After petition tops 3,000 signatures, subcommittee plans to recommend saving Lantern Bay Park trees
By CLARA BEARD
After residents rallied against a plan to remove mature trees at Lantern Bay Park, city councilmembers are now reconsidering.
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Photo by Clara Beard
Pines, initially slated to be removed, line a walkway up to the Marriott at Lantern Bay Park
The city stated in an October 14 project update that a subcommittee, made up of Mayor Pro Tem Mike Frost and Councilmember Matthew Pagano, has held “meaningful discussions” with Marriott leadership and will recommend keeping all the trees. The renovation plan will not be on the City Council’s October 20 agenda.
The update also says a public gathering with the subcommittee is being planned for November 1, at 10:30 a.m. at Lantern Bay Park. The subcommittee’s recommendation is expected to go before the council on November 17.
The shift follows a wave of public opposition to an earlier proposal to remove a grove of Italian stone pines and a row of Torrey pines near the Smyth Brothers Amphitheater. Dana Point resident Gwendolyn Oxenham wrote in the Dana Point Unplugged Facebook group Wednesday that more than 3,000 people had signed a petition in three days.
“This past Saturday, I stood in the shade, meeting strangers who were there for the same reason I was: because they couldn’t stomach losing these trees. We shared memories, told stories, shyly mused about what the pines meant to us and wrote notes to the trees.
“In 3 days, more than 3,000 people signed the petition. We came together as a community in a way that made me feel a kind of hope I hadn’t felt in a long time,” Oxenham wrote.
At the October 6 council meeting, residents filled the chambers to speak against the proposed tree removals. The council’s initial motion to approve the hotel-funded renovation plan failed 3-2. Councilmembers then formed the subcommittee to meet with Marriott representatives and city staff about alternatives that could preserve as many trees as possible.
“The Lantern Bay Park subcommittee, established by the City Council, as well as our councillmembers, are determined to always serve the community first. Our community has been vocal about the future of the park and their input has made our job easy,” Pagano said.
The Marriott’s initial proposal included a botanical garden, new paths, an arbor walk and amphitheater improvements. During the last council meeting, city staff had said the Italian stone pines were healthy but had outgrown their space, while several Torrey pines were in poorer condition. They added at least two Torrey pines need to be removed regardless of the larger project.
The city’s project update is available at www.danapoint.org/parkrenovation.
Rachel’s impact adds pressure to Dana Point’s coastline
By CLARA BEARD
Tropical Storm Rachel brought another round of high surf and high tides to Dana Point’s already-eroding coastline over the weekend, renewing concerns for the Capistrano Beach neighborhood and putting public beach access under pressure.
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Photos by Clara Beard
A father and child check out the high surf at end of Dana Point Harbor jetty
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Strands Beach after the worst of Hurricane Rachel
“When the recent storm pushed sand and rock across the trail and roadways at Capistrano County Beach and the south end of Doheny State Beach, the Dana Point Public Works crew cleared the way and built a berm to protect the area and allow for public use, including pedestrians and bikes,” Public Works Director Matthew Sinacori said.
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Beach Road continues to get hit with high surf
“Our County and State partners would do the same for us. Working together is the only way to meet the challenges facing our coastline,” he went on to say.
The storm’s surf reached a coastline already coping with damage from earlier high tides and waves.
The city reported eight red-tagged homes along Beach Road, two previously red-tagged homes that had been demolished, one scheduled for demolition, 13 yellow-tagged homes and three green-tagged homes.
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Onlookers watch the high surf from behind barriers
The National Weather Service warned that Rachel’s south swell, combined with northwest swells, onshore winds and tides exceeding 7 feet, could cause coastal flooding and beach erosion. Surf was forecast to peak at 6 to 9 feet on October 11.
Rachel had weakened to a post-tropical cyclone as it moved inland over northern Baja California. The weather service also reported heavy rain and localized flooding in parts of southwestern California. Rainfall rates of 0.50 to 0.80 inches per hour were observed along the coast and in valleys across the region; those figures were not specific to Dana Point.
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“Heroes, my friends, my neighbors”: Bill Limebrook casts local surf history in bronze
By CLARA BEARD
From his family’s Beach Road home, a young Bill Limebrook was lucky enough to watch some of Southern California’s most influential surfers congregate Poche. Decades later, he would sculpt many of them in bronze.
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Photos by Clara Beard
Bill Limebrook admires his nearly completed sculpture of surf pioneer Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison in his Lake Elsinore studio
“Beach Road was like this miracle place,” Limebrook said.
His family bought a lot there around the time he was born in 1958 and built a house that was ready by about 1960. As he grew up, surfers became a familiar sight on the road.
“Every day I’d see Dick Metz driving down Beach Road,” Limebrook said. “Some of them lived there. A lot of them came down on the weekends.”
He remembers seeing Metz on his way to the homes of Walter and Philip “Flippy” Hoffman, and surfers such as Phil Edwards and Mickey Munoz heading toward Poche, at the south end of the road. In the 1950s and ‘60s, Beach Road and Poche were a gathering place for surfers including the Hoffmans, Hobie Alter and surfboard foam innovator Gordon “Grubby” Clark.
“We kind of knew,” Limebrook said of realizing, even as a child, that something unusual was happening around him. “People were coming from all over the place.”
Limebrook grew up surrounded by the legends whose stories would later become part of his work. He helped Clark around the house, then worked at Clark Foam, where he met surfers and board builders from around the world. Even Alter lived close by. As Limebrook began working in bronze, he went to his neighbor for advice on making fiberglass patterns for a sculpture.
“He told me everything,” Limebrook said.
That first large bronze statue was a dolphin pod for the entrance to Beach Road, commissioned through the Beach Road Association in the mid-1980s. Limebrook said Joe Dunn, then the association’s president, helped land him the job. The dolphins were later moved from the guardhouse to a spot behind it, but the project gave Limebrook an early toehold in the bronze sculpture world and tied his artistic career to the local area that essentially molded him as well.
The unique connection continues through Limebrook’s work at Watermen’s Plaza, Dana Point’s outdoor tribute to surf and maritime figures. He sculpted Phil Edwards for the plaza and went on to create bronzes of other surfers and innovators, including Alter and the Hoffman brothers.
Limebrook is now working on a statue of Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison, an early California surfer whose life links our local surf culture with Hawaii. Harrison began surfing in 1925, won the Pacific Coast Surf Riding Championships in 1933 and was among the first Californians to surf Oahu’s North Shore. His statue is planned to be unveiled at Watermen’s Plaza in spring of 2027.
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Limebrook studies photographs of Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison to create his likeness
Limebrook said Harrison was instrumental in bringing California surfers into contact with Hawaiian surfers. He recounts a story of Harrison stowing away on a ship to Hawaii, being sent back after his first attempt and trying again. The second time, he was allowed to stay.
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County accepts $2.47 million grant for Capistrano Beach shoreline project
By CLARA BEARD
A new state grant will help the county move closer to a shoreline project aimed at bringing sand back to Capistrano Beach and help safeguard it against erosion and flooding.
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Photo by Clara Beard
Capistrano Beach during Hurricane Rachel last weekend
The Board of Supervisors voted October 13 to accept $2.47 million from the California Natural Resources Agency’s Ocean Protection Council. The grant will help pay for construction work, including placing sand and cobble, planting dunes and adding fencing to mark coastal access areas.
Plans call for a buried cobble berm topped with a vegetated sand dune. The dune would help hold sand on the beach and act as a buffer against coastal flooding.
“This is another effort to help replenish the sand on our beaches,” Vice Chair Katrina Foley said during the meeting.
Foley made the motion to approve the grant package, and Supervisor Donald Wagner seconded it.
The grant will also help pay for a maintenance path, curb and seat wall near the existing pedestrian and bicycle trail. The work is part of the project’s second phase, which covers construction.
The project still needs more money before construction can take place. A previously awarded $9 million federal grant is at risk amid uncertainty around federal programs, according to county staff.
OC Community Resources and OC Parks are looking for other funding options.
The first phase, covering planning and design, is nearing completion. It received a $422,400 federal grant and a $220,000 grant from the Ocean Protection Council.
The shoreline grant was part of a larger package of county grant applications and awards approved by supervisors at the same meeting.
Dana Point Film Festival returns with four days of films, surf culture and ocean stories
By CLARA BEARD
Dana Point’s expansive surf culture will certainly be one focus of this year’s Dana Point Film Festival (DPFF), but the four-day event will feature much more than just catching waves.
“I see this film festival should be for everybody, not just the people with boats, not just the people that surf,” DPFF Organizer Dana Yarger said.
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Photos courtesy of Dana Point Film Festival
Organizer Dana Yarger, DPFF Founder Lloyd Molander and Advisor Scott Bradfield
The festival runs October 29 through November 1. Screenings are scheduled at the Porthole Theater at Dana Hills High School, with events at venues including Killer Dana Surf Shop. It is the festival’s fourth year.
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The Killer Dana crew take a break from manning their booth at the 2024 festival
Surfing still has a strong place in the lineup. One feature follows the history of the surf-skate business, while Harbour Chronicles tells the story of board shaper Rich Harbour and the surf community around his Seal Beach shop. Other films follow an attempt to complete the Oceans Seven channel crossings and examine right whales and plastic pollution near the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Yarger said he sees surfers as natural advocates for the ocean because they spend so much time in it.
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Photos by Glenn Bushmire
Audience members attend a Dana Point Film Festival event
“I give credit to the surf world today,” he said. “The greatest guardians of the ocean ought to be the people who ride on it and use it and play in it.”
The festival begins October 29, with a meet-the-filmmakers event at Killer Dana. The opening-night film, The OC Effect, screens the next day at the Porthole Theater. Saturday includes the Hauntolulu surf party at Killer Dana. Sunday’s lineup includes films about whales and the not-to-be-missed closing film, Harbour Chronicles.
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Filmmakers take center stage during DPFF panel discussion
Yarger said he encourages festival goers to take a look at what is on offer before they go.
“The best invitation is to see the trailers,” he said. “Go to the website, click on some trailers, and you’ll find things that you don’t want to miss.”
The schedule, film descriptions and ticket information are at www.danapointfilmfestival.org.
Planning Commission approves signage plan for DNA center
By CLARA BEARD
Dana Point Planning Commissioners recently approved a sign program for the Dana Neighborhood Arts (DNA) center at 34118 Pacific Coast Highway, with a requirement that the final plan comply with the city’s 100-square-foot site-sign limit.
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Renderings courtesy of LAB Holdings
A rendering shows the proposed lit DNA wall sign and tenant banners at the Dana Neighborhood Arts center
The proposal lists 23 signs for the two-story commercial center at Pacific Coast Highway and Granada Drive. The site-sign tally subject to the city’s cap was 105.37 square feet, 5.37 square feet over the limit. Commissioners directed the applicant to revise the plan, leaving it to determine which signs to resize or remove.
The proposed signs include a neon projecting sign with the DNA logo, fabric tenant banners along Granada Drive and small plaques near tenant entrances. The building’s new look incorporates boat oars, buoys and maritime flags.
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The proposed neon projecting sign combines a heart and anchor to suggest a nautical theme
Shaheen Sadeghi, CEO of LAB Holding, told commissioners many of the 23 signs were small plaques identifying tenants.
“When I heard there were 23 signs, I thought, ‘Oh my lord, I had no idea we were asking for that.’ But the little signs that were shared with you are literally these little plaques that are about this big, by each door. As you’re walking through the project, they identify who’s in each suite. They’re really more suite numbers than signage.”
Sadeghi said the plan was intended to give the center a coordinated look and reflect its nautical theme.
“The blade sign in the corner is new, and the DNA is new. I’m really proud of the logo our staff put together with the heart, and the theme of the project is nautical. We wanted to do something besides surf.”
One proposed neon projecting sign would measure about 21 square feet, exceeding the city’s 9-square-foot limit for that sign type. Staff recommended approval if the south-facing center identification sign was reduced or removed to bring the site-sign tally below the cap.
Chair Luke Boughen said he liked the proposal and wanted to find a way to approve it.
“I kind of like how this whole DNA development echoes Dana as well. The neon sign proposed, I thought, looked good, and I generally want to support this program and figure out a way to make this work.”
Vice Chair Deana Christakes praised the design and asked whether the DNA sign could be scaled down. She also raised a concern about its scale, referencing Philz Coffee as a comparison.
“I’m very excited you guys are in Dana Point. I was probably one of your first customers at The LAB, so I love the design. I love the style. I really like the back sign. It reminds me of Fred Segal.”
Sadeghi said the sign could be reduced. A representative for the sign company said finding about 5 square feet to remove would not be difficult. Commissioners approved the program with direction to bring the site-sign tally to 100 square feet.
Dana Point – A Look Back
Photo series courtesy of Dana Point Historical Society
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Prospective buyers meet at what is now Harbor View Park on January 15, 1927, for Sidney H. Woodruff’s grand opening of his Dana Point real estate office. Woodruff, known for developing Hollywoodland, envisioned Dana Point as a Mediterranean-style village by the sea. The flagpole base from the event is still noticeable along the park trail. The view, however, has changed. Dana Point Harbor, built decades later, now inhabits the cove.
Ashanti to headline sold-out Miracles for Kids Gala at the Waldorf Astoria
Grammy-winning singer Ashanti will headline a sold-out benefit gala this Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, where nearly 500 guests are expected to gather in support of families caring for children with life-threatening illnesses.
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Photos courtesy of Miracles for Kids
Grammy-winning singer Ashanti will headline the sold-out Night of Miracles Gala in Dana Point
The 2026 Night of Miracles Gala, presented by Sequel Brands, will raise money for Irvine-based Miracles for Kids. The organization provides financial assistance, housing, basic necessities and wellness support to families whose children are critically ill.
Ashanti is booked to perform a 30-minute set featuring some of her best-known songs. Her self-titled debut album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and R&B album charts. She has sold more than 30 million albums, according to the organization.
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“The Voice” singer Carolina Rial will give the evening’s opening performance
“As a mother, I know there is nothing more important than your child and their future,” Ashanti said in a release. “The work Miracles for Kids does to support families with critically ill children is incredibly meaningful, and I’m honored to be part of Night of Miracles.”
The evening, themed “The Miracle of Tomorrow,” will also feature an opening performance by singer Carolina Rial, who toured with Andrea Bocelli and competed on The Voice. Manny “Streetz” Guevara, a radio personality with iHeartRadio’s 104.3 MYFM, will be the emcee.
The gala will highlight a family helped by the nonprofit and recognize Quy “Q” Nguyen, founder and CEO of Allyance Communications, as the 2026 Miracle Maker. Nguyen is being honored for 17 years of support as a donor, volunteer and advocate.
Guests will also take part in live and silent auctions. The online silent auction opened October 13 and includes travel, dining, jewelry and other offerings. A drawing will give participants a chance to win a necklace valued at $45,000 from Happy Jewelers.
Last year’s gala, headlined by Jordin Sparks, raised nearly $3.5 million for the nonprofit, according to Miracles for Kids. The organization, founded in 2004, supports families receiving treatment at hospitals in California and Arizona.
More information is available at www.miraclesforkids.org.
OCTA OKs $163,759 for storm-drain screens in Dana Point
By CLARA BEARD
At its October 12 meeting, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved $163,759 for Dana Point to install 104 screens in storm drains, part of a countywide funding package for water-quality projects.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
New storm-drain screens are coming to several areas in Dana Point, including San Juan Creek
The item was on the board’s consent calendar and was approved with other consent items without separate discussion.
The Dana Point project will place connector pipe screens in existing storm-drain catch basins across a 137.5-acre drainage area. Proposed locations include commercial, high-density residential and public transportation areas along Del Obispo Street, Del Prado Avenue, Doheny Park Road, Golden Lantern and Pacific Coast Highway.
The screens are intended to capture transportation-related trash and pollutants before they enter local waterways and beaches, including Baby Beach, Capistrano Beach, Doheny State Beach and Salt Creek Beach, as well as San Juan Creek and the Pacific Ocean.
The award was part of $3.87 million the board approved at the meeting for eight projects through OCTA’s Measure M2 Environmental Cleanup Program. The Tier 1 program funds equipment such as catch-basin screens and filters to reduce litter and debris entering waterways.
The project requires a 20% local match.
The other funded projects are in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. They include additional storm-drain screens, trash traps and a biofiltration basin.
Dana Hills arts programs launch $5,000 matching fundraiser
The Dana Hills Performing Arts Booster Club is asking the community to help raise $5,000 for South Orange County School of the Arts (SOCSA) theatre and vocal music programs. Local company Community Catalyst has pledged to match donations, potentially doubling the amount to $10,000.
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Photos courtesy of SOCSA Theatre
Students perform in SOCSA Theater’s production of “Guys and Dolls”
Community Catalyst is providing up to $2,500 for each program. The company is making the matching pledge for a second year, as it also supported the booster club’s inaugural fundraising campaign last year.
SOCSA, based at Dana Hills High School, offers instruction and performance opportunities in theater, vocal and instrumental music, dance and visual arts. Students take part in the work behind a production, including acting, singing, choreography, set building, costumes, lighting and sound.
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“Legally Blonde”
Amber Gregg, Community Catalyst’s founder and CEO, said her own daughter’s experience at SOCSA helped her see how the programs build skills beyond performing.
“They learn to stand in front of a room with confidence, communicate an idea, collaborate, solve problems and work toward a common goal,” Gregg said.
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A past production of “Little Women”
The school’s upcoming performances include SOCSA Vocal Music’s Broadway Night on October 28 and the winter concert on December 10. SOCSA Theatre will present The Sound of Music December 2-5 and Chicago in April 2027.
All performances are scheduled for the Porthole Theater at Dana Hills High School.
For information about donating, performances or sponsorship opportunities, email the Dana Hills Performing Arts Booster Club at dhpaboosterclub@gmail.com.
Assemblymember Dixon celebrates record-breaking number of bills signed into law
Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) is celebrating the signing of a record-breaking legislative packet.
She has had a total of 16 bills signed into California law over the 2025-2026 Legislative Session, the most of any Assembly Republican.
“This session has been extremely successful thus far,” said Assemblymember Dixon. “I was thoughtful and strategic when I put together my legislative package at the beginning of the session, and I’m glad to announce it has paid off.
“My 2026 portfolio of bills includes policies to address public safety needs, help Orange County communities and support Californians struggling to afford daily life,” said Assemblymember Dixon.
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Courtesy of Diane Dixon
Assemblymember Diane Dixon is being recognized on the Assembly Floor during her last bill presentation
Assemblymember Dixon’s 2026 Legislative Packet includes:
–AB 1614 – Bans Piggybacking on E-Bikes
Brought forward in partnership with the California Orthopaedic Association, AB 1614 expands upon existing law and prohibits “piggybacking” on bikes and E-Bikes on a Class I Bikeway. There has been an exponential increase in E-Bike-related injuries, especially among our youth, with an alarming number of those occurring when riders “piggyback.” This measure will improve the safety of all riders, pedestrians and drivers.
–AB 1651 – State Bar AI Disclosure
AB 1651 requires the State Bar of California to disclose when AI is used in the development or administration of the Bar Examination. Our students and professors deserve better from the State Bar, and disclosing AI use is an important step toward strengthening transparency.
–AB 1749 – Penalizing Private Drone Operations near Wildfires
AB 1749 allows civil penalties of up to $75,000 to be brought against individuals who recklessly or knowingly operate drones that interfere with wildfire suppression efforts or that violate Federal Aviation Administration Temporary Flight Restrictions. This measure will protect our first responders and crack down on offenders who interfere with our ability to fight wildfire. We have seen two cases in Los Angeles in recent years where first responder aircraft were hit by civilian drones and were forced into emergency landings.
–AB 1918 – “Ink of Hope”
AB 1918 requires tattoo shops to post a notice and requires tattoo artists to complete training on how to recognize and report the signs of human trafficking. Traffickers will often tattoo their victims as a way to denote ownership; this bill would empower tattoo artists to become a critical point of intervention in the fight to end human trafficking.
–AB 1951 – Modernizing Court Filing Practices
AB 1951 modernizes California court e-filing practices and creates a more consistent set of statutes governing electronic payment methods. This legislation will make our courts more efficient and create a consistent filing environment for litigants, e-filing service providers, attorneys and courts.
–AB 2035 – Amendments to HOA Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions
AB 2035 provides desperately needed relief to Third Laguna Hills Mutual, which manages one of the largest Homeowners Associations in the state, Laguna Woods Village. Laguna Woods Village has been unable to update its CC&Rs since 1988 due to current statute. AB 2035 provides a targeted solution with strong oversight to ensure the HOA can adopt necessary changes to its CC&Rs to reflect significant statutory changes in the Davis-Stirling Act.
–AB 2261 – Protective Orders
AB 2261 allows courts to issue criminal protective orders (CPOs) to a victim’s family and household members. This bill is crucial in ensuring that victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking are protected.
–AB 2562 – Suicide Prevention
AB 2562 requires licensed alcohol and drug treatment facilities and certified recovery programs to create a suicide prevention plan. This measure would incrementally bridge the gap in existing regulations for rehabilitative departments and prioritize patient safety and ultimately, their success.
“It has been an honor of a lifetime to represent the 500,000 constituents in the 72nd Assembly District,” said Assemblymember Dixon. “Since taking office in 2022, I have made delivering for my district and putting my constituents first my number one priority. I thank the thousands of you who have contacted me with your inquiries and ideas throughout the year. I am truly grateful for such an active constituency. It is a privilege to know that my constituents take an interest in what is happening in Sacramento.”
Assemblymember Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, is a pragmatic businesswoman and former mayor, who represents the 72nd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods and Lake Forest.
Meet Pet of the Week Robin 
Stu News Dana Point is delighted to be working with the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter to help get the word out in search of loving homes for pets that deserve a warm, nurturing environment and a place to call “home.”
Three-month-old Robin would like to make your acquaintance. A pretty kitty with lots of spunk and energy, Robin loves making new friends.
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Courtesy of San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter
Robin is an adorable three-month-old kitten waiting for her forever home at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter
She spends most of her days exploring her surroundings and playing with the other kittens. With her outgoing personality, Robin would make a fun family pet and would likely thrive in just about any home. Could she be the one for you?
The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter adoption procedures are designed to make sure that both the potential family and the animal adopted are in the very best situation possible.
Those interested in learning more about Robin or any of her kitten friends can contact the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617 or visit the facility at 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente.
For more information on adoption procedures at the shelter, visit www.petprojectfoundation.org.
Crafts, ofrendas and mariachi coming to La Plaza for Dia de los Muertos
By CLARA BEARD
La Plaza Park will be a colorful place on November 1 when Día de los Muertos returns November 1.
The free event will run from 2 to 7 p.m. at the park, 34111 La Plaza. It will include live music and dance performances, crafts, food and beverages, chalk art and ofrendas created by local families in remembrance of loved ones who have died. The event also supports local nonprofits.
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Photos courtesy of city of Dana Point
Young participants at a past Día de los Muertos celebration
Día de los Muertos, observed in Mexico and other Latin American communities, is a time to remember and celebrate family members and friends who have died. Ofrendas, or offerings, are often decorated with photographs, flowers, candles and favorite foods or mementos of those being honored.
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Photographs, flowers and keepsakes fill an ofrenda
During public comment at the Dana Point City Council’s October 6 meeting, resident Anthony Small said the annual celebration has quickly become a local favorite.
“Thank you for investing in multicultural programs,” Small told the council. “It makes a world of difference, and it shows the world who we are.”
Small has a particular connection to the event’s mariachi lineup. He is the executive producer of Hilos de Mariachi, a documentary short about master tailor Jorge Tello of Casa de Mariachi, and is programming a related event, Mariachi Matters, for the Coast Film and Music Festival, held in Laguna Beach, on October 18.
Mariachi Campana de Riverside, one of the groups scheduled to perform at Dana Point’s Día de los Muertos event, will also appear at Small’s Mariachi Matters program. Small told the council that the group had recently been named youth mariachi national champions.
“They’ll be one of the many truly world-class mariachi bands playing among the beautiful ofrendas, celebrating our departed ancestors,” he said.
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Día de los Muertos will take place on November 1 at La Plaza
The afternoon begins at 2 p.m. with Mariachi Correcaminos, followed by performances from the Capistrano Folklórico Academy and Culture and Mariachi Campana de Riverside. Mariachi Folklore will take the stage from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Later performances include Dreaming of You, a Selena tribute act, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Banda AZ from 6 to 7 p.m.
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Sheriff’s deputies stand against the colorful decorations
Parking is available at Dana Hills High School. Attendees can catch a free Dana Point Trolley shuttle to and from La Plaza Park. Shuttle service will run continuously from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Councilmembers delay hotel-funded park renovation after residents rally to save trees
By CLARA BEARD
A proposal to remove two groups of mature pine trees at Lantern Bay Park and replace them with a botanical garden, new walkways and an upgraded amphitheater was put on hold Tuesday night (Oct. 6) after residents packed the council chambers to object.
Councilmembers initially considered approving a conceptual plan and agreement that would allow Ocean Cliffs at Dana Point, a JW Marriott Resort, to pay for and build the improvements. That motion failed.
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Rendering courtesy of city of Dana Point
A conceptual rendering shows proposed garden landscaping and a harbor-view walkway at Lantern Bay Park
Instead, the council voted to bring the item back October 20 and created a subcommittee of Mayor Pro Tem Mike Frost and Councilman Matthew Pagano to meet with the resort and city staff on alternatives that could save as many trees as possible while keeping the project moving.
At Tuesday’s meeting, speaker after speaker said they supported repairs to the aging Smyth Brothers Amphitheater and other park improvements but opposed removing healthy trees to make way for the hotel’s new design.
City staff’s plan calls for removal of a grove of Italian stone pines in the center of the park and a row of Torrey pines along the amphitheater walkway. Staff said the stone pines are healthy but have outgrown the space and block harbor views. The Torrey pines are in poorer condition, with bark beetles, dead limbs and possible disease affecting several trees. Staff said at least two Torrey pines need to be removed regardless of the broader project.
The proposal would add Dana Point’s first public botanical garden, a rose-covered arbor walk, a new path from the Mosaic Stairway to the garden, a trail connecting to Golden Lantern and a walkway linking the resort’s event lawn with park paths. The amphitheater would be regraded to make it accessible and more usable for weddings and small gatherings.
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Rendering courtesy of city of Dana Point
The proposal includes a rose-covered arbor walk connecting landscaped areas near the resort
Resident Annie Garton asked councilmembers whether the project was being driven more by public needs or by the adjacent hotel’s desire for better views.
“Are we trying to turn Dana Point into a Newport Beach?” Garton asked. “What is the most important thing to you – the Marriott and their view, or how this park gets used and for whom?”
Alex Catrona urged the council to consider the value of mature trees during a stretch of unusually hot weather.
“Mature trees provide so much,” she said, citing shade, habitat, stormwater benefits and carbon storage. “The math ain’t mathing” when mature trees are replaced with young saplings, she added.
The city’s policy calls for two replacement trees for every city tree removed, although staff acknowledged the replacement trees are not all included in the current conceptual drawings. Staff said it would look for opportunities to add more shade trees in Lantern Bay Park or elsewhere in the city.
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Rendering courtesy of city of Dana Point
A rendering depicts the proposed botanical garden and open space overlooking Dana Point Harbor
Gwendolyn Oxenham said she counted more than 70 mature trees she believed would be affected by the plan and said the community had not been adequately notified about the proposal.
“The only thing shady about Lantern Bay Park should be the trees,” she told the council.
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Coastal Commission approves Doheny desalination permit change, moving wells to day-use area
By CLARA BEARD
The California Coastal Commission (CCC) has approved a major change to the planned Doheny Ocean Desalination Facility, allowing South Coast Water District to move its seawater intake wells from the Doheny State Beach campground to the park’s North Day Use Area.
The permit amendment, approved October 7, does not change the proposed size of the plant or the amount of water it would produce. It changes where the project’s underground slant wells will be built.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
The revised desalination plan would temporarily close a picnic area and up to 225 parking spaces in Doheny State Beach’s North Day Use Area during construction
South Coast Water District (SCWD) plans to use the wells to draw seawater from beneath the ocean floor, where it will be naturally filtered through sand before reaching the proposed treatment plant near San Juan Creek. The facility is designed to produce up to 5 million gallons of drinking water a day for South Orange County.
The project was first approved by the Coastal Commission in 2022, with wells planned beneath the campground. But additional geologic studies found the sandy sediments needed for the wells are farther west, closer to the North Day Use Area.
Commission staff said keeping the wells at the campground site would not provide enough seawater for the plant and could risk affecting an existing wastewater outfall pipeline.
Marc Serna, South Coast Water District’s deputy general manager and chief engineer, said the change also allows the district to use a trenchless pipeline route rather than digging through Dana Point streets.
“The trenchless pipeline is now looking rather than going through the city streets in the city of Dana Point,” Serna told the commission during his presentation. “Further request, they were not favorable to have our open construction through the main streets of Dana Point.”
The revised plan avoids what had been expected to be a two-year closure of the Doheny campground for well construction. Instead, construction would temporarily close a picnic area and up to 225 of the nearly 700 parking spaces in the North Day Use Area for about two years.
That parking lot is one of the busiest public-access areas at Doheny, particularly during summer and during events such as Ohana Festival. The Coastal Commission included conditions requiring the water district and State Parks to develop a parking and public-access plan before work begins. The plan must address alternate parking, shuttle or transit options, drop-off areas and accessible parking.
The commission also required a storm contingency plan to protect the construction site, equipment and nearby coastal resources during periods of flooding, wave overtopping or erosion.
Serna said the district has pushed back its construction timeline because of anticipated El Niño conditions and pending funding work.
“We are looking at an anticipated start of construction in mid-2027,” he said. “We have considered the El Niño conditions that are expected this season as part of our concern that we would try to bypass that period as much as possible.”
The district estimates the full project will take about 37 months to build, with water delivery targeted for 2030. Serna said the project has reached about 60% design and has a current guaranteed maximum construction price of $296 million. The district has received $40 million in state and federal grants and is trying to secure additional funding.
The project remains controversial among some environmental advocates. Connor Everts, who spoke during public comment, urged commissioners to consider the effects of major storm conditions and the nearby San Juan Creek lagoon, where southern steelhead have been observed.
“I don’t think anyone should underestimate what a super El Niño is going to look like,” Everts said.
He also argued that water agencies should prioritize leak detection and water conservation, which he described as more immediate and cost-effective alternatives.
The approval covers the desalination permit amendment only. A separate State Parks proposal for campground improvements is still under Coastal Commission review.
Rain and gusty winds expected in Dana Point Sunday as coastal flooding advisory continues
By CLARA BEARD
After almost a week of unusually high October temperatures, Dana Point and the rest of South Orange County are expected to cool down this weekend as showers, wind and rougher ocean conditions move into the forecast.
On Saturday, the National Weather Service forecasts mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76 degrees in Dana Point, with only a slight chance of showers late in the day. Rain becomes more likely Saturday night, with a 55 percent chance of showers.
Sunday is projected to be the wetter and windier day. Dana Point has a 55 percent chance of showers during the day, with rain likely Sunday night. The high is expected to be near 70 degrees. Forecasters expect southwest winds to pick up Sunday, with gusts up to about 25 mph.
The chance of rain continues into Monday, when the high is forecast near 67 degrees.
The National Weather Service said Tropical Storm Rachel, which was well southwest of Los Angeles on Thursday (Oct. 8), is expected to turn toward northern Baja California. Its forecast calls for potential for gusty winds and hazardous seas from Saturday through Monday, with the worst conditions expected Sunday.
A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect for the Orange County coast through 2 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 13). High astronomical tides, combined with elevated surf, could lead to minor flooding in low-lying beach areas, including parking lots, boardwalks and roads. Minor beach erosion is also possible.
The Beach Hazards Statement expires at 11 p.m. Friday, but the surf forecast continues to call for a high risk of rip currents Saturday. Surf is expected to be 3 to 5 feet, with occasional sets to 6 feet.
The National Weather Service advises beachgoers to stay off rocks and jetties during hazardous conditions and to stay near an occupied lifeguard tower if they enter the water.
For anyone planning to be outside, Saturday daytime appears to be the better window. By Saturday night, the chance of rain rises, with Sunday bringing the best chance for showers, stronger winds and rougher conditions along the coast.