San Pedro Today - April 2021

APRIL 2021

THE HYPERLOCAL BREAKFAST | WHEN WILL THE PIER, KOREAN BELL, AND FOUNTAIN REOPEN?

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Calimucho Screen Printing’s Together We Are Stronger t-shirt fundraising campaign was such a hit last year.

When I saw the TWAS posters pop up around town last summer, I had no idea what it was about. I thought it was a well-meaning show of solidarity during the pandemic. I didn’t realize it was a full-fledged fundraising campaign until the years. it was too late to cover in the magazine It sits in there like a time capsule. to help publicize it.

Open it up, and you’ll find a few Taste Cut to preparing this month’s issue, in San Pedro and L.A. Wood tees dating and I thought doing a recap of last back more than a decade. There are year’s TWAS campaign would make a couple of LA Harbor International for an interesting cover story. I had Film Festival tees and maybe a Cars & Stripes Forever one, in addition to a few heard from a few local businesses that were involved with it last year, and it shirts from local businesses that have sounded like a story worth telling. come and gone.

When I called Kevin Carle and Raul I recently came upon this box when Morales at Calimucho to pitch them I was going through my decluttering on the story, I had no idea they were phase during quarantine. I couldn’t already preparing a second TWAS campossibly throw it out. The memories paign that was launching this month. attached to these poorly manufactured Of course, they agreed right away. Call yet endearing cotton shirts are priceit luck, kismet, or just plain good timless to me. During a time where I long for our community to be able to gather ing; I’m happy we were able to feature this story in our pages this month. in public again, even for just a First Finally, I’d like to dedicate this Thursday Art Walk, these t-shirts were a stark reminder not to take events like month’s issue to the memory of Joseph Borek. Mr. Borek was a longtime those for granted anymore. subscriber of the magazine, dating back San Pedro has always had a very to the old San Pedro Magazine days. I t-shirt-oriented culture. It’s no sewas saddened to recently learn of his cret we wear our hometown pride on passing in December. Mr. Borek once our sleeves, either on our skin or on shared with me a beautiful story about our shirts. When we’re out of town, his ritual of visiting his late wife’s we subconsciously wear hometowngravesite every month. If I remember branded gear, usually a baseball cap or t-shirt (or both), like peacocks attracting correctly, when he lived in Seal Beach, he would have his magazine subscripmates. We love it when someone says, tion delivered to a local business in San “Does that say San Paydro? I love San Pedro and would pick it up on the days Paydro!” We quickly correct them by he visited Green Hills Memorial Park. It saying, “It’s San Peedro,” and continue was sweet to know this magazine gave the conversation, never forgetting that happened because we’ll tell this story to him joy on the days when he could use it the most. the next person who’ll understand it.

When I read his obituary, I discovWe even put San Pedro stickers on ered he was an artist. I’m not surprised. our cars as both a show of pride and That story he told me could’ve only a friendly warning. (I know some of come from an artist’s heart. Godspeed, you are reading this thinking it’s all Mr. Borek. spt hyperbole, but I guarantee there are a number of you reading this that can point to at least one person in your life Joshua Stecker is publisher/editorin-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters who fits this bill.) What can we say? to the Editor can be emailed to San Pedrans can be weird like that. contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

That’s why I’m not surprised that Somewhere deep inside my garage sits a large plastic tub filled with nothing but t-shirts from several San Pedro businesses and events through

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329 W. 6th Street | San Pedro | (310) 832-9364 APRIL 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 5

APRIL 2021

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVERTISING:

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION

San Pedro Today is currently looking for new advertising representatives. If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to contact@ sanpedrotoday.com.

Joshua J. Stecker Lori Garrett

Joseph A. Castañeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS

Ryan Bullock, Sanam Lamborn, Mike Lansing, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Angela Romero, Sophie Schoenfeld, Jamaal K. Street, Sophia Ungaro, Lee Williams

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Mattera Photography

CONTACT INFO:

Phone: (424) 224-9063 Email: contact@sanpedrotoday.com San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168 San Pedro, CA 90733

VOLUME 13 | NUMBER 3

General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

EMPIRE22 MEDIA LLC OWNER/PUBLISHER Joshua J. Stecker

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

by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media. 25,000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today. Copyright 2009-2021, Empire22 Media LLC.

ON THE COVER: Raul Morales and Kevin Carle, co-owners of Calimucho Screen Printing. Poster design by Boss Dog. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

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VOICES

WIDE AWAKE WITHOUT EVER BEING WOKE

by Steve Marconi

My wife says I was born old, which was meant as an insult when she said it 20 years ago, but, having just turned 70, it’s a viewpoint I can now fully embrace.

She’s also said — having heard one more complaint about the state of San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, the country, and the world in general — that I probably would have been happier if I’d lived in a different time.

That’s never bothered me because as a self-confessed curmudgeon, I tend to agree with her; I’ve often said while stuck in traffic that I’d prefer riding a horse.

I think my wife’s perceptions are mostly influenced by my cultural tastes, which lean toward old movies (think Casablanca), old music (big band, crooners, Broadway, Patsy Cline, the oldies), and a circle of friends that in-

cludes a large number of old-timers (as in older than me). It may also be that much of my free time involves history — either reading or researching — and genealogy.

Spending so much time in the past, however, doesn’t mean I’m not interested in the present or concerned about the future; I’m too much of a realist to have a bucket list, but I have a long list of things I’d like to do and accomplish.

And while I certainly don’t feel 70 — I’m relatively healthy and in the midst of my second career as a longshoreman — and I pray I’ll be around a lot longer, I’m always mindful of my wife’s airport analogy: I haven’t taken off yet, but I’m on the tarmac.

That being said, the current political environment has led me to understand for the first time why some people think they’ve lived too long. Who would have ever believed they’d live to see a time when people would lose their jobs for voicing an opinion or saying something that makes someone feel “uncomfort-

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theories based on pseudoscience. Of course, that comes from 32 years’ experience as a reporter and editor back when newspapers still had some integrity and objectivity. Newspapers were once the bulwark in defense of the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom of assembly, and the right to bear arms; no longer. It is the media that has allowed, even supported, censorship by Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube of what they consider “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “offensive,” “harmful,” “hurtful,” or “inciteful” language.

News flash for Mark Zuckerbeg, Jack Dorsey, and Jeff Bezos: The First Amendment was meant to protect even so-called hate speech; King George III would have considered much of our founding fathers’ rhetoric hateful, or at the least, a microaggression. Way back in the ‘60s, when liberals led the free speech movement on college campuses, you’d often hear, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” My, how times have changed.

The libraries can move George Orwell’s dystopian classic, 1984, from the fiction to the nonfiction section — if it isn’t burned first. The author, who in 1949 predicted a future of doublespeak and thought police, has proved to be a prophet.

You know, when I was a kid, when we heard something ridiculous or crazy, we’d say it was Looney Tunes.

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able?” The cancel culture, the “woke” mentality, and the suppression of free speech by Big Tech has Mr. Santschi rolling over in his grave. (And if you don’t know who Mr. Santschi is, ask your boomer parents who attended San Pedro High.)

It’s scary times for people like myself, who have strong opinions. Fortunately, if you’re reading this, it means I haven’t been canceled — yet. It may not be long, however, before someone uncovers my old tweets from the ‘60s and discovers that while growing up, I was a fan of Dr. Seuss, Mr. Potato Head, Speedy Gonzales, and Pepe Le Pew, which reinforced my latent racism and misogyny; that I took biology classes where science taught me there were only two genders, making me transphobic; and that I watched Gone With the Wind without a disclaimer telling me slavery was bad, which supported my white supremacist viewpoints. And I sure wished I had Bill Gates as a geometry teacher instead of Mr. Iverson, because Lord knows my white privilege never helped come test time.

That is how the woke crowd thinks, even though none of it is true of me and probably 90 percent of you reading this.

Unfortunately, we live in a time where the other 10 percent — which includes our educational elite, a good portion of our politicians, and almost all of the celebrity mob — get all the media attention, mainly because the mainstream media are part of that 10 percent.

(Am I canceled yet?)

I’ve never been accused of being politically correct; I disdain euphemisms.

Unlike many in the woke universe, I don’t believe the meaning of words should depend on how often they’re used or political bias or half-cocked

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APRIL 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9

VOICES

IMAGINE

by Mike Lansing

“Imagine all the people living life in peace.” - John Lennon Exactly 50 years ago, John Lennon released his iconic song “Imagine” to the world. As a huge Beatles/Lennon fan while attending San Pedro High School, I immediately gravitated toward John’s hopeful message. And given my generation’s almost collective hatred of the Vietnam War, we rallied around Lennon’s anti-war protest lyrics even with this stanza’s somewhat controversial ending line: “Imagine there’s no countries/It isn’t hard to do/Nothing to kill or die for/And no religion too.”

Overall, my generation saw the song as a clarion call for a better world for all people, even if our parents and the political establishment did not.

Fifty years later — with a self-

imposed unrest due to questionable politics, as well as our unprecedented pandemic — we need to imagine how we can truly make our community, country, and world a better place for all, without trying to demonize that collective commitment for good.

“Imagine all the people sharing all the world.”

Imagine if we never had to subject our children to “virtual” schools?

Imagine if there were no Proud Boys, Antifa, QAnon, white supremacists, or other hate groups? Imagine our children reading an actual book rather than staring at a computer for six or more hours each day? Imagine if we were all gender-supportive, religioustolerant, immigrant-reasonable, and racially-accepting? Imagine if we would all listen to the scientists rather than self-serving politicians, and we all continued to wear our masks and took

the vaccine? Imagine everyone having an opportunity to attend college, with enough individualized support to make the right choice about whether or not to attend? Imagine if every member of Congress and their staff had to rely on a stimulus check to survive — how would they all vote? Imagine if we didn’t have to worry about having a job, where we would sleep, or where our next meal would come from? (Low-income jobs are not supposed to return in full until 2024.)

“Imagine no possessions/I wonder if you can/No need for greed or hunger/A brotherhood of man.”

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, we imagined ways we could greatly expand our normal services to be even more supportive of our youth and families during this unprecedented time. I am so thankful for our board of directors who agreed to what we are still sponsoring today and for our many donors/investors who helped make these expanded efforts possible.

FULL-DAY PROGRAM: Starting day one of the current school year, we opened our seven traditional club sites for full-day and free in-person engagement, providing internet connectivity, academic assistance, daily enrichment activities, and social/emotional support for over 500 K-8 students.

BOOKSTORE ON WHEELS: We secured over 25,000 new books and converted one of our busses to a traveling bookstore, as we distribute books at holiday events to children served by other nonprofits and soon at all schools as they partially reopen later this month.

COLLEGE BOUND: Even though high schools have been closed since last March, our College Bound staff have worked daily to support the best college pathway for hundreds of high school students. Last June, 646 of our 650 seniors graduated on time, 582 were enrolled in college in the fall, and we helped them secure $8.16 million in scholarships and federal funding.

Even with high schools closed this entire school year, we have had 1,146 high school students and 606 seniors participating both in person and virtually in our weekly workshops, Google classroom tutorial sessions, SAT prep, writer’s workshops, and college, scholarship, and FAFSA application consultations, and each is supported by their personal one-on-one academic case manager.

WEEKEND WELLNESS: Last July, we initiated this food assistance program which provides all meals for all family members from Friday evening through Sunday night. We began with 250 families, and the demand grew weekly. Today, we are providing 1,200 families (a nearly 400% increase) over 40,000 meals each Friday evening, keeping families well throughout the weekend. This is a one million dollar increase to our annual budget — money very well spent.

“You may say I’m a dreamer/But I’m not the only one/I hope some day you’ll join us/And the world will be as one.” spt

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

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VOICES

WHEN WILL THE PIER, KOREAN BELL, AND FOUNTAIN REOPEN?

by Jennifer Marquez The Cabrillo Beach Pier closed a year ago when COVID deaths were high.

Months later, it was deemed safe by the County of Los Angeles Public Health department to open the beaches and piers. However, the Cabrillo Beach Pier remained closed by the City of Los Angeles. In addition, the Korean Bell parking lot gate has been shut for a year and still is not open.

The Cabrillo Beach Pier is managed and controlled by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP). They also manage the Venice Beach Pier, which is also closed. As of March 2021, the RAP website states that there are mandatory citywide closure notices for parks and beaches per the County of Los Angeles Public Health orders to contain COVID. Emails from the County of Los Angeles Public Health contradict what the City

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The Korean Bell of Friendship parking lot has been closed for a year. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

is stating and point out that their own piers, including Redondo and Santa Monica, have been open for months.

The County has stated that from the Health Officer Order perspective, the Cabrillo Beach Pier can open, but the decision is up to the City of Los Angeles.

In emails from the mayor’s office that question why the Cabrillo Beach Pier closed, they replied, saying it is due to construction at the beginning of COVID. The Harbor Department states there was no construction on the pier during that time. The mayor’s office also said the pier was closed due to overcrowding and community complaints. Historically, Cabrillo Beach is not a crowded pier. It is used by people who walk and fisherman who typically stay over six feet apart, so their lines don’t tangle. Since the pier

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has been closed, fishermen have been using other areas at Cabrillo Beach to fish, often where people are swimming, creating other hazards.

Meanwhile, RAP put in a request to the Harbor Department in March 2021 (after the pier had been closed for a year) to access and repair any tripping hazards on the pier. The Harbor Department found minor issues that they are working on and predict it will take a few weeks to repair. Meanwhile, RAP will not yellow tape the tripping hazards but instead decided to keep the pier closed.

Subsequently, in emails to RAP asking why the Korean Bell parking lot has been closed for nearly a year, RAP replied it was due to overcrowding complaints in the parking lot. They also stated it was extremely difficult to limit patrons and achieve physical, social

distancing. As a result of the parking lot being closed, only people who can climb a steep hill or hop a fence can use the park. This park is not accessible to people with physical disabilities with the parking lot closed, and increased parking issues impact local neighborhoods.

The Gateway Fanfare Fountain on Harbor Boulevard was taken out of service by the port in October 2019 for routine maintenance. After further investigation, it was determined the fountain needed extensive repairs. The water feature walls were degrading and cracking, leaving the fountain vulnerable to mold, mildew, water leaks, and deterioration. Repairs were delayed even more by COVID and ongoing staffing issues in the Construction Management Division. The Harbor Commission approved the contract for repairs in November 2020. Work is expected to begin in March and be completed in six months.

People in the community have contacted our local officials concerned about the closure of the pier and the Korean Bell and have not received a response. These are important things to remember in future local elections. The City of Los Angeles continues to block public access to the Korean Bell and the pier when the County states they are safe to open. Closing piers and parks that the City can fit a fence across while ignoring constituents’ concerns is not a productive direction for San Pedro to be headed. The City has not provided any information on when the pier and Korean Bell parking lot will open. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.

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APRIL 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 13

VOICES

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST?

by Lee Williams Vaccinations are slowly becoming more available, COVID numbers are dropping, and restrictions are beginning to lift.

Right now, we are in the “red” or “substantial risk” tier on the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy chart. If we remain vigilant, we could be deemed “orange” or “moderate risk” in a few short weeks.

Which brings us to one question: What are you looking forward to doing most in San Pedro?

I’m not talking about hugs with friends, visiting family, or traveling on vacation. Those are a given. What do you want to do most, right now, in

14 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I APRIL 2021

San Pedro, that we couldn’t do a few months ago?

Before the pandemic, the growing trends were leading us to become homebodies. People increasingly wanted to grab takeout on the way home and chill in front of the TV. One silver lining in all of this is more people yearning for the social aspect of our existence. Grabbing a bite together, meeting up for exercise, and stopping for drinks or coffee are things we are unlikely to continue to take for granted.

I can’t wait to take my lady out for date night — dinner at La Bocca Felice and dancing at the Grand Annex or Godmothers. Meeting friends at Compagnon Wine Bistro for dinner and a spectacular wine before heading over to the Warner Grand for a performance from Encore Theatre Group. I can’t wait

to walk along 6th or 7th Street on First Thursday, trying to recognize friends behind masks. These are the things I think about the most.

I’ve been boring people for weeks, asking for and sharing ideas on what activities we should make happen as soon as we are able. Here are the most random, non-vetted, I’m-probablygoing-to-get-in-trouble-for-printing ideas we could come up with.

Do you miss going to the movies?

Paying way too much for popcorn and having to remember to grab candy on the way to the theater are things people are looking forward to. Some movies are simply best viewed on the big screen. Not having to share an armrest with a stranger is just another example of how COVID spacing may have helped. The La-Z-Boy store in Torrance is having a renovation sale. We should get together, buy all of their existing inventory, and sponsor movie nights next to the USS Iowa. Our favorite pizza shops like Big Nick’s, Buono’s, Dominick’s, and Sorrento’s, along with sandwich shops Sandwich Saloon and Busy Bee, could take turns delivering dinner on TV trays. On some nights, we make it 21 and over so San Pedro Brewing Co. and Brouwerji West can serve you without having to leave your seat.

To get rid of the “Quarantine-15,” I suggest the San Pedro Triathlon. We start at Heyday Elite Fitness at 8th and Palos Verdes for some stretching, weightlifting, and CrossFit. Then it’s a 1K jog to All Fit’s new location on

6th Street across from the Warner Grand. There, we do some cardio and kickboxing. Everyone who finishes can gather at NUDA Juice & Wellness Shop for medals, t-shirts, and to buy each other smoothies.

I really miss the San Pedro walking tours Angela Romero conducts to share San Pedro’s history. I would love to meet at Siren’s Java & Tea, jump on one of the PBID trolleys, and tour the San Pedro waterfront to learn more about the roots of San Pedro industries of the past and present, and then point out some of the development, jobs, and renovations that will be a part of the future of San Pedro.

We will need to remain in masks for a bit longer, vaccinated or not. It is important we stop the spread of COVID and continue to move forward toward a more open economy. So far, knock on wood, it looks like we are doing what it takes to get there. Now is the time to come up with some fun ideas so when it is safe, we can get back together in interesting ways with a new appreciation for our time together in the town that we love. Feel free to email me (leewilliams@kw.com) or San Pedro Today (contact@sanpedrotoday.com) with your ideas, and I’ll be sure to share them. spt Lee Williams is board chair of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and leads The Williams Group at Keller Williams PV Realty. He can be reached at leewilliams@kw.com.

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EAT IN SAN PEDRO

Since I started Eat in San Pedro, I have discovered many people in our town who are doing remarkable things. A column idea was born last month when I found myself with a breakfast made entirely with ingredients purchased from independent entities in San Pedro.

I’d like to introduce you to the people who have made my breakfasts hyperlocal.

El Camino College Journalism Professor Kate McLaughlin started San Pedro Sourdough, a nano-breadery, out of her triple-wide trailer during summer 2019. Although she and I teach in the Humanities Division, we didn’t meet until a year ago through a mutual colleague, which is when I was introduced to her bread. I fell in love at first bite. The organic bread flour and the California-grown grains she mills are the ingredients that make her loaves special. Two types of bread are offered each week: the staple Country Loaf and ever-changing creative combinations such as rye and caraway seed, rosemary and polenta, and the occasional seaweed she harvests from our shores.

Her bread is also incorporated in some of the dishes at Compagnon Wine Bistro. San Pedro Sourdough is available at The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th Street) on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. or via preorder from Green Girl Farms at green-girl-farms.square.site.

The highlight of my visit to the San Pedro Farmers Market at Little Italy is purchasing fresh eggs from Gama Farms. I am told a family member is a San Pedro resident, so purchases from this vendor are extra special for me.

The chickens are fed vegetables, alfalfa, and fruit, resulting in tastier eggs than their supermarket counterparts.

Clockwise l to r: Cold brew from Trinity CBC; jams and jellies from Paradise Preserves; fresh eggs from Gama Farms; a hyperlocal breakfast complete with a loaf from San Pedro Sourdough and fruit from the Garden Swap. (photos: Sanam Lamborn)

THE HYPERLOCAL BREAKFAST

by Sanam Lamborn

On a recent visit, I also bought Gama Farms’ multi-colored potatoes which are delicious. Additionally, I purchased fresh strawberries and blueberries from another vendor to enjoy with my breakfast. The San Pedro Farmers Market is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and located at 639 S. Beacon Street.

Sunny-side up Gama Farms eggs on San Pedro Sourdough bread is heavenly, but you know what else is delicious?

Bread, butter, and jam! Paradise Preserves, located inside Crafted at the Port of L.A., is my go-to place when I need jam or jellies. Owner/San Pedro resident Carey McMillan creates selections such as Song of Solomon pomegranate, kumquat marmalade, and Elaine’s garden Limoncello, all of which are made with fruit harvested from trees in San Pedro. The latter is made with Meyer lemons from her neighbor’s tree, and it’s my favorite. Crafted is

open Friday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at 112 E. 22nd Street.

Trinity CBC, a third-wave coffee roasting company established in 2019

by San Pedro resident Paul Bobadilla, completes any hyperlocal breakfast. The specialty-grade coffee beans are sourced seasonally and small-batch roasted weekly for maximum freshness and flavor. Through my subscription, I receive a bag of coffee delivered by Bobadilla himself every other week. The beans are ground to my preference depending on my needs for espresso or drip coffee.

On a recent drop off, I gifted him a bag of oranges from my tree. Much to my delight, he used them in his unique Café de Olla cold brew which is a traditional Mexican hot coffee drink infused with cinnamon, sugar, orange peel, and clove. Drinking tasty coffee and supporting someone’s passion fills me with joy. To order coffee or cold brews, visit

trinitycbc.com.

Speaking of locally harvested fruit, we have an abundance of options in our town. Many of us who own fruit trees or grow vegetables meet every month at the Garden Swap, an event founded in 2019 by San Pedro resident and avid gleaner Army Linderborg. Her passion for collecting surplus fruit from trees and sharing led her to start a monthly event. I love attending the swaps because I meet others who live here and come home with delicious produce. The Garden Swap happens every third Sunday of the month from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m in front of NUDA Juice and Wellness Shop located at 407 W. 6th Street. spt Sanam Lamborn created the Eat in San Pedro Facebook group and Instagram account in April 2020 to entice people to patronize San Pedro’s eateries.

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THE LOCAL SCREEN PRINTING BUSINESS LAUNCHES ITS SECOND ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, BENEFITTING SMALL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, AND INDEPENDENT ARTISTS

by Joshua Stecker

CALIMUCHO'S CALLING Raul Morales and Kevin Carle, co-owners of Calimucho Screen Printing, hold this year's TWAS campaign poster, designed by artist Boss Dog. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

It started because everything else stopped.

That’s how Kevin Carle, co-owner of Calimucho Screen Printing, explains the motivation behind the launch of last year’s Together We Are Stronger fundraising campaign, an eight-month t-shirt promotion that raised more than $75,000 for local small businesses, nonprofits, and independent artists. The program was so successful that Carle and Calimucho co-owner, Raul Morales, are preparing to launch a second annual version of it this month.

“We came in [to work] that Friday [in March 2020] before the shutdown, and we had about four jobs to run that were all event-oriented,” explains Carle, “and we had a choice to print, knowing that those events weren’t going to happen and those people were going to be sitting on stuff, or call our customers and see what they wanted to do. And they all canceled their jobs.”

The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Calimucho quickly. In the span of five hours that Friday afternoon, the screen printing company’s entire job slate disappeared. While grocery stores were running out of toilet paper and dine-in restaurants were scrambling to convert themselves to takeout only, the guys at Calimucho, like most small business owners during the early days of the pandemic, were 18 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I APRIL 2021

fearing for their future. “[We were] just wondering what was next,” says Morales. “It was real really fast. We thought we were going to be another one of the businesses to fall by the wayside.”

It was only three years ago that the two friends and business partners decided to open a professional workshop on the corner of 15th and Centre Street after running the screen printing business out of their homes for 14 years. The duo had already developed a positive reputation in the community, establishing themselves within the local indie music, art, and skateboarding scenes to become the new go-to business for custom-printed t-shirts and posters. They didn’t want to see all that hard work and goodwill go to waste.

Since printing services are considered an essential business, Calimucho was able to stay open, even though the last thing people were doing at this moment was ordering custom t-shirts in bulk. For some reason, the guys needed to prove why a screen printing service would be considered essential during a pandemic. And how could they turn that importance into revenue to save their business?

As fate would have it, the answer would come via an email.

BECOMING ESSENTIAL The Roman philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” For the Calimucho guys, luck arrived in the form of a group email with other screen printers.

“We were all on a group email that was pretty active at that time,” explains Carle, 42, “and one of the shops that is very forward-thinking wrote the whole group and said, ‘Hey, we started this community store where we’re giving $10 for each shirt [sold]. Nobody’s putting up the money; we’re just giving money.’ And they said, ‘I highly suggest you do it.’ Then another shop did it from that group, and I was like, ‘Hey, how’d that go? I think we’re going to do it.’ And they’re like, ‘Do it now.’”

The idea was simple. Calimucho would produce custom-designed t-shirts for local small businesses, nonprofits, and artists and sell them online for a limited time. Each shirt would sell for $25, with $10 going to the respective entity for each shirt sold. The entity would help promote their shirt the best way they could, while Calimucho would handle the materials, printing, fulfillment, and shipping costs. The rest was profit.

“It started as COVID relief. The [initial idea] was to reach out to people closest to us who were hurting, too.

Artist friends and other small business owners,” explains Carle.

“And musicians,” adds Morales, 43.

“When you run a business like ours, you become friends with a lot of other businesses, and a lot of them are bars, restaurants, bands, and events,” continues Carle. “They all lost at the same time. So, it was like, how can we do this together?”

The first people they approached were Todd Congelliere and Isaac Thotz, musicians and co-owners of The Sardine, the music club and bar that was shut down immediately at the start of the pandemic and only recently reopened for outdoor dining. (See San Pedro Today, March 2020 cover story.)

“They’re one of the first because they’re near and dear to us,” says Carle, a fellow musician. “We did a shirt that was a play on one of Todd’s old pro skateboard decks.”

Carle and Morales went to the shop that first weekend in quarantine and put together a list of people on their whiteboard that they thought needed help, including artists they knew were also out of work. They sent an email to that list, explaining the details and calling the campaign Together We Are Stronger to show solidarity with San Pedro’s small business community, which has noticeably struggled throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

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“We created an email to explain what we were doing, that we were going to sell shirts for $25,” remembers Carle.

“They cost about $3 and some change [for us] to buy, and cost about $3 to $4 to ship. We’ll give you guys $10 for every shirt sold. We’ll keep the rest, which was like about six bucks.”

The response was immediate and positive.

“People really liked the idea,” says Morales. “The people that got it quickly were on board.”

The initial launch began with six original t-shirt designs. By the time the campaign ended in November, they had produced more than one hundred.

of May, the country’s social climate had changed. While the coronavirus pandemic was still ravaging the country and L.A. County was still under quarantine, George Floyd’s killing on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while in police custody, sparked a summer of social unrest, protests, and riots. Soon, the Together We Are Stronger tagline was being adopted by independent artists who began designing t-shirts for various social causes and nonprofit organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and Black Lives Matter.

“That’s when Together We Are Stronger turned into something else.

That’s when it wasn’t just COVID relief; it was social causes now,” remem-

loved doing was taken away. So, one day, we’re sitting around having beers after work, our printer Anthony was like, ‘Hey, why don’t we do a livestream, live screen printing?’ Kind of like a joke.”

That joke turned into Print and Destroy, a livestream event over Twitch and Zoom that featured more than 50 segments, including live screen printing, Claymation, as well as pre-recorded music performances by local bands, like punk rock legend Mike Watt and his Secondmen.

“It was beautiful. A month leading up to that, we set up recording gear [in the shop] and recorded live sets of bands,” says Morales, adding that they were

businesses, nonprofits, and independent artists.

ROUND TWO A year later, and 2021 looks a lot different than 2020, especially for Calimucho. While vaccinations are ramping up and hopes are high that the end of the pandemic is near, San Pedro’s small businesses, as well as its nonprofits and local artists, are still hurting. Knowing how much the first campaign helped their friends and others in the community, it was a no-brainer for the Calimucho duo to bring back a new edition of Together We Are Stronger for 2021.

This year’s campaign, which will again launch online on April 1 at FINDING THE FORMULA calimucho.printavo.com/merch/ The Together We Are Stronger together-we-are-stronger-2021/, online store launched on April 1, will feature custom-designed 2020 and was an immediate hit. t-shirts, as well as posters and A poster designed by artist Mean merchandise. The new logo for Machine featuring the campaign’s 2021, featured on this month’s first logo was suddenly plastered cover, was designed by artist Boss all over town and on social media.

Dog. The online store’s content is The more people asked about it, constantly changing since t-shirts the more awareness was being are only sold for a limited time, so raised. it’s worth visiting often. At this By mid-May, the shop was month’s launch, organizations slammed. The duo hired two partsupported include Mental Health time workers while they were America of Los Angeles and Save busy learning new skills, like how Music In Chinatown. The list will to create and run an online store certainly grow larger as the year and develop a fulfillment system, progresses. And for those who all on the fly. Both features have missed out on last year’s shirts, become staples of their business they’re offering a Mystery Tote today. bag that includes three over“May is when it was like, whoa, stocked t-shirts from 2020 and a this is crazy,” remembers Carle. tote for $25.

When we launched the store, Before the pandemic, Calimwe thought that maybe we’d sell ucho was just a screen printing $10,000 worth of shirts total sold, company. Today, in addition to at most. And within the first t-shirt and poster orders, they’re week, we had sold like $20,000 running multiple online stores and worth of shirts or something. It doing fulfillment, something they was nuts.” never thought they’d add to their Local businesses like Colossus list of services.

Bread, Hollywood Dolls Beauty “Something we talked about for Salon, and The Sardine, and nonyears that we could never wrap profits like the San Pedro Heritage our head around was how do we Museum, San Pedro Meals on make screen printing part of the Wheels, Marine Mammal Care community? How do we make it Center, and the Cabrillo Marine give back?” says Carle. “I feel reAquarium gift shop all got in on ally lucky that it presented itself, 2021 TWAS (So Far) (clockwise l to r): 2021 TWAS logo by artist Boss Dog; the Linda Lindas; the 2020 the action and had shirts prothat that’s how we do it now. Now TWAS logo by artist Mean Machine; Joey Ramone by artist Sarah T. (photos: courtesy Calimucho) duced. we know how to give back to the “I have been a Calimucho fan community. We like to give back. bers Carle. extra cautious and followed all COVID So, if we can do that with people, let’s from the beginning, staying connected “We were getting approached by safety protocols while recording. with everything they were printing on keep doing that.” artists who had other organizations Print and Destroy aired November social media,” says Angela Romero, He adds, “We have our community they wanted us to support, aside from 13, 2020, on the company’s third anfounder of the San Pedro Heritage here in San Pedro that we’re very proud the money going to them or a business,” niversary. That week, they were able Museum and a San Pedro Today conto be a part of, but the screen printing to raise $15,000 in donations for local tributor. “When they came out with the adds Morales. community is big and giving, and that artists.

Together We Are Stronger campaign, I really showed itself.” spt thought it was such a cool community- PRINT & DESTROY “It was ambitious of us. We had minded project. A win-win for them You can find all the Together We As summer turned into fall, and never done anything like that,” says and for artists. When I saw that they Are Stronger merchandise at: with no end to the pandemic in sight, Morales. “Big thanks to Rob Crawford opened it up to nonprofits, I wanted to calimucho.printavo.com/merch/ the guys at Calimucho decided they and April Jones, who helped out a lot. get involved just to be a part of such a together-we-are-stronger-2021/. needed a break. They concluded the first Tito, as well.” positive collective.”

Follow the campaign on Instagram Together We Are Stronger campaign as “We did it like old school telethon According to Romero, her nonprofit one does in the age of COVID: with a style. People weren’t able to call in, but @togetherwearestronger2021. earned “a couple hundred dollars” off livestream online event. we had a live host. All the videos were their shirt, which featured the old LochFor more info on Calimucho Screen “We missed live printing, for one, pre-recorded content,” explains Carle. mann Farms Drive-In Dairy logo.

Printing, visit calimuchohq.wordwhere we like to go out in public and The event concluded the first ToWhile the campaign’s initial success live print at events,” explains Carle. gether We Are Stronger campaign, rais- press.com, or call (310) 241-3469. was a welcome surprise, things were Instagram: @calimucho_sanpedro.

“That aspect of our business that we ing more than $75,000 for local small about to get even crazier. By the end 20 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 21

FEATURE

If the pandemic’s desolation is relaying any particular message, it is to rely on the innovation and kindness of our neighbors.

San Pedro native and Holy Trinity and Mary Star of the Sea High School alumna Alexis Geich is one of these neighbors. After graduating from UCLA, Geich, 23, began working in a hospital while applying to medical schools. She quickly realized the adverse side effects of consistent maskwearing. However, she saw a solution.

“We had to wear N95 [masks], which kill your ears, so I decided to learn how to sew button bands,” Geich says. She took trendy headbands of all colors and varieties and attached buttons on the ends to make mask-wearing less uncomfortable, successfully combining fashion with safety. Thus, Uniform Mask Saver was born.

What started as a hobby began to spread like wildfire. Geich began to sell the bands to save money for her future education and give back to the communities she credits for her success.

“Everyone knows everyone, it’s such a small world, but in San Pedro, we’re all interconnected somehow,” Geich remarks. “San Pedro is a place where I feel so comfortable, so loved and supported.”

While the handmade buttoned headbands are available for purchase to all community members, Geich’s fondness for her hometown led her to prioritize helping Mary Star and Holy Trinity with COVID regulations. “I knew [button bands] would help the kids going back to school because they’re going to be sitting there all day, and with a mask, that’s a big adjustment,” says Geich. “I’ve had so many heartwarming messages from teachers, principals, and parents who continue to order and

COVID FASHION: BUTTON BANDS ALEXIS GEICH TURNS PANDEMIC REQUIREMENTS INTO STYLISH ACCESSORIES

by Sophia Ungaro

Alexis Geich

(photo: John Mattera Photography)

San Pedro. “Alexis, as an [alumna] of spread the word. Because it’s helped Holy Trinity, reflects well on both [the their kids so much is the most rewardschool] and the San Pedro community,” ing part.” Furthermore, Geich donates Wiley says. “We are such a family here.

20% of her sales back to Holy Trinity I think people will and Mary Star to go always respond in a directly to financial aid very favorable way to and scholarship funds. alumni.”

Another central Moreover, in true goal of the button San Pedro fashion, bands is to ease maskGeich’s business is a wearing for athletes. family affair. Geich’s Geich is reaching out younger sister Vanessa to the high school plays a prominent role sports teams in the in Uniform Mask South Bay and making Saver. Vanessa cursweat-resistant bands, rently attends Palos so players can adapt to Verdes High School wearing a mask during but is also a gradutheir respective sports. ate of Holy Trinity “I played sports in elementary school. She high school, so I can’t Uniform Mask Saver button band. loves working with her even imagine playing (photo: Uniform Mask Saver) sister. with a mask,” Geich says.

“I’m more behind the scenes,” admits “But it’s important to keep you safe Vanessa. “I help out with social media, during those times.” and I cut the fabric.” Vanessa is the Geich connected closely with her social media page’s face, modeling in former principal at Holy Trinity, Dr. most of the photos on the Uniform Linda Wiley, to help spread the word Mask Saver Instagram page. “We’re about her business. Wiley reconnected with Geich virtually but noted her suc- here to give back and help anybody cess goes hand-in-hand with being from because I know everybody is struggling

during these hard times.”

Additionally, both sisters enjoy watching students’ stress ease due to their button bands. “It’s so rewarding to see that we’re helping others be able to [play sports] by keeping everybody safe, and at the same time, helping my sister conquer her dreams of being in the medical field by giving back and raising all this money,” adds Vanessa.

Geich plans on passing the business down to Vanessa when she starts medical school. Vanessa is up for the challenge, confident that San Pedro will continue to allow Uniform Mask Saver to thrive. “I feel so encouraged, and everybody has each other’s back. If you were ever in trouble or needed advice, anybody’s there for you [in San Pedro],” Vanessa says. “If I needed to ask my neighbor for eggs, they’d be more than happy to [share]. Not every [place] is like that.” spt For more information on the specialty headbands and how to place an order, visit Uniform Mask Saver on Instagram @uniformmasksaver or instagram.com/uniformmasksaver.

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HISTORY

TELL THE WORLD ABOUT SAN PEDRO

by Angela Romero

For a San Pedro historian, I did not have a very “Pedro” upbringing. My San Pedro awakening was so quick and immersive that I can hardly remember what I knew or felt before I started learning.

The only feeling I do remember is perfectly illustrated by a story I’ve told many times before, involving my friend, Lizzie Piper. I met Lizzie in junior high at Dodson. She had just moved here from Scotland, and she had a fantastic accent. One of the first things I asked Lizzie was, “How did you find us?” As far as I was concerned, San Pedro was a sleepy hamlet invisible to the outside world, full of people who were happy never to have to leave. While we’ve taken the never wanting to leave to new heights in the last year, it is apparent that I had zero clue about San Pedro’s role in the grand scheme of history or global commerce.

In my studies over the last ten years, I have come across many similar examples of people who felt San Pedro was essentially invisible and did their best to get the word out. These promotional campaigns were often championed by local businesses who knew that relying on the local consumer base wasn’t sustainable; they needed to attract people from out of town.

One of those efforts was the “Tell the World About San Pedro” campaign, which began in 1920. There were a lot of objectives to this campaign. First, to combat the push for local identity erasure proposed by changing San Pedro’s name to Los Angeles Harbor (see “The San Pedro Identity,” San Pedro Today, 24 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I APRIL 2021

The “Tell the World About San Pedro” t-shirt design for the San Pedro Heritage Museum's next Heritage Tee for this year's Together We Are Stronger campaign. (photo: San Pedro Heritage Museum)

March 2021). Second, to finally claim all of the thriving industries that called San Pedro home, like the lumber that built most of Los Angeles, the tuna canneries, fishing fleet, shipbuilders, trade, and being home to the Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Finally, town leaders wanted to attract more people to live here. The campaign’s secondary tagline promoted San Pedro as a “safe place in which to harbor.” In other words, the campaign tried to sell San Pedro as a place to make a home. San Pedro, like most of Southern California, was experiencing a housing shortage. The Navy needed homes for their officers and sailors with families, so there was added pressure to get homes built. More San Pedrans meant more customers for businesses and more tax dollars for the city of L.A. It also meant more votes for San Pedro’s interests.

From the 1920s through the 1930s,

booster campaigns like these were usually promoted by groups that fell under the label of “progressive.”

Progressive is a loaded political term, and this was especially true in the 1920s, which was part of the Progressive Era of American history, including industrialization and political reform. Because these progressive groups were essentially filled with local merchants, the segment of progressivism they were pushing was the mass consumerism that became the norm at this time. This capitalistic force would remain in San Pedro and pop up from time to time under different titles. We’re more familiar with them as revitalization or redevelopment. Often, they hurt the town more than they helped.

As many instances as I’ve found of San Pedrans feeling unseen, I have seen just as many stories of individuals

feeling as if they have discovered San Pedro. One famous story is that of George H. Peck, an engineer for the Southern Pacific, who was on the first train into San Pedro. San Pedro wasn’t even a city yet, and all of San Pedro Hill was open and undeveloped. Peck saw San Pedro’s potential to be a great port city and helped it grow into that vision.

My favorite stories of San Pedro discovery are of those who decide to move here because of some feeling they can’t quite articulate, the San Pedro vibe. I wholeheartedly believe that San Pedro speaks to people; Yolanda Regalado would call it San Pedro’s siren song.

Like the “Tell the World About San Pedro” campaign, the San Pedro call always looks for people who get the town and want to make their home here.

People who want to learn all about it, raise their families here, and continue the hominess that we’re famous for.

That’s why I am such a huge fan of San Pedro’s transplants; they don’t take this town for granted and want to tell the world about San Pedro. So whether you heard the call or dug the vibe, I’m glad you found us. spt If you would like to support the San Pedro Heritage Museum and wear some history at the same time, please consider purchasing the latest Heritage Tee design through Calimucho’s Together We Are Stronger campaign. This historical design for the “Tell the World About San Pedro” campaign is part of the birth of San Pedro's hometown pride. For more information on purchasing this shirt, follow the San Pedro Heritage Museum on Facebook and Instagram @sanpedroheritagemuseum.

Please join us on Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. for our Heritage at Home presentation, “The Birth of San Pedro Pride.” To participate, email angela@sanpedroheritage. org.

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SPORTS

THE RETURN OF PREP SPORTS

by Jamaal K. Street High school sports are coming back.

One year after the world of San Pedro prep sports played its last sporting events on March 11, 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic forced the abrupt shutdown of all sports across the nation days later, youth sports are starting to make a resurgence with the new County of Los Angeles Public Health guidelines in place. For now, only outdoor sports are good to go, with indoor sports slowly but gradually returning.

When the COVID-19 numbers continue to decrease, everything will be back to “normal.”

In the CIF-Los Angeles City Section, they have recently announced among many changes: the cross-country championships have been canceled due to the current L.A. County rules of no more than two teams in competition.

Both cross-country and water polo regular seasons have been extended to April 3 for any dual competition, a league scheduling decision.

Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will be permitted to play four football games on April 9, 16, 23, and 30 and have the option to play just league or nonleague games. Plus, girls volleyball has been moved to Season 2 and will be offering boys and girls outdoor grass volleyball to begin with hopes of moving back to indoors for the foreseeable future.

So with that being said, here are the top five teams to be on the lookout for in San Pedro.

1. SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL For the first time in recent years, the Pirates will be short on running back depth, especially with the graduation loss of former CIF-LACS Player of the Year Joshua Ward (UC Davis). That 26 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I APRIL 2021

San Pedro High senior quarterback Dylan Kordic and Mary Star High girls basketball senior guard Isabella Serrano. (photos: John Mattera Photography, Jamaal K. Street)

puts some emphasis on the passing attack, making senior quarterback Dylan Kordic (pictured) and wide receiver Joshua Johnson (Eastern Washington signee) a much more dangerous combination. Kordic and Johnson hooked up for touchdowns six times in 2019. The Pirates also return two more college bound All-City returning seniors in OL Kyle Keller (Drake) and one of the hardest hitters in town, DL Isaiah Howard (Midland). Don’t sleep on senior defensive back Richie Sanchez — three career pick-six touchdowns in two seasons. San Pedro reached the CIF-LACS Open Division semifinals in 2019 with a 10-2 record.

Miah Owens, infielder Brianna Ventura, and outfielder Lexi “Lu Lu” Deleon are also solid. Sophomore pitcher Layla Jelenic went 3-0 during the shortened 2020 season and could be fully unleashed in a normalized regular season.

talent remaining and senior leadership from the likes of infielder Cain Lusic, outfielders Jake Harper and Dominic Porter, along with Kordic at third base when he finishes up football season on April 30.

3. MARY STAR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL This one may be a surprise. If indoor sports return, and they eventually will, these Stars have a lot going for them.

Eight-year coach Victor Tuberosi just might have his best team yet, which is saying something considering the 20192020 team finally ended a near fourdecade wait of becoming a (Santa Fe) League champion. With senior guards 2. SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL Isabella Serrano (pictured), Kaitlyn OaSOFTBALL say, and Cristina Camacho, along with This could be a great first year of coach- talented sophomore G/F Bella Marconi ing at San Pedro for Leanna Flores, all returning, the Stars could be the considering the abundance of talent favorite to win the league outright. returning and the sudden wave of new talent arriving. Still, the Pirates will be 4. SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL built heavily on experience, and they BASEBALL have lots of it with seniors P/OF Kirstin The Pirates appear confident they Sanchez, second baseman Jo Jo Krause, can make another run at the Marine third baseman Sierra Sandoval, first League and CIF-Los Angeles City baseman Lexi Gallardo-Haage, and Section Open Division championships outfielder Makayla Martinez all return- despite so many graduation losses, but ing. Juniors P/OF Vanessa Reed, C/INF coach Steve Tedesco still has plenty of

5. MARY STAR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Fresh off a share of the Camino Real League championship in 2019, coach Jason Gelber and the Stars will begin their 2021 spring season on March 19 at St. Anthony in the Del Rey League, where Mary Star will be supremely tested squaring off against the likes of the Saints, Salesian, Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood, and La Salle of Pasadena.

HONORABLE MENTION TEAMS: San Pedro High Girls Soccer, Mary Star High Softball, Mary Star High Baseball.

Note: As of press time, there is no information from Port of Los Angeles High School in regard to whether or not they’re going to participate in any spring sports. spt

FITNESS

WHY DO PEOPLE FAIL?

by Ricky Magana Why do I work so hard but can’t ever seem to see any changes?

I was asked this the other day. It’s a question I’m frequently asked by those frustrated by their thwarted efforts to get fit, and even more so now, given the weird times we currently find ourselves in.

When the pandemic hit, it suddenly made getting in shape harder and easier at the same time. Harder because your usual routine was broken. The gym closed. You were stuck at home.

Suddenly you’re not having to move like you used to. But the silver lining is that with technology, fitness is quite literally at your fingertips in a way it has never been before. You can jump on a Peloton in the living room with a live DJ/cheerleader to motivate you, you can hire digital trainers, or you can enlist a remote nutritionist to write your meal plans and have all those meals delivered to your doorstep.

So why is it, pandemic or not, that so many fail on their quest for fitness?

How — in the age of information and in a society obsessed with health/fitness/ image — does it feel no easier today than it was last year or last decade?

In my experience, people who struggle to get and stay in shape usually fall into at least one of four categories.

Those who don’t know what to do. For some, the abundance of information and options isn’t liberating. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s overwhelming. Without the knowledge to separate the wheat from the chaff amidst the mountain of choices, it’s easy to feel paralyzed and ultimately do nothing.

Those who feel plateaued. Others feel stuck. What used to work no longer does. Either because what was working was only a short-term solution or because some other factor is at play and they don’t know how to work around and overcome it, like getting older or injured or some other variable of life. So they get discouraged and stop altogether.

Those who can’t stay motivated.

And then there are people who know exactly what to do but just can’t seem to get themselves to do it. They lack the motivation to keep going long enough to see the results they want, so

they play a constant game of one step forward, two steps back.

Some are just doing it wrong.

And finally, there are those who have all the motivation in the world but are applying it to incorrect methods.

Perhaps they’ve been convinced that some fad or miracle pill a snake oil influencer peddled on Instagram was the solution to their problem. And so they are running really fast in the wrong direction, ultimately leading themselves into a frustrating plateau (see above).

So what does one do when they feel like one or all of these apply to them and their efforts thus far have failed them?

The first step is to understand that all of these stumbling blocks stem from lacking four key ingredients needed for achieving dramatic results with fitness.

Clarity. In order to get where you want to go, you have to know where you want to go, why, and when you want to get there. This also means being clear on what you’re willing to give up in order to get it.

Structure. Once you know where you want to go, you need structure. One that has weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly benchmarks, clear pass/fail behaviors that will allow you to clearly move forward towards your goal each day/week/month/year.

Accountability. Once you have a structured plan in place, you need someone who is there to support, guide, and provide the course corrections needed to keep you on track and on the road to achieving your desired aim.

Community. And finally, you need to be surrounded by people all rowing in the same direction. Pain tolerance is higher in groups because people with similar goals push each other.

The tailwind effect can either pull you forward or backward, depending on who you decide to surround yourself with.

It’s these things that most people miss, and instead, they jump on the next fad of the month to get the results they want. So as we hopefully come out of the pandemic and into a semblance of normalcy, what approach will you take in your quest towards fitness? spt Ricky Magana is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.

APRIL 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 27

MENTAL HEALTH

DATING DRAMA OR COVID TRAUMA?

by Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT Are you obsessively looking at your phone every two minutes?

Checking your texts and missed calls? Reviewing the length of his/her texts versus yours and evaluating time lapses between responses to uncover hidden messages in these cryptic (or not so cryptic) communications? What happened? Wasn’t this supposed to be fun? You barely know this person. You are annoyed at yourself. You throw the phone away from you across the bed and try to distract yourself with a TV show, maybe read a book for God’s sake. Except you can’t focus. Your eyes dart to the screen of your phone once more; you pick it up and this time go browsing through your social media — here you are cyber stalking. You promised yourself you wouldn’t do it, but you just can’t help yourself. It’s been hours since you’ve heard back, and you are starting to crawl out of your skin.

You tell yourself you are having a moment, that there is a lucid self in there somewhere, telling you to relax, but you can’t. It’s like binge eating cookies

— you hate yourself and can’t stop at the same time. This irrational obsession makes you feel crazy, weak, broken.

It’s your dark secret you want to hide.

No one likes that, no one wants that.

You are sure to be abandoned again, rejected. Sound familiar?

This is often the dark truth behind new relationships; this is the unfun part of the “fun.” And you don’t know when and who will trigger it. You don’t know when it will strike you, but when it does, you are in its grip and who knows how deep this rabbit hole goes?

It really depends on your early attachment trauma and how secure you feel in yourself, how grounded you are. And now, for some good measure, let’s add COVID-19 to the equation, and here we have a whole new brand of attachment trauma altogether. Get ready for some dating drama.

The fact is liking someone is a risky business. It’s especially risky in the age of Tinder and Bumble, and now you are coming out of 12 months of pandemic

forward, that it would be normal for it to feel weird. We are awakening into a new world, unknown to us, after a year of forced isolation, self-reflection, self-assessment, boredom, too much time thinking, surviving, panicking, and for many, facing all of it alone. Your therapist was right — of course it is going to feel weird. You just discovered the definition of weird.

The feeling of safety in a relationship takes time and work. We have to show each other over time that we are safe, that our behaviors are predictable, that we separate and return, that we are held in each other’s minds even when we (photo: Josh Willink/pexels.com) are not together, that we are special and loved and cherished. This takes time, isolation. You stared into the abyss of and it can take extra time for those who loneliness with horror and drank your- have been abandoned by significant self to sleep while days blended into others, parents, lovers, and friends. weeks and months, and now you are re- Relationships can sometimes feel like emerging. It feels like learning to walk a never-ending string of rejections. Atagain. You’re wobbly, decrepit even, tachment anxiety in early stages of conless sure of yourself than you have ever nection is common; you are not alone. been perhaps. You never knew just how Post pandemic, we all desperately want lonely you could get, and you sure as to connect, feel each other embrace, and hell don’t ever want to feel that. And so, re-engage with one another. Our need you bravely attempt to greet the world to reinstate some sense of meaning is and meet new people. What a concept! magnified, hence, anxieties run high.

Take off your mask and sit at a table You just spent a year asking yourself: without getting blown to smithereens What is the point of all this? What is by the winter draft, yet it’s awkward, the meaning of life if we are to be alone it’s scary, it’s novel. Maybe you catch a and isolated? Who is really there for glimpse of the “quarantine 15” version us when we are in need? The traumatic of your reflection. Maybe you are still impact of this pandemic on individual fighting the panic of having lost your lives is very real, and the recovery will job or slowly trying to crawl out of take time. Be gentle, be kind, be patient. that hole we call depression. You fake a Spring is coming; it’s almost here! spt breaking smile, but are you entertaining enough? You look through and Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local beyond the person across from you; marriage and family therapist. For even the conversation feels surreal. more info, visit sophiemft.com.

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HEALTH

HEARING IN A PANDEMIC

by Dr. Ryan Bullock, AuD, FAAA Who would have predicted the world we knew would look so different one year later?

I recall a year ago thinking that 2020 was going to be a great year personally and professionally. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Indoor dining, social gatherings, house parties, international travel, etc. — everything stopped. In the beginning, we had no idea what the effects would be from this pandemic, and perhaps we still do not know what the long-term effects will be either. What we do know is that isolation has affected us all, and for some, much more than it has affected others. We are social creatures who need human interaction and communication.

We are not meant to live life alone and isolated. That is why Zoom, FaceTime, and just plain phone calls have been more important than ever.

These technologies have been essential in helping to bridge the connection gap in communicating with others, but they will never replace the real thing — faceto-face communication.

Over the past year, I have seen many similarities for those with hearing loss and the isolation we have faced during the pandemic. We often see that untreated hearing loss leads to further isolation because when you cannot hear the conversation well, especially in a group setting, a couple of things can happen. When you miss key sounds, it becomes difficult to keep up with the conversation. This can tire you out faster than someone with better hearing. As a result, you either stick with it and try harder, using more mental resources and strategies, or at a certain point, you may just give up and sit there, with no real idea of what is going on in the conversation.

People will only ask others to repeat themselves so many times before they tire of that strategy. In the end, we miss out and tend to avoid those situations altogether. Now try adding masks, which not only cover essential facial

cues needed for enhancing speech understanding but also muffle the high-frequency sounds that provide us with speech intelligibility. Add social distancing and background noise into the mix, and you can see why communication is impacted and why even those with normal hearing might have a hard time in these situations.

The pandemic has taught us that we need this human interaction, and we often want what we cannot have. Better therapeutics and vaccinations are being rolled out, and we are learning more and more about this virus every day.

This pandemic will end, and we will all be reunited soon.

Unfortunately, hearing loss is often permanent and will persist after the pandemic is over. If you have missed others and find that you cannot wait to be reunited but are unsure of how you are hearing, it is always a good idea to get a baseline test to see where you fall on the scale. Some hearing losses are not permanent and can be addressed by medication and/or surgery, and some are addressed by hearing technologies.

Either way, knowing where you stand will allow you to get the help you need to hear as best as you can when we are all back together again in person.

Some general tips for good communication, regardless of a pandemic, are to see people’s mouths (once the masks are gone), have people speak clearly and slowly (avoid shouting), and do not be afraid to let others know you may have trouble hearing — they will understand.

I think we all are reminded of the relationships and times we miss and how it is quite possible we have taken those moments for granted in the past.

We need each other. So my question to you is: When this is over (and it will be), who will you want to hug first?

Who will you want to laugh with?

Hearing is essential to communication.

Make sure when that day comes, you do not miss a word. spt Dr. Ryan Bullock, AuD, FAAA, is a board-certified audiologist and owner of Harbor Hearing in San Pedro.

APRIL 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29

THE BACK PAGE

The Logicon building, rising high above the Beacon Street Redevelopment headquarters, was one of the first buildings to go up in the redevelopment zone. It was imploded in August 2006. (photo: San Pedro Bay Historical Society)

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