August 11, 2023

Dana Hills seniors Nate DePierro, Chase Berry, Deacon Hill and Noah Kucera aim the Dolphins toward their next step up the ladder. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

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TOP NEWS DANA POINT SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

County Largely Disagrees with Grand Jury’s Finding on Drought, Water Sources

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

As the Orange County Board of Supervisors looked to submit its responses to this year’s slate of Orange County Grand Jury reports, the supervisors held an in-depth discussion on one report in particular: “Historic Rain Yet Drought Remains.”

Board members on Tuesday, Aug. 8, discussed the county’s recommendation to partially disagree with certain parts of the report, which largely found that South Orange County’s reliance on imported water will be impacted by climate change and must adapt.

At issue was the finding that “future water supplies are impacted by climate change, and current supplies will not meet future demands.” The county argued that it does not have the expertise to determine future impacts from climate change.

The county also disagreed partially with the findings that “climatologists predict future extended periods of low moisture with occasional wet years” and that “South Orange County relies primarily on the importation of water”—on the same basis that it does not have the knowledge to make this finding.

The county did agree that it would need additional water supply as it continues to develop. The county also agreed that conservation, efficient water use, outreach and public education were necessary.

Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley cited the South Coast Water District’s previous statements that it has between 10 and 20 days of water supply if it lost its ability to import water.

After an extensive exchange on the language in the county’s response, specifically to the grand jury’s Finding No. 3—“that climate change is inevitable and is exacerbated by human behavior”—the board voted, 3-2, to submit its response.

In its draft response, the county had recommended disagreeing partially with the statement, because it “does not have the technical expertise, experience, industry-specific training or knowledge to make this determination.”

Foley stated that she “couldn’t disagree with that response more.”

“I do want to thank the grand jury

for their time and attention that they’ve put into this session,” Foley said. “It’s a group of volunteers who spend a lot of time getting to know a particular area of concern in the community and then make findings and give recommendations.”

Foley noted that she was concerned with the response, particularly because the county has several experienced professionals on staff who are “knowledgeable about the impact of climate change,” Foley said.

Instead, she recommended the county respond that it agrees with the jury’s finding and state that “the county acknowledges and supports efforts to mitigate climate change impacts on Orange County residents. The county works to support regional water supply through water reclamation, recycling and reuse.”

“The county recently applied to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate pollution reduction grant cohort with Los Angeles County,” Foley added. “Orange County has created a director of sustainability position within OC Waste and Recycling and has begun to work to start a climate action plan.”

Foley pointed to the recent atmospheric rivers and year-round wildfire season, noting that “we’re experiencing the impacts of climate change every day.”

“It is indisputable fact that climate change is exacerbated by human behavior,” Foley said. “To deny it, even marginally, is disconnected with the priorities of Orange County families.”

Third District Supervisor Don Wagner, the board’s chairperson, argued in favor of the original response, stating that neither the staff nor grand jury has the information or expertise to respond to the finding.

Wagner commented that the grand jury is “made up of a bunch of retired people with less experience even than our own staff.”

“To say what they say, especially when they venture out into the scientific community, as opposed to when they actually dig into, as they are supposed to do, government services, or indicting ham sandwiches,” Wagner continued.

“So, referencing and respecting the technical expertise of the grand jury, as

opposed to our staff, which crafted this response, strikes me as getting things exactly backward.”

Wagner added that the grand jury report focused on drought conditions and access to water, not on the issue of climate change.

Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee commended the sanitation district for its efforts with water reclamation and recycling as ways to add to the water supply. He added that he’d like to see conservation be proposed in addition to reclamation, reuse and recycling to encourage residents to use less water.

However, Chaffee noted that he was ambivalent on the change to the county’s response for Finding 3, stating: “I know, but not from the county necessarily, that we have climate change issues.”

District 2 Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento agreed that the county has access to technology and experts to make determinations on water supply needs and impacts.

“We have sister agencies that we can lean on if we don’t have it internally; the technology is out there that we can certainly learn of,” Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento added that the OC Water District is dealing with the challenge of groundwater contamination by Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), also known as forever chemicals.

“Those are challenges that we’ll all face as a county going forward,” Sarmiento said, adding: “I think that we can’t ignore the fact that our climate is changing and we do need to work with our—again—with our sister agencies to see how we can deal with not just the impacts to water but the impacts to the climate generally.”

Agreeing with Wagner, Sarmiento

noted that the grand jury members are not experts but are “representatives of the public and they certainly have a right to comment and opine.”

Sarmiento also noted that he’d like to see the composition of the grand jury diversified.

First District Supervisor Andrew Do called Finding No. 3 an overreach and a political statement.

“We can support the language of the things that we’ve done, proposed by Supervisor Foley, but I would wholly disagree with the ‘agree’ part to the finding, because I find that it is an assertion, because a finding has to be grounded in something factual,” Do said.

Foley responded that she believes “climate change to be inevitable, and there’s plenty of scientific evidence to support that.”

Though Foley stated she was willing to accept “disagrees partially,” she requested language be removed from the county’s response stating that it does not have the expertise or knowledge to determine that “climate change is inevitable and is exacerbated by human behavior.”

Wagner argued that the sentence does belong in the response, as the staff does not have the expertise to comment on climate change’s effect on the world.

After Foley’s motion failed to gain a majority vote, Do motioned to keep the language the same as the draft response for Finding No. 3, adding Foley’s language on the ways that the county has worked to mitigate the effects of climate change.

In a 3-2 decision, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the county’s response to a recent grand jury report on the county’s water supply and drought issues. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

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Coastal Commission to Hear Request to Revoke City’s STR Program

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

The California Coastal Commission was scheduled to hear a request to revoke Dana Point’s vacation rental program, which the state agency had approved in November 2022.

Dana Point residents Toni Nelson and Roger Malcolm requested the permit revocation hearing, which was set for Thursday, Aug. 10, alleging that the city provided misleading data for the commission to approve its short-term rental (STR) program.

In the permit revocation request, Nelson and Malcolm claim the city intentionally misrepresented the number of housing units, Home Owners Associations (HOAs) and housing units within HOAs in the Coastal Zone. They argue that the Coastal Commission may not have approved the coastal development permit regulating short-term rentals had it had an accurate count.

When the Coastal Commission found substantial issue with Dana Point’s then-proposed vacation rental program in September 2022, staff requested additional information on the number of HOAs in the coastal zone, their distribution within the area and how many housing units they contain.

The city stated that there were approximately 28 HOAs in the coastal zone, out of a citywide total of 78. Within the coastal zone, 15 HOAs containing roughly 2,648 units had covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) that banned STRs, while 10 HOAs containing roughly 639 units allowed STR use—based on a 2016 analysis.

According to a staff report, when asked for more recent data, the city responded that “it would be difficult to obtain more recent, accurate information within the Commission’s 49-working-day period prior to the hearing … since the City did not track which HOAs permit or do not permit STRs per their CC&Rs.”

On Nov. 10, prior to the hearing on the vacation rental program, the city submitted updated information to the commission showing 38 HOAs in the coastal zone with nine allowing STRs, 17 not allowing the vacation rentals and 12 that did not respond to the city, according to the report.

The city’s STR program established a cap of 115 non-primary, multi-family homestay, and mixed-use parcel non-primary short-term rentals within the coastal zone. There will be no cap on primary or homestay short-term rentals.

The city also stated it would not approve vacation rental programs in HOAs where the communities’ CC&Rs prohibit

County Board Allocates $1.7 Million to Sheriff’s Department for Drug Prevention, Enforcement

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved on Tuesday, Aug. 8, a $1.7 million appropriation to enhance the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s fentanyl prevention and enforcement efforts.

The funding will be split into two uses: $1.3 million will go toward adding a third deputy to the “Above the Influence” education program over the next five years, and the remaining $400,000 will be spent on OCSD’s Highway Interdiction Team (HIT).

Donald P. Wagner, Third District supervisor and board chair, brought the item to the board’s agenda. In a news release from OCSD, Wagner said the situation surrounding fentanyl is at a “crisis point” in California.

“While Sacramento refuses to address the issue, I will continue to be proactive

in the fight against fentanyl,” said Wagner. “This funding to educate our youth and prevent drugs from coming into our community will save lives.”

OCSD’s six-week Above the Influence program teaches fifth- and sixth-graders in county schools how to avoid substance experimentation and substance-use disorders. Above the Influence is taught by the OC Sheriff Community Engagement Team, staffed by two deputies and a sergeant.

The curriculum instructs students by explaining why young people choose to use substances, the dangers and risks of various substances such as vaping and fentanyl, how to read medication labels, how to avoid peer pressure, and more.

The program reached 37 schools during the 2022-2023 school year and graduated 3,000 students, according to

them. However, to implement a ban on STRs, HOAs may need to apply for a coastal development permit.

The city’s staff report for the consideration of granting CDPs for HOAs to ban vacation rentals stated that there were “approximately 52 HOAs in its Coastal Zone, containing 4,400 units.”

The city again revised the data at a mid-May City Council meeting, noting that there were 5,737 housing units in the coastal zone, with 4,216 residing within the area’s 53 HOAs.

Since the program has been implemented, 17 HOAs have gone through the CDP process to enact a ban on vacation rentals, according to the commission’s staff report, with two more pending.

Nelson and Malcolm argue in their revocation request that the city misled the commission to believe that the

the release.

County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes spoke about the importance of education in prevention efforts.

“I am grateful for the opportunity this funding from Chairman Wagner provides to expand this important program and effectively reach more students,” said Barnes. “The work of the Community Engagement Team undoubtedly saves lives.”

The funding for HIT, which specializes in disrupting the trafficking of contraband into the county, will be used to provide an additional vehicle and drug-detecting K-9, contraband-locating equipment, and TruNarc. TruNarc is a handheld device that “provides on-site analysis of narcotics and unknown substances.”

number of STRs in the coastal zone would represent 2% of the total housing stock.

Instead, the two stated, “The actual results will be far outside those parameters (7 to 22%), burdening less than one-third of the Coastal Zone with concentrations that far exceed the Commission’s intentions.”

In its report ahead of the hearing, staff “concurs that the City clearly did provide the Commission with inaccurate information, as alleged in the revocation request.”

However, the staff report stated that the discrepancies “are a result of the City refining its information and data as it performed additional research and analysis, rather than an intentional effort to misrepresent information to the Commission.”

Additionally, staff noted that the commission would not have acted differently had it received accurate information, noting that the commission was aware that STRs would concentrate in nonHOA areas in the coastal zone.

To address potential impacts of the STR program, the city is required to return to the commission in 2025 and 2028 with an evaluation of the program.

Ultimately, staff recommended that the commission deny the revocation request.

Editor’s Note: The hearing to discuss the request for revocation was scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 10, after Dana Point Times went to print. Head to danapointtimes.com for the latest on Thursday’s meeting.

“Fighting the narcotics epidemic takes a multi-faceted approach that includes enforcement, education and rehabilitative programs,” Barnes added. “I am extremely proud of the work we are doing on all fronts, and look forward to the impact we will see from the expansion of these essential teams.”

The California Coastal Commission was scheduled to hear a request to revoke Dana Point’s vacation rental program on Thursday, Aug. 10, after residents alleged the city had provided misleading data to gain the commission’s November 2022 approval on the local STR program.

Photo: File/Lillian Boyd

After authorization from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will receive $1.7 million for drug prevention and enforcement activities. Photo: Courtesy of Alex Green/Pexels

As a Housing Crisis Persists, Local, State Officials’ Perspectives on Addressing the Issue Vary

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

After Abigail Margolle continued to see her apartment’s rent increase, she and her husband decided to look at houses for sale in South Orange County to buy as their first home.

“Rent was going up; it was just getting worse every few months when rent would tick up a little bit more,” Margolle said.

The couple rented in Dana Point, where Margolle previously served as a city Planning Commissioner, and looked to stay in South County. Ultimately, however, the family moved to Vista in San Diego County after struggling to find an affordable property that met their needs in the area.

Margolle noted that millennials like her are reaching a buying age where they’re interested in ownership. Whereas renting does not build equity, “real estate tracks inflation,” Margolle said.

“For me, (home ownership) was always a goal and for us, we were willing to sacrifice Dana Point, even though if we could buy tomorrow, we would have done that,” Margolle said. “We were willing to sacrifice Dana Point for a house that … ticked off some of our other boxes, and we got a little bit more land with it.”

For Margolle, owning property had always been a financial goal, dreaming of getting creative with her future home and renting out space to generate income. With Margolle’s father living with her and her husband, the family had three incomes to put toward a home, yet still struggled to find a property that checked off all their boxes.

“We wanted to make sure we all had room; if it was an ADU type of situation, a back unit or something where (my dad) had his own space, it had to be a little bit bigger than a one-bedroom,” Margolle said. “But we needed that third income to get what we wanted. It helps cushion it, too, especially with the interest rates kind of going up.”

Margolle added that the lack of affordable housing is “pushing out people like me, born and raised in Orange County,” who are tired of renting and interested in purchasing a starter home.

“Affordability for my sake as a homeowner was such a struggle, and I feel for anyone less fortunate than me,” Margolle said. “Because I’m thinking if I can’t do it and I’m a married professional as a

project manager in an architecture realm with a degree and my husband’s an engineer with a degree, if we can’t afford it, who can?”

Margolle’s not alone in her experience, as affordable housing stock is an ongoing issue that local, state and federal officials are working to address through legislation and policies.

While there’s generally a consensus that the issue persists, officials have varying perspectives on which agency should be responsible for tackling the housing shortage and whether local municipalities should have more control.

AN ASSEMBLYMEMBER’S APPROACH TO LAWS ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

While answering a question during the April 21 Dana Point Civic Association Coffee Chat, Assemblymember Laurie Davies opined on the state legislature taking away control from city governments as it works to address a statewide housing shortage.

“We know what’s best; let us do it our way,” Davies had said, Speaking with the Dana Point Times in mid-June, Davies stated that an approach to housing should include heavy collaboration between cities and state government.

“When we’re looking at housing and funding, I think it’s important that we do have good policy that we are able to hand on down to the local, municipal areas,” Davies said.

“However, especially serving on (Laguna Niguel) City Council and mayor for eight years, one of the reasons why I ended up coming up here is because I realized that they were taking a lot of the control away locally,” Davies continued.

Davies added that sometimes policy coming down from Sacramento has a “one-size-fits-all” approach, emphasizing the need to give city officials “a seat at the table” to ensure that development reflects the needs of the community.

“Especially when it comes to heights of buildings, how many units, lack of parking, things like that doesn’t always

work—might work great in San Francisco or Los Angeles, but it’s not going to work in your smaller cities, especially in Orange County and other small communities,” Davies said.

For housing development to reflect the needs of each community, Davies said it’s important to remember that “one size doesn’t fit all” when it comes to policy.

“It’s important for us to be able to give (cities) the tools, but let them actually work with the design,” Davies said. “I think you’re going to have more of the residents more favorable to having more housing, because they’re not afraid that you’re going to go ahead and put up six stories when that’s … not reflecting the personality and character of the city.”

when it comes to the makeup of their city.”

With some cities already built out, Davies argued in favor of a regional approach to housing development.

To plan and zone for future housing needs, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) allocated the number of units that cities and counties needed to plan for, broken down by income categories.

Based on the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), SCAG was assigned 1.34 million new homes to plan for among its 197 jurisdictions for the latest Housing Element—now in its sixth cycle. Orange County was to take on more than 183,861 of those homes.

“It’s one thing when they’re like, this is how many units you need to produce, but you have to make sure that’s actually attainable, and you’re finding that it really isn’t in a lot of areas.” said Davies.

To address this, Davies argued that areas that are more built out but have the finances to support housing development should be able to work with more rural cities with room to develop that lack the funding to reach RHNA numbers.

“Why don’t we allow other cities to come together and share those regional numbers?” Davies asked. “The bottom line is, if they really want something done and something built, this makes sense.”

Davies added that she’s met with the Association of California Cities Orange County and stakeholders to discuss how a regional approach to housing would work.

“We believe in development; we just want to make sure it’s common-sense development,” Davies said. “So, my goal is hopefully to take this and put it back as a bill next year.”

Davies, who also represents part of North San Diego County, added that she’s received feedback from that portion of her district in favor of a regional approach.

“No. 1 is that we have to make sure everybody comes to the table, because right now, when they’re throwing policy at the state level, they’re not including the cities at all, and it is our job as members to represent our cities, our district, and they have to be able to have a say at the table.” said Davies.

Another challenge to development is ensuring there’s adequate infrastructure in place for new housing.

When making policy decisions, Davies noted that she’s always looking at the entire state and not just the district she represents.

“It’s so important that I realize that when I go ahead and I agree on a policy or I come up with a bill, that it’s going to be beneficial to everyone,” Davies said. “One size doesn’t fit all. So again, it’s giving them the tools but allowing the local control to make the decisions, especially

“When they go in and they say, ‘These are your numbers, they have to be done by this time,’ well, you have to have infrastructure,” Davies said. “You can’t just build out housing without having infrastructure such as schools, grocery stores, gas stations, all of those things.”

Not planning adequately for housing demands, Davies noted, leads to a lack of housing.

“Until we can actually come together and make common-sense decisions so

Assemblymember Laurie Davies answers questions from the audience during the Dana Point Civic Association’s April 21 Coffee Chat at the Dana Point Harbor. During the chat, Davies spoke about her concerns with the State Legislature taking control away from local municipalities when it comes to housing policies and addressing affordable housing issues. Photo Shawn Raymundo

While there’s consensus that the lack of affordable housing stock continues to be a concern, officials have varying perspectives on which governmental entity should be responsible for tackling the issue. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

that we can actually build something that is affordable, we’re going to continue to watch people leave because they can’t afford to live here anymore.”

Without housing laws in play, Davies argued that cities are still incentivized by the revenue that new residents bring in.

Davies added that cities are looking to at least maintain their current populations, if not continue to grow. Cities also need to plan for a variety of housing types to cater to different stages of life, Davies said.

“You start out where you have your apartments, but you’ve got your young adults staying there until they get married, and they move into more of a single-family home or maybe a condo,” Davies said. “Then perhaps into a little bigger house and then when the kids leave, they have the opportunity to sell the house but stay within their community.”

“So, you really want to make sure you have a little bit of everything there so that they’re not leaving the community,” Davies continued. “People love their communities; they want to be able to raise a family and stay there for that full generation cycle.”

LOCAL OFFICIALS’ PERSPECTIVES ON CONTROL OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

In response to Davies’ comment about state legislature taking away control from city governments, the Dana Point Times sent a questionnaire to Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano’s City Councilmembers and their Planning Commission Chairs to seek their perspectives.

San Clemente Councilmember Mark Enmeier noted that there is often a temptation to simplify the argument of state versus local control to win political points with constituents, arguing that the issue is “much more complicated and nuanced than what we would like to believe.”

“On one side, there is a desire to maintain the character and charm of our local communities,” Enmeier said. “The worry is that a state assembly, which does not understand the local charm of our town, will invoke a change that disrupts the historical fabric of our city.”

“On the other side, the argument is made that we are in a statewide housing crisis due to the fact that cities have not individually kept up with demand,” Enmeier continued.

Ultimately, Enmeier concluded that he didn’t believe there is “a perfect answer to addressing our housing predicament. I do believe, however, that there are multiple answers, and we find them when we are willing to listen to each other, and when we are willing to

work together.”

San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan noted that while local governments hold primary responsibility for local land-use policy, the state and federal governments protect renters from discrimination and the environment from unchecked development, as well as regulate insurance policies.

“All levels of government have some jurisdiction here, and they need to be working collaboratively to solve our housing crisis,” Duncan said.

Duncan noted that the city needs to build more affordable housing that fits with San Clemente’s character, adding that the population is shrinking because of the lack of affordable housing.

Allowing cities to develop and enforce their own design standards “strikes the appropriate balance and gives homeowners the certainty in knowing what they can and can’t do with their property,” Duncan said.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock of San Clemente claimed that state laws have had a “detrimental effect on affordable housing and the resulting community degradation and increased crime.”

Instead of local and state laws regulating housing, Knoblock argued that “the free marketplace determines best how to meet the local needs for housing, education and public safety.”

On the subject of ensuring that housing development is in line with the character of the community, San Juan Capistrano Mayor Howard Hart said the city “desires to build a community that enriches the lives of all who live here.”

“We don’t want to be just another sea of anonymous four-story stucco cubes that isolate our workers from their wealthy employers,” Hart said. “Statewide mandates undermine our ability to grow our community to meet housing challenges in a manner that fits our residents’ interests.”

Hart argued that state laws incentivizing “low-end housing construction” ultimately “help to ensure that the working poor remain relegated to standard housing and that a shortage of quality housing persists.”

Instead, Hart argued that the community needed to build more market-rate housing so “prices for these homes would not be as steep, natural upward home ownership progression would begin to churn again, and landlords would be incentivized to remodel and rehabilitate existing housing to compete for tenants.”

Hart said he felt that anything beyond RHNA goals and consequences for not meeting those goals “is micro-management by our state government.”

Both Hart and Davies argued in favor or reevaluating the CEQA process, which the two view as a hurdle for development.

Knoblock commented that San Clemente was “pretty much built out.”

“There are no available areas of undeveloped land on which to build,” Knoblock said. “Infill projects are our only areas which could be developed for housing.”

Duncan pointed to planned development of a new senior housing center and medical office as a success story resulting from a zoning code change, and pointed to the Los Molinos district as an area in the city where new housing could be developed.

Enmeier stated that if redeveloped, a mixed-use project at Pico Plaza, off the 5-Freeway and Avenida Pico, “has the potential to be a vibrant community that houses young professionals and civil service workers.”

Dana Point Councilmember John Gabbard noted that there are “a number of housing applications in process” and “each of those applications deserve our unbiased consideration without prejudgment or determination,” opting not to answer the survey questions in full.

“All that we can promise is that we are looking at all projects under the lens of the law and what benefits the fabric of our neighborhoods, the people and the community of Dana Point,” Gabbard said. “Boring, yes, but that’s what the impartial application of the law should be.”

None of the other councilmembers and none of the Planning Commission chairs for the three cities had responded to the survey as of press time.

Shawn Raymundo, C. Jayden Smith and Collin Breaux contributed to this report.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, AUG. 12

Challenging Cancer

10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group is conducting weekly meetings through Zoom video conferences. The meetings are open to caregivers, people who have a compromised immune system, and people dealing with cancer. To join, email donnavigil2@gmail.com or linda_crdv@yahoo.com. heritagesc.org.

Citizens’ Climate Education

10:45 a.m.-noon. This nonpartisan climate action group holds monthly meetings on the second Saturday of the month through Zoom video conferences. Email larrykramerccl@gmail.com to receive a link to join.

MONDAY, AUG. 14

Planning Commission

6 p.m. The Dana Point Planning Commission will hold a regular meeting. This meeting will also be livestreamed through the city’s YouTube channel. A link for livestreams and replays is available on the city’s website. Dana Point Council Chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern Street, Suite 210, Dana Point. danapoint.org.

TUESDAY, AUG. 15

Because I Love You (BILY)

6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through whatever parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, substance misuse, disrespect), conducts its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Zoom video conference and in person/ Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at the Outlets at San Clemente’s Conference Room. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16

VA Disabled Claims Clinic

2-4 p.m. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9934 will sponsor a Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Clinic at the Dana Point Community Center the first and third Wednesday of each month. Veterans can walk in and meet with a VFW Service Officer and receive information on how to file a claim for service-related medical issues. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point.

CUSD Board of Trustees

7 p.m. The governing board for the Capistrano Unified School District will meet to decide on local education matters. CUSD Headquarters, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. capousd.org.

Following the San Clemente City Council’s majority vote on Nov. 1, 2022, MemorialCare will soon develop its 250-bed senior housing facility and 7,500-square-foot medical office on the site of its shuttered hospital on Camino de los Mares—a mixed-use project some city officials see as a successful action to help address housing woes. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Age Well OC Receives $500K in State Budget Funds for Transportation Services

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Age Well Senior Services will see six new hybrid vehicles joining its fleet, helping the nonprofit’s efforts to provide transportation to South Orange County’s seniors and mobility-challenged individuals.

Included in the state budget enacted on June 27 is $510,000 for Age Well to purchase six hybrid transportation vehicles, which will provide non-emergency transportation services.

The state funds will help Age Well in its mission to “support independence and dignity of South Orange County seniors,” said Steve Moyer, chief executive officer of Age Well Senior Services, Inc.

Along with delivering Meals on Wheels and serving lunches at its senior center locations, Age Well provides non-emergency transportation, including “taking seniors for dialysis, for cancer chemotherapy, any medical-related appointments such as doctor appointments, also to pick up prescriptions, (and) dental appointments,” Moyer explained.

With the nonprofit retiring many of its aging vans, the funds to purchase new hybrid vehicles will help Age Well “build back our capacity.”

“The other thing that’s really important about this is that these will be our first vans that are really environmentally sensitive, which we’re very excited about,” Moyer said. “At this point, we sit at 22 vehicles, but by the end of this year, we will be approaching 30 vehicles in

Ocean

Institute to

Host Inaugural Sea Safety Summit

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Looking to promote sea safety for all who enjoy local waters, the Ocean Institute is partnering with RIFFE International Spearguns to host its inaugural Sea Safety Summit on Aug. 18.

Noah Mayne, Sea Safety Summit event coordinator for RIFFE, explained that while the company had been looking to coordinate a safety event for the local community, the idea for the event came after one of their own experienced a spearfishing accident.

total. So, we’re very excited about that.”

Moyer added that the fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles will also help to reduce the nonprofit’s operating costs, as well as the decreased need for additional maintenance as they replace older vans.

Moyer added that each of Age Well’s vehicles serves roughly 1,200 medical trips annually, with the fleet currently accommodating more than 27,000 trips a year. Moyer anticipates with the fleet expansion that Age Well will be able to accommodate roughly 32,000 trips annually.

“The clients that we have that utilize our services are ones that do not have transportation to and from medical appointments and they are definitely in need,” Moyer said. “This is a door-to-door service we provide.”

“We pick them up at their home and transport them to their appointments, and then once their appointment’s finished, we transport them back home,” Moyer continued. “I don’t know what these individuals would be able to do without this. This service is a safety net in their life, and we recognize that.”

South County’s senior population is growing, Moyer added.

“With that comes more and more demands, needs to be met. These vans really help us to be able to keep up with the demand,” he said, adding: “This is a service that we want to continue to be able to provide to enrich their life, which

Shortly after Christy Culp, a charge nurse in the trauma unit at Mission Hospital, reached out to RIFFE to host a basic trauma treatment presentation, RIFFE diver Austin Derry experienced an accident while spearfishing 50 miles off the coast.

“He has over 20 years’ experience on the water, spearfishing, and guiding trips all (over) the world, but it only took one instance that put his life in danger,” Mayne said in an email. “Thankfully, his crew was able to assess his wound and safely get him to land.”

“It was a scary situation for everyone involved, but served as an important reminder that anything can happen at any time,” Mayne continued.

Ocean Institute Marketing Coordinator Kaitlyn Davidson explained that

is the overall mission of Age Well Senior Services.”

State Sen. Catherine Blakespear attributes her advocacy for investing in her district to many community projects receiving state funding this year.

In a media release, Blakespear highlighted projects within her district “that address housing and homelessness, transit and transportation, the environment and social services” as receiving funding from the state budget.

“These are critically important projects in my district,” Blakespear said in the media release. “I’m tremendously grateful that my advocacy for these projects was effective in getting the projects funded.”

Blakespear noted that with state revenues lower than last year, it was a tough budget year, “which motivated me to advocate even harder for state investment in important local initiatives. These projects would not be moving forward this year without this crucial funding.”

the marine education nonprofit feels “it is our responsibility to make sure that we are educating the public on how to protect themselves on and in the water, just as we educate the community to protect the ocean from ourselves.”

“Unfortunately, when things go wrong out there, they can go from bad to worse rather quickly,” Davidson continued.

Through the event, the Ocean Institute and RIFFE aim to help attendees prepare for emergencies out on the water.

In addition to a talk from Culp and Derry, the Sea Safety Summit will feature educational booths from Westwind Sailing, CA Lifeguards, RIFFE, Lost Winds Dive Shop and more. Beer, wine and light snacks will also be available

In addition to the funding granted to Age Well of Orange County for hybrid transportation vehicles, the City of Vista received $5 million for interim and permanent supportive housing, Encinitas received $3.09 million to complete the Santa Fe Drive Corridor improvement project, and $1.4 million was allocated to complete a connecting segment of the Coast to Crest Trail.

“Sen. Blakespear, who made this happen, is really incredible, just a godsend for us to receive something of this magnitude,” Moyer added.

“Out of all of the critical programs that she was looking at, that this money could have been spent on, for her to select Age Well and what we do, this vehicle project, we’re honored and appreciative,” Moyer said.

Seniors and mobility-challenged individuals can apply for non-emergency transportation on Age Well’s website at agewellseniorservices.org.

for purchase during the event.

“We are excited to partner with RIFFE International and their amazing team, who are just as passionate as we are about the ocean and ocean safety,” Davidson said in an email. “When you join us for our first annual Sea Safety Summit, you can join hands-on activities on how to activate during a potentially serious situation in the water.”

Davidson added that the importance of understanding water safety “has only become a more prominent issue as more and more people head to the beach and to the ocean.”

The event is free to Ocean Institute members and students, and cost is $10 per person for the public.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the talk begins at 6 p.m.

Age Well OC, which provides services to seniors and mobility-challenged individuals in Orange County, received more than $500,000 in state budget funding to pay for six new hybrid vehicles. Photo: Courtesy of Age Well OC

PUBLISHER’S LETTER | By Picket Fence Media Founder Norb Garrett

his team as they absorb Picket Fence Media and our amazing staff into his organization (which owns hyper-local newspapers and magazines in the greater Los Angeles area and Arizona).

I’m thrilled to announce that as of Aug. 1, Picket Fence Media’s newspapers are now part of the Times Media Group.

After launching and running our hyper-local media group since 2006, we’ve reached a point where we felt it was important to join forces with an independent (non-corporate, non-private equity) publisher who shared our editorial values and principles.

We also wanted to find a person/company who could leverage their resources to help PFM’s publications grow while embracing new opportunities and adapting to changing and challenging market conditions.

TMG President Steve Strickbine is the perfect person with whom to trust “our baby.” He and his wife also started a local paper from scratch in Arizona, so he

also “bleeds black ink” and shares my passion and belief in the critical role local community journalism plays in informing and celebrating our special communities of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

I’ve gotten to know Steve well over the past eight months or so and have come to respect and like him very much.

My wife, Alyssa (who, as our general manager, has been keeping business cranking since its inception), and I are 100% committed to helping Steve and

Exciting News Supporting South Orange County’s Servicemembers, Veteran Community

Ihave the honor of representing the 74th Assembly District, and it is one of the most naturally beautiful districts in California, if not the country. Along our coast and part of this district is Camp Pendleton—one of the most significant military training facilities in the nation.

We have one of the highest populations of veterans in the United States right here in AD74, and California beats second-place Texas by a margin of 6%. This district boasts one of the highest military service-connected constituencies in the nation.

As vice chair of the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, I take my responsibility seriously and work hard to connect with servicemembers, veterans, and veteran service organizations. I look for opportunities to listen and learn from these heroes, and I am committed to doing everything I can to fight for them in Sacramento.

A few weeks ago, I held my first Military and Veterans Affairs Advisory

Board meeting at Camp Pendleton.

I was humbled to see such a wide array of people and organizations who answered the call of promoting and sustaining the well-being of our military service-connected population—including Dana Point Councilmember and Marine Corps veteran John Gabbard, representatives of local VFWs and American Legions, active duty and retired servicemembers, and the Orange County Veterans & Military Families Collaborative, to name a few.

Joining me in sharing information about available resources were CalVet representative Lance Iunker and San Diego County Military and Veterans Affairs Officer Mike Schmidt.

Lance shared information on CalVet’s Transition Assistance Program—a series of webinars that provide an over-

We’re so incredibly proud of how each of our communities has embraced our papers and helped Picket Fence Media become one of the most well-regarded, award-winning media companies in California.

We have worked hard to inform and help make our communities stronger through our mantra of “Local News You Can Use.” I’ve been assured that the focus on quality, original, unbiased reporting will continue.

In closing, thank you for helping me realize my childhood dream. Thanks, especially, to our incredible team led by Lauralyn Loynes and Jasmine Smith, who have been with us since Day 1.

It hasn’t been easy, but it’s always been a blast. Here’s to a bright and hopeful future for Picket Fence Media and each of you. DP

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view of California-specific benefits for veterans and resources for Californians exiting the military.

Mike explained how the County of San Diego assists veterans with their VA claims and expressed that the county always has a sympathetic ear for our veterans, connecting them with the services they need and the benefits they have earned.

As echo ed throughout our meeting, it is not just the funding, and it is not really the resources; it is the people and interconnection that will make the difference and solve the problems that our veterans and servicemembers face.

As your assemblywoman and staunch advocate for our troops, I am eager to act on veterans legislation and make the California Dream a reality for our servicemembers, veterans, and their families.

This legislative session, I was thrilled to co-sponsor Assembly Bill 988 and Senate Bill 726. AB 988, referencing the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone

Andrea PapagianisCamacho

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GUEST OPINION | Laurie’s Latest by Assemblymember Laurie Davies

LAURIE’S LATEST BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER

LAURIE DAVIES

NORB GARRETT CEO & FOUNDER

number, seeks to curtail veteran and servicemember suicide. SB 726 seeks to honor our military heroes with a 100% VA disability rating, many of whom live on a fixed income, by significantly reducing their property taxes.

Assembly Bill 46 has returned to the frontlines of Sacramento this year after facing a few defeats in previous legislative sessions.

AB 46 calls for the tax exemption of military retiree pay. California and the District of Columbia are the only entities within the U.S. that still draw an income tax on servicemembers’ hard-earned retirement pay, and it is time for California to catch up with the rest of the country on this one.

To those of you stationed nearby and those who have served, I sincerely thank those of you stationed nearby and those who have served; I sincerely thank you for your service and cordially invite you to join the conversation—not just for yourself, but for those servicemembers and veterans to come.

Please reach out to my office via email to assemblymember.davies@asm.ca.gov or call 949.284.6371 and express your

Letter to The Editor

POLICE TR EATM ENT AT THE DANA POINT CONCERT DAN FORSTER, Dana Point

This is just a bit of feedback to the OC Sheriff’s Department and the City of Dana Point.

multiple times, instructing not to stop.

We more than heard it the first time. Our driver quickly understood and attempted to pull around the turnabout (which we believe was a dropoff point last year). This apparently wasn’t good enough for this young and seemingly angry officer.

He, lights on, pulled our driver over, walked to his window, verbally berated him and wrote him a ticket. (The groups of people walking, and witnessed this, were stunned and disgusted, as we walked in later with them.)

willingness to be part of my Military Advisory Council.

Laurie Davies is a small business owner and former mayor who was elected to the State Assembly in 2020 and reelected in 2022. She represents the 74th Assembly District, which includes Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano in South Orange County—down through Camp Pendleton, and Oceanside, Vista and part of Fallbrook in North San Diego County. DP

I believe it should be inherently understood that concerts and large crowd gatherings should be handled with some level of deftness that is either top-down trained, or at least handled by mature police officers who understand that large gatherings bring some level of unusual chaos (different signage, cones, street directions, crowd direction, etc.).

Our hard-working, humble Uber driver (driving an old Toyota Corolla) was merely attempting to drop us off to the concert, on Stonehill Drive (by the fire station), when he/we were blasted by a police bullhorn

The poor driver lost more than the minimal profit he makes doing that work. (As an aside, we sent him money to hopefully cover the ticket, but not sure about his record.) Was this a top-down (“make your quota”) directive, or an angry young officer, who may need a bit more training in crowd control?

I realize everyone probably has “bigger fish to fry,” but treatment like this, on visitors just trying to navigate temporary, messy, and unusual situations is shameful, and not a great optic for the City of Dana Point or the OC Sheriff’s Dept.

Photo: Breeana Greenberg

DOLPHIN FOOTBALL PREVIEW

YOUR GUIDE TO THE SEASON: GAME PREVIEWS, KEY PLAYERS AND MORE!

Raising THE BAR

Offensive skill positions, defensive front strength aim to push Dolphins higher

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

Dana Hills football is looking to take its next step.

The program’s first two years under head coach Tony Henney have been inarguably successful for the Dolphins, especially in the context of their history.

Dana Hills has qualified for the CIF-SS playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since the program’s last playoff appearances in 2012-13. The Dolphins have done that by resetting their offensive focus each season as they graduated star talent. Dana Hills posted school-record passing numbers with quarterback Bo Kelly in 2021 and boasted Orange County’s leading rusher with Christian Guarascio in 2022.

However, the Dolphins have hit a wall in the first round of each of their postseason appearances, and as Henney looks to not just fill holes each year but continue building his program, it’s natural to ask how and where to grow this program to reach its next level of development.

“I feel like we just haven’t gotten over the

Dana Hills quarterback Myles Van Wyhe will be given time to develop chemistry in a potentially dynamic Dolphins offense. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

next step, and that we have to keep trying,” Henney said. “We hit a ladder, and we’re stuck on a step right now. From a coaching aspect, whether it’s a kid, a group of kids, a grade of kids, they have to be the ones that accelerate it to the next level, and you’ll have another few step jump when that happens.”

Henney says he sees that next-level potential in his sophomore class, which not only has the talent but the “juice” or confidence to themselves. There will be integral sophomore contributions from a physical presence such as Charlie Eckl or a playmaking ability such as James Leicester.

Add that to returning senior playmakers including Noah Kucera, Chase Berry and Deacon Hills or the continued development of line strength in Nate DePierro and Kevin Garcia, and Dana Hills can turn its eyes to a next-level goal—not just winning seasons or playoff appearances but championships.

“We want to be the third Dana Hills team to ever win a league championship,” Henney said. “If we’re going to take that next step, that sounds like a solid next step to me.”

Dana Hills has never won an outright football league championship in the school’s 50-year history.

The Dolphins have split league titles twice—a Sea View League title in 2012 and a Pacific Hills league title in a pandemic-delayed, two-game league schedule for the 2020 season. Dana Hills also hasn’t made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons at any point this century or won a playoff game since 2009.

Winning consistently and expectations of winning consistently comprise that next level to which Henny is looking to take the Dana Hills program.

“We need to win a league championship, and we need to breed a tradition of that’s what we’re aiming to do,” Henney said.

SKILLED OFFENSIVE PIECES SEEK DISTRIBUTOR

Dana Hills undeniably has some offensive weapons.

The Dolphins return their top two receivers in seniors Chase Berry and Noah Kucera. Berry, the top receiver last season, will start the season on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but he’s expected to return by league play. While both players came over as transfers from San Juan Hills last season, Kucera had to sit out a bit longer than Berry, but they still nearly had equal yardage production. Berry became a go-to scoring option with 10 touchdown receptions, and Kucera reeled in five touchdown catches.

Kucera will be the top target, and he’ll be joined for early-season reps by sophomore James Leicester, who emerged over the offseason at the outside receiver spot when Berry went down.

“He had some moments where he looked like a sophomore, and he had moments where he grew up,” Henney said. “The joke with him Is that he turned into a ‘dog’ over the summer, but he’s a little dog. So, his nickname is ‘Poodle’.”

Another emerging target is Nikolis Grguric, who is going out for football for the first time as a senior after starring for the Dana Hills basketball team last winter. Grguric’s 6-foot3, 210-pound frame and box-out basketball instincts are a perfect fit at the tight end spot,

where Nate DePierro moves out for full-time duty on the offensive line.

That offensive line showed off the dividends of a long offseason in the weight room last year by carving up holes for Christian Guarascio’s county-leading rushing numbers. DePierro is one of three returning starters up front alongside fellow seniors Kevin Garcia and Sebastian Becerril-Pastrana. They’ve only gotten stronger and should solidify that group.

The hopeful beneficiary of that line play is senior running back Deacon Hill, who was an impact player on defense last season but carried the ball only 12 times playing behind Guarascio. Hill still averaged nearly four yards per carry in limited work. Guarascio’s production is also a potential model for Hill, as Guarascio jumped from 612 yards rushing on 100 carries as a junior to 1,891 yards on 263 carries as a junior.

All of this talk of the skill positions without yet

mentioning who’s behind center, and that’s because it’s the only position without any proven measurables yet.

Senior Myles Van Wyhe steps up into the role with just one single varsity snap to his name, and if the Dana Hills offense is going to live up to the potential its other positions portend, Van Wyhe is going to have to click in. However, Henney described Van Wyhe as an “extremely hard worker” and knows patience will be the key to getting this offense going.

“I feel like Myles has really come along,” Henney said. “He still has a long way to go, and there’s going to be a grace period. He’s never started a game. He’s only played one play of a varsity game. He’s going to have some moments that maybe aren’t so good, but you have to coach him up and keep his confidence up.”

To also ease the pressure on Van Wyhe, Henney also noted the Dolphins will have to find

a way to run the ball, and again, Hill stands to benefit with that early focus as Dana Hills builds toward balance.

“There’s always two ways to measure balance—how many times you rush and throw it, and the other is how many people are getting the ball,” Henney said. “I feel like with the distribution of the ball, we’re going to have great balance, because I feel good about most of the skill guys touching the ball.”

It may not be another record-making statistical season, but Dana Hills has more than enough weapons to find something that works.

STRONG DEFENSIVE FRONT LEADS YOUNG SIDE

As mentioned previously, the biggest offseason focus over the past two summers for Dana Hills has been the weight room, particularly for the Dolphins’ line play.

It showed up last year in the running game, and it looks to show up this year in the defen-

“We need to win a league championship, and we need to breed a tradition of that’s what we’re aiming to do.”

– Head Coach Tony Henney

Dana Hills’ offensive strength is in the wide variety of options at the skill positions. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

sive line pressure.

“We are the strongest that we’ve been since I’ve been here,” Henney said. “Hopefully, that breathes some confidence into them.”

That group on the line is returning starters in DePierro and Mitch Hill along with super sophomore Charlie Eckl, who Henney said has the potential to be the best player in Dana Hills program history. Behind the line, there are also returning impact starters in senior linebackers Dominic Barto and Noah Brown.

That group showed sparks of pressure last season with three sacks each from DePierro and Brown and two sacks from Barto, but the Dolphins will need consistent pressure from their front seven to relieve some pressure off a young defensive secondary.

“The X-factor is going to be the defensive front seven,” Henney said.

“If that group plays at a level that I believe they can play, they’re going to make the job easier on the secondary. They’re going to make the job easier on the offense with field position.”

OPENING IN THE PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Every year since Dana Hills football’s move from the traditional confines of the Sea View and South Coast Leagues has seen incredibly tight races in the Pacific Coast Conference, whether the league itself was called the Pacific Hills or Pacific Coast League.

While last year’s Pacific Coast League featured two eventual CIF-SS champions, including a state champion and state runner-up in Laguna Hills and Northwood, respectively, like Dana Hills, each of the returning teams to the league is without its star running backs each team relied on for success.

Last season, two unstoppable forces ran into each other—Guarascio and Laguna Hills’ Troy Leigber—and it was Leigber who bowled over the Dolphins with 225 yards and five touchdowns. However, Leigber is now at UCLA, and the Hawks will be easier to handle.

It was a similar result with Northwood’s Adam Harper running for 342 yards and four touchdowns a week later, but Harper is also out of the Dolphins’ way after graduating.

The league swaps Irvine for Portola, and while Portola returns its top players, Dana Hills has been successful against the Bulldogs since coming into the conference.

The league is up for grabs as everyone reloads.

PATIENCE FOR POTENTIAL

The reload period for Dana Hills isn’t going to be about replacing talent or developing playmakers. For the Dolphins, the early portion of the season will be about meshing those talented playmakers into a cohesive unit.

“I think we know the direction we need to go and the style we need to play,” Henney said. “I think we have a pretty good grasp on how to get better with what we have. I think that the one thing that’s hard with coaches is sometimes you have to have the patience to let some of that play out, especially with the young guys.”

It’s those young guys who will push Dana Hills beyond single years of standout talent and into generational cycles that replenish and raise the program. Henney and the Dolphins won’t be skipping any steps on the ladder, and they recognize the work ahead.

“We just learned that we have a long way to go,” Henney said. “After spring, we thought that. After summer practice, we thought that. We just have to keep getting better. I know that sounds cliché, but it just is. This kid improved, this kid improved; is it enough to win a league championship?”

Whether it is enough for a league title or not, it’s that mindset that Dana Hills needs to push itself to the next level and raise the program to a new standard of excellence.

The Dolphins have put a lot of sweat equity into their line strength over the last two offseasons.

Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Dana Hills enters the season with a young secondary and hopes a strong defensive line takes pressure off that back end group. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Five Players to Watch OFFENSE

CHASE BERRY

WR, Sr.

As a junior transfer from San Juan Hills last season, Berry quickly established himself as the Dolphins’ deep threat with over 13 yards per reception and a team-high 13 touchdown catches. He’ll begin the year on the sidelines with an injury, but when league play rolls around, look for Berry downfield.

KEVIN GARCIA

OL, Sr.

Garcia is a leader on an offensive line that has continued its commitment to the weight room. The focus produced dividends last year with the Dolphins’ punishing rushing attack. Garcia’s 6-foot-4, 275-pound frame will help lock down the outside pressure as Dana Hills establishes its new quarter-

DEACON HILL

RB, Sr. Hill didn’t get many offensive touches last season, as Dana Hills’ running game went entirely through county-leading rusher Christian Guarascio, but Hill will push for a similar jump in production. Hill still averaged nearly four yards per carry, and there might be more space in the Dolphins’ more balanced offense.

NOAH KUCERA

WR, Sr.

Kucera played only half a season last year due to his transfer from San Juan Hills, but when active, he became the most dynamic receiving threat Dana Hills had. Kucera nearly equaled Berry’s leading production in less time. Kucera will step up as the Dolphins’ playmaker in a balanced attack.

OL, Sr.

Becerril-Pastrana is one of three returners on an offensive line that paved the way for a county-leading run game. Becerril-Pastrana will help carve up lanes on the inside with his 6-foot-3, 280-pound frame. Dana Hills has had a continued focus on its physicality up front, and Becerril-Pastrana will bring it.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH

Five Players to Watch DEFENSE

DOMINIC BARTO

LB, Sr.

Barto was one of Dana Hills’ top tacklers last season and is part of a handful of returning starters that will lead on the defensive side. Barto was fourth on the team with 48 tackles last year, including 33 solo tackles. Barto also contributed two sacks and an interception.

NOAH BROWN

LB, Sr.

Brown had a knack for coming up with big plays with a physical edge from that second layer of the defense. Brown led the Dolphins with three sacks and two fumble recoveries and racked up 22 tackles. He will help lead the defense as part of an experienced linebacker corps.

NATE DEPIERRO

DL, Sr.

DePierro is turning his full focus to line play this season, and he could be a force for the Dolphins. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior will use his length to control the defensive side and bring that extra pressure the Dolphins have lacked. DePierro also moves to the offensive line from tight end.

CHARLIE ECKL

DE, Soph.

Dana Hills head coach Tony Henney says that Eckl has the potential “to be the best player in school history.” No pressure for the sophomore, who made only three tackles on varsity as a freshman. Eckl stands at 6-foot-4, and with a 435-pound deadlift, he can add strength to the defensive line.

MITCH HILL

DL, Sr.

Hill is another element of a strong defensive line for Dana Hills. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior is a returning starter who pulled together 39 tackles as a junior, including 19 solo tackles. To help a young secondary, Dana Hills will rely on Hill and the defensive line to get quarterback pressure.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH

GAME PREVIEWS 2023 DANA HILLS

Coach: Vince Mesa

2022 Record: 3-7 (1-2 Pacific Valley League)

2022 vs. DH: DH win, 21-14

Season Outlook:

The Trojans have shown marginal improvement over the past few seasons, boosting their 2022 win total by one from the previous year. They also claimed a signature win in defeating Beckman at home to avoid going winless in the Pacific Valley League. University will also have seniority on their side, as its leading passer, receiver, rusher and tackler all return.

Jai Williams, a senior and two-way player who totaled 420 rushing yards and 75 tackles, will be a player to watch, along with quarterback Koa Saito and receiver Blaine Anderson.

Coach: John Shanahan

2022 Record: 11-4 (3-0 Pac-4 League)

2022 vs. DH: DH win, 28-24

Season Outlook: Laguna Beach followed its 2021 campaign with another strong offensive year in 2022.

The Breakers rebounded from consecutive losses at the start of the season to win 11 of their next 12 games and take home the CIF-SS Division 9 Championship, beating Diamond Bar, 36-28. This year, BYU tight end commit Ryner Swanson and highly recruited junior quarterback Jackson Kollock are back to potentially lead their team to a state title.

Even so, Laguna Beach hasn’t defeated the Dolphins since 2018.

Coach: Scott Meyer

2022 Record: 4-6 (2-3 Moore League)

2022 vs. DH: Did Not Play Season Outlook:

The Bruins from Long Beach certainly experienced the full gamut of emotions during Moore League play last season. Woodrow Wilson was shut out twice by Long Beach Poly and Lakewood in blowout fashion, found itself on the right side of two nail-biters, and put up 57 points on winless Cabrillo. Senior running back Christian Chapman will likely be responsible for most of the offensive success the Bruins see in 2023, as he ran for 1,206 yards and 10 scores last year.

Coach: Jason Presley

2022 Record: 2-8 (0-3 North Hills League)

2022 vs. DH: Did Not Play

Season Outlook:

The Aztecs closed out 2022 with four consecutive losses, with an average margin of defeat of 38.5 points. To find any success this season, Esperanza must find a successor to running back Jesse Deunsing, who totaled 1,582 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 and has since graduated.

Aaron Forsgren, a senior who rushed for the second-most yards last year, may be the one to pick up the mantle.

Coach: Aaron Craver

2022 Record: 5-6 (2-1 Pacific Valley League)

2022 vs. DH: DH win, 38-26

Season Outlook:

Woodbridge graduated its leading rusher and its top three receivers and tacklers in the spring.

Fortunately, Edward Ma is back for his final season at quarterback, but he’ll need to improve his touchdown-to-interception ratio for Warriors to continue winning games. Ma threw for 1,824 yards and 15 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions in 2022.

Coach: Phil Hughes

2022 Record: 9-3 (2-1 North Hills League)

2022 vs. DH: Did Not Play

Season Outlook:

The Comanches had a successful 2022 campaign, finishing 8-2 in the regular season and making the second round of the playoffs. Christian Lundsberg, who is off to Southern Utah after throwing for 4,066 yards and 54 touchdowns his senior year, leaves behind a gaping hole in Canyon’s quarterback room.

In comes Corin Rynders, who started two games for Canyon in 2021 but otherwise is green, and he will need surrounding help to replace a senior-laden offense.

The Comanches’ coaches will look to linebackers DJ Knupp and Noah Eckenrode for defensive production.

Coach: Tom Ricci 2022 Record: 4-6 (0-3 Pacific Coast League)

2022 vs. DH: DH win, 50-49

Season Outlook:

The last time these two teams met, it was an offensive shootout that saw Dana Hills convert a two-point attempt to end the game in the first overtime.

While Irvine’s bellcow from that season, Evan Hasegawa, has now moved on, quarterback Joseph Tierney returns to lead the Vaqueros. Junior Deacon Moss projects to play a significant role as both a receiver and defensive back.

Coach: John Lester 2021 Record: 15-1 (2-1 Pacific Hills League)

2022 vs. DH: LH win, 42-21

Season Outlook: Laguna Hills running back Troy Leigber’s six-touchdown performance against the Dolphins was emblematic of what he did all year for the Hawks, rushing his way to earning Orange County Offensive Player of the Year. Leigber, now a preferred walk-on at UCLA, was a major contributor to his team’s remarkable run in 2022. The Hawks defeated Golden Valley to claim the CIF-SS Division 7 title and edged Bellarmine by one point in the CIF State Division 3-A championship. Replacing 2,695 yards and 44 touchdowns of production will be a Herculean task.

Coach: Peter Abe

2021 Record: 4-8 (2-1 Pacific Valley League)

2022 vs. DH: DH win, 42-22

Season Outlook:

The Bulldogs were an overtime loss from exiting Pacific Valley League play undefeated, and they overcame some non-league beatdowns to find success in the playoffs. Portola returns its leading passer, rusher, and top three receivers, which should help the team build on last season’s results.

Coach: JC Clarke

2022 Record: 14-2 (3-0 Pacific Coast League)

2022 vs. DH: Portola win, 37-20

Season Outlook: Northwood steamrolled its opponents in 2022 to capture its second straight CIF-SS championship and second title in program history. The Timberwolves relied on senior running back Adam Harper’s 2,020 rushing yards to take them to the State Division 4-AA title game. Now that the Pacific Coast League is without three dominant running backs in Harper, Troy Leigber and Christian Guarascio, defensive coaches can breathe a sigh of relief, and offensive staffs are determining their next move.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

DANA POINT TIMES

FRIDAY | 11

FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in town every Friday. Check out the produce, breads, cheeses, artisan craft vendors, and more. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

LIN E DANCING FRIDAYS

10-11 a.m. Join Age Well Senior Services for line dancing every Friday at San Clemente’s senior center. No partner required. For a $5 donation, learn some easy and fun line dances to get you moving. Carrie Wojo teaches all over South Orange County and makes it easy to stay active and have fun. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. 949.498.3322.

YOUTH PROGRAMMING AT THE NOBLE PATH FOUNDATION

4:30 p.m. The Noble Path Foundation hosts events multiple times a week to get youth and young adults out and about and participating in safe, productive activities. There will be an improv lesson from 4:30-5:30 p.m., and TGIF Night starting at 6 p.m.—the theme being video games on numerous consoles. The Noble Path Foundation, 420 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.234.7259. thenoblepathfoundation.org.

CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS

‘THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW’

7:30 p.m. Enjoy the Cabrillo Playhouse’s performance of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Show. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character, although no outside props are allowed. Tickets are $33. The show will run on multiple dates through Aug. 27. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida

FRIDAY | 11 - SATURDAY | 12: RAMPS & REELS

4-10 p.m. The inaugural Ramps & Reels, a two-day skating event, will hit Domingo Avenue in Doheny Village on Friday, Aug. 11, and Saturday, Aug. 12, from 2-10 p.m. The event will feature a public street course, food trucks, drinks and film screenings. Domingo Avenue, Dana Point. danapoint.org.

Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. cabrilloplayhouse.org.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Outlaw Country group the Highway Man Show will perform with southern rock and blues band The Walter Michaels Band. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

9 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. The ’80s cover band Fast Times will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

SATURDAY | 12

SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE

9-11 a.m. South OC Cars and Coffee, dubbed the world’s biggest weekly car meet, attracts a mix of 500-1,000 hypercars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods,

rat rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles. No cars in before 8:30 a.m. Cars should enter and leave slowly and quietly—no revving, speeding or burnouts. The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET

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

KAYAK HARBOR TOUR AND SAIL AT THE OCEAN INSTITUTE

10.a.m.-noon. Join the Ocean Institute for a two-hour interactive kayak tour around the Dana Point Harbor and learn about the history of the harbor and its unique ecosystem. All experience levels are welcome. Guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are $28. In the afternoon, from 2-5 p.m., set sail aboard the schooner Spirit of Dana Point and experience Cal -

ifornia from the perspective of an early tall ship explorer. Join the crew to help raise sail, handle lines and steer the ship, or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the majesty of sailing the seas aboard a tall ship. Must be 4 years or older to sail. Tickets are $65. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S

11a.m. Father-son rocking powerhouse duo Elliot and Trevor Battle will perform. Enjoy the entertainment on the outdoor patio while you chow down on food and sip drinks. Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT SWALLOW’S

2 p.m. Live music is featured at one of San Juan Capistrano’s best-known dive bars and country music spots. Tightrope Band will perform in the afternoon, and Coyote Rebel will perform at 9 p.m. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

SUMMER LECTURE SERIES AT THE MISSION

2-3 p.m. This summer, the Mission will host a lecture series with talks by Orange County historians Chris Jepsen and Eric Plunkett. All lectures will be held in the Historic Sala and are free with the price of admission, membership or tour. Seating is limited, so

(Cont. on page 20)

Skaters Josh Borden and Brian “Yoda” Upapong shred on a halfpipe. The two professional skaters will demonstrate their skills for attendees of the upcoming Ramps & Reels event on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12. Photo: Courtesy of Bennett Harada

(Cont. from page 19)

attendees are asked to RSVP with Marissa Medina at 949.234.1321 or mmedina@missionsjc.com. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.

AFFORDABLE PET VACCINE CLINIC

4-5:30 p.m. Pets Plus San Juan Capistrano offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. The low-cost clinic offers vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams and diagnostic testing on-site. Pets Plus, 32022 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 714.895.8600. vetcarepetclinic.com.

GEEKS WHO DRINK TRIVIA NIGHT

7-9 p.m. Left Coast Brewing presents trivia modeled after pub quizzes in Ireland and the United Kingdom, covering everything from Hungary to the Hunger Games. Teams can include up to six people. Winning teams earn bar cash and other prizes. Left Coast Tasting Room, 1251 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. eventvesta.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK

8-9:30 p.m. Join Haunted Orange County for a dark, history-filled ghost tour of San Juan Capistrano. Hear the stories of spirits that inhabit the old Los Rios district and make your way through Camino Capistrano to the outskirts of the Mission itself. The tour ends outside the Mission, near the church where a great earthquake struck in 1912 and parishioners were crushed under falling stones. The meeting location is just outside the brick visitor’s information booth near the train tracks located behind the Franciscan Plaza Parking Structure, 26732 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 866.446.7803. hauntedoc.com.

LIVE MUSIC HARBOR CRUISE WITH DANA WHARF

8-9:30 p.m. Join Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching aboard the aboard the 95-foot Dana Pride for an evening cruise in the Dana Point Harbor. Classic Rock band Bunch of Guys will perform. The boat features a full bar including wine, beer and mixed drinks. Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.496.5794, ext. 7. danawharf.com.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Journey cover band Journey USA will perform. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

9 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. The ’80s dance band Infl80ees will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

SUNDAY | 13

STAND UP TO TRASH BEACH CLEANUP: WE’RE TURNING 3!

9-11 a.m. Join Stand Up to Trash at Baby Beach and the Ocean Institute for a beach cleanup followed by a Lunch and Learn at the Ocean Institute. This month’s theme is “plastic-free birthday celebration.” Attendees can also bring in their recyclables for processing with Pink Recycling. Lunch will be provided. Dana Point Harbor, 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. standuptotrash.com.

FIESTA MUSIC FESTIVAL

10 a.m.-7 p.m. Visit Avenida Del Mar to experience the 68th annual Fiesta Music Festival, an all-day event where talented artists will perform from three stages throughout the day. The headlining acts include The Aggrolites, Laxi, NOT, The Provos, Rumble King and Wes Chiller. In addition to various food, games and vendor booths, downtown restaurants and shops will be open. There will be two bike corrals, one near the Community Center and one near Artifex, behind South of Nick’s. A free shuttle service will run from San Clemente High School from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., in addition to the city’s trolley service. Downtown San Clemente. scchamber.com.

CONCERTS IN THE PARK

3-6 p.m. These free family-friendly concerts feature two bands and are held at Sea Terrace Park behind the Dana Point Library area. Common Sense and The Tijuana Dogs will perform. Spirits for those 21 and older and food are available for purchase. Sea Terrace Park, 33501 Niguel Road, Dana Point. danapoint.org.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

7 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Rat Pack tribute band The Chairman & The Board will perform. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

MONDAY | 14

BRIDGE GAME

12:30 p.m. The South Orange County Bridge Club hosts bridge games, Monday through Saturday. The club is a nonprofit owned by the members and welcomes people to use their minds and develop new friendships. They also offer classes for bridge players of different levels.

31461 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano. galesenter@cox.net.

COUNTRY NIGHT AT H.H. COTTON’S

5:30 p.m. This popular downtown restaurant offers a night full of country music and line dancing for all ages. Beginners will have the floor from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for Introduction to Line Dancing, followed by the Advanced Beginner class from 7-8 p.m. The hour-long lessons are $10 each. Free line dancing will be offered from 8-9:30 p.m. H.H. Cotton’s, 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.945.6616. hhcottons.com.

OPEN JAM

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

TUESDAY | 15

STORYTIME AT THE SJC LIBRARY

10:30-11 a.m. Bring the kids to storytime, held every Tuesday morning. Children will get to read books and sing songs. The event is geared for the 2- to 6-yearold age range. San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1752. ocpl.org.

SHARKS AFTER DARK

6-9 p.m. Join the Ocean Institute to learn more about the ocean’s apex predators, bioluminescence and more every Tuesday through August. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

WEDNESDAY | 16

NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETWEAVING DEMONSTRATIONS

10 a.m.-noon. Teeter Marie Olivares

Romero, Ellen Sue Olivares, Susie Fimbres and Wanda Jo Gennaro demonstrate the art of basket weaving on the third Wednesday of the month at the Mission. Basket-weaving demonstrations take place in the front courtyard. The demonstration is free with the price of admission, membership or tour. Mission

San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

6 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. DJ Tom Wellner will perform on Country Wednesday. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

BINGO AT THE SAN CLEMENTE SENIOR CENTER

1:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, the Dorothy Visser Senior Center will host Bingo. The center will begin selling cards at 1 p.m., with the game starting promptly at 1:30. The buy-in is $12 for 10 games with four cards and a special pick-your-number game. For more information, contact the center at 949.498.3322. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente.

YOUTH PROGRAMMING AT THE NOBLE PATH FOUNDATION

4:30-7:30 p.m. The Noble Path Foundation hosts events multiple times a week to get youth and young adults out and about and participating in safe, productive activities. Guitar lessons start at 4:30 p.m., followed by a fitness class at 5:30 p.m. and Creative Collaboration at 6:30 p.m. The Noble Path Foundation, 420 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.234.7259. thenoblepathfoundation.org.

SAN JUAN SUMMER NITES

4-8 p.m. San Juan Summer Nites free concert series returns to Historic Town Center Park. Join the city for live music, a business expo, vendors and free activities for kids. This week, the country and western act Smith will entertain audiences, starting at 6 p.m. The business expo starts at 4 p.m. Historic Town Center Park, 31525 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE

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

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20236666600

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

ABRAMSON AUDIOLOGY

30320 RANCHO VIEJO ROAD, STE 104

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675

Full Name of Registrant(s):

HEAR NOW

33292 ASTORIA STREET

DANA POINT, CA 92629

This business is conducted by a CA Corporation

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 05/02/2004

HEAR NOW/s/DOUGLAS ABRAMSON CFO

HEAR NOW, DOUGLAS ABRAMSON CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 06/28/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times July 28, August 4, 11, 18, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20236668074

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

DAMN GOOD PLANT GOODS

33941 PEQUITO DRIVE

DANA POINT, CA 92629

Full Name of Registrant(s):

DAMN GOOD BAKED GOODS, LLC

33941 PEQUITO DRIVE

DANA POINT, CA 92629

This business is conducted by a CA Limited Liability Company

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a

DAMN GOOD BAKED GOODS, LLC/s/MOLLY HOPKINS, MOLLY HOPKINS MANAGING MEMBER/MANAGER

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 07/18/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times August 4, 11, 18, 25, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

T.S. No. 0125002192 Loan No. Enterprise APN: 629-401-06; 629-401-02; 629-401-03; 629-401-04; 629-101-13; 629-101-12 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS, SECURITY AGREEMENT AND FIXTURE FILING DATED 8/22/2018. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On 8/21/2023 at 1:30 PM At the North front entrance to the County Courthouse at 700 Civic Center West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, Old Republic Title Company, a California corporation, as the duly appointed Trustee under the Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing recorded on 8/23/2018, as Instrument No. 2018000310188, of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Orange County, California, executed by: Enterprise Office Owner LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as Trustor, Acore Capital Mortgage, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, in its capacity as Administra-

tive Agent for the Lenders, as Lender/Beneficiary, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States by cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in the state) all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County, California, describing the land therein: As more fully described on said Deed of Trust. The street address or other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 65, 75, 77, 98, 95, 101 & 103 Enterprise Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made is an “AS IS” condition, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, estimated fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by the Deed of Trust, to wit: $129,537,597.89 (Estimated). Accrued interest and additional advances, if any, will increase this figure prior to sale. It is possible that at the time of sale the opening bid may be less than the total indebtedness due. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS:

If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 916-939-0772 or visit this internet website www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 0125002192. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. For sales conducted after January 1, 2021: NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase

the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 916-939-0772, or visit this internet website www.nationwideposting. com, using the file number assigned to this case 0125002192 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. This property which is subject to this Notice of Sale does not fall within the purview of California Civil Code Section 2923.5. The present beneficiary under the Deed of Trust has elected to conduct a unified foreclosure sale pursuant to the provisions of California Commercial Code Section 9604(a)(1)(B). See “Schedule I” attached for description of personal property. Date: 7/18/2023 Old Republic Title Company, as Trustee 1000 Burnett Avenue, Suite #400 Concord, California 94520 (866)248-9598 by: Debbie Jackson, Vice President NPP0437998 To: DANA POINT TIMES 07/28/2023, 08/04/2023, 08/11/202

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 30-2023-01325606-CU-PT_CJC

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Nahid Birjandi Colton filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

NAHID BIRJANDI COLTON

Proposed Name

NAHID BIRJANDI

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

Notice of Hearing

Date: 08/22/2023 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: D100

Room: Remote Appearance. The address of the court is: North Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Dr, Santa Ana, CA 92071. (To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the courts website, go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm.)

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Dana Point Times

Date: 07/11/2023

JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: Dana Point Times July 28, August 4, 11, 18, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF DANA POINT

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

Conditional Use Permit CUP22-0010 and Site Development Permit SDP22-0033 located at 26852 Calle Hermosa: A request to develop a vacant parcel with a two-story mixed-use structure featuring 2,825 square feet of first and second-story office space, and a 2,420 square foot Single Family Dwelling Unit (SFD) on the second story in the Professional Residential (P/R) Zoning District. Ground-level parking under the second story is provided for the office use and in an enclosed garage for the residential use. A Site Development Permit is required for the project and to allow an increase in lot coverage from 35 to 64 percent pursuant to Dana Point Zoning Code (DPZC) Section 9.13.030(d), Footnote (3). A Conditional Use Permit is required to allow the second story SFD as an accessory use in the P/R Zoning District.

Project Number: Conditional Use Permit CUP22-0010 and Site Development Permit SDP22-0033

Project Location: 26852 Calle Hermosa (APN: 123-355-15)

Applicant: Lule Hoda, AIA

Property Owner: EZ Properties, LLC

Environmental: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the project is found to be Categorically Exempt per Section 15303(c) (Class 3 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) in that the project involves the construction of a commercial building that does not exceed 10,000 square feet in floor area on site zoned for such use, and does not involve the use of significant amounts of hazardous substances, and all necessary public services and facilities are available, and the surrounding area is not environmentally sensitive.

Hearing Date: August 28, 2023

Hearing Time: 6:00 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as possible)

Hearing Location: 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, California 92629 (Dana Point City Hall)

All persons either favoring or opposing this proposal are invited to present their views to the Commission at this hearing.

Note: This project may be appealed to the City Council. If you challenge the action taken on this proposal in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Dana Point prior to the public hearing. Any litigation related to this project may be subject to the 90 day statute of limitations set forth in California Government Code section 1094.6 and/or 65009.

For further information, please contact Alyssa Gonzalez, Assistant Planner, at the City of Dana Point, Community Development Department, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 209, Dana Point, (949) 248-3556.

PUBLIC NOTICES

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF DANA POINT

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

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

Site Development Permit SDP23-0022 located at 34101 Alcazar: A request for a Site Development Permit to allow the construction of a detached 800 square foot two-bedroom Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in association with an existing nonconforming one-story, single-family dwelling. Pursuant to Dana Point Zoning Code Section 9.07.210(F)(1)(c), construction of a detached ADU on a lot which does not provide the required parking for the existing use shall require a Site Development Permit.

Project Numbers: Site Development Permit SDP23-0022

Project Location: 34101 Alcazar (APN: 682-29416)

Applicant/Owner: Tobia Ullman/Maryam Gerami

Environmental: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the project is found to be Categorically Exempt per Section 15303(e) (Class 3 – New Construction or conversion of small structures) since the project consist of constructing a detached accessory dwelling unit.

Hearing Date: Monday, August 28, 2023

Hearing Time: 6:00 PM (or as soon thereafter as possible)

Hearing Location: 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 (Dana Point City Hall)

All persons either favoring or opposing the subject project are invited to present their views to the Commission at this hearing.

Note: This project may be appealed to the City Council. If you challenge the action taken on this proposal in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Dana Point prior to the public hearing. Any litigation related to this project may be subject to the 90 day statute of limitations set forth in California Government Code section 1094.6 and/or 65009.

For further information, please contact Alyssa Gonzalez, Assistant Planner, at the City of Dana Point, Community Development Department, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 209, Dana Point, (949) 248-3556.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF DANA POINT

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

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

Site Development Permit SDP23-0013 located at 34569 Calle Portola: A request to allow the conversion of a portion of an attached, 712 square foot, two-car garage to a 420 square foot one-bedroom Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in association with an existing nonconforming single-family dwelling in the Residential Single Family 7 Zoning

District. Lots with existing developments that are nonconforming as to driveway length, must obtain a Site Development Permit pursuant to Dana Point Zoning Code Section 9.07.210(f)(1)(D) prior to constructing the attached ADU. In accordance with Zoning Code Section 9.07.210 (f)(4)(A), in single family residential zoning districts where ADUs are permitted, an applicant shall be allowed to construct one (1) attached ADU per lot.

Project Numbers: Site Development Permit SDP23-0013

Project Location: 34569 Calle Portola (APN: 123-312-08)

Project Applicant: Brian Opp

Property Owner: Jack Shane Reed

Environmental: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the project is found to be Categorically Exempt per Section 15303(e) (Class 3 – New Construction or conversion of small structures) since the project consists of converting existing garage space into an ADU.

Hearing Date: Monday, August 28, 2023

Hearing Time: 6:00 PM (or as soon thereafter as possible)

Hearing Location: 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 (Dana Point City Hall)

All persons either favoring or opposing the subject project are invited to present their views to the Commission at this hearing.

Note: This project may be appealed to the City Council. If you challenge the action taken on this proposal in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Dana Point prior to the public hearing. Any litigation related to this project may be subject to the 90 day statute of limitations set forth in California Government Code section 1094.6 and/or 65009.

For further information, please contact Alyssa Gonzalez, Assistant Planner, at the City of Dana Point, Community Development Department, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 209, Dana Point, (949) 248-3556.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

MAHFUZ AHMED

CASE NO. 30-2023-01338597-PR-PW-CMC

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MAHFUZ AHMED.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CAROL ANN AHMED in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CAROL ANN AHMED be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without

obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 09/07/23 at 1:30PM in Dept. CM06 located at 3390 HARBOR BLVD., COSTA MESA, CA 92626

NOTICE IN PROBATE CASES

The court is providing the convenience to appear for hearing by video using the court’s designated video platform. This is a no cost service to the public. Go to the Court’s website at The Superior Court of California - County of Orange (occourts.org) to appear remotely for Probate hearings and for remote hearing instructions. If you have difficulty connecting or are unable to connect to your remote hearing, call 657-622-8278 for assistance. If you prefer to appear in-person, you can appear in the department on the day/time set for your hearing.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as

defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

CATHERINE KIM, ESQ. - SBN 243811, ERNEST

J. KIM, ESQ. - SBN 181280, LAW OFFICES OF ERNEST KIM 17541 17TH STREET, SUITE100 TUSTIN CA 92780, Telephone (949) 975-1870

8/11, 8/18, 8/25/23

CNS-3727363#

DANA POINT TIMES

GUEST OPINION | On Life and Love After 50 by

Tom Blake

The Importance of Social Interaction for Seniors

One of the themes I often mention in my columns is the importance of social interaction for seniors.

I strongly urge seniors to get off the couch, out of the house and become involved in activities in which they will make new friends and rediscover old friends. By getting out, loneliness, which is prevalent among single seniors, will likely lessen.

And getting out of the house is imperative for senior singles who hope to meet a potential mate. And chances are, the people they meet will likely live within a reasonable distance from them, making seeing each other more convenient. Long-distance relationships for single seniors are nearly impossible to sustain.

It’s also important for seniors who aren’t single to socially interact as well. Medical studies have proven that social interaction is good for one’s health. Here are some social interactions I’ve recently experienced.

On Thursday mornings, at the Heritage Park Doris Walker lookout in Dana Point, I attend a tai chi class taught by Dana Point resident Ron Cohan. It’s

FROM

THE ARCHIVES

free and open to anybody, not just residents of Dana Point.

two employees, Teresa and Rosa, still working part-time.

body remember what I did so long ago? I can barely remember the USFL.

I said, “What did you do for the Invaders?”

ON LIFE AND LOVE

BY TOM BLAKE

At a recent session, a woman came up to me and said, “It’s nice to see you again.” She looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember from where or when.

A little embarrassed, I said, “Remind me how we know each other.”

She shared her name and said, “You introduced me about 35 years ago to a friend of yours at Tutor and Spunky’s, your Dana Point deli. He and I dated for a while.” She wouldn’t tell me his name.

I gave her my business card and said if she wanted, we could meet for coffee sometime, and she could elaborate on the man she had met. We never would have seen each other if we both weren’t socially interacting at Ron’s tai chi class.

And speaking of Tutor and Spunky’s, which is still operating under new owners at the corner of Blue Lantern and PCH, I stopped by for a sandwich last week and was pleased to see my first

Each has been there for 36 years. They were chatting with a customer named Maria. When Maria saw me, she said, “Tom, I knew you when I used to come here 30 years ago.” She proceeded to show me photos of her children and grandchildren.

Two weeks ago, a friend and I went to the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts concert venue to listen to a Motown-era band. We, along with lots of other people, were dancing among the tables and having a great time.

Another couple was seated nearby and smiled at us as we danced. As the concert was winding down, the man said, “You are Tom Blake.”

I said, “Yes.”

Then he said, “You and I worked together 40 years ago.”

“Where?” I replied.

“In Oakland. We both worked for the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League (USFL) in March and April 1983, the league’s inaugural year. You were the marketing/sales guy who got people to purchase game tickets.”

I was taken aback. How could any-

Smokey

He replied, “I was the punter on the team.”

I was dumbstruck. We shook hands. He said, “I’m Stan Talley, and this is my wife, Cynthia.” Cynthia and my friend had been chatting and already had become pals.

Turns out that Stan and Cynthia live in Niguel Shores in Dana Point, a mile from where I live in Monarch Beach. These fun encounters show what can happen when seniors include social interaction in their daily routines. You never know whom you are going to meet.

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

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com.

Smokey the cat is a born entertainer. A very playful 1-year-old, he delights in wowing visitors with his feline acrobatics. He loves any and all toys and gets along with like-minded cats. Smokey would do well in a lively household where he can frolic and play to his heart’s content.

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

Sudoku- medium- by Myles Mellor

Prospective buyers of Dana Point lots gather in 1927 when Woodruff promoted the area. The sign in the photo describes RH Dana Jr.’s reason for being here. The area is now known as Harbor Point Park, and the base to the flagpole is still visible from the trail. This photo is available for viewing and purchase at danapointhistorical.org.

BY MYLES MELLOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level:

8 9 3 29 8 4 7 5 2 4 5 6 739 8 2 8 1 9 46 8

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

DANA POINT TIMES

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

Courtesy of the Dana Point Historical Society

DOLPHIN REPORT

BY ZACH CAVANAGH DANA POINT TIMES

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

Fall Sports Start Dates on Horizon, Girls Volleyball Next Week

While the start of the football season certainly grabs public attention, the rest of the high school fall sports get started over the course of the next month in Southern California, including a start before football’s first contests.

Dana Hills football gets going on Friday, Aug. 18, at University High in Irvine, but it’s girls volleyball that actually kicks off the 2023-24 high school sports calendar, as the Dolphins host St. Margaret’s on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

The Dana Hills girls volleyball team will be quite busy in the season’s opening week, with matches on five consecu-

tive days beginning with that Tuesday home match followed by contests at Laguna Beach on Wednesday, Aug. 16; at home against Mission Viejo on Thursday, Aug. 17; and concluded by two days of tournament play at Tesoro on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18-19.

The Dolphins volleyball team opens league play at home against Aliso Niguel on Sept. 12.

The next sport that can start according to CIF-SS guidelines is the inaugural season of girls flag football on Aug. 18, but Dana Hills will line up its first team for the program’s very first game at home on Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. against El Toro. The Dolphins will also host Mater Dei the following day on Aug. 31.

The Dana Hills girls flag football team will be coached by softball coach Brandon Cosenza, and the Dolphins hosted their first summer camp this week.

Boys water polo, girls golf and girls tennis begin play in the CIF-SS on Aug. 21.

Cross country is the final fall sport to

start with a CIF-SS date of Aug. 31. The Dolphins will run on Sept. 1.

Look for the Dana Point Times fall sports preview in the coming weeks, and stay up to date all season with the latest

sports news on our social media and with our free weekly newsletter, which can be signed up for at danapointtimes. com. Just click the “Newsletters” tab in the upper left corner.

Dana Hills girls volleyball will be the first fall sport to compete in 2023, with matches on five consecutive days beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at home against St. Margaret’s.

Photo: Zach Cavanagh

DREAMS COME TRUE AT U.S. OPEN FOR SAWYER LINDBLAD

With the biggest win of her young career, Lindblad just took out North America’s most prestigious surf contest

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

The power and talent of the next generation of San Clemente surf stars was on full display at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach as Sawyer Lindblad turned a childhood dream into a reality.

In front of a crowd of thousands of stoked, sunburned surf fans, facing perennial world title contender Sally Fitzgibbons in a clash of rising star versus veteran, Lindblad put on one of the most demonstrative performances of her young career to take the win.

“Honestly, it’s been a dream of mine to win this event since I was 5 years old,” said Lindblad. “I’ve always looked up to all the girls that have done this event, and to go against Sally in the final was a dream come true.”

“And taking the win, I can’t even describe the feeling right now,” she continued. “I’m so happy. My whole family is on the beach right now, and I want to thank them for supporting me and my sponsors for coming down to support me, too.”

More than just the biggest win of her life, for Lindblad, the first-place finish moves her up four positions into third on the WSL Challenger Series leaderboard. The top five women will qualify

GROM OF THE WEEK

JACOB BROWN

BY JAKE HOWARD

Dana Point has a long, storied tradition when it comes to producing some of the most stylish surfers in Orange County, and Jacob Brown is keeping it rolling. A weapon in and out of a jersey, he’s an integral player in the next generation of talent percolating up from Salt Creek. A dynamic regular-footer with plenty of whip in his turns, Brown’s surfing is technically on point while also being loose, fluid and creative.

Spending the last year competing among the USA Surfing ranks, as well as representing Dana Hills High in the water, Brown’s surfing has gotten consider-

for the prestigious Championship Tour at season’s end.

With the U.S. Open in the books, there are now only two more events to go. More than 2,000 points ahead of the surfer in fourth place, Lindblad is in a great spot at the moment, and she looks to be able to ride this momentum to the end.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side of the draw, San Clemente’s Crosby Colapinto ripped his way to a runner-up finish. Like Lindblad, it’s the best result of his career to date.

High-flying surfer from Hawaii Eli Hanneman came out firing in the final, forcing Colapinto to play the comeback game. Though never quite recovering from Hanneman’s onslaught, Colapinto still had a lot of which to be proud.

“Crosby is so good on the face, he’s the best of our generation for on-theface surfing,” Hanneman said afterward. “I went out thinking I have to try airs, because that’s what I do. I felt a little bit of wind coming and knew it was my time. I just had to stay calm and stay ready.”

Again, like Lindblad, Colapinto now sits third on the Challenger Series. At season’s end, the top 10 men will qualify for the Challenger Series. As reported here last week, San Clemente’s Cole

Houshmand sits atop the Challenger Series ratings and has already clinched his spot on the 2024 Championship Tour. For his effort in Huntington, Hanneman now moves up an eye-popping 24 spots and sits just below Colapinto in fourth. Should Colapinto go on to qualify, he would join his brother, Griffin Colapinto, who’s already on tour (and clinched spots in the 2023 WSL Finals at Lowers and the 2024 Olympics in Paris).

With two more Challenger Series events to go, Kade Matson and Jett Schilling also remain in the qualification conversation. Matson’s right on the cutline at 10th, while Schilling is just below him at 11th. Out of the 15 qualification spots available to the men and the women on the Challenger Series, there’s potential that five of them could go to

surfers from San Clemente.

There is no surf town on the planet right now with that much talent.

Up next, the Challenger Series will head to Portugal for the EDP Vissla Pro Ericeira at the start of October, followed by the Corona Saquarema Pro in Brazil.

Huge congratulations to Lindblad on the win and Colapinto on the second-place finish. We can’t wait to see you finish the year with a bang.

Jake Howard is a 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 several publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. DP

SURF FORECAST

ably stronger over the past year, adding some serious power to his rail game.

Working with Dana Point surf coach guru Lucas Taub to continue his progression, Brown’s seemingly getting better with every session.

Brown has also been enjoying the support of several top-flight surf brands, including IPD, a burgeoning company out of the Newport Beach area; the locally based Rumaner Surfboards; and the oh-so-comfortable Xcel wetsuits.

Brown also has a “rad” deal going with Beech Brand towels. Collaborating on an eye-catching towel design, some of Brown’s artwork is featured on the towel,

and, better yet, you can pick one up for yourself at beechtowel.com/jake-brown. His design is called “Strand.”

If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com. DP

Water Temperature: 70-71 Degrees

Water Visibility: 8-10’

Outlook: Fresh SW swell joins in Friday, along with some NW swell, maintaining thigh to stomach high surf, (2-3’+), at good exposures.  Those heights hold through the weekend as the swell mix continues. Light/variable winds Friday morning, rise to  low-end moderate onshores for the afternoon. Mainly onshores on Saturday, lightest in the morning. Back to a light/variable morning Sunday, followed by a light+ afternoon sea breeze.

Jacob Brown. Photo: Courtesy of beechtowel.

San Clemente’s Sawyer Lindblad wins the U.S. Open of Surfing over the weekend in Huntington Beach. On the men’s side, Crosby Colapinto finished runner-up. The biggest results of both surfers’ respective careers, they are now both well-positioned to qualify for the 2024 WSL Championship Tour. Photo: Courtesy of WSL

THE COACH HOUSE

TICKETS

8/11