San Pedro Today - April 2023

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ASSOCIATES

Dr. Souzan Ardalan, D.D.S.

Education:

USC school of Dentistry

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Professional Association:

American Dental Association, member

California Dental Association, member

Western Dental Society, member

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(310) 832-5559

www.drsouzanardalan.com

Ian Woo, D.D.S., MD.

Education:

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Los Angeles County / University of Southern California Medical Center

Dr. Marvis Sorrel, D.M.D., M.D.S.

Education:

University of Pittsburgh, Master of Science in Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Medicine

Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

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Dr. Rebekah Coriaty

Education:

University of Pacific

Professional Association:

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California Dental Association

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UCLA School of Dentistry

Professional Association:

Font:

American Academy of Periodontology

California Society of Periodontists

American Dental Association

California Dental Association

American Association for Dental Research

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in town, the San Pedro Chamber’s Women’s History

tion and Maria’s Closet’s Big Give.

Judging by the sold-out crowd at the History Month Celebration has become

in town and is always emotional and entertaining. This year was no different.

The Chamber honored an incredible group of women who have dedicated their time and talents to our community, many for decades. The 2023 honorees include SueAnn Ballat (Gang Alternatives Program), Gayle Fleury (Angel Gowns and Light of the Lighthouse), Amy Grat (EXP - The Opportunity Engine), Rosa Pesenti (Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor and Maria’s Closet), Nancy Richardson (Los Angeles Maritime Institute and Girl Scouts), Camilla Townsend (founding board member of AltaSea and trustee, Port of Los Angeles High School), and Rachel Viramontes (Wednesday Senior Club).

On a special note, I want to congratulate Camilla Townsend personally.

Camilla was a guiding light when I first launched this magazine out of my living room in February 2009. When she was the Chamber CEO, she helped me gain the self-assurance I needed to make this publication work. Her calm demeanor, motherly advice, and confidence in me at such a crucial point in my life have never been forgotten.

Congratulations, Camilla. And thank you.

I was also lucky enough to catch the excitement at Mary Star High School for Maria’s Closet’s Big Give event. I had always heard about how amazing this event was but had never experienced it myself until last month. It totally lived up to the hype.

Ronna Luna and her all-volunteerrun organization brightened the lives of hundreds of young high school girls with their “prom dress wonderland.” The excitement and positive vibes filled the gymnasium on that rainy day. It was a privilege to watch.

Congratulations to Ronna and everyone at Maria’s Closet on your 1,000th prom dress donation and for being such a positive influence in the community.

More news next month. spt

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

APRIL 2023

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Joshua J. Stecker

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lori Garrett

ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION

Joseph A. Castañeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS

Linda Grimes, Sanam Lamborn, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Eddie McKenna, Nadia Nizetich, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Amber Sheikh, 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

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. 20,000 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 20092023, Empire22 Media LLC.

Check out the latest news at sanpedrotoday.com.

VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 3

ON THE COVER: Inside the Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

APRIL 2023

Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (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 Thursday Evening – OPEN GARDEN at Feed and Be Fed (429 W. 6th St.), Tuesdays 10a-12p, Fridays 10a-1p, & First Thursday evenings. – Feed and Be Fed farm, San Pedro's own urban farm, opens its downtown garden space every Tuesday and Friday and on First Thursday evenings. Organic produce is for sale at the San Pedro Farmers Market (corner of 6th and Mesa) on Fridays 11a-3p. Come share nature’s bounty and beauty as we grow vegetables, flowers, and community. Get your hands in the dirt as a volunteer, get expert advice, or just relax. For more info, visit feedandbefed.org.

Every Tuesday & Every Saturday –BELMONT SHORE MODEL 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 Model 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.

Every Friday – LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM at Old Fire Station 36 (639 S. Harbor Blvd.), 10a-3p. – The LA Fire Department Historical Society invites you to tour and experience San Pedro and Wilmington's fire protection and rescue history with vintage fire apparatus and displays. Come to visit or

to volunteer. FREE admission. For more info, visit lafdmuseum.org/harbor/.

6 (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.

6 (Thurs) – GUIDED ARTWALK

TOUR at JDC Records (447 W. 6th St.), 5:30p. – Join local artists and creatives for a tour of the San Pedro Arts District. We will gather at 5:30p at JDC Records, walk at 6p, and end the tour in The Artistry Gallery and Wine Bar (491 W. 6th St.), with some surprises along the way. The Food Truck Alley will return to Mesa St. between 7th and 5th streets. Park at 6th and Harbor Blvd. and take the red PBID trolley to the center of the ArtWalk. Limited number of FREE tickets, and donors get 10% discount cards for local eateries. For tickets and more info, visit sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com.

8 (Sat) – SAN PEDRO MAKERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W. 37th St.), 9a-3p. – Join nearly two dozen artisans, makers, and bakers outside San Pedro’s favorite neighborhood store for a fun weekend of spring and Easter gift shopping, plus live music! This event is hosted by Homemade by the Hays and sponsored by San Pedro Today. Best parking is along Paseo Del Mar. For vendor info, message @sanpedromakersmarket on Instagram.

15 (Sat) – OPEN STUDIOS DAY at Angels Gate Cultural Center (3601 S. Gaffey St.), 12-4p. – Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) is pleased to announce the return of Open Studios Day. Fifty local artists will open their

doors to the public for a peek into their art practice. The FREE, all-ages event will be accompanied by a free mural painting workshop, a performance by The Mourners, and the opening of two exhibitions, Notions of Place and Direct from the Classroom, on view in the galleries. This self-guided tour of artist studios provides a unique opportunity to interact with the artists and purchase contemporary works of art. Masks are optional but preferred while visitors are indoors. For more info, visit angelsgateart.org/openstudiosday.

16 (Sun) – CULTURE TALKS! CORNERSTONE THEATER COMPANY PEDRO PLAY READING at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (3720 Stephen M. White Dr.), 2p. – What will San Pedro look like in the next 20 years? What is happening with the Rancho San Pedro redevelopment? How are our neighbors coping with these massive changes? The San Pedro Waterfront Arts District will stage its third Culture TALKS! in collaboration with Cornerstone Theater Company, Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the POLAHS photography students, and One San Pedro. Cornerstone ensemble artists and residents of San Pedro will be performing a reading of Pedro Play, written by playwright Juliette Carrillo and directed by Bruce Lemon, Jr. For FREE tickets, email 55lindagrimes@gmail.com or call (310) 732-0010 and please leave your name and number of tickets.

19 & 22 (Wed & Sat) – PECK PARK

CANYON HIKES at Peck Park (560 N. Western Ave.), 9a. – Exercise walks are led on the third Wednesday

of each month at 9a and last 1 to 1½ hours. Nature walks are led on the fourth Saturday of each month at 9a. All walks leave from the trailhead in the lower parking lot at Peck Park.

April 21 thru May 7 (Fri-Sun) – HOUSE OF BARDS PRESENTS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at The Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 2p and 7:30p. –The House of Bards Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by actor/ director/filmmaker Renee O’Connor. Evening performances run April 21, 22, 28, 29 and May 5 and 6 at 7:30p. Matinee performances run April 23 and 30 and May 7 at 2p. For tickets and more info, visit houseofbards.org.

22 (Sat) – CELEBRATE EARTH DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W. Paseo Del Mar), 9a-12p. – Celebrate Earth Day with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. Great activities for families, including a guided nature walk. Volunteers under 16 should be accompanied by an adult. Sign up at pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

May 20 – PV PENISULA HIGH SCHOOL 2nd ANNUAL CAR SHOW at Peninsula High School (27118 Silver Spur Rd., Rolling Hills Estates), 9a1p. – The event, benefitting Peninsula Panther Football, will include food and drink vendors (no outside food or drinks), opportunity drawing, raffles, awards, and more! Car show entries: 8-8:45a. All cars are welcome; entry due by May 12. For more info or to register your vehicle, call (310) 629-6530. spt

Events deadline for May 2023 is Friday, April 14. Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Find

1,000 DREAMS

MARIA'S CLOSET CELEBRATES ITS 1,000th PROM DRESS DONATION

by SPT Staff

On Sunday, March 19, local nonprofit Maria’s Closet celebrated its 1,000th prom dress donation at its annual Big Give event at Mary Star High School.

Mary Star’s gymnasium was converted into a “prom dress wonderland,” complete with three long rows of dresses of various colors and styles, a jewelry and handbag station, a professional photo booth, and a 360-degree video station.

More than 160 volunteers accompanied high school girls from across Southern California as they picked out their prom dresses – plus jewelry, makeup, and other accessories – all courtesy of Maria’s Closet and their ever-growing list of donors.

Founded in 2016, the volunteer-run charity based in San Pedro has provided free prom dresses and accessories to high school girls whose families are facing financial hardship. In addition to the Big Give, they also organize the annual Adult Prom fundraiser and recently teamed with Willenberg Career and Transition Center in San Pedro as it prepared for its first-ever prom last year.

Founded by Ronna Luna, Maria’s Closet is named after Luna’s mother-in-law, Maria Luna, who “personified kindness and generosity.” Maria’s spirit led Luna to create Maria’s Closet after she experienced helping a San Pedro High School student shop for her prom dress and witnessing firsthand how much that moment meant to her.

San Pedro Today congratulates Ronna Luna and the incredible volunteers at Maria's Closet who made this year’s event a success. spt

For more information, visit mariasclosets.org.

(photo: Joshua Stecker)

LONGTIME EDUCATORS

by Steve Marconi

The passing of Joe Marino and Joe Mardesich within weeks of each other in February was a double gut punch to the thousands whose lives they impacted during their long tenures with L.A. Unified and beyond.

Marino, who died February 8 at age 95, was robbed of his last few years by dementia, but his role as San Pedro’s elder statesman had been cemented well before that. A born leader, he was a teacher, principal, and college lecturer for over 35 years, a member of many community organizations, and a speaker at civic events well into his 90s.

His command of the English language was all the more impressive considering Italian was his mother tongue while growing up in Rockford, Illinois, where he was born in 1927. His family migrated to San Pedro in 1941, and he graduated from San Pedro High in summer of 1945. He served two years in the Navy and in 1949 was a member of the first class at Harbor College, where he was elected student body vice president as a freshman and then student body president as a sophomore. He went on to get his B.A. and teaching credential from Long Beach State and received a master’s from USC.

Marino began his teaching career at Leland Street Elementary and also taught at Crestwood and White Point before beginning his administrative career at Gulf Avenue in Wilmington in 1962.

He returned to Leland Street as principal for two years in the ‘70s and, while at 156th Street in Gardena in

1985, was named one of LAUSD’s six Principals of the Year (out of more than 600 nominated).

Among his many non-academic honors, he was San Pedro’s Citizen of the Year in 1988, named a Legend of San Pedro in 2013, was honorary mayor, and was inducted into the Harbor College Athletic Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement.

Serving others came naturally to Marino. He was president of the San Pedro Centennial Committee in 1988, a member of the San Pedro Sportswalk Committee, a member of the Harbor College Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, announced the annual San Pedro Christmas parade, and was a member of the Pirate Boosters, Toastmasters, Pessimist’s Club, Elks Lodge 966, Mater Dolorosa Retreat House, DalmatianAmerican Club, and Mary Star of the Sea High School Building Committee. While the diminutive Marino stood tall on stage using his well-honed verbal

skills, Mardesich stood tall in a different arena — athletics. Born in 1935 in San Pedro, Mardesich’s first love was baseball, but at San Pedro High, he starred in basketball. He started as a junior guard on the 1951-52 team that won the school’s first-ever City championship and was second-team all-league as a senior when the Pirates won their second straight league title. He received a basketball scholarship to Pepperdine and completed his bachelor’s degree at Long Beach State in 1958. He actually began his teaching career before graduating, working at Torrance’s Meadow Parks for a year and a half with an emergency credential. He taught at his alma mater Dana Junior High for seven years and then, in 1965, returned to San Pedro High, where he spent the next 29 years teaching economics, government, history, ESL, and English. He retired in 1994, when he and his wife, Mary Ann, moved to Utah, where their sons lived.

That didn’t keep him from returning to San Pedro High as a substitute teacher over the next 13 years.

After more than a half-century in the classroom, having taught multiple generations of San Pedrans, Mardesich retired for good in 2008. He later survived lymphoma and was on hand for the induction of the 1952 basketball team into the San Pedro High Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. He later survived a heart attack that eventually led to his death on February 24 at 87.

I knew Marino from our years together on the Harbor College HOF Committee; he was the quintessential scholar and gentleman. I was a student at San Pedro High just four years after Mardesich arrived but never had him as a teacher, but posts on Facebook after his passing show he was well-liked by former students and respected by all who knew him.

I think a posting on the San Pedro Born and Raised Facebook group earlier this year by Joe Gasperov, weeks before Marino died, says a lot about both of the late educators. Gasperov downloaded a page from his 1954 Leland Street Elementary autograph book signed “Sincerely, Mr. J. Marino”: “Joey!

“I want you to keep on being a good person. Life is wonderful if we always smile!! You are one of the best boys that I have known, and I want to be able to always see you on the street and say — ‘there goes a good Joe.’”

Marino and Mardesich, each in their own way, were giants of their generation. San Pedro is a lesser place without them. spt

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

Joe Marino

Joe Mardesich

SAN PEDRO ELKS WELCOME FIRST WOMAN LEADER

TRIATHLETE KIM WHITE BECOMES FIRST FEMALE EXALTED RULER IN CLUB’S 118-YEAR HISTORY

by Jennifer Marquez

Most days, you can find Kim White swimming to the buoy at Cabrillo Beach with the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears. A fitness trainer and triathlete with a doctorate, she swims year-round without a wetsuit despite the water temperature. In April, White will begin a new role in her life, exalted ruler (president) of the San Pedro Elks, the highest leadership position at the Elks. She will be the first woman in the club’s 118-year history to serve in this role.

White has been a member of the San Pedro lodge for 18 years, serving in various volunteer leadership roles, including lodge chaplain. Women were allowed to join the Elks nationally 25 years ago, while San Pedro Elks opened up membership to women 21 years ago. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn was one of the first female members.

“Our lodge shows women that they can be members and make a positive difference in the community,” states White. “I did not plan on being the first woman exalted ruler. My heart is with the lodge, and my choices in my different leadership roles were sensible and always for the benefit of the lodge.”

The Elks, a nonprofit agency, is a charity-driven organization whose main philanthropic focus is veterans;

however, they also donate to other nonprofits and charitable organizations.

The San Pedro club, which was founded in 1905, recently donated $8,500 to Toberman House to support children and families in need. Local Elks members visit the VA Hospital to volunteer to feed veterans, provide drug awareness to youth in the community, and hold a Hoop Shoot event. The local lodge applies for grants to fund local charities and scholarships for college and trade school students. Purple Piggy Banks around the lodge encourage members to drop coins for charity.

The San Pedro Elks, perched on a hill overlooking San Pedro, is renowned for sweeping harbor views and was

rebuilt after an arson fire in 2014. There were issues with the insurance, which did not cover all the costs to rebuild, resulting in the lodge taking out a $5 million loan. There are approximately 2,400 members who pay $400 per year, with a $200 induction fee when initially joining. To join, prospective candidates must be sponsored by existing members.

The San Pedro lodge is considered one of the top ten lodges in the country. An upgraded swimming pool overlooks the ocean and offers water aerobics (nonmembers can pay to participate) and an outside barbeque with food to purchase. The lodge spends $700 monthly to heat the pool, which stays

cool during the rainy season to save funds. The Elks are looking into solar heating options. The lodge holds big pool parties on July 4th and Labor Day with a DJ and concerts and offers dinners on some weekends. There is a co-ed gym, wet sauna, horseshoe court, and three tennis courts, with one designated for pickleball.

The dining area offers reasonably priced drinks, happy hours, and meals for members and guests. At 11 p.m. at every Elks Club around the country, there is a toast and the tolling of 11 chimes for departed Elks members. The lodge is rented out for banquets, meetings, and weddings.

“The lodge offers great amenities, and members can visit seven days a week; it is also a good way to network,” says White.

The Elks is a place for neighbors to come together and give back to the community and where children grow up swimming in the pool. For White, despite her busy schedule at the Elks, there is one thing she will always fit into her daily life, swimming to the buoy. spt

For more information about the Elks, visit sanpedroelks.org or call (310) 831-0624.

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

Kim White. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

THE BEE-UTY OF BEES

by Lee Williams

I’ve been a beekeeper for about ten years. This means I will squeeze a conversation about beekeeping into any social occasion, whether you want to hear about it or not.

There are so many things I find interesting about bees, it’s hard not to share. One out of every three bites of food we eat is a result of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, with honey bees being the overwhelming winner. Without bees, none of our farms, gardens, or fruit trees would produce the food we need to survive.

Our relationship with bees is complicated. In any square mile, there are three to five hives of between 50,000 and 80,000 bees. Since bees fly as far as five miles to forage for food, I could come in contact with one of 10 million bees on the peninsula at any given time. It only takes one to ruin your day, but the flip side is we have bees all around us, and we don’t even notice most days. Urban beekeeping is one of my passions. So much so that I advocated before the Los Angeles City Council in October 2015 to help legalize it in L.A. City. Eight years later, the bee population has made a solid comeback with managed hives and community education, but more work still needs to be done. We still lose hives to poisons from both pesticides and herbicides. If enough worker bees return to the hive from flowers treated with poisons, it doesn’t take long to kill the entire hive.

It’s obvious when they’ve been poisoned because their deaths are slow and tortured.

Natural alternatives to pesticides include diatomaceous earth, neem, peppermint, thyme, rosemary oil repellents, and homemade insecticidal soaps. Vinegar and boiling water are good solutions for unwanted weeds.

As we come out of an unusually wet winter, there is a good chance we will have a fruitful and abundant spring. Establishing a new hive isn’t as easy as people think. This last year, I lost both of my San Pedro hives. The first was a new colony of Italian bees bred in Irvine for their gentle nature. They were so sweet, you could work with them without gloves, and I was hoping to use them as a teaching aid for schools and events. Bees take a bit to establish themselves, and this hive struggled with the extreme heat we had last summer and the cold, wet, and windy winter we just had. The second hive lost its queen,

and with my busy schedule, I didn’t notice until it was too late to replace her. It’s a balance. Feral bees are much better suited for our climate but can be more aggressive than hand-reared bees. It is thought that 80 percent of all bees in Southern California have some “Africanized” genetics. This doesn’t make them inherently dangerous, but you should be cautious around newly discovered hives. All bees have a temperament and a desire to protect their hives. Feral bees must deal with raccoons, skunks, and possums that lure them out of their hives to be eaten. The more aggressive honey bees are, the less they must contend with night critters. Managed hives typically bring more docile genetics into the local gene pool but need protection from predators, hive beetles, and wax moths. I try to be as treatment free as possible with my hives — no chemicals, and I will only feed them if I try to establish a new hive from gentle stock.

We are heading into “swarm season,” which means I will start getting calls from folks discovering footballsized balls of bees in their backyards. Typically, they are just resting as they migrate to a new home and will move on in three days. The bees are also in their most gentle state without a hive to defend, and they will likely leave you alone and hope you do the same. If you find bees have made a home in a spot that isn’t very compatible with humans, I recommend you post a picture or video to the Long Beach Beekeepers’ group on Facebook. There are several local beekeepers who can help relocate bees for you. There may be a small charge for their time and equipment to help support their efforts. Beekeeping is expensive, and every little donation helps.

Fun facts: A queen can lay 2,000 eggs a day. A single bee can produce half to one teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. It takes nectar from two million flowers to make one pound of honey. A queen mates in a single flight with roughly 13 drone bees, and she will live to lay eggs for three to five years. Drones die after mating. Worker bees live for one to four months. Bees are the only insects that produce food that humans eat regularly. spt

Lee Williams leads The Lee Williams Real Estate Group at REAL Broker and serves on the board of directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, Harbor Connects, and the San Pedro Education Foundation. Email Lee@LAmove.com.

Williams talking to students about beekeeping (left) and working on a hive (right).

(photos: courtesy Lee Williams)

INSPIRE THROUGH STORYTELLING

HOW SHARING OUR EXPERIENCES CAN MOTIVATE

by Anthony Pirozzi, Jr.

One of my life’s passions is talking with people of all ages to inspire and motivate them to discover their passion, to believe in themselves, and to stand up for what they believe in. Looking back, I credit my father for instilling in me passion and my mother for encouraging me to stand up for what I believe in. So, when asked to speak to students, organizations, or during mentoring sessions, I ask myself, “What can I say that will inspire, motivate, and help others to discover their passion?”

This was the case when I was recently asked to speak to the Assisteens volunteer group of middle to high school students at the Assistance League here in San Pedro. Most of us know the Assistance League by the famous volunteer-run post office at Weymouth Corners, but there is so much more to the organization. (Watch “Pirozzi Live #43” on my YouTube channel to learn more about the Assistance League.)

The following day, I spoke to the San Pedro Rotary, which had just celebrated its 100th anniversary of serving our community. One of the members asked me if I would speak to the organization after they read my last column, “Truth & Positivity.”

I focused both presentations on providing a deeper understanding of who I am by discussing being a child of immigrants; my journey and struggles along the way from being a kid from San Pedro with a “C average” in high school to earning a master’s degree in engineering from Loyola Marymount University; my journey from working at Vons to becoming an executive at the Boeing Company; the importance of relationships, faith, family, and community; and how “sacrifice leads to success.”

I tell my story and life’s journey of challenges, successes, and failures in hopes of reaching that one person listening who might see in me what they see in themselves, to learn how I faced and overcame challenges they may be facing today. I have taken this approach

for over 25 years talking with students and organizations because, in today’s society, we seem to be judging a book by its cover and jumping to conclusions without truly understanding the whole story of the person in front of us.

For example, I remember speaking to students in a summer program by another local nonprofit, Sharefest, with a diverse group of Boeing colleagues. We shared our journey of becoming aerospace engineers with the students and then spent time launching bottle rockets together. As we gathered at the end of the program for closing comments, I asked, “How many of you thought, when you first saw us, that we had it easy getting to our positions at Boeing? That we grew up with a silver spoon?” A majority of the students raised their hands. Then I asked, “After learning about our journeys and spending time together, how many of you see something in yourself that you see in us?” Almost all raised their hands.

Another recent experience was being interviewed by a young man for a college project. The young man asked me how he could influence his friends to volunteer in the community. I paused, thought for a minute, and asked, “Are you volunteering in the community?” He said, “No, not yet.” I replied, “The best way to inspire others is through action.” I encouraged him to find a passion that aligns with an organization or something he could get involved in and bring his friends. He had never considered it this way and thanked me for the insight.

So, what does this all mean? I firmly believe in storytelling to inspire others about what is possible and how to overcome adversity. These experiences and connections will have the most profound impact on the world around us, especially on the next generation. I encourage you to start or continue having these conversations with your children, grandchildren, friends, and family with more intention than ever before. Ask deep questions, listen intently, and provide honest and thoughtful answers. Your impact will last for generations. spt

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

ALL ABOARD!

Tucked away in Angels Gate Cultural Center is an unassuming, two-story army barrack. Tan-colored paint peels from the exterior; rust speckles the handrails leading up to the door. It’d be easy to assume that the inside matches the outside — but upon entering the building, colorful railroad memorabilia line the walls, and Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club members chat happily together.

They’ve turned the bottom floor of the barrack into a museum, lecture hall, and workshop, packed with soldering irons and railroad artifacts. Chuck Short, one of the longest-sustaining members of the club since its inception in 1972, has attended the group for decades. “Model railroading is a fun hobby,” he says. “You create something in miniature, something that’s real life from a bygone era.”

Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club is the nation’s oldest and largest N scale club, comprising more than 30 members from all over Los Angeles. Despite the name, the group has called San Pedro home since the early 1980s, after moving from their original spot in Belmont Shore. They’ve housed their pride and joy — the track — on the second floor of the barrack ever since.

“We invented the NTrak, which is the one that you see here,” says Short. “Dana, Jerry, Ben Davis, and I designed the first model, and we showed it at the 1973 MRIA [Model Railroad Industry Association] show.” The NTrak, a size of scale model with engines no larger than a saltshaker, revolutionized model

BELMONT SHORE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB

BRINGS THE JOY OF MODEL RAILROADING TO SAN PEDRO

by Nadia Nizetich

railroading. “This way, people don’t need a whole room to put a layout,” he explains. “They can build a smaller module.”

Like the club, the hobby is much more than it seems. Far from going around in a circle, trains snake up and down hills, through towns, across bridges and rivers that are all modeled on the Southern California landscape of the 1950s. The track — which stands at chest height — immortalizes the buildings of yesteryear in balsa wood, paper mache, and other materials. “That particular building was in downtown Riverside, and it burned down,” says Jessie Munoz, a club member since the early 1980s. “All this stuff is gone, but we’re preserving history.”

Preserving doesn’t do the masterwork justice. The landscape is alive with the ding of train crossings and the whistle of horns, which guests are invited to view up close. Though some elements were made with kits, others — such as the Point Fermin Lighthouse — were 3D printed, and most were made meticulously by hand. “At that time, we didn’t have the materials for a palm tree,” says Munoz, referring to the feathered canopy of a palm he made in the 1980s, “but my mom had parakeets.”

The trains are also works of art. Members usually buy standard engines from a manufacturer but often add their own flair. Munoz airbrushed graffiti onto one of his locomotives to match what he’d seen in real life, while Don Marshall modified the inside of his engine with lights that he can turn on and off

Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club member Jay Chen sets a train on the track in the club's massive model train room. (photos: John Mattera Photography)

with an app. Sam Antell added the whistle his steam engine would have blown in its time by finding the sound file online and uploading it to his locomotive. Short even built an entire train from scratch. “The train there is a military train from World War II,” says Short. “I’ve got close to four years of work in it, and it’s gotten major awards.”

Aside from making landscape and train modifications, members also maintain the setup’s electronics. Trains are powered by the track, which is connected to an electrical system underneath the platform. Dana Zimmerli, an engineer and co-inventor of the NTrak, teaches lectures on electrical engineering and computer programming to members every month. Munoz marvels at the collaboration that the setup demands. “It’s not just one talent here,” he explains. “You’ve got people building branch work, which is woodworking. You have people building scenery, which is artwork, and you have people crawling around underneath the darn things, trying to fix all the electrical problems.”

At scale speed, it takes 45 minutes for a train to complete a lap around the track. To keep things interesting, the club performs “switches” along the way that mimic what the engines would do in real life. When a switch happens — when a train reaches a yard and must unload its cargo — its owner must guide it off the track, unload the cars, load the new ones, and send it on its way in a coordinated manner that ensures no engines will collide. According to Munoz, switching is one of the best parts of the hobby. “There’s a lot of coordination that needs to happen. When you go in circles, you get bored,” he says. “Add some switches to it, you make it more exciting — add a lot more switches to it, you make it challenging.”

The club is not without its fair share of difficulties, however. Engines cost

anywhere between $50 and $150, which can be prohibitive for those on a fixed income. To keep costs down, the group owns numerous locomotives that are free for members to use, and they charge a small monthly membership fee of $20. Other challenges, however, are not so easy to solve. With so few young members – who are difficult to recruit – the club hasn’t had the manpower to repaint their barrack. They also mourn those who’ve passed. “Last year was the

worst,” says Short. “Four people passed away in the club. We’ve lost a lot of our friends over the last few years.”

But they forge on. In preparation for the model railroad conference in 2024, where they’ll host enthusiasts from across the U.S., they aim to complete their track’s scenery. That means building out the last and longest-in-work section: San Pedro. Tim Gutowski, an architecture student, is working on a model of Warehouse One, com-

plete with structurally accurate lion’s head drainpipes the size of pinheads. “You join initially just to run trains, but then you start wanting to contribute stuff,” says Tim. “Especially with our San Pedro harbor project, we’re going to be using a lot of 3D printing to make cranes.”

For the club’s youngest members, the marvel lies not in the drainpipes, the tech, or the switches, but in the simple wonder of locomotives. “I like it because it’s a train, and it has a horn,” says Roberto Huaman, 12, who joined the club two months ago with his brother Jose. “You get to explore this area with the train, and you get to imagine stuff with the train.” Older members certainly agree with that. “You get lost in your imagination,” says Munoz.

“The biggest thing I tell people is that it’s called a hobby, but as children, we called it playing with trains. You get to play again and call it a hobby.”

With that joy in mind, it’s no surprise that Munoz considers the club’s greatest success to lie in the simple things. “I like to see the excitement of the next generation getting into it, because it’s not just the membership or the club that’s important — it’s the friendship,” he says. “These guys are like family. Even on non-club days, we’ll hang out together, and we’ll go watch trains or just have a road trip together.” Sam Antell agrees.

“I think the initial thing that brings people here is the fascination with trains, the scale models, and everything,” he says. “But what keeps us coming back is our community.” spt

Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club is located at Angels Gate Cultural Center (3601 S. Gaffey St., Bldg. 824). Hours are Tues. 7-9 p.m. and Sat. 12-4 p.m. For more info, call (310) 831-6262 or visit belmontshorerr.com. To view more photos, visit sanpedrotoday.com.

Top: Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club members (l to r): Paul Dice, Edward Carfagno, Jay Chen, Don Marshall, Frank Hinojosa, Cameron Cast, Jessie Munoz, and Britt Wilde; bottom: Wilde shows the inner workings of the model railroad set. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

EAT IN SAN PEDRO: LA SICILIANA

by Sanam Lamborn

This month, I chose to focus on one restaurant because there are a few things that I want you to know about La Siciliana (347 W. 6th St.) in Downtown San Pedro.

If you have read my column long enough, you know that my Italian upbringing has heavily influenced my taste buds. Imagine my delight when I realized that the restaurant’s name represents owner Rita Gintoli, who was born in Scoglitti, a small seaside town in southeast Sicily. Translated, “La Siciliana” means a female Sicilian. Our first connection was speaking in Italian. What keeps me returning is the food — the closest to authentic Italian food in town, in my opinion — and Gintoli’s hospitality.

Gintoli, her husband Mario Marino, and two sons have called San Pedro home since 2004, when they immigrated from Sicily to the United States. Assimilating in their new country was surprisingly easy; however, food was challenging. The inspiration for La Siciliana came from a desire to fill in the gap for the food she learned to cook at a young age from her mother and grew up eating.

Despite opening in March 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions went into full effect, the restaurant has successfully navigated a young business’s many ups and downs and ever-changing pandemic regulations. Today, it has a steady

stream of customers. I strongly believe this is not simply luck; if anything, it’s because of Gintoli’s philosophy about the food she serves and customer service.

Gintoli prides herself on being involved in every aspect of the food she serves. Her days are spent shopping and preparing the food that she serves to her customers in the evenings. She is firmly rooted in cooking methods that Italian food is best known for. She believes that good ingredients can speak volumes in creating light dishes that don’t require the addition of heavily processed foods to enhance flavors.

“Our culture is about balancing out flavors,” Gintoli says. She equates the art of balancing flavors to a well-rehearsed choir.

Gintoli is very choosy about where she sources her ingredients and wants them to be as authentically Italian as possible. For example, all of her olive oil is imported from Italy. She painstakingly seeks out other Italian immigrants who make fresh products, such as

ricotta and burrata, with the same methodology, sensibility, and flavor profile as in Italy.

Gintoli is heavily involved in the dining experience. She is usually the person who greets, seats, and takes customer orders. Her warm and friendly personality puts anyone at ease for a relaxed meal purposely made to feel that it’s not rushed. Her intentions are simple. “I want to spoil my customers the way I spoil my family,” she shares. “I want the experience to not just be going to a restaurant, but how I would welcome you in my own home to enjoy food in ‘la casa della Siciliana’ (the Sicilian’s home).”

My top favorites are ragù or pesto arancini (breaded and fried rice balls filled with ragù or pesto and mozzarella), carpaccio di bresaola served over a bed of arugula and topped with parmesan shavings, and Caprese burrata for starters. For the pasta option, I often order Sicilian pesto (made with the addition of ricotta and tomatoes) and ragù Bolognese with

fresh fettucine and gnocchi with porcini mushrooms. I also often order from the monthly specials menu.

I really enjoy the Rita pizza, topped with cherry tomatoes, arugula, mozzarella, prosciutto, parmesan shavings, and balsamic drizzle. It must be noted that the pizzas on the menu are not always readily available because they are made in limited quantities due to space restrictions and require a two-day fermentation. Gintoli usually selects a Sicilian wine for me to have with my meal. To finish off, the house-made tiramisù and cannoli are excellent.

I have introduced many people to this downtown gem, and by the end of the meal, the consensus is always the same: People fall in love with the food and, naturally, with Gintoli because she is the heart of La Siciliana. 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.

Rita Gintoli, owner of La Siciliana in Downtown San Pedro. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

THE BIKE WHISPERER SPEAKS

by Amber Sheikh Interview has been edited for

length and clarity.

Have you heard of the “bike whisperer”? If not, let me introduce you. This month, I sat down with Manny – San Pedran, bike enthusiast, and survivor. In Manny’s words, “I didn’t grow up rich, but I didn’t grow up poor, either.” Manny has been in and out of homelessness for years and was gracious enough to share his story and the realities of trying to survive and escape “tent city.”

Sheikh: Where did you grow up? Tell me about yourself. Manny: Born next door in Harbor City, my family lived in San Pedro. I attended Bandini Elementary and went to San Pedro High. I have two daughters and a son. My daughters are both in college at Cal Poly Pomona. The eldest is studying biochemical engineering. The younger one is still figuring it out. My son is 10 years old.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Really, I wanted to be a teacher. I enjoyed working with kids

and really loved history. So, I wanted to try and get a job in a school and went to my elementary school, Bandini, to apply for a teacher’s aide position. I worked there for five years in the computer lab, and I really enjoyed that.

What circumstances led to you becoming homeless? After my divorce, I lived in an RV while trying to work odd jobs. One of those jobs was fixing bikes. I also liked building things, so I tried my hand at construction and did a plumbing apprenticeship. But most companies wanted a salesman, not a tradesman, and I didn’t want to be the one charging an old lady thousands of dollars for a simple job, so that didn’t really work out.

Eventually, my RV got impounded, which meant I was losing a home and the space [where] I fixed bikes and all the tools and supplies I owned. I tried to couch surf for a while, but that wasn’t sustainable. Seven years ago, I was out of options and found myself without a home or even a couch. That was my first night on the streets for real.

What does being homeless feel like? How do you describe it to someone who has never had that experience? It’s a very sad feeling. I have these very big emotions, good and bad. But they get the best of me, and I just cry. It was so depressing to think about what I had. It’s like shell shock, and the days and weeks start to blur. Eventually, the only way I knew how long I’d be out there was to count the Christmases.

I recall one Christmas, alone in

my dad’s old car and only had a blow torch to keep me warm, and I was so depressed that I would just sleep or stare at the sky. This triggered an even deeper depression with no motivation to get better.

You end up seeing a lot of violence – people dying around you, in front of you, and drug addiction.

What changed? I got a voucher and lived at California Hotel for two years. But so did a bunch of other people from my encampment, and some encampment drama followed me. So, some of them wanted me out, but rather than get evicted and mess up my rental history, I left willingly. Luckily, someone took me in, but it’s a temporary situation until I can get my own place.

What do you want? What does being housed mean for you? Stability. Routine. A place to fix bikes. My own place means I can have a routine, a schedule, a place to store my bike parts so I can keep busy. I still take ADHD medicine and deal with my depression, but the medication messes with my sleep. Having my own place would help me manage these issues. And, if I can manage these issues, I can see my kids.

Recently, someone I know died in a crash while riding his bike. That could have been me. I don’t want that to be me.

In your experience, what’s the biggest change on a significant level that needs to happen? What are the biggest roadblocks people face? We need more shelters and housing,

just more places to go inside. One of the hardest things to deal with when you are housed is knowing your friends are still outside in the cold – especially this past winter. I kept thinking of everyone who was still outside.

I started taking Ritalin when I was eight years old and have been addicted to it in the past. As an adult, I’ve switched to non-stimulant medication, and being housed helps me manage the potential of repeating unhealthy patterns.

What is something we all can do to help? Don’t pass judgment. We have nowhere else to go. When I lived in my RV and I’d be working on my bikes, certain San Pedro neighbors would call the cops and complain. They would use other tactics to terrorize and make up false stories about me and others like me. They would take videos, post lies on social media, and call me a thief. I can read! I attended community meetings, explained my situation, but they didn’t want to hear it. They don’t want to hear it.

So many things strike me about Manny. Manny is a survivor. He’s a father, a good friend, and a fixer of bikes. He is so articulate and self-aware. San Pedro is Manny’s home, unhoused or housed. He is our neighbor and deserves to be seen, known, and respected.

Our community is complex. Some of you may have seen Manny or have some notion of who he is or what he’s done. And, honestly, that’s your truth. I respect that. This month, allow someone else’s truth in, especially if it doesn’t match yours. It doesn’t have to. Once we open ourselves to that notion, we can work towards caring for each other.

Do you need your bike fixed? Maybe you know of a place Manny could store his bike parts while he’s waiting for housing.

Drop me a line to tell me how reading this story made you feel: info@sheikhimpact.com. See you next month. spt

Amber Sheikh is a San Pedro resident, mother of two, community advocate, and owner of Sheikh/ Impact, a nonprofit consulting firm. She has nearly two decades of experience working in and with organizations solving homelessness and income inequality.

‘IT’S A VERY SAD FEELING.’

Manny. (photo: Tammy Khan)

PEDRO PLAY

by Linda Grimes

Inspired by the redevelopment process of Rancho San Pedro housing and the Harbor Blvd. area, residents of Rancho San Pedro will be performing a play reading in April based on their personal stories, created by acclaimed Cornerstone Theater Company playwright and director Juliette Carrillo.

Pedro Play (working title) is about all of San Pedro, and the Rancho San Pedro housing redevelopment, currently called One San Pedro, is at the heart of much of the changes coming to town over the next decade.

Port of Los Angeles High School (POLAHS) photography students, taught by Erick Miseroy, photography teacher and Pixels Gallery & Creative Space gallery director, are taking pictures of Rancho San Pedro as it exists today to serve as backdrop projections for the play’s performance.

A Yale School of Drama graduate and longtime Cornerstone Theater Company ensemble member, Carrillo was born into a multicultural household, surrounded by her Mexican-American father’s artwork and her Jewish mother’s creative lifestyle. As a regional theater director, she’s traveled the country staging award-winning plays in some of the nation’s top theaters.

Joining Carrillo and helping spearhead the project is Bruce Lemon, the theatre company’s associate artistic director. Born and raised in Watts, Lemon currently hosts 89.3 KPCC In-Person’s Unheard LA and is involved with numerous other theatrical and creative groups in Los Angeles.

At Cornerstone, the company often

does plays in cycles or a series with a singular focus. In 2018, The Change Series was begun and organically led to an exploration of the rapidly changing city of Los Angeles. Cornerstone started this series in Watts with A Jordan Downs Illumination as it was in its redevelopment and just beginning the relocation process. During the research phase, connections were discovered about the folks living in Watts and working at the Port of Los Angeles.

In keeping with our commitment to arts appreciation community education, the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District will stage its third Culture TALKS! in collaboration with Cornerstone Theater Company, Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the POLAHS photography students, and One San Pedro. The gathering will occur at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (3720 Stephen White Drive) at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 16.

Complimentary tickets for students and Rancho San Pedro residents are available by emailing 55lindagrimes@ gmail.com or visiting sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com. spt

Linda Grimes is a retired sales and marketing geek with a passion for art, design, and creative placemaking, and now serves as the executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District.

Do you have arts and culture story ideas? Please share them — email to 55lindagrimes@gmail.com.

For more information, visit sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUFFER?

LEARN HOW TO TREAT YOUR BODY WELL NOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS LATER

by Eddie McKenna

Have you heard of the tale of the two wolves? I’ll paraphrase for those who have not. It’s about perspective — usually consisting of two variations: one good and one bad.

I have one grandparent left, and he is turning 89 this year. He is actually the “real” Ed Mckenna, as he puts it. Whenever we are together and meet new people, that is how he introduces himself. I’m not kidding. They laugh every time. He is Ed Mckenna, Sr., and I am Ed Mckenna III, hence, why he is the “real” one.

My other grandfather, Andy, passed away 14 years ago. I called him “Grandpa.” These two men are two of the smartest, most hardworking men I have ever known. They both started their own engineering companies, had families, and lived great lives. But they shared one huge difference: one exercised, and the other didn’t.

Ed McKenna, Sr. (aka “Popa”) was the guy who ran every day of his life starting at a young age and is still an avid gym goer. Grandpa was the guy sitting in his car smoking a cigarette and making fun of people while they jogged in place waiting for the light to change. These two were opposites in how they took care of themselves.

They had countless similarities in what kind of men they were, but that one difference in exercise separated them. As I got older and found myself in the business of health and training, I started paying attention to the people around me more closely, specifically how they were living.

On the one hand, I have Popa traveling the world with his new wife playing golf anywhere he desired, and on the other, I had Grandpa, a prisoner in his own home, attached to an oxygen tank. As I witness this take place, I think to myself, “I’ll go with option A.” Traveling the world playing golf, not

worrying about taking the stairs, not afraid of tripping over my own feet, not needing assistance getting out of my own chair all sound like great alternatives to the latter.

This was my Popa and Grandpa when they were in their 70s. Now, Popa is almost 90 years old, and he still plays golf and pickleball, goes to the gym, and can still get out of a chair without help.

It is easy to be nearsighted when you start on your fitness journey. You feel like an idiot. Everyone is lifting more weight than you, working out hurts, and your desired results never come fast enough. Then you have your friend telling you that all that weightlifting is going to damage your joints. Let me tell you right now, those are going to hurt regardless. Just like your skin gets wrinkly and your hair turns gray, your connective tissues within your body also begin to break down.

Please do not fret, because it has been proven that resistance training (weightlifting) has shown signs that it can slow down or stave off the degradation of bones, ligaments, and tendons. Now, all you have to do is decide how you would like to suffer.

I think of my mom and dad, who are 70 and 65, who attend my workout classes regularly every week. They choose to suffer through the workouts, usually not smiling until they leave. My mom and dad are not afraid of retiring in a two-story house. They say taking the stairs is what is going to keep them alive longer.

I think about how I want to live in my later years and what I need to do. I choose to suffer now through my workouts, what goes into my body, and the time I choose to invest in myself. I will never be afraid to take the stairs, nor will anyone need to help me out of my chair. What about you? spt

Eddie McKenna is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.

Dr. Ja’nae Brown Dr. Maile Bay Jacques

Dr. Daisuke Saiki Dr. Geovanni Sandoval

SAN PEDRO CHAMBER WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION 2023

On Thursday, March 9, the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce held its annual Women’s History Month Celebration at the San Pedro Elks Lodge. The sold-out event brought together a who’s who of San Pedro dignitaries, politicos, and movers and shakers, all to honor seven amazing women who have made significant contributions to our community. This year’s honorees were: SueAnn Ballat (Gang Alternatives Program), Gayle Fleury (Angel Gowns and Light of the Lighthouse), Amy Grat (EXP - The Opportunity Engine), Rosa Pesenti (Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor and Maria’s Closet), Nancy Richardson (Los Angeles Maritime Institute and Girl Scouts), Camilla Townsend (founding board member of AltaSea and trustee, Port of Los Angeles High School), and Rachel Viramontes (Wednesday Senior Club). San Pedro Today congratulates all the women celebrated this year for their well-deserved honors. Also, congrats to Elise Swanson and her team at the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce for hosting another amazing Women’s History Month Celebration. (photos: Arturo Garcia-Ayala/San Pedro Chamber of Commerce).

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THE LAST SHRIMP TRAY?: The "Thank You" exit sign at the former San Pedro Fish Market waterfront location, which closed its doors for good March 2, 2023. The Fish Market plans to return with a temporary location at Brouwerij West and a new permanent location in the near future. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

Total Sold:

Least Expensive:

Most Expensive: $1,475,000

Average: $908,952 Median: $868,250

Total Sold: 19

Least Expensive: $455,000

Most Expensive: $795,000

Average: $581,863 Median: $560,000