DP Insider

DP Ink: Squid Fishing in Dana Point

As written in the cover story of the February 5 (Vol. 3, Issue 6) edition of the Dana Point Times, our staff, family and friends got in on the squidding action. Here are a few more photos from our trip.

We just got word from Donna Kalez at Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching that the squid are back. Trips will depart every day at 5:30 p.m. until they're gone. We had so much fun and highly recommend checking this out.

To read the full story, click on this link http://www.danapointtimes.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1216&cntnt01returnid=51 or log on to www.danapointtimes.com and search key words, DP Ink.

 

The whole gang.

   Sports Writer David Zimmerle

Graphic Designer Heidi Mefferd

Take a hike !

Did you know that our city’s parkways, trails and scenic overlooks continue to grow? Did you know that Dana Point now has a Natural Resources Officer?

Jeff Rosaler is that officer, and he’ll describe these outdoor opportunities at our Friday (19) meeting. Walking is the best exercise for many of us, and the recent opening of the new Headlands Reserve is a magnificent opportunity to do just that. You can take an easy walk along the ocean side of the Selva parking lot and enjoy the gorgeous designs in the pathway, or take the funicular down to the sand for a beach stroll , and then (even better!) back up. The less agile can enjoy the level paths on the point or from the interpretive Center through pocket mouse and gnat catcher territory. Both trails offer plenty of rest stops and look-out views .

If you feel more adventurous, you can walk to some interesting caves from the Ocean Institute, exploring many tide pools around the foot of the Headlands . You might even pick up a docent guide at the Institute gate to the beach.

Join us Friday morning (February 19) and hear all about these opportunities at Jim Miller’s Coffee Importers in the harbor. As usual, we start at 830am and Jim supplies the coffee.

Pat Fairbanks, President
Dana Point Civic Association
661-9999

Ah, Not-So-Good Government

This doesn't happen here ...

From the Los Angeles Time:

D.A. launches inquiry into Carson mayor's use of a mute button

February 9, 2010

Carson's mayor has a tool that almost any politician would love to have: a mute button. If someone talks too much at a City Council meeting, with a flick of the finger, the microphone goes dead.

 

But after receiving a complaint that Mayor Jim Dear was shutting people down because he didn't like what they were saying, rather than waiting until they had used up their allotted three minutes of free speech time, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office is looking into whether he has violated the state's open meetings law.

It's a very unique complaint," said David Demerjian, who heads the district attorney's Public Integrity Division. "I have never heard of a mute button being used by a mayor of any city in the county of Los Angeles

Here's the entire story.

Do you know this shark?

The above photo is of a mold of a shark caught in 1976 off the California coastline by the Mansur brothers. The mold, along with the photos seen below, now hang in Jon's Fish Market in the Dana Point Harbor. The story goes that the brothers hauled in the shark to Avalon Harbor at Santa Catalina Island and the sight caused quite a stir with the tourists. I've heard the days of showing off your 4,150-pound, 18 1/2-foot catches are long over.

We at the Dana Point Times hear stories about that shark from time-to-time, but recently a gentleman from Scotland called us asking about the shark. Turns out he has a molding of the original and he's looking for more. Do you have photos or memories of the shark? If so, contact him at asprott@aol.com.

 

New Fire Chief's Salary: $222,254 a Year

The Board of Directors at the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) appointed Contra Costa Chief Keith Richter as its new Fire Chief, replacing Chip Prather who is retiring this July.

Click here to see the entire announcement.

Dana Point is one of the cities served by OCFA, and Councilman Steve Weinberg represents the city on the board of directors. Unlike the sheriff's department, where the city essentially pays for the number of officers it wants, payments for the fire authority in town go straight from the property tax collected. The city doesn't really have any say.

Richter's contract calls for $222,254 annually in salary, plus a vehicle or $500 a month. He can also earn up to 10 percent of his salary annually in a bonus, if directors believe he deserves it. Finally, in addition to the usual slate of benefits, he starts the Orange County job with 120 hours of vacation on the books.

Click here to see a copy of his contract.

LA Times: St. Regis Heading for Foreclosure Sale

Todays' editions of the Los Angeles Times report that the St. Regis in Dana Point is headed toward foreclosure, behind on a $70 million loan.

From the story:

The companies that own the resort are in default on a $70-million loan from Citigroup Global Markets Realty Group, people knowledgeable about the debt said Tuesday.

Negotiations continue in an effort to avoid an auction, according to those sources. But unless something is worked out, the St. Regis will go on the block July 7, to be sold to the highest bidder, according to a "terms of public sale" document obtained by The Times.

Click here to see the whole story.

The Dana Point Times in May featured challenges facing the hotel industry in the troubled economy, and how that might impact the city. See that story here.

Man Convicted of Killing Wife in DP Poisioning Dies

Also posted on Beyond the Blackboard

Richard Overton, who was convicted of poisioning his wife, Jan, in 1988, has passed away at a hospice, where he was moved while serving a life prison term. He was 81. Jan was a trustee for the Capistrano Unified School District at the time.

Janet Overton was taking her son, Eric, on a whale-watching trip when she collapsed and died in the driveway of their Dana Point home.

The trial centered on jealousies and read like a dime-store novel, which it ultimately became.

Eric Overton and his wife, Gia, are friends of mine. As salacious as the story is, there's still some loss there.

Click here to see the entire story.

Pedestrian Bridge and Dana Point Southern Gateway Officially Opens

The new pedestrian bridge and southern gateway to Dana Point officially opened this morning at 10 a.m. with a celebration attended by more than 200 spectators. Dana Point mayor Lisa Bartlett gave a brief speech before the city council gathered for a ribbon cutting. Dana Point artists Lubica Selecka and Lance Jost were on hand for the unveiling of four mosaics that decorate the inside walls of the pedestrian bridge.

Below are photos from the event.

Lisa Bartlett, above, gave a speech to open Friday morning's ceremony.

The ribbon cutting crew (l-r): Dana Point City Manager Doug Chotkevys, Councilmember Joel Bishop, Councilmember Steven Weinberg, Mayor Lisa Bartlett, Councilmember Lara Anderson, 5th District Supervisor Pat Bates.

Lance Jost (at left) crafted the mosaic behind him. At right is Christopher Lock, who originally took the photo while on a whale watching cruise with Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching in the Dana Point Harbor.

Jost again, this time looking at his mosaic from afar.

And Jost again, posing in front of his second mosaic.

Lubica Selecka, above left, was the artist behind the historic mosaic. Standing with her is Gene Burrus, pointing the his own image. The mosaic was inspired by a photo taken in Dana Point in the early 1930s of the Burrus family. Gene, then a young boy, is in it.

Doheny Blues Festival Rocks Dana Point

Doheny Blues Festival organizer Rich Sherman estimated today that between 15,000 and 16,000 fans attended last weekend's festival. Read more about it here.

Below are our favorite shots from the festival from shooter Scott Woodruff.

BB King.

And another BB King.

Mr. Brian Setzer.

And another of Mr. Setzer.

Cedric Burnside on the porch.

The Derek Trucks band.

Ruthie Forster on the back porch.

New Dana Point Pedestrian Bridge to Feature Two Dana Point Artists

I reported this Friday's bridge opening in last week's paper, but I didn't have the room to post all of the photographs from my visit to Lubica Selecka's and Lance Jost's art studios in Capistrano Beach and Dana Point. Well, I just got off the phone with Karin Schnell over at Coastal Arts and now I'm posting them here.

Here's Lubica full tallship mosaic. I took this photo as she neared completion in her Capistrano Beach studio.

Here's a closer look at the sail. Lubica hand cut each piece of mosaic glass for this work.

A closer look at the star...

...and of the moon.

And the fish!

Here's a look at the protograph recreation. Lubica molded the dog out of clay.

A better look at the sign that once stood on the Dana Point headlands.

Here's Lance Jost's seascape. I apologize for the low quality photo. It was difficult to shoot in his workshop.

One of these surfers, according to Jost, is of the artist himself. The break is also Jost's tribute: Killer Dana.

Look familiar? This mosaic is after a shot by famous surf photographer Ron Stoner.