DPT 1/12/2024

JANUARY 12 -18, 2024 | VOLUME 17, ISSUE 2

L O C A L

N E W S

Y O U

C A N

U S E

Whale Walk & Talk at DP Interpretive Center GETTING OUT / PAGE 10

Surf Season Opens: Big Waves, Big Events SURF/ PAGE 18

Killer Expansion Bigger Footprint for Iconic Dana Surf Shop E Y E O N D P / PA G E 3

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Killer Dana part-owners Mike and Carrie Foster receive the keys on Tuesday, Jan. 9, to the surf shop’s new location at the former Rite Aid site.

Killer Dana’s new location is set to open in March. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

16th Annual

Coffee Importers Eyes Ocean Institute Location

Salt Creek Grille to Close After 27 Years

EYE ON DP/ PAGE 4

EYE ON DP / PAGE 5

DHHS Hoops Opens League with Eighth Straight Win SPORTS / PAGE 16

THE RESULTS ARE IN! See who won February 16, 2024

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Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

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EYE ON DP

Killer Dana Looks to Move into Former Rite Aid Site

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

A

fter 32 years of serving the local surf community and visitors to Dana Point, Killer Dana Surf Shop will be closing its original location on the corner of Del Prado and Amber Lantern as it moves into the Lantern Bay Village Shopping Center.

Killer Dana will be taking the place of the former Rite Aid store that closed in late October, 2023 – a much larger footprint for the surf shop.

“After 32 years, it is bittersweet that we leave our original location on Del Prado,” Killer Dana part-owner Carrie Foster said.

Part-owner Mike Foster added that “there’s some emotion tied to that spot, for sure – not just for us, but for the community, too.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, Carrie and Mike picked up the keys to the new location, which was already bustling with activity to prepare for the anticipated March opening date.

“I don’t think it has really hit us,” Mike said. “We literally just got the keys.”

Contractors walked through the rows of aisles left behind from the previous tenants as they gauged the scope of work, friends of Killer Dana stopped by to show their support, and employees came in to get an idea of their future workplace.

“We have a great team,” Mike said.

“Some of the community contractors have stepped up, and we’ve got contractors that we’re going to hire to do the work that are locals that are being very fair with us. We have some people that are donating their time to help us. It’s kind of crazy.”

Carrie added that the space “might not be perfect opening on March 1, but that’s our soft opening plan.”

“We’re still so excited to be part of the Lantern District,” Carrie said.

After the Rite Aid closed three months ago, Mike noted that the couple would drive by and say, “Oh, could you imagine?”

“It was a total fantasy,” Mike said.

However, in just over a month, Mike said “it fell together.”

Carrie noted that their partners, Steve and Leigh Dunn, are thrilled about the move.

“The property owners here, Marjack LLC, they were incredible to deal with to get us here,” Mike said. “We could not have imagined this happening. It’s laid out so perfectly for us, it’s in the middle of both stores.”

“We’re so fragmented as a company,” Mike continued. “We have five different locations between storage and boardroom up there and the retail; to have Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Killer Dana Surf Shop will be moving into its new location at the former Rite Aid site. Until the original Del Prado location (shown here)closes on Jan. 31, all merchandise in store is 50% off. Killer Dana’s new location is set to open in March. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

all of our staff under one roof, to have shipping, receiving and accounting under one roof, it’s going to be life-changing for us.”

Touching on the surf shop’s second location in the Dana Point Harbor, Mike noted that he thinks “it’s going to be a hotspot, and when (the harbor revitalization) is finished, we’d love to be down there.”

“So, when the time comes, if they have a spot for us, we would be absolutely thrilled to have that conversation,” Mike said.

Carrie and Mike noted they have some good news for longtime community members who enjoyed getting their ice-cream fix at the old Rite Aid: they’ll keep on serving Thrifty Ice Cream.

“We’re really proud that we’re bringing back the two women that worked here for 30 years serving ice cream,” Mike said. “To come back and do that with us is really cool.”

For the grand opening, Killer Dana looks to offer ice cream at 1991 prices, roughly 35 cents for a cone, in honor of the year the original store opened.

Carrie added that they plan to create a hangout space around the Thrifty Ice Cream.

“We hope that people can have

events, schools can have events, the surf teams, Dana Point surf club, have meetings there,” Carrie said. “We wanted to share the space with the community.”

Killer Dana is also looking to pay homage to the town’s surfing history with photos and storyboards where locals and visitors alike can step back in time.

“We’re going to tell Dana Point’s history up there,” Mike said. “We want it to be like a walk-through museum where people can see the history of Dana Point and all of the old-time surfers. … It’s going to be really really cool.”

The shop will also be bringing the Killer Dana VW Bus inside the shop for photos.

“Anytime we take it to an event, there’s a line of people taking pictures with it with their kids, so we’ll have that in here,” Mike said.

Mike added that they’ll be bringing in some new, large vendors that they have not had the room to bring in before.

With more room for parking and storage, Mike noted that the new location would better serve rentals.

“It’s going to look like Killer Dana, and it’s still going to be Killer Dana,” Mike said. “Our staff is really fired up and motivated for the move.”

Though the new location will be Page 3

just one block away from the original location on Del Prado, Mike noted that he hopes that all of the community dog walkers who have popped into the shop over the years will be able to modify their route in order to stop by the new shop.

“For so many dogs, we were part of their route,” Mike said. “We have water for them. So all the pups that we get to see every day, it’s going to be tough for the elderly pups that maybe can’t make it a block down.”

Carrie added that dogs would come by the cash register to get a treat from the owners.

“We hope people can change their route a little bit,” Mike said. “We don’t even expect them to buy anything. We just love the dogs coming in.”

The couple noted that they might bring in new frozen treats for visiting dogs to entice them to stop by.

“We appreciate this town so much,” Carrie said. “We truly love Dana Point and all the support we get. We are just ecstatic.”

Until the original Del Prado location closes on Jan. 31, all merchandise in store is 50% off; however, Mike noted that the store is already pretty bare.

danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Coffee Importers Looks to Open Bakery at Ocean Institute

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

T

hough Coffee Importers has evolved over its nearly 50-year history, expanding from a coffee shop to adding an ice cream shop, bagels, smoothies and more, owner Jim Miller has been looking to expand once more and bring in a bakery for years now.

Coffee Importers opened in the Dana Point Harbor in 1975 and has grown as a family business in the decades since then. Jim took over the business for his parents in 1982. Now, he’s looking to continue the family legacy with his daughter, Meredith Miller, at the helm.

Baking is Meredith’s passion, Jim said.

“My daughter went to culinary school, and one of the things we had been talking about since she was 19 years old was that we were going to do a bakery,” Jim said.

Jim and Meredith are a step closer to making that dream become a reality as they partner with the Ocean Institute to open a new Coffee Importers location in the place of the marine education nonprofit’s gift shop.

Meredith, who previously served as an executive pastry chef at a St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, took over operations for the beachside Boneyard Café at Doheny State Beach for her father, before that business closed in 2019.

“She came in and took over running Boneyard and did a fantastic job,” Jim said. “To this day, people still rave about the Boneyard Café and how great it was. Nothing’s replaced it.”

Since Meredith first moved back from Atlanta 12 years ago, the idea to build a bakery has been “very conceptual,” Meredith said.

In 2018, Jim said he closed Boneyard Café anticipating the commencement of the harbor revitalization. After numerous delays pushed back the start of landside construction, including the ramifications of the COVID pandemic, Jim noted that he and Meredith were anxious to get the café concept off the ground.

“Frustration is mounting, like I want to get this bakery café going, and last year, I went to (Ocean Institute President and CEO Wendy Leavell), and I said, ‘Hey, I really think this could be a good concept,’ ” Jim said.

“She liked it. It took a while for the board to kind of wrap their heads around putting in a full deli café,” Jim said.

Meredith added that there “always seems to be some hurdle, and so this opportunity kind of presented itself with the Ocean Institute. … It’s something we’ve been trying to do for a long time.”

Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Though the idea is still in its infancy and still has plenty of hurdles to overcome, Jim said he’s excited to get the ball rolling on the café project. After many false starts to the bakery idea, Meredith noted that she was hesitant to get too excited.

“I’ll be excited when we have a lease and plans and we’re actually moving forward with it, but for now, I’m just reserved and waiting to see what happens,” Meredith said.

“We’ve been at this for 20 years, so it’s been a whole lot of ‘OK, it’s going to happen,’ nothing’s happening, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s going to happen,’ nothing happened,” Meredith continued. “So, I’ve gotten to the point where I’m like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, you let me know when something’s really happening, and then I’ll have feelings.’ ” Since news first broke of the potential partnership between Coffee Importers and the Ocean Institute, Jim said he’s received positive feedback from customers.

Meredith added that she’d like to emphasize to community members that “we’re not trying to go anywhere.”

“We want to stay in Dana Point, ideally in the harbor,” Meredith said. “For our customer base, that’s been a big concern of theirs, especially over the last couple of years as to, are we going to stay in business? Are we going to stay here?”

“We didn’t really have an answer,” Meredith continued. “Ideally, we’ve always wanted to be in the harbor. We felt like that’s always been our home.

So, this gives us the opportunity to maintain that and kind of takes the pressure off of what’s happening.”

After nearly 50 years of serving visitors and locals in the harbor, Meredith noted her family has “built relationships with the community.”

“We want to stay in Dana Point, we want to stay in the harbor, we want to make that work,” Meredith said. “We don’t know how that looks necessarily in the future, but the Ocean Institute with this opportunity has given us … an open door.”

The partnership with the Ocean Institute has been a year in the making, Jim said. Now, Jim said he’s got “a lot of work now to get all the permits and stuff, and that’s what I’m starting to work on. It’s going to take some time, and it’s really an opportunity for us to do this.”

“If an opportunity comes available here in the new harbor, which we don’t know what’s going to happen, we’ll take a look at that at that time,” Jim continued. “We want to stay in the Dana Point Page 4

Coffee Importers owner Jim Miller looks to open a new bakery location at the Ocean Institute campus with his daughter, Meredith Miller, in charge. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

Harbor, for sure; that’s our home. In the meantime, we have something to get going on.”

Once he gets necessary permits to construct the bakery at the site of the Ocean Institute’s gift shop, then he’ll be able to finish plans and start getting construction bids, Jim said.

“We’re at the very beginning of the whole process,” Jim said.

In the meantime, Jim said he’s not planning on closing the harbor location until construction reaches his location and they’re asked to close or move.

Since the Orange County Board of Supervisors extended the Ocean Institute’s lease until 2065, Jim noted that joining the marine education nonprofit’s campus will give him a longer lease to “build our brand.”

“The other thing is the Ocean Institute is doing a fantastic job with the leadership of Wendy and her team right now; I think they’re doing the best they’ve ever done in terms of events and public outreach,” Jim said.

Jim added that he’s excited to be a part of the Ocean Institute campus for events such as Mermade Market, the Tall Ships Festival and its monthly Distinguished Speaker series.

“I think it’ll be really synergistic,” Jim said. “I also think the timing can be good, too, during construction of the new harbor. We’ll have a place to send our customers during construction.”

Meredith added that having worked with and catered events for the Ocean

Institute in the past, she saw the move as an “old partnership getting revived.”

Having run a coffee cart at the Ocean Institute when the campus first opened, Jim said he knows “the facility very well, so I think it’s going to be a good fit.”

Jim noted that he’s planning on “stepping into retirement” and leaving the new café at the Ocean Institute to Meredith to operate.

“It gives her a place to be hers, which is what she’s always wanted,” Jim said.

“I can, over the next four or five years, step down.”

Working alongside her father over the years has been “a labor of love,” Meredith said.

“The most important part is that (he) and I greatly respect each other’s strengths and differences,” Meredith said. “It’s not going to be fun when he really retires and then it’s just me.”

If all goes well with permitting and plans, Jim noted that they hope to start on construction in 2025.

“It’s the biggest project we’ve ever done,” Jim said. “It goes back to the beginning, though; we’ve always wanted to do a bakery-café. We think it’s a good location, and we think it’ll be a great spot for a little bakery café and it’ll keep us in the Dana Point Harbor,” Jim continued.

An Ocean Institute representative was not available to comment ahead of press time.

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EYE ON DP

Dana Point Salt Creek Grille Announces Closure on Jan. 14

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

S

alt Creek Grille announced it would be closing its flagship location in Dana Point on Monday, Jan. 14, after serving visitors and locals alike for the past 27 years.

Twenty-seven years ago, when Salt Creek Grille opened in July 1996, Founders Tim McCune and Pete Truxaw looked to create a community gathering place “with exceptional food, friendly and professional service and a welcoming ambience,” McCune said in an email.

“We wanted to create a true classic steakhouse with high-quality meats cooked over a real, natural wood fire,” McCune continued.“At that time, restaurants were moving away from this and towards ranges and gas grills. What made our vision for Salt Creek Grille even clearer was the true sear and a ‘chef’s kiss’ of mesquite.”

Guests came back again and again for Salt Creek Grille’s baby back ribs, burgers and pork chops, McCune said.

McCune noted that he believed the restaurant’s biggest accomplishment was “becoming a true landmark, both in the community and in people’s lives. Salt Creek Grille held a special place in the hearts of so many within the Orange County

Marina Announces ‘Candyland’ Boat Parade Winners

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

S

eventy-two boats vied for a slate of prizes during the ‘Candyland’-themed Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights in late 2023.

The 48th annual parade saw festive boats, variously decked with gingerbread men, candy canes and Santas, cruise through the harbor from Friday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 10.

A panel of several harbor stakeholders and dignitaries, including OC Board Supervisor Katrina Foley and Dana Point Mayor Jamey Federico, judged participating boats to award prizes in 12 different categories.

The winners were announced during the Marina at Dana Point’s annual awards reception on Thursday night, Jan. 11.

The Award Winners of the 48th Annual Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights: Sweetest Overall 1st place: Beach Retreat (Ron Beach) Runner-up: Blackwing (Barry Clark)

Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

community and beyond. Monumental and cherished memories were spent within those four walls. That was our dream with the restaurant, and I am honored to say we achieved that.”

In a media release announcing the restaurant’s imminent closure, McCune remarked on the many memories created at the restaurant during its nearly 30 years in service.

“It was our hope to create an upscale steakhouse that was rich in culinary traditions but, at the same time, a gathering spot that welcomed friends, neighbors, tourists and more with open arms and a warm heart at its core,” McCune said.“We celebrated so many storybook moments and milestones with our guests, and we will cherish those forever. This restaurant was my second home and meant everything to me.”

Salt Creek Grille’s locations in New Jersey and Valencia, California will remain open, which McCune said will keep him “busy and focused on their operations.”

McCune added that he’s working to help the Dana Point location’s staff find new positions within the local restaurant community.

Salt Creek Grille is shuttering its doors on Monday, Jan. 14, after serving visitors and locals alike for the past 27 years. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

“We couldn’t have achieved all of this success without our wonderful team, some of whom spent a decade or more with us,” McCune said.“They are the true heart of our restaurant and worked very hard each day to ensure that our guests enjoyed a positive and welcoming dining experience crowned by fantastic and delicious food.”

In the media release, Salt Creek Grille invited longtime patrons to stop by “before the last meal is served and reminisce with the team about the good times and their favorite meals.”

Ahead of the restaurant’s scheduled closure on Jan. 14, McCune noted that he

wanted to thank “all of our guests for their patronage, love and support over the years, and, in actuality, bringing so much joy into my life.”

“This is surely a most humbling moment in my life, as I’ve dedicated the past nearly 30 years to this restaurant,” McCune said.

“That being said, I will hold dear all the extraordinary memories – all the special moments from opening on day one, to serving our friends and neighbors and ultimately becoming a community gathering spot for simple, treasured meals or celebrations of life’s bigger moments.”

Commercial Cup Dana Pride (Dana Wharf Sportfishing)

Confection Perfection 1st Place: Maluhia (Lee & Wendy Gleich) Runner-up: Piggy Bank (Kerry Berg)

Mayor’s Cup—Selected

by Dana Point Mayor Jamey Federico Blackwing (Berry Clark)

Most Original 1st Place: Heir Time (BJ & Rachelle Stephan) Runner-up: Ursula (David & Tanya Jernigan)

Supervisor’s Cup - Selected by 5th District Supervisor Katrina Foley Piggy Bank (Kerry Berg)

Magical Musical 1st Place: Clarebuoyant (Claire Kenney) Runner-up: Why Not (Louis Adams) People’s Choice Dana Outrigger

The Dana Point Marina awarded Ron Beach’s vessel Beach Retreat Sweetest Overall in the 48th Annual Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights. Photo: Courtesy of the Dana Point Harbor Partners

Winsome Crew Liberty (Bob Perdue)

Lee & Wendy Gleich’s boat Maluhia was awarded Confection Perfection in the 48th Annual Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights. Photo: Courtesy of the Dana Point Harbor Partners

Best Powerboat Triteia (Michael Nicolai) Best Sailboat Running Water (Phil Bellafaire) Best Under 30 Feet At Peace (Jennifer & Vincent Bishop) Best Human-Powered Dana Outrigger

Page 5

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EYE ON DP

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

County Board of Supervisors Authorizes New Homeless Prevention Program

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

SATURDAY, JAN. 13

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.

TUESDAY, JAN. 16

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.

Dana Point City Council 6 p.m. The Dana Point City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

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 City Hall, 33282 Golden Lantern Street, Suite 210 Dana Point. danapoint.org.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17

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.

Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

T

he Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allocate $3 million for the creation of a Homeless Prevention and Stabilization Pilot Program at its Tuesday, Jan. 9 meeting.

County officials aim to assist 200 families and individuals at risk of experiencing homelessness through the short-term program, by providing a maximum of $10,800 to each participant (family or individual) and case management.

“The goal of the Homeless Prevention and Stabilization Pilot Program is to keep individuals and families in their homes, avoid displacement, and identify supportive services to promote long-term housing stability,” read a memo from Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento requesting the item’s addition to Tuesday’s agenda.

Households will be enrolled in the program for 12 months, during which they can receive direct financial assistance through a lump sum payment and “stabilization payments” through a monthly stipend. Initially, Douglas Becht, director of the county’s Office of Care Coordination, included in his presentation Tuesday a maximum of $6,000 for direct assistance and $4,800 for monthly allocations; the board later agreed to allow for flexibility.

The eligibility criteria mandates that participants or heads of households are at least 18 years old, Orange County residents, at risk of homelessness, and must have a household combined income at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI), according to federal standards.

Becht added that the program seeks to assist people aged 60 years and older, single-parent households, and others “imminently at risk of homelessness.”

As Sarmiento brought the item to the agenda, he provided the opening comments, thanking staff from the County Executive Officer Frank Kim’s office, the Office of Care Coordination, the county’s Social Service Agency, insurer CalOptima Health,

and others for their work in putting the program’s design together. The program matches the pillars that the county’s Commission to End Homelessness indicates are necessary to create a Homeless System of Care, Sarmiento said, which include housing, outreach and supportive services, prevention, and shelter.

“This is really a complement to what this board has done to try to address folks who are unhoused, which is this prevention pillar, which I think is probably the one that we’ve leaned into the least,” he said.

By the end of Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the county will have spent roughly $1 billion addressing homelessness since FY 20172018, Sarmiento noted, speaking to his feelings that it would be cost-effective to find and help people before they end up on the streets.

The program’s case management aspect, which will connect people to resources such as financial literacy and workforce development programs, will be the “most important” aspect, according to Sarmiento, who added that the program will also have a study that assesses its effectiveness.

In Becht’s presentation, he referenced multiple studies county staff found that helped define what the program would look like. A total of 86% of respondents to a statewide study of unhoused people in May 2023 stated that a shallow monthly subsidy between $300 and $500 would’ve helped them avoid becoming homeless; 95% said a lump sum of between $5,000 and $10,000 would’ve helped.

Vice Chairman and Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee credited Sarmiento for his work and talked about the people on the brink of homelessness who aren’t recognized as needing help until they are on the street.

“I hope the metrics will show, in about a year, that this needs to be continued with additional funding,” said Chaffee. “I think it will.”

He added that he planned to bring forward “another tool” to work with families at risk at the next board meeting and that he fully supported the measure.

Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley asked for clarification of the “essential living expenses” that the monthly payments would pay for, to which Becht responded child care, employment services, transportation and gas cards. Becht later agreed to Foley’s request that the program create a general definition of items eligible to be paid for through the monthly payments.

“We’re trying to supplement, not replace,” Foley said of other county resources participants can access.

Chairman and Third District Supervisor Don Wagner asked Becht and Sarmiento questions to better understand the program’s parameters, such as whether the numbers given by people who were surveyed by the county were accurate, and how Becht and others working on the program came up with the figure of $10,800.

Becht said the pilot program would either validate the numbers the county had heard or show that the numbers people gave are incorrect, and that the Office of Care Coordination conducted a similar rental assistance program during the pandemic, provided through federal funding, with a cap of $10,000 that many households didn’t reach.

“There’s not an exact science behind it, but we do have some experience,” Becht said.

Sarmiento defined success for the program as seeing it continue past the first year due to a marked efficiency in helping the participating households find economic stability.

The county will have to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a scope of work and solicitation for a provider to operate the program, according to Becht, after which the county executive officer will be authorized to negotiate and enter into a contract.

The Board of Supervisors’ meetings and video archive can be found at the website board.ocgov.com.

Coffee Chat to Host Mayor Jamey Federico

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Mayor Jamey Federico will share what residents can expect from City Hall in 2024 during the Dana Point Civic Associaiton’s first coffee chat of the year next Friday morning, Jan. 19, at Coffee Importers.

Federico was elected to the City Council in 2018 and previously served as mayor in 2021. Dana Point City Council appointed Federico to serve a second term as mayor during the last

meeting of 2023.

Prior to serving the Dana Point community on the City Council, Federico served in the United States Marine Corps, completing four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before retiring from active duty in 2017.

As mayor this year, Federico is looking toward Dana Point’s long-term future as the city works to update its General Plan.

Page 6

The Jan. 19 chat will get started at 8:30 a.m., when complimentary coffee will be available, courtesy of Coffee Importers. All are welcome to attend. The event is weather permitting. Coffee Importers is located at 34531 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Page 7

danapointtimes.com

SOAPBOX

GUEST OPINION: | Levin’s Letter

Looking Back at Our Achievements & Making Progress in 2024 T

he beginning of a new year gives us the opportunity to reflect on the previous one and set new goals that build on our successes and prepare for the future. For me, it gives renewed energy and allows me to look back at the work we’ve done to improve our district and set priorities for the year ahead.

Last year was a challenging one for Congress. We faced complicated issues, both at home and abroad, that continue to demand action and will shape the course of 2024. I know that many of my constituents are disillusioned by the partisan divide in Washington and ask themselves what elected officials are getting done. I share some of those frustrations, but I still firmly believe in the power of working together, across the aisle, to accomplish great things.

Looking back at 2023, together we delivered real results for our district and improved the quality of life in our communities. Some of the accomplishments that I am particularly proud of that we will continue to build on this year include: 30 Bipartisan Laws: Throughout my

time in Congress, I’ve passed 30 bipartisan laws to improve veterans’ benefits, foster innovation in the storage and disposal of spent LEVIN’S LETTERS BY U.S. REPRESENTATIVE nuclear fuel, MIKE LEVIN improve the quality of recovery housing, and more. These are legislative wins for our district and the country that help Americans every day.

Nuclear Waste Removal: We are making significant progress on safely moving nuclear waste off the beach at San Onofre. Last June, together with Energy Secretary Granholm, we announced more than $25 million for communities across the country to initiate consent-based siting processes to store spent nuclear fuel, including the waste from our region.

In addition to these achievements, we capped insulin prices at $35 per month, and thousands of infrastructure improvement projects are underway

across the country. That’s real progress.

Looking to the year ahead, I will continue to seek bipartisan solutions to the ongoing challenges facing our district. Some of my 2024 priorities include: Fighting for Federal Resources: Our district deserves its share of federal taxpayer dollars for projects that benefit all residents. Last year, I secured more than $50 million for community projects ranging from workforce training programs to improving the safety of our roads. I will continue fighting for resources to support important on-the-ground initiatives.

Tackle Veteran Homelessness and Hunger: No veteran should struggle to put food on the table or find affordable housing. In Orange County, roughly 1 in 12 veterans faces homelessness and 1 in 9 veterans is food-insecure. This is unacceptable. I’ve introduced and am developing bipartisan legislation to help veterans access affordable housing and increase nutrition assistance for military families. I’ll work with my colleagues to move these bills forward.

Constituent Services: My office handles thousands of constituent cases every year, helping residents overcome bureaucratic hurdles, deal with federal agencies like the IRS and VA, and access government benefits. We will continue to do all that we can to ensure constituents who contact our office get top-notch service and timely responses.

There is nothing we can’t do when we seek common ground to address the challenges facing our communities.

We all want safer neighborhoods, affordable health care, good schools, and to protect our coast and environment. Ensuring our country is a better place for future generations is what drives me every day. I’m excited about what lies ahead this year.

U.S. Representative Mike Levin represents the 49th Congressional District, which includes the South Orange County cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. He was reelected for a second term in 2020 and resides in San Juan Capistrano with his wife and two children. DP

GUEST OPINION | Laurie’s Latest

All Eyes on the State Budget W

are officially back for the 2024 Legislative Session, and all eyes are on the State Budget.

As I am sure you are aware, California is facing an unprecedentedly large $68 billion budget deficit this coming year, despite ample warnings from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) about potential shortfalls in tax revenue. Now, Gov. Newsom is preparing to present his proposed budget, as concerns begin to grow about what spending cuts or new taxes could be coming.

The nation’s most populous state – with an economy that is the fifthlargest in the world – is facing its biggest deficit by dollars in state history, but how did we get here?

Rising Cost of Goods/Services Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

GUEST OPINION BY LAURIE DAVIES

California has been struggling since last year because of the rising prices of most goods and services and how the U.S. government has been trying to control it.

Increased Cost of Borrowing The increased cost of borrowing money is impacting both individuals and businesses, resulting in reduced home purchases and decreased hiring by companies. Consequently, this trend is causing a decline in state tax revenues.

Families are Leaving As the cost of living continues to rise, Page 8

families are leaving by the thousands.

Fewer families in California means less tax revenue.

SO, WHAT’S NEXT? There are growing fears that the State Legislature may place the financial burden on taxpayers, but the reality is that raising taxes to balance the budget will only drive more people out of the state. We need to be lowering taxes, making it easier for people to live, grow and thrive in this state.

Outside of new taxes, the governor will also be considering some major budget cuts, including: • Public Safety • Road Infrastructure • Education • Water Infrastructure • Wildfire Prevention & Response

Climate Programs and more!

As your Assemblywoman, I want to hear from you! I urge you to take our survey today and share your thoughts on which budget items we must protect from budget cuts!

Take the Survey: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca. gov/PublicLCMS/SurveysDirect_ v2.php?district=AD74&survey=335 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, Oceanside, Vista and part of Fallbrook in North San Diego County..

DP

danapointtimes.com

SOAPBOX

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

HOW TO REACH US

Letter to DP Community

Farewell for Now F

BY BREANNA GREENBERG

PUBLISHER Steve Strickbine DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Nadine Johnson • 480.898.5645 nadine@timeslocalmedia.com SPORTS Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x6 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING Lauralyn Loynes • 949.388.7700, x2 lloynes@picketfencemedia.com DISTRIBUTION Racks, Driveways, Subscriptions Inna Cazares • 949.229.2821 icazares@picketfencemedia.com

TIMES MEDIA GROUP EDITORIAL Executive Editor Christina Fuoco-Karasinki City Reporter, SC Times C. Jayden Smith City Reporter, DP Times Breeana Greenberg

ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes (SC + DP) Advertising Sales Debra Wells (CD)

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

ART + DESIGN Group Art Director Courtney Oldham

Columnists Tom Blake Megan Bianco, Jake Howard

GRAPHIC DESIGN Amber Johnson

Special Projects Editor Andrea PapagianisCamacho

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Copy Editor Randy Youngman

resh out of college in 2021, I landed my first full-time reporting job at the Dana Point Times. From Day 1, I hit the ground running and haven’t stopped.

For a small, coastal town, the Dana Point community has kept me on my toes covering a steady stream of stories out of the Dana Point Harbor, the Lantern District and City Hall, as well as new business openings, public art and development.

Dana Point has left an indelible mark on me, and I will forever be grateful for the kindness that you, the community, have shown me. I am also grateful for Picket Fence Media for taking a chance on a green reporter fresh out of college.

As a burgeoning reporter, I found myself needing a moment to psych myself up before setting out to knock on shop doors for interviews while writing for the Laguna Beach Independent, because a part of me was still nervous to interview strangers. But through my time as a local journalist, these communities have shown me so much kindness and given me confidence in myself as a reporter, as a storyteller.

It has been my absolute privilege and pleasure to report on all things Dana Point for these past couple of years. I am FAREWELL BY BREANNA GREENBERG eternally grateful for the opportunity to grow as a journalist, get to know this community and tell your stories.

This is a city with residents who care so deeply about their hometown and will work hard to make it the best place it can be. Having such caring and involved residents makes this town so special – and makes it so hard to say goodbye.

However, this is only a goodbye for now.

I’ll be returning to my alma mater to teach journalism in the spring, but I’ll continue to report on all things Dana Point as a contributing writer – so this isn’t the last issue you’ll be seeing my byline.

Thank you for entrusting me with your stories. DP

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to ryoungman@picketfencemedia. com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.

Local Distribution Tim Trent PFM FOUNDER Norb Garrett

Dana Point Times, Vol. 16 Issue 31. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Page 9

danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT

LIVE MUSIC AT BEACHFIRE 8 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular Downtown San Clemente restaurant. ’80s dance party artist Class of the ’80s will perform. BeachFire Bar and Grill, 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.

949.366.3232. beachfire.com.

Editor’s Pick

SUNDAY | JAN. 14

The List What’s going on in and around town this week DANA POINT TIMES

FRIDAY | JAN. 12 LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER 9 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Undercover Live will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point.

949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

LINE 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.

MADELINE’S TREASURES AT CASA ROMANTICA 6-8 p.m. Casa Romantica will host a free opening reception for its newest exhibit, James Irvine Swinden’s curation of paintings collected by the late Madeline Martin Swinden. The couple collected these wonderful examples of contemporary California Impressionism while attending many of the California plein air invitationals held over the past quarter-century.

These paintings are being exhibited to the public for the first time at Casa Romantica.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente.

949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Live music is featured at this San Clemente lounge known for its entertainment. Leroy and the Bad Browns will perform. Iva Lee’s Restaurant & Lounge, 555 N. El Camino Real, Suite E, San Clemente.

949.361.8255. ivalees.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT BEACHFIRE 8 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular Downtown San Clemente restaurant.

Reggae artist Brudda Adrian will perform.

BeachFire Bar and Grill, 204 Avenida Del Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers along Avenida Del Mar. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Photo: Courtesy of Marta Ortigosa/Pexels

SUNDAY | JAN. 13 : DANA POINT NATURE INTERPRETIVE CENTER DOCENT WALK -- WHALE WALK & TALK 9-11 a.m. Visit the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center on the second Saturdays of the month during the Gray Whale migration and learn more about the offshore visitors that can frequently be seen from the Dana Point Headlands. All walks start from the Nature Interpretive Center and are approximately 1½ to 2 hours long. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527. dpnaturalresources@danapoint.org.

Mar, San Clemente. 949.366.3232. beachfire.com.

SATURDAY | JAN. 13 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 oneof-a-kind gifts. It is strongly recommended that customers bring their own reusable bags. La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER 9 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue.

Family Style will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point.

949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

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.

TIDE POOL HIKE, HATCH AND RELEASE TOUR, AND SAIL ON THE ‘SPIRIT OF DANA POINT’ 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Join the Ocean Institute for a tide pool hike along the rocky Marine Conservation Area led by one of their expert naturalists. The hike is rated mod-

erately difficult at a 1-1½-mile round trip.

Attendees should be prepared for rocky, uneven and slick terrain for the entire hike. Admission is $15 for those 3 and older. Visitors can contribute to research on white sea bass and learn about their role in ocean health on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Ocean Institute’s hatch and release program. In the afternoon, set sail aboard the schooner Spirit of Dana Point and experience California from the perspective of an early tallship 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 tallship. Must be 4 years or older to sail. Tickets are $65.The Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

ART CLASSES AT SMALL SPACE ART COLLECTIVE 1-2:30 p.m. Stick to your New Year’s resolutions by creating a vision board and following mindful Reiki practices. Combining Reiki meditation with this process helps find clarity and focus while letting go of self-doubt. The class provides a relaxing and clarifying guided meditation, an exploration of the craft of collage, and the opportunity to go home with your own “Reiki-Infused” Vision Board. Visit smallspaceart.com for booking information.

Small Space Art Collective, 210 Calle de Los Molinos, San Clemente. smallspaceart.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Live music is featured at this San Clemente lounge known for its entertainment. Bunch of Guys will perform.

Iva Lee’s Restaurant & Lounge, 555 N. El Camino Real, Suite E, San Clemente.

949.361.8255. ivalees.com.

Page 10

INTRO TO SEWING AT SMALL SPACE ART 1-4:30 p.m. Jump into sewing and learn what you need to get going in one session.

In this 3½-hour workshop you’ll learn what you need to get started sewing on your own or to take a more advanced sewing workshop. This session is fun and engaging, and you’ll go home with a cute and functional phone bag. All materials provided. Visit smallspaceart.com for booking information. Small Space Art Collective, 210 Calle de Los Molinos, San Clemente. smallspaceart.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S AT THE TRACKS 6 p.m. Live outdoor music is featured at this South Orange County eatery. Blues, R&B, pop artist Jodi Siegel will perform.

Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE 7 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Bobby Gray will perform. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

MONDAY | JAN. 15 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 5:30-6:45 p.m. This popular downtown restaurant offers a night full of country music and line dancing for all ages. Beginners can participate in this $10 Introduction to Line Dancing lesson with instructor Anne Leslie. H.H. Cotton’s, 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.945.6616. hhcottons.com.DP danapointtimes.com

GETTING OUT

ON STAGE AT THE COACH HOUSE:

Marc Cohn Embracing a Return to the Stage

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO

I

f one word could be used to describe Marc Cohn’s career, it would be “measured.” His last album of original material was 2007’s “Join the Parade” (2010’s “Listening Booth: 1970” was an all-covers affair of songs from that particular year).

And while the past decade has found him getting tapped by longtime friend/mentor John Leventhal to contribute material to projects by storied Stax/Volt artist William Bell (2017’s “This Is Where I Live”) and legendary outfit The Blind Boys of Alabama (2019’s “Work To Do”), a solo Cohn album shouldn’t be expected now or shortly.

Instead, the Ohio native is embracing a return to the stage by hitting the road for a run of shows to start 2024, including appearances at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20.

While the uncertainties of the pandemic led many artists to write, record or pursue other creative pursuits, Cohn didn’t go down that path. Apprehension and concern about COVID-19 instead consumed the thoughts of this resident of New York City’s Upper West Side.

“For most of the past 2½ years, I did no touring, very little writing and very little of anything except worrying, which as a New

Marc Cohn will headline The Coach House on Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20.

Photo: Drew Gurian

York City Jew, worrying was the most familiar thing,” he said.

“I tried to keep myself busy with various things and tried a lot to write. But the possibility that nobody knew for a period if we’d ever get back on stage and do live music again safely was unsettling, to say the least.

That’s my main gig – touring. Not having that for a couple of years was bad on every level.”

Cohn’s musical journey was rather unorthodox, starting with him picking up a guitar around the age of 10 or 11 before adding piano to his repertoire when he was an 18-year-old attending Oberlin College.

But before that, it was watching The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show” (“That was transcendent,” he said. “I didn’t know what I was looking at. I just know that I loved it.”) and being exposed to classical music via famed composer/conductor George Szell, who was also Cohn’s neighbor when he was growing up in Cleveland.

“He lived next door to us, and he had a crush on my mother,” Cohn recalled.

“As a result, he gave us his box seat at Severance Hall, where the orchestra played whenever they played in town. I would go with my mother – I don’t think my dad ever came. I think he knew about the crush.

I would just listen to this unbelievable classical music that I had no background in or sense of reference. That’s one of my earliest memories – going to hear an orchestra when I was 6 or 7.

“Also, listening to him play. He would keep the windows open and practice certain things he was going to conduct on the piano. He would have the charts all laid out. I actually wrote a song about it called ‘Maestro’ that tells this whole story. I’d listen to him play through the window, because my room was sort of parallel to his practice room.”

Cohn, 64, made an early mark in his career when he won a 1992 Grammy for Best New Artist on the strength of his acclaimed 1991 self-titled debut album and its hit single, “Walking in Memphis.” But a key piece of advice he received a while before then from a music industry titan has served him well throughout his career.

“Before I got signed to Atlantic, I remember seeing Jerry Wexler sitting in the corner at a party, and nobody knew who he was,” Cohn recalled.

“I was about 19 or 20, and I went up to him and basically kissed the ring. I asked if he would mind if I sent him a demo. He said no and said I could send it to him. I never thought he’d respond, but a month

or two later, I did send him something, and he got back to me. In his gruff, wonderful voice he said, ‘Do you want a piece of advice I heard from Ray Charles?’ I said, ‘Yes, please.’ He said, ‘Your songs are good – you need to work on them a lot more, and your singing is way over the top. Ray Charles told me to always sing like you’ve got a full cup of coffee and not one drop goes over the edge.’ I took that to heart, and I’ve been trying to sing with no drops going over the edge for the last few years. When I hear people that do sing over the top, to me, that’s the opposite of soul.”

For now, Cohn plans to limit his singing like he’s got a full cup of java to his performances in front of live audiences. “I’ve always been slow to get to a full record concept,” he said. “I have no other plans to be in the studio. John (Leventhal) is producing another project that I’m trying to write some lyrics for, so I do a lot of that lately. I’m trying to write stuff for other people. Mainly, when John calls, I answer. After that, it’s really just a matter of touring.” DP SHOW DETAILS WHAT: Marc Cohn with Chelsea Williams WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20 WHERE: The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano COST: Tickets start at $40 INFO: thecoachhouse.com

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Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

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Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Page 12

danapointtimes.com

DP LIVING

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

Senior Dating Deal-Breaker?

Multiple Marriages Debated

I

n December, a divorced woman named Margie, 63, married three times, emailed, stating that she had met a single divorced man, 66. She asked, “Should the number of marriages each has had matter? How many marriages before it becomes a red flag? We met two weeks ago.”

I responded to Margie: “It is not uncommon for people our age to have had more than one marriage. Does that make us tainted? Does that mean we’re bad people? No. “I’ve had three marriages, and my partner of 25 years, Greta, also had three. Having the same number of marriages was one of the things we had in common, so it was a positive thing we both had multiple marriages. Neither wanted a fourth marriage.

We had a great relationship before she passed.”

Other senior singles have asked me the “how many marriages?” question recently. Perhaps it’s because Valentine’s Day is only a month away and

the number of marriages either one had; it was most likely the age difference. I was merely 23 years older.

The second widow’s husband was 25 years older than she. I didn’t know if he had been her only husband until one night, when we were enjoying an adult beverage, I asked her if it mattered that I had been married three times. She said no.

I said, “How about you? She said, “Seven.”

I responded, “Seven times?” She became defensive and was irked by my question. That was our final date.

She’d had enough of me, and I was scared to continue dating her.

And then my friend Jim and I met an attractive woman, 61, during breakfast at R.J’s Café in Dana Point.

We told her we were both single men who had lost our partners during 2022. She said she was widowed after 11 years of marriage.

When Jim and I saw her at breakfast three months later, we asked her to join us just to chat for a few minutes.

The topic of the number of previous marriages came up.

I asked her if she had been married more than once. She nodded yes. I held up two fingers. She said no. Three fingers. She said no. Four fingers, no.

some seniors are pondering the marriage issue.

Does the number of marriages a senior had matON LIFE AND LOVE ter? Right off the AFTER 50 top, I say no. HowBY TOM BLAKE ever, if the number exceeds four, or if the number is zero, I think the couple needs to discuss the whys and why not of their marriage number. Just to see if there’s a red flag.

Last year, a few months after Greta passed away, I was lonely and missed female companionship. So, I started dating. The number of marriages a potential mate had didn’t matter to me.

Or so I thought.

Three of the women I dated were widows. The first had been married five times. I had known her for years, and she had many fine qualities, so her five marriages didn’t bother me. But she very quickly moved on. It wasn’t

FROM THE ARCHIVES

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Cassie

Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

Five fingers, no. Six fingers – finally, yes.

Jim and I were dumbfounded. Her answer surprised us. She was such a soft-spoken, pleasant, and shy person. We didn’t ask for details, and she wasn’t about to offer them.

In 2024, does the number of times a person has been married matter?

Many seniors have been married more than once. Most singles 75-plus don’t want to remarry, but most of them would relish a nice relationship, regardless of the number of times a potential new partner was married.

Sandy, a reader, wrote: “There is no need to be scared off by the number of marriages – until you investigate the circumstances. But eight would cause me to take a breath.”

I agree with Sandy.

Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website as 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@sanclementetimes.com.

DANA POINT TIMES

This pretty girl is Cassie, a spayed female Palomino rabbit looking for her forever home. Three and a half years old, Cassie is a sweet and laidback bunny with a great personality. She can be a little shy at first meeting, but she warms up quickly and is easy to handle. Cassie has good litter-box habits and would make a good first rabbit for someone.

If you are interested in adopting Cassie, 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 Courtesy of the Dana Point Historical Society

BY MYLES MELLOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

Pictured is the Fountain Lunch/Service Station building at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Blue Lantern, with cars parked along the bluff in the background, in 1927. This was the first commercial business in Dana Point. The Blue Lantern Gazebo is visible at the bluff. 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 ryoungman@picketfencemedia.com.

Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Each Sudoku puzzle 3 1 9 8 6 7 4 2 5 consists of a 9x9 grid 2 8 4 9 5 1 6 7 3 that has been subdi7 6 5 3 2 4 9 8 1 vided into nine smaller 8 9 2 6 3 5 1 4 7 4 3 7 2 1 8 5 9 6 grids of 3x3 squares.

6 5 1 7 4 9 2 3 8 To solve the puzzle, 5 2 6 4 8 3 7 1 9 1 7 3 5 9 2 8 6 4 each row, column and 9 4 8 1 7 6 3 5 2 box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9.

Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium Page 13

Sudoku medium by Myles Mellor

5

7

3 3 2 1 2 9 4 6 5 7 2 8 5 4 1 7 8 2 9 8 5 2 3 See the solution in next week’s issue.

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NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: AVIS JOAN BLOOD aka AVIS BLOOD aka JOAN BLOOD aka AJ BLOOD Case Number: 30-2023-01355374-PR-LA-CMC To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will and or estate, or both, of AVIS JOAN BLOOD aka AVIS BLOOD aka JOAN BLOOD aka AJ BLOOD A Petition for Probate has been filed by DONALD RAY ABLES in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE .

The Petition for Probate requests that DONALD RAY ABLES be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: a. Date: April 25, 2024 Time: 1:30 p.m. in Dept: CM6 b. Address of Court: Costa Mesa Justice Complex, 3390 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Other: 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.

Petitioner: Donald Ray Ables, 33452 Valley View Court, Dana Point, CA 92629 PH: (949) 291-1512 Published in: Dana Point Times, January 5, 12, 19, 2024

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME 20236677631 The following person(s) has(have) abandoned the use of the Fictitious Business Name: NOOSH 33781 MARIANA DRIVE APT 5 DANA POINT, CA 92629 The Fictitious Business Name referred to above was filed in Orange County on: 07/15/2022.

FILE NO. 20226639562 Full Name of Registrant(s): Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

BENOOSH LLC 33781 MARIANA DRIVE APT 5 DANA POINT, CA 92629 This business is conducted by a CA Limited Liability Company.

BENOOSH LLC /s/ Anahita Taimaher, President This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 11/29/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 30-2023-01369605 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner JAMES JOSEPH NOLLAR filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name JAMES JOSEPH NOLLAR Proposed Name DEMETRIOS JAMES JOSEPH NOLLAR 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: 2/21/2024 Time: 8:30 am Dept: D-100 Room: REMOTE The address of the court is: Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Other: Remote Hearing (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: 12/29/2023 JUDGE LAYNE MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court Published: Dana Point Times January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678297 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ALTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 33522 AVENIDA CALITA SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675 Full Name of Registrant(s): ALTER MENTAL HEALTH - DANA POINT LLC 34270 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, SUITE C 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 ALTER MENTAL HEALTH - DANA POINT LLC /s/ANDREW POLSKY, MANAGING MEMBER/ MANAGER This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/11/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678305 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ALTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - DANA POINT REHAB 33861 GRANADA DRIVE DANA POINT , CA 92629 Full Name of Registrant(s): CALIFORNIA REHAB CAMPUS LLC 34270 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, SUITE C DANA POINT, CA 92629 This business is conducted by a AZ Limited Liability Company.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: n/a CALIFORNIA REHAB CAMPUS LLC/s/ANDREW POLSKY, MANAGING MEMBER/MANAGER This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/11/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678303 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ALTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - MISSION VIEJO 26100 MALAGA LANE MISSION VIEJO, CA 92692 Full Name of Registrant(s): ALTER MENTAL HEALTH LLC 34270 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, SUITE C 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 ALTER MENTAL HEALTH LLC /s/ANDREW POLSKY, MANAGING MEMBER/MANAGER This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/11/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678544 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CONNECT 4 PURPOSE 26961 AVENIDA LAS PALMAS #B DANA POINT, CA 92624 Full Name of Registrant(s): ANA MARIE ROTHWELL 26961 AVENIDA LAS PALMAS #B DANA POINT, CA 92624 This business is conducted by an Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: n/a /s/ANA ROTHWELL This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/13/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, December 22, 29, 2023, January 5, 12, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678241 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: INSIGHTFUL INSURANCE 33407 PASEO EL LAZO SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675 Full Name of Registrant(s): ANDREAS VUCICEVIC 33407 PASEO EL LAZO SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675 This business is conducted by an Individual.

Page 14

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: n/a /s/ANDREAS VUCICEVIC This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/08/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, December 22, 29, 2023, January 5, 12, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678301 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ALTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - IRVINE 19402 SIERRA BELLO RD IRVINE, CA 92603 Full Name of Registrant(s): CAMBRIDGE MENTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC 34270 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, SUITE C 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 CAMBRIDGE MENTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC /s/ANDREW POLSKY, MANAGING MEMBER/MANAGER This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/11/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678299 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ALTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 34270 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, SUITE C DANA POINT, CA 92629 Full Name of Registrant(s): ALTER MANAGEMENT LLC 34270 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, SUITE C 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 ALTER MANAGEMENT LLC /s/ANDREW POLSKY, MANAGING MEMBER/MANAGER This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/11/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236678298 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ALTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - LAGUNA BEACH OUTPATIENT 31642 SOUTH PACIFIC COAST HWY, #100 LAGUNA BEACH, CA 92651 Full Name of Registrant(s): ALTIGNIS HEALTH LLC 34270 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, SUITE C 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 ALTIGNIS HEALTH LLC /s/ANDREW POLSKY, MANAGING MEMBER/MANAGER This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/11/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20246679787 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: JAIR ORDUNAGARCIA 16561 ALLIANCE AVE APT 2 TUSTIN, CA 92780 Full Name of Registrant(s): JAIR ASAHEL ORDUNA GARCIA 16561 ALLIANCE AVE APT 2 TUSTIN, CA 92780 This business is conducted by an Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: 01/01/2022 /s/JAIR A. ORDUNA GARCIA, OWNER-CEO This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 01/02/2024.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236679063 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: SMOOTH WATERS MARITIME 25491 NEPTUNE DR DANA POINT, CA 92629 Full Name of Registrant(s): THE DIRECT CONNECTION, INC. 25491 NEPTUNE DR DANA POINT, CA 92629 This business is conducted by a UT Corporation.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: n/a THE DIRECT CONNECTION, INC./s/JOHN

NIELSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This statement was filed with the County Clerk on 12/20/2023.

Published in: Dana Point Times, January 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

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

BOYS BASKETBALL OPENS LEAGUE TITLE DEFENSE WITH EIGHTH STRAIGHT WIN After winning its first league championship since 2014 last season, the Dana Hills boys basketball team finds itself as the team with the target on its back, rather than one taking aim.

Unfortunately for the rest of the Sea View League, the Dolphins are still talented, even deeper and on a roll.

Dana Hills nailed 13 3-pointers, scored over 70 points for the eighth straight game and won its eighth consecutive game in a 71-43 win over rival Aliso Niguel at home in the Dolphins’ Sea View League opener on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Four players scored in double figures for Dana Hills (16-4, 1-0), with junior sharpshooter Collin Haugh again leading the way over Aliso Niguel (155, 0-2) with 18 points and four 3-pointers. Senior Niki Grguric contributed 15 points, senior point guard Logan Scodeller scored 14 points, and senior Ryan Torab netted 10 points. Senior guard Dennis Powers knocked down three 3-pointers for nine points.

“Yes, especially offensively, in terms of making shots,” Dana Hills coach Tom Desiano said when asked if this was his deepest roster in recent seasons. “There’s no substitute for good shooters, I’m telling you that right now, and we happen to have a few. It doesn’t happen all the time, but we’re fortunate.”

With Haugh commanding a lot of attention from opposing defenses, the rest of those starting Dolphins get more open looks, and that was the case early against the Wolverines.

The game opened like a boxing match, with Dana Hills and Aliso Niguel exchanging blows to a 17-17 tie early in the second quarter, but that’s when the Dolphins turned up the heat. Dana Hills enacted its full-court press, which put Aliso Niguel off balance, and the Dolphins pounced.

“It’s just about tempo with us,” Desiano said. “(Aliso Niguel Coach) Keith Barnett, he’s a great coach, and he tried to slow things down, run Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Dana Hills boys basketball won its eighth straight game with 13 3-pointers over Aliso Niguel in the Dolphins’ first game in defense of last season’s Sea View League championship. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

the shot clock. We just had to pick up our intensity defensively, and we want to make the game 90 feet. Our press caused some turnovers, some quick shots, and we were able to get in transition.”

Dana Hills’ first three baskets of the second quarter were 3-point shots from Powers, Grguric and Torab, and the Dolphins’ hot shooting allowed them to hit the gas to close out the half on a 13-0 run, including three consecutive 3-pointers. Haugh sank two of those shots from distance, as he finally found some space.

“I was feeling good today,” Haugh said. “They tried to shut me down early. My teammates opened up the game for me, and made it a lot easier for me.”

Dana Hills led by 15 at halftime, 3924, and the Dolphins pushed out to a 25-point lead on back-to-back 3s from Haugh and Scodeller late in the third quarter.

Dana Hills’ final three baskets of the game also came from beyond the arc on lasers from Haugh, Powers and senior Platon Pukhov to put away the 28-point victory.

The Dolphins have won comfortably in nearly every game of this eightgame win streak, with only a twopoint victory in the Desert Holiday Classic championship as the outlier.

Dana Hills put up 103 points in its nonleague finale against Bishop Diego

of Santa Barbara on Jan. 4, which is the most points for the Dolphins in at least the past 20 years.

“It’s about establishing our identity and what kind of team we want to be,” Desiano said of the current run. “We went out to the desert, had four good games, and I think the kids started playing with a lot of confidence in what we do, and they have fun doing it.”

Dana Hills, ranked No. 9 in CIF-SS Division 2AA, continues in the Sea View League at Mission Viejo on Friday, Jan. 12, and the Dolphins host El Toro next Wednesday, Jan. 17. Dana Hills is at Aliso Niguel next Friday, Jan. 19.

GIRLS BASKETBALL DOWNS LEAGUE CHAMPS IN LEAGUE OPENER In last season’s turnaround breakout year for the Dana Hills girls basketball team, the Dolphins were only foiled in league by eventual Sea View League champion El Toro. Dana Hills got its chance to start league play on the right foot against those same Chargers, and the Dolphins took advantage.

Dana Hills took care of business at home against El Toro, 60-42, on Tuesday, Jan. 9, to win the first of three contests between the league title contenders. The Dolphins (16-3, 1-0) and

Page 16

Chargers (12-7, 0-1) are the only two teams in the Sea View League with winning records ahead of Mission Viejo (6-13) and Capistrano Valley (2-8).

Freshman sensation Kayla Rice again paced the Dolphins with a game-high 18 points, and junior Lola Bellon stepped up with 10 points.

Freshman Regan Akason added nine points.

While the Dolphins captured the important first meeting against El Toro, Dana Hills knows all too well that the road ahead is still long. Dana Hills won its first game against El Toro last season, also at home, before falling in its next two games against the Chargers.

After games at Mission Viejo on Thursday, Jan. 11 and at home against Capistrano Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 16, Dana Hills is at El Toro on Thursday, Jan. 18. El Toro hosts the third matchup on Jan. 29.

Dana Hills, ranked No. 4 in CIF-SS Division 3A, has won 13 of its past 15 games, with its only two losses coming to St. Margaret’s, ranked No. 2 in Division 3A, by similar scores of 52-48 and 52-49. The Dolphins dropped their nonleague finale to the Tartans last Saturday, Jan. 6. DP

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DP SURF

2024 WSL SEASON STARTS WITH A BANG World Junior Championships in Oceanside, SLO CAL Open in Pismo Beach, Pipe Pro in Hawaii on tap

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

A

fter a run of pretty epic winter swells in California the past couple weeks, the World Surf League has no shortage of big events coming down the pipeline. By the time you read this, the World Junior Championships will be well underway in Oceanside, while up north, the Qualifying Series’ SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach is ramping up. And at the end of the month, the Championship Tour kicks off with the Pipe Pro in Hawaii. If you’re a fan of pro surfing, there’s plenty to get fired up for this month.

The World Junior Championships will feature 24 men and 24 women of the best under-20 surfers from around the world. As far as local talent goes, San Clemente’s Jett Schilling, Taj Lindblad and Bella Kenworthy are all in the draw and will be looking to etch their names on the world title trophy. Other surfers in the draw include fellow Americans Levi Slawson, Alyssa Spencer and Zoe Benedetto, as well as rising stars Erin Brooks and her bestie, Sky Brown. They’ve made their way into the event either by regional qualifiers or by one of the 10 wild cards selected by the WSL Tours and Competition team. Besides the cash and notoriety, the 2023 World Junior Champions will be awarded spots on the 2024 Challenger Series.

The waiting period for the WSL World Junior Championships runs from January 9-14.

“I’m really excited to compete in the World Junior Championships again, and I’m excited it’s in Oceanside,” Brooks said in a press statement. “I’ve spent a lot of time here, so I’m really confident at the wave, and hopefully I can put on a good performance. I’m honored to be among so many amazing up-and-coming surfers. If I were to win, it’d give me the confidence to try and make the CT and hopefully win world titles someday.”

After that, the SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach kicks off on January 22 on the Central California coast. Again, Dana Point Times January 12 - 18, 2024

Slawson and Benedetto are going to be among those to watch, but local legend Kolohe Andino is also riding high on the North America Qualifying Ratings. A favorite in any Qualifying Series event he surfs, Andino’s been surfing tack-sharp lately, and there’s no reason he can’t go the distance at the Pismo pier.

Finally, the month wraps up with the start of the 2024 Championship Tour in Hawaii. With world No. 3 Griffin Colapinto leading the charge, he’s got a whole crew of fired-up rookies behind him, including his younger brother Crosby, Cole Houshmand, Kade Matson and Sawyer Lindblad.

The crew has been working hard throughout the offseason to get their boards, bodies and minds ready for the big year ahead. Between time in the gym and trips to Hawaii, they look ready. This is the most exciting rookie class to join the Championship Tour in years, and with the WSL Finals returning to Lowers at the end of the season in September, it’s time to get fired up.

To have so many local surfers doing such amazing things at the highest

GROM OF THE WEEK

RUBY STRINGFELLOW

BY JAKE HOWARD

Big ups to San Clemente’s Ruby Stringfellow, who’s been on a tear in USA Surfing’s West Coast Surfing Prime events. Last weekend, she headed up to Santa Cruz for the competition, and in the large, cold conditions stood strong to take her second Under-14 win in as many events. It was hardly a walk in the park, but she was able to negotiate the big, wintertime swells at Steam Lane and put in a brilliant performance.

During a great weekend for a number of area surfers, San Clemente’s Peeta Kenworthy took third in the same division, while Tanner Sandvig took third in the Under 14 Boys and Eden

San Clemente’s Sawyer Lindblad will make her rookie debut on the WSL Championship Tour later this month when the 2024 season kicks off in Hawaii. Photo: Courtesy of Tostee/WSL

levels of the sport, it illustrates just why this area in South Orange County is such a hotbed for American surf talent and how deep that talent runs.

From the World Junior Championships to the Championship Tour, it’s time to start cheering and showing those local surfers just what they mean to the community.

It’s on in 2024.

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.

Walla won the Under 18 Girls division.

Prior to her run up the coast, Ruby recorded her first USA Surfing Prime win in Huntington Beach earlier in the season.

She’s also been making her presence felt among the WSA ranks and collecting plenty of hardware there, as well.

Dedicating herself to her surfing goals, Ruby Stringfellow (far left). Photo: Courtesy of USA Surfing you may find Ruby putting in the hard If you have a candidate for Grom of the yards training in and out of the water.

Week, we want to know. Send an email to Starting the new year with a bang, we jakehoward1@gmail.com. can’t wait to see what the rest of 2024 has in store for Ruby. DP

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