San Pedro Today - June 2024

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STICK A GARGOYLE ON IT

Isaw a meme the other day that featured a photo of a stone gargoyle on an old building with the caption: We used to be a proper country.

I laughed. I read it as a funny yet blunt commentary about the blandness of modern architecture, and I couldn’t help thinking about how much this applies to San Pedro today.

Lately, the consensus from our community (if you follow any of the San Pedro-related Facebook groups) is that the current crop of new multiuse developments that have risen in town over the past few years are aesthetically boring, for lack of a better phrase.

These new buildings — the small apartment complexes, large multi-use structures, and many new single-family homes — all look alike, as if these developers followed the same instruction book. They’re boxy. The colors are usually various shades of gray. They seem stoic and devoid of emotion. In other words, boring.

A friend once told me they looked “too clean for San Pedro,” which wasn’t a comment on cleanliness but the fact that these structures lacked any wrinkles of originality.

Now, don’t misread me. This isn’t a criticism of development itself. That’s a topic for another day. San Pedro is a rapidly growing community, and we need new housing, office space, and multiuse buildings to replace our aging structures and keep up with that growth.

All we ask is, if you build here, do it with some originality, or at least let San Pedro influence its design.

In the mid-2000s, when Downtown San Pedro was going through its growth spurt before the Great Recession hit, developers did keep San Pedro in mind. I’m unsure if this was a mandate set forth by the city or planning committees before construction began or if the developers made these choices. Either way, it worked.

The San Pedro Bank Lofts on 7th and Mesa streets kept the original building’s two-story facade. The LaSalle Lofts and its retail spaces located further down 7th perfectly blend in with downtown. Even though it became a local punchline, I’ll credit the Centre Street Lofts for trying something different with Christian Moeller’s public artwork, Mojo.

In contrast, the recently opened Thrive on 7th apartment building sticks out like a sore thumb. Located next to the former News-Pilot headquarters, the complex is attractive on its own but, in the opinion of many, looks very much out of place downtown. One might even say it seems “too clean.”

As San Pedro grows, we will continue to see older buildings razed and new construction appear. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; we can all agree this town can use a facelift. But, if you build here, be original, or, at the very least, stick a gargoyle on it. spt

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

JUNE 2024

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF /PUBLISHER

Joshua J. Stecker

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lori Garrett

ART DIRECTION

Joseph A. Castañeda

PHOTOGRAPHER

John Mattera Photography

CONTRIBUTORS

Linda Grimes, Sanam Lamborn, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Eddie McKenna, Julia Murphy, Nadia Nizetich, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Sophie Schoenfeld, Amber Sheikh, Lee Williams

CONTACT INFO: Phone: (424) 224-9063 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

VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 5

ON THE COVER: Loni and Thomas Compagnon, owners of Compagnon Wine Bistro in Downtown San Pedro. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

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 LLC. 20,000 copies are delivered to portions of San Pedro and 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 2009-2024, Empire22 Media LLC.

Sponsored by California Sulphur, the Crail-Johnson Foundation, and the Roth Family Foundation.

JUNE 2024

Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (396 W. 6th St., corner of 6th and Mesa), 10a-2p. –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.

May 28-June 16 (Tuesdays thru Sundays) –

TAKE GRADUATION PICTURES at Point Fermin Lighthouse (807 Paseo Del Mar), 11a-3:30p. –Celebrate two significant events at this historic site — an opportunity for students graduating the same year that the Point Fermin Lighthouse turns 150 to take their picture with a graduation-themed banner on the lighthouse grounds.

1 (Sat) – SOUNDPEDRO2024 CHARIVARI

ANNUAL SOUND ART FESTIVAL at Angels Gate Cultural Center (3601. S. Gaffey St.), 7-10p. – Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC), in partnership with the artist group FLOOD, present the

soundpedro2024 CHARIVARI on-site event. This FREE one-night event includes sculptures, environments, installations, timed and ongoing performances, interactions, and presentations placed throughout AGCC. This year’s theme, Charivari (Latin: caribaria – “mess,” “pandemonium,” “commotion,” et al.), has a rich history, including “absurd portraits,” “a loud, unmelodious cacophony” sometimes used to make a statement or protest (think clanging pots and pans), a potpourri or bringing together of unrelated elements, and even a Bavarian belt chain adorned with amulets. Visitors should be prepared for potential areas of rough terrain, sun and wind exposure, and temperature changes (e.g. jackets, umbrellas, blankets, practical footwear, etc.). For more info, visit soundpedro.art.

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.

16 (Sun) – FATHER’S DAY SUNSET SAIL (boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd.), 6p. – Join the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) to sail the San Pedro Bay on Father’s Day and watch the sunset from the deck of a tall ship. You can sit back and relax or become part of the crew — your choice. Don’t forget to bring a picnic! Tickets $60 for adults, $30 for children (12 and under). Boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd. To learn more, purchase tickets, and find parking info, visit lamitopsail.org/events.

18 (Tuesdays) – BEGINNING BRIDGE CLASSES at South Bay Bridge Club (24100 Narbonne Ave., Lomita), 9:30-11:30a. –Learn the most popular game in the world on Tuesdays starting June 18. For more info, call (323) 374-3533.

18 (Tues) – PLAY BRIDGE WITH A PRO at South Bay Bridge Club (24100

Narbonne Ave., Lomita), 1-3:30p. – Players with less than 100 ACBL master points will be assigned a mentor. Register by June 11 by calling (323) 374-3533.

22 (Sat) – SAN PEDRO BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL YARD & BOUTIQUE SALE at the Muller House Museum (1542 S. Beacon St.), 8a-1p. – Vintage treasures, fine glass and china, household goods, small furniture, jewelry, clothing, art, books, music, and items from the society’s archives. All proceeds benefit the SPBHS work to preserve our town’s history. For more info, email sanpedrohistory@gmail.com or call (310) 548-3208.

22 (Sat) – DOCENT GUIDED NATURE WALK — ‘MILITARY HISTORY’ at Alta Vicente Reserve (30940 Hawthorne Blvd., RPV), 9a. – As we explore the native coastal sage scrub habitat, we will also have the unique opportunity to see concrete observation stations built in the late 1920s to support the 14” guns at Ft. Macarthur, view what remains

of a dual 6” gun battery built during WWII, and visit one of the best preserved Cold War-era Nike missile launch sites in the country. This is a moderate to strenuous hike and sturdy shoes are recommended. Admission is FREE and open to all. The theme of this nature walk is “Military History.” Park and meet in front of the RPV City Hall flagpole area. For more info, visit losserenosrpv. org or call (310) 544-5260 (PVIC Front Desk).

June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug. 4 (Sundays) –MUSIC BY THE SEA at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar), 11a5p.– Come on down and enjoy this annual FREE concert series! The bands will be playing on the stage at Point Fermin Park. Make an afternoon of it. For more the full lineup and schedule, visit musicbythesea.rocks. spt

Events deadline for July 2024 is Friday, June 14.

Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.

SP OTLIGHT

BY SPT STAFF

SHEIKH APPOINTED TO LA HOMELESS SERVICES AUTHORITY COMMISSION

In April, Amber Sheikh was appointed to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission (LAHSA) following a unanimous vote by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Appointed at the recommendation of Supervisor Janice Hahn, Sheikh joins the 10-member LAHSA Commission as District 4’s representative. The LAHSA Commission leads the county’s budgetary, funding, planning, and program policies.

Sheikh, owner of Sheikh/ Impact, a social-sector consulting firm, is a mother of two and the daughter of immigrants from Pakistan and England. She’s also a columnist for San Pedro Today

“I am grateful to Supervisor Hahn for this appointment and both excited and humbled by the opportunity,” says Amber. “A lifelong Angeleno and advocate for the unhoused, I’ve witnessed Supervisor Hahn’s personal and political commitment to addressing our region’s most pressing issue firsthand. LAHSA has perhaps the most important mission

of any public commission, and I look forward to supporting efforts to achieve what I believe to be our ultimate goal: setting more of our neighbors on a path to safe, sustainable housing, leading to a better life.”

Advocating for neighbors experiencing homelessness is Sheikh’s bedrock. Along with an ongoing dedication to street-level outreach and direct advocacy, Sheikh helped build the first council district-wide homeless coalition, the CD15 Working Group on Homelessness, in 2017. The working group is credited with paving the way for thousands of housing units and shifting community culture around homelessness.

“I’ve seen Amber in action, reaching out to our neighbors experiencing homelessness, encouraging them to accept help. That is exactly the type of determined, methodical, and passionate energy we need for LAHSA,” said Hahn in a statement. “She is a champion for unhoused people, and our effort to tackle homelessness will be better off with her on this commission.” spt

HOT & COLD

2024 LA FLEET WEEK The arrival of the supercarrier USS Carl Vinson (the first aircraft carrier to visit since 2011) helped boost this year’s attendance so much that its tour line had to be cut off by early afternoon on opening day.

ROUNDTRIP COLLECTIVE

CLOSES SP STORE The popular clothing boutique closed its Downtown San Pedro shop in May citing lack of foot traffic, creating another retail vacancy in the district. Their Redondo Beach location and online store remain open.

Amber Sheikh.

(photo: John Mattera Photography)

USS Carl Vinson.

WAR STORIES

Movies and television put sacrifices of San Pedro men in WWII into perspective

BY STEVE MARCONI

We’ve just celebrated Memorial Day, and next week is the 80th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. Between them, there are several stories about San Pedrans and films related to what they may have experienced.

The next time you watch Band of Brothers or The Longest Day, keep in mind Pfc. Joe B. Gonzales. San Pedro lost more than 160 men during WWII, but Gonzales, a member of the 101st Airborne Division, was the only one to die on D-Day. The San Pedro High graduate, the son of Mary Gonzales from the 800 block of First Street, was a native of Jalisco, Mexico. Not yet a citizen, Gonzales quit his cannery job at Van Camp Seafood on Terminal Island and enlisted in 1943.

The two highly acclaimed war films include the story of the 101st Airborne’s first action in WWII, being dropped behind Utah Beach in France’s Carentan Peninsula on June 6. Band of Brothers is about the 506th Regiment’s Easy Company; Gonzales was company clerk for the 501st Regiment’s I

Company. Single, he was 24 when he was killed in action near Colleville-sur-Mer; he is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, where the movie Saving Private Ryan opened.

Then we have Masters of the Air, the nine-part series streaming on Apple TV+, as were Band of Brothers and The Pacific, by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman. Masters of the Air is about the 8th Air Force, specifically the 100th Bomber Group, based on a book by one of its pilots.

If you haven’t seen it and have any interest in WWII, you should make an effort, if for no other reason than to honor the memory of the thousands of airmen who died in the air war over Europe. That includes four San Pedrans who died flying the B-17s of the “Mighty Eighth.”

The series’ unflinching depiction of the terror these men faced and the courage they displayed will give you added admiration for their sacrifice.

Second Lt. Martin L. Mjellem, 23 and single, was co-pilot on the 305th Bomber Group’s Devil’s Playmate when it was shot down by enemy aircraft on February 26, 1943, during the attack on Wilhelmshaven, Germany

(a raid shown in the series). All ten crewmen were lost when the plane crashed into the North Sea. Mjellem, a San Pedro High grad, was survived by his parents on Via Subida in Miraleste and four siblings, two of whom were still at San Pedro High.

Sgt. Donald R. Turner, 23, was turret gunner on the 2nd Bomber Group’s Danny Boy when flak hit it during a mission over Marseille, France, on August 17, 1943. Turner was one of three crewmen unable to bail out before the plane caught fire and exploded.

A 1939 San Pedro High graduate, Turner worked at Fort MacArthur until enlisting in February 1942. His parents lived on the 500 block of 40th Street. Turner’s remains were recovered, and he was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Sgt. Albert O. Pegg was tail gunner on a Flying Fortress with the 34th Bomber Group on March 23, 1945, when, returning from its mission, it was hit by flak near Koblenz, Germany. Pegg’s plane lost a wing and collided with another B-17 before crash-landing, killing all nine aboard. The plane hit by Pegg’s Fortress broke in half and also crashed, but two of its crew survived.

It was the 27th mission for the 19-year-old Pegg, a W’44 graduate of San Pedro High, where he lettered in football and baseball. He joined the Army Air Corps a month after graduation. His parents lived on the 1400 block of Sepulveda Street. Pegg’s body was recovered, and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Second Lt. Herbert C. Shute Jr. survived the war in Europe only to die weeks later when the B-17 he was co-piloting crashed on May 19, 1945, near Aachen, Germany, during Operation Revival. His 388th Bomber Group was collecting ex-POWs in Germany and taking them to Le Havre, France, for the return trip home. All five men on the plane died.

Shute had joined the Air Corps in August 1941 but spent a year in Alaska before attending pilot training. He was 28 and married; his father lived on the 3100 block of Paseo Del Mar. Shute was buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. spt

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

Callum Turner and Austin Butler in Masters of the Air, now streaming on Apple TV+.

(photo: courtesy Apple TV+)

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

BY JENNIFER MARQUEZ

Compa-

nies and organizations have the opportunity to provide valuable work experience to youth and young adults who are underemployed, unemployed, children of immigrants, or foster and homeless youth with barriers to employment.

Harbor YouthSource Center provides employment and work readiness programs to youth ages 14–24 in the Harbor Area. Local businesses partner with the center and are provided workers at no cost.

Marisol Guzman, job developer, encourages local companies to participate in the YouthSource Center. “It is a great way to test drive an employee, and the cost of

employment is paid by the government for a specified period,” states Guzman. “You might find your next rock star employee while opening doors to local youth.”

Interested companies can utilize youth for technical jobs, including data entry, social media, clerical, and office jobs. Youths cannot handle cash, alcohol, or operate machinery in this program. Examples of current employment sites include local nonprofit agencies, the YMCA, Marine Mammal Care Center, Boys and Girls Clubs, medical offices, chiropractic offices, real estate companies, and other businesses.

Job sites are responsible for training the participants and providing guidance regarding the job. YouthSource gives the job site a detailed agreement with responsibilities and time

sheets. The program is open to youth of all abilities, and the center also works with the Department of Rehabilitation for participants with disabilities.

YouthSource also offers all levels of employment support at no cost to youth, including assistance with job applications, resume building, interviewing skills, mentoring, financial aid, and exploring career and schooling options. The goal is to create a pathway to employment, high school graduation, or realize their post-secondary or employment-related aspirations.

Guzman believes everyone deserves a chance. She gets to know the program participants to find jobs aligning with their interests.

Local youth have earned certificates in graphic design and learned coding in collaboration with the San Pedro YWCA and YouthSource. Youth learn skills to build a resume, which may also include volunteer work at local organizations.

YouthSource is contracted with the County, the City of Los Angeles, and other agencies. The program began in 2009 when the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) collaborated to

establish the YouthSource centers. LAUSD was looking to re-engage students who had dropped out of school and assist those who had graduated but were not employed. Over the years, YouthSource has evolved to include a wide assortment of job opportunities that create connections with the youth and the community.

“Bring your kids or grandkids to YouthSource to discover boundless opportunities based on their interests,” states Guzman. “We recently had a participant who was interested in animals and were able to place them at the Marine Mammal Care Center. This is an example of how we build up kids and empower them by connecting them to jobs they will enjoy.”

Potential job seekers between the ages of 14–24 and interested job sites can contact Harbor YouthSource Center by calling (310) 2210615 ext. 2606 or emailing youthsource@mcscareergroup.com. The YouthSource Center is located at 222 West 6th Street, Suite 420, in San Pedro. The program funding year begins July 1. spt

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

Marine Mammal Care Center volunteers. (file photo: John Mattera Photography)

EURO 2024 TO WORLD CUP 2026

San Pedro’s waterfront can provide the perfect fan zone for soccer’s biggest event

BY ANTHONY PIROZZI, JR.

TheUEFA EURO 2020 Cup was pushed to the summer of 2021 due to COVID.

At the time, I had hoped to travel to Italy to watch Italy play in the first-round games held in Rome. Since this was the first time multiple countries hosted the tournament, I figured this would be an ideal vacation to enjoy soccer in Italy, but COVID changed all that. In the end, Italy rose to the final and beat England, in England, and became European champions for the first time since the tournament began in 1968. It was a bittersweet celebration for me because my father passed away the year prior. Although I felt his presence

during the tournament, it was not the same without him. My passion for soccer was one of the gifts I learned from him growing up. I cherish it to this day and share it with my three sons.

This summer, the Euro Cup is being held in cities across Germany. So, I thought this would be a great opportunity once again to spend our summer vacation in Europe, explore Germany, and catch a couple of Italy games.

One day, I was talking to my buddy Jack Baric and told him that if Italy and Croatia ended up in the same group in the first round of the tournament, we should see the game together. Although it was a long shot, it happened! So, plans are set to see Italy play Croatia on June 24 in Leipzig, Germany.

If you are in San Pedro on

that day, don’t be surprised to see the Italian-American Club on 19th Street and Croatian Hall on 9th Street overflowing with fans.

As we look toward the future, the 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Los Angeles hosting games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. This provides San Pedro with a huge opportunity to host a World Cup fan zone along our waterfront.

West Harbor will be in full swing by then and can be the host for such an event.

Imagine seeing Brazil play one of its games, followed by a Brazilian music concert held at the West Harbor amphitheater, or seeing thousands of USA fans gathering to support the USMNT, similar to the large crowds that gather in Hermosa Beach for the games on Pier Avenue.

Not far from West Harbor, the new Little Italy Piazza at

the base of 6th Street will be complete and can become the host of the Italy games and the bridge between a West Harbor fan zone and Downtown San Pedro businesses showing the games. The opportunities are endless.

Our community spent decades preparing San Pedro’s waterfront and downtown to host such a spectacle. With the 2026 World Cup games being hosted in the United States, games scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium, and San Pedro being an international port town, the time is right, and the stage is set to put San Pedro on the world stage for soccer. Let’s do this. spt

Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a retired San Pedro resident and former LA Harbor commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo. com.

L.A. will host matches at SoFi Stadium during the 2026 World Cup. (photo: Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee)

2024 BUSINESS

AWARD WINNERS

ANNOUNCED

This year’s recipients are an impressive group

BY LEE WILLIAMS

TheSan Pedro Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2024 Business Award recipients, and it is a list packed with businesses and individuals making a difference here in San Pedro.

First up, Entrepreneurs of the Year: Miller Butler. Miller Butler is a grassroots mobile fresh pasta and woodfired pizza company based in San Pedro. They do mobile pizza pop-ups, cater events, and offer culinary classes around San Pedro.

“Miller” is Chef Jillana Nadine Miller. She has worked as a private chef to the stars for legends like Mary J. Bilge, Rick Rubin, Kobe Bryant, and Rajon Rondo. “Butler” is Ahmad Jamal Butler, a gifted pizzaiolo and pasta maker. Together, they contribute to San Pedro at events, teaching pasta making in people’s homes, and recently, they spent the day at Willenberg Career and Transition Center, where they taught young adults with disabilities how to make fresh pizzas and explore careers in cooking (millerbutler.com).

Small Business of the Year: Sheikh/Impact is a firm that helps support nonprofits in fundraising,

organizational development, and external relations. Led by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s newest commissioner, Amber Sheikh, their mission is to help community organizations do what they do best and achieve a lasting and meaningful impact.

Sheikh/Impact has donated hundreds of hours to local nonprofits and has created workshops and events to help smaller organizations get started. The chamber also welcomes Tammy Kahn, Sheikh/Impact’s vice president of operations, to its board (sheikhimpact. com).

Nonprofit of the Year: Maria’s Closet. Founded by Ronna Luna and named after her mother, Maria’s Closet has helped hundreds of young ladies prepare for and enjoy their senior prom with confidence, grace, and pride (mariasclosets.org).

Business of the Year: Coastline Equity, a property management company with a heart. Real estate investing in Southern California can be very complicated, with property owners needing to maintain their investments, while tenants need consistent communication, swift resolution of issues, and to be treated fairly. They diligently maintain the property owner’s assets while ensuring consistent tenant

satisfaction.

Coastline Equity is also a huge proponent for more affordable housing opportunities by increasing the number of units available and, more importantly, educating property owners about the benefits of providing affordable and subsidized housing to folks in need.

Owners Anthony and Lauren Luna are generous philanthropists and serve on boards throughout the community fighting homelessness and providing career opportunities to our youth (coastlineequity.net).

Community Business Impact Award: Mona Sutton & Leslie Jones for San Pedro Caring Proactive Residents Crew. These two spend countless hours beautifying San Pedro by calling in city services, contacting property owners about blighted properties, and rolling up their sleeves and coordinating volunteer cleanups.

Their work has dramatically reduced the graffiti, litter, and blight in San Pedro, and their list of over 500 volunteers continues to make a difference in our community daily (facebook.com/sanpe-

drocpr).

Lastly, the Leadership Award goes to San Pedro native Mike Lansing for 30 years of dedication to uplifting the youth of our community.

As leader of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, Lansing has grown the organization to serve over 14,000 youth annually at 24 sites. He is retiring at the end of this year, and many will never know the countless sacrifices and selfless dedication Lansing has delivered to our kids to provide first-generation college-bound opportunities to thousands of students.

In addition, Lansing is leaving a lasting legacy that will also prepare thousands of career opportunities for students in all of the construction trades, along with arts and media creation, production, and jobs that inspire others (bgclaharbor. org). spt

Lee Williams leads The Lee Williams Real Estate Group at REAL Broker and is a LA harbor commissioner. He can be reached at lee@ lamove.com.

Ahmad Jamal Butler and Chef Jillana Nadine Miller, owners of Miller Butler, this year’s Entrepreneurs of the Year. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

TUESDAY, MAY 21,

2024 - The U.S. Navy Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Carl Vinson passes Angels Gate Lighthouse as she makes her way into Los Angeles Harbor for LA Fleet Week.

(photo: John Mattera Photography)

FRENCH CONNECTION

THOMAS & LONI COMPAGNON CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS OF BRINGING A TOUCH OF FRANCE TO DOWNTOWN SAN PEDRO

BY

JULIA MURPHY

Compagnon Wine Bistro recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, but owners Thomas and Loni Compagnon began building a local following long before that.

Thomas worked as the sommelier and bartender for 19 years at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. Early in the process of opening the bistro, he let his customers know about his next chapter. They were keen to follow him.

The bistro’s story is like a multi-course meal of tradition, community, and sweet chance connections. When they opened in 2019, Thomas and Loni had no idea what would come.

Two weeks after their opening, Cirque du Soleil came to the Port of Los Angeles. “All the Cirque du Soleil people would come here after their performances. One of the Cirque singers performed acapella in the restaurant

on a Sunday night,” recalls Loni. “She stood up and just started belting it out.” Cirque du Soleil extended its stay, and as a result, Compagnon was booked for six months straight. During COVID, the bistro’s customers stepped up to help keep them in business. Many take-out orders, gift baskets, and gift certificates were purchased. “We had people consistently buying food from us,” says Loni, “because they were like, ‘We

can’t let this restaurant leave. We love this restaurant.’”

As of 2024, their older regulars tend to stick to what they love best. Thomas and Loni have learned the importance of keeping their staples consistent with the right chef. And new faces continue to come. A younger, hip crowd wants the full experience of a French meal and is drawn to Compagnon’s organic wines, like orange wine.

Compagnon Wine Bistro owners Thomas and Loni Compagnon. (photo: John Mattera Photography)

from top left: The Royal with cheese burger; a charcuterie and fromage board; the bistro’s Seventh Street signage; actor John C. Reilly has made multiple surprise appearances performing for guests; the front of The Whale & Ale, which the Compagnons recently took over; steak & frites; and their French onion soup. (photos: Facebook, John Mattera Photography)

“Orange wine is very fun,” says Loni. “It’s very funky and earthy.” The orange wine smells red, drinks like a white, is lightly fermented, and has a darker hue. If this piques one’s curiosity, Compagnon has a wine club, which began during the pandemic.

“We have a lot of natural wines, which ferment a bit. They’re really good and fun to drink right away. They’re not necessarily wines that you’d keep in your cellar,” says Thomas. “They’re from small productions, with fun labels, and made with no intervention.”

“It’s like the old-school way of producing wine,” Loni explains. The restaurant also sells wine at retail prices. If the customer likes the wine at dinner, they could purchase a bottle to take home.

FEELS LIKE HOME

Wherever they’ve traveled, the Compagnons have always loved the hidden gems, the cozy stops with the wife and husband running the place. That’s

what they wanted to create.

“We want [you] to feel like you’re in our home. We wanted to create something we’d find in France,” says Loni. “We love the feeling and eating with our friends. These are your best experiences — enjoying food and breaking bread.”

“We’re very hands-on, and most of the people that work with us, we’ve known them for years. We work as a team, and we all do everything. Nobody just does one thing,” Loni continues. “So you have the experience of getting good service and also being taken care of.”

Pairing specific wines to particular dishes is key to Thomas and Loni’s approach. The menu has roots in the soil of specific regions of France.

By design, Compagnon’s menu is small and relatively limited to mostly traditional French cuisine, reflecting Thomas’s upbringing in the south of France. But they like to play with the specials, which often have coastal

Mediterranean influences from Spain, Italy, Greece, or even Morocco.

Thomas and Loni buy their ingredients from local farms, gardens, and farmers markets as much as possible, including the Feed and Be Fed Garden (the Garden Church) and Alma Backyard Farms, which recently opened behind Target.

Some challenges the Compagnons continue to face include inflation — with high food costs threatening to push up the bistro’s prices — and the lingering perception that French cuisine is a mystery and beyond a San Pedran’s comfort zone.

“I think some people think French food is snobby or pretentious, and they’re intimidated,” says Loni. “But then they come in and have the beef bourguignon, and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, this is awesome!’ Once we get them through the door and they try our food, they realize it’s not the French food they imagined. I’m like, ‘This is an elevated stew that your grandma

would make.’”

Another challenge for the bistro is that Downtown San Pedro has too many empty storefronts. “We have to be able to create an incentive for people to come and stay here after they eat at the bistro,” says Thomas.

“Landlords don’t want to invest in their buildings,” adds Loni, “and that needs to change.”

Thomas continues, “Before downtown becomes what it should be, we need to take all those fences from those stores on 6th Street and make it a little bit more welcoming so people can want to look at it and maybe rent it.”

RISE OF THE WHALE

The Compagnons have purchased The Whale and Ale with the help of their partner, Mardo Murillo. They’re unsure when it will reopen, but they have a vision. “We wanted to pay tribute to Marilyn Ginsburg and a great piece of San Pedro history, so we’re keeping the name,” says Loni. The Whale and Ale has a full liquor license,

Clockwise

making it enticing.

“We’re going to be very much a pub, like a gastropub,” Loni continues. “That way, if they want to, our customers can have a drink before or after dinner. It’s like the bistro and the gastropub are going to complement each other. There’s an upstairs area where we’d like people to be able to have cocktails and hang out. Very much like a lounge. We also wanted to create the change we want to see,” she adds, “and have a place like this for our age group.”

SOUNDS ON SEVENTH

“We met this musician who lives in San Pedro with his wife, and they came [in] for dinner. He loved the place and asked me if he could play,” shares Thomas. “And so, without really knowing much [about] him, we said, ‘Yes.’”

Guitarist David Garza performs at Compagnon Wine Bistro when he can. Sometimes, he brings guests, like actor John C. Reilly, for impromptu jams.

“The energy around watching those musicians perform, they’re having so

much fun,” says Loni. “It’s contagious and a treat.”

“First, there’s the food, which is so good,” says Garza. “Then there’s the hospitality [of Thomas and Loni] and the energy of 7th Street.”

“These big, eclectic jam sessions and whoever David brings, there’s an element of surprise,” says Thomas. “And they don’t want to be paid other than to have dinner and wine.”

Garza has become a good friend. “Anyone who’s blessed enough to create for a living can recognize the creativity in another,” he says.

“I knew this was a magical place and a magical time that wouldn’t necessarily happen again. I’m inspired to go there, and, when I’m there, I always feel like I’m at home.” spt

Compagnon Wine Bistro is located at 335 W. 7th St. in Downtown San Pedro. For more info, call (424) 3429840 or visit compagnonbistro.com.

I ASKED AI FOR SP FOOD SUGGESTIONS

It went as well as you think

BY SANAM LAMBORN

You’reprobably aware that new AI systems like ChatGPT have changed the landscape for nearly everything, especially for those of us who are educators.

ChatGPT makes it easy for students to submit work as their own that the software produces in less than 30 seconds. Generally, the writing is recognizable because of the robotic language, generalized statements, and frequent inaccuracies.

Curious to see how much AI knows about San Pedro’s food scene, I experimented with ChatGPT and asked where I should eat in San Pedro, just for fun. Out of the four times I ran this prompt, the last response was truly a gem that reinforced my existing opinions even more.

The following are the actual ChatGPT results about each topic, followed by my accuracy scoreand notes.

Seafood: Given its coastal location, San Pedro is known for its fresh seafood restaurants like San Pedro Fish Market, 22nd Street Landing Seafood Grill & Bar, and Ports O’ Call Waterfront Dining. – Accuracy score: 66 percent. The latter is closed, making way for the upcoming West Harbor. I’d add Trani’s Dockside Station and Crazy Fish.

Mexican Cuisine: San Pedro has a vibrant Mexican food scene. Popular spots include Green Onion Mexican Restaurant, La Barca Grill & Cantina, and El Taco Charro. – Accuracy score: 33 percent. The last two are not even in San Pedro! How about the long-standing The Original Las Brisas, Enchilada House, Puesta Del Sol, The Chori-Man, and the new-intown Jefe’s Cocina, among numerous others?

Italian Food: Italian cuisine enthusiasts can indulge at restaurants such as Raffaello Ristorante and Capo Italian Restaurant. – Accuracy score: N/A. You can’t trip in San Pedro without falling into an Italian restaurant, yet it only gives us one spot in town? How does AI not mention Sorrento’s Pizza House, Buono’s Pizzeria, J. Trani’s Ristorante, La Bocca Felice, and La Siciliana? Also, Capo is, obviously, not in San Pedro.

American Diners: For a taste of classic American comfort food, you can visit diners like Happy Diner, Pacific Diner, or Walker’s Café. – Accuracy score: 66 percent. ChatGPT is stirring the pot again by mentioning the recently closed Walker’s Café, yet leaving out the Omelette and Waffle Shop, Fantastic Café, and Joe’s Diner. Come on.

Asian Cuisine: San Pedro offers a variety of Asian cuisines, including Chinese,

Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese at restaurants such as Shanghai Red’s, Sushi 21, and Pho Hana. – Accuracy score: 33 percent. San Pedro’s iconic Shanghai Red Café was razed during the Beacon Street redevelopment in the early 1970s, and Pho Hana is in Palos Verdes. But we do have Nim Chan’s Kitchen, Nam’s Red Door Vietnamese, Senfuku Japanese, KoRyu Ramen, Sirinat Thai and Sushi Bar, and Baramee Thai Restaurant.

Pub Fare and Craft Beer: If you’re in the mood for pub food and locally brewed beer, you can visit establishments like The Whale & Ale, Brouwerij West, or San Pedro Brewing Company. – Accuracy score: 66 percent. Fair, but the fate of the closed Whale & Ale is uncertain for now.

Coffee Shops and Cafés: San Pedro has numerous coffee shops and cafés. Examples include Sirens Java & Tea and Java Man Coffee House. – Accuracy score: 50 percent. I loved Java Man, but it closed over a decade ago. We must include The Corner Store, Sacred Grounds, Colossus Bakery, Distrito Coffee, and Pepper’s Cafe (inside CRAFTED).

International Cuisine: You can explore diverse international cuisines such as Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Greek at restau-

rants like Niko’s Pizzeria, Ali Baba Turkish Cuisine, and Papadakis Taverna. – Accuracy score: 33 percent. The Turkish restaurant’s location is unknown, and Papadakis Taverna has been long gone. How about Big Nick’s Pizzeria for Greek options, Sebastian’s Mediterranean Cuisine, and Nazelie’s Lebanese Cuisine?

Also, our Croatian-American population is ignored here, so I’d like to add San Pedro Café, lunches at the Dalmatian-American Club and the Croatian American Hall.

Lastly, I guess AI doesn’t know this is a sandwich and pizza town. For sandwiches, let me throw in Busy Bee Market, A-1 Italian Market & Deli, Sandwich Saloon, and Pirozzi’s Italian Deli. For pizza, Joseph’s Bakery, Bonello’s New York Pizza, Ciao Bella Mobile Pizzeria, and Miller Butler can’t be excluded.

Congratulations, ChatGPT, your final score is… eh, who cares? Decent effort, but you get an “F” because you’ll never replace suggestions from real San Pedrans. spt

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

ChatGPT inaccurately recommended seafood from Ports O’ Call Restaurant, which closed in 2018. (file photo: John Mattera Photography)

ART ON YOUR BLOCK

Artist Dave Clark’s micro-art galleries can transform a neighborhood into a tiny ‘arts district’ BY

LINDA GRIMES

Formy most recent birthday, my husband Fred bought me a micro-art gallery conceived, built, and installed in front of our home by the artist Dave Clark. If you know me, it’s the perfect gift — we get to display art for our neighbors, and who knows, maybe we’ll start a trend in the neighborhood.

This all began because local artist Micheal Stearns told me about his friend, Dave, who builds these very small micro-art galleries in his Wrigley neighborhood in Long Beach.

Dave and his lovely wife Carol invited us into their art-filled home. I say “artfilled” because every bit of wall space was adorned with terrific pieces of art from many genres.

Intrigued by this former math teacher-turned-artist, I asked Dave a few questions about his life and work.

How do you describe your artwork?

CLARK: My work often acts as a receptacle for other people’s associations and thoughts. I am more curious in hearing what people feel my art means or represents than stating what it means to me. This conversation that

happens with the viewer and my work is a primary interest of mine.

The process of making my work is intuitive and playful. Color, shapes, the application of various materials such as dyes, plaster, metal, wood, acrylics, and wire are the tools I use to create an object that may give associations differing from person to person. The forms are sometimes suggestive of functional objects, memories, or what some people might see in their dreams.

How did you get your start as an artist?

CLARK: The short answer is that ever since I can remember, I have either drawn or painted something. From posters/logos of bands to buildings and houses to abstract[s] or seascapes. It wasn’t till I was in college and met people in the arts program at the university, running a co-op art gallery, that I found my calling. This led to many shows and changes in direction over the past 48 years, and here I am today, doing what I do.

Why did you decide to start making these little micro-art galleries?

CLARK: Carol and I wanted to offer artists an alternative venue to that of the traditional gallery to show their work: one that reached

the public and one where it was cost-free to show. The idea of building a “micro-art gallery” made sense. One that sat in a public space.

With that, we saw the opportunity to create an “arts district” here in Wrigley and hope to see more sprouting up in the neighborhood.

How many are there, and where are they located?

CLARK: Currently, there are four, spaced over three blocks on our street, with a fourth on the other side of Long Beach. Additionally, there are two more: one in San Pedro and another in Lomita. We curate the one in front of our house (Gallery 17) and the one next door (Gallery 23) with exhibits lasting four weeks.

Are these little art galleries limited editions?

CLARK: The number is somewhat of a “limited edition” in that it is the summation of the address where it sits. Anyone with the appropriate space and who is local can get one by contacting me through my website (daverclarkdesigns.com). I only charge $450, which covers the cost of materials.

Tell us about Gallery 19 here in San Pedro.

CLARK: Our micro-gallery in San Pedro (Gallery 19 – named for our Meyler Street address 1+7+3+8=19) is located on 18th Street near Meyler and is displaying Micheal Stearns’ artwork until July 2024.

Michael is a committed gallerist and elder statesman of the San Pedro Arts District. In 2012, Michael moved his studio and gallery from Long Beach to San Pedro. His current gallery is Michael Stearns Studio 347 in the San Pedro Arts District (michaelstearnsstudio.com), on the second floor of the Los Angeles Harbor Arts at 4th and Mesa.

While you’re there, check out our garage door – it sports a mural by Jules Muck, aka Muckrock. spt

For more information, visit daverclarkdesigns.com. You can also check out his micro-art galleries on Instagram @gallery17lb.

Linda Grimes is the executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District and can be reached at 55lindagrimes@gmail.com.

Artist Dave Clark and one of his micro-art galleries in Long Beach. (photos: Tony Pinto, Instagram)

KEEPING SAN PEDRO HEALTHY

A chat with Harbor CHC’s CEO, Tamra King BY AMBER SHEIKH

Thehardest part of helping someone in crisis is waiting for them to be ready — ready to ask and receive help and ready for things to change.

Last year, I began navigating the complex world of outpatient treatment programs for a family member who, after many years of struggling, was ready for change. Finding a high-quality program that provides nonjudgmental support wasn’t easy. Having worked professionally with the Harbor Community Health Centers (Harbor CHC) team for several years, I turned to them for advice and guidance. Their care and compassion were extraordinary. I’m so grateful that we have such a high-caliber health clinic right in our neighborhood.

So, let’s dive in with Tamra King, the CEO of Harbor CHC, to learn more about her role and how they are keeping San Pedro healthy.

What brought you to this work?

KING: I spent the latter part of my career working in the healthcare universe, and then in 2012, looking to do something different, something more direct, I found my way to Harbor CHC.

King (far

at an event supporting and collaborating with other health care nonprofits.

I was raised in a home where we all volunteered our time in some way. My parents modeled this for me. It’s how I’m wired. I’m not happy unless I’m doing something bigger than myself.

Why focus on healthcare?

KING: Healthcare is highly mission-driven. And the results are tangible. We get nearly 40,000 visitors a year. San Pedro is healthier because of Harbor CHC.

Most don’t realize that anybody can visit a FQHC — a Federally Qualified Health Center. And FQHCs are some of the most compassionate — and high-quality — in the healthcare industry. We are held to a high standard and offer all the preventative care an individual needs throughout the year — a physical, a mammogram, a colonoscopy.

I wish more people would seek preventative health care rather than wait until a health emergency, especially since we’re right here.

What are you most proud of?

KING: So much. Today, the Harbor CHC is not the same organization it was ten years ago. We have had incredible growth in the last decade, and our services mirror the increased healthcare needs of the community. When I started, our annual budget

was $1.9 million; now, that’s what we budget in a month.

Our team! We went from 23 to a team of 100 staff members. We have been able to attract and retain the best in the industry.

Our chief medical officer, Dr. Lusk, is double board-certified and left Yale New Haven Hospital to join us here in San Pedro. Our chief financial officer, Yessenia Henriquez, has over 20 years [of] experience leading government and nonprofit organizations and has really built our internal capacity to ensure our sustainability and growth.

Pacific Avenue clinic — we’d never done a capital campaign before, and it’s been a significant success in what we can offer our patients. We built six beautiful dental laboratories, offer behavioral health services, and have providers speaking English and Spanish. It’s simply incredible!

What do you want people to know about your work and how they can be part of the solution?

KING: The needs vary and rotate — every CEO is looking for more money, space, and patients. For instance, there’s so much we could accomplish with a mobile van. We serve the whole community. The challenge with serving some, for example, the unhoused, is

that they need care at their bedside and may not be able to come into the clinic. We are very conscientious of our budget, and a mobile van would help ease that challenge.

We want to be strategic and intentional about how we expand — make sure we build facilities that meet the growing and changing needs of San Pedro and other areas we serve.

While Harbor CHC is known to provide health care services to low-income and unhoused neighbors, really anyone can receive services.

What role does the clinic play in San Pedro?

KING: Some of our staff grew up coming to the clinic, and 82 percent of them live within the community. The larger health clinic chains can’t serve the community with the same level of connection and compassion as we do. spt

Harbor CHC offers comprehensive healthcare options — including access to psychotherapy and other mental health options. For more information, visit harborchc.org.

Amber Sheikh is a San Pedro resident, mother of two, community advocate, and owner of Sheikh/Impact, a nonprofit consulting firm.

right)

(photo: Tammy Khan)

MASTERING THE ART OF FERTILIZERS

Adding nutrients to your soil is essential for healthy plant growth BY

NADIA NIZETICH

Fertilizing a vegetable garden is more of an art than a science.

The amount of fertilizer your plants need depends on the nutrients in your soil, the time of the year, and the stage of growth the plants are in. That being said, with a bit of trial and error (and a lot of patience), you’ll soon develop a feel for when and how much to fertilize — especially if you start with a strong understanding of the basics.

STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE

Step into the fertilizer aisle at any garden center, and you’ll see a spread of products, all claiming to be the best for various vegetables. Don’t buy into the hype — you don’t need to use one fertilizer for tomatoes and another for peppers. All your

plants will benefit from a balanced, “all-purpose” fertilizer that will give them a boost at regular intervals throughout the growing season.

Usually, an all-purpose fertilizer will say so on the label, but those that don’t will give themselves away in a few clues. To start, all fertilizers are labeled with the letters N-P-K and a set of numbers below them, such as 2-2-1.

The letters refer to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively, and they’re the fundamental macronutrients that all vegetables need to thrive.

The numbers, meanwhile, refer to the quantities of the nutrients in the fertilizer. If the numbers are equal or near equal, you have an all-purpose balanced fertilizer that will work well for your garden.

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THE REAL DEAL

Another consideration is whether to use an organic or synthetic mixture. I prefer organic for a few reasons. Because organic fertilizers are derived from once-living materials like fish bones and food scraps, they’re bringing many more nutrients to the table besides just the core macros. Organic fertilizers don’t just nourish your plants, either — their variety of nutrients feeds the living organisms in your soil, promoting a healthier ecosystem.

Synthetic fertilizers, on the other hand, are formulated to include only the specific compounds listed on the bottle (such as N-P-K) and won’t promote the longterm health of your garden. To tell the difference between the two, consult the package again — organic fertilizers are labeled “OMRI Certified.”

KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS

Now for the hard part: Knowing exactly how much fertilizer you’ll need and when you’ll need it depends on the nutrient content of your soil. So, while I can’t tell you exactly what will work for your garden, I can tell you what works for me to send you off on a journey of trial

and error.

Let’s start with fertilizing vegetables in pots. I apply a dry all-purpose fertilizer at planting time and every three months onward while following the instructions on the package for the specific amount, which varies by plant type, time of year, and brand.

I then give my plants a shot of liquid fertilizer almost every time I water (although I’ll admit I skip an application here and there).

For my plants growing in the ground, my method for dry fertilizer is the same. Still, I apply the liquid fertilizer every other watering instead since my veggies are getting additional nutrients from compost I added to my soil at planting time.

I recommend starting with this method and closely monitoring how your plants react throughout the season. If you’re feeling particularly scientific, you can even apply fertilizer to some plants and not others to compare the difference directly. As always, you can eliminate the guesswork by testing your soil at planting time. spt

Nadia Nizetich is an at-large writer for San Pedro Today and an avid gardener.

(photo: Greta Hoffman)

PARENTING, GAMBLING, & THE LONG GAME

BY EDDIE MCKENNA

I’vealways equated working out to retirement in the sense that the gains are not realized until ample time has passed.

Little bits over long periods of time equate to large sums.

A mom I know wanted her son to start working out and learn to care for himself. The son wasn’t obese or depressed — she wanted him to be healthy, and she knew it would help with his confidence and teach him to enjoy working out like she did.

She would try to encourage him to do it, but to no avail. He’d rather play games and watch TV. She decided to make a deal with him.

She told him that if he

did the “75 Hard,” she would take him airsofting as a reward. He loves airsofting more than anything, but as a cherry on top, she said she would airsoft with him. Airsofting is a game played with guns that shoot plastic BBs. Needless to say, it hurts.

For those of you who do not know what the “75 Hard” is, it is a lifestyle/fitness challenge that lasts 75 days where participants workout twice a day for 45 minutes each, with at least one session happening outside, read ten pages of nonfiction, consume zero alcohol, and take a progress picture every day. Needless to say, it is hard.

The son agreed. Not only did he agree, but he smashed it. I asked him if he was going to continue working out. He said yes, but only once a day now, smiling.

I saw him three months before starting his challenge. I saw him struggle playing soccer with his mom and sister in the park. The funny thing was, he didn’t want to play, not because he didn’t like soccer, but because he was so out of shape. He couldn’t run for more than three minutes before being keeled over, panting for air.

Fast forward three months post “75 Hard,” and I am watching him play in an actual soccer spring league where he is now the lead defender running nonstop for 60 minutes, smashing into other players, and not keeling over panting for air. I’d say he is a changed boy for the better.

I think incentivizing exercise is a helpful tool to get people started. The incentive or reward keeps people motivated to go and achieve

said “goal.” In the process, you are teaching discipline and delayed gratification, which, in my opinion, are the keys to success when you want to steer your life in a healthier direction. It’s seldom that people are motivated to work out. The discipline to work out is the key to long-term success. If you lack the discipline to start your “journey,” maybe it’s a good idea to incentivize yourself with a little challenge. Look up the “75 Hard” and see if you can do it, too. Be like the boy in my story, who I saw turn into a little stud in a little over three months. I can tell you now he does not regret doing it one bit. spt

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

(photo: Victor Freitas)

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THE LAST LAUGH

BY SOPHIE SCHOENFELD, MFT

It is clinically proven that humor is a vital function, not only in the structure of society but also in the structure of body and mind.

Making light of a challenging subject allows us to process, address, look at, and understand it within a safe framework. Laughter is a physiologically healing act — it produces endorphins in the brain, helps restore endocrine balance, tones muscle, helps us process trauma, improves our immune system, activates mirror neurons, and connects us with those we share it with.

In short, one could say that humor and laughter are as crucial for our well-being as love and connectedness.

From a sociological standpoint, humor historically served as the safest avenue

of delivering truth. Court jesters informed kings of popular sentiments, exposed social narratives and norms amongst different classes, and characterized cultural nuances of neighboring countries and people. Through humor, we are informed about the collective psyche and, thus, linked to one another as a community. We can resolve conflicts and discuss charged and hard-to-address topics through humor. Without this avenue of communication, many truths are either left unspoken or left to be unveiled when frustrations reach a boiling point, thus becoming volatile.

Often, individuals with difficult life stories display a greater sense of humor. We use humor to overcome and heal from emotionally challenging experiences. It also universalizes our struggles and increases empathy.

The Western world has faced no real existential risk since the end of the Second World War, and one could argue that at the end of the 20th century, the West became complacent and comfortably numb in its sense of safety and predictable stability.

Now, political correctness is a prevailing goal in the culture, and we find ourselves living in a world where no one and nothing can be made fun of or criticized, even in jest. Comedians are forced to incessantly apologize for their jokes.

We are collectively gaslighted into accepting physical norms that are either objectively unsightly due to being unhealthy, unnatural, or in some way drastically augmented. We are shamed for assigning any generalization or characteristic to any group of people.

We are a culture so steeped in guilt for privilege that we have put ourselves in self-inflicted bondage against humor and are slowly, as a result, losing touch with reality.

I would argue that the acute outcome of the above-mentioned bondage is excessive substance abuse, cultural volatility, political schism, and dilution of truths to the point of creating a post-modern madhouse for a culture.

Without humor, we

cannot negotiate differences, compromise, and work through conflicts and opposing interests; we are thus frustrated, disconnected, and seeking an outlet. In the name of safe communion, we have become a culture of alcoholics, mitigating a chronic state of social anxiety.

We are bored with one another because we cannot be truthful and, hence, limited in the level of intimacy we can achieve while staying appropriately pleasant and inoffensive. Underneath this veil of conformity, however, we have grown increasingly angry and frustrated.

Truths have an uncanny way of surfacing. Our social media feeds are exploding with scandals and conflicts, presenting a picture of an overindulgent society that has cultivated a covert norm of acceptable monsters. We simply don’t like each other very much because we no longer laugh together.

Isn’t it time we face the absurdity of the human condition and remind ourselves that we are all fools in the same boat, sailing the seas of life without a compass? spt

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

(photo: ELEVATE)

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ACROSS

3. Name of European-style piazza currently under construction at the corner of Harbor Blvd. and West 6th St.

5. Rock band from SP formed in 1970 with hit singles “How Much I Feel” and “Biggest Part of Me.”

7. Small section of unincorporated LA County land located in the middle of San Pedro.

9. Artist who created the 25th Street Mosaic Mural.

10. Former MLB catcher from SP who won a World Series championship with the Minnesota Twins in 1991.

DOWN

1. Italian island where many of SP’s Italian population emigrated from.

2. U.S. Navy’s third Nimitz-class supercarrier that headlined this year’s LA Fleet Week.

4. Restaurant known for its Cro-Mo (mostaccioli).

6. Popular ramen spot in downtown that recently opened a second location on Western Ave.

8. Famed architect who designed the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in 1981.

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