August 14-20, 2009 - As the "Voices of Monarch Beach"

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EYE ON DPH A R B O R H A P P E N I N G SWORDS AND PHOTOS BY KATHERINE SWEETThe Dream JobBoat captains at Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching enjoy long careers in the Dana Point HarborFor some, fishing is a hobby. For a lucky few at DanaPoint’s Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching,it’s the career of a lifetime.So much so that very few ever end up leaving.Donna Kalez, general manager at Dana Wharf, says thatout of 25 full-time employees, 10 employees have been withthe company for 15 years or more, and two for more than40 years.“Some people have been here for a lifetime,” said employeeMichelle McCann. “They started as soon as theywere legally able to.”What makes this career so enjoyable?Boat captain Jack Van Dyke adores everything about hisjob: the work, the ocean, the fishing – and in most cases,the people. Most of all, however, he enjoys “seeing the fishand seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they catch afish.” He has been in the sportfishing industry for 17 years.Boat captain Todd Mansur loves the simple life and thefreedom.“I love my office,” Mansur said. “I get to be out on waterand smell the fresh air.”Camaraderie may also be a factor. “It’s just like family,”said Kalez. “We’re a tight knit group.”Dana Wharf is family owned and operated: the companywas started by Don Hansen, Kalez’s father, and her brotherMike Hansen started out as a deck hand with the company.“I like that it is family run,” said McCann. “They caremore and it is more personal for the customers and theemployees.”For these boat captains, the life offers some freedom andflexibility. While Dana Wharf owns the boats they operate,the boat captain manages it. “It’s like owning your own business,”Kalez said.Started in 1954 at the San Clemente Pier with three tofour boats, the company today operates in the Dana PointHarbor and boast six boats, including the 95-foot DanaPride. The company has grown, offering up a wide varietyof experiences for those interested in ocean adventure includingeverything from fishing clinics and harbor cruisesto both day and evening whale-watching excursions.Kalez was recruited early into the family trade: her firstjob at age 16 was a rod scrubber. She claims she soongraduated on to working in the front office. Kalez soon discoveredshe enjoyed the work. “I liked the day to day anddealing with customers,” said Kalez. Fast forward 20 years,Kalez is still happy working at the Wharf.“I like providing life-long memories for customers,” saidKalez, “and making sure everyone has a great adventure.”Adventure may very well be the best way to describetheir days.“There is always excitement in this job,” boat captainChris Pica, an employee for 20 years, said. “Everything isconstantly changing. You’re never stuck in the same old,Dana Wharf captain Jack Van Dyke (right) poses with his boat crew.Above: Dana Wharf boat captain Todd Mansur on his boat after afishing trip. Right: Customers wait to exit the boat after a fishing trip.same old.”But excitement is not the end of the story.Pica enjoys the educational aspect to his work: he lovesteaching people how to fish and to protect the environment.“There’s a purpose behind that for me,” Pica said.A self-professed lover of animals, Pica recalls one daywhen he discovered the largest pod of killer whales everto be this far south. “There were maybe 60 to 70 whales,”Pica said. “It was quite a sight.”At this point in his career, Pica has seen it all: greatwhite sharks, gray whales, blue whales, humpbackwhales and more.“I’ve seen amazing things people have only dreamedabout,” Pica said. It is still exciting to him to see thewhales even day after day.Pica stumbled across the job by accident. As a recentcollege graduate with a major in business, he was insearch of a summer job. He called up his friend MikeHansen, looking for a position as an office manager.Hansen encouraged him to work as a deck hand instead.“He told me I would go crazy working in the office, andI should go work on the boats.” According to Pica, Mikewas right: it’s been a “summer job” for Pica the last 20years.His other jobs, including vice president of productionat a furniture company, were “no comparison.”At Dana Wharf, he can truly be captain of his own shipand be outside on the ocean.His only complaint? Sanding down the boat in theshipyard. “Yuck,” Pica said.Boat captains keep a busy day. The boat crew arrivesone to two hours early to prep the boat. The trip startswith a seminar on fishing: how to bait hooks, use reels,fight a fish, etc. After locating a school of fish visually orelectronically, it’s time to drop anchor and fish, with theboat crew coaching the customers through the process,providing tips and strategies.Some days, of course, rake more fish than others: thetotal catch ranges from zero to thousands. “It’s fishing,”said Van Dyke. “You never know. One day you catch a lot,another day you don’t.”Pica reports that it’s not purely a matter of luck, but “amatter of skill, expertise and technique.”“That’s what makes it fun,” Van Dyke said. “It’s notguaranteed.”The hours can be demanding, with days from 10 to 17hours. While Pica sometimes leaves for work at 2:30 a.m.,returning at maybe 8 p.m., he still strongly professes toenjoy his job.“It’s tough hours but you got to gear up and do it,” Picasaid.The trips, of course, are exciting for the customers aswell.“It was great just being out on the boat and in the water,”said customer Lenn Francis. “We didn’t catch much but hada lot of fun. The camaraderie was great.”These captains proclaim to be addicted to fishing. VanDyke reports loving to fish so much that he fishes even onhis days off.“We all do,” Mansur said.Mansur plans to stick with the career as long as he can.“It’s what I’ll do til I die,” he said.Catering to both adults and children, Dana Wharf is abig draw, boasting customers from all over Southern California,plus many tourists from out of town. Dana Wharfalso donates hundreds of free trips a year to charity. “Welove to give back to the community,” Kalez said. They hopeto start an afterschool fishing program for fourth and fifthgraders soon. DPDana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching is located at34675 Golden Lantern St. in the Dana Point Harbor. Formore information, call 949.496.5794 or visit www.danawharf.com.Page 6 • Dana Point Times • August 14–20, 2009www.danapointtimes.com
Eye on DPNews 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 ou Members of the Dana Point’s Youth Boardwere recently appointed. Out of a pool of 25applicants, only 11 will serve on the board forthe 2009-10 school year. Members of theYouth Board are incredibly active in the community,helping with events like the Festival ofWhales Parade and the Turkey Trot. Joining theboard is valuable for college applications andhelps fulfill community service requirements.Board Members: Courtney Barrett (senior,DHHS)Sean Conway (junior, DHHS),Sam Fitzmaurice (junior, DHHS), JenniferKupferman (senior, DHHS), Jeremy LaForge(sophomore, DHHS), Matthew Myers (senior,DHHS), Christine Nowland (senior, SCHS),Sean O’Connor (sophomore, DHHS), MatthewRoknich (freshman, DHHS), Kiyana Salkeld(senior, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School), BrianTolles (senior, DHHS)Members At-Large: Amanda Anderson(sophomore, DHHS), Jeremy Bass (junior,DHHS), Lindsey Bitowft (sophomore, DHHS),Sandra Bitowft (sophomore, DHHS), CarlaCespedes (junior, SJH), Jennifer Chambers(sophomore, DHHS), Carlia Clippinger (sophomore,DHHS), Taylor Gustafson (freshman,DHHS), Scott Kaplan (senior, DHHS), EllenLomonico (junior, DHHS), Rachel Nishikawa(junior, West River Academy), Connor Restadins(senior, DHHS), Maggie Spencer (junior,DHHS), Sara Vandegrift (freshman, DHHS).—Compiled by Staffu Attention surfing lovers! The dates havebeen set for the Doheny Longboard SurfingAssociation’s (DLSA) 20th annual DaleVelzy Surf Classic and Luau. Taking intoaccount the best tides and swell predictions,the event will be held on Saturday,September 26, at Dana Point’s DohenyState Beach.Open to the public, the classic honorsone of the most famous surfers and surfboardshapers of all time, Dale Velzy, whopassed away in 2005. This annual eventoffers fun for all, featuring everything from asurf contest, a luau, a Polynesian review anddancing under the stars with a live band.“The 20th edition of this surf classichas a very special place in the hearts of allDoheny Longboard Members,” said NylesSchafhauser, DLSA President. “Dale Velzywas an extremely special person to us alland this program is our yearly tribute to oneof the true pioneers of the sport.”The affair kicks-off with the surf contestat 6:30 a.m. The luau festivities begin at3 p.m. followed by the Polynesian review,awards ceremony, raffles and then dancing.For Luau information or tickets, contactNyles at Surfcar1@aol.com; for surfing eventinformation and sign ups, contact MarkCalkins at mc250c@aol.com.u Dana Point’s Ocean Institute will present its25th annual Toshiba Tall Ships Festival—thelargest annual gathering of tall ships on the WestCoast—the weekend of September 11-13, withactivities from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.–5p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Come and explorethe majesty and wonder of tall ships throughthe smells, sounds and sights of real working tallships. Celebrate the area’s rich maritime historythrough interactive living-history encampments,including blacksmiths, scrimshaw artists andthe infamous Port Royal Privateers. Inside theOcean Institute, explore their work on protectingthe local watersheds through hands-on labs andart activities, or get up-close and personal withsome of the ocean’s most amazing sea creatures,including sea stars, jellies, rays and octopus. Thecost for members is $6.50 for adults and $4.50for children; non-members pay $10 for adultsand $8 for children. Cost includes tall ship decktours and entrance into the Ocean Institute.Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute is a nonprofitorganization dedicated to ocean preservationthrough education, and is located at 24200Dana Point Harbor Dr. For more information, visittheir Web site at www.ocean-institute.org or call949.496.2274.Courtesy photou Interested in geology? Join Camp Host John for a Geology Talk and Walk on “Geology of theDoheny and Dana Point Region” on Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m. Following the workshop, continuethe fun with an outing to the Dana Point Harbor on Saturday, August 29, at 10 a.m. to geta first-hand look at some incredible geology. Meet at the Doheny State Beach Campfire Centerfor both programs. For more information, visit their Web site at www.dohenystatebeach.org orcall 949.496.2704.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 editorial@danapointtimes.com.DPSheriff’sBlotterCompiled by ANGELA SMITHAll information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’sDepartment Web site (www.ocsd.org) and reflects data availablefrom calls placed from the field by the responding officer(s). Anarrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a samplingof the entries listed on the OCSD Web site.Tuesday, August 11thVandalism ReportCamino Capistrano and El Camino Real (9:33p.m.) A man called police because someonehad thrown a brick or a large rock at his carand had cracked his windshield. Where theobject came from was unknown.Disturbance-Music or PartyCastano Drive, 33800 Block (6:48 p.m.) A DJwas disturbing the peace by mixing music athis home. This has been a regular problem.Citizen AssistMesa Vista Drive, 33000 Block (3:16 p.m.)Someone had placed a dead rat in a trap onthe caller’s porch.Monday, August 10Assist Outside AgencyDana Point Harbor Drive and EnsenadaPlace (8:28 p.m.) A pit bull attacked andkilled another dog. The dog and owner weredetained.DisturbanceEl Encanto Avenue, 33800 Block (6:55 p.m.)A man called police because his neighborcursed and squirted him with a hose as hewalked by.IllegalLY Parked VehicleVia California, 26600 Block (1:40 p.m.)A car was parked with two wheels on thecurb and two wheels in the street.DisturbancePacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (11:50a.m.) A man was behind a building urinatingand yelling.Suspicious Person/CircumstanceGolden Lantern, 32500 Block (11:16 a.m.)A delivery person called police becausea store that was supposed to open at 10a.m. was not yet open. The person wasconcerned because the week before anemployee of the store and a delivery personwere tied up during a robbery.Disturbance-Music or PartySilver Lantern, 34000 Block (3:43 a.m.)A caller told police that there was a loudparty nearby with bright lights and slammingdoors.Sunday, August 9payment for a debt. When the owner foundout and went to get it the person who had itrefused to give it back.DisturbanceCopper Lantern, 33800 Block (10:59 p.m.)A woman called police because her upstairsneighbor was stomping on the floor.DisturbanceDoheny Park Road and Camino Capistrano(9:39 p.m.) A woman called police whenshe saw a man in a muscle shirt in a physicalfight with a woman. The pair was seenwalking towards the mobile home park.Citizen AssistDana Point Harbor Drive, 24800 Block(8:39 p.m.) An employee wanted to filea “little” report against a guest who wasthrowing objects at him.Assist Outside AgencyAmber Lantern and Pacific Coast Highway(8:10 p.m.) A person called police becausethey had overdosed on their meds andwanted to be taken to a mental hospital.Indecent ExposureDel Obispo Street, 34000 Block (6:40 p.m.)A man was sitting on a park bench with hispants down waiting for someone to walkpast him so he could flash them.DisturbancePacific Coast Highway, 34100 Block (11:40a.m.) A known transient was in a parkinglot holding two 40 ouncers.DisturbanceMariana Drive, 33700 Block (3:14 a.m.) Aman and his girlfriend were on the balconytalking when his neighbor told them to shutup and then threw something at them hittinghis girlfriend in the head.Saturday, August 8Disturbance-Auto InvolvedDel Obispo Street and Stonehill Drive (8:41p.m.) A large motor coach had been runningin the parking lot all day. The caller said it wasnoisy and smelly.Drunk in CarStonehill Drive and Del Obispo (1:58 p.m.)A person was sitting in their car with an openwine cooler.Suspicious Person/CircumstanceQuail Run, 25600 Block (10:03 a.m.) A manthought there was possibly a theft ring goingon and that his 99 Honda Accord was highlywanted.Friday, August 7DisturbanceCockleshell Drive, 33300 Block (2:37 p.m.)A man called police because his girlfriendand her sister were fighting over money. Thecaller said he was in fear for his life.DisturbanceLa Plaza and Violet Lantern (1:05 p.m.)A man called police when a male transienturinated in front of his children.DisturbanceDel Prado and Blue Lantern (9:34 p.m.)Juveniles had put duct tape across the roadwaythen they proceeded to run off and hidein the bushes.Citizen AssistCamarillo Street, 24700 Block (11:34 p.m.)A man called police because he had lent hisguitar to a friend who had lent it to anotherfriend who had given it to someone else asSuspicious Person/CircumstanceSilver Lantern, 33900 Block (11:30 a.m.)A caller told police that toilet paper andfeces from a building were running out of apipe and pouring into the street.DisturbanceMariner Drive, 23700 Block (12:09 a.m.)Police were called about a neighbor who wasthrowing balls against the bathroom wall justto annoy the caller.www.danapointtimes.com August 14–20, 2009 • Dana Point Times • Page 7
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August 14-20, 2009 - As the "Voices of Monarch Beach"

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