San Pedro Today - August 2016

AUGUST 2016

YOUR COMPLETE L.A. FLEET WEEK GUIDE | QUEEN MARY TURNS 80 | 2015-16 PREP SPORTS IN REVIEW | HISTORY LOST & FOUND

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The San Pedro Fish Market debuts its new reality series, Kings of Fi$h

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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It’s about time we got the crew from the San Pedro Fish Market on our cover.

The Fish Market, run by members of the Ungaro and Amalfitano families for more than 50 years, is the most successful family-owned business in San Pedro. So it wasn’t a surprise when I heard they were self-producing a reality television series based on the everyday goings on at the market.

It’s safe to say this crew was made for their new show, Kings of Fi$h. From Tommy Amalfitano, Sr. on down, their real, larger-than-life personas are perfect for reality television. Visit www.sanpedrofish.com to check out the first four episodes and you’ll know exactly what I mean. But the Fish Market’s influence on San Pedro goes much deeper than this reality television venture.

If it weren’t for the Fish Market’s incredible success at Ports O’ Call, it’s completely plausible that the Port of Los Angeles wouldn’t be revitalizing the waterfront as aggressively as they are. The market’s success, with the line of cars down Harbor Blvd. every weekend and the attraction of customers from out of town, out of state, and many from out of country, proved to the powers that be that people will come to our waterfront if there was something of value there to visit. The market has also become our town’s ambassador to the millions of people that have walked through its doors, as well as those who have purchased their products in grocery stores across the country. The Amalfitanos and Ungaros are proud San Pedrans and have never shied away from claiming San Pedro as their hometown. Kings of Fi$h is just another extension of shining a positive light on us.

Remember, it’s the San Pedro Fish Market, not the L.A. Waterfront Fish Market.

If the San Pedro Fish Market was not as successful as it is, I doubt we’d be talking about the new San Pedro Public Market, or any true redevelopment of Ports O’ Call Village for that matter. The market proved there was real value to our waterfront, value that could and should be capitalized on. And even though it’s still taken longer than we wanted, the last few years finally saw a perfect storm of people involved that also saw this potential and have spearheaded the movement to revitalize our waterfront.

You can thank the San Pedro Fish Market for that.

Thank God for the Cabrillo Beach Boosters I had one of the best days of my life at last month’s annual Fourth of July party put on by the Cabrillo Beach Boosters. Aside from having a wonderful date and being able to spend time with some family and friends, the weather could not have been better for the annual fireworks show. This year’s fireworks were dedicated to the memory of Julian Jimenez, owner of Pedro Pyros, who have been responsible for San Pedro’s fireworks for years.

Jimenez sadly passed away in June and was featured in last month’s issue.

The annual celebration at the Cabrillo Beach Youth Center has turned into one of my favorite San Pedro events, and for good reason. It’s always filled with great friends, great music and a mishmash of who’s who, from local politicos to the movers and shakers that are making a difference in our town. This year, Congresswoman Janice Hahn and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti stopped by for some barbeque and entertainment.

Each year, I’m reminded how important the Cabrillo Beach Boosters are to the fabric of San Pedro. The hard work by Allan Johnson, Gary Dwight and the entire Booster board and volunteers goes mostly uncelebrated, but it’s certainly noticed. In case you’re unaware, the Boosters are responsible for spearheading the renovation of the Angels Gate Lighthouse and for renovating the historic Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse, among many other projects in and around the beach.

The Boosters can always use our financial support. If you’re interested in making a taxdeductible donation to the nonprofit organization, send a query to cabrillobeachboosters@ gmail.com and they’ll tell you how to donate. spt Joshua Stecker is publisher/editor-in-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

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AUGUST 2016 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 5

AUGUST 2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joshua J. Stecker

ADVERTISING: General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Joseph A. CastaĂąeda

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

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Lori Garrett, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Stephanie Mardesich, Jennifer Marquez, Anthony Pirozzi, Angela Romero, Jamaal K. Street, Leonard Trubia, Herb Zimmer

Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions) (310) 753-5176 | shana@sanpedrotoday.com

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

VOLUME 8 | NUMBER 7

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 2009-2016, Empire22 Media LLC.

ON THE COVER: The San Pedro Fish Market family (l to r): Jennifer Ungaro; Tommy Amalfitano, Jr.; Tommy Amalfitano, Sr.; Henry Ungaro and Michael Ungaro (photo: John Mattera)

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AUGUST League of San Pedro-South Bay Chapter House (1441 W. 8th St.) 10a-5p. Get ready for summer at the Assistance League® of San Pedro-South Bay Annual Summer Sale.

Make your outdoor living a great summer experience with unique garden and patio items. Shop for those personal and gift items you will need for summer. All proceeds benefit EVERY WEEK – STRONG PEDRO PROJECT at Plaza Park local philanthropic programs. July 18-Aug 13. Sale Hours: (10th St. & Beacon St.) Tuesday 5p - Run Club with Lauren 10am - 5p (weekdays), and 11a - 3p (Saturdays).

Maes; Wednesday at 6:45a - TRX circuit is Carla Baccio & Marianne O'Brien; Friday 4:30p - Youth Crossfit with Eddie 4 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown McKenna ; Saturday 9am - Glute Camp with Ricky Magana; San Pedro. 6-10p Saturday 11:30a - Yoga with Mike Aspinwall. Open to the public. Presented by StrongPedroProject.

4 (Thurs) - ADULT HEBREW CLASS at Temple Beth El (1435 W. 7th St.) 7p. Join in on a continuing adult Hebrew Every Wed – CHILDREN’S WRITING CLASSES at class where you practice decoding Hebrew letters. Free and the Corner Store (1118 37th St). Seven Golden Secrets of open to the public.

Writing with Diana Chapman, Wed 4:30-5:45p. For info, call (310) 626-7906.

5 (Fri) - OPENING NIGHT OF RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN at Little Fish Theatre (777 S. Centre St.) Little Fish Every Wed – OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Theatre is excited to present Rapture, Blister, Burn. A play Shepard St.) 6:30-9:30p. All are welcome. Chilidogs, snacks by Gina Gion-friddo that follows the journey of two women and beverages available. Dress warmly. who explore roads not taken. Runs Aug. 5 - Sept. 3. For more info, visit www.littlefishtheatre.org.

Every Thurs (except holidays) – ADULT WRITING GROUP in Library room of St. Peter's Episcopal Church (1648 W. 9th 6 (Sat) - TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port Of St.). 1-3p. Everyone welcome! For more info, call (310) 831- Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St.) 5-10p. The Taste of San 2186.

Pedro is a culinary spectacle featuring delicious food, handcrafted beers, spirits and fine wines. Guests will have the Every Fri – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St. opportunity to enjoy choice samples from 25 San Pedro and between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p.

Peninsula area restaurants and beer, wine and spirit tastings.

For tickets and more info, visit www.sanpedrochamber.com.

Every Sat – LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd.)

10a-3p. Experience San Pedro and Wilmington's Fire 7 (Sun) - NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY PICNIC at Pt. Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire Fermin Lighthouse (807 Paseo del Mar) 12p. “National apparatus and various displays. The museum is located in Lighthouse Day” honors the beacons of light that, for Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall. Admission is hundreds of years, symbolized safety and security for FREE, donations are accepted. ships and boats at sea. Come out and enjoy a picnic on the lighthouse lawn to celebrate lighthouses and the Every Sun – SOUL FEAST at First Presbyterian Church of commitment and service of those who tended America’s San Pedro (781 S Averill Ave.) 5:30p. Come out & join us lights for generations. Bring a blanket and picnic munchies for a family worship service for all ages. Dinner is included. of your liking. Entrance is free. The first 100 in attendance will receive hot dog, chips and drink. For questions and/or Every first and second Sunday – Tour the MULLER HOUSE directions, please call (310) 241-0684.

MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St.) 1-4p. Last tour starts at 3:15p.

Built in 1899, the Muller House is the headquarters of the 11 (Thurs) - SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 REUNION at San Pedro Bay Historical Society. Admission is free, but a The Grinder (511 S. Harbor Blvd.) 9:30a. Enjoy a delicious donation of $3 is encouraged. breakfast with The San Pedro Class of 1945 and reunite with old friends. R.S.V.P. to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Now thru Aug. 13 - ANNUAL SUMMER SALE at Assistance Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321.

8 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

Tour the historic PT. FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE, built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor, located in the Pt. Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar). Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun. Closed Mon and major holidays.

Admission is free; donations accepted.

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13 (Sat) – CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.) 10a-12p. Open every second Saturday of the month. Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and don’t forget to bring your reusable bags!

14 (Sun) - GUIDED BY THE EYE: PHOTOGRAPHY AS A WAY OF SEEING at The Pacific Avenue Arts Colony (303 S. Pacific Ave.) 2p. Join photographer Victoria Bryan as she speaks about her journey through photography and how she finds the unexpected in her everyday life.

Free and open to the public. For more info, visit www. pacificavenueartscolony.com 20 (Sat) - IMPRESSIONS NATURE AND ART WORKSHOP at Pelican Cove Park/Terranea Resort (31300 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes) 10a-12p. Enjoy a Naturalistguided walk and painting activity in outdoor art studio with Art to Grow On, Inc. All ages welcome. $25 per family. To RSVP, visit www.pvplc.org/_events/Impressions.asp or call (310) 541-7613.

21 (Sun) - CONTRA DANCING at People’s Place (365 W. 6th St.) 4-7p. Come out and learn how to dance Contra.

Lesson starts at 3:30p. No partner necessary. All ages welcome. Entrance fee $10. For more info, call (626) 2052044.

Sept 11 (Sun) - HARBOR L.I.T.E.S AFTERNOON DELIGHT at Michael's Tuscany Room (470 W. 7th St.) 2-5p. Help fundraise the Harbor L.I.T.E.S and join them for a delicious lunch of high tea cuisine. Enjoy door prizes, a best hat contest, 50/50 tickets, and more. Music provided by John Brunac. Limited seating, no reserved seating. Tickets are $45, no tickets will be sold at the door. For more info and tickets, call (310) 292-2722.

Sept 17 (Sat) - SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1956 REUNION at Ports O’ Call Restaurant (1200 Nagoya Way.) San Pedro High School Winter and Summer classes of 1956 will celebrate their 60th reunion with a delicious luncheon. For more information, call Marty at (310) 8335338 or Gloria at (310) 519-1858.

Email event info to events@sanpedrotoday. com. Deadline for the September issue is Friday, August 12. All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted.

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‘Andrea Doria’ Tragic Chapter in Italian Immigration Experience

by Steve Marconi

12 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

A community of immigrants like San Pedro has more than its share of interesting stories about coming to America, but few can match that of Antonio “Tony” De Girolamo.

For most San Pedro transplants from the Italian island of Ischia, the journey here was fairly mundane, but 60 years ago, the 17-yearold De Girolamo and his family were among the 1,134 passengers aboard the SS Andrea Doria and about to enter maritime history.

On July 25, 1956, the day before the Andrea Doria was to arrive in New York Harbor, the ship was struck by the Swedish liner MS Stockholm, which had just left New York. Forty-six passengers lost their lives, and had the Stockholm struck the Andrea Doria just a matter of seconds later, the De Girolamos might have been among them. As Tony wrote in his recollection on the website (www.andreadoria.org/Recollections/Recollections.htm):

“We were alive by a miracle, the Stockholm had rammed into the right side of the Andrea Doria only 18 to 20 cabins ahead of us, the watertight door in the corridor by the staircase had held back millions of gallons of water from inundating our entire right side of the ship. The few inches of water we walked into going up to the top deck would have been ten feet, killing us all instantly. The Stockholm could have rammed into our cabins instead of cabins 420 to cabin 435, the Sergios were right below us in cabin 656. Were they alive? We didn't know.”

In fact, Maria Sergio and her four children, ages 13, 10, 7 and 4, who had shared many meals with the De Girolamos during the trans-Atlantic voyage from Naples, were killed.

Of the 46 fatalities on the Andrea Doria, the majority were Italian immigrants, who boarded the ship at its home port of Genoa and later Naples, where the De Girolamos embarked after the short ferry ride from Ischia.

The De Girolamo family consisted of Francesco and Ann and their five children: Maria, the oldest at 18, and four boys, Tony, Nicola (14), Mario (8) and Biagio (3). The females were in one cabin and the males in another.

Francesco was a blacksmith/welder and had Ischia’s only mechanic’s shop, but like so many other immigrants, believed there was a better future for his family in America.

There already were aunts and uncles here to ease the transition, most of them in New York City but some in a small but busy fishing town in California named San Pedro. The De Girolamos were just settling down for their last night at sea when the ships collided at 11:10 p.m.

Despite taking on a severe list that made half of the ship’s lifeboats unusable, the Andrea Doria remained afloat long enough for the surviving passengers and crew to get off and get picked up by the badly damaged Stockholm (which lost five crewmen) and the French liner Ile de France, which had come to their aid. The De Girolamos had reached the top deck together, but were separated by crewmen adhering to the “women and children first” rule. Father and sons, using ropes to get down the side of the ship to lifeboats, ended up on the Stockholm, but it was hours before they were told that the women were safe in New York, having been taken aboard the Ile de France.

The abandoned Andrea Doria eventually capsized and sank at 10:09 on the morning it was to arrive in New York.

Continuing in his recollection, Tony said, “All this time and my father never realized that he had slipped on the pants he wanted to wear on his arrival to New York. I didn't know which one it was, they were all a kind of gray blue colors, he put his hand in his pockets and he found the money he had put aside for his arrival to New York. About $800, he couldn't believe it, it was another miracle.” The De Girolamos received $350 apiece after the ensuing legal actions involving the disaster.

The family settled in New York, where Tony got a job as a welder before entering the restaurant business. He had his own restaurant in Brooklyn in 1970 when, married and with kids of his own, he decided to move across the country to San Pedro, where his aunt, a Colonna, and other Ischitan relatives – Ciglianos and di Levas – lived. He got a job with Augie Camello’s boatyard in Wilmington before getting back into the restaurant business.

Today he serves as a lay minister from Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church at Little Company of Mary Hospital and is active with the local Knights of Columbus chapter. Such devotion is not surprising for a man who says, “God was always with us…we didn’t die on the Andrea Doria.” spt Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.

Thank you San Pedro for 30 Years of Support!

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Our Future is Here

by Anthony Pirozzi As the summer continues in full swing, family vacations can take us both far and wide just to get away. Whether across the country or the world, we travel to experience what different cities, states and countries have to offer. Our travel curiosity seems to be at an all-time high even during times of uncertainty worldwide. And yes, there are even those who travel from around the world to Los Angeles and make their way to San Pedro. Even though we tend to believe that nothing has or will ever change in town, there are tourists who are impressed with what we have here. In fact, many consider San Pedro authentic, rustic, and charming. Whether it’s the waterfront itself, our food, cultural diversity, breweries or taking in our coastal views, San Pedro is truly unique.

Not only are tourists and locals rediscovering San Pedro, but even the aerospace industry is discovering the benefits of our proximity to the ocean. For example, AltaSea has signed SpaceX for space capsule and rocket recovery missions and is in discussions with Boeing to launch its unmanned undersea vehicle Echo Voyager. AltaSea has also announced that Robert Ballard, famous for his discovery of the RMS Titanic wreckage in 1985, is bringing his exploration/research vessel Nautilus to San Pedro to spend the winters launching deep sea exploration from our waterfront. These are just the first of many developments that will add to our economy and diversify local job opportunities.

Although many of these accomplishments and developments may get overshadowed by our homeless challenges and recent crime increases, it does not mean that positive change is not happening.

Another example of this positive change is the addition of the first ever Los Angeles Feet Week to our repertoire of local events at the Port of Los Angeles. Fleet Week is much bigger than the Navy Days of the past. This United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and the United States Coast Guard tradition has made its way to New York, San Francisco, and a number of other ports for years and will now make our L.A. Harbor a new destination for years to come.

The event will occur over the Labor Day weekend and is estimated to attract more that 250,000 people to San Pedro alone. Hopefully, downtown businesses, who typically close early, will stay open late during this weekend and welcome not only the tourists, but more importantly the more than 1,500 military personnel that will descend upon San Pedro over the long weekend. This event is not only about experiencing the strength and might of our military up close and personal, but also an opportunity for our men and women in uniform to know how much we appreciate their commitment serving our nation and the willingness to protect her.

I truly enjoy visiting naval vessels and to learn about the difference they have made in our nation’s history. Over my lifetime, I have made it a point to visit such big ships such as the USS Arizona (Hawaii), USS Abraham Lincoln (San Pedro), USS Constitution (Boston), USS Constellation (Baltimore) as well as our very own USS Iowa to learn about the role they’ve played in our country’s history. In fact, as I write this column I am sitting in a hotel lobby in San Diego having just visited the aircraft carrier USS Midway with my family. The experience was truly inspiring. I have to say that hosting Los Angeles Fleet Week for the first time in our harbor is firing me up for the Labor Day weekend.

It is time San Pedro to pick up our heads and realize that the positive change we have hoped for is happening. Los Angeles Fleet Week is just another testament to this and one to enjoy as a community. Also, First Thursday will kick off the L.A. Fleet Week festivities with an even bigger and better event on September 1. Visit the Port of Los Angeles and San Pedro Chamber of Commerce websites for details. Who knows, if Los Angeles get the Olympics that could be another opportunity for even bigger events along our waterfront. Think big, San Pedro, the future is here. spt Anthony Pirozzi is a L.os Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be contacted at apirozzi@yahoo.com.

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If you walk the four blocks up Sixth Street from Harbor Boulevard to Pacific Avenue, you will pass, by my count, 29 vacant retail/office spaces, plus a large vacant former courthouse property and two vacant lots. The empty buildings, plethora of “For Lease” signs and metal gates across empty storefronts discourage residents and visitors alike from shopping downtown.

Having owned a business in downtown for more than 36 years, I’ve witnessed many an attempt to “revitalize” the area and attract new businesses. Most have involved “sprucing up” the central business district by adding such amenities as planters, benches and Tivoli lights; offering financial incentives to improve the look of building facades; or developing coordinated marketing programs. I agree, making the downtown clean, attractive and safe are vital steps toward revitalization. However, they don’t get to the root cause of the problem: no one is going to open a new business unless they can be assured that there will be customers for their product or service. Business is demand driven, period.

The fact that San Pedro is located on a peninsula, surrounded by water on two sides and has a natural barrier created by the Palos Verdes hills on another, severely restricts the marketing area for businesses located here. And, though the cruise ship industry brings hundreds of thousands of people to the port every year, there is little incentive for them to patronize many local businesses beyond hotels, restaurants and possibly some entertainment venues, while they’re in a vacation frame of mind.

In 2002, the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce invited the Urban Land Institute to study the community and, among other things, recommend actions that would help revitalize the downtown core. The key observation at the time was that, to support a vital retail economy, San Pedro needed to add a minimum of 3,000 new housing units in and around downtown. In other words, create demand by adding permanent local residents. It is now 14 years later and we have not come close to that number. To quote the ULI Report, “Housing growth supports commercial growth. San Pedro’s housing market is out of sync with the greater Los Angeles market.”

As waterfront development began in the early 2000s, real estate development downtown did enjoy a mini boom. Over 1,000 housing units were added with Vue, Bank Lofts and Centre Street Lofts, among other projects. Several new businesses opened in downtown, but with the economic collapse of 2008, and the slowdown in waterfront development, housing development halted and many new businesses failed. Now, with the San Pedro Public Market and the AltaSea Marine Research Center projects moving forward, a new spate of proposals for housing units in and around downtown has surfaced. Beverly Hills-based Omninet Capital has proposed building a six-story mixeduse project, featuring ground floor retail and 403 apartment units on Palos Verdes Street across from Vue. TL Pacific is proposing to build a mixed-use high-rise on Nelson Street in downtown. Called Nelson One, the building would feature 47 “luxury” apartments, retail space, automated parking and a rooftop restaurant. Also, Square One Homes has proposed building a 22-unit, single-family residential project on Mesa Street between 18th and 19th Streets called Seaside on Mesa. Holding the greatest potential for a major mixed-use project in downtown, including housing, is the vacant courthouse property. Supervisor Don Knabe is completing the process of gaining title to the land and intends to issue a Request for Proposals by the end of the year.

Investment in downtown housing, and by extension downtown revitalization, has happened in fits and starts. I’d liken it to the story of poor Sisyphus, condemned to eternally push a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll back down each time. Maybe this time that boulder will stay up there. spt Herb Zimmer owns PriorityOne Printing in downtown San Pedro.

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Not All Kids Can Play in San Pedro

by Jennifer Marquez

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My 11-year-old son has taken an interest in volleyball. We live in San Pedro, a city where empty volleyball nets sit unused on the beaches.

I heard there was a girls’ volleyball team at Bogdonavich Park run by the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks. I called and asked if they had a boys’ or coed team, but was told no. I asked if my son could join the girls’ team since they offered nothing for boys and was told he was not allowed to play on the girls’ team. I was informed that maybe Peck Park would start a coed team since they were starting a league. Last year Peck Park had to cancel their all girls’ volleyball league due to lack of participants.

Since my son was not permitted to play in San Pedro, I signed him up on a coed team in Torrance. On practice days, I leave work early by 3 p.m. since I work in Downtown Los Angeles. I go back to San Pedro and pick him up, then drive 30 minutes back to Torrance to get him to practice by 4:30.

I contacted Peck Park and was also told no boys were allowed in this league either.

How is a city park allowed to discriminate against a child because of his gender? This is

a facility paid by taxpayers and girls are allowed on boys’ teams in San Pedro, but not the other way around. They brushed me off so easily it made me wonder how often children were being told they could not play at city facilities.

A third all girls’ beach volleyball league was started at Cabrillo Beach. There were 11 players total that signed up. Once again, I was told my son was not allowed to play because he was a boy. I am not against girls’ sports, I played for years myself. I just cannot understand why the city cannot make at least one of the leagues coed. I was told this decision was because of funding by Girls Play L.A. I contacted Girls Play L.A. and was informed that they do not give any funding to these parks so this was not true.

A source inside the park said it had to do with Title IX, which I found out was not accurate either. Title IX is an educational law, which only applies to schools that receive federal funding. I did find California Government Code 53080, which promotes girls in sports but also prohibits gender discrimination in community youth athletic programs and parks and recreation facilities. The staff seemed to be trying to promote sports for girls all while violating this law and discriminating against a child because of gender. The simple solution was to offer two all girls’ leagues and one coed, then everyone wins, but I was told no again.

There was also mention of a lawsuit and that is why boys cannot play on the girls’ team. While there was a lawsuit years ago, it was in regards to girls’ softball fields in the valley. Unfortunately, the staff is not only misinformed but the department is crippled.

The price to be on a team in San Pedro is almost double the cost of other local cities. Long Beach and Torrance offer engineering, LEGOs, dodge ball, senior classes and so much more through their Recreation and Parks Departments, San Pedro has very little to offer.

Yes, there are some great after school programs and sports leagues, but it is bare bones compared to many other places.

Maybe if Recreation and Parks quit spending their time blocking children from playing, they would have the time to focus on building a program that will serve the needs of all of the community. No child or person should be denied the right to play in city run sports due to gender, income or disability. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com

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The USS Abraham Lincoln arrives into the Port of Los Angeles during Navy Days in 2011 (photo: courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles)

SAN PEDRO IS ROLLING OUT THE BLUE CARPET FOR L.A. FLEET WEEK! Fleet Week are typically larger with more crew members. This year, San Pedro can expect to see 1,500-2,000 sailors and other military personnel. Fleet Weeks include a full program of events, including scheduled flyovers of various military aircraft, military displays, U.S. Coast Guard demonstrations, downtown and L.A. Waterfront activities and all kinds of live entertainment.

Not dissimilar from being selected as a host city for the Olympics, being recognized as a Fleet Week market carries the high expectation that the community will be wellprepared for the event and ready to offer thousands of visiting sailors and tourists a spectacular local experience. "The L.A. Waterfront is honored to welcome the United States Navy's Fleet Week to Los Angeles," said Councilman Joe Buscaino. "The arrival of Fleet Week in Los Angeles is another domino in a line of amazing changes coming to the L.A. Waterfront, including the San Pedro Public Market and the new AltaSea campus! Los Angeles Fleet Week will provide a great opportunity for our communities to show their appreciation to the United States Navy and learn more about how the Navy serves our country every day."

Hosting a Fleet Week presents unique business and tourism opportunities for the surrounding community. The list of partners working together to ensure the economic and social benefits of this event is long -- the Port of Los Angeles is the primary producer for this event, with significant support from, naturally, the Pacific Battleship Center, whose CEO Jonathan Williams serves as head of the L.A. Fleet Week Foundation, the sustaining

AUGUST 2016 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 19

The LA Waterfront is on the radar, and after a year of significant milestones - including the reveal of bold new plans for the Santa Pedro Public Market and AltaSea marine science campus - our waterfront community is preparing for another exciting event.

Beginning this Labor Day holiday weekend, Los Angeles will become the newest market in the country to host an official U.S. Navy “Fleet Week.”

Fleet Week has been a tradition for sailors and their families in major cities like New York and San Francisco for decades. It’s a fun exchange program of sorts where activeduty Naval ships and sailors that have been deployed in overseas exercises dock in a major port for a week, allowing the crew time to explore the attractions “on liberty” (the military term for free time) and share what the men and women in our nation’s Sea Services (US Navy, Marines and Coast Guard) do - both informally and through a program of demonstrations and displays. During L.A. Fleet Week, residents and tourists will have the opportunity to tour the ships and learn a little more about the machinery and technology employed by the Navy and what it’s like to be a sailor.

Fleet Weeks tend to be a much bigger draw than Navy Days, which has taken place at our port for a number of years. Docking in a U.S. city for a Fleet Week represents a major annual commitment from the military. Fleet Weeks are often held on specific holiday weekends and are never cancelled except under extraordinary circumstances, such as a major military deployment due to war or natural disaster. While the specific ships that will be visiting for LA Fleet Week won’t be announced until mid-August, the ships assigned to

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financial partner for the event. Community and business organizations, nonprofits and the Waterfront-area neighborhood councils are all pitching in to ensure the success of this event.

“Waterfront events like Fleet Week, or our multi-day Tall Ships Festivals, Lobster Festival, and Cars & Stripes Forever don’t succeed without community and local business support and participation,” said Port Communications Director Arley Baker. “If we want San Pedro to grow as a visitor destination, we need to work together – and that’s what hundreds of military and local stakeholders have been doing for the better part of the past year. As a result of our collaboration, L.A. Fleet Week will be a great opportunity for our harbor community to roll out the welcome mat for our men and women of the military and thousands of visitors across the greater L.A. region.”

The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and Downtown San Pedro Property Owners’ Alliance are planning a program of events in Downtown San Pedro throughout the week designed to welcome, and capitalize on, the additional visitors we are likely to see during this week-long event.

“Our role is to mobilize the business community and help them prepare for hundreds of thousands of Fleet Week participants and attendees, many of whom will be first-time visitors to the Waterfront,” said Elise Swanson, CEO of the Chamber.

The week will kick off the evening of September 1 with an elevated version of San Pedro’s successful First Thursday event to welcome the military in a huge, art-driven street party. One block of 6th and 7th Street will be closed at Centre Street to allow for extra foot traffic, live entertainment and a more relaxed pedestrian environment. There will be live entertainment on at least two stages, with the Navy Band expected to perform on the stage at 6th and Mesa.

“The arts community and nearby businesses are excited to be a part of the Fleet Week celebration,” said Linda Grimes, Executive Director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. “Sirens Coffee & Java will be experimenting with a parklet on 7th Street and many galleries, artist studios and businesses plan to offer special military discounts.”

The fun will continue throughout the weekend with tours of the ships available to the public (go to www.lafleetweek.com and sign up for the newsletter to be informed when

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the ships are announced and to register for tours), flyovers of classic and modern military aircraft, and displays hosted by Navy and members of other branches of the military and local emergency response agencies. The baggage storage area at the cruise terminal affectionately known as the “Hershey Kiss” will be transformed into the Fleet Week Main Event Hall hosting more interactive displays and STEM Expo. The military activities will be complemented by live entertainment throughout the Waterfront District and numerous opportunities to interact with the sailors, including a free Saturday evening concert headlined by Jefferson Starship on the fantail of the Battleship IOWA, a Sunday brunch in the courtyard between CRAFTED and Brouwerij West, and a 1940’s-themed USO canteen at the IOWA on Sunday night. You can even “meet, greet and compete” with military service men and women atop the Vincent Thomas Bridge during the eighth annual Labor Day Conquer the Bridge race. Most events are open to the public and you are encouraged to attend and greet our servicemen and women!

Besides the exceptional opportunity to showcase our waterfront, Port and community, Fleet Week offers the chance to show our appreciation for the men and women working to keep our country strong and safe in a direct and personal way. Nearly 20 percent of the Navy’s personnel are between 18 and 22 years old (more than 60 percent are age 30 and younger), so this is a group of predominantly young people who are learning skill sets and gaining experiences that will form the foundation of their future careers. Growing up in the digital age, these young men and women are curious, resourceful and extremely interested in life experiences. Feel free to greet and talk with these wonderful young folks, and help them create fond memories of this first-time L.A. Fleet Week.

“Ultimately, our goal is to create a great starting point to grow an annual L.A. Fleet Week tradition here on the L.A. Waterfront,” Baker said. “Already, we have identified a number of things that we want to do for next year or the year after – which is one way of saying that this is an event which will improve year after year.”

With that in mind, event organizers suggest that local residents and businesses keep an open mind during this inaugural L.A. Fleet Week and focus on showing our military guests and visitors the best of what our community has to offer in terms of places to visit and things to do in our proud port town with a rich Naval and maritime history.

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YOUR GUIDE TO FLEET WEEK Things to see and do:

ENJOY THE FLYOVERS: Classic warbirds and modern military aircraft will be visiting throughout the day Sept. 3 through 5. Find a place to take in the view.

TAKE A TOUR: Public tours of the ships will be available Sept. 2 through 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and an 11 a.m. start time following the popular Labor Day morning Conquer the Bridge footrace. Sign up for the L.A. Fleet Week newsletter at www.lafleetweek.com to hear when tour reservations can be made online. Ships will be announced mid-August.

CONQUER THE BRIDGE: Start your Labor Day morning off with 4,000 runners (and walkers) of all ages -- and likely hundreds of sailors, Marines and “coasties” -- who will participate in the 5.3-mile fun run from the L.A. Maritime museum over the Vincent Thomas Bridge and back.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR NAVY: The Navy is an international defense and combat force, but it’s also one of the largest humanitarian and disaster relief organizations in the world. Displays in the Main Event Hall and Outer Harbor/Berth 46 will highlight their capabilities.

Traffic and Parking

BRING SUNSCREEN AND YOUR APPETITE: L.A. Fleet Week events will be indoors and outdoors, so bring sunscreen, stay hydrated and enjoy on-site food trucks and downtown eateries.

TAKE IN SOME TUNES: The U.S. Navy Band will be playing at the stage on 6th and Mesa for First Thursday and at the Friday Farmers Market, and a free concert headlined

by Jefferson Starship is scheduled for Saturday evening at the Battleship IOWA, plus more live music scheduled around town throughout the weekend.

Established Fleet Week events like those in San Diego and San Francisco draw hundreds of thousands of people; in its first year, L.A. is expected to draw more than 250,000 visitors. Port Police, LAPD, Department of Transportation, LAFD, the Navy and a number of other agencies are working together to ensure safe and fluid traffic movement, but Harbor Blvd. will likely be congested throughout the weekend even with terrific traffic management. Pro tip: if you must drive, use alternate routes to the parking lots in the Outer Harbor ($5/day) and take the free shuttles to the event sites and Downtown.

AUGUST 2016 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 21

MEET OUR MILITARY: Come downtown for a special Fleet Week First Thursday Art Walk on September 1, a great night of fun, music and food in downtown San Pedro.

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SPECIAL FLEET WEEK EVENTS First Thursday Welcome Party Welcome the sailors in San Pedro style at a SUPER First Thursday! Everything you love about First Thursday and more – more live music, more open galleries and studios, and more room to stroll around, as parts of 6th and 7th Street will be closed to vehicles.

Thursday, September 1, 6 to 9 p.m. Downtown Rock Under The Guns Join Mayor Garcetti and the L.A. Fleet Week Foundation as we salute the Sea Services with great music from San Pedro’s One Ten South, the USO and Jefferson Starship.

Saturday, September 3. Gates open at 6 p.m. Battleship IOWA www.lafleetweek.com Leadership Luncheon with Vice Admiral Nora Tyson, Commander, US 3rd Fleet Hosted by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. A naval flight officer with a long career in the service, Tyson was appointed in 2015 to lead the San Diego-based 3rd Fleet, making her the first woman to serve as Commander of a numbered U.S. Navy Fleet.

Thursday, September 1, 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. Doubletree San Pedro. Tickets required: www.sanpedrochamber.com

Military demonstrations on the USS Abraham Lincoln from Navy Days in 2011 (photo: Courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles) Vice Admiral Nora Tyson

(photo: U.S. Navy)

Conquer the Bridge – Meet, Greet and Compete with the Fleet The annual 5.3 mile run over the iconic and challenging Vincent Thomas Bridge will take place on Labor Day as usual, but this year active military and Coast Guard personnel will be running side-by-side with the race participants! Run it yourself or just come down and cheer them on!

22 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

Monday, September 5, 7 a.m. Start/Finish on Harbor Blvd. and 1st Street. Advance registration REQUIRED to run/walk the course: www.conquerthebridge.com

Burgers, Beer and a Band Meet & greet with the sailors and enjoy San Pedro’s newest brewery, Brouwerij West, while trying some of the best L.A.’s burger trucks. Live music inside, free to attend. Food and beer not included.

Friday, September 2, 5 to 9 p.m. Brouwerij West, 110 E. 22nd Street www.brouwerijwest.com/fleetweek Brunch & Beer Come to the courtyard at CRAFTED for one of L.A.’s best coffee trucks and brunch your way through the day with breakfast-inspired food trucks.

Beer will be served inside the Brouwerij West tasting room and CRAFTED will be open early so you can search for unique handcrafted gifts starting at 10 a.m.

(photo: Courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles)

Sunday, September 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., CRAFTED at the Port of LA, 112 E. 22nd Street www.craftedportofla.com/fleetweek 1940’s Hollywood-themed USO Canteen Come dressed as your favorite star from the Golden Age of Hollywood and enjoy live themed entertainment with the sailors!

Conquer the Bridge

(photo: © Reidar Schopp / RLSFoto.com, All Rights Reserved)

Sunday, September 4, evening, Battleship IOWA www.lafleetweek.com

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The Family (l to r): Jennifer Ungaro,; Tommy Amalfitano, Jr.; Tommy Amalfitano, Sr.; Henry Ungaro; Michael Ungaro (photo: John Mattera)

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The San Pedro Fish Market debuts its new reality web series, Kings of Fi$h.

24 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

by Leonard Trubia May 31, 2000, a show called Survivor premiered changing the face of television forever. At first, this strange new competition series, coined a “reality show,” was considered risky to CBS. Rightly so, there were no actors, celebrities, or professional athletes competing. Who would want to watch it? Then it happened. People started watching. During the season finale, a staggering 50 million people tuned it to see Richard Hatch win one million dollars after living for weeks on an island with strangers.

The floodgates opened. Survivor had successfully ushered in a new era of television.

Everyone, particularly broadcast networks, wanted a piece of the success and massive fortune they forecasted was headed their way.

Today, there are hundreds of reality TV shows on the air painting a portrait of anyone from teen moms to the Kardashians, ensuring that you will never starve of reality TV malnutrition. So you might be asking yourself, does a fish market parked at the bottom of the 110 freeway need its own reality TV series? What is it that makes the families behind the San Pedro Fish Market compelling enough to warrant their own show, aptly titled Kings of Fi$h? It’s what they are not.

They are not famous, gimmicky, or dysfunctional.

They are you and me and a whole lot of people that will never be the subject of TMZ. They’re hardworking family people that effortlessly radiate unmanufactured character.

Gimmicks of corporate chains “hospitaliano” are simply unnecessary at the San Pedro Fish Market. The team’s fast paced work ethic affords them a simple smile, and a quality product. A no frills approach that thousands of people come to expect every week.

Ironically, not long ago this family could have unnoticeably slipped out of a production trailer and onto the set of The Sopranos without a second glance from security. Now that is reality.

I had a chance to speak at length with Michael Ungaro, director of marketing and new product development for the fish market, characterized in Kings of Fi$h as “Mr. Computer,” the only guy that can clock out without smelling like fish. From speaking with Ungaro, it is clear he understands the power of media. With a background in business, he explains, the idea for producing the show themselves was driven by their prior experiences with various networks. “We’ve been on the Food Network, Travel Channel, and had great exposure through it,” he says.

It wasn’t until he began digging through various social media forums that Ungaro realized the reach of the fish market. “We had fans from Florida, Kansas, Texas, all over the country. We have over 1.7 million people interact with our Facebook page each month,” he explains. “Time magazine recognized us as the fifth most Instagramed restaurant in the entire country.” That’s a lot of pictures.

Ungaro also drew from his own experiences and the places that he loves to dine, recognizing how important the narrative is to the experience. “When people don’t know the entire narrative, they fill in the blanks,” he says. “What better way to fill in the blanks than reality TV? This is the driving force behind the show.”

Founded by Mackey Ungaro in 1956, Mackey’s son, Henry Ungaro and Henry’s best friend Tommy Amalfitano Sr., aka “The Boss,” were running the business together at age 15. In total, Tommy Sr. has been doing this for 57 years, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the rest of the family will someday boast such numbers. As Tommy Sr. says in the show, “This is a passion for me. For some reason I’m crazy about fish!”

With so much success you have to wonder what chemist spiked the bloodline of this family in order to produce their unflinching work ethic. Maybe a stroll down to the port would answer my curiosity.

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Various scenes from the first set of episodes of Kings of Fi$h

It’s 8:30 a.m. In an attempt to piece together this family(s)-owned and operated seafood mecca; I wander into the dining area of the sprawling fish market. I spot a man with a garden hose pacing through the tables. It is Henry Ungaro, chief operations officer, aka “The Hammer.” The hands on anything and everything guy. Head shaved and face goateed, Henry looks more like a guy you’d see featured on a primetime MMA contest than a guy that works at a restaurant.

I introduced myself and asked if I could talk to him about the show. He replies, “As long as you can do it while I’m working.” Henry was hosing down the deck, flipping tables, making sure the place was presentable. You might think with a name like Ungaro, Henry would have a younger, greener employee handle this task, but that is not the way of the San Pedro Fish Market.

While Henry worked, I asked him about their reality show, Kings of Fi$h, and what it was like to be featured in a television production. Without hesitation, Henry says, “They’ve put us in shows before, it’s a little weird at first but you get used to it. There’s no acting. We’re too busy working.” The conversation continues for as long as Henry would have it, with the straight talk that San Pedro is known for. Without turning the hose off, he continues, “I got it from my father.” Henry breaks from his focus for a second and smiles. It is clear what the show is about. Family business, and they take both the family and the business quite seriously.

The two families go back 150 years and were fisherman in Italy. Tommy Amalfitano Sr. says, “Henry Ungaro was my best friend, and has since passed. We were nine days apart.”

When you talk to Tommy Sr. he minces few words. When asked to define family, he says, “Family works together, eats together, and enjoys life together.” When I ask about the American dream, there is no pause. “We’re living it!”

As far as the camera crew goes, Tommy Sr. laughingly recalls, “I had to tell them to get the hell outta here! I play myself. I don’t act. People come here to eat. I come here to work.

We’re a working family.” After 57 years, Tommy Sr. claims that he had to retire.

Instead of seven days a week, he now works six.

I asked Tommy Sr. for five minutes of his time and he gave me exactly six minutes, 20% more than he promised. It’s no surprise that this family-owned business has served this

community for more than 50 years and will presumably continue to do so for generations to come.

When I asked “The Boss” about the future of Kings of Fi$h, reality TV and his future in Hollywood he responds, “If the TV show works, okay. If not, it’s okay.” It was time for Tommy Sr. to get back to work.

Michael “Mr. Computer” explains, “I looked at the concept of this TV show as a way to make sure that our grandkids could have additional opportunities to explore.” With their signature frozen food lines selling in four states, the hope was the show would help promote the brand and the products. “When I met with the people from Costco and played an episode of the show, it clicked. They’d say, ‘Oh, you have a family business and it might be on TV, this will really sell your product. Here’s your purchase order!’” Mike laughs, “I could sell the product to the grocery stores on the concept of the show alone. The problem is the show hasn’t been sold.”

In its infancy, the original show was shopped around to 12 networks, all of which liked it but seemed to be swamped with productions like Duck Dynasty that had a similar formula to Kings of Fi$h. Ultimately, the only networks motivated to produce the show wanted a percentage of all sales, including the restaurant, hats, t-shirts, you name it. The family was not comfortable with giving up this kind of stake.

Michael recalls, “So we sat on it for three years until through a high school friend, I got involved with Scott Holmes,” a figure in entertainment and marketing initiatives for studios and networks. Joined by executive producers Tim Regan Wasmundt and Devin McGovern, involved in successes like Iron Chef America and Bar Rescue, Kings of Fi$h is as polished as any network production.

“Scott proposed the idea of putting together five-minute shorts,” explains Michael.

“Providing they draw enough traffic, the show may attract sponsors.” The reality series pilot can be found on their website (www.sanpedrofish.com). Have a look. You’ll be impressed.

Be it television or its “World Famous Shrimp Tray,” there’s no need for insider information. Ultimately, betting on the success of the San Pedro Fish Market is as sure a bet you can place on a local business. No tips from your bookie required. spt

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The Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor; (r) Randolph Churchill, great grandson of Sir Winston Churchill (photos: Casey Warren)

Long Live the Queen Iconic ship celebrates 80th anniversary

28 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

by Stephanie Mardesich | photos by Casey Warren It is always delightful and nostalgic to stroll the Promenade Deck of the RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Queen Mary (QM). One feels the presence of illustrious passengers from her glory days, including movie stars and celebrities, politicians, financiers, and royals; the heroic military service men and “war brides” transported during WWII; and the throngs of visitors enjoying and exploring this homage to a queen since the ship was taken out of service in 1967, fortunately saved from the scrap yard, and ensconced in Long Beach Harbor the past five decades as a hotel, museum and special event venue.

Memorial Day weekend kicked off the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the celebrated ship. Commissioned by Cunard-White Star line, SJE the QM was built in Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland and launched in 1934 by King George V and his consort Queen Mary. Considered an engineering marvel at 81,000 tons, she brought true meaning to “Britannia Rules the Waves,” conveying millions of passengers across the pond from South Hampton to New York harbor and around the globe.

An anniversary ceremony May 27 included Los Angeles-based Consul Generals from the United Kingdom and France, representatives of U.S. Congress members Janice Hahn and Alan Lowenthal, Lord Alan Watson, CBE, member of Parliament, author and scholar; and Randolph Churchill, great grandson of one of the QM’s most esteemed passengers, Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965), former Lord of the Admiralty and Prime Minister of England who lead his country to victory through the challenging era of WWII. Churchill had a lifelong connection to the ship. He and his wife Clementine were at her launch and maiden sailing. He also used the ship as his war room at sea and traveled aboard her in peacetime. Apropos of his American heritage (his mother Lady Randolph Churchill was the heiress nee Jennie Jerome, a native New Yorker), in April 1963, President John F. Kennedy declared him a U.S. citizen.

Renowned as a political icon, wartime leader, inveterate cigar smoker, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature (1953), Churchill was also a gifted artist who began painting after he was 40 years old. Over his lifetime, he created more than 500 canvases and carted his paintbrush and easel when traveling. His propinquity with the Queen Mary

is honored with a restaurant (Sir Winston’s) and hotel suite named for him, and as part of the anniversary commemoration a new gallery opened with the exhibition “Passion For Painting: The Art of Sir Winston Churchill.” The priceless collection of paintings and personal mementos is on loan from the Churchill family and National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri (www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org) where he delivered his prophetic “Iron Curtain speech” in 1946. The exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through November. Admission included with any “passport” starting at $25.

As his great grandson praised the City of Long Beach and stewards of the QM for preserving the unique symbol of history that holds meaning for England, France and America, he recalled his progenitor’s spirit, and how painting came to his rescue when he was emotionally challenged, in Sir Winston’s own words: “We must not be too ambitious.

We cannot aspire to masterpieces. We may content ourselves with a joyride in a paint box. And, for this, audacity is the only ticket.” Churchill’s “audacity” is indeed evident in his brilliant creations.

When Churchill left service to his country, he retired to his home “Chartwell” in Kent – the garden of England – where he was prolific as a painter and writer. It’s been my privilege to visit his abode, now a museum, and “you can feel the old boy there” and clearly understand his appreciation of nature manifested in his impressive landscapes and seascapes.

In 2006, my late “Mumsie” and I had the opportunity to sail on the maiden voyage of the ship’s namesake the Queen Mary 2 – we wore mink and pearls and thought we’d meet the new Cary Grant – and witnessed the “meeting of the two Queens” on a glorious summery California winter day in February, reminiscent of the spectacular moment when the Queen Mary arrived in Long Beach revealed in the new enthralling documentary Mighty Ship at War: The Queen Mary, a co-production of BBC, BBC Four, Smithsonian Channel and Scottish Television Productions. The poignant one-hour film tells the QM’s fascinating story with remarkable archival footage and recollections from workers and passengers sharing stories of life aboard the ship. The film will have its U.S. premier on the Smithsonian Channel August 21 at 8 p.m. PDT. The Queen Mary is an exciting destination for tourists and locals. Looking to the future, the City of Long Beach recently announced plans to develop the area surrounding the ship with a potential $250 million entertainment and retail complex featuring a 200-room boutique hotel, restaurants, marina, amphitheater for live music and events, and possibly a giant Ferris wheel (similar to the London Eye) linked together by jogging and bike paths near the water. “The idea is to do something spectacular on the water that will also connect to downtown,” states Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.

Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate 80 years of the Queen Mary and view the Sir Winston Churchill paintings, among all the other intriguing exhibits. Take a voyage and “slip sail” aboard her majesty seven days a week to enjoy the rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. spt For information on the Queen Mary, tours, dining and hotel information, call (877) 342-0738; hotel reservations: (877) 342-0742, or visit www.queenmary.com.

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History Lost & Found story & photos by Angela “Romee” Romero

30 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

“Do you want to see George H. Peck’s autograph?”

Joe McKinzie, past president of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society, already knew my answer to his question before he asked it. Of course I wanted to see the real life signature of the man who once owned half of San Pedro and gave us most of our park lands.

I had just walked into an estate sale that Joe was running with his wife Martha. I started going to local estate sales regularly about a year ago when I wandered into one on a whim and found a photo in a box of papers that showed a vantage point of Front Street (Harbor Blvd.) that I had never seen before. That was when I realized that a lot of San Pedro’s history was probably tucked away in shoeboxes and attics all over town. Anne Hansford, the late historical society archivist, would constantly lament the fact that important historical documents and artifacts were being lost every year because people were either unaware of the historical significance or overwhelmed by the task of sorting through a life’s worth of stuff.

While my personal crusade is pretty casual, the struggle to save our shared history is real and I’ve met some amazing people who are doing their part to preserve it for future generations. Most of them are history buffs just like me.

Joseph A. Monfiletto is a retiree, collector and military history expert specializing in the Pacific portion of WWII surrounding the Philippines. I met Joseph while going to Martha and Joe’s estate sales.

Recently, I overheard Joseph talking about some Sepulveda artifacts he had recently purchased from an antique dealer. Joseph is a very gifted storyteller and he didn’t mind me completely inserting myself into the tale of his latest acquisition. The items were from the estate of the great-great-great granddaughter of Jose Dolores Sepulveda, the father of Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Sepulvedas are the founding family of San Pedro and the peninsula. Their presence in the area goes back to the days when California was under Spanish rule and a young Jose Dolores Sepulveda staked a claim on a portion of Rancho Dominguez. But the land would not be had without a fight and unfortunately Jose Dolores wouldn’t survive the battle. His young sons Juan and Jose Loreto would eventually continue the charge for their claim through Spanish, Mexican and eventually American rule. Ultimately, it was their younger brother Jose Diego and his children Ramon and Rudecinda that played a bigger role in establishing the city of San Pedro.

Joseph agreed to share a portion of the collection with me. Jose Loreto was Jose Dolores’ second oldest son and instrumental to securing Rancho Palos Verdes for his family through a decree in 1834. He named his eldest son after his father and it’s from this younger Jose Dolores Sepulveda (Jose Dolores II) that the collection stems from.

Joseph brought a shopping bag’s worth history to my office and let me geek out over it.

There were beautiful photos, including a portrait of Jose Dolores II’s daughter Sara and her husband William Foley, a prominent lawyer from one of California’s pioneer families.

The more intriguing items, for me, are always the most personal. There was a lock of hair, a family bible and letters that were personal to the family, including a beautiful letter where Jose Dolores II accepts William Foley’s request to marry his daughter. Then there are the items that are personal to the historian because they connect you to history. For me, it was a small diary

Top: Items from the estate of the great-great-great granddaughter of Jose Dolores Sepulveda, the father of Rancho Palos Verdes; Bottom: a small diary kept by Jose Dolores II.

kept by Jose Dolores II where he started listing key dates in his life and he mentions the Port of San Pedro before San Pedro was even a town. It was beyond an honor to be interacting with artifacts from such an important family.

The scary part was learning how the items were almost lost. The antique dealer who sold Joseph the collection was a friend and neighbor of the Sepulveda descendant and fished what she could out of the garbage when the elderly woman was moved to hospice and the house was cleared out.

The scariest sentence to a historian is probably, “Just get rid of it.” You don’t have to be a prominent family to have important documents and photos hiding out in your house or garage.

If you don’t know, ask someone or just give it to the historical society now and let them sort through it. Don’t let San Pedro’s history get thrown out with the garbage. spt

For questions regarding historical significance or to donate items to the San Pedro Bay Historical Society, please call (310) 548-3208 or email sanpedrohistory@gmail.com.

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Left: Mary Star High girls' volleyball team photo the night they clinched their second straight Santa Fe League championship in November 2015; right: San Pedro girls soccer celebrating their 11th straight Marine League title after they clinched it at Narbonne High in February 2016.

2015-16 Prep Sports Year-in-Review story & photos by Jamaal K. Street

32 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

The 2015-2016 San Pedro Prep Sports season ended in June, and even though it again didn’t end with a CIF championship for San Pedro, Port of Los Angeles or Mary Star High, there was still some amazing memories to come out of it. Here’s the best of the best.

DOING IT ALL – San Pedro football senior Antonio ‘A.J.’ Frazier Jr. would come away with a spectacular final year for the Pirates, as he would be named the Marine League Co-Defensive MVP for the second straight year, garner his second All-City selection, and be the first in school history to score touchdowns in four different ways (2 rushing, 2 punt returns, one receiving, one interception return). Frazier Jr. accounted for 1,049 all-purpose yards, registering 99 tackles while also breaking up six passes while signing with Northern State University in Iowa in February.

MAGICAL VICTORY TOUR – Not much was expected from San Pedro girls’ soccer in the first year for coaches Crystal Valdes & Chatelaine Ansaldi, other than another Marine League title. The Pirates did that and exceeded far more, winning 18 games in a row, which included capturing their own Lady Pirate Cup Tournament (defeating eventual CIFLACS D-4 runner-up & neighbor POLA in the final), dominating the Marine League for an 11th straight league crown, and reaching the CIF-LACS Division 1 semifinals, losing 2-0 to eventual champion Taft. Four girls, juniors Ryann Lozano, Maddie Villela and Sydney Engel, along with freshman Samantha Martinez, all scored 10 or more goals, with Lozano scoring 28. Engel and Villela were All-City selections, along with POLA super sophomore Briana Mancilla (30 goals).

SOCCER DOMINANCE – Not only was the run of San Pedro girls’ soccer impressive, POLA’s girls team once again shined for a sixth straight Crosstown League title and reached the CIF-LACS Division 4 finals, losing in heartbreaking fashion on a penalty kick

shootout to Northridge Academy on March 5. Also, Mary Star won both the boys’ soccer Camino Real League title (first since 2011), and the Mary Star girls repeated as Santa Fe League champions. Both senior Nick Dileva (boys) and junior Taylor Garcia (girls) were named their respective league’s Most Valuable Goalkeeper.

FINALLY… AFTER 25 YEARS – January 15, 2016, was the day San Pedro girls’ basketball finally found a way to defeat perennial CIF-LACS Division 1 power Narbonne of Harbor City, as the Pirates won a 36-33 defensive classic. The hot shooting of junior Deanna Valverde early on staked the Pirates to a halftime lead, but it was the clutch threepoint shooting of senior Crystal Redd in the fourth quarter and two critical layups in the final minute from senior Melannie Ortiz that sealed the victory.

A RECORD OF WHIFFS – POLA softball junior Analise De La Roca, two years after being the No. 2 pitcher behind former CIF-LACS three-time Pitcher of the Year Nicolle Miranda (now at Eastern Michigan), would show everyone why she verballed to Arizona State before she threw her first pitch two years ago in a mighty way. De La Roca set a new standard in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section with 408 strikeouts, finishing 26-4 with a 0.43 ERA, 20 shutouts, 5 no-hitters and three perfect games, allowing only 19 runs (12 earned), 31 walks and 10 hit batters in 197 innings pitched, and 2,760 pitches thrown.

De La Roca also did damage at the plate, hitting .521 with 4 home runs and 37 RBIs in guiding POLA to a 27-5 record and a CIF-LACS Division 1 semifinals berth. Oh, and De La Roca went 3-0 against San Pedro (2 wins) & Mary Star.

DETERMINATION REIGNS – San Pedro girls track distance runner Bronwyn Bunnell would not be denied in the CIF-LACS Track Finals at Birmingham High on May 26. Not even a 101-degree fever, hard cough and inflamed lungs would stop her from finishing third in the 800 Meter race with a 2:22.37 time, which qualified her for the CIF State Track Meet in Clovis, California. The UC Santa Barbara-bound senior, while still recovering, finished with a 2:18.55 mark in Clovis.

NO SENIORS? NO PROBLEM – 13 players, no seniors, STILL your Santa Fe League co-champions. Mary Star girls’ volleyball would overcome an early three-game loss to St. Genevieve in October 2015 by sweeping the Valiants right back on November 3 in the season finale at Mary Star to capture another league crown under second-year coach Tyler Jaynes. A junior-heavy group paced by Ally Spillane, Lexi Andrie, Angela Pisano, Gianna Fletcher and Ticela Molio’o among others, will look to do it all over again in 2016.

Finally, San Pedro alum Koral Costa closed out her four-year career at Oregon by being named both an NCAA Academic & NFCA Division 1 All-American after helping pace the Ducks to a fourth straight Pac-12 Conference championship. Cheers to another great year.

Let’s make 2016-2017 even better, shall we? spt

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We Are Exactly Where We Are Meant to Be

by Lori Garrett I think we’ve all experienced moments in our lives when we’ve asked, “Why me?”

You know what I mean: when you feel like life is completely unfair, like you’ve been singled out by the universe, and you don’t understand why you’ve been “cursed” with this unjust circumstance.

I had my first real “why me?” moment in 2004. After living with my Crohn’s diagnosis for over two years, I was suddenly challenged with my most trying episode yet. When I began experiencing intense abdominal pain and a spiking fever, I was hospitalized for ten grueling days with a mysterious infection. For the first few days I was touch and go, the doctors not knowing the source of the infection, nor if I would survive it. With each day that passed, I became more resentful. At 30 years old, I was not meant to be lying in this hospital bed fighting for my life. I was meant to be living my life like the rest of the normal world. I felt terribly sorry for myself and wondered why God would put me in this seemingly merciless place.

Meanwhile, my friend, Deanne, was traveling through Ireland with her family. Being abroad, she had no idea I’d been hospitalized. When she returned to the States and found out, she raced to visit me and brought the souvenirs she’d bought for me: a necklace and a pill box, both featuring a Celtic knot pattern. Unaware of the meaning of this traditional Irish symbol, I was intrigued to read the inserts. I learned that the Celtic knot represents an eternal life cycle: a never-ending loop, intertwined in twists and turns, but always connected, with no beginning and no end. The Celtic knot is a symbol of faith, representing the interlacing of the physical and the spiritual and the idea that everyone and every event is somehow connected to every other. It alludes to the idea that there are no coincidences and no accidents.

Suddenly, I saw everything from a wider perspective, and it hit me: we are all exactly where we are meant to be. It was not a coincidence that Deanne brought me this particular gift, and it was no accident that I was lying in this hospital. Maybe I wasn’t in the wrong place after all. Maybe I was exactly where I was meant to be. From that moment on, I began to have faith in that notion. I desperately clutched that necklace in my hand every day, and that is essentially what got me through the rest of that hospital stay.

Needless to say, I eventually recovered, but that episode profoundly changed me. I would have many more “why me?” moments, but to this day, it is that Celtic knot necklace and that little pill box that remind me that this is who I am supposed to be. They pose the question: am I cursed or am I blessed? For some time, I thought it was the former.

But after all the ups and downs, I see it differently now. Some might see being afflicted with chronic illness as a sad stroke of misfortune. But I’m grateful to be able to now see the bigger picture. I consider every day I’m alive (especially the days when I’m feeling okay) to be a miracle. My illness allows me to deeply appreciate the many blessings I have: amazingly supportive family and friends, access to healing foods, supplements, and medical treatment, and the things many of us take for granted, like a comfortable home and modern conveniences. Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are. In addition, my illness has taught me to be more understanding and compassionate towards others who may be experiencing their own struggles. It’s started me on a path to better health and being accountable for my decisions, enriching my existence and making life more meaningful every day.

I now know that I’m not cursed; I am blessed…and I am exactly where I’m meant to be.

What blessings have you been given? I’ll bet there are many! I have a feeling it’s no accident that you’re reading this right now. Maybe you, too, are exactly where you are meant to be. spt This information is not meant to replace the advice of your medical doctor or professional health care practitioner. Please consult a functional medical doctor and/or qualified nutritionist for more information. You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog: www.adventuresofasickchick.com.

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36 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I AUGUST 2016

by Ricky Magana I recently completed a round of coaching clients through a 30day fat-loss challenge.

I learn something new nearly every time I do these challenges.

Sometimes it's about dieting and sometimes it's about what causes people to have success with dieting.

I wanted to share some of those latest insights with you this month so hopefully if you're struggling, something I say here may click with you on your journey towards fitness. So without further ado, here goes: Success is not a formula; it's a riddle. With regards to weight-loss, there are some rules that you just have to follow if you’re going to get anywhere. But no guru possesses “The Answer” to all your weight-loss struggles. There isn’t one. There isn’t a single formula that fits for all people in all cases. Rather, achieving results is a bit of a riddle.

There isn’t a clear path. It’s something you have to keep trying at, tinkering and fiddling with until you find what works for you. You’ll only fail when you stop trying.

Sprinters almost always lose the race. I see this demonstrated time and time again.

With a few exceptions, seldom are people able to make dramatic 180-degree overhauls to their lifestyles and stick to it. It’s actually a great way to fail. There’s nothing wrong with making big changes, as long as you maintain realistic expectations. You will stumble along the way and there’s nothing wrong with that. The trouble is sprinters like to sprint backwards as quickly as they do forwards. The steady tortoise really does win the race.

You can’t negotiate good results. When you buy a car, you’re expected to negotiate.

If you’re astute, you can get a deal and pay well under the listed price. Weight-loss doesn’t work that way. Nature doesn't haggle and has no sales quota to fill. If you want nice summer abs, you either do what's required or you get nothing. If you’re “good during the week” and completely blow it on Saturday/Sunday, the law of thermodynamics doesn’t take weekends off. It’s harsh but true, nonetheless.

Dropping bad habits will also accomplish far more than adopting good ones.

If you drink too much, smoke, and/or don’t sleep enough, you’d be far better served getting that house in order before exercise or doing the latest fad diet.

In terms of fat-loss, a serious change in diet wins over exercise (but doing both is a game changer). You may be surprised to hear this, but exercise is a crappy way to lose weight. Most people simply can’t exercise the amount of time or at the intensity required to make a dent in their scale. Exercise is a powerhouse habit for your health and well-being. Your organs, bones, muscles, and mental health benefit immensely from time in the gym, but fat-loss happens (mostly) in the kitchen. But if you do both, you’re going to achieve your goal exponentially faster and look better doing it.

Fat loss happens on its own time. People on strict diets almost always report dramatic results in the beginning, but what happens next almost without fail, is a period of frustrating 'complacency.' The scale won't move for weeks. This is where most people quit.

But weight-loss happens in fits and spurts and if you lack the patience to wait out the dry spells, you’ll quit before meaningful results ever happen.

You can’t bring a scale to the beach. I liken crash dieting to a payday loan, get a windfall now but you end up paying back far more than you received. People get too caught up in whether their scale is moving when they should focus on body recomposition.

Your body composition is the ratio of lean mass to body fat. You want lean mass to increase while body fat decreases. Sure, this means that the net number of pounds you lose will be less, but when you look great in a bathing suit or the little black dress, you won’t really care how much you weigh.

Lastly, you won’t succeed until you’re convinced you can. Deep down most people don’t think they have what it takes. You need to be around people who have done it. You need to see it with your own eyes. Only then will you get out of your own way and get the results you want. spt For some sample workouts to help you get better, email ricky@heydaytraining.com.

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