JUNE 2022
DIVINE ELYSIAN WELLNESS | THE SISTER CORITA KENT EFFECT | SAN PEDRO PRIDE FESTIVAL RETURNS
ROUGH WATERS, SMOOTH SAILING WITH A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, JONATHAN WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BATTLESHIP IOWA MUSEUM, LOOKS BACK ON TEN YEARS IN SAN PEDRO.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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“new” teacher on campus back when I was in the third grade. She’s led the Catholic elementary school through some incredible eras, including the introduction of computers, the rise of the internet, touchscreen education, and recently, remote learning. Rarely do educators, especially principals, stay this long in one position or at one school. Holy Trinity was lucky to have her for as long as they did. I hope retirement treats you well, Dr. Wiley. You deserve it.
First off, thanks to everyone who expressed their condolences regarding the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Angela “Romee” Romero, in April. Her funeral at Mary Star Church and reception at Port Town Brewery last month were wonderful celebrations of her life and legacy. I want to especially thank the Romero family, Alan Johnson, Liz Schindler Johnson, Taran Schindler, James Brown from Port Town Brewery, Jerico Development, Grand Vision Foundation, and music from Warehouse One for giving her a great send-off. For those who’ve inquired, yes, I plan on keeping Angela’s voice alive in these pages as long as I hold the office keys. She left behind a decade’s worth of timely and relevant history columns that I plan on reprinting when necessary or needed. She may be gone, but she’ll never be forgotten.
VOTE As you can tell by some of the advertisements in this issue or the number of flyers in your mailbox, it’s an election year. We’ll be choosing new leaders, including a new mayor and city councilperson, with San Pedro’s future hanging in the balance. With plenty of attention on us already, and more to come as West Harbor becomes a reality, it’s more important now than ever that we vote for those candidates with San Pedro’s best interests at heart. On Election Day (Tuesday, June 7), make sure you use your voice and vote. spt
CONGRATS, DR. WILEY I also want to congratulate Dr. Linda Wiley, principal of Holy Trinity School, on her retirement this month after 38 years at my alma mater. I’m old enough to remember when Dr. Wiley was the
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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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LOS ANGELES SATURDAY 16TH JULY 2022 6PM & 8:30PM
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JUNE 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 5
JUNE 2022
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ADVERTISING:
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166 | patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
Joshua J. Stecker Lori Garrett
ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Joseph A. Castañeda
AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS
Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Sanam Lamborn, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Julia Murphy, Nadia Nizetich, Jamaal K. Street, Lee Williams
PHOTOGRAPHER
John Mattera Photography
CONTACT INFO:
Phone: (424) 224-9063 Email: contact@sanpedrotoday.com Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @sanpedrotoday www.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 20092022, Empire22 Media LLC.
VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 5
ON THE COVER: Jonathan Williams photographed on the Battleship Iowa Museum. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JUNE 2022
JUNE 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 7
EVENTS
JUNE 2022 CHRIS GETHARD AT THE SARDINE
JUNE 23 (Thurs) – CHRIS GETHARD "AMERICA'S LOOSEST CANNON" at The Sardine (1101 S. Pacific Ave.), 8p. – Comedian, actor, author, and podcaster Chris Gethard brings his confessional style of comedy to San Pedro! In addition to stand-up, Gethard currently hosts the popular podcasts Beautiful/Anonymous and New Jersey is the World and is the founder of Planet Scum, an online comedy venue for the country’s best underground comedians. The former host of The Chris Gethard Show, he wrote and starred in the HBO special Career Suicide, and the Comedy Dynamics special, Chris Gethard: Half My Life. For ages 21 and over. Tickets $17 adv / $19 day of show. For tickets and more info, visit sardinepedro.com. For more info on Chris Gethard, visit chrisgeth.com.
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. Masks and social distancing are encouraged. A hand washing station is provided for your convenience. For more info, visit sanpedrochamber. com/san-pedro-farmers-market. Every Tuesday & 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 streets. 2 (Thurs) – GUIDED ARTWALK TOUR at The Artistry (491 W. 6th St., Suite 103), 5:30p. – Join local artists and creatives for a tour of the San Pedro Arts District. The Arts District’s streets are lined with artists’ workspaces, and each First Thursday they open their doors to the public for a rare chance to see art in incubation. Tickets are FREE, but if you make a $10 donation and print your receipt, you’ll receive a treat at The Artistry. Tickets are limited. To reserve your spot, visit tinyurl. com/54mpux72. For more info, visit sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com.
4 (Sat) – COPPELIA and ICONS AND LEGENDS at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.), various showtimes. – The San Pedro Ballet School and San Pedro City Ballet present Coppélia and Icons & Legends in their annual recital. Catch Coppélia in the first act and Icons & Legends in the second presented by dancers of all ages. Tickets $25. For tickets and more info, visit sanpedroballetschool.com. 7 (Tues) – STATEWIDE DIRECT PRIMARY ELECTION - VOTE! 11 (Sat) – MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM ANNUAL YARD SALE at the Muller House Museum (1542 S. Beacon St.), 8a-1p. – Join the Muller House Museum for their Annual Yard Sale. Early entry at 7:30a is $5, and the event is FREE of charge after 8a. For more info, visit sanpedrobayhistoricalsociety.com. 11 (Sat) – CHILDREN’S ART WORKSHOP at The Garden Church (429 W. 6th St.), 10:30a-12p. – The Angels Gate Cultural Center and Feed & Be Fed are partnering on this outdoor Art Workshop series for children ages 5-12. Join artist-teacher Jayn Ghormley to create art inspired by the outdoors. Supplies will be provided, and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Admission is FREE, and masks are required. For more info, email amanda@angelsgateart.org. 12 (Sat) – ALMA PARK PICNIC at Alma Park (21st/Meyler streets), 10a-2p. Enjoy a day of family fun, live entertainment, games, and more! Pack your picnic basket, grab a blanket, and join your neighbors for a day of fun at Alma Park. For more info, visit almaparkneighbors.org. 12 (Sun) – FATHER’S DAY POP-UP at The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.), 9a-3p. – Join more than a dozen artists, artisans, and makers outside San Pedro's favorite neighborhood store for a fun day of shopping for Dad! This event is hosted by Homemade by the Hays and The Corner Store and sponsored by San Pedro Today. Best parking is along Paseo Del Mar.
18 (Sat) – DOCENT GUIDED NATURE WALK at Point Vicente Interpretive Center (31501 Palos Verdes Dr. W., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275), 10a. – Join us for a tour of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center museum, its native plant garden, and path along the spectacular bluff top at the Vicente Bluff Reserve. Enjoy an easy 1½ mile stroll led by our docent and learn about the natural and cultural history of the area. Event is FREE for all ages. Bring sun protection, water, and sturdy shoes, and meet at the center’s front patio. For more info, call (310) 544-5260 or visit losserenos.org. 19 (Sun) – CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH SAIL at Los Angeles Maritime Institute (Berth 73, Suite 2), 7-9:30p. – Be part of the boat parade and enjoy the best view of fireworks in the port from the deck of a tall ship! You can sit back and relax or become part of the crew – your choice! Please wear closed-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 info@ lamitopsail.org, or visit lamitopsail.org. 25 (Sat) – SEAFARER SAIL at Los Angeles Maritime Institute (Berth 73, Suite 2), 7-9:30p. – June 25th of each year is the "Day of the Seafarer,” recognizing the invaluable contribution seafarers make to international trade and the world economy. All are invited to promote and celebrate the day on a tall ship! You can sit back and relax or become part of the crew – your choice! Please wear closed-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 info@lamitopsail.org, or visit lamitopsail.org. spt Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing for a small fee. Deadline for the July 2022 issue is Friday, June 17. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.
UKRAINIAN ART EXHIBITION
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8 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JUNE 2022
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FIRST THURSDAY ART WALK JUNE 2, 6-9 PM Offering a glimpse into the land of rich cultural traditions and people of many talents.
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(photo: 42 North)
PRIDE RETURNS TO PEDRO
SAN PEDRO PRIDE FESTIVAL TAKES OVER DOWNTOWN JUNE 18. by Nadia Nizetich After a three-year hiatus, the San Pedro Pride Festival is back. The event on Saturday, June 18, will be the first Pride celebration since the COVID-19 pandemic. Bridge Cities Alliance, an event sponsor and local nonprofit dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for San Pedro’s LGBTQ+ community, aims for the festival to celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals while supporting Downtown San Pedro businesses. “The first Pride event was awesome,” says BCA member Ryan Blaney, “and this time we wanted the local businesses in Downtown San Pedro to benefit from the event.” The event will kick off with a flagraising ceremony hosted by the San Pedro High School Pride Club at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. From there, visitors will walk up 6th Street to the main grounds between Mesa Street and Pacific Avenue, which will be closed off for food trucks and vendors. The section of Mesa between 5th and 6th streets will be blocked off for a stage that will feature multiple events, including performances from local musicians, speeches from community leaders, and a drag show put on by Jewels of Long Beach. A kids’ craft area will also be set up, and Port Town Brewing Company will sponsor a beer and wine garden in the parking lot behind Kalaveras restaurant. 10 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JUNE 2022
The festival is the second Pride in San Pedro history, the first being 2019’s Pride on the Port at the USS Iowa. The inaugural event was organized by local resident Aiden Garcia-Sheffield, who wanted to unite San Pedro’s LGBTQ+ community with its sister community in Long Beach. With help from Bridge Cities Alliance, he launched San Pedro Pride, which drew over 5,000 people and featured a party ferry — equipped with a dance floor, a DJ, and drinks — that shuttled participants between Long Beach and San Pedro. Shortly after, however, Pride went dormant. 2020 and 2021’s festivals were shelved because of the pandemic, and the most recent celebration of San Pedro’s LGBTQ+ community was a modest flag-raising ceremony in 2021 at Welcome Park on Gaffey Street. The gathering marked the third flag raising in San Pedro and was meant to celebrate Pride in a safe manner until full celebrations could recommence. Now in 2022, organizers expect Pride to return in full. Blaney is looking forward to it. “In 2019, we had such great momentum in building a community, and then the world stopped for a couple [of] years. It is so exciting to be able to get together in person.” spt For more information on the 2022 San Pedro Pride Festival, visit bridgecitiesalliance.com.
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VOICES
PIRATES’ 2020 HALL OF FAME CLASS TO BE HONORED — FINALLY by Steve Marconi The San Pedro High School Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, the hottest ticket in town before the pandemic, returns in November after a two-year hiatus. Five All-City performers will be inducted individually, along with 44 others, including members of two teams and two families, November 5 at the Dalmatian-American Club, 1639 S. Palos Verdes Street. Those being inducted for individual performance and year graduated are softball/volleyball star Holly Stevens (2009); basketball’s Raymond Tutt (1993); gymnast Allen Evansen (W’51); running back/cornerback Holmon Wiggins (1998); and outfielder/tight
end Rodney Garcia (1988). After three years as an All-City outfielder, Stevens moved to catcher as a senior in 2009 and earned City Player of the Year honors while leading the Pirates to a fourth straight City softball championship. She also was a two-time All-City volleyball player. Stevens went on to an all-star softball career at Pitt. Tutt, the most prolific scorer in San Pedro history, led the City in scoring as a senior with a 32.5 point average. That gave him his second consecutive firstteam All-City berth after averaging 24.7 points as a junior. He went on to play at Azusa Pacific and UC Santa Barbara. Evansen, named one of San Pedro’s top 100 all-time athletes during the 1988 centennial, was the City high bar champion as a senior. In 1997, Wiggins rushed for more than 1,200 yards and scored 14
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touchdowns to lead the Pirates to their second City 4-A title in a row; he was named City Player of the Year. He played at New Mexico and began coaching. He joined Nick Saban’s Alabama staff in 2019 and was receivers coach on the Tide’s 2020 national championship team. Garcia was the league MVP as a senior, batting .500, and was named first team All-City for the second time. That followed making first team all-league in football in 1987. He went on to Harbor College, where he was a member of the Seahawks’ Hall of Fame 1990 state championship baseball team. The Lifetime inductees for 2022 are Bob Schatz, Richard Vladovic (1961), David Olsen (1960), Larry Robertson (1965), and Leon Carr. Schatz was the school’s athletic director from 1992 to 2018, during which the Pirates claimed 42 City sports titles. Vladovic was a longtime member of the LAUSD Board of Education. Robertson and Carr were fixtures at SPHS athletic events in their booster club jackets, hawking 50-50 raffle tickets to raise funds. Robertson, who died in 2020, also was a member of the HOF committee and the son of the late Jimmy Robertson, booster club charter member, originator of the 50-50 raffle, and HOF inductee. Olsen was a two-sport standout, making all-league in baseball and basketball multiple times, and he also was on the centennial top 100 list. The Paetz sisters and Clements brothers are being inducted as siblings. Eryn (2002), Kaci (2005), and Sami (2008) Paetz all starred in soccer. Jeffrey (1961) and Walter (1963) Clements set school records in track, went on to star at Long Beach State, and were among San Pedro’s top 100 athletes in 1988. Three families are being inducted. Dario Bubica (1980) will be joined by his All-City volleyball daughters Alex (2007) and Marissa (2010) and son, Chris (2006). Anthony Nizetich (1941) will be joined by his softball standout granddaughters Stephanie (2003) and Vanessa (2006) Spychaj. The Pirozzi family includes soccer-playing father, Anthony (1983), cross-country star mother, Carolyn (1987), and sons
Antonio (soccer and track, 2015), Vincent (baseball, 2017), and Luca (water polo, football, 2020). The six posthumous inductees are Joe Chuka (baseball, 1942) and Fred Ihde (track and football, 1948), both members of San Pedro’s top 100 all-time athlete’s list; Eddie Hughes (1947), a baseball standout; Dayr Peterman (1949), a City champion swimmer; Bob Thompson (1953), longtime community youth coach; and Kuzma “Matty” Domancich, founder of the Pirate Boosters. The 2004 and 2005 girls volleyball teams, back-to-back City champions, are being inducted. The 2004 team, coached by Vivian Gosnell and assistant Ian Dixon, was comprised of Samantha Taylor, Amber McColl, Klaudija Holliday, Jessica Iacono, Courtney Lyons, Alex Bubica, Shannon Miller, Bree Hutton, Jenny Miller, and Candice Tawa. Most of the 2004 team returned in 2005 and under new coach Christina Kumar and led by Taylor, who was named City Player of the Year, rolled to a 34-4 record. Joining Taylor were McColl, Nancy Benitez, and the Millers, all All-City players, and Jill Francis, Hutton, Bubica, Antonela Perhat, Sarah Ojeda, and Elaine Kalman. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with photos, a silent auction, and social hour. Tickets, $69 each, can be obtained by credit card at sanpedroboosters.com or by check (payable to Pirate BoostersHOF2019) c/o Leonard Miller, 1589 Plymouth Lane, San Pedro, CA 90732. The HOF sells out every year, so seating is limited. For more information, email sppirateboostersclub@gmail.com or call (310) 701-9357. Those who’d like to sponsor the event also can contact Miller, booster club president. HOF committee members are Lefty Olguin (chairman), SPHS Principal Steve Gebhart, Miller, Steve Schiazzano (historian), Janet Bezmalinovich, Kathy Carcamo, Ron Carter, Tony Dobra, Debbie Ferguson, Jerry Lovarov, Richard Samudio Sr., Peter Tuiasosopo, Danny Trujillo, Tim Ursich, and yours truly. spt Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.
A PROVEN LEADER
VOTE TIM McOSKER FOR CITY COUNCIL BY JUNE 7TH!
FOR ALL OF US
Trusted by Firefighters, Nurses, Essential Workers & Elected Leaders!
U.S. Congressmember Nanette Barragán
State Senator Steve Bradford
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn
Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Rudy Svornich
WORKING FAMILIES ORGANIZATIONS
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 18
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge No. 1484
Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building Trades Council United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 AFSCME District Council 36 AFSCME Local 119 AFSCME Local 1902
ILWU Southern California District Council
LOCAL ADVOCACY & BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
San Pedro Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez
La Opinión Newspaper
Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo
Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) PAC
Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson
San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 770
Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez
LiUNA Local 300
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
California State Senator Steven Bradford
LiUNA Local 1309
AFSCME United Nurses Associations of California/United Health Care Professionals
Los Angeles County Democratic Party
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 11
LiUNA Local 777
AFSCME Local 3634
IATSE Local 33
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC)
DEMOCRATIC CLUBS
Los Angeles City Attorneys Association
Los Angeles County Democratic Party
National Union of Healthcare Workers
Avance Democratic Club
SEIU United Healthcare Workers
Stonewall Democratic Club
San Pedro Democratic Club
California State Senator María Elena Durazo California State Senator and Former State Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg California State Senator Sydney Kamlager
International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 36
SEIU Local 121RN SEIU Local 721
ELECTED OFFICIALS
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Southern California District Council
SEIU Local 2015
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla
California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16
U.S. Congressmember Nanette Barragán
California State Assemblymember Mike Gipson
ILWU Local 13, Local 20, Local 63, Local 68, ILWU Local 94
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters
U.S. Congressmember Tony Cárdenas
California State Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer
U.S. Congressmember Jimmy Gomez
Ironworkers Local 416
Teamsters Joint Council 42
Ironworkers Local 433
U.S. Congressmember Ted Lieu
UNITE HERE Local 11
Inlandboatmen’s Union (IBU) Southern California Region
U.S. Congressmember Alan Lowenthal
United Steelworkers Local 675
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 105
United Union of Roofers and Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 36
California State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi California State Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell California State Assemblymember Miguel Santiago
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn
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Motivating and inspiring others — whether through sports, career development, leading organizations, or volunteer work in our community — is something I truly enjoy. Whether speaking in front of thousands while giving a keynote commencement address, talking to a few hundred students, or having a one-on-one conversation over coffee, I feel it is important to share my life’s journey of successes and failures with others if it helps them in theirs. One of my life lessons is to “listen, learn, and observe” and adopt the traits that I like the best from each person and formulate a new approach. This started when I was a kid playing sports and trying to become a better athlete. I would admire players better than I was and ask myself, “How can I be that person?” or “How can I accomplish what he/she did?” The answer always came back to hard work, sacrifice, commitment, and a belief in myself that anything I wanted to accomplish was and still is possible. One of my core beliefs and mottos is, “It’s not about time, but about want. If you want to do something, you will find the time.” I continue to share these lessons with people of all ages because, at its core, it’s the truth. All of this leads to “The Whole Player” philosophy. I coached kids in sports for more than 25 years, starting after high school, volunteering to assistant coach the San Pedro High School boys’ soccer team. I then spent a couple of years in the early 90s coaching baseball at Bogdanovich Park and AYSO. Then my career kicked in. I got married and began to build a family with my wife, Carolyn. It wasn’t until my sons were old enough to play sports that I got right back into coaching. I saw in kids their ability to perform any game well if taught right and to believe in themselves. For example, while many parents find it cute for six-year-olds
to beehive around a soccer ball in AYSO, I was teaching kids to open up, create space, pass the ball to each other, and score. They responded, and it worked. The other was to teach a kid to field a ground ball, catch a fly ball, and give each player a chance to pitch, at least once, during the baseball season. My belief in the ability of kids to improve has always been and continues to be at a high level. So, as a coach, regardless of the sport I was coaching, I would gather the players during our first practice and have them introduce themselves to each other. Then I would set expectations for them to carry throughout the season. In particular, I would talk to them about “The Whole Player” philosophy. I would say, “The whole player is not just about how you conduct yourself on the field, but off the field as well. It’s about respecting your teachers, doing well in school, and especially listening to your parents. Everything from getting your homework done on time to making sure your bedroom is clean.” The reaction I received from the kids was always the same: big eyes looking back at me and nodding that they understood. Moments like this are priceless. After a while, parents who had heard “The Whole Player” philosophy would ask me to talk to their child when they were struggling in school and not getting their homework done. I would graciously do it after practice and ask the player what was going on. I kindly reminded them about “The Whole Player,” and they would tell me that they knew and understood. After a while, the parent who asked me to talk to their child told me that the talk worked and thanked me. Today I believe that “The Whole Player” philosophy applies to all of us. From how we conduct ourselves at work or in public (on the field) to how we conduct ourselves at home or on social media (off the field), we must find the whole player in all of us to bridge the societal divide that we can see and feel. spt Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo.com.
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VOICES
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by Jennifer Marquez On a recent school day, Willenberg Career and Transition Center in San Pedro was preparing for its first-ever prom. Maria’s Closet, a nonprofit agency, had transformed the gym into a beautiful space to provide young women with new dresses for free. Music played as girls excitedly shopped and tried on dresses, each with their own personal stylist. Every detail was perfectly orchestrated, including professional photos of the girls, makeup artists, free accessories, swag bags, and prom dress-shaped cookies. Maria’s Closet wants every girl to experience the prom with confidence and not be excluded because of financial barriers.
(photo: Summer Kulusich)
Many of the students at Willenberg, who are 18-22 years old with disabilities, had never been to a prom and likely could not afford a fancy new dress. These students often came from high schools that placed them in back bungalows with the other special education students. Willenberg creates an environment where students are superstars and uplifted. The day Maria’s Closet partnered with the school, the atmosphere was so inspiring that both staff and volunteers were brought to tears seeing the smiles on the faces of the girls. “For some of the girls, this is a time where they can feel like everybody else for a night and leave their hardships behind,” states Ronna Luna, founder of Maria’s Closet.
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Maria’s Closet is a volunteerrun charity in San Pedro that has provided free prom dresses to young women with financial challenges since 2016. Their biggest event is a yearly dress giveaway held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor. Last month, they served 178 girls from the local community and surrounding areas, some coming as far as Riverside. The girls fill out an application which serves as a tool to get to know the girls and their needs before the event. All applicants are accepted. The majority of the girls would not go to the prom if it weren’t for Maria’s Closet due to the many costs associated with the dance or other obstacles, like living in foster care or at a shelter.
Maria’s Closet dress distributions are enthusiastic pre-prom events with lots of smiles and positive feedback. Each girl from sizes 0-32 is offered approximately eight dress selections with their stylist. It takes a village to make it all happen. Luna’s husband built dressing rooms in their backyard. A crew of volunteers load and unload the donated dresses, clothing racks, accessories, dressing rooms, and other equipment on and off trucks and into storage units. Maria’s Closet’s goal is to have a storefront one day where they can store the items and hold events onsite, including pop-ups. Maria’s Closet has also provided college scholarships to the girls they serve. “I named Maria’s Closet after my kind mother-in-law Maria,” states Luna. “Years ago, a friend at San Pedro High School asked me to assist a girl named Gillian who could not afford a prom dress. I took her shopping to find the perfect dress and got to know her and the challenges she faced. I knew there must be so many other Gillians like her in need. That is how the agency began.” Schools often hold events like proms and do not consider that the ticket price and everything needed to attend, like dresses and transportation, are often too expensive for many students. With much-appreciated support from the community, Maria’s Closet is working towards changing that, one dress and girl at a time. spt For more information, to volunteer, or to make a financial donation, visit mariasclosets.org Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.
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VOICES
OPPORTUNITIES GAINED AND LOST by Lee Williams Artist rendering of the West Harbor amphitheater. (photo: Studio One Eleven)
San Pedro has never seen a project we can’t make harder, longer, or more expensive. I get it — I’ve only lived in San Pedro for 15 years, so I’m not allowed to have an opinion. But if I did, I would ask why we make so many things infinitely harder than they need to be. I grew up in Redmond, WA, a cow town with horses that would quickly become the headquarters of Microsoft. I’ve seen massive growth firsthand. I understand — the older we get, the more difficult it is to recognize our hometown. So much has changed. However, San Pedro wasn’t built by people afraid of change. It was built by people with a vision of the future and the desire to leave a legacy for the next generation. “Keep San Pedro cozy,” as Romee would say, means being able to live, work, and play without having to leave town and get to know each other. Bringing industries to our shores, creating jobs close to home, and providing working-class housing are part of our culture. Whaling gave way to fishing, which gave way to shipbuilding, which gave way to cruise ships and tourism. This is part of our history, and the port will always remain the main driver of our local economy. Bringing industry to San Pedro is how we keep ourselves afloat and offer opportunities for the
next generation. The new 6,200-seat amphitheater at West Harbor will be a game-changer. It’s the thing I’m most excited about, and the folks I interview at the dog park overwhelmingly agree. Some people want to complain about traffic, parking, and noise, ignoring the fact we’ve had twice as many people at music events at the outer harbor, and most people never even notice. We’ve had 9,000-people and 12,000-people events on 6th Street for Little Italy. Two hundred thousand visitors to Fleet Week. Tens of thousands at Cars and Stripes. We’ve had a Beach Boys concert with the speakers literally pointing at my house. The amphitheater will point its speakers towards Terminal Island and deploy noise mitigating technology. Visit nederlanderconcerts.com to see the talent we can expect right here in our own backyard. This could help us bring back the Lobster Festival and the Taste of San Pedro. This will be a boon to our hotels and restaurants that can expect another $250,000 spent in our town before and after events. Plans are being developed to make sure we reduce trash and protect our ocean. Eric Johnson is a board member of AltaSea and one of the lead developers of West Harbor. He is passionate about the mission to create an ecologically friendly venue. San Pedro deserves a world-class waterfront, and this will be a major part of that. Small business is the backbone of
the American economy. Nine months of delays to open a coffee and tea shop is too long. Years to open breweries is unacceptable. Few people remember the anticipation we felt waiting for Brouwerij West to open. I feel it now every time I pass by Port Town Brewery. We need to make it easier for small, family-owned businesses to thrive here in San Pedro. We had an opportunity for one of several local families to purchase and operate Walker’s Café, but people rallied to make it a historical building without even talking with the owners. The owners found out by receiving a notice of a hearing, and they were forced to make a quick sale to out-oftown investors. It tears at my soul that we won’t have a local family own and operate it. The new tenant is being asked to pay about double the mortgage as a renter plus a share of the profits. Another missed opportunity that remains controversial is Ponte Vista. We can argue for hours about traffic on Western. People love to say the current construction traffic is what we will expect when it is complete. The fact is, The Gardens townhomes, right next door to Ponte Vista, have almost 1,200 units and is on Westmont, which is only a two-lane road. It’s also the number one choice for first-time homebuyers and affordable purchases in San Pedro. The flow of young “born and raised” San Pedrans moving out of town because they can’t find anything
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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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affordable here is because we aren’t building more affordable units. Cutting the number of units from 2,300 meant the fixed costs from the massive retaining wall, the traffic mitigation, and the road to Mary Star were divided by fewer units, meaning each unit had a much higher cost to construct, forcing them into luxury territory. We could have built housing for our next generation. Instead, the median list price is $1,489,990, and they are selling for higher, with less than 5 percent of the sales going to San Pedrans. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been very impressed with some of the construction and features. My team even offers a $5,000 buyer incentive for qualified sales. I only wish people were more mindful of what we were giving up when they eliminated the units focused on firsttime homebuyers, seniors, and folks who want to remain here. I hope we learn to support small business startups, remove red tape, lean into our future with tourism, and find a way to build more housing that people can afford to buy so they can keep their deep roots here. spt
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ROUGH WATERS, SMOOTH SAILING WITH A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, JONATHAN WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BATTLESHIP IOWA MUSEUM, LOOKS BACK ON TEN YEARS IN SAN PEDRO. by Joshua Stecker
Williams, who lost more than 150 pounds through diet and exercise, is photographed on the Battleship Iowa Museum on May 17, 2022. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
One of the first things you notice when you walk into Jonathan Williams’ modest office aboard the Battleship Iowa Museum is a large frame holding a certificate that reads in decorative lettering: Distinguished Public Service Award. It’s the Navy’s highest honor for non-military civilians. It’s also something he and Tom Hanks now have in common. “I don’t think it’s actually registered with me yet,” says Williams, president and CEO of the Pacific Battleship Center and president of the L.A. Fleet Week Foundation, who was presented with the honor in January during the Surface Navy Association’s 34th National Symposium in Arlington, Va. The award is the culmination of more than two decades of hard work and dedication in bringing the Battleship Iowa Museum to San Pedro. It’s also an acknowledgment of his leadership with L.A. Fleet Week, which moved to Memorial Day Weekend this year, and the new Surface Navy Museum onboard the Iowa, opening in 2025. “[I’ve worked with] amazing teams over the years, amazing people that made this happen,” he says. “[The award] is recognition of the work that we’ve done together with the port, the PBID, the chamber, and the USO. It rec22 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JUNE 2022
ognizes the work that we’ve all done to raise awareness on why our sea services are important to our nation.” The road to this moment hasn’t been easy for Williams. Until a few years ago, the married father of two was suffering from severe obesity, anxiety, and depression. If not for a serious illness that scared him into a complete lifestyle change, Williams might not have been around this year to enjoy the rewards.
would only worsen as the years went on. “I kind of ran away into work because of being disconnected,” he says. “I realized just in the past two or three years that I worked all the time to keep my mind busy. Because when I stopped thinking or slowed down, I’d get taken over by depression and anxiety.” Wanting to address this feeling of disconnection with his family, shortly after his maternal grandmother, Ruth FINDING A CONNECTION Thompson, passed away in 2000, WilBorn in Denver, Colo., and raised liams reached out to his grief-stricken in Bellevue, Wash., Williams, 47, had grandfather, Ernest Thompson, a retired a turbulent childhood. His parents navy veteran. He simply asked him, divorced when he was five, leaving him “What do you want to do?” feeling disconnected from his family for “He said, ‘I want to visit my ship,” most of his life. recalls Williams. That ship was the While the rest of his family worked USS Missouri, a sister ship to the USS in the tech industry, Williams discovIowa, which sits as a memorial at Pearl ered that he was more attuned to busiHarbor. Soon, they were on a plane to ness early on. He started developing an Hawaii. acumen for entrepreneurship while in As they stepped foot on the retired high school, which would lead to years battleship, Williams watched as a grievof launching, selling, and losing several ing 83-year-old man turned into an small businesses. 18-year-old sailor before his eyes. “He A heavy person most of his life, popped right up, no longer the ailing Williams was pushing 350 pounds man,” he recalls. “We see this happen after barely graduating high school and around [the Iowa] all the time.” started developing numerous physiWilliams would soon accompany cal and mental health issues, including his grandfather to his WWII associacrippling anxiety and depression, that tion reunions for the Missouri and USS
Tennessee, which his grandfather also served on when stationed in San Pedro. Something about these trips touched a nerve with Williams. He quickly developed an affection for the veterans he’d met and the sense of community they created. “After going on my grandfather’s ship, I fell in love with his story and who he was. And then by that point, I hear the USS Iowa is moving to the Bay Area to be put in reserve status [for donation].” A LIFE LESS ORDINARY In the early 2000s, the USS Iowa and Williams were stuck in the Bay Area. Both were in dire need of repair. “At the time, I was building a dotcom, then the dotcom bust hit,” recalls Williams. “I was like, ‘I need to do something. I need to volunteer to give back to the community.’ Because it’s one thing to be a profit-mongering, greedy business guy. But you do need something that kind of offsets you to some extent.” Volunteering to help convert the USS Iowa into a museum seemed like the perfect project. Soon, Williams was operating outreach booths at local farmers markets, speaking to politicians and community groups, and giving tours of
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the National Defense Reserve Fleet (the “Mothball Fleet”) in Suisun Bay, where the Iowa was temporarily parked. “[I knew] nothing about nonprofits and raising money or how big of a task this really was,” says Williams. “You start to learn government in a whole different light.” Williams’ next few years would be a whirlwind of ups and downs. In 2003, he met his soon-to-be wife, Shelley. They got married, bought a house in California’s Central Valley, and, in 2006, welcomed their first son. That same year, he sold his successful janitorial company because the anxiety of owning it was too much to handle. In 2007, he resigned from all Iowa activities for nearly two years because “I didn’t get along with those people [at the time],” he says. By 2009, Williams had a new construction business and was back volunteering for the Iowa, but his life was in turmoil. The housing crash hit him on both ends. The sudden lack of construction jobs caused his business to suffer, forcing him and his family to move to a more affordable home. He was on the verge of losing his business completely when a lucrative, last-minute construction job came in and saved it. “I’ll never forget barely having money at that point,” recalls Williams. “I was eating ravioli out of the can, working 18-hour days. I’ll never forget telling my wife [who was thankfully still employed by her family’s business], ‘I’ll be home eventually. Just take care of the kid, don’t worry about me.’ I came back six weeks later, and I rebuilt my business.” Meanwhile, by 2010, the Bay Area groups had withdrawn their Iowa applications, leaving Los Angeles as the front-runner. “Los Angeles came into play because we needed a port with deep enough water and a birth. We didn’t want to dredge,” says Williams. “When you start looking up and down the coast, there are only very few places you could pull that off.” In 2011, with the help of a committed group of volunteers led by then-President Robert Kent, the newly formed
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Pacific Battleship Center in San Pedro was awarded the USS Iowa. The same year, Williams and his wife had their second son. After a short stint in Richmond, Calif., for external repairs, the Iowa made its way down the California coast, arriving in San Pedro in June 2012. It would celebrate its grand opening a month later, on the Fourth of July. “[I remember] standing on the starboard side in April 2012, and my business partner called me, and he says, ‘Hey, are you ever coming back to work?’” recalls Williams. “I looked at the ship, and I said, ‘No, I’m not. I love what I do here. I love being here. I’m not coming back. Take most of my salary and go hire somebody.” After volunteering for the battleship for more than a decade, Williams says he finally began earning a paycheck in 2012. He soon became a familiar fixture in San Pedro, advocating for the museum and joining various committees and boards, including the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and the Business Improvement District. “Jonathan and I have had so many opportunities to work together over many years in our roles at the Iowa, AltaSea, the San Pedro Chamber, PBID, Fleet Week, and others,” says Tim McOsker, former CEO of AltaSea and current candidate for L.A. City Council. “He is a tremendous leader, a tireless advocate for our region, and a terrific partner on every project in town.” SCARED STRAIGHT Five years ago, Williams fell seriously ill. His blood sugar became unstable, and he thought he would die. This was his wake-up call. “When I got out of that, I decided it was time to do something,” he says. “So, I started walking. I’d go up to Friendship Park and walk. I [found] mental health peace, as well.” Walking led to joining the YMCA to exercise, which led him to study nutrition and its effects on his body. There was no surgery, just a determination to get healthy. When the Iowa first arrived in San Pedro, he was 365 pounds. Today, Williams weighs in at just over
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Top: Williams being presented with the Distinguished Public Service Award, the Navy’s highest honor for non-military civilians, by Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, in January. Bottom: Williams in 2011. (photos: courtesy Jonathan Williams)
200. He still struggles with anxiety, but it’s become manageable, and he even reversed his diabetes. But just as he started getting his personal life in order, the pandemic shut the museum down, and suddenly its fate was in question. “We had enough money to last about six weeks,” admits Williams. The pandemic forced the museum to completely restructure its business model, adding a new ticket system, restructuring tours with add-ons, and opening Vicky’s Doghouse, a new outdoor restaurant and caterer. They also invested more than $60,000 to turn the battleship into a modern events venue, using funds from a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and private donations, including one for half a million dollars. “Now we’re generating revenue. We invested in the right places,” says Williams. “We changed our entire strategic vision, rebuilt it, and ended up leaving the pandemic in the best financial shape we’ve ever been in.” Since arriving in San Pedro ten years ago, Williams has split his time between here and his home in the Central Valley, where his wife and kids reside. He stays in town during the week and goes home most weekends. According to Williams, his wife helps run her family’s business
there, “so it was just easier to be a super commuter.” Today, the Battleship Iowa Museum employs more than 60 people, almost evenly divided between full and part-time, and is ranked the number five museum in L.A. on Trip Advisor. They’re also served by more than 2,000 volunteers, with 300 active every month. With the arrival of West Harbor in a couple of years, the battleship has tentative plans to move to the outer harbor as part of the development. Looking back on two decades with the battleship, Williams can’t help but feel gratitude. Not only for those who have been a part of his journey but also for still being around to enjoy it. “Everything in my life, especially the last 20 years, has been absolutely magical,” he says. “I always knew [I worked with] an amazing group of people, but I never really had this deep sense of appreciation for them [until now]. I really do love all of them. I love everybody I work for or with. I deeply care about them. I probably have a deeper appreciation for people now than I ever have in my life.” spt For more info on the Battleship Iowa Museum, visit pacificbattleship.com.
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DIVINE ELYSIAN WELLNESS BRINGS NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE TO SAN PEDRO by Nadia Nizetich
Nancy Skoblar, owner of Divine Elysian Wellness medical spa. Below: The spa's treatment and massage rooms. (photos: John Mattera Photography)
Stepping into Divine Elysian Wellness, the outside world melts away. The sound of music replaces the din of traffic, and concrete buildings give way to lush plants set against cream-colored walls. Nancy Skoblar, the owner of the practice, intends for it to be a refuge among the bustle of daily life. “I want people to feel like coming here is an experience,” says Skoblar, a busy mother of three. “I want them to say, ‘I’m happy. I feel good here.’” Divine Elysian Wellness is a naturopathic medical spa offering services ranging from facials to oxygen treatments. Skoblar, a registered nurse, was inspired to start the practice after assisting a close friend in his battle with Parkinson’s disease. The pair felt that standard medical treatments were effective but insufficient in combating his illness, and she began to take him to naturopathic practices across Los Angeles. The visits were revelatory. “He was still on meds from Kaiser,” she explains, “but I saw how everything changed after we visited a naturopathic 26 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JUNE 2022
doctor.” After months of going to appointments, her friend suggested that she open a clinic of her own. “He got tired of me driving him everywhere, and he asked, ‘Why don’t you open a place of your own?’” Skoblar was well prepared to branch out. A graduate of El Camino College’s nursing program, she had worked for years as a trauma surgery and ICU nurse at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center before taking on a second job at a wellness clinic in Beverly Hills. There, she trained in medical aesthetics and gained insight into the workings of a naturopathic clinic. Skoblar had the knowledge, and the encouragement from her friend was the stimulus she needed to set out on her own. In October 2021, she launched Divine Elysian Wellness with two coworkers from the Beverly Hills clinic. The practice itself is a blend of traditional and innovative naturopathic services. Clients can pop in for classic treatments — such as facials, acupuncture, and massages — or they
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can try novel vitamin IV drips. The clinic also offers cosmetic services, like Botox and laser tattoo removal. Though Skoblar is fond of all the spa’s offerings, she’s especially proud of radiofrequency microneedling, an acupuncture-like process that uses radio waves to stimulate collagen growth in the skin. “It does wonders you’d never imagine,” she says. “It’s really effective, it doesn’t hurt, and it makes everyone feel good.” Her patients agree. One client who recently went in for a microneedling before her wedding was so thrilled with the results that she sent Skoblar a card in thanks. “She said, ‘I’ve never looked better; I feel so good,’” Skoblar recalls. Another woman came to the clinic for help managing her pregnancy symptoms, reporting that acupuncture and other treatments mitigated her discomfort. “She had a really difficult pregnancy,” says Skoblar. “She was so ill, and she hated being pregnant, but after treatments, she told me that we really changed her whole experience.” To Skoblar, that’s what the clinic is all about. “I just love helping people,” she says. “To think that I can genuinely help others with the information I’ve learned — it’s exhilarating.” Despite Divine Elysian’s success, Skoblar admits that running the practice is far from easy. Her daily schedule is jam-packed — to kick off her morning, she takes her three young children to daycare and school before heading to the clinic. Once there, she puts on the music — each room has a different playlist — and slices fruit for the waiting room water cooler, in addition to prepping her staff. For Skoblar, the extra effort is necessary. “When clients come in, I want them to really enjoy it,” she explains. “I tell my staff to make it feel like clients are walking into your
home.” Upon opening, she manages the practice, greeting clients, supervising treatments, and keeping the schedule until the center closes at 6 p.m. Then, she tidies and deep cleans the practice before closing shop around 8 p.m. There’s hardly a weekend — Divine Elysian is open six days a week. “It’s definitely challenging,” she reflects. “I didn’t start with a big financial cushion since I made sure that I had the best staff and the best technology. And it’s hard having three kids — I miss them a lot. But my family has been phenomenal.” She’s especially grateful for her husband, who helped her choose the clinic’s name. “My husband is awesome. We’ve always felt like us getting together was divine intervention, so I wanted something that was spiritual. Elysian in Greek means ‘happiness,’ and divine means ‘heavenly.’ So it’s a happy, faithful place.” Challenges aside, Skoblar can’t imagine doing anything else. “It’s a small price to pay to make someone feel happy,” she says. “Sometimes there’s nowhere else to turn — maybe you’ve maxed out on the amount of meds you can take — but here you have options. You can have a better quality of life, and you don’t have to suffer so much.” She’s especially proud that she can help her hometown. “I could have gone to Orange County or Beverly Hills,” she says. “But I wanted to bring it here because I’m from San Pedro. I think we really needed this.” spt Divine Elysian Wellness is located at 28901 S. Western Ave. #225, Rancho Palos Verdes (in The Terraces). For more info, call (424) 267-6251 or visit divineelysianwellness.com.
JUNE 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 29
THE SISTER CORITA KENT EFFECT by Julia Murphy
Do you remember the LOVE postage stamp that came out in 1985? The one with the bright strokes of color? That stamp was designed by Corita Kent, a former Catholic nun who was a pioneering visual artist and educator. Kent experimented with words and color to create optimistic and socially conscious pop art. Born in Iowa in 1918, Kent grew up primarily in Hollywood, where her large family had relocated in the 1920s. After high school graduation, she entered the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary convent and took the name Sister Mary Corita — or Sister Corita, for short. (Corita is “little heart” in Latin.) Sister Corita later taught at Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood from 1947 to 1968. She made a huge impression on her students, some of whom are prominent artists and educators in San Pedro. Judith Blahnik attended Mary Star of the Sea High School in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. Back then, the school was largely staffed by nuns from the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sister Corita’s order. Blahnik heard about social change, the
civil rights movement, and personal responsibility from these nuns. “I was just blown away and hungry for the passion with which [the order] lived their lives as a community and as individuals,” Blahnik says. Blahnik studied theatre arts at Immaculate Heart College. She later worked with Artistic Director Gordon Davidson (Mark Taper Forum) to bring theatre groups to prisons. That sense of risk and improvisation was pure Corita Kent. “We would take a choreographer, a few actors, a director,
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end. “It’s what inspired me in any leadership position because it involves using teams. You start at the very beginning, you have a concept, and you have a vision, but you use a team to make it happen,” shares Townsend. “I became programmed with [Corita’s] thinking. It was thinking outside the box,” Townsend continues. “You were never grounded in the idea of having to do it this way or that way. Corita had a spirit of excitement, of adventure, of awe, of wonder. That was what it was about.” “We wouldn’t have an arts district without Camilla,” says Linda Grimes, executive director of San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. “Her advocacy and activism codified and gave it shape.” “That was the beauty,” says Townsend. “It was right there waiting for us. We had the basics. We had the charm with the architectural structures of old buildings in Downtown San Pedro. It was a perfect place to identify as an arts district, to start it, and to then expand it eventually.” “What’s happened with the arts district is that it’s developed substance,” Townsend continues. “It’s not just a bunch of galleries that open on Love stamp (1985) by Corita Kent. Thursday night. It’s a place of joy, a (photo: Smithsonian National Postal Museum) place where people can congregate and see each other, which is what we wanted. It’s a place to learn.” a playwright, a lighting designer, and Townsend also took skills work with inmates to create a piece. learned from Sister Corita into the We’d be there for six months and classroom and, later, into education then invite Taper audiences,” explains Blahnik. After working in New York for administration. When she was the principal of San Pedro Adult School, several years, Blahnik returned to San Pedro and began working with Camilla Townsend met and hired fellow Immaculate Heart College alumna Townsend at the San Pedro Chamber Annette Ciketic, who had also studied of Commerce. At this time, talk was under Sister Corita. brewing about integrating San Pedro Annette Ciketic established fINdings artists with downtown businesses in a Art Center in 2007. “At that time, it was mutually beneficial business model. just a dream, but we wanted to continue When the Community the legacy of Corita … mostly about her Redevelopment Agency, the Chamber, method of education,” shares Ciketic. and local artists met for the first time, The fINdings Art Center is a gallery Blahnik was there. “I had never been for Corita Kent’s work and a center for part of something so raw,” she says. “People were coming in angry, hungry, programs inspired by her philosophy. and also ready to be inspired and ready The Center’s Women’s Project started to inspire each other.” Later, as president when mothers from the Meyler Adult of Angels Gate Cultural Center’s board and Family Learning Center were learning about writing resumes. At of directors, Blahnik used her passion the time, they weren’t aware of any for group alchemy to mend a schism marketable skills. Ciketic said, “Number between the artists and the board. one, you’re all bilingual. Write that “The process was very egalitarian and vibrant, down to crafting a new mission down.” What about other skills? “Well, we then received a request from statement,” she shares. Corita would someone who said that her dream was have been proud. to make scarves for homeless shelters Retired educator and civic leader Camilla Townsend also studied theatre and women’s abuse centers,” says Ciketic. “Did we know anyone who at Immaculate Heart College. She could knit? Well, all these women knew realized that she loved the production
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Sister Corita Kent on the cover of Newsweek in 1967. (photo: Corita.org)
how to knit. Before you knew it, fINdings became a volunteer center for knitting for that project and others. Years later, we’re still making gifts.” The women use donated upcycled and recycled materials to make their items. “Our other big thing is our show for causes,” Ciketic continues. “Every month, we invite an organization to come in and do an art exhibit so they can promote their art and their programs. My commitment now is to work with high school kids who will be our future leaders of the artists of San Pedro. That’s part of my teaching. Corita said, ‘You’re not doing it for your art, but you’re doing it for the future of art.’” As an Adult ESL teacher, Connie McOsker met Annette Ciketic and Camilla Townsend. “Through the years, I learned about Corita through their example. Annette taught me about connecting people,” says McOsker. “With Camilla, there was such a trust in my teaching abilities. She was very open to any ideas that I had, or any other teachers had. There was always movement forward, a real sense of experimentation, and I believe that comes from Corita.”
Following the model of bold women like Annette and Camilla, McOsker stepped into the unknown and agreed to facilitate an ESL class with Japanese taiko drumming. “It’s been an excellent way of allowing immigrant populations to have confidence while learning English and doing something new,” she says. “The outcome has been stress relief, building community, and feeling a part of San Pedro. Those things also have come to me and to others through Corita as well.” Artist Laurine DiRocco also studied under Sister Corita. “Teaching is my art form. I always thought of it that way. I wanted to get better at it. Do it better and learn more,” shares DiRocco. “Sister Corita would partner with students in ways that other teachers didn’t. When I was in leadership roles at UCLA at the Laboratory School, I would always get the input of my colleagues. I think that’s important for anyone in a leadership role.” DiRocco echoes the sentiments that so many others have expressed about Sister Corita and the ongoing ripple effect she’s had on her students and the San Pedro community: “It’s almost impossible to convey the totality of what Corita gave me.” spt
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JUNE 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 31
FOOD
EAT IN SAN PEDRO
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE… by Sanam Lamborn
In recent years, the culture of smoked meats has found a foothold in Southern California. I never fully appreciated the amount of work, technique, and time that went into smoking meats until my husband purchased a smoker. This discovery helped me identify my preferences — dry-rubbed brisket and ribs with good BBQ dipping sauce — as well as distinguish simply smotheredin-sauce menu items presented as BBQ. The good news is we have options in town worth trying. During the first month of Eat in San Pedro’s existence, a group of us used to grab lunch on Fridays and eat while on Zoom. My friend Geri Gioiello suggested trying the newly opened Whiskey Flats BBQ (3401 S. Pacific Ave.). Her niece’s husband, Cristian Farrow, left an unfulfilling career to pursue his passion to open a barbeque joint. The renovation of the long-shuttered gas station into a shop coincided with the beginning of the pandemic. At the same time, Farrow’s childhood friend Toby Kanemaki, a trained chef, became unemployed because of restaurant closures. Out of adversity,
publications that have highlighted the creativity of these resilient untapped culinary talents. I often encounter these sellers on our own town’s various social media channels. Jose “Che” Sanchez’s love language is cooking for others; he wants to see a happy smile at first bite and get you “BBQ wasted.” Big Che’s BBQ was born with much encouragement from family and friends when Sanchez was laid off from the aerospace industry during the pandemic. Sanchez’s smoking style results from years of research and experimenting, resulting in blending various seasonings and patiently slow smoking with fruitwoods. I was impressed at how flavorful and smoky his meats are because these are two traits that I look for. Thus far, I have tried his tri-tip, spareribs, and beef ribs. Sanchez has perfected the flavor of his specialty: al pastor ribs. The staple menu also includes smoked chicken, turkey leg, and pulled pork. Offerings are usually sold by the rack or pound. Once a month, plates with two sides are also offered; I particularly like the Clockwise from top left: Whiskey Flats BBQ brisket and ribs plate with k-slaw, potato salad, tangy coleslaw and mashed potatoes. and house BBQ sauce; Big Che's BBQ ribs with mac and cheese and mashed potatoes, tri-tip For menu and orders, visit Instagram with coleslaw and mashed potatoes; San Pedro Brewing Company's smoked brisket sandaccount @BigChesBBQ. wich with a side of Gaffey fries. (photos: Sanam Lamborn) I visited San Pedro Brewing Coma partnership was born. Texas-style are my preferred sides. Upon meeting pany (331 W. 6th St.) when I saw on may have been the initial inspiration, during my last visit, Kanemaki introFacebook that they have smoked ribs. but experimenting with familiar spicy duced me to their tacos. My favorites The truth is, Whiskey Flats BBQ and flavors that the partners grew up with are the al pastor with smoked pineapple Big Che’s BBQ set the bar high, so the has resulted in their prideful San Pedro and brisket tacos. barbeque ribs and chicken plate served Style BBQ. Many items with a hint of Undoubtedly, the pandemic has crewith coleslaw, creamed corn, garlic spice on the revolving menu enhance ated a shift in the food industry, leading toast, and a side of your choosing fell the flavor without leaving an unpleasto new food entrepreneurs. Many a bit short here. However, I am a fan ant burning sensation. unemployed restaurant workers and of the smoked brisket sandwich with An example of this is their houseaspiring home cooks alike have found my beloved Gaffey fries as a side and made spicy BBQ dipping sauce, which I creative ways to monetize their homethe Santa Maria tri-tip plate with mac love with their consistently moist brismade food to stay financially afloat. The and cheese. spt ket; it rivals their aji verde, a Peruvian California Microenterprise Home Kitchgreen sauce, which pairs perfectly with en Operations bill, although not yet Sanam Lamborn created the their smoked chicken and pulled pork. recognized by L.A. County, has helped Eat in San Pedro Facebook group Meats are served with a slice of white this shift. Social media has played a and Instagram account in April bread, two sides, and spicy pickled veg- key role in reaching customers and 2020 to entice people to patronize etables. The collard greens and k-slaw garnering the attention of mass media San Pedro’s eateries.
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JUNE 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 33
SPORTS
SWIMMING TO VICTORY
SPHS BOYS VARSITY SWIM TEAM CLAIMS FIRST CIF CHAMPIONSHIP by Jamaal K. Street In 1926, the San Pedro High School boys swimming program was born. Ninety-six years later, on Saturday, May 8 at Los Angeles Valley College, the Pirates finally captured their first CIF-Los Angeles City Section championship in that sport, as they scored a team-high 392 points to outdistance themselves from Left to right: Matthew Di Lorenzo, Adrian Cardona, William runner-up Granada Hatch III, Joshua Jones, Finley Kircher, Ashwin Chandrasekaran, Samson Parker, Nicholas Jones, Marc Bugarin, and Hills Charter (273), Cleveland Charter (265), Michael Jones. Front row: Harper Young, Max Sorich, and Christopher Frazier. Not pictured: Vincenzo Crivello, Samuel and perennial power Orendain, and Sean Castleberry. (photo: courtesy Sharon Frazier) Palisades Charter (259). “This marks history,” mous win for San Pedro High School. San Pedro junior captain Willie Hatch This highlights yet another positive says. “The way how our team faced aspect of this wonderful communityadversity and persevered made hoistbased school.” ing up that trophy such an amazing The girls team finished fourth feeling.” place in the CIF-LACS finals meet as This latest title in San Pedro High Palisades Charter took home the girls School history makes it 62 total sports championship. CIF-LACS championships at the third Hatch, Sorich, Nick Jones, senior oldest school in the Los Angeles Unified catcher Finley Kircher, and senior girls School District, following up the basecaptain Cate Russo represented the ball team’s historic run to San Pedro’s Pirates in the CIF State Meet in Fresno first Open Division crown nearly one on May 13-14, and while there, the year ago. boys’ quartet of Hatch, Kircher, Sorich, “I feel ecstatic about the win,” says and Nick Jones once again broke a pair Sharon Frazier, SPHS head swimming of school records in the 200 and 400 coach. “This was a huge victory for our relays. program.” According to Frazier, the team’s It was also a huge breakthrough for success is built upon numerous facthe school after football and girls voltors. “Most of these boys have been leyball both reached CIF-LACS finals in swimming together since they were in the fall of 2021 only to come up short. elementary school, ” she says. “All these The key moment in the finals meet years, they have been working hard, was the winning 200 freestyle relay both in the pool and outside the pool. race when senior Joshua Jones, followed The boys varsity swim team at San by the junior trio of Hatch, Max Sorich, Pedro High School also has the highand Nick Jones, stroked their way to a winning time of 1:28.1 (dropping nearly est grade point average of all of the spring sports in the Los Angeles Unified three seconds) to break their previous [School District].” school record. Frazier continues, “We also have “This victory will help us promote amazing parental and community the San Pedro High School swim team, support. All these factors put together which will help us with future successmade us a championship team.” spt es,” says Frazier. “This is also an enor34 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JUNE 2022
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REAL ESTATE
PRICING YOUR HOME CORRECTLY by Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac Pricing a home to sell might seem like a simple and straightforward process, especially in the booming real estate market that we have become accustomed to over the last several years. After all, the internet has armed consumers with heaps of relevant home sales data, making it easier to analyze recent area sales, neighborhood trends, etc. Consumer-friendly sites such as Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc., all provide useful information to those looking to sell or purchase a home. With local prices at all-time highs, many homeowners are taking advantage of the equity they've accumulated and are cashing in on sometimes unfathomable amounts of money. So, it's easy to understand why a homeowner may tend to want to "shoot for the stars" and price their home at an unrealistically high list price. However, is this the wisest pricing strategy when it comes to getting your home sold within a reasonable amount of time and at the highest possible price? Absolutely not. In our experience, most savvy buyers are unwilling to just blindly pay whatever price a homeowner puts out as the asking price. However, it seems that way, with many homes selling way above the list, oftentimes by $50K to $100K or more. Remember, a home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay. What is the best strategy for pricing your home so that it will draw in prospective buyers and encourage them to offer on your home versus other homes on the market? The most effective way to get buyers to show up and make offers is to price your home within a reasonable range. Establishing a reasonable price range, along with maximizing your exposure with professional photography and aggressive marketing, has proven to be a solid recipe for drawing in buyers and 36 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JUNE 2022
getting them to take action. To determine what a fair price range is, it is imperative to use relevant and retrospective home sales data in the area. Ideally, in a rapidly evolving market, you want to use sales data from the last 90 days, if possible, and up to 180 days. How fast are the homes selling (days on market)? How much above list are they going? How were those homes being priced? Look closely at "comparable" characteristics (i.e., bed and bath count, home and lot size, location, views, etc.) and amenities (i.e.,
high-end kitchen and baths, unique finishes, pool, etc.). Keep in mind that price per square foot may not always be the most important factor either. Determining your price based solely on this factor can be a crucial mistake that may deter buyers from pursuing your home. Conversely, undervaluing or pricing your home too low may cause you to leave money on the table, which could also limit your future buying power. When priced too low, buyers may also think there is a problem with your home. Therefore, pricing your home properly from the start will save you more time and money than your initial price reduction. spt Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are both licensed Realtors® with Keller Williams Realty. For more info, visit harperhazdovac.com.
JUNE 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 37
THE BACK PAGE
WAR & PEACE: The Battleship Iowa Museum sits next to a cruise ship in Los Angeles Harbor on May 6, 2022. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
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