown Act. Dana Point Times February 9-15, 2018

SPORTS Zach Cavanagh, 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

Emily Rasmussen, City Editor for The Capistrano Dispatch.

age to features and entertainment as well as developed digital journalism packages with multimedia, video and social media.

Hailing originally from Long Beach, Emily is looking forward to getting to know the passionate residents, history

buffs, government officials and business owners of San Juan Capistrano for Picket Fence Media readers.

Emily can be reached at erasmussen@picketfencemedia.com and at 949.388.7700. ex.108. DP

The Brown Act does not require a governing body, the Dana Point City Council, to consider in closed session the FRC recommendation: to commence a competitive bidding process for a city attorney contract with an independent contractor.

The Brown Act is clear. This item should not have been placed on the closed session agenda. Mayor Viczorek and Council Members Muller, Tomlinson and Wyatt stymied attempts made by Council Member Debra Lewis to place it on the agenda for open public discussion amongst Council members and the public.

Why this item was placed as a closed secret item remains unknown. The city attorney, city manager and mayor could not state the reason this item was being hidden from the public. Ironically, the City Council tabled further discussion on competitive bidding for the city attorney contract asking the city attorney to render an opinion on the legality of conducting such considerations in public or private.

I believe placing this item for secret deliberation violates the open meeting provisions of the Brown Act and prohibits our residents from participating in the democratic process. It is a shroud over the transparency of government our residents demand.

torney contract, which has not been open to a competitive bid since 2002. This is a purely financial matter and should be held in open session.

Accepting the advice from our current city attorney, who has held this contract with the city for 16 years, whether or not to go into closed session has a very bad appearance of potential conflict of interest to the citizens of Dana Point.

Compared to neighboring cities, it appears, we are being overcharged. Why? I feel that Mayor Richard Viczorek’s insistence that this review be held in closed session is a potential violation of the Brown Act, and if he persists in holding this review in closed session, we, as citizens of Dana Point, will be forced to notify the California First Amendment Coalition and California Aware of this violation of the Brown Act for open clear and transparent government.

If there is nothing to hide, why not put this matter on the agenda for an open session so that we citizens can participate and hear all arguments on this very important financial matter?

A CALL FOR OPEN SESSION JIM KELLY, Dana Point

I was very disappointed in the City Council meeting, on Feb. 6, to see our new mayor Richard Viczorek insisting on going into closed session to discuss whether or not we should go out for bid on the city atPage 6

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

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

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett EDITORIAL Group Managing Editor > Rachael Mattice City Editor, DP Times > Daniel Ritz City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Emily Rasmussen

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano) Real Estate Sales Executive > Jennifer Guy ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex OPERATIONS

Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh

Finance Director > Mike Reed

Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho

General Manager > Alyssa Garrett

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point) > Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Jake Howard, Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 11, Issue 6. The DP Times (www. danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (www.sanclementetimes. com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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GETTING OUT

Dana Dana Point Point YOUR

SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

At the Movies: ‘Winchester’ Is a Misfire of a Film

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

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ver the years, Hollywood horror movies have been pigeonholed into a genre of quantity over quality. The genre usually does well at the box-office, whether the movies are good or bad, because those type of movies can garner a fun Friday night for young people just looking to socialize. And this decade’s batch of campy, schlocky horror flicks is no exception.

But where there can be unintentional comedy or amusement with bad horror, there can also be boredom, which is the case with the newly released Winchester.

In 1906 in San Jose, Dr. Eric Price (Jason Clarke) is hired by the Winchester firearms company to diagnose the mental state of the deceased companyowner’s widow, Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren). Sarah is obsessed with spending her husband’s inheritance on remodeling and rebuilding her family’s estate—out of paranoia that she is being haunted by the ghosts of men who have died from being shot by one of the company’s guns. Meanwhile, Eric is also dealing with the death of his own wife, and he casually uses drugs.

Winchester is directed by brothers

EDITOR’S PICK The first Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup of 2018 is scheduled for February 10 from 9 a.m.-noon. Join the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association in “loving” Doheny back to good health after the runoff from winter rains. Photo: File

SATURDAY, FEB. 10: ‘LOVE YOUR BEACH’ CLEANUP 9 a.m.-noon. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you can show your love for Doheny State Beach by joining the community in the first beach cleanup of the year. All beach cleanups meet at the lifeguard headquarters (adjacent to the mouth of the San Juan Creek.) Doheny State Beach. 949.496.6171. www.dohenystatebeach.org.

The List What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY VICTOR CARNO

Friday | 09 ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m. Join Dana Wharf for a 90-minute evening cruise aboard a luxury catamaran. The cruises run Friday and Sunday evenings. Tickets are $49. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

34675 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.496.5794. www.danawharf.com.

Saturday | 10 ANIMAL OLYMPICS FAMILY 9-11 a.m. Children ages six and up are invited to test their abilities against some amazing animals found in Orange County. The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve. org.

THIRD ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 1-2 p.m. Families are invited to help celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Outlets at San Clemente, presented by the Irvine Chinese School and the Three Cultural Arts Society. The celebration will include a 30-foot dragon dance, martial arts demos and a lion dance. Outlets at San Dana Point Times February 9-15, 2018

Clemente. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.535.2323. www.outletsatsanclemente.com.

AVEO TABLE + BAR: NEW HAPPY HOUR 2:30-6 p.m. AVEO Table + Bar is introducing their new winter happy hour lineup.

To warm up patrons during the cold season, the happy hour menu is focusing on dark aged spirits and small bourbon batches. Happy hour cocktails are now $12, instead of $17, and include specially priced tapas and other small bites. Monarch Beach Resort. 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. 949.234.3915. www.moncarchbeachresort.com.

SOULMATE SOIREE 5-8 p.m. Kindred Boutique is hosting a Valentine’s Day event called “Soulmate Soiree,” complete with a chocolate fountain, a flower photo booth and gifts with purchases. Kindred Boutique. 201 N. Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.481.4233. www.kindredboutiqueoc.com.

MUSIC FOR TWO PIANOS 7 p.m. Saddleback College music faculty members Catherine Tibbitts and Norman Weston present music written for two pianos in Fine Arts Room 101. Saddleback College. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. 949.582.4500. www.saddleback. edu.

Sunday | 11 ANIMAL BLESSINGS 3 p.m. If your pet is in need of a spiritual pick me up, then bring your dog, cat or other animal companion to the third annual “Blessing of the Animals” event.

There will be opportunities for prayers

for healing. The only requirement is that because the event is taking place in an open space, dogs must be on leashes. Palisades Methodist Church 27002 Camino De Estrella, Capistrano Beach. For more information contact Sheryl@palisadesumc. org. 949.496.5502. www.palisadesumc.org.

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

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

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.

Wednesday | 14 VALENTINE’S DAY SUNSET CRUISE 4-7 p.m. Whale watch during a romantic sunset. Enjoy complimentary chocolate treats and one glass of champagne included in your ticket. Cash bar is available on all cruises. $29-$52 dollars. Adults 21 and over only. Reservations required.

34675 Street of the Golden Lantern. www. danawharf.com.

VALENTINE’S DAY JAZZ DINNER Page 8

Photo: Courtesy

Michael and Peter Spierig, whom also penned the hit B-movie Predestination (2014), and the Saw series reboot, Jigsaw (2017).

Winchester is neither entertainingly corny nor a well-executed, basic ghost story. It’s pedestrian, cliché, with five ineffective jump scares and a rather ridiculous plot resolution. But most of all, it’s just boring and forgettable, which is the worst thing a film can be. If anything, the movie just proves that Clarke, one of the better character-actors on screen, deserves more interesting studio features. DP 7 p.m. Barnoa Wine Company is hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner complete with live music from Pocket Trio and paired flights.

Admission is $60 for the four course meal and $25 for the paired flights. Barnoa Wine Company. 831 Via Suerte, San Clemente.

949.388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.

Thursday | 15 GARDEN ANGELS 8:30-10:30 a.m. Join volunteers, students and teachers at Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens to care for and maintain native plants and butterflies. No experience is necessary (they’ll teach you), but volunteers should bring gloves and clippers.

No class if it rains. Admission is free. Los Rios Park. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net.

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

www.danapointtimes.com

DP Dana Point

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

A ‘Green’ Valentine’s Day for a Long-Distance Couple

Photo: Courtesy of Orange County Archives

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Edward Russell at fisherman’s cove, Dana

Point, July 1966.

Every week the Dana Point Times will be showing a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to share please send the photo, your name for credit as well as the location of the photo to editorial@danapointtimes.com.

Chris Anastasio and his wife, Tina, at their Feb. 12, 2017 wedding at the Dana Point Yacht Club. The two had been longdistance partners for years until Tina, originally from England, received her green card. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Blake

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alentine’s Day is associated with red hearts, red greeting cards, red heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and red roses.

But for one San Clemente couple, Valentine’s Day 2018, will feature a green heart.

In 2003, at 70 years old, Chris Anastasio, recently divorced, became a dance host on cruise ships. In 2004, he danced with Tina, a lovely woman from England. After the cruise, they started corresponding, which began the longest, long-distance relationship of which I’ve ever known—5,419 miles apart.

In 2009, I published a book titled How 50 Couples Found Love After 50. Chris and Tina were one of the featured couples.

Their story was called, “Cruise Ship Dance Host Meets Match at Sea.” In the book, Chris was quoted, “Tina would love to live in California, but she

has family and grandchildren in England.

Friends always ask us if we plan to marry and live together. That doesn’t make much sense. Every time we get together it’s like a honeymoon.”

After 13 years of being an unwed, longdistance couple, things changed. On Feb. 12, 2017, Chris and Tina married at the Dana Point Yacht Club.

But Tina still had to return to England from time to time because she wasn’t eligible to permanently stay in the United States. So, a month after their wedding, Chris and Tina started working on securing a green card for her.

On Jan. 26, Chris emailed, “After jumping through all kinds of hoops in 2017, we finally had Tina’s green card hearing today. It’s the last stop in the process. We were told to bring pictures, papers, letters or anything else that would prove we were

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

BY MYLES MELLOR

DANA POINT TIMES

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Dana Point Times February 9-15, 2018

77. Chris volunteers at the San Clemente Villas by dancing with the residents every week. He also dresses up as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny on holidays.

For Valentine’s Day, you can bet the color of Chris and Tina’s valentine will be green. I am incredibly proud of them.

The book, How 50 Couples Found Love After 50, is available on Tom’s online bookstore at www.findingloveafter50.com.

See his websites at www.findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www. travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@ gmail.com. DP

Sudoku

Pet of the Week: Olga lga is the shelter’s current resident senior kitty. Fourteen years old and still fairly spry, Olga is very friendly and would make an ideal lap cat for someone looking for a mellow companion.

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

a real couple. Tina suggested we bring your How 50 Couples Found Love After 50 book with us.

“During the interview, I mentioned that we had become kind of famous because of our long-distance relationship,” Chris continued. “I said, ‘in fact, we were written about in a book.’ I handed him your book, with our page marked with a book marker.

He opened the book and started reading.

His whole face lit up. He said, ‘This is great, I don’t have to see anything else.

You have your green card.’

“It was amazing. He never looked at anything else. We were out of there in less than a half hour. You had a hand (and a big hand at that) in getting Tina her green card. Thanks for your help.”

I think Chris and Tina’s story is remarkable. A 13-year, long-distance relationship endured. Chris just turned 84 and Tina is

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

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid Last week’s solution: that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium Page 10

See the solution in next week’s issue.

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Dolphin Decisions Dana Hills punter Eric Fellenzer is part of a crop of 17 student-athletes to announce college decisions on Signing Day

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

P

unters are people too.

Punters can be scholarship athletes as well.

Dana Hills’ Eric Fellenzer is now the latter as the Dolphins punter signed his national letter of intent to play football at the University of Nevada Reno in a Signing Day event at Dana Hills High School on Feb. 7.

“Ever since I started playing football, I wanted to play football in college,” an emotional Fellenzer said. “It just means so much, and I’m finally making this happen.

So many sacrifices have been made to make this happen.”

Fellenzer’s path to becoming an NCAA Division 1 athlete started on the soccer pitch where his talented leg didn’t work within the constraints of being a goalkeeper.

“He kind of got frustrated with kicking the ball,” Eric’s mom, Janet Fellenzer, said.

“It would go beyond midfield and it ended up, for lack of a better word, a penalty for him. Someone at that point in eighth grade said, you need to get that kid into kicking.

And it just took off from there.”

While the football team has struggled with results, Fellenzer was an undisputed bright spot. Dolphins coach Phil Skinner said Fellenzer was the special teams player of the week in all 10 games last season.

“He’s a kicker that has come through at the most clutch times, has impressed all the way through,” Skinner said. “He’s been a leader of our special teams world.

He’s got that leg, and he works hard. This

(Clockwise from bottom right) Dana Hills’ Eric Fellenzer (football, Nevada), Kai Hanson (water polo, Long Beach State) and Cam Cecil (softball, Iowa) sign their national letters of intent in a Signing Day ceremony at Dana Hills on Feb. 7; (Top right) Dana Hills principal Dr. Joshua Porter addresses the crowd before the Signing Day ceremony on Feb. 7. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

isn’t some natural thing where he just has to step on the field.”

Skinner and Janet Fellenzer all spoke to Eric’s hard work and dedication. Every athlete presented with Fellenzer at Signing Day has a background of sacrifices and strong work ethic that are essential to reaching that next level.

Each athlete also has their goals. Fellenzer’s goal comes with the reason he chose Nevada.

“Coach (Tommy) Perry, the special teams coach,” Fellenzer said of the reason behind the decision. “He’s had an All-American everywhere he’s coached.

He hasn’t had one at Reno yet. Hopefully I can be that guy.”

Fellenzer will get that chance in the fall after a spring and summer of lifting weights and after-dark kicking sessions, as he continues to do now.

OTHER SIGNEES

Here’s the roster of the 17 student-athletes honored at Dana Hills on Feb. 7: Haley Alexander (Rowing, Alabama), Rosie Ballo (Volleyball, Pepperdine), Cam Cecil (Softball, Iowa), Averee Dovsek (Golf, Hofstra), Eric Fellenzer (Football, Nevada-Reno), Jake Greenberg (Diving, Virginia), Kai Hanson (Water Polo, Long Beach State), Cameron Kaemerle (Soccer, University of San Diego), Owen Kao (Swimming, University of Southern California), Claire Lisle (Rowing, University of California-Los Angeles), Reid Morrison (Soccer, Houston), Jessie Nagel (Softball, Holy Cross), Mia Onesto (Softball, Cal Lutheran), Peyton Romo (Basketball, Lewis and Clark), Zach Shenkin (Swimming, University of California-Santa Barbara), Jack Sterner (Baseball, Brigham Young University)

For a full photo gallery from Feb. 7’s event, go to www.danapointtimes.com. DP

Dolphin Report

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

For a full report on where all of Dana Hills winter sports teams stand after the final week of the regular season, check out www.danapointtimes.com.

Also check the website and our twitter page, @SouthOCSports, for CIF-SS playoff information when the brackets are released on Sunday, Feb. 11.

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.danapointtimes.com FOR SALE CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size. Typically made in 2 weeks. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyesters, or designer carpet. Showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point: 24662 Del Prado, Dana Point. Carpet and flooring remnants also available. Call Mike at Lantern Bay Carpets, Interiors & Flooring. 949.240.1545

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WANTED ROOM WANTED Wanted room to rent. Mature female professional. Personal assistant wanting room rental in San Juan or Dana Point. I can be of assistance to homebound if needed. Call Joanne 949 632 7312

OBITUARY

Michael Richard Russell

November 24th, 1949- January 16th, 2018

Beloved Father, Friend, Son, Brother, Uncle and Grandfather.

He will be so dearly missed by all.

There was no one quite like him in this world with his spark for life and his love for adventure. He always blazed his own trail. He loved to sail, ride dirt bikes, paint and take road trips. His love for nature and the ocean will be passed down through generations. He has made a huge impact on so many people and was truly an inspiration. He made friends wherever he went. He will never be forgotten.

Our dad was our hero and always will be.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

—Mark Twain Dana Point Times February 9–15, 2018

Page 13

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

‘Ranch’ Life

Experiencing Kelly Slater’s perfect, man-made wave in the middle of California’s Central Valley

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

L

ast November, a few days before Thanksgiving, the opportunity to take a spin at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch in Lemoore landed in my lap.

“Don’t say anything,” read the email from the World Surf League’s (WSL) Dave Prodan, and up until the media embargo ended a few days ago, I’ve managed to stay mum on the subject.

Part science fiction, part miracle of science, the facility is situated off of a nondescript country road in Central Valley cattle country. The landscape is flat and brown. The air smells of manure, and the mornings are crisp and cold. A few miles away is an Native American casino. Merle Haggard vibes are omnipresent. It’s a weird place to go on a “surf trip,” but then again it’s an even weirder place to find one of the world’s best waves.

So, what’s it like? Thrown in the pool with a bunch of other surf journalists, all we could do was scratch our heads and keep uttering, “What a trip.”

The wave is as good as or better than you think. It possesses a surprising amount of power. It moves really fast down the 700-yard pool. They’ve designed it so the take-off is relatively easy; not too

GROM OF THE WEEK

SEYLAH CHILDRESS

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

I

n the theater business, a talent who can act, sing and dance is called a “triple threat.” Folks with mastery of all three disciplines are rare and highly sought after by theater producers and directors.

San Juan Capistrano’s Seylah Childress is what you might consider a quadruple threat, maybe more. We first featured her in the paper when she was 9 years old in 2016. These days, she’s ripping around on a skateboard, flowing on a surfboard, can pick a tune on a guitar, is a budding actress and a huge proponent of “all things rad.”

A distinguished member of the Pink Dana Point Times February 9-15, 2018

The Kelly Slater Surf Ranch in Lemoore provides consistent quality waves, but is it right to call riding there “surfing”? Photo: Screenshot provided by Jake Howard

different than catching a four-footer at Trestles. But as the wave moves down the pool it picks up speed, hitting shallow sections that provide a running tube section that’s akin to Kirra on the Gold Coast of Australia. From a purely wave-riding perspective, it’s a dream.

But I still don’t know if it’s surfing. Last week, with a minor south swell in the water, I surfed T-Street. It was waist-high with wedge-y little peaks scattered up and down the beach. In my hour in the water, I was able to catch a bunch of lefts and rights, some better than others. But by the time I got out of the water, I felt like I’d gotten some exercise and surfed myself into a decent rhythm.

The Surf Ranch is different. Right now, technology allows for one wave every five minutes. That means there are only 12

Helmet Posse, a skateboard company for young girls, Seylah is equally adept at skating vert, parks or streets. She has a smooth, well-refined technique and isn’t afraid to go for it even when the vert walls are a little intimidating.

Seylah kicked off the new year with a boat trip into Lowers with her family and friends. You may also find her in the water at Doheny, San Onofre or Trestles. Her “best twin cousin” is a recent Grom of the Week, Indie Hoffman. It probably goes without saying, but they surf, skate and do a lot of laughing together.

Seylah is also involved with a talent agency as she pursues her passion for music and acting. The girl can sing, play guitar and piano, and has a definite presence about her.

Wherever her talents ultimately take her, we’re sure that Seylah is going to be making a lot of positive waves for a long time to come. DP

waves an hour. In my session at the Ranch, I felt a lot of pressure to make the most of the waves because I simply wasn’t going to get that many. In eight hours I was able to ride nine waves, and to this day I’m still kicking myself because I blew two rights just as I hit the tube section.

The other trippy thing is that your buddies are lined up down the pool to catch the “scraps” if you fall. So, while everyone wants to see their best mate get the wave of their life, you’re secretly rooting for them to wipeout so you can pick off the rest of their wave and potentially get your wave count up.

The science behind the wave is largely the work of Adam Fincham, a researcher at the University of Southern California.

Slater first approached Fincham with the idea back in 2006, around the same time he

founded the Kelly Slater Wave Company.

Fincham had limited surfing experience, instead focusing his scholarly energies on topics such as “digital particle imaging velocimetry for laser diagnostics” and “decaying grid turbulence in a rotating stratified fluid”—hardly the kind of surf banter one hears in the Lowers lineup.

After endless experimentation and computer modeling, the artificial waterski pool the team discovered in Lemoore proved to be a godsend. Measuring 700 meters long and 150 meters wide, it provided them with the room (and privacy) they needed to develop the wave. A massive hydrofoil was built and installed under water. The hydrofoil was then attached to an electric motor to pull it down a track at an upwards of 20 MPH. The size of several train cars, it’s rigged with cables and sits on a track on over 150 truck tires. The hydrofoil is pulled from one end of the pool to the other creating a right-hander, then pulled back to the other end of the pool, creating a left-breaking wave. The bottom of the pool features different slopes and contours to create different sections of the wave. The bottom of the pool has a spongy feel akin to a yoga mat.

The Surf Ranch is incredibly cool. And like I said, the wave itself definitely lives up to the hype. It’s as good as any wave I’ve ridden anywhere around the world.

But I’m still not convinced it’s surfing.

Wave-riding, yes, but surfing? I don’t know. There’s no sneaky set waves. No seaweed. No sharks. There’s no sandy feet or salty hair. There’s no element of randomness and surprise. In my mind, all of that stuff is part of the surf experience, and while I had the time of my life in Lemoore, there’s still nothing better than a good day at the beach. DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 58-60 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-8’ Fair Outlook: Small but rideable WNW swell and S Hemi swell through the upcoming weekend. Look for mostly knee-waistchest high (2-3’+) surf. Winds are mostly favorable through the mornings.

Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Seylah Childress. Photo: Courtesy of Seylah Childress

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