YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, EVENTS AND MORE JUNE 24–30, 2011 LOCAL NEWS YOU CAN USE VOLUME 4, ISSUE 25 Graduation Special Congratulations Dana Hills class of 2011 SPECIAL INSERT Dana Hills High School 2011 graduates throw their caps in celebration following the commencement www.danapointtimes.com ceremony on Wednesday at the school stadium. Photo by Alan Gibby/Zone57.com City Opposes Toll Road Fees DHHS Girls Basketball Redistricting to Increase 25 Team Honored for Highest Plan Cents as of July 1 Average GPA EYE ON DP/PAGE 3 EYE ON DP/PAGE 3 SPORTS/PAGE 28 City and Business Calendar EyE on DP Friday, June 24 the 2nd Annual Lobster Fest, all you can Summer Concerts in the Park eat steak and lobster dinner benefiting 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Free concert by Bella LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING Movies in the Park local children’s charities. cost is $75. Donna: A Tribute to stevie Nicks & Fleet- 8 p.m. The city presents a free screening For tickets and more info, see www. wood Mac at Heritage Park, 34400 Old of Despicable Me (PG) at Lantern Bay Park, danapointlobsterfest.org. Golden Lantern. Bring low back lawn 25111 Park Lantern Road. Popcorn is free chairs and blankets. For more info call and other refreshments available for pur- Sunday, June 26 949.248.3530 or see www.danapoint.org. chase. Proceeds benefit local schools and nonprofits. For questions, call community Dana Point Concours d’ Elegance Monday, June 27 services at 949.248.3530. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. see antique and vintage American and european cars, muscle City Council Meeting Canceled Saturday, June 25 cars, motorcycles, exotics and more on 6 p.m. city council chambers, 33282, DP the lawn of the Monarch Beach Golf Links Golden Lantern, 949.248.3501, www. Dana Point Dana Point Lobster Fest at st. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, 1 danapoint.org 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Doheny state Beach, 25300 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. Gen- Dana Point Harbor Drive, picnic area A. eral admission is $30, $25 for students Monarch Beach sunrise Rotary presents age 12-18. For tickets or more info, see www.danapointconcours.org. DANA POINT’s1 T op 5 H ott e s T T opi c s What’s Up With... reliance on our state’s historic use of in- 1 …an Economic Summit novation and that the $5 billion in transpor- Held in Dana Point? tation projects now in the planning stages will help jump start the economy. “More and more we will have to rely on our own THE LATEST: The Dana Point Chamber of creative and alternative ways to fund these Commerce was one of six area chambers to projects,” she said. host the summit to discuss the state of the Rancho Mission Viejo Senior Vice local business community. President of Governmental Relations and A panel of experts spoke at the breakfast The California Citizens Redistricting Commission’s proposed redistricting map. Courtesy image corporate Communications Dan Kelly said meeting June 17 at the St. Regis Monarch he believes the worst is behind us and he Beach Resort and Spa. Assembly and Senate seats in Orange the first draft of proposed district lines. expects to see new home construction help Key note speaker Edward Leamer, Direc- County. bring the county out of the recession begin- tor of the UCLA/Anderson Forecast said that The plan would create two Assembly WHAT’S NEXT: The deadline to submit ning in 2013. the current recession has been very similar districts—an Orange County coastal area written public testimony to the commission John Severini, President of the California to many of the past (1948, ’57, ’60, ’69, ’73 and reaching from the Dana Point Headlands regarding the first round draft maps is this Travel Association called travel and tourism ’81 for example) with respect to the down- north to Seal Beach and another beginning Friday, June 24.Input can be submitted via one of the biggest drivers of the Orange ward turn and continued 3 percent growth of at the Headlands and stretching south to in- email to [email protected] or by fax County economy and said that his organiza- the Gross Domestic Product—the difference clude the areas commonly known as South to 916.651.5711. The commission will accept tion will continue to be “strong proponents this time being the failure of the economy to Orange County. supplemental attachments such as maps in a of bills that drive the business economy recover within the traditionally seen two-year The two Senate districts the plan would .pdf or .jpg format. and improve the “California brand.” He also cycle. create would see one encompassing the A second round of hearings is happening pointed out that Leamer’s comment regard- “We saw some recovery in Quarter 2 of North Orange County coastal area along now and final maps come out August 15. ing exports is good news for the travel and 2010, but the economy has been idling since with central and north inland areas and tourism industry because of its dependence then,” said Leamer. another that would include South Orange FIND OUT MORE: To find out more about the on international travel. Leamer predicts that although the GDP County and North San Diego County. California Citizens Redistricting Commission will grow at the “normal” 3-percent rate The two plans would effectively divide and the criteria considered in deciding the WHAT’S NEXT: Leamer offered a predic- through 2013, the amount and areas of the City of Dana Point in two, a move that districts, visit www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov . tion that the GDP component most likely growth will not be adequate to kick start real Councilman Bill Brough called “ridiculous” To read the city’s resolution and letter to the to be the “locomotive” for recovery will be recovery. for such a small city. commission, log on to www.danapointtimes. exports and that U.S. schools need to make Topping his list of reasons for the stalled The city’s letter to the commission reads, com. —AS changes with regard to educating students recovery is the permanent displacement of in part, “The DPCC strongly feels that our for a much different future. “We need jobs. entire city should be grouped with other strong export growth,” he said. “The coun- 3 …A Smoother Ride “I don’t think the downturn has changed south Orange County cities for state Senate try is moving from an industrial to a post the fundamental spirit of our economy, and Assembly purposes because of the on Freeway? industrial economy and our high schools’ however,” said Leamer as he offered four common issues these cities face as well curriculum needs to reflect that. possible “what comes next?” scenarios for as the strong working relationships and THE LATEST: South Orange County motor- the next couple years. cooperative arrangements they have devel- ists on the San Diego Freeway will find a FIND OUT MORE: www.uclaforecast.com, According to Leamer the possibilities oped over many, many years. Shared issues safer and smoother ride after a $16 million —Andrea Swayne include a 6-percent rapid recovery, no recov- include, but are by no means limited to, project to resurface the lanes between Coast ery and normal 3-percent growth, “PIMCO ocean water quality, regional transportation Highway and Oso Creek. new normal” at 2-percent growth or a double 2 …the City Opposing at both the local (Orange County Trans- The California Transportation Commis- dip followed by 2-percent growth. The most Proposed Redistricting? portation Authority) and state (Caltrans) sion on Thursday allocated $825 million in likely scenario, he said, is no recovery and levels, regional land use planning and new funding to 92 highway, transit, and rail affordable housing.” 3-percent growth. THE LATEST: Dana Point City Council on projects statewide. The allocations included The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of the June 13 voted unanimously to oppose the nearly $9 million from Proposition 1B, a Board of Directors on June 21 voted to sup- Orange County Business Council said California Citizens Redistricting Commis- 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. To port the City Council’s resolution to object she believes that key to recovery will be a sion’s proposed plan for redistricting State (Cont. on page 4) Dana Point Times June 24–30, 2011 Page 3 www.danapointtimes.com EyE on DP (Cont. from page 3) and 2008 by promising big returns on District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh, that toll roads under the 2012 budgets approved date, the state has allocated nearly $8 billion fraudulent investments. was the last time Vendrick was seen or this month by the Transportation Corridor in Proposition 1B funds. A jury found Gary A. Shawkey, 47, of heard from. Agencies directors. The road resurfacing, which will cover Mechanicsville, VA, guilty of one felony Public Defender Brian Waite told the For the first time, a fractional increase 82 lane miles, was the only Orange County count of special circumstances murder for jury that shortly after departing on the was included in FasTrak transactions, as project included in the list. financial gain, one felony count of grand boat, Vendrick told Shawkey he was the board—including Dana Point Council- In a statement announcing the projects, theft and a sentencing enhancement for uncomfortable about making the trip on woman Lisa Bartlett—increased FasTrak Caltrans Acting Director Malcolm Dough- stealing in excess of $200,000 said a news rough waters in such a small craft and rates 5 percent and added 25 cents to cash erty said the work will have a dual impact: release from the Orange County District asked to be dropped off at the Dana Wharf transactions.