San Pedro Today - July 2021

JULY 2021

JULY EVENTS | OUTRIGGER CANOE CLUB | UNIQUE FINDS AT OUR LOCAL BUTCHER SHOPS

CHAMPS! MARY STAR GIRLS BASKETBALL BRINGS HOME THE HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST-EVER CIF CHAMPIONSHIP

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JULY 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 3

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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I’m writing this column just a few hours before we’re supposed to go to print. While I’m known in some circles to be an infamous procrastinator, this is not something I usually do. We had to hold production on the magazine until the last minute because we weren’t sure which direction this month’s cover story would take.

First off, congratulations to Mary Star High School’s girls basketball team on their historic win, earning the 70-year-old Catholic school their first-ever CIF championship for any sport. The significance of that win alone was reason enough to have them as our cover story this month. But in the week leading up to going to print, the team kept winning. They ended up winning the first two rounds of the CIF SoCal Regional basketball playoffs and ended up in the championship game, which is the night I’m writing this. The night we’re supposed to go to print.

Unfortunately, the team lost to Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) in the championship game. So instead of prepping an “undefeated” cover touting a 23-0

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season, they wind up 22-1, but they are still the CIF Southern Section Division 4-AA champs and brought the school their first-ever CIF sports title, which is impressive and historic.

Also, earlier today, while we were focused on Mary Star, over at San Pedro High School, their boys varsity baseball team won the City Section Open Division baseball championship, capturing their first City upper division title since 1992.

We would’ve loved to have been able to fit both sports stories in this issue, but printer deadlines wait for no one, and we just didn’t have the time and resources to include both.

But to those interested, we plan on featuring the SPHS baseball team in next month’s issue to celebrate their championship win, as well. (I’m mainly writing this so I won’t get a phone call from my Aunt Sharon asking me this question. Don’t worry, we are!)

Congrats to both teams (and schools) on their amazing seasons, especially during one of the most trying school years of their lives. All of you have made San Pedro proud. spt Joshua Stecker is publisher/editorin-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

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JULY 2021

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVERTISING:

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION

Melissa Hay (310) 707-3872 | melissa@sanpedrotoday.com

Joshua J. Stecker Lori Garrett

Joseph A. Castañeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Sanam Lamborn, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Angela Romero, Sophie Schoenfeld, Jamaal K. Street, Lee Williams

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

General Inquiries: ads@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. 25,000 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 2009-2021, Empire22 Media LLC.

VOLUME 13 | NUMBER 6 ON THE COVER: CHAMPS: Mary Star High School girls basketball head coach, Victor Tuberosi, raises the CIF-SS Div. 4-AA championship plaque. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JULY 2021

JULY 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 7

EVENTS

July 2-11 (Fri-Sun) - TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES FAIR TRADE RUG EVENT at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (Warehouse 10, 112 E. 22nd St.), Noon - 6 p.m. Ten Thousand Villages of San Pedro will host a special fair-trade rug event featuring a wide array of hand-knotted rugs, from intricate florals to hand-spun wool natural dye tribals in sizes from 2’x3’ to 10’x14’. All rugs are produced by Bunyaad, a fair-trade rug company dedicated to producing high quality handcrafted rugs, all made by fairly paid adult artisans in Pakistan. By working with artisans in their homes, increasing employment opportunities for women, and paying a living wage, Bunyaad is making life-altering changes for many families across Pakistan. The result is a win-win: Artisans in Pakistan earn a living wage and North American consumers get an excellent quality rug with a humanitarian mission behind it. For more info, visit bunyaad.com/event/rug-event-sanpedro.

JULY 2021 July 16-18, 23-25, August 13-15, 20-22 (Fri-Sun) - SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar), Fridays: 8p, Saturdays: 8p, Sundays: 7p. Set against a breathtaking ocean backdrop, San Pedro’s beloved annual tradition returns this summer with live, in-person, outdoor performances. This year’s productions will be Richard III (Friday, Saturday, Sunday — July 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25) and Love’s Labour Lost (Friday, Saturday, Sunday — Aug 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22), with Friday and Saturday performances starting at 8p and Sunday performances starting at 7p. Admission is FREE, and tickets are not required. Grab a blanket and some snacks (and perhaps a sweatshirt for those cool ocean breezes) and enjoy the scenic views while taking in a show with family and friends. To follow along with the June 15th L.A. County Health Department guidelines, SBTS is asking unvaccinated individuals to wear masks while on the premises. For more info, visit shakespearebythesea.org.

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4 (Sun) – 70th ANNUAL JOHN OLGUIN 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR at Cabrillo Beach (3800 Stephen M. White Dr.), 9p.

The Cabrillo Beach Boosters have announced the return of the John Olguin 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular to Cabrillo Beach this year!

Since 2005, the Boosters have carried the torch and kept the tradition of the annual fireworks show alive. This year’s show is promising to be their best one yet.

Last year’s pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 fireworks show and adversely impacted the Cabrillo Beach Boosters’ fundraising efforts. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to the nonprofit to help them continue this tradition for years to come, you can send a check to: Cabrillo Beach Boosters, 3800 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, CA 90731.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up: Visit gofundme.com and search “Cabrillo Beach Boosters.”

17 (Sat) - PROVIDENCE LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY SAN PEDRO AUXILIARY FUNDRAISER at Happy Diner (1931 N. Gaffey St.), 8a-4p.

Mention the hospital fundraiser and a percentage of the proceeds will benefit The Auxiliary Scholarship Fund. spt

EVENTS ARE BACK!

In-person events have returned!

We're accepting FREE event listings now through Sept. 30, 2021. (After that, there's a small listing fee.) Email event info to events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Deadline for the August 2021 issue is Friday, July 16. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.

JULY 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9

VOICES

ON THE WATER WITH THE OUTRIGGER CANOE CLUB An outrigger from Makaha Outrigger Canoe Hui.

by Jennifer Marquez

(photo: Christine K. Le)

On a cloudy Sunday morning, I joined the San Pedrobased outrigger group — Makaha Outrigger Canoe Hui — for practice. While I own my kayak and have been dragon boating several times, I have never been on an outrigger. Nevertheless, outriggers have been part of Hawaiian tradition for centuries. An outrigger boat is a thin canoe with a lateral support float called an outrigger fastened to one or both sides of the boat.

Another newbie and I received a brief lesson on the land about staying in unison as we paddled and the possibility of a huli (capsizing). A huli does not happen that often, according to members of the team. I know because I asked. We also learned the commands coming from the person in seat one (at the top of the canoe),

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including “hut, hut, ho,” the command to paddle on the opposite side.

We launched two outriggers from the Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports Center. Getting into the thin canoe was easier than I imagined.

I only got my feet wet as I walked through thick eelgrass in the water. No sandals are allowed on the boat, so I was barefoot. The coach had an aloha vibe, and I was happy I was on the outrigger with her sitting behind me. I am sure that was no accident, as I was the least experienced person there. As we glided over the calm waters towards the marina, her soothing voice coached me on breath and form.

Terry Liegey, a team member, says she likes the outrigger because it gets her in nature, and she enjoys seeing the dolphins and stingrays. “It is so peaceful and like being close to God. It is gorgeous and very therapeutic,” she shares.

Makaha Outrigger Canoe Hui, a nonprofit agency, was formed in 2018.

Practices are held every Thursday at 6

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p.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m. Interested paddlers can attend two practices at no cost to see if they would like to join the team, which competes up and down the coast. Being a member of the San Pedro outrigger team is part of a bigger community connected to other outrigger groups up and down the coast through competitions.

“I got involved because I love Hawaii and the feeling of being out on the water,” states Christine K. Le, a member of the San Pedro outrigger group. “I live in Torrance and wanted an excuse to come to San Pedro. I fell in love with San Pedro.”

The boat lifts as paddlers work together to propel the boat through the water. The sound of the boat gliding through the water by the force of everybody working together is magical. The practice lasted two hours, my arms got a good workout, and I met some friendly people. It was a quiet morning on the water, and although not crowded, we passed people on paddle-

boards, kayaks, and boats enjoying the San Pedro ocean on a Sunday morning.

The racing season is March to October, but you do not have to race to be part of the team. Typically, participants don’t race until their second year with the team. If you decide to join the team, the cost is $100 for the season, with practices on Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m. There is flexibility with the practices if you can’t make all of them. There will be a children’s team forming if there is interest from the community.

To learn more, visit makahaoutriggercanoehui.com, email makahaoutrigger@gmail.com, or visit them on Instagram @ makahaoutrigger. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.

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A year ago, on July 5, I had my workout clothes all set out that evening for the next day’s early morning workout.

It was a long July 4th weekend, so the workout was needed. At about 9:30 p.m., I felt a fever coming on and told my gym partner I was going to miss the morning workout.

The next day, after consulting with my doctor, I was scheduled for a COVID-19 test that Wednesday. The results would not come for 7-10 days, so I decided to take another test in Redondo Beach that Friday, along with my family. Both my wife and I tested positive, and my boys tested negative. It was time to isolate and notify folks we had encountered over the holiday weekend.

After all that was done, we were on lockdown until my fever passed some two weeks later, with another week to gain my strength back. My wife was asymptomatic. The time in isolation while experiencing the shutdowns makes me appreciate our freedoms here in the United States even more.

What will always be questioned, though, were the inconsistencies in the approach to the lockdown across the country, methods used to fight the pandemic, the prioritization of the initial vaccine rollout, and the controversy over the approach of enticing citizens to do so today. However, throughout the pandemic, we saw the ability to use our “freedom of speech” to voice our opinions from many sides of the pandemic.

For example, many people, including myself, were speaking out against the shutting down of small businesses while the big box stores flourished. Many encouraged peaceful protests, while others limited worship. Political leaders who were telling us what precautions to take to avoid catching the virus were called out for speaking at protests without masks, eating at high-end restaurants, or going to the hair salon, while we were told to isolate at home. These examples of inconsistencies, mixed messages, and double standards were identified through the use of freedom of speech.

We must never allow our ability of freedom of speech to be silenced, and

we must never silence this freedom toward those with who we disagree.

What we need to get back to is respectful debate rather than the headline debates we are in today. Think about it — How many times have you listened to or been involved in a debate only to have the debate based on headline talking points? All of us should dig deeper, learn more about the issues, frame our own opinions, and learn from those we disagree with and they from you. In the end, arrive together at a common solution.

The Fourth of July is a celebration of the great experiment that is the United States of America. There is no other place like it on earth. People from across the globe fight to come here for the very freedoms and opportunities they desire but do not receive in their country. Yes, the United States is not without flaws, and our history is not without sin, but our future is always brighter than the past. The threat to our freedoms is posed when there is a push to stop the very freedoms that were fought for over the centuries before us.

And we risk repeating the sins throughout our history when we eliminate them from our learning.

The opportunity to get better and stronger as a nation is to learn from the struggles, opportunities, and successes from all corners and people from all backgrounds of this great nation, not supporting a push to divide, trivialize, or minimize them. We must continue to push for an understanding of our failures because success is based on failure. We must continue to speak out for equality, opportunity, and truth from those in power and from each other. We must recognize that respect is earned, and trust is gained, not just given.

Finally, silencing those who have a different perspective is the same as being silenced because of your perspective.

Instead, celebrate each other for our different perspectives and respect each other because of them, and trust that we are one nation under God. Happy Fourth of July! spt Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo.com.

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VOICES

A TROUBLED BRIDGE OVER WATERS

by Steve Marconi We’re hearing a lot about “infrastructure” these days, and if you live in San Pedro, nothing says infrastructure like the roads leading to and from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Now that the Heim Bridge connecting Wilmington and Terminal Island has been replaced by an expanded State Route 47 and the beautiful new bridge connecting Terminal Island to Long Beach has been completed, it’s only natural to cast a wary eye at the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The Long Beach project brought horrific delays and detours for thousands of commuters, not to mention untold thousands of semitrailer drivers hauling containers to and from the twin ports, and it’s hard to believe that the same scenario can be avoided in San Pedro’s near future. The Desmond was not only outdated, but it was also unsafe, and it was five years younger than the VTB, which opened in 1963.

The prospect of replacing the VTB with a bridge able to meet the needs of the nation’s largest harbor complex (at least four lanes each way) is a daunting one. Still, anyone using the bridge today knows the status quo has become untenable — unless you happen to work for Caltrans, which is in charge of that

vital span over the Main Channel.

You wouldn’t think that you’d need a degree in traffic engineering to know that the VTB is wholly inadequate for handling today’s transportation requirements, but you’d be wrong. At least, that was the impression I received when I contacted a Caltrans official in response to an article that said the VTB had reached “capacity” in 2010.

Asked to explain that, the anonymous Caltrans emailer wrote, “Vincent Thomas Bridge has two lanes in each direction and based on the latest available traffic volume data, the mainline (or ‘through lanes’) capacity is able to handle the traffic demand.”

In the next sentence, however, Caltrans says, “Currently, at the west end of Vincent Thomas Bridge (at the interchange of State Route 47 at Harbor Boulevard), traffic routinely backs up on both off-ramps during peak periods, and this condition is expected to worsen with projected growth.” The “peak periods” of this nightmare situation are roughly all day — and does that “growth” even take into account what weekends will be like when the new San Pedro Fish Market opens at that very intersection?

The port and city are working on a project “to reconfigure the interchange to improve safety and operation for vehicles exiting the highway… expected to go out to bid in 2022.” It sounds like traffic headaches will be continuing for

some time.

The problem with all of the Terminal Island bridges is that they were built in the pre-container era. In other words, they weren’t built to handle a constant stream of 18-wheelers hauling 40-foot containers to and from terminals. And even though the Desmond and VTB could handle those heavy loads, no one envisioned the day when two lanes each way would simply not be sufficient.

Caltrans’ most recent traffic figures (2018) show 53,000 vehicles a day at the west end of VTB. The total number of trucks was 4,664, 8.8 percent of the total traffic, and of that total, only 1,910 were trucks with five or more axles.

One might think, well, that’s not too bad, but one of my all-time favorite quotes remains, “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.” The ports have been setting records nearly every month for numbers of containers moved, so we know that the 2018 numbers have dramatically increased. But even at the 2018 rate, the numbers are misleading because how often are both lanes going in each direction open? Because of the abuse the bridge has taken for so many years at “capacity,” maintenance is nearly continual. That means on a twolane bridge, one lane is closed, and it’s always at those “peak hours.” And that doesn’t figure in the way-too-frequent accident or simple breakdown of an 18-wheeler. With those semis crawling up the bridge at 10 mph, traffic backs

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up for miles. Even with both lanes open, traffic often bottlenecks because no one enforces the rule of slower traffic (read trucks) staying in the far right lane.

Finally, the question certainly on the mind of every commuter (or at least mine) when the “Lane Closed Ahead” signs are up at “peak hours” is why doesn’t Caltrans do its maintenance/ repair work in the off-hours?

The response from Caltrans is, “Our highway workers are most at risk when traffic speeds are the highest. This would be the hours of darkness. We do our best to ensure all our lane closures are posted to Waze and the other apps to help minimize the impact to traffic. We are committed to keeping all our bridges — including the Vincent Thomas Bridge — open, safe, and beautiful for the public.”

Is Caltrans saying that nightside longies drive too fast?

The reality on the ground is that posting closures don’t help because there are no good alternates. For instance, if you live in San Pedro and can’t make it over the bridge, the only workaround is Anaheim to State Route 47. In other words, a 10-minute trip turns into a 20-minute trip — if you don’t run into any trains along the way.

Trains. Don’t get me started. spt

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VOICES

THANK YOU, SAN PEDRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

by Lee Williams

the chamber’s role in the community in a time when so many chambers of commerce have had to close. Elise centralized resources for local businesses to get loans, health information, legal advice, and tools to move their operations online. John Bagakis said at the beginning of the pandemic, “I refuse to see a single San Pedro restaurant fail.”

Elise Swanson is responsible for helping many restaurants, nonprofits, and small businesses survive economic collapse during these tough times.

Elise is amazing at recruiting resources to San Pedro though her other roles as well. She serves as chair of the South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce and through BizFed, she is co-chair of the Small Business, Labor & Employment. Elise strongly advocates at city council and the County Board of Supervisors meetings. I remember us leaving a quality-of-life meeting where we made a list of solutions for the homeless encampment at the post office. We immediately walked over to our congresswoman’s office to put our ideas into action. Elise stayed on task week after week and month after month until we got what we needed. Her tireless efforts often go unrecognized, and I want to thank her for her indomitable spirit.

We have a number of board members and committee chairs at the chamber

Serving as board chair of the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has been a highlight to my life here in San Pedro. I am honored, grateful, and humbled by the opportunity.

However, the timing couldn’t be better for my friend and colleague John Bagakis to step into the role and expand his positive impacts on our community.

John is dedicated to San Pedro, from expanding arts and events to advocating for union labor and a commonsense approach to development. John currently serves the community as vice chair of the chamber, vice chair of Encore Theatre Group, Harbor Area planning commissioner, a member of the board of directors of Little Italy of Los Angeles, and San Pedro’s second favorite honorary mayor. As the general manager of Big Nick’s Pizza, John has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for San Pedro charities and nonprofits and was one of the first to feed essential workers during the pandemic.

As much recognition as one gets as the board chair, everyone knows the real work gets done by President and CEO Elise Swanson. She has elevated

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who inspire us as well. Tim McOsker was the board chair before me, so I was worried if I could fill his shoes. The answer was clear from the beginning — not even close. Tim is the best. He is running for Council District 15 right now, because being president of the PBID and being on the boards of the chamber, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, and the Bridge Cities Alliance, all while being CEO of AltaSea — the largest potential job creator and Blue Economy incubator we have in San Pedro — isn’t enough. Tim is responsible for so many things, including the outdoor restaurant platforms we now have in San Pedro.

Few people know how hard he had to fight for this, along with Joe Buscaino’s office. They were able to help San Pedro thrive during the pandemic and laid the groundwork for other cities to follow.

Ryan Blaney, the business and intellectual property attorney of Bolimini International, and Farmers Insurance Agent Nick Warnock worked together to create Breakfast with the Chamber, now one of the best networking groups in the South Bay. Bruce Heyman led members outreach during the pandemic to check on our members and see how we could help. His efforts actually increased our membership while other organizations were losing members. The chamber suffered financially, just like everyone else. Ross O’Brien, CPA at Servatius, O’Brien & Fong, LLP, serves as treasurer of the chamber. His bean counting, cost cutting, and sense of humor have been important contributions in keeping this organization afloat.

Icons in our community — Yolanda Regalado, Sirens Java & Tea; Mona Sutton, the Omelette & Waffle Shop; Liz Schindler-Johnson, Grand Vision Foundation; Mandy Barton, The Chori-Man; and Pam Botis, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club — have kept the chamber focused on the needs of our small businesses and nonprofits. Their contributions and perspectives really help guide us forward in a positive and long-lasting way.

The importance of the Port of L.A. to our local economy cannot be overstated. Board members Augie Bezmalinovich and Mike Galvin keep us informed, take the hard questions, and listen to feedback from the business community.

These two have opened the door to new opportunities for San Pedro in terms of jobs, entertainment, and economic development. Much of the feedback for the port comes from visionary Ann Carpenter. She is the chief innovation officer for CD15. Ann advocates for the high paying, Blue Economy jobs for San Pedro, along with resources for San Pedro that will help us thrive as a community.

Erica Thorne from the DoubleTree

by Hilton will be our next vice chair.

She and John will work closely to bring back our favorite events, like the Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade, as well as positioning us to make the most of the tourist dollars coming back to San Pedro. As a Discover L.A. ambassador, the San Pedro Chamber is working hard to speed the recovery from tourism. Long time members Olga Chavez of Marathon Petroleum, Ken Dami of Phillips 66, Denise Eastburn of Providence Little Company of Mary, Moises Figueroa of SA Recycling, Ryan Guthrie of Holland Partner Group, Lauren Johnson from Jerico Development, and Dan Salas of Harbor Breeze Cruises represent major Harbor Area employers and are major charitable donors to the businesses and nonprofits that keep this town running.

Lastly, I would like to thank Charuni Patibanda and Melveen Stevenson who moved away and continue to stay connected. Big love and so much respect to the men and women who continue to contribute to San Pedro in deep and significant ways. Thank you for allowing me to serve alongside you. spt Lee Williams is board chair of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and leads The Williams Group at Keller Williams PV Realty. He can be reached at leewilliams@kw.com.

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JULY 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 17

CHAMPS! MARY STAR GIRLS BASKETBALL BRINGS HOME THE HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST-EVER CIF CHAMPIONSHIP

by Jamaal K. Street

Making History: Mary Star High School Girls Basketball CIF-SS Div. 4AA Champions: (back row l to r) Assistant Nick Fiamengo, Madison Watts, Eriella Afewerki, Assistant Coach Anthony Camacho, Brittney Zelaya, Head Coach Victor Tuberosi, Paula Serrano, Samantha Peralta, Assistant Rebecca Marin; (front row l to r) Amy Duarte, Andrea Lopez, Cristina Camacho, Isabella Serrano, Bella Marconi, Kaitlyn Oasay. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

They were deemed too small — not just the team but the entire high school.

No one outside of this proud town of San Pedro even dared to think something like this would ever happen. By virtue of a hard-fought 54-50 victory over visiting Agoura of Agoura Hills, this girls basketball team of Stars accomplished something that no other team in the school’s 70-year history had ever done before: On Thursday, June 10, 2021, Mary Star of the Sea High School captured its first-ever CIF-Southern Section Division 4-AA sports championship.

Seven past sports teams at the high school tried but ended up as the runnerup. However, this year’s girls varsity basketball team was special, and they were determined to make this season count.

Only two words can describe this championship: “Unexplainable and 18 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JULY 2021

amazing!” says Mary Star senior guard Kaitlyn Oasay.

Mary Star (21-0 overall) had their skeptics from the start of the 2021 spring season, but the Stars rolled through the Santa Fe League, repeating as league champions, with little to no problem at all. In the postseason, the Taper Avenue-based Catholic high school, with an enrollment of exactly 500 students, defeated five schools with a combined enrollment of 8,654.

The Stars trailed the majority of the first half of the championship game, even falling behind 7-0 in the game’s opening minutes, but they never backed down against an Agoura team that had no player smaller than 5’7” and were stacked with height advantages in nearly every position. All it took was their calling card — that was also their rallying cry all season — to guide them, and that is defense.

“We knew they had the advantages, but our energy on the defensive side is like [no] other,” Mary Star senior guard Cristina Camacho says. “Every single one of us played our hearts out on that court in which we were able to hold them off long enough.”

It wasn’t until the closing seconds of the second quarter when Mary Star finally grabbed its first lead on a driving layup by freshman guard Andrea Lopez, but the advantage was quickly erased when Agoura’s 6’2” senior forward Tyler Humphries made a layup of her own as time expired, giving the Chargers (16-5) a 27-26 lead which they took into the locker room.

Earlier on in the second quarter, there was one frightening moment when Mary Star sophomore forward Bella Marconi was fouled hard and was on her back for almost two minutes.

Marconi came back into the game right

after a timeout and was able to shoot the free throws, hitting the second one.

“I was determined to come back and help my team,” says Marconi. “I couldn’t go out that easy. I needed to support and cheer [on] my team no matter what pain I was going through.

I had to have their backs and fight through it.”

Thanks to their incredible defense and pressure shots down the stretch, Mary Star would take control in the third quarter, holding the Chargers to just six points. Freshman forward Madison Watts, the tallest player on the Stars at 5’7”, scored 10 of her gamehigh 24 points in the quarter, which ended with the Stars leading 43-33.

Winning the third quarter was especially important to Mary Star.

“We needed to make our run right there and show the other team we don’t take losing as an option,” Mary Star

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senior guard Isabella Serrano says. “Everything we had been practicing was time to be put to the test for us.”

Especially in the closing minutes of the game. With 3:23 remaining and Agoura trailing 47-42, senior guard Malina Diaz had a chance to cut their deficit down to two but missed a threepointer from the right wing. After Camacho corralled the rebound, Serrano (who scored eight points) hurriedly pushed the ball up court and found Lopez, who buried a three-pointer from right in front of the Stars’ bench to increase their edge back up to 50-42 with 3:12 to play. “It was a lot of pressure placed upon us, but I had to get over it and knock it down for the team,” says Lopez, who hit four three-pointers on the night and finished with 21 points.

Agoura eventually whittled their deficit down to 52-50 with a three-pointer

by Humphries, who scored a team-high 17 points, but with 9.5 seconds left, they immediately fouled Watts, who calmly hit both ends of a 1-and-1 free throw situation. With no timeouts left, the Chargers were unable to overcome the Stars on this night, and the celebration, which was long overdue for Mary Star, was finally on when the clock hit triple zeroes.

The girls were shrouded in uncontainable joy; the crowd, especially on the Mary Star side, were doused in championship glory; and eight-year 20 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JULY 2021

coach Victor Tuberosi ran into the crowd to celebrate with the Mary Star Gold Rush student section for a moment before coming back onto the court, shedding tears of joy. It was finally these Stars’ time to shine.

“My favorite coach was [the late] Jim Valvano, and I remember clearly when he won the [1983] national championship [with North Carolina State], he was running for joy,” Tuberosi says when asked of his motivation for his form of celebration. “I wanted to thank the student section for always believing in me and supporting the program. It was a sprint, and I didn’t know where I’d end up.”

And no one could comprehend how far the Mary Star girls basketball program has come. When Tuberosi was named head coach before the start of the 2013-2014 season, Mary Star was languishing and coming off a dismal 1-17 season and had lost 36 consecutive league games. By Tuberosi’s second season, Mary Star ended their league futility and made the CIF-SS Division 5A playoffs. In his fourth season, Mary Star advanced to the quarterfinals. In year five, it was the Stars’ first semifinal appearance. In year six, the Stars not only made it to the semifinals again, but they also reached the CIF Southern California Regionals and even won the first game.

Last year, the seventh year, saw Mary

Clockwise: Andrea Lopez and Bella Marconi in action against Agoura; Coach Tuberosi cuts the game net; Madison Watts at the free throw line; the team celebrates their first-ever CIF championship. (photos: John Mattera Photography)

Star end a 36-year drought by becoming Santa Fe League champions, sharing it with two other schools. The hard work put in by the entire program, combined with the fast-paced style of coaching Tuberosi brought to the table, has finally culminated with a CIF-Southern Section title after defeating Temple City, La Quinta of Westminster, Calabasas, and Immaculate Heart of Los Angeles on the road to the championship game.

UPDATE: As this issue was going to press, the Stars continued their historic

run in the CIF Southern California Regional Division 3AA playoffs, making it to the championship game against Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) on June 19 but losing by a score of 72-44. The Stars ended their amazing and historic season at 22-1. spt

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JULY 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 21

FOOD

When I moved here 14 years ago, I took note of the butcher shops in town because I like interacting with an experienced butcher and asking questions about various cuts of meats, depending on my needs.

What I love most is finding house specialties that can’t be found at a chain grocery store.

You might remember from last month’s column that I am a huge fan of A-1 Imported Groceries’ caprese sandwich. Their sandwiches are great, but their meat and poultry counter should not be glossed over when visiting because it is an inspirational sight for a variety of cooking explorations. The items that are uniquely theirs are the assortment of Italian sausages, which are perfect for grilling or cooking in marinara sauce to serve over pasta or polenta.

Additionally, I like their cevapcici.

Small Balkan rolls usually made with ground pork, beef, and lamb. Many years ago, I was told that Ante Bjazic makes the best cevapcici in town, and luckily, he is still hard at work at A-1. He makes plain rolls and others with parsley and garlic, which are outstanding.

I started going to South Shores Meat Shop based on a friend’s recommendation because of their impressive selection of meats, poultry, and seafood. After a trip to Denmark, I wanted to replicate a smørrebrød, a Danish open-faced sandwich I had at a restaurant with house-made roast beef.

Owner Darko Skracic, a knowledgeable butcher, sent me home with the right cut of meat and cooking instructions.

My favorite unique finds here are the kabobs — specifically the lamb, beef, chicken with garlic and parsley, barbeque chicken, and fish — some of which come with pieces of sweet onion and bell peppers. The skewers are easy to grill because they hold well and make for a flavorful meal to serve with salad or rice. As an Iranian, being attracted to meat, lamb, or chicken kabobs is predictable, but the fish kabob, made with house-seasoned swordfish delivered fresh twice a week, is superb.

Last but not least, as a Croatian-owned establishment, they are well known for 22 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JULY 2021

Clockwise l to r: A plate of cevapcici from South Shores Meat Shop and A-1 Imported Groceries; Italian sausages from A-1 Imported Groceries; South Shores Meat Shop kabobs; Picanha from La Perla Tapatia Meat Market. (photos: Sanam Lamborn)

EAT IN SAN PEDRO: UNIQUE FINDS AT OUR LOCAL BUTCHER SHOPS

by Sanam Lamborn their cevapcici.

I recently invited Ana Jelenic, my favorite Pedro-born Croatian, to a crosstown cevapcici taste testing. We enjoyed our cevapcici with thinly sliced red onion tossed with fresh parsley and Podravka brand ajvar, a red pepper and eggplant relish recommended by Bjazic. Additionally, Jelenic baked lepinja. A traditional flatbread served with cevapcici (a similar bread, somun, can be found in South Shores’ freezer).

She also made a refreshing coleslaw tossed with a delicious red wine vinegar dressing prepared by her mother, Miranda Jelenic. We found that A-1’s cevapcici has minimal fat and is well seasoned, while South Shores’ is bigger in size and fattier, resulting in a juicy meat roll.

My husband was introduced to

La Perla Tapatia Meat Market by Heyday Elite Fitness, co-owned by San Pedro Today columnist Ricky Magana. For a time, we purchased their premade meals, which were great. In recent years, we have bought their prime-grade ribeye steaks, which is my preferred cut. Their carne asada is well seasoned and tender, while the flavorful al pastor seasoning is offered on pork as well as chicken wings. Their mango habanero wings are flavorful and spicy; when grilled or air-fried, the skin is delightfully crispy. The unique finds here are their prime-grade picanha, and occasionally they will carry a Wagyu cut as well. Picanha is a beloved Brazilian cut whose equivalent in the United States is sirloin cap, which is characterized by a thick layer of fat on one side with little marbling inside.

They send you home with a rub to massage into the meat liberally (we like to add minced fresh garlic and let it rest overnight in the fridge). Grill the meat to rare or medium rare for the best flavor. They also have a small selection of Mexican food favorites prepared on site. Their popular T-City salad, loaded with an abundance of pollo or carne asada over a bed of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers, is named after San Pedro-born professional UFC fighter Brian Ortega. Lastly, they offer a highly rated catering service under the name That Mexican Guy Catering Service. 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.

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HISTORY

A COMPANY TOWN

A second, much larger wave of job seekers heading to the West Coast to help in the war effort would need housing that would “bring the worker to the job, keep him on the job and maintain his efficiency and morale.” The

by Angela Romero low-income garden apartments were then used to house these war workers.

Because of San Pedro’s proximity to the From the time port, a few temporary defense housof the Tongva, ing developments were built during the the land we call war years, including Rancho San Pedro, San Pedro has Banning Homes, Western Terrace, and had a symbiotic the Richard Neutra-designed Channel relationship with Heights. After the war, it took a few its waterline, the years before Rancho San Pedro was cause and effect given over to its intended use as lowgetting more draincome housing. At the same time, the matic as the port other developments became rental units began to take shape. The creation of The Banning Homes, circa 1950s. the federal breakwater in the early 20th (photo: San Pedro Heritage Museum) or were demolished for neighborhoods of single-family homes. century was an absolute game-changer When you look around San Pedro, because it allowed for all types of indusyou can see the reactive building that try to take root. Industry brought jobs followed eras in our history, like dethat attracted people. Good jobs that ment Traffic Manager Clarence Matson looking at moving the Pacific Fleet to velopmental strata. We didn’t have the allowed people to make San Pedro their issued a statement saying that the lack San Pedro. The business community home for generations. Here’s a look at of housing was holding back additional answered the call by pushing for at least luxury of being a planned community.

A hundred years later, and we’re now just how much the port impacted San shipbuilding plants at the port and that 1,000 housing units, including bungaPedro’s residential development. “apartments and houses were needed by low courts and five- to six-room bunga- growing upwards, adding hundreds of units in tall buildings. But this time, A century ago, the Port of Los Ange- the hundreds.” Congress had recently low homes, the remnants of which can development isn’t being dictated by les had a huge growth spurt. The Main passed a $50 million ship workers hous- still be found all over San Pedro. what’s going on in the port because the Channel was lined with piles of lumber ing bill, but none of those funds would The 1920s building boom in San threat of automation is looming over it from the Pacific Northwest, lumber find their way to San Pedro. This left Pedro created by the housing shortage like a dark cloud. This time, developers that would build Los Angeles into the the job to private citizens and firms to was slowed a little by the stock market are prospecting on our shores, hopmetropolis it would become. But the make up the shortfall and start building. crash and the Great Depression of the shipbuilding industry, spurred by the Immediately, the Harbor Housing 1930s. In 1937, the United States Hous- ing that people will want to live along United States’ entry into World War I, Corporation was created, and they ing Act was passed, creating the United “L.A.’s last affordable waterfront.” A would have a much stronger impact on started taking out ads all over Los States Housing Authority, an organiza- waterfront that was never good enough the growth of San Pedro.

Angeles to promote the building of a tion with the authority to make loans to before because it was a working waterfront. spt The first major shipbuilding comworkmen’s hotel and to attract simipublic housing agencies. The Housing panies in the port included Ralph J. lar “forward-looking men” to join the Authority of the City of Los Angeles Angela Romero is the president Chandler Shipbuilding Corporation, building effort. Another way that San (HACLA) was created the following of the San Pedro Heritage Southwestern Shipbuilding Company, Pedro answered the call for more hous- year. Several developments of modern and the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and ing was through the construction of garden-style apartments for those with Museum. She can be reached at angela@sanpedroheritage.org.

Drydock Corporation. The emergency bungalow courts and boarding houses. low income were planned to replace need for ships in the war effort had war If the pressure to keep up with housing blighted slum housing all around Los For more info, visit workers flocking to San Pedro for a shipbuilders wasn’t enough, San Pedro Angeles. The building of this public sanpedroheritage.org. good job. The only problem is that San would soon have another type of ship housing was already well underway Pedro didn’t have anywhere for these worker to add to the load — the sailor. when Pearl Harbor was attacked in men to live.

After the war, Admiral Rodman and 1941, essentially entering the United In March of 1918, Harbor Departother Navy officials were seriously States into World War II.

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JULY 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25

FITNESS

ACHES, PAIN, & WEIGHT GAIN

by Ricky Magana “It sucks getting old.”

That’s what someone told me the other day after they were experiencing a bit of pain in their knee during exercise. It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard someone lament about getting old. But this time, it kind of stuck because the guy who said it is the same age as me.

Next month, I pass the “early 30s” threshold into my “mid-30s.” Wow, has it flown by. One minute, I’m getting a bike for my 7th birthday, and the next — college, career, marriage, and children happened. It feels like it went by so fast.

I am by no means an old man, but I’m no spring chicken either, and his comment was a reminder of that. But I don’t subscribe to the idea that as we leave our 20s, we’re supposed to accept that aches, pain, and weight gain are inevitable. Being in the gym for the last 19 years has shown me otherwise.

I’ve seen enough men and women who have demonstrated that getting older doesn’t mean you’re getting old.

So how do we age without our bodies falling apart, waistlines expanding, and health deteriorating? Well, part of getting older is knowing that the rules change. What worked back then won’t work now, so you have to adapt.

There’s no use in crying because you no longer have a teenage metabolism. So here are some truths about aging you need to keep in mind that’ll keep you tip-top well into your golden years.

Getting older means shorter feedback loops. When you’re young, you can basically do whatever you want, and you don’t feel the consequences. But as you age, everything you do provides immediate feedback. When you’re 21, you can throw back shots of tequila on a Friday night and run a 5K the next day. At 40, three glasses of wine might level you for an entire weekend. This is a blessing 26 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JULY 2021

and a curse; it means when something isn’t ideal, your body will tell you right away. So pay attention to the aches and pains you feel now. They are feedback that requires you to adjust accordingly.

Be mindful of lifestyle debt.

The thing to understand as you age is that most of what ails you is not from getting old in and of itself, but rather, the habits of your youth are catching up to you. Years of not eating well, poor sleep, and bad movement patterns accumulate debt that your future self will have to reckon with.

Good or bad, what you do now will ripple out years down the line. The secret of longevity is developing good habits long before you need them.

Train to build, not lose. Too many people exercise to “lose” something.

They beat up their bodies to work off calories or a bad diet and ultimately lose weight. But the key to longevity is to train with a focus on building.

Building and development of strength, muscle, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility trumps the fear-based approach of beating your body into the ground until it loses 20 pounds.

I heard someone say recently, “I’d rather go 70 percent for five years than 110 percent for six weeks.” I think we should all follow suit.

Maintenance matters. All machines require maintenance. Your body is no different. Everything your body does takes a toll, whether running, lifting, or sitting at a desk.

For your human machine to keep humming, you have to conduct routine maintenance of the joints.

Old is an attitude. And finally, if you truly believe your best years are behind you, they will be. But if you embrace getting older by treating your body well, you might surprise yourself (and the young bucks) by what you can do long after your 20s. spt Ricky Magana is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.

MENTAL HEALTH

LAUGH TO BE SANE

by Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT

Last year, COVID-19 happened, and then America collectively lost its sense of humor.

The fact that we sort of lost Saturday Night Live probably had a lot to do with it, along with the absence of live music. As a result of this terrible tragedy, we focused on our troubles and crisis and economy, we focused on social justice issues and political divides, and we got really good at figuring out who should be blamed and who we should hate harder. We even made lists of words to censor and long dead historical figures to overthrow and defame. We canceled children’s books and Disney characters, we canceled school, and in short, I would surmise, we lost our composure.

In any case, as we reopen, I sure hope that special part of the brain that makes random connections to see the absurdity of life reopens with it, because ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you that laughter is the only way to preserve sanity in an otherwise quite insane world that we really don’t understand. The ability to have a sense of humor is not only fun and enjoyable, but it is also a sign of intelligence. It is a major coping mechanism in times of stress, and it is one of the most powerful ways our bodies heal and restore.

Did you know that even mice have a sense of humor? Yes, mice, during play,

tickle each other and emit ultrasonic sounds that reduce stress hormones and can only be construed as mouse laughter. Yes, intelligent living creatures have a good laugh once in a while, and if we lose this ability, this might just be the first step toward collective human devolution. And this is not a laughing matter, as I think we are already quite low on the totem pole.

Humor is an ability to see conflicting or impossible scenarios happening simultaneously. This means when we engage in humor, we are activating parts of the brain that connect random variables with one another, resulting in improbable outcomes. This, essentially, is an act of mental play, so to speak, and it requires bilateral activation of both hemispheres of the brain, which basically means using more of your brain than you normally do.

Humor helps us understand social norms and cultural expectations by revealing misalignments and contradictions in a safe and playful context.

Humor is extremely helpful in creating psychological conversions that allow us to process painful or difficult feelings.

For example, during grief we remember silly parts of the person we lost or laugh at a situation which would have been unthinkable in their presence. Humor also informs us of our current collective condition creating universality between us, thus eliminating feelings of loneliness and isolation. At the same time, humor can create a separation between

(photo: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels.com)

us and the situation at hand, which in turn, helps us cope with difficult circumstances.

In short, without humor we become psychologically brittle, less resilient, and more susceptible to depression, PTSD, anxiety, and despair. We can become so overwrought with feelings of personal tragedy, only to be reminded that we are miniscule ants floating on a giant rock in an endless abyss, headed toward a black hole where the spacetime continuum is swallowed into the shroud of eternal mystery, and one can’t help but chuckle at the triviality of our existence in the grand scheme of things.

We laugh at stereotypes, we laugh at absurdity, we laugh at accents, we even laugh at tragedy, mostly because it helps us process our own uncomfortable feelings. It helps us understand ourselves, and most importantly, it helps us survive. Of course, this can sometimes turn malicious under abnormal circumstances. Children in schoolyards, for example, are an interesting focus group for the study of malicious humor under

social stress for survival. But this is a separate topic altogether.

For the purposes of this colun, however, the point is: Humor and laughter help us maintain sanity. Laughter regulates our hormones, improves our immune system, reduces our stress hormones, produces pleasure chemicals, activates important reward centers in the brain, engages creative thinking, orients us socially and culturally, tones muscle, and helps us lose weight (10 minutes of laughter can burn up to 40 calories). It restores our nervous system and increases a feeling of connectedness.

So, for the love of God, laugh and be merry! In the words of the beloved John Cleese, “Laughter is a force of democracy.” spt Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local marriage and family therapist. For more info, visit sophiemft.com.

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REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE TRENDS: 2021 MID-YEAR MARKET REVIEW

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Our column deadline was just days before June 15, which was to be the day that our state and county fully opened back up and further lessened COVIDrelated restrictions. In real estate, the California Association of Realtors took necessary steps at the beginning of June to allow public open houses and reduce the number of COVID-related advisories required by all parties involved in a transaction. It’s clear that we are rapidly evolving, and our communities are getting back to business as usual.

We should know considerably more after this publication has reached circulation. Still, it will be interesting to see what impact opening up will have on local real estate sales and the market in general. Will more homeowners, previously hesitant to sell, be inclined to list their homes due to feeling safe now that restrictions have become laxed?

If so, will this positively impact the severe inventory shortage that we have experienced over the last 15 months?

If more homes do come on the market, will this help normalize the market a bit and create a more level playing field for both buyers and sellers? How will the multi-family market be impacted with COVID relief for tenants scheduled to end in June? Will mortgage rates continue to stay as low as they have been? Lots of questions to be answered.

Let’s take a closer look at how our local markets have performed thus far in 2021. In San Pedro, through the first six months (Jan-June 10) of 2021, according to local MLS statistics, there were 157 single-family residences (SFR) sold. This was up 24.6 percent from the 126 SFR sales during the same period the year prior. The average sales price for an SFR in San Pedro increased by a whopping 14.8 percent, up from $742,000 to $852,000. Aver-

age Days on Market (DOM) decreased from 19 to 9 days (52.6 percent).

In neighboring Rancho Palos Verdes, there were 199 SFRs sold in the first half (Jan-June 10) of 2021, up 40.1 percent compared to the 142 homes sold during the same period in 2020. Average sales prices increased by 20.6 percent during the same period, from $1.384MM in 2020 to $1.670MM in 2021. Average DOM was at eight days, which was a 68 percent decrease from the year prior.

The South Bay as a whole saw the number of SFR sales increase by 20.6 percent during the first six months (JanJune 10) of the year, from 1,313 in 2020 to 1,990 in 2021. The average sales price for an SFR jumped up by 21.1 percent, from $875,000 to $1.06MM. Average DOM decreased by 33.3 percent from 12 to 8 days during the same period.

San Pedro, RPV, and the South Bay trend were the same across the board during this period: more homes sold at higher prices with fewer days on the market. Of course, the dynamics this year versus last are completely different. Last year, as you will recall, the real estate market came to a screeching halt when COVID officially set in on March 12. It took a good 45 days for things to start picking up as the industry and consumers adjusted to the new norm of home selling during the pandemic.

In previous columns, we wrote about evident buying trends during the pandemic. With people working from home and kids distance learning from home, we saw a rise in larger home sales with a premium on yard space and pools. We also witnessed a huge spike in remodeling and construction during this period. Do these trends continue as we emerge out of the pandemic and return to our pre-COVID lifestyles? Only time will tell. spt Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are both licensed Realtors® with Keller Williams Realty. For more info, visit harperhazdovac.com.

JULY 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29

THE BACK PAGE

June 3, 2021: Port of Los Angeles High School outdoor and socially-distant graduation at the Battleship USS Iowa. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

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