April 24, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

April 24-30, 2020

YO U

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INSIDE: A New You—Thriving at Home SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 13, ISSUE 17

Finding a Forever Home Local Animal Shelter Adapts to New Directives to Find Homes for Pets E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 3

Michelle Crouch says it was “love at first sight” when she saw Kota, a 6-year-old Labrador mix. Thanks to San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter, Koda now has a new forever home with Crouch in Dana Point. Photo: Lillian Boyd

City and County Provide Updates on Coronavirus Measures EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

CUSD Discusses Graduation, Grades During Pandemic EYE ON DP/PAGE 4

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Local Studios and Gyms Offer New Ways to Stay Fit GETTING OUT/PAGE 10

GO TO DANAPOINTTIMES.COM FOR THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS AND SPORTS

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Five things Dana Point should know this week Local Animal Shelter Adjusts to Social Distancing to Get Pets Adopted THE LATEST: During a time of uncertainty and instability, Kota, a 6-year-old Labrador mix, found his forever home in Dana Point.

San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter’s Animal Rescue Mission (ARM) helps relieve county shelters of their higher population of animals by transferring some of them to the Coastal Animal Services Authority (CASA) based in San Clemente. Kota, who was part of the ARM program, was adopted

by Michelle Crouch on March 24.

Crouch, who moved in February, says that finding a dog was part of making a new home for herself in Dana Point.

“I had been looking for a dog in the last six months,” Crouch said. “But I didn’t have much luck. But when I saw Kota, I fell in love. He just has such a big head and bear face. He’s so mellow. I have grandkids, so it was important that my dog be kid-friendly. He is perfect.”

The San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter is currently closed to the general public, as a response to COVID-19 concerns.

But operations have adapted to adhere to state and county directives, while ensuring animals have a chance to go to a good home.

While animal advocates have expressed concern for pets potentially being relinquished amid the economic downfall connected to the coronavirus, Kim Cholodenko, CASA’s general manager, says that the shelter has yet to have someone surrender their pet as a result of the pandemic.

“We’ve had people ask us questions about surrendering their pet, because they were worried it could happen,” Cholodenko said. “But right now, we’re actually seeing more pets adopted.”

All of CASA’s dogs are currently available for adoption, by appointment only. Although the process has been streamlined, Cholodenko says that staff is still taking the necessary steps to ensure animals are adopted out to the most appropriate homes.

“We have limited our person-to-person interactions between staff and the potential adopters, but are able to provide the adopters time to interact with the dogs in our play yards,” Cholodenko said.

“The adoption process and paperwork is completed outside of the shelter building, Dana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter is continuing to offer adoption after modifying its operations to adhere to social distancing directives. Photos: Lillian Boyd

while still complying with the physical distancing order. We have found the pubic to be very understanding and patient with the most recent changes in our adoption process, due to the state guidelines and restrictions that are in place.”

The shelter’s cats and rabbits are currently in foster homes, with many of the cat volunteers having agreed to provide videos of the cats and a virtual interaction if a person is interested in adopting.

“The logistics have been worked out, and we will do whatever we can to place our animals in their forever homes,” Cholodenko said.

As for Kota, a Labrador mix, Crouch says he is adjusting very well to his new home.

“Some people think that you can’t find the perfect pet at a shelter,” Crouch said.

“And I want them to know that is absolutely not true. I could not have asked for a more perfect dog.”

WHAT’S NEXT: If anyone is interested in adopting from San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter, the first step is to download an adoption application at petprojectfoundation.org or the City of San Clemente’s website at san-clemente. org. Look under “Animal Services” to access the application. Send the completed application to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org or fax it to the shelter office at 949.366.4765. Once the application is received, a staff member will be in touch to schedule an interaction.—Lillian Boyd

City of Dana Point, County Officials Provide COVID-19 Updates THE LATEST: Dana Point City Council heard an update from City Manager Mike Killebrew on the city’s local emergency

declaration in response to COVID-19 during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 21.

The city officially issued a local state of emergency on March 16. That day, Orange County reported five coronavirus cases. Thirty-six days later, the virus is now in nearly all OC communities, exceeding 1,600 cases out of the county’s population of 3.2 million, Killebrew said.

As of Wednesday, April 22, there were 18 reported coronavirus cases in Dana Point.

He also reported to council that the OC Board of Supervisors decided not to close county beaches. In Dana Point, county beaches include Salt Creek Beach and Capistrano Beach. Doheny State Beach remains open.

“I mention this, because the weather is warming particular this weekend,” Killebrew said. “We will have all hands on deck to manage any surge in vehicle traffic. . . .

It will likely be pretty busy.”

“We remain optimistic in the efforts by the local community to stay home and flatten the curve,” Killebrew said. “We look forward to the day we receive guidance from the state and county in regards to the Governor’s stay-at-home orders. Some good news . . . the county announced they are doubling their virus testing program.”

According to a press release sent out on Tuesday, April 21 by OC Health Care Agency, its OC COVID-19 Testing Network will launch and expand testing across the county for any community member who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms but is unable to receive testing through a health care provider.

“We have partnered with an initial set of community health centers who are performing FDA-approved PCR testing, the most reliable testing available to detect current infection,” said Dr. Nichole Quick, County Health Officer. “The OC

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Health Care Agency will continue to work diligently to expand this network by bringing more locations online in the days and weeks to come.”

The PCR test identifies if someone is currently infected from a sample taken with a swab. It is not a blood test, nor does it test for antibodies. Residents with symptoms of COVID-19, which generally include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, should first contact their medical provider to get guidance on testing and care, according to the press release.

Individuals who are unable to be tested by their provider may schedule an appointment at any Network test site to receive a medical screening and test.

Initial locations include AltaMed Medical Group, Anaheim; AltaMed Medical Group, Santa Ana/Bristol; Nhan Hoa Comprehensive Health Care Clinic, Garden Grove; and UCI Health, multiple locations.

“Because of continued challenges of obtaining testing supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care providers, testing may be restricted at times to high-priority groups as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” said Quick. “Residents must make an appointment for testing to assure eligibility and availability of testing.”—LB

San Clemente and Dana Point Combine VFW Posts THE LATEST: This month, the San Clemente Veterans of Foreign Wars George E. Smith Post 7142 and the Dana Point VFW Post 9934 voted unanimously to merge into one Post and become Dana Point VFW Post 9934.

This merger will boost Dana Point’s (Cont. on page 4) danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) membership to more than 550 women and men who served overseas in hostile-fire areas.

The San Clemente George Smith Post was founded in 1946 and has a long history of outreach and support to our veterans. As a result of this consolidation, the Dana Point Post will be the largest, and most active, in the VFW Southern California District 2, said Wayne Yost, Post 9934’s commander.

“Because of the mandates due to the coronavirus, we have temporally curtailed the vast amounts of social events and programs that the VFW sponsors and participates in,” Yost said. “However, we do continue to give support to help our veterans and active-duty military members who are in great economic stress.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Post 9934 is continuing to provide guidance to those veterans who need assistance processing their Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims.

“Furthermore, we are drafting plans so as to be able to continue our activities (although the format may be modified) this summer,” Yost said. “I would like to extend an invitation to all veterans and civilians in our area to explore our website, vfwpost9934.org, so you can view the scope of our programs, as well as have an opportunity to assist our veterans during these challenging times.”—LB

Census Continuing During Pandemic THE LATEST: Though people are staying

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Rep. Levin’s Constituent of the Month Working on Coronavirus Testing One of the founders of a regional company working to develop rapid coronavirus testing is being recognized in Congress for the company’s efforts.

Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) recently honored Tej Patel as the Constituent of the Month for April. Patel helped found the medical diagnostic company Fluxergy with fellow engineers Ryan Revilla and Jonathan Tu in 2013.

“Tej saw a deficiency in the turn-around of testing for COVID-19, and knew there was a better way to address testing in the most efficient way possible. Many tests sent to outside labs range from days to weeks for a patient to receive their results,” Levin said in a press release.

Dana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

indoors due to the coronavirus crisis, they are still being counted through the 2020 U.S. Census.

The Census Bureau, though, has adjusted operations to protect the health of the public and census workers, while ensuring an accurate count.

Online responses are preferred, though people can also contact a call center to be counted.

“The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection activities in March,” the Census Bureau said in a press release. “Steps are already being taken to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following June 1.”

The Census Bureau will then begin a “lengthy, thorough and scientifically rigorous process” to produce redistricting information and other data. Census counts are used to determine funding allocations, and the schematics of political representation for areas on the state and federal level.

The Census Bureau statement said the agency is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts in order to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 Census.

“Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021,” the press release said.

Rep. Mike Levin, whose district includes South Orange County, highlighted the

importance of the 2020 Census during a virtual town hall on Wednesday, April 15.

Levin said he had already responded to the census, calling it “super easy,” and strongly encouraged viewers to do the same.

U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Roberto Garcia, who also spoke during Levin’s town hall, said communities benefit from accurate counts because they can get political power.

“It comes down to city councilmembers that are elected locally, mayors, senators, congressmen, you name it,” Garcia said.

“Water districts are made up of how many people are living in a community; school districts, in a similar manner. We need to count everyone to make sure people have equitable representation at all levels of government.”

The census asks for a respondent’s name, race, ethnicity and date of birth.

It will not ask about citizenship status, Social Security numbers, property permits or criminal convictions, among other information.

“All your information is protected by Title 13 of the United States Code. Basically, what this means is we will never, ever share your personable identifiable information with any department of the government, whether it be FBI or immigration services like ICE,” Garcia said.

“Everything you provide is confidential.”

More information can be found at 2020census.gov.—Collin Breaux

“Fluxergy’s on-site test for COVID-19 requires a very small sample, typically a nasal swab,” Levin continued in the release. “This swab is mixed with a reagent solution, loaded onto the Fluxergy card and inserted into the Fluxergy Analyzer that produces results in under an hour.”

Levin further said the Fluxergy development can help save lives.

Fluxergy is based in Irvine and reportedly worked in collaboration with UC San Diego Health to create the testing system, the press release said.

Nominations for the 49th District Constituent of the Month can be made online at mikelevin.house.gov.

from participating shops.

“These shirts can be purchased at local shops and restaurants, and all proceeds will go directly back to the business you purchase the T-shirt from,” says Vickie McMurchie, the chamber’s executive director.

These T-shirts can be purchased at various local shops and restaurants either online or via curbside pickup (shipping options available). T-shirts come in sizes XS-XXL. Participating businesses include Brio Tuscany Grille, Coffee Importers, Dana Wharf, Glasspar, Jon’s Fish Market, Lingerie Paradis USA, Luxe Restaurant & Martini Bar and Woody Hut. For more information on purchasing a T-shirt, visit danapointchamber.com. For more information on becoming a retail partner, email vickie@danapointchamber.com.

Chamber Launches #DanaPointLoyalLocal T-shirts to Support Small Businesses In an effort to promote support for local businesses, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the community to buy #DanaPointLoyalLocal T-shirts

CUSD Says Graduation Too Early To Tell THE LATEST: Capistrano Unified School

Hundreds Gather to Protest Stay-at-Home Order In defiance against social distancing directives to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, a few hundred demonstra-

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District (CUSD) has not yet made a decision on student graduations, in light of the evolving coronavirus pandemic.

The CUSD Board of Trustees heard a report from CUSD officials about graduation, grading and other aspects of local education affected by the global shutdown during a meeting on Wednesday, April 15. Further discussion and decisions could happen at a CUSD Board of Trustees meeting on April 29.

A report from Associate Superintendent of Educational Services Susan Holliday and Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services Greg Merwin said, “It is a little early to make a plan (on graduation), because of the timing and conditions of our release from the health restrictions still remain uncertain.”

“We know the timing and conditions regarding our health restrictions may change, so we want to be mindful of that, but we want to be mindful of putting anyone at risk,” Holliday said during the meeting. “We want to be safe.”

Parents and students are wondering what will happen with graduation, and some have supported having graduation ceremonies. Other people have proposed virtual graduations. In-person gatherings have been discouraged by government and health officials, to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

During the meeting, Holliday said surveys have been sent out asking for feedback about graduation, the results of which will be shared at the April 29 meeting. To read the complete version of this article, visit danapointtimes.com.

—CB

tors took to the streets of Downtown San Clemente on Sunday, April 19, urging state and local governments to reopen businesses and beaches.

The protestors gathered at the Pier Bowl parking lot around noon and marched up Avenida Del Mar, waving American flags and holding up signs that called on governments to lift the stay-athome orders—or “Liberate California” and “End the Lockdown.”

The organizers, led by Alan Hostetter, held the same protest the previous week, on Easter Sunday, drawing a much smaller crowd. Sunday afternoon’s gathering came on the heels of several other protests that had occurred throughout the nation in recent days, including one at Huntington Beach on Friday, April 17.

Organizers say they plan to demonstrate each Sunday until lockdown directives ease up.

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EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd

Art Director Jasmine Smith

City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch Collin Breaux

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex O P E R AT I O N S General Manager Alyssa Garrett

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Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

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FINANCE

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DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: A Letter from Dennis Erdman, South Coast Water District President

Partners Like You, in Times Like These

W

ater is, of course, a most essential service. Daily, our teams continue to perform their duties of delivering and cleaning our drinking and recycled water, and cleaning and disposing of our wastewater so that our community can continue to live and work as best as possible. As President of the South Coast Water District, my heartfelt and sincerest thanks go to our team, who are ensuring our community’s water is safe, clean and available—no matter what.

South Coast Water District supplies water, recycled water, and wastewater services to most of Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano— and we’ve done so for almost 100 years. We are certainly used to planning for drought and rainy days, but weathering this pandemic “storm” certainly makes us grateful to our GUEST OPINION past and present District

By Dennis leaders who have prioriErdman tized safety, resilience and environmental stewardship.

April is often a time that we celebrate our environment and our responsibility to protect it. This year, on April 22, our nation celebrated 50 years of Earth Day, reminding us that protecting our environment today will ensure that our world will be livable and sustainable for years to come.

And that is what drives our work at South

Letters to the Editor DO THE GREEN THING

Dana Point Times, Vol. 13, Issue 17. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA.

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Dana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

Here are 10 ways you can celebrate 50 years of Earth Day at home with us: 1. Start a small herb garden or invest in

reusable bag.

• Purchase food such as pasta, rice, nuts and cereal from bulk bins and fill in a reusable bag or container.

• Bring reusable grocery sacks when grocery shopping.

—MARY BRESKIN and JUDITH ANDERSON, San Juan Capistrano

• Bring your own reusable bags for all types of shopping.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, we can all commit to honor our planet by taking steps to limit our purchase of single-use plastic. Our toxic love story with single-use plastic is choking the Earth, but we can each take action and effect a positive change.

• Buy products in boxes instead of bottles

Here are some things we can do: • Carry a refillable water bottle.

• Buy products with less or no packaging.

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Coast Water District. We believe that all resources are valuable and, as a purveyor of a natural resource, we have a responsibility to perform environmental stewardship and protection whenever possible. Whether it’s drinking water, recycled water or wastewater, it is water all the same, and we recognize that all water plays an important part in our quality of life. Earth Day doesn’t feel like a one-day celebration for us—it’s a daily commitment we make to protecting, conserving and caring for our natural environment.

We do our best to protect it through planning, infrastructure maintenance and project implementation. From significant communityled conservation efforts, to daily water quality monitoring and to diversifying our water portfolio with desalination, South Coast Water District has a history—and a culture—of taking on and leading efforts to ensure the proper care of our natural resources.

So while we may not be able to host a celebration—or gather at all—to celebrate 50 years of environmental stewardship and protection, South Coast Water District is playing our part in protecting and sustaining our community’s incredible natural environment and resources to honor the wonder and beauty of our coastal community. And we’d like to ask you to join in with us.

• Buy soaps in bar form instead of plastic bottles.

• Buy produce loose or bring your own

• Make fresh squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles.

• Opt for fresh fruits and veggies instead of products that come in single-serving cups.

• Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags.

• Eliminate your use of plastic straws.

• Pack your own toiletries when traveling instead of using the small plastic bottles in hotel rooms.

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some house plants.

2. Fix that leaky faucet you’ve been meaning to get to.

3. Eat a plant-based meal or forgo meat for the day.

4. Watch a nature documentary series as a family.

5. Get the kids involved! Plan a nature scavenger hunt or a family science experiment.

6. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.

7. Wash laundry in cold water—and always wait until you have a full load.

8. Never flush wipes! Even the “flushable” ones will clog our wastewater system.

9. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.

10. Raise awareness on your social media channel.

Thank you for helping South Coast Water District protect the environment for our community today and for generations to come!

Dennis Erdman is the President of the South Coast Water District. 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

• Bring your own containers for take-out or leftovers since many restaurants use Styrofoam.

As residents of Orange County with the bounty of citrus trees, our “fresh is best” option of juicing our own nutritious resource is the healthy, green way to respect Mother Earth.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Breskin and Anderson are members of the South Orange County Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to lboyd@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning.

Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published. danapointtimes.com

Welcome to

A NEW YOU Thriving in this environment So much of these past few months has been comprised of us being told what we can’t do. Directives to stay at home have essentially deconstructed everything about our day-to-day lives. But how do we go about reconstructing our lives as we hope for this pandemic to come to a conclusion? Use this time of self-quarantine to focus on what you can do. Focus on what reconstruction of your life looks like for you.

While self-care looks differently for each person, it is key to maintaining our well-being and developing our growth. It could look like organizing your kitchen, decluttering your office, getting rid of old bank statements or putting on a face mask (the skin-care kind of face mask—although protective face masks are recommended, too).

While at this time of year we typically give you an in-depth look at the best local options for healthy living, skincare, esthetics, spa experiences and beauty, directives to combat the coronavirus are putting various industries on hold. Even so, we have no doubt that you will come out of this self-quarantine “A New You.”

WHY YOUR

Nutrition Matters

BY GINA COUSINEAU, AKA MAMA G

W

e are hard-pressed not to mention COVID-19 as part of our daily conversations today.

When thinking about finding “the new you,” the importance of selfcare has really been brought to the forefront of our lives, and your nutrition can no longer be ignored.

I have spoken for years of the worldwide obesity pandemic threatening our lives, yet few have taken me seriously. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic dictates our every move; nevertheless, I still stand behind my strong viewpoint that lifestyle diseases (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and colorectal cancers), brought on by our food and movement choices, will still have a greater impact on our health and wellness than this virus.

As we are quarantined at home and forced to develop a new normal, there is no better time than now to focus on YOU. While being homebound, many of us are having to get reacquainted with our kitchens, perhaps for the first time ever, to feed our families. When the pandemic first arrived in South Orange County, the shelves with many of our tried and true staples were bare.

As a nutrition expert who has always touted the benefits of wholesome carbohydrates, I could not help but wonder who was buying these very foods that the media and self-proclaimed health influencers had been demonizing for years. All of a sudden, those who had been afraid to consume foods that contained gluten, dairy, and lectins (legumes and grains) began clearing the shelves of these foods. All of a sudden, bread baking is all the rage, and we have a yeast shortage now.

Whether using it for fuel to provide you with the energy needed to move about your day, or as comfort in times of need, your reward for being good—or if you practice restriction with it when you are dieting—food has tremendous power in our lives.

Unlike an alcoholic or drug addict who can avoid their triggers, we must consume food to live each and every day. Because food brings pleasure, and we have significant memories surrounding our eating experiences, it is hard to detach from the emotions that surround our choices. And few have healthy relationships with this very powerful entity.

So, how do we use food to

provide us with the calories and nutrients we need to not only exist, but allow us to find pleasure in each morsel we ingest, and to also be our defense to diseases that threaten our very lives? This is the multibillion-dollar question that drives the health and wellness industry.

Everyone is an expert, and everyone, from your doctor to your neighbor, has an opinion. I will challenge you here to think logically, look to science and evidence, and consider trying a new approach, especially if the “diet plan” you have been following has failed to help you reach your goals.

Along with a solid nutrition approach, I also invite you to find a routine/schedule in your at home daily life, as these habits are known biological treatment strategies for those who suffer with depression— and, let’s face it, this is depressing.

Right now, come up with a game plan to build “a new you” at home, as well as post-quarantine, while you have the time.

I propose we consider a threefold approach encompassing our nutrition, fitness, and activities of daily living to build a master plan with the goal of thriving and living that long, healthy, independent life.

Your Daily Routine Keep consistent wake and sleep times during the week. Be flexible with your schedule on the weekend, allowing for different activities such as movie/ game nights, leisurely wake-ups, brunch, and afternoon hikes. u Begin a daily walking program if you are new to exercise. Fresh air and sunshine are paramount to your health, with proper social distancing, of course. Begin with 10-minute sessions in your neighborhood. (Masks need only be worn when in close proximity to others.) u

u If you are a seasoned exerciser, be open to trying new activities. Many groups online are offering free virtual classes in which you can participate. And be kind to your body; it deserves a day or two of rest each week. This is an ideal time to work on mobility and stretching exercises that we often forgo due to our tight timelines. u Plan/cook meals together as a family. Choose theme nights or let each person choose their favorite meal.

When shopping, be sure to have a menu planned for the following week or two, allowing you to limit your shopping trips. u Choose minimally processed foods as close to nature as possible. Don’t shy away from frozen/canned fruits, vegetables and beans, but when possible, choose low-sodium and no added sugar/ fat options. u Be sure to have routines for all members of the household, including your pets. Dogs need their daily exercise, but be careful not to over-exercise older furry friends and those with medical conditions. u Embrace old and new hobbies alike.

Music studios provide online lessons.

Crossword and Sudoku puzzles challenge your brain. Knitting and crocheting help with dexterity and hand strength. Pull out all those games collecting dust on the shelves.

Using the 2020 Nutrition Label to guide your food choices

1 / Pay attention to portion size and calories per serving. The new label has increased the font and bolded this information to bring your attention to it. That bag of chips is likely more than one serving with the update, as more realistic serving sizes have been used.

2 / Be aware of added sugar. While a banana has natural sugar, fructose, it has no added sugar. The new label indicates if there is “added sugar” in the food product—relevant information for the consumer, especially when looking at sugar-laden beverages.

3 / Fat, cholesterol, sodium and protein have been bolded to help consumers consider these nutrients when choosing foods—all important considerations for your daily food intake.

4 / The nutrients of concern for the general population have been updated, highlighting vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium. The new label allows you to see what percentage the food stuff contains.

Gina Cousineau works with clients virtually and is offering her services at no charge during the public health crisis. Her extensive education with a BS in dietetics and MS in integrative and functional nutrition, chef training, and more than 30 years as a fitness professional, allow her to help clients with finding a practical nutrition that works for their lifestyle. You can reach her at mamag@mamagslifestyle.com, 949.842.9975, and on Instagram and Facebook @mamagslifestyle.

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

Local Businesses Continue to Promote Healthy Living

Photo: Courtesy of iHeartYoga

BY LILLIAN BOYD, DANA POINT TIMES

With social distancing directives altering how people stay active, local studios and gyms are modifying their classes so that people have the option to exercise from their living room while remaining connected with their instructors. iHeartYoga, located in Dana Point Harbor, is offering lowcost online yoga classes for those looking for a high-quality home workout. Classes will be offered daily for $8 for nonmembers, and iHeartYoga members can access any of the class offerings for free.

A schedule of classes can be found at iheartyoga.org/ schedule. iHeartYoga’s Facebook and Instagram pages will have the most up-to-date content.

“On March 18, we made the difficult decision to close our Dana Point Harbor Studio, donation classes in Lantern Bay Park, postpone four Mexico retreats, and cancel numerous local events such as Yoga at the Rooftop Laguna Beach and Bend and Brew at a new surprise location,” said Elsa Stuart, founder of iHeartYoga.

“Strong businesses find new and creative ways to reinvent themselves in challenging times, and we gathered as a team and built a new offering quickly called iHeartYoga Live.”

Stuart says staff turned the yoga studio into a video production studio and now live-stream 18 classes per week.

“Our students expect really high-quality yoga from us, so we really invested into everything from video equipment, schedule automation, lighting, and creating an environment so our amaz-

ing instructors could deliver really great content without having to worry about everything behind the scenes,” Stuart said.

Stuart says her team created iHeartYoga Live as a way to remain connected to the iHeartYoga community and remind everyone that health is not a given, especially during a time of such uncertainty and social distancing. Secondly, she wanted a way to keep investing in her instructors by paying them for content on iHeartYoga Live while most fitness instructor income has essentially vanished.

“Concentrating on your health is now more important than ever,” Stuart said. “We want all of our students to rise from this pandemic stronger than ever, and iHeartYoga Live is our offering to help everyone keep a strong yoga practice until we open iHeartYoga back up again.”

Studio A Pilates & Yoga, another Pilates studio in Dana Point, has partnered with ZOOM + FitGrid to bring live virtual classes taught by Studio A instructors. The live stream fully integrates with MINDBODY, a program that enables users to create accounts. Access to unlimited virtual classes are available for purchase in two-week increments for $39, or single class drop-ins for $8.

For those who hope to incorporate other aspects of lifestyle health, CrossFit Dana Point is offering incentives for participants in their “21 Day Lifestyle Challenge.”

The challenge is open to everyone, including non-members and participants not in “CrossFit” shape. Minimum registra-

tion is $25 (or they can pay more). If you complete the challenge, at the end of the 21 days, you get 100% of your money back in the form of a gift card from one of the eight local spots.

The eight local businesses are Project Social in Dana Point, Bear Coast Coffee in Dana Point, JD Flannel Donuts in San Juan Capistrano, Artifex Brewing Company in San Clemente, Cocoa Parlor in Laguna Niguel, The Shwack Beach Grill in Dana Point, Restore Hyper Wellness in Laguna Niguel and Hobie Surf Shop in Dana Point.

“We know it’s a hard time for many of us small businesses, so we wanted to band our community together to help in any way we can,” said CrossFit Dana Point owner Zak Kepner.

“There is strength in numbers!”

As far as the challenge tasks, Kepner says that most are encouraging people to do small things such as making your bed, drinking water, stepping outside, eating one serving of veggies, reading, connecting with family/friends, fitness, etc.

“So, really, anyone can participate and win their money back; that’s the goal,” Kepner said. “We do not make any money from this; 100% of a participant’s registration goes directly to the local business they choose and given back to them as a gift card.”

Anyone who is interested can email info@crossfitdanapoint. com, message CrossFit Dana Point on Facebook or Instagram (@crossfitdanapoint), or text/call 949.342.5139. Once a person contacts CrossFit Dana Point to register, they will receive the challenge checklist and scoring sheet, as well as payment info. DP

At the Movies: ‘Yentl’ and the History of Cross-Dressing in Film

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

L

ast weekend, while diving into my ever-growing quarantine movie watch list, I revisited a film I hadn’t seen or really thought about since I first watched it as a teen: Barbra Streisand’s Yentl (1983).

Streisand already had her legacy assured with William Wyler’s Funny Girl (1968), but she still felt she had potential to expand her career even further with a traditional Jewish tale such as Yentl.

At the time, the film received a lot of attention and publicity for Streisand starring in and directing the story, as well as for the sexual politics that run through the themes.

In 1904 Eastern Europe, a bookworm named Yentl (StreiDana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

sand) decides to dress as a man and take her younger brother’s name—Anshel—to be able to attend a prestigious Jewish college in Poland. Once she gets there, she not only fools the whole school, but quickly develops an attraction to her charming roommate, Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin).

But things get complicated when the girl Avigdor is in love with, Hadass (Amy Irving), develops a crush on “Anshel.” If this sounds familiar, that’s because it’s basically the Hebrew equivalent of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (1602), which would also inspire other famous cross-dressing features, including She’s the Man (2006), Motocrossed (2001) and even Disney’s Mulan (1998).

Page 10

Something that works in Yentl’s favor and makes it more unique than the other cross-dressing themed movies is that the gender disguise isn’t used as a comedic gag.

Everyone in the story’s universe believes “Anshel” is a legitimate male, so Streisand chooses to spend the rest of the film focusing on the love triangle and Yentl experiencing independence.

Though the picture is very much a product of its time (bisexuality doesn’t appear to exist, and they constantly remind viewers Yentl is straight), Streisand, Patinkin and Irving take the material seriously enough for it to still be intriguing.

Besides that, Yentl still holds up with entertainment value and a change of pace in modern times. DP danapointtimes.com

DP

Dana Point Point Dana

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

The MS Rotterdam anchored off of Lerwick, Scotland in September 2019. Photo: Tom Blake

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

It Could Have Been Us

I

t’s hard to feel upbeat during this COVID-19 health crisis, with so much alarming news, and knowing that so many people are suffering.

And yet, my partner, Greta, and I feel blessed, because we know our situation could have been worse. Much worse.

How so? We love to travel. More specifically, we love to travel on cruise ships. Our adopted cruise ship company is the Holland America Line (HAL). All the cruises we’ve taken have been on HAL vessels, except one Viking river cruise and one short Princess ocean cruise.

On HAL, we’re what are called four-star mariners, which means we’ve logged a lot of sea days (245) on multiple ocean cruises.

When you spend an extended time on a cruise ship, you start to feel the ship is your friend. You trust it. You trust the captain and

the crew. When a cruise ends, and you say goodbye to the crew, there’s a tug on your heart, because they’ve become your friends, and you realize you probably won’t see them again.

In 2018, we were on the MS Amsterdam, the Rotterdam’s sister ship, for 82 days, a round trip from Los Angeles throughout the Far East and back. We visited 34 ports, three of which were in China, including a visit to the Great Wall of China. We traveled on trains and buses in Shanghai, mingling with hundreds, if not thousands, of Chinese citizens.

As the COVID-19 crisis started to evolve, Greta and I watched closely about what was happening with cruise ships. We visualized passengers being quarantined to 392-square-foot staterooms, some with no windows. Ships in all parts of the world were being affected.

We were saddened to hear that the Zaandam was not allowed to stop in a port in Chile because COVID-19 had infected passengers.

Four died. The Zaandam made its way to the Panama Canal, but then wasn’t allowed to transit through to get back to Florida—too many sick passengers on board.

And then, our old pal, the Rotterdam, was sent to assist the Zaandam off the Panamanian coast. Oh, my gosh, there they were—two

More than ever, our newspaper voices need to be heard. Please visit danapointtimes.com/insider to read Picket Fence Media Publisher Norb Garrett’s messages “Keep Local Media Alive” and “In the Midst of Uncertainty.” Become an Insider.

Greta and I will be traveling again someday, and we’ll be cruising. We hope all of you will give your travel agents the green light to book you on a trip—maybe even a cruise.

Trust me, the cruise ship companies will ensure those sea-going beauties will be sanitized from bow to stern and back again.

Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and San Clemente 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, Dana Point Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the Dana Point Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com

BY MYLES MELLOR

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 Last week’s solution:

DANA POINT TIMES

T

Dana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

A NOTE FROM TOM:

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Pita his pretty girl is Pita, a 2-year-old Husky mix with so much love to give.

Like most Huskies, Pita has lots of energy and enjoys getting a good amount of exercise. When she’s ready to settle down, she can be quite the snuggle buddy and can’t pass up a nice belly rub. Pita would prefer to be the only pet in a home where she doesn’t have to share the spotlight.

If you are interested in adopting Pita, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application

Holland America ships that had been home to us for a combined total of 118 days— caught in the heart of the virus outbreak.

When we saw those two ships together, we looked at each other, saying, “It could have been us.”

Thankfully, the Zaandam and Rotterdam were finally allowed to traverse the Panama Canal, and received permission to dock in Port Everglades, Florida.

Greta and I have always been impressed with how careful HAL has been with sanitation. Hand sanitizers placed throughout the ship. Constant reminders to wash hands. Staying in your stateroom if sick.

Spraying passengers’ ON LIFE AND hands when leaving and LOVE AFTER 50 returning to the gangplank.

By Tom Blake They are perfectionists for health; we always appreciated the crew going that extra mile.

Travel agents have been crushed by COVID-19. Airline travel, down 96%. Hotels, 80% empty. Cruises on hold. When things get back to normal, give them a call. They will be anxious to return to work, as the rest of the world will be.

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

form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. DP

Page 11

See the solution in next week’s issue.

danapointtimes.com

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Open Clubface Golf Courses Reopen with County Safety Guidelines

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

Amid pushbacks and protests against stay-at-home orders across the country, Orange County opened a small door to normalcy and outside activity.

The OC Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, April 21 to allow county golf courses to reopen in a limited capacity by following “industry best practices for implementation” of social distancing and other safety guidelines “to provide the opportunity to recreate on the course.”

Some courses around South Orange County seized that opportunity immediately, with San Juan Hills Golf Club in San Juan Capistrano reopening to annual members only on Wednesday, April 22; Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point reopening to the public on Thursday, April 23; and Bella Collina San Clemente, a private club, reopening to its members only on Friday, April 24.

“We are thrilled to be open and applaud the Orange County Supervisors for allowing us to safely let our valued patrons recreate on our golf course safely,” Monarch Beach Golf Links general manager Eric Lohman said.

As of press time on Thursday, April 23, the officials for the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course and the city of San Clemente were scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss reopening. In San Clemente’s City Council meeting on Tuesday night, outgoing Mayor Dan Bane had said the city would treat reopening the golf course as they have with the city’s beaches “as soon as able to do so safely.”

Also as of press time, websites and Facebook pages for Shorecliffs Golf Club and Talega Golf Club in San Clemente, both public courses, and Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano, a private club, said the courses remained closed until further notice. Request for comment by the Dana Point Times had not yet been returned.

In a copy of the county guidance to the courses obtained by the Dana Point Times, the OC Board of Supervisors identified a list of health and safety standards to protect golfers.

These standards include that courses “should” be walking only with social distancing enforced by course marshals. During the Supervisors meeting, there was some discussion over that word “should,” to allow leeway for courses that deemed motorized golf carts as necessary to get around Dana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

San Juan Hills Golf Club reopened to members only on Wednesday, April 22 after the Orange County Board of Supervisors passed guidance to allow courses to reopen for recreation. Photo: San Juan Hills Golf Club

the course. If motorized carts were allowed, the Supervisors expected the carts to be cleaned and sanitized after each use.

San Juan Hills and Bella Collina each said their courses would be walking-only. Monarch Beach will provide individual carts for golfers.

The guidance also called for the elimination of all “touch points” on the course, including removing flagsticks and bunker rakes and closing self-service areas such as restrooms, where social distancing cannot be enforced. The guidance also asked for the cups to be inverted on the greens, and ball washers to be covered.

Groups should also be limited to four or fewer players, and tee times should be staggered. Guidelines for tee time staggering— the length of time between groups—were not given explicit limits by the county, allowing individual courses to do what suits their layout best.

Clubhouses, pro shops, snack bars, sitdown restaurants and other amenities are still to remain closed at the golf courses, to minimize face-to-face contact between golfers and course employees.

“This is not reopening golf courses,” Fifth District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said in Tuesday’s county meeting. “This is basically allowing the golf course owners and managers to put in place a certain policy to allow the golfers to recreate. We’re not open for business, for golf course or any other nonessential business. It’s strictly allowing individuals to recreate on their course. It’s not open for business, come one, come all.”

Bartlett, whose district includes Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, introduced the guidance directive to the OC Board of Supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting. While there was some pushback from other Supervisors to approving the Page 12

guidance on Tuesday, Bartlett was adamant about putting out the guidance as soon as possible.

“Time is of the essence,” Bartlett said in Tuesday’s meeting. “We have people that are getting totally stir-crazy at home.”

Her latest stance was a bit of a turnaround for Bartlett, who had advocated for closing of golf courses in an earlier Board of Supervisors meeting on March 31. While other courses had closed at the time, Shorecliffs had remained open, and Bartlett voiced her concerns then about keeping clubs open.

“I understand people want to get exercise; they’re getting stir-crazy,” Bartlett had said in the March 31 meeting. “We have a public health crisis we’ve got to lock down. Golf courses are not part of the essential worker, essential business list pursuant to the governor’s executive order. We need cooperation out there.”

The San Clemente Municipal Golf Course has been closed since March 16. Monarch Beach, San Juan Hills and Marbella closed their courses on March 20, the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom issued California’s stay-at-home order. Talega and Bella Collina closed on March 22. Shorecliffs closed on April 1.

Elsewhere in South Orange County, three Mission Viejo courses announced plans to reopen following the county’s guidance. Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club and Mission Viejo County Club, a private club, were set to open on Friday, April 24. City-owned Casta del Sol Golf Course was scheduled to reopen on May 1. DP

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MASSAGE THERAPY

Paul Svoboda CAMTC #76690 Monarch Beach Studio or Outcall, 310.387.2560 MUSIC INSTRUCTION

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24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

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949.388.4038, heilingyeung@hotmail.com www.yeungsschoolofviolin.com/violinestudio

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

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UPHOLSTERY & INTERIORS

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34118 Pacific Coast Highway, Ste. 2, 949.240.9569. www.jeddys.com

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Contact Lauralyn Loynes at 949.388.7700 ext. 102 or lloynes@picketfencemedia.com Dana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

Page 13

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

GROM OF THE WEEK SAWYER LINDBLAD

Sawyer Lindblad. Photo: Courtesy of WSL

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

I Access to San Clemente’s beaches was closed off to the public earlier this month, but the council on Tuesday, April 21, voted in favor of having the beaches reopen soon, potentially this weekend. Photo: Fred Swegles

San Clemente Beaches to Reopen After being closed for two weeks, a unanimous vote from city council will allow local beaches to soon reopen

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

O

n Tuesday evening, April 21, at the end of a long meeting that ran deep into the night, the San Clemente City Council voted unanimously to proceed with reopening city beaches for exercise and surfing.

Two weeks after the initial closure, the current plan is to open San Clemente beaches from North Beach south past Riviera Beach. Residents will soon be permitted to exercise on the beaches, and surfers can enjoy the ocean once again.

A firm date for opening the beaches has not been announced, but it was expressed by councilmembers that they would like to see the beaches reopened by this weekend—although it remains to be seen if they can hold back the wave of stoked surfers at this point.

Taking a cautious approach to the opening, at this time, the beaches will not be open to “passive” use—meaning don’t bring Dana Point Times April 24-30, 2020

your cooler and umbrella and post up for the day. Loitering will not be tolerated. In other words, if you’re on the sand, keep it moving, folks.

Additionally, city beach parking lots will remain closed at this time to keep crowds to a minimum.

In terms of reopening nearby California State Parks, that continues to be a work in progress. The city is looking into next steps for opening the beaches at Calafia. The issue farther south at Trestles and San Onofre is a little more complicated, as those parks are in San Diego County, where beach closures are still in place.

On Tuesday morning, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to keep Orange County beaches open, which helped set the precedent and ease the pressure on the San Clemente City Council to move forward with its plans to open our local waters.

When the subject of our beaches finally came up during the San Clemente City Council meeting, after covering a number of other more pressing issues, the councilmembers were all quick to agree that they could be cautiously optimistic about easing restrictions.

What took so long to finally come to a vote was the reading of more than 40 letters submitted by the public. Impassioned surfers from throughout our community all spoke up to voice their support for reopening the beaches.

For the past week, a growing number of local surfers had been working closely together to make their feelings known, apply pressure to the council and offer up possible solutions about how to move forward.

From numerous parents, to resident pro surfer Kevin Schulz, to Surfline CEO Jeff Berg, the overall discourse has been respectable,

solution-minded and well-articulated. Unfortunately, some of the biggest surf stars in our community who make a very good living riding waves declined to get involved, which is disappointing.

But ultimately, it mattered little. Clearly, the council listened to its more passionate residents who surf simply for the love of it and moved forward with a decision that affects everyone.

After the past two weeks, we’ve all experienced what it is like not to be able to go in the water and enjoy the benefits of the ocean. Moving forward, the responsibility will now be largely on the surf community to regulate the crowds and respect the restrictions that still remain in place.

Yes, lifeguards and other officials will be enforcing these restrictions, but in all of the conversations I’ve had over the past couple of weeks with surfers, they’ve all made it clear that the surf community needs to be more proactive about using this tremendous resource in the most responsible way possible.

What that means is spreading out the crowds. If you have to remind other surfers in the lineup that they’re getting too close, please do so, but don’t be rude. Now is not the time to be selfish and endeavor to catch the wave of your life.

Instead, enjoy the ocean for what it offers—a place to exercise, break up the monotony of the current stay-at-home orders and get out in the sunshine. If you have to surf closeouts, or settle for bodysurfing or riding a longboard, it’s all good; anything to get in the water these days is a huge positive.

We’re a long way from getting back to normal, but thankfully, we can soon go to the beach again. DP

Page 14

t’s certainly not easy to be a grom around town these days, but somebody who is keeping the vibes right and staying stoked until brighter days is local ripper Sawyer Lindblad.

Kicking off 2020, Sawyer could not have asked for a better start to the year. The 14-yearold won her first WSL Qualifying Series event at the SLO Cal Open at Pismo Beach.

She called it the “biggest thing I’ve ever won” and “the highlight of my life.”

She then went on to finish runner-up at another QS contest in Morro Bay. And right before the WSL canceled or postponed all of its events for the foreseeable future, she finished second at the Ron Jon Roxy Junior Pro in Florida.

For the effort, Sawyer was highlighted by Surfline in this week’s “Rising Star” feature.

Sawyer currently carries a 4.0 grade point average, and one of her biggest inspirations is noted San Clemente resident and former world champion Lisa Andersen.

She and her brother, Taj, are regulars at Lowers—or at least they were when the break was open. And while everything’s stuck on hold at the moment, there’s no question that she’ll be ripping harder than ever when she gets back in the water. And when the competitions restart, look for her atop the podium. DP

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 60-62 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12’ Outlook: Combination of Southwest and Northwest swell maintains waist-stomach-chest high surf, (2-3-4’) on Friday, as light onshore winds in the morning rise to light+/moderate westerly flow for the afternoon. The blend of old swells will slowly fade through the weekend, for mainly thigh to waist high waves, (2-3’) left by Sunday. Light+ southerly winds due for most of the weekend.

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