Our office is a multi-specialty private practice located in Weymouth Corners in San Pedro. With 28 years of experience, we provide high-quality modern dentistry at an affordable cost in an inviting setting. Our office is equipped to provide most specialty dental services efficiently under one rooftop. We use cutting-edge technology and are versed in all aspects of Cosmetic, Restorative, Dental Implants, Orthodontic, and Oral Surgery services.
10am - 2pm
San Pedro is fortunate to have so many unique, oneof-a-kind things.
We’re home to the last remaining Art Deco movie theater opened by the original Warner Bros. that’s still in operation (even though it’s currently closed for a long overdue renovation). We also have one of the most beautiful views in the world from the top of Angels Gate Park.
We have the Korean Friendship Bell, two WWII ship museums, and the beautiful Point Fermin Lighthouse, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. (More on that below.)
We’re also home to CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles.
For folks needing a refresher, CRAFTED is the handmade artisan marketplace in one of the two massive 1940s-era warehouses on the corner of 22nd and Miner streets. It’s home to nearly 100 artists and makers, many locally based, who sell their wares in decorated booths across a 25,000-square-foot showroom.
To Belgian ale and food truck enthusiasts, it’s the place next to Brouwerij West.
It took a long time for San Pedro to warm up to CRAFTED. When the handmade marketplace opened in 2012, no one — not even the owners — knew what to expect.
CRAFTED has seen its ups and downs in its 12-year history, but with CRAFTYFEST coming up this month and several new vendors moving in, things seem to be moving in a positive direction.
I’m a big fan of CRAFTED and what it means to the San Pedro community.
The marketplace has become a haven for many
local makers looking to turn their artistic passions into a business. It’s rare to find a city anywhere with such a creative resource that cultivates talent and supports the local economy.
Many of CRAFTED’s vendors are also San Pedrans that got their start doing pop-up events. For them, CRAFTED was the next logical step in turning their passion into profit. If CRAFTED didn’t exist, many of these vendors would still be stuck at home or out of business — resources like this matter.
If you have never been to the marketplace, do yourself a favor and take a visit this summer. Attending CRAFTYFEST this month, which we’re featuring in this issue, would be a great way to experience it for the first time. There are things to do for the entire family, and you can even bring your pup.
POINT FERMIN TURNS 150
Next month’s issue will be a collector’s edition featuring the 150th anniversary of the Point Fermin Lighthouse, coinciding with their big grand community celebration, “Legacy of Light,” on August 17.
We’re working with the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society to create something special to celebrate the lighthouse’s historic anniversary.
Even though we’ll be printing extra copies, I’m confident this issue will disappear as soon as it’s published.
For those businesses wishing to be a part of this one-of-a-kind issue, please contact us at ads@sanpedrotoday.com.
Thanks for reading. Until 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.
JULY 2024
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF /PUBLISHER
Joshua J. Stecker
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lori Garrett
ART DIRECTION
Joseph A. Castañeda
PHOTOGRAPHER
John Mattera Photography
CONTRIBUTORS
Linda Grimes, Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Sanam Lamborn, Mike Lansing, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Eddie McKenna, Julia Murphy, Nadia Nizetich, Amber Sheikh, Lee Williams
ADVERTISING: General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com
Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166
patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 6
ON THE COVER: HAND MADE mural by Lindsay Sochar at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles. (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.
4 (Thurs) – JULY 4th
SUNSET SAIL (boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd.), 6p. – Join the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) to celebrate Independence Day aboard a tall ship and party like it’s 1776! Plus, you’ll get a waterside view of the visiting Italian tall ship Amerigo Vespucci from the deck of our tall ship as we sail the San Pedro Bay. As always, you can sit back and relax or become part of the crew — your choice — and don’t forget a picnic to enjoy! Tickets $75 for adults, $30 for children (12 and under). For tickets and more info, visit lamitopsail.org/events.
6 (Sat) – GARDEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED at Peck Park (Walker and Elberon), 9a-12p. – Volunteers needed to help in the Peck Park Canyon native plant garden. Meet at the trailhead at the intersection of Walker and Elberon. For more info, contact diananave@gmail.com.
6 (Sat) – 74th ANNUAL JOHN OLGUIN 4th OF JULY “WEEKEND
SPECTACULAR” at Cabrillo Beach (3720 Stephen M. White Dr.), Approx. 8:45p. – Watch 550 drones deliver the first-of-its-kind light show over the shores of Cabrillo Beach. For more info, see story on pg. 18.
July 7, 14, 21, 28, Aug. 4 (Sundays) – MUSIC BY THE SEA at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar), 11a-5p. – 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 the full lineup and schedule, visit musicbythesea.rocks.
13 (Sat) – LOS ANGELES LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE at Point Fermin Lighthouse (807 Paseo Del Mar), 10a-5p. – On this one-day challenge, you will be able to see the three Los Angeles lighthouses and their beautiful Fresnel lenses. Between 10a and 5p, collect a stamp at each participating site and you will receive a souvenir of the event available at the Point Fermin Lighthouse. Participating sites are the Los Angeles Maritime
Museum, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the Point Vicente Lighthouse, the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, and the Point Fermin Lighthouse. Start your journey that morning by picking up your stamp book at the Point Fermin Lighthouse. For more info, call (310) 241-0684 or follow our Instagram @ pointferminlighthouse.
14 (Sun) – MONTHLY GARDEN MAINTENANCE
GATHERING at 25th Street Mosaic Mural (1322 W. 25th St.), 11a-2p. – Volunteers are needed to help maintain the garden space in front of the mural. Monthly volunteer gardening days are held on the second Sunday of each month, any time between 11a and 2p. For more info, contact lynndee.conley@yahoo.com.
17 & 27 (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 family-friendly and led on the fourth Saturday of each month
at 9a. All walks leave from the trailhead in the lower parking lot at Peck Park, just behind the Community Center. For more info, contact diananave@gmail.com.
19-21 (Fri-Sun) – 76th ANNUAL MARY STAR OF THE SEA PARISH FIESTA at Mary Star of the Sea Parish (870 W. 8th St.), Friday: 5p-midnight, Saturday: 12p-midnight, Sunday: 12-10p. – Bring the entire family for a full weekend of rides, games, international foods, bingo, raffles, and lots of family fun. $20,000 in cash prizes! Street parking. FREE admission. For more info, visit marystar.org/fiesta.
20 (Sat) – SAN PEDRO MAKERS MARKET at West Harbor Promenade (6th Street & Harbor Blvd., next to LA Maritime Museum), 11a-4p. – Join artists, artisans, and makers for a fun day of shopping, food, drinks, and fun activities. This FREE event is family and dog-friendly. Hosted by Homemade by the Hays and sponsored by San Pedro Today. For vendor info, message @
sanpedromakersmarket on Instagram. Ample parking available on surrounding streets and lots.
27 (Sat) – 3rd ANNUAL ALMA PARK PICNIC at Alma Park (21st & Meyler streets), 10a-2p. – Pack your picnic basket, grab a blanket, and join your neighbors for a day of fun and entertainment in Alma Park! We will have live music, raffles, special guests, and more! There will be activities for people of all ages. What a beautiful setting like Alma Park to enjoy the cool sounds of live music from area musicians, while enjoying hamburgers and hotdogs cooked on the grill and served by San Pedro’s Happy Diner Restaurant. For more info, visit almaparkneighbors.org/events. spt
Events deadline for August 2024 is Friday, July 19.
Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.
FAT & FURIOUS
Western Avenue is getting more of what it doesn’t need
BY STEVE MARCONI
Are you as insulted as I am when you see what kind of restaurants keep opening on Western Avenue?
I get the impression that the people whose job it is to find locations for restaurants research a population’s eating habits and, seeing a typical San Pedran, say, “You know what this place needs? Another hamburger joint.”
I mean, really, even if you like its food, do we need a Wendy’s on Western Avenue, just across the street from the extremely popular In-N-Out and, coming soon, a block away from The Habit Burger Grill, which will be only yards away from Jack in the Box, right across the street from the ubiquitous McDonald’s and a half-mile from the longstanding Carl’s Jr.? Does our population really look like it needs more French fries and sodas, not salads and vegetables?
Meanwhile, two Western Avenue locations that already once contained nonfast-food restaurants, the Marie Callender’s on Trudie and the Carrows/Coco’s site on Westmont, remain vacant, with a bank slated for the former pie emporium. A Panda Express replaced a
Del Taco, but all that did was lead to the closure of a Pick Up Stix across the street.
I’ve never been much of a hamburger eater; when I was a kid, the only place I remember ever getting one was at the legendary Hamburger Hut on Gaffey. But that was way before fast food was even a term and way before America’s eating habits led to McDonald’s, Taco Bell, et al. And with each new franchise, it appears Americans began tipping the scales more and more toward obesity, which we’re told now has reached epidemic proportions, starting in young children and only getting worse.
Why can’t San Pedro/Eastview entice restaurants that serve more than breakfast, pizza, burritos, and burgers? Is this somehow linked to our blue-collar reputation?
Can’t we at least get a Chick-fil-A? Please.
SPEAKING OF WESTERN AVENUE
What do you do when you have one of the busiest streets in the city, one that is almost always clogged with normal traffic, backed up regularly at major intersections by street light outages, and experiencing frequent lane closures due to roadwork?
Well, this is California, so of course, you make it worse.
At least, that is the newest plan of Caltrans, which, unfortunately, controls Western Avenue and, without so much as a by-your-leave for local government, has decided what San Pedro needs isn’t more traffic lanes for the thousands of commuters but bicycle lanes for the dozens of cyclists.
Councilman Tim McOsker wasn’t happy over what could only be called an “ambush” by the state agency, and we can only hope that the outcry of residents will be heard.
Don’t count on it.
BRIDGEAGEDDON
The redecking of the Vincent Thomas Bridge will cause a major disruption in the lives of San Pedrans — the only question is, how much and for how long.
Four options have been put forth for the public’s opinions, but, in truth, the choice is really down to two. The two options of keeping the bridge open 24/7 but reduced to one lane each way would never work for the simple reason that there is no contingency for what happens regularly now on the bridge: an accident or vehicle breakdown. In either case, what would happen
with just one lane each way? The backups would be for miles, and how would help even get to the vehicles? It would be a traffic disaster for the ages.
So we have to decide which of the two remaining options — a complete shutdown for 16 months (or up to 41 months) or a nighttime shutdown for two years (fingers crossed) — would have the lowest impact.
The people most impacted by any bridge work will be the thousands of longshoremen whose jobs are on Terminal Island or in Long Beach and the thousands of truck drivers who deliver or pick up containers at the port terminals. The complete closure, rerouting all of that traffic through Wilmington, would be a nightmare for drivers and Wilmington residents alike.
That leaves the closure from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the only feasible option, reducing the impact on nightside longies and truckers. If I’m wrong, let me know. Meanwhile, I thank God I’m retired. spt
Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@ yahoo.com.
A new Wendy’s fast-food restaurant is coming to Western Avenue. (file photo: courtesy CBM1)
SAN PEDRO
TRANSFORMING TRASH
How a surfboard maker developed an environmentally friendly solution to plastic waste
BY JENNIFER MARQUEZ
Plasticis not “recyclable,” and over 90 percent of it — even the items put in blue cans — ends up in landfills.
Ryan Harris, a surfboard maker and founder of ECObyRy, developed an environmentally friendly solution to plastic waste. With the help of AltaSea, Harris is upcycling plastic pollution and turning it into useful products in San Pedro.
Harris, a surfboard entrepreneur, witnessed the problem in his daily life. He made surfboards and understood the waste created when he built one. With each six-pound surfboard
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made, over 12 pounds of excess material was unusable and not recyclable.
Harris also saw the plastic pollution in the local waters when he surfed and decided to do something about it. He launched ECOSS (The Educational Center of Sustainability in Surf), a nonprofit agency that transforms trash (sort, clean, shred, make) into usable products like bowls, planters, and coasters while educating the community and schools about the ocean.
ECOSS is one of the newest tenants at AltaSea, which provides research, education, and science towards the emerging blue economy. AltaSea, a nonprofit agency, is housed in the historic century-old warehouses along
the waterfront. Their campus runs 35 acres and is the largest ocean technology hub in the United States.
On any given day, Harris can be found at AltaSea, giving plastic waste a new life. Old broken surf and paddle boards that are donated are made into new boards, saving them from the landfill. The new boards are upcycled pieces of art that are given a second chance on the waves instead of in the trash. Proceeds from the sales of the boards and upcycled plastic items are used to fund the nonprofit to cover expenses and supplies. Harris uses large shredding machines to grind down plastic. Food-safe resin is mixed with the plastic particles to make decorative and practical products for sale on his website.
“I am figuring out a way to break down plastic waste that is not recyclable and turn it into something useful,” states Harris. “I am now able to accept plastic waste like water bottles with numbers 1 or 2 on the bottom from the public to upcycle it into something else. I also accept donations of surf and
Harris has contagious optimism about his work and
the protection of the ocean. His next goal is to make benches out of plastic waste, and he envisions them at South Bay schools. He also plans to create planks out of plastic in the shape of wood boards, which can produce various products. As the momentum of his nonprofit increases, he is thankful to have interns this summer who will be assisting him in running the machines that break down the plastic. Harris spends as much time in the ocean as possible, surfing and testing his upcycled boards. He has seen the trash in the water and beaches and continues fighting against it. Whether he is picking up trash in the water, organizing a beach cleanup, or upcycling broken surfboards and plastic waste, he is making a positive impact on our oceans and our community.
To learn more about donating clean plastic goods, surfboards, or buying upcycled products, visit ecobyry. com or ecoss.org. spt
Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on X and Instagram.
Ryan Harris (center) holds court at AltaSea discussing how his company, ECObyRy, upcycles plastic waste. (photo: courtesy Ryan Harris)
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A simple nonprofit strategic plan requiring a ‘ripple of hope’
BY MIKE LANSING
Ata time when government support of social service organizations is dramatically pulling back from pandemic highs while, conversely, the need for these services and support continues to grow, it is incumbent upon us nonprofits that we find a way to provide more for those who need us most rather than the status quo, or even worse — providing less.
Compounding this challenge is the fact that the cost of facilitating nonprofit business today continues to increase, including ever-rising employee costs and inflationary increases in everything from supplies to utilities to subcontracting services and all other operating expenses.
Also, a significant challenge facing nonprofits is
that even when we receive public/government support, it is almost always a “reimbursement,” which means the organization must front all of the costs and then wait to be reimbursed later. That is a considerable cash flow challenge, especially for nonprofits with predominantly government-funded business models.
Regardless of these fiscal challenges, there are many reasons for our over 100 Los Angeles Harbor Area nonprofits to provide more while facing less government funding and higher business costs. Simply put, more youth/teens need “pathways to success,” more individuals and families who are homeless or need affordable housing, more of our neighbors who need medical, dental, and mental health support, more youth who go to bed hungry most nights, more victims of domestic violence, and so many more social
service needs that are far too many for me to list here.
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, the commitment to “more” has been our strategic focus for the past 30 years. During this time, we grew our sites from one to 24, and our operating budget from $270,000 to $16 million, but this isn’t enough. While it would be easy for our board and staff to become satisfied with the status quo, especially while facing the previously noted fiscal challenges, we must be creative while also being fiscally responsible and find ways to provide more.
Therefore, while it is incumbent for our many outstanding nonprofits to provide more, so too is it incumbent upon our private support of these institutions to also increase, especially given what assuredly will be ongoing public funding decreases given our state and federal government budget woes. These nonprofits need more individual, corporate, service organization, and foundation investments if we are to provide more youth development, affordable housing, medical, mental health, food support, senior services, domestic violence intervention, and so many more much-needed social services. We need private investment to help
fill the hole of less public funding.
In a speech he made to students at the University of Cape Town in South Africa in 1966, Robert Kennedy said, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
In this time of great need for “more,” I ask our San Pedro community to consider increasing your support of our many impactful nonprofits. Your investments will translate into more positive impacts for thousands of our neighbors and families while making our community a more positive place to live.
Let’s turn a “ripple of hope” into a surging river of impact and improved lives.
I thank you in advance and ask you to channel RFK’s 1966 appeal to your own action and improve the opportunities available for so many of us who struggle every day. spt
Mike Lansing is the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.
Boys & Girls Club members train in welding through the club’s Career Bound and Workforce Development programs. (photo: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor/Facebook )
•
TO BOOM OR NOT TO BOOM
Drones may be a sign of changing times, but some San Pedro traditions never change
BY LEE WILLIAMS
Asa kid growing up in Washington, illegal fireworks from nearby reservations were cheap and plentiful.
We would gather in the horse pastures or the middle of the high school football field and see who could put on the best display. Hundreds of families would come together as one community, and we looked out for each other. We had plenty of safety equipment to ensure no digits were lost.
Away from homes or other structures, things were both enormous and pretty contained. It was understood that you had to be sober to hold a lighter, and being reckless wasn’t tolerated. I have permanent damage to my left ear from a mishap, but I cherish those memories to this day.
San Pedro, on the other hand, is a warzone on a bell curve starting the first day in June, peaking on the Fourth of July, and continuing well after the nation’s birthday.
The kid in me still loves fireworks: the lights, the concussion that runs through your whole body, and the “oohs” and “ahs,” but I feel for the pets and vets who suffer this time of year. Our boxer-bulldog Isabella is
the happiest dog at the dog park, but she shakes and goes catatonic with every loud explosion.
To dismiss the effect these fireworks have on so many of our military veterans doesn’t seem very patriotic. I’m also making an assumption, but I’m pretty sure the folks lighting up the sky above our 100-yearold house in our neighborhood are not the same folks crowding Cabrillo Beach for the Fourth of July display. Unfortunately, there will be plenty of fireworks without a public show this year. Maybe the police who would have worked Cabrillo on the Fourth could be free to address neighborhood fireworks.
Putting on public fireworks shows requires coastal permits, insurance, and skilled pyrotechnic companies. As climate change grows, permits consider the debris on the shore and water, the effects on wildlife, and the aftermath on the environment. Insurance costs have also gone skyhigh, and there are fewer skilled fireworks companies around to put on decent shows. Drone shows are cleaner, quieter, and more flexible in design for specific events. The downside is drones are still a growing industry, and the cost is often
three times that of fireworks. I can imagine using drones more often and over more events in coming years as more vendors enter the industry and prices come down.
What if the Port had a local drone company that could program events and concerts in weeks instead of months? We might be able to see drone shows twice as often as our fireworks shows.
For fireworks lovers, the Port of Los Angeles Cars & Stripes Forever! event is happening on Friday, June 28, from 5 to 10 p.m., with fireworks happening around 9 p.m. It’s a free event with live music from favorite harbor bands, a beer garden, food trucks, and almost 120 beautiful classic cars from around the Harbor Area. Spots are filling up. There may be opportunities for additional pre-1975 vintage cars to participate on the day of, but it is best to register ahead of time at portoflosangeles.org/community/ events/cars-and-stripes-forever.
For drone lovers, the 74th Annual John Olguin 4th of July “Weekend Spectacular” will take place at Cabrillo Beach on Saturday evening, July 6, with the drone show happening around 8:45 p.m. The drones will be presented by National Experiential,
an experiential marketing company that has produced professional drone shows nationwide, including projects for Disney, Spotify, and Riot Games.
There’s also the annual Cabrillo Beach Boosters Fourth of July Party from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports Center with dinner, live entertainment, and some of the best seats along the beach to watch the drone show. Tickets for the party are available at The Corner Store.
I never knew John Olguin personally, but I can imagine him smiling down over this eco-friendly and critter-friendly version of his event — such a great way to honor his legacy. Drones may be a sign of changing times, but some San Pedro traditions never change. I hope to see you at both of these events. Feel free to let me know what you think. Remember, I’m just a volunteer. If you plan to yell at me, at least buy me a drink first — I’m on your side. 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.
Scene from National Experiential’s drone show at the Santa Monica Pier in May 2023. (photo: National Experiential/Facebook)
CO-AUTHORS OF THEIR LIVES
Sergio and Helen Gonzalez celebrate 75 years of wedded bliss
BY JULIA MURPHY
Thelong life Sergio and Helen Gonzalez have shared is also a time capsule of 20th-century American life.
There are colorful stories about chaperoning your sister on dates in the 1940s, dipping a dead pig into boiling lye water to skin it, or traveling to Egypt multiple times.
Sergio and Helen Gonzalez have been married for 75 years, most of that time living in San Pedro. At 99 and 94, respectively, this gentle, unassuming couple are vital co-authors of their lives.
Both were born in Watts, years after their grandparents had emigrated from Mexico. Today, they live at their longtime home at 25th and Alma, in an apartment complex that also houses their two daughters and their own families. Sergio still drives at 99. Twice a week, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, they offer their home as a meeting place to study the Bible, or they’ll visit other congregants’ homes.
Sergio and Helen met as unexpected cast-offs at a
“weenie bake” when Helen was 16. “The girls laugh at me because we called it a weenie bake, you know?” says Helen. It was 1946, and Sergio was back from the war.
They were the only teenagers who couldn’t go in the water at the beach cookout. Helen wasn’t allowed to wear a bathing suit yet, and Sergio had burned his leg with boiling lye water while skinning a pig.
Looking back, Helen says of that evening, “No, I wasn’t looking at him for any reason, for attraction. I couldn’t really see him,” she remembers. “It was dark. You know, the firelight, it doesn’t reveal much.” The following day, though, Sergio stopped by the little market where Helen worked. They married three years later, on May 29, 1949.
The Gonzalez family originated in Los Angeles near Century Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. It grew to include six children (four boys and two girls). Sergio had been an Air Force mechanic working on B-52s
and cargo planes during the war. His first job was with Northrop Grumman on the twilight shift.
“But a twilight job is no good for a family,” says Sergio. So he left Northrop Grumman and found work at RCA repairing radios. Eventually, he went to work for TWA in its radio division, taking care of navigation and communication equipment in company aircraft. He worked there until he retired in 1986. “Thanks to him, I never had to work,” shares Helen.
When the family arrived in San Pedro in 1968, the fishing boats and canneries were in full operation, and there was no smog. “We could smell the fish, though,” says daughter Olivia Watts. “I liked San Pedro because I felt it was a little more intimate than where we were. It was a smaller town,” says Helen. “We just enjoyed it.” Once Sergio retired, he and Helen began to travel the world. This was the time when airline employees could travel the world on the cheap. At 99, “He [Sergio] still
wants to travel,” says Helen. “I’m the one that wants to stay. He would be willing to go.” There have been challenges, mainly that of losing one of their sons to a heart attack. Aaron died in his 60s, but “to me, he’s still a baby,” says Helen.
Marital success secrets? If you must argue, do it in Spanish and in the bedroom. Let your wife talk as long as she needs to. “It’s how you treat your wife, like a part of your body, you know,” Sergio says.
“Fortunately, he was a good husband,” adds Helen. “He’s a calm person. He doesn’t get all excited or mean.”
The nonagenarians are unphased about all the hoopla surrounding their diamond anniversary. (ABC7 recently did a story about them.) They’re clearly in it for the long haul. They enjoy their family, which includes 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. It’s a sparkling and steady example of devotion in today’s fractured world. spt
Helen and Sergio Gonzalez today (above) and on their wedding day in 1949 (inset). (photos: courtesy Olivia Watts & Laraine Winn)
GET CRAFTY
CRAFTED’S SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS YEAR WITH A VARIETY OF INTERACTIVE ARTS & CRAFTS EXPERIENCES
BY JOSHUA STECKER
“It’s Coachella for crafts!”
That’s how Brittany Boughner, a market manager at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, describes this year’s second annual CRAFTYFEST summer art festival, which returns to the makers market the weekend of July 26-28.
“CRAFTYFEST is like our summer festival, but it’s all about crafts,” explains Boughner. “It’s an arts and crafts festival where all of our vendors host some sort of workshop or class, whether that’s jewelry making, kids making slime — this year it’s edible slime — or a sewing class or even glass blowing.”
In addition to all the arts and crafts activity inside the restored 1940s-era warehouse, there will also be live entertainment (including local favorites Bella & Rudy playing Saturday afternoon), games, craft cocktails, a henna artist, face painting, food trucks, and stilt-walkers, adding even more to that Coachella vibe.
Boughner, who’s been with CRAFTED for over five years, says this year’s festival promises to be bigger than the last.
“It’s grown every year,” she says. “Last year was the first official CRAFTYFEST, but we’ve done it for the last five years and marketed it as a summer craft festival.”
This year’s line-up of classes, workshops, and demonstrations has something to pique everyone’s interest, with even more to discover.
Classes currently on the festival’s weekend schedule include making pottery wind chimes with Adewole Arts, bath bombs with Badcat Bath, peach salsa with Salsas Chingona, edible slime with Minty Bleu, and glass blowing art with Steve Bay of Sea Urchin Glass Arts, among more than a dozen others. Customers must sign up in advance for the scheduled workshops at linktr.ee/ craftedportla.
There are also several walk-up classes and workshops with no specified times where customers can just show up at their leisure and create.
Some walk-up vendors include making tie-dye bandanas and dog paintings with Rufus Ragz, aquatic
terrariums with Mysterious Fathoms, wood-cut paint kits with JSSL Designs, and candle making with Homemade by the Hays.
While admission and parking for the festival are free, most vendor workshops and classes charge a nominal fee. Several food vendors are inside CRAFTED, including a craft cocktail bar.
“We also hand out little scavenger hunts at the door and have a lot of photo booths where visitors can take selfies,” adds Boughner.
CREATING AT CRAFTED
For the vendors at CRAFTED, this is a chance to not only show off their talents and sell their creations, but also to pass on their knowledge and expertise.
The entrance to CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
“I’m excited about the classes and experiences that our customers get to join in on,” says Melissa Hay, owner of Homemade by the Hays, where she makes premium scented candles and sprays. “They get experience, see the work that goes into our crafts, and leave with something they created. And hopefully, they find a new appreciation for what goes into our craft.”
Hay, who also teaches yoga and organizes the San Pedro Makers Market popup events, is one of many vendors at CRAFTED who “graduated” from doing sporadic pop-ups around the South Bay to operating a regular booth at the makers market.
“I started making candles amid COVID,” recalls Hay, who’s been at CRAFTED since March 2023. “I burned a lot of candles at this time because we were home so much, and they made me feel relaxed.”
Not wanting to throw away all her empty candle jars, Hay researched candle making on YouTube to recycle them. Four years later, and her candles can be found in many homes in San Pedro and around the South Bay.
“[Candle making] is definitely more complicated than I thought, but I truly enjoyed the process [of learning],” she says. “Also, I use 100 percent soy and nontoxic products. This is something that I take a lot of pride in, as well as the option to refill your empty jars. I
love bringing awareness of eco-friendly, nontoxic products to my customers.”
Steve Bay, a retired marine biologist and owner of Sea Urchin Glass Arts, found a second life after retirement when he decided to seriously pursue glass blowing as a hobby, which then grew into a small business. He’s been a vendor at CRAFTED for four years.
“It actually started over 50 years ago at Ports O’ Call Village. They had a glass blower there,” recalls Bay. “As a kid, I remember just being mesmerized watching the glass blower working in the shop, making dolphins and sailing ships and things. So that stuck with me this whole time. Then, about 14 years ago, as I was thinking about the next phase of my life and what I’ll be doing, I decided to get serious about learning glass blowing.”
Bay says his favorite part of CRAFTYFEST is interacting with people excited to learn a new skill.
“Folks are learning skills they’ve never had to use before,” he says. “So, it’s fun to take complete beginners and have them be successful.” spt
CRAFTYFEST 2024: A Summer Craft and Art Festival runs Fri-Sun, July 26-28, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission and parking are free. The event is all-ages and is dog friendly. For more information, visit craftedportla.com.
From top: Glass blowing artist Steve Bay teaches a demonstration with CRAFTED manager, Brittany Boughner; Melissa Hay of Homemade by the Hays makes her candles; local favorites Bella & Rudy will be performing Saturday at CRAFTYFEST. (photos: John Mattera Photography, CRAFTED)
TWIN MAGIC
Sisters Jill Jaxx and Jan Bunker reflect on decades in the spotlight in their new memoir
BY NADIA NIZETICH
JanBunker’s home, nestled in the heart of San Pedro, is a testament to her long and storied life as an entertainer.
There’s the piano in the corner, often played — her dog Gatsby, often played with — and just for today, seated at the dining room table, her twin sister Jill Jaxx, with whom she shares a lifelong career in music.
The sisters recently added another accomplishment to their resumes: authors. Originally from the small town of Junction City, Kansas, they moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s with their band, the Burgundy Street Singers, to pursue an entertainment career. Which One Are You?
Twin Tales: From the Heartland to Hollywood chronicles their journey from grade school music classes to performing with stars including Carol Burnett and Frank Sinatra.
A theme running through the book is what they call “twin magic” — the idea that the two of them are linked, in often curious ways, by the circumstances of their birth. Jill explains, “There really is a thing about twin power. We go somewhere together, and stuff will happen,” she says. “We have a force, and we’ve felt lucky, always.”
This force manifests in many ways, one of which is in the Burgundy Street
Singers’ origins. While studying at Kansas State, a few students forming a folk rock band took interest in Jan and Jill’s dual voices. According to Jill, “There’s a twin power in the voice. You get the same voice doubled, so everyone loves sisters’ harmonies.” They joined the band and went on to win a national song contest that got the group noticed by music agents. Abandoning their studies, they moved to Hollywood shortly after.
Twin magic also propelled them to center stage within the Singers some years later. Relegated to backup vocals, Jan and Jill assumed the spotlight when their male lead singer came down with laryngitis. This was a big deal at the time — though the women’s liberation movement was underway, Jan recalls how the music industry was still male-dominated.
“Women were not considered anything to deal with. For years, I thought, ‘Oh, I’m just a little background piano player,’” she recalls.
Jill elaborates, describing how filling in for a man
changed their trajectory. “We thought we were just the girls, like we couldn’t do anything. But after we took over that night, I thought, ‘Oh yeah, we can do this. We’re not just the girls.’”
Twin magic brought other benefits as well. While touring, the Singers signed as the spokespeople of Budweiser beer, in part due to the sisters’ identical appearance. More publicity meant more gigs, and they eventually found themselves on The Carol Burnett Show, Happy Days, American Bandstand, and others. Jill looks back fondly on that time on the national stage, but her favorite performance was in a more private setting. “We played The Cocoanut Grove with Les Brown’s Band of Renown. Every Hollywood star was in the audience — Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Mancini, and Jack Nicholson.”
Their careers brought other new experiences as well. Moving from Kansas to Los Angeles meant going — in Jan’s words — from
where there are “a lot of cows, wheat, and Republicans” to a city where grocery stores stayed open 24 hours a day and smog blanketed the earth like a cloud. They recall eating tacos for the first time (at Taco Bell, no less), to Jill being wooed by a married man (“But you’re married!”), to learning about the existence of both homosexuality and its repressive counterpart, homophobia. Throughout it all, Jan recalls how they constantly said yes, and never no, to new experiences. “In the ’60s, it was the hippies and the clean cuts,” she explains, describing the forces that shaped who they would become. “Part of America didn’t want the dope-smoking, long-haired mustache and all that, so they hired us.” She puts on her best Valley girl accent and laughs. “We were so stupid, we were like, ‘Okay!’ It was a time where it seemed like every door opened.”
One of those doors was to their shift from the Singers to a career as a duo — the pair tried their hand at re-
Jill Jaxx and Jan Bunker. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
cording their own album as Jan and Jill, securing a deal with none other than Elton John’s agent that set them out on their own.
That’s not to say everything went well. Twin magic showed its uglier side when the sisters married their first husbands, both named Michael. This launched what they describe as the worst periods of their lives. They felt disconnected from each other and themselves. They pulled through in large part because of blind faith.
“I drew on my inner strength,” says Jan, “and said, ‘I’m going to be single, and I’m going to play piano.’ I tried out for a gig when I only knew three songs.”
Jill, meanwhile, left her husband and moved back to Kansas for a short time. “When you’re a musician, you have to have faith in yourself. That’s the only person that does.”
After playing in piano bars and pursuing other endeavors, eventually, Jan and Jill became music and voice teachers and settled permanently in Los Angeles.
Today, Jan has since retired from teaching and volunteers at Harbor Animal Care Center, finding homes for the hundreds of animals in residence needing families. Jill runs her YouTube channel with over two million subscribers, “Learn to Sing Better Fast,” while also teaching vocal lessons to students locally and around the world.
They both still perform, too. Jill and her students put on shows for local retirement communities, while Jan plays privately at her home. And, of course, they’re still deeply tied to each other — through twin magic or otherwise.
With Jill’s prompting, Jan recites the lyrics of a song she wrote years back. “The veil has lifted, born together. Innocent souls, entwined forever. Closer than sisters, never apart. Where does she end? Where do I start?” spt
Which One Are You? Twin Tales: From the Heartland to Hollywood is available at Amazon.com. For more info, visit janandjilltales.com.
The Burgundy Street Singers. (photo: courtesy Jill Jaxx)
NEW OWNERS, SAME GREAT MARKETS
These two San Pedro markets have what you need for your summer grilling
BY SANAM LAMBORN
Tworecent market ownership changes in town sent me into a panic mode.
I love our independently owned mini-markets because not only do they represent the “flavor” of our town, but they also offer unique finds. I believe this to be particularly true about the variety of sausages, cuts of meat, and specialty items that are not comparable to big chain grocery stores.
Now that we are in the summer season, these two markets are ideal places to purchase goodies to throw on the grill.
I panicked when I heard A-1 Italian Deli and Grocery (348 W. 8th St.) changed ownership last year because: 1.) It was the first Italian store my husband took me to
when we were dating — I remember walking down the aisles with tears in my eyes because they had many Italian brands that I grew up with that are not available at regular stores; 2.) Where would I buy frozen sfogliatelle to bake at home? 3.) What would my life be without Ante Bjazic’s cevapcici?
The store has undergone a much-needed overhaul, which has made it look impressively bright and clean. Fortunately, many Italian products that made this store special are still on the shelves.
The butcher display features many poultry, beef, pork, and housemade sausages to choose from. I am happy to report that Ante, one of the few remaining familiar faces, is still making fantastic cevapcici. The latter, along with any of the sausages or steaks, are great
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to throw on the grill.
The deli section, overhauled by yet another familiar face, Ambrose Russo, looks more inviting and appetizing with staples such as cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, various olives, and side salads. The sandwiches are just as good as ever, with a steady line of customers who file in during lunchtime.
The new addition to the store is a couple of freezers filled with various types of eye-catching frozen seafood (and even rabbit). I have yet to meet the new owners, but the mood is chipper and friendly overall.
The second panic occurred earlier this year when it was announced that La Perla Tapatia Meat Market (210 N. Pacific Ave.) was sold to a new owner. Through the years, they truly lived up to the words on their store banner: “Best carne asada in town.” I wondered about possible changes to some of my other favorites, like the mango habanero wings, picanha, and salsas.
I am happy to report that everything seems the same, except for some minor reconfiguration of the aisles. The meat display is still full of good-looking beef, pork, and poultry selections ready to be taken home and thrown on the BBQ. The mango habanero wings,
picanha, and salsas are still there, too. The carne asada is still tasty, and they kept the old system where the meat is weighed first and then dipped in the marinate tub to acquire its delicious flavor.
New fantastic discoveries during my last couple of visits are the ranchero prime, a thin sliced, tender cut of meat that cooks super quickly, and it’s delicious. The tasajo is a narrow halfan-inch thick cut of meat that is also great, particularly when dunking in the marinade.
I was told that during the transition, everything remained the same, and I must say the marinade is still fantastic, although it feels slightly sweeter to me. Nevertheless, it’s still my preferred place in town for various cuts of unique meats.
During your visit, you can still opt to purchase prepared food. They also have reasonably priced daily specials.
If you need an incentive to visit this meat market, follow their active Instagram account, which will tantalize your taste buds. 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.
A-1 Italian Deli and Grocery. (photo: Sanam Lamborn)
PATIENT ART
How a life-altering event can inspire creation
BY LINDA GRIMES
It’sBe patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.
– Ovid
not lost on me that the definitions of “patient” — as both an adjective and a noun — relate to each other. Adjective — “able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.” Noun — “a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment.”
Some months ago, I was approached by Tamra King, the CEO of Harbor Community Health Centers, about hanging art in the clinic at 6th and Grand. I immediately thought of a fellow Gaucher disease patient, Ted Meyer.
Ted is a nationally recognized artist, curator, and patient advocate who helps patients, students, and medical professionals see the positive in the worst life can offer. His decades-long project “Scarred for Life: Mono-prints of Human Scars” chronicles the trauma and courage of people who have lived through accidents and health crises.
Harbor Community Health Centers is a trusted provider of state-of-the-art health services for men, women,
and children throughout San Pedro and the surrounding Los Angeles and South Bay areas. Their mission is to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare and supportive services to those in our community, regardless of their ability to pay.
Founded more than 50 years ago, they began as the “storefront” Harbor Free Clinic in 1970, and today, the clinic features two locations in San Pedro — a general care clinic and a location dedicated to pediatrics.
Ted agreed to curate a show of art in the clinic and introduced me to Dylan Mortimer. Born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder primarily affecting the lungs, Dylan has already beaten the odds.
The average life span of those affected is about 37 years old; Dylan is 38. A double lung transplant in January 2017 literally gave him a new life and a transformation, which he pours into his work.
As a person whose soul case also came with serious life-threatening issues, Ted, Dylan, and I connected over the day-to-day issues we’ve encountered along the way to lead a meaningful life, give back to our communities, and find healing through the arts.
As many of you know, ten years ago, on an April First Thursday ArtWalk, I found myself waking up five days later to the realization that my body had undergone major surgery to repair a delaminating aorta. Instead of wallowing in the morbid aspects of the defects in our bodies, we found comfort and connection in each other’s life-affirming stories.
Dylan still works predominantly with paint and glitter on cut paper, and his post-surgery work now features anatomical or medical images, like cells and lungs. Instead of appearing clinical or sterile, they embody movement and evoke the spiritual.
Prior to receiving his new lungs, he admits glitter served as a cover, distracting the viewer from seeing the artist as a person with a life-threatening illness. Now, he uses the glitter as a celebration.
For Dylan, to behold the power of healing against the backdrop of pain can be a spiritual experience. A former pastor of ten years, he is influenced by the stories in scripture, talking about
being both overwhelmed by the beauty and feeling terrified when experiencing the divine.
These are conversations he wants to help create and to be a part of, and by introducing himself as a patient, he has connected with his audience through their mutual health issues. It’s been a profound experience to share the message of hope offered by his new health, and it’s not a message he takes lightly.
The public can see Dylan’s work, hung on the walls of the Harbor Community Health Centers clinic at 6th and Grand, to be inspired by his life-affirming artworks. Dylan’s art show will be up through the end of the year, and we expect to have more art hung by patient artists in 2025.
The clinic is open during the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 539 West 6th Street in San Pedro. spt
Linda Grimes is the executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District and can be reached at 55lindagrimes@gmail.com.
Artists Dylan Mortimer and Ted Meyer in front of Mortimer’s art at the Harbor Community Health Centers clinic on 6th Street.. (photo: Linda Grimes)
PLANNING FOR PEACE OF MIND
ADVOCATE. DONATE.
VOLUNTEER.
Meghan Langfield works to keep folks from becoming part of the system
BY AMBER SHEIKH
If you follow this column, you know that Harbor Connects is an organization I helped co-found and is near and dear to my heart.
Harbor Connects supports neighbors and service providers in the fight against poverty by connecting them directly to resources, mentoring, and advocacy.
In April, we hired a new leader, and with her at the helm, we are looking to continue to grow our impact — both in reach and scope.
Meet Meghan Langfield. Meghan is a servant leader with a stellar reputation for resolving problems, improving customer satisfaction, and driving overall operational improvements. She has over ten years of experience in child welfare, serving in several roles, most recently with the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Let’s get to know Meghan better and learn about what’s happening with Harbor Connects.
What brought you to this work?
I often like to share a story from my childhood. At the age of five or six, I recall playing on a merry-go-round, and I saw a toddler fall off. Rushing to make sure the little one was okay is one of my earliest memories of helping
someone. While details of that experience fade as I get older, that incredible feeling of helping has stayed with me. It has really become part of who I am, personally and professionally.
What are you most proud of in your work?
Preventative systems involvement. Having spent 13 years working in child welfare for counties, cities, and state governments, the work my team and I did to transform the child welfare system in Colorado is what I’m most proud of. Our goal was to change the system to prevent children from entering it and keep families together — and we were able to do this and more.
What are some of the challenges standing in your way?
The homeless services ecosystem presents challenges and can be difficult to navigate. I like to think of those hurdles as opportunities for improvement rather than challenges — either way, access to services and resources can be fairly difficult for those most vulnerable.
We need more folks on the front lines — social and case workers are often overworked and underpaid. The folks that do this work are all heart! More often than not, they can’t afford basic necessities themselves or are
grappling with the realities of working in a system that needs more resources. Also, I know people hear it from everywhere, but we need more affordable housing.
Economic burdens on families can snowball quickly, especially in the current inflation climate. Many families are one or two paychecks [away] from being homeless. We recently helped a nonprofit service provider’s staff member whose hours had been cut down to 32 hours a month. She was struggling to pay her car and phone bills — both essential to her professional and personal life (as a mom). Our intervention helped make sure she had the means to get her kids to school and could keep working. That’s a win-win — at least in the short term.
Our goal has always been to try to prevent folks from becoming part of the system — a system that is impacted and over-extended.
What can our neighbors do to help?
Advocate. We need more preventative measures to keep folks — like the nonprofit staffer — from being part of the system themselves.
Volunteer. So many nonprofit organizations have limited capacity, and the more people get involved, the more people get the help and resources they need.
Donate. I realize not everyone can help financially, and that is why I think being an advocate or volunteer [is an] impactful [way] to support nonprofits. But programs need funding. Harbor Connects has felt the donor love from so many of you, and we are extremely grateful.
This corner of San Pedro Today will become even more critical as we near the November election. As of print, the Bold New Way measure (hopefully labeled Measure A) will officially be certified to be on the November ballot.
The Bold New Way measure is the first citizen initiative of this kind and represents an expert-driven, collaborative approach to addressing our homeless crisis. It’s written and endorsed by the staff and organizations doing the work every day, and without its passing, this work will take a huge step backward.
Over the next few months, my interviews will continue to feature the people and organizations that will fuel our work for years to come if we pass this measure. Join me in making things better. spt
Amber Sheikh is a San Pedro resident, mother of two, community advocate, and owner of Sheikh/Impact, a nonprofit consulting firm.
Harbor Connects board of directors: (l to r) Lee Williams, Sgt. Manlove, Lisa Williams, Amber Sheikh, Lauren Luna, Rev. Amanda Riley, Rev. Adam Stevenson, and Meghan Langfield (photo: Tammy Khan)
TIPS FOR JULY VEGGIE GARDENS
A conversation with Jonathan Garcia, owner of Mantis Landscaping
BY NADIA NIZETICH
Jonathan Garcia, owner of Mantis Landscaping in San Pedro, knows a thing or two about vegetable gardening.
An avid gardener since childhood, he specializes in building and maintaining landscapes and edible gardens across the South Bay. I met with Jonathan at one of those gardens — lush and filled with herbs, veggies, and fruit trees — to pick his brain about July gardening tips. Here’s what he told me.
DON’T LET IT BUG YOU
July is a month where it might seem like there’s not much to do in the veggie patch. The plants are well into the growing season and producing their first crops, making the gardener feel like they can kick back. And while it’s true that July is much less hectic than spring, Jonathan recommends staying vigilant and keeping watch for pests.
“The first thing I do when I come to the garden is check the flowers,” he says, referring to a few pansies growing near some peppers. “I check underneath all the leaves because the bugs are going to hide underneath them and in the little crevices.”
If you do find pests, such as aphids, mealybugs, or
scale, it’s best to get a jump on control early. Neem oil, Dr. Bronner’s soap, or just a good jet of water from the hose are Jonathan’s weapons of choice since they’re organic and work well if they’re sprayed every two weeks. But he cautions they’re harmful to the good bugs as well as the bad.
“Use them in the evenings when all your pollinators have gone,” he says. “These things are organic, but it doesn’t mean they’re not harmful.”
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Another thing to keep watch for in the July garden is yellowing leaves. Yellow leaves at the bottom of plants are normal as plants shed their older leaves in favor of new growth. However, if leaves are yellowing at the middle or the top of the plant, it could be a sign of a more significant problem.
Jonathan recommends keeping a close eye on things to learn to tell the difference. “Always look at your new growth. That will be an indicator of a healthy or unhealthy plant,” he advises, grabbing a young leaf at the top of an eggplant. “Here, the new growth is beautiful. The color is bright, the texture is good. So I’m not worried that a few of the
bottom leaves are dying.”
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT
Yellowing leaves from disease is a different story, of course. While there’s no simple answer to identifying and fixing diseases, the best treatment is prevention. If you’re thinking about treating the disease rather than promoting the healthy soil that keeps plants strong, “you’re kind of doing it backward,” he says.
Even so, disease does happen. To diagnose a mystery disease, Jonathan starts by taking notes and pictures of the affected leaves. He’ll then research to develop a few hypotheses before trying out a few remedies to see what works. This trial-and-error approach — which defines gardening — is also why he recommends
keeping a record of everything you do in your yard.
While I use a journal, Jonathan uses an app that allows him to save pictures of his plants, organize his gardens by property, and even monitor irrigation. Over time, you’ll learn to recognize when issues are self-inflicted or due to something entirely out of your control. “If you’re in the garden and just going for it, the technical expertise will follow,” Jonathan recommends. “Just get out there, grow some tomatoes, and enjoy the experience.”
Follow Mantis Landscaping on Facebook and Instagram, or check out their website at mantislandscaping.com. spt
Nadia Nizetich is an at-large writer for San Pedro Today and an avid gardener.
Jonathan Garcia. (photo: Kaitlyn Fleer)
COMFORT, PAIN, & THAT LITTLE VOICE
BY EDDIE MCKENNA
Ihavea lot of friends with kids, and I get to see many interactions and situations from which I believe everyone can learn.
This past weekend, my friend’s son wanted to play video games. So he asked, “Hey, Dad, after the pool, can I play video games when we get home?” Dad responds, “Sure, after you do 200 pushups.” No joking, straightfaced response. The mom happily agreed. Needless to say, the son was up in arms about the terms of the deal. The negotiations began and ended up with the son having to do four sets of 25
pushups and four laps in the pool. He reluctantly agreed. Five pushups into his first set, all you could hear and see was complaining and poor body language. His dad laid down next to him and said, “Come on, you are almost done.” The boy protested, but the dad held firm and said, “Any time you start something, you are one step closer to finishing.”
I couldn’t believe I got to witness all of this going down. The son complained that he was nowhere near finishing, but the dad said, “You are not understanding. I always say, ‘I am almost done,’ because it is my mantra anytime I start something hard.”
The boy finally took note
VOTED SOUTH BAY’S FAVORITE 2023
and hunkered down. I happened to time his workout — the boy took 29 minutes to complete it. He didn’t complain a word after that ordeal.
I called the dad the next day and asked if the boy ended up playing video games afterwards; I was genuinely interested. He told me that he didn’t after all. His boy thought he could play the next day, but his dad told him he’d have to work out again before he could. It made me laugh, and I thought it was a great lesson. The boy learned about delayed gratification. He learned how to talk to himself positively while taking on a challenge. He learned to persevere with some humility, and I believe at that moment, he may have even matured a bit more.
The dad talking about the mantra really spoke to me. I have always found it to be beneficial to have positive self-talk while doing anything. While working with kids and adults, I see too
often that they are usually berating themselves and telling me how bad they are doing.
Having a positive mantra can impact any endeavor you take on. My favorite mantra is, “This is easy,” something I say every time I am working out. I repeat it over and over and over. I learned it from a friend who is a retired firefighter. We’d do the craziest workouts and every time I asked how it was, without fault, his response was, “That was easy.” Now, I know it wasn’t easy, but when doing difficult things, it’s easy to fall into the trap of taking your foot off the gas pedal because you are listening to that little voice telling you to slow down or give up.
You tell that voice to shut up and push that gas pedal down. Then let’s see what you’re capable of, just like my friend’s son. spt
Eddie McKenna is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.
(photo: Andrea Piacquadio)
2024 MID-YEAR MARKET REVIEW
A look at local real estate trends
BY MIKE HARPER & PETER HAZDOVAC
Aslocal real estate professionals and columnists for San Pedro Today, we pride ourselves on keeping up with local market trends and providing our readers and clients with helpful insights.
In our 2023 “Year in Review” column, we noted that the predominant trends in the San Pedro and South Bay housing market were highlighted by significantly lower sales volume and modest price softening. Tight inventory was an ongoing theme, and mortgage rates reached a high of 8% toward the end of the year.
To summarize the California Association of Realtors forecast for 2024, expectations were for an increase in existing SFR home sales volume of +22.9%, with the median home price forecasted to rise +6.2% to $860,300 in 2024. A persistent housing shortage and a competitive housing market would continue to put upward pressure on home prices during the year.
With the economy expected to soften in 2024, the Federal Reserve Bank
would begin loosening its monetary policy during the year. Mortgage rates were expected to trend down throughout 2024, and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage could reach the mid-5 % range by the end of the year.
Through the first half of 2024, we haven’t seen any loosening in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy due to lingering high inflationary conditions. After housing benefited from stabilized mortgage rates in the mid-6 % range during the first two months of the year, rates have hovered around 7% since March.
With the Federal Reserve recently announcing that they would begin taking rate cuts perhaps in December, mortgage rates are expected to fall back to the mid-6 % range through the end of the year as inflation cools.
So, how has our local real estate market fared?
Through the first five-plus months of this year (JanJune 18 year over year) in San Pedro, according to local MLS statistics, 131 single-family residences (SFRs) were sold. This was up +7.38% from the 122 SFR sales during the same period in 2023.
The average sales price
for a SFR in San Pedro increased by +9.02%, up from $953,000 to $1,039MM. Average Days on Market (DOM) decreased slightly from 38 to 34 days.
In neighboring Rancho Palos Verdes, there were 128 SFRs sold, which was down -9.22% from the 141 homes sold during the same period in 2023. Average sales prices decreased by -5% from $2,058MM to $1,955MM. Average DOM also came down slightly from 35 to 31 days versus the year prior.
The Greater South Bay saw SFR sales increase by a modest +1.31% during the first five-plus months of the year, from 1,373 in 2023 to 1,391 in 2024. The average sales price for a SFR increased by +6.99% from $1,517MM to $1,623MM. Average DOM also dropped
slightly from 35 to 31 days during the same period the year prior.
It’s clear that our local housing market has remained strong even with higher mortgage rates and inflationary concerns. This is due mainly to a strong job market and the tight inventory environment that is expected to continue throughout the year. It will be interesting to see how the remainder of 2024 plays out, and we look forward to providing our annual year-in-review summary next January. spt
Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are co-owners of HH Coastal Real Estate, an independent local brokerage. For more info, visit hhcoastal.com.
(photo: Alexander Isreb)
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