San Pedro Today - July 2023

SOUNDS OF SUMMER

OUT & ABOUT: LA FLEET WEEK'S

PARTY & ITALY RUN LA 5K

JULY EVENTS & MUCH MORE!

Modern Dentistry, with Old Fashion Values.

Our office is a multi-specialty private practice located in Weymouth Corners in San Pedro. With 28 years of experience, we provide high-quality modern dentistry at an affordable cost in an inviting setting. Our office is equipped to provide most specialty dental services efficiently under one rooftop. We use cutting-edge technology and are versed in all aspects of Cosmetic, Restorative, Dental Implants, Orthodontic, and Oral Surgery services.

ASSOCIATES

Dr. Souzan Ardalan, D.D.S.

Education:

USC school of Dentistry

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Professional Association:

American Dental Association, member

California Dental Association, member

Western Dental Society, member

SERVICES & SPECIALTIES

• General Cosmetic and Children’s Dentistry • Oral Surgery • Dental Implants • Permanent Implant Supported Dentures • Orthodontics (Traditional Braces & Invisalign) • Periodontics • Sleep Apnea

(310) 832-5559

www.drsouzanardalan.com

Ian Woo, D.D.S., MD.

Education:

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Los Angeles County / University of Southern California Medical Center

Dr. Marvis Sorrel, D.M.D., M.D.S.

Education:

University of Pittsburgh, Master of Science in Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Medicine

Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Orthognatic Surgery Externship / Invisalign Certification

Dr. Rebekah Coriaty

Education:

University of Pacific

Professional Association:

American Dental Association

California Dental Association

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Color Palette: #4962f5 #233f4d

Dr. Miles Madison

Education:

UCLA School of Dentistry

Professional Association:

Font:

American Academy of Periodontology

California Society of Periodontists

American Dental Association

California Dental Association

American Association for Dental Research

FONT: Lato

JULY

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Joshua J. Stecker

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lori Garrett

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION

Joseph A. Castañeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Linda Grimes, Sanam Lamborn, Mike Lansing, Jennifer Marquez, Eddie McKenna, Sophie Schoenfeld, Amber Sheikh, Lee Williams

Letter from the Editor and Steve Marconi will return next month.

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Mattera Photography

CONTACT INFO: Phone: (424) 224-9063 Email: contact@sanpedrotoday.com

San Pedro Today

P.O. Box 1168 San Pedro, CA 90733

ADVERTISING:

General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166 | patricia@sanpedrotoday.com

EMPIRE22 MEDIA LLC

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Joshua J. Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media. 20,000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today. Copyright 20092023, Empire22 Media LLC.

Check out the latest news at sanpedrotoday.com.

VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 6

ON THE COVER: Mike Caccavalla, co-founder and organizer of Music by the Sea, photographed at Point Fermin Park on June 5, 2023. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (396 W. 6th St., corner of 6th and Mesa), 11a-3p. – New location! Pick up essential fruits and vegetables from certified, small family farms. Get a head start on weekend meals with so many delicious and fresh options. For more info, visit sanpedrochamber. com/san-pedro-farmers-market.

Every Tuesday & Every Saturday –BELMONT SHORE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB at Angels Gate Park (3600 S. Gaffey St., Building 824), Tuesdays 7-10p & Saturdays 12-4p. – The best kept secret in San Pedro! The Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club is the oldest and largest N scale club and offers clinics on modeling and an opportunity to explore a new hobby. Admission is FREE and open to the public. For more info, call (310) 831-6262 or visit belmontshorerr.com.

Every Friday – LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM at Old Fire Station 36 (639 S. Harbor Blvd.), 10a-3p. – The LA Fire Department Historical Society invites you to tour and experience San Pedro and Wilmington's fire protection and rescue history with vintage fire apparatus and displays. Come to visit or to volunteer. FREE admission. For more info, visit lafdmuseum.org/harbor/.

June 29, 30, July 1 & 6-8, August 4-5 (Fri-Sun) – SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA at Point Fermin Park (807 Paseo Del Mar), 8p. – For audiences seeking quality, family entertainment, Shakespeare by the Sea's performances can't be beat. Pack a picnic, a blanket, and a beach chair, gather loved ones, and settle in under the stars for a night of classic entertainment by the ocean. Bench seating is available or set up chairs and/or blankets on the side. Weather may be chilly. This year's productions will be Hamlet (Friday,

Saturday, Sunday — June 29, 30, July

1, 7, August 5) and Twelfth Night (Friday, Saturday, Sunday — July 6, 8, August 4). All performances start at 8p. Admission is FREE, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more info, visit shakespearebythesea.org.

1 (Sat) – 2nd ANNUAL ALMA PARK PICNIC at Alma Park (21st & Meyler streets), 10a-2p. – Bring your blanket for a day of FREE family fun in beautiful Alma Park. Hotdogs, refreshments, snacks, and other goodies will be served. Come and enjoy Taiko drummers, the Alley Oops Band, and other local musical talent TBA. And don't forget our big raffle drawings: win a trip for two to Catalina Island or a one-night stay at the Doubletree Hotel at Cabrillo Marina. Games and activities for all ages and a sock puppet show. LAPD/LAFD officers and firefighters will be on hand, as well as display tables representing local city and community organizations and businesses.

2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (Sun) – MUSIC BY THE SEA at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar), 11:30a-5p.– Come on down and enjoy the FREE concert series! The bands will be playing on the stage at Point Fermin Park. Make an afternoon of it. For the full schedule, see page 18. For more info, visit musicbythesea.rocks.

6 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY in Downtown San Pedro, 6p. – The popular First Thursday ArtWalk is back in the historic core of Downtown San Pedro. The redesigned First Thursday will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open galleries, outdoor dining, and live music on the corner of 6th and Mesa streets.

6 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK AND GUIDED TOUR at Sunken City Books (403 W. 6th St.), 5:30p. – Join local artists and creatives for a tour of the San Pedro Arts District. For tickets and more info, visit sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com.

8 (Sat) – SOLACE/SUBLIME at Angels Gate Cultural Center (3601. S. Gaffey St.), 3-5p. – Curated by Molly Enholm

Velazco, this group exhibition explores the elemental forces of nature to find moments of hope and solace, perhaps even reach the sublime. Solace/Sublime opens with a FREE public reception at AGCC on Saturday, July 8, 3-5p. For more info, visit angelsgateart.org.

8-9 (Sat-Sun) – BLUE WATER CLAY ANNUAL POTTERY SUMMER SALE at Blue Water Clay (803 S. Pacific Ave.), Saturday: 10a-6p, Sunday: 10a3p. – Join us for our annual summer pottery sale! There will be tons of planters, mugs, bowls, plates, platters, sculptures, boxes, bottles, and more. Cash, Venmo, or Zelle only. For more info, visit bluewaterclay.com.

15 (Sat) – POINT FERMIN DAY at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar), 1-4p. – Come and enjoy a family fun day with live bands (R&B, pop, rock, synthwave R&B), activities, and games for kids and their parents. Food trucks will be on site or bring your picnic lunch. FREE admission. Point Fermin Day is an event to support L.A. Harbor elementary school kids. For more info or to be a sponsor, email admin@freedomcommunity.com.

15 (Sat) – CABARET NIGHT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St.), 8p. – Company songstress Branda Lock and Musical Director Daniel Koh bring together 13 LFT friends for a musical extravaganza of show tunes that is sure to have you snapping and singing! Tickets $40; admission price includes one drink ticket. Anytime Tickets will be accepted for this event. This event will benefit the Little Fish Theatre Actor Fund. For tickets and more info, visit littlefishtheatre.org.

16 (Sun) – FIRST ANNUAL BICYCLE

AUCTION & SWAP MEET at the Bike Palace (1600 S. Pacific Ave.), 7-10a. – Come out to enter or purchase a bicycle in a live auction and swap meet. Vendor spaces are available, and this first-of-its-kind auction will start at 9a. A great opportunity to sell bicycles and parts that are collecting dust or to join the cycling community and pick up a bike. This will be a great event

to help celebrate 50 years of service to this community by the Bike Palace and to spotlight their huge clearance sale going on now. For more info, visit Instagram @triple.j.auctions or call the Bike Palace at (310) 832-1966.

21-23 (Fri-Sun) – 75th ANNUAL

MARY STAR OF THE SEA PARISH

FIESTA at Mary Star of the Sea Parish (870 W. 8th St.), Friday: 5p-midnight, Saturday: 12p-midnight, Sunday: 12-10p. – Celebrating 75 years! For more info, see page 20. For the full schedule, visit marystar.org/fiesta.

22 (Sat) – SAN PEDRO MAKERS

MARKET at West Harbor Promenade (6th Street & Harbor Blvd., next to LA Maritime Museum), 10a-4p. – Join nearly two dozen artists, artisans, makers, and bakers for a fun day of shopping, live music, lawn games (sponsored by Hello San Pedro podcast), food, and drinks! This event is hosted by Homemade by the Hays and sponsored by San Pedro Today For vendor info, message @sanpedromakersmarket on Instagram.

28 (Fri) – ROY ORBISON RETURNS

TRIBUTE CONCERT at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.), 7:30p. – Roy Orbison Returns is a fullyscripted musical theater re-creation of Roy Orbison’s ‘60s –‘80s concert years, complete with lively stories, humor, costumes, dramatic lighting, and staging, all the while being faithful to Orbison’s set lists and musical arrangements. Featuring popular national touring group Wiley Ray & The Big O Band, this sweeping multimedia concert will delve into hit songs, reallife moments, and career achievement highlights of the legendary country singer/songwriter. Tickets $39-$59 (plus handling fees). For tickets, visit tix. com; questions, call (310) 548-2493. spt

Events deadline for August 2023 is Friday, July 14. Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.

CLOSURE COMING, COMMENTS WANTED

by Lee Williams

The Vincent Thomas Bridge is about to turn 60, and this historic structure is in need of a major overhaul to remain safe for the 53,000 daily trips across her every day.

Once called “The Bridge to Nowhere” before its completion, the Vincent Thomas is an integral part of local commutes and port operations. Prolonging the life of the bridge calls for a complete deck replacement and the addition of seismic sensors. Caltrans is in the early stages of creating a plan that will be included in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to be delivered by early January. A recent scoping meeting drew only three people due to poor outreach by Caltrans to the impacted communities. A second meeting, this time virtual, brought almost 100 people, including Supervisor Janice Hahn and Councilmember Tim McOsker. Our elected officials were able to convince Caltrans to extend the public comment to July 10.

Stakeholders are being asked to consider three options of closures and to

comment on the impacts these closures will have on the surrounding community. The first option is a complete closure of all lanes for 9 to 12 months with construction going on 24/7 until complete. Caltrans is being asked to consider possible builder incentives to meet or beat these timelines. The second option is to close all but one lane of the bridge for 18 to 24 months with workers switching traffic back and forth using just one lane. The third option is to keep one lane open in each direction and is expected to take 24 to 30 months. Both the second and third options would require nighttime and extended weekend closures, or their timelines would need to add another six months.

Wilmington is already suffering from the impacts of trucks running through their neighborhoods. The almost 5,000 additional trucks that currently use the Vincent Thomas Bridge every day could have devastating effects on a community already fighting for less commercial traffic on their streets, for less idling trucks spewing toxins in their neighborhoods, and to fix the streets already heavily damaged by truck traffic.

The neighborhood councils, the Port of LA, both chambers of commerce, and

our elected officials are working hard to support measures to protect Wilmington residents as much as possible, including making repairs to streets before, during, and after any of these closure options.

Built in 1963, the bridge originally cost $21 million and took three years to build. The estimated cost of repairs is about $630 million and may increase depending on which option is selected, changes in scope, and possible mitigation measures from the impacts of traffic detours.

The next steps are to complete the scoping period allowing for public comment until July 10. Then Caltrans plans to have the EIR completed in December for the community to review and make additional comments. The final design is expected to be completed by July 2025 with new construction to begin in October 2025. Additional information and the Caltrans presentation can be found at virtualeventroom.com/caltrans/vtb.

Every idea and comment will be reviewed, including bringing back a ferry to shuttle commuters between San Pedro and Long Beach. Ferries may even be an option for port and longshore workers getting to and from San Pedro.

Other folks are concerned about how this could affect the opening of West Harbor and other waterside attractions.

More outreach needs to be done by Caltrans in Spanish. The online meeting I attended had a Spanish interpreter, but the complicated directions to gain access were explained in English. Wilmington has a high Spanish-speaking population. Since they will be some of the most affected, there should be more accommodation to help Spanish speakers participate in the direction of the project.

Groundbreaking on this project is over two years away, so now is the time to provide feedback and ideas to make this restoration as quick and painless as possible for all the communities affected. Emails can be sent to caltransvtb@virtualeventroom.net with the subject line: VTB Deck Replacement Project. spt

Lee Williams leads The Lee Williams Real Estate Group at REAL Broker and is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be reached at lee@lamove.com.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge under construction in 1963. (photo: courtesy San Pedro Bay Historical Society)

TWO GREEN THUMBS UP

PROP HOUSE PLANTS SPROUTS UP IN DOWNTOWN.

by Jennifer Marquez

When do you know it is over? Should I continue waiting or cut my ties and get what I really wanted? I blame myself; I know I could have tried harder. It was a tough call, especially since I could still remember the day we met years ago. These thoughts had been running through my head about a plant I received as a gift. I was tired of looking at the same shabby plant. I like having indoor plants, but I’m too busy for upkeep, except for the watering. In the past, I would buy potting soil at Home Depot with big plans to transplant, but the bag would sit for weeks. One day, on a walk in Downtown San Pedro, I discovered Prop House Plants, a plant store that caters to all levels of plant owners, especially beginners like me.

Jose and Brittany Montero, brother and sister, opened Prop House Plants in October 2022. As first-time business owners, they were doing plant pop-ups in the South Bay before moving to a permanent space in San Pedro. Their small eclectic shop takes advantage of high ceilings to display one-of-a-kind

plant products, like upcycled items used as pots. They can give a plant a makeover through repotting and whatever else is needed to spruce it up.

“Owning plants is not as hard as it seems. We want to show people that it can be a hobby that is not intimidating,” states Jose. “Besides the store, we visit clients in their homes and determine what will work. We want to set our customers up for success.”

Faced with downtime during the pandemic, Brittany got into plants and found it healing. Her brother, who is ten years younger, was also interested in plants. Their new love of plants strengthened the bond between them. Brittany has a fondness for pothos plants. It was the first plant she owned, and she created ten other plants through propagation. The easy-to-carefor plant gave her confidence when she first started working with them. Neither sibling, who spent some of their youth growing up in San Pedro, had a green thumb when they first started exploring their interest in florae. Since then, they have learned a lot and now share their simple plant care techniques with their customers. They’re hoping to add workshops in the future.

The retail storefront is only part of their business. They also service plants

in homes and businesses, taking care of them based on the client’s needs. They will do house calls, assess lighting, and make plant recommendations based on the interior environment and the client’s taste. Their specialty is indoor potted plants, including patios, and they also sell nontoxic pet- and childfriendly plants. Prop House also cares for customers’ plants while they are traveling.

“Since I was a teenager, I have always liked the artistic feel of San Pedro. It’s inspiring,” states Brittany. “It feels so far from Los Angeles. It is a new experience to be back as a business owner. We really appreciate how the community has shown up for us.”

On a visit to Prop House, I showed Brittany a photo of my sad-looking plant. I wanted to move on but wasn’t sure. She made suggestions and added I could also bring it to the store so they could address its issues. I felt like

I was visiting the doctor for plants. However, I spotted another one I liked in a beautiful pot while there. I decided to let go of my older plant — my heart wasn’t into it anymore. It was nice while it lasted, but it was time for something new. spt

Prop House Plants is located at 619 S. Centre Street. For more info, call (310) 684-1181 or visit prophouseplants.com.

Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.

Siblings Jose and Brittany Montero opened Prop House Plants in October 2022. (photo: courtesy Prop House Plants)

Dr. Ja’nae Brown Dr. Maile Bay Jacques

Dr. Daisuke Saiki Dr. Geovanni Sandoval

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

ARE ADULTS REALLY LEADING BY EXAMPLE?

by Mike Lansing

“You, who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by.”

– Graham Nash, 1968

As the executive director of the Boys & Girls Club, I am terrified regarding the unacceptable behavior we are modeling for our youth, as our national and local behavior is the wrong message to send the young people growing up today.

Whether it is politics, race, or religion that drives this unacceptable behavior, it does not matter. “Teach Your Children” was written by Graham Nash and made famous by the group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, which my generation listened to continually during our teen years. It is a haunting song, especially today, as we adults too often exhibit morally reprehensible and unethical behavior in full view of our children.

“And you of tender years can’t know the fears that your elders grew by. And so please help them with your youth. They seek the truth before they can die.”

One of the central tenets we adults emphasize throughout our child-rearing years is that actions have consequences and that we will be held responsible for what we do and say, while in reality, we continually “excuse away” bad adult behavior. Today’s most obvious example of this unacceptable adult behavior is our former president and his far too many civil and criminal indictments.

Of course, this isn’t a political party monopoly. Locally, an L.A. City Councilman was recently charged with multiple counts of embezzlement, perjury, and conflict of interest. Add to this a Supreme Court justice — a representative of the highest law of our land — accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars of gifts over many years from a politically engaged donor without disclosing it.

What are we teaching our children when we excuse these and far too many other examples of unlawful and unethical behavior? Why do we bemoan a youth stealing a sweatshirt, bullying or abusing peers, or continually lying

when caught engaging in bad behavior when they see the same and much worse adult behavior condoned and excused daily when exhibited by our national leaders and even ourselves?

“And teach your parents well. Their children’s hell will slowly go by. And feed them on your dreams…”

Have we come to a place where we must turn to our youth to “teach us” adults after we subject them to so much bad behavior and mixed messages? Why do we teach “love thy neighbor” in our churches and homes and then are unaccepting of people of different races, religions, and those from our LGBTQ+ community? This Supreme Court, after overturning Roe v. Wade, will soon consider whether to overturn and outlaw same-sex marriages — really? What’s next? Roll back our civil rights laws and take away the vote from women?

Why do we advocate for “pro-life” while not willing to make AK-47s illegal, when at the same time, our children must practice “active shooter drills” and later are subjected to watching footage of another mass killing of their peers? Why do we ban books that acknowledge our diversity, our imperfect history, or ideas not fully aligned with some of our individual positions while championing the First Amendment? Have we become an adult world where we should tell our children, “Don’t do as I do and don’t do as I say”?

“Don’t you ever ask them why. If they told you, you would cry. So just look at them and sigh…”

Sadly, we hide behind our political parties, religion, or race-preservation mentalities to rationalize our unacceptable “adult” behavior. I can only hope our children can see through our weaknesses, lies, and rationalizations.

On so many levels today, we are not the examples our children need and deserve. We must demand the best of our adult selves to give all our children a chance at a better future.

If not “well,” can’t we at least teach our children “better”? spt

Mike Lansing is the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.

SOUNDS OF SUMMER

by Joshua Stecker

This is the time of year when Mike Caccavalla’s blood pressure begins to rise. This isn’t a surprise if you know him; many in San Pedro do.

It’s the beginning of June, and in a few weeks, Caccavalla, 62, will be walking onto the stage at Point Fermin Park in front of more than 2,000 people to introduce the first band at this year’s Music by the Sea concert series. It’s a walk he’s done for nearly three decades as the co-founder and lead organizer of the event, which, for many, marks San Pedro’s “unofficial official” beginning of summer.

“It’s one big family gathering backyard party, is what I call it,” says Caccavalla, who’s also the current executive chef at San Pedro Meals on Wheels.

And he’s right. Since 1995, Music by the Sea has become one of the town’s most beloved annual events and is quintessentially San Pedro. The crowd is always multigenerational and eclectic, ranging from new families enjoying the park for the first time to old timers reliving their glory days and everyone in between.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but with the Pacific Ocean and Cata-

lina Island backdrop, a constant ocean breeze, and hours of live music, Music by the Sea has always had the ingredients for a perfect summer Sunday afternoon.

FILLING THE STAGE

The problem was simple: the stage at Point Fermin Park was underutilized, and the City of Los Angeles was interested in activating it for local events. What that meant in 1994, no one knew yet.

Caccavalla recalls sitting with a group at Angels Gate Park that year to discuss the possibilities. “We were at the Korean Bell, and somebody had mentioned that back in the 1970s, they used to have concerts [at Point Fermin Park] all the time,” he says.

That idea caught wind, and by the following summer, the City of L.A.’s Department of Recreation and Parks, with the help of Caccavalla and several volunteers, was organizing the newly named Music by the Sea concert series.

“The first year we had it, I think maybe 300 people showed up, and we thought it was the best thing that ever happened,” he laughs.

Also born out of these talks was Shakespeare by the Sea, the summer stock sister company to Little Fish Theatre, founded by Lisa Coffi, who was also involved in those early talks.

Shakespeare by the Sea would debut a few years later in 1998 and continues to produce two productions in repertory (this year it’s Twelfth Night and Hamlet) every summer at Point Fermin Park.

“[Rec and Parks] decided that they were going to fund [Music by the Sea]. They were going to pay the bands. Everything was covered by them,” recalls Caccavalla, who once owned Downtown Subs and More and Boca Activewear in Downtown San Pedro in the early 2000s. “They ran it for five or six years, and then the director said they couldn’t afford it anymore. We had a committee of 15 people. Everybody was involved. But when the City walked away, we lost all that.”

Not wanting to abandon the event altogether, the department said if San Pedro wanted it to continue, they needed to do it independently.

“They said, ‘If you want to continue it, then you guys need to take it over,’” remembers Caccavalla. “At that point,

it was me, Dean Stuyvesant, and Jerry Butera who decided we wanted to keep it going.”

The concert series has always been a four-to-six-week affair, lasting from the end of June to the beginning of August, depending on the calendar. In the early years, the concerts were the perfect lead-in to the Taste in San Pedro, which the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce used to run every August at Point Fermin Park until 2010.

Picking and scheduling which bands will play the series each year has always been an arduous process. Music by the Sea currently has four bands playing each Sunday. Fortunately for Caccavalla, he switched to a lottery system a few years ago to take the pressure off of picking the bands himself and hasn’t looked back.

“We went to the lottery system and opened it up to everybody,” he explains. “We meet at Godmothers on this date. One representative of the band had to be there. Not your mom, a representative of the band. You filled out a card and put it in the hopper.”

Like any event in San Pedro these days, funding is always an issue, and

MUSIC BY THE SEA’S VOLUNTEER TEAM (l to r): Mickey Elliot, Debbie Sanchez, Wayne Moore, Steven Ernst, Mike Caccavalla, Cari Burich, Terri Williams, Cissy (Yolanda) Chenier, and Willie Robinson. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

MIKE CACCAVALLA AND HIS TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS MARK THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER IN SAN PEDRO WITH THE MUSIC BY THE SEA CONCERT SERIES

MUSIC BY THE SEA 2023 LINE-UP

Sunday, June 25

Dirty Ice Cream

The Priest Monsters on Vacation

110 South

Sunday, July 2

Hand of Doom

Herway to Hell

Sean Lane & The Hellhounds

Soul Shoot

Sunday, July 9

Tiki McPherson

The Harbor Groove Band Code 4

Azure

Sunday, July 16 One Flight Up Amerigumbo Rise Like the Sun Bluezilla

Sunday, July 23

Michael Forbes Explosion Band Under the Sun Down the Hatch The Floaters

Sunday, July 30 The Hooks Hardball In Contempt Revue The Topics

11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Point Fermin Park

the concert series is no different in its quest each year to keep the music playing. Although entirely volunteer-run, Music by the Sea is not a nonprofit. Instead, they partner with the nonprofit Unite to Fight Blood Cancers. Any funds left over after expenses are donated to them.

According to Caccavalla, this year’s series will cost $42,000 to produce, including hiring security, paying the bands, and all the ancillary expenses of event organizing. In addition to holding local fundraisers this year, Music by the Sea has a GoFundMe page where people can donate directly to the organization. (See the link at the end of the story.) On concert days, volunteers sell raffle tickets featuring prizes donated by local businesses and “pass the hat” seeking cash donations.

Even though Music by the Sea describes itself as an event for all ages, things have gotten a little hairy in the past. Although alcohol is prohibited in the park and professional security officers are at the event, it doesn’t stop people from sneaking drinks in and overindulging, sometimes causing problems for the people around them.

“Something stupid can bring it down. Especially considering we are now running it,” warns Caccavalla. “It’s a backyard party. And when you’re hosting and people aren’t following the rules….” He doesn’t finish the sentence, but the intonation is clear. If you’re going to come and enjoy the music, come and enjoy the music. Just don’t be a jerk.

LABOR OF LOVE

When asked why he continues to

volunteer his time and energy and put himself through the stress and anguish of organizing this six-week concert event every year, Caccavalla self-deprecatingly quips, “Because I’m an idiot.” Obviously, that’s not the case. As a man who’s been an active member of the San Pedro community since he arrived in 1991, the Brooklyn-born San Pedran found a home here. This is his way of giving back.

“I’m not born and raised here, and it’s really hard to get into Pedro, especially when I got here,” explains Caccavalla. “If you weren’t from here, you were alienated. They let you do things, but you were never on the inside. And then having the two businesses downtown and everything else, and being accepted, I literally turned around and said, ‘I want to do this. Let me do this.

It’s something I know how to do.’”

For him, the sense of community generated by Music by the Sea is worth all the hassles. “That’s the best part, is that friends that were together last night are all together again in the park, and they’re cooking, and they’re having fun, and they’re listening to music, and they’re seeing other people that they haven’t seen in a while,” he says. “As I said, it’s one big family gathering backyard party.” spt

To donate to Music by the Sea, visit gofund.me/8baa5c03.

Music by the Sea runs Sundays starting June 25 through July 30 from 11:30a-5p at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar). For more info, visit musicbythesea.rocks.

Music by the Sea at Point Fermin Park. (photo: courtesy Music by the Sea)

Shine Bright Like a Diamond

MARY STAR FIESTA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

On a brisk Sunday morning in mid-June, the steps in front of the 7th Street entrance to Mary Star of the Sea Church were filled with royalty when more than a dozen past Mary Star fiesta queens gathered in honor of the annual event’s 75th anniversary.

It was a rare gathering of the queens, usually reserved for major anniversaries like the one this month, as the Mary Star of the Sea Parish Fiesta celebrates its Diamond Jubilee July 21-23, making it one of the longest running annual events in San Pedro.

What San Pedrans know today as a weekend filled with carnival rides, great food, and family fun, began as a small barbeque fundraiser on July 20, 1947,

(310) 732-0036

Light Therapy with Cold Laser.

when Mary Star’s Monsignor George M. Scott organized a fundraiser to build their new church, currently located on Eighth Street.

Originally titled Barbeque and Fiesta, the inaugural one-night-only event was held at Royal Palms Grove and was strictly a barbecue with live music and dancing. There were no carnival rides or games, no raffle, and no Fiesta Queen. (That would begin the following year.) Still, the fundraiser was a huge success and has grown significantly through the years to become the annual three-day carnival it is today.

Since its beginning, the fiesta has been Mary Star Parish’s largest fundraising event. Proceeds raised help supWE

• Accelerates Healing: Light therapy increases blood flow. Energy from the light stimulates collagen, enzymes, DNA and RNA to facilitate healing.

• Pain relief: Light therapy has an inhibitory effect on peripheral nerves to decrease pain.

• Safe: Approved by FDA in 2002. This non-invasive treatment has no side effects. It can be used on sprains, strains, back pain, carpal tunnel, peripheral neuropathy, wounds, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and joint pain.

port the parish ministries and overall maintenance. In the past, the parish has also shared funds with Mary Star Elementary and Mary Star High School. This year, the parish hopes to meet their fundraising goals as they pull out all the stops for the Diamond Jubilee, including offering $20,000 in cash prizes through their famous raffle. Adding to the festivities, three candidates are vying to be crowned the Diamond Jubilee’s Fiesta Queen. Andrea Gonzalez, Emily Ramirez, and Ella Stone have been busy raising money through raffle tickets and bake sales for weeks. One of them will be awarded the crown on Sunday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. spt

The 75th Annual Mary Star of the Sea Parish Fiesta begins Friday, July 21, 5p to midnight and is open Saturday, July 22, noon to midnight and Sunday, July 23, noon to 10p. Admission is free. For more information on the event, including bingo, auditorium dinners, family day, raffle prizes, and more, visit marystar.org/fiesta.

For the complete list of Mary Star Fiesta Queens, visit sanpedrotoday. com.

This story includes additional reporting by Caitlyn Piercy.

ACCEPT MEDICARE & MOST PPO’S

S. Western Ave., #103, RPV | coast-physicaltherapy.com

ROYAL REUNION: Back row (l to r): Nicole Padilla, Annette Domicoli Mattera, Lucretia Buda Barbieri, Sandi Frka Badalamenti, Jennifer Bristol Green, Elena Daser Villareal; Front row (l to r): Ali Di Bernardo, Monica Baca, Nina Trutanich Hixon, Abigail Warner, Connie Calise Crvarich, Gina Aguilar, and Caitlyn Piercy. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

by Joshua Stecker

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

ASTHMA AND ALLERGY

SUFFERERS: Survive Peak Season with Help from HarborCHC

• Asthma symptoms include wheezing, coughing, a tight feeling in your chest, difficulty breathing, and/or an excess of mucus.

• Asthma can be triggered by dust, pollen, extreme temperatures, and physical activity.

• The only sure way to know if you have asthma is through a medical exam by a doctor.

• Seasonal allergy symptoms include sneezing; coughing; runny or stuffy nose; and/or itchy eyes, nose, mouth, or throat.

• Spring is the peak time of year for seasonal allergies, commonly called hay fever.

• The same triggers that aggravate seasonal allergies can also cause asthma symptoms.

Harbor Community Health Centers care providers offer the most advanced asthma and allergy treatments. Plus, you’ll get advice on how to avoid triggers, manage your symptoms, and feel better.

by Sanam Lamborn

As the temperatures rise this summer, I am less interested in hot meals and more inclined to consume cold ones. I am married to a man who loves and eats salads far more than I do, and consequently, we eat a lot of them from the many restaurants around town.

In San Pedro, it’s practically impossible not to mention the Sandwich Saloon’s Chinese chicken and Big Nick’s Forget About It salads due to their widespread popularity. But for this column, I will take you along for a culinary adventure to introduce you to filling salads that are very different from each other and will tingle your taste buds.

La Perla Tapatia Meat Market (210 N. Pacific Ave.) is probably the least likely place you’d think to find a salad, but stay with me. Amongst the usual Mexican food favorites on the menu board, a lonesome but mighty salad is named after San Pedro-born MMA fighter and regular customer Brian “T-City” Ortega.

A few years ago, owner Miguel Ruiz

made meal preps, which we purchased a few times. One day, when Ortega stopped by to pick up his order, he noticed the salad that Ruiz had made for himself. Intrigued by its appetizing looks, he asked for the same thing. As they say, the rest is history. Like most things that become internet famous, when Ortega shared a picture of this salad on his Instagram account, people started coming in and asking for the “Brian salad,” “Ortega salad,” and finally, the name that stuck, the “T-City salad,” which made it permanently onto the menu board.

Social media popularity aside, this salad is definitely worth trying. On a generous bed of spring mix lettuce lays just the right amount of cheese that melts from the heat of the freshly cooked meat of your choice placed on top. Then there are ribbons of shaved carrots along with round tomato and cucumber slices arranged on each side. The dressing on top is creamy with the perfect amount of spice that gives it a nice kick without being overpowering.

Slices of avocado finish off the salad. Although you have many meat choices, I highly recommend their carne asada because it is the best in town.

I have had a few salads from Sirinat Thai & Sushi Bar (1627 W. 25th St.), but their glass noodle salad hits the spot on a hot summer day. This Thai salad replaces my summer cravings for hot Asian noodle dishes, which I often order during the cooler months. This dish is made with thin glass noodles, iceberg lettuce, red onions sliced in half moons, quartered tomatoes, shredded carrots, ground chicken, and shrimp, and topped with cilantro and peanuts. The dressing is made with lime juice and chili paste. The spiciness is just right; once all mixed, it is a very satisfying and refreshing salad.

After a long rebuilding hiatus, the San Pedro Elks Lodge (1748 Cumbre Dr.) is back in operation and accepting memberships (required to enter the facility). The menu has been evolving since reopening, and one item that I find myself ordering often is their ahi

tuna salad. I love the combination of flavors, and it reminds me of the type of fresh seafood-based dishes you get in the Hawaiian Islands.

This salad is served in a squareshaped dish. In the middle of the plate, a piece of perfectly seared ahi tuna sits on a bed of curly leaf lettuce. Oblong cucumber slices, diced fresh mangos, sliced avocado, and seaweed salad individually adorn each corner of the plate. The wasabi soy dressing served on the side rounds things out for a delicious and refreshing salad. As a lover of seaweed salad, this unexpected addition is what really makes this salad stand out for me.

It’s also noteworthy to say that the view here is unbeatable. spt

Sanam Lamborn created the Eat in San Pedro Facebook group and Instagram account in April 2020 to entice people to patronize San Pedro’s eateries.

GREENS AND STUFF ( l to r): The T-City salad from La Perla Tapatia Meat Market, and Sirinat Thai & Sushi Bar's glass noodle salad. (photos: Sanam Lamborn)

INSIDE SAFE: MOVING AT THE SPEED OF TRUST

A ONE-DAY PUSH TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS

by Amber Sheikh

This month, I’m going to chat with you about a recent community program I had the chance to experience firsthand in action and share with you what it felt like to see a community align resources to make an immediate impact.

But first, how are you doing?

The more I do this work, the more I realize that if we don’t care for ourselves, we cannot care for anyone else. If we don’t take care of the things going on in our bodies, minds, and hearts, we cannot create space for others. So, how are you doing? How are you feeling these days? What does the pace and rhythm of life seem like? Are you doing okay?

How am I feeling? Thanks for asking. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, but hopeful. Being a business-owning, community-advocating mother of two kids with a very large village leads to a pretty constant state of overwhelm. Don’t worry. I’m okay. It’s a pretty full and great life.

Why am I hopeful, you ask? Two weeks ago, our area – the Harbor Area – hosted two Inside Safe events.

WHAT IS INSIDE SAFE?

It’s a one-day, all-hands-on-deck push to get the majority of our home-

less individuals inside. Safe. Additionally, this effort tries to move people inside together, at the same location(s), so they can stay in the community of people they’ve come to rely on. Even though all the moving parts came together during an action-focused day, it really was the culmination of years of relationship building — the intense day of work truly moved at the speed of trust.

I spent most of the first day with our unhoused neighbors, incredible service providers, advocates, and city departments. Supervisor Janice Hahn and Councilmember Tim McOsker, along with their staff, were there too. And not just there for the photo opportunities. They were in it with the rest of us, having the hard conversations and doling out tight hugs.

HOW DOES INSIDE SAFE WORK?

An entire motel was available to house people that day if they chose to move in. They could bring two bags of items with them (and had the option to utilize a local navigation center to store some additional items). In exchange for their own room and bathroom (and TV, this was a point of interest), they signed off to have their encampment area cleared and cleaned by the sanitation department. They then loaded a bus to their destination — a sparse yet comfortable hotel in Wilmington. Folks will stay there until they can find more permanent housing.

One of the most significant drawbacks for a few that chose not to go: their things. To participate in this program, you can’t bring a large tent of accumulated belongings with you. Imagine someone telling you they have a nicer home for you today, but you can only bring two bags. It would be a tough decision. And I’m sure you’re thinking, “But it’s a home, and they don’t have one.” Yes and no. Humans are wonderfully adaptable creatures. We make our homes where we are. So, for many, their decision felt like it would feel to you. Two large bags, the rest is cleared (read: trashed).

HOW DID IT GO?

Over two days, we brought in 68 individuals, 13 dogs, and 12 cats. That’s incredible! Along the way, we learned some lessons regarding doing this again. When the crew left the encampment that day, there were ten tents remaining.

The optimist in me knows that these types of wins compound. This day will lead to some other wins:

1.) With 68 people off the street, our street-based outreach teams can now focus on the remaining individuals with more strategy and care.

2.) For the 40 people now located in a designated room at one of the motels together, they have maintained their social system, and their service providers

can easily find them for appointments and service provision.

3.) Sixty-eight people are safer. They have three meals daily, a bathroom, a bed, and a door they can lock. They have 24/7 security. This is my favorite outcome.

Every month, we meet here, in this space, to share stories about the experiences we have in our community and how we navigate life’s challenges — ours and others. Participating in efforts like Inside Safe keeps me hopeful because I know that one day of action and solutions will lead to others.

Thanks for spending time with me this month. I’ll be back next month to share more community stories. spt

Amber Sheikh is a San Pedro resident, mother of two, community advocate, and owner of Sheikh/ Impact, a nonprofit consulting firm. She has nearly two decades of experience working in and with organizations solving homelessness and income inequality.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE: The village came together to help get those sleeping in tents inside and safe. Pictured (l to r): Amber Sheikh, George Magallanes (Deputy Director, Homeless Services Coordinator for Councilman Tim McOsker), Desi Sarcona (Harbor Area Field Rep for Councilman Tim McOsker), and Pastor Lisa Williams. (photo: Amber Sheikh)

MINIMALISM: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

THE ART AND PRACTICE OF MICHAEL DAVIS

by Linda Grimes

of the sea, and he designed a series of pieces as a fountain, viewable as you exit the parking lot to the main lobby.

of blinding light.

epitomizes the Robert Frost

“Any work of art must first of all tell a story.” Recently, I sat down with Davis amidst his show at the Palos Verdes Art Center to discuss his work and influences. He gave me a whole new appreciation and understanding of his serious, thorough dedication to the research he conducts to create his work and to inform his art practice.

During our conversation, I also realized he has been very involved with public art projects and has much to teach us about this aspect of his creativity and activism. In a whimsical collaboration with Eugene Daub, they created a series called “Hats,” located in the Lincoln Park Sculpture Garden in Burbank. He also worked on redesigning Ventura’s California Street Bridge project in 2019. More of his public art can be seen by visiting mad-art.com/ public-art.

If you’ve visited the Topaz Building at 222 W. 6th Street, you have experienced his artistry. Davis was selected in an open competition to work with the architect to design the facade of the building. The top of the building has a wonderful dome representing the pearl

Davis and his wife, Susan (who serves on the board of Angels Gate Cultural Center), moved to San Pedro in 1976, seeking affordable studio space in the downtown area. They had two storefronts on 7th Street and built them out as live/work spaces. The entire block was sold within a year, so they bought a home, built a studio, and stayed to raise their daughters.

Davis was always an artist from as far back as he could remember. His mother was an artist in the WPA program, exposing him to L.A. art galleries early on. Downey High School’s fantastic art teacher, Ray White, gave him the knowledge and tools to create and exhibit work in their campus gallery, organized by his graduating class. Although he started CSUF as a pre-med student, he quickly changed his focus to be an art major.

As an insatiably curious artist, Davis’ inspiration is grounded in examining the culture around him — media, science, history, symbology, and politics. Currently, he is exploring perception and meaning using cultural references to accompany 3D images of global mining operations. Even though the concepts are troubling and impactful, he makes images, luring you in with the sublime through paint, pattern, and the human touch.

The Cold War was the political and social touchstone of his youth. At that time, a popular show on television, I Led Three Lives, had a protagonist, an ordinary family man, who held a secret position as an FBI agent. Working undercover as a communist cell operative, this character glamorized the stark polarities of our conflicted times. In school, he was taught Cold War political objectives, The Capitalist Manifesto, and Christian ideology. The Cuban Missile Crisis defined the ‘60s. For weeks, it seemed the world stood on edge. In school, some of you may remember drills in response to a nuclear attack to “duck and cover” at the flash

His artist statement for the PVAC show explains, “While navigating Landsat records of Earth’s land surfaces from space, I discovered large areas of disturbed landscapes. There were immense open pit mines at numerous locations worldwide, many of which were Rare Earth mines or REEs.

Each Rare Earth artwork includes an archival image of a specific mine rendered in classic 3D (anaglyph) offregistration referencing mid-century exuberant optimism, geo-political history, cultural signifiers, symbolic design patterns, and phenomena.

They are built from a collection of found materials, fabrics, wallpapers, digital imagery, paint, and precious metals. The digital Landsat image is juxtaposed to the other compositional elements to create a disruptive collage/painting of spacial contradictions, surface/depth, and multiple cultural interpretations.”

Palos Verdes Art Center/Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Education is presenting Michael Davis: Perception, on view from May 5 through July 8. The art includes works presented to be viewed with 3D glasses provided by PVAC (5504 Crestridge Rd., Rancho Palos Verdes).

Davis' work will also be in an upcoming exhibition opening on October 18 at Coastline College in Newport Beach, and he is working on a project for the Laguna Art Museum. spt

For more info on Michael Davis, visit mad-art.com.

Linda Grimes is a retired sales and marketing geek with a passion for art, design, and creative placemaking. She serves as the executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District and can be reached at 55lindagrimes@gmail.com.

For more info, visit SanPedroWaterfrontArtsDistrict. com.

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”

– Aristotle

Michael Davis

quote:

Artist Michael Davis. (photo: mad-art.com)

THE EDGE OF APOCALYPSE

IS TECH TURNING US INTO UNFEELING BEINGS?

by Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT

Hundreds of articles discuss if ChatGPT and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is the end of our civilization. Apple just launched their Vision Pro, the first generation of spatial computing, and theoretical physicists like Michio Kaku are discussing the future of immortality and virtual existence as our inevitable destination. Integration of new technology and innovation has always felt terrifying, yet historically, humans have utilized these tools without perishing. One trend, however, that this technological advancement has spread into popular culture faster than its development, has to do with altering norms of engagement and emotional bandwidth of human-to-human interactions. In essence, we are becoming different, not because robots are taking over our jobs, but because we no longer engage with each other as we used to. This trend toward thwarted relational capacity might lead us to the precipice of humanity’s inevitable demise before computers learn to control us.

Twenty or so years ago, before we learned to hide behind a computer screen, we only engaged in person. The essence of human nature was that we were intrinsically relational beings, and our interactions were visceral. If we offend another, we see their facial expressions change, hear their tone of voice shift and the cadence of speech alter, our mirror neurons activate, and our bodies resonate with the other person. Spending real time with someone engaging provides an exhilarating emotional experience. We laugh and have heated discussions. We raise our voice and our body temperature goes up. Then we calibrate and repair collectively. This process is a tremendous exchange of nonverbal sensory energy. Before we could hide behind avatars and fake names, we were still tribal beings accountable to one another. When we engage authentically, we trigger powerful emotions. We charge and drain each other with energy, giving us a sense of attunement to our fellow humans. A tribal human is relational; a digital human, less so.

We relentlessly strive toward a more tolerant and just society. In many ways, we have reached some of those goals (my children have access and are more understanding of things than I even

had the language for at their age). Yet we have also become emotionally more disconnected from one another. This is evident in many aspects of our social functioning, especially youth culture. Teenagers opt for virtual interactions over in person relationships. They are less interested in individuating to explore their worlds because they are exploring online. This generation has less sex than any other, yet they are more inundated with sexual content than ever before. We live in a culture of inauthenticity, over-labeling, and emotional blunting. Half of the time, we talk to bots without even knowing it, altering our social fabric.

In a world where everything can be and is for sale, we have a world of overpackaged lies. The self-help industry itself is an overpackaged lie. Endless memes that quote inner peace and define complex concepts in simplified sentences, TikTok gurus that teach you relationship tricks in less than a minute, and books that claim to fix your childhood trauma in 10 steps. We have words for every uncomfortable experience and every situation. We have a generation of over-therapized individuals who have been taught how to label but not how to connect.

When a feeling becomes a thought, it is no longer a feeling. Emotions versus thoughts are processed by different areas in the brain; thus, they are also processed at different speeds. When we prematurely label an emotional experience, we dampen the process. The result is an exchange of labels without meaning. We do not derive meaning from a method of rational computation; it is distilled from emotion, hence, the difference between a robot and a human. In a fast-paced digital world, however, there is less time to process a tremendous volume of input emotionally. And this very fact is the precipice of human extinction. We are slowly becoming unfeeling beings. However, we cannot distinguish meaning from meaningless, and a meaningless world is no world at all.

For the sake of our survival, do not strive for fake inner peace — there is no peace here. Your every cell is fighting, so get mad when things are wrong, do not look for apathy. Learn to sit in the discomfort of your own skin. Do not strive to be safe, for it is dangerous to live. spt

Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local marriage and family therapist. For more info, visit sophiemft.com.

OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN

by Eddie McKenna

An old Chinese proverb says: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

This has always deeply resonated with me because it reminds us that it’s never too late to begin. As a fitness coach, I often encounter individuals who believe they can’t start their fitness journey due to a myriad of reasons: thinking it’s too late, feeling overweight, lacking strength, doubting their capabilities, considering themselves too old, feeling scared, or thinking, “Why start now when I’ve never done it before?”

One of the people who truly stands out is my good friend, Bill. Considering his age and frailty, he believed it was too late for him. When we first crossed paths, Bill was 76 years old. His daughter, who had been training with me for a decade, approached me one day with a heartfelt plea: “Please, train my dad. If you don’t help him, he won’t make it.” She wasn’t asking; she told me I had to train her father. I share a special bond with her, almost like a sister, and I knew this was an important task. Bill’s daughters even pooled their resources to pay for his training because he would never invest in himself.

Bill had never exercised in his life. When we first met, I asked him to lie on the ground. He looked at me bewildered and asked, “You’re joking, right?” I assured him I wasn’t, and so began his challenging journey of getting down on the floor. It took him around 13 minutes to accomplish this feat, and by the end, he was drenched in sweat. When he finally rose to his feet, he asked if we were done. I couldn’t help but laugh. I told Bill, “I have you for another 47 minutes, and I won’t let you off the hook even a second early. I promised your daughter I’d whip you into shape.” And that marked the beginning of our friendship.

For three years, I trained Bill until he

passed away. His daughter will tell you he spent three additional years with us because he started caring for himself. All Bill had ever done was work and provide for his family. He was 76 when he began training with me and worked full-time on the docks. After a tiring and exhausting day, he would show up at the gym, claiming he didn’t want to be there. But he always showed up. I trained Bill for 156 sessions, and every single time, he uttered the words, “I don’t want to be here.” There’s something powerful about that statement and the willpower behind it.

Most people would say those words and remain on their couch, but not Bill. He knew he had to be at the gym. He knew it would benefit him, and he knew his family wanted him around for longer. So, he didn’t have a choice — he went to the gym every week for three years without missing a single week. Eventually, he became so committed that he would reach out to me, ensuring he secured a time slot for his workout. Here’s another saying I love: “It’s never too late to teach an old dog a new trick.” Bill was a living testament to that.

Imagine you’re 76 years old, walking into a CrossFit gym, ready to meet your personal trainer, knowing full well that the workout awaiting you will test your limits for a solid 60 minutes. Don’t get me wrong — the entire session wasn’t grueling. In fact, we shared plenty of laughter, and Bill had a blast getting to know everyone. But let me tell you, it took some serious guts for him to show up and embark on this journey.

This story holds a valuable lesson: It’s never too late to prioritize your well-being, regardless of where you find yourself in life.

It requires courage to take that initial step, to commit to taking back your health. Bill may have started later than most, but in the end, he proved that beginning was far better than not starting at all. spt

Eddie McKenna is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.

KEEPING IT LOCAL & COASTAL INTRODUCING HH COASTAL REAL ESTATE

by Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac

Our first column for San Pedro Today was published exactly five years ago, and what an amazing journey it has been. At no point did either of us ever envision becoming writers for a local publication, but we are sure happy we did.

The inception began with a vision of adding another important topic to this magazine: local real estate. Our area is unique in its architecture, history, style, neighborhoods, and pricing, so we felt this deserved to be featured in its own way. Looking back at close to 30 columns, we have worked diligently to provide current and meaningful real estate information to our local readers. It’s been truly gratifying to receive emails or words of encouragement from so many of you who have appreciated the various topics we have published. We hope you have found this as beneficial as we have in researching and sharing our insights over the years.

San Pedro Today is unique and truly one of a kind. The days of local news seem few and far between, but that’s what makes our town different. We are prideful. We are connected. We are supportive. We are a true melting pot of ideas, cultures, visions, and more specifically, local business owners. One of the most common things we hear from people considering moving to our area is how much they admire the “small-town feel” of our shops and restaurants. The saying “shop local” perfectly matches San Pedro and our peninsula. With that in mind, when the opportunity presents itself, please remember to support our local small businesses. These businesses make up our community, provide jobs to our residents, and support our local economy. Keeping a magazine like this thriving can only be possible by patronizing the local businesses that spend money to advertise regularly.

In keeping with the “shop local”

theme, the two of us recently decided to double down on our local community. We’re excited to announce the formation of HH Coastal Real Estate, our own independent real estate brokerage. After over 18 years with a national franchise, Keller Williams Realty, a long-term vision of creating our own company and expanding our successful local brand has become a reality.

The two of us are both born and reside in this town. We actually met playing adult basketball at our local gym, Bogdanovich Park. Between the elbows and battling for rebounds, we realized we had many similarities in common, but most importantly, our core business values and beliefs. This led to a partnership in 2018, which has allowed us to continue to push one another and close over 400 combined sales throughout our careers. Over the last five years, nearly 85 percent of our business has come from past clients or referrals. We believe our team’s success can be attributed to our age difference, vast experiences, ties to the local community, different marketing approaches, and extensive network.

What does this independent brokerage mean to our clients? A continued commitment to top-shelf service, professionalism, integrity, and innovative solutions. We view ourselves as local ambassadors and huge advocates of our beautiful coastline, ocean views, great neighborhoods, redevelopment, and opportunities this area offers. Thank you for joining us as we embark on this new journey.

We look forward to continuing to set the highest standards in the real estate industry for years to come. If you have any ideas or real estate-related topics you’d like us to explore, do not hesitate to contact us. spt

Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are co-owners of HH Coastal Real Estate, an independent local brokerage. For more info, visit hhcoastal.com.

LA FLEET WEEK

WELCOME PARTY

ON THURSDAY, MAY 25, Downtown San Pedro was decorated in red, white, and blue as our town rolled out the welcome mat for the LA Fleet Week 2023 Welcome Party. Service men and women partied with locals and danced the night away to tunes from Street Swing Productions, The Destroyers, and Mid Life Crisis. Partygoers also enjoyed food from our local restaurants, a beer and wine garden, and dessert food trucks. (photos: John Mattera Photography)

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 4, hundreds of people packed Harbor Blvd. wearing green, white, red, and their best running/walking shoes to run in the Italy Run LA 5k, presented by the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association (LILAA). Runners celebrated this year’s Festa della Repubblica while experiencing a unique tour of San Pedro’s waterfront. All participants received a race shirt, finisher’s medal, post-race refreshments, and a truly unforgettable race experience. (photos: John Mattera Photography)

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The Vincent Thomas Bridge under construction in 1963. (photo: courtesy San Pedro Bay Historical Society)