FEBRUARY 2022
THE PROMISE OF PACIFIC AVE. | EAT IN SAN PEDRO: PIZZA & MEMORIES | HAIRLINE'S CINDE CAR RETIRES
122
THINGS TO DO IN SAN PEDRO
Smile A While.
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CELEBRATING OUR 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH! WE COULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED THIS MILESTONE WITHOUT THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY!
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FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 3
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Even with 122 entries, we’re sure we missed a bunch. Although it’s all subjective, we did our best to be as inclusive as possible, filling the list with as Disconnected. many activities with the widest reach. That’s the (But if there’s a glaring omission that word that comes you think we should add to the next toup the most when do list, please toss me an email.) discussing panLooking back at previous Things to demic life with Do issues, I was unaware that we’d family, friends, been publishing them every three years and colleagues. since 2013, with this month being the Two years of fourth edition. It wasn’t an intentional business shutschedule, it just worked out that way. downs, delivery services, masks, social But it made me realize that the next distancing, remote school and work, edition will arrive in 2025. By that time, and nearly no public events have caused West Harbor will (hopefully) be open, everyone to feel varying degrees of dis- Downtown San Pedro will have a few connection from the people and places new buildings, bringing in new busithey were most familiar with. And nesses and residents, and the Warner just as life seemed to start returning to Grand Theatre will still be under renowhatever “normal” is, we got hit with vation. A lot can change in 36 months. another variant and another surge, and We hope you have fun with this list. plans started getting canceled again. Have a challenge with your friends. See This feeling of disconnection is what how many you can do by the end of the inspired our latest Things to Do in San year. The list isn’t meant to be “comPedro issue this month. It’s our attempt pleted.” It’s just a visual reminder of to provide a guide for all of us, as we the many options we have in our own hopefully move past the pandemic and backyard to get out of the house and try to reconnect with our neighbors, have some fun. family, and community. It’s also a vivid If the last two years have taught us reminder of just how much this town anything, it’s that time is precious and still has to offer. life is short. Go pick something on the Obviously, this list is by no means list to do today. spt complete. We could’ve added a hundred more, but we ran out of space. The Joshua Stecker is publisher/editoronline version (at sanpedrotoday.com) in-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters has a few bonus to-dos with suggestions to the Editor can be emailed to from several local business owners and contact@sanpedrotoday.com. SPT contributors that we couldn’t fit in this print edition.
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FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 5
FEBRUARY 2022
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ADVERTISING:
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166 | patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
Joshua J. Stecker Lori Garrett
General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com
ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Joseph A. Castañeda
AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS
Sanam Lamborn, Mike Lansing, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Nadia Nizetich, Angela Romero, Lee Williams
PHOTOGRAPHER
John Mattera Photography
CONTACT INFO:
Phone: (424) 224-9063 Email: contact@sanpedrotoday.com San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168 San Pedro, CA 90733
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 2009-2022, Empire22 Media LLC.
VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 1 ON THE COVER: 122 Things To Do in San Pedro. (photos: John Mattera Photography)
6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2022
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EVENTS
COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to the rapidly changing nature of public health guidance for in-person events, information may change. Please plan accordingly.
FEBRUARY 2022 Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET AT LITTLE ITALY (638 S. Beacon St.), 11a-3p. – Pick up essential fruits and vegetables from certified, small family farms. Get a head start on weekend meals with so many delicious and fresh options. Please note social distancing of six feet between groups and people is required. Masks must be worn at all times, and a hand washing station is provided for your convenience. For more info, visit sanpedrochamber. com/san-pedro-farmers-market. Every Tuesday & Every Saturday – BELMONT SHORE RAILROAD CLUB at Angels Gate Park (3600 S. Gaffey St., Building 824), Tuesdays 7-10p & Saturdays 12-4p. – The best kept secret in San Pedro! The Belmont Shore Railroad Club is the oldest and largest N scale club and offers clinics on modeling and an opportunity to explore a new hobby. Admission is FREE and open to the public. For more info, call (310) 831-6262 or visit belmontshorerr.com. 3 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY in Downtown San Pedro, 6p. – The popular First Thursday ArtWalk is back in the historic core of Downtown San Pedro. The redesigned First Thursday will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open galleries, outdoor dining, and live music on the corner of 6th and Mesa streets.
4 (Fri) – THE SPRINGSTEEN EXPERIENCE: A TRIBUTE TO THE BOSS at The Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8p. – The Springsteen Experience is Josh Schreiber’s high-octane, chronological journey through E Street Band concert history. From 1973 through the 80s and beyond, this replica-rock concert delivers hit after hit including “Born to Run,” “Hungry Heart,” “Sherry Darling,” “Glory Days,” and more. For tickets and more info, visit grandvision.org. Now thru Feb 6 – PICK OF THE VINE at Little Fish Theatre (777 S. Centre St.). – An exciting night of entertainment awaits you in these seven short plays handpicked by Little Fish Theatre from authors across the country. Our 2022 selections are The Senior Discount by Lou Clyde, Those Wishing by James Anthony Tyler, Run Out of Sky by Leslie Bramm, Ordained by Mark Harvey Levine, Available Light by Conor LaRocque, Antigone by Marie Mayingi, and Gil & Bill by John J. Kelly. Runs Thursday through Sunday at various times. Tickets $20-30. For more info, call (310) 512-6030 (voicemail only), text (424) 203-4707 (box office only), or visit littlefishtheatre.org. 12 (Sat) – VALENTINE’S DAY POPUP at The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.), 10a-4p. – Join more than a dozen artists, artisans, and makers outside San Pedro’s favorite neighbor-
hood store for a fun day of shopping for your sweetheart! The event is sponsored by San Pedro Today. Best parking is along Paseo Del Mar. 17 (Thurs) – SAN PEDRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BUSINESS EXPO & NETWORKING MIXER at the Crowne Plaza Hotel L.A. Harbor (601 S. Palos Verdes St.), 4:30-7p. – Join us for an evening of tips, tools, and resources to jump start your business in 2022. Meet local businesses and service providers. Plenty of networking, prizes, and refreshments available. The event is open to the community. FREE admission. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Interested in exhibiting? Email laura@sanpedrochamber.com. For more info, call (310) 832-7272. 19 (Sat) – OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY AT WHITE POINT NATURE PRESERVE WITH THE PALOS VERDES PENINSULA LAND CONSERVANCY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W. Paseo Del Mar), 9a-12p. – Get outdoors and make a difference by helping the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy remove invasive grasses to enable rare coastal sage scrub habitat to thrive as a home of local native plants and wildlife. Sign up at pvplc.volunteerhub.com/ or for more info, email info@pvplc.org.
19 (Sat) – ALBERT CUMMINGS at The Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8p. – With mesmerizing guitar wizardry and strong vocals to match, Cummings takes you on a rowdy rock-blues ride. He has worked with Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band Double Trouble members Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon and drawn comparisons to legends Albert King, Freddie King, and even Vaughan, himself. Billboard Magazine called Cummings’ Working Man record “one of the top blues albums of 2006” and as Guitar Edge reports on the album Feel So Good, “Cummings effortlessly shifts from chimney subdued stylings to raucous roadhouse to soaring lead lines.” He has graced the stage with such esteemed luminaries as Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Susan Tedeschi, Sheryl Crow, and B.B. King, who called Cummings “a great guitarist.” For tickets and more info, visit grandvision.org. 26 (Sat) – MARA KAYE at The Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8p. – Reminiscent of the best acoustic blues singers of an earlier time, Mara Kaye has a refreshing approach to the songs of Bessie Smith, the Smith Sisters, and more. Kaye will be joined at the Annex by Boogie-woogie piano legend, Carl Sonny Leyland, Jon Atkinson, and Tim McNalley. For tickets and more info, visit grandvision.org. spt
Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing for a small fee. Deadline for the March 2022 issue is Friday, February 11. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com. 1110 N. Gaffey St. Ste. D San Pedro, CA 90731 Now e! bl AvailRaECT
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FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9
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COVID AND SUPPLY CRISIS LITERALLY HITTING HOME by Steve Marconi As 2021 came to a close, my wife and I found ourselves right in the middle of two of the biggest issues confronting the nation, she as an educator and I as a dockworker. Her work as a teacher with L.A. Unified is impacted daily by vaccine/mask mandates instituted to combat COVID-19 and its variants. My job with the ILWU at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach involves the loading and unloading of containers, which remains at the crux of the supply chain crisis that has inflated prices across the board. I have two granddaughters in L.A. Unified, and I want them to continue getting an in-person education, which
I deem significant, but I also want to keep my wife healthy; Zoom school was great for teachers, but not so much for students. So I’m forced to sit on the fence with this one. I’d also like to get my new speed convection oven delivered. I ordered it from Pacific Sales in July, and the latest word is I’ll get it sometime in April. I’m not sure what’s holding it up (I hope it wasn’t on one of those looted trains in Downtown L.A.). I only know it has nothing to do with the people I work with; longshore workers want the goods they’ve paid for as much as the next guy, and barring COVID concerns, are putting in all the hours they can. MORE FROM MARKULIS Back in 2020, I wrote about Terpsihori: A Greek Woman, an American
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Immigrant, Michael George Markulis’s tribute to his parents and their journey from Crete to San Pedro. He has followed that up with Autobiography of Michael George Markulis: A Professional Police Officer, Educator, Family Man (available at bookbaby.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble). Markulis, in a book amply illustrated with photographs, tells the story about his growing up in San Pedro, the second of five brothers, all of whom were inducted into the San Pedro High Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. A graduate of Harbor College and Cal State Long Beach, he retired in 1992 after a 37-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department. He was chief of detectives at Harbor Division in the late ‘80s, and when he retired as a lieutenant, he was chief of South Bureau Homicide. He also taught police science at Harbor and East L.A. College for 30 years. A cancer survivor, he was feted by his children, Elaine and Mark, on his 90th birthday last October in a bash attended by nearly 200 family and friends. That included Army buddies from the Korean War, former students, and a bevy of current and retired police officers. Everyone received a signed copy of his book. Markulis was married to his childhood sweetheart, Alicia Sanchez, for 55 years before she died in 2009. So it was that, in typical San Pedro fashion, Markulis the Greek was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” in Spanish.
months, with cars exiting Rolling Hills Riviera waiting… and waiting… for a green light. It’s almost like traffic planners are purposely trying to frustrate drivers with a long red light when there is virtually no cross traffic. Can someone please give long-suffering commuters a yellow blinking light like the one at the entrance to Costco on Lomita Boulevard in Torrance or the ones used everywhere in state-of-theart cities like Henderson, Nevada?
MORE TO THE POINT Two historic venues in Point Fermin have been in the news lately. Thanks to John Bagakis, owner of Big Nick’s Pizza on north Gaffey, the future of The Corner Store appears secure. Longtime owner Peggy Thompson-Lindquist has retired and sold the popular hangout, which has been serving locals at 37th and Barbara Street for nearly 75 years, to Bagakis. The fate of Walker’s Café remains up in the air, and it may take official designation as a historic landmark to save it. The Walker’s Café building on Paseo Del Mar opposite Point Fermin Park has been in use for more than a century, although its fame as an eatery only began when Ray Walker and his wife, Bessie Mae, took it over in 1946. Before the Walkers, the site was a tavern, and before that, a grocery. That grocery can be seen in a 1916 photograph that ran in the News-Pilot during the San Pedro centennial in 1988. The subject of the photo is L and WAITING GAME L Transit, with owner Felicien Landier I sounded the alarm years ago when and a lineup of five jitneys and drivthe first Ponte Vista development was ers, then known as chauffeurs. Jitneys proposed that it would have a devastat- were precursors to buses; Landier later ing impact on Western Avenue traffic. formed the San Pedro Motor Bus Co., Even as the numbers were scaled a group of mostly Italian immigrants back over the years, I knew it would not that included my grandfather Ettore turn out well, but I had no idea Ponte Marconi and his brother Simone, who, Vista would affect residents of Eastview although I can’t be certain, are probably even before it was completed. I underin that 106-year-old photo. stand putting traffic lights in first, but San Pedro has lost enough of its hiswhy have they been made operational tory. Go to Emma Rault’s Save Walker’s with only a handful of homes up and Café site (change.org/p/save-walker-soccupied? cafe) and sign the petition. Nearly 2,300 I’m thinking, in particular, of the already have done so. spt light at Greengate, the entrance to Ponte Vista opposite Avenida Aprenda. Steve Marconi can be reached at The road is not being used, but the spmarconi@yahoo.com. light has been up and functioning for
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VOICES
cared for daily. Hoping these important components of the bill will be revived in some new legislation and that both political parties will work together to bring these poverty-fighting investments to families across our nation. by Mike Lansing AFFORDABLE HOUSING/ HOMELESSNESS. A lack of affordable housing is one of the major factors that lead to families living in poverty. And Congressman Raskin. Believing we When everything must be the hope so many others need, while we see homeless people on our looks hopeless, streets daily, they are only the tip of the the following are areas where I am you’re the hope. iceberg when it comes to a lack of availhopeful for positive change in 2022. -- Congressman POVERTY. President Biden’s Child able/affordable housing for millions of Jamie Raskin Americans. I hope that we will begin Tax Credit provided $250 or more per As we near two taking affordable housing seriously and child in 2021 but ran out on January full years of this get creative in using surplus governunprecedented pan- 14 as nearly 25 percent of our children ment properties, including an overdemic, one of the unseen byproducts of live in poverty. It greatly reduced food abundance of schools, and convert them this tragedy is the utter hopelessness far insecurity far too many children and into much-needed affordable housing. families face daily. Its extension was too many people feel. When combined Utilizing these unused properties to part of President Biden’s failed Build with the partisan politics crippling our Back Better legislation, along with child house families will keep the total cost country today, the too often “lying” down while successfully addressing a care subsidies and free universal premedia, the continuing social ills of huge public need. school. These three investments would homelessness, food insecurity, racism, PARTISAN POLITICS. Mr. Santsand more, it is easy to understand why have leveled the playing field for tens of chi was a government teacher extraorso many lack hope today. This is why I thousands of poor children and made it dinaire at San Pedro High School — and easier for parents, especially women, to was struck by the simple quote above, the best teacher I ever had. He was a work, knowing their children are being which I heard in an interview with true believer in our constitution and democracy, and he instilled that same love in our form of government in his Join us for indoor and students. Mr. Santschi would truly be disgusted with the state of our partipatio dining in the san politics and the threats facing our heart of Little Italy! democracy today. Whether it’s the January 6 insurrection (and the inability of far too many to admit what it was), current gerrymandering, voting rights restrictions, the inability of the two sides to work together on any legislation of value (like the child tax credit) or need (raising the debt limit), Mr. Santschi would be disgusted in seeing how our elected officials in Washington are not working together for the betterment of our citizens. Hoping this lack
WE ARE HOPE, DESPITE THE TIMES
of collaboration and proper governance changes — and changes fast. LYING KILLS. On the same day that the County’s daily COVID deaths reached a nine-month high and over 850,000 Americans had died from this deadly disease, I read an article where weekly prescriptions for ivermectin, which is most commonly used as a veterinary deworming medicine for animals, had increased from 3,600 pre-pandemic to over 88,000 this past summer. Why? Because anti-vaccine proponents, including unscrupulous media stars, have promoted this useless drug over the vaccine, which actually saves lives. My sincere hope is that these “influencers” will end their lying ways and begin telling the truth about COVID and the need for everyone to take advantage of the free and successful vaccine. OUR CHILDREN. In 1970, Graham Nash released his song “Teach Your Children,” which reflected on the societal implications of messages given to children about the Vietnam War and other issues. What are we teaching our children today when poverty reigns, when there is so much wealth inequality in the world, when racism is flourishing, when our nation’s capital is overtaken by our own, and our elected officials and media lie for their own benefit and to the detriment of their fellow man? We adults are not teaching our children well — not by our actions and words. My sincere hope is that we all will be touched “by the better angels of our nature.” We must be the hope so many children and families need today. spt Mike Lansing is the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.
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FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 13
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LESS DRIVING, MORE WALKING by Jennifer Marquez Last summer, I took a spontaneous two-week road trip with one of my sons. Pre-COVID, I was on the go with carpool, family errands, working, going to the gym, and traveling. For the last two years, I have been driving a lot less and working remotely at my social service job. I got rid of my nice car and have been sharing older cars with my family. When my son said he wanted to look at colleges from here to Seattle on a road trip, I was the only person available to take him. I was happy to spend time with him but had gotten used to my new driving-less lifestyle. Driving three states as the only driver was a first for me, and I was a little nervous. As we visited multiple campuses, my son made it clear he wanted to attend school in a walkable community where he wouldn’t need a car to get around. Many college towns are designed for students without cars who can walk, bike, or take public transportation around the campus and to the necessities like stores, hospitals, pharmacies,
Cabrillo Beach. (photo: Jennifer Marquez)
and restaurants. This wasn’t his only criteria for colleges, but it was important. Often people look back on their college years with fondness, as they felt connected to others in walkable communities. My son’s focus on walkable towns made me look at San Pedro in a new light. San Pedro is a great place to walk in some areas. I walk and hike almost daily, but it is not designed with community walkability in mind like many European towns where you can walk from your house to eat or buy groceries. San Pedro does not have a main area for people to congregate per se. There are some great local businesses like The Corner Store, Sirens, and The Elks Lodge, which serve as community centers as well to some. While a town
square is being finished on the waterfront, without a coffee shop or food, it may be a destination where people drive to and then walk, not congregate. When my dad quit driving, he became more isolated in his suburban home, not close to any of the strip malls where he used to shop. My dad lives in a city where the Dial-A-Ride for seniors is easy and affordable. While San Pedro offers Access Services through the County, options for Dial-A-Ride are more challenging to navigate. Services like Uber are not for everybody, and public transportation is limited. It might be easy to take the silver line to Downtown Los Angeles but to get from Cabrillo Beach to Western poses more obstacles. As I walk across San Pedro, I notice
so many things that I didn’t before in my car. I meet different people and get a feel for neighborhoods and the people who live there in a way that I never got driving by in my car. I have become more aware of how many seniors are alone, especially since COVID. My friend and I recently met an older man on one of our walks; he was in front of his house. He shared that his wife had passed away, and tears came to his eyes. I was glad to have a meaningful conversation with him and knew it was only because I was walking that day that we met. One benefit of living in San Pedro is the abundance of parks and nature. Places like Royal Palms or Cabrillo Beach become daily outings for many connecting them to both nature and other people. My favorite spot is low tide, where I pick up trash that has been washed ashore, and I can walk from my house. I hope the future of San Pedro includes ways for those who are more isolated to be connected. If that is you, consider visiting a local coffee shop or a place in nature or walking on Paseo Del Mar. Being alone is fine, but sometimes we all need to feel connected to each other. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.
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VOICES
AFTER THE PLAGUE, A RENAISSANCE? by Lee Williams
The pandemic of today is often compared to the Black Death of the 14th century that killed somewhere between 75 and 200 million people and marked the end of the Middle Ages. While, thankfully, today, we are nowhere near the number and magnitude of deaths, this pandemic has exposed a divide in critical thinking, socioeconomic circumstances, political values, and overall realities in which we view the world. The pandemic has not become a unifying force to rally against a common enemy in a shared commitment. As we enter our third year in response to COVID-19, it seems unfathomable to think how much we still can’t agree on. However, if you look back at previous plagues throughout history, you will find the same radical cures, persecutions of foreigners, and suspicions of science, as people try to make sense of what’s going on and how to adapt. Our view of the world is often dependent on which “news” channel we frequent, with people shouting at each other from opposite ends of a boat in rough seas. At some point, the waters will calm, and the survivors in the middle will learn from the extremists cast overboard. America’s greatest advancements in economics, science, social issues, and human development have come from our ability to respond
to a crisis. Flaws in our supply chain are being addressed. Workers are gaining leverage in the labor market. This stress test to our healthcare system highlights the cost savings of preventative measures versus expensive treatment. High gas prices mean increased investment in alternative fuels, batteries, power generation, and technologies. People are migrating to all parts of the country for jobs and quality of life. Workers are becoming entrepreneurs at record rates, and small businesses are forming. The human collective is experiencing a shift in critical thinking, testing opinions, trying new ideas, and challenging every aspect of how we live together as a community. The painful turmoil and chaos we are experiencing may be a necessary function of evolution to what’s next. The Renaissance (French for “rebirth”) was a shift from the long period of social and cultural decline with a revival of classical learning, intellectual transformations, global exploration, and systematic innovation. The feudal system failed when workers died, crops went unharvested, and many faced starvation. The result was an explosion of commerce, innovations in paper, printing, seafaring, and exploration of new continents. The healthcare system began to separate the sick from the injured, study the human body like never before, and dispel many long-held beliefs on disease and afflictions. Humanism grew out of the Renaissance in response to destructive
social views and religious dogma with an emphasis on the dignity of man, central truths across theologies and philosophies, and respect for the various manifestations of the human existence. Questioning the system inspired new possibilities of human thought and invention. San Pedro is uniquely positioned to benefit from the modern Renaissance due to our connection to the sea, cultivation of the arts, and our approach to innovation. We are months away from some major groundbreaking in the development of our waterfront. The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce will soon be hosting a State of the LA Waterfront event for the community to see firsthand all that is happening now and what’s to come. This will include some of the exciting recent announcements from AltaSea and how the research and innovation happening here in our own backyard will have a reach and impact across the globe. For me, the Renaissance is most synonymous with the focus on the arts. So much expression came out of this time as people looked to better understand what it means to be human and our relationship with God, the universe, and each other. San Pedro has a well-established arts community that is experiencing a renaissance of its own. The PORTALS exhibition just opened at the Angels Gate Cultural Center and will remain on display through March 26. (AngelsGateArt.org) “Portals — doorways and interdimensional gateways — have been a point of fascination as long as humans have been telling stories. The work that the artists create in PORTALS explores gateways as facilitators of human growth and inspires change within us,” says Stephanie Sherwood, curator, in
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the exhibition’s description. The San Pedro Waterfront Arts District is busy curating and maintaining its murals, storm drains, and DOT boxes around San Pedro. These large art pieces represent the culture, the beauty, and the history of San Pedro in a unique and beautiful way. This art sometimes gets missed when we are driving around and becomes a welcome surprise when on foot, a pace that’s becoming increasingly popular with all the restaurants and outdoor dining in San Pedro. Soon we will see the closing of the Warner Grand, and it could remain closed for four years while it undergoes extensive renovations. But with that going on, we are seeing a huge increase in activity at the Grand Annex and the Little Fish Theatre, and the Port could soon announce some exciting outdoor events and festivals. While we still may not agree on how best to fight the virus, there is agreement that we all want to get back out and about. We want to interact with each other in a positive way. We want more certainty in our lives and how we live it. We want to see more beauty around us and elevate San Pedro in a way that protects our unique culture and leaves a valuable legacy for future generations. After the plague came the Renaissance. San Pedro’s best days are ahead of us, and it’s our job to be the change. spt
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40. Take a tour of the Point Fermin Lighthouse.
(photo: John Mattera Photography)
122
THINGS TO DO IN SAN PEDRO compiled by SPT Staff
THIS LIST IS ABOUT RECONNECTING. The last two years have taken a
Pedro still offers an amazing array of things to do, many of which are unique to our port town. Our hope is that you use it to rediscover San Pedro in 2022. Try a restaurant you’ve never been to. Take a tour of a historic building. Try an activity you’ve been curious about. Use this very incomplete list as an opportunity to reconnect with this place that many of us are happy to call home.
1. Enjoy a show at the Warner Grand Theatre before it closes later this year for renovations.
10. Try the shawarma at Nazelie’s Lebanese Café.
19. Visit San Pedro’s historic Muller House Museum.
29. Attend the Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade.
11. Watch the annual John Olguin July 4th Spectacular fireworks show from Cabrillo Beach.
20. Try the grilled sand dabs at Think Café.
30. Take a walk around the Fanfare Fountain.
21. Play (or watch) a tennis match at Daniels Field.
31. Try the Pancetta pizza at La Bocca Felice.
22. Go bird watching at the Salinas de San Pedro Salt Marsh.
32. Enjoy the festive Harbor Afloat boat parade.
23. Be brave and ride the Ferris wheel at the Mary Star Fiesta.
33. Try one of the many sodas at The Corner Store.
toll on all of us. We’ve been working from home more instead of commuting. Ordering in instead of dining out. Talking to screens instead of talking in person. Most of our major community events have been canceled or postponed. All our routines have changed. As life returns to whatever "normal" is, this list is a reminder that San
2. Grab a coffee at Sacred Grounds next door before catching that Warner Grand show. 3. Attend a First Thursday in Downtown San Pedro.
12. Drink a pint of Guinness at The Whale & Ale, which is now an Irish pub.
4. Go on a hike at White Point Nature Preserve.
13. Indulge in an Americano and cinnamon roll at Sirens Java & Tea.
5. Experience a nighttime grunion run at Cabrillo Beach.
14. Go on an exciting whale watching adventure with Harbor Breeze Cruises.
24. Take a plunge in the Pacific at the annual Polar Bear swim.
34. Visit the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse.
6. Enjoy a homemade Italian meal with groceries from A-1 Imported Groceries & Deli.
15. Savor the Local Calamari New Style at J. Trani’s Ristorante.
25. Volunteer to walk a dog at the Harbor Animal Shelter.
35. Attend the famous fish luncheon at the Dalmatian-American Club.
7. Take an early morning walk along Paseo Del Mar.
16. Go for a weekend walk around Cabrillo Marina.
8. Be daring and ride a bike from Catalina Express to Cabrillo Beach.
17. Grab a Torpedo sandwich from Busy Bee Market.
9. Visit the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and check out the aquatic nursery.
18. Visit artist Julie Bender’s 25th Street Mosaic Mural. (And try to find the San Pedro Today cover.)
26. Enjoy an afternoon watching the 36. During Halloween, listen to ducks at Averill Park. Scary Stories at Angels Gate Cultural Center. 27. Take a ceramics class at Blue Water Clay. 37. Wake up to the sound of a foghorn from the harbor. 28. Enjoy an omelette at the Omelette & Waffle Shop — there’s 38. Look at the historic murals in the more than 100 to choose from! Beacon Street post office.
18 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2022
FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 19
39. Go outside in the middle of the night and listen to the sounds of the working port.
59. Visit the sea lions at the Marine Mammal Care Center. 60. Play horseshoes at Peck Park.
40. Take a tour of the Point Fermin Lighthouse.
26.
41. Play ball at Bogdanovich Park. 42. Enjoy dinner and belly dancing at Babouch Moroccan Restaurant. 43. Roast marshmallows in the firepits at Cabrillo Beach. 44. Take a walk down 6th Street in downtown and check out the Sportswalk to the Waterfront.
72.
95.
45. Devour a World Famous Shrimp Tray on the patio at the San Pedro Fish Market.
65. Enjoy a pizza or a sub from Sorrento’s. (The family-owned restaurant turns 60 this year!)
67. Attend a performance of Shakespeare by the Sea at Point Fermin Park.
48. Shop for fresh produce and more at the San Pedro Farmers Market at Little Italy.
68. Go for a swim at the Hey Rookie Pool. 69. Try The Flying Dutchman at The Porthole Deli & Pizzeria.
54.
16.
70. Attend a San Pedro High School football game. Go Pirates! 71. Try one of the many unique teas at Hojas Tea House. 72. Spend a weekend wandering the aisles at Crafted at the Port of L.A.
52. Indulge in an early morning breakfast at Pacific Diner.
73. Take a tour of the USS Iowa.
53. Go fly a kite at the Korean Bell of Friendship.
74. Explore the underground bunkers at Fort MacArthur Museum.
54. Take a tour of the SS Lane Victory.
75. Clean out your closet and donate items to the Beacon House Thrift Store.
55. Order a Long Shoreman and Railroader from Big Nick’s Pizza.
106.
64. Visit the Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club at Angels Gate Cultural Center.
47. Make a difference in your community by attending a neighborhood council meeting.
51. Visit the new Town Square and be amazed at the cargo ships as they come into the port.
53.
63. Have a picnic on the grass along Paseo Del Mar.
66. Make time for LA Fleet Week, which moves to Memorial Day weekend this year.
50. Learn the names of your nextdoor neighbors if you haven’t already.
85.
62. Visit an Open Studios Day at Angels Gate Cultural Center.
46. Visit the Los Angeles Fire Department Harbor Museum.
49. Try Sandwich Saloon’s famous Chinese Chicken Salad.
59.
61. Take in the view of the lights on the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
76. Catch some live music at the Grand Annex.
56. Pay your respects at the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial.
77. Eat a Devine Burger at Utro’s Café. (We spelled it right this year!)
57. Indulge in some breakfast pizza at Joseph’s Bakery.
78. Catch a flick at the L.A. Harbor International Film Festival.
58. Check out the majestic view of the harbor from Lookout Point Park.
79. Volunteer to deliver food for Meals on Wheels. (photos: John Mattera Photography)
63.
33.
115.
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14.
80. Enjoy a Music by the Sea summer concert at Point Fermin Park.
90. Kayak or paddle board around the peninsula.
81. Try the guacamole at Taxco restaurant.
91. Spoil yourself with some fried chicken and potatoes from Slavko’s Harbor Poultry.
82. Shoot hoops at the iconic Korean Bell basketball court. 83. Grab a breakfast burrito at The Chori-Man and a pastry at Colussus bakery. 84. Enjoy one of the many Belgian-style ales at Brouwerij West.
86. Enjoy a Beauty Bowl or Nudie smoothie at NUDA Juice Shop. 87. Buy fresh produce at Green Girl Farms.
122.
99.
93. Visit POLA High School’s Pixels art gallery on a First Thursday. 94. Have a margarita or two at the Green Onion Mexican Restaurtant.
85. Check out the beautiful craftsmanship of The Arcade Building in downtown.
75.
92. Prepare some chicken kabobs from South Shores Meat Shop for a summer barbeque.
95. Find some vinyl album treasures at JDC Records. 96. Enjoy a Longshoreman Lager during Hoppy Hour at the San Pedro Brewing Co.
120.
97. Try the Garlic Bomb Ramen at Ko-Ryu Ramen.
88. Watch a Mary Star High baseball game at Fromhold Field. Go Stars!
98. Pick up some See’s Candies at the Assistance League gift shop.
89. Enjoy a play at Little Fish Theatre.
99. Grab a pint and catch a concert at The Sardine.
103. (photos: John Mattera Photography)
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83.
7.
18.
51.
(photos: John Mattera Photography)
100. Try the Buona Lisa pizza from Buono’s Pizzeria.
111. Find the perfect pair of sandals at Urban Feet.
101. Get your tequila on with a margarita flight from Kalaveras.
112. Order the Tacos al Pastor at The Original Las Brisas.
102. Purchase stamps from the Assistance League Post Office in Weymouth Corners. It’s the only allvolunteer post office in the country!
113. Attend a San Pedro Chamber of Commerce business mixer.
103. Take a selfie with the ThreeEyed Fish mural by artist Dave Butkus. 104. Grab a Three-Eyed Fish t-shirt at Badfish Clothing Co. 105. Visit the grave of poet and longtime San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski at Green Hills Memorial Park. 106. Enjoy wine and charcuterie on the patio at Compagnon Wine Bistro. 107. Check out Raffaello Ristorante’s beautiful new location on 7th Street in downtown. 108. Order a dozen sugar cookies from Polly Ann Bakery. 109. Attend Pride on the Port of Los Angeles when it returns. 110. Purchase an obligatory San Pedro hoodie at San Pedro Surf & Sport.
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114. Watch San Pedro City Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker. 115. Visit the newly reopened L.A. Maritime Museum. 116. View the work by the San Pedro Art Association at Crafted at the Port of L.A. 117. Go fishing off Cabrillo Pier. 118. Join the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Beach Cleanup on the first Saturday of every month. 119. Play bocce ball near the Catalina Express Terminal. 120. Drive around town looking for the mysterious ‘San Pedro Cat’ art. 121. Enjoy dinner and a view of the marina from 22nd Street Landing Seafood Grill & Bar. 122. Randomly run into a commercial, television show, or movie being filmed in Downtown San Pedro. spt
Find more 'Things To Do' with tips from SPT contributors and local business owners online at sanpedrotoday.com! FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 23
FOOD
EAT IN SAN PEDRO:
PIZZA & MEMORIES by Sanam Lamborn
I first visualized this column as a way to highlight the long-standing pizza makers in town leading up to Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day. However, a familiar theme emerged during conversations with my born-and-raised Pedro friends about pizza. After reading my article featuring Joseph’s Bakery’s (1027 S. Meyler St.) pizza, my friend Janet Tawa shared her husband Mike’s memories of stopping by for a slice on his way home from San Pedro High School. Tawa’s affinity for Joseph’s pizza is deeply rooted in his childhood memories. This feeling mirrors my husband’s fondness for his childhood pizza stop that’s not debatable or comparable to other long-standing local establishments. It quickly became clear that childhood memories define individual preferences in a town with so many pizza options. My introduction to Pedro pizza came when my husband and I were first dating. He lifted the lid of a Sorrento’s Italian Restaurant’s (2428 S. Western Ave.) box with a twinkle in his eye and proudly declared that it was his favorite pizza. My father-in-law often
Clockwise from top left: Big Nick's: combo pizza with jalapeños; Domenick’s: heart-shaped combination pizza for Valentine’s Day; Sorrento's: the Sorrento’s special; Buono's: Pizza Giorgio. (photos: Sanam Lamborn)
brought home Sorrento’s special minus anchovies as a treat for the family. The special is loaded with sweet tomato sauce, ground beef, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers, then topped with cheese. From the menu, I have only had the margherita pizza at a friend’s place because bringing home anything but the special is unthinkable in our household! My friend Rosalie Carswell grew up eating her mother Antonia Ciaramitaro’s homemade pizza, who is of Instagram fame @AdventuresofNona. However, when eating out, their preferred choice was Domenick’s Pizza House (28360 S. Western Ave.). Her family usually opted for the combination, which is made with pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms. My experi-
ence has been that the red sauce here stands out because it is flavorful, and I am a fan of the combination option, too. What makes this restaurant special is the energy and hospitality of owner Theresa Sardisco. To the best of my knowledge, Domenick’s is the only place in town where you can purchase heart-shaped pizza on Valentine’s Day. There will also be cannoli and chocolate-covered strawberries made by Carswell, a talented baker and Sardisco’s lifelong friend. I was introduced to the next two establishments by our town’s historian Angela Romero on a pizza walking tour she led. Bonello’s New York Pizza (806 S. Gaffey St.) is one of the few places where you can purchase pizza by the
slice for a very reasonable price. The crust is thin, and it gets crunchier the closer you get to the round edge. Their red sauce has a subtle flavor with the right amount of tang. There are many topping options from the list posted above the counter. Everything about this pizza is even and just the right amount — meaning, no piles of sauce or cheese that make it soggy. Although I like their cheese pizza, sometimes I order a slice with mushrooms, which are cooked on the spot and placed on top of the cheese pizza. I really like Buono’s Pizzeria’s (222 W. 6th St.) new bright and welcoming location. I like to explore their gourmet pizza options because of the creative combination of toppings. Thus far, my favorite is Pizza Giorgio, which is topped with artichoke hearts, breaded and sautéed eggplant, sautéed garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, fresh basil, and feta cheese. Although the youngest, Big Nick’s Pizza (1110 N. Gaffey St.), is firmly established for good reason. Their pizza is often donated for fundraisers around town, which shows commitment to this community. They are open later than most restaurants in Pedro, which is a lifesaver for longshoremen who work the nightshift, like my husband, who stops by a couple of times a week on his break. Lastly, their well-polished and enticing social media videos highlight their specialties and spots around town. There are many pizza options on the menu, and the service is prompt. I am a fan of their combo pizza, which is topped with a generous amount of pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and olives. I like to order mine with jalapeños. spt Sanam Lamborn created the Eat in San Pedro Facebook group and Instagram account in April 2020 to entice people to patronize San Pedro’s eateries.
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STEPPING DOWN IN STYLE
CINDE CAR RETIRES FROM HAIRLINE SALON AFTER 41 YEARS by Nadia Nizetich Cinde Car photographed in June 2020. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
The year is 1983, and Cinde Car poses triumphantly for a photo with a first-place trophy and a model covered head to toe in black and white stripes. “I painted my sister as a zebra,” laughs Car. “It was one of the first makeup competitions I ever did, and we won.” Today Car looks fondly on the memory. She’s now the proud owner and stylist
of Hairline Salon, and her passion for cosmetology hasn’t wavered. But due to a recent battle with cancer, she’s decided to retire from hairstyling to take on a solely administrative role at the salon. “For now, what’s best is that I take a step back from styling,” explains Car, “but that’s not to say I won’t do hair again down the road.”
Car has owned Hairline Salon for 41 years, a tenure that’s seen three locations and generations of clients. “I started doing people’s hair, then their kids’ hair, then their kids’ kids’ hair,” Car beams. “They bring them in for their first haircut, graduation, communion… All these different things happen to them, and I get to be a part of that.” She opened the first Hairline on Pacific Avenue in 1981, eventually moving to 7th Street and finally to her current location on north Gaffey Street in 1992. Car didn’t always envision a career in hair, but in 1980, she was studying art at Long Beach State and struggled to afford tuition. A friend’s mom suggested that she take on hairstyling to fund her studies, and she enrolled in Flavio’s Beauty School in San Pedro. Car’s passion soon became clear. “I was just having so much fun,” she reflects. “I learned so much from these wonderful hairdressers, and I wanted to be part of their world.” The next year, she left art school to become a hairstylist full-time. An artist at heart, Car continued to flex her creative muscles throughout her career. She entered hair and makeup competitions in the 1980s and discovered the world of fantasy makeup in the process. She hit her stride in makeup, placing top three in nearly all 20 of the competitions she entered over the course of a decade. Car vividly remembers winning first prize for her zebra piece: “When they announced my win, Emily [the emcee] said I went out of the box. I was the only one who did makeup from head to toe.” Then in 1993, a friend made a request that would shape the rest of Car’s life. “She was a nurse going through breast cancer,” Car recalls. “She asked if I’d shave her head, and I did.” From then on, she went ritually to San Pedro hospital’s breast cancer center to shave the
heads of women going through chemo, and the experience was eye-opening. “While I was there, I started noticing how many women had breast cancer. It hurt my heart. And I made it a mission to start fundraising.” An avid marathon runner, she began participating in the Avon Foundation’s two-day, 39-mile fundraiser walks for breast cancer research. Since 2001, she has completed 34 walks and raised $250,000. To Car, hairstyling and charity work are two sides of the same coin. “Doing hair is very personal,” says Car, “and it can change a person’s life.” Her favorite client is someone who hasn’t had their hair done in a while. “They come in feeling bad or insecure, and when you give them a hairstyle that makes them feel pretty, it makes their life a little bit better.” Her clients admire this altruism — Peggy Thompson-Lindquist, a loyal patron for 18 years, recalls how Car visited her home in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “During COVID, nobody went to have their hair done. But Cinde did my hair for me at her home.” Valerie Atkinson-Kjellberg, a client for 30 years, agrees. “She does so many good things for so many people. I really think she’s an angel amongst us.” When she considers what retirement will hold, Car’s thoughts turn to simple pleasures: painting, traveling, and relaxing with family are all on her list. But when she looks back, she sees the many people she’s met and loved in over 40 years of styling. “I want to thank all of my clients for being so great over the years. They’ve made the experience so rich with memories, great conversations, and friendships. I have laughed and cried and just run the gamut of things at the salon. Thank you from the bottom of my heart — it’s been a gift to be a hairstylist.” spt
FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25
HISTORY
THE PROMISE OF PACIFIC AVENUE by Angela Romero West Street was only a few long city blocks from the main channel and served as the western limit of the young city of San Pedro. Beyond it was the rolling hills of the former rancho that gave them their name. As San Pedro began to materialize into a port city worthy of worldly things, a simple directional name was no longer sufficient, and Pacific Avenue was born. Even the switch from street to avenue showed how much hope the thoroughfare carried for the townsfolk. From its beginning, Pacific Avenue was intended as a major commercial center. No houses were built there because they would just have to be moved one day. Pacific Avenue was a promise San Pedro made to itself. The first person to make good on that promise was Edouard Amar, a town pioneer most famous for his thousands of sheep which roamed the peninsula. Amar built the first two brick commercial buildings on Pacific Avenue in 1913 — one garage and a row of stores on the northeast corner of 12th Street. A grand boulevard stretched north and south from these two seeds of development to join the city and the countryside. Year after year, more buildings dotted the avenue between the
Pacific Garage circa 1915. (photo: San Pedro Bay Historical Society)
official commercial borders of 3rd and 14th streets. Amar further solidified his place as the father of Pacific Avenue by adding the California Theatre building at 11th Street in 1921. The following year, Pacific Avenue was celebrated for finally meeting its potential with the installation of state-of-the-art ornamental light posts up and down the street. Town boosters proclaimed it San Pedro’s “Great White Way,” on par with New York’s Broadway and Chicago’s State Street. This baptism by innovation fueled more development, attracting big-name chains like J.C. Penney, Kress, and Montgomery Ward to stake their claims along Pacific Avenue. For 60 years, Pacific Avenue was the major retail center of San Pedro. From department stores to five-anddime stores and everything in between. Anything one could want or need was sold somewhere on the avenue. If you needed a car, San Pedro’s motor row was legendary. Pacific Avenue’s supremacy didn’t start to crack until the 1970s when new shopping centers and the extension of the Harbor Freeway terminus to Gaffey Street expanded and recentered the idea of commercial
areas in town. Soon the convenience of chains on Gaffey Street and Western Avenue became more important than the variety of retail in downtown. As businesses moved or shuttered by the 1980s, Pacific Avenue started to show its age and obsolescence. In the years since its heyday, Pacific Avenue has adapted as best as it could. It doesn’t have the same retail presence, but it is still the heart of San Pedro. There is no better litmus test for how San Pedro is doing than driving from one end of Pacific Avenue to the other. Every single one of our issues are there on display, including gangs, drugs, homelessness, and mental health issues. One way to help combat these issues would be to invest in the commercial core between 3rd and 14th streets. I don’t mean giving developers carte blanche to tear it out but to rehabilitate the fantastic historical architecture and give Pacific Avenue a new lease on life. For the most part, historic Pacific Avenue remains intact. Even Edouard Amar’s first two buildings are still standing. The garage at 1130 Pacific Avenue has spent most of its life in the automotive industry. In its early days,
it was the Pacific Garage; later, it was an auto parts store. Now, the garage hides its massive square footage in plain sight behind a dated stone façade. In 1923, Amar added two stories to his original row of storefronts at 12th Street. The building housed offices, the California Hotel, and even the famed Rose Room bar. Great cultural footholds are already leading the way to a rebirth, like San Pedro City Ballet, the National Watercolor Society, and The Sardine. We need innovation to light up the street again a hundred years later. Let’s put our heads together and give it a good think. Pacific Avenue needs to be protected at all costs. It is our parade route, the spiritual artery of old San Pedro, grown with the promise our ancestors made to themselves and to us. spt Angela Romero is the president of the San Pedro Heritage Museum. She can be reached at angela@sanpedroheritage.org. For more info, visit sanpedroheritage. org.
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FITNESS
WEIGHT LOSS INDUSTRY’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
by Ricky Magana
It is far better to do the right thing wrong than to do the wrong thing right. -- Russell Ackoff It’s a curious fact of human nature that we tend to do what’s familiar rather than what’s correct. The correct path often requires discomfort and change, and we don’t like change. So we keep doing the wrong things, hoping that if we do them more intensely, the results will change. As the quote asserts, it is far better to do the right thing poorly than do the wrong things in new and innovative ways. The conventional approach to getting fit is to go on a diet. Keto. Cleanse. Intermittent fasting. Paleo. Vegan. Carnivore. Macros. For some, this works. They adopt some new diet, and it transforms their body. But here’s a dirty secret the weight loss industry doesn’t want you to know: Diets don’t work most of the time. Research studies are rife with depressing statistics showing that most people who lose weight on a diet (regardless of the kind of diet) put it back on in 6 to 24 months. This doesn’t mean diets are ineffective. A sound diet is a critical ingredient to a healthy and fit life. But by itself, cutting calories isn’t enough. Not by a long shot. In fact, the way you might picture health and fitness is like a wheel with five spokes. Diet is just one spoke on the wheel. The educational institution, Precision Nutrition, calls these spokes the five domains, and they are the areas of our life we must develop if we are serious about achieving lasting change. Here they are: Change. It should come as no surprise, but the goal of becoming healthy requires that you change. And let’s face it, change is hard. What makes it hard is that it requires you to shift your beliefs, be brutally honest with yourself, and manage your emotions. If you’ve ever tried running an iPhone on an old operating system, you understand that in much the same way, we have to update the “software” we’re operating on before 28 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I FEBRUARY 2022
we can hope to achieve lasting results. Stress. Stress is a fact of life, but much of our stress is self-inflicted through a lack of preparation, planning, and priorities. A critical skill needed for lifelong fitness is the ability to anticipate and prepare for the craziness of life to minimize the derailing effect it can have. Additionally, we have to work on our ability to handle the stress we sometimes can’t avoid so that we can remain cool, calm, and collected when things go sideways. Sleep. Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep, but it seems these days that 4 to 6 hours is the celebrated norm. That adds up to one to two nights of missed sleep per week. This gives way to a cocktail of stress hormones, fogginess, and chronic health issues. It’s not sexy to promote sleep, but you must focus on getting quality sleep and getting enough of it for optimal health. Movement. We tend to think of exercise as something that only happens in the gym, but you need to move in and outside of the gym for health and longevity. But aside from moving often, you must move well. The biggest mistake people make is training themselves into injury and no movement at all. Nutrition. The life skill of nutrition is not about cutting carbs. It’s knowing what to eat, how much to eat, how to plan, prep, and eat that way consistently, and perhaps most importantly, developing a healthy relationship with food itself so you can eat in a way that gives you satisfaction and enjoyment and moves you closer to your goals without the baggage of guilt and shame. There you have it. The parts of your life do not operate in a vacuum. They all coexist and must work together, and sadly, this makes achieving that ideal body a little more complicated than doing a juice cleanse. If your goal is to get in better shape, take a minute to see if there are other domains described above that need your attention. Take a holistic approach to fitness. It might take a bit longer, but you’ll go a whole lot farther. spt Ricky Magana is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.
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FEBRUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29
THE BACK PAGE
A rare view of a ‘nude’ Cabrillo Marine Aquarium without visitors. Opened as the Cabrillo Marine Museum in 1981, it was one of the first buildings designed by famed architect Frank Gehry. (photo: San Pedro Bay Historical Society)
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Dear patients and members of our Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro and Harbor communities, As we enter a new year, it is normal to reflect back on all that has happened and thank those whose support and care were vital to our success. I am reminded of our many blessings—from our medical staff, nurses and other caregivers to you, our community. No matter what challenges we faced, it was your help, support and trust in Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro that allowed us to continue our Mission of providing the highest quality care, close to home and our community.
ENHANCED CARE With gratitude, we appreciate the community’s support in coming together to help us rise above the challenges the COVID -19 pandemic has brought. We continue to be a full service medical center and have helped care for many of you with comprehensive services such as Neurosurgery, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, medical and surgical, Bariatrics/weight loss, and acute rehab services. We are also proud to share a few of the investments we are making that will help us continue to provide world-class healthcare to the community. • Our Emergency Department remains open as we continue with our large expansion, adding 12 more Emergency room beds. • We will be opening a new primary care clinic across the street from our San Pedro medical center. Many patients, including those without insurance, will be referred to this new clinic. We will ensure these patients are getting the best care possible as we live out our promise to the community to “know me, care for me, ease my way.” Garry Olney Chief Executive Providence Little Company of Mary
GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY Our greatest privilege, in 2021, was in giving back to our community. This year, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro provided $15 million in free community care, such as:
OUR PROMISE
• Gifts from the Heart: a program that provided socks and shoes to hundreds of those in need, and “adopted” 71 families (who are among our most vulnerable) during this holiday season to provide the families with gifts at Christmas. • Partnership with Goodwill Industries: an internship program for adults with special needs. The program promotes diversity, equity and inclusion through on-the-job training that helps these adults learn skills and get work experience to help them address barriers that may prevent them from gaining employment. • Food Finders: a program established in 2016 to help reduce food insecurity in our communities. Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro donates 2,000 meals a year to the Harbor Interfaith Services, a shelter for the homeless and working poor in San Pedro. • Employees participated in Layla’s Walk where all proceeds raised benefit Providence TrinityCare Hospice. The walk brings families together across the South Bay community to gather for a nature walk through the grounds of the South Coast Botanic Gardens. • San Pedro Strong & Healthy Community Health Fair took place on Oct. 16th, at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. This event attracted over 500 communities members and helped to educate the San Pedro communities on ways to lead a healthier lifestyle. Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro also facilitated COVID-19 vaccinations and offered free physician lectures as well. • In partnership with three local clinics (Wilmington Community Clinic, Harbor Community Clinic, and Behavioral Health Services) we have provided the clinics with funding that will help to address the homeless issue in our community.
Know me, care for me, ease my way
OUR FUTURE
OUR MISSION As expressions of God’s healing love, witnessed through the ministry of Jesus, we are steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. OUR CORE VALUES Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Excellence, Integrity. OUR VISION Health for a Better World
Our future, and that of our community, looks bright. I am thankful every day for the support and trust you place in us as your community hospital. By making us your first choice for quality health care close to home, you are ensuring that our hospital remains your community medical center serving all who come to us for care, while also giving back to those who are among the most vulnerable. I am humbled to do this work and look forward to working with you for years to come. For more information about our services, have your questions answered or to learn about our physicians, please call 310-514-5410. Sincerely,
Garry Olney, Chief Executive Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers San Pedro and Torrance
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