August 18, 2023

Standing on top of her own work, artist Mia Tavonatti celebrates the installation of

wave mosaic on the Lantern Bay Park stairs

Photo: Alan Gibby

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TOP NEWS DANA POINT SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

City Unveils Mosaic

Mural on Lantern Bay Stairs

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

On the corner of Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive, a colorful crashing wave mosaic adorns the face of the 118 steps descending from Lantern Bay Park—a project six years in the making

Approximately 364 feet of mosaic tile were installed on the stairs to create the cresting wave design, which took roughly 10 months to create and close to three weeks to install.

Mayor Mike Frost noted during a celebration, officially opening the stairs to the public on Wednesday, Aug. 16, that the mosaic is “a transformative project.”

“I’m lucky as a councilmember and a mayor to be able to stand up here and open these stairs up,” Frost said.

The mosaic, dubbed “Stairwave,” had been in the works since 2017, when the city’s now-disbanded Arts and Culture Commission developed an Arts in Parks Master Plan. The commission determined that Lantern Bay Park would be an ideal

location for a public art piece.

Mosaic artist Mia Tavonatti, who previously completed “The Endless Summer” mosaic featured in Watermen’s Plaza, was chosen by the commission to create the one for Lantern Bay Park.

When presenting a design for the project, Tavonatti noted that she wanted the design to contrast the harsh lines of the stairway. Contrasting the long vertical line of the stairway and the 118 horizontal steps, Tavonatti decided right away that she wanted to design something organic and diagonal.

“I’m known for my water, my light and my motion, and I wanted to create some -

thing three-dimensional that actually defied the steps and that you almost forget the steps are there,” Tavonatti said.

When Tavonatti started on the project, she painted a small, long-wave design that she enlarged to work off. She broke the entire mural down into 13-foot-by-8-foot sections or 10 steps.

Though Tavonatti is known for her intricate stained-glass mosaics, the medium of ceramics was one she had never worked in before.

“So, I had to teach myself how to do ceramics for this project, because it needed to be more durable than stained-glass mosaics,” Tavonatti said.

Throughout the project, Tavonatti brought in artists to help along the way, including artists in residency from Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Together, Tavonatti and participating artists crafted and glazed ceramic tiles, experimenting along the way. Because the medium was new to Tavonatti, she noted a lot of the unique tiles were “just happy accidents.”

The team of artists then pieced together sections of the mosaic and set it over the enlarged design. The individual steps were later cut with a water jet from the larger sections.

While installing the mosaic onto the face of the steps, Tavonatti enlisted the help of passersby.

“The installation was 3½ weeks,” Tavonatti said. “People just showed up, like people would walk by and go, ‘Oh, my God, that’s so amazing’… and then I’m like, ‘So you want to work?’”

“There’s somewhere between 7,000 to 8,000 hours of work in this one,” Tavonatti continued. “I had no idea what I was walking into on this project, but I’m really happy to have been chosen for it.”

In a media release, Tavonatti added that over the year that she spent working on “Stairwave,” she was “overwhelmed by the dedication of my team and all the local volunteers who showed up to help.”

“I am amazed by how the work turned out and the community’s positive reception to it,” Tavonatti said. “The city workers and tile contractor were endlessly supportive and did everything in their power to make this installation a success, which, I am happy to say, was in all ways what I hoped for.”

(From right) Artist Mia Tavonatti works with one of her artists in residency to piece together and set her mosaic on Feb. 17. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

The City of Dana Point and members of the artist community including artist Mia Tavonatti gathered to celebrate the installation of a wave mosaic on the steps of the Lantern Bay Park stairs on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Photo: Breeana Greenberg

(From right) Artists Mia Tavonatti and Emily Rodriguez install a slab of a mosaic onto the face of the steps at Lantern Bay Park on July 31. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

(From left) Artists Emily Rodriguez and Mia Tavonatti take a break from installing slabs of a mosaic onto the face of the steps at Lantern Bay Park to pose for a quick photo on July 31. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

Palisades Elementary Celebrates Connection, Community on First Day of School

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Families gathered at Palisades Elementary to see their children off for their first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 15, and were welcomed by teachers and front office staff, including Principal Rebecca Bailey.

Before the start of the 2023-24 school year, the elementary school hosted its inaugural Welcome Back WAVES barbecue to ensure parents are well-informed ahead of the school year.

The barbecue offered an opportunity for families to reconnect, meet new families and learn more about Palisades’ vision for the new school year, Bailey said.

“I’d say well over 300 people attended, and it was the first time Palisades had ever done anything like that,” Bailey said. “Parents were able to get a lot of information about Chromebooks and PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) and all of those different things and visit different tables, and it was just really good and then connect with each other.”

Bailey added that the barbecue set the tone for the school year.

“We really want to focus on develop -

ing connection, community and then celebrating the wonderful things that are going on here,” Bailey said. “So, that’s our kind of motto this year: connection, community and celebration.”

This year, Palisades is focusing its attention on improving attendance through its new “You Belong Here” campaign.

“It’s kind of a ‘so glad you’re here’ type thing,” Bailey said. “We really want to help our families get here regularly and on time, because when they don’t, what we’re seeing is that it really impacts students academically.”

“So, there are gaps in learning and socially, emotionally,” Bailey continued. “They’re kind of outside the loop with their friend group. Anxiety is on the rise anyway in our kids, and not being here consistently and on time, I think, only exacerbates that.”

Bailey added that this year, the school is also working to promote community among the kids and families.

“The pandemic was hard on kids, and they need to learn to be kind to each other again and having that time outside of school and away from rou -

tine and expectations combined with all of the outside influences has made it really hard on kids,” Bailey said.

Compared to last year, however, Bailey noted that she thought the school was going to “be way ahead of our start last year.”

“The whole school experience is kind of back to normal, and all it is really now is just kind of catching kids up,” Bailey added. “We did a lot of that last year, and our scores looked great. As a matter of fact, we at Palisades didn’t really experience that much learning loss.”

Brad Shearer, assistant superintendent of School Leadership and Instruction for Elementary, noted that the school district has ensured that there’s dedicated time for intervention in its schedules to ensure that students receive all the help they need.

“We saw good results on our test scores this last year, especially among our socioeconomically disadvantaged kids; we actually saw a 10% increase in how they did compared to overall and compared to how the others did,” Shearer said. “So, it was really nice to get some good data.”

Shearer added that through CUSD Cares, which provides services for students who require more care and attention, including sensory rooms and counseling, the school district is able

to focus on the social and emotional impact of the pandemic.

“We have a very big emphasis this year on CUSD Cares and really focusing on student well-being,” Shearer said. “There’s still that reality that their worlds were turned upside down, and so just making sure people are taking care of themselves, we’re asking questions and making sure people are feeling good.”

“I think this is going to be a great year,” Shearer continued. “We’ve got a great team of teachers, principals, support staff. It feels like this is one of the most normal years we’ve had in a while.”

Bailey added that this year, the school was “leaps and bounds ahead” in terms of academic, social and emotional learning.

This was Bailey’s first day of school at Palisades after starting as principal in October 2022. After having the summer to prepare for the coming school year, Bailey noted she’s looking forward to spending time in the classrooms and getting to know the students.

“It’s the best part of the position, for sure,” Bailey said. “Last year, I started in October, and we hit the ground running. So, I think this year will be a little bit of a change from that, and I’m excited about that.”

“We’re going to have a fabulous year,” Bailey continued, “and we’re looking forward to all of the wonderful things that we can bring.”

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, AUG. 19

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.

TUESDAY, AUG. 22

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.

Palisades Elementary School students take first-day-of-school pictures as they walk onto campus on Tuesday, Aug. 15, to begin the 2023-24 school year.

Photo: Breeana Greenberg

Bonjour Café Owners Retire, Longtime Server Takes Over the Business

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

When Pascal LeVettet moved from Paris, France, to California in 1984, there were no longer cafés and bistros on every corner.

“Usually, they cater to the locals, people living in the next couple of blocks, and that’s the go-to place that they feel is affordable; people know them, they know the staff, they feel really comfortable,” Pascal said.

Looking to fill that niche, Pascal, who had 17 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, opened Bonjour Café in the heart of Dana Point in 1992.

“So, that’s what the original idea was, and I tried to develop that in Dana Point,” Pascal said.

The restaurant had previously served as a deli. When Pascal saw the vacant space, he said he felt lucky to find a spot in the middle of town.

“I was excited to find a space in Dana Point, close to the water, good demography; I felt there was good potential,”

Pascal said. “In 1992, economy being bad, the street not looking appealing like it is today, it was a fast street.”

Since traffic moved through Del Prado much quicker before it became a two-way street, Pascal said it took a long time before Bonjour Café was noticed. But once locals found the café, they were hooked.

“Little by little, people were finding this place, like their home away from home, and they were just excited to find that little spot where we knew them and they knew us,” Pascal said. “And we were very consistent with the staff, consistent with our menu, and that’s mostly what people look for when they go to a restaurant.”

Pascal added that the restaurant was geared primarily toward locals rather than tourists, ensuring a steady flow of customers throughout the year.

As the street has been developed, Pas-

cal noted that it’s been nice to “see more life in town and more people walking the street up and down, just a better feel than what it used to be.”

When Pascal and his wife, Sandy LeVettet, Bonjour Café co-owner, felt ready to retire, they made longtime server Christian Gutierrez an offer to take over the restaurant.

“A lot of the customers, they know him, which makes us happy to know that those special customers, when they come in, at least they still have a familiar face,” Sandy said. “So that helps us to kind of move on.”

Pascal added that it was a win-win situation, as Gutierrez knows the heart of Bonjour Café after working as a server there for 12 years.

Though Gutierrez does not have management experience, Pascal noted that “somebody with management experience coming from the outside will not have the feeling that they should have about the ambience, recognizing people and being recognized. I think it’s easier for the customers, too.”

Pascal’s last day as the owner of Bonjour Café was July 23.

“It was kind of emotional, a little bit, especially since Sundays are our busiest days; we saw so many regulars that I was a little bit emotional,” Pascal said. “We knew the day would come, and we were happy that the day would come, because we’re moving on to a new life where we have time.”

Pascal added that he wanted to thank his customers who kept returning to the

Coastal Commission Denies Request to Revoke City’s Vacation Rental Program

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) voted unanimously on Aug. 10 to deny two Dana Point residents’ request for the city’s vacation rental program to be revoked.

The revocation request, brought by residents Toni Nelson and Roger Malcolm, sought to dissolve the city’s shortterm rental (STR) program, which the CCC had approved back in November 2022, based on allegations that the city

provided misleading data for the state agency’s approval.

The city previously stated that it did not track which homeowners associations permit or ban vacation rentals in their CC&Rs and thus did not have upto-date data to report to the commission ahead of hearings held in August and November of 2022.

As it refined its methodology and analysis, the city provided the commis-

café year after year.

“We have had people coming here since Day 1; we’ve had some coming for the past 10 years, but like three times a week,” Pascal said. “A lot of our customers can go and eat anywhere, they can afford any place, and when you see them coming back to you week after week after week, it’s our greatest satisfaction, and we want to thank them.”

After serving customers on Del Prado for more than 30 years, Pascal said he hoped he’s remembered as having created a place for locals to call home.

“Without being pretentious, I will say that I hope we made a little difference in terms of bringing something that was not there and people needed, people were looking for,” Pascal said. “To find this, they had to drive to Newport, Laguna, San Clemente. So, we hope that we filled the niche.”

“We have met so many friends through our business, and that is one of the biggest satisfactions besides pleasing people

sion with updated information on the number of HOAs within the coastal zone and housing units within HOAs.

CCC staff said discrepancies in the city data “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.”

The 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 is no cap on primary or homestay short-term rentals.

The city also approved a separate program for vacation rentals outside of

with making a good meal, but it’s also to see those familiar faces becoming part of your family; that’s what we’ll miss the most,” Pascal continued.

Though the LeVettets do not have any concrete plans for retirement, the couple looks forward to slowing down, Pascal said.

“People have asked us, ‘Oh, are you moving back to France?’ But we’re not,” Pascal said. “We will visit, but we have made a home here and family and friends. It’s a great area to be at, so we are happy to stay here.”

Pascal added that he’s made himself available to Gutierrez to help facilitate the transition process as the former server takes on management of the restaurant.

“He knows he can call anytime,” Pascal said. “We wish him good luck.”

the coastal zone.

The CCC considered the revocation request on three factors: Did the city include “inaccurate, erroneous, or incomplete information?”; “Was the inclusion intentional?”; and would the commission have acted differently had it received accurate information?

Staff stated during the presentation that the city did provide the commission with inaccurate information but stated that the discrepancies represent improved research and analysis methodologies.

Coastal Program Analyst Shahar Amitay also noted that the commission

(From left) Bonjour Café co-owners Sandy and Pascal LeVettet have handed over ownership of the popular eatery to longtime server Christian Gutierrez. July 23 was the couple’s last day as owners of the café, which first opened in 1992. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

(Cont. from page 5)

“knew the city’s STR program would facilitate the legalization of HOA bans on STRs via the CDP (Coastal Development) process and had an understanding that many but not all HOAs would elect to ban STRs, which would further concentrate STRs in non-HOA areas of the city’s coastal zone.”

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.

The city is also required to return to the commission in 2025 and 2028 with evaluations of the program to address potential impacts it may have on “public access, recreation, housing and/or community character.”

If the commission had revoked the vacation rental program, Amitay explained that it would result in the “unregulated establishment of shortterm rentals in the coastal zone of Dana Point.”

City Planner John Ciampa spoke on behalf of the city, stating that it “has worked diligently and openly for over 16 years and finally obtained approval of the program back on November 16 of 2022.”

Echoing the commission staff’s

statement, Ciampa noted there would be no rules or regulations on STRs in place if the revocation were granted, resulting in “significant impacts to the community character, housing and public access.”

Ciampa said the city is committed to the Coastal Commission’s conditions to return with evaluations of the program and is tracking vacation rental data not just in the coastal zone but citywide “to ensure that we’re maintaining public access while addressing community character.”

The progress of the vacation rental program will also be evaluated this winter, Ciampa added.

“Right now, we’re just rolling out the program, so it’s really too early to provide any updates on how it’s evolving, and that’s why the City Council established to see how the program is going, this fall or winter,” Ciampa said.

In her argument to the commission, Nelson stated that the vacation rental

program “was granted based on grossly incorrect and misrepresented data. There is no way that this was a mistake; there is no way that they used due diligence in creating these numbers.”

Nelson argued that there was no need to wait three years to see the impacts of the vacation rental program to see that there will be concentrations of STRs outside of HOAs.

Arguing against the point that revocation would result in a proliferation of STRs, Nelson said she believed a revocation would incentivize the city to return with an amended vacation rental program that mitigates saturation.

Becca Ayala of Better Neighbors Los Angeles requested the commission deny the revocation “due to the deregulation that may occur should the CDP be revoked.”

“We also believe today’s hearing provides the commission with a unique opportunity to encourage the City of Dana Point to voluntarily take actions to further preserve access to the coast and housing,” Ayala said.

Staff noted that it intended to talk to the city about some of the ideas brought forward by Better Neighbors Los Angeles to improve data collection and mitigate the negative impacts of vacation rentals.

Commissioner Mike Wilson agreed with staff that the revocation did not meet the requirements, but noted he agreed with residents’ concerns.

“I do believe this issue needs to be brought back,” Wilson said. “We have seen a pattern with relation to our approvals of these STRs in the past.”

Wilson noted that the commission saw a similar disproportionate impact on select neighborhoods when the City

of Newport Beach enacted a ban on vacation rentals in single-family zones.

“The STR ordinances and legislation is ongoing,” Wilson said. “What we’re seeing is de facto land use change without CEQA from residential zoning to commercial activities within residential areas in a way that we just would never do, and we’re just kind of crab-walking our way into it.”

Commissioner Paloma Aguirre noted that the commission needs to hold a broader conversation on housing in general.

Commission Chair Donne Brownsey agreed, noting that “the focus for the commission on housing issues has just exploded in terms of the amount of time we’re really spending on housing policy and housing decisions.”

Commissioner Justin Cummings agreed that the commission needs to discuss vacation rentals’ impact on communities and housing stock.

Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge said these are issues that the commission’s new housing committee is looking into.

In an official statement following the denial of the revocation request, the city said it “developed and approved its short-term rental program after years of proactive public outreach and hearings.”

“Monitoring and frequent program updates are in place to ensure any issues that arise can be identified and addressed,” the city stated. “The City of Dana Point appreciates the Coastal Commission’s recognition of this effort in its decision to let implementation of the program continue.”

The California Coastal Commission on Aug. 10 denied two Dana Point residents’ request for the state agency to revoke the city’s vacation rental program.

Photo: Breeana Greenberg

GUEST OPINION | Food for Thought by Gina Cousineau

Desperately Seeking Weight Loss

Provocative title for a provocative subject.

No doubt that your eyes caught this title, and your brain forced you to continue reading. As we peruse this topic, I tease next month’s column, which will be titled “Weight Loss Drugs: Friend or Foe.”

There is not a day that goes by that I am not touched by someone who is desperate to lose weight. Along with that desire come lots of negative emotions like shame, guilt, hopelessness, and despair, but ranking the highest on the list is “fear of failure.”

Most people who seek my advice, or simply want to know my thoughts on the subject, tell me, “I know what to do to lose weight” and “I’ve lost the weight before.” This goes along with all the other “I knows” that come into the nutrition space, including “I know carbs are bad,”“I eat really healthy/clean,” and “I just need to exercise more.”

I am grateful for my science- and evidence-based nutrition education and more than 30 years as a professional in the health industry. Most importantly, I’m grateful for my 60 years of life experiences.

Those experiences have allowed me to help individuals of all ages with most any ailment find peace and serenity in these chaotic times we live in by simply committing to a healthy eating pattern.

(Notice I didn’t say “diet.”)

This, along with a game plan for building restorative habits each day, will allow you the ability to finally take control of

your life, increasing years of longevity and decreasing years of disability.

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 danapointtimes.com

The year 1969 was a magical time for sports in New York City. The New York Knicks and New York Jets were highly successful, with the Knicks winning NBA titles in 1970 and 1973 and the Jets winning the Super Bowl in 1969. However, it was the New York Mets that overcame 100-1 odds and a 9½-game deficit in mid-August to advance to the playoffs and, ultimately, win the 1969

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

BY GINA COUSINEAU

This sounds great, right? Well, then, why is no one knocking down my door to get in when I am promising the panacea for all that ails you is within your reach? It comes down to that “fear of failure” and the “all or nothing” mindset. So instead of seeking perfection, we seek progress. Taking guidance from Elizabeth Lombardo Ph.D., author of Better Than Perfect; she suggests the following five strategies:

1. FOCUS ON YOUR WHY. Frequently, when people are making a change, they focus on what they don’t like about it. The secret, however, is to focus on why you want to make that change. What are the benefits of making this change?

2. IT’S NOT FAILURE; IT’S DATA. People often give up on a resolution or change when they revert to their old ways. You can learn from what didn’t work to make it work.

3. TAKE—AND CELEBRATE—EVEN SMALL STEPS. Celebrate each step in the right direction.

4. SCHEDULE IT. Sure, it sounds great to have a goal to reach, but how can you actually do it? The key is to figure out actionable steps and then schedule them.

5. GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. Choose someone to whom you will be accountable— whether it’s your partner, a friend, or a coach. Sure, you may want to make the change, but when we are accountable to someone else, we are more likely to stick with that new behavior.

This month, I have some “Fabulous Freebies” that will help you in making lifelong life-extending change. This week, we start our “21-day Lifestyle Shift with Mama G,” where you will receive three weekly emails with links to recorded videos with cooking and lifestyle tips.

Then, starting on Aug. 24, join the YMCA’s “Embrace Healthy Eating Patterns,” a five-part seminar series. To register, head to mamagslifestyle.com. DP

Gina Cousineau, aka Mama G, is your local nutrition expert, chef, and fitness professional, with her BS in Nutrition and MS in functional and integrative nutrition. She uses a food-as-medicine approach for weight loss to health gain, and everything in between. Follow her on social media @ mamagslifestyle, and check out her website mamagslifestyle.com to learn more about her programs and freebies offered throughout the year.

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Dana Point Times, Vol. 16 Issue 33. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Times Media Group, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com).

Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives.

World Series.

Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

BOOK

TALK BY DAN DE NEVE

Wayne Coffey recounts this memorable team and its season in his book, They Said It Couldn’t Be Done: The ’69 Mets, New York City, and the Most Astounding Season in Baseball History.

For baseball fans, this is a great recounting of that year in which men first landed on the moon and hundreds of thousands flocked to a dairy farm in upstate New York for Woodstock. The Miracle Mets were managed by former Brooklyn Dodger Gil Hodges. Tom Seaver, aptly nicknamed, and

FOLLOW DANA POINT TIMES FACEBOOK.COM/DANAPOINTTIMES • INSTAGRAM@DANAPOINTTIMES TWITTER.COM/DANAPOINTTIMES • LINKEDIN TIMES MEDIA GROUP (Cont. on page 10)

‘THEY SAID IT COULDN’T BE DONE: THE ’69 METS, NEW YORK CITY, AND THE MOST ASTOUNDING SEASON IN BASEBALL HISTORY’

GUEST OPINION | Book Talk by Dan De Neve

(Cont. from page 7)

still considered, “The Franchise,” was the leader of the team and anchored the pitching staff.

Coffey, however, reminds us that a cast of unlikely heroes named Donn Clendenon, Ron Swoboda, J.C. Martin, and Al Weis, as well as several others, also played pivotal and very timely roles in the Mets’ first championship.

It would be 17 years before the second title. To win that first title, Coffey reminds us that the Mets had to overcome the Chicago Cubs, who were having their own great season, to win the National League East title.

We are reminded that the Mets won a phenomenal 38 of their final 49 games, a .776 winning percentage, to outlast the Cubs. The Mets then defeated future home run king Hank Aaron and the Atlanta Braves in three games in the bestof-5 NL Championship Series to win the National League pennant.

Finally, after losing the first game, the Mets won four straight to upend the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles and win the World Series. It was an even sweeter win, as the Mets won the deciding game at home at Shea Stadium.

Coffey does an outstanding job of weaving together the day-to-day events of the baseball season, the players’ stories, colorful and hilarious anecdotes that

Mets fans can truly appreciate, and the major events of the year.

His writing is easy and takes the reader back to that final year of the 1960s. Rather than getting bogged down with stats, Coffey gives the reader just enough to add to the story. For baseball fans, especially Mets fans, this is a great read.

As a Mets fan myself, I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

For those who remember that year, you won’t regret reading this book. For the rest of us, it will take us back in time to a magical year. This book is one of the best available about the Mets’ 1969 season.

They Said it Couldn’t Be Done is available at the library to check out.

The Dana Point Library hosts two book groups each month. Books for each group are available for check-out at the library. For more information, please call 949.496.5517. DP

Dan De Neve is a longtime employee of the Orange County Public Library. He currently works at the Dana Point Library as the Adult Services Librarian. He is an avid reader of history, biographies and sports.

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.

Letter to The Editor

LAHAINA CATASTROPHE A LESSON FOR DANA POINT

LEN & MARILYN GARDNER, Dana Point

Wake up, Dana Point—we could be the next Lahaina.

The horrific firestorm that decimated Lahaina was driven by high winds, but the wind didn’t spark the blaze. According to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain, as well as several reputable news sources, it appears that there were multiple ignitions from downed power lines.

The lesson of the Lahaina catastrophe is clear. “The catalyst appears to be a very familiar story from California … There are rumors that very strong winds blew power lines down or blew branches into the power lines, which ignited the brush; we’ve seen that a lot of that in California,” Swain said in his Aug. 9 weather blog.

We now live in a world where none of us can afford to ignore the erratic nature of climate change. Lahaina and its downed power lines serve as a graphic warning to us across the Pacific—that this type of tragedy can happen here in Dana Point.

Whether driven by the winds of a

freak offshore hurricane, or by the strong, dry winds of a Santa Ana, the threat of a scenario such as the one on Maui is inescapable.

It is good that groups such as the Poles and Lines Coalition (P.A.L.) have made our citizenry aware, and that the City of Dana Point commissioned a study of overhead lines in our city and issued a report about it last November, and also recently authorized the undergrounding of utilities on one street: Stonehill Drive. While this is good, it is not enough.

It’s the public utilities that have the authority, the funds, and bear the responsibility to change the dangerous dynamic of overhead utilities and climate change.

They must act now. Lives are at stake, whole towns are at stake, and their own corporate survival is at stake when justice prevails in the halls of bankruptcy court.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

DANA POINT TIMES

FRIDAY | 18

COFFEE CONCERTS WITH HIGH TIDE COFFEE

10-11 a.m. In partnership with High Tide Coffee, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch an acoustic performance with local musicians at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. This week, Kim Johnson will perform, in addition to an appearance from new executive directors Jacqui Groseth and Kylie Travis. The event is free with general admission. RSVP is optional but appreciated. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS

‘THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE

SHOW’

7:30 p.m. Enjoy the Cabrillo Playhouse’s performance of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture 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 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. Jazz group Spyro Gyra will perform. Tickets are $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

SATURDAY | 19

ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

9 a.m. The San Clemente Art Associa-

SUNDAY | 20: OCEAN INSTITUTE FOUNDERS DAY

10 a.m.-7 p.m. In celebration of Stan Cummings, the Ocean Institute’s founder, it is excited to open its doors and welcome everyone to a day of live music, food, drinks, ocean education, and animal encounters. There will also be opportunities to learn and sign up for all of Ocean Institute’s future events and programs. Some of the special Founders Day experiences include the Touch Tanks staying open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., a school fish feeding and an animal encounter. The event is free. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

tion presents the 62nd annual version of this pop-up arts and crafts event. The lawn of the Community Center on Avenida Del Mar will feature fine arts and handmade goods, vendors, a food truck, a kids’ craft area and live music. San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente. 949.492.7175. paintsanclemente.com.

GEOLOGY HIKE AT SAN CLEMENTE STATE BEACH

9-11 a.m. Join a California State Parks naturalist for this 1- to 2-mile geology hike. Meet at the Visitor Center at the San Clemente State Beach. Day-use fees apply. Bring water, sunscreen and hiking shoes. San Clemente State Beach, 225 W. Calafia Avenue, San Clemente. heather.rice@parks.ca.gov.

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.

DOG DENTAL CLEANING

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Qualified Pet Dental is offering non-anesthetic teeth cleaning for dogs and cats, providing them with fresh breath and clean teeth in less than an hour. A veterinary screening/ exam is required. Low-cost vaccinations, flea protections, allergy solutions and veterinary wellness services will also be

offered. Make an appointment at qualifiedpetdental.com. The Zuri Pet Spa & Resort, 32423 Calle Perfecto, San Juan Capistrano. 949.429.7222.

ANNUAL ‘CAMINOVATIONS’ AWARDS

6 p.m. Celebrate the achievements of the Camino Real Playhouse actors, directors, production staff and crews. This formal event will include a red carpet, glitz, glam and a great show. Make your grand entrance at 6 p.m., with the show scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. Admission for nominees and presenters is $20. Join the Camino Real Playhouse for the after-party. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.org.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux will perform. Tickets are $49.50. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

MONDAY | 21

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 hourlong 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 | 22

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 | 23

MARINERS 936 YOUTH SAILING OPEN HOUSE

6:30-8 p.m. The Mariner 936 Sea Scouts, a coed group of youths ages 12-18, will host a one-hour info night to share what the sailing program is about. The open house will feature a presentation from existing mariners and a tour of its fleet of more than 30 vessels. Dana Point Harbor, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point. info@mariners936.com. mariners936.com.

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.

THURSDAY | 24

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. U2 Tribute band U2Xperience will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

Editor’s Pick

Photo: Courtesy of Ocean Institute

‘Oppenheimer’

BY MEGAN BIANCO

Ten days after Christopher McQuarrie’s Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning, Part 1 and on the same weekend as Greta Gerwig’s Barbie , Christopher Nolan’s WWII drama Oppenheimer hit theaters.

People were expecting the historical piece to do well. After all, Nolan has a dedicated following since his Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012) and other hits including Memento (2000), The Prestige (2006) and Inception (2010).

War-themed features usually do well with older audiences, and Nolan also has the distinction of filling up his casts with superstars. What a lot of people—even box-office experts—didn’t see coming was Oppenheimer making $175 million during its opening, let alone possibly becoming the filmmaker’s biggest box office performance.

You could be thinking, this is the power of the “Barbenheimer” meme, which it is to an extent. But I think people also got the best of counterprogramming.

Oppenheimer is, of course, J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), physi -

cist and inventor of the atomic bomb.

Throughout the epic, three-hour runtime, we see JRO’s rise from physics student, to leading The Manhattan Project from 1940 to 1945 alongside Gen. Leslie Groves (Matt Damon), to various court hearings in 1954-59 involving U.S. Atomic Energy Senior Member Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey, Jr.).

During all this, Robert is also dodging accusations of communism via affiliations, and struggles with his marriage to wife Kitty (Emily Blunt) and infrequent love affair with Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh).

Nolan takes double duty on Oppenheimer as screenwriter and director, while Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography and Jennifer Lame’s editing effectively add to the wondrous spectacle on screen.

Visually, Oppenheimer delivers, because direction, atmosphere and aesthetic are Nolan’s strengths. Murphy and Damon are fine leading the story; Downey, in particular, gives us a fine post- Iron Man performance; and the all-star cast is well-utilized as a whole.

To fully appreciate the huge explosions and use of black-and-white and color cinematography, the giant screen experience at the IMAX might be

worth it.

Two weaknesses of the period drama are my general strife with Nolan: stilted dialogue and blatant expository monologues. They’re not a complete detriment to the film’s quality, but they are what they are. But the acting and direction mainly make up for the script’s faults.

Most importantly, who was expecting summer movies to skyrocket this late into the season after such an underwhelming start?

Between action/adventure with M:I7 , comedy with Barbie and drama with Oppenheimer , these are the kind of options you want to see at the theaters for vacation or just a weekend. DP

Bruce Leonard Beal

February 12, 1948 - June 28, 2023

Beloved husband, father, brother, and uncle, Bruce Leonard Beal passed away June 28, 2023, in Dana Point, CA. He was born in Geneva, IL to Leonard and Dorothy (DeGroff) Beal on February 12, 1948.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Marlene (Snyder) Beal; daughter, Michelle Beal; stepdaughters, Kristina Poyner, Dawn Friedland; sisters, Marsha (Beal) Stiner, Jacolyn (Beal) Reeves; and 3 nephews; 2 nieces.

A lover of sailing, biking, and an extensive traveler, Bruce’s favorite vacation spot was the world! His favorite color, gold, symbolized his love for fine things in life, his zest for living, and his undying spirit to conquer. Described by those who knew him as witty, political, intelligent, humorous, adventurous, and a born leader, he radiated positivity and charisma, invariably leaving behind a rich legacy that touched many lives around the world. Some of his greatest achievements included: most importantly – Fatherhood; professionally, he was a renowned domestic and international business lawyer, proficiently handling intricate cases across countries, including Saudi Arabia,

Korea, and Thailand; American Jurisprudence Awards for constitutional law and real estate law; legal writing assistant of Leonard D. DuBoff, Esq., most proficient legal writer for art in US, though blind; argued cases before the Oregon Appellate and Supreme Courts; certificate of 9KYU International Karate Association; scuba diver with dozens of dives in the pristine Red Sea; sailor of his F31 Trimaran and Fountaine Pajot catamaran; Citizen of the Year 2016 in Dana Point, CA; judge advocate of Dana Point Yacht Club for 12 years; web maker of several websites, including the world’s first online mediation service, Internet Neutral; left an indelible mark through his commendable contributions to the Dana Point Historical Society and the surfing history of Dana Point, CA. His dedication, hard work, and commitment to his profession and community are testimonies of a life well-lived.

Bruce Beal will be deeply missed by all who knew him and benefited from his wisdom, leadership, and immense love for life. Bruce has requested to be buried at sea with his wife Marlene. Upon her passing, a date will be set for the service.

Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

GUEST OPINION | Life’s a Beach by Shelley Murphy

BACK TO SCHOOL, IN 5 STAGES

It’s that time of year again, when the lazy days of summer give way to busy back-toschool schedules.

I’m always a bit nostalgic this time of year. As fall approaches, I often remember my years spent tethered to the school year calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar.

I enjoyed back-to-school shopping; well, shopping in general. This month, I miss buying brand-new backpacks, yellow pencils and pink erasers.

But I don’t miss wrangling rambunctious boys in the heat of summer to search for fall clothes.

I do miss the ritual of back-to-school events and the excitement and promise a new school year brings.

But I don’t miss packing paper bag lunches, fighting morning alarm clocks, struggling with homework assignments, and battling over bedtime curfews.

Overall, I’m grateful to be on the other side of the great back-to-school divide.

Maybe it is my view from the other side, but it dawned on me that saying goodbye to summer sometimes feels a little like a loss.

I remember, years ago, taking my first college psychology class and learning about Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss-Amer-

ican psychiatrist, who established the five stages of grief.

Kubler-Ross introduced the world to the five stages of grief, also known as the Kubler-Ross model, in her 1969 best-selling book On Death and Dying

She identified five emotional stages experienced after the loss of a loved one: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Obviously, going back to school is not comparable to losing a loved one, but students and parents grieving the end of summer may find they experience feelings of melancholy.

The five stages of grief might just explain the phases that parents and students experience as they prepare to go back to school this week.

DENIAL

Students can’t believe summer is ending, and they deny it’s time to focus on reading, writing and arithmetic instead of the sun, sand and beach.

Parents share a similar mindset and cling to their carefree calendars and flexible schedules.

ANGER

The thought of returning to school sinks

DANA POINT TIMES

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Havarti

es and avalanche of activities.

Parents mourn leaving behind the idle days of summer and dread the impending control that the school calendar commands. They also brood about the burden on their bank account.

LIFE’S A BEACH

BY SHELLEY MURPHY

in, and students resent the idea of classrooms and homework. They fight against the return to routine and loss of freedom.

Parents are irritated by demands for their money and time. Budgets are busted by registration fees and back-to-school supplies. They’re annoyed that their unencumbered days will soon consist of congested traffic and jammed drop-off and pick-up lines.

BARGAINING

Students hope to stop the calendar by pleading with parents to delay completing registration packets. They also promise, if given more time, they’ll finish their summer reading list.

Parents use negotiation tactics to get kids ready for the new school year. They seek compromises with kids over extracurricular activities and academic endeavors.

DEPRESSION

Students may become sullen when it finally sinks in that summer is over and the school year is starting. They become depressed when they realize they can’t stop the first day of school from coming and, along with it, the constraints of class-

FROM THE ARCHIVES

ACCEPTANCE

During the last stage of grief, students surrender to reality and prepare for the first day of school by stuffing their backpacks with new school supplies and selecting outfits to wear for their return to campus.

Parents concede to resuming the roles of chauffeur, chef, tutor, coach and medic. They realize there’s some solace in the predictability of the academic year ahead. This week is bittersweet for students as they put down the beach bag and pick up the backpack.

As students and parents say goodbye to swimsuits and suntans and hello to academics and activities, it’s important to remember one thing: It’s only 18 weeks until winter recess.

For more than 20 years, Shelley Murphy and her husband have lived in San Clemente, where she raised her two sons. She’s a freelance writer and has been a contributor to Picket Fence Media since 2006. DP

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

This 1929 photo offers a panoramic view of Dana Point with El Camino Capistrano houses and the Auditorium Building in the distance, and with the Blue Lantern Fountain Lunch, a cafe/service station, on the right. This photo is available for viewing and purchase at danapointhistorical.org.

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

Cute little Havarti has a charming personality. Four months old, she is a playful kitten who loves to explore and play with her sisters. When playtime is over, Havarti enjoys being held and doesn’t mind a nice snuggle. Come and meet Havarti, and you might just be meeting your new best friend.

If you are interested in adopting Havarti, 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.

BY MYLES MELLOR LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

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

Sudoku- medium- by Myles Mellor

2 3 87 2 1 5 1 9 3 1 9 4 32 8 9 6 97 6

‘RAMPS & REELS’ DECKS OUT DOHENY VILLAGE

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Dana Point’s inaugural “Ramps and Reels” event kicked off in Doheny Village on Friday, Aug. 11, and carried on to Saturday, Aug. 12, with skateboarding and BMX demonstrations, a public street skate course, live music and movie screenings along Domingo Avenue.

The two-day event featured live BMX and skateboarding demonstrations on a 13-foot-tall, 30-foot-wide vertical, or vert, ramp. X Games athlete Mykel Larrin and professional BMXer Manuel Gatica Leiva were among the professionals hitting the vert ramp, along with vert skaters Josh Borden, Brian “Yoda” Upapong and Ruby Lilley.

Attendees could also show off their skating skills on a street skate course, which featured ramps, rails and quarter-pipes.

Ramps & Reels also featured musical performances from Bent Duo, Swill on Friday and BloodStains and SpliffRiff on Saturday. Behind the music stage at the end of the Domingo Ave cul-de-sac, a screen was erected where the city screened Back to the Future and the skateboarding film We Are Blood

“The City was thrilled with the first-ever Ramps and Reels,” Mayor Mike Frost said in an email. “The turnout was incredible; we were very happy with the amount of local families and kids who attended.”

Marbo Productions Founder Mario Bonaventura noted the event was a good way to bring the community together and show off local talent.

“This is just a really great event with the City of Dana Point,” Bonaventura said. “It’s so community-focused, and you see everyone having a good time … skateboarding is what we do, and we love it.”

Professional skateboarder Christian Hosoi, who emceed the event, shared the importance of community events bringing residents together.

“These events are so important, because we’re stimulating the vibe for the community; we’re letting them know that skateboarding, BMX, live music, getting together like this is how we connect,” Hosoi said.

“If you see the people that are having fun, you’ll feel the vibe of that, and it’s important for not only this community but for every community around the world,” Hosoi continued. “This needs to be done everywhere, and it’s starting right here in Dana Point.”

Frost added that the team that produced the event exceeded expectations.

“We will be evaluating doing the event in the future over the next few weeks and would love feedback from the community,” Frost said. DP

GUEST OPINION | Wellness & Prevention by Susan Parmelee

Back-to-School Wellness

For seven years, the Wellness & Prevention Center has been supporting young people and their families as they return to school, and there are some common concerns that we hear from teens and families each year. Typically, the biggest stressor is shifting a student’s sleep schedule. Additionally, we often have families and young people reach out when they are transitioning from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school. The following are some tips to help navigate these two issues.

ADJUSTING SLEEP SCHEDULES:

• Ideally, families should work on this shift about two weeks prior to the start of school—this is hard; summer is fun!

• Adults and youth body clocks rely on consistent sleep schedules. Young people should try and keep a consistent bedtime and routine through the weekends.

• It is hard for our body clocks to make a big shift—i.e., moving from going to bed after midnight to closer to 10 p.m. Sleep experts recommend trying to adjust in

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

Football Kicks Off Season on the Road Friday

Friday Night Lights return on Friday, Aug. 18, when Dana Hills will open away from home.

Friday’s opener at University High in Irvine presents an opportunity to answer many questions the Dolphins have coming into the season, including what they have at quarterback and in the defensive secondary.

Last season, Dana Hills was able to grind down what became a 3-7 Trojans squad in a 21-14 win with 259 yards on 26 carries by eventual county rushing leader Christian Guarascio and big plays in the passing game by since-graduated quarterback Connor Vernon and receiver Blaize Bolter.

15- to 30-minute increments.

• Limiting caffeine in the afternoons is important to a good night’s sleep.

• Limiting screen time an hour before bed, such as avoiding computers, smartphones, and other blue light-emitting devices.

SCHOOL TRANSITIONS:

• The most difficult transition for most young people is from elementary to middle school.

• If your child is having a rough time, reach out to their school counselor; they are very skilled at helping students adjust.

• If your new middle or high schooler is having difficulty with the classwork or homework, school staff can help and evaluate if the course load is the correct match for your child.

• Chris Carter, San Clemente High School principal, notes,“Students have six weeks to level down an accelerated class for a better chance to learn the material successfully. If students have an extra class they do not need for graduation, they may drop that class within the first

six weeks as well.”

a solution on their own.

• If you note any shift in behavior, change in eating or sleeping, withdrawing from friends, loss of interest in things they enjoy, or more extreme emotions, reach out to the Wellness & Prevention Center at 949.649.9460 for support.

Last season’s opener also saw the only recorded stat—the only varsity play—for new starting quarterback Myles Van Wyhe, which was one carry for minus-4 yards. This is the first opportunity for Van Wyhe to show his growth in the Dana Hills offense and distribute the ball to the Dolphins’ many offensive options, from receiver Noah Kucera to running back Deacon Hill and new tight end Niki Grguric. Dana Hills head coach Tony Henney said the coaching staff will be patient with the offense early, but the Dolphins wouldn’t mind some early flair.

On defense, Dana Hills will contend with a cadre of returning stat leaders, including University senior quarterback Koa Saito. While the Trojans found the

WELLNESS & PREVENTION BY

SUSAN PARMELEE

• While grades and homework are an important measure of how your child is doing in school, take care not to use tools like Canva daily to check in. Some teachers do not update this daily, and your child does not want to be asked daily. Middle and high school students need to learn to self-manage their work, and their teachers can help them with that.

• Pay attention to your child’s mental well-being—a good way to ask about the school day is the Rose, Thorn, and Bud technique. The rose is something that went well. The thorn is something that was difficult. The bud is something they are looking forward to or might be working on.

• Just listen to their responses and do not try to fix the difficult situation. Inquire what they might think will make things better or easier. Most young people just want to talk it through and will develop

The Wellness & Prevention Center supports students through a mental health professional on-site and prevention education for students and families at San Clemente High, San Juan Hills High, Aliso Niguel High, Shorecliffs Middle, Marco Forster Middle, Bernice Ayer Middle, and at our San Clemente Community Clinic.

All our services are grant- and donation-supported.

Please visit our website, wpc-oc.org, to learn more about how you can support your child’s well-being and for how to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s mental health. Consider donating to support our services on our website. DP

Susan Parmelee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and executive director of the Wellness & Prevention Center: wpc-oc.org. She can be reached at susan@wpc-oc.org.

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.

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Nate DePierro, but the ultimate responsibility will fall on a young secondary to prove themselves and keep the Trojans in check.

Speculation will be done, and questions will be answered on Friday night.

Girls Volleyball Opens with Back-to-Back Sweeps

Football will grab the spotlight on Friday night, but it’s the Dana Hills girls volleyball team that twisted off the cap of the 2023-24 high school sports calendar with its opener on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Dana Hills hosted St. Margaret’s on Tuesday, and the Dolphins got off to a quick start in a sweep of the Tartans. Dana Hills followed up the next day with a trip up Pacific Coast Highway for another sweep of Laguna Beach, 25-18, 25-22, 25-16.

end zone only twice last season, Saito proved a threat as a junior with 287 yards passing, including 114 yards to Blaine Anderson and 135 yards to Jonathan Soto, who both return.

Dana Hills hopes for pressure from its strong defensive front, including senior

The Dolphins stayed busy during this opening week of play with another home match on Thursday, Aug. 17, against Mission Viejo, but results were not available at press time. Dana Hills continues play into the weekend with matches on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Tesoro Tournament.

Dana Hills will next host Corona del Mar on Tuesday, Aug. 22, and play at Foothill on Thursday, Aug. 24. DP

Dana Hills’ young secondary will be tested by a skilled group of returners in the passing game for University High in both teams’ season opener on Friday, Aug. 18, in Irvine. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

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

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

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

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#

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 23 FL000553

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner

JINGYI LU and YI CHENG on the behalf of YINZE LU, a minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

YINZE LU

Proposed Name

ANDREW YINZE LU CHENG

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: 11/15/2023 Time: 8:30 a.m . Dept: L74 The address of the court is: Lamoreaux Justice Center,

341 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 928683205. Other: Remote (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: 08/08/2023

JUDGE JULIE A. PALAFOX, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: Dana Point Times August 18, 25, September 1, 8, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 30-2023-01340089

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner ARIANA SANDOVAL filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

ARIANA DEVINE SANDOVAL

Proposed Name

ARIANA BIRMAN DEVINE

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

Notice of Hearing

Date: 09/26/2023

Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: D-100:

Room: Remote Hearing. The address of the court is: Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701 (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: 08/04/2023

JUDGE LAYNE MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: Dana Point Times August 18, 25, September 1, 8, 2023

CALLING ALL ASPIRING SURF PHOTOGRAPHERS

The 2023 ‘Follow The Light’ surf photography grant program is back and looking for the next generation of surf photographers

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

Going back to A.R. Gurrey’s 1914 The Surf Riders of Hawaii, the art of surf photography has inspired and been a guiding light in the development and evolution of wave-riding for more than 100 years.

With legends of the lens such as John Severson, Ron Stoner, Art Brewer, Tom Servais, Jeff Divine and Larry Moore all calling this area home, San Clemente and Dana Point have unquestionably played a super-sized role in this evolution.

With Surfer and Surfing magazines headquartered here, the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s were a high-water mark for the form. As the photo editor of Surfing, Moore, more commonly known as “Flame” (a nickname he acquired because of his red hair), turned the emerald-green tubes at Salt Creek into his own personal photo studio.

But more than that, he was instrumental in creating surf photography as a viable occupation, and perhaps most importantly, scouting young, new talent both in front of and behind the lens.

After a hard-fought battle with brain cancer, Flame departed the physical plane in October 2005.

Determined to keep his spirit alive, a group of friends and family formed the

GROMS OF THE WEEK

WSA UNDER 7 MINI GROMS

BY JAKE HOWARD

The new Salt Life WSA Championship Tour season is here! The first event of the year kicked off on Aug. 5-6 at San Onofre Trail 6 and was packed with competitors ranging from the youngest pups to the grizzled old core lords.

With warm summer water and a contestable south swell running, for some kids, it was their first contest, and to get the season off on the right foot, we’d like to shine some much-deserved light on the youngest, fiercest division, the Under 7 Mini Groms.

Follow The Light Foundation to ensure his legacy of passionately supporting upand-coming surf photographers continued.

Follow The Light dedicated itself to honoring this next generation through an annual grant program, including an awards presentation ceremony. Bringing together our community of surf media, industry professionals, athletes and friends, honorees include some of today’s most important and talented photographers, including modern luminaries such as Chris Burkard, Todd Glaser, Ray Collins and Morgan Maassen.

The 2023 Follow The Light Surf Photography grant program is here, and the submission window is open through Aug. 31. This is an incredible opportunity for aspiring young surf photographers between the ages of 16 and 25 to introduce their work to the world and have a shot at a $5,000 grant, as well as real working opportunities.

“Being involved in Follow The Light has been an amazing experience all the way around,” said 2022 winner Kalani Cummins. “The grant helped me get on my feet a little more, and winning opened up some great opportunities, but more than that, it’s amazing to be part of this next generation of surf photographers and get

the chance to meet them all and be part of something bigger.”

Recognizing that the arena in which surf photographers work today has changed dramatically since Flame was at the helm of Surfing, the Follow The Light organizing committee has focused its energies on helping up-and-coming lensmen and women get their start in the business and develop the tools and relationships necessary to take their careers to the next level.

“It’s never been easy to make it as a surf photographer, but it’s harder than ever,” explained Summer Chew Meek, who chairs the Follow The Light committee.

“With changing media landscapes and business models, what this next generation faces is really challenging, but it’s so important to support and foster their talents. Photography is how the sport, culture and community of surfing has thrived over the last century,” he

continued.

In their prime, Surfer and Surfing magazines battled for cover shots, A-list talent and ace photographers. But that was then, and this is now.

If the art of surf photography is to survive for generations to come, it’s going to take amazing programs like Follow The Light and the support of surf media and business to keep the flame lit. For more information and to enter, go to usbrc.org/follow-the-light.

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

Every ride starts somewhere, and for this crew of gremlins, this is it.

A huge tip of the hat to Oceanside’s Uriah McDonald, who took the win. San Diego’s Rio Abate took second, San Clemente’s Ocean Hennings placed third, while Bonsail’s Harper Daniels finished fourth, Carlsbad’s Mica Panichella landed in fifth, and San Clemente’s Maceo Lizzi rounded out the top six.

And, seriously, is this week’s Grom of the Week photo not the cutest podium shot you’ve ever seen?

A huge congrats to all the kids who pulled on a jersey and got out there. The future is wide open. Event No. 2 of the WSA season

will venture northward to Surfer’s Point in Ventura this September.

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

Water Temperature: 64-65 Degrees

Water Visibility: 8-10’

Outlook: Southerly swell mix continues Friday as similar size to Thursday. The surf should temporarily ease on Saturday before potentially starting to rebuild the end of the weekend and possibly more so early next week. The increased surf would be from Tropical Cyclone Hilary, which is now off the coast Mexico. A much weakened Hilary could bring wind and weather impacts to Southern California around Monday and Tuesday as well.

Under 7 Mini Groms. Photo: Courtesy of WSA

As the photo editor of Surfing magazine Larry “Flame” Moore was a driving force in the world of surf photography. His legacy is honored in the annual “Follow The Light” surf photography grant program that seeks to support and inspire the next generation of surf photographers. Photo: Paul Huessenstam/Follow The Light