GETTING OUT/PAGE

Editor’s Pick

Photo: File/courtesy of Sandy Simmons Photography ©2017

SUNDAY | 28 DANA POINT CLASSIC CAR SHOW 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce presents the Dana Point Classic Car show. The event is free for spectators. Located on Del Prado Avenue between Golden Lantern and the Pacific Coast Highway/Del Prado Archway, this event attracts thousands of spectators to enjoy hundreds of custom and classic cars, awards, food trucks, beer gardens and more. Dana Point Car Show, 34183 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite A, Dana Point. 949.496.1555. carshow@danapointchamber.com. danapointcarshow.com.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

DANA POINT TIMES

FRIDAY | 26

OC PARKS SUNSET CINEMA: ‘LUCA’ 6 p.m. The County of Orange and OC Parks are pleased to welcome back the annual Sunset Cinema film series featuring 12 free movies at OC Parks. Pack a picnic, blankets and beach chairs to enjoy recent favorites and introduce young ones to beloved classic films. All movies are free to attend, with free parking and pre-show entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. and showtimes starting after sunset. Food trucks and concession booths will offer food and beverages for purchase on-site. Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach, 33333 South Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 714.973.6865. ocparks.com.

CULINARY COOKOUT: TEXAS BBQ 6-9 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is bringing back its celebrated Culinary Cookout on the Coast, an outdoor dining series set on the edge of an expansive bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Pitmaster Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue will kick off the series with a Texas Barbecue event. The event costs $150 per person and includes two drink tickets, tax and gratuity. Dogs are welcome for an additional $25 donation, which will support the Veterans Initiative of Canine Companions for Independence. Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point. 949.240.2000. ritzcarlton.com.

BIOLUMINESCENCE NIGHT CRUISE 8:30-10:30 p.m. Learn about the remarkable ability of some marine animals to glow in the dark and witness the curiously beautiful phenomenon. A meter net is deployed 600 feet deep to capture thousands of these drifting organisms, which can make their own light. Tickets are $50 per adult, $45 for children between 3 and 14 years of age, and free for children under 2. The Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

‘THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW’ 7:30 p.m. For one final weekend, the Cabrillo Playhouse will perform The Rocky Horror Show, a loving homage to the classic B sci-fi film and horror genres with an irresistible rock ’n’ roll score. The show, a hilarious, wild ride that no audience will soon forget, tells the story of one fateful night when Brad Majors and his fiancée, Janet Weiss, innocently set out to visit an old professor. A thunderstorm and a flat tire force them to seek help at the castle of Dr. Frank ’N’ Furter, a mad, cross-dressing scientist with a manic genius and insatiable libido. Brad, Janet, and Frank ’N’ Furter’s cohorts are swept up into the scientist’s latest experiment. Admission is $33. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. cabrilloplayhouse.org. ‘THE FUTURE IS FEMALE’ GOODBYE SUMMER COMEDY SHOW 8 p.m. “The Future is Female” and Knuckleheads will celebrate the end of the summer with comedy and music by the Where 2 Next Band. Crystal Su will host this week’s show, which will feature Breanna Kelley as the headlining act, Anastasia Washington, Katie Male, Viva Rose, and many more. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER 9 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Straight 78 will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT SAN JUAN HILLS GOLF CLUB 6:30-9:30 p.m. Local band Family Style will perform. Stop in to listen and dance, perhaps after playing a round of golf. San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.565.4855. sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

Welcome

TO THE Home Improvement Guide

After spending so much time indoors these past few years, there’s no better time than now to consider sprucing up your humble abode with new décor or just making certain upgrades to protect your investment.

Allow us to assist with our Home Improvement Guide, in which we help you explore ways of giving your household, both inside and out, a fresh look, as well as offer some insight on home foundation matters. For our latest guide, we dove deep into our bag of gardening tools as we explore the benefits of converting lawns into more drought-tolerant landscaping. Doing so can help homeowners save money and water amid the state’s ongoing drought. We also chat with the good folks at Plant Depot to gather some tips on how to prepare your garden for the fall, as well as get their recommendations for beginner gardeners who have begun their journey into indoor gardening. Though summer is nearing its end, pool maintenance is a year-round responsibility for many homeowners. Fortunately for you, we talked to some local professionals to give their expert advice on properly caring for your pool and keeping the water healthy. Dive into these helpful stories and more as you deservedly work on improving your home.

Renters & Renovations

Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities Regarding Upgrades and Alterations

By Shawn Raymundo

Home is certainly where you make it.

But what if your home is also a rental? As a tenant, you certainly have considerable latitude when it comes to decorating your space and laying out your furniture.

As for making renovations and alterations, well, that’s where things get a bit more complicated.

Those who practice and write about real estate emphasize the importance of conferring with the rental agreement before getting started on any major project.

While most lease agreements are fairly standard and include boilerplate language, there may be certain conditions regarding renovations.

As Rick McIntire, an Orange County-based real estate agent, previously explained to Picket Fence Media, even a good-intentioned installment can end up being costly for the renter when they are looking to move out.

Likewise, the home and property owners of rentals should also first review their agreement with their tenant before starting any sort of construction, Rose Morrison, a real estate writer, explained.

Communication is also key—and that goes both ways. Whether it’s the renter or the property owner who’s looking to make upgrades to the home or apartment, both should communicate their wants and needs.

For renters, gain the approval of the landlord before nailing that first hammer (figurately speaking); and for owners, let the tenant know that construction crews are about to go to work outside of their window.

Though communication is important for all parties involved to maintain a positive relationship, tenants should know that in California, landlords can enter the premises for several reasons, including emergency situations, or “to make necessary or agreed-upon repairs, decorations, alterations, or other improvements,” according to the state’s guide for tenants.

As for the topic of repairs, well, that’s a whole other laundry list of details that we can’t fit into this one article. But for information on the subject, you can check out the tenants’ guide at courts. ca.gov/documents/California-Tenants-Guide.pdf.

Outdoor Tunes

San Clemente-Based Sonance Creates Intimate Soundscapes

By C. Jayden Smith

Since 1984, Sonance has been an industry leader in providing high-quality audio equipment to residences, businesses, and everything in between.

The company has progressed significantly since the days of cofounder Scott Struthers and his partner working in a garage with a hot glue gun and crude tools, to an entity comprising teams of acoustic and engineering experts all working in tandem to create the best possible products.

High-end, audio-video equipment was Struthers’ initial focus in 1983, before finding that there was a desire in the home design market to put speakers in the walls.

“It had to be a blend of the high-fidelity speakers, but it also had to be unobtrusive, so the interior decorators or whoever was running the design of the house (could have) something that more or less (went) away,” Struthers says.

After a couple of years passed, in which Sonance fielded requests from around the San Clemente area to install audio systems in unique areas such as light fixtures, the company began to take a commercial approach.

It made appearances at trade shows and hired independent representatives for marketing purposes, and “it took off like a rocket ship” as a result, according to Struthers.

“For years, we’d been doing a few hundreds of thousands of dollars (yearly) in contracting work, and then the first year we ever really got serious about Sonance, which was a speaker company, it went up to $850,000 the first year,” he says. “It was just on fire.”

As analog speakers grew in popularity, so did Sonance’s business and production. The team built speaker switchers and learned how to apply numerous pairs of speakers to amplifiers, earning a significant role in the industry as founding members of the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA).

The growth of the industry of designing luxury audio systems, home theater, and other in-home entertainment options occurred around the time in which Sonance was well-positioned to take advantage, Struthers recalls.

An increasing number of competitors joined the company as makers of in-wall speakers, but through an established brand and a relationship with electronics company Bang & Olufsen, Sonance pressed on.

The team signed B&O representatives from across the country to carry their products and expand Sonance’s reach further.

“At that point, we were 25 years old, and we were able to basically cover the whole

Photos: Courtesy of Sonance

United States within one year,” says Struthers. “I think for a bunch of guys without a lot of experience, we were able to get a lot of speakers sold really quickly, especially when it was a new category.”

The move toward creating outdoor equipment began around the 1990s, when Sonance-produced speaker systems were designed to fit under eaves, or the parts of a roof that extend beyond the side of the building. In the 2000s, the company created speakers that could be hidden near bushes and other places around a yard.

Struthers remembers that one specific factor within the production process held more significance than others.

“Outside, you’re now getting hit by ultraviolet light, so getting the plastic that stood up to the outdoor environment was a big deal,” he says of the speakers. “The grill material was a big deal, because some of the original materials were like aluminum or something, and until you found the right metal, they corroded terribly.”

He added that the advantages of being able to move speakers all around a yard included not subjecting them to being placed over a hot surface, such as a barbecue grill, and equally spreading the sounds across the landscape instead of having multiple quiet areas during an event.

Hiding the equipment from view is another aspect Sonance regards highly.

“Like what we were inside, outside (the speakers were) now designed to disappear,” says Struthers. “That’s one of the biggest premises of our company.”

Homeowners can benefit from having the pleasures of creating an intimate soundscape for various occasions and elevating the activity.

“You can put it around your basketball court, you can play music, put it around your picnic table in your backyard, whatever you want to do,” Struthers said. “Now you can really have an acoustic soundscape that matches the design of whatever your activity (is) outside.”

In an email, Sonance representatives add that the speaker placement faces toward the listening area instead of toward neighboring yards, delivering an “even blanket of sound throughout the space.”

In terms of the design and installation process, Sonance uses independent companies such as Audiovisions, which specializes in smart home technology solutions. Like Sonance, some have been around for decades, allowing for company leaders to build experience and evolve to having luxury showrooms.

The companies that Sonance works with, Struthers says, have a lot of experience working with interior designers and architects. As the home design industry has evolved, so too have the “wonderful products” that those companies have created over the years, he adds.

The Sonance brand has continued to grow toward the present day, expanding its manufacturing capabilities by acquiring the James Loudspeaker speaker company in 2020.

“Sonance is offered through direct dealers who specify custom integration systems, and the brand also has a strong presence in retail through spaces like Best Buy,” the company said. “Sonance partners with both the Custom Integrator and the retail channel to support a successful implementation of the audio experience for both aesthetics and installation.”

With the company’s global stature, its established tenets serve as a solid ground as the future approaches, according to the email.

“Looking forward, Sonance leans on its 4 foundational pillars for guidance: Develop technology that is Designed to Disappear, cultivate relationships that demonstrate an Authentic Partnership, continue to build upon a Heritage of Innovation, and leverage our position in the community to take steps toward Making the World a Better Place.”

ECO-FRIENDLY APPLIANCES

How to Upgrade with Efficiency in Mind

By Keaton Larson

Home renovations are top of mind for many Americans this year. About 55% of homeowners renovated their homes in 2021, according to Houzz and Home survey—the highest number over the past four years—and the trend looks similar for 2022.

When renovating a home, upgrading appliances can be a large part of the conversation. But how can the appliances we upgrade save us money in our pockets and resources like energy and water for our region?

One of the best ways to understand the energy efficiency of a product is by checking their Energy Star, a government-backed certification that helps consumers and businesses understand how environmentally friendly a product is.

For example, dishwashers that are certified with an Energy Star can save more than 8,000 gallons of water a year, according to SoCalGas, and about $130 annually on your utility bills.

Energy Star-certified appliances like clothes washers, too, can see similar benefits. These certified models can use 25% less energy and 33% less water and can keep about $370 in your pocket each year compared to a regular clothes washer.

The Municipal Water District of Orange County offers a rebate starting at $85 for high efficiency clothes washers, and SoCalGas also offers rebates for energy efficient appliances across the board.

Energy Star-certified natural gas ovens, dryers, water heaters, fireplace inserts, and pool heaters are all products that SoCalGas offers rebates for.

For those of us who like to relax by a fireplace during the winter—there are some of us in California—SoCalGas offers a $300 and a $500 rebate for natural gas powered fireplaces.

Wood burning fireplaces might have a sense of nostalgia to them, but the health benefits of an alternative like natural gas are worth the switch. Burning wood can spread unwanted particles, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds into the environment and throughout your home that can be negative to your health and lungs.

Even something as simple as replacing old light bulbs inside your home with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), which use about 60-70% less energy than incandescent bulbs, can help reduce your energy costs overall.

Both Energy Star and SoCalGas have marketplaces, as well as tips and advice on upgrading, that allow you to search and compare appliances to find a product than suits your budget and energy efficiency preferences.

Also, stores like Dewey’s in San Clemente are local options to compare the benefits of appliances in-person.

Weathering the Storm

Alpha Structural Gives Insight, Advice on Home Foundation Matters

Homeowners in California face unique challenges when it comes to making sure their house is in order—quite literally.

Whether it be making sure it sits on a stable foundation, ensuring its drainage systems are not clogged and seeing that walls stay standing and uncracked, people living in the Golden State—particularly the coastal area with its bluff-side homes— have a lot to monitor.

Fortunately, Alpha Structural is ready to help.

The foundation repair company serves Orange County and the wider Southern California area. CEO Dave Tourjé says most foundation repairs can be tracked back to water problems, which, in turn, come from a lack of control when rain occurs.

“The first thing is control of water and water flow,” Tourjé says.

When rainfall is left uncontrolled and unhandled, the soil then moves. One way that homeowners can start to handle drainage is by having roof gutters, Tourjé says. Which roof gutter is best for a home depends on the individual home’s design, says Tourjé, adding that expensive homes primarily have copper gutters, which he considers the best material for them.

Alpha Structural can fix issues with roof gutters, or even if a home has sunken.

An issue that can pop up with homes built in the 1980s, or before then, is that they may have more of a tendency to sink because their building standards were less stringent in comparison to today’s.

“The soil engineering standards are

By Collin Breaux

different,” Tourjé says.

Most homes Alpha Structural fixes are from the 1980s and older. Tourjé advises those homeowners to be mindful of their surroundings.

“The earlier you get, the more you should be paying attention,” he says.

Warning signs of a bad foundation include floors sloping, cracks forming on walls, and doors that “stick.”

“These things only happen when a home is sinking,” Tourjé says.

Alpha Structural is celebrating its 30th year of business, and Tourjé has been licensed since 1998. The process for homeowners to potentially have Alpha Structural work on their homes is by first calling the company, which will then book an appointment to come out to the home for an inspection.

Alpha Structural’s assessors look over the home, propose next steps, then give a cost estimate that factors in engineering work and construction costs.

In addition to construction, Alpha Structural also does engineering. It designs and builds foundation improvements.

“Sometimes, it’s just a very simple repair,” Tourjé says. “If we install straps to a foundation that isn’t moving that much, it’s a few thousand (dollars).”

Major foundation work can top two, three or four thousand dollars. Alpha Structural is already looking at six-figure jobs in Orange County.

Tourjé stresses that his company does not paint, handle drywall work or do other miscellaneous home improvements.

More information can be found at alphastructural.com.

FLOORING

Wood v. Tile v. Carpet: What to Know

By Keaton Larson

Homeowners looking to make home improvements have numerous questions, and one of the more expensive decisions to make can relate to flooring.

How does one choose between wood, tile, or carpet flooring? How do you know which choice is best for your needs and budget?

First, wood and tile flooring are more durable than carpet and likely healthier. Yes, you will pay a higher cost for wood and tile options, but these floors will have longer lifespans than carpet.

Solid hardwood floors are one of the most durable options on the market, yet they are generally the most expensive. The installed cost could range from $5 to $10 per square foot, according to Consumer Reports, but the floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times.

If hardwood floors are too expensive, there are several options that maintain the style and have similar durability such as engineered wood, laminated flooring, vinyl, or tile.

Tile flooring can be just as durable, if not more, than hardwood, and ranges from $8 to $15 per square foot. Ceramic tile tends to resist the wear of daily life, moisture, dents, and stains better than most other flooring options. The humidity and moisture of an area, and the type of wood used, can affect wood floors unlike ceramic tile.

Carpet will likely require the most maintenance from a homeowner. More accidents and spills are trapped in carpet, requiring more cleaning. Carpet floors are more comfortable to walk on, though, and they can be some of the most cost-effective options.

However, the American Lung Association (ALA) advocates homeowners choose hard-surface flooring when they can because of pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, cockroach allergens, particle pollution, lead, mold spores, pesticides, dirt and dust that can get trapped inside carpet.

These pollutants and small particles disperse into the air when vacuuming or doing something as simple as walking through your home.

If you decided to purchase carpet flooring, the ALA recommends looking for a product with fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—gases found in flooring products and installation processes.

These chemicals can be harmful to a homeowner, and when purchasing products with VOCs, always ask to air the new carpet outside before installation.

Hardwood and carpet are still the most popular options for homeowners, though, with about half of consumers updating their look to one of those two options in 2021, according to Floor Trends Magazine.

Carpet is quiet and soft, and comfort is still a big factor in the decision-making process, especially after spending so much time at home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whatever decision you end up making, it is always best to understand the look you want, the cost you are willing to spend, and the durability for which you are hoping. Nailing down those three factors will make it easier to narrow down your choices.

PLANT DEPOT RECOMMENDS Five Easy Starter Plants for Any Beginner Gardener

By Breeana Greenberg

S

tarting one’s journey into indoor gardening can be daunting, but building confidence by choosing forgiving, resilient and easyto-care-for plants can help ease worries of not having a “green thumb.”

Plant Depot owner Jennifer Kittle recommends beginners use well-draining soil so that plants are not sitting in water between waterings.

“Pick a day of the week that’s like your day to care for your plant babies, and make that your day,” Kittle says. “It helps to avoid the overwatering, because there aren’t very many house plants that need water more than once a week.”

Plant Depot also recommends using seaweed extract every time you water to give your plants an extra “health and vitality” boost.

Keeping your plants’ leaves clean also helps to keep them healthy, Kittle adds. Wiping down your plant’s leaves will decrease their likelihood of getting pests and diseases.

1 / SNAKE PLANT

These are one of the most resilient plants for a beginner gardener. Snake plants are hardy and can handle both overwatering and underwatering, low- and bright-light conditions.

However, they prefer bright indirect light and infrequent waterings.

Plant your snake plant in a well-draining potting mix or cacti mix and allow the soil to dry out between waterings—generally, about once a month.

2 / DRACAENA

This slow-growing plant prefers bright indirect or filtered light but can tolerate lower light conditions. Plant your Dracaena in a well-draining soil mixture and allow the soil to dry out between waterings, generally once a month.

3 / ZZ PLANT

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, also known as ZZ plants, are a great “neglect and forget” plant, as they are very low-maintenance.

This slow-growing plant prefers bright indirect light but can tolerate lower light. Plant your ZZ plant in a well-draining soil mixture and allow the soil to dry out between waterings, generally, once a month.

4 / POTHOS

With so many varieties of Pothos, these easy-to-care-for vining plants make a great addition to a beginner’s collection, from the variegated “N’Joy,” the freckled “satin Pothos,” to the vibrant “neon Pothos.”

Pothos prefer a humid environment but can tolerate a drier environment well and are forgiving of neglect or overwatering. Plant your Pothos in a well-draining soil mixture and allow the top of the soil to dry out between waterings.

Pothos like to be displayed in bright, indirect light; however, they will also tolerate lower light. Direct light may burn its leaves.

5 / MONSTERA DELICIOSA

Large, leafy Monstera Deliciosa make a great focal piece for any home. These tropical, fast-growing, vining plants prefer warm, humid environments; however, they can tolerate a drier environment.

If your Monstera develops browntipped leaves, it may be a sign of too little humidity. Plant your Monstera in well-draining soil and water roughly once a week when the top of the soil is dried out.

Monstera like to be displayed in bright, indirect light.

Snake Plant

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Saves Water and Money

By Breeana Greenberg

Replacing lawns with California Native and drought-tolerant landscaping can be a great way for homeowners to save both water and money as the state endures years of drought.

Dana Point resident Kathryn McClelland, who converted her front garden into California Native landscaping, recommends planting plants such as milkweed and butterfly bush to attract pollinators.

McClelland planted a patch of milkweed in her front garden to attract Monarch butterflies and has had to extend the patch into her backyard to be able to feed all of the caterpillars that have visited her garden.

California Native landscaping can be overwhelming to people who are unfamiliar with it, McClelland says, so she recommends starting small and hiring a professional.

“If you’re not well-versed in it, there are landscape architects that can help you,” McClelland says. “There’s lots of resources, and if you feel like you can start small, just start in a small area.”

Matt Johnson, owner of Western Garden Designs, Inc., explains that there are lots of great native and pollinator plants available for homeowners to plant.

“We do like to use natives; we can also mix in some other plants that do well in our climate,” Johnson says. “The good thing about our climate is there’s a lot of areas around the world that have similar climates.”

“There’s a decent variety to choose from,” Johnson continues. “A lot of people have this impression of native landscapes as kind of like a desert state or something like that, but there are a lot of plants that will flower, attract birds and hummingbirds and stuff that you want in the yard.”

Homeowners have a wide variety of flowering, California Native and drought-tolerant plants to choose from to attract pollinators. Hummingbirds and butterflies tend to be attracted to red, yellow, orange, and pink flowers.

“I think that’s really important to have the flowers that bring in the birds and the bees and the different things that pollinate, because it’s good for the plants and nice to have those creatures in your yard,” Johnson says. “So, definitely, butterfly gardens are popular.”

The No. 1 reason to plant native landscaping, Johnson explains, is that native plants thrive in local soil and watering conditions. Homeowners looking to replace their lawns with waterwise landscaping can also apply for turf replacement rebate programs.

“We basically live in a desert, and so watering is on everybody’s mind,” Johnson says.

For homeowners choosing to replace their lawns with drought-tolerant and California Native landscaping, the first step is to remove the existing lawn and its roots. With more invasive varieties of grass such as Bermuda and

PLANT DEPOT OFFERS TIPS ON PREPPING YOUR GARDEN FOR FALL

Now is a good time to mulch. Early fall tends to be the hottest time of the year, so Plant Depot recommends that homeowners mulch to help control the temperature of the soil and help retain some moisture.

In helping soil retain its moisture, mulching can be helpful to decrease watering needs.

Though it’s a little too early to start pruning, Plant Depot owner Jennifer Kittle says that fall is a great time to weed and feed your garden.

Now, Kittle adds, is a great time to plant a second round of summer vegetables during this seasonal transitionary period.

Kittle also noted that early fall is a great time to get your garden ready for your winter crop.

St. Augustine, not watering and removing the dead grass will not get rid of it, Johnson says.

In these cases, homeowners may need to use a product to kill the roots.

“Once you’ve gotten rid of the grass and you’ve cut it all out, then you can introduce different plants in that space or you can design it in a way where there’s alternatives for grass,” Johnson says.

Buffalo Grass is a California Native grass that requires less water and less maintenance than a traditional lawn, Johnson explains. There are also low-growing, ground-cover plants that can give the look of a grassy area without the same watering and maintenance needs of traditional lawns.

“It’s a matter of what space you have, how you’re going to utilize the space,” Johnson says, adding: “I always recommend hiring a designer and getting a consultation with the landscape designer who can come out, give you their opinion of the space, talk you through the process, understand what is involved and what our goals are, so they can design the space accordingly, whether it’s to your budget or to your use.”

A Deep Dive into Pool Maintenance

Expert Tips on How to Care for Your Pool Year-Round

By Hayze Law

The laundry list of pool care chores is enough to make anyone’s head swim. If you dive in without becoming properly informed, you may just find yourself in over your head.

To avoid that sinking feeling, there are several resources to pool, like the help of local professionals and quality equipment, to maintain proper care and ensure the overall health of your water.

Serge Simard, owner of Plumeria Pools, is a local pool expert who has been in the business for more than 20 years. Speaking with Picket Fence Media, Simard outlined his top tips for maintaining a pool—from balancing chemistry of the water, to caring for and utilizing proper equipment.

First and foremost, a healthy pool is dependent on the balance of the chemicals in the water, he says.

“When the chemistry is off-balance, it becomes corrosive to the equipment and to the surface of the pool,” Simard says.

For those who opt to test the water on their own, he recommends using a professional-grade toolkit for inspection, though cautioning to check that the bottles are not expired to avoid an inaccurate reading.

Beyond just checking the chlorine and the pH, toolkits also check the total alkalinity, which acts as a buffer to control the pH in the pool, and the conditioner that stabilizes the chlorine, so it lasts longer.

Another method for checking the chemical levels in a pool is by using strips; however, once those are opened and exposed to oxygen, they are no longer accurate after about a week.

For those just starting out, Simard recommends calling a professional, to assist in the process and set you on the right foot. From there, it is best to test pool water at least once a week, if not more, to ensure the levels are balanced, and to keep the sanitizer at optimal levels.

In reference to the balance of the pool, it is also important to keep in mind the hardness of the water, which is particularly hard in Southern California because of warm weather, mineral content of the groundwater, and lack of regular rainfall.

This creates a “shell” of sorts, making it difficult for the chemicals to permeate the water, according to Simard. To combat this, he recommends pool owners empty their pool every seven to 10 years for an acid wash, which cleans the surface of the pool.

In the meantime, he cautions against buying products for the pool, beyond the necessary balancing chemicals.

“The more stuff you put in your pool, the harder your water is going to get over the years, so only add what you need,” Simard says.

Aside from pool chemistry, pool owners should know how to care for and utilize their equipment—specifically, the pump, heater, and filter.

At the heart of the pool system is the pump, which circulates the chemicals evenly throughout the pool, and can be a costly use of energy.

During the summer months, for the average home, Simard recommends that pumps run a minimum of eight hours a day for proper filtration. As a general rule, the higher the usage, the longer the pump should run.

As the seasons float by, for folks who would like to save money on electricity, he suggests his clients invest in a variable speed pump, which is more energy-efficient than the traditional ones.

For those with saltwater pools, saltwater-compatible heaters are crucial, because the high levels of calcium in the saltwater carry gritty sediments that corrode regular heaters over time.

As for filters, Simard says, “There are many different filters out there, but the best ones nowadays are cartridge filters; they are easy to clean and do a good job.”

For all equipment, he suggests covering it with burlap because most are made of fiberglass, which begins to shed over time, under the exposure of the sun.

To maintain a pool overall, Simard suggests that an insured and licensed contractor visit the home once a week, to check the balance, clean, and make sure everything is working properly.

Alpha Structural – Setting the Standard for the Last 30 Years

Alpha Structural, Inc., a leading structural engineering and construction firm based in Los Angeles, celebrates its 30th year in business serving homeowners and commercial property owners in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Founded in 1992 by Owner and Chief Executive Officer Dave Tourjé, Alpha Structural Inc. got its start in the hills of Northeast Los Angeles. Tourjé started with foundation repair on hillside homes, failing retaining walls, and seismic retrofitting. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the trade of structural repair and foundation work was not what it is today. Tourjé reflects on the difference in the trade between the early days and now: “It was an unformed trade ...There was no consciousness of it, it wasn’t in the Real Estate community like it is now; it just wasn’t a known problem.”

This was prior to the major earthquakes that were about to erupt through Southern California and change this field of construction forever. In 1987, Los Angeles residents experienced the Whittier earthquake at a magnitude of 5.9. Then in 1994, the Northridge earthquake destroyed infrastructure and apartment buildings with a magnitude of 6.7. Tourjé recalls the change in the structural industry that came after these natural disasters: “It kept evolving where there were more earthquakes, more floods, more problems … and the need [for structural repair] just became more and more evident.”

Pretty soon, new building codes went into effect requiring property owners to address the structural issues that plagued Southern California buildings. Since then, thousands of properties have been reinforced, brought up to code, and deemed safe per today’s standard. Alpha Structural is proud to have had a large hand in accomplishing this for Southern California property owners as the trusted structural specialists of 30 years.

Alpha Structural is one of the few, if not the only, company in Los Angeles & Orange County that is licensed to both engineer and build every job. Each project is taken care of under one roof by in-house engineers, draftsmen, permit expeditors and then project supervisors and crews. This is a much-preferred method according to property owners, where the alternative is separate engineering firms and contractors, which can add time and money when there are questions once construction starts.

In addition to what their clients say about them, Alpha Structural, Inc. is also a proud awardee of the famed Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company award multiple years in a row, among many other recognitions. Additionally, they have received countless commendations and recognitions from city mayors such as those from Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Irvine, Yorba Linda, Los Angeles, and more. They were recently honored by the California State Senator Anthony J. Portantino for their dedication to safeguarding city residents through their work.

The key to Alpha Structural’s continued success is their motto of quality first. They strive to deliver more to their clients than they expect and will continue to do so for years to come.

323.258.5482 alphastructural.com | @alphastructural

(Cont. from page 10) SATURDAY | 27

CLUB RUN: DANA POINT HARBOR 6:45-9:45 a.m. Join the South Coast Roadrunners for an out-and-back flat run covering a portion of the “Dana Point Turkey Trot” course. The club will meet at the end of Dana Point Harbor Drive, near the pier at Baby Beach. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. roadrunners.org. scrr-info@cox.net.

FREE MARINE FLARE COLLECTION 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Bring unwanted or expired marine flares and smoke signals to the Dana Point Harbor. Upon arrival, staff will retrieve items directly from the trunks of vehicles. OC Waste and Recycling will also welcome walk-up disposal near restrooms by the marina. OC Health Care Agency will be on-site promoting their Free Bilge Pad Exchange Program. Participants will receive free boater kit and flare discount coupons courtesy of the California Coastal Commission. 34555 Casitas Place, Dana Point. ocrecycleguide.com. oclandfills.com.

FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. California farmers bring fresh produce to sell at the Dana Point Farmers Market, and craft vendors provide a large selection of art, jewelry, clothing, handbags, candles, handmade soaps and unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. It is strongly recommended that customers bring their own reusable bags. La Plaza Park, 3411 La Plaza, Dana Point. danapoint.org.

RANCHO MISSION VIEJO RODEO 1 p.m. The annual rodeo returns this weekend after a two-year hiatus and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Contestants will compete in a variety of events, including bull riding and roping. There will also be food, vendors and live music. The event continues Sunday; gates open at 11:30 a.m. that day. Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, 30753 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano. rmvrodeo.com.

OUTDOOR THEATER AT LOS RIOS PARK 2 and 3 p.m. Take a trip back in time when the Round About Players present A Fast Train to Capistrano in the Los Rios Historic District. The short performance will depict aspects of San Juan Capistrano’s history. The event is free, so check it out while you’re strolling about. Los Rios Park, 31791 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. BARKS & BREWS 4-7 p.m. Join the Outlets at San Clemente and Pet Project Foundation for tail-wagging fun at Barks & Brews. Enjoy craft beer, pup swag, doggie activities, live entertainment, and more. Proceeds will benefit Pet Project Foundation, which has worked with the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal shelter for nearly the past 40 years to provide pro-humane care to the lost and abandoned animals of the two cities. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. outletsatsanclemente.com.

RODEO BLOCK PARTY 6 p.m. Celebrate the end of summer with barbecue and live music. Family Style will perform. The event continues on Sunday with James Kelly Band and line dancing with Marie Kelly; the event starts at 3 p.m. that day. Bad to the Bone BBQ, 31738 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.218.0227. eventbrite.com.

HEROES NIGHT OUT 5-9 p.m. Join Homefront America in honoring military veterans with a courtyard dinner. Guests can reserve seats beforehand. There will be live entertainment in a courtyard setting. Serra Plaza, 31910 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.248.9468. homefrontamerica.org.

BUNCH OF GUYS ON THE ‘DANA PRIDE’ 7:30-10 p.m. Cruise around the Dana Point Harbor with Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching and enjoy a complimentary glass of pride punch. The band Bunch of Guys will perform. Tickets are available for those 21 and older at $28 per person. Dana Wharf Sportfishing, 34675 Golden Lantern St, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. info@danawharf.com.

SUNDAY | 28

LIVE MUSIC AT SAN JUAN HILLS GOLF CLUB 4-7 p.m. Tight Rope will perform. Stop in to listen and dance, perhaps after playing a round of golf. San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.565.4855. sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S 6 p.m. Ever wanted to relax with some calming outdoor live music as the trains come and go? Stop by at Trevor’s for soothing sounds, food and a close view of downtown San Juan Capistrano. Hans & Janine will perform. Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

MONDAY | 29

IMPROV MONDAYS WITH BOB BURNS & IMPROV CITY 3-5 p.m. Put on by the San Clemente-based Noble Path Foundation, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 can receive comedy lessons with professional actor Bob Burns & Improv City, where they’ll build confidence, stage presence, a funny bone and a chance to perform at Improv City. Sign up for these Monday classes at thenoblepathfoundation.org/ social-activities/. The Noble Path Foundation, 420 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.234.7259.

OPEN JAM 7-10 p.m. Play your own percussion, acoustic or electric instruments every Monday night at Knuckleheads. Amps are allowed, but drums are not. Knuckleheads, 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

TUESDAY | 30

TRIVIA TUESDAY 6:30 p.m. Test your knowledge every Tuesday night. Teams of two to six people are welcome to join in for a chance to win prizes. Call beforehand to reserve a table. Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria, 31781 Camino Capistrano, Suite 201, San Juan Capistrano. 949.429.3599. selmaspizza.com.

WEDNESDAY | 31

SAN ONOFRE PARKS FOUNDATION POP-UP SHOP 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Historic Cottage and Visitor Center showcases local history, flora and fauna at this original 1934 ranger’s cottage. A rotating exhibit features the history of San Onofre. Stop in at the San Onofre Parks Foundation’s Pop-Up Shop to say hello, do a little shopping and learn more about the history of the local state parks at San Clemente and San Onofre State Beaches. Historic Cottage and Visitor Center is located within the San Clemente State Beach Campground at 225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente. 949.366.8599. admin@sanoparks.org. sanoparks.org.

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TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE 6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends or show up solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.

IMPROV FOR UKRAINE 7-9 p.m. Join the Rotary Club of San Clemente at the VIP Lounge at the Outlets at San Clemente for an evening of comedy and improv. Admission is $50, with all proceeds going to benefit humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. For the link to purchase tickets, click on the events tab on the Rotary Club’s Facebook page. For more information, email burnsr@stifel.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 8-10 p.m. Knuckleheads is open for food, drinks and live music. Performers of all skill levels are welcome. If you are a musician, do stand-up comedy or the spoken word, this is the place to be on Wednesday nights. So, come down, grab a drink and go for it. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

THURSDAY | 01

CHUKKERS FOR CHARITY 5:30-9:30 p.m. Surf & Turf Therapy is hosting a fundraiser to help support its programs and provide scholarships for qualifying participants. The night will feature an exhibition polo match, patient stories, a rider demonstration, dinner, drinks, and live music. Tickets are $114 and can be purchased online. Orange County Polo Club, 27271 Silverado Canyon Road, Silverado. 949.312.7227. surfandturftherapy.org.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF DANA POINT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a public hearing will be held by the Planning Commission of the City of Dana Point to consider the following:

Coastal Development Permit CDP21-0022, Variance V22-0002, and Site Development Permit

SDP22-0041: To permit the construction of a new, two-story, 4,471 square foot, single-family dwelling and an attached 517 square foot, two-vehicle garage, pool, and detached mechanical/storage area. The project is requesting a height Variance to exceed the maximum 29 foot limit for a hillside condition lot and allow the structure to be 33 feet 8 ¾ inches tall to address the design challenges with a steeped sloped lot. The project also proposes a five foot wall/fence within the required 20 foot setback and retaining walls exceeding 30 inches to address the hillside condition of the property. The property is located in the Coastal Overlay District (Coastal Zone) and the Residential Single-Family 7 (RSF-7) Zoning District at 34152 Chula Vista. Project Numbers: CDP21-0022, V22-0002, and SDP22-0041 Project Location: 34152 Chula Vista (APN: 682-245-34) Project Applicant: Anders Lasater (Architect) Property Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Mouchawar Environmental: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the project is found to be Categorically Exempt per Section 15303 (Class 3 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures). Hearing Date: September 12, 2022 Hearing Time: 6:00 PM (or as soon thereafter as possible) Hearing Location: 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 (Dana Point City Hall) All persons either favoring or opposing the subject project are invited to present their views to the Commission at this hearing. Note: This project may be appealed to the City Council. If you challenge the action taken on this proposal in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Dana Point prior to the public hearing. For further information, please contact John Ciampa, Senior Planner at the City of Dana Point, Community Development Department, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 209, Dana Point, (949) 248-3591.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 22LBCP00279

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Yavonne Tranese Dent filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

Yavonne Tranese Dent

Proposed Name

Yavonne Doris Porter THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: 09/7/2022 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept.: 26. The address of the court is Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse, 275 Magnolia, Long Beach, CA 90802. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in City of Dana Point and County of Orange: Dana Point Times, August 26, September 2, 9, 16, 2022. Date: July 27, 2022, Judge Michael P Vicencia, Judge of the Superior Court

PUBLIC NOTICE

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL)

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO):

Monterey Botanicals II, LLC, A California limited liability company; Envy Farms, LLC, A California limited liability company; and Does 1 through 50, inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE):

PTS RENTALS INC., a California corporation NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

¡AVISO!Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

CASE NUMBER: (Numero del Caso): BCV-22-100968 The name and address of the court is: (El Nombre y direccion de la corte es): Kern County Superior Court, Metropolitan Division, 1215 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 The name, address and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del obogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): David B. Potter, Arrache & Potter, P.O. Box 10809, Bakersfield, CA 93389-0809 Ph: (661)328-1800 DATE: (Fecha) 04/25/2022, Tamara Harber-Pickens, Clerk of the Court, by (Secretario) Vickie Fogerson, Deputy Clerk(Adjunto) Published: Dana Point Times, August 5,12,19, 26, 2022

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GUEST OPINION | On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

On and Off for 30 Years, Now They Are ‘Comfortable Companions’

Pam, 77, a Southern California single, emailed: “I was married for 28 years and then was ambushed by divorce. I have been single for 30 years and have been enjoying your articles for nearly that long. Your wise advice is always appreciated. Thank you for the generosity of your time and compassion for the singles of a certain age.

“A year after my divorce, I dated Dan, whom I met in the singles Sunday school class at the EV Free Church in Fullerton. A girlfriend of mine from the class (Jeanne) dated another man from the class (Jim); he and Dan were good friends. The four of us did a lot of fun things together. We were all ‘dumpees’ (our spouses had left us).

ON LIFE AND LOVE “Six months after BY TOM BLAKE we all met, Jim’s wife decided she wanted him back. He reconciled with her. I never forgot that he told Jeanne that the four of us made a great couple!

“Shortly after that, Dan broke up with me, and everyone moved on. Dan and I remained friends and would date off and on through the years.

“Jim was remarried to his ex for 10 years, and then she kicked him to the curb again. “In the meantime, Jeanne married a terrific man.

“When Dan and I were in one of our dating-again times, Dan invited Jim over for a BBQ. During the evening, Jim and I discovered that we had a lot of interests in common. We decided to do some activities as just friends. Our friendship turned to love.

“Jim told Dan about our love. Dan was angry for a while, but got over it. Jim reminded Dan that Dan had his chance with me for years, and he blew it! Jim and I were so happy for 14 years. I have no family, and I was included as family by his married daughters and grandchildren. Jim and Dan remained best buddies. Jim jokingly told Dan that in his will, he was leaving me to Dan.

“Last December, my sweet Jim passed away from heart failure. He was 80. I saw Dan for the first time in 14 years at the service.

“A few months later, Dan asked me to dinner. We are now dating if you can call it that at our age. We thought we were old when we were divorced in our 40s, but now, we really are! He’s also 77. We are comfortable talking about Jim and sharing stories about him, and I like that. Neither wants to be married.

“Dan is still a homebody with few interests, but that’s OK. In 2018 and 2019, I had vertebrae surgeries, and I am doing well but have limitations, which Dan is very understanding about. So here we are together 30 years later, comfortable companions.”

Tom’s comment: I told Pam I needed to create a flow chart to understand the group’s saga. Pam’s story provides two

Photo: Courtesy of OC Public Library

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photograph from the Lorna Mills/Laguna Federal Collection gives an aerial view of the future Dana Point Harbor development on Aug 21, 1966.

Every week, the Dana Point Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com.

senior-relationship lessons. 1. Seniors should not burn bridges. They must forgive, forget, and move on. They never know when old friends or old flames might reappear. In Pam’s case, if she had pushed Dan out of her life forever after he dumped her, she likely wouldn’t be with him as “a comfortable companion” 30 years later. Having a companion is a lot better than going it alone when seniors are in their 70s or 80s. 2. Previous relationships can rekindle. We hear of people reconnecting at high school and college reunions. And in Pam’s situation, after being with Jim for 14 years, she’s spending time with Dan, who was Jim’s friend. They can talk about Jim without either one getting wigged out.

I wonder if Jim willed Pam to Dan, as he had joked. That’s kind of a cute twist to this somewhat hard-to-follow story.

Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. DP

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP 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 DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION: 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

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Lloyd

DANA POINT TIMES

This handsome guy is Lloyd, a laid-back cool cat who is ready to find his forever home. About 5 years old, he is a great mix between playful and mellow personalities. Lloyd gets along well with other cats and would make a great addition to just about any home.

If you are interested in adopting Lloyd, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. DP

Dana Point Native Tees Off into Her Career

BY JAMIE JOHNSON, DANA POINT TIMES

Averee Dovsek, a South Orange County native, has achieved many triumphs at the young age of 22.

A resident of Dana Point, Dovsek attended Dana Hills High School, where she started her initial golf career when she made varsity her freshman year. Eventually, she was named team MVP and earned All-Improved and All-State honors.

Dovsek received a full-ride combination scholarship (academic and athletic) to Hofstra University, where she played Division 1 golf all four years. Dovsek also was the first to attend college in her immediate family and had to navigate the D1 and NCAA process herself.

“Time is so valuable, and if I can get ahead while in college and make it all happen, I’m going to come out of the college at a different level,” said Dovsek, who graduated with two degrees and many years of professional experience under her belt.

Even though Dovsek has been increasingly successful in golf, the sport never caught her eye. Dovsek’s father, Henri Dovsek, was her main influence and motivator to become interested. His vision was beyond what she was able to see at the time.

“I will say I’m a bit of a different breed, like I was from a very young age,” said Dovsek. “I’ve been really driven … in third grade, I was selling dog treats on the side of the road, because it was more lucrative than a lemonade stand.”

During her time at Hofstra, she had the opportunity to start a career in golf journalism, golf media and golf broadcast journalism. Dovsek reported on the PGA Championship held at the Black Course in Bethpage State Park in New York, for CBS Sports during her freshman year.

The following summer, she moved to Orlando, Florida and worked for the NBC Golf Channel, giving her the realization that she wanted to be in front of the camera, not behind it.

Within her continuing years in school, she was approached by On Course, a SiriusXM golf radio show that took interest in Dovsek after she was the youngest to work on the NBC Golf Channel. On Course initially had her on as a guest, but elevated her to co-host and assistance with its social media content.

In 2019, she created and hosted her own podcast, “WHY YOU SUCK AT GOLF!” available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms. Through this podcast, Dovsek interviews golfers, caddies, enthusiasts and more, discussing the overall sport and giving her honest opinion on their game.

“Golf was transitioning into this digital media; it blew up essentially during

Since graduating from Dana Hills High just a few years ago, Averee Dovsek, now 22, has taken her golf career to new heights by using her knowledge and skills of the game as a sports commentator for numerous media outlets. Photo: Courtesy of Averee Dovsek

my time in college. Not one person educated me on how to be a golf journalist,” Dovsek said. “It was tough, because I was essentially guessing and learning from my mistakes.”

Her podcast allowed her to progress through the static and transitional period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparation is still very minimal when it comes to hosting her show, she says. Dovsek likes to record without notes to build her speaking and interviewing skills, as well as spontaneity.

After pandemic-related regulations were lifted and Dovsek was allowed to return to New York, she pushed forward in her career and accomplished much more.

While the podcast was becoming a hit, Dovsek made independent appearances for golf tournaments, golf events and “Beat the Pro” fundraising events. Dovsek helped create and now co-hosts a travel series with Long Drive Pro Champion Maurice Allen, called “72 in 72” for PGAowned media platform Skratch.

“ ‘The 72 in 72’ forced me to grow very quickly, being on camera for nine hours straight,” said Dovsek. “Not only do you have to have a personality, but you have to be decent at golf … it’s pretty exhausting, but I love it more than anything. Being surrounded by Maurice Allen, he’s such a powerful role model for me; he just has such a different outlook on life than anyone I’ve ever been around.”

The concept of the show is to play 72 holes in 72 hours and bring the golfers and audience to beautiful destinations. In their first year, the show traveled to Orlando, San Francisco and Boston. This year, they’ll head to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Atlanta, Chicago and Wisconsin.

Dovsek, her agent, and Allen are currently in the process of creating a larger international and domestic travel series.

“We have noted that Maurice and I have a really good friendship, good chemistry on camera, and we just mesh really well together, and we might as well make it bigger, because I think there’s so much potential to learn from both of us on both sides,” Dovsek said.

Speaking of international ventures, Dovsek has her sights on winning the Pro Long Drive Championship this September in Nakagawa, Tochigi held under the Japan Pro Long Drive Organization.

“I mean, the competition is going to be at another level, it’s going to be super cool, but I thought what better way than competing,” Dovsek said. “I’ve always wanted to do it, and when I saw it was held there, I knew it was going to be fun.”

Dovsek previously won a Pro Long Drive Championship held in New York last fall, under the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA).

Among career goals, projects and accomplishments, Dovsek has personal goals. She bought her first house in West Palm Beach, Florida earlier this year.

“It’s been a massive goal; I’ve always wanted to try and own a lot of properties to make passive investments,” she said. “I was doing the math, and I was like, ‘This may be feasible a little earlier than I thought.’ ”

Dovsek caddied for the Trump National in Jupiter, Florida last year, and the income produced from that job, she placed in the deposit for her first house. At the time, Dovsek was working three jobs, still attending university classes and undergoing athletic training.

Dovsek currently works for USA Today doing its media content and other independent appearances and partnerships. She hosts a fitness series, covers everything fashion and fitness, and for USA Today’s GolfWeek, she’s in charge of being the face of most video content.

USA Today gives her creative freedom and most of the content she creates is her own. Dovsek also appears at tournaments producing videos for social media platforms with interview style content and “end of the round” recaps.

“My ultimate goal would be being able to travel internationally and domestically and play for entertainment,” Dovsek said. “If we make the travel series come true, that is definitely a huge goal of mine, because it doesn’t feel like work to me; I’m so myself out there.”

Dovsek’s drive, ambition and work ethic are what got her to where she is today—a young, growing success story. DP

New Handel’s Ice Cream Delivers on Dessert

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream in San Clemente serves fresh ice cream and sweet treats this summer at their new location on Camino de los Mares. Photo: Keaton Larson

BY KEATON LARSON, DANA POINT TIMES

This summer, a new addition to the sweet treats scene in San Clemente is serving classic and fresh ice cream.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream on Camino de los Mares opened in June, and the store has seen long lines and satiated faces so far. The scoop shop offers everything from traditional cones and bowls of ice cream to sundaes, banana splits, ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes, and floats.

“Graham Central Station,” a mix of graham cracker ice cream, graham cracker ripple, and a chocolate-covered honeycomb, is one of its most popular flavors. “Oree-dough,” a combination of Oreo and cookie dough, mint chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter brownie are other popular items.

It also serves several vegan ice creams, including a rotating fruit flavor and a coconut milk-based chocolate Oree-dough. It is also planning seasonal flavors for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, says Manager Noe Pinedo, including pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake and peppermint.

Each flavor is made in-house by ice cream makers, and each day, the staff may churn out as many as 30 to 40 buckets of ice cream. This process and the quality of the ice cream were among the reasons Keith and Shirlyn Kesler, California natives and longtime residents of Laguna Beach, wanted to open a Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream shop.

This opening is not their first foray into ice cream, though. The San Clemente location is Keith and Shirlyn’s ninth location in Southern California, the first being in Laguna Niguel, with two others in Orange County and four in San Diego.

“My oldest son lives in San Clemente, right by North Beach,” Keith said, noting his excitement to have a location in San Clemente, a city that has been one of his regular stops for years. Keith worked in an advertising agency for many years before teaching at California State University, Fullerton as an advertising professor. His experience in the marketing world helped him and his fellow business partners choose an ice cream shop with which to run.

One day, Keith’s brother-in-law tasted some Handel’s Ice Cream that a family member had brought down from the Rancho Cucamonga location, and he urged Keith to try it himself. Several months later, they were submitting their application for a franchise.

“The way people talk about In-N-Out in Southern California is the way people talk about Handel’s,” said Keith. “People rave about it. And I saw that in Handel’s, because we make it fresh every day in every store. And it makes a complete

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difference.”

Keith recognized the special love customers had for the ice cream and the excitement that came with the Handel’s brand. No amount of money can buy you the loyalty that customers have for this ice cream, Keith said.

“The nice thing about working at an ice cream store is it’s not a hard sell,” said Pinedo, a family friend of the Kesler family who was recently the general manager of the Rancho Santa Margarita location. “Everyone is already happy. We’ve had a very warm reception from all the locals here.”

Pinedo loves managing the San Clemente location. He said it’s hard to find any negatives about managing the store. He can see many regular faces and share in the joy that customers have when ordering a scoop of their favorite flavor.

The location will have its grand opening on Sept. 1. Keith is excited to plan a fun-filled day for the community with giveaways and music from the San Clemente High School band.

Keith hopes to create a place for families and neighbors to come and hang out and forget the cares of the world.

“If you come to Handel’s and spend a half an hour there, it’s like a half an hour of being on vacation,” he said.

HANDEL’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM 610 Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, 949.312.2304, handelsicecream.com

DOLPHIN REPORT

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

For in-game updates, news and more for all of the Dana Hills High School sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports and on Instagram @South_OC_Sports.

Girls Volleyball Earns First Win, Drops Home Match

Dana Hills girls volleyball charged out fast in the decisive fifth set to hold off a St. Margaret’s surge and earn its first victory, 25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 13-25, 15-6, on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano.

The Dolphins followed up on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at home against JSerra, but the Lions were mightier in a straight sweep, 25-11, 25-17, 25-23. Dana Hills played for a third straight day on Thursday, Aug. 25, at home against Laguna Beach, but results were not available at press time.

Dana Hills (1-5) is next in action with another three consecutive days of play next week. The Dolphins host Foothill on Monday, Aug. 29, travel to Corona del Mar on Tuesday, Aug. 30, and play at Mission

Dana Hills girls volleyball earned its first win of the season on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at St. Margaret’s. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Viejo on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

On Tuesday at St. Margaret’s, the Dolphins trailed by as many as six points in the first set, but Dana Hills closed out the set on a 13-2 run to overtake the Tartans, 25-18. In the second set, the Dolphins withstood a 9-0 St. Margaret’s run and came back from six points down again with a 7-0 run to win the set, 25-22.

The Tartans didn’t go away quietly and stormed back to take the third set with an 11-3 run, 25-18. St. Margaret’s then controlled the fourth set from start to finish with a 9-1 run and a 9-2 run for a 25-13 win.

In the tiebreaking fifth set, Dana Hills dominated. The Dolphins sprinted out to a 4-0 lead and eventually a 12-3 lead to cruise to the win, 15-6, and record their first victory of the season.

Football Embraces Physicality in Opener, Travels to Laguna Beach

Over the course of the offseason, the biggest goal for the Dana Hills football team was to increase its physical presence. The Dolphins committed to the weight room to strengthen their offensive and defensive lines and prepare for a fall season in which they would commit to the running game.

All of that hard work showed up in the season opener.

Senior running back Christian Guarascio ran for 259 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, and senior linebacker Ethan Brougham led the defense with 18 tackles and two sacks, as Dana Hills held down University, 2114, at home on Friday, Aug. 19.

Both Guarascio’s rushing yards and Brougham’s tackles topped the Orange County stat charts for the opening week of play.

Dana Hills’ air game also broke for big plays, with senior receiver Blaize Bolter catching four passes for 131 of the Dolphins’ 208 total passing yards. Senior quarterback Connor Vernon completed 10 of 18 passes with a touchdown to junior Noah Brown and an interception in his first start.

This week, Dana Hills (1-0) travels up Pacific Coast Highway to take on Laguna Beach (0-1). The Breakers dropped their opener nearly 850 miles away at Homedale, Idaho, 46-14. Last season, the Dolphins beat Laguna Beach at home, 35-7. DP

Dana Wharf Fish Report

Dorado fishing remains white-hot

Every week, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching provides the Dana Point and San Clemente Times a report on the week’s fishing from Captain Brian Woolley, in addition to the weekly fish count. Here is Captain Woolley’s report for last week’s action:

Good week with nice weather, for the most part.

Half-day boats were fishing bass along some stretches off San Clemente and up through Dana Point. There was some action on the live baits. Fly-lined sardines got bites, but the best action came off the rubber lures like the smaller three-inch swim baits and the five-inch, fluke-style baits. Lures that were small, like an anchovy, fished well. There were some nice sheephead on the dropper loop setups, as well.

Three-quarter-day trips were still kind of a dual-target type of deal. Mornings were spent out off the beach looking for kelp, fishing dorado, and in the afternoons, boats came in on the beach, fishing bass. It’s the same deal as the half-day on the bass, with it being on the tougher side but still getting some shots.

As far as the offshore scene goes, it’s been a great opportunity. All-day trips were out fishing for dorado (also known as mahi mahi). Certainly, if you’re the first to roll on a kelp in the morning, you stand a great chance of catching a few fish, but the better biting fish has been off the kelps. Some of these schools of fish have been massive.

We’ve caught fish on breezers and legit foamers of dorado this week. We will continue to fish this as long as we’re seeing it and it remains in our range.

The Clemente had a kelp on Sunday, Aug. 21, for 109 dorado and two yellowtails. The San Mateo fished the same kelp for 38 more dorado.

There were some more yellowtail shots for the Fury fishing San Clemente Island. Fly-lined sardines and surface iron caught this stuff, which ranged in size from 12 to 28 pounds of good grade and plenty of bass fishing as the alternative.

Finally, for our small boat fleet wanting the bluefin, they’ve been making the necessary run early in the week to make their catches, but sounding like some fish showing a little closer over the last two days, so hopefully that’s an option as well.

Here are the latest fish counts from Dana Wharf Sportsfishing & Whale Watching:

AUG. 23 • 6 boats, 147 anglers: 66 dorado, 6 yellowtail, 66 whitefish, 61 calico bass, 5 sheephead, 5 bonito, 1 sculpin, 1 barracuda, 94 bass released.

AUG. 22 • 5 boats, 89 anglers: 250 dorado.

AUG. 21 • 11 boats, 306 anglers: 174 dorado, 33 yellowtail, 101 calico bass, 28 whitefish, 18 bonito, 12 sand bass, 11 barracuda, 8 sculpin, 5 sheephead, 1 rockfish, 193 bass released.

AUG. 20 • 11 boats, 238 anglers: 32 dorado, 18 yellowtail, 56 calico bass, 55 rockfish, 42 vermilion rockfish, 28 whitefish, 15 bocaccio, 15 barracuda, 8 sculpin, 4 treefish, 4 sheephead, 3 sand bass, 258 bass released. DP

Dorado, also known as mahi mahi, were being caught in large numbers last weekend. Photo: Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

Rip Curl WSL Finals Lineup Locked In

Carissa Moore and Filipe Toledo head to Lowers as the No. 1 seeds and favorites to win the 2022 world titles

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES W ith the 2022 WSL Championship Tour regular season wrapping up last week in Tahiti, it’s time to shift gears and get ready for the Rip Curl WSL Finals.

Coming to Lower Trestles, it will feature the top five men and top five women in a one-day, winner-take-all sprint for the 2022 world titles. Going down right here in our backyard, the waiting period runs from Sept. 8-16—historically, the most consistent time of year at Lowers.

Defending world champ Carissa Moore and San Clemente resident Filipe Toledo, who has his sights set on capturing the first world title of his already accomplished career, come into this battle royal of a surf contest as the No. 1 seeds.

For Moore, this incarnation of the WSL Finals is a chance to win her sixth world title—only one away from tying the record of seven held jointly by Layne Benchley and Stephanie Gilmore.

Moore’s been on a tear the past few years. She won the world title in 2019 and 2021, as well as captured the first-ever Olympic gold medal for surfing in Japan last summer. She somehow only won one contest during the 2022 regular season, but she did finish runner-up in three other contests and made the quarterfinals or better in every event except one.

Her consistency makes her one of the hardest surfers in the world to beat— and Lowers is one of her favorite waves on the planet.

“I tried my best, surfed from my heart,

Looking to win her third consecutive world title, Hawaii’s Carissa Moore will go into the 2022 Rip Curl WSL Finals as the No. 1 seed and the surfer to beat at the biggest day in pro surfing. Photo: Courtesy of WSL/Tony Heff

and it worked out,” Moore explained after claiming her fifth world title last year. “I’ve never been in the water when winning a world title, so this is extra special. I couldn’t ask for anything more!”

For the men, Toledo will look to claim the title that’s eluded him thus far. Moving his family from Brazil to San Clemente, in part to be closer to Lowers, he’s considered one of the best smallwave surfers in the world.

Winning events at Bells Beach and Rio in 2022, he also added runner-up finishes in Portugal, El Salvador and Indonesia to his scoreline. Wearing the yellow leader’s jersey as the No. 1 seed, he’ll have the luxury of watching all the action go down while he waits to see whom he’ll face in the title match. And with last year’s winner, Gabriel Medina, absent from the event, he should feel pretty good about his chances.

The remaining women in the draw include France’s Johanne Defay as the No. 2 seed, Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb in third, Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy in fourth, and Stephanie Gilmore, seven-time world champ from Australia, rounding things out in fifth.

Meanwhile, for the men, Australia’s Jack Robinson rolls into Lowers as the second seed, followed by countryman Ethan Ewing in third, Brazil’s Italo Ferreira in fourth and Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi in fifth.

As we get closer to the opening day of the waiting period, expect our local zone to become a hive of activity. The opening ceremony and press conference will take place on the San Clemente Pier on Sept. 6.

Open to the public, swing by and listen to what the surfers have to say and check out the temporary installation dedicated to all the world champions over the decades.

On Sept. 9, there’s going to be a special screening of the iconic surf film Searching for Tom Curren, as well as Conner Coffin’s new film, Mind Surfing, at the Rip Curl headquarters in San Clemente. Curren will be on hand playing music with some special guests. Open to the public, tickets are being sold to benefit the Surfrider Foundation.

And then on Sept. 10, there’s going to be a team signing event at the Rip Curl shop in San Clemente during the day. Curren, Bethany Hamilton, Mick Fanning and others will be on hand. And in the evening, the party’s moving to the Drew Brophy Gallery for an art show with artist Erik Abel, who created the artwork for this year’s WSL Finals.

Considered the biggest day in professional surfing, we’re only a few short weeks away from the surf world descending on San Clemente. Here we go!

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. DP

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY CAPISTRANO VALLEY TOYOTA

GROM OF THE WEEK NOAH LAVIK

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

The new Western Surfing Association season got off to a fantastic start with its first event held at Trail 6 earlier this month. Drawing young surfers from around Southern California, the vibes were up, and the ocean delivered some fun, “rippable” conditions.

For some young surfers, it was a chance to pull the jersey on for the first time and see what competing was all about; for others, including San Clemente’s Noah Lavik, it was a chance to get back to work and keep chasing those dreams.

Finishing runner-up in the highly compet-

Noah Lavik (second from left). Photo: Courtesy of NSSA

itive Boys Under 14 division, Noah’s results were well-earned.

Noah and his brother, Laird, are both passionate, dedicated surfers. The Lavik boys embody what it means to stay stoked all the time. When the waves are up, they’re shredding. When the wind comes up, they’re probably skating somewhere. And during those frosty winter months, they’re all about hitting the mountains.

Surf, skate and snow, it’s good living.

Congrats to Noah on his solid result to start the WSA season, as well as all the rising stars out there who made the most out of the event at Trails. The next WSA contest lands at Surfer’s Point in Ventura on Sept. 17-18. DP SURF FORECAST

Water Temperature: 68-71 Degrees F

Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-7

Outlook: Fresh South-southwest swell builds on Friday and peals over the weekend. More chest to head high waves (4-5’) Friday morning push overhead through the weekend (4-6’+). Saturday is the largest day. Light morning wind sets up clean conditions early each day, before a light to moderate onshore see-breeze develops out of the west each afternoon.