May 8, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

May 8-14, 2020

YO U

C A N

DHHS Football Adjusts to Distance Training

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VOLUME 13, ISSUE 19

Battle of the Beaches

Governor Reopens DP Beaches; Leadership Calls Closures an Overreach E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 6

After a series of lawsuits, political debate, collaboration and communication, the reopening of Orange County-operated beaches followed those of city and state beaches. Photo: Lillian Boyd

Guide to Starting a Summer Garden GETTING OUT/PAGE 10

Congressman, Mayor Call for Funding for Small Cities EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

danapointtimes.com

Glowing Waves Coming to an End EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

Celebrate

’

S U N D AY, M AY 1 0

Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom, grandma and great gram!

We love you and miss you and can’t wait to all be together again. ­­ Pat, Dana and family.

Dear Mom, Behind good sons, there is always a great mom.

Happy Mother’s Day, we love you so much. Love, Max and Alex

To all the mom’s of Aegis of Dana Point (in Capistrano Beach) that are caring for the mom’s of our local community, we thank you and wish you all a very Happy Mother’s Day!

DP EYE ON DP

Dana Dana Point Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week Viczorek Joins Other Mayors and Rep. Levin on Call for Funding to Smaller Municipalities THE LATEST: U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) and a bipartisan coalition of nine local mayors, including Dana Point Mayor Richard Viczorek, reiterated their call on Thursday, May 7, for direct federal funding to stabilize smaller counties, cities, and towns—specifically, those with populations under 500,000.

Their call supports several letters Rep. Levin and House colleagues sent to Congressional leadership requesting funding for small municipalities, which are struggling with costs and declining revenues due to COVID-19.

“The essential public services that cities provide are critical for our health and security, yet many smaller cities have been cut off from federal aid and they are desperate for a lifeline,” said Rep. Levin.

“While the CARES Act included funding for states and large cities, it wasn’t enough, and it’s time for House and Senate leadership to rectify that.”

The next coronavirus relief package that Congress passes must provide more money to cities, and it must set aside funding for cities with fewer than 500,000 residents, Levin said.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a Coronavirus Relief Fund with $150 billion for payments to state, local, and tribal governments confronting the COVID-19 outbreak. However, localities with populations under 500,000 cannot receive the funds directly.

“The loss of revenue to even well-run cities such as Dana Point due to the government-mandated shutdown of our economy has been substantial, which in turn makes it increasingly challenging to provide the city’s core services for our residents,” Viczorek said to Dana Point Times. “I believe it’s important and will continue to work with elected leaders and staff of both parties at all levels of government to do what is best for our residents.”

The CARES Act allowed no funding for cities like ours to use for such things as police services, public works and infrastructure or to maintain our citizens’ Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

Congressman Mike Levin and a coalition of Southern California mayors have called on federal leaders to set aside funding for smaller municipalities, which have had difficulties getting direct aid amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: File

quality of life, Viczorek said.

Rep. Levin says he hopes to pass additional relief legislation with direct stabilization funding to localities with populations under 500,000, and to lower the threshold for direct funding through the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

“We have worked day and night throughout this crisis to maintain critical public services and protect the health, safety, and economic security of our people,” stated the letter signed by the mayors. “As the pandemic erodes our traditional sources of local revenue, we have risen to the occasion to serve the individuals and families who call our cities home. We need the federal government to step up.”

The coalition of mayors also includes San Juan Capistrano Mayor Troy Bourne and San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson. The cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, Solana Beach and Vista were also represented.

WHAT’S NEXT: “We are calling on Congress and the President to provide direct aid to our cities in order to offset lost revenues and unexpected costs during this unprecedented time. The health and well-being of our people depend on it,” the letter states.—Lillian Boyd

State Lifts Closure for County-Operated Beaches THE LATEST: County-operated beaches will be allowed to reopen for active use, as the state on Thursday, May 7, approved the County of Orange Phased Beach Reopening Plan, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The plan, Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said in a letter to OC Parks Director Stacy Blackwood, is consistent with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stayat-home order, issued on March 19.

“Therefore, beaches operated by the County of Orange are permitted to reopen under this beach management plan,” the letter states.

Under the county’s plan, the county-run beaches will reopen to the public seven days a week, during standard operating hours, while parking lots will continue to remain closed to reduce the potential for overcrowding.

Salt Creek, Strand, Baby and Capistrano Beaches in Dana Point reopened on Thursday, as well as Poche Beach in San Clemente. Permitted activities at the beaches include “walking, running, jogging, dog-walking (where permitted), and other non-stationary activities.”

Swimming, surfing, kayaking and other ocean-based activities are also allowed, while the list of temporary non-permitted activities include sunbathing, sitting, and volleyball, or other high-touch group sports, as well the use of beach chairs, coolers and barbecues, among others.

“I am very pleased with this alternative to a complete shutdown and the collaborative efforts of state, county, and local officials to bring the plan to fruition,” said OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett. “This phased approach allows us to reopen our beaches in a prudent, responsible manner that prioritizes public health and safety, while recognizing the importance of outdoor recreation. We want Orange County residents to get back to fully enjoying their beaches as safely and quickly as possible.”

The governor ordered all beaches countywide to close late last week as a tar-

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geted response to news photos that had showed large crowds of people visiting Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, in defiance of his social distancing directive, amid a heat wave that hit Southern California.

Since imposing the controversial directive on Friday, May 1, the state has been lifting the closure on a city-by-city basis, depending on the beach management plans each city has submitted to the governor’s office for approval.

The beach management plans similarly mirror San Clemente’s active-use plan that the city had recently adopted for its beaches—a week before the governor’s close order was issued.

The state on Monday, May 4, lifted the closure for San Clemente, with Dana Point’s beaches allowed to reopen the following day. On Tuesday, May 5, the Orange County Board of Supervisors directed County CEO Frank Kim to submit its beach reopening plan, consistent with each coastal city’s plan.—Shawn Raymundo

Glowing Waves Could Be Crashing to an End Soon THE LATEST: The bioluminescent phenomenon that has attracted visitors to Southern California’s coastline in recent weeks could be coming to an end soon, as the organisms causing the red tide and glowing waves are likely nearing the end of their life span.

Michael Latz, a bioluminescence expert for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, says that while it’s ultimately up to nature, the red tide could be in its final phase.

“It’s kind of up to nature, but given that it’s been with us for a month, I think it’s probably in its last week,” Latz said, before noting: “But it’s up to nature; nothing I say will change that.”

The red tide in Southern California’s waters, stretching from Los Angeles County down to Baja California, is caused by an aggregation of species called dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra.

According to Scripps, the species is known for its bioluminescent display, or flash of light, which is meant to scare off predators. During the day, the waters are visibly discolored, as the organism contains a “sunscreen” that gives it its reddish-brown look—hence, the red tide.

Latz notes that the bioluminescence, at least in his area of San Diego, has gotten weaker in recent days, indicating that the species is no longer as healthy and beginning to die. Another indication, he explained, is a “stinky smell” that’s emitted.

(Cont. on page 4) danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) When the organism dies off, it releases organic material, inviting microbial action.

As the organic material breaks down, he further explained, there’s a lot of protein, organics and foam in the water. With all that microbial action, it decreases oxygen in the water, resulting in fish kills.

“The oxygen levels get too low,” he said.

“The bacteria become active, breaking it down, and that leads to low oxygen levels that can result in fish kills.”

While this phase of the organisms’ life cycle can be deadly for fish, it’s not toxic to humans who are looking to swim and surf.

However, he advised that those who are sensitive to aerosols may want to wait a bit before heading into the water.

“It’s a personal choice, whether you want to go in the water,” he said, adding: “While it’s degrading, I wouldn’t recommend going in, but there’s not a public advisory against going in it.”

According to Latz, the life span of a red tide event varies with each occurrence, with some lasting about a week and others as long as a couple of months. The frequency in which they appear also varies, as a red tide typically occurs once a year or every other year.

Scripps has been monitoring red tides since the early 1900s. The latest occurrence, Latz said, is certainly one of the bigger events seen in Southern California in recent years. One of the last times that Scripps saw a red tide of this magnitude was in 2011, when it lasted the month of October.

WHAT’S NEXT: With many still hoping to catch the phenomenon, San Clemente Marine Safety Officer Ian Burton said people can still visit the local beaches, which are open for active-use only, as long as they practice social distancing.

“As long as people are practicing social distancing, then it shouldn’t be a problem for anybody to come down and check it out for 10 minutes or so,” he said. “We obviously want people to practice social distancing . . . just please be responsible.”—SR

Levin Joins SBDC in Town Hall Meeting for Small Business Resources THE LATEST: Rep. Mike Levin, whose district includes Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, joined Mike Daniel and Mike Hill from the Orange County Office of Small Business Development Centers to further educate small businesses on resources for economic relief.

In a Zoom “town hall” conference on Tuesday, April 28, Levin stressed the importance of government and businesses working together to weather the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent impacts that reacting policies have had on the economy.

Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

After some political hurdles in communication, Orange County-managed beaches are now reopened for active, recreational use, per approval by the state. Photo: Lillian Boyd

“In an area where tourism is so critically important, anything we can do from a revenue recovering perspective is crucial,” Levin said. “Obviously, there’s a massive number of people eager to get back to work, and staying at home is not easy.

I’m very cognizant of that. We have to get back to work, but we have to do so in a way that is safe.”

Daniel highlighted two loans made available by the federal government: the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The EIDL has been available for several decades and has traditionally served recipients in times of a disaster impacting a select area and is a 3.75%, 30-year, fixed-rate loan.

“We are seeing a record number of people applying for this loan,” Daniel said.

“California was the first to declare itself as a disaster state. Most disasters are concentrated to one area, but coronavirus is all over the world.”

Small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories were able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000.

This advance is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue and does not have to be repaid.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will begin accepting new EIDL applications on a limited basis for agricultural businesses only.

PPP goes through lenders, which is where the bulk of federal funding went.

It covers eight weeks of payroll, and if

recipients use 75% of it to preserve staff, it is forgiven.

“The SBDC is here to figure out what kind of loans are best for you,” Daniel said. “Maybe it’s both. We can walk you through your options.”

The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce has consolidated links and resources for both employers and employees regarding COVID-19 and created a comprehensive webpage for tools that the community can refer to.

“Legislation that impacts business is changing every day,” said Vickie McMurchie, the executive director for the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce. “I strongly suggest businesses reach out to your local SBA or SBDC offices for guidance and for the most up-to-date information on loans and financial assistance.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The Chamber’s resource page includes tools for small businesses, a list of financial relief and assistance programs, legislative updates, community resources, health and advisory updates and more. Those resources can be viewed at danapointchamber.com.—LB

Water Dam, Reservoir Project Still Moving Forward THE LATEST: A water dam and reservoir under construction on land acquired from Rancho Mission Viejo has not been affected

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by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) Deputy General Manager Don Bunts.

Recent rainfall, however, has affected the Trampas Canyon Dam and Reservoir project, which intends to store recycled water. Work on the project restarted on Monday, April 27, after being delayed for a few weeks, Bunts said.

The project is expected to wrap up in September. No one involved is believed to have fallen ill, and site workers already practice a degree of physical separation, Bunts said.

“Knock on wood, we’re in pretty good shape now,” Bunts said.

The dam and reservoir are south of Ortega Highway, and the reservoir is intended to store water on a seasonal basis. The project is intended to increase the amount of recycled water the water district uses.

“It’s good environmentally,” Bunts aid.

“It’s good for the district, too.”

Construction began in January 2018.

Other construction projects with SMWD have also not been impacted by the pandemic.

The San Juan Capistrano City Council approved a water and utility annexation agreement with SMWD in January, meaning those systems will be transferred to SMWD. The annexation agreement still needs to be approved by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

Bunts said the annexation is an opportunity that both sides are interested in getting approved.—Collin Breaux danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Food Drive Collects 500 Bags of Donations The food drive organized by the City of Dana Point and Dana Point Surf Club on Saturday morning, May 2, collected more than 500 bags of donated food.

Since the start of stay-at-home orders and business closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased need for food and basic supplies such as cleaners, paper towels, and toilet paper.

"Our community truly appreciates our Dana Point Surf Club for their continued commitment in all aspects of Dana Point life, both in and out of the ocean,” said club president Eric Diamond. “We are a family here.

Thanks to our volunteers for their service, Team Rubicon and the City, but most importantly for all the cars and familiar faces that came through and dropped food and supplies off. Great to see locals giving back.”

The city counted 172 cars that came through to drop off much-needed food and essential items for seniors and families. The volunteers were also treated to lunch donated by a Dana Point Subway franchise.

St. Anne Hosting Food Drive May 8 St. Anne School will host its annual food drive and inaugural carpool spirit day on Friday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The “Food Drive and Teacher Parade,” for St. Anne families to drop off food and other items at the school, will donate to Orange County's Illumination Foundation.

The St. Anne teachers and staff will be on campus in face masks and spirit shirts holding signs and waving to students who are really missing their teachers right now, said Stephanie Callahan, Enrollment and Communication Manager for St. Anne School.

St. Anne School is asking for face masks, as the Illumination Foundation is in great need.

As for food, requested donations include bread, eggs, Cup Noodles, tomato sauce, canned refried beans, snacks, canned soup, milk and frozen meals. Non-food donations can be gift cards for Food 4 Less, Ralphs or Kroger, as well as sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer.

Ford Fund to Match Donation for Boys & Girls Club’s Food Program The Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area has been selected by the Ford Motor Company Fund to receive a matching donation of $15,000, which will help to support Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

Dana Point Surf Club partnered with the City of Dana Point to organize a food drive on Saturday, May 2. Photo: Jean-Paul Van Swae

ongoing efforts to provide emergency food services amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 Ford Fund Donation Match program is a combined effort between Ford Fund and Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford. The program will match $500,000 in donations to designated community organizations in the fight against COVID-19.

In San Clemente, funds are being raised to support the Boys & Girls Club’s emergency food program and other resources for families in need.

According to the Club, the Ford Fund is also launching a new “Read and Record” virtual volunteering project to create an online library of Ford employees reading children’s books for the 1.3 billion children and youth affected by school closings around the world.

“Even now, while many are sheltering in place at home, our employees are looking for ways to help,” Mary Culler, president of the Ford Motor Company Fund, said in a Club press release. “These two new programs offer meaningful ways for employees to give back and join in the fight against COVID-19.”

County Launches Meal Delivery Service for Seniors The County of Orange on Friday, May 1, announced the launch of its Great Plates Delivered program, which is meant to support seniors and local businesses needing assistance during the public health crisis.

According to a press release, the county will partner with many local food providers to deliver three meals a day to those aged 65 and older, as well as adults between the ages of 60 and 64 who are at

high-risk from COVID-19.

“This program allows local businesses to receive economic aid while serving the elderly, one of the county’s most vulnerable populations,” OC Board of Supervisors Chairperson Michelle Steel said in the release. “On behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, we believe it is absolutely critical to take advantage of every resource made available to the county, especially those that benefit the community that has been affected by COVID19.”

New Private Preschool Still Moving Ahead Community Seedlings Preschool is still aiming to offer summer programs as long as they’re able to do so, according to preschool director Carrie Fetter. The preschool will hold classes at Palisades United Methodist Church on Camino De Estrella, in the Capistrano Beach/San Clemente area.

The new school will follow pandemic-related guidelines, and intends to have small classes and outdoor instruction. Tours of the school weren’t able to be scheduled as of press time due to the health crisis, though parents can apply on the school’s website at learningcommunities.org. An open house and tour will be available as soon as the school is able to offer them.

Quest Diagnostics Providing Antibody Tests Quest Diagnostics, which has been involved in coronavirus testing, recently announced people can purchase antibody tests

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for themselves online at getquesttest.com.

Quest Diagnostics has a lab in San Juan Capistrano that has been processing coronavirus tests and operates other locations throughout the country.

“The new service broadens access to COVID-19 antibody testing in the United States. On April 21, Quest announced the launch of its COVID-19 antibody test service for health care providers to order on behalf of patients,” a news release said. “With QuestDirect, an individual can request the test and purchase it online. Each test request is reviewed and, if appropriate, an order for testing is issued by a licensed physician. Individuals have the opportunity to speak with a licensed physician about their results.”

Test results can show if people have been exposed to COVID-19 and developed antibodies, and are available on the patient portal MyQuest one to two days on average after a blood draw.

“After purchasing the service online, an individual will be prompted to schedule an appointment for a blood draw at one of the 2,200 patient service centers Quest Diagnostics operates around the United States,” the press release said. “For the safety of our patients and employees, individuals must not have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 10 days; wear a face mask; and pass a contact-less temperature check.”

Individuals with an active COVID-19 infection, including individuals with symptoms, should not use the test or visit a patient service center.

Have something interesting for the community?

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EYE ON DP

Battle for the Beaches Governor Approves Beach Reopening; Leadership Calls Closures an Overreach

BY LILLIAN BOYD, DANA POINT TIMES

All beaches in Dana Point have been reopened for active, recreational use, but it wasn’t without political hurdles.

After Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his targeted orders to close all beaches in Orange County only on Thursday, April 30, state officials had encouraged municipalities to submit a plan for governor approval.

The order came as a direct response to the thousands of people who flocked to some of Orange County’s beaches in late April, when a heat wave hit Southern California. News photos of the large crowds visibly defying the state’s social distancing guidelines, notably in Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, gained widespread media attention and drew the ire of the governor.

In a press conference on Monday, April 27, Newsom admonished the beachgoers, stating that such actions will prevent the state from

continuing to make “the meaningful progress we’ve made the past couple of weeks.”

Late Wednesday night, April 29, a memo that the California Police Chiefs Association had sent to police chiefs throughout the state, was leaked to the press, explaining that Newsom was expected to announce a statewide closure of all beaches and state parks.

The next day, Newsom clarified that “we are going to do a hard close just in that part of the state, just that county.” The governor also said he hoped it would be “a short-term adjustment.”

A letter from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services sent to coastal Orange County cities on the same day explained that the temporary order would go into effect on Friday, May 1, prohibiting activities on the beaches such as sunbathing, walking, running and watersports.

“We are hopeful and confident that we can collaborate with local Orange County leaders to identify measures that can restore safe beach access as soon as possible,” the letter stated. “But until such time as those measures are in place, this additional step to preserve public health and safety has proven essential.”

In response to Newsom’s orders, Dana Point city staff proceeded to pursue legal action, requesting a temporary restraining order against the governor’s directive to close only Orange County beaches—which was subsequently denied on Friday, May 1.

Hon. Nathan Scott of the Orange County Superior Court felt that the court had limited time to consider the “very serious issues presented,” according to a City of Dana Point

statement. Scott also said he felt compelled to defer to the state’s concerns about public health.

During the court hearing, Dana Point city staff received a request from the state to participate in a call to develop a plan to reopen beaches in Orange County. On Thursday, May 11, the city announced it would drop the lawsuit.

City, County and State Officials Work Toward Reopening Beaches A plan to reopen beaches was developed by city staff and submitted to the state that following weekend and approved on Tuesday, May 5, reopening Doheny State Beach and Dana Cove Beach.

Doheny State Beach is stated-owned, while Baby Beach, Capistrano Beach, Salt Creek Beach and Strand Beach are all county-owned. The three county beaches were reopened on Thursday, May 7.

Assemblymember Bill Brough, who holds the 73rd District and represents both Dana Point and San Clemente, worked with Newsom’s office to finalize approval for the reopening plan.

“The differing jurisdictions made it a little bit more complicated to fine-tune as opposed to San Clemente, which has all city and state beaches,” Brough said on Tuesday, May 5. “But we’ve been working with the Governor’s office to make sure we can restore access.”

Dana Cove is reopened for active-use

only, with regular hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Doheny State Beach will reopen for active recreation as well, per state guidelines.

San Clemente’s beaches were allowed to reopen for active-use yet again, as the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services gave the city the go-ahead to lift the beach closure on Monday, May 4.

In the Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 5, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, who represents the 5th District, made a motion to direct the county’s CEO, Frank Kim, to submit a county beach reopening plan that would be consistent with each coastal city’s plan. The 5th District includes the coastal cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and Laguna Beach.

Both Chairperson Michelle Steel and Supervisor Don Wagner opposed the motion, arguing that submitting a plan was essentially indicative of submitting to Newsom. Wagner took particular issue with the restrictive framework of the beaches’ parameters for reopening.

“Why are some beaches only open 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.? Why is it safer during those hours?” Wagner asked. “And why only active use? The beaches are for everyone, not just those who are active.”

Steel reiterated her displeasure with Newsom singling out Orange County. However, after what was, at times, impassioned discussion and doubling back on clarification, Bartlett’s motion—which was voted on twice—passed, 3-2, with Steel and Wagner dissenting both times.

All beaches in Dana Point are now open for active use, which includes running, walking, swimming and surfing.

“We know how important our beaches are to the residents of Dana Point,” said Dana Point City Manager Mike Killebrew. “And we know how much residents value, especially now, access to our beautiful coastline. We look forward to working with our community to reopen the beaches but hope everyone understands how important it is that we all follow new guidelines that will promote socially responsible recreation and enjoyment by the public.”

According to Dana Point city staff, social distancing and sanitation requirements will be clearly communicated to Dana Cove visitors. The beach will be open only to those who are walking or running. No gatherings are allowed, which includes stopping to observe tide pools. There will be no sitting, standing, lying down or fishing permitted.

The ocean will be open for all recreational uses, including swimming, surfing and paddling.

Alleged Inconsistencies in Communication Precede Additional Lawsuit

After a series of restrictions, closures and reopenings, beaches in Dana Point are now open for active, recreational use. Photo: Lillian Boyd

Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

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Separate from the City of Dana Point’s legal pursuits to fight Gov. Newsom’s order to close Orange County beaches, Councilmember Joe Muller is naming Newsom in a lawsuit as

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EYE ON DP well—following what was perceived to be a contradictory conference call with a state official.

San Clemente City Councilmember Laura Ferguson and Mission Viejo Councilmember Gregory Raths joined Muller and the Center for American Liberty as plaintiffs in the suit, which alleges Newsom’s orders for closure were outside his powers as governor. The state’s Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, the Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci and Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot were named as co-defendants in the suit.

Ferguson had hoped to garner support from San Clemente City Council to join the City of Dana Point’s lawsuit, but was met with opposition. However, she felt compelled in her convictions to join Muller’s suit.

“I respect what (Center for American Liberties) does to stand up for the people’s Constitutional rights when they feel trampled on,” Ferguson said. “Singling out just Orange County, in my opinion, was discriminatory, since no other counties’ beaches were ordered closed in the state of California. Banning people from beaches does not advance public health, and no proof was demonstrated by the governor that Orange County beaches were any less safe than others throughout the state that were not ordered to close down.”

Muller has been a vocally opposed to Newsom’s approach to the pandemic since the stay-at-home order was first imposed about two months ago. “(Newsom) closing the beaches is a violation of our state and federal Constitutional rights,” Muller said. “The information and data we have now speaks for itself. Coronavirus is not as deadly (here) as some feared it was in the beginning. Localities should be able to govern themselves and act accordingly.”

As of Thursday, May 7, there had been a total of 58,815 confirmed cases of coronavirus in California, with 2,412 fatalities, according to the California Department of Public Health. The largest pocket of cases in the state has centered on Southern California, particularly Los Angeles County, where there have been 28,644 positive cases, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Based on the most recent data from both the state and the Orange County Health Care Agency, the number of cumulative positive cases in Orange County is roughly 3,000, with about 65 deaths.

Nationwide, the U.S. has hit a milestone in total case count, reaching more than 1.2 million cumulative cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly 75,000 people have died of COVID-19 so far in the U.S. Leadership and officials throughout California had anticipated that Newsom would announce beach closures across the state.

Late Wednesday night, April 29, a memo that the California Police Chiefs Association had sent to police chiefs throughout the state,

Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

which was leaked to the press, explained that Newsom was expected to announce a statewide closure of all beaches and state parks.

At approximately noon the next day, Ghilarducci reportedly held a conference call with Orange County elected officials to discuss beach closures. According to several officials who participated in the call and spoke with Dana Point Times, leaders were given the impression that the closures would be statewide.

However, at around the same time of the conference call, Newsom was giving his daily press briefing and announced, “We are going to do a hard close just in that part of the state,” referring to Orange County. The governor also said he hoped it would be “a shortterm adjustment.”

Muller says Newsom’s countywide beach closure was political retaliation for the OC Board of Supervisors approving a set of guidelines for businesses once they are permitted to reopen.

The business guidelines set off another series of controversies after community members and media outlets understood it to mean the county was permitting businesses to reopen.

According to the emergency application for writ filed by the plaintiffs, Muller fully supports his county supervisors on the unanimous vote of approval of the guidelines. “(Muller) believes that the only reason Governor Newsom is shutting down the Orange County beaches is a direct retaliation to Orange County Supervisors standing up for the Constitutionally-protected liberty rights of their constituents,” the court documents stated (sic).

Muller was one of the officials on the conference call with Ghilarducci on April 30.

It is unclear if Ghilarducci was aware of Newsom’s decision to only close Orange County beaches at the time of the conference call with Orange County leadership. Dana Point Times submitted requests for comment to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to address whether Ghilarducci was aware and whether Ghilarducci had comment on Muller’s lawsuit.

“Our office does not typically comment on pending litigation,” said Brian Ferguson, Deputy Director for Crisis Communication & Public Affairs for OES. During Newsom’s conference call, he stated that the memo distributed to law enforcement throughout California did not come from his office. He told media, “That was their memo, but that memo never got to me.”

Ferguson told Dana Point Times she plans to remain on as a plaintiff even though beaches are reopening.

“The beaches are not fully reopened for all uses—just active recreational uses,” Ferguson said. “For example, people still cannot go and lay on a beach towel or children can’t go play in the sand. As citizens of the state, we have a constitutional right to access the beaches as well as the rights to travel and assemble.”

A court hearing is scheduled for Muller’s litigation on Monday, May 11. DP

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Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

Special Projects Editor Andrea PapagianisCamacho Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes

A LETTER TO OUR GOVERNOR ALI KAGAMASTER, Dana Point

To Honorable Governor Newsom: From the get-go of C-19, I have complied with the stay-at-home order and appreciate that early on, you said this is not a time to politicize but to follow the science. Imagine the disappointment to find our Orange County beaches “hard closed” due to a photo taken with a special lens that made our beaches appear more crowded than in real time. I am asking you to reconsider opening our coastline and trusting that we, along with our exemplary local city officials and police force, will mitigate safe distancing, so we can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine that our state has to offer.

In concert with this, we need to do what is necessary, so be it under new protocols, to protect our immune systems, economy, and supply chains. I’m all for following the science and against politicizing this event.

I’m sorry this is happening on your watch, and while I don’t agree with every decision you’ve made during this pandemic, I do want you to know I am earnestly praying for you that God would give you wisdom, strength, protection, and rest. I can’t imagine the stress you’re under.

Finance Director Mike Reed

IS THE CURE GOING TO BE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE?

Accounting & Distribution Manager Tricia Zines

WAYNE YOST, Dana Point

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 13, Issue 19. 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 May 8-14, 2020

The following comments are my personal feelings as a Veteran, and should not be construed as those of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

“He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.”

“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.”

“He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our

Constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.”

“For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies.”

“We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.”

Our Declaration of Independence, as well as the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, have governed our lives and have been a shining example for most of the world to follow—until March 2020.

Something radical happened whereby we relinquished all semblances of our freedoms. Now, I am not attempting to minimize the seriousness of COVID-19; certainly, tens of thousands have died in our country alone. But where is the outrage concerning the hundreds of thousands of deaths and ruined lives in this country annually as a result of alcoholism, drug addiction, obesity, and tobacco-related afflictions, not to mention the one-half million people worldwide that annually die from malaria? The planet so far has not shut down from these constant recurring and preventable afflictions.

My deep concern is what is going to happen next year, or the year after, when something else, not necessarily a medical event occurs; will we allow our governments to shut us down again? Certainly the economic and human costs, beyond the death rate, as a result of the actions our governments have taken recently, are going be catastrophic to our economy and emotional well-being.

Only history will tell if the steps taken to mitigate the COVID-19 virus were really worth the damage inflicted. As veterans, we have fought, bled, died, and suffered to protect the liberties enumerated in our founding documents. I sincerely pray that March 2020 will not be historically recorded as the disintegration of democracy.

CANCEL THE LAWSUIT AGAINST GOV. NEWSOM CAROL AND JIM KELLY, Dana Point

Why is the City of Dana Point joining the Balboa Bay Club of Newport Beach, Pacific City Investments, Lido House LLC and the City of Huntington Beach in a lawsuit against Governor Newsom’s Executive Order to close the beaches?

I understand there is a new preliminary injunction meeting on Monday, May 11, 2020. We should opt out of this meeting and save ourselves the expense.

Capistrano, Doheny, Strands, and Salt

Page 8

Creek beaches, located in Dana Point, are state and county beaches, and are controlled by the state and county. Dana Point has no legal authority to impose legal enforcement. Why are we spending money on this suit?

Laguna Beach and San Clemente have already negotiated an agreement with Gov. Newsom to reopen their beaches without a lawsuit How much are our attorney bills for this action? Wouldn’t the money be better spent on helping city employees stay on the payroll, or setting up a fund for medical supplies and help for people out of work? Our legal bills could be $3,000 an hour.

Our county is in the mist of the worst pandemic in the last 100 years. City leaders should not be politically motivated, but listen to the scientific community.

The governor’s decision was based on many people, in large groups, not related, hanging out at beaches, without masks or social distancing. The state of California, joining other states, is trying to prevent spread of COVID-19 on our local beaches.

I agree that we need to exercise, but in doing so, we should participate in social distancing until we can get this virus under control, lest we all pay a very high price with our lives. I also feel this item should be discussed and worked out with the governor in a professional way, and not to use lawyers whose billable hours add up. I watched the emergency city council meeting; however, most of the meeting was in closed session. The city attorney made the issue sound like protesters were going to do bodily harm to Dana Point property. He also failed to mention this was a joint suit with hotel owners and developers.

Drop this legal action now and save the money.

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.

CORRECTION: In the May 1, 2020 edition of Dana Point Times, the lash studio Killer Beauty in Dana Point was incorrectly referred to as Killer Lash.

Killer Beauty is located at 24422 Del Prado Ave, #8, Dana Point. For more information, visit killerbeautyoc.com. danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

At the Movies: ‘Working Man’ a Sign of Our Times

Photo: Courtesy of Claire Kung / Brainstorm Media

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

A

Photo: Freepik.com

GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy

by Marianne Taylor

May in the Garden

A

lthough we’re at the end of spring, it’s not too late to plant your vegetable and flower garden. Ideally, March and April are the best time to start a summer garden, but not to worry; you can still be a success having homegrown produce and blooms, if you start now.

To save time, purchase 4-inch plants or a sixpack, as these plants have established roots. As the month heats up, these plants will fare better.

If you decide to start from seeds, be sure to watch the temperatures and keep seeds moist.

DIRT THERAPY

By Marrianne Watering new seedlings Taylor daily is a must, as the rainy season will have passed.

You can plant most warm-season annuals such as flowers and vegetables, which Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

require both warm soil and high temperatures (with a little cooling at night) to grow steadily and produce crops in the summer if planted in March, April or May. They include traditional summer crops such as snap beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes, and squash.

Cool-season veggies require cooler temperatures, short days and can survive light frost. There are more varieties of cool-season veggies. They include arugula (rocket), beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, collards, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, and cilantro.

If you live within three miles of the beach, you can grow cool-season veggies all year long.

If your vegetable and flower gardens are already in full swing, here is a list of things to do in May before the blistering heat kicks in: • Keep up with watering; even newly planted California natives need some irrigation, as do cacti once a month. Deadhead fading flower blossoms; you’ll increase more blooms.

• Apply a layer of mulch on flower beds,

around trees and shrubs about 2-3 inches around the base of a plant. This reduces weeds, conserves moisture and prevents disease.

• Don’t forget to fertilize roses, citrus trees, avocado trees, vegetables and flowers.

• Now is also a good time to check on your tools. Do they need sharpening? What’s the condition of your hoses? Do they need replacement? And irrigation, is there overspray on the street or sidewalks?

• Add some accessories, such as an Adirondack chair, wind chime, birdhouse or solar lighting along a walkway.

It’s fun to explore the possibilities that your garden can provide—a room with a view to relax and enjoy the abundance of nature.

Marianne Taylor, of San Juan Capistrano, is the founder and executive director of Goin’ Native Therapeutic Garden, teaching gardening and life skills as a way of empowering, engaging and connecting people. 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

Page 10

s if living in economically crippling, home isolation wasn’t stressful enough already, movie fans—especially movie fans who love the theater experience like myself—are now feeling the anxiety of studios and theater chains feuding over streaming. But whether movies can make as much money with home releases, compared to theaters, seems a little unfair currently, when the average consumer is more desperate than usual for new media. For example, Brainstorm Media’s new film, Working Man, might not have received as much attention with its original planned theatrical release, because it’s currently one of the few new movies now going straight to VOD (Video On Demand) instead.

In a small, Midwestern town, a local factory is shutting down production, leaving all of its employees out of jobs—a rather ironic theme given current circumstances. Most are naturally upset, but one older worker named Allery Parkes (Peter Gerety) refuses to accept their fate, and secretly continues to sneak back into the building to “work,” even if just to clean company supplies and equipment. The staff, and even Allery’s wife, Iola (Talia Shire), chalk up his behavior to possibly going senile. But one colleague and neighbor, Walter (Billy Brown), thinks Allery’s peculiar motive has potential to not only send a message, but also to create new work.

Working Man is a new feature by firsttime filmmaker Robert Jury. The film does feel a bit like a first-time effort, with the small production values and only one big name (Shire) in the cast. But as said previously, the theme now takes a whole new level of appropriateness, and the cast does well with the material. Some of the dialog in the first half is a little stilted at first, but it does find a smoother groove as the story progresses. Similarly, we get a happy ending, but not the one some might expect.

Working Man is rather quaint and unpretentious, but sometimes that might just be what you need during a difficult time. DP danapointtimes.com

DP

Dana Point Point Dana

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Date

N

ewly divorced in 1994, I thought finding love after age 50 was going to be easy. I was grossly mistaken.

Dating was challenging and hard work.

Rejection was common. I became so frustrated, I started writing about it.

A quarter-century later, after writing approximately 4,000 newspaper and eNewsletter articles, one thing about senior dating has remained a constant: it’s still a challenge.

One would think that with all of the modern tools available to senior singles—the Internet, a multitude of dating sites such as Match.com, eHarmony, and Senior Singles, cell phones and texting—senior dating would be less challenging now.

Nope, if anything, it’s even more challenging. Why? The dreaded single-women-to-singleON LIFE AND men ratio keeps getting LOVE AFTER 50 larger as we age. And that

By Tom Blake larger ratio is the biggest contributor to the senior-dating challenge.

Especially for mature women. There are fewer and fewer men available.

And during these COVID-19 times, senior dating is even harder. No coffee dates at Starbucks. No first-date strolls on the beach. And for some, like my good friend Les Jones, age 94, who is living at the Atria retirement-home facility adjacent to San Juan Hills Golf Club in San Juan Capistrano, he isn’t even allowed to leave his room. How the heck can Les date?

A NOTE FROM TOM: 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.

I reached out to Christine Baumgartner, South Orange County dating and relationship coach, for her opinion on senior dating and suggestions during these virus-restricted times.

Christine said, “Many people who contact me think they ‘can’t’ date right now. And what I’m clear about, is, it’s the PERFECT time to date. People can meet virtually through FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom. It’s the ideal way to get to know each other without the pressure or concern about getting ‘physical’ too soon.

“Also, one of the biggest complaints among senior singles is when people meet in person, they don’t look like their pictures. Now, they will be able to confirm what the other person looks like before meeting face-to-face.

“There are many fun things to do together (virtually), with a new person: • Learn a new dance step—Country Line Dancing, Salsa, Square Dancing • Read books to each other • Learn a language together • Learn to play the same type musical instrument • Pick a recipe, cook and eat together • Do a craft together—each will get to see how the other one deals with learning something new, with all the possible frustrations • Give each other a virtual house tour (do

Point Strand trailer park below Salt Creek in August 1956.

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 cred, as well as the date and location of the photo to lboyd@picketfencemedia.com.

not give out your address)—just a tour of the inside. Oh, my, what will you learn about each other’s lifestyle!

“And as you are ‘doing’ all these things together, you can ask questions about his or her life to learn about personality traits to determine if you’re a match—and if you will eventually want to meet in person.”

Christine added, “I brought these points up in a Facebook thread, and one person responded, ‘We’ll run out of things to talk about if we can’t meet in person.’

“My response was, ‘If you run out of things to talk about with someone you’ve just met, then this is confirmation that you are not a match.’ ” For dating information from Christine, visit theperfectcatch.com.

One reader, Althea, 72, who is a live-in caregiver for an elderly couple, emailed to say: “For me, the actual finding of someone to E-Date is the difficult part.”

I responded, “Yes Althea, that’s a challenge as well, especially for women, especially now.

But as times improve, you never know who might enter your life and end your senior dating challenge. Wouldn’t that be nice!”

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, 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

R

Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo was taken of the Dana

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Rick ick is a fun and playful kitty that is just so interesting to watch. About 1 year old, Rick loves to spend his time playing with toys and exploring his surroundings.

While he is very social and affectionate with humans, he can be a tad bossy with other cats and would be happier as an only cat.

If you are interested in adopting Rick, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/adoptions/ adoptadog to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org,

Photo: Courtesy of OC Public Libraries

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

and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. DP

Page 13

See the solution in next week’s issue.

danapointtimes.com

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Calling Audibles

When spring football should be starting, Dolphins adjust to distance training

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

Monday, May 4, should have been the first major step forward in the 2020 high school football calendar.

Spring football was scheduled to start at Dana Hills High School and on many campuses across Southern California. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, school campuses remain closed, and all school activities remain canceled.

While the on-field element has been eliminated for now, teams across the county, state and country are adjusting, including Dana Hills High School. And Dana Hills coach Phil Skinner says his team is taking to the new situation like dolphins to water.

“We haven’t missed a beat as far as workouts are concerned,” Skinner said.

“About 50 kids we get on the Zoom meeting every day. The kids can all see each

other working out. A lot of kids don’t have their own home weight rooms, so its pushups, sit-ups, curl-ups. Kids are using furniture or buckets to get resistance. It’s as good as we can do right now.”

When school activities were canceled on Friday, March 13, Skinner said his group rolled right into the online workouts the next Monday.

Skinner said the team meets for about two hours on the video call, with an hour for the workout and another hour for team meetings.

“From 4-5 (p.m.) every day, we have offensive, defensive, special-teams meetings,” Skinner said. “We go over the playbook online with the kids and watch videos. I think we’re way ahead of the game knowledge-wise than we would be normally.”

That’s the positive that Skinner has taken from this unprecedented situation.

The Dolphins are getting more time in the classroom to learn and understand the concepts of their offensive and defensive schemes. Skinner said it’s the mental aspect that is being sharpened, and his players are engaged.

While the mental side is extremely important in football, Skinner also acknowledged what his team is losing from the inability to have on-field spring football practices.

“Physicality and timing,” Skinner said.

“You want kids to develop that muscle

memory of what they’re doing. Quarterbacks and receivers need that timing. We had been doing some local seven-on-seven leagues in March, and while I’m not a huge seven-on-seven guy in how it translates to the field, it does develop that competitive edge and timing.”

It’s also a difficult time when breaking in staff at new positions.

Khalil Watson is the new defensive coordinator after Brad Carter took the head coaching position at Cerritos High School.

Watson was with the Dolphins as a position coach last season and had coached at Aliso Niguel High School the four previous years.

“He’s trying to install his defense here,” Skinner said of Watson, “and he wants to be out there moving kids around with walkthroughs. We’ve been using the Hudl app.

He’s done a great job with our playbook and making it detailed. Technology is on his side. He’s doing a fantastic job in clearly communicating what he wants to do.”

However, if and when the Dolphins are able to take the field again, Skinner believes all of this time learning the playbooks and the schemes will make the onfield transition easier.

“Our offensive and defensive coordinators, we’re all aware of the situation,” Skinner said. “In our meetings, we’ve been implementing everything. It’ll be a two- or three-day rollout of our packages, and we’ll be ready to go. Our install will be very

short when we can get into physical reps.”

When those physical reps will take place is the unanswered question.

Skinner said the school already moved its summer dead period—a CIF-designated two-week period of zero activity on or off the field—from July to early June immediately after the end of the school year.

From there, Skinner said he’s hoping for a July 1 reopening for athletics, but he also acknowledges it’s a fluid situation.

“We’re in a constant conversation with our athletic director and principal,” Skinner said, “and they’re talking with CIF and they’re talking to the county and state offices. We’re always talking about when we could come back or trying to pick a preliminary date. Everybody is safety-first. We want to make sure we’re not coming back to put someone in peril.”

If teams aren’t allowed to come back until August 1 or even later, Skinner said it wouldn’t be too different from practices 20 years ago, when kids would go away for a three-week dead period and not return until fall camp.

Either way, Skinner knows his players are taking on a resilient quality through this situation.

“There’s a lesson in this that we can overcome anything,” Skinner said. “We’re going to overcome COVID-19, and we’re going to play the best season of Dana Hills football coming up. We’re able to take on anything that comes at us.” DP

Like every other school activity, the Dana Hills High football team has adjusted to distance learning and shifted to online workouts, as all on-campus activities have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

Page 14

danapointtimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

LOCALS ONLY

BUSINESS LISTINGS

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 100 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF DANA POINT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a public hearing, via teleconference, will be held in accordance with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-2520, by the City Council of the City of Dana Point to consider the following: Local Coastal Program Amendment LCPA190002/Zone Text Amendment ZTA19-0002-Zoning Code Update: A request for modification to the Dana Point Zoning Code, including the regulations affecting Accessory Dwelling Units to be consistent with State Law. Project Number: Local Coastal Program Amendment LCPA19-0002/

Zone Text Amendment ZTA19-0002 Project Location: Citywide Applicant: City of Dana Point Environmental: Exempt from CEQA pursuant

to Section 15265(f) Hearing Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Hearing Time: 6:00 PM (or as soon

thereafter as possible) Hearing Location: The public is invited to view

this meeting via the City of

Dana Point YouTube Channel Those desiring to be heard in favor or in opposition to this item will be given an opportunity to do so by emailing comment@danapoint.org or by writ-

ing to the City Council at 33282 Golden Lantern, Ste. 203, Dana Point, California 92629, Attention: City Clerk. Participants are encouraged to submit their written comments prior to the teleconference to comment@danapoint.org or snicholas@ danapoint.org.

Any petition for judicial review of a decision of the Dana Point City Council is controlled by the statute of limitations provisions set forth in Sections 2.50.010 and 2.50.020 of the Dana Point Municipal Code and Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. Any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, or void any decision of the Dana Point City Council is controlled

by Section 2.50.010 and Section 2.50.020 of the Dana Point Municipal Code. In any such action or proceeding seeking judicial review of, which attacks or seeks to set aside, or void any decision of the Dana Point City Council, shall be limited to those issues raised at the hearing as provided in Chapter 2.50 of the Dana Point Municipal Code.

Copies of the procedures for the conduct of City Council public hearings are available from the City Clerk.

KATHY WARD, CITY CLERK

Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the Dana Point Times.

EMAIL legals@picketfencemedia.com CALL 949.388.7700, ext. 100

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AUTO REPAIR

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INSURANCE SERVICES

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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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PLUMBING

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UPHOLSTERY & INTERIORS

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WANT TO BE FEATURED HERE? Email lloynes@picketfencemedia.com for pricing.

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at danapointtimes.com

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Contact Lauralyn Loynes at 949.388.7700 ext. 102 or lloynes@picketfencemedia.com Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

Page 17

danapointtimes.com

DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

The Confusing State of Local Beach Closures After a forced ‘hard close’ of all OC beaches last week, Gov. Newsom decides to give San Clemente and Dana Point another chance

GROM OF THE WEEK

REMY TODD

Remy Todd. Photo: Courtesy of the Todd family

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

“I

For the moment, the sun is setting on local beach closures as San Clemente and Dana Point have both been authorized to open by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo: Jake Howard

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

I

t’s been a hectic few weeks as far as our local beaches go.

On Saturday, April 25, the beaches reopened again after being locked down for nearly two weeks. Then, after the first warm weekend of the season, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday, April 30, reacted to swelling beach crowds by ordering a “hard close” for all Orange County beaches.

It didn’t go over well with the surf community, as memes declaring “Newsom’s a kook” and “Newsom don’t surf” swirled through social media. Vocal protests took place in a number of Orange County beach communities, including San Clemente.

Despite a visible presence from Orange County Sheriff’s Department officers and local lifeguards, the order went largely unenforced this past weekend, as surfers and beachgoers enjoyed the spring weather and playful waves.

“There were a large number of cops at T-Street, but they didn’t say anything when I went down onto the beach,” one local surfer said. “And the lifeguards were actively patrolling and telling people to spread out, but nobody was getting kicked out of the water or ticketed.”

“We’re here to educate,” one officer at T-Street explained.

Over the weekend, the cities of San Clemente and Laguna Beach submitted active-use guidelines to the governor’s office to reopen their beaches. It appears to have worked. On Monday, Newsom agreed to let the two beach cities move forward.

“They put together an outstanding plan Dana Point Times May 8-14, 2020

to begin reopening those beaches,” Newsom said during his daily briefing on Monday, May 4. “These public open spaces are opening back up with plans in place now to deal with all the concerns around physical distancing and social distancing.”

San Clemente beach parking will remain closed, as will public restrooms. At some point, the parking situation needs to be remedied, as residential neighborhoods are bearing the brunt of the excess traffic, which is neither fair nor healthy.

Then on Tuesday, May 5, Newsom added to the list of beaches that will be reopening, including Dana Point, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach.

Dana Point and Huntington Beach had filed a lawsuit against the state over the issue, with Newport Beach later also joining the suit. After a temporary restraining order was denied, a hearing was set for May 11 if the situation wasn’t sorted out before then.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors also met Tuesday to further discuss the issue after the county had made national news because of beach openings, large crowds and protests.

“People will no more go to the beaches than they will to the stores if they feel unsafe! They did not feel unsafe at the beaches,” Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said in a written statement. “They overwhelmingly practiced physical distancing according to local law enforcement and government leaders. If it is good enough for business to trust our citizens to act responsibly and observe your rules, it is good

enough for beaches.”

There’s no clear timeline yet on when the California State Beaches will reopen, which means for now Trestles and San Onofre are still off limits. San Onofre State Beach straddles Orange and San Diego counties, and with San Diego also starting to reopen its beaches, there could be potential that we’ll have access to those wave-rich surf zones sooner rather than later.

Hopefully, Newsom’s willingness to reopen San Clemente, Dana Point and a few others is a sign of more good things to come. The more beaches that reopen, the more people can spread out, practice social distancing, and enjoy all the benefits that a day at the beach offers.

With new decisions being made by local and state authorities, the situation at our beaches continues to be fluid, and more will probably have happened by the time you read this.

The important thing to remember if you’re heading to the beach is to be aware of your surroundings, practice social distancing guidelines, be safe and appreciate the environment for the freedom it provides.

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 the San Clemente Times, Dana Point Times, 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

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love the freedom of the ocean and enjoying it with friends,” says San Clemente’s Remy Todd.

That sentiment couldn’t be truer these days. With surf contests, sports and other activities on hold right now, the freedom of the ocean is pretty much a necessity.

“I always come out of the water happier than I was before I went surfing,” Remy says.

The 12-year-old goofy-footer is wrapping up her sixth-grade year at Shorecliffs Middle School. With the weather getting sunnier and the water warming up, she has been making the most of her time at T-Street lately.

“Surfing inspires me, because there are so many good positive people in the water,” she explains. “I love the feeling of catching a good wave and surfing with my friends.”

Learning to surf with her dad when she was only 3 years old, Remy’s soaking up all the abundant surf culture in the area and looking up to some hometown talents.

“I look up to Lisa Andersen. She is always so nice, and she is a great role model,” she explains. “We are so lucky to live in a town where we get to surf with people like Griffin Colapinto, Kolohe Andino, Ian Crane, Caroline Marks, Rosy Hodge and the Gudauskas brothers.” DP

SURF FORECAST Water temperature: 66-68 Degrees F Water visibility and conditions: 8-12’ Outlook: easing northwest swell has surf down slightly Friday in the waist high range, (2-3’), as light winds in the morning rise to light+ southwesterly flow for the afternoon. Fresh south/southwest and northwest swells will see surf into the chest-head high+ range (4-5’+) by the end of the weekend. Light wind in the mornings, shift to 6-10kt westerly afternoon flow on Saturday and Sunday.

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