San Pedro Today - December 2022

EAT

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

just want to say

eryone who picks up this magazine every month and front to back. Our biggest complaint

find a copy, which is a testament to how much people look forward to receiving

support us with their hard-earned dol lars. They’ve been the fuel keeping this magazine going since February 2009.

Thanks to all our local contributors who share their wisdom, experiences, and expertise with all of you each month. We’re making some changes to our roster soon. You may have noticed the addition of Linda Grimes, the executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. We’d been missing a voice for the local art scene in these pages for far too long. I’m excited to have Linda on our team and look forward to sharing more about our arts culture with all of you.

Thanks to the critics. You make us want to do a better job with each issue.

Thanks to our very small but re sourceful staff. Patricia Roberts, Lori

Garrett, John Mattera, and Joseph Castañeda have been my backbone in keeping this magazine going since the beginning. I’m in debt to all of their service, and the others who have passed through our office doors through the years.

Thanks to everyone who’s been fea tured in our pages. It’s been a privilege for us to showcase the amazing people in our community and share their sto ries with you.

Lastly, I want to thank you, the person who’s reading this now. We’re incredibly grateful that you’re taking time out of your day to read our work.

On a personal note, this has been a rough year for us at San Pedro Today with the loss of my dear friend and our resident historian, Angela Romero, who passed away in April. I want to thank everyone who reached out to the magazine to express their sympa thy and condolences on her passing.

Angela connected with so many readers through her columns. It showed by the tremendous outpouring of love we received after we published her tribute issue in May. I wish she could be here now to experience what’s to come.

I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and an exciting and prosperous new year.

Thanks again. spt

Joshua Stecker is the publisher/ editor-in-chief of San Pedro Today Letters to the Editor can be emailed to contact@sanpedrotoday.com.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Joshua J. Stecker

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lori Garrett

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION

Joseph A. Castañeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS

Linda Grimes, Sanam Lamborn, Mike Lansing, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Sophie Schoenfeld, Jamaal K. Street, Lee Williams

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Mattera Photography

CONTACT INFO:

Phone: (424) 224-9063 Email: contact@sanpedrotoday.com

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

VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 11

ADVERTISING:

General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com

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

EMPIRE22 MEDIA LLC OWNER/PUBLISHER

Joshua J. Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media. 25,000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today. Copyright 2009-2023, Empire22 Media LLC.

ON THE COVER: Santa Claus checks out the 25th Street Mosaic Mural by artist Julie Bender. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

DECEMBER 2022

Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARM ERS MARKET AT LITTLE ITALY (396 W. 6th St., corner of 6th and Mesa), 11a-3p. – New location! 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.

Every Tuesday, Friday, & First Thurs day Evening – OPEN GARDEN at Feed and Be Fed (429 W. 6th St.), Tuesdays 10a-12p, Fridays 10a-1p, & First Thurs day evenings. – Feed and Be Fed farm, San Pedro's own urban farm, opens its downtown garden space every Tues day and Friday and on First Thursday evenings. Organic produce is for sale at the San Pedro Farmers Market at Little Italy. Get your hands in the dirt as a volunteer, get expert advice, or just relax. For more info, visit feedan dbefed.org, Facebook @FeedandBeFed, or Instagram @feedandbefedfarm.

1 (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.

2-3 (Fri-Sat) – HOUSE OF BARDS PRESENTS GEORGE ORWELL’S 1984 at The Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 7:30p. – Big Brother is al ways watching! The House of Bards Theatre Company presents the au thorized stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984, a play based on the dystopian 1949 novel, today more relevant than ever. Directed by actor/ director/filmmaker Renee O’Connor. Performances run December 2 and 3 at 7:30p. Tickets $15-40. For tickets and more info, visit grand vision.org.

3 (Sat) – PORT OF LOS ANGELES HOLIDAYS BY THE SEA, HAPPY HOLIDAY HARBOR AFLOAT BOAT PARADE, & TOWN SQUARE TREE LIGHTING at San Pedro Town Square (Berth 84), 4-8p. – Enjoy the Town Square Tree Lighting at 5p (in front of the L.A. Maritime Museum) and views of the Happy Holiday Afloat Boat Parade from the new Town Square and Waterfront Promenade! The festivities will include live entertainment, tall ship light display, crafts, games, and Timmy the Duck, plus a toy drive (bring an unwrapped toy to donate to local children). Dress warm and bring your chair and blankets. For more info, visit portoflosangeles.org/community/events.

and our community. More than 9,000 individuals will line the streets to view the parade. The parade route is as fol lows: START at 13th St. and Pacific Ave., right on 6th St., END on 6th St. and Palos Verdes St. The annual parade is made possible through the generous support of our community. This event is presented by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and is FREE to the com munity. For more info, visit sanpedro chamber.com or call (310) 832-7272.

4 (Sun) – THE FIRE'S VERY SCOT TISH CHRISTMAS at the Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 7:30p. – Ring in the holiday with this charming trio, featur ing fiddle, bagpipes, and guitar with Celtic dance. Tickets $25. For tickets and more info, visit grandvision.org.

9-11 (Fri-Sun) – SAN PEDRO CITY BALLET PRESENTS: THE NUT CRACKER at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.), Friday: 7p, Saturday: 2p and 7p, Sunday: 2p. – San Pedro City Ballet returns with this timeless holiday classic fairytale ballet, featuring professionals and young danc ers from the company and cameos by some of your favorite community mem bers! Show times are as follows: Friday, December 9 at 7p; Saturday, December 10 at 2p and 7p; Sunday, December 11 at 2p. Tickets $30-40. For tickets and more info, visit grandvision.org.

Today. Best parking is along Paseo Del Mar. For more info, message @ homemadebythehays on Instagram.

10 (Sat) – 2022 CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE at Utro's Cafe (Berth 73), 11a3p. – Bring your new unwrapped toys, gift cards, friends, and family and enjoy the 2022 Christmas Toy Drive collec tion and celebration from 11a to 3p. Sponsored by Fermin Lasuen alumni and friends, the toy drive runs Novem ber 14 thru December 10; gift cards and unwrapped toys may be dropped off during these dates at Utro's Cafe during work hours, Thursday thru Sunday, 11a to 4p. Gift cards may also be mailed to: 941 Gatun St., San Pedro, CA 90731. Let's do our part to bring a merry Christmas to the families who need our support! For more info, contact Chuy Ibarra at (310) 347-7508, Dickie & Jerryne Soto at (310) 547-4509, or Joe & Linda Bird at (310) 831-2593.

14-23 (Wed-Sun) – A MOMENT at Little Fish Theatre (777 S. Centre St.), Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturday: 8p; Sunday: 2p. – Two strang ers, both concealing a painful secret, share a brief encounter on Christmas Eve that changes the course of both of their lives in this original musical written and directed by award-winning company member Kathryn Farren. Show times are as follows: Decem ber 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23 at 8p; Sunday, December 18 at 2p. Tickets $20-30. For more info, call (310) 5126030 or visit littlefishtheatre.org.

17 (Sat) – GOLDEN STATE POPS

2 (Fri) – CANDY CANE LANE at Weymouth Corners (corner of 8th St. and Weymouth), 5-9p. – Enjoy a festive evening at Weymouth Corners, featur ing shopping, music, live entertainment, food, fire trucks, cookie decorating, face painting, carnival games, and of course, Santa! FREE admission.

4 (Sun) – 42nd ANNUAL SPIRIT OF SAN PEDRO HOLIDAY PARADE in Downtown San Pedro, 1-3p. – The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the annual Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade will celebrate its 42nd year on Sunday, December 4, 1-3p! Each year, this festive tradition brings families, little leagues, scouts, students, high school bands, equestrian units, and volunteers to Downtown San Pedro to celebrate the holiday season Events deadline for the January 2023 issue is Friday, December 16.

10-11 (Sat-Sun) – HOLIDAY BOU TIQUE 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 holiday shopping and live music! This event is hosted by Homemade by the Hays and sponsored by San Pedro

ORCHESTRA - A HOLIDAY POPS SPECTACULAR at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.), 8p. – Golden State Pops Orchestra celebrates its 20th anniversary with one of the South Bay holiday season’s most eagerly anticipated events, featuring guest artists and the Golden State Pops Chorale. Sing along to your favorite holiday movie tunes, classical pieces, and Christmas hymns. Tickets range from $31.35 to $84. For tickets and more info, visit grandvision.org. spt

THE CALIFORNIA EXODUS HITS HOME IN A BIG WAY

by Steve Marconi

This summer, my 45-year-old son Matthew, who’s lived almost his entire life in San Pedro, upped roots and moved to Hen derson, Nevada.

I understand that adult children moving away is part of life, but what really bothers me is he and his wife had the nerve to take my two precious, beautiful granddaughters with them. (Apparently, the fact that the grandparents will miss them terribly didn’t figure in their decision.)

Nearly at the same time, one of my oldest friends recently retired, sold his San Pedro home, and moved to Oklahoma to be near his children and

grandchildren.

In both cases, as with the hundreds of thousands of other Californians who have left in recent years, it was a com bination of the political and economic climate that made the best thing about living here — the actual climate we all love — no longer paramount.

For my son, who rented within walking distance of Cabrillo Beach, the unaffordability of housing in this area was a major factor. When our daughterin-law, a licensed chief mate, got a full-time job with Matson earlier this year, the need to be close to her union hall in Wilmington was no longer nec essary. Able to live almost anywhere, they settled on Henderson, a beautiful, planned community adjacent to Las Vegas, where you can still buy a nice

home at a reasonable price (compared to San Pedro, that is) and pay no state income tax.

It wasn’t a move taken lightly. Almost all of my son and his wife’s friends are in the San Pedro area, and uprooting two teenage girls is never easy, but the timing was good. Young est granddaughter Giuliana had just graduated from Dodson, and big sister Angelina had just finished her first year at POLAHS. So they started a new high school together in August.

One of those circle-of-life scenarios also was involved. Matthew was born in Las Vegas when I worked as a sportswriter for the Las Vegas Sun While my wife, Deb, was pregnant, her brother, Michael, who grew up in San Pedro, moved to Las Vegas and began a highly successful career in the collection business and has been there ever since.

Matthew was only three weeks old when we left Las Vegas, and he grew up in San Pedro. My wife’s mother, Faye, also lived in San Pedro for many years before moving to Las Vegas, where she lives now at age 92. Fortyfive years later, Matthew is now living within minutes of his uncle, aunt, cousins, and grandma.

And I’m not even counting the Raiders. Like many of his generation in San Pedro, my son grew up a Los Angeles Raiders fan. As an adult, after the team moved back to Oakland, he would fly up and catch an occasional game in the Bay Area. Now, you can stand in the street in front of his home in Henderson and look straight down into Las Vegas and see the Raiders’ new home, the “Death Star.”

In addition, just a few weeks after moving in, he was at a local gym and ran into an old friend from his San Pedro church youth group. This friend had moved to Henderson years ago.

The relocation story of my friend is almost the reverse of my son’s. Two of my friend’s three children, all of whom were born and raised in San Pedro, already lived in the Midwest, one in Oklahoma, where he’d gone to school, and another not far away in north Texas, where her husband works. The eldest child had just moved to Oklahoma; her husband, another

born-and-raised San Pedran, was a Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chief. Being surrounded now by his family made the move to Oklahoma pretty easy for my friend, and the L.A.area housing market allowed him to sell his Rolling Hills Highlands home for beaucoup bucks and purchase a huge home with acreage for a mere pittance. And, yes, it comes with a tornado shelter.

All that big money available to San Pedro homeowners has figured into many decisions to pull up stakes. Just weeks after my son moved, my nextdoor neighbor, a retiree, put his home up for sale, and it sold within days; he’s headed for Reno. And another neighbor just around the corner, much younger, has put his home up for sale and is moving to Arizona.

And I can’t tell you how many longshoremen I’ve met whose main residences are in other states or who are planning to leave California as soon as they retire.

San Pedrans, including myself, have always believed they live in one of the best places on earth, but, for better or worse, we’re still under the gover nance of Los Angeles city, Los Angeles County, and Sacramento; there are reasons California’s population dropped by around 367,000 in the year before July 2021.

Zoe Strimpel in the UK’s Telegraph wrote: “People are fed up (with) soaring taxation, the high cost of living, groan ing regulation, an authoritarian impulse on full show during Covid, and stag nating job growth. The heavy-handed state continually fails to solve the lethal social problems that are on permanent display, from mass shootings… to spiral ing homelessness.

“The sad truth is that California is reaping what it has sown: not simply with its heavy-handed regulation, but in its deep and committed embrace of wo keness, which permeates from its courts via Hollywood to schools and hospitals.”

California dreamin’… not so much anymore. spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.

I launched my kayak from the Cabrillo Beach boat ramp on a recent sunny morning. The weather predic tions were favor able. My friends and I headed to the lighthouse on the inner harbor. While it wasn’t very windy, I immediately noticed the water was choppy. I have gone this way many times before, but for some reason, I felt uncomfortable.

As we got closer to the lighthouse, I told my friend I would go towards the breakwall instead. I was hoping the wa ter might be calmer there, but it wasn’t. I decided to go back in and end my day early. My kayak sits low on the ocean, and the choppy water was splashing into my kayak. I keep my cell phone in a waterproof case around my neck. I had a long way to go and called my husband and said I was on my way in and he could pick me up in 45 minutes.

As I continued paddling, my kayak was filling with water from the choppy sea, and it was becoming challenging to navigate. I thought I was fine, and sud denly I was not. I was tired from rowing in the rougher waters and concerned about the pool of water where I sat. I felt like I needed help, so I called 911. They answered immediately. Once I heard the operator’s voice, I started to cry in relief. I told her my location and that I was heading towards the Cabrillo Beach pier. She asked if I was wearing a life jacket. Since I kayak so much and know how to swim, I had my life vest strapped on the back of my kayak. I always thought I could put it on fast if I needed it, but with the rocking kayak, I couldn’t turn around to grab it.

The operator asked me to stay on the phone with her. I began to count out loud with every row to focus. I was scared but kept pushing myself to get to the pier. The operator told me she had to call Marina Del Rey. She knew I was at inner Cabrillo but said that was where she was instructed to dispatch. I told her to call Port Police. She put me on hold a few times as I kept my focus on paddling. It took a long time, and I

by Jennifer Marquez

was frustrated knowing the lifeguards had a boat a few minutes away. Port Police and the Coast Guard were also close.

I made it to the pier and told the operator I was okay. I was concerned with the response time, not for myself, but for other people who might have more severe emergencies on the water. Baywatch Cabrillo finally made it to me and asked if I wanted a ride on their boat, but I said I was okay. Port Police pulled up behind them. They com municated with Port Police, who left. The water was calmer, and I was close to shore now and thanked them. They followed me to the beach. Once I was close to the shore, they left.

It wasn’t until later when I looked at my phone and realized I had been talk ing to 911 for 19 minutes. That is how long it took to get a boat to me. Our community has responsive lifeguards at Cabrillo from both the City and County. According to the lifeguard logs at Cabrillo, they did not get my dispatch call until 9:30 a.m. and got to me in five minutes. But I called 911 at 9:08 a.m. The issue was with 911, who are trained to call Marina Del Rey for maritime emergencies at Cabrillo Beach, even though those boats are an hour away.

After this experience, I learned I should trust my instincts immediately. I plan to wear a life jacket versus having it on my kayak. A VHF radio is much more reliable than a cell phone on the water. Channel 16 is a distress fre quency that is continuously monitored. I have programmed the Cabrillo Beach Lifeguard Station phone number into my phone. They would be more respon sive than 911.

Lastly, kayaks should not retain water; my scupper holes may have been blocked and need to be fixed. I can also bring a turkey baster on my kayak to get the water out in emergencies.

I am grateful to our local lifeguards and hopeful that 911 operators will be trained to dispatch local outlets in water emergencies. spt

Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.

I CALLED 911 FROM MY KAYAK. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED

THE WAY FORWARD

by Anthony Pirozzi, Jr.

As we recover from another election season and get a reprieve from all of the repetitive ads, whether on television or social media, life moves forward, and our daily lives and pocketbooks are impacted by those we elect.

For some, the impact is more than others, and the benefits can differ de pending on your life situation. From a big picture, though, the election results show that our country is still politically divided. Yes, power shifts from party to party, but the sense of unity comes from the top. My father used to say, “When the fish starts to smell, it starts at the head.” In this case, unity must start at the top and must start with leadership.

At times, I feel that all sense of logic goes out the window when politics are injected into any conversation. Although our politics are divided more than ever, I firmly believe there is more that unites us than divides us, and we are all part of the diverse quilt that is America. Our grandparents and parents left everything behind to make a better life for themselves by coming to the United States, especially for us. Many never returned to their homeland, while today many kids of immigrants are just starting to discover their heritage. Our generation is the fulfillment of their sacrifice of leaving behind all they knew to build their American dream.

Together we must appreciate the heritage and cultures of our own diverse families and friends. For example, my kids are not only Italian, but also Mexi can, Aztec-Indian, and Irish. We are a reflection of America, as are many of you and your families. It is our cultural diversity that unites us, not divides us. It is what I love about our country and what I love about San Pedro. Together we must stand united and celebrate our diverse cultural heritage that is America and not buy into the groupings that we are put in by our government or the division that is tied to the color of our skin.

As we look forward to another new year, societal issues will occur that are spun to divide us. Making us believe that we are less united than we are. But we can combat this in our daily approach to each other, to what we post, and to what we perpetuate with our political talking by doing our own homework to understand the opportuni ties at hand.

For example, locally, the focus has been (and should have been) on the homeless issue. Although this is not going away anytime soon, an improve ment has been made on our streets. The waterfront development is in full swing, and the recent groundbreaking of West Harbor is a testament that we will be enjoying new restaurants and entertain ment soon. Ponte Vista is also in full swing, and new residents are becoming part of our community.

So, what’s next? For the waterfront, the next phase of projects are in discus sion, such as relocating the USS Iowa to the fishing boat slip without displacing our local fishing fleet. This would bring even more visitors to West Harbor. Im plementing clean technology at the Port to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035 without displacing jobs. The redevel opment of Rancho San Pedro and our San Pedro Courthouse will bring a new dimension to our downtown. Finally, clean and safe streets are still on the list of areas that require focus. Too often, we are finding out about crimes occur ring in our neighborhoods. Whether a shooting, robbery, or car theft, neigh borhoods are required to get involved personally to curb such activity.

My closing thoughts are this: We have been given the gift of life from God and should use it for the better ment of our families, our community, and our country. We must continue to elevate San Pedro to a new level of prosperity, and we must do it together. It’s not about how fast we can go, but how far we can go. It’s not about can’t, but can — and we must give of ourselves “unconditionally” to make it happen. spt

Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo.com.

NEW BEGINNINGS

by Lee Williams

It’s 2023 planning season for local businesses, and now that we have a better under standing of how to navigate life after the pandemic, the future is bright.

The new year will see new leadership from assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi and Mike Gipson, San Pedro-grown L.A. Councilmember Elect Tim McO sker, and our own L.A. County Supervi sor Janice Hahn. We will see renewed support for job creation and sustainable economic investments in our commu nity, but also the arts, nonprofits, and quality of life issues that help protect the character of the town we love.

An estimated 3,000 San Pedrans attended last month’s kick-off of West Harbor — or still Ports O’ Call, to you and me. People are eager to finally see progress on this property and welcome the many new restaurants and at tractions that will come along with it. Trani’s Dockside Station in the old Ca netti’s building at 307 W. 22nd Street is about to do some soft events in prepara tion for full operation. The same goes for the much-anticipated Port Town Brewery at 285 W. 7th Street, which has already hosted some memorable events and will soon help offer some diversity to San Pedro’s craft brewery scene. I see these operations and Brouwerij West as a great “tourist-adjacent” alternative for more locals to enjoy.

It will be interesting to see if and

how the San Pedro Fish Market transi tions to its new space under the bridge. San Pedrans are so used to talking about promises broken when it comes to redeveloping the waterfront it is go ing to be hard to change gears now that progress is happening. The families who made the San Pedro Fish Market one of the largest restaurant locations in the world – with over $30 million in annual receipts – are more than capable of cre ating something even bigger, with more vision and excitement. I hope there’s a sense of urgency. It would be a shame if such an important and iconic part of the waterfront fails to adapt to the reality that West Harbor is finally happening, and it’s time to move on.

There is a sense of collaboration between businesses and community organizations like never before. With the opening of Sheikh/Impact at their new location at 455 W. 6th Street, we now have a better hub of support for the organizations working to serve and improve our communities. Harbor Connects will also be housed there with a mission to better connect the nonprofits we have addressing poverty and homelessness by filling in gaps between what servicers can provide our residents. Thanks to Councilman Joe Buscaino and his generous support of $600,000 for the Harbor Neighborhood Relief Fund, the organization has been able to hire Executive Director Kent Wallace-Meggs to further its mission and transition to the more permanent Harbor Connects.

This month may be the last San Pedro City Ballet performance of The Nutcracker at the Warner Grand The atre for some time. Be sure to buy your tickets for one of the four performances the weekend of December 9-11. The $14 million restoration of the histori cal Warner Grand should commence in 2023, and while we’re eager to see it begin, it could be closed for three or four years while the work is being done. We will need patience; the grand old

building deserves the craftsmanship and artistry to get the job done right. The Nutcracker, Encore Theatre Group, and other performances will take place at other nearby venues — stay tuned for details.

My real estate team is focused on an attitude of “Give where we live,” and is using 2023 to make charitable giving, volunteer hours, and community-fo cused activities a bigger part of what we do. Our LAmove.com - Faces & Places series of videos highlights so much of the good here in San Pedro and the organizations that support the positiv ity. We have already interviewed half of the schools in San Pedro, and one thing we have found is it takes a village to raise our children. Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro City Ballet, The Boys & Girls Clubs of L.A. Harbor, Grand Vision Foundation, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, AltaSea, L.A. Maritime Insti tute, San Pedro Library, and other local organizations bring so much to enrich ing the student experience here in San Pedro schools.

San Pedro Today is a testament to the sense of community building and support our society so desperately wants. The events this magazine sup ports with community rockstar Melissa Hay help introduce our local business startups and craftspeople to the rest of the community. This month’s issue is full of local artists, craftspeople, and businesses we can support with our holiday purchases to keep our dollars local. Please be safe this holiday season, shop local, and let’s agree to lift up San Pedro in our various ways to make 2023 our best year yet. spt

Lee Williams leads the Williams Group at Keller Williams Realty and is a member of the Board of Direc tors for the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and the Boys and Girls Club for L.A. Harbor.

Newly installed Trani's Dockside Station sign. (photo: J. Trani's Ristorante/Facebook)

EAT IN SAN PEDRO:

EDIBLE GIFTS 2022

by Sanam Lamborn

In the past couple of years, pop-ups around town have become popular. I am not the type of friend who you call to go shopping with. But I particularly love the camaraderie of going to a pop-up to purchase unique gifts directly from the creators who are also members of our community. As I have gotten older, purchasing gifts has become a bit of an agony because I tend to overthink things in my quest to find rare items, leading to indecisiveness and second-guessing myself. At this point, I no longer have this issue because of all the brilliant makers I have access to at these events.

I have met many talented artisans in the past year, particularly thanks to Melissa Hay, who has been curating the San Pedro Today-sponsored popups. On the surface, it all might seem seamless and easy, but putting together pop-ups is laborious. It requires securing an ideal location, strategically coordinating a variety of makers and bakers with products that don’t compete with each other, and spending an infinite amount of time marketing the events. Lastly, what Hay does

particularly well is creating an inviting atmosphere that includes balloon decorations and live music for a truly enjoyable shopping experience.

Last year, I wrote about how A Bite of Good’s small batch hand-crafted spices make great gifts. Owner Laurel Martin, a veteran at Hay’s events, regularly adds new blends to her repertoire. Martin is a creative genius who is always working on new and unique products to add to her shop. Last year she ventured into creating cocktail kits and hot chocolate mixes that are great to have on hand year-round. The cocktail kits are mason jars filled with various dried goods that only require the purchaser to add their chosen spirit.

I find these to be great gifts for friends who enjoy craft cocktails. Speaking of cocktail lovers, Martin also offers personalized gift baskets. Last year, I raved about her far-superior-thanstore-bought hot cocoa mixes. There are more varieties this year, and I highly recommend stocking up for yourself and gifting purposes. Additionally,

she recently added cookie mixes in a jar. The varieties include regular and fancier options such as macaroons and gingerbread.

Natalie D’Aquanno Williams, also known as Good Vibes Italian Desserts, has been another staple at Hay’s popups. Her Italian-style baked goods have rightfully garnered her a loyal following in town. I particularly love her assorted boxed cookies, which make fantastic gifts. D’Aquanno Williams will also have her mini coffee cakes and pizzelle, which are waffle cookies. For the holidays, she also accepts orders for cream puffs and mini cannolis. On the day of the event, don’t miss out on her made-to-order right-off-the-fryer sfingi, which are ricotta-filled fried dough balls.

Zelda Gutierrez, the creative force behind La Befana Bakery, is a bit of a newcomer. Gutierrez is an accomplished self-taught baker. It’s impossible not to be impressed by her cookie-decorating talents. Her attention to detail carries over to her packaging,

making her baked goods ideal for giftgiving. For the holidays, she will have a variety of decorated festive cookies, biscotti, and ricciarelli, which are Italian almond cookies. She will also have cookie decorating and hot cocoa topper kits with homemade marshmallows and holiday designs.

Gutierrez will also have what I foresee to be a popular option. She will have an edible ink printer allowing pictures to be printed onto cookies onsite. On the day of the pop-up, she will have a holiday backdrop to take pictures in front of to immediately transfer onto sugar cookies. These can be purchased in singles or multiples.

The San Pedro Today-sponsored pop-up hosted by Melissa Hay will take place on December 10 and 11 in front of The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.). spt

Sanam Lamborn created the Eat in San Pedro Facebook group and Instagram account in April 2020 to entice people to patronize San Pedro’s eateries.

HOLIDAY FLAVORS: A Bite of Good's small batch hand-crafted spices; a photo of Lamborn's dog Grace printed on a sugar cookie by La Befana Bakery. (photos: Sanam Lamborn, Zelda Gutierrez)

Shop Local!

SAN PEDRO HOLIDAY

SAN PEDRO IS BACK IN BUSINESS! With the pandemic in the rearview mirror and so much to look forward to, now is the perfect time to support the many independently owned-and-operated “mom-and-pops” all over town.

San Pedro’s shopping choices are better than ever, from the artisans at CRAFTED to the new apparel shops and boutiques downtown to the recent pop-up shop phenomenon. We’re fortunate to be in a community with so many talented enterpreneurs, artisans, and makers.

As 2022 comes to a close, let’s all be mindful of where we spend our gift-giving dollars. San Pedro may not have everything, but you can find something for everyone (including yourself) in town. While this list is far from complete, we hope this gift guide encourages you to keep your dollars local during the holidays and all year round.

SPECIALTY GIFTS

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

The Assistance League of San Pedro-South Bay’s Holiday Boutique offers a full selection of stunning holiday décor, beautiful ornaments, and eye-catching gift ideas, including jewelry and crys tal items. The gift shop also car ries cookbooks, apparel, greeting cards, and a full selection of See’s Candies! 1441 W. 8th St., (310) 832-8355, assistanceleague.org/ san-pedro-south-bay.

CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM GIFT SHOP

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Gift Shop is a true trea sure by the sea. The shop features ocean-themed ornaments and

art, fun family puzzles, and a great selection of books. They also offer a wide selection of products online. Plus, all proceeds go towards pro grams at the aquarium. 3720 Ste phen M. White Dr., (310) 548-8394, shop.friendsofcabrilloaquarium.org.

THE CORNER STORE Open since 1947 and now under new owner ship, San Pedro’s charming neigh borhood café carries a full selection of old-fashioned bottled sodas and candy that make for perfect stocking stuffers, not to mention a unique assortment of gifts. On Friday, December 9, The Corner Store will host Miracle on 37th St., an annual holiday event complete with hot chocolate and a visit from Santa. While you’re there, make sure to grab a pastry and coffee to

go! 1118 W. 37th St., (310) 8322424, thecornerstoresp.com.

CRAFTED AT

THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES Come discover hand made, heartfelt gifts for everyone on your list at CRAFTED, South ern California’s largest permanent modern makers’ market! Over 100 talented artists are represented, offering everything from candles, handcrafted rugs, plants, and art to handmade jewelry, unique apparel and accessories, artisanal foods, and much more. Please visit craft edportla.com for holiday hours and information. 112 E. 22nd Street, craftedportla.com.

DISTINCTIVE EDGE FRAMING & GALLERY

Since 1981, Distinctive Edge Framing & Gallery has been

helping the peninsula “deck the halls” year-round. In addition to framing, they specialize in art sales, restoration, and decorating tips. 28639 S. Western Ave., RPV, (310) 833-3613.

DIVINE ELYSIAN WELLNESS

Located in The Terraces (second level), Divine Elysian Wellness offers a wide variety of services to help one relax, rejuvenate, and improve your life. Whether you’re interested in increasing your energy or would like to explore alternative medicine, chances are they can help. Give the gift of self-care with a Divine Elysian Wellness gift card. 28901 S. Western Ave., Ste. 225, RPV, (424) 267-6251, divineelysianwellness. com.

Santa Claus checks out the 25th Street Mosaic Mural by artist Julie Bender. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

GIFT GUIDE 2022

compiled by SPT Staff

JOHN MATTERA PHO

TOGRAPHY Display the beauty of San Pedro in your home! John Mattera Photography has captured and archived many impres sive images of San Pedro during his decade as lead photographer for San Pedro Today. These images can be purchased as highquality prints, canvases, or coasters. Mattera’s collec tion also includes a variety of college football action photos on canvas from Notre Dame, UCLA, and USC games. (310) 3089766, johnmatteraphotog raphy.com.

RUSTIC CHARM & PET ALS

Located on 7th St. in Downtown San Pedro, Rustic Charm & Petals offers a variety of cloth ing, accessories, home décor, and charming gifts, including Pedro-inspired tees and sweatshirts and their best-selling Zip Code Pillows — a perfect gift or addition to your home this holiday season! They also offer various workshops for the community, including flower arranging, wreathmaking, and more. 251 W. 7th St., (310) 755-4576, rusticcharmandpetals.com.

FOR THE HOME

SOUTH SHORES ACE HARD WARE

Home improvement proj ects have become more popular than ever. If you have an upcom ing project, South Shores Ace Hardware (under new ownership) is stocked for all your holiday DIY and home improvement needs. Power tools (and gift cards) always make great stocking stuffers! 2515 S. Western Ave., Ste. 101, (310) 833-1223.

HOUSE 1002 With 6,000 square feet of showroom, it is hard to imagine not finding some pretty awesome and unique gifts from the selection of collectibles, vintage items, art, and architectural salvage at House 1002. They acquire new pieces daily, so check in often! 1002 S. Pacific Ave, (310) 833-1002, house1002.com.

BEACON HOUSE THRIFT SHOP

The Beacon House Thrift Shop boasts a wide array of household appliances, books, and clothing

at affordable prices. All proceeds benefit the Beacon House’s primary mission to help men recover from alcoholism and addiction. 812 S. Pacific Ave., (310) 514-4940, beaconhousethrift.org.

CLOTHING & APPAREL

THE COASTLINE SHOP Located in the heart of Downtown San Pedro, The Coastline Shop carries a selection of apparel, including San Pedro-themed shirts, hoodies, caps, and more. 437 W. 6th St., thecoastlineshop.com.

BADFISH CLOTHING COMPANY

Badfish Clothing Company has become one of San Pedro’s favorite local clothing brands. Chockfull of originally designed t-shirts, hood ies, and caps, this popular store in Downtown San Pedro has become a bastion for the skate and surf crowd. Also, they’re the only local retailer with official “Three-Eyed Fish” merch! Check out their new,

bigger location just down the block from the original store. New location: 363 W. 6th St., (310) 5219965, badfishclothing.com.

LUDIC Just off the corner of 9th and Grand is one of San Pedro’s most stylish boutiques, LUDIC (short for “ludicrous”). The shop carries an array of women’s and kids’ clothing and offers all-inclu sive sizes, from small to 3X, plus ac cessories, gifting, and home goods. 915 S. Grand Ave., (562) 999-1347, shopludic.co.

MANDYZ BOUTIQUE Mandyz is capping 2022 with their an nual Black Friday sale November 25-26, offering 15-30 percent off storewide. Check out their stock of hand-picked, trendy, and fash ionable clothing and accessories! On Thursday, December 8, they’ll host a Sip and Shop event from 4-8 p.m., offering 20% off select merchandise.1442 W. 8th St., (310) 521-8400, mandyzboutique.com.

MCKENNA’S PENDLETON The essential shirt among South Bay

surfers and dockworkers alike, McK enna’s Pendleton has been keep ing the Harbor Area warm since 1986. Located a short hop away in Lomita, the store carries the largest selection of Pendleton products in Southern California, featuring current men’s and women’s cloth ing, accessories, and home goods. 2304 Pacific Coast Hwy., Lomita, (310) 539-2725, mckennaspendle ton.com.

ROOTZ UNCHARTED Founded in 2017, Rootz Clothing Company opened their first brick-and-mortar shop in Downtown San Pedro in 2021. Promoting their philosophy of “Live. Love. And Explore.” the shop features Rootz-branded ap parel for menz, womenz, and gromz (kids). They also carry a collection of hats and jackets. 418 W. 6th St., (310) 480-1262, rootzuncharted. com.

ROUNDTRIP COLLECTIVE New threads with a vintage vibe! This Downtown San Pedro boutique features high-quality women’s clothing, accessories, and gifts.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE (clockwise): Rustic Charm & Petals, Rootz Uncharted, LUDIC, Mandyz Boutique, and Badfish Clothing Company. (photos: Instagram)

Their winter collection includes a wide selection of sweaters, jackets, jeans, and loungewear. 617 S. Mesa St., (310) 935-8295, roundtripcol lective.com.

STYLED BY SOLUNA Born from a love of fashion, styling, and vin tage, Styled by Soluna prides itself in its hand-curated collection of pretty little things. Styled by Soluna has partnered with a number of small female-owned businesses to bring their clients quality, hand crafted goods. In addition to fash ionable clothing and accessories, they offer apothecary, dried florals, plants, macrame, crystals, candles, and more. 369 West 7th St., styled bysoluna.square.site.

URBAN FEET & SKATE San Pedro’s shoe headquarters! Urban Feet carries everything from classy to sporty to work shoes, including

popular brands like Ugg Australia, Vans, and Rainbow Sandals. 329 W. 6th St., (310) 832-9364, urban feetandskate.net.

JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES

CAPTAIN’S TREASURE CHEST

From 14k white and yellow gold to sterling silver or costume jew elry, even watches and class rings, gift ideas abound at this beloved family-owned business. Through December 3, Captain’s Treasure Chest is offering their storewide holiday sale, with Christmas pins, earrings, and bracelets for only $10 each! 28901 S. Western Ave., Ste. 219, RPV, (310) 519-1856, captain streasurechestjewelry.com.

GOLDEN TREASURE JEWELERS

One of the jewels of Weymouth Corners, Golden Treasure Jewelers specializes in 14k yellow and white gold, diamonds, sterling silver, and watches. In December, they’re of fering 10-50% off storewide, plus free sterling silver cubic zirconia studs with any purchase of $50 or more. With their jewelry cleaning service, you can get your jewelry all sparkly and shiny for the holidays. 1453 W. 8th St., Ste. C, (310) 5484008.

VILICICH WATCH & CLOCK Time pieces make beloved gifts and heir looms. Family-owned and operated for more than six decades, Vilicich Watch & Clock has long specialized in watch and antique clock repair with a special emphasis on Rolex sales and service. Knowledge, skill, and meticulous attention to detail remain a time-honored hallmark of

the watchmakers and clockmakers at this Weymouth Corners estab lishment. 714 S. Weymouth Ave., (310) 833-6891, vilicichwatch.com.

SAN PEDRO SHOES & HANDBAG REPAIR

Another Weymouth Corners institution and home of the San Pedro Slap sandal and the Gabbag handbag, San Pedro Shoes & Handbag Repair is a great choice for someone looking for a unique, local gift, or for those just looking to repair a shoe, bag, or belt that they’ve been putting off all year. 1434 W. 8th Street, (310) 831-1733.

HOBBIES

THE BIKE PALACE

What’s a more classic holiday gift than a brand-new bike with a bright red bow? Since 1973, The Bike

Palace has been catering to the community’s two-wheeled needs, and no matter your age, we can all agree that popping a wheelie is still pretty cool. They’re stocked with plenty of sizes and models to choose from for any age. 1600 S. Pacific Ave., (310) 832-1966, thebikepalace.com.

JD HOBBY CENTER If you’re look ing for a gift that sparks creativity and relaxation, take a look inside JD Hobby Center. Their 10,000 square-foot retail space on 6th St. is full of various models, books, collectible toys, movie memora bilia, and pop culture items. 471 W. 6th St., (310) 514-3702, jdhobbies. yolasite.com.

JDC RECORDS Vinyl continues to be as popular as ever these days.

If you have an audiophile in your life, JDC Records’ “super cool” retail store in Downtown San Pedro is chockfull of new and used vinyl records that would make a great gift. 447 W. 6th St., (424) 264-5335, jdcrecordstore.com.

FOR THE KIDS

ROK ‘N’ ELL BABY

HOLIDAY TREATS

BOUTIQUE

The perfect spot to find quality gifts for newborns and more, Rok ‘n’ Ell Baby Boutique in Weymouth Corners carries a sweet collection of baby and kids’ clothing, accesso ries, and goods for anyone kneehigh to a grasshopper. 1438 W. 8th St., (310) 832-4145, roknell.com.

5POURS Calling themselves the “Best little wine shop on the peninsula,” 5Pours opened their doors on Western Avenue last year with a huge selection of wines from around the world. From Napa Cabs and Central Coast Pinot Noir to Old World Burgundy and Bordeaux, they have something for everyone. They even carry more than 25 Croa tian and Slovenian wines. 29050 S. Western Ave. #137, Rancho Palos Verdes, (424) 342-9748, Instagram @5pours.

POLLY ANN BAKERY Polly Ann Bakery in Weymouth Corners has been sweetening up San Pedro

since 1938. They have a full array of delicious holiday cookies, cakes, and pastries that make for great gifts this time of year. Don’t forget to pick up a treat for yourself! 1440 W. 8th St., (310) 519-0966.

COLOSSUS BREAD Colossus Bread opened its café on Alma St. in August 2018, and they’ve been growing ever since, recently adding a second location in Long Beach. The bakery/café offers handcrafted seasonal morning pastries, carefully brewed coffee, and hot loaves of bread. Order online or in-person. 2311 S. Alma St., (213) 444-0077, colossusbread.com.

COMPAGNON WINE BISTRO

You can’t go wrong with gifting a bottle of wine. Fortunately, Compa gnon Wine Bistro in Downtown San

Styled by Soluna, McKenna's Pendleton, and JDC Records. (photos: John Mattera Photography, Pendleton, Instagram)

Pedro has a wonderful selection of more than 60 unique wines from around the world. You’re bound to find a great bottle, even for the most refined palate. Gift certificates are also available. 335 W. 7th St., (424) 342-9840, compagnonbistro. com.

SIRENS JAVA & TEA The cof fee shop that’s become the hub of Downtown San Pedro, Sirens Java & Tea offers an assortment of homemade pastries and muffins, as well as a full menu of coffee and espresso drinks. They also offer a selection of products from local artisans, such as candles and cook ies, including vegan and glutenfree options. While waiting for your latte, pick up a Sirens mug or tumbler as a gift (or use it yourself on your return visit). 402 W. 7th St., (424) 477-5603.

BROUWERIJ WEST San Pedrans still can’t spell it, but we love to drink it. For the beer connoisseurs, Brouwerij West offers an array of gift options, including a unique selection of craft beer and hard seltzer, Brouwerij West merchan dise, and gift cards, most of which are available for pickup or shipping. 110 E. 22nd St., Warehouse No. 9, brouwerijwest.com.

PET PICKS

THE DOG GROOMER Located on 6th Street in the heart of Down town San Pedro, The Dog Groomer offers both professional grooming services and self-wash stations for your furry family members. They also offer an array of CBD pet products and flea medicine, as well as gift certificates. This year, they’re collecting donations for Rainbow Services for women & children ages 1-18. Drop off a new, un wrapped gift or gift card & receive $5 off your next grooming! Visit rainbowservicesdv.org for the holiday wishlist. 461 W. 6th St., #103, (310) 832-7387, Instagram @ thedoggroomer310.

CREATIVE PET SUPPLY Since 1996, Creative Pet has catered to the needs of San Pedro’s critters of all sizes. From dogs, cats, and fish to chickens, reptiles, and rodents, this family-owned shop has ev erything you need to care for and pamper your pet. 305 N. Harbor Blvd., (800) 227-0001, creativepet. com.

PEDRO PET PALS & HARBOR ANIMAL CARE CENTER

Don’t have a furry friend to shop for and thinking about adopting? Check in with Pedro Pet Pals or Harbor Animal Care Center to get the process going on expanding your family this holiday season. (Re member: gifting a pet as a surprise

Rise of the Pop-Ups!

A BITE OF GOOD Small batch, handcrafted spices, gourmet foods, cocktail and cookie kits. abiteofgood.com, Instagram @abiteofgood.

AMORE SOAP Hand-crafted, natural, chemical-free soap made with non-GMO vegan oils. amore soap.com, Instagram @amore soap.

BREAKWATER STYLE CO Be spoke, fun home and lifestyle gifts. Instagram @breakwaterstyleco.

COMMON SOUL COLLECTIVE

Aromatherapy candles, bath, and artisan goods for the body, soul, and spirit – woman-run and earthconscious. commonsoulcollective. com, Instagram @commonsoulcol lective.

GOOD VIBES ITALIAN DES SERTS Cookies, cream puffs, cannoli, and other authentic Italian desserts, made with love and good vibes. Instagram @good. vibes.italian.desserts.

HOMEMADE BY THE HAYS 100% soy wax/toxin-free candles in beautiful arrangements and styles. Instagram @homemadebythehays.

LENA MILOS ARTISTRY Oceaninspired resin art, jewelry, sea glass, home decor, photography, and more. lenamilosartistry.com, Insta gram @lenamilosartistry.

LA BEFANA BAKERY Custom cookies, Italian cookies, and con fections. Instagram @labefanabak ery.

SAN PEDRO SOAPWORKS

Natural, botanical skin and hair care made in small batches with the finest ingredients. sanpedrosoap works.square.site, Instagram @sanpedrosoapworks.

SEA NATIVE Turquoise, sea glass, and Hawaiian-shell ocean-inspired silver jewelry. Instagram @sea.na tive. spt

Clockwise: A Bite of Good, Breakwater Style Co, Good Vibes Italian Desserts, and Homemade by the Hays. (photos: Instagram)

is not recommended but visiting shelters and adopting a pet in need as a family can be gratifying for both humans and fur babies alike.)

Pedro Pet Pals: pedropetpals.com, Harbor Animal Care Center: 957 N. Gaffey St., (888) 452-7381, laani malservices.com/shelters/harbor. spt

SAN PEDRO IS A TOWN FULL OF MAKERS AND CREATORS, so it’s no surprise that many residents turned their passions into small home businesses during quarantine. The result has been the incredible growth of weekend pop-up events at various locations all over town. The home businesses featured here are just a sampling of what San Pedro’s creator community has to offer.

A BITE OF GOOD

Sirens Java & Tea. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

PREP SPORTS SPHS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL WINS SECOND CIF TITLE IN 5 YEARS

by Jamaal K. Street

Redemption.

One year ago, San Pedro High girls volleyball reached their seventh CIFLos Angeles City Section championship match appearance, only to get their dreams of a fifth title swept away in the Division 1 final by Sylmar.

Most of the team took that defeat hard and vowed to make it back to a championship match with another op portunity to make it count. A deter mined team with 13 seniors on an ex perienced 19-player roster did precisely that, from the opening serve of the 2022 season to returning to the CIF-LACS Division 1 title tilt. This time, they fin ished in an impressive way on Friday, November 4.

Taking on top-seeded Birmingham of Lake Balboa, who were the Division 1 champions in 2020, San Pedro shook off a tough first-set loss before delivering the reserve sweep for an 18-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 victory to win the CIFLACS Division 1 championship at Cal State Northridge, avenging their bitter runner-up finish of 2021.

It started out with good intentions early for San Pedro (26-9 overall) with a match-opening kill from senior outside hitter Elaine Turituri coupled with a service ace from senior outside hitter Samantha Brown for an early 4-1 lead in the opening set, but the Patriots (18-

14) went on a tear from there, going on a 23-14 surge to eventually win the set, grabbing the early 1-0 advantage.

With San Pedro trailing 8-6 in the second set, a timely block by senior middle blocker Laila Jackson started a surge that turned the match around for the Pirates, and it was Turituri who was the catalyst.

A pair of aces sandwiched in be tween a roll shot kill, and San Pedro took a 10-8 lead, which continued to increase shortly after via a stuff block by junior setter Kalia Teofilo, a third ace from Turituri, and a viciously tooled kill off a block by senior outside hitter Jamie Roth, forcing a Birmingham timeout.

Teofilo’s perfectly timed jump-dump down for another kill made it 14-8 before San Pedro’s momentum quelled, but it wasn’t stopped.

Two more kills and an ace from Roth, two kills from Turituri, a kill from se nior opposite hitter Kaitlyn Duron, and another block from Jackson got San Pe dro into their first set point opportunity, which they cashed in on with Jackson’s overpass kill to even the match at one victory apiece.

San Pedro bolted to an early 6-2 lead in the third set before Birmingham stormed back to briefly lead 7-6. A service error tied the score at 7, and the

Pirates returned to work with another furious scoring rally.

Turituri again mounted an all-out as sault with another pair of kills coupled with a second successful jumping dump down from Teofilo and yet another Jackson rejection for an 11-7 lead to force a Patriot timeout. Then San Pedro just kept on coming, piling up a 21-12 advantage before Jackson’s incredible fifth block of the match on set point provided the Pirates the all-important 2-1 edge.

Roth’s thunderous kill to open off the fourth set got the Pirates off to a rous ing start with the championship within reach, but they again had to hold off the determined Patriots down the stretch. Trailing 5-2 early, the serving of Brown coupled with two kills and a block from junior middle blocker Sofie Valle willed San Pedro into a 13-7 lead.

From then on, the Pirates never trailed again as the combined efforts of Roth, Turituri, and Duron propelled the team to the proverbial finish line. On match point, Birmingham’s last attack to try to keep the match going just sailed out at center court, and San Pe dro began celebrating their hard-earned championship win with unbridled joy in their hearts.

Turituri ended the night with 12 kills, 6 digs, and 5 aces, while Roth was

spectacular with 11 kills, 3 digs, and 2 blocks. Jackson had a pair of kills and 5 blocks. Teofilo had 3 kills, 2 blocks, 19 assists, and an ace, while senior libero Kennedy Kordic added an ace, 23 digs, and 12 serve receptions. Duron had 4 kills and 7 digs, while Brown and senior setter Alyssa Estrada’s serving was piv otal in San Pedro’s run to the Division 1 championship.

It was a victory that was a micro cosm of San Pedro putting forth their own expectations and exceeding them all. Winning a third straight Marine League championship was one of those goals. San Pedro defeated an unprec edented four defending CIF-LACS champions from the 2021 season (Syl mar - Division 1, Eagle Rock - Division 2, North Hollywood - Division 3, GALA - Division 4) to strengthen their resume.

In postseason play, the third-seeded Pirates eliminated Garfield of Los An geles, league rival Carson, and secondseeded Marshall of Los Angeles before overcoming the top-seeded Patriots in the title tilt.

Head coach Sean Zuvich, a San Pedro alumnus, won his 99th career match in five coaching seasons, with the first two coaching at nearby Mary Star of the Sea High School. spt

San Pedro High School girls volleyball CIF-Los Angeles City Section champions. (photo: Jamaal K. street)

SAIL ON, SAILOR

A QUICK CHAT WITH FORMER BEACH BOY BLONDIE CHAPLIN ON THE ICONIC BAND’S NEW BOX SET

by Joshua Stecker

On December 2, The Beach Boys will release a new box set titled Sail On Sailor – 1972, celebrating their land mark albums, 1972’s Carl and the Pas sions – “So Tough” and 1973’s Holland Featured prominently on those albums is Blondie Chaplin, the charismatic guitarist and former Beach Boy from South Africa, who’s called San Pedro home since 2017.

Fans of The Beach Boys, and there are plenty in San Pedro since the band came from neighboring Hawthorne, will dig this collection. The compre hensive 6-CD Super Deluxe Edition features newly remastered versions of the two albums, plus Holland’s “Mount Vernon and Fairway (A Fairytale)” EP, and includes an unreleased live concert from New York City’s Carnegie Hall recorded 50 years ago on Thanksgiving, 1972, during Chaplin’s tenure with the band.

The set also includes a detailed 48page booklet with extensive liner notes by Howie Edelson, featuring new and archival interviews with the band, rare photos, and producer notes from Mark Linett and Alan Boyd, providing an in-depth look at the recording of these albums and the era.

Born and raised in Durban, KwaZu lu-Natal, South Africa, Chaplin joined The Flames in 1967 when he was just 16. That year, The Flames sailed to Lon

don to play some gigs, where The Beach Boys’ Al Jardine saw them perform in a London club.

After The Flames disbanded, Chaplin and fellow Flames bandmate, drummer Ricky Fataar, joined The Beach Boys as official members in 1972. Chaplin would sing lead on several Beach Boys songs on Carl and the Passions – “So Tough” and Holland, which was rare, considering the band rarely shared lead vocals outside the original line-up.

Holland features the song that would become Chaplin’s signature tune, “Sail On Sailor,” a funky, R&B-fueled rock song that ended up being a hit for the band.

Fresh off a summer of touring with founding Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, and finishing up a solo album to be released in the spring, Chaplin, still full of energy at 71, met with San Pedro Today for a quick chat about the upcoming box set and his experience recording and touring with one of rock music’s most iconic bands.

On his experience recording “Sail On Sailor” with The Beach Boys: “I’m fascinated [by that song] considering if it didn’t get on Holland, it wouldn’t have come out. We did a whole album in Holland for three months. Everything was in shambles a little bit because the studio was set up in a barn. There were wires everywhere, the train would come

by and [we’d] have to stop the record ing. Everything would rumble. But we did that, and everybody got into it and tried to do a good job. But when we showed [Holland] to the record compa ny, they [didn’t like it]. So, we recorded ‘Sail On Sailor’ at Village Recorders [in Los Angeles].

“We did the recording there, and I did the vocal. Dennis [Wilson, the late Beach Boys drummer] was going to try, but he didn’t want to do it, or he had to go surfing, which is absolutely true. Carl [Wilson, the late Beach Boys lead guitarist] took a pass a couple of times. Then he asked me to do it. I had a feel ing he wanted me to do it to begin with. It just went through different stages. So, I did it a couple of times, and that’s what everybody hears. It’s just a slow blues shuffle. That’s all it is.”

On playing Carnegie Hall in 1972: “Well, it was some of the first gigs when Holland first came out. A buddy of mine said you could hear a pin drop. He said, ‘It’s the first time you sang

‘Leaving This Town’ [a song on Hol land], and you can hear a pin drop.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I was probably nervous as hell!’ I mean, I was barely 21. That is nuts.

“[For the rehearsals], Carl was the one who would sit with Ricky and me, just us in a little room. Just a guitar without it being plugged in or anything, and we’d run through some Beach Boys songs. That’s how we learned [their music]. Then it was just a matter of go ing on stage and playing with every body, playing with the band.”

On the Sail On Sailor – 1972 box set: “This is great. This is a good set as far as how much stuff they put on it. It’s still good memories. Holland is one of The Beach Boys’ best albums. You put any of what you think is The Beach Boys’ best stuff, and it’s got a place. I enjoyed doing it. It’s good that people like it, and it’s stood the test of time. spt

The Sail On Sailor – 1972 box set hits record stores December 2.

The Beach Boys' Sail On Sailor – 1972 box set cover, with a young Blondie Chaplin top right. Left: Chaplin on the cover of San Pedro Today, Sept. 2018.

WHAT MAKES A THERE, HERE?

by Linda Grimes

We all have treasured memo ries of visiting a surprising, unique place — dark hot choco late and churros in Madrid, the symmetry of town squares in Spain, holiday light shows in public gar dens, hearing London’s Big Ben strike the time, a stroll along our promenade. I could go on and on, remembering the places I’ve visited, as I’m sure you could too.

These things did not happen by ac cident; they were carefully planned to enhance visitors’ and tourists’ experi ences. There is an art and thoughtful science to placemaking — it’s not just about designing a park or plaza with efficient pedestrian circulation. Place making is a multifaceted approach to

the planning, design, and management of public spaces. It capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, intending to create public spaces to promote people’s health, hap piness, and well-being.

Using smart, proven urban design principles, placemaking is both a pro cess and a philosophy. It can be led by the government or by community-driv en grassroots tactical urbanism, such as extending sidewalks with chalk, paint, and planters, or open street events, such as Los Angeles’ and Brazil’s Ciclovia. Good placemaking uses neglected or underused spaces to enhance the urban experience at a human scale to create distinctive, unique, and memorable encounters.

An excellent example of creative placemaking at its finest, the Arts District was honored to be called on to represent public art at the recent West Harbor groundbreaking celebrations.

We hired three plein air artists (Louisa McHugh, David Teter, and Stephen Mirich) and four muralists making 7x10 foot portable murals (Mer Young, Lind say Sochar, Otis College teaching artist Raul Baltazar, and SPHS art teacher Jay Davis). We plan to display these four portable murals during the First Thurs day ArtWalk on December 1.

While creative expression plays a substantial part in establishing a sense of locale and economic growth, the arts must also play an equally large role in creating a successful place. According to the 2022 Otis Report on the Creative Economy, these two factors are not mu tually exclusive. The arts and cultural economic activity added a gross re gional impact of $687.6 billion in 2020. This is the equivalent of 23 percent of California’s Gross Regional Product (GRP), and for every 100 jobs in the creative industry, an additional 180 jobs are supported in other economic sectors. This means that the arts can be deployed as a powerful tool in creating or rehabilitating urban spaces.

The Arts District references these four tools used by communi ties while considering our creative placemaking strategies:

• Anchoring: attracting additional foot traffic or a regional draw. These anchors can attract additional business and become a strong source of identity for the neighborhood.

• Activating: When visual or perform ing arts are brought into the public realm, it activates the area while creat ing interest, activity, and engagement. More people and eyes on the street drive curiosity to explore and establish a sense of safety.

• Fixing: activating vacant, underuti lized, or blighted spaces to treat them as an opportunity for new art and design projects.

• Planning: by using the arts and cre ative strategies, community enthusiasm and pride can be bolstered. Bringing artists into the planning process can upend the familiar and allow partici pants to mentally “unhook” from their preconceived notions.

The principles of creative placemak ing inform our quest to create more public art. We believe that celebrating art in everyday, ordinary places en hances our lives, demonstrates com munity pride, and provides a sense of inclusiveness. Not everyone feels comfortable going to an art gallery or museum. By painting murals, traffic sig nal boxes, and storm drains, we employ artists, and viewers are also exposed to a joyful, unexpected expression of what it means to be San Pedro.

SAN PEDRO HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

December 1, the last First Thursday ArtWalk of 2022, gathers at 5:30 p.m. at JDC Records, 447 W. 6th St., walk at 6 p.m. For more info, visit sanpedrowa terfrontartsdistrict.com.

San Pedro Chamber of Commerce's annual Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade will be held on Sunday, Decem ber 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. in Downtown San Pedro. For more info, visit sanpe drochamber.com.

Since 1994, San Pedro City Ballet has produced The Nutcracker, a classic holiday story centered on a family’s Christmas Eve gathering. Look closely at the onstage families and you may recognize some of San Pedro’s lumi naries. December 9-11, Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St. Tickets and more info: sanpedrocityballet.org.

The Golden State Pops Orchestra’s acclaimed production Holiday POPS Spectacular returns this year with joy ous music and high spirits. And it might even snow! December 17, Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St. Tickets and more info: gspo.com.

San Pedro International Film Festi val’s screening of the Frank Capra clas sic, It’s a Wonderful Life on Decem ber 23, 7 p.m., Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St. Tickets: spiffest.org. spt

Linda Grimes is the executive direc tor of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. For more information, visit SanPedroWaterfrontArtsDistrict.com.

Muralist Lindsay Sochar at work at the West Harbor groundbreaking. (photo: Linda Grimes)

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE MERRY!

by Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT

When discussing the current climate, the old timers shake their concerned heads and drop their judgmental pearls of wisdom. The millennials gaze at the bright future of utopian bliss, where no one feels pain or any confusion. I find myself refusing to be young or old, hoping to cling to truth of some sort and maintain the golden symmetry, at least in my mind. I tell myself, “We are doomed in beautifully tragic ways, headed toward some fantastic finale!”

On the eve of yet another topsyturvy year, as we approach the season of laughter and cheer, I asked myself, when was the last time I really laughed? Rolling-on-the-floor, gut-busting, facehurting, tears-rolling sort of laughter? The kind that leaves you collapsed on the floor, in a state of some postorgasmic bliss, with a stupefied smile plastered across your face as you stare at the ceiling. Can I even remember? I then took a survey from my clients and friends, and they all concurred it had been too long for all of us.

It is perhaps that awful thing called age — perhaps we run out of that laugh ing gas. We become weighed down, and the world stops being funny. We become somewhat subdued and call it

“wisdom.” There is a certain pleasant ness to this weighted calm; like a rock, we slowly sink to where the eternal darkness awaits. And there, we merge with the black oneness of no longer being.

With depression and suicide rates among youth at all-time highs, why not explore one of the most natural healing remedies for depression? We live in an age where comedians get slapped for jokes, and celebrities canceled, sacked, and publicly flogged. Humor, as a characteristic of our species, has prob ably the most diverse application to our survival. Starting from neurobiology to physical health, to socialization, creativ ity, play, politics, cultural affiliation, formation of collective narratives, to social consciousness, to trauma healing, the list is endless.

Laughter, for example, swaps cortisol, a stress hormone, for chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins. Oxytocin is a bonding chemical. When we laugh together, we chemically bond with each other, decreasing feelings of animosity and apprehension and signal ing safety. Dopamine enhances learn ing, motivation, and attention. We are more likely to focus and retain informa tion. Fun teachers made learning excit ing. Endorphins enhance feelings of pleasure. People can tolerate 15 percent more pain simply by laughing for a few

minutes beforehand. Other health ben efits of laughter include an improved immune system, reduced anxiety, stress relief, and mood enhancement.

Poking fun at each other helps youth socialization, provides informa tion about specific cultural norms and expectations, and cultivates verbal development and creativity. During the Elizabethan era, jesters were the most important conveyors of truth to the royalty. They could communicate the mob’s sentiments to the ruler disguised in humor. Jesters had the privilege of voicing otherwise controversial themes without the risk of punishment. Co medians showcase cultural stereotypes and norms and allow a safe exploration of differences. Humor is an essential bonding component of any given social structure.

Through humor, we can distance ourselves from emotional anguish, universalize our pain, and connect to the greater whole, thus healing trauma and grief. It is through humor that we are able to explore the most painful aspects of the human condition. It gives voice to that which is too heavy to talk about and helps us digest our emotional experiences.

The current obsession with elimi nating negative feelings instead of digesting them begins to strip us from our individuality. Like Tolstoy said,

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Negative feelings are messages from within. They bring into focus that which is important. This helps us grow and transform. Excessive over-policing of pain eliminates humor, yet the pain doesn’t go away, so how do we heal?

The core of the human experience is existential loneliness. Who am I? Why am I here? Am I okay? Am I lovable? How painfully fragile and awkward we are; how absurd is this circus of life? And yet, without touching down to these places, albeit with humor, we cease to exist as individuals. We become one social robot, one social experiment, unthinking, undifferenti ated. Perhaps no longer confused, not in pain, but also not living as a singular entity.

This holiday season, bring back the cheer in your living room — poke fun at each other, laugh at stupid jokes, be silly, roll on the floor, and stare at your ceiling with a dumb smile plastered all over your face, because without that gas, my friends, life is a bust. spt

Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local marriage and family therapist. For more info, visit sophiemft.com.

(photo: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels.com)

A red car is parked at the Pacific Electric station, near the intersection of 6th and Harbor Blvd. The depot was demolished in 1961 as the red car faded from service in Los Angeles.

(photo: San Pedro Bay Historical Society)