NOVEMBER 2016
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If you’re anything like me at the moment, you’re probably as surprised as I am that it’s already November. Where did 2016 go? But unlike most of you, because of this magazine’s print schedule, I’m already thinking about December and January, and as I’m writing this column, it’s not even Halloween yet. Being that Thanksgiving is around the corner, and the holiday season is almost here (though you’d never know it by the weather), here’s a short list of things I’m thankful for in San Pedro this year: San Pedro finally took action. – I’ve written many times through the years about this town’s collective apathy. It’s no surprise that many categorize San Pedro as a “sleepy, bedroom town.” We were so busy with our own lives and families that community involvement was on life support. But that all changed when our homeless problem hit a tipping point. In the 11 years I’ve been publishing this magazine, I’ve never seen as much community involvement and concern as I have the past year. I attribute a lot of it to this town’s incredible use of social media, particularly Facebook. The rise of pages like Saving San Pedro, Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Watch, and the bevy of others (and there are A LOT) has empowered many in the community to fight back against crime and vandalism, and improve our quality of life. We’ve seen it most recently with the protests over the proposal of the homeless navigation center near Barton Hill Elementary School. It hasn’t been a smooth ride, things have gotten ugly at times, but the fact that we’ve stopped this pattern of apathy and are now being proactive about what’s going on in town is nothing short of a positive thing. Waterfront revitalization is really happening. – When I first took over the original San Pedro Magazine in 2005, the Bridge to Breakwater talks that centered around our waterfront’s redevelopment were in full swing. It was nasty for a while, but then seemed to fizzle out until the Port took a proactive approach to the waterfront, specifically Ports O’ Call, a few years ago. And now we’re finally going to see shovels in the ground soon with plans for the new San Pedro Public Market slated to open in 2020. Our beauty never ceases to amaze me. – I recently spent the afternoon showing around a friend who had never visited San Pedro before. What was originally planned as a mini-tour around town soon turned into just one stop, the Korean Bell. I don’t know about you, but there’s something magical about that spot to me that never ceases to overwhelm. Maybe it’s the perpetually strong winds that make the spot perfect for kite flying. Maybe it’s the fact you’re surrounded on three sides by the gorgeous Pacific Ocean and our majestic Port. Maybe it’s because it’s the perfect spot to lay a blanket down and just stare out into the horizon. In any case, the beauty of the Korean Bell area is such a wonderful treasure in San Pedro that sometimes I think we’ve taken it for granted. If you haven’t been in a while, I highly recommend making a jaunt over there. Bring a lunch, lay a blanket down and take in the sights. You won’t be regret it. Our readers are the best. – Last month, I received a handwritten letter in the mail. The return address read: Old People, San Pedro, CA, 90731, 90732, 90733. (Apparently, this letter was written by every old person in town.) The letter inside read: “It’s hard to read the caption on the pictures of the San Pedro magazine. Old people read San Pedro Today ALSO. Thank you, An Old Reader.” Well, I got the message loud and clear. You’ll notice in this issue the photo captions are all on white backgrounds in black text that should make them a lot easier to read than in past issues. To the person who wrote me that letter, thank you for caring enough to take the time to do so. It’s people like you that keep me publishing this magazine every month. (And thanks for the good laugh.) Even though next month’s December issue will hit homes the day before Thanksgiving, I wanted to use this month’s column to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season, and thank you for all of your support through the years. spt
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• flexibility • relaxation • strength • weight loss • focus • self-care • cross training
NOVEMBER 2016
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 Jack Baric, Diana L. Chapman, Lori Garrett, Mike Lansing, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Anthony Pirozzi, Angela Romero, Jamaal K. Street, Leonard Trubia
Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions) (310) 753-5176 | shana@sanpedrotoday.com
PHOTOGRAPHER John Mattera Photography CONTACT INFO: PHONE: (424) 224-9063 EMAIL: contact@sanpedrotoday.com San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168, San Pedro, CA 90733
VOLUME 8 | NUMBER 10
Empire22 Media LLC OWNER/PUBLISHER Joshua J. Stecker San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media. 25,000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today. Copyright 2009-2016, Empire22 Media LLC.
6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2016
ON THE COVER: Ports O' Call Waterfront Dining family: Wyatt Wilson, Charlotte Frank, Jayme Wilson and Michelle Gomez (photo: John Mattera)
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NOVEMBER 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. EVERY WEEK – STRONG PEDRO PROJECT at Plaza Park (10th St. & Beacon St.) Tuesday 5p - Run Club with Lauren Maes; Wednesday at 6:45a - TRX circuit is Carla Baccio & Marianne O'Brien; Friday 4:30p - Youth Crossfit with Eddie McKenna ; Saturday 9am - Glute Camp with Ricky Magana; Saturday 11:30a - Yoga with Mike Aspinwall. Open to the public. Presented by StrongPedroProject. Every Wed – CHILDREN’S WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St). Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman, Wed 4:30-5:45p. For info, call (310) 626-7906. Every Fri – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St. between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p. 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 Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall. Admission is FREE, donations are accepted. Every first and second Sunday – Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St.) 1-4p. Last tour starts at 3:15p. Built in 1899, the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society. Admission is free, but a donation of $3 is encouraged. 2 (Wed) - ADULT LECTURE SERIES at Temple Beth El (1435 W. 7th St.) 7p. Dr. Steven Windmuller, former Dean of the L.A. campus of Hebrew Union College will speak about the 2016 elections and the Jewish vote. Cost is $18. For more info, please call (310) 833-2467. 3 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro. 6-10p 5 (Sat) - OPEN STUDIOS DAY at Angels Gate Cultural Center (see story page 26)
8 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2016
5 (Sat) - BOOK SALE at San Pedro Regional Branch Library (931 S. Gaffer St.) 11a-4p. The Friends of San Pedro Library
will be hosting their monthly book sale and donating all St.) 10a-5p. Get an early start on your holiday shopping/ The its proceeds to the library. Make sure to stop by for lots of boutique is featuring food items, stocking stuffers, children’s bargains on books, CDs, Magazines, and much more. gifts, holiday decorations and many more wonderful gift selections that will make your shopping easy. All proceeds 6 (Sun) - SAINTS ALIVE PAGEANT at Holy Trinity Parish benefit local philanthropic programs. Runs Nov. 15 - Jan. 4. (209 N. Hanford Ave.) 3:30p. Saints Alive is an interactive Sale Hours: 10a-5p (weekdays) and 11a-3p (Saturdays). For pageant presented by Holy Trinity parishioners and is more info, please call (310) 832-8355 ext. 221. designed to entertain, educate, and inspire the audience. Actors step into the shoes of the Saints to depict their lives, 19 (Sat) - USES FOR NATIVE PLANTS WORKSHOP at good works, and impact on the world. Admission is free. For White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W. Paseo Del more info, please call (310) 548-6535. Mar) 10a-12p. Experience how local plants are used in traditional and modern ways with Craig Torres. Bring a re6 (Sun) - SOUL FEAST at First Presbyterian Church of San usable mug! $20 per person. To RSVP, visit pvplc.org. Pedro (781 S. Averill Ave) 5:30p. Come out and join in every Sunday for a family worship service. All ages welcomed. 19 (Sat) - BEAUTY OF NATURE FILM SERIES at Warner Dinner is included. Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.) 4p. Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for the film screening of 10 (Thurs) - REUNION BREAKFAST FOR CLASS OF Unbranded, a gripping documentary about four fresh-out1945 at The Grinder (511 S. Harbor Blvd.) 9:30a. The San of-college buddies as they take on wild mustangs to be their Pedro Class of 1945 invites classmates to enjoy a delicious trusted mounts, and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. breakfast and catch up with old friends from the past. To Tickets $10. Youth 18 and un-der free. For tickets, please RSVP, please contact Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or visit www.pvplc.org or call (310) 541-7613. Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321. 22 (Tues) SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB at Peck Park 11 (Fri) - WORLD PREMIERE OF “A VERY SPECIAL Community Center (560 N. Western Ave.) 9:30a. Join the HOLIDAY” at Little Fish Theatre (777 S. Centre St.) 8p. Little San Pedro Garden Club for a lecture about Birds of the Fish Theatre presents its last production of the 2016 season, Palos Verdes Peninsula from Evi Meyer, a Palos Verdes “A Very Special Holiday” written by Mark Harvey Levine Peninsula scientist, author, and photographer. Come early and directed by Holly Baker-Kreiswirth. The show is a for refreshments and fellowship. collection of short holiday plays celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas. Runs Nov. 11 - Dec. 17 on Fridays and 26 (Sat) - MICRO PLANTS ON THE PENINSULA at White Saturdays at 8p. For tickets and more showtimes, please visit Point Education Center (1600 W. Paseo Del Mar) 11a-12p. www.littlefishtheatre.org Explore tiny plants with naturalist, Neil Uelman who will give you a close up look at the plants that grow here locally 12 (Sat) – CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The based on his recent research on biological soil crust. To Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.) 10a-12p. Open every second RSVP, please visit pvplc.org. Saturday of the month. Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and don’t forget to bring your reusable bags! 29 (Tues) - THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON at Holy Trinity Parish (1292 W. Santa Cruz St.) 11a-2p. Holy Trinity Parish 12 (Sat) - GUIDED NATURE WALK at Portuguese is hosting a Thanksgiving luncheon for all First Responders Bend Reserve. 2p. Spend an afternoon with Palos Verdes in the San Pedro/Port Community. It is the perfect month to Peninsula Land Conservancy walking through an area of say "thank you" to the wonderful women and men that work beautiful coastal sage habitats and amazing views. This is for the community day in and day out. To RSVP, please a moderate to strenuous walk. Free and open to the public. contact ousopaw@cox.net. For more info, please contact (310) 541-7613 ext. 201 or sign Email event info to events@sanpedrotoday. up at www.pvplc.org
com. Deadline for the December issue is Friday,
15 (Tues) - ANNUAL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE at Assistance November 11. All locations in San Pedro unless League of San Pedro-South Bay Chapter House (1441 W. 8th otherwise noted.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: As caretakers of your children, we appreciate the written comments made by Ms. Marquez (Dear LAUSD: We Need To Talk, Sept. 2016). We are committed to providing clean facilities for students and staff while doing our best to educate children of San Pedro and Dana Middle School and prepare them for their future education and career opportunities. Our school implements a regular schedule of classroom clean-ups and maintenance to ensure an environment conducive to safety and to learning. We also are continuing to address our responsibilities as a district to ensure quality places of learning for all of our students. Another matter we are addressing as a district is a shortage of school nurses. L.A. Unified is moving forward with hiring qualified health professionals who are able and capable of addressing our students’ many needs. Given the expense involved, and the degree of qualifications required, it is a slow but steadily progressing project that is not being undertaken lightly. After the story appeared, we emailed Ms. Marquez directly to engage in dialog over any concerns she may have or any parent, for that matter. We want the public to know that we are listening, and taking action. We look forward to hearing back from Ms. Marquez and working together to help build a great future for students at Dana Middle School and elsewhere. Sincerely, Christopher Downing Superintendent, Local District-South
Dear Editor, Just got [Sept. 2016] edition and wanted to say how much I enjoyed the columns written by you and Mike Lansing. I haven’t had a chance yet to read the others. While we may argue a bit around the edges, I agree with the general thought and tone of both articles. People of a certain age (mine) long for a magical time (1950s) which never was really that magical: restricted housing covenants, lower women’s wages and, in the south, separate bathrooms. The world has changed and we need to make the most of that change. I particularly liked Mike’s point about emphasis on K-12 and preparing some kids for great high paying jobs that don’t necessarily require a degree. I also agree with yours about increased downtown density. Shops need people. I wouldn’t really worry about turning into Santa Monica too soon, but we could easily turn into a much better San Pedro. Great job, Mike Hershman
Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters must include your full name in order to be considered for publication. Please keep letters to 200 words or less. Letters may be edited for length and grammar. Please include an address, email and phone number (address, emails, phone numbers will not be published).
Steven Gebhart Principal, Dana Middle School
NOVEMBER 2016 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9
VOICES
San Pedro Proves Fertile Ground for Real-Life Ghosthunter by Steve Marconi Just in time for Halloween is the new book, Haunted San Pedro (160 pp., Arcadia Publishing and The History Press, 2016, $19.99, paperback) by Brian Clune. I found out about the book quite by chance earlier this year when I ran into Clune in, of all places, Harbor View Memorial Cemetery. He was doing some last-minute research, and I was looking for my great-grandmother’s gravesite. We got to talking, and Clune told me about the book. This is not Clune’s first foray into the paranormal (check out his website www.planetparanormal.com). He already has published two other books on the subject, California’s Historic Haunts and Ghosts of the Queen Mary, and has been featured in a number of television shows with ghost-related themes. Clune also is familiar with San Pedro because, besides being a “ghosthunter,” he’s also a history buff: He was worked as a volunteer on the USS Iowa and at the Fort MacArthur Military Museum. No surprise, the Iowa and Fort MacArthur are the subjects of two of his 16 chapters. He also takes readers to the Point Fermin Lighthouse, Sunken City, the Warner Grand Theatre, SS Lane Victory, the Vincent Thomas Bridge and then strays a little geographically to take in the Dominguez Rancho, Banning Mansion, Drum Barracks, Point Vicente Lighthouse and Wayfarers Chapel. In all of these places, people at various times have reported seeing or hearing things that some would describe as “otherworldly.”
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There is one chapter devoted to a single house on 11th Street in San Pedro and what happened to Jackie Hernandez in 1989. Clune calls it “perhaps the most dramatic and one of the most violent cases in the annals of paranormal investigation.” It was that case that had brought him to the cemetery that day. Those into ghost stories have probably heard most of the ones cited in this book, but I doubt they have been documented quite as well as Clune does here. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I do enjoy good books, and in relating the ghost stories attached to the above locations, Clune gives a concise and well-written history of each place that makes this a worthwhile read for anyone interested in San Pedro. He even interrupts his “apparitional” narrative with a short chapter on “The Busiest Port Around,” an out-of-towner’s historical perspective of San Pedro that residents often try to ignore. It’s uncomfortably blunt, but how can you pass up a book with a first chapter titled, “San Pedro: The Most Beautiful Place on Earth”? You can order your book today by calling (888) 313-2665, or, if you want to have it before Halloween, email sales@arcadiapublishing.com. An e-book version is available. WWI Memorial Speaking of the Warner Grand and history, John Gilhuly took up my challenge of a few months ago and actually went to the historical archives to research the plaque memorializing San Pedro’s first WWI casualty. It turns out, the plaque dedication was tied to one of the biggest events to hit San Pedro, the grand opening of the Warner Bros. Theatre in January 1931. The information was contained on San Pedro News-Pilot microfilm at the San Pedro Bay Historical Society. A Jan. 20, 1931, article headlined: Warners Honors Slain Soldier/Plaque to be Dedicated to First San Pedro to Lose Life in War, reads: “Fitting ceremonies honoring Private Roy A. Moore [sic], San Pedro’s first son to be killed in the World War, will take place tomorrow afternoon when Warner Bros. unveil the plaque in their new theater which has been dedicated to this hero. “The San Pedro post of the American Legion, civic officials, and hundreds of local citizens will join Warner Bros. in paying tribute to Private Moore [sic] and other heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice for their country. “Private Moore [sic], who was killed in action August 7, 1918, between Soissons and Rheims on the Vesir River, was in the first draft from San Pedro, enlisting in June, 1917. He was attached to Company B, Eleventh Machine Gun Battalion. “The war hero was related to Clarence W. Bowers [sic] of San Pedro.” Typical of the News-Pilot, the soldier’s name, Mowers, was misspelled, as was, I’m sure, his relative’s. A follow-up article the next day notes a host of luminaries on hand for the event, including City Councilman A.K. Henning, local chamber officials and business leaders and W.H. Bastedo, editor of the News-Pilot. It reads: “American Legion officials and thousands of San Pedrans joined Warner Bros. in honoring Roy Mowers, first San Pedro war hero to be killed in the world wear this afternoon when a plaque in the theater was dedicated as a part of the flag raising and dedication ceremonies.” At least they spelled his name right. Along Comes Mary It’s not often (never) that I would call your attention to a story in the L.A. Times, but I’ll make an exception for San Pedran Mary Forgione’s Oct. 10 travel article (http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-91591104/) about what happened to her last year in Turkey. It’s a cautionary tale of the pitfalls that even the most innocent of visitors face in a tumultuous world. Forgione, a former colleague at the Daily Breeze and Times, is married to native son Tom Politeo. spt Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.
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It’s been approximately 10 years since the sale of DiCarlo’s Bakery uprooted Eastview Little League, causing its volunteers to scramble to find another place for San Pedro’s kids to play ball. The league, which launched in 1961, has always had a special place in my heart because I played there as a kid and I helped coach there as a dad. I have incredibly warm memories of watching my son Kyle play at Eastview and form bonds with the children of numerous friends that I grew up with. It almost didn’t happen. In 2008, the league was in dire straits when the Eastview volunteers couldn’t find a new home. It wasn’t until Janice Hahn, then our councilperson, worked with Port of Los Angeles staff to secure land for the league on Knoll Hill. Quite literally thousands of San Pedro families have benefited from Janice’s leadership in securing fields that allowed their kids to continue playing ball. I cannot recall one single time that County Supervisor Don Knabe showed up at any event on behalf of Eastview families. I have utmost respect for Supervisor Knabe, but the reason he never showed up is that he has a vast district and so the problems of six hundred San Pedro families didn’t make it onto his radar. Hahn is currently running for Knabe’s county supervisor seat against Steve Napolitano, a chief deputy in Knabe’s office. I have only met Napolitano once and he was very pleasant. However, I am fairly active in our community and it is quite telling that the only time I met him was when he was campaigning. Once again, it’s a huge district, so I wonder, how much attention will San Pedro get if Napolitano is elected? I’ll answer my own question – very little. It was Hahn’s keen understanding of the workings of the port that allowed her to intercede on behalf of Eastview’s kids. However, as much as Eastview means to so many, there are more important issues for our community at the port than baseball. Hahn has been a strong and steadfast supporter of ILWU families. She understands the huge importance of longshore jobs to our San Pedro families – and to the economics of the region. Napolitano is a conservative politician, so ask yourself, when push comes to shove, how hard would he fight for ILWU families when that stance flies in the face of his party’s anti-union philosophies? Although Hahn has always been a strong supporter for keeping our port highly productive, as a resident of San Pedro, she also knows firsthand the environmental impacts that our community faces from port pollution. She took a lead role in convincing the port to walk the fine line of continuing to provide thousands of local jobs while also setting environmental standards that protect families that live closest to the port in San Pedro and Wilmington. Growing green at the port is a huge accomplishment of her career. Hahn has a proven record of convincing adversarial forces to work together on common goals. As a Congresswoman, she leveraged her vast port knowledge to co-found and co-chair with Republican Congressman Ted Poe, the bi-partisan Congressional PORTS Caucus, which was organized to strengthen and secure our nation’s port’s and their transportation corridors. It was as the caucus co-chair that Janice secured $36 million in ports funding for dredging, maintenance and other improvement projects. Although she is a Democrat, Hahn received praise from her partners across the aisle. The Daily Breeze endorsed Hahn with these words, “As a representative of the port area for more than a decade, she understands the transportation needs of the community,” adding, “Hahn’s strengths, as a former councilwoman who created the Watts Gang Task Force after debilitating violence in her district, play to a key priority of the supervisor board: public safety.” The L.A. Times also endorsed Hahn: “People in need have long been the focus and the passion of Janice Hahn. If the current board loses direction, she is the candidate most likely to prick its conscience. If elected, she will join a majority already in the midst of refocusing the county on delivering crucially needed services.” Hahn is a fighter that has always championed San Pedro and will continue to do so as a county supervisor. This is too important an election for our town to not support one of our own. It provides us the amazing advantage of having one of only five supervisors to advocate for us. Don’t waste this golden opportunity for San Pedro. Vote Janice Hahn. spt Jack Baric can be reached at jackbaric@hotmail.com.
VOICES
Vin
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by Anthony Pirozzi It’s been a month since Vin Scully retired as the Los Angeles Dodgers announcer. His interest in baseball began, as he stated in his September 23 farewell letter, “Many years ago, a little red-headed boy was walking home from school, passing a Chinese laundry and stopped to see the score of a World Series game posted in the window. The Yankees beat the Giants, 18-4, on October 2, 1936. The boy’s reaction was a pity for the Giants and he became a rabid Giants’ fan from that day forward until the joyous moment when he was hired to broadcast Brooklyn Dodgers games in 1950.” This was the beginning of our relationship with Vin Scully for the next 67 years. I was there on the night when Vin Scully was honored at Dodger Stadium with his family present, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Jaime Jarrín, Sandy Koufax, and Clayton Kershaw, concluding with an awesome tribute by Kevin Costner. There was not a dry eye in the stadium as many reflected on the memories presented of Vin over the years. For example, voted the #1 Vin Scully memory was Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homerun on October 15, 1988, against the Oakland A’s in Game 1 of the World Series. Most of us remember where we were that night. Me, I was working at the Vons in Diamond Bar during the time I attended Cal Poly Pomona. While working I would go up to the break room to catch a glimpse of the game on a small color TV, having to adjust the “rabbit ears” each time to improve the picture, then head back downstairs to stock the milk box. At the moment Kirk Gibson was coming out of the dugout to pinch hit, I watched hoping history would play itself out. After walking Mike Davis the stage was set; bottom of the 9th, two outs, A’s up 4-3, winning run coming up to the plate. As Gibson was announced to pinch hit, Vin started by saying, “All year long, they looked to him to light the fire, and all year long, he answered the demands, until he was physically unable to start tonight – with two bad legs: the bad left hamstring, and the swollen right knee. And, with two out, you talk about a roll of the dice... this is it.” Gibson battled at the plate and landed with a full count. As A’s pitcher Dennis Eckersley delivered the final pitch, it ended with classic Vin, “High fly-ball into right-field, she is gone!... In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!” That moment still gives me goose bumps. I met Vin back in 2009 while attending the Toberman Neighborhood Center's A Grand Slam with Baseball Legends event here in town. Listening to Vin talk during the event was like his broadcasts of clarity and passion behind the mic. I wanted to simply shake his hand and thank him for being the voice that I listened to as a kid on the transistor radio whether in my backyard or with the radio under my pillow on school nights. Back then, Councilman Joe Buscaino was the LAPD officer assigned to this event, so I mentioned to him that if there was an opportunity to meet Vin, I would appreciate the opportunity. So, Joe invited me to meet Vin when he escorted him to his limo, and by the time I arrived Vin was already in the car. Joe began the introduction but Vin said, “Just a moment, let me get out of the car.” We both told him it was okay, but he insisted. I couldn’t believe Vin Scully did this just to meet me. We shook hands as I told him that I was a Dodger fan and thanked him for being there for us each night. He was very nice and thanked me for being a fan. I asked if we could take a picture together and he said, “of course.” He was such a gentleman and always a class act. I will miss Vin Scully, his voice, his passion for the game and his memorable calls, but I will never forget the kind gesture he extended to me on that day. I will remember that forever. spt Anthony Pirozzi is a L.os Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be contacted at apirozzi@yahoo.com.
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Thank you, LAUSD, for reading my previous letter and arranging to have five employees from the district meet with me. It seems like your ideas about our problems at Dana Middle School are one time fixes and not long-term solutions. While I appreciate the effort, I wonder if you are tired of my complaints about our relationship and are looking for an easy way out. I am so happy that the old library carpet will be replaced this summer. But am I going to have to write a letter to you every time something needs to be painted or replaced and you have ignored school site requests? I would like our relationship to be more proactive on your part. I have a career and have spent nine years volunteering with PTO, School Site Council, Art To Grow On, and field trips. How am I supposed to figure out what I am going to cook for dinner, do a report for my boss, drive one of my kids to soccer and the other to volleyball if I have to keep tabs on you as well? You say you clean the classrooms on a “regular basis.” This is the same schedule that my children would like to have for cleaning their rooms, once a year. I imagine all those germy hands on desks and doorknobs at school every time my children are ill. Is this really your best effort? I asked when the last time the floors had been mopped in the classrooms and was told a year ago. There is nothing clean about a floor that is mopped annually. It is not Dana’s fault; it is yours for not providing enough staff. I have to wonder if you treat Dana differently because it is a Title I School with nearly 70% of the students low-income. I have friends who go to your “other” schools in West Los Angeles and things are so different over there. The parents at those schools, many attorneys and movie executives, who are not low-income, tell me they would never put up with what we are dealing with at Dana. Would it be different between us if this was a different neighborhood? Being together in a healthy relationship means there should be transparency. I do not feel you are very open about your money. Take Breakfast in the Classroom for example, how much money are you making from it? Of course, I believe every child should eat breakfast, but can’t we just do this in the cafeteria like before? I do not let my children eat in their bedrooms, why are we turning classrooms into restaurants? All the food in the classrooms is attracting roaches and mice. My child witnessed the bloody death of a mouse one morning when it got stuck between a table. I just have a feeling that there is more to this story about why you insist on Breakfast in the Classroom. Why don’t you be honest with me, withholding details is not doing our relationship any good. I know you promised again to build a ramp so all classrooms are physically accessible. We both know the truth; you are only building a ramp to some of the classrooms. It is not just the students this hurts. Parents in walkers and wheelchairs cannot go to open house or parent conferences in these classrooms only accessible by stairs. You have had decades to raise funds, create a foundation or write grants to make schools ADA compliant. It feels like you do not care when you ignore our problems for so many years. No matter what happens between us, I hope you are able to work on yourself so someday soon all children in LAUSD will be able to have clean classrooms accessible to all. No student should sit in an attendance office for weeks because of a twisted ankle. Students, parents and school site staff deserve more from you.
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VOICES
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Random While some still debate global warming, LAUSD will have to move Opening Day back to November and shorten the school year if they truly want to save on their air-conditioning bills. The Port of Los Angeles is often attacked as a bad neighbor, but they recently renewed their commitment to the children of Rancho San Pedro and Barton Hill by continuing their 15-year partnership with our Port Boys & Girls Club. On behalf of the kids – thank you! Why do so many rational and educated adults verbally harangue Colin Kaepernick for his non-violent protest of more than questionable force while steadfastly supporting The Donald regardless of what he does (opening his mouth) or doesn’t do (paying federal taxes)? Speaking of Barton Hill, while solving the growing homeless problem is a no-win situation, there has to be a better area to place the proposed storage container for their items than in this family neighborhood. Not an original thought, but how about under the freeway at the bottom of Channel Street? It is truly a shame that the children of today cannot enjoy the much anticipated Halloween of my youth that has been replaced by politically correct “Harvest Festivals” and ruined by the idiots prancing around as creepy clowns. If you are a Baby Boomer like me (or not), I highly recommend reading The Fifties by David Halberstam. Everyone should read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Why can’t we bring back the Fisherman’s Fiesta (in its heyday), the San Pedro DriveIn and Strand Theatre, the Hacienda Golf Course, the San Pedro Pro Bowl, La Conga on Friday nights and kids being able to play in the street during the summer until 10 p.m.? (Okay, all very random except the last one, which can and should happen). Crosby, Stills & Nash asked us to “teach your children well.” What kind of example and legacy are we leaving them with an out-of-control presidential campaign that is no better than a bad reality show, questionable force and unbridled urban violence, lack of tolerance for those who don’t look, think or worship like us, and an ever-widening gap between the have and have-nots while supporting legislation that protects corporate greed and graft, limiting public education funding and decrying a higher minimum wage? GRADE: D. Vin As a kid growing up in “Peedro,” we had some great professional teams to root for, but the Dodgers were, and continue to be, my favorite. Since the mid-1960s, my friends and I had the great fortune to listen to Vin Scully wax poetic (before we knew what the term meant) about the Dodgers and America. I had a front row seat to the radio at my Aunt Cecelia’s house when Vin told us what was going on in “Frisco” with Juan Marichal taking a bat to the head of our Johnny Roseboro; I was painting our family bathroom when he proudly announced that the Cubs’ Rick Monday had saved our flag that Sunday at Chavez Ravine; and I huddled with my friends at the back of a wedding reception hall to hear Vin briefly and expertly explain Kirk Gibson’s “Shot heard ‘round San Pedro.” I had the chance to say goodbye to Vin when some friends and I gathered to hear his last great call that Sunday from San Francisco. He made a sometimes slow game feel and sound like the best thing on earth – when all was right in the world because we trusted in Vin to paint the airwaves with a canvas that still harkens back to our much simpler and safer childhood. Thank you, Vin Scully, you gave us all a lifetime of great memories. spt Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.
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For Josephine Nizetich, working with the Little Sisters of the Poor has been a heavenly experience. “Whenever I visit the home I try to engage residents in conversation. I always tell them they are lucky to be living there,” she said. “One resident told me, ‘This is Heaven. I feel like I am in Heaven. There is no place like this.’ I just smiled and assured her she was certainly in Heaven.” Nizetich, along with three other founding Auxiliary members who are also Josephine Nizetich and Mother Margaret members of the Advisory Board were honored by The Auxiliary of the Little Sisters of the Poor at their 19th annual gala event on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Reflecting on her early involvement with the Little Sisters, Nizetich explained, “I knew the building on Western Ave. but did not know much about the Little Sisters when Libby Cigliano introduced me to them. She invited to me to participate in organizing the first fundraiser. Then I learned of the Little Sisters’ dedication to the elderly poor and the quality of care they provided. Compared to other senior facilities, their home was beyond anything I had ever seen.” Reflecting on the early days of the gala event, Nizetich recalled, “The first fundraiser was held at the new Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. On our first site visit, we were stepping over mud puddles and construction materials and wondered if this was such a great idea. “As we moved forward, everyone helped to put out the word. The men on the Advisory Board were terrific. They had all the connections in L.A. and drummed up great support for the event. While we were initially thinking about 300 guests, we had over 600. Such a successful beginning gave the Auxiliary great confidence and has sustained our work over the years. “My focus has always been on the decorating. I remember the Silver Jubilee in the Chapel Garden when we honored Joe Nally and Ken Olsen from the Advisory Board. It was beautiful. The Centennial Celebration honoring the Little Sisters for the 100 years of work in Los Angeles was marvelous. “I took some time off from the Auxiliary but came back three years ago and continue as decorating chair. It is wonderful to meet the new women in the group. Each and everyone has a real spiritual feel. We all know the cause of the Little Sisters is very important. Our shared value fosters an amazing warmth. This is a unique and wonderful organization. “Supporting the Little Sisters through the Auxiliary and the Board of Advisors has been the most rewarding work I have done over the years. Truly, I feel a bit guilty to receive recognition for my participation.” As founder of the San Pedro Peninsula Cancer Guild and the San Pedro Peninsula Hospital Women’s Guild and a member of the San Pedro Hospital Foundation Board, she has been a pillar in the San Pedro community for many years and in so many ways. Josephine and her husband Anthony were married for 68 years. They have three daughters and a son, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. spt Photo and story eprinted with permission from Little Sisters of the Poor
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The entrance to Ports O’ Call Waterfront Dining Restaurant
Celebrating 55 years in business, Ports O’ Call Waterfront Dining Restaurant, led by the Wilson family, continues to set the gold standard in seafood sustainability (and great food, too!) story by Leonard Trubia | photos by John Mattera
Getting old can be tough. Parts break down no matter how well you treat them. Routine check-ups are greeted with anxiety and accompanied by meds in pill boxes. Each year more effort is devoted to maintenance and staying current with newfangled approaches and technologies. Without a tenacious regimen of healthy practices, one either evolves or slowly falls victim to natural selection. But with each year we all get our special day to reflect on the past and plan for the future, and on that day we celebrate. This year Ports O’ Call Waterfront Dining Restaurant turns 55. Cue the horns and streamers, it’s your birthday! With every year, Ports O’ Call restaurant becomes equally a historical point of interest as much as it is a restaurant. Unbeknownst to many, the restaurant was established before Ports O’ Call Village. Talk the about carriage in front of the horse. Although it’s important to know your history and quite enjoyable to chew the fat of the good old days, the future is but a second after the present and the people at the helm of the waterfront restaurant seem more focused on what lies ahead. As the much anticipated wrecking ball takes aim at the charming structural decay of the village, the staff at Ports O’ Call restaurant are embracing it. They are staying open. “As far as we’ve been told, we are staying here,” says Noramae Munster, director of marketing and sustainability, and she has the plans and blueprints to prove it. With no plans of being slowed down by the demolition and construction around them, Ports O’ Call restaurant has booked events well into 2018. In a refreshing and upbeat tone, Munster says, “The parking and roads are out of our control, so we will deal with it as simply another event, like we always have.” However, residents of San Pedro have seen many establishments come and go for much less than a parking issue. One factor that has helped this particular establishment weather stormy seas and
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The restaurant now boasts a newly redesigned bar; (below) Mahi Mahi tacos using sustainable seafood ingredients. (photo: Ports O’ Call Waterfront Dining Restaurant)
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The Wilson family: (l to r) Caleb, Wyatt, Kyla & Finley Wilson; Michelle Gomez & Jayme Wilson; Charlotte Frank & West Wilson
the doldrums of the restaurant business is a reciprocal sense of community. Munster explains, “I meet people all the time that say, ‘I got married here’ or ‘I attended an event here.’ ” Providing a venue for people to celebrate important milestones has stitched the restaurant into the fabric of San Pedro. Pick any event, a wedding, a high school reunion, a quinceañera, a corporate event, owner Jayme Wilson doesn’t say no. In doing so, he manages to fill the enormous footprint of the restaurant, which includes six banquet rooms and three outdoor venues. It’s precisely this accommodating attitude that has kept Wilson and his family afloat during a recession that devastated many other businesses. And his customers keep coming back for more. Jayme Wilson’s mark on Ports O’ Call Village began in 1982 when he had his dinner cruise ship “Spirit” built right here in San Pedro. With the success of the Spirit dinner cruise came a demand for a consistent quality food source. Wilson says, “We needed a kitchen to supply our food.” As need would have it, in 1993 he opened the Boardwalk Café at Ports O’ Call Village. Jayme is a doer, and doers are a rare breed. Ultimately, people saw something in Wilson that the previous owners didn’t have. The Port of Los Angeles noticed as well, and had plans for him. In 2005, the Port had taken notice that Ports O’ Call restaurant had fallen into disrepair, as did their relationship with the owner of the restaurant at the time. The Port had been courting Wilson and saw him as a person that could preserve, renovate and make the restaurant work. According to Wilson, “They wanted it to be seamless. The previous owner would ultimately move out at night, and we would move in the next day.” With more than $100,000 in repairs and a lot of elbow grease, the Ports O’ Call Waterfront Dining Restaurant was salvaged. The past is the past, though, and Wilson and Munster are much more interested in talking about the future of the restaurant and the highly anticipated San Pedro Public Market. They welcome the new commerce the market will bring, and in particular, new restaurants. Why welcome competition? If you have to ask yourself this question you should probably steer clear of the restaurant business. Munster describes her enthusiasm for a new restaurant boon on the waterfront by referencing the archaic car dealerships that used to isolate themselves, but now benefit from clustering together and creating the “auto mall,” as she calls it. “People don’t want to come here for one thing, they want options,” she says. With a successful career running her own advertising firm, you can rest assured she has the proficiency to stand behind this claim. Having grown up in my parents’ restaurant, I am all too familiar with the dedication that it takes to be successful in this business. As Munster and I started swapping battle stories, I shared one of nights spent sleeping across dining room chairs while my mother finished rolling her silverware, and another tale of heading straight from the school bus to
scrub dishes. “It’s surprising how much work it takes to run a restaurant,” Munster laughs. I agree. There is a role reversal familiar to restaurant owners. It owns you. If it doesn’t, you won’t survive for long. Having won numerous awards including South Bay’s Best for “Best Happy Hour” and “Best Brunch” multiple times, Jayme Wilson has not allowed success to breed complacency. They are continually updating the menus, all while retaining the services of Executive Chef Ruben Guerrero and General Manager Jim Ryan, both of whom Wilson says, “came with the business.” This kind of loyalty is that of another time and place. A timeless port with a sense of community like no other in Los Angeles, that is the mark of San Pedro and it is alive and well at Ports O’ Call restaurant. Noramae Munster began working with Ports O’ Call Restaurant in 2006 and continued into 2011 when she parted with the advertising world and devoted all of her efforts to the restaurant. For the record, she doesn’t miss the advertising world. Together, Wilson and Munster have been on the cutting edge of the culinary world with their commitment to sustainable seafood. Although some may think the practice of sustainable seafood is a catchy marketing tool, it is born out of necessity. Even when gratuitously exploited along with terms such as “natural” and “organic,” there is no scientific argument that can deny the effects of over fishing our oceans. The key is to strike a long-term ecological balance between the livelihood of fisherman and fishing methods. This approach that began in the 1990s has Wilson sitting on several boards, including the Los Angeles Transcontinental Board, which makes Wilson an ambassador to the port. According to Munster, “When people need to know anything about seafood, Jayme Wilson is the person of contact. He is the insider for seafood purveyors and fishmongers, and this restaurant is a gateway to the industry.” During the time that I spoke with Wilson, he was preparing for an international flight to meet with likeminded people across the pond to discuss precisely the subject to which he is so dedicated, sustainable seafood. The tentacles of his involvement in this philosophy also extend to local philanthropic sponsorships. The recent Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Sustainable Seafood Expo is but one of the many events that Wilson contributes to. For the past three years, he has been a core sponsor of the expo. The commitment to high quality food and sustainable practices is maintained throughout their menu and their business. Their chicken is hormone and GMO free, and the same with the beef. All aspects of their footprint are held to the same level of scrutiny. Jayme Wilson has carbon credits for all of the gas that he uses on the fishing boats, as well. From the exclusive use of Aardvark paper straws to their abstinence from Styrofoam, sustainability is a consideration in all facets of this operation. These progressive practices provide hope for the oceans and the food that they provide. spt
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Open Studios Day by Angela "Romee" Romero
26 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2016
Open Studios Day at Angels Gate Cultural Center is hands-down one of my favorite events in San Pedro, and nothing makes me happier than the fact that it now happens twice a year. On Open Studios Day, all of the artists up at Angels Gate throw open the doors to their artistic sanctuaries and welcome the public to take a peek at their works in progress and even buy some of their finished pieces. Going from studio to studio was always kind of like trick-or-treating for the eyes to me, especially when you get to see all the little decorative and whimsical bits that inspire the artists to create. I’m always blown away by all of the wonderful art that is happening right here in San Pedro and Angels Gate is a diamond mine of hidden treasures. The next Open Studios Day is happening Saturday, November 5, and I’m extra excited this time around because it will be the first time that I’ll be participating as an Angels Gate studio artist. Angels Gate Cultural Center got its start in 1980 when a group of civic leaders went to the Department of Recreation & Parks and asked if they could use some of the old Ft. Mac Arthur buildings in the new Angels Gate Park for art classes and showcases. Within a few years, they added the studio artist program that provided affordable studio and classroom space for working artists. Today, more than 50 artists call Angels Gate their creative home and I am so lucky to be one of their newest additions. There are so many reasons why I wanted to be a part of the Angels Gate creative community; on a professional level, it’s a culmination of sorts of the crazy journey of discovery I started seven years ago when I took my first walk around San Pedro; on a personal level, I have found a home among friends that I have long admired and I believe so much in the mission of Angels Gate that I want to do everything in my power to support and promote it; as a total Pedro nerd, I consider Angels Gate the last piece of ‘Wild’ San Pedro there is left to experience and I wanted in on that. Wild means so many things at Angels Gate. There’s the call of the wild from wild animals near and far. For the most part it’s really quiet and peaceful up there but I love the neighborhood chatter from the murder of crows who hang out up there, the sea lions and seals barking down at the Marine Mammal Care Center and the goodnight chorus from the pea fowl over in the Palisades. The adaptive reuse of old Army barracks is also kind of wild when you think about all the history that went on in the space you hold. I often wonder about the function my little writer’s studio held once upon a time. But I don’t dwell on that very long because I might start making spooky sense of the random creeks and pops of the old wooden buildings. Speaking of spooky, the darkness at night will make
Inside Romero’s studio at Angels Gate Cultural Center; (below) Angels Gate Cultural Center
you think you’re out in the wilderness. The sunsets are breathtaking but as soon as that sun is out of view, bam! It’s pitch black. Sometimes wild just means unpredictable. The weekend I was scheduled to move in to my studio happened to coincide with Old Fort MacArthur Days, they were using the upper level of AGCC for parking and I had some trouble getting through. If you’re not familiar with Old Fort Mac Days, that’s the weekend where all the war reenactment and period dress fanatics within a 100-mile radius descend upon Angels Gate Park in full regalia. It really is a sight to behold to watch all of Julius Caesar’s murderers pile out of a Toyota Corolla while the cast of Pride and Prejudice parades by under sheer parasols. The most important definition of wild for me, and the ultimate reason for me being at Angels Gate, is the freedom. The freedom to explore ideas and mediums that blend my passions. There are so many projects I want to do and so many things I want to try my hand at and I know “The Gate” is the perfect place for me to work them out. If you’d like to learn more about what these projects are, please come out and visit me during Open Studios on November 5 from 1-5 p.m. at Angels Gate Cultural Center (3601 S. Gaffey Street). I’m located in the F Building near the ceramics classroom. I’ll have a special exhibit up and some historical artifacts on display. Although I won’t get to poke around other studios and be nosey, I’m really excited to be on the other side of Open Studios and meet new people. spt
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Bullied Teen Wins $10,000 College Scholarship by Diana L. Chapman Stephen Lee (photo: Lee family)
28 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2016
A 17-year-old boy attending the Boys and Girls Club College Bound program in San Pedro won a $10,000 college scholarship this month from the Taco Bell Foundation for his personal anti-bullying video. Stephen Lee took the stance after struggling with bullying for years. He made the video with his own artwork and the club staff helped him put it together. He received the good news call from the Live Mas team with the Taco Bell foundation while visiting his grandmother in Vietnam in July. “I was very grateful when I heard from a Skype call with the (scholarship) team early in the morning that I won $10K. I burst into tears. I am so grateful.” Taryn McNamara, the Taco Bell Foundation coordinator, said the Live Mas scholarship team gives out 220 scholarships across the country to students each year totaling $1 million. The scholarships range between $2,500 and $25,000 and are awarded to those who seem the most passionate about their future dreams and careers. “We’re looking at videos for kids with the most passion and desire,” she said. “We’re looking for the next generation of creators and innovators. We really like Stephen’s video and how he had so much passion for computer science.” Lee said the club at the Cabrillo Avenue site gave him the safe haven he needed to explore his dreams and passions. He was able to enhance his skills in art, animation, graphical design, game design and video editing. He was tutored, guided to prep for college and he even played ping pong. It was the first time he felt accepted despite “my quiet nature,” he said. Middle school and high school were filled with years of dealing with bullying. Students would attack him “verbally” he said and began making fake posts on social media using his name. His grades suffered horribly in those early years and he later spent much of his time feeling lost about his future. Once he attended the club, however, his life began to change for the better. His parents, Hudson and Sylvia who came from Vietnam and are U.S. citizens, were so delighted he felt at home there that they drove and picked him up from the club nearly every day and on the weekends. Eventually, Lee said, he found the courage at last to go to administrators at South Torrance High school where he attended and officials there acted on his concerns. But the club, he said, is where he made his discoveries that he enjoyed computer
science. Family members in the field also taught him about coding and he was able to design three computer games at the club. “The Boys and Girls club… helped me calm down whenever I was stressed,” Lee said. “I have a lot of friends over there that I talked to. However, I talk to the staff a lot as well. I felt very comfortable talking to every single one of them. Even when I had a personal problem, they were there to hear me out and give me advice without judging.” His suggestions to other children who are bullied is to understand that no one else can solve “your problems” and to look to the people who do support you, a family member, a friend. “There’s always at least one person who is there for you.”
“The Boys and Girls club helped me calm down whenever I was stressed.” “I feel every single situation is different and I feel that some people had it even worse than me,” he explained. “All I can say is what I learned. Learn to laugh at yourself, but don’t put yourself down. Don’t take actual constructive criticism as an attack, but learn from it. Lastly, don’t expect anyone else to solve your problems.” His future plans, he said, include making an app that will help school teachers and administrators determine whether students are being bullied. To see his video, go to: https://www.youtu.be/e4aPawvCYYY. spt
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Sportswalk to the Waterfront Returns story by Jamaal K. Street | photo by John Mattera
30 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2016
After a three-year absence, the San Pedro Sportswalk to the Waterfront brought back the Hall of Fame on Monday, October 10, 2016, at historic Downtown San Pedro in front of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Sportswalk to the Waterfront is San Pedro’s athletic answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, launched back on October 5, 1978, in a ceremony that also marked the revitalization of San Pedro’s Beacon Street District. Since its inception, the Sportswalk has inducted several legendary sports figures and coaches such as Wilt Chamberlain, Jackie Robinson, John Wooden and Tommy Lasorda, and many local sports figures like George Padovan, Jerry Lovarov, Willie Naulls and Brian Harper. Several female athletes have also been inducted both local and professional as well. This year, the Sportswalk would honor with a plaque, the famed Agajanian brothers (Cary, J.C. Jr. & Chris), former NFL referee and San Pedro longshoreman Hendie Ancich, Los Angeles football hero Jon Arnett, form er Mary Star High three-sport female sensation Sarah Gascon, Southern California sportswriting legend Doug Krikorian, and the Trani Award winner, San Pedro High football coaching icon Mike Walsh. Cary, J.C. Jr. & Chris Agajanian are the sons of one of auto racing’s greatest car owners and promoters, J.C. Agajanian Sr. As the owners and operators of Ascot Park, the storied raceway in Gardena which launched the career of Evel Knievel, the Agajanian brothers produced over 160 events a year and boasted a crowd of over 500,000 fans annually. In 2016, the boys succeeded in stacking up a win at the famed Indianapolis 500 race with a dramatic finish as their rookie driver brought the famed #98 IndyCar across the finish line first, giving the family four Indy 500 titles (1952, 1963, 2011 & 2016). Ancich was an NFL referee for 21 years, including Super Bowl XXIV, two Pro Bowls, two Canton Hall of Fame games, and six years in the replay booth. Ancich, a San Pedro High graduate, began officiating games in 1961, starting with Pop Warner, then gradually moving up the ranks until finally becoming an NFL official in 1981. At San Pedro, Ancich was a four-sport varsity letterman in baseball, football, track and tennis, was an All-City lineman in football, played at Harbor College, and was the starting center for three semipro teams (Longshoreman A.C., South Gate A.C. & the Anaheim Rhinos). Arnett played most of his football career in the Southland. A Manual Arts High graduate, Arnett was a running back at USC, earning first-team All-American honors, and was presented the Voit Trophy in 1954 and 1955 as the Pacific Coast’s outstanding football player. Arnett was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Drafted second overall in the 1957 NFL draft, Arnett would play for ten years, making five Pro
2016 Sportswalk inductees (l to r): Doug Krikorian, the Agajanian brothers (J.C. Jr., Chris and Cary, Sarah Gascon, Mike Walsh, Jane Arnett (wife of Jon), and Hendie Ancich.
Bowl teams before retiring in 1966, also playing for the Chicago Bears from 1964 until his retirement. Gascon did it all in her high school years at Mary Star from 1997-2000 as a volleyball, basketball and softball four-year letter-winner, helping the Stars reach back-to-back CIF-Southern Section finals in volleyball from 1998-1999. Gascon continued her threesport athletic prowess at Southeastern Louisiana University in volleyball, softball and soccer. While at SLU, she was a four-time all-conference softball player and a two-time all-conference volleyball player, even breaking an NCAA volleyball record for digs. In 2004, Gascon was selected as the starting center fielder for the inaugural USA National Women’s Baseball Team, driving in the gold medal-winning run at the first World Cup of Women’s Baseball. Gascon is currently the captain of the USA Women’s Handball Team. Krikorian has a strong place among the legends of Southern California sports media as a sportswriter for 44 years, 22 each at the defunct Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and the Long Beach Press-Telegram. In his storied career, Krikorian has covered 26 Super Bowls, 25 World Series, 17 NBA Finals, 3 Olympic Games and countless championship boxing matches, while writing two books Between the Bylines and Los Angeles Sports Memories. Finally, Walsh will forever be known in the Harbor Area as the man who brought a CIF-Los Angeles City Section championship to San Pedro High football, accomplishing that feat five times in his 25 years coaching the Pirates before retiring after the 2015 season. Walsh won 227 games and five CIF-LACS crowns in 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2008 after becoming the Pirates’ coach in 1991, with his 1996 team finishing a perfect 14-0. On December 13, 2008, Walsh literally forced the CIF-LACS to change the rule of having no overtime in future championship games by electing to kick the extra point instead of going for two after the Pirates scored with no time left to cap off a thrilling comeback against Narbonne, netting both schools a share of the Division 1 title following a 21-21 draw at the Coliseum. spt
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If you think back to high school or college you may recall taking economics. It probably wasn’t the most exciting class of your college days. Two hours of staring at the back of a grey-haired professor as he mumbled to a chalkboard and scribbled bell curves that explained concepts of supply and demand, gross domestic product, and diminishing returns. Snore. Well, you may not have realized it, but one forgotten concept from that class has enormous application in your pursuit for fitness. It’s a concept called “opportunity cost.” Often in conversation, when it comes up that I exercise on a regular basis, people ruefully tell me how they can’t afford the cost of time or money to get fit. They’ll say things like, “I don’t have the time.” Or, “There’s no way I can justify paying someone to tell me to exercise.” The thought of spending several hundred dollars on a trainer or membership can seem ridiculous. I understand the sentiment. In fact, I worked out alone for almost six years. That was until I thought about opportunity cost. What’s that mean? It means there is always a price of choosing one course of action over another. It means most people when making decisions, simply factor in the cost to DO something, but rarely do they ask, “What is the cost of NOT DOING something?” Where will I be in one year if I don’t do X? How about in five or ten years? This is critical to ask of exercise. I understand that people struggle to find the time to exercise and eat healthy, but it’s a myth to think that there aren’t very real costs to not taking care of your health. It’s just that we often don’t feel those costs often until much later in life. So let’s take an economic approach to your health. What would it cost to lose 30 pounds? No, not the cost to buy P90x tapes that you don’t use or a gym membership you don’t go to. I’m talking what will it cost you to virtually guarantee that outcome, the actual result of losing 30 pounds? It could be four hours a week with a babysitter, 12 sessions a month with a trainer, a few missed nights of missing beers and pizza to cook or maybe even hiring a meal-prep service to deliver your healthy meals. Whatever it is, what’s that going to run you to sustain for three to six months? Do the math. Now imagine your life having met that outcome. What’s the value added? What will you gain in confidence, productivity, energy levels, stress-reduction, healthcare costs, and perhaps even more years to your life? Now what’s it going to cost to do nothing? Fast forward to a year or 10 years and look back on the decision to not lose the weight or exercise. Over time, you might gradually gain more weight. Clothes will no longer fit, so you’ll buy newer, bigger ones. Joint issues might arrive a few years early, so might diabetes, and high blood pressure. As health risks increase, so might health-related costs and premiums. You might incur non-monetary costs such as not feeling as confident, having less energy and productivity. You’ll begin to avoid outdoor activities, hobbies, and get sidelined from playing with grandchildren much earlier than you would have otherwise. Will the imminent results of a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet be worth the time and money you saved 20 years ago? One recurring remark I hear with clients who in their 30s, 40s, and 50s made the decision to do whatever it takes to get healthy is, “I WISH I had done this earlier.” Paying for accountability and expertise sells you back your time. It makes what could have taken years of trial and error (if at all) to less than a year. It eliminates the learning curve, uncertainty, and that pesky inclination to cut yourself slack. So with opportunity cost in mind, it is worth taking a look at, not only what you’re saying no to now, but what you’re saying no to later as a result. Health is one of those things you don’t miss until it’s gone, so whatever it is you may be giving it up for, make sure it’s worth the cost. spt
HEALTH & WELLNESS
5 Everyday Ways to Use Essential Oils
32 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2016
by Lori Garrett Essential oils? Trust me: I didn’t get it at first either. I’d heard many promising claims, but how could a few drops of oil make any significant impact on my health? Turns out that after experimenting with essential oils for some time, I was actually pleasantly surprised. I began to experience some of the health benefits (like immune support, for example), and felt like I wanted to explore more. Meanwhile, I was looking for ways to incorporate more natural replacements for some of my scented household and personal care products, particularly after learning about some of the dangers associated with them. Studies show that the chemicals and synthetic fragrance found in many scented products (even some of those labeled “green” or “natural”) are linked to numerous health concerns, including endocrine (hormone) disruption, asthma, allergies, birth defects, neurological disorders, cancer, and chronic disease. Some products, such as scented laundry detergents, fabric softener, and dryer sheets, have also been found to pose threats to environmental health (source: University of Washington). For those that are super-sensitive to environmental toxins (ahem — like me), the decision to search for healthier alternatives was a no-brainer. But trying to navigate through the array of commercial products can be utterly confusing (especially considering the loose labeling laws for such products). Versions of synthetic fragrance can be found in everything from cleaning sprays, air fresheners, scented candles, laundry detergent, and dryer sheets to hair care products, soaps, lotions, deodorant, and obviously, perfumes and colognes. Oh my! Making changes felt overwhelming at first. But as I started exploring the various uses of essential oils, it became easier to find effective natural replacements for some of our common household needs. Here are some of my favorite ways to use essential oils: Cleaning: It turns out that good ol’ fashioned water and vinegar make a pretty good all-purpose cleaner, especially when adding essential oils such as lemon, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, and rosemary. With their antimicrobial properties (and the natural degreasing properties found in citrus oils), such blends can help create an effective natural disinfectant cleaner, all while providing a lovely scent. Air Freshening and Aromatherapy: We used to love burning scented candles in our home. Having to give them up wasn’t easy! Fortunately, we found that using an aromatic diffuser with a few drops of essential oil is a perfect replacement. It’s actually more potent (and pleasant!) than any scented candle or conventional air freshener, plus we get to enjoy the health benefits (and our home smells absolutely delicious)! Laundry: Aside from switching to a safe laundry detergent and swapping out fabric softener for white vinegar, we’ve also replaced our dryer sheets with wool dryer balls. We add a few drops of our favorite essential oils (like peppermint or orange) to each of the wool balls, and the result is fresh-smelling laundry without the potential hazards. Antiseptic/Skin Healing: For minor cuts and skin ailments, essential oils can be quite effective. Particularly, they’ve become quite helpful in my eczema treatment, especially after other conventional treatments stopped working for me. Lavender oil, for example, has become my go-to antiseptic spot treatment, and peppermint oil helps provide cooling relief for the relentless itching. (When using topically, always use a properly diluted version.) Relaxation/Stress Management: As I’ve mentioned before, essential oils, such as lavender, rose, and chamomile, can be helpful in managing stress and anxiety. Most can be applied topically or dispersed aromatically in a diffuser. I also like to place a few drops of lavender oil next to my pillow at bedtime; it’s an effective way to promote relaxation and encourage a healthy night’s sleep. Of course, essential oils can offer so much more, including many healing benefits – but that’s a (rather involved) topic for another day. In the meanwhile, no matter what the purpose, there’s no doubt about it: essential oils help provide natural alternatives to conventional scented products, and they have become a must-have “essential” in our household. Essential oils can be potent, so please consult your physician or healthcare professional before using them topically or internally. This is especially important before use on children, pregnant women, or those with medical conditions. spt Follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog: www.adventuresofasickchick.com.
NOVEMBER 2016 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 33
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