San Pedro Today - September 2015

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SEPTEMBER 2015

PLUS: CHRIS CORNELL PLAYS THE WARNER GRAND | JACARANDA GOURMET SHOP'S NEW OWNER | WEDDING: SALVATORE & NICOLE PALMA

AThisRoom With A View home and many others are part of this

month's White Point Home Tour, benefitting the White Point Nature Preserve


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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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Good intentions don't always equal good ideas. The homeless problem in San Pedro has reached a tipping point, as the legality of the "tiny houses" issue has prompted everyone to come out of the woodwork to weigh in on what to do with our evergrowing displaced population. While the "tiny houses" idea was born from the best of intentions, the execution was shortsighted and not a viable long-term solution. The houses were taking up valuable parking space in downtown, had no real right-to-ownership, no regulations, no plumbing and no sewage lines. They were basically human-sized doghouses, which made them impractical and burdensome to our community at large. Councilman Buscaino denounced the "tiny houses" last month. They have since been removed from the streets and hopefully that particular issue is now handled. Even though the "tiny houses" were not going to work, it seems that across the country, the concept of "housing first" is proving to be the most effective way of combating the homeless problem. For example, the city of Houston, Texas, recently announced that they effectively ended their chronic veteran homeless population through a community-driven enterprise called The Way Home (www.thewayhomehouston.org), which brought together 35 local agencies and utilized local and federal resources to house 3,650 veterans within three years. According to reports, The Way Home has reduced Houston's overall homeless population by nearly 50 percent. (Houston has the second largest veteran population in the country.) Taking a cue from Houston, in the city of Dallas, Texas, an $8.2 million pilot program for an eco-friendly complex called Cottages at Hickory Crossing will begin housing 50 homeless people starting in November (and they've already begun plans for an expansion). The complex includes solar energy and rainwater collection, green recreational space and other features, according to the Dallas Morning News. The city looks to alleviate the costs of dealing with their homeless population from $40,000 to $15,000 a year per individual through the use of this complex, which was partially supported by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (www.csh.org). “This just makes sense,” said Ron Stretcher, director of the Dallas County Criminal Justice Department, to the Dallas Morning News. “Everyone deserves a place to stay; we’re only as strong as the least among us. But even if you don’t subscribe to that, it’s cheaper to do this than to cycle them through the prisons and the jails and the emergency rooms.” In Charlotte, North Carolina, Moore Place, a nonprofit that provides permanent housing and other homeless services (www.urbanministrycenter.org), saved the city $2.4 million in medical costs, according to a report from the University of North Carolina. The study also concluded that clients who went through Moore Place's housing program got off the streets permanently and took advantage of their services, as opposed to people who were not offered an established housing solution. These "housing first" models, coupled with local and federal agencies working together to combat mental health, unemployment and addiction issues, seem to be the most effective model in combating the issue of homelessness in this country. So how can programs like these be executed within our town? The common denominator within the three examples I've listed is that none of the solutions came directly from their respective city governments. All solutions came from hardworking, smart and creative nonprofit organizations that are experts in their fields. Don't expect the City of Los Angeles to solve its homeless crisis by itself. What city officials, including our own councilman, need to do is seek out these types of organizations and give them assistance so they can provide their services in the best way possible. In other words, they need to relinquish some control and use more creative ways of thinking in order to achieve any semblance of success over this issue. San Pedro actually has an abundance of homeless, mental health and addiction services already. The problem, according to people familiar with many of them whom I've spoken to, is there is an incredible lack of communication between all of them. Maybe, in an effort to begin this type of creative assistance, our councilman can reach out to all the leaders of our local organizations, like Harbor Interfaith, HealthView Inc. (which runs the Harbor View House), Beacon House, our churches, halfway house operators and all the other local organizations within town and hold a summit to discuss and create a stronger communication network within the ample amount of services that are already being provided within San Pedro. It's clear, given the current state of this town's homeless problem, that none of our local organizations are being used as effectively as they could be. And if they can't step up their own game to help our community, then we need to seek sources from outside our town, our city and our state in order to make any effective impact. I'm hoping ideas like the ones I've presented, and other even better ones, will be discussed at the Homeless Forum coming up on First Thursday, September 3 at 6 p.m. at the Warner Grand Theatre. I urge all of you who are passionate about this issue to come to the forum prepared to add your ideas on how we can eliminate the plague of homelessness in our town together. spt Joshua Stecker is publisher/editor-in-chief of San Pedro Today. He can be reached at contact@sanpedrotoday.com.


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SEPTEMBER 2015

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR EVENTS

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VOICES MARCONI PIROZZI MARQUEZ ZIMMER COUNCILMAN BUSCAINO HEALTH & WELLNESS HEYDAY FITNESS

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FEATURES EVENT: A CLOSER CONNECTION Soundgarden's Chris Cornell takes the Warner Grand stage on September 21 EVENT: CONQUER THE BRIDGE RETURNS LABOR DAY The race is the only time pedestrians are allowed on the bridge all year

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COVER STORY: PRESERVING NATURE FOR THE FUTURE Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy continues its efforts to sustain the White Point Nature Preserve with the White Point Home Tour on September 13 WHITE POINT HOME TOUR PREVIEW We feature three homes as part of this year's White Point Home Tour

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LOVE AS FOOD Josephine Trusela takes over ownership of Jacaranda Gourmet Shop

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2015 SAN PEDRO PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW Check out how San Pedro and Mary Star high schools shape up for this year's prep football season

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WEDDING: ABSOLUTE AMORE Salvatore & Nicole (Infante) Palma – October 18th, 2014

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ON THE COVER: The master bedroom of Steve and Deirdre Woolley at their home on Bluff Place. Their home is part of the 2015 White Point Home Tour on September 13. (photo: John Mattera) EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joshua J. Stecker

ADVERTISING: General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Joseph A. Castañeda

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

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Chris Ayan, Joe Buscaino, Lori Garrett, Brooke Karli, Ricky Magana, Jennifer Marquez, Steve Marconi, Anthony Pirozzi, Mary Scott, Monica Simpson, Jamaal K. Street, Herb Zimmer

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

PHOTOGRAPHER John Mattera Photography Kathryn Colby Photography CONTACT INFO: PHONE: (424) 224-9063 EMAIL: contact@sanpedrotoday.com San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168, San Pedro, CA 90733

VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 8

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 2009-2015, Empire22 Media LLC.


You are Invited to a NEW Worship Experience!

The First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro invites you to join us as we start a new worship experience. We are beginning an intergenerational alternative service with a focus on families participating together. A service designed to provide an alternative to the structured traditional morning service.

There is a place for you at our table...

SOUL FEAST Sunday, September 20, 2015 Dinner at 5:30 with a program following All Ages Welcome

731 S. Averill, San Pedro between 7th and 8th For more info: (310) 832-7597 Visit us at: www.firstpressanpedro.org

SEPTEMBER 2015 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 7

First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro


SEPTEMBER 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.

& 9/3 at 8pm (*Talkback). Written by Frank McGuinness, follow an Englishman, American, and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon. McGuinness’ multiaward winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching. For more info and tickets, visit www.littlefishtheatre.org.

Every Mon – PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Coco’s 3 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown Restaurant (28300 Western Ave, RPV) 7-9p. For those San Pedro. 6-10p seeking to master public speaking & leadership skills. Info: ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshelly@yahoo.com. 4, 5 (Fri-Sat) – AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St., downtown). Runs Fri & Sat at Every Wed – CHILDREN’S WRITING CLASSES at 8p. Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie the Corner Store (1118 37th St). Seven Golden Secrets of Coltrin, this play is a celebration of life and humanity. Based Writing with Diana Chapman, Wed 4:30-5:45p. For info, almost completely on actual events, this original work is call (310) 626-7906. Please call ahead to reserve space. making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre. For more info and tickets, visit www.littlefishtheatre.org. Every Wed – OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St.) 6:30-9:30p. All are welcome. Chilidogs, snacks 5 (Sat)- LIGHT AT THE LIGHTHOUSE at Paseo Del Mar and beverages available. Dress warmly. (807 W. Paseo Del Mar). 10a-6p. Celebrate Labor Day Saturday at Point Fermin Park at the 11th Annual Light at Every Thurs (except holidays) – ADULT WRITING GROUP the Lighthouse. There will be music, food trucks, a Graffiti at St. Peter's Episcopal Church library room (1648 W. 9th Art Demonstration, a BMX performance, and activities for St.). 1-3p. All welcome! For more info, call (310) 831-2186. children. Every Thurs – WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP (TOPS TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY) at Peck Park Community Center, Classroom A (560 No. Western Ave.) 9:45-11a. Adults only. For more info call (310) 547-1098. Every Fri – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St. between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p.

19, 20 (Sat-Sun) - FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS at Ports O’ Call Villiage (1190 Nagoya Way). 11a-7p. FREE family event featuring dance, music and crafts. Dance from 1- 4p both days and live music from 4:30-7p. FREE parking. For info visit www.triartsp.com. 20 (Sun) - ICE CREAM SOCIAL at Holy Trinity Parish (1226 W. Santa Cruz.) 2 - 4:30p. Serving up ice cream with all the toppings at this fun family get-together. Parking available in lot located on Sepulveda between Walker and Hanford. Open to the public. FREE. 20 (Sun) - PEOPLE’S PLACE & PALACE PRESENTS CONTRA PEDRO at People’s Place San Pedro (365 W. 6th St.) 4-7p. Susan Michael’s calling with Jibberish. Admission $10, Students $7, Children 12 and under FREE and CDSS members $1 off. Instructions begin at 3:30p. For more info contact Jerry Wheeler at (562) 310-5087 or tbnjer@aol.com.

26 (Sat) – PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W. Paseo del Mar). 12-2p. 6 (Sat) - FIRST SATURDAY FAMILY HIKE at George F. Every fourth Saturday. For more information, Canyon (27305 Palos Verdes Dr. E, Rolling Hills Estates). visit www.pvplc.org. 9a. Guided walks through the Canyon. Free and open to the public. All ages welcome. For more information, contact 25 - 27 (Fri - Sat) - LOBSTER FESTIVAL at Ports O’ Call (310) 547-0862. (1190 Nagoya Way). 11a-11p. Enjoy a scenic outdoor park along LA’s historic waterfront, and shops at Ports O’Call. 12 (Sat) – CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The After feasting on world famous discount Main lobster meals, Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.) 10a-12p. Open every second guests enjoy dancing, street performers, a pirate camp, tall Saturday of the month. Grab some coffee and homegrown ships, shopping for arts and crafts and musical performances produce and don’t forget to bring your reusable bags! by some of today’s best up-and-coming acts.

Every Sat – LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p. Experience San Pedro and Wilmington's Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays. The museum is located in 12 (Sat) - LOCAL HISTORY SERIES at Peninsula Center Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall. Admission is Library (701 Silver Spur Rd., Rolling Hills) 3p. The Peninsula free, donations are accepted. Center Library is giving its first lecture in a seven part series of lectures on local history. The first lecture, entitled Every Sun – Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 “Agriculture on the Hill” will be given by Richard Kawasaki, Beacon St.) 1-4p. Built in 1899, the Muller House is the one of the Local History Room’s docents. Join in for a headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society. fascinating view of the Peninsula’s farming history. Admission is free, but a donation of $3 is encouraged. 17 (Thurs) – THE LADIES OF SALSA at the Grand Annex 2, 3 (Wed, Thurs) – SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER (434 W. 6th St). 8p. Dance the night away with Josie Neglia's ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St., Downtown). 9/2 salsa lessons at 8p & the Ladies of Salsa's powerful grooves

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at 9p. Ticket prices vary, general admission $20. For Tickets and info visit, www.grandvision.org.

Oct 10 (Sat) - SPHS 1970 45th CLASS REUNION at the Dalmatian-American Club (1639 S. Palos Verdes St.) For tickets and info please contact Jessica-Stumbaugh Bolitho at heymrsb2@aol.com or (310) 961-6591. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Email event info to events@sanpedrotoday. com. Deadline for the October issue is Friday September 11. All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted.



A Closer Connection Soundgarden's Chris Cornell plays the Warner Grand Sept. 21 by Chris Ayan San Pedro is no stranger to hard rock. With a music scene mired in post-punk ethos with bands like The Minutemen and Saccharine Trust, it is no surprise that the town will play host to the godfather of grunge himself, Chris Cornell. But come September, the leading force behind such legendary bands as Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Audioslave fame will take a step away from his heavy rhythm riffs and unplug his guitar for his new acoustic album, Higher Truth, and a tour stop at the Warner Grand Theatre on Sept. 21. This is Cornell’s first solo studio release in more than six years and his first foray into an entire acoustic album. Previously, he had gone on acoustic songbook tours, and it was during this time that he was really able to discover who he was as a solo artist. “I’ve really enjoyed this type of touring, and being able to have that much intimacy with the audience,” Cornell tells San Pedro Today. “To now have a body of 15 songs that are all new, that no one’s ever heard, that are going to support that, is pretty exciting.” And the Warner Grand is the perfect place to gain this intimacy with the audience, according to Cornell. “A lot of this type of touring is based on the performance space,” says Cornell. He explains that the room sound has to be conducive to the music, but also has to convey a comfort and environment that allows everyone to enjoy the music in their own way, having what the aging rock star refers to as a “moment” with his music.

Chris Cornell

“That is what led me to San Pedro and that room,” he says. The Warner Grand isn’t Cornell’s only connection to San Pedro. The Seattleite and his former bandmates in Soundgarden were also fans of San Pedro punk legends, The Minutemen. “That was one of Soundgarden’s bands that we all agreed on, unlike anything else before or since,” laughs Cornell, comparing how The Minutemen spoke of San Pedro to how The Beatles and Elvis Costello spoke about London. For those vintage Cornell fans worried about tuning their ears to his newer work during the tour, they need not fret. The rock star will be pulling from his entire catalogue. “Who I really am is that guy that's written all those songs as well,” explains Cornell. “This solo work has been written, essentially, to sort of fan those flames.” With only 1,500 seats at the Warner Grand, the fourth stop on his U.S. fall tour, is sure to be a packed house. Fans that are unable to see him live can look forward to the album dropping on Sept. 18. spt Chris Cornell plays the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St., San Pedro) on Monday, September 21, at 8 p.m. For tickets and info, visit www.grandvision.org or www.chriscornell.com.

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Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, products, and services are subject to change. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Certain restrictions may apply on all programs. 1 Citibank’s Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs. The program is available only in Citibank assessment areas and is subject to geographic, income, property, and product restrictions. The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit. 2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to geographic, income, property and other restrictions. © 2015 Citibank, N.A. Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC. NMLS# 412915. Citi, Citibank and Citi with Arc Design, Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.

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Conquer the Bridge Returns Labor Day The race is the only time pedestrians are allowed on the bridge all year by Chris Ayan For the past six years, the Vincent Thomas Bridge has been open to foot traffic for just one day a year. Michael Hogue is very proud of that fact, because that one-day a year is for his annual race. Hogue is the founder of Conquer the Bridge, the 5.3-mile race that spans the Vincent Thomas Bridge and begins and ends on Harbor Blvd. in San Pedro. This year's 7th annual race takes place on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. The race is the only time that pedestrians are allowed on the bridge; a fact that Hogue says is one of the event’s biggest draws. “A lot of people can only do one event a year,” says Hogue, 63. “This is the event. They

want to go over the bridge, they want to take their family and friends and they want to go up there and take pictures.” According to Hogue, although it is a race, everyone stops at the top of the bridge to look out over the harbor. “It’s a really magical moment,” he says. But despite that magical moment, the race is not easy. At 1,500-feet long with a six percent grade, the Vincent Thomas Bridge represents a steep challenge. And racers can expect to tackle the bridge twice within the course. “It’s not even the first pass over that’s the hardest,” says Hogue. “It’s coming back from the Long Beach side, the climb back is just long.” And that, of course, is part of the reason for the event’s name. But if access to the Vincent Thomas Bridge isn’t enough to tantalize San Pedro residents, there is always this year’s pace car: a brand new red convertible Ferrari courtesy of Ferrari of South Bay. Since it’s inception, the race has grown larger every year. This year, Hogue expects that there will be more than 3,000 racers. Hogue hopes that the event will eventually become a world-class half-marathon that goes out on Navy Way. But for now, he is content that it is continuing to run smoothly every year, keeping runners and walkers safe and happy. For those San Pedro residents that might be “on the bridge” about attending the event, Michael has one thing to say: “Come down on Labor Day morning with an open mind. Once you’ve been over the bridge, you’ll understand.” spt For more information and to register, visit www.conquerthebridge.com.

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(photo: John Mattera)

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Looking for some fun things to do this Fall? Sponsored By The San Pedro Historic Waterfront District

DISCOVER DOWNTOWN! A VARIETY OF EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT AWAITS YOU AUG 13 - SEP 3

SEPTEMBER 17 3RD THURSDAY ENTERTAINMENT WALK

LITTLE FISH THEATRE

www.littlefishtheatre.org

SOMEONE WHO’LL WATCH OVER ME

An Englishman, Irishman and an American find themselves in a windowless room chained to a wall as hostages in a war torn Lebanon. They struggle to survive and work together, despite their personal differences.

AUG 21 - OCT 4

3rd THURSDAY ENTERTAINMENT

La Charanga Cubana

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JOAN OF ARC

A young French girl, met by God, is destined to lead an army and pays the ultimate price for her bravery and sacrifice. Audiences will go deep into the complex themes of faith, human struggle, free will and destiny.

1st THURSDAY ARTWALK

Free Salsa Lesson!

www.SanPedroBID.com Live music at the corner of 6th St. & Mesa St. 6:00 PM. – 9:00 PM.

SEPTEMBER 17 GRAND ANNEX

www.grandvision.org

3RD THURSDAY SALSA LA CHARANGA CUBANA Grammy-nominated La Charanga Cubana performs Charanga rhythms and a sprinkle of west coast salsa!

SEPTEMBER 21

WARNER GRAND THEATRE www.grandvision.org

Live Nation Presents:

CHRIS CORNELL

SEPTEMBER 3

Solo show by Grammy-winning rocker, who is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Nineties grunge superband, Soundgarden.

DOWNTOWN ARTWALK

www.1stthursday.com Experience San Pedro’s tight-knit artists’ community. Food trucks, restaurants, plus live music!

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SCAN HERE FOR YOUR LOCAL DINING GUIDE & COUPONS

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VOICES

They're Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine by Steve Marconi Congratulations to the 600 casual longshore workers who have finally had their tickets to the big time punched. These men and women received the word earlier last month that they had accumulated enough hours to make the cutoff for the ILWU's first elevation of casuals since 2007 to full-time joint registration status. To accomplish this, they have worked literally day and night at nearly every opportunity provided, which meant mostly two or three times a week for years to the four and five shifts a week starting last summer. No one will call these the “lucky” 600 because they have worked hard to realize the long-awaited dream of joining the highest-paid blue-collar workforce in the world and, combined with the hours and medical benefits, one of the most coveted jobs of any kind in the nation. They have spent countless hours, sometimes in early-morning rain or late-afternoon scorchers, standing in the casual parking lot in Wilmington, many having driven an hour or more for a job that often did not materialize. Having been up to make the first call for day work at 6:30 a.m., they have had to come back to the hall by 4:30 that evening hoping to get night work. With the incentive of money and those precious hours, that meant working almost every other day the past year, with the caveat that you often never knew for sure which day or which shift. And that's not counting the fruitless hours spent hoping for a big second dispatch. It's a grueling schedule that thousands of remaining casuals, most either unemployed or working part-time jobs, will keep, hoping their day will one day come. That means

missing more funerals, weddings, birthdays, dinners and parties because they can't afford to lose either the money or the hours by “flopping.” And drinking more super-caffeinated drinks like Red Bull so they can function on short sleep. While I'm glad to see my fellow casuals get well-deserved advancement, it's bittersweet because I'm losing friends I have spent many hours with, both during those sometimes fruitless waits at the hall or alongside of at jobs on the waterfront. That includes the two people who have bookended me all these years, the “big guy” in front and the top-hour guy behind, two fellow native San Pedrans, plus many others in letters A and B who I have worked with often since 2005. Their lives will change dramatically overnight: a steady paycheck (cha-ching!), regular hours, comebacks, “Cadillac” health benefits and the choice of jobs, shifts and breaks casuals only dream about getting. I'll miss them, but you can be sure they won't miss the casual hall. In Memoriam… Phil Scott touched so many lives over his years as an educator, coach and volunteer in San Pedro that it's hard to say where he had the most impact. You couldn't tell by the huge turnout at his memorial service earlier this month because the basketball court at the YMCA he so loved was filled with former students, swimmers, Friends of the San Pedro Library, neighbors and, of course, family. Scott, who died July 16, just short of his 84th birthday, gained national renown for developing training methods that resulted in a bevy of AAU championship teams and individuals for the San Pedro YMCA from 1950 to 1968. The lifetime San Pedran started coaching just a year after graduating from San Pedro High in Summer `49, learning the hard way in the tiny pool at the old YMCA on Beacon Street. To those hundreds of swimmers, he was “Coach,” but he was much more than that; to many he was a life mentor and surrogate father. Those qualities that so endeared him to his swimmers were no doubt extended to the thousands of students who knew him as “Mr. Scott” during his 30-year teaching career at Dana Junior High. He was just plain “Phil” for the past 20 years as he spent much of his retirement, when not traveling the world with his wife, Doris, collecting books and organizing the monthly used-book sales to benefit the San Pedro library. The tables at his memorial were piled with travel books and part of what had to be one of the world's largest collections of owl figurines, and attendees were encouraged to take them home.
To his family, he was husband, father and grandfather, and from the eulogies given by his children, it was obvious he was cherished in each role. He and Doris had just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. The family has created a website (www.memoriesofphilscott.wordpress.com) where you can read stories about this remarkable man or post your own, but what's really called for is a bronze bust of Phil Scott in the YMCA lobby. spt

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Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.



VOICES

Discovering My 'California Gold'

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by Anthony Pirozzi Recently, we ran into an old friend that Carolyn and I worked with at Vons back in the 1980s, Larry Rumery. I remember when we first met, I was working the night crew stocking shelves and he was the new guy who transitioned in as a grocery clerk at a time I felt I was ready to be promoted into that same position. Eventually, I would get promoted and over time Larry and I became really good friends. In fact, he and his wife Linda were both in our wedding party. As life began to settle in, Linda felt it was time to move closer to her parents in Redding, Calif., so with their two daughters Danielle and Candice, who were six- and four-years-old, respectively, they made the move in 2001. After visiting them in 2003 with our three boys, it would be the last time we would see them and the girls outside of annual Christmas cards, until recently. Carolyn was able to connect with Danielle on Facebook and setup a surprise visit by Larry and Linda while they were in the South Bay last month. We then decided it was time to visit them once again like we did back in 2003. Our road trip began heading up Interstate 5 where the impact of the drought was visibly evident. Miles and miles of farmland lay bare and brown and signs lined the roadway either blaming the government for the lack of water to others that made statements like “Dams or Trains,” “Water equals Jobs,” “Why is growing food bad?” and many stated, "Welcome to the State of Jefferson, the 51st State," a movement focused on establishing a new state that consists of the northern portion of California to the southern section of Oregon. It was an eye opener for me. We arrived in Sacramento and started off the first night of our road trip visiting Old Town Sacramento, which dates back to the 1800s. Original buildings, railroad tracks, trains, and an old riverboat were all there to explore. The following day, our boys showed us where they spend the week when participating in the annual YMCA Youth and Government (SPPY) trip to Sacramento, followed by a visit to the state capitol where I learned that the state capitol shifted from San Jose to Vallejo to Benicia before finally landing in Sacramento. Then it was off to Redding to Larry and Linda's home where we stayed for a few days. We experienced the smoke-filled air from the Trinity fires while boating on the water of Whiskey Town Lake where the kids wakeboarded and had fun being pulled on an inner tube. The highlight was seeing not one but four separate brown bears near the water’s edge. We would then head north past Mount Shasta and Yreka to northern Siskiyou County to camp on the Klamath River. After a couple of days camping and rafting we stopped by Fowler Falls and Burney Falls. The natural beauty of these two falls was unbelievable. The whole time on this northern trip I felt like I was living a Huell Howser episode of "California Gold." On our way home, we would spend a few days in San Francisco, which was the first time for our boys to see the city. We hit the major sites like Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, The Ferry Building, Coit Tower, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, drove down Lombard Street, enjoyed an ice cream sundae at Ghirardelli Square, experienced great Italian food, gelato and cappuccino in North Beach and attended a game at AT&T Park rooting for the visiting team. Of course, before we left, we loaded up on sourdough bread from Boudin Bakery! I love that place, especially the clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Our spur of the moment road trip not only reminded me how beautiful our state is, but more importantly, the time we spent as a family with good friends was priceless. It brought back memories and created new ones and I look forward to doing it again soon. spt Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be contacted at apirozzi@yahoo.com.


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VOICES

Can’t Walk, Can’t Learn at LAUSD by Jennifer Marquez My ten-year old son recently had surgery on his ankle. I was worried how he would climb stairs with crutches at his LAUSD elementary school in San Pedro. The school is more than 100 years old and all third, fourth and fifth grade classes are only accessible by a flight of stairs, there is no elevator or ramp. His doctor suggested he could crawl up and down the stairs (eight times a day) if he could not use the crutches on them. This school, like many others in the district, is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), meaning children, parents and staff who need wheelchairs and casts do not have access to some of the classrooms. For the seven years my children have attended this school, I have watched students hobble up the long flight of stairs on crutches. Last year, one fifth grade student who could not make it up the stairs was told he could spend 10 days in a class with second graders, his mother kept him home instead. I asked the district if the funds for these needed upgrades were already awarded through bond money. I never received an answer after numerous requests. The district staff went to my son’s school immediately after learning about the article I was writing. It was decided immediately that it was now unsafe for crutches to be used on the stairs after years of this practice. Complete classrooms would have to be moved to the ground level every time a child or staff had a cast, crutches or a wheelchair. Now when a child or a teacher has an injury or disability, they face a stigma that they caused the classroom move, not always a popular decision by other students and teachers. My son had been in a foot brace off and on for the last three years, I was already exposed to some very frustrating practices in LAUSD before the surgery. The district is so concerned with children getting hurt that running, skipping and tag on the playground at recess is prohibited, my son got “benched” for skipping before the surgery. While keeping children safe is taken to the extreme, the opposite is true for those who are actually

injured. When children with casts are not allowed to run, they must spend recess and lunch in the school office. When my son first started sitting out lunch in the office, he was on a bench that was used for children who were being punished. He had no table to eat his food and friends were not allowed to visit. This was the status quo for years. Eating a lunch with an arm cast and no table takes talent. I strongly advocated successfully for the injured children to have at least a small table and visitors to minimize the isolation. I donated books and board games to the office so the students had something to do, as well. I even got a doctor’s note for my child to eat at the lunch area, but with any cast the school said it was “too dangerous to eat at tables with the rest of the school,” though an accessibility ramp is located in that area. There are excellent programs and teachers at this elementary school and also at the LAUSD middle school my other child attends in San Pedro. The sad truth is that these are public schools but they are not open to all in the community. Both schools are not fully handicap accessible, so if a child, teacher or a parent volunteer cannot walk up the stairs, they will not be able to get to some of the classes. My son will manage and recover, but what about individuals in wheelchairs? A ramp at the middle school has been discussed for years, but half the campus continues to be inaccessible to all. Last year, a student had to stay in the office during class for weeks because she could not walk up the stairs to get to the classroom. In some cases, the teachers bring work to the students in the office creating more work for everybody and segregating the students. Because the district has cut the staff at the schools, even the buildings with the elevators have issues. Students with casts have to wait for long periods of time for a staff member to open locked elevators. The district will send a teacher to the house for an hour a day if needed temporarily, which is great for children with illnesses that prevent them from attending school. But why should a student with crutches be forced to miss school because the district has not brought the campuses up to the legal codes set by the federal government? To create an environment where LAUSD officials are more in touch with school site issues, I believe district staff offices should be moved to campuses. Nothing in the district is more important than what is going on at the school sites. When a child cannot get to class because there is no ramp, the district can see the issue firsthand and create solutions. When the school does not have enough coverage for the playground, it is all hands on deck. The classrooms at the middle school have been cleaned once in the last 15 months, maybe the district staff stationed on campuses can help clean. If I, as a parent, am willing to come in and clean a school on my days off from work, certainly staff from the district can lend a hand, as well. Also, district supervisors and managers should be required to substitute teach at least once a year to experience current classroom situations so funding decisions are made with firsthand knowledge. The district has spent billions on iPads and new construction; many new schools are also not up to ADA standards instead of making older campuses accessible to all. Funding and policy decisions should be made by people who are stationed at the schools, not by staff who have not been in the classroom or working on the campuses for years. It is time for the district to get their priorities straight and create campuses that can serve everybody in the community, not just the ones who can make it up the stairs. spt

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Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com.

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VOICES

Lessons Learned While Reading 300 Resumés by Herb Zimmer

Dear Valued CTS Clients, Have you heard about our move? NEW LOCATION: 1447 West 7th Street San Pedro, CA 90732 (310) 831-1123

Stay Tuned for news on our Open House & our latest specials! There is also space for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years sailing roundtrip L.A. to Mexico and Hawaii!!

20 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

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We’ve been extremely fortunate over the years, having experienced very low employee turnover in our printing business. Recently, however, Candy Wakinekona, who has been our outstanding customer service manager for the past ten years, decided to relocate to Northern California, closer to her two daughters who are both attending Stanford. So, the search was on for a new customer service person. Of course, in the old days, we would immediately place an ad in the News-Pilot (Oh, how we miss you), Daily Breeze and PressTelegram, get a dozen or so resumés, interview three or four people and hire the best candidate. But, with the advent of the Internet, things have changed dramatically for both employers and job seekers. We initiated our search by posting the job opening online using Indeed and Craigslist. The flood of resumés began immediately. In total, we received more than 300, and learned a few lessons for both employers and job candidates through the process. Lesson #1: As an employer, even though you are very specific as to the experience and skill requirements for the job (we indicated that this was not an entry-level job and that some knowledge of the printing industry was required) we received resumés from job seekers whose only experience was as a laborer, locker room attendant, forklift driver, security guard, barista, janitor, tax preparer, construction worker, real estate agent, home health caregiver and others. Many people are desperate for a job and apply for anything, qualified or not. These candidates were not even considered for an interview, but it wasted a lot of time having to go through all their resumés. Lesson #2: If you only wish to hire locally, say so. We received resumés from South Carolina, Georgia, Idaho, Texas and several other states. None of these candidates mentioned any reason to relocate to Southern California other than to take this job. Though our customer service position pays a reasonable wage, it does not pay enough to justify someone moving across country, especially to high-cost Southern California. Again, these candidates were eliminated immediately. (Based on this lesson, however, Candy, who is job hunting around Palo Alto, quickly got a P.O. Box and a cell phone with a Palo Alto area code, to list on her resumé.) Lesson #3: Virtually every resumé indicated that the candidate was a team player, self-motivated, hard worker, reliable, a problem solver, efficient, detail-oriented, fast learner, multi-tasker, energetic, organized, accurate and responsible. I think there must be a website or publication to which job seekers refer for “must-use” resumé terms. Pick one from column A, one from column B, etc. After reading enough resumés with a list of these skills at the top, we looked right past them. When, however, there were examples of how these skills were applied in previous job situations, they became much more interesting. Lesson #4: A great cover letter can be more important than the attached resumé. Candidates who used a cover letter to show their personality, flesh out their experience and background, explain why they were seeking a new job and/or express how they thought they could benefit their prospective employer, definitely stood out from candidates who did not use a cover letter. Telling a story elicits more interest than a list of skills and job titles. It is not wise, however, to use it like the candidate who, in her cover letter, claimed one of her primary strengths was her company loyalty, and then attached a resumé citing eight different jobs in the past nine years. In the end, the entire process was well worth the effort, since we learned some valuable lessons for the next time we need to find a new employee, and we found a great candidate, with industry experience, who lives within walking distance of the print shop. spt Herb Zimmer owns PriorityOne Printing in downtown San Pedro



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VOICES

Don’t Miss the Homeless Forum Sept. 3

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by Councilman Joe Buscaino

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22 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

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During the past month, the conversation of homelessness has created a lot of tension in San Pedro. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the homeless population in the 15th Council District has grown in the past two years from 831 unsheltered homeless in 2013 to 1,290 unsheltered homeless in 2015. Ground zero of the tension are “tiny houses” for the homeless. Local advocates built small wooden shacks and originally placed them in parking spots near downtown, igniting controversy over legality, effectiveness, practicality, and the greater good of the community. While it is ultimately important to house homeless individuals and while I feel the advocates’ intentions are pure, I cannot support the placement of these wooden shacks on our public streets. They are unpermitted, and have no running water, no sewer connection, and no reflective markings to make them visible to drivers, posing a great risk to public health and safety. This is not the right way to treat the most vulnerable in our community. Instead, we need more permanent supportive housing, spread equally throughout Los Angeles County to add to the menu of existing services we already offer in San Pedro. We know that permanent supportive housing is a proven, effective means of reintegrating chronically homeless individuals and families. This is the best way to help those with psychiatric disabilities or chronic challenges by addressing their basic needs for housing first, and providing ongoing support. Six months ago, I hired a dedicated Emergency Response Team from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) which has the daily task to engage our homeless population, familiarize themselves with the individuals and match them up with services for which they qualify. So far we have housed 71 people and have made over 1,300 referrals. We have also connected the LAHSA team with a dedicated LAPD quality of life patrol. Having been an LAPD officer for 15 years, I personally know how often the offers of services get rejected and I am familiar with the criminal homeless who use drugs in public, burglarize cars, and prey on other homeless. While we must be responsive and compassionate to those most vulnerable in our community, we must be equally responsive to the most unstable. It’s not fair to the 99% of Angelenos who spend thousands of dollars a month on rent, mortgages, utilities and property tax to allow our public spaces to be turned into hazardous and dangerous private living spaces. As bad as the homeless situation has gotten in San Pedro, it’s bigger in other parts of the City. According to LAHSA, there are five other council districts in the City that have a larger population of unsheltered homeless and nine other council districts that shelter more homeless than we do. I have no doubt that every resident of San Pedro supports solutions for diminishing our homeless population and showing mercy to the most vulnerable. This is why I am hosting a public Homelessness Forum at the Warner Grand Theatre on First Thursday, September 3, 2015, from 6-8 p.m. I have invited pivotal individuals in the Los Angeles homelessness conversation to address our concerns, and to help focus our collective energies. They include Greg Spiegel, Mayor Garcetti’s homeless czar; Deon Joseph, LAPD Senior Lead Officer who has patrolled downtown L.A.’s skid row for the past 17 years; and Shari Weaver, Director of the Family Resource Center at Harbor Interfaith Services in San Pedro. I hope that the controversy of the “tiny houses” brings us to an understanding for what is possible in order to achieve a win-win situation – where we can get more homeless individuals back on their feet and positively contributing to their own lives and our community. See you at the Warner Grand! spt


Preserving Nature for the Future Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy continues its efforts to sustain the White Point Nature Preserve with the White Point Home Tour on Sept. 13 by Mary Scott photos courtesy www.pvplc.org White Point Nature Preserve and Nature Education Center

Hunting Grounds to National Security The White Point Nature Preserve, now owned by the city of Los Angeles, was once the hunting and gathering grounds for the Tongva people, the first society who called the peninsula home. The land was lush and teeming with grasses and wildlife. The Tongva, according to historical information gathered by the Conservancy, hunted here, and fished and collected abalone in the ocean below. Soon after the Spanish arrived in the area in the mid-16th century, the Tongva’s wild

land was transformed into cattle ranches. The cattle grazed on the native grasses. The ranch land, purchased by the Sepulveda family, was eventually sold off. In the late 19th century and early part of the 20th, White Point supported farming and the abalone fishing industry run by Japanese immigrants. Ranching and farming activities introduced invasive habitat and nearly obliterated White Point’s native wildlife. The farming industry came to a near halt when America entered World War II in December 1941. Following the Japanese attack on American forces in Pearl Harbor, local Japanese-Americans were forced from the peninsula into internment camps. White Point was turned into a defense position. The U.S. military built a small battery with two 16-inch anti-aircraft guns on the site. Those guns were scrapped after the war, but the land remained in the hands of the military. In the 1950s, during the Cold War, the military used the property as a Nike missile site to defend the L.A. Harbor from Soviet Union air attacks. It was decommissioned in 1975. “White Point was deeded by the military to the city of Los Angeles in [1978],” Conservancy Director Andrea Vona said, adding that the property sat vacant for two decades. “It had a large chain link fence around it.” At the beginning of the 21st century, a group of concerned residents pushed the city into conserving the land and establishing the property as a nature preserve.

Return to Natural State In 2001, the City of Los Angeles looked to the Conservancy for help in managing the restoration of White Point. By this time the Conservancy, founded in 1988 by Palos Verdes resident Bill Ailor, was an experienced organization in purchasing, restoring, and maintaining open space. Development all over the peninsula had been a concern since the early 1970s. Ailor and

SEPTEMBER 2015 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 23

San Pedro is a distinctive and unique town, and the same can be said about the homes that line its many streets. They are a mix of eclectic architecture, creative spaces, and historical houses that highlight the area’s significant role in the growth of Los Angeles into a major economic and influential city. Since 2007, a few of these distinctive homes have been open to the public as part of the White Point Home Tour, which takes place this year on Sunday, Sept. 13. “We have had the most amazing, eccentric homes,” says Susan McKenna, one of the organizers of this year’s tour. Her home, a “suburban bungalow,” will be on the selfguided route that also includes a restored Queen Ann on Channel Street. Reider and Gigi Schopp, the owners of the famous Channel Street Queen Ann, have spent 25 years on the home’s restoration. McKenna, a longtime San Pedro resident, said guests can also tour the home of local artist Caroline Beghin-Kircher and see her studio and artwork created with materials she finds at local beaches and coves. McKenna, also a member of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy board of directors, has been involved with the event since it began as small gathering in 2001. The intention of the home tour is to raise money for the continued preservation of San Pedro’s White Point Nature Preserve, a 102-acre parcel that is steeped in the area’s history and culture.


The top level includes a vintage stove heater in the living room, hardwood floors, open kitchen and dining area, all with an amazing Pacific Ocean view.

The following three homes featured are part of the 2015 White Point Home Tour

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Pacific Ocean Blue

Most people, given the opportunity, would purchase a three-unit apartment building with views of the harbor and ocean and turn it into an investment property, but not Steve and Deirdre Woolley. They purchased a three-unit apartment building on Bluff Place in 2007 and transformed it into a tri-level home. Before the couple purchased the property, they were hoping to purchase the home they were renting at the time. But when they were shown the building, Deirdre saw potential and had a vision for how the property could be transformed into a single dwelling home. So immediately after purchasing the property, the two made two units into one, and later completed the house by turning the third unit into the home’s third level. After seven years of renovations costing nearly $300,000, the home, which was originally built in 1942, now sits at 1,800 square feet with two bedrooms and three bathrooms. The entry level of the home consists of a foyer, master suite, and balcony; the upper level of the home features the main living area, a bathroom, the kitchen, patio, and balcony; and the lower level has the second bedroom, a family room, a bathroom, and a deck. A couple of the home’s best features are the sliding barn doors and coffee table bases, which are made with original barn doors and beams from the Mail Pouch Barn in Ohio. According to Steve, his dad and cousin obtained the wood back in the 1970s and until he and Deirdre purchased the home, the wood was in storage until they could find use for them. When the couple purchased the property, they hired a local contractor to install the barn doors and create the coffee table bases. In regards to design, Deirdre refers to their home as a “cabinet of curiosity,” with a combination of old and new designs and inspirations. -- Brooke Karli (photos: John Mattera)

The second-level master bedroom opens to a cool ocean breeze.

The second-level master bathroom includes a wooden bathtub.


SEPTEMBER 2015 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25


other residents were well aware that the peninsula, including the White Point area, was a desirable location for developers. It was that concern that led to the incorporation of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes in 1973. But the fight for open space wasn’t over, especially in the late 1980s after the closure of Marineland. “[Ailor] wanted to be proactive in conservation; it took some time for the idea to get traction,” Vona says. The idea caught on and soon after the Conservancy was founded, its members went to work on acquiring land and creating the 1,000-acre Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve in Rancho Palos Verdes. The Conservancy was poised to help Los Angeles develop a master plan for the White Point Nature Preserve, which included hiking trails, a nature center, and habitat restoration. “It was about 99 percent nonnative [and] invasive habitat,” says Vona. “We worked to bring back native plants.” Today, the preserve boasts 102 acres of restored California coastal sage scrub habitat, and hiking and handicap accessible trails that overlook the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Visitors to the preserve can observe native wildlife, such as the California gnatcatcher, that has since returned to the property. The Conservancy, with the help of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation, converted an abandoned Cold War-era warhead assembly building into a Nature Education Center, the centerpiece of the preserve. Opened in May 2010, the center serves as a historical resource for students, families, and community groups from all over Los Angeles. Grants from the Alcoa and Major Family foundations funded the center’s interpretative exhibits and four native plant demonstration gardens. A small portion of the preserve was lost in November 2011 when a landslide moved a total of 420 feet of earth toward the ocean. The landslide also took a portion of the roadway and sidewalk along Paseo del Mar. However, with the loss of the sidewalk more people are venturing into the preserve for the first time, according to the Conservancy.

Volunteers help maintain the various plants within the nature preserve.

Continued Support

26 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

Funds are continually needed to maintain the preserve and nature center. The first fundraiser was established in 2001 by local architect Bruce Biesman-Simons at his ocean view home in San Pedro’s Palisades area. “Bruce decided to get like-minded people together,” remembers McKenna. The guests included a small group of friends, neighbors, artists, and community leaders and activists. “It was in the days when [the city] was trying to figure out what to do with the land.” Together the group raised $6,000. The event was also meant to raise awareness about the preserve to gain support for its preservation, says Vona. The event continued to grow. In 2007 this much-loved community event morphed into a self-guided home tour, featuring interesting and unique San Pedro homes. McKenna says the idea to do so came from longtime preserve and Conservancy supporter Terry Miller. “ ‘It won’t be nearly as much work,’ she said. Famous last words,” McKenna says laughing. “It’s just a different kind of work.” Recognizing volunteers’ hard work, Vona explains, “It’s really overwhelming the time and generosity it takes to plan and execute the event… It’s not at all simple to coordinate the home tour, reception, auction and all the components that go into the tour.” But the effort is well worth it for guests and the preserve. “It’s a lovely, fun, unique event,” Vona adds. spt

Families enjoy the learning activities and array of artifacts inside the nature center.

The 2015 White Point Home Tour is Sunday, September 13. Tickets: $60/advance, $70/day of the tour. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at House 1002, a store located at 1002 Pacific Ave. Visitors can pick up their tickets and maps there. Homes on the tour are open between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. There will be a reception at the White Point Nature Education Center, located at 1600 W. Paseo del Mar in San Pedro, from 4 to 7 p.m. The reception, included in the cost of the ticket, features beer and tacos, live music, and a silent auction. Guests can bid on art, jewelry, vacation homes, local excursions, including an evening sail on the Rubicon III. Mary Scott can be reached at mjscott1965@gmail.com.


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White Point Treasure

With impeccable views of the Pacific Ocean, this two-story “ordinary” suburban home – as owners Dick and Susan McKenna would describe it – is quite extraordinary. The home has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and is 2,400 square feet, with its location on Silvius Ave. providing uninterrupted views of the ocean. In fact, the couple bought the home 25 years ago because of the view, and because no one could build in front of it. Built in 1953, Dick and Susan don’t know much about the original owner of the home, but are aware that the owners prior to them were a married couple. The husband, who passed away years before his wife, appeared to be well-traveled as the lower level of the home – which is now the master suite – was a decorated “Tiki Room” with artifacts from around the world. The wife appeared to have been one of very few female real estate agents of the time, and enjoyed gardening as the home had its own greenhouse. “The home was really run down when we purchased it,” Susan recalls. “But we just fell in love with it and it has evolved and slowly transitioned over the years.” Their affair with this home began when the two were living on the Navy base and decided to go to an open house for a different home when they were told by the real estate agent that there was a home nearby that hadn’t hit the market yet that they might be interested in. Without any hesitation, they were very interested very quickly. Ironically, during the time the home was vacant between Dick and Susan’s ownership and its prior owners, an unexploded grenade was discovered under the house. The Navy confiscated the grenade and set it off in a bunker, which was heard by Dick and Susan from their home on the base. Little did they know that that very explosion was from a grenade found under their potential future home! According to Susan, the couple has gained inspiration for their home through attending open houses and by “accumulating stuff.” “Our home is minimalist, eclectic, rustic, and made up of a lot of things that we like,” she explains. “And for us, we just wanted to create a place that our children could call home - we wanted them to have a place that they were from.” -- Brooke Karli (photos: John Mattera)

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The Caseres-Watson House has been Bob Caseres’ home since he was a child. Bob lived in the home until he went out-of-state after high school to attend college, with his mother still owning the property until he and his wife, Valen Watson, acquired the home in 2004. The cottage-style home, located on 18th Street, is just a short walk away from 22nd Street Park and sits at three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,450 square feet - but only after a complete remodel. The couple spent three years and approximately $75,000 rebuilding the home from the ground up – with renovations including the addition of vaulted ceilings and a master suite; installation of new windows and floors; and a completely reconfigured floor plan. All renovations were completed using Earth-friendly products that are sustainable and meet a “green” level of production. “Our home took a while to complete, but what we found was that when things are done over time and with patience, change just happens organically,” describes Valen. “When we bought things for the house, we bought the best, and sometimes that takes time because of your budget.” Both Bob and Valen appreciate the contemporary and mid-century aspects of design, especially that of European interiors, which combines the old and the new. “We make sure to accent our home with items and colors that aren’t outdated, but that can withstand trends,” she explains. “It’s liberating to not have to stick to any particular era in regards to design.” As for Bob spending nearly his whole life in the same house, Valen said that he doesn’t feel that the house is the same since the remodel, and that they are very happy to be able to someday pass down their family’s home and deep roots to their daughter. -- Brooke Karli (photos: John Mattera)


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Food As Love After the sudden death of her restaurateur husband, Josephine Trusela takes over Jacaranda Gourmet Shop for a new generation of foodies by Monica Simpson

32 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

The Jacaranda Crew: (standing l to r): Carlos Anaya, Salvatore Russo, Dominic Trusela, Samantha Bynum, Nicolina Sogliuzzo, Joseph Spears, Panfilo perez, Henry Fischer; (seated l to r) Isabella Trusela, Josephine Trusela , Angela Fischer (photo: John Mattera)

Trusela says Jacaranda is really many places in one. “We are a quick service café, retail shop, grab-and-go counter allowing people to get what they need and leave here in 15 minutes to get back to work. We also offer dinners to go for busy families.” Joseph Spears, Trusela's nephew and Jacaranda employee, says he sees more smiles in the store now. “People are really happy and they thank us for making it a little more enjoyable in here,” he says. Joseph attributes the store’s success to his aunt. “I’ve never seen a woman work as hard as she does to get everything done.” Trusela also believes that Jacaranda’s warm welcome was a testament to her late husband. “I think people come in here to give some support and San Pedro people are loyal people and they stick with their own. They like to see one of their own do well," she says. For her part, Trusela is happy she found a new home for her food in San Pedro. “It was nice to keep something going in San Pedro that had been a business that was around, and to incorporate what I had already been doing in the same avenue,” she says. But it’s not just the food and the location that is unique for Trusela. Having decorated different businesses and different homes, Trusela says this place is the most personal. “Many things in the store are from my past. There’s a trunk in the retail area that is one of the trunks my grandparents used when first moving here, and in the bathroom, there is a bench that my grandfather built many years ago. Everything has a special meaning." Just like the Jacaranda tree that takes a long time to bloom, Trusela says she only recently discovered her voice in the kitchen, but she believes food is love. “You’re sharing part of yourself with people and when people come in, they feel good,” she says. “I create and let people come in." With online ordering coming this month and future plans to serve beer and wine, Trusela promises Jacaranda is here to stay. spt Jacaranda Gourmet Shop is located at 1030 N. Western Ave, San Pedro. For more info, call (310) 831-0775.

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When John and Annie Pack announced they’d be retiring and closing Jacaranda Gourmet Shop after 25 years of operation, it seemed that San Pedro would lose a neighborhood favorite forever. Located inside Tarragona Plaza on Western Avenue, Jacaranda had been plating up some of San Pedro’s favorite meals for nearly three decades. Word of the closing traveled through town quickly. When the news reached Josephine Trusela, wife of the celebrated late San Pedro restaurateur Bob Trusela, she began to consider the option of embarking on her own epicurean endeavor. Since the tragic and unexpected passing of her husband in 2014, Trusela had been looking for the right opportunity to revive her family’s restaurant legacy. “It’s been a difficult year for me and the kids, but I’ve been very moved by how supportive friends and family have been, even more so by the support from the community,” says Trusela. Remaining a source of emotional and financial support for her family, Trusela continued to run a catering and event planning company after her husband's passing. Trusela stayed busy managing her side business when she decided to make an offer on Jacaranda. “It was almost a year ago, at the end of the summer in September. We basically heard that Jacaranda was being sold and we started talking,” she says. Negotiations moved quickly and construction started in March. Remodeling the restaurant’s interior, Trusela redesigned the old cafe with a more rustic and farmhouse chic style. Activating every inch of space, Josephine created a more comfortable communal area encouraging guests to linger longer. Daily chalkboard menu specials keep the old Jacaranda favorites alive with new Trusela twists and the deli serves artisan charcuterie and gourmet cheeses. To Josephine, "gourmet" means quality, not expensive. Hand-selecting every product in the store, she ensures integrity is sold on her store shelves. “Gourmet was really cool back in the 1980s, but for me that meant nitrate-free meats and non-GMO, and whenever I can buy organic, I buy organic.” “The menu we have right now is a combination of what Jacaranda used to have. They really only did cold sandwiches and salads before and now we've added hot sandwiches and hot pastas from Trusela’s restaurant. We even have the same chef coming in and doing that for me,” explains Trusela. Sicilian by birth, Josephine looks to her family’s Italian traditions for her kitchen inspiration. From the hand-pulled pastas to the homemade sauces, everything on the menu is prepared from scratch and made fresh daily with passion. “Our breads are baked every morning. My father is still baking the bread that my grandmother used to make. He’s also making fresh ravioli and fresh fettuccini,” says Trusela.

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San Pedro WR Raymond Geha became a legit deep threat with his speed & football sense, catching 20 passes for 471 yards & 4 TDs last season. (photo: Nancy Geiger)

San Pedro Prep Football 2015 Preview by Jamaal K. Street

34 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL Pirates look like legit contenders to CIF-LACS & Marine League titles after last year's semifinal showing The San Pedro High football team had one of the most remarkable seasons to date in 2014, posting an outstanding 11-2 season, a three-way share of the Marine League championship, and earning a spot in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I semifinal round. On that night, the Pirates may have lost 33-30 to league foe Carson, but they had their fate in their own hands. Senior quarterback Jacob Miller had his junior year end with his last desperation pass falling harmlessly to the ground in the end zone as time expired, which would have given San Pedro the victory. However, both Miller, and the Pirates had nothing to be ashamed of and it will only motivate them to achieve greater things in 2015. Good news for San Pedro football fans: several returning members from last year's team, combined with key members from last year's junior varsity team that went 9-1, combine to form a team capable of challenging league rival and defending CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I champion Narbonne of Harbor City for both league and City supremacy. The challenge early on? Only the most difficult non-league slate in coach Mike Walsh's 25 years as head coach. San Pedro will take on the likes of Downey, a CIF-Southern Section Northeast Division runner-up a season ago, in an intriguing August 28 season opener on the road. On a Thursday night, the Pirates once again clash with Roosevelt of Los Angeles on September 3, a CIF-LACS Division I first round rematch that San Pedro won, 28-7. San Pedro will then take a short bus ride to another beach city, Redondo Union on September 11, bringing back an old series that was reunited in 2012 and 2013 before they took a year off. The Pirates lost both games to the Sea Hawks by a combined 5 points. Rounding out the non-league slate, San Pedro will have back-to-back home games against the only holdovers from last year's non-league slate, Culver City (September 18) and Fairfax of Los Angeles (October 2). Throw in the fact that three of their five Marine League games (Banning of Wilmington, Washington Prep of Los Angeles, Carson) are on the road in October, which should tell a lot about the 2015 Pirates come playoff time. Of course, if San Pedro is able to win those first four Marine League games, the season finale on November 6 against Narbonne at home is likely the Marine League championship game, where the Pirates will look to gain retribution from last year's 28-24 loss in the final 80 seconds to the extremely talented and athletic Gauchos. San Pedro returns three All-City Division I selections from last season, including the reigning City Section Lineman of the Year in senior tight end Mike Spinosa, who along with senior All-Marine League offensive lineman Juan Campuzano, are the only returning line starters from last year's club that set a school record for total rushing yards in a season with 3,299 along with 205 first downs, and an overall 4,779 yards of total offense, good for second all-time in San Pedro football history. Also, senior WR/DB Antonio 'A.J.' Frazier, an All-City Division I first team defense selection, and the reigning Marine League Defensive Player of the Year, is back for a third and final year, looking to have a better finish to last year when he suffered a seasonending injury early on in the Pirates' quarterfinal victory over Arleta.

Jacob Miller is the first three-year starter at quarterback for San Pedro football in 19 years, throwing for 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns in pacing the Pirates to an 11-2 record in 2014. (photo: Vince Pirozzi)

Frazier had 72 tackles (53 solo), two interceptions, four pass deflections, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and a sack while also gaining 515 all-purpose yards on rushing, receiving and special teams, rushing for a 60-yard touchdown against Roosevelt last season, and adding another score on a nine-yard reception against Fairfax. Another All-City Division I selection on second team defense is senior WR/CB Christian Michaels, who along with fellow cornerback mate, All-Marine League first team defensive junior WR/DB Mikey Hernandez Jr., had three interceptions. Frazier, Michaels (5 catches, 107 yards, TD) and Hernandez Jr. (9 catches, 123 yards, TD) are just three of four returning wideouts that Miller can throw to. Entering his third year as a starter (first three-year starter at quarterback since former City MVP Melvin Yarbrough from the undefeated 1996 City championship team), Miller completed 78-of-155 passes (50.3% completion rate) for 1,476 yards, 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The All-Marine League first team offensive performer's favorite target last season was All-Marine League first team offense junior wide receiver Raymond Geha, who caught 20 passes for 471 yards (23.6 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. Trying to replace the near 2,000-yard, 31 touchdown combined rushing performance of Chris Alvidrez – the 2014 Marine League MVP and City Division I Defensive MVP – and Christian Serna is almost improbable, but the Pirates have viable options at running back, as they always do. Enter Narbonne transfer, senior running back Brian 'Beejay' Halsey, who joined the team late due to the one-month transfer sit out rule last season. Halsey has a fluid running style, running for an 18-yard touchdown in the quarterfinals against Arleta. Not to be outdone is returning senior running backs Joseph 'Jo-Jo' Santiago (35 carries, 285 yards, 8.1 yards per carry, 0 TDs) and Donte Huddleston (23 carries, 137 yards, TD, 6.0 yards per carry). Junior QB/RB/LB Nick Zabatta (31 carries, 253 yards, 3 TDs, 8.1 yards per carry) also gained valuable yardage last year as a wildcat quarterback. Juniors Richard Villegas, senior Vince Amalfitano and sophomore Adam Swearingen appear to be the front-runners for the other three starting spots in the offensive line. Spinosa (52 tackles, 3 sacks) will be one of the anchors of the defensive line, along with Huddleston (37 tackles, 2 sacks, blocked punt, fumble recovery) and 6'5'' junior Nicholas Ford. Junior Sohl Gafa (31 tackles), and the senior trio of Vincent Wood (61 tackles, 4 sacks, fumble recovery TD), Jake Rezai (45 tackles) and Noe Lopez (71 tackles, INT) are all returning starters at linebacker. The secondary is just as experienced with Frazier, Michaels (45 tackles, 4 PD, 3 INT, fumble recovery) and Hernandez Jr. (57 tackles, 6 PD, 3 INTs), who is also a skilled punter. Exceling well in a lot of summer kicking camps, junior Tanner Carcamo will be the latest in San Pedro's full stable of kickers. Carcamo replaces Christian Mills, who booted a 30-yard field goal in the closing seconds to defeat Carson, 17-15 last November, which gave the Pirates a three-way share of the Marine League crown (with Carson and Narbonne), and the overall top seed of the CIF-LACS Division I playoffs last season. Going into their 108th season of prep football (including rugby), San Pedro has posted a record of 538-380-38 overall under 21 different coaches.


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Mary Star standouts (clockwise): junior quarterback Robert Enciso, senior OL/DL Anthony Garcia, senior RB/SS Jarod Alves and senior RB/LB Vinny Lauro

(photos: John Mattera, Richard Garcia, Dan Pronovost, Jamaal K. Street)

MARY STAR HIGH SCHOOL Behind an all-new coaching staff, the Stars look to change their fortunes in a big way.

36 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

The 2014 season was the year Mary Star High football could not catch a break, as Santa Fe League teams not named Don Bosco Tech of Rosemead pushed them around in a disastrous 2-8 season, which included a 1-3 league mark, taking a half step back from two years ago where the Stars were one win away from a playoff berth in the CIF-Southern Section Northwest Division. It looks like with a new coaching regime, the 2015 season could be time for a breakthrough, and the Stars will be out to push back their competition into playoff contention. Enter new coach Jason Gelber, who previously was the defensive coordinator at Cathedral High of Los Angeles, and an all-new assistant coaching staff, to take the reins of what is an experienced Mary Star team that now believes they can not only win, but have a successful all-around year, and that's the kind of positivity these Stars must have as they'll be the underdog in most of their games this season. Don't expect a repeat of 2-8 (or worse) with this unit. In fact, outside of their September 4 season opener at Aquinas of San Bernardino and their Santa Fe League finale on November 6 at powerful St. Anthony of Long Beach, the schedule seems to be in the Stars' favor, which includes a four-game home stand in October at the season's mid-point against the likes of St. Bernard of Playa Del Rey, St. Monica of Santa Monica, St. Genevieve of Panorama City and Trinity Classical Academy of Valencia. The second and third games of that stretch are league encounters. Mary Star has four returning All-Santa Fe League players returning in senior RB/LB Vinny Lauro, senior RB/SS Jarod Alves (who is also the kicker & punter), senior OL/DL Anthony Garcia and senior WR/DB Jason Smith. Lauro and Alves created a nice offensive tag-team as the two leading yardage and touchdown makers. Lauro ran for a team-high 1,153 yards and 10 touchdowns on 195 carries (5.9 yards per carry average), while also topping the Stars with 19 catches for 268 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Lauro even threw a 28-yard touchdown off a halfback option pass during Mary Star's 69-20 rout of Bosco Tech last Halloween. Alves was second behind Lauro in both rushing (459 yards, 55 carries, 8 TDs, 8.3 yards per carry) and receiving stats (16 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TDs, 8.7 yards per catch), while also connecting on 21-of-28 PAT kicks, 1-of-2 field goals, 6 kickoff touchbacks, and averaged 33.5 yards per punt for Mary Star. Joining the duo in the running game is senior fullback Alex Stavros, who ran for 306 yards and 2 TDs on 72 carries. Junior quarterback Robert Enciso returns for a second year, as he completed 63-of-137 passes (46% completion rate) for 834 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Enciso, when called upon to pass, will have both Smith and junior wide receiver Hunter Bjazevich on the flanks. Bjazevich is the only true receiver last year that caught at least 10 passes. Junior WR/LB Jamie Casiano is another returning starter. Enciso will be challenged for the starting role under center by both sophomore Matt Marquez and junior Japanese transfer Kenny Yamamura. Garcia and fellow seniors Anthony Castagnola, Jimmy Catalan, and Kevin Lopez, along with junior tight end Matt Sestich are all returning starters on the offensive line. Senior OL/DL Michael Negrete looks to be the other starter on a well-sized line. Defensively, Garcia is the anchor, leading the team last year in tackles for loss, sacks and fumble recoveries. Senior TE/DE Justin Rodriguez adds athleticism on the defensive

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line. Junior defensive tackle Daichi Kusunoki will be the one varsity newcomer with immense impact, and don't forget about returning junior defensive end Izzy Amalfitano, as he has All-Santa Fe League potential. The linebacker corps, which will feature Lauro, got added depth with the return of baseball stars, seniors Joey Domicoli and Nicco Castania, who both didn't play last season. Senior MLB William Davis, a Narbonne transfer, also figures to get some looks. Alves moves from linebacker to strong safety to strengthen the secondary that also includes Smith, junior cornerback Adrian Casillas and returning senior free safety Mark Webb. All of the Stars' home games as usual, starting with their September 18 clash against Cantwell Sacred Heart of Montebello, will take place at the venerable Daniels Field, to go along with nonleague road games against Capistrano Valley Christian of San Juan Capistrano (September 11) and Bishop Montgomery of Torrance (September 25), also featured on the schedule. spt


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38 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

Salvatore “Tutie” and Nicole “Niki” (Infante) Palma’s love story began with a couch. Niki’s friend Kelly had bought a couch that ended up not working for the space allotted in her home. Kelly’s daughter is a friend of Paula’s daughter (Paula is Tutie’s sister), so Kelly found out and mentioned the couch mishap to Paula, and Paula passed along the information to Tutie, as he had just purchased a home and needed furnishings. Got all that? Good. So when Tutie came to look at the couch, Kelly found out that he was single and long story short, she ended up setting Tutie and Niki up on a blind date in July 2013. Prior to their first date, Tutie had messaged Niki on Facebook and the two texted one another constantly while he was on a family vacation in Palm Springs. Once he was home from vacation, the two went on a date and as they say, “the rest is history.” “Everything just clicked,” explains Niki. “We both knew what we wanted in life so dating each other was so natural and easy.” Ten months after they started dating, in May 2014, Tutie and Niki were preparing for a month-long trip to Italy that June, and while they were out shopping for luggage, Tutie told Niki that he wanted her to meet his friend Dario and that he had arranged for them to meet for dinner. Because Niki thought Tutie might propose in Italy, she didn’t think anything of the dinner at sunset at Trump National Golf Club. While at Trump’s, Tutie and Niki went for a walk and came across a bride and groom taking photos, which was odd for Niki to see because it was a Tuesday evening. A little thrown off, Tutie began walking Niki towards a table that was set up with a tablecloth, flowers, food, and drinks. Niki thought the table belonged to the bride and groom and couldn’t understand why Tutie kept walking towards it. When they got to the table, Tutie

got down on one knee and proposed. Completely shocked, Niki said yes and moments later, members of both families came from behind the bushes to celebrate and take pictures. Slightly more than a year later, on October 18, 2014, Tutie and Niki became husband and wife in front of 230 guests during a traditional Catholic wedding at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Niki walked down the aisle with her mom Holly Antonio (her father David Infante passed away). During the ceremony, Alexandrea Antolos, Paula Baborovic, and Rhonda Pimentel delivered three special readings. Standing next to Tutie and Niki were Best Man Slavko Antolos; Groomsman Patrick Barley; Maid of Honor April Mather; Bridesmaid Danyel Torres; and Flower Girl Julianna Baborovic. The reception followed at the Ayres Hotel in Manhattan Beach and featured a lot of Italian music and dancing, and an abundant amount of Italian cookies made by family members. Tutie and Niki shared their first dance to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” while Tutie and his mom Nancy Palma danced to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” For the party favors, Tutie’s mom made little bottles of limoncello using his dad’s (Antonino Palma) recipe in honor of him since he had also passed away. The newlyweds did not honeymoon as they took that trip to Italy the year before they got married. They currently live in San Pedro and Tutie is a machinist on the waterfront and Niki is a longshorewoman. The couple is expecting their first child this September. spt


For 90 years, our community has come to us for top-quality health care. At Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, all our caregivers – physicians, nurses, staff and volunteers – make sure every patient is our most important patient. And while a stamp of approval isn’t necessary to know we’re providing excellent care, it’s always nice to get one. Or two. Or five.

Named one of California’s 10 Best Value Hospitals for 2015

YEARS STRONG Bringing new advances to you every day

The area’s first Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers

Healthgrades® Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure

Healthgrades® Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke

Healthgrades® Excellence Award™ for Critical Care

Learn more about our award-winning care at california.providence.org/san-pedro.


HEALTH & WELLNESS

What is Paleo?

40 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

by Lori Garrett You might have heard the term “Paleo” being used recently, and you might be wondering: what the heck is it? The Paleo diet is a lifestyle nutrition plan which looks to mimic the ways our primal ancestors ate, long before epidemics of modernday disease (like cancer, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders) existed. Paleo (derived from the word “Paleolithic”) focuses on eating unprocessed, real, whole foods: organic vegetables and fruits, healthy fats, nuts and seeds, and proteins from animals raised in their natural habitats and on the foods they’re meant to eat (think grass-fed/grass-finished beef, pasture-raised poultry, and wildcaught seafood). It omits inflammatory and high glycemic foods like grains, legumes, and most sugar. The result is a nutrient-dense, low-glycemic, anti-inflammatory diet that promotes optimal health. It has become popular among the CrossFit crowd, and appears to be particularly effective for those battling autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Despite its growing popularity, there are still some myths and misconceptions about Paleo. Let’s review a few: Myth: Paleo is just an excuse to eat a lot of meat and bacon. Truth: Believe it or not, we are not all bacon-obsessed, knuckle-dragging modern day cavemen. Actually, Paleo is largely about eating lots of veggies. In fact, I’m always sure to pair vegetables with any animal proteins I consume for optimal digestion, so veggies are never in short supply. I eat more veggies now than I ever did previously (including a time when I was, what I call, “semi-vegetarian”). Myth: A diet that encourages the consumption of animals is inhumane and unsustainable. Truth: Paleo-approved animal proteins come from animals that have been raised in their natural habitats, eating the foods they are naturally meant to consume. Paleo vehemently opposes consuming animals that have been raised on factory farms or CAFOs. Paleo promotes farms that are humane and sustainable. Myth: Paleo is just another “fad diet.” Truth: On the contrary, Paleo is a revival of a way of eating that has existed for thousands of years, and it’s considered a long-term way of living, not a temporary diet. Myth: It’s impossible to be truly Paleo in today’s day and age because our foods and lifestyles have changed so drastically. Truth: This one is partially true — it is impossible to eat the exact foods that our ancestors ate. However, Paleo is not meant to be taken that literally. The idea is to mimic Paleolithic nutrition the best we can with the foods we have available today. We might not be hunting wild boar and gathering berries, but we do have access to pasture-raised beef and organic fruits, for example. (And it’s true that Paleolithic Man never ate brownies made with coconut flour and raw honey, but in our sugar-obsessed world, even Paleo folk like to occasionally enjoy a relatively healthy treat.) Myth: Eating foods high in dietary fat is unhealthy and will make us fat. Truth: Depending on the source, dietary fat doesn’t automatically translate to body fat. In fact, natural fat from proper sources is actually critical for optimal health and weight management. Comparatively, studies show that trans fats, highly refined fats (such as canola oil, soybean oil, etc.), sugar, and high glycemic carbohydrates are linked to inflammation, illness, and a host of complications (including weight gain). Although I’m writing partially from personal experience (Paleo nutrition was the key factor in reversing my autoimmune disease), there is plenty of scientific evidence and studies to back up these claims. (Although it’s not possible list all my sources here, I feature some excellent books on my website, each referencing long lists of published studies.) Paleo might not be for everyone. But as it appears to help increasingly more people achieve their health goals, it’s worth discussing with the hope of providing better understanding among us all. Some may think it’s a passing fad, but if you ask me, this “fad” is here to stay. 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.


HEALTH & FITNESS

What Supplements Should I Take? by Ricky Magana

Before starting a dietary supplement, it's always wise to check with a medical doctor. For some sample workouts to help you get better, email ricky@heydaytraining.com.

PRIORITYONE PRINTING ★ COPYING ★ GRAPHICS Serving San Pedro’s business and education communities since 1979

Brochures • Stationery • Fliers • Resumés Business Cards • Booklets • Programs Self-Serve & High Volume Copying Full Color/Black & White Digital Output Receive Digital Files Online Banners • Posters • Rubber Stamps

310-831-8804

350 W. 5th Street, San Pedro

(Corner of 5th & Mesa, in the heart of downtown)

www.PriorityOnePrinting.com

SEPTEMBER 2015 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 41

I’ve seen it a million times. Bob walks in to a health food store. It’s Saturday and he’s determined. Come Monday, he’s turning over a new leaf. He’s got his gym bag packed. He tore out a few pages of the latest “6 weeks to shredded” plan from his fitness mag and now he’s in the supplement shop to pick up a few essentials to give him that extra edge. He’s walking the aisles slowly, thoughtfully trying to wade through all the colorful labels and adjectives. Lots and lots of adjectives: Ripped. Shredded. Massive. Gains. Muscle. Beast. Hardcore. Alpha. Animal. Jacked. He hasn’t shopped for muscle powders since college and he quickly realizes he has no idea what he’s looking for. Luckily for him, a sales rep spots our guy as he’s staring blankly into the pill bottle abyss. “Can I help you with anything, sir?” Bob, awoken from his confused state, says “Um yes, what supplements do I need to get, you know, ripped and muscular?” The sales rep, with dollar signs in his eyes, says, “Ah, follow me. Something new JUST came in…” Flash forward 45 minutes and Bob is walking out $300 lighter with a shopping cart full of potions and elixirs. Soon he’ll be a walking cocktail of protein, caffeine and testosterone. I, and anyone who likes to lift weights, have all had a Bob moment or two. If you find yourself wondering which supplements you should take and if you’re just wasting your money, then read on. Let’s start by looking at the actual definition of the word supplement: something that completes or enhances something when added to it. This is extremely important to remember because more often than not, the way dietary supplements are marketed to you are not as a supplement but as a substitute. A substitute for hard work, eating well, proper planning, and consistent effort. Taking the best supplement in the world will not make up for a crappy diet or lack of training in the gym. Very few supplements actually have a proven track record of efficacy. I’m not talking proven to work in one isolated study on mice 15 years ago. Very few powders and pills have empirically shown proven health and fitness benefits consistently in a wide range of studies in human populations. The FDA does not monitor the claims of supplements very closely, so buyer beware. The burden of research is on you. That being said, there definitely are supplements worth taking. The ones that are effective only work when you take them long-term. There aren’t any supplements that you can take and immediately reap the benefits from, unless it’s a stimulant caffeine-loaded cocktail. Supplements like magnesium, or multi-vitamins, or protein powders are supposed to be taken day-in and day-out or it simply isn’t worth taking. Stimulant-based supplements are largely a waste of money (and are often dangerous). Diet pills and pre-workouts are stimulants that claim to help you burn fat or provide intensity in workouts. They work. Sadly though, these effects wear off after a few weeks as your body builds a tolerance, so you have to either increase your dose (which is a very bad idea) or cycle on and off. Then you become crippled because you NEED the pill or powder to control your appetite or have a good workout. That’s not a good place to be. So, when ARE supplements a good idea? Supplements are hole fillers (for macro and micro nutrients you’re not getting through diet alone) and enhancers (accelerate the benefits of an already sound lifestyle). For the serious fitness hobbyist who has all their exercise and diet ducks in a row and wants every advantage; supplements are the way to go. It saves time and makes nutrition more convenient. For someone who is just starting out and wants the psychological boost by having some fresh bottles of proven multivitamins and protein powder, it’s a good kick start. But for someone looking to bypass the hard work by pouring money into a miracle drink, then all they can ever hope to lose is a lot of time (and a whole lot of money). spt


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Don’t Miss The Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival Sept. 25, 26, 27!

DID YOU KNOW...?

In over a half century since we started, here’s a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown:

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the Year!

We are the largest fish market/restaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3,000 and more than ONE MILLION served in the last 12 months.

We draw seafood lovers from all over the country, from every walk of life and every demographic. We have fans in at least 38 states!

We co-host the World’s Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visitors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND we’ve been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival.

We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare, 401k and paid vacations.

For hundreds of local kids, San Pedro Fish Market was their first job. Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors, teachers, nurses, attorneys, accountants, longshoremen, police officers, POLA workers and even as an L.A. City Councilman.

We support many local organizations in San Pedro, including the YWCA, Boys and Girls Club, Mary Star, Holy Trinity, San Pedro High School, POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits.

We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores. San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and we’re growing! These include Safeway, Food4Less, Sam’s Club as well as others.

1190 Nagoya Way, San Pedro, CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | www.SanPedroFish.com


44 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2015

9/30/15

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR. GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Clean, ultra-modern, relaxing office. The latest diagnostic & imaging hardware and software. Patient concierge, numerous patient amenities & friendly professional staff. Computer-guided surgery.

Entire Procedure in One Office

Dr. Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure. Unlike some offices, you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists and/or appointments. In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day.

The Best Equipment & Material

Dr. Palani uses only the finest materials, from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider

With more than a decade of experience, Dr. Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. His experience in both Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry is second-tonone. Thousands of patients agree.

TRUST THE EXPERT, DR. GIRI PALANI

9/30/15

Lowest Fees & Highest Quality

Because Dr. Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols, has a full-service Dental Lab & Milling Center, and performs the entire procedure himself, he can offer a higher quality product at the best price.


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