San Pedro Today - January 2017

JANUARY 2017

2016-17 PREP BASKETBALL PREVIEW | MAKING HEALTHY CHANGES IN THE NEW YEAR | IN MEMORIAM: WILLIAM STECKER

Celebrate

San Pedro!

Our picks of the top community anniversaries and milestones we should be honoring every year.

JANUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 1

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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This could end up being one of the most important issues we’ve ever produced.

That may sound hyperbolic, but I feel it’s true. Publications like ours not only tell stories but, when done right, can also spark ideas, drive debates and launch conversations, and nothing drives a discussion about San Pedro more than its history.

For years, my friend and SPT’s resident historian, Angela Romero, has been sharing San Pedro’s history via her walking tours, blogs (www.sanpedrobxb.wordpress.com, www.thatssopedro.com), volunteer work with the San Pedro Bay Historical Society and in the pages of this magazine. Her infectious passion for telling the stories of how this little fishing village at the edge of Los Angeles developed into what it is today cannot be equaled. She’s a firm believer in the idea that knowledge is power, and the more we know about our town – its history, culture and politics – the more equipped we are to understand change and to either accept it when it’s right or fight against it when it’s not in our best interest.

One topic that keeps coming up in our lengthy conversations is the lack of cultural and historical knowledge about San Pedro we seem to have as a community, and the fact that we fail to celebrate some of our most important milestones. For example, without cheating, do you know the date San Pedro was founded? Do you know who Stephen M. White is (besides the name of a street)? Do you know who Cabrillo Beach is named after? Do you know how old our Point Fermin Lighthouse is? They may sound like trivial questions, but these and many more cultural facts form the bedrock to understanding where we, as a community, came from, and more importantly, where we’re going.

By understanding our history, we can guide our future. It’s a shame San Pedro’s saga isn’t part of the regular curriculum in our elementary and high schools. The stories about the founding of this town – the political struggles, colorful characters, impactful decisions – are fascinating and deeply personal because it’s all about our own backyard. We should know the historical significance of the Vincent Thomas Bridge (and who it was named after). We should know just how incredibly important the creation of the breakwater was for San Pedro. Names like White, John T. Gaffey, the Sepulveda family, and George H. Peck should be recognizable by any San Pedran claiming to have a “Pedro Pedigree.” Even more contemporary names like Charles Bukowski and Mike Watt should be known by anyone who ever had a 90731 or 90732 zip code.

To me, though, the most important name we should continue to remember and celebrate is Mr. San Pedro himself, John Olguin. I love Angela’s idea to use Olguin’s birthday, February 18, as a Day of Service in our community. Maybe we should take it a step further and make all of February a Month of Service. Can you imagine if our elementary and high schools taught their students about Olguin’s amazing life and used it as an example of how important it is to be of service to your own community? Too often, community service is taught in broad strokes. Students need a familiar person, someone from San Pedro who walked the walk and talked the talk, to be the example of the importance of community service and to show that one person can make a difference.

There’s no better person for that than John Olguin.

Our cover story is just a list of suggestions. We hope the powers that be read it and decide to acknowledge some, if not all, of these special dates. The councilman’s office, the chamber of commerce, neighborhood councils, our schools, PBID and the Port of L.A. can all take a leadership role in helping to “Celebrate San Pedro.” It’s our hope they do.

As Angela writes in the cover story, “If you don’t know your history, you can’t possibly care about something because you don’t understand its significance. And if you don’t care, then it’s that much easier for someone to take it away from you.” Anyone who laments the loss of Old Beacon Street can attest to the importance of those words. spt Joshua Stecker is publisher/editor-in-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

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JANUARY 2017

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joshua J. Stecker

ADVERTISING: General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Joseph A. Castañeda

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

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Lori Garrett, Brooke Karli, Mike Lansing, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Anthony Pirozzi, Angela Romero, Jamaal K. Street, Herb Zimmer

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

PHOTOGRAPHER John Mattera Photography CONTACT INFO: PHONE: (424) 224-9063 EMAIL: contact@sanpedrotoday.com

San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168, San Pedro, CA 90733

VOLUME 8 | NUMBER 12

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 2009-2017, Empire22 Media LLC.

ON THE COVER: A collage of notable San Pedro people and landmarks (photos:

6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

John Mattera)

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JANUARY Tour the historic PT. FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE, built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor, located in the Pt. Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar). Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun. Closed Mon and major holidays.

Admission is free; donations accepted.

Assistance League of San Pedro-South Bay Chapter House (1441 W. 8th St.) 10a-5p. Get an early start on your holiday shopping at the Assistance League of San Pedro-South Bay’s Annual Holiday Boutique. The boutique is fea-turing food items, stocking stuffers, children’s gifts, holiday decorations and many more wonder-ful gift selections that will make EVERY WEEK – STRONG PEDRO PROJECT at Plaza Park your shopping easy. All proceeds benefit local philanthropic (10th St. & Beacon St.) Tuesday 5p - Run Club with Lauren pro-grams. Runs Now thru Jan. 4. Sale Hours: 10a-5p Maes; Wednesday at 6:45a - TRX circuit is Carla Baccio & (weekdays) and 11a-3p (Saturdays). For more info, please Marianne O'Brien; Friday 4:30p - Taught by Councilman Joe call (310) 832-8355 ext. 221 Buscaino; Saturday 9am - Glute Camp with Ricky Magana; Saturday 11:30a - Yoga with Mike Aspinwall. Open to the 4 (Wed) – CONTINUING ADULT EDUCATION WITH public. Presented by StrongPedroProject.

RABI J.B. SACKS at Temple Beth El (1435 W. 7th St.). 7:30p.

Topic: The Importance of Solitude in Judaism. Tickets Every Wed – CHILDREN’S WRITING CLASSES at $18/$20 at door. For tickets and info, call (310) 833-2467 or the Corner Store (1118 37th St). Seven Golden Secrets of visit www.bethelsp.org.

Writing with Diana Chapman, Wed 4:30-5:45p. For info, call (310) 626-7906.

5 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro. 6-10p Every Wed – OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St.) 6:30-9:30p. All are welcome. Chilidogs, snacks 7 (Sat) - BOOK SALE at San Pedro Regional Branch Library and beverages available. Dress warmly.

(931 S. Gaffey St.) 11a-4p. The Friends of San Pedro Library will be hosting their monthly book sale and donating all Every Fri – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St. its proceeds to the library. Make sure to stop by for lots of between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p. bargains on books, CDs, Magazines, and much more. Or come visit The Friends' book store inside the library, open Every Sat – LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd.) Mon-Sat, 1-5p.

10a-3p. Experience San Pedro and Wilmington's Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire 8 (Sun) – L.A. TIMES FILM CRITIC KENNETH TURAN apparatus and various displays. The museum is located in IN ‘LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES’ at the Grand Annex (434 Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall. Admission is West 6th St.) 2p. Presented by Friends of San Pedro Library, FREE, donations are accepted.

Mr. Turan, in addition to his work at the Times, also reviews films on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, is the Every first and second Sunday – Tour the MULLER HOUSE founding film critic for Arts Alive on KUSC, and teaches MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St.) 1-4p. Last tour starts at 3:15p. film reviewing at USC's Annenberg School of Journalism.

Built in 1899, the Muller House is the headquarters of the Tickets $15. For more info, call (310) 832-6288.

San Pedro Bay Historical Society. Admission is free, but a donation of $3 is encouraged.

9 (Mon) - FREE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING at First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro (731 Every Sunday - SOUL FEAST at First Presbyterian Church Averill Ave). 6:30p. Trained by the LAFD, this is the first of of San Pedro (781 S. Averill Ave) 5:30p. Come out and join six classes offered Monday evenings in Jan and Feb. Sign up in every Sunday for a family worship service. All ages by searching "LAFD CERT San Pedro" on www.eventbrite. welcomed. Dinner is included. com.

Fish Theatre (777 S. Centre St.) This selection of shows is sure to satisfy any theatrical craving, delivering a full meal of exceptionally engaging stories. The plays look at life from beginning to end and provide insight about what happens outside of the public eye: What happens when your adult son still believes in Santa? How does a young wife cope with a baby who won’t stop crying? Will a nervous fiancee tell the truth when he’s given the third degree during a premarriage counseling session? POV runs Fri and Sat nights at 8p from Jan 13 thru Feb 11, Thurs nights at 8p on Jan 21, 28 & Feb 4, and Sun at 2p on Jan 22 (w/talkback) & 29. Tickets at www.littlefishtheatre.org, by phone at (310) 512-6030 or by text (424) 226-6030. Popular subscription packages of Anytime Tickets are available now and can be used at any of Little Fish Theatre’s regular season productions, at any time.

21 (Sat) – DANCE & MUSIC BY SOUTH BAY COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION at Redondo Union Auditorium (SE Corner of S. PCH and Diamond St in Redondo Beach).

7:30p. An outstanding concert of dance and music featuring the dance troupe Yaya’s Dance Academy choreographed by award-winning Ms.Yaya Zhang. Concert will showcase beautifully costumed dancers in fantastic productions of Chinese and American Broadway-style dance numbers.

Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 students 18 and under. Call Paul Bellia (310) 326-8184 or visit our www.southbayconcerts.org for more info and tickets.

24 (Tues) – SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB WELCOMES LAUREL WOODLEY at Peck Park Community Room (560 S. Western Ave.). 9:30a. Laurel Woodley is a volunteer and trustee at South Coast botanic Garden, speaking on "Discocvering Kalanchoe." Come early for refreshments and treasures from the "opportunity table." New members welcome.

27 (Fri) – STEPPIN’ INTO THE SPOTLIGHT at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.). 8p. Presented by Scalawag Productions. For tickets or info, contact Gale Kadota at (310) 625- 2574 or visit www.scalawagproductions.org.

8 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

Email event info to events@sanpedrotoday.com.

Deadline for the February issue is Friday, January 13. All locations in San Pedro unless Now thru Jan. 4 – ANNUAL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE at Jan 13 – Feb 11 (Thurs- Sun) – PICK OF THE VINE at Little otherwise noted.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Responding to the column (“Dear LAUSD: We Deserve More” Oct. 2016), Dana Middle School has begun remaking its campus, notable for the scale of improvements. In the past six months, the school has: • Approved building a ramp that provides access to bungalow classrooms and is set for construction next summer.

• Installed an auditorium stage and revived a performing arts program.

• Established community partnerships that led to campus improvements, including painting the student store, seeding a new lawn, a new floor for the library and the large gym, lunch areas and more.

• Created two outdoor murals celebrating student diversity and the performing arts.

• Raised more than $40,000 to buy marching band uniforms.

• Received a $25,000 grant for the STEAM Magnet program to examine the port’s impact on air quality, and marine life.

• Maintained a partnership with the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium for studying sea life.

Such advances, combined with the school’s tradition of academic excellence, provide middle-school children with a top-quality education. These plans, in fact, reflect not only our progress but pride in San Pedro.

5 Things I'll Miss About San Pedro After 30 years in San Pedro, I retired and moved to Minnesota to be with my family. As the year draws to a close, here are the five things I will miss most about San Pedro.

1. Friday Night Lights at Pirate Stadium working concessions with my friends, the Lady Boosters. They are a great group of women and deserve recognition for all they do for San Pedro High School.

2. The San Pedro Library monthly book sale. Where else can you get four paperback books for $1? Recycle your books and help support the library.

3. Daily walks with my dog to the Marina, Averill Park, Alma Park, the city streets – uphill, downhill and flat. I got it all right in my own backyard!

4. People – those we met on our walks, cashiers, city workers, etc., and especially all the kids when we walked by Dana, the high school and Leland Elementary. My dog loves kids and she has more friends than I do because of our walks by the schools. My Dad always told me to say "Hi/good morning" to all we met as that may be the only positive thing said to them all day. So don't forget the homeless, they are people, too.

5. Last but not least, San Pedro Today. You tell it like it is – the good, the bad, the heartwrenching and inspiring stories that make San Pedro what it is, PEDRO. At least I can follow you online.

Sincerely,

Thank you, San Pedro, you will truly be missed, especially now that I have snow and freezing temperatures to contend with. Oh, for just one more hour walk in Pedro!

Christopher Downing Superintendent, Local District South

Chris LaNasa San Pedro

Steven Gebhart Principal, Dana Middle School

Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters must include your full name in order to be considered for publication. Please keep letters to 200 words or less. Letters may be edited for length and grammar. Please include an address, email and phone number (address, emails, phone numbers will not be published).

JANUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9

VOICES

Bob the Boatbuilder’s Legacy Still Plying Coastal Waters

by Steve Marconi

Bob Stapp originally called me up to tell me about a short story he’d written about a mythical shipwreck off San Pedro, but as I walked up his driveway, I could see there was much more to discuss.

Sitting in the garage of Stapp’s Point Fermin home was a 1929 Model A Ford truck that looked like it had just come off the assembly line. He spotted the rotted-out hulk in a field years ago and refurbished it top to bottom, using all original parts, and still takes it out for a spin now and then.

You can’t miss it – it’s orange. You also can’t miss Stapp’s finest accomplishment – the Los Angeles County lifeguard fleet.

At 85, he’s spent most of his life on the sea – you get the feeling that if you cut him, he’d bleed saltwater. He was building boats in his backyard in Inglewood as a kid (he graduated from Inglewood High) and attended El Camino College before joining the Navy in 1953. He served two years in Aviation Rescue, piloting crash boats at Point Magu, a period he says reminded him of the old sitcom, McHale’s Navy.

He did a lot of deep-sea fishing and fished for steelhead salmon on the Klamath River

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before opening Seaway Boat Shop in Long Beach in 1958. Check out his website at www.seawayboats.net.

He’s lived in his house next to Fort MacArthur since 1968; he and his wife, Cherie, raised three children, all graduates of San Pedro High.

The county came to Stapp 40 years ago, when he built his first lifeguard boat (think Baywatch), which is still in service. Seaway went on to build rescue boats for several other beach cities and agencies in Los Angeles and Orange counties before he retired and sold the yard in 2006. A few years ago he was called in to consult on a new fleet of boats and discovered that the builders had used the “Stapp” mold, a method he had neglected to patent. It only bothers him a little, however, which befits a man who says he’s had a remarkable life. A man of few words, he has a photograph on the wall of the county lifeguard boats in formation. He didn’t point out the inscription, which speaks volumes: Bob Stapp: The Seaway rescue boats of the Los Angeles County Fire Department have been instrumental in saving thousands of lives and millions of dollars in property. Thank you for the dedication to your craft and for building the finest rescue boat fleet in the world on behalf of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards.

His current interest is the history of the lumber ships that once plied the West Coast and, via the fledgling harbor in San Pedro, supplied the foundations for today’s Los Angeles. That history includes a number of shipwrecks, interesting reading for a man whose own boats have stood the test of time.

Pirate Pride The San Pedro High School Athletic Hall of Fame was started as an event to honor sports greats, but it has evolved into much more.

Beginning with the first banquet in 2014 and continuing right through last month’s third induction ceremony, the Hall of Fame has become an annual celebration of San Pedro that goes way beyond athletic stardom.

Two notes sent to the HOF committee reflect that sentiment. Mike Stevens, a member of the family inducted in 2015, was on hand in November to induct the 1950 basketball team, of which his late father was a member. He wrote: I am truly proud to be a Pirate, especially when you hear the inductees such as Kenny Gray, Andy Lopez and Pete Tuiasosopo talk about Pedro as a FAMILY. At my table was Michael McGilvery who is the son of inductee M.H. McGilvery. Michael never lived in Pedro but often heard his dad speak of the town and what a great town it was/is. At the end of the evening, Michael and his guest (unknown name), who is a teacher in the downtown Los Angeles area, had no idea how diverse Pedro was. They were in awe of the athletes and, again, the diverse group (that was) inducted. This event definitely displayed how awesome our town is and certainly no other town like it.

The Dragich family was inducted this year, and a note signed by Nick, Barbara, Matt and Lindsay Dragich touched on another theme: It was truly an honor to be included among so many gifted athletes. The most important part of being an accomplished athlete at San Pedro High School was the education that each family member earned. Nick went on to play football at UC Santa Barbara, Matt played football in the Pac 10, at University of Oregon, and Lindsay played soccer for Cal State Dominquez. Each of them graduated with a college degree. Their commitment and dedication to athletics was their ticket to a higher education. We are proud to be part of San Pedro history.

That’s what makes a ticket to the HOF so valuable: It’s an honor to be recognized, but it’s an honor just to be there. spt Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.

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Thank you San Pedro for 30 Years of Support!

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In October of 2013, I was honored to accept the appointment

by Mayor Garcetti to serve on the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners. This volunteer position has provided me an opportunity to not only serve the City of Los Angeles and the Port, but more importantly my friends, family and neighbors in San Pedro and the greater Harbor Area. Although this task has been very challenging at times, it has been rewarding when progress is made on the very goals my fellow Harbor Commissioners and I have set, such as waterfront development.

This year has been nothing short of a success for San Pedro’s waterfront development. For example, in May, the Harbor Commission approved the lease with The Ratkovich and Jerico Development companies to redevelop Ports O’ Call.

By November, the marina in front of Acapulco Restaurant down to Ports O’ Call and the Oyster Wharf were cleared to make way for the next phase of the waterfront promenade.

Finally, in December, the ground breaking ceremony for the realignment of Harbor Boulevard and Sampson Way, which will begin in January of 2017, occurred.

I wanted to share with you my opening remarks made on this historic day of December 8, 2016, when we broke ground on our future: It is my great honor to have the opportunity to speak on this historic day at the Port of Los Angeles. Today is not just the realignment of Harbor Boulevard and Sampson Way, but rather realigning our future towards prosperity.

In June of 2009, our Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners held a marathon meeting to determine the fate of our waterfront. That meeting went well past midnight because hundreds of local residents had signed speaker cards so that their voices could be heard in support of waterfront development. I’m proud to say that I was one of those people that lined up to speak.

The reason for our passionate turnout was simple. We have always understood that smart waterfront development is the best path to creating a condition for a more prosperous Harbor Area. Thankfully, the Harbor Commissioners back then approved waterfront development that night and set the stage for days like today.

We’ve already seen so many wonderful improvements. The Fanfare Fountain, the Cruise Ship Promenade, the new Downtown Harbor, Cabrillo Way Marina, 22nd Street Park, Wilmington Waterfront Park, Wilmington Marina Parkway, the arrival of the USS Iowa, and the addition of Crafted and Brouwerij West to name a few.

The realignment of Harbor Blvd. and Sampson Way, which we are breaking ground on today, is a significant step to create easier access to the future San Pedro Public Market, and once completed, we will be rolling right into our next phase — construction of an allnew Town Square right here at 6th Street, another waterfront promenade, and a new public access recreational boat dock.

As a Harbor Commissioner, I am proud to be a part of the Port of Los Angeles team that is laying down the groundwork for a world-class waterfront that will create an environment to attract businesses to our community and provide the prosperity that all of my fellow neighbors have waited so long for.

It would be remiss of me to not mention AltaSea as having the potential to play the largest local waterfront role in that future prosperity. The work that the Port of Los Angeles has done and the work that is coming to redevelop our waterfront is providing the very foundation that will help propel AltaSea to continue to attract the best possible partners to develop a world-class marine research institute that will, in turn, provide thousands of great paying jobs, establish the Harbor Area as a leading biotech business cluster and provide our local college graduates job opportunities and a direct path to return home and prosper.

That, my friends, is why I am so passionate about waterfront development. For those who came from far and wide to start a life here in America, like my grandparents and father who is here today did, the promise of prosperity for past, current and future generations of San Pedrans has always started at the waterfront. That promise continues today. spt Anthony Pirozzi is a L.os Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be contacted at apirozzi@yahoo.com.

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14 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

by Mike Lansing In 1937, the need for a San Pedro Boys Club was established by the Civitan Club after local businessmen identified the need for positive alternatives for boys who were on the streets and negatively impacting their establishments and customers. The first building was rented at 718 W. 6th St. for $20/month. The following May, renovations were completed and the building was dedicated and by June, 225 boys were registered members and the San Pedro Boys Club was on its way.

In the same year, MGM studios released Boys Town - a film based on Father Edward J. Flanagan (played by Spencer Tracy) and his work with a group of underprivileged and delinquent boys in a home that he founded and named Boys Town.

Father Flanagan battled indifference, the legal system, and often even the boys, to build a sanctuary for those most in need. Over succeeding decades, the real Boys Town in Omaha, Neb., added many additional sites, and in 1979 they admitted the first girls into their membership.

While I love the movie, I truly feel a connection between the “real” Boys Town, the Club I attended as a boy and the organization it has been my sincere honor to lead for the past 21 years. In 1964, I was introduced to the then San Pedro Boys Club, which for me began six formative years in an organization that became for so many of us boys a “second home” and where we learned life lessons through athletic teamwork, competition and sportsmanship, and made decades-long friends during the process. Over the past 80 years, what is now the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor has helped nurture and develop tens of thousands of at-risk youth. This mission has included boys, young adults and eventually girls (admitted in 1994) who became the doctors, lawyers, labor leaders, educators, harbor commissioners, business owners, military leaders, superintendents, prima ballerinas, police, firefighters, and elected officials our community has relied upon.

Just like Boys Town, our organization has answered the call to serve even more youth and to serve them with a wide range of IMPACT programs and services. We now operate 13 sites in San Pedro and Wilmington serving nearly 12,000 youth annually and 2,300 youth daily. At our three traditional Clubhouses, we serve more than 1,100 snacks and meals daily and to assure access we bus more than 500 youth a day to those Clubhouses.

Our commitment to youth ages 5-18 includes daily academic support, music, dance, fine arts, sports, STEM Centers, robotics, recording studios, leadership clubs, our new Career Bound program and of course, College Bound. We started College Bound in 2002 when we realized our members were graduating from high school at a pitiful 50% rate. Over the past 15 years, this program has grown tremendously and this past year we had more than 1,800 participants in College Bound with 98% of our participating seniors graduated on time and 514 of them (94%) going off to college this fall with nearly $7.5 million in Financial Aid and scholarships.

To me, the real star of the Boys Town movie was Henry Hull (played Dave Morris), a local businessman who time and again helped Flanagan find the tremendous resources needed to continually grow and serve more boys. Over the decades, my Boys & Girls Club has had so many “Daves” – those individuals and businesspeople who realized the need to support an organization that has always strived to serve all youth but especially “those who need us most.” May you and many others in the coming year and decades continue the legacy of our local version of Boys (& Girls) Town by investing in our youth and providing them an opportunity to attain their full potential. As one of tens of thousands who have received that same opportunity, I say THANK YOU, DAVE, in advance. spt Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.

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Outer Cabrillo Beach is where I go to reset myself.

Walking backwards into the ocean with my fins on and my underwater camera in hand, I never know what I will discover at this A-rated beach. Some days, I swim with Polar Bear friends to the buoy, taking photos of kelp and dolphins along the way. Other times, I stand knee deep listening to today’s body and mind, not wanting to go out any further. It is just like life, every day is different. The ocean teaches me lessons and is always there for comfort, fun and reflection.

Lately, I have noticed as I walk into the water, I get stuck in the surf zone, the area where the waves are crashing. After the first wave hits me, I freeze and instead of moving forward or back, my feet do not seem to want to move. I have hit the bottom of the ocean floor in a wave, holding on tightly to my camera as I tumble, thinking I am too old for this. I do not know why I do not move quickly through this area because it is my least favorite part of swimming out.

In my own life with decisions that should be made, I seem to be stuck in the same way.

Is it better on the shore or past the waves?

Instead of going forward or backward, I am paused, unsure.

Sometimes it takes awhile to make life choices, but the waves have taught me that I should never stop where I am not comfortable. When I come out of the water, I have a different perspective on life. I am more relaxed and my mind is clear. I am better off for going to the beach, even if it is for a short time between work and motherly duties.

I find even an hour at the shore with our family tones down moods and frustrations for everybody. Being in nature seems to untangle thoughts and heals wounds. We swim without wetsuits, challenging ourselves individually to go in even though it feels cold.

Once submerged, bodies adjust and everything back on the shore seems to fade away. The magic of the ocean works wonders on teenagers even though it is the last thing they said they wanted to do on a weekend morning.

There is one thing that can never be taken away from San Pedro, that is the ocean. It is always there, waves crashing and seals barking in the background of this town. We all have our own relationship with it, some walking daily on its edge and others enjoying views of its beauty. San Pedro is who it is thanks to the sea with its foghorns, tall ships and jobs it creates. It is the superstar of this town and the main attraction for most. It is easy to get caught up in everything that is wrong around us, the sea will tell a different story.

We will always be known as a port town, but I believe we can also be a beach town. A place where bikes, kayaks, boats and standup paddleboards can be rented right next to the ocean is the future. Rental bikes are coming soon and REI has been hosting kayak trips at Cabrillo Beach. Put in a smoothie stand at the beach and we will be set. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com

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Beginning January 20, President Donald Trump will exert a major influence over San Pedro’s future. Leaving aside, for the moment, any concerns over the new administration’s as-yet-unformed immigration, civil rights, healthcare and other policies, I’m particularly worried about something that affects us in San Pedro more than folks in most other cities: international trade and foreign relations as they relate to trade.

At this point, I have no idea what the new administration’s international trade policies are going to be, since throughout the presidential campaign, Candidate Trump was either vague, hyperbolical or outright contradictory in his positions on those policies. At one point, he said, “I’m for free trade and fair trade.” First, that statement would seem to be redundant, since free trade – meaning no country would apply tariffs or regulations to goods exchanged with any other country – would be fair trade (though maybe not equitable). And, second, he evidently didn’t actually mean what he said, since, in almost the same breath, he threatened to place tariffs of up to 45% on goods coming into the U.S. from countries like Mexico and China; either because they compete with our own manufacturers at a lower price point, or the goods are no longer made in this country at all and he wants to restart manufacturing here. Of course, this sounds good to people yearning for lost well-paid manufacturing jobs. However, this kind of action, carried to its ultimate conclusion, will assuredly lead to a trade war, reduce overall jobs, damage our relations with other countries and possibly result in a prolonged recession.

What would happen if we were to place a 45% tariff on those commodities imported through the Port of Los Angeles? First, the prices of those items to unhappy American consumers would rise. They would pay more and/or buy less of them. Second, American companies that sell the imported goods would sell less and be forced to reduce jobs.

Imports of the goods would decline. It’s possible some domestic manufacturers could jump into the market at the higher prices, but it’s doubtful they would make up for the jobs already lost. In any case, Asian governments would certainly retaliate by placing higher tariffs and restrictions on goods they import from us. Prices of those items would rise in Asia and have the same effect on their consumers and businesses. Our ability to export to those countries would sharply decline and we’d lose more jobs. It’s hard to find winners in this round-robin scenario. International trade is a complicated subject and the picture above is a simplistic one (currency manipulation, nationalism, trade pacts, the ability of multinational companies to relocate to non-tariff countries, and many other factors complicate trade relations), but apply this scenario to all the goods flowing between America, China and other trading partners, and it’s a prescription for economic chaos.

Raising tariffs to record levels to protect American farmers and manufacturers was tried in 1930, with the Smoot-Hawley Act. It worsened the Depression and soured relations with trading partners for years.

San Pedro has a special interest in seeing that a trade war, especially with our Asian trading partners, does not happen. The Port of Los Angeles and its extended supply chain infrastructure supports over 130,000 jobs in Los Angeles, and combined with the Port of Long Beach, nearly one million jobs nationwide. We had a taste of what a downturn in trade could do locally during the 2008-2009 recession. Many port workers were without jobs for extended periods of time as work on the docks declined dramatically. We can’t afford to have that happen again. Let’s hope the new administration sees the folly in starting a trade war. If not, we need to actively work with our city, state and federal representatives to blunt any efforts in that direction. spt Herb Zimmer owns PriorityOne Printing in downtown San Pedro.

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Celebrate San Pedro!

Our picks of the top community anniversaries and milestones we should be honoring every year.

20 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

by Angela “Romee” Romero Happy New Year, San Pedro! Are you ready for 2017? Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet?

Traditionally, a new year is considered a clean slate where we can all start fresh with a list of promises that will surely make the year ahead better than the last. Arguably, some slates are cleaner than others and a lot of us are entering 2017 with a little trepidation. Since there are many things beyond our control, I would like to suggest that all San Pedrans add the following resolution to their list to vastly improve the quality of life here in town: Learn San Pedro History.

Hear me out.

While I would love it if the mere mention of this would cause a run on the public library, historical archives or local museum gift shops with San Pedrans clamoring to crack open a local history book, I’m not asking you to read. What I would like to happen is for all of us to simply celebrate the days and landmarks that are unique to San Pedro – those local holidays that make us who we are. We have such a strong identity as a community that we proudly wear it and ink it into our skin, but most San Pedrans can’t even tell me what day San Pedro was founded.

Because of our current political climate, that quote about those who ignore history being doomed to repeat it has been making the rounds. We’re not even there yet. If you don’t know your history, you can’t possibly care about something because you don’t understand its significance. And if you don’t care, then it’s that much easier for someone to take it away from you.

Knowledge is actual power and we can’t afford to suffer another loss like Old Beacon Street.

What I’m proposing is that we all make a concerted effort to reclaim the following dates on the calendar and give them back their significance through celebration, be it large or small, public or private. Some of these days have been kept alive by those with immediate ties, but I would love for all of San Pedro to observe them in solidarity. Let’s make 2017 the year that we rediscover and reconnect with this wonderful place we call home and honor the people and places who helped shape it.

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Warner Grand Theatre’s Birthday (January 20) When the Warner Bros. San Pedro celebrated its opening with a grand ceremony on January 20, 1931, it was the newest of San Pedro’s five theaters. In the 85+ years since, the Warner Grand has become so much more than just the last remains of a bygone era. The Warner Grand is our town hall where big ideas are discussed, it’s our community theatre where local artists are born, it’s a civic center and our heart center. Wouldn’t it be nice to come together on January 20 every year for a town movie?

JAN

20

John Olguin’s Birthday - Day of Service (February 18) Since John Olguin’s passing on New Year’s Day in 2011, there has been a whale-sized hole in San Pedro’s collective heart. Never has there been a single man who meant so much to so many San Pedrans. Everyone has a John Olguin story, whether it be a tale of his kindness or a fond remembrance of the grunion dance. John’s community spirit was legendary, including his belief that one dollar from a thousand people was more powerful than a thousand dollars from one person. We should all honor the legacy of this great San Pedran by making his birthday a Day of Service throughout San Pedro.

FEB

18

(Clockwise from top) Warner Grand Theatre; Stephen M. White statue at Cabrillo Beach; Korean Friendship Bell, John Olguin (photos: John Mattera)

Day of Remembrance (February 19) Not all history is pleasant and the Day of Remembrance is indeed a dark day in both San Pedro and American history. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which commanded the internment of all Japanese-Americans. East San Pedro, on Terminal Island, was a predominately Japanese community of commercial fisherman. But there were Japanese-Americans on both sides of the channel and with one order, they were gone.

After the war, not many families returned to San Pedro. Their absence should not allow us to forget the everlasting effect those families and this day had on our community.

FEB

19

San Pedro’s Founding Day (March 1) In true ‘Pedro’ fashion, the articles of incorporation for the City of San Pedro were signed in a waterfront saloon on March 1, 1888. Although the city’s independence only lasted 21 years, residents voted to consolidate with the City of L.A. in 1909, San Pedro retained its name and separate identity as a community. The fact that there isn’t an annual observance of San Pedro’s founding has always baffled me. There was a street fair in 2013 for the 125th anniversary and prior to that the centennial was celebrated in 1988. Surely we can manage to celebrate the one day that makes us San Pedrans. I’d love for there to be a huge annual Founder’s Day Picnic, but maybe less is more in the beginning. How about using the First Thursday in March to celebrate San Pedro’s birthday? So many local artists are inspired by the town, how great would it be to see a San Pedro-themed art show every year?

MAR

1

APR

Free Harbor Day (April 26) After our Founding Day, the biggest day from our collective history was only celebrated once more than 100 years ago. On April 26, 1899, more than 20,000 people gathered on the bluffs above present day Cabrillo Beach to celebrate the enormous victory of San Pedro being awarded the federal breakwater and to watch the first ceremonial boulders get dumped into the ocean. It was the biggest party San Pedro has EVER seen. The guest of honor was Stephen M. White, the senator who fought tirelessly against a wealthy and politically connected opponent to secure the port for San Pedro. When you go down to Cabrillo Beach and you turn onto Stephen M. White Drive, you pass the statue of Senator White extending his right arm.

He’s almost pointing out at the breakwater to say, “I did this for all of you.” And it’s true.

We still benefit from his efforts. Without Senator White or the breakwater, there would be no Angels Gate Lighthouse or Cabrillo Beach. There would be no port with the jobs that brought our families here generations ago. San Pedro would be a different place. We owe Senator White more than a curious glance as we pass him on the way to the beach. I’m not saying we should party like it’s 1899, but let’s maybe just start being thankful on April 26.

22 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

26

JULY

Korean Friendship Bell Day (July 4) The Korean Bell was a gift from South Korea in honor of America’s bicentennial in 1976. The giant bell is meant to serve as a symbol of friendship between our two nations, but the fact that it sits on a bluff in Point Fermin overlooking the Pacific makes it also a testament of San Pedro’s beauty. Legend has it that the Korean dignitaries were originally going to put the bell in Griffith Park, but changed their minds when they came to San Pedro and gazed at

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“If you don’t care

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for someone to take it away from you.”

that million-dollar view. The bell is rung five times every year: New Year’s Day, Korean American Day, Independence Day, Korean Liberation Day and Constitution Day. I highly recommend all San Pedrans make attending the ceremony a part of their annual Fourth of July traditions to remind ourselves of our place in the world as a welcoming international sea port that embraces diversity.

Bloody Thursday (July 5) If you are in any way affiliated with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), you are no stranger to Bloody Thursday. Bloody Thursday refers to an event that happened during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike in San Francisco. On July 5, 1934, two strikers were shot and killed by police when they fired into a crowd of picketers. The funeral march the next day and the events that followed solidified the resolve of the strikers and eventually led to the creation of the ILWU and a stronger, more organized labor force. Every year the ILWU celebrates Bloody Thursday together. San Pedro, as a whole, should honor this day for what it has meant for organized labor. San Pedro was built on the backs of laborers, fishermen, steelworkers, pile drivers, welders, mechanics, longshoremen, cannery workers and clerks. We’re a union town and we should never forget it.

JULY

5

Point Fermin Lighthouse’s Birthday (December 15) Not every coastal community gets a lighthouse, so we should feel extremely lucky to have not one but two. The Point Fermin lighthouse, built in 1874, is the older of the two and most likely the oldest building in San Pedro.

Perched on a bluff in Point Fermin Park, the lighthouse is no longer active, but remains open to the public for tours. Every year, the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society holds a small birthday celebration for the lighthouse on December 15. The revelers gather on the porch to sing “Happy Birthday” as the sun sets followed by a potluck dinner in the lighthouse’s honor. As with most celebrations, I think the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society would agree that all are welcome and the more the merrier.

DEC

24 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

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Fishing Heritage Celebration (TBD) There is one last day that I feel like we should be celebrating, but I don’t necessarily have a date for it. It’s a day to honor San Pedro’s fishing heritage. Fishing in San Pedro dates back to before Cabrillo cast his eyes on our smoky bay. In recent history, the fishing industry is what brought a lot of our families to the area. In its heyday, the commercial fishing industry in San Pedro was enormous. A lot of San Pedrans still have fond memories of the Fisherman’s Fiesta and lament its loss. The fishing fleet isn’t what it used to be and there were many unsuccessful attempts to revive the celebration, but we shouldn’t lose that connection to our past and the ocean that continues to feed us in one way or another. spt

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JANUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25

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2016-17 Prep Basketball Preview story and photos by Jamaal K. Street It’s that time of year again as prep basketball is already underway. There’s plenty of potential to be shown out of the San Pedro, Port of Los Angeles and Mary Star of the Sea High boys’ and girls’ programs as they are in full swing for the 2016-17 season. Who will make the biggest shot of them all?

(Clockwise from top left) San Pedro’s Cole Turner; Mary Star’s Joseph Octave; POLA’s Mariam Moreno; Mary Star’s Hanalei Emnace

BOYS

SAN PEDRO (13-16 overall in 2015-2016) – Coach John Bobich is now in his 15th season coaching the Pirates, who now due to competitive equity in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section, is now competing in Division II, a division they won a championship in during the 2009-2010 season.

San Pedro is guard heavy with All-Marine League junior Cole Turner leading the way, along with returning seniors Jose Regalado and Juan Palma, both being four-year veterans in the program, and two years on the varsity scene for a program that last year lost in the first round of the CIF-LACS Division 1 playoffs to Palisades.

Losing 6'6" junior center Malik Muhammad (transfer to Verbum Dei) makes the Pirates undersized, but they also have vibrant and determined newcomers like senior 6'4" center Tahj Frison and 6'3" sophomore forward Rodney Patrick ready to step in, along with sophomore 6'3" center Anson Patton.

San Pedro went 5-7 in a fourth-place Marine League finish last season.

26 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

MARY STAR (17-10 in 2015-2016) – Marc Vuoso stepped down as coach to be a fulltime athletic director at Mary Star, and he enlisted the services of former San Pedro High All-City standout Mike Sestich to take over. Right now, the Stars already made the finals of the Milken Tournament.

Sophomore guard Joseph Octave, a versatile All-Santa Fe League talent at 6'2", is back after averaging 19 points a game last season. Octave and All-Santa Fe League senior point guard, four-year veteran Nick Billings, both anchor a deep backcourt.

Senior 6'5" center Noah Prince, senior shooting guard Nathan Linayao, junior guard D’Andrew Lopez and junior guard Don Grondin also return for the Stars, who placed third in the Santa Fe League last year and reaching the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.

after missing all but the end of the regular season and playoffs. Galloway is a former AllCity Division 4 player from her sophomore season at POLA. Senior forward Erinn Edwards, senior guards Raeven Hayes and Rory Healy along with junior guard Abygail Paez are all looking to step into more productive roles for San Pedro, who placed third in league at 8-4 last season.

MARY STAR (14-10 in 2015-2016) – Victor Tuberosi returns for his fourth season as the Stars’ coach, and this team will be fully motivated after a 5-5 Santa Fe League finish left them out of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs despite posting a winning record and claiming the Firebaugh Tournament crown over Christmas break last season.

POLA (10-13 in 2015-2016) – The Polar Bears have a new coach with an extensive Returning for a fourth and final year is three-time All-Santa Fe League senior guard basketball background in Marshall Johnson, and that’s exactly what a youthful POLA team Angela Pisano, one of the most dynamic players in town. Pisano and All-SFL junior point needs in a competitive Crosstown League, a league POLA went 6-6 in and placed third a guard Hanalei Emnace form a pesky defensive backcourt. season ago.

Mary Star has talented rebounders who provide scoring help in senior center Kaitlyn Senior forward Issac Perez, junior guard Mycah Serdenia, junior center Joseph Magana, junior guard Timothy Oloimooja and senior forward Nehemiah Pele all return Martinez (another four-year veteran), along with junior forwards Miranda Marquez and Melanie Meza, while junior guard Jillian Duran adds more veteran leadership off the for POLA, who made the CIF-LACS Division 4 playoffs last season. bench.

GIRLS

SAN PEDRO (19-11 in 2015-2016) – It’s a new era for the Lady Pirates. Eric Parker is now the new head coach, and All-Marine League senior forward Natalia Vasquez is the only returning starter. On top of that, two-time All-City senior guard/forward Deanna Valverde transferred to defending league champion Carson.

Even so, there’s still talent on this team, as they advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF-LACS Division 1 playoffs last season and broke ground with a victory over Narbonne for the first time in 25 years.

Senior point guard Kyerstin Galloway is ready to break out in her first full season

POLA (8-13 in 2015-2016) – Third-year coach Elspeth Carden will inherit a young team for the Polar Bears, who still made the CIF-LACS Division III playoffs a season ago, finishing third in the Crosstown League at 5-5.

All-Crosstown League four-year senior forward Mariam Moreno, along with junior guards Sachi Verner and Ardent Almazan return, but freshman guard Kiara Jones has shown some promise early on. The Polar Bears also added senior forward Valerie Hernandez and junior center Areelle Navarro from the girls’ volleyball team. spt

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WEDDING

Golden Gate Romance Martin Kolega & Marie Buich August 20, 2016 story by Brooke Karli | photo by John Mattera Photography

She was living in San Francisco. He was living in San Pedro. But they were both Croatian, and they met about six years ago at the Sveti Vlaho Croatian patron saint day celebration in Northern California.

Martin and Marie (Buich) Kolega first spoke to each other at that celebration at the dessert table.

“Martin’s band was playing at the celebration,” Marie explains. “I ran into him at the dessert table and all I could really say was ‘I really like your band.’ ” Nothing much came of their encounter at first, but fate would lead them to each other once more a couple years later at another Croatian celebration in San Francisco.

Because she lived in San Francisco and he lived in San Pedro, their relationship was long distance, causing them to fly back and forth to see each other every three weeks or so. On one of his trips to San Francisco in October 2014, Martin arranged for a captain to give the couple a private two-hour sailboat cruise.

“I thought he had just scored a good Groupon deal,” describes Marie. “Next thing I know, he’s proposing to me and we are drinking champagne under the Golden Gate Bridge!”

The two were married on August 20, 2016 at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in a traditional Catholic ceremony that was complemented with a Croatian priest and songs. Standing next to the couple were Maid of Honor Emma Sleath; bridesmaids Candace Addi, Monica Blaine, Megan Nogueiro, and Wendi Whitmore; Best Man Tomislav Kolega; and groomsmen Kyle Kerr, John Lovrich, Paul Basich, and Kevin Chen.

The reception followed at Fort MacArthur and included traditional and live Croatian music, as well as homemade pastries and desserts made by Croatian family members. The newlyweds shared their first dance to “Ima Nesto u Tome” by Doris Dragovic and Jaques Houdek, and “Zivot je Raj” by Grupa Vigor.

Marie danced with her father to Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill,” and Martin danced with his mother to Oliver Dragojevic’s “Majko.”

Following their special day, Martin and Marie honeymooned in Croatia and Italy for a couple weeks.

They are looking forward to a “lifetime of fun, traveling, and music.” spt

JANUARY 2017 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29

IN MEMORIAM

Requiem for a Hotrodder

Remembering Bill Stecker (Sept. 18, 1929 - Nov. 6, 2016)

30 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2017

by Joshua Stecker, grandson Grandpa.

That’s how I always knew him. Many others in town knew him by different names – Bill Stecker (but never Billy, that’s my dad), Uncle Bill, the Modern Muffler guy, etc. – but to me, he was Grandpa.

My grandpa, William A. “Bill” Stecker, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2016. He was born on September 18, 1929, in North Hollywood to his parents Ethel and Carroll Moreland, but they moved to San Pedro when he was still a child. He attended Cabrillo Ave. and Fifteenth St. Elementary Schools, Dana Jr. High School and San Pedro High School (Summer ‘48). After graduating, he would go on to serve in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Those who knew my grandpa knew that he had two loves of his life: his doting wife of 57 years, Pauline, and cars. (Of course, he adored his three kids, my dad Billy, Sharon [Lusic] and Lynn [Bezmalinovich], and all his grandkids and great-grandkids, but if we’re being honest, Grandma Pauline and cars took the top spots.)

Bill Stecker’s name was synonymous with cars. As a young man, Grandpa competed in speed trials on the dry lakes in the 1950s, referred to as the birthplace of hot rodding. He also raced top fuel dragsters in the ‘60s where he was considered a pioneer in the sport.

He won Top Eliminator at the U.S. Fuel & Gas Championship in Bakersfield in 1961. Later, he joined the L.A. Roadsters after a career in racing and became a lifetime member of the club. Of course, in his later years, he was most recognizable driving around town in his beloved red ‘32 Ford roadster.

Grandpa’s love of automobiles led him to open Modern Muffler Service on 22nd and Pacific in the late 1960s. He would have the shop for more than 30 years, finally closing it in 1997. It’s the spot where most of San Pedro got to know my grandpa best.

The two things that remind me most of Grandpa were his glorious, gap-toothed smile, and the smell of grease coming off his uniform from working all day at the muffler shop.

To this day, I can’t go to an auto shop without being reminded of him. The senses have a powerful way of sparking memory.

Growing up, the muffler shop was like Andy Griffith’s Mayberry. There was always a colorful cast of characters hanging around at any given hour of the day, and a pink box full of half-eaten donuts constantly on the counter. The smell of piping hot coffee did its best to combat the fumes from the garage, but often failed miserably. With Tiger always a sure hand and my Aunt Marie manning the books, Grandpa ran a pretty tight ship for more than three decades. He put his heart and soul into that place, and our community appreciated him for it. After closing the shop in ‘97, Grandpa became a proud longshoreman of ILWU local 13, and did that until he retired in 2009.

Even though cars took over most of his working life, Grandpa’s first and most important love was his wife, Pauline, or Grandma as I knew her.

Grandma and Grandpa were the living embodiment of a Norman Rockwell painting.

The doting housewife, the working husband, both so in love with each other. As a kid, while Grandma would babysit us grandkids, we knew the day was almost over when we’d hear Grandpa’s keys jingle as he walked through the front door, grease smell and all.

Grandma would always have dinner ready by the time Grandpa cleaned himself off. My grandmother was an amazing cook, and Grandpa knew he was a lucky guy. Their love harkened back to a simpler time and they carried that beautiful love affair for nearly 60 years, until my grandma’s sudden passing in July of 2009.

When I first took over this magazine and people starting reading my byline, the

question I got asked the most was, “Are you Bill Stecker’s kid?” I’d, of course, say yes, because I actually am Billy Stecker’s son, but if they followed that up with, “He owned the muffler shop on Pacific, right?” then I’d have to correct them and say that one is my grandpa. Either way, it was always followed up with, “I love your dad/grandpa, he’s the best. Tell him hi for me,” which worked either way, because they both were/are the best.

Grandpa had a tremendous heart and witty sense of humor that were only outmatched by that glorious, gap-toothed smile. He was a happy man. A good man. And a man I’m proud to have called Grandpa. spt

Bill Stecker is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Roy and Jack Stecker and Marie Anderson and his loving wife of 57 years Pauline. He is survived by his children, Billy (Pam), Sharon (George) Lusic, Lynn (Augie) Bezmalinovich. Grandchildren Joshua, Justin (Megan), Jason, Jared Stecker, Chad (Yelena), Christopher Lusic, Aaron Alvarez, Chelsey (Weston) Jones, Ryan Mannas and great-grandchildren, Cain, Iva, Ryann, Jake, Evan and Londyn; Sister-in-law Joanne Kiley and many nieces, nephews and friends who lovingly referred to him as “Uncle Bill.”

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Last month marked the 14-year anniversary of my very first gym membership (which I got for Christmas). I was 16. I remember as a young severely out-of-shape teenager, that all I wanted was to be ripped and strong and, over Christmas break, I was finally going to make some changes.

I gotta be honest, the very first time I walked into the Bally’s was a scary experience. Herds of focused people running treadmills, the thunder of crashing weights, music blasting, sly sales guys, and an iron wasteland of machines of which I had zero clue how to use.

It took six months but I stumbled my way to success. By the following June, I lost all the weight I had set out to lose. Thankfully, more than a few of the older gym veterans were willing to guide young kids like me. It was those first couple hundred hours I spent in Bally’s that I noticed something weird. There seemed to be two groups of “regulars” at the gym: men and women who, each week, got bigger, stronger, more toned, lean and trim.

And another larger segment of people who put in just as much time, but after months and even years of working out, never looked any different. In fact, some strangely seemed to gain excess weight over time despite putting so much time in the gym, working hard and yet, unable to reap the rewards. Why was this so?

Now I know lots of people aren’t in the gym to change their bodies or lose weight. They simply enjoy exercise. I applaud that and am not talking about them. It took me a while to realize it, but after doing roughly 3,000 workouts there are some common “results-killers” I see people make repeatedly. This month’s column covers two common ones I see people make in the gym and how to stop doing them.

The first question you need to ask (which almost no one does) is: what exactly are you training for? Your goals will determine what kind of workouts you should be doing and which you shouldn’t. Once you know your goal, let’s define what a workout should do: It should provide stimulus to move you closer to your goal in a sustainable way.

Every single time you leave the gym, your body should have reason to change into a better version of itself. Here’s why it doesn’t happen for most people: No Variation: Your body is an adapting machine. At one time, walking was a challenge for you but your legs got stronger and now you don’t even think about it. Your body will adapt to the physical demands you (intelligently) place on it. But it also doesn’t want to change. It wants comfort and most people give it exactly what it wants and not what it needs. If all you do is cycle class three times a week for a year your body won’t change.

The load, volume, intensity, rep schemes, duration, and exercises you do all must change to continuously give your body reason to get better.

Too Much Random: While some people suffer from a lack of variety, some reside on the other end of the spectrum and have far too much. They pluck the newest exercise from magazines; do whatever the trend-du-jour some celebrity endorses until they lose interest and hop on the next thing. There are hundreds of machines and bright shiny exercises to try, but you’re going to run in circles if you don’t allow a program to do its magic by staying with it for six-weeks. If every song ever made can be created from just 12 musical notes, then you can create a body you love by keeping it simple.

And although this doesn’t pertain to the gym, it’s vital to mention: don’t try to solve a nutrition problem with exercise. If you’re skinny, you can’t lift heavy to gain weight if you don’t eat. And if you’re overweight, you can’t get lean by doing tons of cardio if you haven’t balanced your diet. You can very easily void all your hard work in the gym if you’re not following through with good eating habits. spt

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In the iconic words of Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changin’,” and it’s more true than ever these days. Many of us long to go back to our carefree childhood days, when we drank straight from the faucet (or hose) with no worries about what was in the water; when food was harvested in a more natural way; and when much of our time was spent outside in the fresh air, not on cell phones, tablets, or computers for hours every day.

But as we all know, a lot has changed since then, including an increased use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides in food harvesting, increased everyday use of plastics (which contain substances like BPA), exposure to water contaminated by more and more toxins (such as BPA, TCE, and pharmaceuticals), and increased exposure to electric and magnetic fields (radiation) from electronic devices.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of industrial chemicals are currently registered for use in the U.S. (a number that grows exponentially every year), many of which have not had long-term safety testing. Such synthetic chemicals are found in everything from furniture and nonstick cookware to dry cleaning and personal care products. Studies show that substances such as industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins, remain in the body after exposure.

It’s not that all these substances are completely new to us; it’s that we now live in a world where we’re bombarded by so many of them all at once. While one of them alone may not be terribly dangerous in small amounts, experts argue that the accumulation of all of them put together poses a toxic burden on our bodies. The cumulative effect of this toxic overload affects our immune systems and has been linked to the development of chronic illness, autoimmune disease, cancer, and allergies.

Many of these lifestyle changes bring us wondrous modern conveniences, but they also mean we may have to work a little harder these days to maintain good health. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by this thought, but let’s be clear: it’s impossible to control everything in our environment (nor should we worry ourselves to the point of adding stress to our lives).

That being said, it is possible to become more aware, be proactive, and make changes that can help us better handle the stresses that come with modern day life. (Making such changes can be especially helpful for those of us already facing health challenges). Here are a few ways we can help reduce the cumulative toxic burden placed on our bodies and hopefully, in turn, help support immune function: Reduce Household Toxins: There are many choices we can make with regard to the products we use. Consider using glass containers instead of plastic, air out dry-cleaned garments the moment you get home (and try to use a “green” dry cleaner if you can), and seek out more natural household and personal care products, for example.

Reduce Toxins in Food and Water: Seek out organic foods to avoid exposure to synthetic pesticides and herbicides, and use a proper filter for drinking water (and even bathing water, if you can!). Avoid drinking from plastic water bottles when possible (a reusable stainless steel water bottle is an effective and practical replacement).

Reduce Electronic Radiation: The data is still unfolding on this topic, but some experts suggest making adjustments such as limiting exposure to computers, turning off routers at night, and switching cell phones to airplane mode while sleeping. (Admittedly, this is an area in which I have a lot of room for improvement. I’m working on it!)

Spend More Time Outdoors: Studies show that inside air can be significantly more polluted than outside air due to the accumulation of indoor toxins. It’s a good reminder to get outside more often (and hopefully, in the process, get more exercise, which can counteract our increasingly unhealthy sedentary lifestyles).

We certainly don’t want to create more stress by worrying about every one of these concerns. That would be counterproductive! But taking action in just a few of these areas might help reduce the toxic burden and give our bodies a fighting chance at being healthier. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017! spt Follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog, www.adventuresofasickchick.com.

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