INSIDE: Special Section
DECEMBER 3-9, 2021 | VOLUME 14, ISSUE 49
L O C A L
N E W S
Y O U
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Ringing in the Season Holiday Tradition Returns with La Plaza Tree Lighting E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 3
The La Plaza Tree Lighting will return to Dana Point this Saturday, along with the popular Jolly Trolley, allowing residents to share holiday cheer across the town. Photo: Breeana Greenberg
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CCC Gives Local Governments Guidance on Sea-Level Rise
First U.S. Omicron Case Detected in California
DHHS’ Jai Dawson Wins State Cross Country Title
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What’s Up With... TOP NEWS DANA POINT SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK
Holiday Tradition Returns with La Plaza Tree Lighting BY BREEANA GREENBERG
Following last year’s pause on in-person activities amid the public health crisis, the City of Dana Point is looking to bring back holiday traditions with its annual La Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 4. In addition to the tree lighting event, the city’s recreation division this year will also include its newest popular festivity, “Santa’s Jolly Trolley,” which was launched last year to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re really proud of and happy for the work that the recreation division did to adapt last year,” Mayor Jamey Federico said. “We learned that some of the things we did last year were so popular that we’re going to keep them.” Since the city did not hold an in-person tree lighting last year, it decided to bring holiday cheer across Dana Point through the inaugural Jolly Trolley. Rath-
er than have residents gather at La Plaza Park for the annual ceremony, “Santa and his elves” visited a number of parks across Dana Point aboard the trolley. The Jolly Trolley was so popular, the city is bringing it back for 2021. During the trolley stops, kids up to 12 years of age may receive pre-packaged treats. There will be carolers, hot chocolate and cookies at the tree lighting ceremony— the trolley’s final stop of the evening. “Santa’s elves” from the City of Dana Point’s Recreation Division will be collecting letters to Santa at Jolly Trolley stops. Those wishing to receive a letter back from Santa should include a mailing address on the letter. At the tree lighting ceremony, the City of Dana Point will also be collecting unwrapped toys for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. “Holiday lights are already on, and the city looks great this time of year,” Federico said of the festive décor around town. “It really is a fun kickoff to the holiday season, to light the holiday trees.” Santa’s Jolly Trolley will stop at Sunset Park, 34345 Calle Naranja, from 1:30-2 p.m.; Dana Woods Park, 24900 Dana
Holiday festivities such as tree lighting ceremonies and the popular Jolley Trolley will return to Dana Point starting Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo: File
Woods, from 2:30-3 p.m.; Sea Canyon Park, 33093 Santiago Drive, from 3:30-4 p.m.; and, lastly, at La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza St., from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The Tree Lighting will be held promptly at 5:15 p.m. Also, this weekend, the Pet Project Foundation will be hosting the Santa Paws event in the Dana Point Harbor from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
CCC Gives Local Governments Guidance on Sea-Level Rise BY BREEANA GREENBERG
The California Coastal Commission (CCC) adopted new Sea Level Rise Guidance for Critical Infrastructure at its Nov. 17 meeting. The guidance focuses on adapting transportation and water infrastructure to be resilient against sea-level rise (SLR) and provides recommendations for how local governments can address the matter through Local Coastal Programs (LCP). Over the coming decades, the CCC’s Sea Level Rise Guidance stated, “California’s aging infrastructure is reaching the end of its useful life and will need major maintenance, upgrades, or replacement.” The guidance states that failure to plan and adapt critical infrastructure will impact coastal resources. SLR is expected to increase “coastal erosion, tidal inundation, submergence of nearshore lands, groundwater rise, and seawater intrusion.” The guidance adds that planning ahead and adapting infrastructure to be more Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
The California Coastal Commission adopted new Sea Level Rise Guidance for Critical Infrastructure, which focuses on adapting transportation and water infrastructure to be resilient against sea-level rise (SLR) and provides recommendations for how local governments can address SLR through Local Coastal Programs. Photo: Breeana Greenberg
resilient against sea-level rise is significantly more cost-effective than addressing the damage and rebuilding after the fact. “These changes represent significant investments in the future and future infrastructure capacity,” the guidelines state. Coastal cities can adopt an LCP to retain more control over the project approval process within a city’s coastal zone
and to guide development in partnership with the CCC. LCPs contain the ground rules for future development and protection of coastal resources in the state’s 76 coastal cities and counties. “All cities in the Coastal Zone (are) required to have an LCP; however, to date, only 75% of the California coastline is covered by a certified LCP,” according to Page 3
The event will be an opportunity for residents to have their pets’ picture taken with Santa. Photos cost $15; additional photos can be purchased for $10. All proceeds go toward homeless animals at the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter. The city will also be holding another tree lighting event at Pines Park in Capistrano Beach from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6.
the City of San Clemente’s website. When a city gets a CCC-certified Local Coastal Program, it is required to complete Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessments and Coastal Resiliency Plans. The LCP contains two primary components: a Land Use Plan (LUP) and a Local Implementation Plan (IP). These components provide measures to implement the plan, such as zoning ordinances. In 2016, the City of Dana Point received a $135,000 LCP Planning Grant from the CCC to prepare the Vulnerability Assessment. According to the Dana Point City website, the assessment will “aid the City in evaluating future coastal hazard impacts and identifying new and enhanced coastal hazard adaptation strategies to combat SLR.” In 2017, the City of San Clemente also received a $135,000 LCP Planning Grant from the CCC to prepare the Vulnerability Assessment. The city was also awarded a $75,000 LCP grant in 2018 to put together the Coastal Resiliency Plan. San Clemente’s Coastal Resiliency Plan, which builds on findings from the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and recommends an approach to improve coastal infrastructure resiliency, was available for a six-week public comment period through Nov. 18. (Cont. on page 4) danapointtimes.com
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Fishing Ban Lifted in Orange County BY BREEANA GREENBERG
Fishing from Seal Beach to San Onofre State Beach resumed this week, as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reopened fisheries on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Following the Oct. 2 oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach, the department prohibited all fishing and shellfish harvesting from all beaches, bays and harbors along Orange County’s coastline. Donna Kalez, Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching’s chief operating officer, estimated that her business lost $150,000 in revenue after canceling numerous fishing trips during the twomonth ban. Local bait and tackle shops including Hogan’s Bait and Tackle, she added, also took a big hit. “It was really devastating for our area to not fish the local waters,” said Kalez, who noted that the ban came just before lobster season was set to open.“I mean, boaters have their boats in Dana Point Harbor so they can go right outside and fish.” Dana Wharf also runs a five-week, after-school fishing camp in San Clemente that had to be canceled because of the spill, Kalez explained. Dana Wharf also had to postpone its 14th annual Halibut Derby,
Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching immediately took advantage of fisheries reopening on Tuesday, Nov. 30, taking a fishing trip south of the San Clemente Pier. Photo: Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching
a contest to catch the largest halibut. Amid the spill that leaked thousands of gallons of oil into the ocean, a health advisory was also issued against the consumption of fish or seafood harvested from affected beaches. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment determined that consuming fish from the affected coastline was a likely threat to public health, as the chemicals found in oil can cause an increased risk for cancer.
In a Nov. 29 press release, the Department of Fish and Wildlife cited guidance from the environmental office that there is “no further risk to public health from seafood consumption in the affected area.” In response to the fisheries reopening, Charlton Bonham, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response administrator, signed the declaration formally lifting the closure on Dec. 1.
First U.S. Omicron Case Detected in California
during a press briefing at the White House. “The individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29.” The individual is reportedly self-quarantining and all close contacts have tested negative. The individual also was fully vaccinated and experiencing mild symptoms, which are “improving at this point,” Fauci said. “We knew that it was just a matter of time before the first case of omicron would be detected in the United States,” Fauci said. “We know what we need to do to protect people. Get vaccinated if you’re not already vaccinated. Get boosted if you’ve been vaccinated for more than six months with an MRNA (vaccine) or two months with J&J.” Fauci also encouraged further masking in indoor settings. More information about aspects of the omicron variant—including the severity and level of transmissibility—is expected to become clearer in the coming weeks. “For the people in California, we’ve been in contact with the public health officials in California,” Fauci said. “I’m not sure exactly what they’re going to say, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to say just do all the mitigation, all the things we’ve been talking about up to now.”
BY COLLIN BREAUX
Graphic: Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that the omicron variant has been detected in California, marking the first such known case in the U.S. News broke of the development on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and InfecDana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
tious Diseases, confirmed the case, based on reports from health officials. “Genomic sequencing was conducted at the University of California at San Francisco, and the sequence was confirmed at the CDC as being consistent with the omicron variant,” Fauci said Page 4
(Cont. from page 3) The San Clemente City Council will consider adopting the plan at its Dec. 7 meeting. San Clemente’s draft Implementation Plan is also in development, and is expected to be available for public comment in late 2021 or early 2022, according to the city’s website. The CCC’s SLR Guidance for Critical Infrastructure outlines adaptation strategies for transportation infrastructure and planning for resilient water infrastructure, and includes model policies. The new guidance highlights four types of strategies to address SLR: protection, accommodation, retreat, and hybrid strategies. The most appropriate adaptation strategy will depend on circumstances and vary from project to project. The guidelines also add that planning should reflect short-, mid-, and long-term timescales that address the state’s “best available sea-level rise projection parameters.” The guidelines state that hard armoring such as sea walls are costly, require increasing maintenance—they are continually impacted by waves and rising tides—and will not protect infrastructure from groundwater flooding. Additionally, the guidelines cite a 2019 study that estimates relocating vulnerable infrastructure to be more cost-effective in the long term compared to protecting it through armoring or accommodation strategies. Instead, the guidance recommends a phased, nature-based approach to addressing SLR. A nature-based adaptation strategy aims to “improve ecological and natural systems while reducing the impacts of coastal flooding and erosion,” according to the guidelines. Such an approach is being considered at Capistrano Beach, where OC Parks is working to get a pilot project approved to shore up the local amenity by adding a strip of buried cobble and vegetated sand dunes along either the South reach or North reach. A nature-based adaptation strategy is not always feasible, however. The guidelines state that when a solely nature-based approach is not feasible, a partial and phased relocation with infrastructure or “hard” shoreline protection can be combined with nature-based adaptation. In San Clemente’s Coastal Resiliency Plan that the council will consider next week, the city outlines areas vulnerable to SLR and resiliency strategies to protect them. One resiliency strategy the city identifies is a living shoreline, which may look similar to the shoreline protection proposed for Capistrano Beach. The living shoreline strategy would look to reestablish natural dunes and could protect shoreline structures, recreational resources, roadways and infrastructure. The City of Dana Point said staff is still evaluating the updated guidance and was not prepared to comment. As of publication, San Clemente officials had not responded to requests seeking comment. danapointtimes.com
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October Jobs Report Shows Continued Improvement on South County’s Unemployment Front BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO
Center in San Clemente, where they were greeted by Drumstick, the Dana Point Turkey Trot mascot, and 54 volunteers who provided words of encouragement and food. The 1,261 people who drove through received food for a Thanksgiving feast, including a turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries, stuffing, yams and green beans, among other food items. They also received diapers, pumpkins and FAM’s monthly USDA food distribution. “The food was donated over the last month by wonderful people and organizations in the community who wanted to help,” FAM said in a press release. “Many who came through the line to receive food are families, seniors, and veterans who just need a little hand-up this year with cost of food rising and still trying to recover from the financial impact of COVID-19.” Anyone in need of assistance can contact FAM at 949.492.8477, ext. 101.
Unemployment in the South Orange County cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano continued to fall in October, with the jobless rate inching closer to pre-pandemic levels. Among the three towns, unemployment dropped from 4.4% in September to just above 4% the following month, according to the latest jobs data that the state’s Employment Development Department released on Nov. 19. Orange County as a whole also continued to see an overall decline in unemployment, which sat at 4.7% in October, down from the 5% reported the month before. The statewide unemployment rate saw a slight downtick in the same period, sliding from 7.5% to 7.3%. Though the state’s unemployment has more room to drop before matching the 4.2% average jobless rate in 2019, the latest figure shows unemployment’s steady decline from the 9.8% reported in October 2020. “Thanks to October’s job growth, the state has now regained 1,828,500, or 67.4%, of the 2,714,800 jobs that were lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the state’s employment office said. According to the jobs report, California payroll jobs grew to roughly 16.77 million, an increase of about 96,800 nonfarm jobs from the month prior. Much of those jobs gains was seen in the professional and business services
sector and the leisure and hospitality industry. Based on a review of employment data since this past January, when countywide unemployment was 7.4%, the county’s labor force—the number of residents working, regardless of location—has gradually increased, rising from just shy of 1.52 million workers to nearly 1.59 million in October. In 2019, the county’s average labor force was just above 1.62 million. Residents of the three South County towns made up 68,100 of that average workforce in the year before the pandemic, according to the labor data. For the month of October, the three towns had a combined labor force of 66,300, with 2,700 out of work, down from the 4,400 jobless number reported in January, when the average unemployment rate here was 7%. Since January, San Juan Capistrano has been able to nearly cut its unemployment rate in half, dropping from 6.4% to 3.6% in October, according to the state’s jobs data. San Clemente’s also seen a steep decline since the start of the year, as unemployment decreased from 7.2% to 4.1%. And in Dana Point, the jobless rate for October was reported at 4.4%, down from the 6.8% the city was experiencing at the top of 2021. The state’s jobs report for the month of November is scheduled to be released on Dec. 17.
Program to Prevent Homelessness. “We are incredibly grateful and very touched by the outpouring of love and support for Project Angel Tree,” DPWC Co-President Betty Hill said in a press release. “This effort sends a much-needed hug to vulnerable families. We’re very happy we can make their Christmas a little brighter.” United Way OC’s South County Pilot Program offers classes to low income families to build financial stability in an effort to prevent homelessness. DPWC raised funds for the Pilot Program last summer at its “Cocktails for a Cause” event. “We were a little overwhelmed when we found out there were 168 kids in total,” DPWC Vice President Toni Nelson said in an email. “We thought about just focusing on a smaller number of kids, but it really seemed unfair to leave any of them out. Our Board decided we
would take on the kids from one of the cohorts but authorized me to start shaking the bushes looking for local groups to take on the other three.” The Dana Point Youth Board coordinated with high school students to run a gift drive at Dana Hills High School. The Chamber of Commerce and City of Dana Point also picked up a group of kids for whom to purchase gifts. The Monarch Beach Rotary and United Way OC’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund each took on a cohort as well, and plan to join the DPWC on Saturday, Dec. 4, for a gift-wrapping party. Thanks to the collaboration between civic and philanthropic groups, Angel Tree became a community project, Nelson said. “Charity begins at home, but I don’t think most realize that we have a great number of very needy families in affluent Dana Point,” Nelson said in the email. “The United Way OC Pilot Program truly
works to prevent homelessness before it happens, and I hope our community will continue to support this cause.” In order to protect privacy, families were assigned numbers rather than using surnames. Parents provided a list of gift suggestions. “I found it particularly compelling that a lot of parents asked for clothing or shoes, but I have a feeling most of our community members will be adding in a toy as well,” Nelson said. The DPWC will be delivering the gifts on Dec. 9. “Dana Point Woman’s Club is heartened by the way local charity groups and individuals joined us in embracing Project Angel Tree,” DPWC Co-President Karin Marsh said in the press release. “Their generosity toward vulnerable local families says so much about our South County community.”
Family Assistance Ministries distributes Thanksgiving food supplies to those in need on Saturday, Nov. 27. Photo: Courtesy of FAM
FAM Distributes Thanksgiving Feasts to Families in Need BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO
Volunteers with Family Assistance Ministries handed out Thanksgiving food supplies to more than 1,200 people as part of the nonprofit’s Thanksgiving Feast drive-thru distribution event on Saturday, Nov. 27. “The food was donated by the community, the volunteers were people from our community, and the clients were people in our community who just need a little help with Thanksgiving this year,” Mary Gray Perdue, chief of development for FAM, explained in an email. Those in need drove their cars through the distribution line at FAM’s Resource
Project Angel Tree Brings Christmas Cheer to Families in Need BY BREEANA GREENBERG
A total of 168 children in need will receive gifts this holiday season with the help of Project Angel Tree. The Dana Point Woman’s Club (DPWC) partnered with The Dana Point Youth Board, Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club, United Way Women’s Philanthropy Fund and the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce to ask members to purchase gifts for a particular “angel.” This year, gifts will go to the families of United Way OC’s South County Pilot Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
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Dana Point Times, Vol. 14 Issue 49. 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 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
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Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
GUEST OPINION | The Levin Letter by Rep. Mike Levin
WE’RE 1 STEP CLOSER TO MOVING THE WASTE AT SAN ONOFRE T
he U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) just took a critical step toward addressing the nation’s spent nuclear fuel challenges, and it could have significant implications for the waste stranded at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The DOE has finally issued a request for information to restart the consent-based siting process for locations that could store the spent fuel currently distributed across the country at nuclear plants like San Onofre. Consent-based siting means the community that receives the waste agrees beforehand to take it, which is key to securing a location for the waste, because it reduces the possibility of opposition after a site has been chosen. This is an important step for everyone who has been fighting to find locations to move the waste out of our community, and it’s something I’ve been pushing the DOE to do for a long time. Last year, my colleagues and I fought to secure much-needed federal funds to jump-start a related consolidated interim storage program at the DOE. A consolidated interim site would serve as a temporary storage location for spent nuclear fuel until a permanent repository site can be established. As we wrote to members of the House Appropriations Committee last year, we believe that the DOE program should
Letter to The Editor YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE ROSEMARIE ALLAIRE, Dana Point I am trying to understand the hundreds of shoes that were left in front of the CUSD offices to represent that parents would take their children out of school if a COVID-19 vaccine mandate was in effect for California students. Where will these children be educated? They won’t be able to travel outside of the United States or even see a Broadway
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initially focus on accepting fuel from closed nuclear plants while accounting for site-specific environmental factors. Both of those criteria favor removing fuel from SONGS and align with my Spent Fuel Prioritization Act, which would require the DOE to prioritize THE LEVIN LETTER the removal of spent BY MIKE LEVIN nuclear fuel from decommissioned nuclear sites in areas with large populations and high seismic risk. With more than nine million people living within 50 miles of San Onofre and with Southern California experiencing some of the greatest seismic hazards in the country, the bill would make SONGS one of the highest-priority sites in the nation for the removal of spent nuclear fuel. Late last year, we took another step closer to achieving those priorities when Congress passed, and the President signed, government funding legislation that included $20 million that my colleagues and I had requested for the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel. Now, the DOE is using that funding to restart a consent-based siting process. According to DOE, the information gathered by its request for information will be used to further develop the de-
partment’s consent-based siting process and overall waste management strategy in an equitable way. In its announcement, DOE stated that it is “committed to a consent-based siting approach that makes communities and people central in the process to give the nation its best chance at success in solving the nation’s decades-long stalemate over how to effectively manage our spent nuclear fuel.” The federal government has a responsibility to address the nation’s spent nuclear fuel challenge, but history has shown us that without the consent of the communities that will be involved, we are unlikely to succeed. The DOE’s announcement shows that we can address these issues directly and correct the mistakes that have led us to the current nationwide spent-fuel impasse. U.S. Representative Mike Levin represents the 49th Congressional District, which includes the South Orange County cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. He was reelected for a second term in 2020 and resides in San Juan Capistrano with his wife and two children. DP
show in New York City without proof of the vaccine. We know that the vaccine helps save lives. What this image represents is the pandemic of the unvaccinated. How is this different from the other mandated vaccines necessary for children to attend public schools? Are the parents who claim “My Body, My Choice” also Pro-Choice to be consistent with the origin of the phrase? The dramatic photo of the hundreds of shoes represents that you can run, but you can’t hide from the more than 750,000 U.S. deaths, and more than five million worldwide from the pandemic since 2020. Sadly, the unvaccinated in September were at 14 times higher risk of dying from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people, ac-
cording to new data posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data is here. Run and catch up to 2021.
PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to sraymundo@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.
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GETTING OUT
Editor’s Pick
The List What’s going on in and around town this week DANA POINT TIMES
Get a curated list of the weekend’s best events sent straight to your inbox every Friday! Sign up for The Weekender at danapointtimes.com/weekender
FRIDAY | 03 ONLINE TOUR OF MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 3 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano is offering online guided tours of its historic grounds every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Learn about the history and see the charming grounds and gardens of this South Orange County landmark. Cost is $45 for up to four devices, and the Zoom tour lasts up to an hour. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance. Check the Mission website for exact hours. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com. GRAND OPENING FOR PUTUIDEM VILLAGE 3:30 p.m. The long-awaited opening for the cultural village paying tribute to the area’s indigenous people has finally arrived in San Juan Capistrano. Putuidem Village will feature cultural markers, seating, and other amenities. The event will include a ceremonial commencement and light refreshments. Northwest Open Space, 30291 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1171. sanjuancapistrano.org. LIVE THEATER AT CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE 7:30 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse presents A Christmas Story, a rendition of the classic holiday movie. The show runs through Dec. 19. Current health guidelines will be in place. All staff members Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
Photo: Breeana Greenberg
SUNDAY | 05 MENORAH GATHERING 4:30-5:30 p.m. The Dana Point Harbor, in partnership with the Chabad Jewish Center of Dana Point, will host a Menorah gathering on the fishing pier at Baby Beach. The 12-foot Menorah will remain at the pier through Dec. 6. Baby Beach Fishing Pier, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point. and actors are fully vaccinated. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.org. UGLY SWEATER COMEDY SHOW 8 p.m. Those looking for some laughs and holiday cheer can enjoy the “Future is Female Comedy Show” at Knuckleheads, where, this week, guests are encouraged to don their ugly sweaters. See the most talented comedians you never knew existed from L.A., Orange County and Las Vegas. This free, star-studded show has one of the most diverse comedy lineups. This week’s show will be headlined by Kayla Esmond. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.
HOLIDAY HARBOR LIGHTS Dana Point Harbor Partners is spreading seasonal cheer with the annual holiday light display that will illuminate the Harbor through Jan. 2. Each night throughout the holiday season, the Harbor’s magnificent light display will illuminate the evening sky for guests of all ages to enjoy. Themed light exhibits throughout the Harbor will include Candy Cane Lane, a popular “Merry Kiss Me” arch, lighted trees and much more.
hand out pre-packaged treats for kids up to 12 years of age. Santa’s elves will also be collecting letters to Santa. Participants should include a mailing address on the letter so that Santa can return a special letter. The trolley will stop at Sunset Park, 34345 Calle Naranja, from 1:30-2 p.m.; Dana Woods Park, 24900 Dana Woods, from 2:30-3 p.m.; Sea Canyon Park, 33093 Santiago Drive, from 3:30-4 p.m.; and La Plaza Park, 34111 La Plaza St., from 4:305:30 p.m.
SATURDAY | 04
CAPISTRANO LIGHTS 4-6 p.m. This annual seasonal tradition returns to Mission San Juan Capistrano. Enjoy holiday programs, Christmas tree lightings, a nativity scene, and more on select nights in December at one of (Cont. on page 10)
SANTA’S JOLLY TROLLEY 1:30-5:30 p.m. Santa and his elves from the City of Dana Point’s Recreation Division will ride on his Jolly Trolley to Page 9
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GETTING OUT
(Cont. from page 9) South Orange County’s premier historic venues. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com. LA PLAZA TREE LIGHTING 5:15 p.m. During the Jolly Trolley’s final stop of the day at La Plaza Park, the annual community tree lighting ceremony will be held with carolers, hot chocolate, and cookies. The City of Dana Point will also be collecting unwrapped toys for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. 949.248.3536. recreation@danapoint.org. BOAT RIDE WITH SANTA 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Take a boat ride with Santa this holiday season, hosted by Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. Tickets are $5 per person, and all proceeds will be donated to Soroptimist of Capistrano Bay charity. Reservations are required, and there is a six-person-per-reservation limit. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. danawharf.com. SANTA PAWS IN THE DANA POINT HABOR 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Bring your furry friend to the Dana Point Harbor to have their picture taken with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 4, and Sunday, Dec. 5. The cost is $15 for a picture, which you’ll receive immediately. Additional photos can be purchased for $10. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals at the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter. Photos will be taken under the covered pagoda located to the left of Harpoon Henry’s. Guests
should park in the wharfside parking lot. Well-behaved dogs are welcome; all dogs on leash, please. 34571 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point.
to write Santa a letter, please make sure you print your name and address on the letter clearly, so Santa can return a special letter to you. Deadline to submit your letter is Dec. 13. Mail your letter to: Letters to Santa c/o City of Dana Point Recreation 34052 Del Obispo St. Dana Point, CA 92629
BEND AND BREW AT STATION CRAFT 11 a.m.-noon. iHeartYoga has partnered with Station Craft Brewery and Kitchen for its signature Bend and Brew class, Yoga + Beer + Beats + Community. Book your classes early, as they often sell out. You’ll get one of the iHeartYoga instructors working you out Saturday morning at the new Station Craft, followed by a free beer and social hour with the iHeartYoga Community. Station Craft, 34150 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. POSCA PAINT PARTY 4-9 p.m. Join Brophy Art Gallery for its latest Posca Paint Party, which will feature special guest Phil Roberts. Participants will get to enjoy a creative evening, painting with Posca Paint pens alongside other artists (both new and experienced). The gallery is offering two sessions: one for adults and kids from 4-5 p.m. and another session with adults only from 5-9 p.m. Admission is $30 per person, covering supplies, wood, canvas and a mini surfboard on which to paint. Brophy Art Gallery, 139 Ave Granada, San Clemente. 949.899.5244. drewbrophy.com/gallery.
SUNDAY | 05 LETTERS TO SANTA: HO, HO, HO! “Santa” and his elves at the North Pole are eagerly awaiting your letters so he can write back to you. If you would like
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR SENIORS 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Be a Santa for a senior this holiday season. You can stop by the Dana Point Community Center and visit the city’s “Giving Tree” in the lobby to pick up a tag to purchase a gift for a local Dana Point senior. Each tag will have a gift idea for a male or female senior. Purchase the gift and return the unwrapped gift and tag to the Recreation Division office by Dec. 13. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo, Dana Point. DOG DENTAL CLEANING 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Qualified Pet Dental will perform no-anesthesia teeth cleaning for dogs (and cats) at Bow-Wow Beautiful Pet Spa. A vet exam is included in the service. Cleanings are safe for older pets and take less than an hour. Appointments are required, and can be reserved by calling 949.702.3130. There will also be low-cost vaccinations, flea protection, allergy solutions and veterinary wellness services. Bow-Wow Beautiful Pet Spa, 364 Camino De Estrella, San Clemente.
MONDAY | 06 HOLIDAY GOLF CLASSIC 8 a.m. Join the Boys & Girls Club of the
AT THE MOVIES
‘King Richard’ Continues to Inspire This Season BY MEGAN BIANCO, DANA POINT TIMES
Reinaldo Marcus Green’s King Richard is your standard, rags-to-riches historical drama/biopic on paper that is completely saved by likable actors and characters. The film is one of many period dramas out this tail end of 2021, and it is probably the most uplifting. In Compton, California and West Palm Beach, Florida throughout the early 1990s, we see the origin story of tennis superstar
Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
sisters Venus and Serena Williams (Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton), but through the perspective of their father-manager Richard (Will Smith). Richard believes he has not one, but two
daughters who have the potential to be the next big success story in sports, yet doesn’t want them to get eaten up by fame and excess. Some of his colleagues, such as big-shot
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South Coast Area for some holiday cheer at Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano. Enjoy a round of golf at the members-only club while supporting the children of the Boys & Girls Club. Registration, breakfast and the practice facilities open at 8 a.m., with the shotgun start at 9 a.m. Contact Elizabeth Beas at elizabeth@bgcsca.org or 949.484.0122 with questions. bgcsca.ejoinme.org.
WEDNESDAY | 08 TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE 6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends, or show up solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com. FLASHBACK WEDNESDAY 7:30 p.m. San Juan Capistrano’s downtown movie theater will screen How the Grinch Stole Christmas as part of its Flashback Wednesday series. Order some popcorn and sit back in your seat while you enjoy this holiday film. Tickets are $10. Regency Theatres San Juan Capistrano, 26762 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 844.216.3767. regencymovies.com. LIVE MUSIC AT THE COACH HOUSE 8 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Singer-songwriter Marc Broussard will perform. Tickets are $28. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com
coaches Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn) and Rick Macci (Jon Bernthal), think he’s too stubborn and overly controlling, which will hold the young girls’ talent back. But Richard believes his unique, completely independent route for Venus’ and Serena’s paths can lead the way. Scripted by Zach Baylin and featuring Smith and the real Williams sisters as credited producers, King Richard sticks to the paint-bynumbers biopic structure and hits all the cues we’ve seen before in sports movies. What really keeps the story going are the performances and chemistry from Smith, Sidney and Singleton. Smith has proven time and again, even when his film decisions flip-flop in quality, that he is capable of being both the screen hero and the award contender. Here we get more of the latter, and not in a contrived way. The young actresses have enough natural delivery and charm as the film’s breakthrough performances. Along with an empowering theme song, “Be Alive” by Beyoncé, King Richard is a feel-good time at the movie theater for all ages. DP
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Dana Point Times December 3–9, 2021
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HOLIDAY
Happenings FRIDAY, DEC. 3
Harbor Lights Cruise 6-7 p.m. Enjoy an hour-long boat ride through Dana Point Harbor, courtesy of Dana Wharf. Music, holiday lighting, and other festivities are part of the fun. The cruise will sail on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the holiday season. Cost is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 3-12, and $5 for children ages 2 and under. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. danawharf.com.
‘A Christmas Story’ Performance 7:30 p.m. Get the holiday season started with a performance of this classic Christmas story, performed on stage at Camino Real Playhouse. Relive Ralphie’s quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun, but be careful not to shoot your eye out with that thing! The play runs through Dec. 19. Check the venue website for ticket prices and times. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.org.
SATURDAY, DEC. 4
Boat Ride with Santa 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tour the waters around Dana Point Harbor with St. Nick himself. A boat ride in South Orange County may not be the same as a sleigh ride at the North Pole, but the festive spirt is all the same. Tickets are $5 per person, and all proceeds will be donated to Soroptimist of Capistrano Bay. Reservations are required, and there is a 6-person-per-reservation limit. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. danawharf.com.
Dana Point Times December 3–9, 2021
Santa Paws 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Bring your pet down for holiday-themed photo opportunities during the 10th annual Santa Paws, hosted by the Pet Project Foundation. Pet photos will be offered for a small donation. The event will also be available the next day on Dec. 5 at the same time. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. danapointharbor.com.
Capistrano Lights 4-6 p.m. This annual South Orange County event returns with holiday programming, music, a nativity scene, extended hours for the Serra Chapel, and more. Marvel at the historic grounds of the Mission during select evenings, running through Dec. 20. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.
Santa’s Village by the Sea 4-8 p.m. The City of San Clemente and the Downtown Business Association present a fun event to spread holiday cheer. Get ready for music, food, hot chocolate, snow, and more. Wristbands or tickets are required for certain activities. Check the city website to see the calendar of events and times. Avenida del Mar, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.
See the ‘Tallest Tree in OC’ Get a gander of what is being promoted as the “tallest tree in OC” at the Outlets of San Clemente. The 100-foot-tall tree is adorned with bows, ornaments, and lights. Drop by for a picture with the family. 101 W Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.535.2323. outletsatsanclemente.com.
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Dana Point Times December 3–9, 2021
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HOLIDAY
Happenings SUNDAY, DEC. 5 + 12
Gingerbread House and Cookie Decorating 2-4 p.m. Create your own seasonal treats at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Call 949.240.2000 to reserve your spot. Cost is $250 per gingerbread house. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point. ritzcarlton.com.
THURSDAY, DEC. 9 + 23
Carolers at THE Harbor 4-7 p.m. Listen to some seasonal tunes while enjoying the water and shops in Dana Point Harbor. 34675 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 949.388.3663. danapointharbor.com.
Dana Point Times December 3–9, 2021
FRIDAY, DEC. 10
Boat Parade of Lights 7:30 p.m. Prepare to be dazzled at night while near the water during the 46th annual Boat Parade of Lights. The event also runs at the same time on Dec. 11 and at 6 p.m. on Dec. 12. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. 949.388.3663. danapointharbor.com.
Holiday Storytelling 7:30 p.m. Bring the kids to hear seasonal tales with Santa at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Donations of new children’s books will be collected for Miracles for Kids. The event also runs at the same time on Dec. 11, 17, and 18. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point. 949.240.2000. ritzcarlton.com.
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HOLIDAY
Happenings SUNDAY, DEC. 10-23
THURSDAY, DEC. 16
Winterscape & Festival of Trees
Holiday Painting Workshop
5:30-8 p.m. Llive music, appearances by Santa, ice skating and more at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. 30753 La Pata Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.299.7219. sanjuanoutpost.com.
5-7 p.m. Learn how to paint miniature ornaments on canvas. Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, 31692 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.503.5700. marriott.com.
SATURDAY, DEC. 11
Sunsets with Santa 3-5 p.m. Get a photo with Santa at the San Clemente Pier. Additional photo opportunities will also be available on certain dates. Check the city website for times. 622 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.
Dana Point Times December 3–9, 2021
FRIDAY, DEC. 17-19
A Cabrillo Holiday Celebration 7:30 p.m. Join Cabrillo Playhouse for an evening of family-friendly songs celebrating the holidays. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. cabrilloplayhouse.org.
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Dana Point Times December 3–9, 2021
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DP LIVING
TOYS, TOYS, TOYS New Store at Outlets Aims to Bring Year-Round Cheer BY NORB GARRETT, DANA POINT TIMES
C
all it intuition, call it a “sixth sense.” For entrepreneurs Sean and Dolores Sargeant, seizing an opportunity to expand their fast-growing business empire, they opened The Toy Box, a new toy store located in the Outlets at San Clemente. This 3,200-square-foot wonderland of toys opened on Oct. 1, and features trendy puzzles, retro games, stuffed animals, cars, fire trucks and military airplanes, as well as the latest gizmos and gadgets and holiday decorations. “We noticed that there wasn’t a toy store anywhere in the area, so we spoke with the team here at the Outlets and
found a space that we thought could work,” said Dolores, who along with her husband, Sean, knew nothing about the toy retail business before opening the store, but knew that they could lean on their other business experiences to be successful. “We had just opened our new jerky store (Jerky & Cali Gifts) here at the Outlets in April, so it all happened really fast,” Dolores continued. “I didn’t want to punch a clock anymore. Both of us decided that we want to work hard for ourselves and were tired of working hard for someone else.” Dolores first met Sean in 1989, when he was assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62) in Long Beach. Soon after, they married and began raising their son, Sean Jr., now 31. Today, Sean and Dolores own four businesses—three in South Orange County and one in Temecula. Aside from the toy and jerky stores in San Clemente, they own Jerky & Cali Gifts in Dana Point Harbor and Temecula Souvenirs in Temecula. A former logistics manager at DSL Transportation, Dolores spearheads all operations, point-of-sale and product de-
cisions, while Sean, a 30-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran and recently retired Orange County Probation Officer, manages the administrative and personnel aspects of the couple’s growing retail empire. The new toy store has been a true passion project for the couple, who regularly commute from Riverside County to San Clemente to manage their business. “We genuinely love making people happy,” said Dolores. “Sean and I don’t look at customers as just a sale. We always take the time to say hello, welcome them to our stores and try to make their experience special.” Dolores leans on her best friend, Susan Litner, and Litner’s 8-year-old son, Cayden, to help her decide which toys to showcase in the store. “Susan and Cayden have played a big part in helping us create The Toy Box’s selection,” said Dolores. For Dolores, those decisions became easier after attending a recent Las Vegas toy convention, where she and Susan met toy industry experts ready to help them succeed. With four businesses, 13 employees and a hectic seven-day workweek, the couple has gone “all-in” on the small-business owner’s American dream. DP
The Toy Box owners Sean and Dolores Sargeant. Photo: Norb Garrett
THE TOY BOX The Outlets at San Clemente, #170, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, 949.338.4374
DANA POINT TIMES
ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK
Agatha
Meet Agatha, a 3-year-old Vizsla mix with a winning personality. This pretty girl loves long walks outdoors almost as much as she loves a good snuggle. Though she can initially be a bit timid with new people, she tends to warm up quickly. Agatha would do well in a home with dog-savvy owners who can continue with her training. If you are interested in adopting Agatha, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment.
Sudoku BY MYLES MELLOR
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library
FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo was taken of Dana
Point on June 21, 1939 from Doheny Palisades, with railroad tracks running alongside the length of the coast.
Every week, the Dana Point Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com.
Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
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
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See the solution in next week’s issue.
danapointtimes.com
DP LIVING
Turkey Trot Makes Strong Return to Dana Point PHOTOS & TEXT BY BREANA GREENBERG, DANA POINT TIMES
More than 8,000 runners participated in the 44th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving last week. The holiday tradition consisted of a 10K, two different 5Ks and a one-mile Kids’ Gobble Wobble, as well as a health and wellness expo and a costume contest. The courses led runners throughout the Dana Point Harbor, near the Ocean Institute and along Pacific Coast Highway. Mulenga Harry from Tucson, Arizona finished first in the 10K. Colin Hacker from Rancho Santa Margarita and Logan Broedner from San Juan Capistrano finished in first place in the two 5Ks. Ninety-year-old veteran Robert Kohler ran the 5K carrying two American flags. Dressed as a family of turkeys, parents Tyler and Alise Bowman, with daughter Brixton Bowman, won the group costume contest. Varpas Pereira won the adult costume contest, dressed as The Grinch. During the festivities, the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley and the Music Preserves Foundation were each given $10,000, which was all raised from entry fees and donations to the event. DP Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
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Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
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danapointtimes.com
PUBLIC NOTICES
the City Council. Project Number: Zone Text Amendment ZTA21-0001 Project Location: Citywide Environmental: The proposed amendments are to implement Senate Bill 9 and are not considered a project under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code and are categorically exempt per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15303. Monday, December 13, Hearing Date: 2021 Hearing Time: 6:00 PM (or as soon thereafter as possible) Hearing Location: 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 (Dana Point City Hall)
TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: JAMES A. BRAY, AKA JAMES ALLEN BRAY Case Number: 30-2021-01232834-PR-LA-CJC To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will and or estate, or both, of JAMES A. BRAY, AKA JAMES ALLEN BRAY A Petition for Probate has been filed by Laticia Bray in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE. The Petition for Probate requests that Laticia Bray be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The Petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: A. Date: Feb 03, 2022 Time: 2:00 p.m. in Dept: C8, B. Address of Court: 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. (1) If you plan to appear, you must attend the hearing by video remote using the court’s designated video platform; (2) Go to the courts website at: http://www.occourts. org/media-relations/probate-mental-health. html to appear for probate hearings and for remote hearing instructions; (3) If you have difficulty connecting to your remote hearing, call (657)622-8278 for assistance. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California Statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (Form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Judd Matsunaga, Esq., Elder Law Services of California, APLC 1609 Cravens Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501
Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
Ph: (310)348-7272 Published in: Dana Point Times, Dec 3, 10, 17, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF DANA POINT 2021-2029 HOUSING ELEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a public hearing will be held by the Planning Commission of the City of Dana Point to consider the following: General Plan Amendment GPA20-0003: The City of Dana Point is proposing to adopt the 2021-2029 Housing Element and Public Safety Element Updates to the City’s General Plan. The updates must comply with state requirements and accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation. The Planning Commission will receive public comments, review the proposed General Plan Amendments, and provide its recommendation to the City Council.
Any persons with questions, comments, and concerns on the project are welcome to present their views to the Commission at this public hearing. For further information, please contact Brenda Wisneski, Community Development Director, at the City of Dana Point Community Development Department, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 209, Dana Point, (949) 248-3560 or at bwisneski@danapoint.org.
Project Number: General Plan Amendment GPA20-0003 Project Location: Citywide Environmental: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15061(b) (3), the project is covered under the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Monday, December 13, 2021 Hearing Date: Hearing Time: 6:00 PM (or as soon thereafter as possible) Hearing Location: 33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629 (Dana Point City Hall)
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF SEAN THOMAS MACGREGOR Case No. 30-2021-01226467-PR-LA-CJC To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of SEAN THOMAS MACGREGOR A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Brian MacGregor in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Brian MacGregor be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
Any persons with questions, comments, and concerns on the project are welcome to present their views to the Commission at this public hearing. Additional information about the project can be found at https://www.danapoint.org/residents/ housing/housing-element. For further information, please contact Belinda Deines, Principal Planner, at the City of Dana Point Community Development Department, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 209, Dana Point, (949) 2483570 or at bdeines@danapoint.org.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on Dec. 15, 2021 at 10:30 AM in Dept. No. C08 located at 700 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE W, SANTA ANA CA 92701.
PUBLIC NOTICE
IF YOU PLAN TO APPEAR: (1) You must attend the hearing by video remote using the court’s designated video platform (2) Go to the Court’s website at http://www.occourts.org/ media-relations/probate-mental-health.html to appear for probate hearings; and for remote hearing instructions; (3) If you have difficulty connecting to your remote hearing, call 657622-8278 for assistance.
CITY OF DANA POINT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a public hearing will be held by the Planning Commission of the City of Dana Point to consider the following: Zone Text Amendment ZTA21-0001: An amendment to the Dana Point Zoning Code to establish regulations pertaining to Single Family Residential Duplexes, Urban Lot Splits and expiration of Tentative Maps, pursuant to California Senate Bill 9 (SB9). The Planning Commission will receive public comments, review the proposed Zone Text Amendments, and provide its recommendation to
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent credPage 22
itor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowl-edgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: STEVEN S LOEB ESQ SBN 85373 ROSEN & LOEB 5743 CORSA AVE STE 110 WESTLAKE VILLAGE CA 91362 CN982207 MACGREGOR Nov 19,26, Dec 3, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 30-2021-01229653-CU-PT-CJC TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1) Petitioner: Paul Wilkes filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name a. Paul Wilkes Proposed Name a. Paul Richard Downes 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: 01/18/2022 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept. D100 Room: Remote Appearance. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, Superior Court of California, County of Orange, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701 . For remote hearing instructions, go to the Court’s website at www.occourts.org; click on the “COVID-19” button; click on the “Civil” button; click on the “Remote Hearing Instructions” button. 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, Nov 12, 19, 26, Dec 3, 2021. Date: 11/04/2021, Judge Layne H. Melzer, Judge of the Superior Court
Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the Dana Point Times. EMAIL legals@picketfencemedia.com CALL 949.388.7700, ext. 111
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CLASSIFIEDS
BUSINESS LISTINGS
Submit your classified ad at danapointtimes.com
ACUPUNCTURE Axos Acupuncture Inc Jeff Hyung S. Choi 27462 Calle Arroyo Ste A San Juan Capistrano, 949.248.9899 axosacupuncture.com drjeffchoi@gmail.com
GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE Email your listing to info@danapointtimes.com. Deadline 12pm Monday.
AUTO REPAIR
GARAGE SALE - SATURDAY, DEC. 4 Garage sale on Saturday, December 4th from 8:00 am to noon at: 34442 Via Verde and Camino Capistrano Streets Clothes, new houseware merchandise, Christmas decorations, etc.
Dana Point Auto 34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086
BODY MIND SPIRIT
LAND TRADE/EXCHANGE
ARE YOU HAPPY? Let us assist you in creating a life plan for the life & relationships you want & deserve. Body Mind Spirit, 949.248.7377, bodymindspirit.com
LAND TRADE/EXCHANGE 80 acres of land, Kern County, California Trade or Exchange, Call (909) 985-2677
Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
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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 Espresso Bar 34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, coffeeimporters.com
INSURANCE SERVICES
State Farm/Elaine LaVine 34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, elainelavine.net
UPHOLSTERY AND WINDOW TREATMENTS Jeddy’s Interiors 34118 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite 2 Dana Point, CA 92629 949-240-9569 www.jeddys.com
Want to be featured here? Contact Lauralyn Loynes at 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or lloynes@picketfencemedia.com
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SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Dawson’s Crown Dana Hills senior runner caps golden season with state title BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES
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ana Hills senior Jai Dawson reached rarefied air on Saturday, Nov. 27. Dawson hung just behind the lead runners over the first two miles, sprinted ahead in the final third and held off the field down the stretch to win the Division II individual crown at 15 minutes, 19 seconds in the CIF State Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno. Dawson’s win paced Dana Hills to a seventh-place team finish with 189 points. San Luis Obispo won the Division II title with 105 points. Dawson became only the second Dana Hills boys runner to win an individual state championship after Tyler Valdez, who won the state title in 2008. Dawson and Valdez are the only Dana Hills boys to win both CIF State and CIF-SS individual titles. Jake Ogden is the only other Dana Hills boy to win a CIF-SS title, in 2013. Dawson’s state title caps off a golden season for the senior from New Zealand. Dawson won six of the eight races he entered this season, and Dawson won nine of 11 races in the calendar year. He went three-for-three in the delayed and shortened season in the spring. Dawson opened the fall season with a win at the Mt. Carmel Invitational on Sept. 18, and the senior then captured titles at the Orange County Championships, Mt. SAC Invitational, South Coast League Finals, CIF-SS Division 1 Final and the CIF State Division II Championship. The only two races Dawson didn’t win were an earlier race on the state course with a faster time than he ran at the state meet—15:17 for 13th place at the Clovis Invitational—and a third-place finish at the CIF-SS preliminaries to qualify for the finals. Dawson saved his best effort of the state meet for the end of the 5,000-meter race at Woodward Park. Dawson sat in 20th after the first mile with a split of 4:53, just behind a tight leading pack. The 1-mile leader clocked in at 4:51 and ultimately finished in 112th. The leading pack thinned out by the 2-mile marker, but Dawson still lingered just behind the leaders in fourth at 10:33. The 2-mile leader came in at 10:32 and ultimately finished fourth. In the final mile, Dawson used his closing ability and the draft from the leaders to pull ahead and push out to a nearly four-second lead on the second-place finisher. Dawson won the race at 15:19.1, with second place coming in at 15:22. Dawson’s time was also good for 20th overall across all divisions. As Dawson advanced up the pack, so did Dana Hills’ spot in the overall standings. The Dolphins were in ninth after one mile and eighth after two miles before finishing seventh overall. After Dawson, the next Dana Hills runner to cross the line was junior Jack Jones in 33rd place with a time of 16:01. Senior Nathan Scheer was the next Dolphin runner in at 16:11 in 45th, and senior Nick Burke came in at 16:24 for 67th. Freshman Evan Noonan finished 100th at 16:44 to round out the scoring five. Dana Hills’ alternate runners, Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
Dana Hills senior Jai Dawson (center in stripes) won the CIF State Division II individual title at Woodward Park in Fresno on Saturday, Nov. 27. Dawson is just the second Dana Hills boys runner to win a state championship. Photo: Courtesy of Scott Emery
sophomores Garrett Woodruff and Mike Ayala, finished 118th and 146th at 16:53 and 17:15, respectively. There were 188 runners in the Division II field.
Dana Hills Girls Finish Seventh in Division II
The Dana Hills girls equaled the boys’ finish, as the Dolphins placed seventh in Division II. Dana Hills netted 216 points, while champion Mira Costa scored 86 points. Dana Hills was once again paced by junior Allura Markow, who moved up and down the field to settle in at a 14th-place finish at 18:17. Markow was in 16th after one mile and up to sixth after two miles. The Dolphins were bolstered by plenty of youth this season, and that showed as freshman Annie Ivarsson was the next Dana Hills runner in at 19:04 in 40th place. Sophomore Paige Scheer came in at 19:14 in 57th, and sophomore Cooper Murphy finished 62nd at 19:17. Sophomore Tessa Anderson was the fifth scoring runner in for Dana Hills at 20:05 in 103rd. Alternate runners Quinci Lott, a sophomore, and junior Angie Lopez finished in 113rd and 121st at 20:11 and 20:18, respectively.
San Clemente, JSerra, St. Margaret’s Perform at State There were several other notable local finishers at the state meet. San Clemente’s boys ran in the state meet for the first time in 32 years and finished fourth in Division I. Senior Hayden Beauchemin finished 19th, junior Juan Chantaca Page 24
finished 24th, and sophomore Brett Ephraim finished 29th. The JSerra girls team won the Division IV championship with a team score of 122, and its top two runners, freshman Brynn Garcia and junior Anastasia Snodgrass, finished 15th and 16th, respectively. The St. Margaret’s boys team finished eighth in Division V, paced by a seventh-place run from sophomore Everett Capelle. The St. Margaret’s girls finished fifth in Division V, with junior Leisel Blau finishing third overall.
History Made in Division I
As it was in the CIF-SS Finals, the Division I boys race was won on a thoroughly dominant performance by Newbury Park. Newbury Park, considered by many as the best cross country team in the nation and arguably the best of all time, posted a near-perfect score of 16, with its runners taking the first four spots and its fifth runner coming in sixth. Newbury Park broke the state scoring and team-time records with those 16 points and a 73:25 overall time, and its top three runners posted the second-, fourth- and sixth-best times ever on the 5,000-meter course. After Newbury Park’s 16 points, Great Oak of Temecula was second at 119 points, Loyola of Los Angeles was third at 143 points, and San Clemente finished fourth at 175 points. At the last state meet in 2019, Newbury Park beat Dana Hills in Division II, edging the Dolphins for the title, 37-88. DP danapointtimes.com
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DP SURF
Four Times a Champion Bella Kenworthy Makes History with 4 NSSA National Titles in Huntington Beach BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES
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n the more than 40 years of the National Scholastic Surfing Association, there has been no shortage of future greats who have clawed their way to the top of the podium. From Andy Irons to Kolohe Andino and Carissa Moore, all three surfers have one thing in common: they were NSSA national champions before they were world champions. The tradition continued last week at the NSSA National Championships in Huntington Beach. But this year, it was San Clemente phenom Bella Kenworthy who accomplished something nobody in the history of the NSSA previously had done. Over the course of the event, Kenworthy, who just celebrated her 15th birthday last weekend, captured an incredible four national titles. Sweeping the Girls and Women’s titles in both the Explorer and Open divisions, it is the first time that anyone—male or female—has won four titles in one NSSA Nationals event. “I’m so stoked to win these four na-
San Clemente’s Bella Kenworthy makes history as she celebrates winning her fourth national title at the 2021 NSSA National Championships. Photo: Courtesy of NSSA
tional titles. I had the best time at NSSA Nationals in Huntington,” Kenworthy said after the historic sweep. “Everybody was ripping. A special thank you to Janice Aragon and Gayline Clifford for all the hard work and making this happen. And thank you to my family, friends and sponsors that have supported me on this journey.” With this accomplishment, Kenworthy has now won five national titles over the course of her NSSA career, also including the Open Super Girls National title back in 2019. Sponsored by Vans, she’s also an incredible skateboarder with a bright future on four wheels. Of course, Kenworthy wasn’t the only local San Clemente and Dana Point surfer to shine at the NSSA Nationals. All kinds of past and present Groms of the
Week found their way to the podium. Putting in a strong showing, Dana Point’s Marlo Leigh Harris finished runner-up in both the Open Girls Mini Grom division and the Open Super Girls division. Harris has been building all kinds of crazy momentum with her performances lately, and she continues to be on a stratospheric trajectory. Joining her in the Open Super Girls final was San Clemente’s Mia McLeish, who’s also been ripping as of late. Leaning on former WSL Championship Tour surfer Yadin Nicol for some coaching support, McLeish continues to lead and inspire her crew of local girls with performances like this. For the boys, it was Dana Point’s Kai Thompson and San Clemente’s Tanner Sandvig leading the charge in the Explor-
er Boys Super Groms division. Thompson hammered his way to a runner-up finish, with Sandvig right behind in third. Both Thompson and Sandvig have been doing a lot of good things in and out of the water this year, and are well on their way to some great things. San Clemente’s Rex Hennings brought his best to the Open Boys division, finishing a very respectable fourth in the final, while Dane Matson also brought the heat, earning a fourth-place result in the Open Juniors division. And for those wondering where all of this leads, as this story goes to press, the final stop of the WSL’s Challenger Series is being contested at Haleiwa. Careers hang in the balance as aspiring professional surfers look to qualify for the WSL Championship Tour via a strong result in Hawaii. Among those to keep an eye on from our local waters are Sawyer Lindblad and Kirra Pinkerton, who have a very real shot of qualifying for the women’s Championship Tour. And for the men, unfortunately, both rising star Kade Matson and goofy-foot hammer Cole Houshmand lost out in the Round of 64, dashing their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 tour. Nevertheless, they’ll both come away from this season with a ton of great experience and a solid foundation on which to build next year. The waiting period for the WSL’s Haleiwa Challenger runs through Dec. 7. 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 Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. DP
SURF FORECAST
GROM OF THE WEEK
KAI THOMPSON BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES
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Kai Thompson. Photo: Courtesy of @kaithompson_1morewave
Dana Point Times December 3-9, 2021
ast week, Dana Point’s Kai Thompson rolled into the NSSA Nationals in Huntington Beach and finished in second place in the Explorer Boys Super Groms Division. The 11-year-old was on a tear—and he isn’t hard to miss given his penchant for colorful wetsuits and surfboards. Already a master of modern media, Thompson has more than 18,000 followers on Instagram and knows full well how to harness the power of social media. Whether he’s stand-up surfing, hammering the shore break
on his skimboard or pulling into closeouts at Salt Creek—all while wearing his multicolored florescent wetsuits—Thompson has dialed in his act and enjoys the support of a number of reputable brands. Taking a page out of the book of area skimboard freak Blair Conklin, whose Instagram reach extends well past a quarter-million followers, Thompson’s videos are highly entertaining. And because he’s so stoked, so is his audience. Whether he’s doing work in a jersey and posting big contest results or having the time of his life cutting his next video, Thompson knows what having a good time in the ocean is all about. If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com. DP Page 26
Water Temperature: 60-62 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 10-15 Outlook: The swell blend maintains waist-stomach-chest high waves, (2-3-4’), through Friday, then the surf gradually winds down over the weekend. By Sunday, waves are kneethigh-waist high,(1-2-3’). Light/ variable morning winds are followed by a light+ afternoon sea breeze Friday through the weekend.
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