September 11, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

September 11-17, 2020 YO U

C A N

U S E

Local Rotarians Seek Socially Distanced Solutions for Fundraising PAGE 3 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 37

Trimming the Sails

Virtual Maritime Festival Celebrates Seafaring Heritage G E T T I N G O U T/ PAG E 1 0

The inaugural Maritime Festival at Ocean Institute, which replaces the Tall Ships Festival, will offer socially distanced in-person events as well as a three-weekend marathon of online streaming programs. Photo: Scott Schmitt/File

Candidates Address Efforts to Combat Homelessness EYE ON DP/PAGE 7

RH Dana to Offer Financial Coaching for Families in Need EYE ON DP/PAGE 3

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Dana Hills Coach Dies of Cancer SPORTS/PAGE 13

Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

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DP EYE ON DP

Dana Dana Point Point

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things Dana Point should know this week City and OC United Way Bringing Financial Literacy to R.H. Dana THE LATEST: Principal Kristen Nelson says that R.H. Dana Elementary School is a family.

In the past year, in light of the economic impact of COVID-19, Nelson says the school has worked hard to offer parenting classes, food distribution, and formed partnerships with organizations in order to bring resources to needy families.

On Sept. 1, Dana Point City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and Orange County United Way for the purpose of providing financial literacy coaching and education, case management and wrap-around services to parents of R.H. Dana Elementary school students and residents of Dana Point. The goal is for families to be equipped to overcome barriers to stable housing.

The partnership has been part of an ongoing effort for Councilmember Paul Wyatt— who formerly headed the city’s Homeless Task Force—to find ways to remediate underlying causes of homelessness.

Wyatt met with Susan Parks, CEO of Orange County United Way, in search of solutions. The nonprofit organization had already established Sparkpoint, a moneysmart workshop series that has been held in North Orange County cities including Santa Ana and Westminster. Plans were already in the works to seek out and establish a first South Orange County location—possibly R.H. Dana.

“We want every student to graduate and to be college-, career- or life-ready,” Parks said. “One big focus for United Way is economic security. We want to help every family improve their financial well-being so that our students have that stability to allow them to succeed in school.”

Now that the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees voted for its participation in August and the city’s approved MOU, the program has become a collaboration among the two agencies and Orange County United Way. Parents will be provided with personal coaching on a step-by-step financial plan to achieve personal goals and long-term financial stability, including job development, debt and credit management, and savings planning. Participants will also be able to connect to other United Way partner services, including free tax preparation, Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

housing, health care, and transportation.

The program provides three months of financial literacy coaching to at least 50 client families of R.H. Dana and 50 client families who reside in Dana Point but do not have children who attend the school.

“The financing becomes a bridge toward a solid foundation,” Wyatt said.

“Without a plan, you’re just putting water into a bucket with a leak.”

The city has agreed to actively identify and refer eligible families and work with OCUW to create a needs-assessment survey. Nelson says that the collaboration across all agencies is something for which she’s deeply grateful.

“This financial literacy program is not just giving our families a fish, but teaching them how to fish,” Nelson said. “In these uncertain times, we are being proactive to help families face the financial ups and downs through education and planning.”—Lillian Boyd

Local Rotary Club Launches Fundraiser Email Campaign THE LATEST: In years past, the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club has held fundraising events such as Lobster Fest to help live out the organization’s motto: “Service before self.” But in order to safely carry out its mission to support charitable causes, local rotarians are seeking socially distanced alternatives to seek out support.

Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club has launched an eight-week education and fundraiser email campaign that will continue into October as one of those alternatives.

“When there’s a need, we all band together, said Heather Gillon, the rotary’s fundraising chairperson. “We do big fundraisers in order to give money to the community, but if we see that there’s a need throughout the year, we work together to meet that need.”

Gillon has been active with the rotary

Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary donated personal protective equipment to staff at Healthy at Home Caregivers, including face shields, disposable medical face masks, reusable face masks, disposable shoe coverings, hair nets, gloves and medical gowns. Photo: Courtesy of MBSR

since 2010, when a friend convinced her to join after some prodding.

“I finally joined and thought to myself, ‘Why did I wait so long?!’ ” Gillon said. “It’s the movers and the shakers of the community coming together, trying to help themselves, trying to help the community and trying to help the world. We are people of action.”

Some of the nonprofit organizations that the club has supported are the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group, the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley, Just Like Me Foundation, The Dana Point Senior Center and Shea Therapeutic Riding Center, among others. The rotary has also participated in national efforts to assemble and deliver personal protective equipment to local hospitals.

Rotary International (RI) is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world.

Prior to the threat of COVID-19 and hotel renovations, the MBSR would meet every Wednesday at 7 a.m. at The Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa. The group has since held meetings over Zoom to continue coordinating efforts.

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“Research shows that doing good for others is good for you, it improves your serotonin levels, and it teaches value to your children,” Gillon said. “We live in a world that needs a lot of help. Rotary mobilizes us to provide that service for others.”

For more information, visit monarchbeachsunriserotary.org.—LB

‘Red Tier’ Designation Paves Way for More Reopenings in Orange County THE LATEST: As expected by local officials, Orange County moved into the state’s “red tier” for coronavirus monitoring on Tuesday, Sept. 8, effectively allowing more business operations to reopen.

The county is currently listed as being in the red “substantial” tier—the state’s second-highest risk tier—on the state’s COVID-19 monitoring website. Orange County was previously in the purple “widespread” tier, the state’s highest-risk level.

Operations permitted under the red tier designation, with modifications, include indoor dining for restaurants at 25% capacity or 100 people (whichever is less); indoor services for hair salons, barbershops and nail salons; and indoor operations for gyms and fitness facilities, with a capacity limited to 10%.

Additional permitted modified operations are indoor movie theaters at a maximum 25% capacity or 100 people (whichever is less), piercing shops and indoor places of worship at a maximum 25% capacity or 100 people (whichever is less), and libraries at a maximum 50% capacity.

Live theaters, concert venues, convention centers and bars where no meals are served must remain closed.

The move down from the purple “widespread” tier—the highest-risk level—to the red “substantial” tier hinged on whether the county could maintain metrics on new cases and test positivity rate.

To qualify for the red tier, a county must have between four to seven new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate between 5% and 8%.

(Cont. on page 4) danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) Orange County is at 5.2 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000, with a 4.2% positivity rate.

WHAT’S NEXT: Orange County won’t be eligible to move down another tier for at least 21 days. To move down, Orange County will need to be at the orange “moderate” tier metrics—under 3.9 new cases per 100,000 residents and under a 4.9% positivity rate— for 14 consecutive days. If the county has met those metrics for 14 straight days when the 21-day waiting period has passed, it will move down to the next tier.

However, if there is a spike after this Labor Day holiday weekend and the county’s numbers rise back to purple tier levels for 14 straight days, Orange County could be moved back to the purple “widespread” tier.—Collin Breaux and Zach Cavanagh

Congressional Leaders Call for TCA Investigation THE LATEST: Calls for further investigation into the activities of the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) continued to mount, as county congressional officials have looked to the state’s transportation office to pick up where a recent grand jury report left off this summer.

Congressional Reps. Mike Levin, Katie Porter and Harley Rouda—all of whom represent portions of Orange County—announced on Wednesday, Sept. 9, that they sent a letter to Rhonda Craft, the inspector general for the California Department of Transportation, asking her to continue investigating the TCA. The request comes a few months after

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Boys & Girls Clubs Exceed Goal During ‘Greatness Amplified’ Fundraiser Boys & Girls clubs throughout Orange County collectively worked to raise more than $300,000 during a 24-hour “Greatness Amplified” fundraiser late last month, far exceeding its goal of $150,000.

In total, $309,334 was raised across all 14 county clubs during the Aug. 26 fundraiser, with the local Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area raising $30,695 in contributions to support youth in its service area of San Clemente.

“We are grateful to the donors that care for our Club kids as much as we do. Every donation allows us to reach as many kids as possible, so they don’t fall behind in their education,” Jim Aurelio, board treasurer and past president of the Boys & Girls Club of Fullerton, said in a press release.

“The more than $309,000 raised will help Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Orange County provide equity in services, facilitate Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

the Orange County Grand Jury released its findings on an investigation into the TCA’s operations. The grand jury had prefaced in its report that it had to cut the investigation short because of the pandemic.

“While this report raises grave concerns regarding the TCA’s activities, the Grand Jury acknowledged it was forced to suspend its investigative operations because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and submit its report early due to its timelimited (impanelment),” the congressional letter to Craft, dated Sept. 3, stated.

In the 55-page report released in June, the OC Grand Jury found that the toll road operators have continued to place themselves in road planning projects outside of their legislative purview, despite having fulfilled much of their mandates.

The grand jury noted that the TCA’s duties and responsibilities already are under the purview of Caltrans and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

The report had also raised a conflict-of-interest claim, noting that an unnamed member of the agencies’ boards of directors “acted favorably on a TCA contract with a firm where he/she had a personal or political interest.”

Citing the TCA’s financial documents, the grand jury further reported that the TCA’s actions to refinance their bonds used to fund the construction of the toll roads have led to ballooning interest payments needed to be paid as part of its overall debt—currently slated at more than $11 billion and due for completion by 2053.

“The Grand Jury noted the claim that refinancing at lower interest rates may have extended the pay-off date and supposedly saved millions of dollars in interest pay-

ments, but the reality is, the action drove up the overall cost of repaying the debts,” according to the report.

Levin (CA-49) stated that TCA has “a responsibility to serve the public interest and use taxpayer dollars wisely,” but “it’s clear that they have failed to meet that responsibility. TCA’s actions undermine public confidence, and the Caltrans Inspector General must hold them accountable.”

In an email to Dana Point Times on Wednesday, TCA Media Relations Manager Kim Mohr said that the “TCA rejects the notion of an external audit” and that the “Grand Jury itself stated that it found no evidence of fiscal mismanagement.”

“The Agencies have engaged independent CPA firms to conduct annual financial statement audits since 1997,” she added.

“The audits have resulted in an unmodified opinion every year, indicating the Agencies’ commitment to ensuring strong internal controls around its financial processes.”

Mohr also noted that the TCA Boards of Directors would meet on Thursday, Sept.

10, to discuss a formal response to the grand jury report.—Shawn Raymundo

Ocean Institute Celebrates Inaugural Maritime Festival THE LATEST: The Maritime Festival— which replaces Ocean Institute’s Tall Ships Festival—will be held Friday through Sunday, Sept. 11-13, offering both in-person and virtual educational experiences.

The cancellation of the institute’s Jazz Festival earlier this year, the sinking of

a steady return to normalcy, aid schools with distance learning, and build future preparedness through dedicated mentors,” Aurelio said.

More than 450 donors contributed to the fundraiser, whose monetary donations will support the Clubs’ implementation of a variety of strategies to support the youth and families of the region during this challenging school year, all while adhering to public safety guidelines.

Pacific Youth of the Year Winner Reflects on Boys & Girls Clubs’ Benefits The Pacific Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America has been named, and it’s a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

Mario Lopez claimed the title, and with it a $20,000 college scholarship. He said the club has given him the tools he needs to determine his own future and succeed.

Mario was selected from nine finalists throughout the region. He will go on to contend for the National Youth of the Year title in the fall for an additional $50,000 scholarship, a car and an opportunity to

the Pilgrim in April and the restructuring of the Maritime Festival have put Ocean Institute in a challenging financial predicament. But President and CEO Wendy Marshall says that both the OI team and the community are rising to the occasion.

“Ocean Institute has received a humbling amount of encouragement and support from our community during the pandemic,” Marshall said.

As staff considered a virtual festival, Marshall says that imaginations went a bit wild as they considered what the event could be.

“We sent a somewhat ambiguous and simple request to our ocean partners to gauge their interest in participating and get a sense of how they might want to contribute . . . and the global response surpassed even our most creative thinking,” Marshall said.

“Not only were the organizations and their planned contributions impressive, the shared sentiment that we must rely on each other, collaborate when we can, and lift each other to weather this pandemic storm was exactly the spirit that we wanted to celebrate.”

During the three-day streaming marathon, Ocean Institute will bring together maritime establishments from around the globe, with interactive virtual experiences ranging from maritime reenactments and cannon battles to mermaid encounters, sea shanties, music and a sail cargo transporting coffee through the Costa Rican jungle.

WHAT’S NEXT: The inaugural virtual event will be complimentary to all participants, with the goal to further education in all things maritime. The full schedule of events and signups are available at maritimefest2020.com.—LB

Community Meetings SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

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

Mario Lopez from Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley was named Pacific Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Photo: Courtesy of Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley

serve as a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

“Throughout the struggles I had, I knew the trust and reliability I associated with the club would stay consistent,” Mario said.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6 p.m. The Dana Point Planning Commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers at 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210, Dana Point.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6 p.m. The Dana Point City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers at 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210, Dana Point. danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

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EYE ON DP

The Race for City Council Leading up to the Dana Point City Council election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Dana Point Times will be publishing six questions, one each week, answered by the candidates qualified for the ballot. This year, the seats for Districts 4 and 5 are up for election. DP WEEK 2 / QUESTION 2

Homelessness has been named as a top issue concerning Dana Point residents. How do you feel about how the city has addressed homelessness, and could more be done?

MIKE FROST DISTRICT 4

The vision and leadership by the city’s Homeless Task Force provided Dana Point with the tools and direction necessary to successfully manage this major issue. In the first half of 2020, our City housed 27 individuals. I support our current strategy to lead with staff identifying services and then working in direct cooperation with the County. Long-term, permanent supported housing is a County endeavor, and we need to support the County to fund these projects.

The City has put together a crossfunctional team including staff from Public Works, a contracted Outreach Coordinator from Mercy House, and a Homeless Liaison from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The team meets weekly and is overseen by the City’s Economic Development Director. As homeless individuals come into the City, an approach for help is identified, and the individual is engaged with compassion. If service assistance is refused, City rules are explained. The City process, team members, objectives, and measures have been operating for nearly two years, and I believe the strategy works well.

The City also works closely with the County. A portion of our property taxes are budgeted at the County level and include plans for permanent supportive housing and a cadre of wrap-around services. A good working relationship with the County is critical to ensure Dana Point homeless have access to County shelters. From a long-term perspective, the City Council also participates on the Orange County Housing Finance Trust Board, which allocates state and federal money for affordable development projects in Orange County.

In the 2018 City survey, 41% of residents felt homelessness was a top issue.

A separate survey in 2020 shows a drop to 28%. The strategy and tools the City is implementing have delivered results, and I will continue to support this work with the appropriate level of funding.

Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

GARY NEWKIRK

BENJAMIN BEBEE

MICHAEL VILLAR

Homelessness is a chronic societal problem with many causes—job loss, high housing costs, alcoholism and drug addiction, mental illness, physical illness and more.

This complex issue, which includes both families and individuals, is beyond the scope of any one city, but Dana Point’s Homeless Task Force has made significant inroads, and the homeless issue in town has lessened.

Mercy House, a homeless advocacy charity, was hired to provide assessment and referral services, quickly identifying homeless individuals and matching them to resources for rapid re-housing, counseling, physical and mental health assistance and referral to shelters or County housing programs. In addition, the City provides services through OCSD Homeless Liaison Officers who work with Mercy House representatives to encourage those who are service-resistant to accept help.

Recently, the City signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Way, providing financial literacy coaching and education, case management and services to residents to educate them on financial management and pave the way to stable housing. I applaud this effort to actually prevent homelessness before it occurs. I pledge to support the City’s efforts and to work with other agencies seeking caring solutions for our homeless population.

Residents are rightly concerned about sanitary and health hazards, a perceived (or real) link to crime and a myriad of quality of life issues that affect not only the homeless but also all of us who live in Dana Point.

While criminal activity must always be promptly addressed, it is important that we continue to treat homeless individuals with compassion. It is our duty to assist those less fortunate than us, offering them a helping hand in finding a way out of homelessness, but also addressing the underlying problems that led to them being homeless.

Please visit newkirk4dp.com for more information.

Homelessness is an extremely complex societal issue. I believe that communities have a moral responsibility to care for their most vulnerable.

It is a tenet of Christianity and presented in Matthew 25: 31-46.

We have limited resources available in our area for people experiencing life-changing events, and I believe it is our duty to easily connect those in need with the services we have in place. I feel that for far too long we, as a society, have stigmatized or completely turned a blind eye to the plight of our fellows; be it family or professional hardships, mental illness including substance use disorder, or general lack of mentorship throughout an individual’s early life. Though I appreciate the cooperation and hard work our city has exhibited in partnering with local nonprofit organizations to address these issues, I feel strongly that we can further meet the unique needs of our community.

I have been working with Howard University Law student Lauren Reedy (formerly of the University of Missouri dive team) to organize a nonprofit organization called A Hand Across Charitable Organization.

AHACO is a faith-based nonprofit organization aimed at empowering individuals to better their existence while effecting positive change in their communities. We had initially planned to launch in 2020 but have pushed plans until 2021 to accommodate my recent endeavors.

I pledge to work toward positive resolution of our most pressing needs.

I will hear your voice.

I will represent the needs of all my constituents equally.

I will work toward a bright future for our community.

I will work with all interested parties in meeting the needs of our growing citizenry.

Visit bebee4capobeach.com for more info about my campaign.

According to the March 2020 survey conducted by FM3 Research, homelessness continues to be a major issue for Dana Point residents. I share the same concerns and am pleased to see our city services focused on treating our homeless population with dignity and respect. I also understand that residents have very real safety concerns surrounding the conduct of some individuals who have no place to go and can cause public health or law enforcement issues.

In my opinion, all efforts should focus on identifying and solving the root causes of homelessness in our area, and working closely with individuals to mitigate these issues and provide a pathway to long-term and life-changing solutions.

The Homeless Task Force, headed by Councilman Paul Wyatt, developed an effective strategy to help control homelessness and provide effective support for those who often have underlying issues with job loss, mental or physical health challenges, addiction challenges, or a myriad of other difficulties. I support the current efforts that continue to rely heavily on contracted outreach services through the nonprofit organization Mercy House, as well as outreach offered through Police Services’ Homeless Liaison Officers.

Personally, I have noticed a positive difference in the past few years thanks to continued efforts to contact new and existing members of the homeless population promptly, providing referrals and wraparound services. There is still much more to be done, so this effort must be continued and enhanced in view of the current economic downturn to ensure the problem does not outpace the assistance effort.

If elected, I will seek an appointment on the Homeless Task Force and will work hard to curb homelessness and provide impactful assistance to the homeless men, women, and children in our area.

Please visit my website at villarfordanapoint. com and my Facebook page at facebook.com/ michaelvillarfordanapointcitycouncil.

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 5

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DISTRICT 5

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DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Dana Point ROCKS • Culinary Arts Corner by Anthony Small

Heritage Barbecue: No Shortcuts to Delicious

W

ith the recently opened Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano, world class Texas-style barbecue is now so close that folks from Dana Point and surrounding areas can smell it.

After years building a following through pop-ups at breweries, Heritage Barbecue makes neighboring San Juan Capistrano the latest destination for barbecue lovers.

Pitmaster Daniel Castillo, who owns Heritage Barbecue with his wife, Brenda, smokes meat in twin 1,000-gallon smokers.

With California’s first fully-licensed, fixed offset smokers, they bring an authentic Central Texas flavor and vibe to our area. Daniel says, “Brenda has been the backbone from the start, always encouraged me and been, for lack of a better word, my enabler for this dream. We’re here to create and share DANA POINT and hopefully pave the ROCKS way for others to become

By Anthony Small more artistic.”

You’ll be delighted by the thick slabs of perfectly cooked brisket, pork spareribs, beef ribs, unique sausages and poultry.

Sides with a Mexican American flair include Borracho beans stewed with brisket and beer, three types of mac and cheese (try the choriqueso), potato salad topped with pickled eggs and house-smoked

bacon, and jalapeno cheese cornbread.

The “Heritage” in the name refers to very specific breeds of meat, in this case from West Coast Prime, that are extremely high-quality and can be traced back to specific farms. Menus are seasonal and market-priced and change often.

Open at 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday, Heritage Barbecue closes when sold out on a given day. Guests are welcome to line up as early as they like, and currently masks are required while waiting. The restaurant’s seating is entirely outside, allowing Heritage Barbecue to operate in compliance with current COVID-19 safety regulations. Orders are taken in-person only—no phone or online orders are accepted—so, therefore, no cuts to the front of a line that others have waited in so patiently. Limited by hours in the day (it takes 12-16 hours to smoke the meats) and space in the two 1,000-gallon smokers, they have been selling out every day.

“People are still trying to understand the process. Texas Barbecue is a different culture. We’re basically a food stand.

It’s the most genuine way to do it,” Daniel Castillo says. “The popularity we have usually takes restaurants a few years to achieve. We’re grateful, and people seem to feel like it’s worth it. Some folks want us to change, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”

The wait, which at times can be well over an hour, is part of the experience and is about community and gathering (safely) with family and friends and slowing down to enjoy the aroma of white oak burning, while servers shuttle cold Capistrano Brewery beers and other refreshments to those in line. About half of the customers so far have come from outside the area, immediately creating a significant economic impact through increased tax revenues and people sharing other mustsee local landmarks and experiences.

Castillo is also proud of the cultural diversity here and concludes, “We bring the colors and flavors to South OC that are at times lacking. We’re such a multicultural team, people with Guatemalan, Filipino, Mexican and African American backgrounds. We have our doors and arms open to anyone that doesn’t want to deal with any sort of discrimination.”

Anthony Small is the Executive Director of Music Preserves Foundation, the 2019 Chairman of the City of Dana Point Arts and Culture Commission and a singersongwriter. Small and his family have lived in Dana Point for 22 years. 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.

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

Letter to the Editor CAUSES OF RISE IN SEA LEVEL

Dana Point Times, Vol. 13, Issue 37. 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.

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Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

TONY HAYS, San Clemente

Gregg Newbury’s letter in last month’s Dana Point Times asked an interesting question: If sea levels are rising, where is the water coming from?

According to sealevel.nasa.gov, the answer is that the rise in ocean levels is due to two effects. Two-thirds of the rise comes from water being added to the ocean from melting ice, and one-third from expansion of ocean water due to increase in water temperature.

Of the ice melt, about two-thirds comes from Greenland and about one-third from Antarctica. But Gregg also assumes that “snow and ice are pretty much a result

of ocean water freezing from the cold temperatures,” and this turns out to be an incorrect assumption.

Both the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are the result of snow falling over long periods of time. When falling snow is compressed into ice, it also traps air and other chemicals. This enables scientists to determine the composition of the atmosphere many thousands of years ago.

The National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility (icecores.org) drills and collects ice cores. It has data on Greenland ice going back 130,000 years, and on Antarctic ice going back 800,000 years.

These records show that the current CO2 level in the atmosphere is significantly higher than it has been at any time in the past 400,000 years, and this level is rising rapidly.

Current trends must be reversed if we are to avoid a climatic disaster. One way to slow down the increase in atmospheric CO2 is to impose a fee on chemicals that produce greenhouse gases when burned, as proposed in the U.S. Congressional bill H.R. 763.

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This fee would be returned as a dividend to all U.S. households. This is just one of many actions that must be taken if we are to slow down the rate of sea-level rise. The U.S. should coordinate a worldwide effort and set an example to the rest of the world as to what must be done.

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Limit your letters to 350 or fewer words. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published. Dana Point Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory. In the interest of fairness, DP Times will not publish letters submitted by candidates running for elected offices between the time they file for candidacy and the date of the election.

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Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

Page 9

danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: Scott Schmitt/File

SEPTEMBER 11-13: OCEAN INSTITUTE MARITIME FESTIVAL 2020 This year, Ocean Institute has organized a free virtual Maritime Festival presented by Toshiba. This multi-stage event has gained the interest and participation of organizations across the globe that will converge online this entire weekend to provide an interactive, engaging, and unique celebration of all things maritime. Ocean Institute. ocean-institute.org/ocean-institute-maritime-festival.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week 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.

Friday | 11 SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK 8-9:30 p.m. As the sun sets on the walls of the ruins of the great stone church, the dead walk the streets of old San Juan Capistrano. Join Haunted Orange County on its venture into the dark and the macabre through the historic streets of one of California’s oldest cities. Tales of headless spirits, bandits and even a pirate attack will be shared, and elegant restaurants with a dark past and restless spirits await you. A dark, history-filled tour that will be remembered forever in one of Southern California’s oldest and most haunted locations. Haunted OC. hauntedoc.com/capistrano-ghost-walk

Saturday | 12 LOW-COST PET VACCINE CLINIC 3:30-5 p.m. Pets Plus SJC offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. Vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams, and diagnostic testing available on-site. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. 32022 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

1.800.988.8387. vetcarepetclinic.com.

Sunday | 13 STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD YOGA IN DANA POINT HARBOR 8-9 a.m. SoCal Paddle Yoga has partnered with Westwind Sailing to bring SUP Yoga to Dana Point Harbor on Sundays. Take your yoga practice outside on the water surrounded by the beauty of Dana Point Harbor and Baby Beach.

SoCal Paddle Yoga anchors the boards inside the harbor for a peaceful and relaxing morning session on the water.

Boards and paddles are provided for 75 minutes of class instruction, plus class photos. Bring sunscreen and swimsuit (or water-friendly workout clothing).

Due to limited space, an online reservation is required at socalpaddleyoga. com. Westwind Sailing, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point.

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

949 361 8200. san-clemente.org.

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danapointtimes.com

DP

Dana Point Point Dana

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

The Challenges of Senior Dating During the Pandemic

F

or years, I’ve stated the best way for single seniors to meet potential mates is to get off the couch and out of the house.

However, that advice hasn’t been very useful over the past six months. We’ve been quarantined and encouraged to stay home.

So, how do singles meet new people?

Choices are limited. Senior centers are closed, and the senior Meet and Greets at Tutor and Spunky’s Deli in Dana Point are on hold.

And when we do go to a grocery store or any place indoors, we must wear a mask. It’s difficult to be social in such settings when faces are covered.

Internet dating has become the most useful dating tool in 2020. My email inbox is bombarded with online dating-site messages. An estimated ON LIFE AND 1,500 new dating sites LOVE AFTER 50 have emerged this year.

By Tom Blake But do seniors really want to click on sites with names such as “Cobble,” “Pokerface,” “Say Allo,” “IsMyGirl,” “Live” (speed dating), or “Extreme age-gap?” Most likely not.

As the number of online sites has increased, so has the number of scammers.

Seniors are targets for scammers. Many seniors are lonely, which makes them more vulnerable.

But let’s say a senior meets a prospective mate online, using sites such as Match, eHarmony, or Plenty of Fish (POF). The advice from dating coaches has always been to meet face-to-face as

soon as possible, to avoid wasting time on the wrong person.

But that thinking has changed. Sure, singles can still try to meet face-to-face (or should we say “mask-to-mask”?), but, they need to ask themselves, “Is it worth the health risk?”

Before meeting “mask-to-mask,” should each person take a COVID-19 test and bring the results to the date? An Abbott Labs test just released, called BinaxNOW, provides results in approximately 15 minutes, does not need any other instrumentation, is very reliable and costs only $5.

On a first date, or any date, does each person wear a mask or gloves and place a package of hand sanitizers/wipes on the table? Does each show up with a thermometer and take his or her temperature and then show the results to the other person, proving he or she isn’t overheated?

You can probably forget about kissing.

(Can we say Russian roulette every time?)

How about hugs? That’s always been a nice way to end a date when a kiss would be premature. Even hugs are risky. Yes, dating during the pandemic is a challenge.

How can senior singles feel safe meeting a stranger on a first date? Some are trying, respecting social distancing and mask guidelines.

People in established long-distance relationships, requiring air travel to be together, are being particularly challenged, especially if one person resides in a foreign country.

Last week, the news reported that the Canadian border will be closed for another month. So, Americans and Canadians dating across the border but living apart probably haven’t seen each other in person for months.

Larry, a former Dana Point resident,

San Juan by the Sea—a short-lived railroad boomtown and the site of what is now Capistrano Beach.

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 lboyd@picketfencemedia.com.

lives with his girlfriend of five years, Emy, in the Philippines. He had to return to the United States in early January for a few weeks. He said, “I continue to be stranded in the United States. My first return flight, scheduled for March 20 this year, was canceled by the airline.

“I had to cancel my second flight this month, because the Manila Airport remains closed to foreigners. I am now holding reservations to fly from LAX to Manilla on December 9.”

Will senior dating get easier? Not likely anytime soon. A former fraternity brother of mine, a highly regarded doctor, emails a coronavirus biweekly update, based upon the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) data.

On Sept. 5, he emailed: “The data sees lots of trouble around December 1—worse

than anything we’ve seen. Buckle your seat belts, we have a long journey ahead of us, only to be avoided with effective vaccines.”

So, seniors, if you are going to meet in person, wear your mask, keep your distance, and save the hugs and kisses for later. And write and tell us how the date went. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and Dana Point resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating.

See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment, email tompblake@gmail.com. DP PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, Dana Point Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the Dana Point Times or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com. The Dana Point Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

BY MYLES MELLOR

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

Last week’s solution:

DANA POINT TIMES

T

Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo was taken sometime in 1887 of

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Sven his happy puppy is Sven, a 2-year-old sweetheart ready for his forever family. He is an active pup and enjoys long walks and playing in the yard with his doggy pals. When he’s ready to relax, he can be a great couch buddy. Sven has a great personality, is potty-trained, and would likely make an easy transition into a new home.

If you are interested in adopting Sven, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scd-

Photo: Karlene Hickman/OC Public Libraries

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

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

Page 11

See the solution in next week’s issue.

danapointtimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

LOCALS ONLY

BUSINESS LISTINGS

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 30-2020-01121921-CU-PT-CJC To All Interested Persons: David Tarquin Preziosi, aka D Tarquin Preziosi, aka David T. Preziosi; filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. David Tarquin Preziosi B. D. Tarquin Preziosi C. David T. Preziosi PROPOSED NAME A. Tarquin David Preziosi B. Tarquin David Preziosi C. Tarquin David Preziosi The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of 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 heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 10/13/2020 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. 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: August 20, 2020 JUDGE JAMES J. DI CESARE, Judge of the Superior Court Published: Dana Point Times, September 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): NICKOLAS ONEAL; and Does 1 through 20, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): APPLIED MEDICAL RESOURCES CORPORATION NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know Dana Point Times September 11–17, 2020

an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

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

ATTORNEY

Rosen Law Offices, P.C.

34118 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 5, 949.335.0020, snrosenlaw.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, San Clemente, 949.481.7013, atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

1001 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, 949.492.3558, billmetzerplumbing.com

UPHOLSTERY & INTERIORS

Jeddy’s Interiors

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

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

CASE NUMBER: (Numero del Caso): 30-2019-01105052-CL-CL-CJC Judge Corey S. Cramin The name and address of the court is: (El Nombre y direccion de la corte es): Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange – Limited Civil Jurisdiction 700 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana, CA 92701 The name, address and telephone number of plaintiff ’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del obogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): William J. Brown, Jr. (SBN 192950), Alexander Avery (SBN 307390); Brown Wegner LLP 2010 Main Street, Suite 1260, Irvine, California 92701 Telephone 949.705.0080 DATE: (Fecha) 10/15/2019 David H. Yamasaki, Clerk of the Court, by (Secretario) Brenda Sanchez, Deputy Clerk(Adjunto) Published: Dana Point Times August 21, 28, September 4, 11, 2020 Page 12

danapointtimes.com

DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Dana Hills coach, teacher John Donnelly, 55, dies of cancer

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

D

ana Hills assistant football coach John Donnelly died on Thursday, Sept. 3, after a three-month fight with cancer, the team and school announced. Donnelly, a 55-year-old Dana Point resident, was also a special education teacher at Dana Hills High School.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of John Donnelly this afternoon,” the Dolphins football team said on social media. “He was a beloved teacher, coach and a long-standing member of the Orange County football community. He will be greatly missed.”

Donnelly’s family is holding a celebration of life on Sept. 26 at the Dana Point Yacht Club from 2-7 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, those interested need to RSVP with Lynn Perez via a private message on Facebook by Sept. 17.

Donnelly is survived by his three children, Brett, Brooke and Zach; his mother, Barbara Martinez; his sister, Lynn Perez; and his girlfriend, Carrie Angelakis.

“Coach Donnelly was a man of God that brought excellence out of every football player and student he coached and

Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

Dana Hills assistant football coach and special education teacher John Donnelly died on Thursday, Sept. 3.

Donnelly had also coached at San Juan Hills and San Clemente High Schools. Photos: Dana Hills High School

taught,” Dolphins co-head coach Phil Skinner said. “God rest his beautiful soul. I was blessed to be his friend for over 20 years.”

Donnelly had been a football coach up and down coastal Orange County, including the three public high schools of the South County tri-city area: Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.

Donnelly was first hired at Dana Hills in 1997 by former Dolphins coach Scott Orloff. Donnelly coached at Dana Hills

for well over a decade, continuing as a defensive coordinator for former Dana Hills coach Brent Melbon.

Donnelly later became a defensive line coach at San Clemente High School in 2014 and 2015. Those Triton teams both won Sea View League championships and advanced to CIF-SS Finals. San Clemente lost both finals before winning its first CIF-SS title in 2016.

Donnelly came back to Dana Hills as an assistant coach in 2016 before joining

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the San Juan Hills High School coaching staff the past two seasons. Donnelly was a varsity linebackers coach for the Stallions in 2018 and a San Juan Hills freshman assistant coach last season.

“You will be missed, my friend,” San Juan Hills coach Rob Frith wrote on Twitter. “I am honored to have coached with you. Your passion, enthusiasm and love for coaching radiated onto the players you influenced in a positive way.”

Donnelly was set to rejoin the Dana Hills coaching staff this season. However, Donnelly learned of his cancer diagnosis in early June, and the disease took his life just three months later.

As a coach in Orange County, Donnelly was the head coach at his alma mater, Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, for three seasons from 1993-95.

Donnelly was also an assistant coach at Edison High School in Huntington Beach when the Chargers won a CIF-SS title in 2012.

Donnelly played football at Ocean View and at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. Donnelly later played NAIA football at Graceland University in Iowa, where he was an all-conference player in 1988. DP

danapointtimes.com

DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Three Reasons to Be Stoked This Week From next generation of surf photographers to restoring wells in Africa, local surfers are making the world a better place

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

T

here’s always something happening in our little local sandbox. And this week, we have all kinds of goodness going down.

At the top of the list, on Thursday night, Sept. 10, the 2020 Follow the Light Awards will be livestreamed around the world.

Honoring the life and legacy of Dana Point lensman Larry “Flame” Moore, the awards celebrate the works of up-and-coming surf photographers from around the world. At stake are a sizable monetary grant and working opportunities with some of surfing’s biggest brands, including Vans and Billabong.

This year, there were more than 75 submissions from aspiring surf photographers between the ages of 16 and 25. A distinguished panel of judges eventually whittled down the list of nominees to the top five.

“It’s incredible to see how much talent and passion there is in all of these submissions. Surf photography is very much alive and in some very creative hands,” said Glenn Brumage, the executive director of the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SHACC), which will host the awards show. “The legacy of ‘Flame’ lives

GROM OF THE WEEK

WAYLON MARTIN

“This is a photo from a session at Churches,” says Arenui Frapwell, a La Jolla-based photographer. “This photo is really special to me because of the crazy water formations that formed below his waist line. I feel that this is one of those shots that I could try and recreate for the rest of my career, but will never get close to getting something quite like this. Like a lot of things in life, you just get lucky.” Photo: Courtesy of Arenui Frapwell/Follow the Light/SHACC

on. It’s really inspiring to see.”

The Follow the Light Awards will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. A one-hour program, it will be hosted by legendary surf scribe Nick Carroll. The show will be available via FUEL TV’s YouTube channel and the SHACC Facebook page.

Next, I’d like to shine some light on a group that was just brought to our attention called the Sandy Feet Initiative.

They have quietly been doing some amazing work on the beach at Linda Lane in San Clemente. Founded by Mo Langley and Tom Spry, the organization offers special-needs kids and their siblings the opportunity to get in the water and embrace the freedom of the ocean.

“The ocean is an incredible healing place, a place to be you; she has no judgment and no expectations, she forces you to be ‘in the moment.’ We teach the sib-

lings how to harness the ‘in the momentness’ of the ocean for empowerment, peace, joy and freedom,” Langley wrote on the group’s website at sandyfeetoc.org.

They currently have events running every Saturday from now through Nov. 15 at Linda Lane Park. The events run from 10 a.m. to noon. More information is available on Sandy Feet’s Facebook page.

We look forward to sharing their stories in the weeks and months ahead, but for now, we wanted to let everyone in the special-needs community know that there’s a stoke-filled, grassroots group in the area that’s doing great work.

And, finally, turning dark days into something positive, the life of San Clemente surfer Matt Vecere is being remembered in a unique way.

One of eight Americans killed on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed on March

10, 2019, Vecere had been in Africa to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly and had plans to deliver air-quality monitors.

Vecere grew up in New Jersey before landing in San Clemente. His friends and family on both the East and West Coasts came together to raise funds for the restoration of a water well in Uganda in his name.

Partnering with Irvine-based Wells of Life, the well is in Uganda’s Mityana District and will ensure that more than 1,000 people will have access to a clean, sustainable drinking water source for the next 20 years.

“I am sure Matt would be honored to see this clean water project in his memory, and I send a thousand thanks to everyone at Wells of Life and my very best wishes to those who will draw water from this well,” said Vecere’s mother, Donna, in a statement to the media.

Wells of Life launched Project Restoration in 2019 to repair older, deteriorated wells.

Vecere’s restored water well has been commemorated with a memorial plaque. Additionally, since 2008, Wells of Life has funded the construction of 527 water wells in Uganda.

There’s a lot going on in our hectic world right now, there’s no doubt about that, but as we move into the next season of the confounding year that is 2020, it’s important to take a breath and remember there’s still a lot of positive stuff happening out there.

From restoring wells in Africa, to sharing the stoke of surfing with a sister or brother, to giving an inspired photographer a shot at chasing his or her dreams, it’s all part of the goodness that makes our local surf community so great.

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

Waylon Martin.

Photo: Courtesy of the Martin family

Water Temperature: 70-73 Degrees F

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

W

ith Labor Day in the rearview mirror and the unofficial end of summer at hand, Waylon Martin is blasting into fourth grade at Concordia Elementary. A regular shredder in the wildly talented pack of groms down at Trestles these days, he’s been spending a lot of time in the lineups at Uppers and Middles this summer.

When asked about what his favorite thing about surfing is, Waylon’s all about floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee—to borrow a line from the great Muhammad Ali. “I like doing floaters and cutbacks,” said Waylon. “That feeling of floating and going fast inspires me.”

Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-10‘

Asked whom he looks up to, Waylon said, “Jamie O’Brien, he does a lot of fun things in the ocean.”

O’Brien is one of the most established surfers at Pipeline and hosts an irreverent video series on YouTube.

Waylon was bit by the surf bug at the age of 5, when his dad first fired up the

stoke at Doheny—and he’s been ripping ever since. In the next decade, Waylon wants to drop into the perfection of the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia.

He has such big dreams and a big passion for surfing, we can’t wait to see where surfing takes Waylon in the months and years to come. DP

Page 14

Outlook: On Friday an easing South/southwest swell and smaller West/northwest swell rolls in with waist-chest high waves, (3-4’). Light winds early Friday morning, shift to moderate onshores for the afternoon. A combination of southerly swells maintains waist-stomach-chest high zone surf, (2-3-4’), through the weekend. Light morning winds are followed by moderate afternoon onshores over the weekend.

danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times September 11-17, 2020

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