PVP-PANORAMA No. 266 • 12/19/20

PANORAMA Palos Verdes Peninsula

No. 267 • December/January 2020-21

By Jack Dickason

www.peninsulapanorama.com

Always FREE

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December/January 2020-21

Christmas Trees Find A Home On The Peninsula

John H. Trotter,

DDS, MS Orthodontics

Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics

1706 South Elena Ave. Suite D Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (Located in the Riviera Village)

(310) 373-0093 Find us at TrotterOrthodontics.com or on Facebook at Trotter Orthodontics

Community Christmas Tree . . . Enough with the “virtual” holiday celebrations, Palos Verdes Estates hosts a real living tree for the holidays.

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December/January 2020-21

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2020-2021 Indoor Volleyball Team Tryouts Teams are Still Forming • Girls 12 & Under Volleyball season for girl athletes 10, 11 or 12 as of July 1st, 2021 Ô If interested, please call Fuzz Navagh, 310-749-5831 • Girls 13s & 14s Volleyball season for girl athletes in the 7th or 8th Grade Ô If interested, please call Phil Spazek, 310-430-5954 • Girl’s high school aged teams: If interested, please call Christian Cammayo, 310-382-0899 • Boys Teams & Program: If interested, please call Christian Cammayo, 310-382-0899 Ô 12 & Under Volleyball season for boy athletes 10, 11 or 12 as of July 1st, 2021 Ô Boys 13-14s Volleyball season for boy athletes 13-14 as of July 1st, 2021 Ô Boys 15-18 Volleyball season for High School Boys athletes • Future Stars programs for 7-12 year old girls and boys brand new to volleyball Ô If interested, please call Phil Spazek, 310-889-6496

Location of above programs: LA Galaxy Volleyball Courts, 430 Maple Avenue, Torrance Registration: Please register online at ‘Beachcitiesvbc.com’

Information, registration & makeup tryouts? Please connect to ‘Beachcitiesvbc.com’ or call 310-546-9150

About Beach Cities Volleyball

• Mission Statement is to teach volleyball skills and life skills to young people from 7 to 18 years • Teams for beginning, intermediate and advanced players. Our beginning players become intermediate players, our intermediate players become advanced players, and our advanced players compete with the best teams in the nation, and are on their way to successful high school & in many cases, college careers • Our priorities are to build life skills, build volleyball skills, work hard and have fun!

Health & safety protocols are strictly enforced. Attendance is limited due to social distancing requirements. Please register as early as possible

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December/January 2020-21

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Hope, Joy And Love In A Time Of Crisis PANORAMA Looking Forward Palos Verdes Peninsula

• Local resident uses hope, joy and love to get through crisis.

By George Makinto This year sucked! No doubt about it.

Not many of us (apart from old folks who have come from foreign countries and have seen hunger, revolutions, misery, and persecution from unjust governments) have gone through a time of crisis like this one.

The last pandemic was in 1918. That’s a long time ago, and usually we brush over these types of historic events like we do over World War I, II, the Armenian genocide, Hiroshima or even the Vietnam War: That’s just history, far back in time, and make good stories from our grandpa while we discuss whether Carl’s Jr. is better than In & Out. But this Covid-19 epidemic brings misery closer to home. Since March of this year, weekly horror stories flood our screen and inboxes: A virus is taking over the world, and its effects seep into our neighborhoods, overwhelms our health care system, imprisons us at home in lock down mandated by our local governments, closes our shops and restaurants, floods our hospitals and suddenly people we know, and even ourselves, are affected, infected, and people die. Schools are closed, no graduations, Zoom replaces hugs, no sports (boy do I miss coaching and reffing my boys with AYSO), wearing masks and staying home playing endless video games. We thought it would be a matter of weeks until this was over, but almost a year later, the reality has settled in. We are in for the long haul, and even

the long awaited vaccine release will not bring quick relief from the pandemic.

Who could have imagined this a year ago? Not me.

So how do we deal with this? Do we succumb to depression, sadness and bitterness?

It is in times of crisis when essential and existential aspects of life surface. We have time to think, if we let our emotions come to the surface and our thoughts run free.

As a pastor, I am asked existential questions all the time: Is there hope? Is there a God? A higher power? Is there purpose in my life? Why am I here? Why is there suffering in the world when God is supposed to be good and all-powerful?

Now, I won’t have time and space to talk about all these questions. But as a Christian pastor reflecting on the season that we are living, I can tell you: Yes, there is hope! Yes, there is joy. Yes, there is love!

First, there is hope. As humans, we are made in the blueprint of God; we are designed to be compassionate. Paradoxically it is in times of crisis when the best in people surfaces. We help out. We care for our neighbor. We make sure that the people we love are ok, as best as we can manage. We donate, we call, we worry about the other. It is when the internet and the electricity is out, that we turn away from our individual screens and start talking to each other. So don’t miss this time of crisis to find out who you are and who your neighbor is.

Second, there is joy. As human beings, we always have a choice, even in the midst of a crisis. We can choose our thoughts and attitudes. We cannot choose our circumstances, but we can

choose how to respond to them. We can choose to answer a harsh comment with a conciliatory response. We can choose to see the glass half full and not half empty.

We can count our blessings instead of the bad stuff. I am alive! I can breathe! I have a roof over my head and food on the table. I have….(fill in the blank). Be grateful for what you have and rejoice. You live in California and don’t know what wearing a heavy winter coat or rain gear feels like.

Share joy with those that are around you.

A smile goes a long way!

And third, there is love. Love has no boundaries. Last week I officiated a wedding on Zoom. People from three continents who would not have been able to assist the physical wedding showered the married couple with love and affection.

The Zoom room was filled with laughter.

Love has no boundaries. Love is doing something for the one you love. Covid 19 cannot stop your expression of love. Give it! Share it! As we enter this Christmas season, it reminds me of the reason Jesus came into the world: To express, demonstrate and share his love with the people he loves (Assignment: Read John 3:16 in the Bible, and yes, you can Google it…).

Faith in something or somebody who is bigger than us is essential for giving us purpose and meaning…but that would be for another article.

As this year comes to an end, I want to encourage everyone here reading and supporting the Peninsula Panorama to keep up Hope, share Joy and express Love. Let’s enter the New Year with the attitude that life is good and the expectancy that it will get better!

Merry Christmas and a Happy (and better) New Year 2021

PEF Awarded Grant From Clear Recovery Local Support

Clear Recovery Center announced a new way in which it plans to lend a helping hand to local communities: supporting South Bay school districts, education foundations and PTA Councils through grant funding.

This year, families and students have had to adapt to the challenges of distance learning while managing the psychosocial and emotional repercussions of this challenging time.

Clear Recovery Center’s grants will help support key projects and initiatives which enable South Bay schools

to continue to offer the best education possible.

“Clear Recovery Center is excited to support our local schools, students and families during a time that has been difficult for so many,” says Michael Joly, executive director at Clear Recovery Center. “This is another way we can help our community, empower teens and support local families.”

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Education Foundation was one of the local foundations awarded the grants which can be used for mental health counseling, material needs, teacher support and community engagement

initiatives, including projects that assist schools with changes brought on by the pandemic.

Clear Recovery’s mission is to help those struggling with mental health and addiction live healthy and purposeful lives. From detox and residential programs for adult men and women, to outpatient mental health and addiction recovery services for teens and adults, we are proud to offer a clear path to meaningful recovery in the South Bay. — email reports

On Staff Fiona Andersons Keila Bara Beau Demerjian Alexis Ferguson Sammy Funk Sarah Liu Timothy Niemann Fiona Yang

Publisher/Editor: Tom Combs Copy Editors: Sue Demerjian,

Winton Combs Cartoonist: Jack Dickason

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December/January 2020-21

Playing Golf Through The Pandemic Is A Safe And Fun Way To Not Look At A Screen

Social distance

• When following the rules golf proves to be a safe and enjoyable way to pass through the pandemic.

By Timothy Niemann

than enough room to maintain the recommended 6 feet of social distancing.

Also, the game is played outside, where the virus is much less likely to spread compared to being indoors. So the risk of catching COVID-19 on a golf course is minimal.

Playing golf, one of America’s favorite pastimes, has been one of the few activities available during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Courses in California were allowed to open in May, and Americans have taken the opportunity to play more.

According to GOLF.com, 44 percent of courses nationwide have seen increased play, and Google searches for the word ‘golf ‘ have jumped.

So how is the golfing experience enjoyable through the pandemic?

First off, golf is a socially distanced sport. Fairways are usually about 40 yards wide, if not wider. That’s more

Americans have also flocked to golf as a way of getting outside. After nearly eight months of working and schooling at home, many people see very little daylight each day. Two to four hours outside playing golf is a great way to move around and get some vitamin D. Playing golf during the pandemic is a safe and enjoyable way to get away from computer screens and enjoy time in the great outdoors with family and friends.

Charting a path to Growth J D Factors helps companies meet their ever-increasing cash flow demands, enabling them to run their businesses successfully. www.jdfactors.com 500 Silver Spur Road, Suite 306 Palos Verdes Peninsula

John Gilligan

John Gilligan, CFLS

Brandmeyer Gilligan & Dockstader, LLP Practicing Law In Southern California Over 50 Years KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: • Divorce • Paternity • Legal Separation • Child Support • Pension/IRA 401K Division

And golf courses have made small adjustments to their protocols. For example, many courses have banned touching the flagstick. Doing so can incur a stroke penalty in competitive junior tournaments.

Courses have also taken other precautions, such as a “cut-down pool noodle,” in the bottom of the cup to catch the golf ball before it goes all the way down the hole. This way, the golfer does not need to reach his hand into a hole that many other people have already touched.

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Cowboy Cookies Highlight The Holidays With Great Taste Thanks To George H.W. Bush

A Culinary Journey they will be gone quickly. I usually • Cowboy Cookies leave a lasting impression long after a trip to Washington D.C.

By Alexis Ferguson It may be the cold, crisp air of Washington D.C. during the fall or the warm notes of cinnamon, that make these cookies the perfect comfort dessert during the winter. Upon returning from the long days at museums or the National Mall, the hotel would present us with treats. There would usually be piping hot chai or rich hot chocolate accompanied by a president’s favorite cookie.

One day, there was George H.W. Bush’s favorite cookie, a cowboy cookie.

I read the recipe card provided and had to try the cookie because the cookie was packed with so many different ingredients: pecans, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and oats. Say less. I bit into the cookie and it easily became my favorite cookie.

The texture is so chewy and the pecans add a nice crunch. In my opinion, the cinnamon makes the cookie. The warm cinnamon flavor with rich chocolate and sweet coconut is the combo I never knew I needed. I make these cookies all the time, and although they make about three dozen cookies, I promise

Cowboy Cookies Ingredients

• 3 cups flour • 1 tbsp. baking powder • 1 tbsp. baking soda • 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon • 1 tsp. salt • 3 sticks butter • 1 ½ cups sugar • 1 ½ cups brown sugar • 3 eggs • 1 tbsp. vanilla extract • 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips • 3 cups rolled oats • 2 cups coconut • 2 cups chopped pecans

Palos Verdes Peninsula

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Next Edition Jan. 23

eat half and give the other half to friends and family.

Since I started making these cookies, I have not met someone who does not like them. These cookies would be the perfect dessert for small and socially distanced holiday gatherings or a nice treat to share with friends.

All I can say is that George H.W. Bush had great taste!

Preparation

1. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

2. Beat butter on medium until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in sugar.

3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla.

4. Stir in flour mixture until just combined.

5. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconuts, and pecans.

6. Bake at 350 degrees F for 17-20 minutes and rotate sheets halfway.

7. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

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December/January 2020-21

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Fearful Times Test Reason And Logic Under Pressure • Blame game taking its toll on people across the country.

By Keila Bara At this point, everyone is familiar with the coronavirus (COVID-19). The first person in the U.S. diagnosed with this virus was on Jan. 20, and as of now there have been 15.7 million reported cases in the U.S. alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

COVID-19’s place of origin was Wuhan, China, which has created an increase in racism and xenophobia against Asians.

Fear of the virus has created anxieties among people looking for someone to blame for the outbreak. Many people feel that because the virus originated in Asia, all Asians are therefore responsible.

This unjust and untrue assumption has increased the mistreatment of Asians, and some government officials have done nothing to contradict this assumption and instead have fed into it.

This needs to stop, for COVID-19 can be spread by anyone of any race. There is no correlation between being Asian and transmitting the virus.

The blame partially stems from some government officials. COVID-19 how they have approached COVID-19. President Trump consistently referred to the virus as the “Chinese virus” and “kung flu” rather than its official name, COVID-19.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has referred to the virus as the “Wuhan virus”.

These terms influence the way Americans view the virus because it puts blame on China and Asia as a whole. Whether it was intended as hate speech or not, it still created an idea that it was acceptable for others to blame Asians for “starting the virus.”

“The government has so much power and influence, and their words, like referring to COVID-19 as the ‘Chinese virus’, enable other people to think they can get away with making xenophobic comments too,” said second year UCLA student and Palos Verdes resident Eunice Lee. “Sure, there are arguments that the virus came from China so we should call it the ‘Chinese Virus’, just like how the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is named after the Middle East, but in that case, MERS is the scientific name.

The ‘Chinese virus’ is not the proper name, COVID-19 is, so call it by its actual name,” Lee said.

The U.S. is not the only place where racism against Asians is prevalent. According to the Human Rights Watch, the Italian governor of Veneto has accused Chinese people of being unhygienic and eating rats alive. Brazil’s education minister has accused China of creating the virus because of their so-called plans for world domination, and various places around the world have reported harassment and physical attacks toward Asians.

These disgusting statements make it seem acceptable to discriminate against Asians and create the false information that China is at fault for the virus. This blame also takes away from the truth that COVID-19 is an uncontrollable virus that needs to be taken seriously by everyone, for everyone can spread and catch the virus, regardless of race.

“I do not understand why people are so quick to blame Asians for COVID-19,” Peninsula High School junior Skylar Lee said. “The same people who are being racist and xenophobic are refusing to wear masks and going out in large gatherings during the pandemic. It is important for everyone to realize COVID-19 is nobody’s fault and everyone can transmit the virus to each other; everyone is equally responsible for keeping others safe.”

This racism is not only affecting the everyday lives of many Asians, but it is affecting many small Asian-owned businesses. Many of these businesses are being forced to close as people avoid ordering from them in fear of contracting COVID-19.

There is also the fear of both Asian employees and customers of being a victim of racially motivated violence or hate speech.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate of Asian Americans has spiked from 2.5 percent to 10.7 percent from February to August this year, and this is heavily due to the lack of customers at Asian-owned businesses.

Asian-run restaurants are now dealing with a loss of both Asian customers, scared for their safety, and non-Asian customers under the false pretense that the food is going to give them COVID-19.

An organization called Stop American Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate has reported more than 2,500 cases of Asian discrimination and violent incidents between March 19 and Aug. 5, according to the National Public Radio (NPR)

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Ready For The New Carpet . . . The new Peninsula field turf will be more than ready after athletic schedules have been pushed back a few weeks.

Fear And Blame Takes A Toll On Humanity

. . . Continued from Previous Page Countless Asian Americans have experienced hate speech via social media; many have even been attacked. This has made every Asian fear for their safety, avoiding going to restaurants to pick up food in fear of getting glared at, spat at or even physically hurt.

“I have personally felt victimized during this time just because I am Asian,” Peninsula High School senior Maya Masaoka said. “I have gotten looks from strangers, and I have seen people on social media degrade us and fault us for COVID-19.

Humans have a hard time accepting that some things just happen and are nobody’s fault, and therefore people project their feelings onto the easiest group of people to blame and create a false explanation to ease their mind. Instead, people need to understand that using hate to get through difficult times is detrimental to both themselves and others.

“When people feel out of control in a situation, they tend to hate and blame others,” Masaoka said. “This is a horrible way to cope during a time when people need to support each other more than ever.”

www.pvsports.com The Local Gateway To Sports On The Peninsula • Easy Access to most Major Recreational Leagues and South Bay Sports Websites.

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Photo by Carly Funk

Tree Pick Up . . . Members of the Peninsula High baseball program were on

hand to trim and secure trees for Peninsula residents during their annual holiday fundraising drive last week.

Keep Us In The Loop

localnews@pvppanorama.com Publisher’s Note (crazy talk)

Nice knowing you, 2020. I hope we never meet up again.

We are so looking forward to 2021 and, hopefully, to the beginning of normalization of life on the Peninsula.

However, as of right now, I have no idea which sports at what level will be returning to play.

My opinion is that the sports that were canceled last spring, or had their seasons cut short by the pandemic, should take priority in getting back in action.

I don’t want two seasons lost for high school baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and field, swimming, etc The teams have been practicing and will be ready to go once the all clear is given.

High school sports are important, but for all that is good in the world we need to have AYSO soccer and Little League baseball and softball up and running ASAP. The old Panorama camera man will wither away if the Peninsula’s legendary baseball and softball snack-shacks are closed for another spring.

And printing only 12 pages once-amonth is not the Panorama speed. We need to get this train going, the sooner the better. But safely…and with a mask on. Always.

Georgiana Rosenkranz Broker Associate, JD CalBRE# 01411097

310.717.8767 George@GeorgeSellsTheSouthBay.com

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Looking Forward To Spring 2021