July 17, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

July 17-23, 2020

YO U

C A N

U S E

Editor’s Pick: SUP Yoga in the Harbor PAGE 10

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 29

Back in Session

CUSD Board Tentatively Approves Flexible Plan for Reopening Schools E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 6

The recommended options from staff for what CUSD education will look like for the 2020-21 school year include a hybrid model with different options for K-5 and 6-12 students. Photo: Pexels

Brough Requests State Audit of TCA EYE ON DP/PAGE 4

What Will Sports Look Like This Fall?

SPORTS/PAGE 13

danapointtimes.com

A New Marathon Route in South OC? EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

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

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Page 2

danapointtimes.com

DP EYE ON DP

Dana Dana Point Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING Dana Point VFW Post 9934 Elects New Commander

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week A New 26-Mile Marathon Route Around South OC? THE LATEST: Marathon runners, are you ready to try the San Clemente Loop: PierSummit-Pier?

Nicole Bright, 20, has mapped out a 26.2-mile marathon course around the perimeter of her hometown of San Clemente. It also includes stretches of Capistrano Beach and Camp Pendleton.

It’s possible to begin Bright’s marathon route on Doheny Park Road, running the 26-mile loop back to Dana Point, making it effectively a course based in Dana Point.

The Saddleback College student gave it a whirl on Saturday, July 11, setting out solo from the pier at 6 a.m. and arriving back at 11:45 a.m., producing what then became the fastest known time for her course: 5 hours, 45 minutes, 54 seconds.

She registered the route and her FKT with the website fastestknowntime.com. View the route there. Look her up under “athletes.”

“Great course with lots of views and highlights of San Clemente!” she describes the run on the FKT website. “It was about 50/50 trail and street. I expected the second half to be easier, but it wasn’t. Lots of steep hills.”

“It was a HOT run/hike!” said her mother, Jennifer Bright, in a July 11 email to the San Clemente Times. “We would love for Nicki to be recognized for this accomplishment and to inspire others to complete the challenge.”

Asked via email what had inspired her, Nicki cited a recent SC Times article about local residents Dee and Paul Milosch, who had put together a 23-mile hike from the pier around the backside of San Clemente.

They hiked it in a single day, calling it the “Pier to Summit to Pier Challenge.”

Nicki, who began extreme running as a sophomore at San Clemente High School, said she has done eight full marathon distances and three ultramarathons.

“I ran the entire course unsupported from any of my friends or family, with the water and food I had in my hydration pack to fuel me the whole way,” Nicki wrote.

“My variety of nutrition during a long run like this includes an electrolyte hydration mix, energy gels and protein bars. I carried two liters of water, but found that I need more for the next time I attempt this course. I found myself needing a lot more, toward the hotter part of the day.”

The Camp Pendleton stretch was diffiDana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Nicki Bright emerges from Camp Pendleton along Cristianitos Road, after enduring steep off-road trails to get there. Photo: Courtesy of Bright family

cult—“a lot of unexpected elevation gain,” she wrote. “I hadn’t run that portion in my training runs. Nevertheless, I powered through, looking up to the crest of each hill, imagining how amazing the ocean breeze was going to feel once I reached the top.”

The home stretch, northward along the beach trail to the pier, was “one of the best finish lines I have ever experienced,” Nicki wrote. “The breeze as you run to the end of the pier is refreshing and signifies you have completed the difficult course behind you.

My family and a couple friends were cheering me on at Fisherman’s as I took those final steps and sat down on the pavement, breathing heavily and guzzling the ice-cold sparkling water my family had brought me.”

Advice for others? Start at 4 a.m., to

minimize exposure to summer heat; bring more water, or stash water, at intervals, beforehand; bring an upbeat music playlist; enjoy the course.

“If you aren’t having fun, what’s the point!?” Nicki wrote.

THE ROUTE

Pier, Beach Trail, PCH, Doheny Park Road, Victoria Boulevard, Via Canon, Via Velez, Calle Naranja, Camino de los Mares, Camino del Rio, Avenida La Pata, Prima Deshecha North Trail, Talega Trail, Cristianitos South Trail, Prima Deshecha South Trail, State Park Trails, Cristianitos Road, Avenida del Presidente, Avenida Calafia, Beach Trail, Pier.—Fred Swegles

Dana Point

Confirmed cases Deaths

COVID-19 TRACKER

135 0

THE LATEST: The Dana Point VFW Post 9934 members elected and installed Lew Talbot as their new Commander on Tuesday, July 14.

Talbot, a Navy Seabee, served two tours in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967-1968; he operated heavy equipment in that area of combat. Following his departure from the military, he owned and operated a carpet and flooring company locally, until his recent retirement. Talbot has worked with the VFW Post officers for the past two and half years in the planning and implementing of all programs and activities with which they are involved.

Talbot’s predecessor, Wayne Yost, who served two years as junior vice-commander, two years as senior vice-commander, and three years as commander of the Dana Point Post, is currently the senior vice-commander for the VFW Southern California District 2. He has accepted the position of assistant quartermaster for 9934 and will be working in their office located at Dana Point City Hall.

“Since the San Clemente Post recently merged into the Dana Point Post, membership has grown to almost 550 veterans, all who have served from World War II until the present, in overseas areas of combat,” Yost said.

This year, on its 25th anniversary, VFW Post 9934 received both the prestigious “All-State Post” award and for the ninth time, the coveted “All-American Post” award for their outstanding contributions to veterans, as well as to the community.

“Our local organization is committed to assisting homeless veterans, as well as those who are at risk of becoming homeless, achieve a normal and productive lifestyle, through a large range of programs,” Yost said. “In addition, they have programs such as ‘Veterans in the Classroom,’ essay contests for middle and high school students, as well as recognition of outstanding teachers.”

Furthermore, each year Post 9934 gives honors to first responders, law enforcement, fire and EMT officials.

As a result of restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus, many of the Post’s activities have been temporally curtailed; however, Yost says they hope to resume their full range of programs as soon as possible.

For more information, visit vfwpost9934.org.—Lillian Boyd

Mike Frost Declares Run for District 4 City Council Seat

*Information as of 7/15/20. Source: Orange County Health Care Agency

Page 3

THE LATEST: The Fourth District of Dana Point will vote in November for a city council representative for the first time since the city converted to a districted system (Cont. on page 4) danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) in 2018. Mike Frost has announced he will officially throw his hat into the ring for the 2020 election.

Frost and his family have lived in the Lantern Village neighborhood since 2009.

In 2010, he began serving on the Lantern Village Association (LVA) Community Board.

“I am compelled to run for city council not only to represent our District but all the residents of Dana Point,” Frost said.

“This election is important to District 4, because we deserve representation that has the energy, knowledge and enthusiasm to engage with our community members on city issues, gather and drive consensus, and then effectively communicate our issues to all councilmembers and city staff in a positive manner.”

According to a statement announcing his bid, Frost’s career has been vested in the real estate industry and includes experience in financial modeling, accounting, purchasing, consulting, and operations within large-scale real estate companies.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 2019, he was appointed to the city’s Financial Review Committee. Frost has also served on the city’s Traffic and Parking Subcommittee.

“Many folks in the community are aware of my devotion to the Lantern Village, serving on the LVA board within a year of purchasing our home in 2009,” Frost said.

“I spent two years upgrading our little cottage and gained a hands-on appreciation for city public policies and operations . . . from planning, to building codes, to code enforcement and have gotten to know most of the staff at the city, as well as our local leaders, volunteers and community groups during the last decade.”

Frost and his wife, Heidi, were married at the Ocean Institute in 2011. They have two young children who attend Dana Montessori and RH Dana Elementary School.

In 2018, Districts 1, 2 and 3 voted in Councilmembers Joe Muller, Richard Viczorek and Jamey Federico, respectively, and they are currently serving their four-year terms. This year, constituents in Districts 4 and 5 will vote for their representatives. Councilmembers Debra Lewis and Paul Wyatt hold at-large seats that Districts 4 and 5 will replace.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Dana Point City Council election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Should Councilmembers Wyatt and Lewis choose to run for reelection, they would compete for the Fourth District seat.—LB

Assemblymember Brough Requests State Audit of TCA THE LATEST: Assemblymember Bill Brough has reissued a letter to request an Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

audit of Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) by the California State Auditor over his continued concerns regarding financial inconsistencies and the use of public dollars.

According to a 55-page report released late last month, an Orange County Grand Jury investigation into the TCA found, among other things, that the toll road operators have continued to place themselves in future road planning efforts and projects likely outside of their legislative purview, despite having fulfilled much of their original mandates—to build toll roads.

The Grand Jury noted that the TCA’s duties and responsibilities are currently already under the purview of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

“An important fact here is that the Grand Jury did not find anything the TCA does that is unique and can’t be accomplished by OCTA and Caltrans other than the repayment of its substantial debt,” the report said.

Brough says this confirms what he has been saying the past three years and is part of an ongoing audit package by the assemblymember to hold state and local government agencies responsible for a mismanagement of public dollars, a lack of transparency and to demand accountability.

“I was the subject of personal attacks by toll road proponents that cost me my job.

Now, the Grand Jury came to a number of findings, but the main one is they should pay down their debt and sunset operations,” Brough said in a press release from his office.

Brough is now seeking the California Joint Legislative Audit Committee’s approval of the audit, which would follow previous requests for external audits by 49th District Rep. Mike Levin and 74th District Assemblymember Cottie PetrieNorris that have been left idle.

“The investigation into the Transportation Corridor Agencies found that the toll road operators have continued to place themselves in future road planning efforts outside of their legislative purview,” Brough said in a statement. “The report, similar to a Grand Jury report from 2015, raises questions on whether public funds are being spent responsibly and whether the TCA’s actions are transparent.”

Additionally the report states, “The Grand Jury knows of one case where a TCA [Board of Director] member acted favorably on a TCA contract with a firm where he/she had a personal or political interest.” The report goes as far as to “recommend a Fair Political Practices Commission investigation of TCA lobbying, financial dealings, and advocacy activities.”

In response, the TCA flatly rejected many of the findings, calling the report incomplete and lacking information as the investigation was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic—a predicament the Grand Jury noted in the report’s preface.

“The report contains outdated information and neglected to address the fact that TCA is responsible for the operations of the largest network of toll roads in the state, serving nearly two million accountholders and processing more than 100,000,000 tolls last year,” the agencies said in a press release.

The Orange County Grand Jury investigation had to conclude early due to coronavirus concerns, which is noted in report. Brough argues that because of the early conclusion and the troubling findings of the Grand Jury report, a complete audit of the TCA is needed.

WHAT’S NEXT: Brough’s requests will be considered by the JLAC at its upcoming hearing on Aug. 11.—LB and Shawn Raymundo

Gov. Newsom Announces Further Restrictions as Coronavirus Cases Surge THE LATEST: As coronavirus cases continue surging throughout California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced further restrictions on Monday, July 13.

Counties on the monitoring list are directed to close indoor operations for fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, personal care services (including hair salons and barbershops) and indoor malls. Orange County is on that list.

“That monitoring list is one that we hold very closely,” Newsom said. “These 30 counties in total represent about 80% of the population in the state of California.”

The monitoring list is dynamic, and counties can get on and off the list depending on the ability to mitigate the spread of the pandemic and reduce hospitalizations.

On Wednesday, July 15, the Orange County Health Care Agency reported 911 new cases, bringing the county total to 27,031 cases with 455 total deaths. The agency also reported a total of 11,611 estimated recoveries.

The seven-day average for testing positivity percentage has been more than 14% for the past nine days, sitting at 14.1% on Wednesday—above the California Department of Public Health threshold of 8% that keeps Orange County on the watch list. It was 6.6% on June 18. Orange County has conducted 329,001 total tests.

Hospitalizations in Orange County were back on the rise for the second straight day, with a three-day average change at 4.5%, but that is still below the CDPH threshold of 10%. Hospitalizations had doubled in Orange County between June 18 and July 8, and after four days of stabilizing, hospitalizations hit new highs for two straight days, including 722 on Wednesday.

ICU cases in Orange County sat at 238 on Wednesday, with 38.6% of ICU beds and 63.9% of ventilators currently available

Page 4

in the county, both clear of the respective CDPH thresholds of 20% and 25%, respectively.

Locally, in South Orange County, Dana Point has had 135 cases with no deaths, San Clemente has had a cumulative 237 cases with three deaths, San Juan Capistrano has had 181 cases with three deaths, and Rancho Mission Viejo has had 38 cases with fewer than five deaths. (Because Rancho Mission Viejo is an unincorporated area with fewer than 25,000 people, the county does not report a specific death total until it reaches five.)

All counties statewide are required to close indoor operations for restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, and museums. Outdoor operations are still allowed. Those operations had previously been ordered to close in Orange County, and other counties on the monitoring list, shortly after being allowed to reopen.

The “dimming” on California’s reopening is because of increases in ICU use in rural parts of California, Newsom said.

“This virus is not going away anytime soon,” Newsom said. “I hope all of us recognize that if we’re still connected to some notion that somehow when it gets warm, it’s going to go away or take summer months or weekends off, this virus has done neither.”

Newsom also again urged people to wear face masks and wash their hands to help prevent the spread of the pandemic.

Health officials recommend wearing face masks, washing hands and practicing other hygiene measures, and social distancing.

Newsom acknowledged the pandemic is a difficult time, thanked residents for their perseverance, and urged people to stay vigilant.

“We were able to suppress the spread of this virus and knock down the growth of this in the beginning,” Newsom said.

“We’re going to do this again.”

When asked about guidance for school districts as they consider whether to reopen for upcoming school years, Newsom pointed to previously issued guidance measures, and said there are different agencies monitoring varying conditions. Newsom pointed to Los Angeles Unified School District and San Diego Unified School District continuing to use distance learning. Newsom said children’s health is important.

On Wednesday, July 15, Capistrano Unified School District tentatively approved a plan for reopening schools that included hybrid models of on-campus and off-campus instruction, as well as the option for 100% online learning if families so choose.

Contrary to a recent recommendation from the Orange County Board of Education (OCBE) against using face masks and social distancing, CUSD will require face coverings for all faculty, staff and students while encouraging social distancing, hand washing and other safety guidelines. (For more details, see the story on page 6.)

—Collin Breaux and Zach Cavanagh danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Nomination Period for City Council Candidates Begins Monday, July 13 was the first day candidates could be nominated for office in this year’s General Election, which includes seats for Districts 4 and 5 for Dana Point City Council.

Candidates may be nominated by registered voters in their district between July 13 and 5 p.m. on Friday, August 7.

In 2018, Districts 1, 2 and 3 voted in Councilmembers Joe Muller, Richard Viczorek and Jamey Federico, respectively, and they are currently serving their four-year terms. This year, constituents in Districts 4 and 5 will vote for their representatives. Councilmembers Debra Lewis and Paul Wyatt hold at-large seats that Districts 4 and 5 will replace. The Dana Point City Council election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Should Councilmembers Wyatt and Lewis choose to run for reelection, they would compete for the Fourth District seat.

The City of Dana Point transitioned to a districted election system and sequence for city council elections after a vote held during the May 15, 2018 council meeting.

Prior to the vote, the city operated under an at-large election process. This year will be the first election for Districts 4 and 5.

So far, three candidates have announced their intention to run. In District 5, Michael Villar, a 17-year Capistrano Beach resident, and former Councilmember John Tomlinson, have filed paperwork indicating their candidacy. In District 4, Michael Frost, who has been involved with the Dana Point Traffic Improvement Subcommittee and Lantern Village Association, has also indicated he will run.

“Candidate information packets and nomination papers may be obtained at the city clerk’s office at Dana Point City Hall, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 203,” said Kathy Ward, Dana Point City Clerk. “If any incumbent has not filed nomination papers by Friday, Aug. 7, the nomination period is extended to Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 5:30 p.m.”

Chamber Sip-N-Learn Event Will Cover Bias in Media The San Clemente Chamber of Commerce’s July Sip-N-Learn Event will focus on “Bias in the Media,” and will be presented by First Amendment Voice.

The Zoom call event will take place on Thursday, July 23 from 5:30-6:45 p.m. and will be led by Steve Miska, ExecuDana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Photo: Pexels

tive Director of First Amendment Voice.

First Amendment Voice is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501c (3) organization that aims to facilitate inclusive dialogue on civic matters to educate and inspire citizens to engage on important matters in their communities.

Bias in the Media event topics will include exploring trends in the media landscape, learning how technological change shapes information consumption, the importance of local news and breakout sessions. Picket Fence Media Publisher Norb Garrett will participate in the event.

To register, email susie@scchamber.com

by Friday, July 17. A donation of $8 is requested for this event. Cost for Chamber members is $5. To learn more about First Amendment Voice, visit firstamendmentvoice.org.

OCTA Receives $160 Million in Federal CARES Act Funding Federal Transit Administration funds will help sustain OC Bus operations at necessary levels during the COVID-19 health crisis.

The Orange County Transportation Authority has been awarded a $160.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to help continue providing safe and reliable public transit services during the coronavirus pandemic.

OCTA applied for the funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the

CARES Act, signed into law in March.

OCTA signed the grant agreement on July 6.

OCTA will utilize the funding to help sustain bus operations and to comply with state and federal requirements for public health and safety. The CARES Act funding will make up for a sharp decline in revenue that corresponded to plummeting bus ridership when OC Bus service was temporarily reduced in March to protect the health and safety of the public and coach operators, as well as to coincide with stay-at-home orders issued by the state.

“We know many of our nation’s public transportation systems are facing extraordinary challenges, and these funds will go a long way to assisting our transit industry partners in battling COVID-19,” FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams said. “These federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies of all sizes providing essential travel and supporting transit workers across the country who are unable to work because of the public health emergency.”

On March 23, OCTA temporarily reduced OC Bus service to Sunday service levels on all days of the week.

In June, as Orange County started to gradually reopen under the state’s guidance, ridership also showed corresponding increases, and OCTA added some service back, operating on a modified Saturday schedule.

The OCTA board approved funding for the 2020-21 fiscal year, which began on July 1, for pre-COVID-19 levels of bus service, made possible with the federal

Page 5

Community Meetings SATURDAY, JULY 18

FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Each Saturday, California farmers bring fresh produce to sell at the Dana Point Farmers Market. Craft vendors are available the first Saturday of the month. La Plaza Park, Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point.

TUESDAY, JULY 21

DANA POINT CITY COUNCIL 6 p.m. The Dana Point City Council will meet for a regularly scheduled meeting in City Hall Council Chamber. 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

CARES Act grant funding. Service will be added back based on ridership demand and with public health and safety as the guiding principle.

For more information on OCTA’s bus service, visit ocbus.com.

Have something interesting for the community?

Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

Back in Session CUSD Board Tentatively Approves Plan for Reopening Schools, Allows for Flexibility

BY COLLIN BREAUX, DANA POINT TIMES

G

oing against both recommendations by the Orange County Board of Education (OCBE) for no masks or social distancing for the new school year and other regional school districts that decided to go all in on virtual learning, the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees tentatively approved a recommended plan for reopening schools for the upcoming school year during a meeting on Wednesday, July 15.

The vote was 5-2. Trustees Judy Bullockus, Patricia Holloway, Gila Jones, Martha McNicholas, and Jim Reardon voted yes. Trustees Amy Hanacek and Krista Castellanos voted no. OCBE’s recommendations were not binding mandates, and individual school districts make their own decisions on local school policy.

The recommended options from staff for what CUSD education will look like for the 2020-21 school year include a hybrid model for grades K-5. Students will have the option of spending the day on campus, half of it being academic instruction with teachers and the other half in activities such as art or music with another teacher or staff member. K-5 students can also spend half the day at home with a parent or another adult.

The option for students in grades 6-12 is to do half of their instruction on campus and the other half online. Students in all Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

grades have the option of 100% online learning if families so choose. Class sizes will be limited to 16 students per teacher.

In contrast, Los Angeles Unified School District, San Diego Unified School District, and Santa Ana Unified School District are among those that will have an all-online learning model for the fall.

“Throughout this summer, we have worked to ensure options for our families, continued excellence in our curriculum and instruction, and a focus on the mental health of our young people as we open the new school year,” CUSD Chief Communications Officer Ryan Burris said in comments to Dana Point Times before the meeting.

The registration deadline for families is July 31. School teams will contact families who have not responded by then. If a family does not indicate a preference, the student will be placed in the 100% on-campus program if in grades K-5, and in the 50% on-campus program if in grades 6-12.

Early registration data from July 1-10 indicates that 63.34% of elementary families have already completed registration. Of those, 63.91% chose the 100% on-campus program, 21.32% chose the 50% on-campus program, and 14.77% chose online learning. For families with students in grades 6-12, 65.13% completed early registration.

Of those, 85.19% chose the 50% on-campus option, and 14.81% chose online learning.

CUSD campuses closed in March as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. Students took part in distance learning after campus closures, which CUSD officials acknowledged had shortcomings. Jones said the online education for this coming school year would be different from the past school year’s distance learning.

Reardon, the board president, said the plan allows for flexibility as circumstances rapidly change during the pandemic.

Actual decisions on school choices will likely have to be made in August, probably

in the first 10 days of the month based on recommendations by then, Reardon said.

“We don’t actually know whether we open school on August 18,” Reardon said. “This choice of online versus part-time versus in classroom is a false choice. That choice has yet to be made, and it will be made on the conditions that exist right as we get to the date that we anticipate opening.”

Jones, Hanacek, and Holloway said they supported online education. Hanacek said the board's decisions have a lot of weight, and they are responsible for what happens when people return to classrooms.

“There could be scenarios where young people inadvertently hurt someone, and they’d have to live with that, and we put them in that scenario,” Hanacek said. “Have we given thought to the inevitable, if we are deeming in-person education as essential?”

CUSD will follow an existing process for communicating about and handling the death of a student, staff member, or parent if that occurs. CUSD also has protocols for if someone tests positive for COVID-19: that person will be in isolation for at least 14 days, and people who had close contact with someone who tests positive will quarantine for 14 days from the date of initial possible exposure.

Face coverings such as masks or face shields will be required of faculty, staff, and students—the latter except for exemptions defined by the California Department of Health. Temperature screenings will be taken when students get on the bus or arrive at campus. Hand washing will be encouraged, and there will be social distancing dots inside and outside of classrooms.

Gatherings will be limited, and signage will be displayed around campus reminding everyone of safety guidelines.

As part of enforcing the face covering policy, CUSD will educate families on the importance of wearing them. People who don’t want to wear masks will be encouraged to enroll in online learning.

Page 6

Fifty people registered to speak for the public commentary portion of the meeting, though some were not on the line to talk.

Trustees limited their time to one minute instead of the usual three minutes, so there would be time for board discussion. Speakers included teachers, parents, and medical professionals and had a variety of perspectives; some supported returning to campus, some favored online education, some were for masks, some didn’t support masks.

Mental health will also be an important part of the new school year. Administrators, managers, and teachers will get training in mental health, and there will be monthly webinars for parents conducted by counselors.

Trustees also unanimously approved a resolution for a temporary high school graduation policy change that, in part, takes away health education requirements for the classes of 2021 through 2024.

Health education advocates have previously spoken against the resolution.

“We will be making many temporary policy decisions in order to best prioritize our resources to meet the needs of our students as we build a hybrid model for the opening of school,” Burris said.

Members of the student-led group CUSD Against Racism also called in to again advocate for an anti-racist curriculum and for more diverse narratives in education. Members of CUSD Against Racism have met with CUSD officials, and CUSD officials have reportedly been receptive to concerns and suggestions. CUSD Against Racism members said this was still a start.

Visit capousd.org for more information on the reopening plan and meeting. The Board of Trustees is expected to meet again on Aug. 5. DP Above: The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a tentative plan to reopen schools that allows for flexibility and options for students. Photo: File danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Page 7

danapointtimes.com

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

Letters to the Editor

HOW TO REACH US S E N I O R C I T Y E D I TO R Lillian Boyd • 949.388.7700, x113 lboyd@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS

IN RESPONSE TO WAYNE YOST

Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

THOMAS BOWNE, Dana Point

I am responding to the July 10 Dana Point Times Letter to the Editor entitled "Did you enjoy your Freedom on the Fourth of July?" by Wayne Yost: Mr. Yost welcomes dissenting views or criticism to his opinion, and I offer these.

We went into lockdown mode in March after authorities agreed with the warnings raised by the health care professionals.

The virus is highly contagious, and new cases were increasing on an exponential curve, threatening to overwhelm the health care system. The virus only kills about 2% of those infected, but for every one of those deaths, 10 persons are hospitalized, many fighting for their lives. Health care professionals had been infected and were disabled or died. We were desperately short of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators. No effective treatment was known and no vaccine available. The only thing to save us from being overwhelmed was a shutdown, with education of the population in self-protection, staying at home, social distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands many times a day.

The initial lockdown measures slowed the virus spread. In some areas, where people had become true believers, including New York, the battle was a winning one. These same measures produced the same successful results in other nations.

Mr. Yost writes from his individual standpoint; consideration of the standpoints of others is missing from his calculus of criticizing government actions. He makes no mention of the 47.8 million Americans who are 65 or older. Nor does he mention the millions more of Americans who have health conditions which put them at higher risk than others. His argument overlooks how deadly the virus is for this large segment of Americans.

In June, Americans wanted their freedom back, even in the face of predictions that infections would start to exponentially grow again. Now, just a month later, the U.S. has become a pariah amongst nations, the virus running rampant. My U.S. passport, which gave me the freedom to travel to most places in the world, now causes me to be excluded.

The United States, the richest and most powerful of nations, has failed to contain this virus. A blind assertion of personal freedom without regard for others is to blame. It is as risky as driving a car while blind.

No American, especially those anxious to extol the virtues of our liberties, can be proud of this failure to contain the virus.

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

ADVERTISING PRINT & ONLINE

Lauralyn Loynes • 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@picketfencemedia.com

DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Inna Cazares • 949.388.7700, x111 icazares@picketfencemedia.com

GENERAL MANAGER Alyssa Garrett • 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA Rep. Mike Levin released a detailed report on June 24 regarding recommended policies and proposals surrounding the decommissioning and storage of nuclear waste at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Photo: File

Nor will most feel it was worth it to completely ignore the vulnerability to the virus of a large segment of Americans.

Hence, I sincerely criticize and dissent to the viewpoint offered by Mr. Yost.

LEVIN TASK FORCE REPORT ROGER JOHNSON, San Clemente

Congratulations to Congressman Mike Levin for his detailed Task Force Report on the safety and security of our just completed “San Onofre Nuclear Waste Dump.”

We are now home to one of the largest concentrations in the country (1,773 tons) of highly radioactive uranium and plutonium nuclear waste. The plant was never supposed to store nuclear waste, but now it is doing just that.

The thin canisters with internal temperatures of about 500 degrees were supposed to be temporary, but now they will probably be here for decades, and perhaps centuries, or until there is a catastrophe.

No one else in the country will risk storing our waste in their community, so the current plan is to leave it right here where it was generated, no matter how dangerous it might be. Thanks also to Jake Howard and the surfing community for calling attention to this issue.

In addition, we must thank the Surfrider Foundation for helping force Southern California Edison to announce 48 hours in advance when they will pump low-level radiation into the ocean or blast it into the air.

SCE has performed liquid batch releases three times in the last six weeks, including the most recent one on July 10.

When asked to postpone the Memorial Day

holiday weekend release, SCE refused.

The advance notices of radioactive release off San Onofre beach can be found on the SONGS website.

For the last half-century, they have conducted radioactive discharges regularly in secret, and there’s question from the community on whether it causes cancer, especially in women and children who are more vulnerable to low-level radiation.

The National Academy of Sciences was scheduled to research possible cancer streaks in the 50-km radius around San Onofre, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission blocked the research from starting.

So, thanks to Congressman Levin and thanks to the surfers for taking the lead in what is probably the biggest threat to the future of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and other towns up and down the coast. It is time for everyone to join in the effort to get rid of the San Onofre Nuclear waste on our beach.

Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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

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

PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

Advertising Sales (SJC) Debra Wells

EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd

Art Director Jasmine Smith

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

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

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

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

Finance Director Mike Reed Accounting & Finance Manager Tricia Zines CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Tim Trent

Dana Point Times, Vol. 13, Issue 29. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE DP TIMES

FACEBOOK.COM/DANAPOINTTIMES • INSTAGRAM@DANAPOINTTIMES TWITTER.COM/DANAPOINTTIMES • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Page 9

danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: iHeartYoga

SATURDAY, JULY 18: SUP YOGA IN DANA POINT HARBOR 8-9 a.m. Rise and shine for this 90-minute stand-up paddleboard yoga class at Westwind Sailing, hosted by iHeartYoga. Register at iheartyoga.org. Westwind Sailing, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point. 949.492.3035.

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

arts education for children and cultural programming for people of all ages and preserves Mary Colby’s gift to the community. Admission is $85 for a single seat.

All proceeds benefit Casa Romantica’s Music Academy, Dance Workshop, Spring Break Arts Week program, arts educa-

Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

MARY COLBY TEA 3 p.m. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens’ annual Mary Colby Tea supports its mission of providing

COMPILED BY STAFF

HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to Dana Point Times by going to danapointtimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

Saturday | 18 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, hand-made soaps, and unique one-of-a-kind gifts. 34111 La Plaza Park, Dana Point.

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. New social-distancing guidelines have been put in place, including a requirement that all attendants must wear face masks.

The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

At the Movies: Celebrity Gossip Fatigue in Times of Lockdown

BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES

E

ven before the days of the coronavirus, social distancing and curbside service, people had been predicting and lamenting how the concept of the traditional “movie star” was on the verge of being obsolete. Since the creation of the Internet and social media, the superstardom of past icons such as Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe and Paul Newman—where it was all about mystique and having a relative barrier from the fans off camera to live up to their screen image—has been slowly waning.

With social media forums including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, we can now see stars such as Chris Pratt, Florence Pugh, Ansel Elgort and Ana de Armas

personally post and respond to fans about their everyday lives from close proximity in real time. There then becomes a disconnect in which the general public gradually stops viewing the celebrity as a star and more like themselves. Even so, there have been instances in which this works to the actor’s or music artist’s or model’s advantages. “Instagram models” are now a phenomenon, and there allegedly are even instances in which actors’ social media followers influence their appeal for casting.

Now, with concerts, music tours, film/ TV productions, press tours, premieres and award ceremonies on hold indefinitely, time has proven celebrities really are just like us and are going stir-crazy in lockdown and post-lockdown. Not only are celebrities continuing to pose for paparazzi on the streets and posting on their social media more than ever before, they’re even going on expensive, tone-deaf vacations in the middle of a pandemic, while ordinary people are either ill with the virus or recently unemployed or both. It’s just not a good look and comes off obtuse, even if it is a desperate attempt to remain relevant while out of work. DP

Page 10

tion workshops, and structured field trips serving all of Capistrano Unified School District with free tuition, free supplies, and no administration fees. The Mary Colby Tea includes a traditional assortment of canapés, desserts, and cream teas with champagne, as well as a boutique silent auction featuring items generously donated by businesses and organizations.

This event takes place in Casa Romantica’s open-air courtyard with social-distancing seating arrangements. Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente.

949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

Sunday | 19 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers at the San Clemente Community Center/San Clemente Public Library parking lot. 100 North Calle Seville, San Clemente. 949 361 8200. san-clemente.org.

Monday | 20 DANA WEST YOUTH SAILING SUMMER CAMP 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Join Dana West Youth Sailing for its third of four sessions of summer camp. The camp runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and costs $400 for one session, with discounts for multiple sessions. For more information, visit dpyscamp.com. Dana West Youth Sailing, 24601 Dana Drive, Dana Point. 949.322.2667. danapointtimes.com

DP

Dana Point Point Dana

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Wellness & Prevention by Lauren Gallegos

Being There for Those Most Isolated and Vulnerable

I

recently lost a very close family friend to an accidental drug overdose. He is not the first, but I hope the work I do will ensure that he is the last.

I have lost too many friends to mental illness and addiction. I can’t quite put my finger on the cause of this plague, but I do know that addiction is a disease. I have experienced it in my own family and through friends who had futures full of potential.

But the diseases of mental health and addiction ended those futures.

The first friend who died from an overdose was a shock, but then it continued, one after another, close friend, old friend, distant friend.

There were so many more in recovery, still WELLNESS AND fighting for their lives.

PREVENTION As kids, we had drug

By Lauren Gallegos prevention education, but we didn’t talk much about mental health.

We heard the message that drugs were harmful and could ruin your life, but we were not taught anything about stress, anxiety, or depression or what to do when we had overwhelming periods of emotion.

I think many of my peers struggled with this, and without the skills or the words to express their emotions, they turned to self-medication.

Addiction can be very lonely, and we have all become isolated by this pandemic. I fear we may be overlooking a very vulnerable population during this public

health crisis—those in recovery.

Individuals in recovery are separated from their recovery meetings and groups, they have lost access to their coping mechanisms and support systems, they have lost their jobs. Many people in recovery utilize exercise, yoga, and therapy. They became disconnected, and without access to support systems, they suffered deeply, making them vulnerable to relapse.

The friend I lost three weeks ago was ready to lead his life in recovery. He was a USC grad, smarter than anyone I knew.

He was witty and kind and always encouraged me as I grew into a professional.

He has been my brother’s friend since kindergarten and part of our family. But we never fully understood the depths of his addiction. I regret not talking more openly with him about what he was going through. I regret that I feared offending or hurting our families’ relationship by doing so.

We need to talk openly about addiction to help those who are suffering. We must reduce the stigma surrounding the diseases of mental health and addiction so those who are suffering do not have to feel ashamed to ask or receive help.

I wish we had done more, but in his memory and his honor, I will commit to doing everything I can in my personal and professional roles.

To find help, visit samhsa.gov/findhelp/national-helpline.

Parents can also text 55753 to get

to a speaker, near a car with an attached sign that reads: “Dana Point Hollywoodland, 3043 Wilshire Blvd., S.H. Woodruff, company developer.” It is unclear when the photo was taken.

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

personalized help and learn more here at drugfree.org/article/covid-19-we-are-herefor-you/.

Lauren Gallegos, ACSW, is the Community Prevention Director at the Wellness & Prevention Center. She leads the Wellness & Prevention Coalition and cares deeply about the mental health of fellow community members.

You can reach Lauren at lauren@wpc-oc.org.

DP

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

BY MYLES MELLOR Last week’s solution:

DANA POINT TIMES

T

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo shows a group of men listening

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Haggis wo-year-old Haggis is a curious and friendly feline that would love to make your acquaintance. He is quite sociable and typically greets visitors with a happy meow. Haggis has previously lived with other cats and would make a nice addition to just about any family.

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

Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

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

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

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

Page 11

See the solution in next week’s issue.

danapointtimes.com

CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at danapointtimes.com

DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your info@danapointtimes.com DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

LOCALS ONLY

BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, info@bodymindspiritiop.com, bodymindspiritiop.com

AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

CAFE - DELI

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

COFFEE SHOP

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

ICE CREAM

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

State Farm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, elainelavine.net

MASSAGE THERAPY

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

Danman’s Music School

24699 Del Prado, 949.496.6556, danmans.com

Yeungs Violin Studio

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

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, billmetzerplumbing.com

UPHOLSTERY & INTERIORS

Jeddy’s Interiors

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

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

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Page 12

danapointtimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

SPORTS DP & OUTDOORS

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

Dana Point

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206576819 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: BLEU POPPY 22176 CRANE STREET LAKE FOREST, CA 92630 Full Name of Registrant(s): JULIE RACCUGLIA 22176 CRANE STREET LAKE FOREST, CA 92630 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/JULIE RACCUGLIA This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 06/18/2020.

Published in: Dana Point Times June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206576311 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: GREENER LIVING 33142 OCEAN RIDGE DANA POINT, CA 92629 ADD’L FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. SEA CANYON HOME Full Name of Registrant(s): JILL LESLIE PRICE 33142 OCEAN RIDGE DANA POINT, CA 92629 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/01/1986. /s/JILL PRICE This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 06/15/2020.

Published in: Dana Point Times June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206576777 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: DANA COVE DESIGNS 24322 CORTES DRIVE DANA POINT, CA92629 ADD’L FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. PURO BAJA 1C. PURA BAJA Full Name of Registrant(s): GARY WRIGHT 24322 CORTES DRIVE DANA POINT, CA 92629 DOLORES DANG-WRIGHT 24322 CORTES DRIVE DANA POINT, CA 92629 This business is conducted by a Married Couple.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A /s/GARY WRIGHT This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 06/17/2020.

Published in: Dana Point Times June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206575331 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: COALITION OF CALIFORNIA CHAMBERS ORANGE COUNTY 31421 LA MATANZA ST SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675 Full Name of Registrant(s): SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 31421 LA MATANZA ST SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675 This business is conducted by a CA corporation.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. /s/SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/GEORGE D. PEPPAS III/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 06/02/2020.

Published in: Dana Point Times July 17, 24, 31, August 7, 2020

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

• Fictitious Business Notice (FBN/DBA)

• Petitions for Probate • Trustee Sale

• Name Changes

• Summons – Divorce – Civil

• Lien Sale

• Annual Report

• Alcoholic Beverage License

• Non-Responsibility

• Notice to Creditors

• Dissolution of Partnership

EMAIL legals@picketfencemedia.com CALL 949.388.7700, ext. 111

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Page 13

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Making Arrangements What will be the plan for high school sports’ return?

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

T

here is more—and less—known about the fall sports schedule with each passing day further into July.

The CIF state and CIF-Southern Section offices have said they will announce their plans for the upcoming high school sports season on Monday, July 20. However, the coronavirus situation in Southern California has only heightened since schools closed in mid-March and since CIF announced its timeline back in June.

Ultimately, the CIF’s plans may be out of its hands as more local municipalities and school districts make their choices.

Teams across Orange County had started, or were set to start, summer workout camps heading into last week, but amended guidance from the state announced through the county shut those down.

School districts in Los Angeles and San Diego counties have already announced they will open the school year with continued distance learning. In Orange County, Santa Ana and Anaheim—the two county cities hit hardest by COVID-19—announced they would also open with distance learning.

The Capistrano Unified School District was expected to finalize its plan on Wednesday, July 15 (after press time), but if campuses remain closed with distance learning in place, operating sports on campus might be completely out of the question.

CIF has said it is committed to get in full fall, winter and spring sports seasons, even if they are delayed. With the scheduled opening of the high school football season a little more than a month away, what will the high school sports season look like?

Some ideas may come from elsewhere, with decisions already streaming in from the college ranks over the past week.

The California Community College Athletic Association announced last week that its fall sports season for the state’s junior colleges, including Saddleback College, will move to the spring. For example, football would start its season in February, with practices starting no earlier than January. The National Junior College Athletic Association followed this decision for the

rest of the country, as well.

In the NCAA, the Ivy League and the Patriot League both announced they would not play sports in the fall, either, but they also haven’t announced plans for their winter sports or if fall sports will be played in the spring.

In most conversations with local coaches and athletic directors, the January/February model seems to be the most likely scenario for high school sports in California. Of course, any scenario is attached with the asterisk of “if schools are reopened by then,” but everyone involved understands they’re playing with a moving target in an ever-evolving situation.

A January/February scenario would mean schools would have to cram roughly 10 months of a sports schedule into about a six-month period. There has always been some season overlap in a full schedule, but this could end up with some fast and furious sports schedules. This is where CIF and athletic directors would have to get creative.

Some creativity could be borrowed from the college ranks, where the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced they would move to conference-only schedules for all sports in the fall. The ACC is supposedly considering this option as well, but the ACC and the Big 12 said they wouldn’t make any decisions—specifically on football—until later in July.

A conference-only or league-only schedule might be the only way to go for high schools and colleges if all sports are moved to early 2021. It seems as if that would be the most cut-and-dried way to get in all the sports played with legitimate seasons in the time frame available.

However, these are different choices for high school and college and depending on league.

For example, in Pac-12 football, a conference-only schedule knocks a full 11or 12-game regular season down to nine games—not a huge difference. In sharp contrast, in South Coast League football next season, a league-only schedule would shrink a 10-game regular season to just three games, hardly a full and legitimate season.

Leagues come in all shapes and sizes in high school, with some sports doubling up on league games normally. If that was the decision the CIF and the schools go with, that creativity will need to reach all-time highs, as the rearranging of the schedules could go from July 20 all the way up to those January dates.

The truth is, especially in this COVID-19 era, no one knows what will happen until it happens, whether that’s July 20 or any time until January. Sports will continue to be in flux amid the coronavirus. DP danapointtimes.com

DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

The Other Surf Publisher in Town John Severson’s ‘Surfer Magazine’ might be the most famous publication from this area, but Dick Graham’s ‘Surfing’ magazine had something, too

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

F

or those growing up in the dark ages—before the Internet—getting information about the latest surfers, swells and developments in the wave-riding community took some work. Today, all you must do is pick up your phone, and there’s the most up-to-date forecast. You can check the webcams or watch the most recent highlights of your favorite surfers.

My brother and I would study the blackand-white satellite photos published in the weather section of our local newspaper to see if there was a storm spinning in the Gulf of Alaska. If the potential of waves appeared imminent, we’d hunker down behind our crude weather radio, waiting for garbled swell and wind reports.

Coming of age in the neon ’80s, I still have VHS tapes filled with recordings of ESPN’s Hot Summer Nights, the only TV show that occasionally featured surfing. The best episodes were the ones with the Surfer Magazine TV

Action south of the pier at the 1965 San Clemente Surf Capades, at the height of longboard surfing, preShortboard Revolution. Photo: Courtesy of Dick Graham

show. Episodes with Matt Archbold in Costa Rica and Tom Curren in Mozambique captured my imagination of what lay beyond the sanctity of the California coast.

The most consistent and dependable source of information came from the monthly magazines, namely Surfer and Surfing.

Through the ’80s and ’90s, the publications were locked in a fierce competitive rivalry.

And I soaked it all up.

In the small sandbox that is surf publishing, Dana Point and San Clemente were ground zero. John Severson founded Surfer Magazine in San Clemente in 1960. In fact, just last week, we shared a few tales about Severson’s relationship with President Richard Nixon in this very paper.

And while Severson deservedly gets the lion’s share of the credit when folks wax poetic about the golden days of surf publishing, Surfer was just the start of what would come to be known ubiquitously as “surf media.”

You don’t hear Dick Graham’s name bandied about with such reverence, but he surely played as important a role in the evolution of how surfing’s stories were told.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Graham started surfing in the late ’50s as a teenager

while attending then-Chapman College on a basketball scholarship. He then served a three-year tour in the Marines.

After leaving the service, in 1961 he took a job as a data processor with Petersen Publishing, a large-scale magazine conglomerate. It was just the foot in the door for which he was looking.

Settling down in Orange County, in ’63, he wrote Surfing Made Easy with Hobie Alter.

That same year, he published Petersen’s Surfing Yearbook, which soon morphed into Petersen’s Surfing Magazine.

Then in ’64, he, along with LeRoy Grannis, founded the publication International Surfing magazine, which would eventually simply become Surfing magazine.

At the time, there were a handful of fledgling mags looking for a toehold in the growing surf business, including Severson’s Surfer, Walt Phillips’ Surfing Illustrated and Bill Cleary’s Surf Guide.

Graham was not only wise in the ways of publishing, his skills as a journalist and photographer led to his images appearing on four out of six Surfing magazine covers in 1967.

That same year, Graham joined San Diego’s Windandsea Surf Club on a trip to Australia.

The sport of surfing would never be the same.

Wandering the country’s eastern shore, he was one of the first Americans to bear witness to the stubby vee-bottom boards the local surfers had crafted. It was the dawning of what would come to be known as the Shortboard Revolution.

Upon getting home from the trip, Graham promptly wrote stories and ran photos of this exciting new development that Aussie icon Nat Young dubbed “full involvement surfing.”

Graham broke the news a full six months before Severson touched on the subject in Surfer Magazine. The move cemented Surfing’s reputation as the home for radical, innovative surfing—a theme that carried on throughout the lifespan of the magazine.

Meanwhile, with his artistic and environmental sensibilities, Severson’s Surfer became more of a tome for the soul surfer.

By the end of the ’60s, Graham penned another book, Kings of the Surf, then decided to step away from publishing. He worked as the vice president of marketing for booming surf wear brand Hang Ten from 1968-75.

He then elevated his game as the coowner of Lightning Bolt, which was made famous by what Gerry Lopez and Rory Russell were doing at Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu at the time.

Graham was fittingly inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Surfing Walk of Fame in 2015. In 2016, he published a book entitled The Ride about his experiences behind the publishing desk and in the surf industry.

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including the San Clemente Times, Dana Point Times, Surfline and the World Surf League.

He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. DP

SURF FORECAST

GROM OF THE WEEK

NATHAN HOFFMAN

Water Temperature: 70-73 Degrees F

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

T

he legacy of the Hoffman family continues to reverberate throughout Dana Point, Capistrano Beach and San Clemente, as rising Salt Creek star Nathan Hoffman has been ripping this summer.

A student at Dana Hills High School, Hoffman first got his feet in the wax when he was 7 years old, and it’s been on ever since.

“I am inspired by my friends and family,” said Hoffman.

A standout among the young crop of talent in the Dana Point Surf Club, he’s firing up the crew in and out of the water.

“He’s just a super bright, intelligent (grom) and has an incredible sense of humor—just an amazing kid at the Creek,” said Eric Diamond, president of the Dana Point Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12

Nathan Hoffman. Photo: Courtesy of @daysofcreek

Surf Club. “He’s got a great soul, and then there’s the story of all his family. But what’s cool is, he’s down-to-earth and mature for his age. It’s great we have that in the club to lead the younger groms.”

The Hoffman family has been plying these waters since Walter and Flippy landed on Beach Road more than 70 years ago. And thanks to the next generation, including Nathan, the thrill is still definitely on. DP

Page 14

Outlook: Weak Southwest swell and Northwest swell linger on Friday, with knee to thigh high waves, (1-2’). Light westerly winds Friday morning, pick up to 6-10kts for the afternoon. Slow rise in a fresh blend of Southwest and Northwest swell sets up knee to waist high surf (2-3’) Saturday, then waist to stomach high waves (2-3’+) Sunday. The weekend sees light onshores in the mornings, followed by a moderate afternoon westerly sea breeze, strongest on Sunday.

danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Page 15

danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times July 17-23, 2020

Page 16

danapointtimes.com