SEPTEMBER 2021
LET'S STOP COMMUNITY SPREAD! | THE DOG GROOMER IN DOWNTOWN | 2021 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Heart & Soul THE DE HARO FAMILY CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES OF THE ORIGINAL LAS BRISAS MEXICAN FOOD
Smile A While.
Modern Dentistry, with Old Fashion Values. Our office is a multi-specialty private practice located in Weymouth Corners in San Pedro. With 28 years of experience, we provide high-quality modern dentistry at an affordable cost in an inviting setting. Our office is equipped to provide most specialty dental services efficiently under one rooftop. We use cutting-edge technology and are versed in all aspects of Cosmetic, Restorative, Dental Implants, Orthodontic, and Oral Surgery services. Dr. Souzan Ardalan, D.D.S. Education: USC school of Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery Professional Association: American Dental Association, member California Dental Association, member Western Dental Society, member
SERVICES & SPECIALTIES • General Cosmetic and Children’s Dentistry • Oral Surgery • Dental Implants • Permanent Implant Supported Dentures • Orthodontics (Traditional Braces & Invisalign) • Periodontics • Sleep Apnea
ASSOCIATES Ian Woo, D.D.S., MD. Education: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Los Angeles County / University of Southern California Medical Center
Dr. Marvis Sorrel, D.M.D., M.D.S. Education: University of Pittsburgh, Master of Science in Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Orthognatic Surgery Externship / Invisalign Certification
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Dr. Rebekah Coriaty
Dr. Ardalan & Associates Smile A While. 1411 W. 8th Street San Pedro, CA 90732
(310) 832-5559
www.drsouzanardalan.com
Education: University of Pacific Professional Association: American Dental Association California Dental Association
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Dr. Miles Madison Education: UCLA School of Dentistry Professional Association: American Academy of Periodontology California Society of Periodontists American Dental Association California Dental Association American Association for Dental Research
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SEPTEMBER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 3
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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this to get vaccinated. It’s the one scientifically proven action eligible people can take to help stop this pandemic once and for all. I got vaccinated in late This is the first March. I felt sluggish for one day and issue we’ve have felt fine ever since. Everyone in published with a my close circles has been vaccinated full public events with no issues. This should not be an page since March uphill battle for our community. Get 2020, but I’m ner- vaccinated. It’s free. It’s time. vous about how long this streak MILESTONES will last. SeptemI’m excited to feature the De Haro ber’s calendar family on our cover this month in (see page 8) is currently full of live celebration of The Original Las Brisas in-person music performances, multiple Mexican Food’s four decades in busiribbon-cutting ceremonies for new ness. Gilberto, Paula, and their daughbusinesses, a big outdoor class reunion, ter, Hilary, are some of the sweetest a Warner Grand show, a networking people I’ve met in my years publishing event, and a few others. Still, there’s this magazine. Their hard work keeping one notable exception: LA Fleet Week. their restaurant running, especially durAs we were going to print, LA Fleet ing these trying times, is something to Week was postponed again until next be admired and celebrated. year. With rising COVID cases and As a community, we like to mark hospitalizations in L.A. County (of milestones. Longevity connects generamostly unvaccinated people), organiztions. There’s something comforting ers decided to pull the plug less than a about visiting a restaurant or store that month before the event. To be honest, your parents or grandparents (or even I’m worried Fleet Week could be the great-grandparents) once frequented. canary in a coal mine that could signal San Pedro’s fortunate to have many a frustrating fall/winter. family-run businesses reaching 40- and One step forward, two steps back. 50-year milestones. (Sorrento’s RestauThat’s how this whole year and a half rant turns 60 in February!) It’s one of of dealing with the pandemic has felt to many reasons why this town has such a me. I think many of you feel the same. deep connection to its past. Just when we think we’ve made progUntil next month… spt ress, something like the Delta variant comes along to remind us that it isn’t Joshua Stecker is publisher/editorover yet. in-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters I don’t have much else to say on this to the Editor can be emailed to matter except to urge everyone reading contact@sanpedrotoday.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 5
SEPTEMBER 2021
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ADVERTISING:
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166 | patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION
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Joshua J. Stecker Lori Garrett
Joseph A. Castañeda
AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS
Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Sanam Lamborn, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Angela Romero, Sophie Schoenfeld, Valerie Electra Smith-Griffin, Jamaal K. Street, Lee Williams
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Phone: (424) 224-9063 Email: contact@sanpedrotoday.com San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168 San Pedro, CA 90733
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.
VOLUME 13 | NUMBER 8 ON THE COVER: The Original Las Brisas Mexican Restaurant family (l to r) Paula and Gilberto De Haro and daughter, Hilary Mejia. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2021
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SEPTEMBER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 7
EVENTS
COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to the rapidly changing nature of public health guidance for in-person events, information may change. Please plan accordingly.
SEPTEMBER 2021 Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET AT LITTLE ITALY (638 S. Beacon St.), 11a-3p. – Pick up essential fruits and vegetables from certified, small family farms. Get a head start on weekend meals with so many delicious and fresh options. Please note social distancing of six feet between groups and people is required. Masks must be worn at all times, and a hand washing station is provided for your convenience. For more info, visit sanpedrochamber. com/san-pedro-farmers-market. Every Tuesday & Every Saturday – BELMONT SHORE RAILROAD CLUB at Angels Gate Park (3600 S. Gaffey St., Building 824), Tuesdays 7-10p & Saturdays 12-4p. – The best kept secret in San Pedro! The Belmont Shore Railroad Club is the oldest and largest N scale club and offers clinics on modeling and an opportunity to explore a new hobby. Admission is FREE and open to the public. For more info, call (310) 831-6262 or visit belmontshorerr.com. 2 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY – in Downtown San Pedro, 6p. – The popular First Thursday ArtWalk is back in the historic core of Downtown San Pedro. The redesigned First Thursday will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open galleries, outdoor dining, and live music on the corner of 6th and Mesa St. 2 (Thurs) – RIBBON CUTTING: PIXELS A POLAHS STUDIO (439 W. 6th St.), 5p. – Save the date to celebrate the opening of the Port of Los Angeles High School Pixels Gallery! The Career Technical Education Digital Photography pathway at the Port of Los Angeles High School will use the
new space for studio work and First Thursday gallery showings. Ribbon cutting, live music, and appetizers! Featuring an exhibit of POLAHS Digital Photography pathway student work from Iceland. For more info, call (310) 832-9201 or visit polahs.net. 8 (Wed) – YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK COFFEE HOUR at Sirens Java & Tea (402 W. 7th St.), 8a. – The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network is a place to learn, grow, and collaborate with young professionals in the business community. Hosted by Chris Mitchell of CM Marketing and Ryan Blaney of Bolimini International. To register, visit sanpedrochamber.com. 17 (Fri) RIBBON CUTTING: VISITING ANGELS (870 W. 9th St., Ste. 201), 11:30a. – Join us for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Visiting Angels. Refreshments and music! For more info, call (424) 489-4689. 17 (Fri) – ANDY & RENEE & HARD RAIN at the Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8p. – South Bay favorite folk-rockers play their exquisite cover album Back to Georgia, featuring a colorful array of classic Americana, including Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and Emmylou Harris’s “Till I Take Control Again.” Tickets available at grandvision.org.
18 (Sat) – SO-CAL HOEDOWN at Port of Los Angeles, Berth 46 (3011 Miner St.), 12p. – The 4th annual So-Cal Hoedown returns to San Pedro! The music festival will feature numerous bands plus food trucks, a full bar, retail
vendors, and so much more. For tickets and info, visit socalhoedown.com. 18 (Sat) – CUBENSIS at the Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8p. – Acclaimed Grateful Dead revivalists, Cubensis welcomes new jam band enthusiasts and remains loyal to the original music and fans. Tickets available at grandvision.org. 19 (Sun) – 50s & 60s SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI CLASS REUNION at Point Fermin Park, in front of bandstand (807 Paseo Del Mar), 10a-3p. – It’s time for the Annual Picnic Alumni Reunion and all classes from the 50s and 60s are now included. Bring a chair, your lunch and beverage, and your classmates! Current COVID protocols will be observed. 19 (Sun) – AMAZING GRACE SCREENING WITH TALKBACK at James Armstrong Theatre (3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance), 2p. – The award-winning documentary Amazing Grace, profiles Grace Fisher, a musically-gifted 23-year-old Santa Barbara woman and the obstacles she’s overcome from a paralyzing disease. This 55-minute documentary follows Grace Fisher on her journey from "quadriplegic floating head" to triumphant composer relishing a thunderous ovation in the concert hall. There will be a Q&A with Grace, the Fisher family, and filmmaker Lynn Montgomery immediately following the screening. Admission is FREE. For tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/167128139765 or torrancearts.org.
23 (Thurs) – SARA LEE GUTHRIE at the Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8p. – Sarah Lee sings originals plus the iconic songs made famous by her father, Arlo; grandfather, Woody (who wrote “This Land is Your Land”); and their comrades in music. Ticket holders can join her pre-show Sing-Along, “What Woody & Pete Had to Say.” 5p-5:45p (Sing-Along space limited to 30). Tickets available at grandvision.org. 25 (Sat) – KALA KOA ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS ANDREW MOLINA at the Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8p. – Hawaii-based ukulele virtuoso Andrew Molina proves that the ukulele has no limits. His unique solo ukulele arrangements of hits like Aerosmith’s “Dream On” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, alongside his own original instrumental compositions, have earned each of his albums a Na Hoku Hanohano award nomination for “Ukulele Album of the Year” (Hawaii’s version of the Grammy Awards). Tickets available at grandvision.org. 25 (Sat) – ITALIAN HEART STRINGS at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.), 7p. Red Carpet begins at 6:30p. – Enjoy an uplifting show featuring iconic Italian music, serenade, and dance, guaranteed to entertain all ages. The evening features host Michelle Jaeger Jones, with world-renowned tenor Aaron Blake and singer/dancer Eduard Sargsyan, accompanied by musical director, Wole Oni. For more info, call (310) 701-1129. Tickets available at wgt.tix.com. spt
Events are back! (For now!) Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Deadline for the October 2021 issue is Friday, September 17. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9
VOICES
FROM ADVERSITY TO ACHIEVEMENT by Anthony Pirozzi, Jr.
Throughout our lives, we experience the challenges and disappointments that come our way. In most cases, these challenges are reminders that life’s journey is never easy and may require us to take a different path than we had planned. At times, we might think that things are easier for some but more difficult for others. In many cases, this may be true, but personally, such adversity only makes me work harder to accomplish my goals. Over the years, I’ve been inspired by people who understand this and make no excuses for the challenges they must overcome to achieve their dreams. Doctor Nick Synstelien is one example of those that inspire me. From a very young age, Nick’s determination to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor was unwavering. He credits his late grandfather, Dr. Robert Huber, for his initial motivation to pursue such a calling and remembers how he was a well-respected obstetrician/gynecologist in the community. Nick was always impressed while observing his grandfather’s leadership
Dr. Nick Synstelien (photo: Anthony Pirozzi, Jr.)
abilities and hearing stories about the incredible impressions he made on his patients’ lives. This inspired Nick to excel in school and sports, volunteer in his community and church, and strive to become a physician like his grandfather. This year, Nick’s dream became a reality when he graduated from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, class of 2021. I had a front row seat watching Nick throughout this journey. I met Nick the year we moved in across the street from his parents, Johnny and Sue. Nick was just five years old, and his sister, Courtney, was two. The youngest, Shereese, was not born yet. Johnny and I played baseball together at Peck Park, and Sue’s father was Carolyn’s gynecologist, so we became close as neighbors from the onset. As time went on, our families spent a lot of time together. Nick and I hit it off and always liked to banter over a game of HORSE in my driveway. I watched his successes in sports, from Eastview
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Little League to becoming a captain of the SPHS baseball team, but it was his academics that were truly impressive. I was so impressed with his accomplishments and his dream of becoming a doctor that I wrote about him in my 2009 column, “Examples of Educational Excellence.” He would then graduate cum laude from UCLA with a degree in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics in 2013. Accomplishing this degree in just four years was not only impressive, but it also seemed like his next step would be an easy acceptance into medical school, which was not the case. He struggled to gain acceptance into medical school and began to question why this was happening. Rather than give up, Nick looked deep into what he could do to differentiate himself from other med school applicants and spent the next four years acquiring clinical experience. He worked as an emergency medical technician at an ambulance service, followed by three years as an emergency
department technician at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. This period lasted longer than he anticipated. Fear and uncertainty settled in as he continually did not gain acceptance into medical school, and the thought of potentially not practicing as a physician crossed his mind. What Nick did not realize at the time was that his decision to acquire such experience not only provided him skills and knowledge that proved beneficial while in medical school, but it also exposed him to the fast-paced emergency room specialty that he has found a passion for today. Finally, Nick was accepted at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2017 and took this opportunity to the next level. He scored in the top five percent on the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (Step 1 and Step 2CK), was nominated by fellow students and selected by faculty into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, and then was recognized as a highachieving medical student when he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society in his junior year. Nick is now an emergency medicine resident physician at Loma Linda University Health and is enjoying the challenges that are presented to him each day. It’s worth mentioning that two other San Pedro High School Class of 2009 graduates are also entering their residency this year. Lindsay Dreizler is beginning her emergency medicine residency at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, and Tess Hill is going into an otolaryngology (ENT/head and neck surgery) residency at the University of Texas, San Antonio. I am a firm believer that a great education begins at home, and Dr. Nick Synstelien is a perfect example of that. Congratulations to the Synstelien family on this true example of educational excellence and perseverance. spt Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo.com.
A San Pedro Favorite Since 1999 ! Try Our Awesome New Menu Items. 7 Award Winning Beers On Tap, 13 Unique Guest Beers from Top U.S. Craft Breweries We love to help your fundraising! Contact James Brown - jbbeer@msn.com www.SanPedroBrewing.com 331 W. 6th Street, 90731 310 • 831 • 5663
Harbor Youth Soccer League
Kids
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Please join us for recreational soccer on Saturdays this fall at
Field of Dreams
The Exclusive Home of HYSL Soccer 2021-2022 Opening Day is October 2nd, 2021 Preschool Play, U6, U8, U10 and U12 (U stands for Under) Soccer season will be from October 9, 2021 through December 11. 2021. Our Price will remain $135 a player which is the lowest San Pedro Soccer has been in years. HYSL will not have a late registration fee this year. Our High School Play (birth years 2008 - 2004) will play futsal this year. Each team will consist of 6 players and they will play each other on Thursday Evenings. Practices on Tuesdays and/or Saturdays. The location will not be at Field of Dreams but will be outside and will be announced shortly. The High School Play Futsal program will start on September 16, 2021 and go until November 18,2021. This will be a co-ed division. Refer a Friend Program - For every friend you refer to HYSL and they register you will get a free opportunity ticket for a drawing on Opening Day. The drawing award will be $250 dollars. To be in this drawing you must refer a friend that registers for HYSL. After the friend registers they need to send an email to hyslrecdirector@gmail.com with their family last name and the person's name that referred them to the program. Once this is completed you will receive an email that tells you that you have a ticket in the Refer a Friend Drawing. You can get as many opportunity tickets as possible, there is no limit. The person who referred the friend must be a registered player in the system of HYSL.
Addresses: FOD - 501 Westmont Dr. San Pedro CA 90731
REGISTRATION PRICING U4 - U6
$135/player
U8
$135/player
U10, U12, U14, U16 & U19
$135/player
Families registering more than one child will receive discounts for all additional children registered within the same family
COACHES will receive a registration discount! If you are interested in coaching during the 2021-22 Fall season, please reach out to our Coach Administrator, Cabel Parker. hyslcoach@gmail.com before beginning registration online. Please check harboryouthsoccerleague.com for updates or follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HarborYouthSoccerLeague/)
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LIVING A MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFE IN SAN PEDRO by Jennifer Marquez Rachel Bruhnke, an environmental resource engineer and local high school teacher, has been educating her students about sustainable living for years. Bruhnke’s passion for giving back to the earth instead of taking from it is contagious. Her daily habits to be part of the solution is evident at her home in San Pedro, and she is happy to share her knowledge with others. Bruhnke is using her property to feed the earth. Her motto is, “climate resilience one square foot at a time.” She encourages others to do right with their little piece of land and offers helpful ideas to make homes more sustainable. Build Soil — Look at the ground around your property and start enriching it. There are various ways to compost, but one easy tip offered by Bruhnke is to put a bowl in your sink. During the day, catch the water overflow while washing your hands or produce. Use organic soap like Dr. Bronner’s, which will not affect your soil. Put fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds with the brown filters, toilet paper and paper towel tubes (it helps to tear up the tubes a bit) into the bowl with the overflow water. Dig a small trench and feed your soil the water composted combination and cover it with dirt. The next day, dig a hole in another area and repeat the process. Do not throw away anything that is compostable; stick it in the ground. “Work with the earth, not against it,” says Bruhnke. “Trust the sun and grow food,” she adds. “Saving water creates a habit and diminishes a sense of entitlement about wasting water. Water comes from 300 miles away and takes energy to get here and chemicals to clean it,” she explains. Grow Food — Your soil will be more enriched by feeding it compost and will encourage worms to come up out of the ground. For the most current season, Bruhnke suggests growing kale and
chard and adds that tomatoes can still grow this time of year. Conserve Water — Bruhnke uses water barrels when it rains. It is important to make sure the water is directed into your soil, not down the driveway. With California being in a drought, front yards and parkways can be converted as a space to grow food or pollinators. This would be more environmentally friendly and use less water than a lawn. Raised beds can be placed on top of the grass, which will eventually kill the lawn underneath the planters. Fruit trees like guava can be planted in the parkway. Native plants can be purchased through Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy and used instead of lawns. Succulents are also a good choice, as they use much less water. A helpful source of information about local gardening can be found in the Gardening in San Pedro Ca group on Facebook. Bruhnke says her goal when it rains is that no water runs off her property. Her soil has been fed, so water absorbs into the earth instead. Donate Land and Property — Many of our local parks were once privately-owned pieces of land that were donated to the city. More land should be considered for donation to the city or nonprofit agencies to be used for community gardens or to grow food. The paving of cities and properties takes away from the earth being in its natural state. Bruhnke teaches her students about living an environmentally friendly lifestyle and says they are very open and eager to learn. She leads by example in her home, uses solar power on her roof, and drives an electric car. There are many generations of San Pedrans who have been growing food on their property for decades. We can learn from each other about growing our own food, in turn, creating a stronger community that is more sustainable. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.
VOICES
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR by Sr. Margaret Charles Hogarty, Little Sisters of the Poor I’m grateful for this opportunity to provide an update on the sale of Jeanne Jugan Residence in San Pedro and to let our friends and neighbors know that the Little Sisters of the Poor are still here, that we continue to serve the elderly, and that, at the moment, we really don’t know when we’ll be leaving. After a lengthy search process, we were happy to announce a buyer: Grace S. Mercado. The process of transferring ownership and operation of a long-term care facility is lengthy. We’ve only begun. No money has been exchanged, and we are still the owners and operators. We will not be leaving until the sale is complete. Our elderly residents have been assured that they can remain in the home if they so desire or move to one of our other U.S. locations — which several residents have chosen to do. And all of our staff have been promised employment. This is very important
to us; no one will lose their job, and no resident will be obliged to leave the residence. We believe that the surrounding community will benefit from the presence of Grace’s home. Her team plans to offer short-term rehab as well as long-term care, increasing the job opportunities in the area and also offering a reputable care center. Leaving San Pedro is painful for the Little Sisters. We’ve served in the Los Angeles area since 1905 and in our San Pedro location since 1979. We’ve made many friends in the area, wonderful people who have joined us to enhance the lives of our elders: volunteers, benefactors, and our amazing auxiliary and advisory board, as well as a great staff who work very closely with us. With reverence and joy, we remember the many elderly of the area whom we have had the privilege to serve, revered members of our family. Be assured that we will keep you updated. We’re still here, we’re still caring for the elderly in need, we continue to need your support, and we will always remember you in our prayers. God bless you. spt
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222 R-1 W. 6th St., San Pedro • 310-547-0655 SEPTEMBER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 13
VOICES
SAN PEDRO’S TRAVELIN’ MAN HAS MADE A LOT OF STOPS by Steve Marconi Think you’ve traveled a lot? Meet Justus Ghormley. Ghormley may not be the most traveled person in San Pedro, but if he isn’t, I want to meet the person who is. He has been to all 50 states, 114 countries (out of 249), and six continents (Antarctica beckons). Time for Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man.” Ghormley’s parents moved to Rolling Hills in 1959, and he graduated from Narbonne High in 1960. His educational odyssey began at Harbor College and continued with stops at Linfield College in Oregon, Baylor in Waco, Texas, and ended at UCLA, where, not surprisingly, he received his degree in geography and international travel in 1966. His own personal odyssey began in 1964 when he hitchhiked across Europe and much of the Middle East, visiting 28 countries. After graduating from UCLA and befitting someone with a desire to see the world, he joined the Navy and served on the destroyer USS O’Brien as a quartermaster. In 1967 and 1968, the O’Brien cruised much of the South Pacific and Far East and participated in attacks on North Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam War. Upon his return to civilian life, Ghormley hitchhiked from Capistrano Beach to the Panama Canal before embarking on a 12-year career in
the travel industry. He worked for Brazil’s Varig Airlines, the largest airline in Latin America at the time, and then Sitmar Cruises. The Italian line had offices in San Pedro, which is how Ghormley finally settled in the community he has called home since 1974. That was also the year he married Jaynie, and they began a four-year volunteer stint in the Toberman House gang intervention program. Four years later, they made a ten-and-a-half-month journey around the world, including several months of camping in Europe. Cue Ricky Nelson’s “Travelin’ Man.” Ghormley came by his wanderlust naturally. In 1964, his father Carl decided it would be fun for the family and whoever wanted to join them to walk the entire California coast, from the border of Mexico to the border of Oregon. It took 18 years, with the final leg ending on July 4, 1982, at the Oregon border where, appropriately, it started to rain. If there was an REI Hall of Fame, the Ghormleys would be in it: Justus has recorded 355 camping trips, visiting 591 campgrounds, since 1946. In 1970, he hitchhiked from Capistrano Beach to the Panama Canal. When at home, Ghormley combined travel with a 30-year teaching career that began in 1975. He taught geography and tour guiding at West L.A. Community College, led tours of Southern California for UCLA Extension, and taught at Fremont High.
Can you hear Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again”? While Ghormley’s earthly journeys are Guinness Book-like, most people know him from his spiritual journey. It began at age 11 when he accepted Christ as his savior and was baptized at Temple Baptist Church in Los Angeles. He went there for 20 years with his family; in 1964, his parents helped found Project Mexico, a missionary organization that built six orphanages in Baja California and is still operating. Ghormley has lost track of the number of times he’s been to Mexico. Justus and Jaynie, who teaches fine arts for L.A. Unified, attended Rolling Hills Covenant Church for 20 years after moving to San Pedro, and while there, Pastor Burt Swardstrom suggested Ghormley go to seminary. He graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1987 and entered the ministry. He started Friendship Christian Fellowship, which met at San Pedro’s Doubletree Hotel from 1993 to 1997; he ran Hope Chapel San Pedro’s Saturday youth service for several years; and he was interim pastor at both Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro and Norwalk Lutheran Church, an impressive achievement for a nonLutheran. Ghormley later led Community Christian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes for ten years, and while there revived the San Pedro Pastor’s Fellowship, a monthly ecumenical gathering of San Pedro pastors and
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church leaders dedicated to spreading the gospel. Following in his father’s footsteps is Theo (San Pedro High), an Anglican pastor in South Bend, Indiana. The Ghormleys also have son Lars (POLA) and two daughters, Sarah (Mary Star) and Rachel (Trinity Lutheran), and nine grandchildren. Now retired and nearing 79, Ghormley has slowed his pace but is still looking forward to attending his 14th USS O’Brien reunion in October in Oklahoma City. He also has time to enjoy two of his hobbies, collecting postcards and flags. Filed in his garage are 26,400 picture postcards from all 50 states and 240 countries; he also has 40 flags, which regularly fly in front of his home. Asking Justus about the highlights of a lifetime of travels is easy — he lists them in a regular newsletter he sends to family and friends. Bora Bora in French Polynesia is “God’s loveliest creation;” Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is “foremost world sight;” the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro is the “ultimate panorama;” his “best fresh hot pizza” was in Liguria, Italy; and after all his journeys, Yosemite remains the “grandest American destination.” The places he’s been to or seen would fill most people’s bucket lists several times over. Exit music: “King of the Road.” spt
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LET’S STOP COMMUNITY SPREAD by Lee Williams Just when it looked like we were moving in the right direction, our community has suffered some significant setbacks in our fight against COVID. Last week, I added 100 live events to my community calendar. Now, they are rapidly being canceled or postponed. With the rise in community spread of the COVID variants, we are seeing organizers, political leaders, and businesses make difficult decisions. I remember this time last year. Angel Gowns was busy providing masks for folks because they were in short supply. The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce was busy connecting businesses with the resources, tools, and funds to keep them afloat. Restaurants were providing food to hospital workers and first responders. Folks were debating which jobs were essential and trying to help support those workers who were the hardest hit. We saw many opportunities to come together in a spirit of support, and we shared optimism for a cure, both in the form of a vaccine and in a reliable treatment. We all wanted to get back to normal as quickly as possible while protecting lives. Somewhere we got distracted. I’ll admit, it was easy for me to decide to get the vaccine. I had healthy friends who were also my age who got severely sick. I was first in line when it was my turn. Getting back to live events, dining in restaurants, and hitting the gym with my 5 a.m. crew felt great. However, I understand why some have been hesitant. There is a lot of noise out there. In my frustration, I’ve been part of that. As we move into this new phase in the pandemic, it’s encouraging to hear honest conversations between friends about how to best stop community spread and put an end to the effects this disease is having on our daily lives. Each of us has our reasons for either getting vaccinated or not. We can argue about the politics until we’re blue in the face, but it can be frustrating for all parties until we find agreement. No matter what side you’re on, can we agree on some of these points? • Masks suck, and no one wants to wear them any longer than we have to. • We all need hugs and regular human contact. • Kids learn best when they are in 16 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2021
school, in person, and surrounded by friends. • Not shaking hands at business meetings feels weird. • We exercise harder when we know someone is watching. • The businesses in San Pedro are worth saving and supporting. • It’s awkward when we don’t recognize each other from half a face. • No one likes shots. Even folks with tattoos don’t like them. • We’ve all been wrong before about something important, and we sought the advice of an expert to help change our perspective. • We’ve never missed vacations more than we do right now. • We could use more balance between working from home and alongside others. • Live music, performances, and dance are no longer “nice to have.” They are needed. • Drinks taste better at a bar. • We’ve seen everything we wanted to see on Netflix. • We all know someone who has gotten sick, and we wish they hadn’t. • We’re tired of hearing, “You’re on mute.” • There is always more we can do to help each other. With so many things we agree on, the most important is that San Pedro is known for having a strong sense of community. It’s a community where we look out for each other. The infection rate of the virus — or “community spread” — determines how open our schools, businesses, and events can be, both in capacity and mitigation measures. Vaccination is the most effective way to limit community spread and is the best way to protect our neighbors. If you consult with your doctor and choose not to get vaccinated, limiting your contact with others is how you can avoid helping spread the virus or creating variants. We are all in this together, and as much as I love my “Love San Pedro” mask, the sooner we can get more people vaccinated or stop making it easy for the virus to infect others, the sooner we can all stop wearing them. spt
Lee Williams leads the Williams Group at Keller Williams Realty and is a member of the Board of Directors for the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and the Boys and Girls Club for L.A. Harbor.
SEPTEMBER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 17
Heart & Soul
THE DE HARO FAMILY CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES OF by Joshua Stecker THE ORIGINAL LAS BRISAS MEXICAN FOOD ALL IN THE FAMILY: Hilary Mejia (left, with her parents Gilberto and Paula De Haro, owners of The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
Retirement isn’t in Gilberto A. De Haro’s vocabulary. At 72 years old, the soft-spoken chef and owner of The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food on the corner of Gaffey and Channel streets can still be found almost every day working in the kitchen of his family-owned business that he started nearly four decades ago. It’s a routine that he hasn’t been able to break, or maybe doesn’t want to. “My father is the heart and soul of Las Brisas,” says Hilary Mejia, De Haro’s daughter and the restaurant’s business manager, who stepped in to help run the family business in 2010 after a stint in the corporate world. Last year was rough for the De Haro family. The COVID-19 pandemic did a number on many small, family-run restaurants, and The Original Las Brisas was no exception. They were fortunate to make it through 2020, even though the restaurant now operates with a skeleton crew of just De Haro, his wife Paula, and Mejia. It’s a real family affair in every sense of the word. “Yesterday, we had a blessed day
for a Tuesday,” says Mejia, 48, as she unlocks the front door before the day’s lunch rush. “We ran out of carne asada and salsa!” Walking into The Original Las Brisas today, one of the first things you’ll notice is a wall plastered with certificates of recognition, mostly from local politicians acknowledging the restaurant’s longevity and contribution to the community. It’s a wall Mejia is intensely proud of because, for her, it legitimizes all the hard work she’s seen her parents put in to keep their little “hole in the wall,” as she describes it, operating. They celebrate their 39th year in business in September, making it one of the oldest family-run restaurants currently operating in San Pedro. “If I am privileged to arrive at their ages and I do one-third of what my parents have accomplished, then I think I have fulfilled my purpose,” says Mejia. AL PASTOR PRIDE The list of restaurants that San Pedro has seen come and go the past 40 years is a long one. And as picky as this town
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can be, for a restaurant to last nearly four decades, it must say something about the quality of the food and service. In a town chockful of excellent Mexican restaurants, The Original Las Brisas has been able to set itself apart, mostly on the back of De Haro’s recipes and signature sauces. “We always tell our customers that we have been told that our al pastor [thinly sliced pieces of marinated pork] is the best in the South Bay, with its 14 secret ingredients in the marinade, but we let you be the judge of it,” says Mejia, who, among other things, is also the family spokesperson, as the De Haros primarily speak Spanish. “We’ve had five generations of families enjoy our al pastor, which is crazy to think about.” Those al pastor claims were backed up by popular Los Angeles Spanish-language radio host Argelia Atilano, from El Show de Omar y Argelia on KLVE 107.5 FM. Atilano, who grew up in San Pedro, namechecked The Original Las Brisas on air in 2019 as having the best taco al pastor in L.A. The mention helped boost the restaurant’s profile, but
more importantly for Mejia, it helped cement her father’s culinary legacy. “She said, ‘It’s not just how it’s prepared, but it’s the heart that’s behind it from the cook,’ and I know she was talking about my dad,” remembers Mejia. (The video of Atilano mentioning the restaurant can be found in the online edition of this article at sanpedrotoday. com.) On any given day, you’ll see De Haro, usually in his favorite New York Yankees baseball cap and blue apron, manning the kitchen, waiting for the next order to come in, as Paula, 77, the restaurant’s “original waitress,” sits at her small table in the corner, greeting guests and helping her daughter tend to customers. “My mother is the heartbeat and glue that keeps on giving,” says Mejia, who does a little bit of everything, acting as server, kitchen assistant, business manager, marketer, and caretaker for her parents at any given point during the day. Even though he’s not as limber as he used to be and health issues are slowing
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him down, De Haro continues to prep, cook, and manage his kitchen the same way he always had since opening the first Las Brisas in 1982.
She makes it clear to anyone within earshot that her family’s store has no affiliation with Las Brisas #1, the Mexican restaurant that currently resides in the original Pacific Avenue location. THE AMERICAN DREAM According to Mejia, even though De Haro started his restaurant career that location has gone through multiple at the age of 14 in a restaurant in owners since her cousin’s husband’s Mexico City. Born in Los Haro, Jerez, family sold it in the early 2010s, the Zacatecas, Mexico, he later immigrated new owners never bothered to change to the United States in the early 1970s the name aside from the addition of with his wife and quickly got hired at “#1,” which was the result of a costly the popular East Los Angeles Mexican lawsuit the family had with another restaurant, Largo’s Mitote, in 1972. previous owner. That decision also re“That’s where he really discovered sulted in the De Haros officially changhis passion for cooking,” says Mejia, the ing their store’s name to The Original De Haro’s only offspring, who was born Las Brisas Mexican Food in 2014. soon after. “There was an incident in 2012 where A casual conversation with a family the Pacific Avenue location [under a relative (“My cousin’s husband on my previous owner] was temporarily closed mom’s side,” explains Mejia) about down by the Health Department,” starting their own restaurant in San remembers Mejia. “At the same time, I Pedro would turn into a partnership noticed that our business had dropped that would launch the first Las Brisas by nearly 50 percent.” in a small building on Pacific Avenue She was unaware of the other place’s in 1982. They chose September 16, closure until a customer told her weeks Mexican Independence Day, as their later that the news appeared in the opening day. Daily Breeze. “When we first settled in San Pedro, “The customer said, ‘I wonder how we lived very briefly on 1st and Centre, many other people thought it was you,’” then 24th and Alma, where I briefly at- remembers Mejia. “That’s when I began tended Leland Elementary,” remembers my campaign to make it known that the Mejia, who graduated from San Pedro original founding family of Las Brisas High School in 1991. “We moved out restaurant was on Gaffey and Channel.” of San Pedro in 1989 when my parents Mejia says the name confusion, with purchased their first home in Carson, both stores less than a mile from each where they currently live.” other, has been frustrating to deal with. In 1992, De Haro and his original “I wasn’t going to be the one to partner, Roberto Campos, decided to rebrand,” she says. “My father is Las open a second Las Brisas restaurant in Brisas. Since my family has had no the nondescript strip mall on the corner affiliation with that store since 2003, of Channel and Gaffey streets, next to there’s no reason the Pacific Avenue lowhere Big Nick’s Pizza is today. cation should still be using [the name]. According to De Haro, after two We get people coming in every day decades together, the two decided to thinking we’re still involved there, even dissolve their partnership in 2003. after nearly 20 years.” Unsure of how to split things up since According to Mejia, the family is curthe original business was formed on a rently continuing their legal fight with handshake, they decided to simply split the Pacific Avenue location’s name. the two restaurants, with Campos keep- Multiple attempts to contact the current ing the first store on Pacific Avenue and owner of Las Brisas #1 for comment De Haro keeping the one on the corner were unsuccessful. of Gaffey and Channel. There was only one problem: They SECURING A LEGACY both kept the name Las Brisas. These days, Mejia seems to be run“No one thought of changing the ning a three-ring circus. In addition to names when we dissolved the partnerbeing the restaurant’s only daily server, ship because the brand had been estab- handling business affairs, and dealing lished for 20 years,” explains De Haro, with the ever-changing COVID-19 dinas translated through his daughter. ing protocols (and protecting her par“Their legal advice wasn’t the best. ents in the process), in her downtime, They should’ve flipped a coin for the she’s been making moves to secure her name,” adds Mejia. father’s legacy. Tops on her list: bottling and selling her father’s five “secret” WHAT’S IN A NAME? sauces. Any conversation with Mejia about It’s still in the research phase, but the family business usually includes a other local restaurants, like San Pedro discussion about the restaurant’s name. Fish Market, have had some success in 20 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2021
Top: Paula (left), the "original waitress," and Gilberto De Haro in the early days. Below: The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food storefront on the corner of Gaffey and Channel streets. (photos: De Haro family, John Mattera Photography)
the retail space. With the popularity of sauces soaring, she’s a firm believer that The Original Las Brisas’ five secret sauces would be a hit on store shelves. “My father’s ranchero sauce is amazing! You cannot find it in any other Mexican restaurant in Southern California,” says Mejia. Right now, though, what the De Haro family really needs is help in the form of additional kitchen and serving staff. Running the restaurant shortstaffed has begun to take its toll, with the store recently shifting to a five-day work week (Tues-Sat) so Mejia and her parents can rest. De Haro’s health has also become an issue. While the 72-year-old can still hold his own in the kitchen, it’s evident the family needs to find someone that he can take under his wing to keep his legacy and his recipes alive for a new generation. “My number one priority is keeping my parents healthy,” says Mejia. “They can retire, but what keeps seniors healthy and alive is being active. But we need the help. We’d like to take a few days off and have trustworthy employees that can run the business so
we don’t have to close. But to do that, you need good, quality, loyal people. It’s very hard to find them, but we’re looking!” When Mejia started working for her parents in 2010, she was unaware of the extent of her family’s connection to the San Pedro community. She’s met customers who are like family and have frequented The Original Las Brisas for years, including some who have been coming since the beginning. “My father taught me that you need to cook with your heart,” says Mejia. “We’ve had five generations of San Pedrans enjoy my father’s cooking and my mother’s hospitality. And we’ve also endured many adversities and challenges as a family business. But it’s our passion, dedication, perseverance, and love for our customers that continue to drive us.” She adds, “I need a team that can help carry my father’s legacy. I want to make it to 50 years and more.” spt The Original Las Brisas is located at 1110 N. Gaffey St., Ste. D. For more info, call (310) 833-4395, or visit theoriginallasbrisas.com.
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FEATURE
DOG DAYS IN DOWNTOWN THE DOG GROOMER SETS UP SHOP
by Valerie Electra Smith-Griffin
Erica and Adrian Garcia, owners of The Dog Groomer in Downtown San Pedro, with one of their favorite clients, Coal. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
Adrian and Erica Garcia have been keeping happy tails wagging since 2007. Originally known for their local mobile dog grooming service Fantasy Spa Mobile Pet Grooming, the long-time San Pedrans recently celebrated their summer grand opening of their latest endeavor, The Dog Groomer SelfWash & Grooming. Located in the former historic Brown Bros. building in Downtown San Pedro, the combination of a full-service groom shop and selfwash is indeed a family dream that, through daily perseverance, morphed into a life-altering reality. It all started in 2007, when the Garcias’ mobile pet grooming service was launched and became widely known in the South Bay area. One driver, Adrian’s brother Roland, is a canine hairdresser extraordinaire with an artistic eye. The vivid-colored van promises an array of fur and skin enhancing indulgences as it pulls up to the client’s home and calls out to the dogs, as an ice cream truck calls out to kids. The intense passion for dogs boosted the Garcias’ local contacts into a skyrocketing South Bay area business, which has now expanded to their Downtown San Pedro location. From the beginning, the family-owned
company has been built on a foundation of stellar service and compassion, and these are the keywords they live and work by. Allison Wilson is a devoted client since the company’s first launch. “Adrian customizes grooming to each of my dogs: my pit bull, Ben, and Parker, my Australian cattle dog,” says Wilson. “Ben has a standing weekly appointment that he looks forward to. Adrian knows my pets are my kids and goes above and beyond, as he’s referred me to amazing vets and dishes out extra attention to them when I leave town.” The Garcias strive to create a firstrate experience for their clients. In past centuries, dogs that lived in castles were luxuriously pampered along with the kings and queens. While fortresses are certainly not the norm in 2021, The Dog Groomer Self-Wash & Grooming services guarantee that your dogs are treated like royalty with a memorable spa day, from their heads to their paws. Adrian is incredibly pleased that one major goal was realized: “I’ve built a team of extremely talented and dedicated groomers that take great pride in what they do,” he says. Clients can treat their fur child to a delightful spa day and witness an arresting makeover, with niceties
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provided such as shampoo, fluffy towels, dryer, conditioner, and all the necessary grooming tools. And for the finishing touch? If desired, a spritz of cologne like “Girly Girl” or take your dog to the tropics with the coconutscented “Foo Foo.” Mud pouches are an option for self-wash or full groom, offering several benefits from skin moisturizing and flea control to soothing arthritis pain. Mud baths can be equally as beneficial for dogs as they are for us. Whether clients indulge in their self-wash or full grooming services, The Dog Groomer products promise quality. The products are made only in the U.S., Italy, and Spain. “No pinch” jelly collars made of silicone are also one of numerous high-quality products sold. The Dog Groomer also offers membership options with savings benefits that include an unlimited selfwash bath and nail trim for 50-pound dogs or less. The Garcia family and staff also contribute to and work with several nonprofits, including Animals Rule Rescue, Pedro Pet Pals, and for past years, they’ve teamed up with Honda Corporation, where over 100 dogs were bathed at a Helpful Honda Day. With pandemic restrictions easing, they hope
to return to this outstanding altruistic event. The team has enjoyed Santa Paws, an annual event at The Corner Store in San Pedro, the Animal Blessing at Wilmington’s Saint Peter and Paul Church, and many others. Giving back to the world is an integral part of their business philosophy, identity, and success. Meanwhile, with over 200 five-star Yelp reviews, The Dog Groomer seems to be keeping their clients happy. Satisfied customers consistently state how the dogs feel at ease interacting with the Garcias and staff and how they look forward to their day of pampering. According to Erica, clients’ dogs are considered an extension of the Garcia family, as are their owners. “We all love what we do,” she says, “and we treat our dogs and clients like we would our own family.” spt The Dog Groomer Self-Wash & Grooming is located at 461 W. 6th Street, Suite 103. For more information, call (310) 832-7387, visit thedoggroomerselfwash.com, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @thedoggroomer310.
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FOOD
EAT IN SAN PEDRO: THE CHICKEN QUEST by Sanam Lamborn
Since September is National Chicken Month, this is the best time to write about some of my favorite options in town. For as long as I have lived in San Pedro, Slavko’s (1224 S. Pacific Avenue) has been my favorite place because of their chicken and the warm hospitality of the owners. The chicken nuggets are impeccably moist and delicious because they are prepared in-house with breast meat and a well-seasoned batter. The bone-in chicken pieces have a crunchy skin and tender meat. The secret to the consistently moist chicken is the cooking technique called broasting, which starts with a quick open lid deep-frying, then is finished off closed lid at high pressure. This technique ensures that the batter sticks to the chicken while delivering a product that is crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. The potato nuggets (my favorite side order) are cooked in the same manner, then finished off with a toss in seasoned salt. Having a dipping condiment is a must, in particular, the house-made honey
Clockwise l to r: Slavko's chicken & potato nuggets with honey mustard sauce, Shore Grille's grilled chicken club sandwich, Pronto’s Fresh Mexican Grill's fiesta tostada salad, and Bird Talk's Nashville chicken sandwich. (photos: Sanam Lamborn)
mustard sauce. A visit for me is not complete without an order of jalapeño poppers, which are the best in town because they are not overcooked and don’t fall apart in the frying process. Bird Talk (29505 S. Western Avenue) opened its doors not too long before the beginning of the pandemic. Their menu is small and chicken-centered. My favorite items are the sandwiches, specifically the original and the hot Nashville. Each sandwich is served with a crisp yet moist-on-the-inside fried chicken breast. The original is served in a soft bun topped with coleslaw, pickles, and a tangy buttermilk ranch sauce. The hot Nashville can be ordered mild, medium, or hot. I like mine hot. The chicken breast is coated with a Nashville-style rub, which acquires its heat from a combination of cayenne pepper and paprika, then dipped in equally spicy oil. The house special bird sauce, a bit spicy yet flavorful, makes the sandwich even more delicious. To contrast all the spiciness,
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the combination of the bun, pickle, and coleslaw provides a cooling effect. Although I am a die-hard fries fan, my favorite side order is the fried pickles. Since they are lightly battered, their tanginess is not overpowered by a doughy mix. Tater tots are also a good side dish, in particular, when dipped in bird sauce. If you need a “healthier” alternative, then head to South Shores for the next couple of choices. Shore Grille (1637 W. 25th Street) also opened its doors just before the pandemic. As a club sandwich fan, I have to confess that their version has ruined the classic cold cuts type for me. Their grilled chicken club sandwich is loaded, messy, juicy, and gourmet. A perfectly grilled chicken breast is topped with bacon strips and melted cheddar cheese. Stacked in the middle of a soft brioche bun are tomato, avocado, onion, and — behold — butter lettuce! The pièce de résistance, which in my opinion makes this sandwich
luxurious, is the tarragon aioli sauce. Sandwiches are served with a pickle and a side; I always opt for the waffle fries because nothing else best matches this gourmet sandwich. It can be tricky to pick a chicken salad in this town since there are a few cult-favorite places. I like to switch things up. I like Pronto’s Fresh Mexican Grill (2420 S. Western Avenue) for their fiesta tostada salad. It’s served in a tortilla shell layered with refried beans and lettuce, then topped with shredded cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. The last three toppings serve as dressing. The long chicken strips are well seasoned and tasty. This salad lives up to its name, as it’s definitely a party for the taste buds. 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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LEE WILLIAMS | LAmove.com | (310) 400-6389 SEPTEMNER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25
HISTORY
PLAYING AMONG THE RUINS by Angela Romero
San Pedro has always been Hollywood’s favorite location for its proximity and versatility. Productions have dressed the town up, down, and every way in between to play a slew of far-off locations. The ingenuity of the crews is always astounding when the final product reaches our screens. Counted among these ingenious talents is a bit of opportunism where San Pedro’s developmental situation has been used to the benefit of the production. Like when a music video played up its post-apocalyptic aesthetic by using the boarded-up site of the building that burned on the corner of 6th Street and Pacific Avenue as a backdrop. As much as Hollywood loves to dress San Pedro up, it really loves playing in our ruins. No doubt many of you have noticed that the only law being practiced in the long-shuttered downtown courthouse recently has been purely fictional. In 2018, the true-crime sensation Dirty John was filmed inside. Followed by TV shows like Bosch, Shameless, and The L-Word: Generation Q. Most recently, the courthouse was taken up by a Netflix production with a high-profile criminal at its center. Monster: The Jef-
All of the buildings within the Beacon Street Redevelopment zone were razed in the name of progress; this included most of the infamous drinking establishments. (photo: San Pedro Bay Historical Society)
frey Dahmer Story is a miniseries that will chronicle the life and crimes of the notorious serial killer. Filming in a courthouse that’s in developmental limbo is relatively harmless, and the productions mentioned, especially Monster, did some great things for other businesses. The next couple of examples I will offer are a little more egregious because of the soreness of the subject, even fifty years later. Fifty years ago, some of San Pedro’s most iconic buildings along Beacon Street were demolished as part of a massive urban renewal project that wiped out most of the town’s architectural heritage. The area was full of multi-story brick structures that had been built when San Pedro was still its own city. It was also one of Hollywood’s most used sets. Because of the early 20th century architecture, the Beacon Street area could take the place of any urban city in the country but was mostly used as a stand-in for New York. Hollywood was devastated by the redevelopment plans, but city
officials made sure the industry got every last drop of filming Beacon Street could offer. Made-for-TV movies were a huge hit in the early 1970s. Every channel had their own version of a movie-of-theweek that offered low budget cinema for the small screen with many of the stories centering on crime. In 1970, many of the buildings along Beacon Street were cordoned off as the tenants were removed. With the buildings set to be demolished, Hollywood was given more freedom than ever before. The 1970 movie The Old Man Who Cried Wolf, starring Edward G. Robinson in one of his final roles, took place in 1970s Harlem. At the time, Harlem was in the midst of racial uprisings with lots of fires, so some of the storefronts on Beacon Street were set on fire for the sake of authenticity. The following year, in the movie Dead Men Tell No Tales, a travel photographer and his ex-girlfriend, played by Christopher George and Judy Carne, are chased into a fenced-off area at 6th
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and Beacon streets with some of the area’s most iconic store fronts. The pair gets trapped in the basement of the building and a young Mike Lookinland brings them peanut butter and jelly. During the course of the filming, an actual wrecking ball tears into one of the buildings. This could be some of the only video footage of the demise of Beacon Street. Seizing opportunities is part of the creative process in Hollywood, and the point is not to vilify the production companies but to show how they’ve used San Pedro’s situations to their benefit. Of all the perceived local benefits of filming, the preservation of our history on film is by far the most advantageous. Building interiors are usually not documented, so the filming inside the courthouse will preserve that. Because of the increase in television and lowbudget movie filming in the 1970s, a lot of Downtown San Pedro is captured on film, especially the buildings that no longer exist. Finally, the fact that they filmed actual demolition for this movie is extremely important. These buildings had no value to the citizens pushing for urban renewal, so video footage of its demise is even more of a rarity. As long as Hollywood keeps seizing filming opportunities in San Pedro, they will continue to capture our history in their work. spt
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SEPTEMNER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 27
SPORTS
2021 SAN PEDRO PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW by Jamaal K. Street Due to adjustments made on the fly thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, San Pedro prep football fans got just an appetizer of what to expect this past spring. Now it’s time to unleash the main course. Thursday, August 19, marked the start of the traditional high school season when San Pedro High football battled St. Anthony of Long Beach at St. Pius X/St. Matthias High in Downey and Mary Star of the Sea High hosted Marshall of Los Angeles in a pair of intersectional openers. (Ed. note: The magazine went to press before both games were played.) Both teams are planning on spreading the love offensively. The Pirates showed their high capability of making plays in their two-game spring season in mid-to-late April, piling up 119 points. In Mary Star’s final of three spring games against Harvard-Westlake, the Stars scored the game’s final touchdown in a 35-7 loss with a short touchdown run, running a variation of the spread offense on the final drive. There’s plenty of excitement despite the looming uncertainty of things still abounding in the pandemic era to be had. Here’s a preview of both schools as they pursue league titles and beyond.
The Stars will be competing in the Del Rey League for the first time in a fall season, as they will be looking to make their first year of playing home games on campus worth it. Senior RB/LB Giovanni Boccanfuso is the top returning player for Mary Star, but plenty of shine is increasing on these Stars. With the spread offense now becoming a thing in this town, Mary Star will rely on sophomore quarterback Santiago Martinez to be the ringleader San Pedro High School 2021 varsity football team. as fellow sophomore Luka Fiamengo (photo: Jamaal K. Street) chose to focus on basketball. Martinez will have options when the Stars do decide to take to the air. Are you ready for some football Christian Phillips and bruising junior Senior Steven Ceniceros only played again? Roman Sanchez will get their fair share one game during the spring after of handoffs from Jackson. transferring from perennial power St. SAN PEDRO Defensively, the Pirates have John Bosco of Bellflower but has the COACH: Corey Miller (6th Season) even more talent to be wary of with speed and vision downfield after the LEAGUE: Marine Fernandez, Bullard, Nixon, junior catch, which will make him difficult CIF SECTION: Los Angeles City linebacker Makani Konopka, and senior to deal with. Another St. John Bosco Miller has a bevy of playmakers WR/LB Elijah Thorp. transfer in senior tight end Matthew returning for the fall, as San Pedro San Pedro’s nonleague slate will Oakes, and junior Vincent Guerrero is has most of the top talent returning as feature two CIF-Southern Section another reliable target. one of the teams to be on the lookout battles with St. Anthony and Lakewood, Senior running back Nathan Chavez for in the CIF-LACS Open Division a reunion of an old Southern Pacific returns for Mary Star after missing title chase. Conference rivalry with Dorsey of all spring season due to a concussion. Senior quarterback Aidan Jackson Los Angeles, and the September 2 Chavez ran for 18 touchdowns on the was bullseye with his pinpoint accuracy showdown at Venice, which will be junior varsity level in 2019 during his once he got the protection he needed an early barometer of how the Pirates sophomore year. Senior Joe Spaleta will from an athletic offensive line. He has stack up against another City Section be an anchor up front on both lines, and three reliable targets to choose from in Open Division title hopeful. all the PAT and field goal duties will a trio of senior wideouts: the explosive The most important game on the be handled by a true athlete in senior Robert Sarmiento, physical Kejuan schedule is the Marine League opener Maddie Purves, who helped the girls Bullard, and the steady Chris Nixon, all on October 1 at home against Harbor soccer team reach the CIF-Southern of whom are a serious threat to make Area neighbor Banning of Wilmington, Section Division 7 semifinals this past regular house calls to the end zone. as that could potentially determine the May, garnering an All-CIF Division And then there’s an even larger Marine League championship. However, 7 selection. target in the form of 6'4", 275-pound the Marine is still one of the most The Stars’ nonleague slate has two junior TE/DE Nicholas Fernandez. dangerous leagues in the City Section, South Bay battles with Torrance (away Sarmiento also handles the PAT and so the Pirates know they must bring it on September 10) and El Segundo field goal kicking duties and hits hard in every night. (home on September 24), while they the secondary for the Pirates. will be battle-tested in the Del Rey San Pedro runs a variation of the MARY STAR OF THE SEA League battling the likes of Harvardpistol offense now, which still makes the COACH: Jason Gelber (7th Season) Westlake, St. Anthony, La Salle of running game a problem for opposing LEAGUE: Del Rey Pasadena, and Salesian of Los Angeles defenses. Shifty senior running back CIF SECTION: Southern in order all in October. spt
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SEPTEMNER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29
MENTAL HEALTH
upon by multibillion-dollar industries. Our unattainable search for perfection and our intrinsic fears and insecurities can be harvested infinitely. The crop of our fears is money. No matter how hard we try, we will always be fallible and, at various points in our lives, at odds with the world and others. This is the nature of the egocentric institution of self. This is the nature of “I” because the “I” separates us from the rest, and being by Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT separate means being alone, and being alone means being vulnerable. And the In the age of outcome of this inevitable aloneness is quick fixes and fear, and when we are scared, we are promises of miraneedy. And needy people buy things. cles, where we can Buy a new cup size, and men will design our physiol- love you. Buy this book, and you will ogy and choose our never have to deal with a painful relareality, it is aggrationship. Sign up for this program, and vating that we are you will be a millionaire. Underneath it not able to design all is one consistent message: You are our feelings. Wouldn’t it be wonderful not enough, you are vulnerable, you if we never felt shame, guilt, anxiety, are a victim. The internet is flooded fear, or if we were never in the wrong? with pseudo-psychology articles such The quintessence of human struggle is as “How to spot a narcissist,” “Get rid described in the story of the Tower of of toxic people,” and “Are you in an Babel: We collectively wish to reach the abusive relationship?” The truth is that ultimate state of godlike being, to have popular psychology has monetized on ultimate control over our lives and the one consistent variable in human naworld. ture: We desperately want to be loved; This desire is often heavily monetized hence, we are afraid to look at unlov-
DARK SIDE OF SELFHELP
30 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2021
able parts of ourselves. In this state, we will buy anything that tells us we are not the cause of our anguish. The truth is that we cocreate emotional realities with one another, and we are responsible for telling the other where our boundaries lie, what we are willing to accept, and what feels tolerable. Statistically, the clinical level of psychopathy in the general population is only about one percent. Yet every woman who is divorcing is divorcing a “narcissist.” Every time we are in an argument with someone, we pick and choose a mental health label we don’t truly understand to describe the guilty party. Every time a friend points out a shortcoming, we have a “realization” that this is a “toxic” friendship. Yet only one percent of us is personality disordered, and I would say about 100 percent of us have at some point experienced some form of abuse in a relationship, be it in a work, family, friendship, or romantic setting. This leads to only one conclusion: We all have been abusive to someone at some point in our lives. But how many of us have gone to bed thinking, “Oh goody! I abused this person really good today. Yay for me!” Again, only one percent. So how, then, did we end up being so
bad when we are so good? A multibillion-dollar self-help industry convinced you that you were a victim. You told yourself you were being treated unfairly. We justify rage through the lens of victimhood. Nazis used the collective sentiment of German victimhood after the First World War to justify demonizing Jews, and Soviets used the disadvantaged populous to galvanize hatred toward the bourgeoisie. The more fully we inhabit the narrative of victimhood, the more blind we become to our own abusive actions. So, if you find yourself frequently deleting friends from your Facebook, if you are encountering “narcissists” every time you enter a relationship, if you think you are surrounded by “toxic” people, or if you are reading 100 self-help books and posting memes about how bad others are, chances are, you are the problem. Put down the magnifying glass and look in the mirror. It’s okay, the world is painted with light and shadows. If we were supposed to be made of light alone, we would be invisible. spt Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local marriage and family therapist. For more info, visit sophiemft.com.
AUGUST 2020
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FITNESS
DATA, NOT DRAMA by Ricky Magana
There’s a saying in the investing world: Time in the market beats timing the market. It’s the idea that no matter how much one tries to buy and sell at the perfect time, the one who just stays the course through highs and lows wins. At the time I was writing this, the stock market took a nosedive. Uncertainty about the pandemic, turbulent foreign affairs, and an economy that’s still finding its bearings resulted in a massive sell-off that plummeted the market. Doom and gloom news stories incited varying degrees of fear in people and caused them to bail on whatever stocks they held. Sooner or later, though, spurred by more promising news, the masses will buy back in, and to the moon we’ll go. And this is how it’s been since the inception of the stock market. On a micro level, lots of volatility, but on a macro level, the market is on one continuous upward trend. In its most basic sense, the stock market is a barometer of emotion. It doesn’t reflect the true value of a stock but rather how people feel about the value of the stock. And how people feel is influenced by a myriad of things that often have nothing to do with the actual performance or health of a company. It is vitally important to know how to truly gauge the health of your investment and not rely on what people on Reddit say to do. Having two or three methods to measure health and performance that allow you to make logical decisions amidst panic will ensure long-term success. Data, not drama. The same principle applies to your health. I once had a client who weighed herself before every workout. On days when she lost weight, it was a good day. On days she didn’t, workout ruined. Most people rely solely on the scale as their barometer of success. The problem is that the scale acts a lot like the stock market; lots of volatility in the short term. A scale can move up or down for many reasons and often when you’re doing everything right. The fatal error people make is bailing on their plan 32 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I SEPTEMBER 2021
because of short-term fluctuations inherent to the scale. The solution is a better way to measure progress to accompany the scale, so you get a complete picture of what’s going on. First and foremost, this means understanding what you should truly be aiming for, besides just getting to a certain weight. The focus of your fitness journey should revolve around improving body composition and health, not a number on the scale. A number is irrelevant without context. Rather, you want to know where your true fitness markers stand relative to your age group. If you are a 45-year-old female, then don’t look at what the 21-year-old is doing. Ask yourself what the “ideal range” is for muscle, body fat, and blood work for people in my age group, and determine where you are in relation to that. Then, with that in mind, I recommend using two additional measurement methods in addition to the scale. Body Fat Analysis: Your body is composed of bones, muscle, fat, water, and tissue. Not all of it is weight you want to lose. In fact, if you’re losing weight but it’s not fat, that’s extremely counterproductive and something you wouldn’t know by simply weighing yourself. A body fat analysis is like a balance sheet for your body; it should show a trend towards decreased body fat and lean muscle increases. Monitor this every 6-12 weeks if you’re trying to lose or gain. Measurements: If you were to lose five pounds of fat and gain five pounds of muscle simultaneously, your scale number wouldn’t move, given that you still weigh the same despite a significant change in body composition. But this would most certainly change how you fit in clothes, and when measured, show you that the body fat has diminished from problem areas. I’ve had clients lose almost no weight but have a loss of 8 to 12 inches from their various body parts. Measure where you carry body fat and repeat once a month. There are many other methods of measuring progress, but these are a great place to start. And next time you’re tempted to panic, look at the data, not the drama. spt Ricky Magana is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.
REAL ESTATE
SELLING YOUR HOME
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A REAL ESTATE AGENT VS. AN INVESTOR by Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac It’s no secret that we’ve been living through one of the most historic real estate runs of our lifetimes during the last fiveplus years. With tight inventory and historically low interest rates, sellers have capitalized on the fundamentals of supply and demand by tapping into the windfall of appreciation that this market has produced. There is also a multitude of real estate investors that have capitalized handsomely on opportunities in this market. Fixing up and “flipping” homes has become increasingly popular and can be a lucrative business for investors. Sellers can oftentimes be attracted to the potential ease of selling to an investor for a quick sale, but is this always in a seller’s best interest, and are they potentially leaving big bucks on the table? Working with an investor does have its advantages. The primary advantages are convenience, ease of sale, and potentially shorter time frames to close the sale. “Flip” investors generally purchase properties with all cash and take the home “as is,” with any repairs and deferred maintenance that comes with the property. Selling this way eliminates having to prepare and show a property to multiple buyers and also eliminates any commission associated with having an agent involved. However, investors are in business for the sole purpose of making money and maximizing profits. It’s all about the bottom line. With this in mind, the downside to working with an investor is that they generally look to purchase properties at a minimum of 15-30 percent below fair market value. Purchasing the property at the lowest price possible enables them to make any necessary repairs and “flip” the property for a handsome return on their investment. In some instances, a home may have too many issues with the internal “systems” for the average buyer to consider. A property in serious need of attention to foundation, electrical, plumbing, roof, heating, or undesirable floorplan can
turn many buyers away. This is where an investor sale may be a seller’s best bet for unloading a neglected property. However, in most cases, a seller can maximize profits on what may be their largest financial investment by putting forth the effort to effectively prepare their home for sale and maximize exposure on the open market. Let’s say a home needs a number of repairs or is in need of cosmetic improvements, but you, as a homeowner, have no idea of where to start. An important first step is to bring in a successful real estate agent, or team, with a proven track record to assist and oversee the sale. A real estate agent/ team will meet for an initial, no cost consultation. They will provide market statistics and valuable insights on current market conditions. They can also assess the condition of your home and recommend the most effective repairs and cosmetic improvements that will maximize the marketability of your home. Further, your agent/team should be able to provide contacts and assist in coordinating any repairs or improvements that you choose to make to your home. In many cases, a home just needs a little paint, landscaping, and a thorough decluttering/cleaning, which will enhance marketability, maximize seller profits, and protect your valuable investment. Finding a local charity to donate household goods to (e.g., Beacon House, Salvation Army, etc.) or selling them through apps like OfferUp are easy ways to start the purging process. In our current market, we are seeing homes sell faster and often times with multiple offers above the asking price. By not exposing your home to the open market, you may be doing yourself a huge disservice. Buyers are out there, and you will never know the true value of your home until you test the open market with professional marketing and an effective sales strategy that can be provided by a real estate professional. spt Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are both licensed Realtors® with Keller Williams Realty. For more info, visit harperhazdovac.com. SEPTEMBER 2021 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 33
THE BACK PAGE
August 5, 2021: A musician plays outside along Mesa Street during last month's return of First Thursday in Downtown San Pedro. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
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