June 19, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

June 19-25, 2020

YO U

C A N

U S E

Grom of the Week: Kai Thompson PAGE 14

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 25

Back to the Water Whale Watching Returns to DP with Food Network Debut E Y E O N D P/ PAG E 3

Both Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching and Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari have reopened business—with safety and health modifications— just as the two businesses were represented on an episode of Food Network’s Duff Takes the Cake. Photo: Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

Editor’s Pick: Ocean Institute Virtual Learning GETTING OUT/PAGE 8

School, Youth Sports Take Steps Toward Reopening SPORTS/PAGE 12

danapointtimes.com

Gallery Dana Bay Announces ‘Art Help for Heroes’ Project EYE ON DP/PAGE 5

Dana Point Times June 19-25, 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 Food Network’s ‘Duff Takes the Cake’ Celebrates Whale Watching THE LATEST: In March, the Food Network’s cable-TV baking show Duff Takes the Cake centered an episode on Dana Point’s Festival of Whales and the work that Donna Kalez and Gisele Anderson had put into securing a trademark to make the city the official “Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World.”

Since then, the novel coronavirus put an abrupt halt to the second weekend of the Festival of Whales’ 2020 festivities and whale watching for nearly three months.

But the airing of the episode on Monday, June 15 came as businesses begin to reopen, offering glimmers of hope.

Festival of Whales Coordinator Andrea Swayne enlisted the help of Dana Point Mayor Rick Viczorek in requesting one of Duff’s epic cakes to present to Kalez (Dana Wharf Whale Watching) and Anderson (Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari) to honor their success with trademarking Dana Point as the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World. Swayne and Viczorek requested the presentation coincide with the celebration of the 49th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales.

The presentation was made aboard the OCean Adventures catamaran on March 14, a combination celebratory cake reveal party and whale watching excursion.

“The artistry and authenticity Duff and his team put into every cake is second to none,” Swayne said. “We knew Donna and Gisele would be blown away. We were so excited and thankful to be able to share this amazing honor with two very deserving women. Duff and crew delivered as usual. It was a whale of a day. The realism of the gray whale depicted in the cake was amazing, but the mini Donna and Gisele sculptures aboard the whale watching cake catamaran were so cute, they nearly stole the show.”

Kalez went into the 2020 year optimistic about celebrating the trademark she had secured with Anderson, in addition to the 49th year for the festival. But state directives to close nonessential businesses yielded stark consequences for Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

Food Network’s Duff Takes the Cake celebrated Dana Point as the dolphin and whale watching capital of the world by baking and decorating a hyperrealistic whale cake. Photo: Andrea Swayne

as well as Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari.

Kalez, the manager of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, had to issue thousands of dollars in refunds to hundreds of people and groups who had booked whale watching and fishing trips.

Whale watching trips are often dependent on hotel bookings. With hotels having zero occupancy throughout the stay-athome order, zero reservations meant zero income for the business and having to lay off 42 employees. In June, she brought back 20 employees and is now taking small steps toward normalcy.

Dana Wharf is now offering fishing trips and whale watching excursions at a limited capacity with added safety precautions. Disinfectant solution is available on the vessel for public use. Both passengers and crew members are required to wear face coverings. The crew also washes their hands every 30 minutes and wears gloves when possible.

Loading is executed by using space marks, to allow for distancing between guests, thus avoiding crowded lines, and vessel capacities have been limited to avoid large gatherings and to provide social distancing. Indoor areas are monitored to limit the number of people who can be inside at any one time. After each trip, the vessel is cleaned again and sanitized.

“We can’t do music cruises or large fishing trips. The Dana Pride can board 149 people, but we are only allowing 50 right now,” Kalez said. “We were still taking calls (during the stay-at-home order), and anglers were desperate to get out on the water. We’re able to do fishing trips, but it’s taking baby steps.”

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari is also taking reservations for whale watching trips. “Super-Safe Safaris,” both public and private, are available. Public Super-Safe Dolphin & Whale Signature

Safaris are available to book now aboard the catamaran Manute’a and on the zodiacstyle boats, with limited guest capacity for social distancing. Private Super-Safe Single-Family Safaris are available to reserve, too, with limited-time discounted pricing.

“It’s blue whale season, but we are seeing a tremendous amount of humpbacks.

We saw six of them during one excursion,” Kalez said. “We’re just happy to be back out on the water. It isn’t under the circumstances we want, but one step at a time.”

Duff Takes the Cake: Baked on the Waterfront first aired on the Food Network on Monday, June 15. Upcoming airings are scheduled for Monday, June 29 at 10:30 p.m. PDT and Tuesday, June 30 at 1:30 a.m. PDT.—Lillian Boyd

Senate to Vote on Bill Blocking Toll Road Through San Clemente THE LATEST: State legislation that would prevent the 241 Toll Road from ever extending through San Clemente was sent to the Senate floor, where lawmakers are expected to vote on it in the coming days.

As of Tuesday, June 16, the measure, Senate Bill 1373, which Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) had introduced to clarify an existing law that State Route 241 will not run through the city of San Clemente, was listed under the Senate’s third-reading file, meaning it awaits discussion among members and a roll-call vote.

Late last month, the California Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved SB 1373, referring it to the Senate Appropriations Committee. With the measure not requiring an appropriation, it was sent to the Senate floor.

According to the measure, a section of

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the state’s Streets and Highways Code currently states that “Route 241 is from Route 5 south of San Clemente to Route 91 in the City of Anaheim.” If passed and later enacted by the governor, SB 1373 would have the 241 end where it currently does now—at Oso Parkway, east of Mission Viejo.

“It is encouraging to see SB 1373 go to the full Senate for a vote,” Bates said in a press release from the city. “SB 1373, when signed into law, will memorialize the March 12, 2020, decision by the TCA and allow South Orange County residents to sleep better, with the knowledge that their community will not be divided by a major thoroughfare cutting thru their protected open space.”

In mid-March, the boards of directors for the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) unanimously approved plans to further pursue the extension of Los Patrones Parkway— an arterial, untolled route—as part of the efforts to relieve South County traffic.

The decision formally nixed contentious proposals to have the 241 extend past Oso Parkway to connect to Interstate 5 by cutting through San Clemente and parts of San Juan Capistrano. Instead, the TCA is now studying the plan to extend Los Patrones.

Los Patrones, which begins at Oso, currently ends at Cow Camp Road in Rancho Mission Viejo. Under the plan, or Alternative 22 as it’s identified in the ongoing South County Traffic Relief Effort, Los Patrones would continue to Avenida La Pata, right up to the San Clemente city limit.

A previous version of the bill, which Bates recently gutted and amended to its current iteration, proposed to prohibit construction of a major thoroughfare in San Clemente’s open space areas or conservation easements.

Former interim City Manager Robert Dunek explained last month that the language in the current bill mirrored language that outgoing Assemblymember Bill Brough had in his Assembly Bill 3331.

That measure is no longer being pursued.

WHAT’S NEXT: SB 1373 will need 21 votes to pass in the Senate before it can move on to the State Assembly, where it will require a 41-vote threshold. The Senate vote is expected to occur on or before June 26—the last day bills introduced in their respective houses can be voted on this session.—Shawn Raymundo

CUSD Outlines Recommended Plans for Reopening Schools THE LATEST: Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) officials described various (Cont. on page 4) danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP (Cont. from page 3) recommendations for what education could look like for the next school year—starting in August—during a CUSD Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, June 17.

Recommendations presented by staff include students in grades K-5 spending half the day with their teacher and the other half with a paraprofessional for additional learning opportunities, or at home learning if the parent chooses that option.

Additional learning could include music and art, similar to middle school electives.

Elementary families also have the option of 100% online learning.

“We don’t have the potential or the ability to have students with teachers in the K-5 setting all day long, every day,” said Josh Hill, assistant superintendent for secondary schools. “That would require double the number of teachers that we currently have in our elementary school program. That being said, we wish we did and we would like to do that, but we just don’t have it.”

Recommended options for students in grades 6-12 are a program in which half the curriculum is on-campus and the other half in online independent study, or completely doing learning online. Hill mentioned the possibility of blocked schedules with longer classes, which some high school students currently use.

“The advantage to this is it reduces the need to clean classrooms because students aren’t moving as much, and it provides extended time for staff and teachers to work with students in these settings,” Hill said.

CUSD is aiming for smaller class sizes to adhere to social distancing. Staff emphasized they are continuing to work out details for the coming school year, and the suggestions at the meeting are approximations. CUSD is taking family preferences for morning or afternoon classes into consideration.

The Board of Trustees voted to close schools in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students have since taken part in distance learning at home on computers or other devices.

“What parents can gauge is their personal household risk in the COVID-19 pandemic,” Board President Jim Reardon said.

“I think that’s the basis on which parents need to make a decision on how they want their children to participate in the coming school year. We have many, many families who have reached out and said they can’t send their son or daughter back to school because they’ve got a compromised husband or grandparent in the home.”

According to results of a survey that CUSD sent out, 50% of elementary school families agreed their school did an effective job of implementing distance learning, with 40.4% of middle school families and 36.6% of high school families also agreeing.

A majority of those surveyed said they preferred their child attend school on campus full-time, but were also open to hybrid Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

models in which students go on campus two or three days a week and utilize online learning the remaining days.

Officials emphasized the coming online education would be different from distance learning.

“I do think that it worked well for some students, but clearly for the majority, there were many problems with (distance learning),” Trustee Gila Jones said. “What is being contemplated for next year is not distance learning, even for those that choose the 100% at-home option. We had to close schools all of a sudden last (school) year, and nothing you do all of a sudden ever works out wonderfully well.”

Reopening safety measures will adhere to California Department of Public Health and Orange County Health Care Agency guidelines. Teachers and parents who called in to comment during the June 17 meeting discussed various concerns, including how the suggested education schedules could take instructional responsibility away from teachers.

WHAT’S NEXT: Another presentation on guidelines and an approval of a final plan is expected at a July 15 Board of Trustees meeting. CUSD will continue to communicate with families, and families can make decisions on education options, in the coming weeks. A report regarding implementation is expected at an Aug. 19 meeting.

Visit capousd.org for more information.

—Collin Breaux

Council Approves Proposed Changes to Harbor Hotel Area THE LATEST: The Dana Point Harbor Partners hope to make some changes to plans for revitalizing the Marina Inn and surrounding area. Proposals for two hotels and changes to square footage for certain amenities achieved city council approval and will now go to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) for consideration.

The Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan would allow the future replacement of the existing Marina Inn with a new lower-cost facility, as well as the construction of another new market-rate hotel. The proposal plans for both hotels to be located closer to the waterfront than the existing hotel in order “to promote a stronger pedestrian connection to the anticipated Pedestrian Promenade and Festival Plaza.”

One hotel will be lower-cost, overnight visitor accommodations of no fewer than 136 rooms, plus additional lower-cost overnight accommodations or amenities that may be required. The lower-cost hotel will replace at minimum the 136 rooms of the existing Marina Inn. The lower-cost overnight visitor accommodations are planned to provide additional guest amenities, including an expanded

lobby area with guest services, a communal kitchen, ground-floor beverage service and seating, upper-floor beverage and food services and seating, a fitness center, retail space, a swimming pool, lockers and laundry.

The second hotel will be market-rate and shall provide up to 130 rooms; up to 8,275 square feet of restaurant and kitchen space; up to 6,000 square feet of special function space and meeting rooms with a banquet kitchen; 600 square feet of ancillary retail space; and a 1,700 square-foot fitness center and other outdoor activity facilities. Within the hotel structure, boater service facilities of not less than 6,800 square feet will be provided.

The increased size of the restaurant is offset by the same amount being reduced from boater facilities and special functions, so there are no net changes, said Sean Nicholas, a city senior planner.

A hearing was held on Tuesday, June 16 during Dana Point City Council, after the item had been unanimously recommended by the planning commission on May 27.

On October 6, 2011, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) certified the Local Coastal Plan Amendment and Zone Text Amendment (LCPA/ZTA) for the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan & District Regulations (Revitalization Plan).

The Revitalization Plan is referenced in the Dana Point Zoning Code (DPZC), and thus is part of the City’s Coastal Implementation Plan.

RD Olson Development, representing the Harbor Partners, is the applicant proposing amendments to the hotel. Any modifications to the provisions of development require an LCPA and ZTA. During Tuesday’s council meeting, Councilmember Debra Lewis inquired whether boaters in Dana Point Harbor were adequately informed and whether they had provided input on the proposed modifications. City staff and the applicant said the proper notification requirements were met and there had not been any pushback of which they were aware. No one spoke during the planning commission meeting, nor the council meeting, during public comments regarding the proposal.

WHAT’S NEXT: The recommendation to approve both a resolution to submit the changes to the CCC and an ordinance amending the zoning for the changes was passed by council unanimously. The Dana Point Harbor Partners now await CCC approval, but it is unclear when the commission will hear the matter.—LB

City Seeks to Improve Weed Abatement Program THE LATEST: Dana Point city staff is making some improvements on how employees will handle neglected, weed-infested

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yards and lots beginning next year.

Each year, the City of Dana Point’s Code Enforcement Division implements a weed abatement program to ensure that “noxious weeds” are removed from private property within the city in a timely manner, both for aesthetic and safety reasons. The program identifies about 250 properties that contain weeds due to lack of maintenance or upkeep.

On Tuesday, May 5, Dana Point City Council had directed staff to further review the weed abatement program for possible improvements.

Community Development Manager Jeff Rosaler told council on Tuesday, June 16, that about 99% of those identified property owners are compliant once notified of the upkeep requirement.

“With an interest in creating measurable outcomes, staff developed two performance metrics,” Rosaler said.

“We’d like to decrease the amount of properties on the annual weed abatement list by 10% each year and decrease the overall costs of the program annually by 10%” Dana Point looked at neighboring cities such as San Clemente that have set dates each year for weed abatement.

“I am surprised each year how many people call me and say, ‘Weed abatement? When do I have to do that by?’ ” Rosaler said. “They’ve had the property for 25 years; they should know that each spring, close to summer, they need to remove the weeds from their property. But one thing we’ve never done is have a consistent calendar base.”

Rosaler added that the lack of a specific date is due to not quite knowing when the rainy season would hit, but providing a set deadline would help with consistency.

WHAT’S NEXT: Similar to what takes place in San Clemente, in April of every year, the city of Dana Point will now mail each property owner of undeveloped property a notice of the annual weed abatement hearing, and an order to abate their property of weeds and debris no later than May 15. Per city code, the property needs to be cleared of weeds and debris, and kept in this manner throughout the year Each year, the list of properties not in compliance with city codes related to property maintenance and noxious weeds is similar to years prior, according to staff. By actively enforcing city codes throughout the year through normal code enforcement procedures, the number of properties identified to be a part of the weed abatement program will be reduced, Rosaler said.

Normal code enforcement procedures consist of a written notice of violation, a second enforcement letter, and then escalating citations until the violation is resolved.—-LB danapointtimes.com

EYE ON DP

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Capo Beach Fire Station Presented with Memorial Flag When Capistrano business owner Larry Robinson heard that his friend Lt. Ira Goode, a former firefighter, was creating memorial flags to honor heroes, he felt compelled to do something similar locally.

On Friday, June 12, Robinson, alongside Goode, presented a United States flag with a single thin red line to Station 29 in Capistrano Beach. The station is located conveniently near the Fish Tank, Robinson’s recent venture to convert a warehouse into a space for art and music.

The Fish Tank held a soft launch on Saturday, Oct. 19 as a way to introduce itself to Dana Point. Robinson says it’s been a five-year process, but it’s all come together, thanks to the collaboration of local artists and artisans.

“The way we were able to pull this off really speaks to the mission and purpose of the Fish Tank,” Robinson said. “Everyone used their own respective skills to collaborate, and that’s really what I would like to see for the Fish Tank—people coming together and hav-

Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

ing a discussion to get things done.”

Robinson, of Fallbrook, has been a contractor in the Capistrano Beach area for 32 years. He’s a member of the Doheny Village Merchants’ Association and attended the Doheny Village Working Group meetings to configure ways to update city code for Capistrano Beach.

Now Robinson and Goode aim to further the mission of creating a sense of community.

Capt. Greg Bradshaw, engineer Mike Varker, firefighter Eddie Nevin and firefighter and medic Kevin Granquist accepted the donation on behalf of the station.

The donation was Goode's fourth handmade commemorative flag. One hangs proudly in a fire station in Gilbert, AZ, where Goode now resides. Like the others flags, the gift is a 30-pound flag measured at 5-feet-by-3 feet and is constructed entirely of hand-scorched pine. The laser-cut stars were created out of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) material by a friend of Robinson’s, Alex Evans, of Fallbrook.

The flag will be hung inside the fire station for the crew to enjoy

Gallery Dana Bay Announces ‘Art Help for Heroes’ Project Gallery Dana Bay is announcing its latest art exhibition “Art Help for Heroes”—a

consolidated effort to publicly acknowledge and artistically appreciate emergency responders and health care workers.

“We’re hoping the public will share this opportunity to show their appreciation for heroes . . .” said Dana Yarger, the gallery’s director. “Their master artworks not only reflect the gifts and talents of each artist, but these unique artworks become a historical symbol of the artists’ and the owners’ appreciation in support of heroes.”

The gallery has provided each artist a 16”x20” birch cradled panel with a challenge for each artist to create a timely and timeless statement in their own visual art communication on the same format. The art is universal and does not necessarily relate to our current circumstances, says Yarger, who also founded the project.

“The Gallery believes the spirit of the project will encourage generosity of support and command record prices for these historical artworks,” Yarger said. “To encourage early offers and acquisition, several artists have created a confidential ‘buy-it-now’ price; when achieved, the artwork will be sold with no additional or higher offers.”

Distribution of proceeds to HEROES will be made in cooperation with the Mission Hospital Foundation. Offers can be made via email to gallerydanabay@yahoo. com. There will not be any silent bidding.

Offers will be kept confidential, so the most generous supporters will own these

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Community Meetings MONDAY, JUNE 22

DANA POINT PLANNING COMMISSION 6 p.m. The Dana Point Planning Commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting in the Council Chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210, Dana Point. works. The exhibition and availability of the artwork ends on July 11. The starting price for each piece is $500.

Twenty art installations will be displayed with a private opening the weekend of June 19-21. The pieces will be presented through arthelpforheroes.com and social media and were showcased in Gallery Dana Bay for private previews beginning on Monday, June 15.

Gallery Dana Bay is located in the Dana Point Lantern District at 24682 Del Prado.

For more information, call 949.276.7597.

Have something interesting for the community?

Send your information to editorial@danapointtimes.com

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EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd

Art Director Jasmine Smith

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

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

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

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

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

DP SOAPBOX Dana Point

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to The Editor REMEMBER AND DEFEND THE FIRST AMENDMENT CRAIG ALEXANDER, Dana Point

Ms. Lisa Lynch’s request to ban “political” flags and banners (“To Whom It May Concern at The Dana Point Harbor”) forgets one vital issue: We live in a Democratic Republic.

One of the values we hold dear in this Republic is freedom of speech or expression—that includes political speech, even if it is “divisive” and hurts the feelings of some people who view it. Ms. Lynch’s bias is quickly revealed by her attack on all things Donald Trump. I wonder if she would find it equally offensive if a flag on a boat said “Biden 2020” or “Jesus Saves” or “TGIF” or “Merry Christmas” or any number of other ideas that might be expressed.

When I drive by a car with a “Feel the Bern” bumper sticker, I ardently do not agree with the person’s support of Senator Bernie Sanders and his policy proposals.

But I would defend that person’s right to display his support of Sanders publicly. I am glad the sheriff’s department does not have a “politically correct” department going around and telling us what we can and cannot display on our yards, boats and cars.

The First Amendment right of freedom of expression does not have a “divisive” footnote to it. Ms. Lynch should remember that people cherish the right to express their opinions and those who view those opinions need to cherish and defend the right of that expression even if it is not one they share.

As for her neighborhood association banning “political flags and signs”—depending on the specific facts and circumstances—that may be illegal (California Civil Code section 4710).

CREEPING EFFECT OF POLITICAL FLAGS Dana Point Times, Vol. 13, Issue 25. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA.

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Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

DIANE AND RICHARD CHEEK, San Clemente

I want to thank Lisa Lynch for her wellstated letter concerning political flags and signs at the Dana Point Harbor.

I want to thank Dana Point Times for publishing her comments.

My husband and I have a boat at the marina, and we have also noticed the creeping effect of political flags and messages. In hopes there were regulations in place, we contacted the marina office. We were told nothing could be done.

Currently, there are regulations about personal (not broker) for-sale signs, so I would think perhaps political signs and

Photo: Chelsie Rex

flags can be addressed. The marina is a place for relaxing and enjoyment; you might say a refuge away from outside influences.

I hope others will speak out as Lisa Lynch did with the hope the marina can be a non-political environment.

DIVISIVE SYMBOLS NEED TO GO JILL RICHARDSON, Dana Point

Thank you, Dana Point Times, for publishing Lisa Lynch’s letter about wanting to ban political flags in the Dana Point Harbor. I completely agree. The divisive symbols on those flags need to go. The harbor and our community lost the Pilgrim this year, and is about to undergo a huge transformation. Let’s create a harmony in the harbor of peace, love, kindness, and eco-friendly vibe that will inspire.

TOLERANCE IS SO QUICKLY FORGOTTEN RICK MORGAN, Dana Point

I always find it interesting—and, honestly, more than a little irritating—how so often people on the left demand tolerance from those with whom they disagree, yet fail to practice tolerance themselves. I find it downright scary how quickly they desire to trample on others’ Constitutional rights of free speech. Specifically, the writer of last week’s Letter to the Editor decried the flying of particular political flags in Dana Point Harbor, because she found them “vulgar” and “unacceptable."

The words you used, in effect, to describe Mr. Donald Trump and his supporters reek with irony. Just so you understand, Ms. Lynch, I, too, find so much vulgarity, hate, dishonesty, racism, words, actions and selective inaction, not to men-

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tion plenty of “antis” coming from those with whom I politically disagree, astonishingly offensive and, in some cases, downright treasonous. It’s a two-way street. But I would never consider it a good idea to prohibit a Constitutional and God-given right. When we give the government that kind of power, well, just be careful what you wish for.

As long as they’re not shouting “fire!” in a movie theatre or inciting riots or looting or armed rebellion, then I’ll just suck it up, keep a smile on my face and thank God I live in the United States. I’ll also expect the same right to free speech without retaliation.

You might also consider wondering why these boat owners feel the way they do. Perhaps they feel some of their rights are being prohibited? You might want to ask them.

You've missed a teachable moment, so here's a suggestion on how to explain to your children how flying these types of flags is OK. Simply tell them, “I disagree with what they’re saying, but I’ll defend to the death their right to say it.”

The point is, there’s just too much hatred coming from all sides. Lighten up and enjoy the harbor. And if it makes you feel any better, I wouldn’t fly the flags you described.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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

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

Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

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danapointtimes.com

DP GETTING OUT Dana Point

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

EDITOR’S PICK

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 | 19 DONATION CARAVAN FOR FAM 2:45-4 p.m. Family Assistance Ministries is hosting a donation caravan by inviting the community to participate and donate purchased goods from Target. FAM will meet at the Target parking lot on Avenida Vista Hermosa, where participants can purchase such goods and foods as hand sanitizer, trash bags and toiletries, as well as milk, canned fruit, rice, juices and canned meat, among other items. From there, FAM will lead the caravan to its headquarters, where everyone can drop off the donated goods. Family Assistance Ministries, 1030 Calle Negocio. For more details or to sign up to volunteer, visit givsum.com.

RIVER CRUISING— FREE WEBINAR SERIES 4-5 p.m. Local travel advisor Debbie Zetterberg of Now Departing Travel will host a free live webinar with AmaWaterways. The presentation will focus on European wine-themed river cruises and will include special guest Liz Barrett, a certified wine specialist. Registration can be done at bit.ly/3dQ1Tdi. Now Departing Travel, 949.400.5862, debbie@nowdepartingtravel.com. nowdepartingtravel.com.

JAZZ & MARGARITAS 6-9 p.m. Randy’s Jazz Trio will serenade at Carlos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina.

Enjoy homemade food, strong drinks and good company. Carlos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, 34224 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.496.4470. carloscantinadp.com.

Saturday | 20 SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. South OC Cars and Coffee, dubbed the world’s biggest weekly car meet, attracts a mix of 500-1,000 hypercars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods, rat Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

Photo: File

FRIDAY, JUNE 19: VIRTUAL LEARNING, OCEAN INSTITUTE Join Ocean Institute for 10 weeks of themed virtual education with new content every weekday. Each week will have a different theme related to ocean science or maritime history. Full access to all virtual learning content will be available with the purchase of an Ocean Institute Sea Star Membership or a Virtual Membership. Participants will receive exclusive access to at-home activities, live-streamed demonstrations, educational videos, content from global ocean partners, and downloadable activity sheets for grades K-12. ocean-institute.org.

rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles.

New social-distancing guidelines have been put in place, including a requirement that all attendants must wear face masks. The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

OCEAN FESTIVAL POP-UP SHOP 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Just in time for Father’s Day, the San Clemente Ocean Festival will be hosting a pop-up sale for its collector T-shirts at the San Clemente Senior Center. Ocean Fest will have its white and navy short-sleeved adult shirts available for $20 each, as well as white youth T-shirts available for $10.

For the sale of every 2020 adult T-shirt, $3 will be donated to local organizations.

Past years’ collector shirts will also be available in limited sizes and styles, and at discounted prices. San Clemente Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria. Ocean Festival, 949.440.6141. oceanfestival.org.

Sunday | 21 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. 949 361 8200. san-clemente.org.

Wednesday | 24 MIDDLE SCHOOL DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Noon-3 p.m. The Wellness & Prevention Center is inviting middle school-aged kids to this weekly virtual event, in which participants can learn, play, and have a Dungeons & Dragons experience. This small group explores fantastic adventure while making new friends, releases stress and anxiety with theater of the mind. Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite.com. Wellness & Page 8

Prevention Center, 949.680.0516. wpc-oc.org.

WRITING WORKSHOP 6:30-8 p.m. The Community Outreach Alliance’s “Our Stories” is an eight-week workshop leading to a virtual performance created by the participants through improvisation, storytelling and video. Participants will learn how to create stories with the help of professional writers from Laguna Playhouse. This event is free for ages 18-25. Register at signupgenius.com. Community Outreach Alliance. 949.257.2286. communityoutreachalliance.com.

WELL WEDNESDAYS 6:30 p.m. Join a small experiential learning group on Wednesday nights that focuses on topics of personal growth and fostering restorative experience and community.

The group is limited to eight people and is $40 per person. Visit Eventbrite to make a reservation with the Radical Wellness Collective. Eventbrite.com. danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times June 19–25, 2020

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DP

Dana Point Point Dana

DP LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach

by Shelley Murphy

A Crowded Nest Leads to Marie Kondo?

T

hese past few months, it seems the only consistency in our household is change.

For instance, in one day we went from a full house to an empty nest.

After months of quarantining together, my older son and his girlfriend left our house and drove to his Bay Area apartment.

That same morning, my younger son moved out of our house and took his belongings to a townhome in Newport Beach.

Though my older son and girlfriend went back to Northern California, they returned to San Clemente to celebrate his birthday last weekend.

The pair arrived in time to mark my son’s milestone and, coincidentally, the annual observance of Crowded Nest Awareness Day on June 12.

Crowded Nest Awareness Day recognizes the condition of Crowded Nest Syndrome, which occurs when parents, who adapted to the quiet of their empty nest, grapple with the return of their grown-up kids.

Although the origins of this lesserknown holiday are uncertain, it’s an actual observance with gifting guidelines, including noise-canceling headphones and cleaning-service contributions.

I haven’t contracted Crowded Nest Syndrome, since my nest sits in a constant state of flux, seesawing between deserted

and chock-full.

With each home coming and going, I shuffle piles of stuff from one room to the next, clearing space for my rotating roommates.

I can’t recall my “aha” moment, but amidst schlepping my displaced items, it occurred to me that I could dispose of the clutter cramping my quarters.

As soon as I started cleaning and clearing the junk, my serotonin levels soared, and I increased my scope to include repairing, renovating, and revamping my nest.

I attribute my ambition to the hours I spent in quarantine watching fixer-upper programs showcasing inspiring home improvement projects.

It’s a sure sign the times are turbulent when I’m spending more time at Lowe’s than Nordstrom.

By the way, based on the crowds I encounter on my many trips to Lowe’s, I’m not the only LIFE’S A BEACH one tackling new shopBy Shelley Murphy ping territory.

My do-it-yourself projects continue moving forward, but adhering to the advice of professionals would’ve streamlined my process.

I tried to follow the techniques of organizing guru Marie Kondo and implement her KonMari Method of cleanup. Kondo believes if you tidy your space, you can transform your life.

But I didn’t take the time to put my items into categories, nor did I follow her steps and save sentimental items for last.

Instead, I followed only one rule: I kept all the items that “spark joy,” which amounts to a surprising stockpile of stuff.

Cleaning the garage reunited me with old friends I’d forgotten. In dusty black trash bags, I discovered the outdoor pil-

comfort me, connect me to the ones I love and symbolize the history we share.

Reclaiming my mementos, I had a change of heart. I’m not ready to transform my life; instead, I rather like the thought of time standing still for a moment.

So, for now, I hope Kondo doesn’t care if I continue clinging to my cluttered keepsakes that bring me joy.

For more than 20 years, Shelley Murphy and her husband have lived in San Clemente, where she raised her two sons. She’s a freelance writer and has been a contributor to the San Clemente Times since 2006. 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 June 19-25, 2020

lows I bought on clearance last August; an oversized container revealed my favorite dining room curtains I couldn’t find; and a weathered, cardboard box held pretty pots for replanting my frumpy ferns.

The producers of the show Hoarders aren’t about to knock on my door, but I do admit I’m struggling to separate from some of my sentimental stuff.

I saved the yellowed report cards my boys collected throughout school, as well as their collection of Pokemon cards that consumed their childhoods—and my bank account.

I also confess to keeping my older son’s duffel bag from his freshman year on the San Clemente High School cross country team—I don’t know why.

Perhaps it’s the recent months of upheaval causing me to clutch tighter to my treasures; my timeworn keepsakes

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Linda wo-year-old Linda is a quiet kitty that is still learning how to trust. Found as a stray with her kittens, Linda had to start from scratch when it came to figuring out things such as comfy beds, petting and toys. She is slowly starting to show more of her personality. Linda gets along well with other cats and would do best with a patient owner who will help her to settle into her new environment.

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

Photo: Pexels

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

emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. DP

Page 10

See the solution in next week’s issue.

danapointtimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 100 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206575628 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: RIGHTWAY 25101 LA ESTRADA LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677 Full Name of Registrant(s): STEPHEN ALLEN ADAMS 25101 LA ESTRADA LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/S. /s/STEPHEN ADAMS/STEPHEN ADAMS, OWNER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 06/08/2020.

Published in: Dana Point Times June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206575331 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 31421 LA MATANZA ST SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675 Full Name of Registrant(s): SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

31421 LA MATANZA ST SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675 This business is conducted by a CA corporation.

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

Published in: Dana Point Times June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206576228 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: PRECISION FIRE SYSTEMS 27068 LA PAZ ROAD #212 ALISO VIEJO, CA 92656 Full Name of Registrant(s): MICHAEL MATHEW MCSTAY 27068 LA PAZ RD #212 ALISO VIEJO, CA 92656 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. /s/MICHAEL MCSTAY This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 06/12/2020.

Published in: Dana Point Times June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 2020

LOCALS ONLY

BUSINESS LISTINGS ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

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

AUTO REPAIR

Dana Point Auto

34342 Coast Hwy., Unit B, 949.496.1086

CAFE - DELI

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

COFFEE SHOP

Coffee Importers Espresso Bar

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

ICE CREAM

Coffee Importers Scoop Deck

34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

State Farm/Elaine LaVine

34080 Golden Lantern, 949.240.8944, www.elainelavine.net

Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

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, www.danmans.com

Yeungs Violin Studio

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

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

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

UPHOLSTERY & INTERIORS

Jeddy’s Interiors

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

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

Page 11

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DP SPORTS & OUTDOORS Dana Point

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

One Small Step

NFHS guidelines and also reaffirms, as the CIF has throughout the process, that reopening athletic programs will depend on the reopening of schools as determined by the districts and other powers that be.

The CIF release, which came after a teleconference last week between the CIF State office and the 10 section commissioners, also stated that the fate of fall sports will be determined by no later than July 20.

“At this meeting, there was a lengthy discussion regarding the various scenarios that relate to Fall Sports,” CIF-Southern Section commissioner Rob Wigod said. “In the effort to give as much time as possible to make the most informed decision we can, it was agreed that there will be an announcement from the CIF State Office addressing the status of Fall Sports to be made no later than Monday, July 20.”

Per the CIF guidelines, CIF is offering

a 30-day waiver to obtain the necessary pre-participation physical, due to possible difficulties students could have in getting those examinations related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The CIF guidelines also outline that facilities should be wiped down and sanitized prior to each group entering for workouts; start and end times for these sessions should be staggered to avoid crossover; all coaches and students should be screened daily for any symptoms of COVID-19; water bottles and food should not be shared, and water fountains and coolers should only be used to refill personal bottles; and state, local and district guidelines for face coverings should be followed.

When these workouts resume, there are many physical limitations as outlined by the CIF. In its Phase One, CIF says to follow

local county guidelines for the number of people allowed for gatherings inside or outside and to maintain the minimum six feet for social distancing. CIF recommends workouts to be conducted in “pods,” with the same group of 5-10 students working out together weekly.

In its Phase Two, CIF sticks with the county rules for indoor gatherings but allows for up to 50 people for outdoor workouts.

These all come with the limits on activities and equipment, which certainly affect some sports more than others.

For sports such as cross country, track, swimming and golf, any return to practice, even with these proposed limitations, will be mostly normal.

For more equipment-heavy or interactive team sports, it will be more difficult.

Volleyball, soccer, basketball and water polo are recommended to have individual ball-handling drills, with each player having their own ball and no other players touching that ball.

Baseball and softball will be able to hit off the tee, but the balls used must be collected and cleaned before another use. Football can run drills with proper distancing, but a ball cannot be passed around or a tackling dummy cannot be shared. Wrestling can conduct mirror drills, with proper spacing, and individual skill drills.

All sports are allowed conditioning, and that’s what most sports will look like in the initial periods.

All dates are tentative, the groups will be small, and the activities will all be extremely limited. Even so, local sports teams are a few steps closer to retaking the field. DP

youth sports will reopen under the same COVID-19 state guidance as day camps.

The state guidance and county allowance will only permit youth sports to resume practicing. The state has not provided a set time in which sporting events or games with spectators could resume.

“Orange County residents understand the severe impacts that COVID-19 has on our residents, but these issues can be mitigated by following state guidelines,” Fifth District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said. “By allowing youth sports practices to resume in a safe manner, it allows Orange County children to enjoy time with their peers and have a little bit of normalcy at this time.”

The state guidance for reopening of day camps, which went into effect on Friday, June 12, instructs the promotion

of healthy hygiene practices, intensified cleaning and disinfection, implementation of physical distancing and proper training for all staff and families.

The state guidance does not explicitly state a number for the limit on participants, only limiting the number of persons in the camp to one that can appropriately maintain physical distancing.

The San Juan Capistrano Little League, which also serves Dana Point and Capistrano Beach, is still working on getting its season going. According to SJCLL president Brett Vermeulen, field availability is the league’s main issue to any sort of return right now.

Dana Point Youth Baseball was one of the most, if not the most, active leagues in pursuing a youth sports restart from

city and county officials.

DPYB will get back in action on Monday, June 22. Since the players haven’t had any recreation or sports in several months, DYPB president Dana Kislig said the league will start anew with a skill assessment period until July 3. DPYB will then reformulate its teams, and Kislig hopes they’ll be able to start some scrimmages, if they can.

DPYB will institute all the recommended safety protocols, including not sharing equipment. Kislig said the one thing they’d like clarity on from the county, like most, is the number of participants.

If any other youth sports leagues are returning to practices and camps, please send information to zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com. DP

CUSD announces tentative July 6 camp starts; CIF releases reopening guidelines

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

H

igh school sports in the Capistrano Unified School District saw a spark of life last week that can give Dana Hills High School athletes some sliver of hope for an as-normal-aspossible fall sports season.

On June 8, CUSD announced a tentative start of July 6 for high school sports conditioning camps, which would follow National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), county, state and federal health and safety guidelines.

“Capistrano Unified School District values our co-curricular athletic summer camps and the opportunities these camps provide our high school students,” the CUSD statement said. “School connectedness through athletic teams provides our students with lifelong friendships and dynamic opportunities to thrive in our school cultures. Our school summer Conditioning: Phase 1 camps will tentatively begin on July 6th, with appropriate measures to ensure student health and safety.”

The CIF State office also released its own set of guidelines on a return to physical activity and training on Friday, June 12. The CIF guidelines mostly follow the

County Allows Reopening of Youth Sports Practices

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, DANA POINT TIMES

Y

outh sports finally received the go-ahead to restart practices on Monday, June 15.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors announced that practices for Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

Full-contact practices in any sport are still a bit away, but the Capistrano Unified School District and CIF took small steps back toward the field last week with tentative dates and guidelines for potential July conditioning workouts. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

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DP BUSINESS DIRECTORY

DSaan n Cl a em Poenintet

Submit your classified ad online at danapointtimes.com GARAGE SALES

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

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Call us today!

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DP DP SURF Dana Point

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

It’s Good to Be Home Patrick Gudauskas and family return to San Clemente after 3-month lockdown in Australia

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

F

or Patrick Gudauskas, 2020 started off similar to years prior. While competing on the World Surf League’s Qualifying Series early in the year, he found himself in China and Morocco, before eventually coming back home to San Clemente for a few days at the end of February.

Gearing up for a run of contests in Australia, Gudauskas came home to reload his quiver of surfboards and rejoin his wife and young son.

In early March, the trio landed in Australia and were getting ready for a big event in nearby New Zealand. Then lockdowns and travel restrictions due to COVID-19 were suddenly put in place.

“It was a pretty wild moment in time where there was a lot of uncertainty,” Gudauskas said last week. “There weren’t any flights out for under 10 grand for like a month and a half. So we just decided to post up. My wife’s family lives around Byron Bay. It was actually one of the best trips I’ve ever had to Australia, because we got to slow down and experience the seasons changing there. It was really special

Patrick Gudauskas ditching the fins during a pre-coronavirus trip to Mexico. Photo: Courtesy of The Vibe Up

to be there with the family.”

Gudauskas had planned to compete on the Qualifying Series full-time this season, but when the WSL postponed all of its events, he found himself having to recalibrate his expectations for the year.

“I’m so used to living out of a suitcase and moving and grooving, that this was a unique opportunity to actually be in one place for an extended period of time,” Gudauskas said. “We really were able to plug into the community in Australia, and that was really cool. To have that time with my son and my wife and her family and be able to really enjoy the moment for what it was; it helped open up new thought processes. I was able to really press the reset button.”

For competitive surfers like Gudauskas who are constantly on the road, the demands of competition don’t afford them the time to experiment with their equip-

ment. The focus on getting results is so singular that trying new boards and different designs can be a big risk.

Gudauskas has the boards he rides in competitions (the Channel Islands Surfboards “Fever” model) completely dialed in, so stepping away from the arena allowed him to get a new sensation under his feet.

“I ended up picking up a bunch of boards off the rack over there—a full potpourri,” Gudauskas said. “I had a C.I. mid-length that was insane. It was a 6’10” and it went so well. I also grabbed a 5’6” Fishbeard twin-fin. It was sick!”

“I noticed that all the tour guys I surfed with over there were on just different boards. It was fun to see that,” he continued. “It was just sick, because everyone has the freedom now to kind of experiment with what they’re riding. We’re all just surfing.”

After three and a half months Down Un-

SURF FORECAST

GROM OF THE WEEK

KAI THOMPSON

Water Temperature: 67-69 Degrees F

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12‘

I

t’s hard to miss Kai Thompson, one of the newest members of the Dana Point Surf Club, while he’s out at Salt Creek rocking his pink wetsuit and board combo.

It’s a wonderful thing.

“My favorite local spot to surf is Salt Creek, and my favorite place to skimboard is Aliso Beach,” says Kai, who just wrapped up fourth grade at Canyon Vista Elementary.

“I just love being in the ocean; I love riding any kind of board, surf, skim, boogie board whomper, even body surfing,” Kai says. “I love that feeling when you get a great wave, and I also love getting pounded, too, because that’s always fun!”

Ripping on a surfboard or a skimboard, Kai’s been working with coach Brandon Phillips at Vert Performance to take his game to the next level.

Dana Point Times June 19-25, 2020

der, eventually the Gudauskas family was able to book airline tickets home and brave traveling through international airports.

“It was actually really weird, because we were pretty much the only people in the airports. There were like 10 people on our flight from Australia,” he said.

If timing is everything, Gudauskas nailed it, returning home to a solid run of south swell in San Clemente.

“It feels so good to be back home and tap back into the community here,” he said. “This whole thing has been such a unique experience. I think we’ll all come through it having learned a lot about ourselves and the world around us.”

In terms of what this moment means for the sport of surfing, Gudauskas has always been a glass-half-full kind of guy.

He sees brighter days ahead.

“It’s kind of a ‘thank goodness moment,’ I think. It feels like with all the different directions surfing has been growing into and changing, the biggest takeaway from COVID-19 is that as a surfer, regardless of being professional or not, there’s a really strong love for surfing in so many people, and it’s so evident right now,” he said. “It gets me fired up to be a surfer, you know.

I think it’s going to be really good for the whole sport.”

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

Kai Thompson. Photo: Courtesy of Brandon Sears

“I think it’s great, because a lot of kids bail on skimming once they get good enough at surfing, but Kai has stuck with it, and it’s become a unique attribute,” says Phillips. “He is used to taking a beating in heavy close-out sets onto the sand, which is probably why he loves surfing Gravels so much.”

In terms of where Kai sees his passion for the sea taking him, he’s got big dreams

to accompany his big talent.

“My dream would be to be competing both as a professional surfer and professional skimboarder at the same time, but I will be happy to be surfing, skimming, riding any type of board and all kinds of waves all around the world, and still loving the ocean and having as much fun as I am now,” says Kai. DP

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Outlook: More South/southwest swell fills in on Friday, with surf rising to waist-shoulder-head high, (3-4-5’) by the afternoon. Light southerly winds Friday morning, turn westerly 6-8kts for the afternoon. South/southwest swell maintains waist-shoulder-head high waves, (3-4-5’) through the weekend. Saturday and Sunday have light/ variable morning winds, followed by a moderate westerly sea breeze in the afternoons.

danapointtimes.com

Dana Point Times June 19–25, 2020

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