San Pedro Today - March 2022

MARCH 2022

REMEMBERING FIREFIGHTER JONATHAN FLAGLER | EAT IN SAN PEDRO: BURRITOS | COURTHOUSE UPDATE

DOWNTOWN'S LUCKY CHARM THE WHALE & ALE SWITCHES FLAGS AS NEW OWNERS MARTIN AND SUSAN O'SULLIVAN BRING THE LUCK O' THE IRISH TO DOWNTOWN SAN PEDRO

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At the end of 2020, when I heard Andrew Silber had sold The Whale & Ale, his longstanding British pub and restaurant in Downtown San Pedro, I was shocked and saddened. I mean, it was great to see Andrew finally be able to take a break after working nearly nonstop for 25 years. He deserved to call it a day. But selfishly, I didn’t want to see him leave downtown.

For me, Andrew has always been an encouraging voice and staunch advocate for San Pedro, especially during those lean years when such advocates were few and far between. He’s played an essential role in nearly every local civic group at one point or another throughout his quarter-century of service to the community, something I’ve always admired. San Pedro needs more business owners like Andrew, not less.

So, seeing him leave downtown was bittersweet.

Fortunately, Martin and Susan O’Sullivan, The Whale & Ale’s new owners, are a wonderful couple and welcome addition to Downtown San Pedro. Having spent some time with them for the cover story, it’s evident they’re having fun meeting people in

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the community and trying out new ideas to see what works. Now that it’s officially an Irish pub, San Pedro finally has its own legit Notre Dame and St. Patrick’s Day headquarters.

Even though restaurant life is behind him, Andrew is still actively involved in the community. He’s vice-chair of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District Board of Directors and is still working with other local civic groups.

When I met up with him last month to discuss the sale of the restaurant to the O’Sullivans, I was happy to see that he couldn’t completely let go of his civic advocacy. He’s a staunch believer that to be a successful small business in San Pedro, you must be involved in the community. You can’t operate as an island unto yourself.

“I was very involved for two reasons,” he told me. “One is, I think, a restaurant is a key part of a community. It’s somewhere everybody goes, or everybody can go to if they want to. And you need to give back in some way. If I want them to give me their money for fish and chips and pints of Guinness, I felt I needed to give something back.”

Adding, “And apart from that altruism, it’s good for your business.”

He’s right. In many ways, the secret to San Pedro longevity is getting involved and giving back. spt Joshua Stecker is publisher/editorin-chief of San Pedro Today. Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

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MARCH 2022

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVERTISING:

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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

Joshua J. Stecker Lori Garrett

General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Joseph A. Castañeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Sanam Lamborn, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Nadia Nizetich, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Sophie Schoenfeld, Lee Williams Angela Romero will return next month.

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Mattera Photography

CONTACT INFO:

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

EMPIRE22 MEDIA LLC OWNER/PUBLISHER Joshua J. Stecker

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

by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media. 25,000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today. Copyright 20092022, Empire22 Media LLC.

VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 2

ON THE COVER: Martin and Susan O'Sullivan, the new owners of The Whale & Ale Irish pub. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I MARCH 2022

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EVENTS

MARCH 2022 Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET AT LITTLE ITALY (638 S. Beacon St.), 11a-3p. – Pick up essential fruits and vegetables from certified, small family farms. Get a head start on weekend meals with so many delicious and fresh options. For more info, visit sanpedrochamber. com/san-pedro-farmers-market.

3 & 24 (Thurs) – BEAUTY OF NATURE AUTHOR SERIES on Zoom (live virtual event), 7p. – Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for the new Beauty of Nature Author Series. On March 3, Charlotte McConaghy, author of best-selling novels Migrations and Once There Were Wolves, will be Zooming live from Sydney for the event. Tickets for the 3 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY in Zoom event with a hardback signed Downtown San Pedro, 6p. – The copy of Once There Were Wolves: popular First Thursday ArtWalk is back $30; without the book: $5. Series in the historic core of Downtown San continues March 24 with a lecture on Pedro. The redesigned First Thursday the Olmsted Legacy with renowned will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open USC historian Bill Deverell, author of galleries, outdoor dining, and live music Eden by Design: The 1930 Olmstedon the corner of 6th and Mesa streets.

Bartholomew Plan for the Los Angeles Region. Deverell will share astonishing 3-6 (Thurs-Sun) – 19th ANNUAL LA images of the Olmsted vision for open HARBOR INTERNATIONAL FILM land throughout southern California.

FESTIVAL at the Warner Grand TheTickets for Zoom event and a copy atre (478 W. 6th St.), various showtimes. of the book: $30; without the book: – This year's films include the original $5. For tickets and books, call (310) West Side Story (1961), The Sound of 541-7613 or visit pvplc.org/calendar/.

Music (in 35mm), Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area documentary, shorts, and 10 (Thurs) – FOOD TASTING at the “Read the Book, See the Movie” Assistance League San Pedro-South screening of Treasure Island (in 35mm). Bay (1441 W. 8th St.), 11a-2p. – AsFor schedule and info, visit laharborsistance League San Pedro-South Bay filmfest.com. See interview below. will be holding a food tasting event

featuring Frontier Soup mixes and Assistance League Cookbook recipes.

All items available for purchase.

10 (Thurs) – WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH RECEPTION at Brouwerij West (110 E. 22nd St.), 5:30-7:30p. – The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating Women’s History Month by honoring women who have made significant contributions to our community in business, the arts, healthcare, education, and public service.

Tickets $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Tickets includes light refreshments and champagne toast. No-host bar available. For more info, call (310) 832-7272, email laura@sanpedrochamber.com, or visit sanpedrochamber.com.

19 (Sat) – WELCOME SPRING SUNSET SAIL at Los Angeles Maritime Institute (Berth 73, Suite 2), 5:30-8p.

– Sail the San Pedro Bay and watch the sunset from the deck of a tallship at Los Angeles Maritime Institute. You can sit back and relax or become part of the crew — your choice! Please wear close-toed shoes and bring a coat in case it gets chilly. Our monthly community sails support our educational

programs for youth in need. Tickets $60 for adults, $30 for children (12 and under). LAMI members receive 10% OFF all community sails. For more info, call 310-833-6055, email lisa.nygren@ lamitopsail.org, or visit lamitopsail.org.

27 (Sun) – 30th ANNIVERSARY RIBBON CUTTING AND LUNCH at the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (Berth 73, Building G), 12-3p. – Los Angeles Maritime Institute celebrates its 30th anniversary with a ribbon cutting and a grand re-opening of their beloved Building G, where much of the ship building and maintenance of their four tallships takes place. The building will be dedicated to the founder of LAMI, Jim Gladson. There will be food and beverages served. To RSVP and for more info, call 310-833-6055, email info@lamitopsail.org, or visit lamitopsail.org. spt Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing for a small fee.

Deadline for the April 2022 issue is Friday, March 18. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.

L.A. HARBOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Q&A WITH STEPHANIE MARDESICH, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR SPT: Why did you select Treasure Island (March 3) for this year’s “Read the Book, See the Movie”?

Mardesich: “Read the Book, See the Movie,” our free education outreach program, has promoted classic literature, often part of current curriculum or reviving interest, for 19 years. Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate adventure is the exciting story of young Jim Hawkins and seasoned sailor-turned-pirate Long John Silver, one of the most memorable characters in literature. The prose is superb, diction exemplary; that’s a teaching tool unto itself. The Q&A after the screening is always enlightening.

Disney has provided a 35mm print of the 1950 film adaptation. For the second year, a real-time webinar is planned for those students who aren’t able to attend the live presentation in the Warner Grand Theatre. For those who will see the movie on the big screen, it’s a rare and wonderful opportunity that will become a lifetime memory.

How many students/schools will be participating in RBSM this year? 700 books have been dis8 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I MARCH 2022

tributed and we expect a huge turn out from most San Pedro schools.

West Side Story (March 4) was part of the 2009 LAHIFF, why again this year? Our opening night homage to the “real” West Side Story (1961) is an opportunity for those who love the film to see it on the big screen and for those who have not to see the original work that’s been remade recently. It’s appropriate to honor co-stars George Chakiris, commemorating the 60th anniversary of his receiving the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Bernardo, and Russ Tamblyn who played rival gang leader Riff.

Both were in attendance when LAHIFF presented the immortal film in 2009.

Why did you choose The Sound of Music (March 5) as the Hollywood Nostalgia Tribute? There was a plan to screen the movie in November 2021 as a tribute to the community spirit. With so

many restrictions, we postponed, and since the Hollywood Nostalgia Tribute (HNT) has almost always been a musical film, it was the right choice. It’s another opportunity to view one of the most acclaimed films of all time in 35mm, the way it was meant to be seen on the big screen.

We are pleased to collaborate with San Pedro International Film Festival (SPIFFest) and help promote their own effort. The audience is invited to dress as a favorite character and sing along. The late matinee at 4 p.m. makes it convenient to enjoy some of the cultural historical aspects of San Pedro.

With the WGT scheduled to close for renovations later in the year, the LAHIFF will probably be the last to program films, especially 35mm prints, in the movie palace for quite some time.

What should attendees expect from this year’s selection for DocSunday (March 6)? DocSunday boasts Port

of L.A. premieres, beginning with NewFilmmakers LA showcasing documentary movies by local filmmakers, followed by the inspiring Eddy’s World, directed and produced by Academy Award- nominated filmmaker Lyn Goldfarb.

Closing program at 4 p.m. is the world premiere Stories of the Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow (SOLAHA Vol. II & III), a continuation of the oral history project launched in 2018. SOLAHA has continued to preserve stories of the past for posterity. After the debut of Volume III, the stories will be released weekly online at the SOLAHA website (storieslaharborarea.com).

The screening is a wonderful opportunity for the audience to enjoy the WGT, reminisce, and appreciate the stories and share their own. spt The 19th Annual LA Harbor International Film Festival returns to the Warner Grand Theatre March 3-6.

Box Office opens one hour prior to each program. Cash only. General $10; discount for affiliations $8. Veterans & current military – no charge. First come, first seated.

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LONG-RETIRED TEACHER / COACH STILL MAKING WAVES

by Steve Marconi Longtime readers know I like to write about, in no particular order, teachers, veterans, athletes, coaches, and Real San Pedrans of all stripes.

It’s not often someone checks all of the boxes, so the only question about 89-year-old Carl Kanouse, who I’ve known most of my life, is why it took so long to get around to him.

REAL SAN PEDRAN Kanouse was born on August 25, 1932, in San Pedro, the son of a Navy chief who was based here at the time with the Pacific Battle Fleet. The Kanouses moved a lot; his father was on the light

cruiser USS Phoenix at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and continued to serve after the war. The family returned to San Pedro in 1947, where Kanouse finished junior high school at Dana before going to San Pedro High. He graduated in June 1950.

He has lived in the same house on Caddington Drive for 57 years, where he and his wife of 66 years, Phyllis, raised their three boys, Keith, Craig, and Ken. The Kanouses have been longtime members of First United Methodist Church, where they were married and were former counselors for the Methodist Youth Fellowship. That’s where I ran into Kanouse for the second time.

A lapsed Catholic, I started attending MYF in high school with my good friend Ray Wagoner because I had a crush on his younger sister, Jackie.

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VETERAN The Korean War broke out just weeks after Kanouse graduated, and he joined the Marine Corps. He served as a grunt in Korea (getting baptized on the USS General Randall en route) with the 1st Marines from January 1951 to February 1952, when he returned home and enrolled at Harbor Junior College. He fought fires with the U.S. Forest Service during the summers, and a “lifelong dream” of becoming a forest ranger led him to Oregon State.

TEACHER Kanouse ended up transferring to Pepperdine — the old Los Angeles campus — where Phyllis Squires, his high school girlfriend who had written to him while he was in Korea, was enrolled and started on his path to becoming a history teacher.

They graduated and married in 1955, and both began teaching, she at White Point and he at his alma mater, Dana.

Kanouse earned his master’s degree at Long Beach State in 1958 and moved to the newly opened Dodson Junior High in 1960. That’s where I first met him as a seventh-grader in 1963 when I was in his World History 1 class. He’s remained one of my all-time favorite teachers; much of what I remember about ancient Babylonia, Assyria, and Egypt I owe to him.

He left Dodson for Gardena High, where he taught social studies for ten years; one class in 1969 included my future wife, who I was dating at the time.

Dave Carter was the vice principal at Dodson when Kanouse was there and had moved on to vice principal at Gardena, where Kanouse joined him.

When Carter took over as principal at San Pedro High, Kanouse returned to his roots, beginning a 16-year stint at his alma mater in 1974.

For several years, he sponsored Close Up, a national program that brought high school students to Washington, D.C., for a week of classes and tours to acquaint students with U.S. history and government. Kanouse usually brought 12 to 15 students; for many, he had to obtain scholarships from the booster clubs and local service organizations.

COACH Kanouse taught and coached swimming and water polo at the San Pedro and Peninsula YMCA for years when Carter asked him to coach the Pirates’ swim and water polo teams. He later coached soccer, football, cross country, and distance track; his swim, water polo, and soccer teams won 15 league titles. He also had the opportunity to coach his sons in swimming and water polo.

Long after he retired in 1990, Kanouse returned to coaching. After a knee surgery, he took up water aerobics and developed his own program, which he calls deep-water running. He started teaching it at the YMCA and continues to lead classes today.

ATHLETE Kanouse played football and ran track at San Pedro High and Harbor College.

He became an avid long-distance runner in his 40s and was a member of the Point Fermin Flyers running club, based in the `70s and `80s at Thom Lacie’s Marathom’s running shop in South Shores. Among his many competitive races, Kanouse completed 50 marathons. The quilt he made from the 50 marathon shirts he collected made the front page of the Daily Breeze in 1997; not making news was the time Lacie challenged Kanouse to run 50 miles on his birthday, and he collapsed after 49.

Writing about his former teacher and coach, Joe Bucci, San Pedro High alumnus (1979) and account executive, said Kanouse “encouraged everyone to have a good work ethic and although I was not by far his best student, I believe that much of what I have accomplished as an adult was due to the life lessons I learned as an athlete and student under his watchful eyes. He was always the first to call out BS and point out when you were acting out of character. He always encouraged us to do our best.”

Ray Wagoner’s youngest brother, Richard, current SPHS teacher, alumnus (1981), and longtime family friend of Kanouse who taught him how to swim, was succinct in his appraisal: “He is a tremendously positive influence on everyone he meets.”

Semper fi. spt Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.

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The 1960 episode of The Twilight Zone, “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” is a microcosm of how many feel people today; that our society is being manipulated and controlled by news outlets, social media algorithms, and politics.

Maple Street is set in a middleclass neighborhood. In the evening, the electricity goes out, and the neighborhood is left in the dark. The situation quickly escalates as only one of the houses has its power restored.

The neighbors begin to question the owner as to why their house is the only house with electricity. One by one, the electricity is switched on and off at different houses.

Violence and rioting ensue amongst the neighbors. It’s total chaos.

As the scene pulls away, it ends up on a hilltop overlooking Maple Street.

Two aliens are there, turning the electricity on and off through a control box. Alien one says, “Understand the procedure now? Just stop a few of their machines and radios and telephones and lawnmowers, throw them into darkness for a few hours, and then sit back and watch the pattern.” Alien two’s response, “And this pattern is always the same?”

Alien one says, “With few variations.

They pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it’s themselves. All we need to do is sit back and watch.”

Alien two replies, “Then I take it this place, this Maple Street, is not unique.”

Alien one says, “By no means, their world is full of Maple Streets, and we’ll go from one to another and let them destroy themselves.”

There are times it feels like we are living on Maple Street. From news outlets leaning one way politically or limiting the news that is reported, how social media algorithms feed our interests (watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix), and with the addition of podcasts, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, there is a lot to choose from.

But what is believable? I am not a “fake news” person, but I do listen closely to how words are used, and that helps make my decision on what

is truth, half-truth, and what is not. As we head into another election season, the lines will be drawn across political parties, and we will be expected to fall in line and vote the way political parties expect us to. But will you?

As we look locally toward the race for mayor of Los Angeles, there will be many choices come Election Day. The candidates must clearly articulate a vision and establish clear, attainable goals and objectives for our great city. We need city council members to work together to solve the most pressing issues and take the politics out of the crisis we are in. For example, homelessness is one of the top issues.

Efforts put forward have helped many experiencing homelessness find a way to a better life, but the current success rate will not keep up with the demand. The math doesn’t pencil out. The City needs to change its approach to solve the crisis.

What will you look for in the next mayor? Personally, I will look for the candidate that I trust. Yes, trust. It will be someone who I believe will best represent what our city needs, stands for the everyday, law-abiding citizen, and supports our police officers of the great city of Los Angeles. A leader who will promote innovation, enable small businesses to thrive, support both union and nonunion jobs, build on green technology without sacrificing jobs, and not be overreaching with mandates that they themselves haven’t adhered to. I will look at their record in the aforementioned areas and look at the performance of elected officials they funded to get elected. This is an indication of what the mayoral candidate truly stands for. I am looking for the individual with the highest ethical standards and integrity.

It’s time to exercise our right to vote once again and not sit on the sidelines by not voting because we feel disenfranchised. Voting is one opportunity to influence our future. Find your truth, stay away from the nonsense on social media, read deeper into the issues, listen to learn, and challenge each other on the real issues at hand. Let’s not become Maple Street. spt Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo.com.

VOICES

FAIR TRADE & SUSTAINABLY SOURCED GOODS IN SAN PEDRO

by Jennifer Marquez Handmade rugs from Pakistan for sale at Ten Thousand Villages at Crafted. (photo: Michelle Dever-Ryan.)

Ten Thousand Villages South Bay is a nonprofit agency with over 70 volunteers. It is a fair trade retailer of home décor, personal accessories, and gifts crafted by artisans worldwide with a location inside of Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles. Purchases support the fair income for hundreds of otherwise disadvantaged artisans from developing countries, breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

Michelle Dever-Ryan, executive director of Ten Thousand Villages South Bay, says, “It is phenomenal that the majority of the artisans are women. It is incredible to me that the fair trade movement was pioneered by a woman, who started out of the trunk of her car to help other women.” Ten Thousand Villages has been helping artisans in developing countries for over 75 years.

Some of the more popular items that they sell include a bicycle pizza cutter

made in India by a group called Noah’s Ark. Upcycled saris that have been made into purses, pastels, and throws are also bestsellers. The small store in Crafted has a wide assortment of goods, including jewelry and dry bean soup mixes created by the Women’s Bean Project, which transforms women’s lives through employment.

Once a year, a beautiful assortment of rugs handmade in Pakistan are sold at the Crafted location of Ten Thousand Villages. The rugs are designed and crafted in villages in Pakistan by an artisan group known as Bunyaad Rugs, a fair trade rug program. Eight hundred and fifty families participate in the making of the rugs. It can take months and even over a year to make a single rug, as each one is handcrafted.

Artisans have the creative freedom to choose the designs and colors of the rugs they are making. Bunyaad — which means “foundation” — works to create strong foundations in the remote villages by paying a fair wage to artisan families. By providing a fair wage, families can live off the land and grow

their food versus having to find work in other cities in a migratory lifestyle.

Fairly paid adults make all the rugs.

Bunyaad guarantees a fair wage for their artisans, contributing to a more stable living environment that includes three meals a day and better schools.

In a rural economy, creating a consistent, fair wage enables the families to invest in the foundations of their homes so they can withstand earthquakes.

Artisans are paid per knot rather than speed, which motivates them to make high-quality, high knot count rugs. The styles and colors of the rugs are distinct, depending on what village the artisan is located in.

Yousaf Chaman, executive director of Bunyaad, drives across the U.S. with rugs in his van and trailer to the events held at Ten Thousand Villages locations throughout the country. His family is involved in the process; his wife runs their stores in Pennsylvania, and his brother also helps at events. Yousaf is gone from his family for weeks at a time to ensure the artisans have the income opportunity.

“It is the quality you desire, and the fairness artisans deserve. The rugs are very high quality and last a lifetime,” states Chaman. “Due to the quality of the wool, rugs are resilient to stains, including wine or other spills,” he adds.

Some of his customers have bought rugs and have been able to communicate with the artisan who created the rug in Pakistan.

Products sold at Ten Thousand Villages are making a difference in the world. Purchases provide fair wages, so artisans have the security of a fair income to care for their family needs. The Rug Event will be held March 18–20 at Crafted from 12–6 p.m. Rugs range in cost from $125–$13,000. To learn more about Ten Thousand Villages South Bay, visit villagesredondo.com. For more information about the rugs, visit bunyaad.com. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.

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MARCH 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 15

VOICES

WHAT'S REPLACING THE COURTHOUSE?

by Lee Williams

A rendering of the mixed-use building that will replace the courthouse in Downtown San Pedro.

(photo: Genton Cockrum Partners)

On February 9, Supervisor Janice Hahn counted down the long-awaited demolition of the county courthouse building in Downtown San Pedro.

Many gathered to share stories of paying parking tickets in this building and the difficulties of finding jurors who either didn’t know or weren’t related to the defendants appearing in court.

Many elements in this project make it uniquely San Pedro before construction even begins, and there is a little something for everyone to get excited about.

The County of Los Angeles owns this property. From day one, Supervisor Hahn has been unwavering in her commitment to building mixed-income housing with a large affordable housing component. She has been steadfast in the construction being 100 percent union labor. This was behind her selection of Genton Cockrum Partners as the builder. Genton Cockrum Partners has a track record of construction with Project Labor Agreements and is looking for additional opportunities to employ San Pedrans as a way for them to learn the trades and land union jobs. Much of the financing has come from union pension funds with members of the AFL-CIO

Housing Investment Trust on hand to witness the beginning of a labor-built and labor-financed project.

Tim McOsker, former president of the PBID (Historic Business Improvement District), and CD 15 Councilman Joe Buscaino have been active and engaged in making sure this project brings union jobs, mixed-income housing, and lifts the surrounding businesses. McOsker, an attorney born and raised in San Pedro, had some of the best stories of historical and humorous moments in this building. You could tell he will miss it but is very enthusiastic about the next chapter for this property and what it will mean for Downtown San Pedro.

Buscaino spoke about all the moving parts that had to come together to push this project forward. Joe is focused on solutions and making the right longterm decisions that will benefit San Pedro for generations.

Like many of you, I had hoped for a dramatic implosion like you see on TV. The demolition could take a couple of months due to all the reinforced steel surrounding the jail cells. Then the site will be prepared to begin construction this fall. Genton Cockrum Partners were given the contract at the end of 2018, and they have spent much of this time getting feedback from the neighborhood councils, the San Pedro Cham-

ber of Commerce, local businesses, and residents. We will see a clearer picture of what is planned for the site this fall.

The eight-story project will include 300 studio, one-, two-, and threebedroom rental units, with 60 affordable. Some people get confused by what “affordable housing” means. In this case, rents will be based on 80 percent of the Los Angeles Area Median Income (AMI), household size, and 30 percent of the adjusted income. Here’s an example based on today’s numbers for those who hate math: A family of three with a household income of $85,000 may qualify for rent around $1,400 per month.

It’s mixed-use projects like this one that make the numbers work financially. The market rate units pay for the construction and the affordable units, allowing for housing for fixed-income seniors and families struggling to get out of poverty and making workforce housing possible. Having workers live close to their jobs means less traffic, a better quality of life, and more participation in our community at all levels.

There will be public parking and 20,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor that includes a food hall for local entrepreneurs to establish themselves. There may be a rotation element in these food stalls and retail

spaces. Some of these may lead to stand-alone family restaurants here in San Pedro. I already know of several chefs and San Pedro locals who would be a great fit.

The design and addition of public open space are intended to tie well into the existing historical buildings and add to a more active and vibrant downtown corridor. This building is almost centralized between Harbor and Pacific. It will be a draw for people to visit our downtown, explore our shops, breweries, and restaurants, and contribute space to our larger annual events.

Revitalizing the property where the courthouse once stood will be one of the most visible examples of the postpandemic renaissance coming to San Pedro. What’s more San Pedro than creating union jobs, workforce housing, and a place for family businesses to get their start? So much work of so many people behind the scenes — it’s exciting for the public to see the progress finally taking place. 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.

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The Whale & Ale bar, including its new lineup of Irish beers and whiskeys.

(photo: John Mattera Photography)

DOWNTOWN'S LUCKY CHARM THE WHALE & ALE SWITCHES FLAGS AS NEW OWNERS MARTIN AND SUSAN O'SULLIVAN BRING THE LUCK O' THE IRISH TO DOWNTOWN SAN PEDRO

by Joshua Stecker

On November 16, 2020, the day Martin and Susan O’Sullivan took ownership of The Whale & Ale, Andrew Silber, the restaurant’s now former owner, removed the Union Jack that had hung in front of his British pub on Seventh Street since 1995 and replaced it with the Irish flag. It was a simple yet significant gesture. For Silber, it marked the end of an era that lasted 25 years. For the O’Sullivans, it was the realization of a lifelong dream that began on the coast of Dublin, Ireland, and somehow manifested in Downtown San Pedro. “[Silber] was on the ladder,” remembers Martin. “We parked on the street, and we walked down, and he was putting the Irish flag up when we arrived.

It was very nice.”

Unfortunately, the celebration was short-lived. The next day, L.A. County Public Health officials announced new, tighter COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants during the winter surge of 2020. A week after they were handed the keys, restaurants in L.A. County were forced to close indoor and outdoor dining and only offer takeout, drivethru, and delivery services. It wasn’t exactly how the O’Sullivans envisioned their opening week as new restaurant owners.

“We were already nervous. We were inexperienced,” remembers Martin. “I mean, you’re a business owner, and suddenly you can’t operate your business. So, we took over November 16, and everything shut down November 25. And it was shut down for like two and a half months.”

Navigating the ups and downs of the pandemic as new restaurant owners

of work to convert them to an Irish pub.

This one was perfect.”

While negotiations were underway in early 2020, the restaurant’s main PUB FOR SALE drain line collapsed, forcing Silber to Martin jokingly explains their journey close for months to have it repaired. to owning The Whale & Ale as “a clas- It wasn’t how Silber wanted his final sic Murphy’s Law story.” In early 2019, months as owner to go, fixing the the O’Sullivans decided that they were plumbing in the middle of a pandemic, going to take the plunge and actively but for the O’Sullivans, the silver A LIFELONG DREAM pursue purchasing their own Irish pub. lining arrived in new wood floorThe Whale & Ale’s conversion from a It took six months before a real estate ing throughout the entire restaurant.

British to Irish pub is the realization broker tipped them off that Silber had Aside from the Irish-themed decor (if of a childhood dream that began for quietly put the British pub up for sale. you’re a Notre Dame fan, you’re going Martin O’Sullivan as a young man in “It was time. I was ready for a to love this place), the new hardwood Dublin. “When I left Ireland 30 years change,” admits Silber, 67, who is quifloors and freshly painted walls are the ago, my friends and I had always said, etly enjoying post-restaurant life with biggest aesthetic difference since the ‘We’re going to be gone for five years, his wife, Adela, and their family. “It was O’Sullivans took ownership. we’re going to come back, and we’re a grind, and I loved it, but it meant I “What Andrew was doing was not going to open a pub,’” he remembers. a far cry from what we wanted to do.

“That was always a dream of mine and didn’t do anything else. So, when you ask why [I sold], those are some of the And he was able to help us with any my friends, to open a pub.” reasons. It consumes your entire time questions or any doubts we had around Martin ended up in the Bay Area and energy if you want to do it right.” converting it [from British to Irish],” in 1989 and met Susan right away. In Silber opened The Whale & Ale says Martin. “On the other hand, I fact, she was his first boss in the states.

British pub in July 1995. The restaurant know it was important to Andrew, and “It was love at first sight,” says Martin, became a Downtown San Pedro anchor, important for Marylyn Ginsburg [the smiling. “That’s on the record now.” landlord], not to do any major changes.”

He worked in corporate America for hosting community meetings and According to Martin, Silber and 30 years in engineering and product de- events, and showcasing local talent, like Ginsburg also requested they keep the velopment, while Susan worked in retail the late centenarian Harry Hall, who used to play violin in the pub into his pub’s name the same, to which the and went back to school to study art hundreds.

O’Sullivans agreed. Although financial at UC Berkeley. They made their way “First Thursday was also created in details were kept private, the sale of to Long Beach in 2002, with Martin’s the restaurant completed in November desire to own an Irish pub still heavy on The Whale & Ale,” adds Silber, noting that the first meetings of the town’s 2020. his mind. monthly art walk originated in the din“We fell in love with the whole MAKING IT THEIR OWN Southern California area,” says Martin. ing area. (Silber can even point out the specific tables.)

While the ambiance of the restaurant “We got to know some people in Long The O’Sullivans were smitten with remains familiar, the biggest difference Beach that are involved in the restauthe restaurant right away. “We fell in is in the menu. Gone are pricey items rant industry, and they became good friends of ours, but we’ve never done a love with it,” recalls Martin. “Obviously, like the prime rib and beef wellington. the design is unique. All the pubs we (“We first started doing only to-go restaurant or a bar of our own. It was were looking at, you’d have to do a lot orders, and beef wellington didn’t travel just from watching them and talking spoiled any chance for a true “grand reopening” celebration for the O’Sullivans in 2021. Instead, the husband-and-wife team used last year to learn the ropes around their newly christened Irish pub, test out new menu items, and work out the kinks with the hope that 2022 will be their breakout year.

18 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I MARCH 2022

with them, seeing [how they operated], and us thinking this is what we wanted to do in our later years.”

MARCH 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 19

Clockwise (l to r): New owners Martin and Susan O'Sullivan; The Whale & Ale exterior on 7th Street; a few members of The Whale & Ale's staff; former owner, Andrew Silber. (photos: John Mattera Photography)

well,” explains Martin.) New additions include sausage rolls (handmade Irish sausage wrapped and baked in a puff pastry) and Guinness cake (served with Baileys ice cream). Other dishes have been modified with an Irish twist, like the bangers and mash, which now has Irish sausage, and the shepherd’s pie.

And if you’re curious about the fish and chips, The Whale & Ale’s signature dish is still on the menu with a slightly new recipe. “We get a lot of compliments on our fish and chips,” says Susan.

“We’re still working on adding the corned beef and cabbage. And we have the Irish breakfast coming, which we're going to add as an all-day menu item, as well,” adds Martin, a self-proclaimed Irish breakfast connoisseur.

The restaurant’s classic bar, with its brass fixtures and imported oak, has also been reimagined, with Irish beers and whiskeys dominating the taps and shelves. High pub tables have replaced the short dining tables, and four new flatscreen televisions have been installed, perfect for those early morning European football matches.

The O’Sullivans are excited for 2022.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Day (Wednesday, March 17) is arriving just as COVID-19 restrictions are finally easing up, hopefully for good. To celebrate their good luck, The Whale & Ale will be featuring Irish food specials all day, including corned beef and cabbage, as well as an expanded whiskey selection and new signature cocktails, created and managed by their new bar manager, Brittney Lundberg. (But don’t expect any green beer. Martin doesn’t buy into that tradition.) Future plans include special trivia and theme nights, beer and whiskey tastings, and more live music.

“We want this to be a place where people come to have fun,” says Martin.

“We love all the new friends we’ve made here in San Pedro and really appreciate our wonderful staff. The goal is to make this a really good, fun Irish pub, but with high quality food.” spt The Whale & Ale is located at 327 W. 7th St. in Downtown San Pedro.

For more info, call (310) 832-0363 or visit thewhaleandale.com.

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IN MEMORIAM

FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES REMEMBER FIREFIGHTER JONATHAN FLAGLER (October 9, 1974 - January 6, 2022)

by Nadia Nizetich On January 6, firefighter Jonathan Flagler lost his life in the line of duty while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. The husband, father of two, and San Pedro native served as a firefighter for 21 years and is remembered as a kind spirit by friends and colleagues. Ron Good, a close friend of Flagler’s for over a decade, describes him as an easygoing and compassionate individual. “Some people are hard to get along with, but that was not the case at all with Jonny,” reflects Good. “He was a genuine person and was easy to be around. He cared about everybody and about the things that were important to them.”

Flagler grew up in San Pedro, where he discovered a love for firefighting as a teen in Los Angeles County’s Fire Explorer program. After graduating from San Pedro High School in 1992, he enrolled in El Camino College’s Fire Sciences program and later completed the Rio Hondo College Fire Academy.

He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Cal State Los Angeles in 2001 before being hired as a firefighter at Station 1 in the City of Vernon in 2002. He would serve Vernon for the majority of his 21-year career until it was subsumed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 2020. From then on, he worked at Station 83 in Rancho Palos Verdes, mere blocks from his childhood home.

Along the way, he met his wife, Jenny. The pair married in 2003 and settled down in Flagler’s San Pedro home. They soon became parents to two boys and moved to San Clemente, where Flagler’s life revolved around his family. He coached his sons’ baseball teams, and the family held holidays at their home. He spent his yearly vacation with his wife and kids, bringing the bunch skiing in Aspen or camping on Pismo Beach. Retired Fire Chief David Moore, who worked with Flagler at Station 1 for 19 years, recalls the vacations fondly. “When Jon got that guaranteed one week off, he took advantage of it. He got the nickname ‘Jonny Grande’ for living large and

always doing it with his family.”

At the station, Flagler is remembered as a family man. JP Vittorio, whom Flagler trained when Vittorio joined Vernon Fire in 2010, recalls that Flagler often thought of his sons while on duty. “At the station, we’d joke that Jon never wanted to work weekends. It was because he wanted to spend time with his kids — they were his number one.”

Moore agrees. “I can’t tell you how many times Jon would be on the phone with his kids helping them with their homework.” In addition to his family, Flagler cared deeply for his coworkers.

“Jon would take you out hot walking,” recalls Moore. “If you had problems in your life, and everyone does, Jon would say, ‘Hey, let’s go and take a hot walk.’

That was his term for going out behind the station, walking up and down the alley, and listening to you. He would counsel you and help you through it.”

Devoted to his loved ones as he was, Flagler hardly shirked his firefighting duties. Moore describes him as an exceptional firefighter whose shrewdness made him a valuable crew member. “Jon was sharp. I could put him anywhere on the fire truck — he could do paramedic work or bust a roof in. When he was on my unit, I knew we were in good hands.” When speaking of Flagler as a mentor, Vittorio lauds his leadership skills. “When I first started as a volunteer, Jon was that mentor that I looked up to,” he explains. “He was just the nicest guy, the guy I felt comfortable going up to and talking with. But he also wanted to make sure that I was a good firefighter, and he was always willing to take time out of his day to help me practice what I needed to work on.”

According to Moore, Flagler was also a joyful individual with an infectious attitude. “You remember the sticker ‘No Bad Days?’” he asks. “That was Jon.” Vittorio elaborates. “He was the funniest guy to be around. There were so many times at the firehouse where we’d be in the kitchen, and he would have me crying laughing. That’s how hilarious he was. And his laugh — it

24 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I MARCH 2022

(photos: courtesy Flagler family)

was the icing on the cake.” That humor proved to be an asset on the job, and Flagler was known for his ability to put people at ease. “Jon and I went to Chico to fight the wildland fires,” recounts Moore. “When you spend 14 days out on the road in the dirt, it’s not easy. We work 24-to-48-hour shifts. It’s all about the people you go with, and when I was with Jon, it was fun. The guy was just so jovial, so hilarious, so easy to get along with.”

To commemorate 21 years of exceptional service, Flagler’s former station will be renamed the Jonathan Flagler Memorial Training Center.

Moore, Vittorio, and Good believe it’s an excellent way to honor the man beloved by many and remind others that firefighters risk their lives on behalf of their communities. Friends and colleagues also plan to build a private

memorial solely for his wife and two sons at their home in San Clemente.

“Ten or so of us guys are going to his house to build a memorial wall for his family,” Moore says. “It’s the least we all can do for Jon. He was larger than life.

He had an infectious smile and a laugh that was contagious. He was a great man, great firefighter, great husband, great father, and a great friend.” spt A Pancake Grab & Go Benefit honoring Flagler will be held Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022 at Sirens Java & Tea (402 W. 7th St.) from 8:30 a.m.

– 12 p.m. Event is in partnership with Supervisor Janice Hahn, L.A. County Fire Station 83, & LAFD. All proceeds will support the Flagler Memorial Fund. $10 donation (drive-up). Donations accepted on site.

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MARCH 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 25

FOOD

EAT IN SAN PEDRO:

STANDOUT BURRITOS WITH A VIEW

by Sanam Lamborn

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since the pandemic altered our way of living.

As I reflect on the many ways my life has changed, I choose to focus on the silver linings of this challenging period. Regularly eating in San Pedro (pun intended), enjoying our beautiful parks, taking in our coastline’s breathtaking views, and writing this column have been fulfilling experiences. Speaking of views, I matched sandwiches with parks around town in a previous column. This month, I’d like to share some of my favorite burritos and places to enjoy them with distinctively Pedro views.

Brite Spot (615 S. Pacific Ave.) is the type of unassuming place that you drive by regularly but don’t notice. Although I have eaten there for years, their Azteca burrito is a recent discovery that I became hooked on right away.

This burrito is unique because one of its main ingredients is nopal, the subtly tart flat cactus pads from the prickly pear plant. The other ingredients

Clockwise from top left: Brite Spot's Azteca burrito at the Friendship Bench; The Chori-Man’s green chorizo breakfast burrito at White Point/Royal Palms Park; The Original Las Brisas’ al pastor burrito at the swing in the Town Square; and Conrad’s Mexican Grill’s chile relleno burrito at Cabrillo Beach. (photos: Sanam Lamborn)

are carne asada, Spanish rice, beans, onions, and cilantro. It also has a hint of spiciness. I prefer to order mine without beans. It’s definitely a satisfying treat.

There are many benches alongside the grassy area of Paseo Del Mar, but my favorite is the Friendship Bench, which sits at the entrance of the small trail that leads to the cliff just before Roxbury Street.

It took me a long time to give The Chori-Man (2309 S. Alma St.) a try because of my past experience with greasy chorizo that dominates the flavor, making it not appealing to me.

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the chorizo tacos, I finally gave in. It was love at first bite with the all-flavor and no-grease Tolucan green chorizo.

When Humberto Raygoza started making his breakfast burritos, I found something new to obsess over. Diced potatoes, fried eggs, cheese, and chorizo wrapped in a tortilla come together into a mouthwatering burrito. I particularly like mine with runny eggs and their jalapeño relish salsa. I seldom deviate from the green chorizo, but when I do, I opt for the maple habanero. I often eat my breakfast burrito at one of the picnic tables or benches at White Point/Royal Palms Park above Royal Palms beach, where the scenery of the

coastline is spectacular.

My burrito of choice at Conrad’s Mexican Grill (376 W. 6th St.) is the chile relleno. This burrito is loaded with a chile relleno — a roasted poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, dipped in egg batter then fried, Spanish rice, beans, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole.

I think it’s important for a burrito to maintain its shape and structure, and this one, although it’s loaded with ingredients, is a perfect balance of flavors and doesn’t fall apart. It’s impossible not to enjoy how the texture of the poblano pepper, melted cheese, and guacamole come together. I love the view at the outer Cabrillo Beach (3720 Stephen M. White Dr.), which feels like our own private cove. It’s always nice to sit on the sand or grassy area and eat to the sound of the crashing waves.

The Original Las Brisas (1110 N. Gaffey St.) was a pandemic discovery for me, thanks to Hilary Mejia’s posts in the Eat in San Pedro Facebook group.

As you may have read in last August’s San Pedro Today cover story, Mejia’s 73-year-old father, Gilberto A. De Haro, who does all the cooking, is known for his al pastor — seasoned and marinated pork. The al pastor burrito is loaded with beans, onion, cilantro, and their signature salsa. I highly recommend ordering a fried jalapeño on the side; it’s a perfect companion to the burrito.

The burrito might be a tad bit messy and rich, but it’s tasty and it hits the spot! I recently discovered the newly installed large swing that faces the channel in the Town Square at L.A. Waterfront Promenade (600 Sampson Way). It’s a great place to eat while gently swinging and watching the boats go by. spt

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MENTAL HEALTH

PERMISSION TO JUST BE

by Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT

Many brave voices in the LGBTQ+ community have defined our modernday movement in the sphere of individual freedom from patriarchal social conditioning. This has reshaped our understanding of human sexuality, gender identification, and overall versatility in the general population.

However, as we redefine, rename, and reenvision the future of our society, the whirlwind of current culture has left many OG, cisgender, older generations scratching their heads in dismay.

We have created a new language that supports the integration of this new world for those who are in the process of coming out and redefining themselves. Yet we have failed to provide adequate support and guidance to those who play a significant role in holding this experience for their loved ones.

While schools can support preferred pronouns and names of their students, minors go home to their parents at the end of the day, and if their parents don’t know how to make heads or tails of their children’s internal experiences, the end result is rejection and confusion. In these cases, the primary support

for parents is to tell them that they must accept their children’s preferences. This wouldn’t be problematic if it wasn’t for the fact that parents are also told to hold boundaries for their children, to guide and protect their children’s exposure. They must restrict their access to social media, set age-appropriate expectations and goals, and understand that children are growing, developing beings. They should maintain an adequate level of authority to provide a safe growing environment. In the face of such a double bind, the common outcome is mistrust in external counsel, and thus conflict within the family unit. Parents feel demonized, while the children often feel victimized and misunderstood.

There has always been and will continue to be a portion of the population that experiences profound feelings that are at odds with the mainstream. It is, however, also true that if we simply look at the extensive data in human sexuality, dating back to Kinsey reports, human beings are rarely binary. While religious social norms have imposed a black and white position on the subject of self, the reality is that the self is, in fact, a fluid and dynamic kaleidoscope of nature and nurture over a span of time. In the last few decades, access

(photo: Magda Ehlers/Pexels)

and the normalization of psychotherapy have equipped the new generation with an extensive language to communicate their inner lives to the world. Hence, it makes sense that our children can describe their inner fluid process to us as it unfolds in real-time. Our responsibility as parents is to hold this developing experience to allow some breathing room without panic or excessive need to concretize the process at hand.

Understanding the history of gender fluidity in the context of our past, culture, and social conditioning, as well as statistical data on human sexuality, allows us to require less concrete labeling, hence, softening the divide between the feeling of “us” and “them.”

The “strange” nonbinary folk versus the “normal” mainstream populous. Our children are bombarded with endless pressure from social media and other cultural outlets that compromise and threaten the natural process of developing self. There is the constant sexualization and objectification, constant beautification, pressure in fashion culture, and monetary competition.

While we try to understand what it means to be nonbinary, we have forgotten to ask our children: What does it

mean to them to be binary? What does a 13-year-old girl, for example, have to embody to feel sufficiently female?

We do not consider the fact that for the current generation, being nonbinary may be, at times, a plea for a timeout on this unbearable social pressure that the binary world imprints on their developing minds. Being nonbinary can mean being free to just be, without fake nails and fake lashes or premature sexual experiences and perfect bikini bodies on Instagram. A timeout from self-restricting diets and self-loathing, that being queer can mean, “Please can you leave me alone, okay? I’m weird.”

And perhaps, if parents can understand and hold that without panic and fear, this natural fluidity that is the inner life of the self will unfold organically with less protest and tension.

And perhaps in that process, we can embrace the formation of whatever self emerges without needing a constant label that can never fully encompass the totality of who we are. spt Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local marriage and family therapist. For more info, visit sophiemft.com.

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www.raymondgreenlawoffice.com rgreen.atty@sbcglobal.net

“Free 30 Minute Consultation with Mr. Green” 28 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I MARCH 2022

REAL ESTATE

HOME RENOVATIONS Q&A WITH A LOCAL ARCHITECT

by Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac Last year, we dedicated a column to the topic of escalating home renovation costs during the pandemic and the challenges that this posed for both homeowners and contractors. Additionally, we offered insights provided by a reputable local contractor with tips on how to better achieve your home renovation goals in a challenging environment.

This month, we focus on the essential first step of meeting with an architect and developing a game plan prior to putting a hammer to nail on an extensive project. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with an experienced and reputable local architect, Jure Sestich, to pick his brain regarding important insights that a homeowner may consider prior to beginning a project.

Harper/Hazdovac: When meeting with a homeowner for your initial consultation, what are important items that you like them to be prepared with? Jure Sestich: 1.)

A wish list that includes current and future needs/wants is a great way to start. From there, I can begin to offer suggestions on how to implement their ideas. 2.) Is there a particular style or look the homeowners are striving for?

Sometimes trying to apply a label on a style such as a craftsman, mid-century modern, etc., creates limitations. It is very helpful when a client provides photos of houses or interior spaces they like. Photos are a great way to convey what’s appealing to them and what they’re hoping to accomplish with their renovation. The goal of the architect is to help create a style and function that works best for the homeowner and their family, whether that is a combination of various styles or one specific look.

3.) Providing a budget is a huge factor.

Determining this budget will also help define the wish list. Unfortunately, most home improvement shows are misleading regarding cost. The reality of a budget depends on construction type, labor cost, material quality, etc. Understanding ballpark costs usually plays a significant factor in the decision-making process.

Besides hiring an architect and contractor, what are other specialists that a homeowner may consider when preparing for a substantial renovation project? There truly is someone that specializes in every aspect of a project, and depending on the size of the job, this can vary substantially.

Following is a list of consultants to consider: landscape designer, interior designer, audio/visual tech, structural engineer, geologist, solar consultant, lighting specialist, etc.

What is your average turnaround time for permits approval by L.A. City? This seems to be a top question for every potential client. To be honest, it truly depends because every project is unique. Project location (zoning, historical areas, coastal zone), scope of work, building restrictions, and/or height limitations all factor into the turnaround time. Making revisions or altering plans during construction may not only take more time but may also prove costly if completed work must be removed and/or replaced. The goal is to get it right from the start and complete the project in a timely manner. I believe the time aspect isn’t as important as the process. At the end of the day, when everything turns out as the client envisioned it, the timeframe really becomes a nonissue.

What are some expectations you like to set with your clients before they embark on a project? Every project, small or large, should be a team effort. The more involved a homeowner is from start to finish, the more they’ll get out of it. Homeowners should play an active role in selecting finishes, appliances, fixtures, lighting, etc. This is an exciting time because they have an opportunity to customize every aspect of their home. Team success is usually achieved when there is a strong synergy between homeowner, architect, and contractor. Working together and communicating while pushing one another with tasks is a great way to guarantee a well-constructed project. spt For any questions, Jure Sestich can be reached at jures@cox.net.

Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are both licensed Realtors® with Keller Williams Realty. For more info, visit harperhazdovac.com.

MARCH 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29

THE BACK PAGE

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down (February 9, 2022): The San Pedro Courthouse meets the construction crane as demolition begins on the building. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

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