San Pedro Today - November 2019

NOVEMBER 2019

PLUS: DANIELLE CIARAMITARO FINDS NEVERLAND | SAMPSON WAY'S QUIET DISAPPEARANCE | AND MORE!

ANN CARPENTER & JIM COOPER OF BRAID THEORY ARE PREPARING TO TAKE SAN PEDRO INTO THE

22nd Century & Beyond

Dr. Souzan Ardalan & Associates

Comprehensive Dental Care & Implant Center Backed by 25 years of experience

WHEN YOU VISIT OUR DENTAL OFFICE IN WEYMOUTH CORNERS, YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME. Whether you require a cleaning, teeth whitening, invisible braces by Invisalign®, crowns, implants or any other General or Specialty dental procedure, our office will ensure that you are comfortable and have a pleasant experience. OLD-FASHIONED STYLE OF PATIENT CARE IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT!

Great Smiles Begin Here!

Dr. Ardalan, D.D.S. Education: USC school of Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery Professional Association: American Dental Association, member California Dental Association, member Western Dental Society, member

ASSOCIATES Ian Woo, D.D.S., MD. Education: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Los Angeles County / University of Southern California Medical Center

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

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

Located in Weymouth Corners 1411 W. 8th Street San Pedro, CA 90732

(310) 832-5559

Education: University of Pittsburgh, Master of Science in Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Orthognatic Surgery Externship / Invisalign Certification

Dr. Rebekah Coriaty Education: University of Pacific Professional Association: American Dental Association California Dental Association

Dr. Miles Madison Education: UCLA School of Dentistry Professional Association: American Academy of Periodontology California Society of Periodontists American Dental Association California Dental Association American Association for Dental Research

Ready to Learn about Dental Implants?

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is surgically anchored into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. The benefit of using implants is that they don’t rely on neighboring teeth for support and they are permanent and stable. Implants look and feel like natural teeth.

What is an Implant Support Denture?

While a regular denture rests on the gums and are not stable, An implant-supported denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to implants by special attachments for better fit and retention. There are two types of implant-supported dentures: bar-retained and ballretained. In both cases, the denture will be made of an acrylic base that will look like gums. Porcelain or acrylic teeth that look like natural teeth are attached to the base. Both types of dentures need at least two implants for support.

Your dentist can help you . . .

Can anyone receive dental implants?

Talk with your dentist about whether you are an implant candidate. You must have the proper bone structure for the implant to stay in place.

People who are unable to wear dentures may also be good candidates.

What can I expect during this procedure?

The dentist must perform surgery to anchor the “artificial root� into or on your jaw bone. The procedure is done in the dental office with local anesthesia. The gum is then secured over the implant, which will remain covered until it fuses with the bone. The dentist then uncovers the implant and attaches an extension, or post, to the implant. Finally, the dentist makes an artificial tooth, or crown, or dentures that attach to the implant post.

What is the cost of implants?

Dental implants for replacement of a single tooth are affordable and most dental and medical insurance policies cover portion of the cost. Your dentist can help you with this process.

Dr. Souzan Ardalan & Associates

Please call to make an appointment for a complimentary consultation

Located in WEYMOUTH CORNERS 1409 W. 8th St., San Pedro

We accept all PPO insurances

Dr. Ian Woo, Oral Maxillofacial surgeon, M.D.

310.832.5559

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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I witnessed two specific acts of kindness in town last month that I want to share with you.

The first one happened in the never-ending line at the Starbucks drive-thru on Gaffey St. As I drove to the window for my daily venti-blonde-flat-white-withalmond-milk-and-sugar-free-cinnamondolce, the barista informed me that the woman ahead of me in line had paid for my order. “The lady ahead of her did the same thing, too,” she added.

“Do you know why?” I asked.

“Not sure, I think she just felt like it.”

“Well, in that case, let me pay for the person behind me.”

And just like that, a random “pay it forward” scenario happened that I was more than happy to participate in.

Granted, some people could have ended up paying more than what they wanted to, but that wasn’t the point. I was buying a random stranger their morning coffee, hopefully starting their day on a better foot.

It was so random and simple, and it was a blunt reminder of how a small act of kindness can completely change your day. As I drove away, I saw there

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were at least six more cars in line. I still wonder how long the “pay it forward” lasted.

The other act happened at Chase bank on 25th and Western. An older gentleman waited in the teller line on a Saturday just to deliver a lost ATM card that he had found at the gas station across the street. He could’ve given it to the gas station clerk, but instead he made his way across the intersection to make sure the proper bank had it.

Again, simple and random, yet there was something really beautiful about both of those instances.

Kindness is contagious, which is probably why I'm writing about it this month. Paying it forward in the Starbucks line, helping a person with their groceries, or simply just complimenting a stranger and telling them to have a nice day, not only has a positive effect on that person, it affects our entire community.

So, next time you have a chance to put a smile on someone’s face, please take it. You’re not only doing your soul a favor, you’re doing all of us a favor, too. spt Joshua Stecker is publisher/editorin-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

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329 W. 6th Street | San Pedro | (310) 832-9364 NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 5

NOVEMBER 2019

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVERTISING:

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION

Shana Ghekiere (310) 753-5176 | shana@sanpedrotoday.com

Joshua J. Stecker

Karen Moneymaker

Joseph A. Castañeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac, Pastor Nathan Hoff, Mike Lansing, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Angela Romero, Jamaal K. Street

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 11 | NUMBER 10

General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

EMPIRE22 MEDIA LLC OWNER/PUBLISHER Joshua J. Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly

by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media. 25,000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today. Copyright 2009-2019, Empire22 Media LLC.

ON THE COVER: Braid Theory, Inc. co-founders Jim Cooper and Ann Carpenter. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 7

NOVEMBER

Pet Pals will be included for your enjoyment while you view the gallery and meet the photographers.

Every Wednesday – CREATIVE WRITING CLASS FOR KIDS at The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.), 4:30-5:45p.

Taught by San Pedro Today columnist, Jennifer Marquez. $10 per class. For more info, email jennifermarquez@ yahoo.com.

8 (Fri) – ANNUAL PARADE OF TREES at Michael’s Tuscany Room (470 W. 7th St.), 11a-3p. Join the Toberman Neighborhood Center Auxiliary as they kick off the holiday season with a festive luncheon, featuring a fashion show, tree auction and silent auction. Tickets $65, $650 for a table of 10, all proceeds benefit the mission of the Toberman Neighborhood Center. For more info, visit tobermanauxilary.org.

Every Friday – SAN PEDRO TEEN SUPPORT GROUP. 4p. A safe place to explore issues like making friends, dealing with bullies, peer pressure, managing 9 (Sat) – MOANA OUTDOOR MOVIE stress, self-esteem, body image & much more. For more info, visit artemiscenter. SCREENING at Bogdanovich Park (1920 Cumbre Dr.), 4p. FREE outdoor net or call (310) 809-2011. movie showing of the Disney animated film Moana. The fun starts at 4p, movie 2 (Sat) – ALL SOULS DAY MEDIUMSHIP READING at Angels Gate Cultural starts at sunset. Bring chairs & blankets to enjoy this Disney classic under the Center, Building H (3601 S. Gaffey St.), stars. Also collecting packages of NEW 6:30p. Tradition has it that the veil between this world and the spiritual realm SOCKS to help our friends in need.

Sponsored by the Northwest San Pedro is thinnest on All Souls Day. Join local Neighborhood Council. For more info, award-winning psychic Mary O'Maley visit nwsanpedro.org. for a special night of communing with loved ones beyond the veil and learning ways to continue the connection on your 9 (Sat) – ANGELS GATE WALKING own. Tickets $50 presale, $60 at the door. TOUR. 10a. Tour Angels Gate Park with Space is limited. Proceeds from this fun- San Pedro historian and San Pedro Today columnist Angela "Romee" Romero. This draiser will go to support the San Pedro former military installation is truly a Heritage Museum. For more info and world unto itself with much to discover, tickets, visit sanpedroheritage.org. including wild animals, toy trains and

the arts. Tickets $15. Space is limited.

7 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY ARTCall (310) 808-7800 to reserve.

WALK in Downtown San Pedro, 6-9p.

Live music, food trucks, art gallery 9 (Sat) – HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE at The displays, and food and drink specials Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.), 9afrom local bars and restaurants. Experience the most anticipated monthly event 3p. Stop by The Corner Store for some holiday cheer! Featuring several artists, in San Pedro. handmade goods from local vendors, and more. For more info, call (310) 832-2424.

7 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY PHOTOGRAPHERS ONE-YEAR ANNIVER10 (Sun) – CHOCOLATE TASTING at SARY EXHIBIT at the Arches on 6th Miraleste Library (29089 Palos Verdes Gallery (430 W. 6th St.), 5p-9p. Join the Drive E, RPV), 2-4p. Marsatta Chocolate San Pedro Photographers Association will be hosting a chocolate tasting workfor their 1-year Anniversary Art Walk shop with a variety of chocolate blends exhibition. One-of-a-kind collaboration including cacao nibs, a 100% cacao bar, comprised of local talented photograand everything in between. No reservaphers and gifted POLA high photogrations required. For info, call (310) 377phy students. Refreshments, live music, craft vendors, fundraising table for Pedro 9584 x452 or visit pvld.org.

8 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

11 (Mon) – NORTHWEST SAN PEDRO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL BOARD MEETING at Peck Park Community Building (560 N. Western Ave.), 6p. For more info, visit nwsanpedro.org.

18 (Mon) – COASTAL SAN PEDRO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL BOARD MEETING at Cabrillo Marina Community Building (2965 Via Cabrillo-Marina), 6:30p. For more info, visit cspnc.org.

12 (Tues) – CENTRAL SAN PEDRO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL BOARD MEETING at Port of Los Angeles High School (250 W. 5th St.), 6:30p. For more info, visit centralsanpedronc.org.

23 (Sat) – A CHRISTMAS POSADA CONCERT at the Warner Grand Theater (478 W. 6th St.), 7p. Featuring Sonora Santanera, Polin, La Una y Las Otras, Dueto Los Angeles, Mariachi Ambiante, Maria Elena, and Teresita Morales.

Emcees are Elva Saray and Armida Mier from Telemundo 52. For tickets and more info, visit laposadaconcert.tix.com.

13 (Wed) – IGNITE22 at the L.A. Waterfront, 9a-6p. At IGNITE22, entrepreneurs meet investors; corporate leaders discover emerging technologies; and researchers learn about market opportunities for their scientific discoveries. It’s a place to break down silos and engage with passionate tech innovators from across industry sectors and around the world. IGNITE22 is a celebration and a gathering of individuals who are shaping the 22nd century. For more info and tickets, visit ignite22.com. See story pg. 22.

13 thru Dec. 31 – ANNUAL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE at Assistance League San Pedro-South Bay (1441 W. 8th St.), M – F: 10a-5p; Sat: 11a-3p. The boutique will offer a selection of unique holiday decorations, holiday food items and gifts, stocking stuffers, one of a kind decorative items, and gifts for everyone on your list. This is one stop shopping for all of your holiday needs. All proceeds benefit local philanthropic programs. For more info, call (310) 832-8355 ext. 221.

14 (Thurs) – SPHS CLASS OF 1945 REUNION BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S. Harbor Blvd.), 9:30a. Remember the good ‘ol days over breakfast with your former classmates! RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807.

17 (Sun) – BOOK SIGNING at The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.), 9-11a.

Retired Major General Peter Gravett will be signing copies of his new book, From East Garrison to the Ranch House. For more info, call (310) 832-2424.

23 (Sat) – ERIC STEVENS ‘FIGHT FOR HOPE’ TO #AXEALS CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER at the Seaside Lagoon (200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach), 11a. The Stevens family will be hosting a fundraiser for Eric Stevens, an L.A. City Firefighter, former NFL football player, and San Pedro native, who was diagnosed with ALS in August 2019. There will be live music, BBQ, and a cornhole tournament, followed by a live auction at 2p. All proceeds will go to Eric’s ALS care and treatment. For more info, visit eventbrite.com and search for “Eric Stevens.” See story pg. 9.

24 (Sun) – FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 24th ANNUAL THANKSGIVING BASKET GIVEAWAY at First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro (731 S. Averill Ave.), 12p-4p. Assemble and distribute Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families across the greater San Pedro area. This family friendly experience is in need of volunteers to help pack baskets providing all the traditional holiday staples and a $25 turkey gift card from Smart & Final allowing families to prepare and serve their Thanksgiving meal at their home. Donations are also appreciated (each basket costs approx. $50). For more info to volunteer or donate, call (310) 832-7597 or visit firstpressanpedro.org. spt

Want to see your event here? Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Deadline for the December 2019 issue is Friday, November 15. Find more events at facebook.com/sanpedrotoday.

BATTLE OF A LIFETIME

L.A. CITY FIREFIGHTER AND EX-NFL PLAYER ERIC STEVENS FACES HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET

by Karen Moneymaker Eric and Amanda Stevens. (photo: courtesy Stevens family)

In August 2019, one month after marrying his long-time girlfriend, and two months shy of his 30th birthday, L.A. City firefighter and former NFL football player Eric Stevens received the devastating diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famed New York Yankee who was diagnosed with the illness in 1939.

Since being diagnosed, Stevens, a San Pedro native and graduate of Peninsula High School, has been inundated with support from the San Pedro community, fellow first responders, and colleagues in the NFL, all rallying behind the #axeALS movement, and donating to the family’s GoFundMe campaign. Despite this, the reality of Stevens’ diagnosis currently remains unchanged. The Stevens family is taking up the battle to raise awareness for ALS and to help fast-track drug and treatment options that are currently inaccessible to ALS patients.

“Every day you feel it a little more,”

V

says Stevens. “It takes a toll on you mentally and physically. You feel a little weaker every day. And the most frustrating part is that currently, there is nothing anyone can do.”

ALS causes the death of neurons that control voluntary muscles, resulting in muscle weakness and spasms, impaired speech, and eventual loss of the ability to swallow food or breathe.

Awareness of the disease gained traction in recent years through the viral 2014 ALS Ice Bucket challenge. The research and medical community are working towards identifying the causes and treatment options for ALS, but as of now, there is no known cure.

According to Stevens, for the first time ever, there is treatment available that can slow the progression and alleviate the symptoms of ALS, but the medicine has not been fully approved by the FDA, even though it has gone through two phases of testing and is considered safe for humans.

“They say it can take up to ten more

years before it can be approved, and that’s ten years I don’t have,” says Stevens. “It’s a tough pill to swallow.

There has to be a way to fast-track the testing process so this medicine can be available to people like me sooner.”

“Knowing that there are treatments out there that can help slow the progression, we have a great sense of urgency to make some changes in order to have access to them,” writes Stevens’ wife, Amanda, on the Team Stevens Nation GoFundMe page. “This will ultimately help Eric and everyone else in the ALS community. Every day without treatment is a day lost. So, we want everyone to know we are going to do everything we possibly can to fight. Fight for treatment. Fight for awareness. Fight for hope. Because that’s all we have right now.”

In the fight to bring awareness and change, the Stevens family will be holding a fundraiser on November 23 at the Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach, starting at 11a.m. There will

be live music, BBQ, and a cornhole tournament, followed by a live auction at 2 p.m. All proceeds will go to Eric’s care and treatment.

“Bringing awareness to this disease might not help me, but it will help so many others affected by ALS,” says Stevens. “The event at the Seaside Lagoon is a great opportunity to have a good time with good people to support a good cause.” spt For more info about the Nov. 23 event, visit eventbrite.com and search for “Eric Stevens.”

To follow Eric Stevens’ story, visit the Team Stevens Nation Facebook group, Instagram @teamstevensnation, or twitter @stevens_nation.

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/ eric-stevens-care-trust.

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NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9

VOICES

FEELING OLD? JUST WAIT FOR YOUR 50TH REUNION

by Steve Marconi You can only fool yourself for so long.

My wife, just a few months younger than I, says – when we’re having one of our rare differences of opinion – that I was born old. My son has called me “old man” since he was a teenager.

Some have even had the temerity to accuse me of being a curmudgeon.

Personally, I’ve never had an issue about getting old – I’ve said many a’time, it beats the alternative – but sometimes it takes something like a 50th high school reunion to make you realize, you really are old. That’s what happens after having people you grew up with but haven’t seen in decades not recognize you until they’ve looked at your name tag with your high school yearbook picture on it.

A well-known adage posted by classmate Cheryl Gilbert Piazza said it

all: I hate it when I see an old person and then realize we went to high school together.

With that in mind, and not having been to a class reunion in 45 years, I approached my 50th with some trepidation. Those feelings disappeared, however, the moment I saw the first classmate I hadn’t seen since 1969.

The whole reunion experience was like traveling back in time, starting with the afternoon tour of San Pedro High led by Principal Jeanette Stevens and teacher Pete Manghera, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of the school both he and his parents attended. Our alma mater hasn’t changed that much; the major difference was the 17- and 18-year-olds known as the Classics were now nearly 70.

At the reunion banquet that night, Nancy Jacobson (her maiden name) saw me and cried out, “Steven Paul,” a use of my first and middle names that I hadn’t heard in 50 years. Batron Black, who I spent many a Saturday with at the

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Strand and Warner’s as kids, reminded me of my long-forgotten junior high ambition to find Sasquatch. And Luis Maciej’s first remark to me after 50 years was “How’s the static?” Something else I hadn’t heard since high school. A result of sharing the same name as the inventor of the wireless radio.

Considering how small our winter class was, the turnout was remarkable; the reunion committee pulled off a near miracle in just two months. There were just a little more than 200 in our graduating class, more than 40 have died, and we still had nearly 100 show up. That’s a percentage most summer classes and today’s giant all-year classes can’t achieve. And they had so much fun, almost half of them showed up at the picnic the following day at Friendship Park. My major takeaway from the reunion that was quite unexpected was how life-affirming it felt to be with all these senior citizens, aching joints and all. Perhaps it was partly because so many of us have passed, and there was no escaping the realization that many of us may not see each other again. But there also was the rare joy of reconnecting with people from my youth, who shared so many memories. Many of these old high school chums were the same “kids” I went to elementary school with more than 60 years ago.

The feelings must have been mutual because we’re already talking about doing it again in five years, and many who couldn’t make it this year have expressed a desire to join the next one.

It’s a result of something millennials couldn’t possibly imagine, but those who’ve lived long enough to celebrate a 40th, 50th or even 60th reunion know so well: The old ones are still the best.

Old jeans, old boots, old friends, old

movies, old tunes, and old times.

My bad back kept me off the dance floor this time – not that I can dance any better now than I could in 1969 – but, God willing, I don’t plan on being a spectator next time.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF AND HER MATE One of the more annoying characteristics of aging is forgetfulness. Like, when writing last month about my daughter-in-law making chief mate, I forgot some of the minor details, which my son was quick to point out. For one, Liz graduated in 2003, and my son already had graduated from Chico State and was working as a substitute teacher for L.A. Unified when, while in the Bay Area for a Raiders game that year, they met for the first time.

I also was forwarded an email from San Pedro’s William Michael Cochran, a supervisor with DLA Energy Americas West.

He wrote: “I have the privilege of knowing both your daughter-in-law, Liz, and your son, Matt. Both are synchronized citizens and proud parents, contributing to the success of the San Pedro community. Although their relationship may be unconventional, their love and respect for each other, along with a commitment to excellence with their children and family, proves that unconventional does work. It requires flexibility and resiliency. I am awfully proud of Liz’s recent accomplishment.

“One addition to your article: Matt actually graduated from THEE Chico State University.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. spt Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.

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VOICES

HOPE & OPPORTUNITY

by Mike Lansing Our children are the living messages we send to a future we will never see…

Will we rob them of their destiny? Will we rob them of their dreams? No – we will not do that.” – Congressman Elijah Cummings Hope and opportunity. Those are the reasons our ancestors came to this land by the millions for well over two centuries. Mine came from Sicily and Ireland. They came with plenty of hope and were most fortunate to find the opportunity America then offered.

I cannot help but think of those who made this country truly great, including my own relatives who braved the trek to come to America for a better life for themselves, their children and their children’s children. They all had the same dream – a distant shore that brought both hope and opportunity to those brave souls who ventured to this new and prosperous land, where “all men are created equal.”

Our history has not proven that “created equal” sentiment true, as the land of equality has too often limited the opportunities of scores of people who deserve so much more. And given our current president and his shameful legacy of prejudicial statements and vile slander of people of color already living here and those who dare to try to come to our borders, it is understandable that the original idea of a land of “hope and opportunity” cannot seem a reality today for millions of our citizens, and especially for far too many of our youth.

For those of us who have benefitted so much from the opportunity this country has provided, it is incumbent on us to assure that the disenfranchised and most vulnerable are provided the same opportunities we are enjoying.

These predominantly people of color do not possess the power and resources necessary to combat the prejudice and limited opportunities they endure and end the cycle of poverty and violence that is too often their everyday lives.

12 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

Nonprofits like my Boys & Girls Club organization strive to provide many opportunities unavailable to children of poverty. While we will soon be operating 20 sites within the greater Los Angeles Harbor Area, this combined with the other nonprofits doing great work is not nearly enough.

When done right, public education is the truly great equalizer and opportunity for our youth, and we must do everything in our power to assure that all youth are provided the best opportunity for a full and equal education. It is incumbent on us to provide the children of Rancho San Pedro and similar neighborhoods with the resources necessary to compete academically with their more affluent peers.

When I went to San Pedro High School, California was one of the top five states of per pupil spending in the nation. Today, we are in the bottom five. In all truth, we are not nearly investing enough in our public education pathway, and if we continue to do the same then we will continue to subject those born to limited opportunities with a lifetime of struggle and little hope for a better life for themselves and their families. This is not the American Dream the vast majority of us enjoy.

“By providing students in our Nation with such an education, we help save our children from the clutches of poverty, crime, drugs, and hopelessness, and we help safeguard our Nation’s prosperity for generations yet unborn.”

– Elijah Cummings Without hope, opportunity will be unattained. Without opportunity, hope is just a pipedream. Let’s truly make America great again. Time to change the rhetoric and excuse-making and provide the infrastructure investment we truly need – our children. It is time to provide all the opportunity necessary, so that “hope” is more than just a word. spt

Mike Lansing is the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.

NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 13

VOICES

FREE CLASSES FOR SENIORS AT ANDERSON MEMORIAL

by Jennifer Marquez For the last two years, Luke Euzarraga has been the facility director at Anderson Memorial Senior Citizen Center. He is breathing new life into the large facility by expanding classes that help keep seniors in our community healthy and offering opportunities to combat loneliness.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to anybody age 50 and older. The center has a lounge area that also doubles as a library, a gym with a stage, a dining room and a crafts room with a kiln for ceramics. A private patio is shaded by large trees, and there are plans of creating raised bed gardening in the future.

“We want to expand the reach of who we serve and help seniors stay healthier,” states Euzarraga. “The center offers free fitness classes like chair yoga and tai chi, and we are hoping to add a Zumba class,” he says.

There is a nutritional program run by the Jaycee Foundation, and lunch is served daily for $3. Eating at the center is a chance for seniors to interact in a community setting with other people.

There is also a TV where movies are played or guests can read a book in the lounge area. The center offers a piano, karaoke, bingo club, sewing class, games, dances, wellness fairs and ceramics class ($10 for 6 weeks).

The center is part of a public park that includes a playground for children and a basketball court. Euzarraga is working to add sensor lighting in a dark area near the playground that is problematic at night. He also wants to have shrubbery added in select areas of the park to combat issues after the center is closed, which will also help improve the quality of the neighborhood.

Anderson Memorial Senior Citizen Center is the only senior center run by the Department of Recreation and 14 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

Parks in San Pedro. It is closed after 5 p.m. and on weekends but could be used as a community center during those times if there were funds, according to Euzarraga. He envisions a thriving senior center on the weekdays and a community center that could be used for tutoring, theater for youth, and community meetings on nights and weekends.

“Maybe someday we can even do a production of the play Our Town with the local high school,” he says. The possibilities are endless.

The center would appreciate donations of newer books for the library, patio furniture, boardgames like Jenga, jigsaw puzzles, essential items like hygiene products and canned goods for low-income seniors. They are also seeking funds or food sponsors for their annual tamale/pizza party that serves approximately 60 seniors. Volunteers are wanted for classes, lectures, and activities.

Classes Schedule: Senior Lunch: Mon–Fri from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sewing: Mon from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fitness: Monday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Ceramics: Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($10 for 6 weeks), Bingo Club: Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Senior Club Meeting: Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Chair Yoga: Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Ingles: Martes y Jueves from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tai Chi: Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and Fun Friday (Crafts, Movies, Games and Karaoke): Friday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (pre-registration required). spt Anderson Memorial Senior Citizen Center is located at 828 S. Mesa St. and can be reached at (310) 5487596 or louis.euzarraga@lacity.org.

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

NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 15

REUNITED AT 50

MARY STAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S UNIQUE CLASS OF ’69 HOLDS 50TH REUNION

by SPT Staff

In 1969, while the country was experiencing such historic moments as the moon landing, Woodstock, and the Vietnam War, a unique class of eighth graders at Mary Star Elementary School were graduating. They would be the first and only single classroom of 50 students to go from first through eighth grade together as one group, thus creating a tight-knit bond between friends that has continued for half a century.

On August 24, 2019, that class of 1969 became the first in the school’s history to hold a 50th reunion.

“Our first reunion was for our 20th in 1989,” remembers Denise HookerLauro, a class of ’69 alumnus and coorganizer of the event. “We had these reunions because we were the only single classroom with 50 students, while all other classes had two classrooms of students. This made us a very tight, close group of kids for the eight years

Mary Star Elementary School's class of 1969 now (top) and then (right). (photos: courtesy Jane)

we spent together at Mary Star.”

The event was held at the DalmatianAmerican Club on the same night as the annual Rockin’ Pedro Reunion, with more than 30 alumni attending.

“We haven't seen our classmates in several years, and we all had a great time,” recalls Janet Bezmalinovich, another ’69 alumnus and co-organizer.

“With more than 30 in attendance, it was as if we just picked up where we left off when we were in school.”

According to Bezmalinovich, most of their classmates still live within 30 miles of San Pedro, with many still in town.

“We’re still a tight group, and when we get together it’s like nothing has changed,” she says. spt

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SECOND STAR TO THE RIGHT

SAN PEDRO CITY BALLET ALUM, DANIELLE CIARAMITARO, TOURS THE COUNTRY IN 'FINDING NEVERLAND'

by Joshua Stecker Danielle Ciaramitaro knew from an early age that she was meant for the stage.

The 20-year-old musical theatre actress, currently traveling the country in the national tour of Finding Neverland, got the acting bug while performing in plays at Dana Middle School.

“I loved theatre my whole life, but really wanted to pursue it as a career when I started doing plays in middle school,” she says. “I started my dance training with San Pedro City Ballet [at the age of five] and my vocal training with [local voice coach] Jill Jaxx. I knew Broadway would be the best fit in terms of where my career was heading because I loved more than just dancing on stage. Singing and acting was a passion of mine as well.”

At just five-years-old, after being legally adopted by her grandparents Anna and Matteo Ciaramitaro, Danielle was enrolled at San Pedro City Ballet, where she trained and performed in The Nutcracker from age 5 to 18, starting as a mouse that didn’t sing, to taking on the cherished role of Clara.

After graduating from San Pedro High School’s Marine Science Magnet in 2017, Danielle was accepted to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, where she attended their two-year program, graduating earlier this year.

“When I was 17, I took my first trip to New York City with my grandparents,” remembers Danielle. “Chicago

was the first Broadway show I ever saw.

From then on, I educated and immersed myself in the musical theatre world.”

She started auditioning for professional productions during her last semester at AMDA. Her initial Finding Neverland audition was in mid-April, and according to Danielle, it was a grueling process.

“It was a five-day callback and started with more than 500 people,” she says. “We danced and sang for hours.

Lots of waiting. Final callbacks happened and then about a week later I received an email about the offer, which I accepted.”

Based on the film of the same name, Finding Neverland, music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy with a book by James Graham, follows playwright J.M. Barrie as he struggles to find inspiration until meeting a widow and her four young sons, which inspires him to create Peter Pan and the fictional world of Neverland.

Danielle’s main role is Miss Potter/ Ensemble, though she also covers three major roles: Wendy, Peter Pan, and Mary Barrie (J.M. Barrie’s wife). Her stage debut as Wendy was last month.

“The first time I sang on stage professionally was in this show,” says Danielle. “It felt like a dream come true.”

The tour will take Danielle across North America, ending in Vancouver, British Columbia, in April of next year.

Her only Southern California stop will be in Thousand Oaks at the Fred Kavli

20 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

Danielle Ciaramitaro, Inset: (left) As Wendy (right) in Finding Neverland; (right) with her grandparents, Matteo and Anna Ciaramitaro. (photos: courtesy Danielle Ciaramitaro)

Theatre from January 16-19, 2020.

“Touring is a blast, but you need to take care of yourself and have a good mentality when things aren’t going too smoothly,” says Danielle. “It’s very difficult at times, but also such an amazing experience and so much fun.”

Danielle credits much of her career and early success to her grandparents, who have raised her since she was three-years-old. “Without them, none of this would be possible,” she says.

“I would not be fulfilling my lifelong dreams if it weren’t for their constant support and love. I am so lucky and blessed to have them.”

When asked where she sees her performing career in the next few years, Danielle is content just living in the moment.

“I go where the wind takes me!” she says. “I like to stay in the present and not think too much or too hard about the future (or the past).” spt Tickets for Finding Neverland at the Fred Kavli Theatre on January 1619, 2020 are available at: findingneverlandthemusical.com.

Follow Danielle Ciaramitaro on Instagram @daniciaramitaro.

TO THE

22nd Century & Beyond

by Joshua Stecker

Braid Theory co-founders Jim Cooper and Ann Carpenter. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

Ann Carpenter and Jim Cooper share a promising vision for the 22nd century. It’s a vision informed by the ever-growing advancement in science and technology that is leading humanity towards longer lifespans, cures for diseases, and a healthier, more sustainable planet. It’s a vision that sees a growth in aqua culture, a cleaner environment, and a more diverse working harbor filled with various smart technology, science entrepreneurs, and companies creating innovative products. And they strongly believe such innovation can be cultivated here in San Pedro.

Carpenter and Cooper are co-founders of Braid Theory, Inc., a strategic advisory firm that brings together entrepreneurs, corporate partners, and industry influencers to nurture the growth and implementation of transformative technologies and help tech start-ups develop strong business and growth strategies that can move their technology to market.

“We’re problem solvers,” says Carpenter.

Each year, the company puts on a series of pitch competitions for tech start-ups, culminating with their annual IGNITE22 Summit and Showcase, which will be held this year in Downtown San Pedro on Nov. 13.

The firm focuses on six specific in-

former PortTechLA, a cooperative tech incubator formed in 2010 by the City of Los Angeles, the Port of Los Angeles, and the business communities of Wilmington and San Pedro, which sought clean technology companies to help develop products for port-related environmental, clean energy, logistics and security challenges.

“Companies who might have been funded by PortTechLA grant funding would become clients. We would help support their efforts, we would help them do outreach, find pilot projects, things like that,” explains Carpenter, dustry sectors: energy/utilities, marine who was hired by PortTechLA to work tech (blue tech), transportation/goods on their branding and marketing stratemovement, biotech, agriculture tech gies. “But as a nonprofit, it was tricky to (agtech), construction/infrastructure, really do the kind of efforts to get these “and any kind of special manufacturing deep tech companies into the market.” or digital tech that helps support these According to Carpenter, after Portsectors,” she adds.

TechLA lost its funding a few years ago, “What these sectors have in com“There was some merging going on, mon is they’re heavy engineering or there were a couple of nonprofit incubascience-based, and led by engineers tors funded, but that model never really and PhD scientists, so they tend to be got the entrepreneurs the traction that very deep tech,” explains Carpenter, a they needed.” graduate of the University of MichiganBelieving that San Pedro and the Dearborn with a degree in mathematics. Harbor Area were still ripe for these “Secondly, they’re primarily a business- new industry tech start-ups, Carpenter to-business sector. Our business model and Cooper (and a third co-founder no doesn't really work on anything that’s longer with the company) decided to direct-to-consumer.” form Braid Theory, Inc. in 2016.

Braid Theory was born out of the “We knew that we couldn't be effec-

22 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

tive within that nonprofit environment,” explains Carpenter. “I kept asking, how can we solve these problems? What are the missing pieces? What wasn’t working? And can we figure out a profitable business model where we can fill those gaps? Forming Braid Theory was just a natural progression.”

PROBLEM SOLVERS Braid Theory helps tech start-ups that are in their infancy, or that are just getting their feet wet operating within one (or a few) of the industry sectors they focus on, develop strategies, seek investors, raise capital, and connect with other complimentary companies, in order to help these companies grow and get their products and services out to market.

“I think, in general, people are confused by what we do sometimes,” says Cooper, a former marine biologist and economist from Sydney, Australia.

According to Carpenter, when they initially meet with a company, they make sure it’s a good match first. “If somebody comes to us in an area that we’re not experts in, or we don’t have the connections, then there's no real benefit for either of us,” she says.

If they’re a good fit, Braid Theory takes a hands-on role with the company, sometimes putting together and

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The scene from last year's IGNITE22 conference at Brouwerij West. This year, the conference has moved to the Warner Grand Theatre, the Arches on 6th, and Space455, all located on 6th Street in Downtown San Pedro. (photo: Chris Valle)

managing projects themselves.

“If it’s a match, they become a portfolio company and we work very carefully with them on specific things they’re trying to achieve to improve their ability to get out into the commercial market,” explains Carpenter. “Then, we look at how it fits the markets they’re going into with the resources we have. Finally, we create opportunities for these different groups to get together through events like our pitch competitions.”

Cooper adds, “While Ann does things like business development, I'll do things like market development for companies. I'll help investigate what the market dynamics are, look to validate the market on behalf of the company, help them understand the competitive landscape, maybe guide them through some regulations and some regulatory environment. Make them look more attractive to investors.”

Braid Theory’s current portfolio includes companies like ECOncrete, an eco-friendly concrete company specializing in urban and coastal infrastructure; Effenco, an electric hybrid technology company from Canada; and ComFreight, a shipping software service and mobile freight matching marketplace. Each of these companies, and others in their portfolio, has the potential to help solve specific problems in one or more of the six industry sectors Braid Theory focuses on, which can ultimately result in cleaner air, more efficient port traffic, and stronger coastal infrastructure, among other solutions.

LOCATION, SPACE & AFFORDABILITY Since the late 2000s, there has been an active push to bring tech companies

to San Pedro. With the largest port industrial complex in the United States in its backyard, direct access to the ocean, and, most importantly, the affordability of office space and real estate (for now), this port town has become a hotbed for start-ups looking to relocate to be closer to the action.

“The reason we’re here in San Pedro is because the customer sector for a lot of our deep tech companies is here,” says Carpenter. “They're looking at the whole port environment, the trucking companies, the logistics companies, the port itself, the terminal operators, the recycling companies. These are all potential clients [for them]. We've got the aerospace companies just up the street.

Even though SpaceX didn’t deeply move here, they’re still here.”

Braid Theory operates out of two campuses, Space455 in Downtown San Pedro, and Braid Space at AltaSea. Space455 is a coworking space marketed as “a dynamic mix of start-ups, technology entrepreneurs, industry professionals and small business teams.”

It’s a joint venture between Braid Theory and Jerico Development, the owner of the space and also part of the development team behind the upcoming San Pedro Public Market, to be used as a hub to draw tech companies to the Harbor Area.

“Space455 is not only for our kind of tech start-ups, but it’s for anybody in this whole ecosystem,” says Carpenter. “We have an architect, a lawyer, a programmer, and a nonprofit coming in here to work. We’re not getting your corporate or traditional small businesses. We’re getting the consultants and the millennials that are doing start-ups.

This is where we can connect with the rest of the start-up community in Los

24 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

Angeles.”

Braid Space at AltaSea is geared more towards blue tech, which includes everything from artificial intelligence, water, and energy to biotech, life sciences, aerospace, and logistics. Companies in blue tech can access co-working facilities at AltaSea, as well as have direct access to the waterfront for trials and experimentation.

As Carpenter points out, even though San Pedro is the perfect spot for these start-ups to plant roots – with location, affordability, and opportunities being ideal – the one challenge San Pedro faces is space. There just isn’t enough industrial real estate available.

“One of the biggest problems for us is, where are we going to put these companies?” she says. “We don't have industrial space here in San Pedro for start-ups. The corridor along N. Gaffey that was supposed to be industrial, now has a Home Depot, a Target, and a new housing development. So, what do I do with a company that’s incubated at AltaSea and Space455 and says they want to grow? Where do we put them?

Where can I find that 50,000 square foot warehouse for their light manufacturing? Right now, they’re going to places like Torrance.”

On the flipside, both Carpenter and Cooper agree, what San Pedro lacks in space, it makes up for in access. Access to local politicians, community leaders, and business owners, all within a few block radius. According to Carpenter, not many towns have this unique community luxury.

“Let’s say when investors come down from San Francisco to learn a little bit more about AltaSea, they’ll come by Braid Space and Space455, and I’ll take them on walking tours,” she explains.

“I’ll show them where the new hotel is going to be, and the new restaurants, and then we’ll see somebody from Councilman Buscaino’s staff, or Congresswoman Barragán’s staff, or Supervisor Hahn’s staff, and these investors will say, ‘You mean, you can just walk around the neighborhood and get access to all these government folks?’ Yeah.”

“Ann’s got really good connections here in the community,” says Cooper.

“By operating out of here, we get a lot of ability to use that and leverage those relationships well.”

Her connections and passion to transform San Pedro into this industrial tech hub inspired Councilman Joe Buscaino to appoint Carpenter as Chief Innovation Officer earlier this year, a newly created role in his administration.

“Ann has been proactively promoting the harbor as an innovation district since I met her,” says Buscaino. “Her work is invaluable to creating the jobs and tech sector that will expand economic development for the future harbor workforce, which is why I chose to multiply her efforts by bringing her expertise and work into the City. She is perfect for this position.”

IGNITING PASSIONS Braid Theory caps their year with the IGNITE22 Summit and Showcase on Nov. 13 in Downtown San Pedro.

“We named it IGNITE22 for a reason,” explains Cooper. “One, we want to ignite people’s ideas and passions.

And the 22 part comes from the fact that Ann and I both have teenagers, and they'll probably live long enough to see the 22nd century. That’s frightening, and at the same time it’s kind of wonderful and fun, right? The fact is

NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25

Space455 located in the Brown Bros. Building in Downtown San Pedro. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

that the science we deploy today will probably keep [people] alive for more than a hundred years, and we have that capability now. Which means the technologies we deploy now, whether it’s something that’s going to reduce or mitigate greenhouse emissions, or a cure for a deadly disease, these are going to be legacy products that are going to be around for the remainder of the century.”

The summit and showcase are Braid Theory’s way of bringing different companies together from various scientific and technological industries and have them network in a festival-like atmosphere. The event attracts start-ups from all over the world, looking for op-

portunities along our waterfront.

“You have entrepreneurs, investors, government reps, industry folks, and small businesses that might want to be partners, like a civil engineering firm that might see some new technology that they want to bring in. We want everybody to come in and hang out. It’s the antithesis to a trade show.”

The IGNITE22 Summit will feature panel conversations centered on solutions for the 22nd century. Panels are based around the three themes from Braid Theory’s IGNITE22 Challenge series of pitch competitions held throughout the year: blue tech, future food, and smart industry. Down the street at the Arches on 6th, the IGNITE22 Showcase

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will feature tabletop displays, demos, and access to founders from startups of all stages. The day ends with the IGNITE22 Challenge Finals, where the winners of each challenge series pitch their companies to judges and the audience, with the winning company receiving mentorship, legal, HR, and financial services from Braid Theory’s partners.

“We’ll continue to mentor them through a year, and we actively help them scale their company to the next level,” says Carpenter. “We help them get the visibility and the exposure, because even things like adding Braid Theory as an advisor is starting to have clout. We’re getting a reputation for being thought leaders and being very

rigorous in how we do what we do, really helping entrepreneurs in this deep tech space.”

She adds, “[San Pedro] has this sense that we're at the end of the world. Well, it’s only if you think from an L.A. perspective. If you think from a global perspective, we can see ourselves as the center of the universe.” spt For more info on Braid Theory and IGNITE22, visit braidtheory.com.

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SAMPSON WAY’S QUIET DISAPPEARANCE

by Angela Romero

On September 8, 1949, Marian Sampson unveiled the new street sign dedicated to her late husband C.S. “Bob” Sampson. The dedication of Sampson Way kicked off the third Fishermen’s Fiesta and served as a fitting memorial for the beloved president of the Harbor Commission and a longtime San Pedro businessman who had died suddenly weeks earlier.

Bob Sampson came to San Pedro in 1923 from Minnesota, clerking at the Bank of San Pedro for six years before starting one of the most successful appliance businesses in the Harbor Area.

Besides being an astute businessman, Sampson was an affable civic-minded individual who was a member of the Elks, Masons, Kiwanis, American Legion, and booster for the Red Cross and YMCA. In 1929, Sampson ran an unsuccessful bid to represent the 15th District on the L.A. City Council. When he didn’t make it past the primary, he endorsed his friend and scion of San Pedro’s founding family, Jimmy Dodson. This wasn’t the end of Sampson’s political pursuits, he replaced Eloi Amar on the Harbor Commission briefly in 1938 before Fletcher Bowron cleared the deck at the start of his first mayoral term.

Bowron would later appoint Sampson to the Harbor Commission in 1944 where he would eventually be elected president.

Sampson Way street signs being prepared for the dedication September 8, 1949. The waterfront street, named in honor of late Harbor Commission president C.S. “Bob” Sampson, was quietly renamed Harbor Boulevard last month. (photo: San Pedro Bay Historical Society)

Sampson Way was the main thoroughfare into Ports O’ Call, starting in front of the Maritime Museum, running along the parking lots past Utro’s and the fishing slip, ending at 22nd Street.

Last month, after seventy years of being a mainstay on the waterfront, the Harbor Department quietly erased Sampson Way and Bob Sampson’s legacy by rerouting Harbor Boulevard onto the road. The switcheroo was part of the final phase of the Harbor Boulevard Roadway Improvements Project that began in 2016 to improve the flow of traffic along the waterfront. As part of the realignment, Miner Street was also

extended past its terminus at Crescent Avenue to Harbor Boulevard.

This is actually the second extension in Miner Street’s history. The original portion of the street started at 22nd Street and extended south onto the Miner Fill for which it is named. The name Miner comes from Lt. Randolph Miner, a retired Navy lieutenant and representative for the Outer Harbor Dock & Wharf Company that lobbied for an outer harbor in San Pedro.

In 1906, the breakwater was in the process of being completed and most of the harbor operations centered on the interior near Wilmington. Miner and

Chelsey Jones

the Outer Harbor company were successful in filling 157 acres of land south of Crescent Street. This is the Miner Fill that includes the land where Crafted and Brouwerij West sit, out to the large stretch of land that has become a great concert venue as of late.

Once the Miner Fill was completed, the town leaders knew there needed to be a boulevard to the outer harbor, a harbor boulevard. That’s the origin of Harbor Boulevard. The creation of Harbor Boulevard required a land gift from the Sepulveda family because a portion of the bluff below Plaza Park needed to be cut into. Eventually, the road, which started as a project of the city of San Pedro, was completed by the City of Los Angeles. Harbor Boulevard stretched all the way south to Crescent Avenue where it met the viaduct and made a beeline to the foot of 22nd Street. When the viaduct was demolished back in the 1980s, Miner Street was extended from 22nd Street to meet Harbor Boulevard.

Now, Sampson Way, named for Harbor Commission president Bob Sampson, is Harbor Boulevard, and the old Harbor Boulevard is now Miner Street.

Over the summer, Harbor Commission vice president Dave Arian lost his battle with cancer, prompting Councilman Joe Buscaino to announce that the original stretch of Miner Street (south of 22nd Street) will be named Dave Arian Way. Dave Arian was an amazing man who worked hard for the harbor communities. He is absolutely deserving of the memorial. I’d argue that so was Bob Sampson, who still has family in San Pedro. If our memories are so short, perhaps a street isn’t the best way to memorialize our fallen leaders. I won’t be here in seventy years to remind everyone who Dave Arian was. spt Angela Romero is the founder of the San Pedro Heritage Museum.

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SPORTS

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

by Jamaal K. Street

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Dodger Stadium. Those are just two places out of many where I’ve covered a CIF-Los Angeles City Section sports championship event over the years. But those legendary Southern California spots aren’t home.

Championship dreams for young high school boys and girls in San Pedro, California, begin at home.

Some sporting spots outside of our traditional high school campuses at San Pedro, Mary Star of the Sea and Port of Los Angeles, can have championshiplike atmospheres while also having an incredible view, like the sublime Fromhold Field near Royal Palms Beach Park.

Fromhold Field is the home of Mary Star baseball, a program that has captured 15 league championships. Fans can come to a Stars ballgame and not be disappointed. The view is breathtaking, the snack bar is always well run, and fans of both the Stars and their opponents will always leave satisfied with the experience of their visit.

On the other side of town is the softball field at Mary Star’s Taper Avenue campus, which has been in use since 2015. This particular field has been blessed with three of the Stars’ 19 softball league titles, including a CIFSouthern Section runner-up appearance in 2018. The very first game on campus was May 21, 2015, a first-round playoff game against Morro Bay. Gigi Gentile christened the new digs with a first-inning home run, and the Stars won 4-0.

The Dodgers Dreamland Field at Leland Park has proven to be great home-field advantage for the POLA High softball program, as they have only lost four times in 42 games played since the 2015 season. The dimensions are a little longer than most high school

Clockwise from top left: San Pedro High School's gymnasium, Mike Walsh Pirate Stadium, Fromhold Field, and Dodgers Dreamland Field at Leland Park. (photos: Jamaal K. Street)

softball fields, but that didn’t stop Savana Ramirez from being the first to hit a home run over the fence on May 5, 2015, in an 8-0 win over rival Harbor Teacher Prep.

Another spot where POLA ventures out to play their sporting events is the Field of Dreams soccer fields, which has been home to the boys and girls soccer teams since the 2014-2015 season.

The most venerable outdoor sports field in San Pedro that has hosted many magnificent memories is, of course, Daniels Field, which has been alive and kicking for more than a century. It was here where Melvin Yarbrough threw the infamous touchdown pass with no time left to down rival Narbonne in 1996 during the Pirates’ undefeated CIF championship season, and where POLA girls soccer clinched their first of five CIF-LACS championship game appearances in 2012. It’s also home to the scrumptious tri tip and swordfish sandwiches at Mary Star home football games.

Of course, when San Pedro ruled the 1990s in football, the Pirates eventually outgrew Daniels Field, which opened

30 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

the door for a complete makeover on campus in 2000 with the opening of our town’s crown jewel, known as Mike Walsh Pirate Stadium. From the first game on October 13, 2000, when the Pirates won 21-14 in overtime over Banning, to the most recent 44-14 victory over South Gate in the CIF-LACS Division 1 semifinals on November 16, 2018, San Pedro is truly blessed by the 6,000-seat on-campus facility, which is also home to the Pirates’ boys and girls soccer and track teams.

Not many people would’ve suspected that the field right next door, the Jimmy Robertson Memorial Field, home of San Pedro High softball, would end up being the most decorated spot on campus. Since its first game there in 2001, San Pedro has won nine of their 17 CIF championships, with the last one being in 2017. On May 2, 2018, Briana Velazquez crushed a dramatic walkoff grand slam for a 10-7 victory over Banning.

Before I finish, we can’t forget some of our town’s impressive indoor sports facilities.

San Pedro High had one of the small-

est sporting environments possible in all of CIF-LACS with the old gym, which could only seat up to 500. But all that changed with the building of their current gymnasium in 2008, which seats up to 2,000. Since it opened, the Pirates have seen the 2010 boys’ basketball team and the 2018 girls’ volleyball team each win a CIF championship.

San Pedro has hosted the Pirate Shootout boys’ basketball tournament, as well as tournaments for boys and girls volleyball every year since.

The on-campus gym at Mary Star High may not be as wide as San Pedro - it only has one side of seats where each half is blocked off for fans of both the Stars and the visiting schools - but that doesn’t stop the Stars’ loyal followers. Just go to a Mary Star boys or girls basketball game and you will feel the electricity whenever the Gold Rush student section is in the house.

It was standing room only on October 5, 2016, when the Stars’ girls volleyball team treated their fans to a rousing four-set victory over San Pedro.

Home fields and courts in San Pedro really do have their advantages. spt

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WELLNESS

YOUR OFFER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED! WHAT’S NEXT?

by Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac Your offer has

been accepted!

Congratulations!

Now what?

For some, the initial high varies from a few minutes to many hours, but now the fun begins! Well, fun might not be the description that most would use, but now is the time to dive into the property and investigate all aspects of it. You are about to embark on an exciting journey and, in all likelihood, make one of the largest financial investments you will make in a lifetime. This month, we will share our insight on what areas should be thoroughly examined during the buyer’s 17-day investigation or due diligence period. The duration of this period is negotiable, so when submitting your offer, be sure to have a clear understanding of the number of days specified in your contract for this important sale contingency. In a competitive situation, where a property has received multiple offers, this time frame may be shortened to show the seller that, as a buyer, you mean business and will take immediate action and not drag your feet. Your real estate professional can help guide you during this process.

Step 1: Choose a licensed physical inspector from the area that knows the homes, neighborhoods, and common building materials. Inspectors are thirdparty individuals that have been hired by the buyer to perform a complete checklist on the property. Most inspections can range from $300-$1,000 in cost depending on size of home and features. Refer to your real estate professional or online reviews/recommendations to locate a knowledgeable inspector in your area. It’s also important to work with an inspector that will produce a thorough report that includes photos and clear descriptions.

Here are the top five “big ticket” items that should be examined and reviewed by your inspector: Foundation, Electrical, Plumbing, Appliances, and Roof.

To be clear, an inspector is not a specialist in any one of these areas, but more of a generalist that has the training to inspect and identify possible defects and safety concerns. A general inspector will most likely recommend that a buyer seek out a specialist (i.e. plumber, roofer, foundation contractor, electrician, etc.) to inspect areas of concern in order to get an idea of costs and scope of work

associated with any repairs. Inspectors are not able to inspect or give an opinion on inaccessible areas. One of the most commonly overlooked areas is the sewer or waste line, which can be extremely expensive to repair or replace. With this in mind, we highly recommend hiring a plumber to conduct a waste line inspection in addition to a physical inspection, especially in areas like San Pedro where there are many tree-lined sidewalks that cause root intrusion and are oftentimes the source of a damaged waste line.

Step 2: During the inspection period, a buyer will receive a title report and seller disclosures. The title report is a legal document that outlines the legal status of a property and related information on its ownership. Easements and encroachments, liens and judgments against the property are items that would be identified in a title report. Dimensions and location of a parcel and plat map are also included in this report. A number of seller disclosures should also be provided to the buyer. These disclosures should clearly identify any defects, repairs and improvements known to the current owner.

Step 3: Your investigations have been completed and you now should have a much better understanding of the home that you are purchasing. It’s possible that items may have come up that were not visible to a buyer when the offer was submitted, and that is the purpose of the inspection contingency in a contract.

Common real estate contracts give a buyer the option to cancel an agreement, with no loss of deposit, if they do not agree with the condition of the property or they may negotiate repairs, repair credits, or a price reduction with the seller. Having a savvy real estate professional to guide you through this complex process is imperative and can save thousands of dollars and headaches in the process.

The inspection or due diligence stage of the home purchasing process has been completed and now you’ll proceed with financing. In our next column, we will cover the loan and appraisal steps in the sale process. spt

Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are both licensed Realtors® with Keller Williams Realty. For more info, visit harperhazdovac.com

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HEALTH & FITNESS

THE 20-MILE MARCH

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I find myself beginning every workshop with the same story from the early 1900s that serves as a cautionary tale for pursuing your goals. It’s a reallife parable of why some succeed and others fail.

Way back in the early 1900s, often dubbed the “age of arctic exploration,” the arctic was still uncharted territory.

Up until 1911, no one had ever reached the South Pole. Being that this was a place no man had ever been before, there was a race amongst explorers to become the first expedition to successfully land there and earn a place in history.

There were two adventurers in particular who were making preparations to complete the dangerous journey, Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott. Both men were of similar age and experience, and both started their expedition within days of each other.

There was one stark difference.

The two men had two fundamentally different approaches to completing the journey. Scott’s plan was to cover as much ground as possible as quickly as possible. If the weather was fair, he’d cover 40 miles. If weather was severe, he’d cover less or wait for better weather. A sort of “make hay while the sun shines” approach.

Amundsen, on the contrary, committed his team to cover 20 miles a day, regardless of conditions. Sunshine, rain, snow, winds, it didn’t matter.

Amundsen felt that 20 miles was the minimum, but significant, distance he could cover, even in the worst conditions.

This meant in blizzards, he and his team had to tough it out to cover 20 miles. This also meant when the weather was perfect, he had to have the discipline to hold back and not go further simply because he could.

Amundsen's leadership paid off. His team arrived 34 days before Scott’s expedition and everyone made it home safely. The latter team headed by Scott

also made it to the South Pole, but they arrived exhausted, out of supplies, and frostbitten. Sadly, all five of his crew froze to death.

Scott’s approach to traversing the arctic is an extreme example of how most people approach getting in shape.

They “hope” to cover ground when the weather is good. They carve out six weeks for an extreme diet and lose dramatic amounts of weight. Then, exhausted from running at full throttle, they fall off the diet and steadily gain the weight back. They then are pounced by their hectic lives that knocks them off track even further. It becomes a constant ebb of sprinting, falling off the wagon, and starting over.

When someone wants to lose weight, they tend to want to get it done by sheer force of will, vowing to workout 5-7 days a week, and severe calorie and/ or carb cutting to lose in two months what took years of bad habits to put on. This is an approach that only works if absolutely nothing goes wrong, but unfortunately, something always does.

We don’t have many people in our program who lose 20 pounds in a month. We do, however, have lots of people who have lost 50 to 100 pounds in 12 to 18 months. How? Because we take a “20-mile march” approach to fitness. We don’t care about what you can lose in a month if you don’t have the tools to keep it off. Rather, we want to know what your ultimate destination is (3- to 5-year goal) and set the course to get there.

If your goal is to lose 100 pounds, we aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week.

This means at the low end it’ll take 50-weeks, or just under a year. That feels too slow to most people, but we know if we can set the pace that you can manage, even when life gets crazy, you’ll stay the course.

And while everyone else is losing the same 20 pounds over and over again, you’ll be down 24 pounds in 12 weeks, 50 pounds in six months, 75 pounds in nine months, and in a year most people won’t even recognize you.

So, who are you going to be, an Amundsen or a Scott? spt Heyday Elite Fitness offers a 2-minute scan that provides a full 1-page body fat analysis to help you tailor your fitness goals. For more info, email ricky@heydaytraining.com.

NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 35

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36 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

by Pastor Nathan Hoff This summer, we put 3,757 miles on our eldest son’s vehicle, christened “Pontius.” It is a Honda Pilot, so the family nicknamed it “Pontius Pilot.” This was a low point in pastor’s kid humor.

Pontius was waiting for us near Mount Carmel Christian Camp on Lake Carlos in the middle of Minnesota, where our son was a camp counselor through August. Lake Carlos is the deepest lake (except Lake Superior) in Minnesota. The other five members of our family flew to him, and then drove through seven states and two provinces.

We drove by Big Ole the Viking, not far from the biggest ball of twine, and the world’s largest buffalo. We witnessed the flattest Dakota plains and the most rugged Albertan peaks. We went through the rightest part of the right wing in northern Idaho and the leftist part of the left wing in Portland. I didn’t count, but I estimate that we passed at least a hundred historical markers. We didn’t stop at any of them.

Our first stop in Canada was at Rocky’s Donair in Cranbrook, British Columbia. The daughter of the owner told us we had to see a “neat” attraction called “Frank Slide” after we descended Crowsnest Pass in Southwestern Alberta. We didn’t need a historical marker or even a sign. We knew when we reached Frank Slide. We drove for a few kilometers surrounded by stones of every size; we passed a mountain with a sad cavity and a few historical markers.

We were eager to get to our friends, so we didn’t stop, but my curiosity was piqued. Wikipedia would have to suffice. April 29, 1903. 121 million tons of limestone. Before Alberta was even a province, it was considered part of the Northwest Territories. Seventy of ninety residents were buried under the slide. Most of the remains are still there. There were reports of hearing the slide 120 miles away. The last surviving resident, Gladys Ennis, two years old at the time of the slide, died in 1995.

Communities breathe and grow and have dysfunction; they heal and dimin-

ish and change, not unlike the human body. Scars and surgical reconfigurations are testimonies of accidental tragedies and trials or purposeful beautification or gentrification. Cities, ours included, have scabs that tell of a recent wound. We all wonder how current controversies will normalize or repair or divide deeper. Old scars like “Sunken City” or the Japanese Memorial in old “East San Pedro,” now known as Terminal Island, remind us of painful past changes that are more in our memory than our current experience. My dad, stationed at Ft. Mac, lived in plain barracks that are now a beautiful marina.

Cities change because they are alive.

The little Albertan mining village of Frank almost died in 1903. But they have a living story and a little gas station and a cafe. They also have the best bouldering in Alberta, with many adventurers finding hundreds of routes and problems to be solved through tons of limestone. Bouldering aficionados actually look for problems to solve.

Bouldering is boring without problems.

The ancient Israelites set up boulders to remember how God helped them through their adversities. The Prophet Samuel raised his Ebenezer, his “stone of remembrance,” and bore witness to great problems and God’s great faithfulness (1 Samuel 7.12).

San Pedro has more life than Frank.

We have thousands of adventurers finding new routes. We don’t have to look for problems to solve; they are all around us. The value in historical markers is the witness they bear to past adversities, stories that give perspective to our own challenges and inspiration to face them. San Pedro has some of those old stones and more to be set, giving us opportunities for problemsolving and adventure, reminding us of our adversities and assuring us of God's faithfulness in helping us to overcome them. spt Nathan Hoff is the Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro. Follow his blog at: trinitypastor.blogspot.com.

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NOVEMBER 2019 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 37

ON THE TOWN

On October 5, the San Pedro community came out to celebrate the grand unveiling of the new "Historic Little Italy" district on 6th Street in Downtown San Pedro. "Subway Soprano" Emily Zamourka performed, while speakers like actor Joe Mantegna, Supervisor Janice Hahn, former CA Assemblyman Mike Gatto, and Councilman Joe Buscaino added context to the festivities. Popular Italian businesses like Buono's Pizza and A-1 Italian Deli are expected to open new storefronts in the district, along with other new Italian-themed businesses. Future plans for concerts, open-air markets and theatrical productions could begin as soon as the end of the year. (photos: John Mattera Photography)

38 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

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ON THE TOWN

On October 12 at Pt Fermin Park, Light at the Lighthouse held its 15th annual festival. Free to all in the community, it was supported by Providence Hospitals, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Councilman Joe Buscaino, Supervisor Janice Hahn, the ILWU Pensioners, eight local churches and 30 local businesses. It featured a mainstage with seven bands and six speakers, and the Revive City youth stage with the Nicavangelists from Nicaragua and three local dance groups. New this year were inflatable sports games sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. (photos: Lisa Guthman, Joey Kamiya, Jillian Shundo, Bill Fleury)

40 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I NOVEMBER 2019

THE BACK PAGE

You can see the sign of Tommy Goodfellows through the rubble of its Beacon Street brethren. All of the buildings within the Beacon Street Redevelopment zone were razed in the name of progress in the early 1970s, this included most of the infamous drinking establishments. (photo: San Pedro Bay Historical Society)

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