San Pedro Today - April 2024

KEEPING SAN PEDRO CREATIVE

ARTS UNITED SAN PEDRO PLANS TO KEEP THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY ALIVE & THRIVING

PLUS:

• SANDWICHES IN THE PARK

•THE SMELL OF MONEY DOCUMENTARY

• TIPS FOR GROWING TOMATOES

• THE POWER OF SPRING

• APRIL EVENTS & MUCH MORE!

Modern Dentistry, with Old Fashion Values.

Our office is a multi-specialty private practice located in Weymouth Corners in San Pedro. With 28 years of experience, we provide high-quality modern dentistry at an affordable cost in an inviting setting. Our office is equipped to provide most specialty dental services efficiently under one rooftop. We use cutting-edge technology and are versed in all aspects of Cosmetic, Restorative, Dental Implants, Orthodontic, and Oral Surgery services.

Dr. Souzan 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

March 14.

congratulate dro Chamber of Commerce

I may sound biased since I’m a chamber board member, but I know it’s not easy to coordinate an event that large with a skeleton crew. This year’s event was incredibly enjoyable.

Congratulations to the honorees — Maria Acuna, residential manager at Rainbow Services; Mary Arzuban, volunteer at San Pedro Relay for Life; April Jones (“Rising Star” award) from the San Pedro Skate Park Association; Mary Julienne, vice

principal at Willenberg CTC; Diane Middleton, LA Harbor commissioner; and Nicole Padilla, youth sports commissioner for AYSO. Each one of you is well-deserving of the honor.

Lastly, kudos to Chamber President/CEO Elise Swanson, Membership Services Coordinator Mayra Garcia, co-hosts Pam Costa and John Bagakis, and all involved in putting the celebration together. It’s become one of my favorite events of the year, and this one did not disappoint.

That’s all I have room for this month. Thanks for reading. Until next time... spt

EVENTS

APRIL 2024

Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (396 W. 6th St., corner of 6th and Mesa), 10a-2p. –For more info, visit sanpedrochamber.com/san-pedro-farmers-market.

Every Tuesday & Every Saturday – BELMONT

SHORE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB at Angels Gate Park (3600 S. Gaffey St., Building 824), Tuesdays 7-10p & Saturdays 124p. – The Belmont Shore Model 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.

Various dates – BRIDGE

GAMES & CLASSES at South Bay Bridge Club (24100 Narbonne Ave., #105, Lomita), various times. – Have fun exercising your brain and playing bridge at South Bay Bridge Club. Adults and teenagers can take lessons and play cards almost every day. For more info, call (310) 325-7222 or visit southbaybridgeclub.com.

March 30 (Sat) – NATIVE GARDEN MAINTENANCE

HELP NEEDED at Peck Park (560 N. Western Ave.), 9a-12p. Use the Elberon/Walker entrance to the canyon.

March 30 & April 5-20 (Thurs-Sat) – PIRATES

WANTED at the American Pride/LAMI Long Dock (84 Foot of 6th St. Berthing, to the right of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum), 8p. – Join Captain Souvanna and her

crew on a wild and wacky immersive pirate adventure in Pirates Wanted Currents of danger, betrayal, magic, music, adventure, and love will rock the core of this crew, and it’s up to the audience to decide whether they’ll sink or swim as they navigate these unfamiliar waters. Presented by Last Call Theatre.

Preview: March 30 at 8p. Performances April 5-20 (Fridays, Saturdays, and Thursday, April 18) at 8p. Tickets: $60; preview $40. For tickets, visit lastcalltheatre.ticketleap. com/pirateswanted.

4 (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 (Thurs) – SURVIVOR CELEBRATION DINNER at Christ Lutheran Church and School Auditorium (28850 S. Western Ave.), 6p. – All cancer survivors and their families are invited to the annual Survivor Celebration Dinner. A red carpet photo op will be available; red carpet attire not required. Purple t-shirts are an alternate option — to request a FREE 2024 Survivor shirt, register at relay.org/ sanpedroca. While this event is FREE to attend, an RSVP is requested. To RSVP or for more info, contact Gabe Martinez at (310) 938-4244 or spgabe99@hotmail.com.

13 (Sat) – LEGO SHIPBUILDING CONTEST at Los Angeles Maritime Museum (Berth 84, 6th St. and Harbor Blvd.), 10a2p. Don’t miss this annual FREE, fun, family-friendly event! Build your own ships with bricks provided by the museum! Test your skill at assembling kits of famous Naval ships. All abilities and ages are welcome. Prizes awarded by age group. For more info, call (310) 548-7618 or visit lamaritimemuseum.org/legos.

17 & 27 (Wed & Sat) –PECK PARK CANYON

HIKES at Peck Park (560 N. Western Ave.), 9a. –Exercise walks are led on the third Wednesday of each month at 9a and last 1 to 1.5 hours. Nature walks are family-friendly and led on the fourth Saturday of each month at 9a. All walks leave from the trailhead in the lower parking lot at Peck Park, just behind the Community Center.

20 (Sat) – VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION 5K RUN/ WALK at Point Fermin Park (807 Paseo Del Mar), 9a. – Join us for this celebration, recognizing the volunteers who have given their time and shared their skills with our community. Artisans, health and wellness pavilion, community, booths, live entertainment, children’s area, PlayLA Youth Sports Zone. Festival begins at 11a. 5K begins at 9a. 5K participants will get a t-shirt, a metal, and lunch. This FREE event is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation & Parks, Pacific Region. For more info, call (310) 548-

7705 or visit eventbrite. com/e/volunteer-recognition-5k-runwalk-tickets-782979561947.

20 (Sat) – YOUNG ARTISTS SOUGHT FOR ECO FAIR AND YOUTH ARTS CONTEST at Feed and Be Fed (429 W. 6th St.), 1-4p. – Feed and Be Fed is holding an Eco Fair and Youth Arts Show. In conjunction with the fair, there will be a youth arts contest and show for grades K-12 with cash prizes. Entries must be received by April 5. For more info and guidelines to enter the contest, visit tinyurl.com/wkbcj8by.

23 & 25 (Tues & Thurs)

– VOLUNTEER AT THE LIGHTHOUSE at Point

Fermin Lighthouse (807 Paseo del Mar), 10:30a-12:30p. – We invite you to join our volunteer family. Interested in welcoming visitors to the lighthouse and sharing its rich history? Getting your hands dirty working in its lovely gardens (no experience needed)? Working as a gift store salesperson? Helping with fundraising events? Assisting with cleaning archival items in the lighthouse? Helping with events for the 150th birthday celebration? If you are looking for an opportunity to serve your community, please join us for a two-session new volunteer training event on Tuesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 25, from 10:30a to 12:30p. Attendance confirmation required by texting your name to (310) 293-8000 or calling the lighthouse at (310) 241-0684.

27 (Sat) – LAS CANDALISTAS ‘HAVANA NIGHTS’ SPRING FUNDRAISING

EVENT at the Norris Pavilion (501 Indian Peak Rd., Rolling Hills Estates), 5:30-10:30p. – Enjoy a fun evening with a little Cuban flair. Featuring catering by Chef Dora Presents, casino games, silent auction, wine toss, cigar rolling demonstration, live auction, and more! Our emcee for the night and host of our live auction is comedian Gary Cannon. Net proceeds to benefit Community’s Child, Manes for Movement, Marine Mammal Care Center, and 11 other local philanthropies. Reservations only. For tickets and more info, visit lascandalistas.org.

28 (Sun) – APRIL SUNSET SAIL (parking and boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd.), 5:30p. – Join the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) to sail the San Pedro Bay and watch the sunset from the deck of a tall ship. You can sit back and relax or become part of the crew — your choice. Don’t forget to bring a picnic to enjoy too! Tickets $60 for adults, $30 for children (12 and under). Parking and boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd. For tickets and more info, visit lamitopsail.org/events. spt

Events deadline for May 2024 is Friday, April 12.

Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing.

Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.

SP OTLIGHT

BY SPT STAFF

SAN PEDRO RELAY FOR LIFE RETURNS FOR ITS 24th YEAR

San Pedro Relay for Life, a local organization dedicated to raising money for cancer research at the American Cancer Society, returns to Christ Lutheran Church and School (28850 S. Western Ave.) on Saturday, May 18.

Now in its 24th year, the volunteer organization continues to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and raise awareness and money for cancer research.

“It still amazes me how many people have never heard of [us],” says Mary McLachlan, San Pedro Relay for Life organizer. “We try to get the word out… but are still surprised when we meet someone at a doctor’s office or some social event and find out that their family or friend has been affected by cancer and they didn’t know there was this kind of support right in their backyard. I’ve been making it my mission to get the word [out].”

In addition to the Relay for Life event in May, the nonprofit will host a Survivor Celebration Dinner for cancer survivors and their families on Thursday, April 4, in the Christ Lutheran auditorium. This year’s complimentary dinner is a “red carpet” event, complete with an actual red carpet for photo opportunities (though red carpet attire is not required).

On May 18, the 24th annual San Pedro Relay for Life event will commence from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. along the school’s track. The event will include live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and a gigantic walk-through inflatable colon (yes, you read that right) for colon cancer awareness.

For more info and to get involved, visit relay.org/ sanpedroca or contact Purple4Relay@aol.com. spt

CRAFTED ANNOUNCES EXPANSION WITH NEW STALLS & VENDOR TYPES

Last month, CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles announced they are expanding and building more artist stalls in the large space adjacent to the existing craft market, which is currently at full capacity for vendors.

The craft market will fill another 25,000 sq. ft. room with permanent, rentable stalls. The new spaces will be available this summer and can be utilized for (but not limited to) artist studios, retail shops, workspaces, classrooms, or art galleries.

In addition to the new artist stalls, CRAFTED has opened its vendor categories to include other types of businesses, such as vintage/antique resellers and personal care services. It also allows for non-retail work/packaging/distribution spaces for small businesses.

For more info, visit craftedportla.com. spt

HOT & COLD

SAN PEDRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WINS A BIZZI

The chamber was awarded the Business Nonprofit of the Year in Supervisor District 4 at the 2024 Business Makes LA County Work Awards (the Bizzis) last month.

DANCING WATERS BITES THE DUST

The iconic night club on Pacific Ave., which had been vacant and vandalized for years, was finally torn down last month to make way for another mixeduse apartment building. The former club hosted bands like Black Flag and was featured in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull.

Send your ‘Hot & Cold’ suggestions to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

San Pedro Relay for Life.

Crafted.

Dr. Kardovich and Team celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Braces & Invisalign for Children & Adults

Call for a complimentary orthodontic examination (310) 831-0348

San Pedro • Torrance

www.drbraces.com | facebook.com/drkbraces

JUNE 13, 1948 - MARCH 1, 2024

BY SPT STAFF

San Pedro lost a legend with the passing of Annette Ciketic. The much-loved artist, teacher, community leader, and executive director of fINdings Art Center passed away on March 1, 2024, after a long battle with cancer.

Ciketic, the youngest of four daughters and one son, was born and raised in San Pedro by Croatian immigrants Ante and Goldeen Kaloper.

In an interview with the Daily Breeze in 2014, Ciketic recalled spending days during the 1950s and early 1960s at Averill Park playing with other neighborhood children whose mothers would come together to picnic while their fishermen husbands were away for months at a time.

“I can remember watching people literally just arriving here looking for work, and my fisherman father would be a spokesperson for them and say, ‘Give this guy a chance,’ and it was same with my mother in the canneries,” she said. “There were so many people at our house on Sundays for dinner because they had no family here.”

After graduating from Mary Star of the Sea High School, Ciketic would go on to earn a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on leadership for educational change from Immaculate Heart College, where her passions for art and teaching thrived under the guidance and mentorship of the renowned artist and educator, Sister Corita Kent, who served as a lifelong influence.

Ciketic was an active member of the San Pedro community for nearly six decades. A teacher and program coordinator by trade, Ciketic applied her time and talents to many

arts and education organizations, including the Immaculate Heart Community, Mary Star and Holy Trinity parishes, Marymount California University, Angels Gate Cultural Center, and Toberman Neighborhood Center, among others.

In 2007, Ciketic established fINdings Art Center, a nonprofit organization and art gallery dedicated to promoting the art and teachings of Corita Kent. Ciketic, an accomplished artist herself, would coordinate exhibits for charitable causes and sell handmade gifts created by women in the center’s Women’s Project, a product of the successful Family Literacy Program she created at the Meyler Adult and Family Learning Center.

Known in the community as a “connector,” Ciketic was instrumental in helping the late Angela “Romee” Romero establish the San Pedro Heritage Museum and served as a founding board member until her passing.

Ciketic is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, Nikica Ciketic; her son Nikolas and daughter-in-law Sarah; their two pups, Cragg and Dune; her grandson Onko Gold; her daughter Mia Ciketic Wells and son-in-law Jason; and her loyal grandpups, Rocc and Pebbles.

In honor of Annette, donations can be made to Immaculate Heart Community, the Port of Los Angeles High School Scholarship Fund, any local animal shelter or rescue organization, or a charity of your choice. spt

Annette Ciketic in the interview series, Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, Vol. III, No. 23. (photo: storieslaharborarea.com)

VOICES WAR & RACE

San Pedran’s latest book details the heroic deeds of Black soldiers fighting the Nazis in Europe and bigotry at home

BY STEVE MARCONI

Thecontri-

butions of Black Americans to victory in World War II, long overlooked, is the subject of a new book by San Pedro’s Peter Gravett, retired Army major general.

The aptly titled Battling While Black, subtitled General Patton’s Heroic African American WWII Battalions, focuses on four units that played little-known but key roles on D-Day and in the famous 3rd Army as it marched across Europe: the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, 761st Tank Battalion, 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, and 6888th Central Postal Battalion.

Gravett puts the accomplishments of the men and women who served in those units — and all Black soldiers in uniform in WWII — in perspective with an introduction about the now infamous 1925 Army War College Report, known as “The Study,” released to “furnish a basis for the employment of the Negro in the next war.”

Based on highly speculative research and prejudicial opinions, “The Study” was used to justify a segregated military and biased views that pre-

vailed among the majority of America’s military elite through the end of the war. Patton himself, arguably America’s finest field commander, while lauding his Black soldiers in public, privately expressed his disdain for them.

Fortunately for America’s war efforts, most of the Black servicemen and servicewomen chose to be motivated rather than intimidated by the blatant discrimination they faced both on the home front and from their own leaders on the war front. The results paved the way for the postwar integration of the military, which led to success by men such as Gravett.

Amply illustrated with archival photographs, heavily footnoted, and including an extensive bibliography, Battling While Black is unique not only for its theme but because it introduces WWII history buffs like myself to two noncombatant formations that have probably not received much attention in the past.

I’ve seen the pictures of barrage balloons hanging over the D-Day beaches but never knew it was the 320th that arrived on Omaha Beach on June 7 and put up the aerial barriers that helped keep the Luftwaffe at bay. A

newspaper correspondent who was there called the 320th’s balloon curtain “one of the most important missions of the war.”

And if you’ve seen as many war movies as I have, you know what it meant for servicemen in far-flung foreign fields of battle to receive mail from home. As Gravett notes, “During wartime (and in peace), no matter the decade or circumstance, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of mail for the morale of soldiers.” It was a tremendous undertaking getting that mail delivered, and it was the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps’ 6888th, arriving in England in January 1945, that cleared the backlog within three months.

In between the 320th’s heroics at Normandy and the arrival of the 6888th, the 761st and 333rd were deep in combat as the Nazi war machine retreated across France and into Germany. The 761st was used reluctantly at first only because there were no white replacements due to attrition. However, spearheading numerous attacks as Patton’s 3rd Army advanced, the all-Black tankers proved equal to companion white outfits and earned the grudging admiration of commanders on all levels.

The 333rd did yeoman work with its 155mm “Long Tom” howitzers, supporting numerous victories, earning a long-awaited “rest” in the Ardennes in December 1944. The battalion ended up being in the path of the leading elements of the Nazi counterattack in the Battle of the Bulge; it was overrun, and those who weren’t killed or escaped were taken prisoner. In one of many ironies, as POWs, the 333rd’s Black enlisted soldiers found themselves living with white soldiers, an unheard of circumstance beforehand.

Gravett’s anger at the white military establishment of the time is matched only by his respect for how Black soldiers performed in spite of facing prejudice at every turn. It gives new meaning to the term “Greatest Generation.”

Battling While Black, written by the son of a man who was a proud member of the Tuskegee Airmen crew, is a worthy addition to the growing canon of literature and film that is making sure the Black experience is no longer a footnote to WWII. spt

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

Major General Peter J. Gravett. (photo: peterjgravett.com)

SAINTLY INSPIRATION

The new film Cabrini is a reminder that the promise of America is still real today

BY ANTHONY PIROZZI, JR.

Inspiration can come from various places in our lives. Whether it’s a story about someone who has overcome adversity by committing everything they had to achieve a particular goal or someone who spends countless hours helping others, these examples inspire us.

In many cases, these may be people near and dear to our hearts. For example, maybe it’s a friend who overcame a terrible tragedy, a person battling a terminal disease with courage, or a grandparent or parent who

left their home country to make a better life for themselves and their family here in America. For many of us in San Pedro, all of these ring true.

When I went to see the movie Cabrini, I didn’t know what to expect because my only reference was her stained glass window at Mary Star.

The movie depicts the life of Catholic Missionary Frances Xavier Cabrini and her passion for helping the poor and building an orphanage in China. After being rejected multiple times, her persistence convinced the Pope of her vision, so the Pope sent her to care for the poor Italian immi-

grants in New York. What she found was her people in despair and looked upon as those “brown skin people,” denigrated with threats of violence and prostitution, all while being referred to as “dagos.”

This reminded me of when my father told me that the word “dago” should not be used because it denigrates Italians. I realized I had never heard him or any other Italian immigrants use that word. I had only heard it from first- and second-generation Italians. It’s a word we should refrain from using.

After being sent back to Italy by the local cardinal, Mother Cabrini’s persistence convinces the Pope to overrule the cardinal. She returns to New York and stands up to the powers that be. Eventually, she establishes a first-rate hospital to provide much-needed medical care to the immigrant community — Columbus Hospital.

Eventually, her missionary work established 67 institutions worldwide, including in China, just as she envisioned. She died in 1917 at age 67 and became the first American saint in 1946.

The movie not only sheds light on the importance of standing up for what you believe in but doing what’s right in the face of adversity, to give of oneself for the betterment of others, to stand up for those who don’t know how to stand up for themselves, and to not take “no” for an answer, especially when you know that answer was given out of spite.

The movie is also a reminder that the promise of America is still real today. The United States is still the only country in the world that millions are flocking to, not from. Anything is possible in this country through hard work, commitment, and dedication to making a better life for oneself, one’s family, and for others.

Mother Cabrini and her Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus exemplify that promise. spt

Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a retired San Pedro resident and former LA Harbor commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo. com.

Cabrini (photo: Angel Studios)

THE MONEY DIDN’T STINK

A new documentary captures the history of San Pedro’s fishing and canning industry

BY LEE WILLIAMS

San Pedro is a town built by people who weren’t afraid of rolling up their sleeves, working hard, and getting dirty.

Be it whaling, moving cargo, building ships, commercial fishing, or canneries, the industries that provided the blue-collar jobs are part of who we are and why San Pedro became such a close-knit community.

The Smell of Money: The Story of the Fishing and Canning Industry of the Los Angeles Harbor Area is a short historical documentary directed by San Pedro native and award-winning filmmaker Jack Baric and Director of Photography Noah Todd. It was commissioned by the Port of Los Angeles as advocated for by Commissioner Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. and produced by Public Relations Representative Leigh Smith along with Associate Producer Augie Bezmalinovich.

The documentary contains many photos and footage from the San Pedro Bay Historical Society and San Pedro families Bogdanovich, Castagnola, Laraneta, Mardesich, and Olguin. It was a who’s who

of San Pedro lineage.

The film is a celebration of the history and evolution of the fishing and canning industries, their contributions to the region’s economy, and the impact on the war effort in feeding GIs fighting overseas in World War II. The film depicts the move from sardines to tuna, the development of canning technologies, and how tuna would become an important staple in the American diet.

When the whistle blew at 9 a.m., thousands of workers made their way to Terminal Island via car, bus, and ferry. Immigrants from Italy, Croatia, Portugal, Greece, the Philippines, and Japan came to San Pedro for a better life and worked side by side at the canneries. The smell of tuna was all over San Pedro.

Locals got used to it because as bad as the buses might stink after a shift, the money didn’t stink. While primarily men were out to sea catching the fish, mostly women were at the canneries processing tuna. This meant many families had two solid incomes to prosper and thrive. Some of these jobs were among the first to provide single mothers with a livable wage to raise their families.

Canned tuna was pioneered here in San Pedro. It involved steaming the fish white and packaging it in oil to remove the “fish” taste. It was marketed as an affordable chicken substitute with iconic characters like the mermaid with the jingle, “Ask any mermaid you happen to see…what’s the best tuna? Chicken of the Sea!” StarKist’s hip tuna who never made the cut, Charlie Tuna (“Sorry, Charlie!”), and “Yum, yum, Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee Tuna.”

The early days of the canning operation were infused by a small group of Japanese abalone farmers who brought innovative longlining with bamboo pole fishing techniques to catch tuna. Larry Fukuhara spoke about the contributions of the Japanese fishermen before the war response to Pearl Harbor forced them into internment camps. When the war was over, they returned to find their homes had been taken and everything they owned was gone.

The introduction of purse seiner boats with large fishing nets was a game changer and led to harvesting tuna in quantities that allowed for a boom in fishing. Adding ice and refrigeration to ships and trains allowed

Martin Bogdanovich to change the industry by increasing the time ships could spend at sea and the range of where tuna could be brought in for processing.

Baric’s film mixes interviews with many of the children and grandchildren of San Pedro’s fishing families with Mark Karmelich, John Zuanich, Stephanie Mardesich, Anthony Misetich, Yvonne Bogdanovich, Ron Laraneta, and Belia Olguin Smith to tell the story of sardines, tuna, cannery innovations, fishing techniques, and what led to the decline of the industry here in San Pedro.

I absolutely loved the good, the bad, and the stinky history of the San Pedro fishing and canning industries depicted in this film. I hope it becomes something shown in San Pedro middle school classrooms and is required viewing for everyone moving to San Pedro. It is available to watch for free at PortofLosAngeles.org or on YouTube. spt

Lee Williams leads The Lee Williams Real Estate Group at REAL Broker and is a LA Harbor commissioner. He can be reached at lee@lamove.com.

The Smell of Money. (photo: Port of Los Angeles)

SIDEWALK SURFIN’ INTO YOUR FIFTIES

At 55, Jennifer Coppa is hitting her stride in competitive skateboarding

BY JENNIFER MARQUEZ

Asa child, Jennifer Coppa liked to go fast. Her father would take her to skateboarding events and frequent a skate park in Simi Valley where she would compete with mostly boys, as few girls were involved in the sport, especially back then.

A lifelong San Pedro resident, Coppa has raised her sons and cared for her aging father with the support of her husband. She has been an empty nester for a while. With more time on her hands, she decided to pursue a dream that is not typical for most empty nesters or women her age: Coppa is a competitive skateboarder and one of the fastest in the world.

Her father spent years creating safe spaces for

kids to skate off the streets. At age seven, Coppa had a closet full of skateboarding trophies and began to appear in movies and commercials on a skateboard. Now, nearly 50 years later, she has decided to take up racing and is now representing the USA Slalom Skateboarding National Team.

Growing up in Point Fermin, Coppa describes an ideal childhood along the sea, where she carried her surfboard to Cabrillo Beach, skateboarded, and played in Sunken City. Coppa and her family have been in San Pedro for decades. Like some people, they are fixtures of this town as much as the lighthouse or the Korean Bell — they are San Pedro. Coppa is the type of person who picks up trash at the beach when nobody is looking. She is subtle, modest, and daring with a mellow, soft vibe. Jennifer

stands out as a woman competing in a male-dominated sport at an age where many are retiring. She is a champion to other women, cheering them on and encouraging them in all areas.

Coppa wants to share her skateboarding journey with others, but not to shine a light on herself. She wants to encourage people of all ages to do things they love and take risks.

“There are a lot of women in competition with each other. We should lift each other up, straighten each other’s crowns, and encourage the gifts we have,” says Coppa. “We are told we can’t or we shouldn’t, but we can accomplish it. We may get knocked down, but it is okay. Keep going.”

“I hope people are encouraged to do what they love and be inspired. My passion is skateboarding, and the sport has taken off,” Coppa

continues. “There are more women now competing, and many are in their 50s. It is a healthy thing to do, like roller-skating, moving forward with mind, body, and soul.”

When Coppa isn’t practicing in Orange County parking lots, she competes nationwide. She recently placed second in the giant slalom at a competition and is working to compete in Rome this summer at the World Skate Games.

Jennifer recalls her dad telling her she can do it if she puts her mind to it. Her father has passed away, but she knows he would be proud of what she is doing, moving forward on her skateboard with gratitude and grace. spt

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

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Jennifer Coppa. (photo: courtesy Jennifer Coppa)

KEEPING SAN PEDRO CREATIVE

Arts United San Pedro plans to keep the local arts community alive & thriving

BY NADIA NIZETICH

Adrab

utility box becomes a canvas. A storm drain transforms into a work of art. A new mural appears on a once bare wall. If you haven’t already noticed, San Pedro’s public spaces have become a bit more colorful.

San Pedro has attracted artists of many disciplines for decades. From painters and sculptors to musicians and skateboarders, the port town has always been an affordable refuge for creatives of all stripes.

For a small town, San Pedro has an incredibly diverse artistic community. It has its own ballet company (San Pedro City Ballet), a vibrant cultural center (Angels Gate), and several art galleries in downtown that open their doors each month during the First Thursday ArtWalk.

There are numerous live music venues and a makers marketplace (CRAFTED), not to mention dozens of public art projects like murals and utility box paintings that can be seen all over town.

Arts United San Pedro, an umbrella group of several

local arts organizations, seeks to keep the San Pedro arts community alive and thriving as the town goes through significant redevelopment.

With a mission to create a framework to combine efforts to promote San Pedro’s authentic cultures, galleries, entertainment venues, and artists, the group is working hard to bring San Pedro’s vibrant arts community into the public eye.

The group has been doing a lot more behind the scenes — about $671,000 more, to be exact. That’s the total amount of money they’re distributing to San Pedro’s local artists during the next three years, which came from a state grant in 2023 that members Amy Eriksen (Angels Gate Cultural Center), Linda Grimes (San Pedro Waterfront Arts District), Liz Johnson (Grand Vision Foundation), Elise Swanson (San Pedro Chamber of Commerce), and others secured.

“For years, we’ve been saying San Pedro is the best kept secret,” says member Caroline Brady, executive

Clockwise from top left: Misty Copeland mural at San Pedro City Ballet; La Pincoya En El Norte mural at LAMI; Chris Stills with Lukas Nelson at the Grand Annex; and Changui Majadero at the Grand Annex. (photos: Joshua Stecker, John Mattera Photography, Liz Johnson, Michael Justice)

director of Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, who helped author the grant proposal. “There’s nothing like $671,000 to help unlock that secret and spread the word as far as you possibly can.”

The funding has been a long time coming. The process started long before Arts United was even an organization when a few like-minded locals banded together to get San Pedro designated as one of the state’s 14 cultural districts.

The group contended that with a community of over 100 artists tracing its roots back to the 1940s, San Pedro was an excellent fit for the title. The state agreed. They were awarded an initial, modest grant, and in 2017, they formed the San Pedro Arts and Cultural District Coalition to ensure the money went directly to artists. Arts United San Pedro was formed last year to handle the organization’s growth.

“That work guided what we’re doing now,” reflects Linda Grimes, executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. “Now, we’re all committed to marching in the same direction.”

The group has given out $35,000 so far. One recipient is the San Pedro City Ballet, which was awarded $15,000 to revitalize the fading mural that adorns their building. Painted in 2015 by New York-based artist Kelcey “KFiSH”

Fisher, the piece honors Misty Copeland, who studied at the school before becoming the first African-American woman promoted to the highest rank in the American Ballet Theatre.

San Pedro City Ballet founder Cindy Bradley believes that refreshing the mural will continue to remind San Pedro of Copeland’s legacy. “She embodies what it means to work hard and fight for a chance to follow your passion,” says Bradley. “Misty was such a shy little girl until she found her talent. It’s a prime example of what arts can do for a child.”

Another recipient is the San Pedro Skatepark Association. At first glance, a skatepark may seem like an odd choice for an arts grant, but volunteer April Jones explains: “Skateboarding is a purely physical [art form], with every person developing their own style.” Arts United agreed, giving the group and collaborating organization, Calimucho Screen Printing, $4,250 for an upcoming Earth Day event on April 20.

Hosted at the iconic Channel Street Skatepark, the funds will go to a screen-printing station, live band, succulent planting activities, and much more. Jones hopes the event will bring the arts closer to those who need it most. “We’re trying to provide more access to creative endeavors,” she says. “Kids who might not come from

ARTISTS UNITE (l to r): Windy Barnes Farrell, Elise Swanson, Amy Eriksen, Cindy Bradley, Ryan Blaney, Linda Grimes, Gloria Sanchez, Liz Johnson, Michael Stearns, and Caroline Brady. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

healthy situations need a level of independence to find their own way, and skateboarding helps.”

Other recipients include Feed and Be Fed Farm, which will get $3,700 for an arts station at their Earth Day Eco Fair, and Freedom4U, which will use its $1,900 for music classes at Point Fermin Elementary School. Another beneficiary is artist Laurie Steelink, who will put her $10,000 towards a multimedia project honoring local Indigenous people at her gallery space, Cornelius Projects.

The variety of awardees illustrates the beauty of Arts United’s philosophy — they’re not too picky about who qualifies, provided the money is used for art. There are, of course, a few stipulations. For one, recipients must either work or reside in the Harbor Area and communities within LA County District 15. Their activities must also happen in the San Pedro Arts and Cultural District area, which encompasses the waterfront, the historic downtown core, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and Angels Gate Cultural Center.

Though a few more requirements exist, the organization has kept the guidelines fairly broad. Chair Amy Eriksen, executive director of Angels Gate Cultural Center, explains why. “It’s a big grant,” she says, “and we wanted to get the money directly to local artists.”

Arts United also cites additional reasons for the approach. One is rising operational costs, which has put a financial strain on small arts organizations and nonprofits. The other is Los Angeles’s rising cost of living. With everyday expenses skyrocketing at untenable rates, many artists find that they can only execute a project if it’s been pre-commissioned by a buyer, forcing them to choose between necessities and their passion.

“Imagine you’re an artist working in your studio, and you have a great idea,” says Brady, describing the crunch. “Could you imagine how frustrating it must be to think, ‘I have a vision, but how am I going to pay my bills?’”

That’s why Arts United sees this grant as just one step in the right direction. Though they plan to keep applying for more funding, they’re also working to find long-term solutions to keep San Pedro affordable for the over 100 resident artists and arts organizations in town. They hope to continue facilitating the meaningful, culturally relevant creative activities that have brought artists here for decades.

“San Pedro has been a haven for artists, and I understand why people came here generations ago and never left,” says Brady. “Every day that we have artists interpreting San Pedro and feeding it back to us, we’re all better off for it.”

Any artists interested in applying for a portion of the grant should submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) by May 19. To access the form, visit qr.link/E3PCKI. spt

SANDWICHES IN THE PARK

Enjoy the spring weather with a tasty sandwich at a local park

BY SANAM LAMBORN

Thisyear’s

massive amount of rain has turned all the parks around town from dull brown into vibrant green, with patches of pink and yellow flowers. I have previously written about my appreciation for all the green spaces we are so lucky to have in town.

One of my forever favorite things to do here is to grab a sandwich or burrito to eat at one of our local parks. Keeping in theme with my previous columns about my favorite sandwiches in town to be enjoyed in parks or places with a view, I have some suggestions for you to try this month.

During my South Shores Meat Shop (2308 S. Western Ave.) visits, I have always been so focused on the meat, sausage, and skewer offerings that I never noticed that they also make sandwiches. All of this changed when, last year, my husband brought

home a roast beef sandwich for me.

I know better than to make any proclamations about who has the best sandwiches in San Pedro; however, I can confidently say that South Shores Meat Shop has the best roast beef sandwich I have ever had.

Since they cook their own roast beef, it has an appetizing bright pink color and tastes better than the usually brownish-hued commercial type. The meat is perfectly seasoned and tender. As far as I am concerned, it’s the perfect sandwich, stacked with a generous amount of roast beef that will leave you satisfied. They also make roast chicken, BBQ chicken, and beef brisket for sandwiches in-house.

Speaking of, my second recommendation here is their beef brisket. The meat is well seasoned and falls apart tender. The juices seep into the bread, and the cheese melts against the hot beef; overall, it is very delicious. Several hot and cold sandwich op-

tions are on the board, all made with mayo, mustard, shredded lettuce, sliced cheese, tomatoes, and onion.

Drive to Angels Gate Park (3601 Gaffey St.) to enjoy your sandwich with the Korean Friendship Bell and Pacific Ocean view. Remember to pack a blanket to sit on the grass.

Last year, I noticed a change in Bagels Galore’s (28362 S. Western Ave.) food taste and presentation. It is, in fact, under yet another new owner since its founding proprietors sold the business three years ago.

Although I love a good bagel with a nice cream cheese schmear, I have a particular fondness for the combination of the everything bagel and lox.

The new Lox & Works sandwich is a bit fancy, and I am obsessed with it. It is served as an openfaced sandwich with each half bagel spread with just the right amount of cream cheese, a sprinkle of capers expertly tucked under layers of smoked

salmon so they don’t run away, then topped with — the pièce de résistance — thinly long cut cucumber, a slice of tomato, and crunchy rounds of red onion. This deliciousness is flanked by two perfectly briny black olives and a quarter wedge of a pickle.

There are several breakfast and regular sandwich options on the menu. If lox is not your vibe, then I suggest the breakfast bagel made with egg, meat, and cheese. I like ordering mine with sausage and requesting my bagel be toasted. I also like the new consistency of the fluffy and airy eggs; this is another improvement I have noticed.

Drive to Eastview Park (1700 Westmont Dr.), which is right around the corner, and sit at one of the picnic tables to enjoy your bagel sandwich. spt

Sanam Lamborn created the Eat in San Pedro Facebook group and Instagram in April 2020 to entice people to patronize San Pedro’s eateries.

(L to r) South Shores Meat Shop’s roast beef sandwich; Bagel Galore’s egg, meat, and cheese breakfast bagel. (photos: Sanam Lamborn)

22ND ST. LANDING SEAFOOD GRILL & BAR

LET’S TALK

TOMATOES

First-time gardener? Try your hands at this multi-purpose garden staple

BY NADIA NIZETICH

Anyone who knows me knows I won’t

shut up

about my tomato plants.

In my defense, can you imagine a world without marinara, salsa, and so much more? Tomatoes aren’t just easy on the plate, either — they’re fairly straightforward to grow, thriving in pots or in the ground. So, if you’re ready to try your hand at gardening but aren’t sure where to start, let’s talk tomato to get a handle on the basics.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW

Though there are over 10,000 tomato varieties, there are two main types of tomato plant: determinate and indeterminate. They don’t refer to the kind of fruit the plants produce (that’s what “variety” means)

but instead indicate how the plant grows. Determinate plants are bush-like and produce all their fruit in one big crop before dying. On the other hand, indeterminates grow like vines and can reach up to eight feet tall, producing their fruit all summer long.

If you’re gardening in pots, I recommend planting a determinate variety due to their smaller size. For inground beds, you have your pick of the litter. Whatever type you choose, be sure to grow a variety suited for Southern California (zone 9A), which usually means one that tolerates dry heat. My favorites include San Diego for a standard tomato and Super Sweet 100 for a cherry. However, if you’d like a few more options, check

READY TO PURCHASE A HOME?

out the selection at Sunset Boulevard Nursery or Orange County Farm Supply.

TO SEED OR NOT TO SEED?

Since we’re already in April, it’s a little too late to start tomatoes from seed. I recommend purchasing seedlings from one of the nurseries above — not a big box store — since they’re more likely to have varieties suited for our area.

When you’re at the nursery ready to pick a seedling, bigger is not better. Bigger plants will have been in their pots for longer, meaning they’re more likely to be stressed. If you see roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, that’s a sign it should have been planted already. Choose small, stocky plants that are a deep green with little to no roots poking through.

inches in diameter. Make sure the pot has holes in the bottom for drainage, and use a large tomato cage to support your plants as they grow. For tomatoes grown in-ground, a supported plant needs 15 inches of space from its nearest neighbor.

BEDTIME FOR YOUNG PLANTS

If you’re growing your plants in-ground, see last month’s article on soil to learn how to prepare your bed for planting. If you’re gardening in pots, try the lasagna method. Fill the first six inches of your pot with compost, then add three to four handfuls of dry fertilizer, and finally, add a six-inch layer of potting soil. Repeat until you hit the top of the pot. Then, dig a hole and bury your seedling (leaves included) until only the top three inches of the plant remain above the soil. Apply a two- to three-inch layer of mulch, and water it well afterward. For the next three weeks, water the plant only when the first inch of soil

Finally, be patient — and happy gardening! spt

Nadia Nizetich is an at-large San Pedro Today and an avid gardener.

(photo: Julia Nagy)

THE POWER OF SPRING

Now is the perfect time to reconnect and reset

BY SOPHIE SCHOENFELD, MFT

As the days get longer and bees begin to buzz over colorful blooms, we naturally experience a feeling of awakening. Hence, reflecting on the idea of regeneration in various aspects of life and personal healing feels apropos.

As the great British philosopher Bertrand Russell once wrote: “Whatever we may wish to think, we are creatures of Earth; our life is part of the life of the Earth, and we draw our nourishment from it just as the plants and animals do.” The natural cycle of life, that is, of germination, blossoming, ripening, and harvesting, is reflected in the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of our being.

When the sunlight is limited, our daily lives become more inward and homebound. There, we hibernate, and most of us become less active, both physically and socially. Sometimes, winter translates to seasonal depression, weight gain, and excessive reliance on substances as a way of warding off boredom and isolation.

Yet, it is important to

remember that winter is a time of rest and germination. That is, a germination of ideas, fantasies, and desires that eventually bloom into action and creativity. As we emerge from winter, we are more intentioned and conscious, and our actions will more likely reflect this natural cycle. As we harness our planet’s natural energy of rebirth, we become intentional manifestos of our wishes and visions.

Holidays like Easter, Passover, Holi, and Nowruz, amongst others, all celebrate the idea of new beginnings, regeneration, fertility, and creation, as well as shedding in the name of ascension. In mystical and astrological terms, spring belongs to the sign of the ram, the baby of the zodiac, signified by the elements of fire, action, creativity, and wonder.

While winter is associated with wisdom and self-reflection, spring carries with it a sense of childlike innocence and discovery through action and adventure. Hence, more sunlight can equate to more energy, propelling us toward action.

Based on extensive medical research, sunlight boosts serotonin in the brain, which provides us

with energy, calm, and positive focus. In fact, seasonal affective depression, as well as other types of depression, can sometimes be treated with natural sunlight alone. In addition, it has been proven that spending 10 minutes in sunlight upon waking resets our body’s circadian rhythm, allowing us more energy for the day to come.

Longer days also provide the time for being in nature with the elements, which has been shown to provoke novel thought formation and creativity. Hence, it’s no surprise that spring is the season we begin to plant and garden, a natural interconnectedness between humans and Mother Earth.

Contact with Mycobacterium vaccae, a specific bacteria found in the soil, promotes serotonin levels, which act as happy chemicals and strengthen our immune system. Earth literally serves as an antidepressant, one of many ways this planet provides life and protection for us.

Suppose we can cultivate the discipline to dedicate just 10 minutes of

our mornings to meditating in the sunlight, reflecting on our intentions for the day, connecting with nature, and activating our bodies’ blood flow through breath and movement. In that case, we will essentially synthesize with the natural flow of energy on this planet coming into alignment with all that is intended for us.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and tune into the sounds around you. Listening to birdsong, for example, for as little as six minutes at a time reduces anxiety and paranoia. Our ancient brain relates birdsong to calm, for there are no birds singing when dangerous predators are nearby. Our entire apparatus is designed to be aligned with our natural environment.

Spring is the perfect time to reconnect, reset, and come into symbiosis. As Tolstoy said, “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” spt

Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local marriage and family therapist. For more info, visit sophiemft.com.

(photo: Lisa Fotios)

• Accelerates Healing: Light therapy increases blood flow. Energy from the light stimulates collagen, enzymes, DNA and RNA to facilitate healing.

• Pain relief: Light therapy has an inhibitory effect on peripheral nerves to decrease pain.

• Safe: Approved by FDA in 2002. This non-invasive treatment has no side effects. It can be used on sprains, strains, back pain, carpal tunnel, peripheral neuropathy, wounds, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and joint pain.

THE LONG PATH AHEAD

Make going to the gym a habit and the results will come

BY EDDIE MCKENNA

Ihad an interesting conversation with a member of our gym the other week. He approached me after a particularly difficult workout and asked, “Hey, Eddie, how long will it take me to look like that?” I responded, “Like what?” He pointed to the 6’3”, 220-pound man standing across the gym with his shirt off, six-pack abs, pecs, huge biceps, and glistening sweat all over his body.

I chuckled a bit, knowing the man he was inquiring about quite well. I said, “That guy started his workout journey about 30 years ago.” He looked distraught and defeated. Most people feel like that when they walk into a gym and see the fittest people inside, with the abs, the shoulders, and bulging biceps. They think, “I will

never look like them.”

I told him, “If you continue lifting weights, eating your body weight in grams of protein daily, and avoiding eating too much sugar, then it should only take about two years.” He laughed. I was serious, though. This man is three weeks into his new workout regime and is looking up at the top of the mountain. The trip becomes daunting and almost impossible when you look up at the top.

So many people make the mistake of looking at the end result and thinking, “This is too hard.” You know what? It is hard. It is extremely hard to work as long and as hard as the people you aspire to look like.

I have always been of the mindset that “if he can do it, so can I.” The next time you see a gal or gentleman in the gym that you think is amazing in some way,

shape, or form, just remind yourself that they, too, put their pants on one leg at a time.

Instead of looking up at the top of the mountain, you can look down, and when you look down, all you can see is your feet taking one step at a time. Those small steps are much more manageable than looking at the top of the daunting path ahead.

It takes a lot of time, sweat, and effort to achieve the body we all strive for. If I think back to when I started to exercise, I had a purpose. Purpose one: not get beat up by other guys. Purpose two: get a girl’s attention. Simple and sweet.

Today, when people come to me struggling to get into shape, I tell them to stop trying to get into shape and

start becoming the person who goes to the gym every week. The part about getting in shape will come, and body composition and weight loss will all become by-products of an individual who goes to the gym.

So, for all of you reading this and struggling to get started, here’s a little exercise of implementation intention for you. Write down the following: I will partake in 20 minutes of vigorous exercise on this “day” at this “time” in this “place.” Now, you fill the day, time, and place and start becoming the person who goes to the gym. spt

Eddie McKenna is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.

(photo: Estudio Polaroid)

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3. Jack _____, director of San Pedro documentaries Port Town and The Smell of Money.

4. Legendary punk rock band formed in San Pedro in 1980.

8. Gene ______, current executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

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