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.
Out of everyone who has contributed to this magazine, I’ve known Mike Lansing the longest, for over 40 years.
For many of us who attended Catholic school in San Pedro in the 1980s, Lansing was a fixture in our education. In my case, he was my P.E. coach at Holy Trinity.
Decades later, when I began publishing San Pedro Today in 2009, I asked him to contribute, giving him a platform to share the struggles and successes of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor. He’s been writing for the magazine ever since.
So, when he announced that he was retiring at the end of the year, I knew it was time to celebrate his career in our pages. I’m glad we did.
Lansing is one of those rare born-and-raised San Pedrans whose life’s work has been in service to his hometown. There are generations of children whose lives were changed for the better because of what he and his staff have been able to accomplish in 30 years.
The growth of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor under Lansing’s leadership is nothing short of amazing. Read this month’s cover story, and you’ll understand why.
On a personal note, thanks, Mike, for your friendship, positive influence, tireless leadership, and for inspiring so many of us to give back to our community. spt
Joshua Stecker is the publisher/editor-in-chief of San Pedro Today. Email Letters to the Editor to contact@ sanpedrotoday.com.
SEPTEMBER 2024
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF /PUBLISHER
Joshua J. Stecker
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lori Garrett
ART DIRECTION
Joseph A. Castañeda
PHOTOGRAPHER
John Mattera Photography
CONTRIBUTORS
Jack Baric, Linda Grimes, Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Sanam Lamborn, Mike Lansing, Steve Marconi, Eddie McKenna, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Amber Sheikh, Jamaal K. Street
ADVERTISING: General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com
Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166
patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 8
ON THE COVER: Mike Lansing, photographed at the Boys & Girls Club of San Pedro on July 18, 2024. (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.
SEPTEMBER 2024
5 (Thurs) – LABYRINTH
WALKING at Center for Spiritual Living (907 Knob Hill, Redondo Beach), 3:45p. – Labyrinth walking is an ancient practice used by many different faiths for meditation, while quieting your mind for a peaceful experience. The circular labyrinth is made of heavy canvas complemented with soothing lights and music. No shoes on canvas, socks are recommended. FREE admission. Park on Knob Hill and enter double doors to your left. For more info, contact Jane at (310) 955-8734.
5 (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.
7 (Sat) – SATURDAY
MORNINGS ROCK at Collage (731 S. Pacific Ave.), 10a. – Join us for rock jam sessions on the first and third Saturday morning of each month! Conducted by Mark Warnholtz, who will coach those who would like some practice
and instruction for the first hour. After that, the more experienced are welcome to join in. We have a house drum kit and a few loaner guitars and basses, but ask you to bring your own. For tickets and info, visit collageartculture.org.
7 (Sat) – ANNUAL WINE AND BEER TASTE at the Muller House Museum (1542 S. Beacon St.), 3-6p. – Enjoy fine wines, local craft beers, and tasty hors d’oeuvres, plus exciting silent auction items. SPBHS members $25; non-members $30. RSVP at (310) 365-8873 or sanpedrohistory@gmail.com.
8 (Sun) – EXPLORE THE COAST / EXPLORA LA COSTA at the West Harbor Promenade (boarding at W. 6th St. and Harbor Blvd.), 2p. –Join the L.A. Maritime Institute (LAMI) aboard one of our tall ships to explore the coast on our bilingual, STEM-focused educational and exploration sail, sponsored by Marathon Petroleum. You’ll learn something new and increase your coastal awareness. Advanced registration required, $10 donation per person. Children must be 10 or older. To register, visit lamitopsail.org/etc.
14 (Sat) – 4th ANNUAL SAN PEDRO MUSIC FESTIVAL at Brouwerij West (110 E. 22nd St.), 4-10p. – Windy City Entertainment, Inc. returns with another historic, family-friendly, FREE music festival. A great day of food, culture, and amazing music! For tickets and more info, visit sanpedromusicfestival.com.
14 (Sat) – FEED AND BE FED’S HARVEST CELEBRATION in the Garden (429 W. 6th St.), 5-8p. – Join us for a celebration honoring LAUSD’s Lou Mardesich. Delicious fall-inspired bites, libations, auction, and kids games. For tickets, visit feedandbefed.org/fallfundraiser.
15 (Sun) – UKULELE JAM WITH TAERI & KATIE at Collage (731 S. Pacific Ave.), 2p. – Join Taeri Schiffman and Katie Blanchard of Popoki House every third Sunday of the month for our revamped Ukulele Jam. Sign up in advance to get a list of tunes and sheet music. There will be time for solo tunes. All skill levels welcome. For tickets and info, visit collageartculture.org.
20 (Fri) – MARY STAR HIGH SCHOOL FRIDAY
NIGHT LIGHTS REUNION EXTRAVAGANZA at Mary Star High School (2500 N. Taper Ave.), 4-7p. – All are welcome to join us for dinner and drinks on the quad, followed by the varsity football game. Pre-registration required at wearemarystar.com.
21 (Sat) – DAY OF PEACE WITH DR. JANE GOODALL at Point Fermin Park (807 W. Paseo Del Mar), 10a-4p. – International Day of Peace celebration honoring Dr. Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday! Dr. Goodall will share her message of hope, inspiring people worldwide to take action on behalf of people, animals, and the planet. Live music, inspiring speakers, and engaging exhibits. For more info, visit peacedayla.org.
21 (Sat) – BRIDGE LESSONS at South Bay Bridge Club (24100 Narbonne Ave., #105, Lomita), 10a-12p. – FREE bridge lessons from Sept. 21 thru Nov. 16, for ages 10 to 110. Bring your friends and family! For more info, call Linda MacKenzie at (323) 374-3533 or visit southbaybridgeclub.com.
21 (Sat) – SUNSET SAIL ON THE SAN PEDRO HARBOR at the West Harbor Promenade (boarding at W. 6th St.
and Harbor Blvd.), 5:30p. – Join the L.A. Maritime Institute (LAMI) to see the San Pedro Harbor from a different perspective on one of our monthly sunset sails! You can sit back and relax or become part of the crew. Either way, you’ll enjoy the sunset from the deck of a tall ship — and don’t forget a picnic to enjoy! Tickets: $60 adults, $30 children (12 and under). For tickets and info, visit lamitopsail.org/events.
22 (Sun) – BRIDGE LESSON at South Bay Bridge Club (24100 Narbonne Ave., #105, Lomita), 10a-4:30p. – Marjorie Michelin, Grand Life Master, will teach a one-day beginner bridge class, after which you will know bridge basics. Designed for ages 10 and up who have never played bridge before and for those who want a refresher class. FREE to students ages 10 to 18 and teachers with a school ID; others $25. Register by September 19. Call Linda MacKenzie at (323) 3743533 for more info. spt
Events deadline for Oct. 2024 is Friday, Sept. 13.
Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.
SP OTLIGHT
BY SPT STAFF
FISH MARKET’S NEW TV SERIES DEBUTS
Adapted from the award-winning web series, the highly anticipated new TV series Kings of Fi$H premiered on August 13, streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
The docudrama brings the resilient, entrepreneurial spirit of the San Pedro Fish Market family to a broader audience, promising to capture the hearts of seafood lovers and viewers worldwide.
Kings of Fi$H follows the Ungaro and Amalfitano families, chronicling their journey over four generations in the competitive seafood industry.
“We’re excited to share our journey and the hard work that goes into keeping a family business thriving for generations,” said Mike
Ungaro, co-owner of San Pedro Fish Market. “This series highlights not only our successes but the challenges, dedication, and perseverance that define our everyday lives.”
San Pedro Fish Market serves over 40,000 customers every week and has become one of the largest and highest-grossing restaurants in California — and likely the nation.
As the family business prepares for a new chapter with the West Harbor redevelopment project, the series shines a spotlight on the innovative drive and vibrant personalities that fuel this thriving San Pedro family business.
Kings of Fi$H is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. For more information, visit sanpedrofish.com. spt
PECK PARK GYM RENAMED IN HONOR OF MEL BOBICH
On Saturday, September 7, San Pedro legend Mel Bobich will be celebrated posthumously as Peck Park Gymnasium is renamed in his honor.
Bobich, who was a tireless advocate for youth sports, had been petitioning for the gym from 1971 until its completion in 1998.
“The family is gratified by the recognition of our husband’s/father’s efforts. While he shunned public recognition, we realize that the San Pedro community includes a range of volunteers and advocates for the community’s youth, and by recognizing
‘SAN PEDRO ON FILM’ RETURNS SEPT 15
On Sunday, September 15, the San Pedro Heritage Museum will present San Pedro on Film, a live talk event at the Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), showcasing the port town’s recurring role as Hollywood’s backdrop. There will be two shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
him in this way, we recognize all of those who advocate for San Pedro youth and engage them in sports activities,” said the Bobich family in a statement.
The program begins at 1 p.m. at the Peck Park Gymnasium (560 N. Western Ave.), with a reception to follow. The public is welcome. spt
The program, hosted by Joshua Stecker (San Pedro Today publisher), will feature clips from notable films, TV shows, and commercials shot in San Pedro in the 1970s and ‘80s, highlighting many places that no longer exist.
Tickets are $25 to $100 (VIP) and can be purchased through Eventbrite at sanpedroheritagemuseum.org.
Proceeds from tickets, merchandise, and raffle sales will benefit the San Pedro Heritage Museum. spt
Kings of Fi$H. (photo: San Pedro Fish Market)
Turner & Hooch. (1989)
Bobich in front of Peck Park Gymnasium in 1998. (photo: Bobich family)
Centennial Plaid
www.mckennaspendleton.com
JIMMY THE GREEK
Native son and world-class resort owner dies in adopted homeland of Costa Rica
BY STEVE MARCONI
It’s not every person who not only leaves a mark on the town where they grew up but on the country in which they lived.
Such can be said of Jim Damalas, San Pedro’s most famous expatriate and founder and owner of the world-renowned Si Como No Resort, Spa and Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica, who died August 8.
I’ve written about my old friend Damalas a few times, most recently just last October, after the death of Jimmy Buffet. That’s when I discovered Buffet had written an entire chapter in his book A Pirate Looks at Fifty about visiting Si Como No in 1996 and making friends with Damalas.
I first met Damalas — always Jimmy to me — when we started at Dodson Junior High together. Over the next eight years, I spent many a day at his house on Santa Rena Drive; hospitality comes naturally to Greeks. A good indicator of the kind of person he was, our W’69 class at San Pedro High voted him class president and “most enthusiastic.”
We went on to Harbor College together, and two years
later, he transferred to UCLA, where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree.
He was one of the groomsmen in my 1974 wedding, and while I was early in my newspaper career, Damalas was backpacking around the globe, and we didn’t see much of each other after that.
He eventually set down roots in Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica’s west coast and, in 1993, opened Si Como No. In 2009, he was in New York, where he was awarded the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Standard-Setters Award. Previous winners included the Prince of Wales, Walter Cronkite, and Ted Turner.
I’m thankful that just last October, Damalas came up and we had breakfast together at Pacific Diner. He was in fine spirits and didn’t share any health concerns, but earlier this year, he had to have a cancerous kidney removed. He was undergoing chemo when he developed sepsis and died during treatment; he was 73.
Jim Dyde, in reporting Damalas’ death on centralamerica.com, called Damalas “a visionary in sustainable tourism who shaped Costa Rica’s eco-friendly hospitality industry.”
Noting that Damalas founded the Greentique Hotels brand at Si Como No, Dyde said, “He focused on creating hotels that integrated with their natural surroundings, prioritizing environmental conservation and community engagement. His approach was encapsulated in the phrase ‘travel well, travel right,’ reflecting his belief that tourism could benefit both the environment and local communities.”
John Hiigel, another W’69 classmate at San Pedro High, is a former pastor and retired professor of biblical studies at South Dakota State University. He came to know Damalas as I did at Dodson; he eventually was student body president at San Pedro. Like many of us, he lost touch with Damalas, but after our 50th reunion in 2019, they reconnected via email. Upon hearing of Damalas’ passing, Hiigel wrote a beautiful eulogy:
“His clear promise as a leader did not go unfulfilled! What a brilliant, impactful career! What good work and positive influence! It was a privilege to know and enjoy him those years ago — a truly joy-giving person — and I celebrate his admirable life.
“I have regrets but much gratitude. Jimmy was always
good to me, and he was one of God’s rich gifts in my life.”
Those thoughts were echoed by all those who knew Damalas. Nancy (Jacobson) Shepard is another classmate, one who has remained in touch with Damalas for all of the 55 years since our graduation.
Another world traveler, Shepard lived 12 years in Spain and recalls the origins of the hotel’s name. She wrote, “The ‘Si Como No’ came from a silly response that Jimmy picked up while visiting Madrid with me and continued to be used while we traveled together. I, of course, had a big laugh when I heard the name given to his first hotel.”
Not taken literally, the expression “si como no” is used in Spanish-speaking countries for “of course.”
A funeral Mass was held for Damalas in Quepos, Costa Rica, with his ashes to be scattered at a later time. A lifelong bachelor, Damalas is survived by his older brother, Harry, and Harry’s family.
Shepard spoke for us all in closing: “He was a real treat — a good friend — a truly beautiful human being.” spt
Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@ yahoo.com.
Jim Damalas. (photo: Harvard Business School)
HONORING OUR OWN
Boys & Girls Club’s annual fundraiser celebrates local legends
BY MIKE LANSING
OnOctober 5, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, now in our 87th year of dedication to youth, will host our annual “Bids for Kids” gala at the Sonesta Hotel in Redondo Beach, recognizing the following three outstanding alumni and an amazing long-term volunteer/donor.
JOE AMALFITANO: An active Boys Club member, especially in sports, Joe became one of baseball’s first “bonus babies” when he joined the New York Giants in 1954 and was a member of their World Series team. That began an amazing eight-decade career and 67 years in professional baseball.
Besides being a player from 1954-1967, Joe’s career included being the manager of the Chicago Cubs, third base coach for the L.A. Dodgers for 16 years (which included their 1988 World Series championship), and he served as a special assistant in player development for the Giants organization during their 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series seasons. His dedication and contributions to baseball, from his
early days in San Pedro to his pivotal roles with top MLB teams, reflect a remarkable journey and an enduring legacy.
MISTY COPELAND: Early in my career, my team noted this young girl teaching older members impressive dance steps at the club. In response, I hired Cindy Bradley and the San Pedro City Ballet to teach ballet in our gym.
Misty joined the classes, and her ability to quickly master several ballet moves was most evident, resulting in her transitioning to the ballet center, which began her pathway to a globally recognized career.
Misty is now a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and the first Black woman to be promoted to the position in the company’s 75-year history in 2015.
She’s also performed on Broadway, has appeared in several TV shows and films, was profiled on 60 Minutes, and is a national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
In 2022, Misty launched The Misty Copeland Foundation to bring greater diversity, equity, and inclusion to dance. She’s had a worldwide impact and is a great role model for countless
girls and women across the globe.
PETER GRAVETT: Major General (retired) Peter Gravett became a club kid while attending Dana Middle School and currently serves on our board of directors.
In his early adult career, he simultaneously served in the Army National Guard as a commissioned officer and in the LAPD as a watch commander. He is the recipient of LAPD’s highest award, the Medal of Valor.
Upon retirement from police service, he returned to full-time U.S. Army duty. Before retiring from the Army National Guard, General Gravett served as commander of the 40th Infantry Division from 1999 (when he was promoted to major general) to 2002, becoming the first African-American division commander in the 225-year history of the United States Army National Guard.
General Gravett has also authored three books, including his most recent, Battling While Black. He’s had an amazing life and is a true American hero.
YVONNE BOGDANOVICH: Yvonne is the first board member I recruited in 1995. Within a year, we initiated our annual “Bids for Kids” fundraising gala, and Yvonne
became our first event chair and continued to chair the event through 2017.
Yvonne is now in her 30th year as a member of our board of directors and has been an organization leader and most generous donor every year.
In 2011, Yvonne provided a transformational gift to the organization, which established the much-needed Yvonne Bogdanovich Middle School Center.
In 2018, Yvonne co-chaired our comprehensive campaign, which raised $10 million to fund capital projects, expand programming, and establish maintenance and operations reserves.
Yvonne is directly involved in and/or financially supports many other organizations. The local ones of note are the San Pedro Peninsula Cancer Guild, Beacon House Association of San Pedro, and Mary Star of the Sea High School.
By exemplifying a life of giving and leadership for others who need a helping hand, Yvonne was an easy selection as a member of our first Hall of Fame class. spt
Mike Lansing is the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.
‘BIDS FOR KIDS’ HONOREES (l to r): Yvonne Bogdanovich, Misty Copeland, Joe Amalfitano, and Peter Gravett. (photos provided by Boys & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor)
COURAGE TO CHANGE
Mike Lansing’s pioneering spirit is something our community should emulate
BY JACK BARIC
Ican’trecall with absolute certainty when I first met Mike Lansing, but I think it was on the basketball court at Crestwood, where dozens of our San Pedro friends gathered twice a year for a hoops tournament we called Slam-Ball. We played there on the lower rims because, truthfully, most of
us didn’t have the hops to dunk on 10-foot rims.
Mike was a nice, unassuming guy who I never would have picked out to become a San Pedro legend. However, in my opinion, if we had our own Mount Rushmore, Mike would be on it — that’s how much I believe he has done for our community.
Mike’s quiet nature hid a strong stubborn streak that would serve him well when he faced resistance to his
goal of changing the focus of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor from primarily being a place to play sports to one that provided academic support for its members.
When Mike learned that half of the club’s members didn’t graduate from high school, he rolled up his sleeves and started the College Bound program.
Today, 99 percent of the club’s College Bound members graduate from high school, and 97 percent attend college.
with its ad dollars. I heard from many local people that our best days had died with the closing of the News-Pilot and a new magazine had no chance.
Fortunately, I have the same Pedro stubbornness as Mike, and my decision to forge forward is still in your hands today as you read this magazine 22 years later.
In hindsight, Mike’s decision to change the club’s focus was a no-brainer, but he had to battle some of his traditionalist board members who could only see the club as it once was. Mike’s courage to look forward and not backward saved countless lives, making him one of the most impactful people in the history of our San Pedro community.
The dilemma Mike faced at the club is one that our community has often encountered. The best thing about San Pedro is our sense of tradition, but that can also be the worst because it can cause us to fixate on the past, and it puts boundaries on opportunities that should be boundless.
When I worked at the Press-Telegram and wanted to start San Pedro Magazine (the precursor to San Pedro Today), my bosses told me to investigate if our town could support a magazine
AltaSea and West Harbor are emerging as a one-two powerhouse on our waterfront, but many won’t believe that until they can see it. Just read local social media to see how much abuse West Harbor has to endure every time a new story emerges about its progress.
Believe me, those same detractors will be posting pictures of themselves sipping brews on Facebook after the promenade opens.
The bold vision and pioneering spirit that Mike Lansing brought to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor is one that our community should do more than just celebrate; it is one that we should all strive to emulate by looking fondly at our past while boldly moving forward into our future. spt
Jack Baric is a filmmaker and the managing partner of GameChange, an inspirational sports and personal empowerment media company. He was publisher of San Pedro Magazine (20022005), the precursor to San Pedro Today.
College Bound.
(photo: Boys & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor)
LANSING’S LANDING
The author recalls his friendship with the retiring Boys & Girls Club executive director
BY ANTHONY PIROZZI, JR.
Inlife, memories that are easier to recall are those formulated by an experience or person that influenced you at the time. For me, the days of playing sports come easy to remember.
When reminiscing, I like to tell my friends, “The older we get, the better athletes we become.” One such memory is when my coach, Sonny Brucelas, gave me the nickname “Yogi.” I played on the Peck Park Giants. The team was sitting near the old Rocket Ship, waiting for parents to pick us up from practice, when he gave me the name.
I can see it like it was yesterday. The name has stuck ever since.
At the time, Mike Lansing was one of the athletic directors at Peck Park. One
day, when I went into the office to ask a question, he said, “Hey, Yogi, how are you?” I thought, “How does he know my nickname?”
After all, I only knew him as one of the guys in the burgundy-color nylon jackets that they wore at the time. Mike still greets me like that today. I love it because it brings me back to those simpler days.
After learning that Eastview Little League was fighting an uphill battle to remain in the location where Target exists today, I decided to run for Honorary Mayor of San Pedro in 2007. My goal was to spotlight the amount of “lost fields” around San Pedro over the past 50 years. Mike Lansing was the first person I thought I should meet about this campaign. The meeting was set at Mike’s morning office, the Omelette & Waffle Shop.
There, I met with friends
from Eastview, AYSO, and the San Pedro Youth Coalition, which Mike founded in 1988, to discuss the purpose and goals of the campaign.
It was then that the collective group decided that the benefactor of the funds raised during the campaign would be the San Pedro Youth Coalition. The SPYC had been advocating for years for our youth, and it seemed to fit. I trusted Mike’s opinion, guidance, and mentorship because of my experience with him as a kid at Peck Park.
As time passed, I learned that Mike became the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor. I was so impressed with the club’s transformation under his leadership, especially because of my experience there as a kid, that Carolyn and I entrusted him and his staff with our boys to expe-
rience the benefits of the College Bound program.
Today, the Career Bound program has been added for those interested in learning a trade rather than attending college.
As Mike lands his career and retires, I’d like to say, on behalf of the communities you have impacted across the Boys & Girls Clubs that you led, thank you.
On a personal note, thank you for your friendship, trust, and mentorship. Most importantly, thank you for your commitment, dedication, and love for San Pedro and our youth. Godspeed, Mike. spt
Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a retired San Pedro resident and former LA Harbor commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo. com.
Mike Lansing with kids at the Boys & Girls Club in San Pedro. (photo: Boys & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor)
NOT YOUR AVERAGE APPETIZERS
A selection of sizzling starters to satisfy your appetite
BY SANAM LAMBORN
Whendining
out, entrées are usually the focal point of the meal.
However, certain appetizer options sometimes deviate from the usual and expected starter choices that capture one’s attention and taste buds.
This month, I have compiled a few unique musthave appetizer options at some of our local restaurants for you to try.
If you have been to Puesta Del Sol (1622 S. Gaffey St.) and have not had their mini bean and cheese burritos with chicharrones, you are missing out. Bean and cheese burritos may be simplistic to some. However, when you add crunchy chicharrones to the mix, they are immediately a fantastic choice.
Speaking of chicharrones, usually, guacamole is served with either tortilla or corn chips. However, at Kalaveras (383 W. 5th St.), they are served with crunchy chicharrones. Once you have them this way, I promise that you’ll be hooked because guacamole with tortilla chips will feel very basic.
If you are a buffalo sauce fan, don’t sleep on the buffalo cauliflower at the Shore Grille (1637 W. 25th St.). The
cauliflower is battered, fried, then tossed in buffalo sauce. Dip them in ranch dressing for a finger-licking good appetizer.
Another fun item here is their world-famous onion rings. Think of them as blooming onions that bloom once they’re deep-fried. This is an impressive dish visually, and when deep-fried well, the onion rings are delicious and crunchy.
What pairs well with a cold glass of locally brewed beer at the San Pedro Brewing Company (331 W. 6th St.)? A giant hot pretzel, of course!
My first favorite thing about this appetizer is the presentation. The pretzel hangs from a wire rack, accompanied by a side of traditional stone ground mustard. However, what makes it stand out to me is the jalapeno and cheddar cheese dipping sauce.
If you like tuna, you must try the ahi tuna stack or ahi poke at Think Café (302 W. 5th St.). Their presentation is a bit similar: For the first, the ahi tuna is stacked on top of avocados, then topped with microgreens and served with soy sauce on the side; for the other, the ahi and avocados are mixed together and served with wontons.
If you have lived in San Pedro long enough, you’d recognize Nim Chan’s
Kitchen’s (2418 S. Western Ave.) very distinct egg rolls. What makes these egg rolls immediately recognizable is not only their larger size, compared to other similar restaurants’ choices, but also how heavy in celery they are.
I don’t know how it all works out, but they are delicious, and the celery doesn’t necessarily overpower the flavor. They are simply impossible to pass up when ordering food.
There are two things that San Pedrans will tell you about Nam’s Red Door (2253 S. Pacific Ave.): Snow, the owner, is a character, and the best menu item to order is the imperial rolls. I have found both of these statements to be true.
These rolls are made with crab meat and pork and served with lettuce leaves, herbs, and a dipping sauce. They are consumed by wrapping the roll in the lettuce leaf along with the herbs and dipping it in the sauce.
Now, I realize the next suggestion could fall under “sides” more than “appetizers,” but hear me out. Last time I was ordering food at Fantastic Café (1235 N. Gaffey St.), I found myself in a bigger dilemma than usual when choosing between regular and zucchini fries. That’s because my eyes landed on an option I had not seen before: battered and deep-fried mushrooms. Hot and straight out of the fryer, these are delish. 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.
(photos: Sanam Lamborn)
Kalaveras
Shore Grille
San Pedro Brewing Company
Think Cafe
Nim Chan’s Kitchen
Nam’s Red Door
LANSING’S LEGACY
AFTER 30 YEARS OF CHANGING THE LIVES OF HARBOR AREA YOUTH, THE CEO OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE L.A. HARBOR CALLS IT A DAY
BY JOSHUA STECKER
OnMike Lansing’s second day as executive director of San Pedro’s Boys and Girls Club, the headquarters on 13th Street and Cabrillo Avenue had flooded.
Leaks from old skylights inside the gymnasium brought a winter storm indoors, and the wood floors were soaked. It was Tuesday, January 3, 1995.
“It was pouring rain in the gym because they had these old chicken-wire skylights,” recalls Lansing, 68. “Two of them had broken, and it was literally raining in the gym. That was my initiation into the club. I said, ‘Okay, we’ve got some work to do here.’”
Cut to 30 years later, and Lansing’s legacy—the “work,” as he put it—is as inspiring as it is impressive.
The list of achievements that have positively impacted thousands of young lives through his leadership puts Lansing in dignified company along with other San Pedro legends, whose names adorn the town’s streets, parks, and buildings and whose life’s work will be felt for generations to come.
That’s why, when Lansing announced he was retiring at the end of the year, many friends and colleagues were both surprised (because no one thought he’d ever leave) and thankful for his dedication to serving San Pedro’s youth.
“Mike is truly one of San Pedro’s finest,” says Augie Bezmalinovich, community affairs advocate for the Port of Los Angeles. “I’ve known him for most of my life, and he has always been a fighter for our youth.”
“Mike has been a key figure in our community, not just because of his notable work but also due to his genuine dedication to helping others,” says Yadira Agredano, fine arts coordinator and instructor at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor. “His leadership and vision have had a huge impact on our shared journey, motivating us to seize opportunities and embrace change.”
Lansing is one of a dying breed in San Pedro: a bornand-raised, second-generation San Pedran who’s spent his life’s work serving his hometown.
His grandparents on both sides emigrated from Europe and settled in San Pedro. His father was an electrician with the ILWU Local 11 for 29 years.
“My family, all my cousins and relatives, mainly all live here in San Pedro or up on the hill,” says Lansing. “This has been my home my whole life. It’s a great place.”
Growing up one of three children, Lansing had, as he describes it, a typical San Pedro childhood in the 1960s and ‘70s. He attended Holy Trinity School through eighth grade, spent freshman year at Fermin Lasuen, and graduated from San Pedro High in 1974.
Although he loved athletics, he didn’t succeed much in high school. He broke his finger during his sophomore year, had a less-than-stellar
tennis performance as a junior, and, even though he was tall, he didn’t make the varsity basketball team as a senior.
“Athletics was huge for me,” says Lansing. “I wasn’t that good, but it was something I loved. It made me realize that I didn’t try hard enough. I think it helped me later on.”
In the early 1980s, while at California State University, Long Beach, Holy Trinity hired him as their physical education coach. He eventually earned his teaching credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills and spent 14 years teaching math and coaching at Holy Trinity, bookending a threeyear stint as athletic director and coach at Mary Star High School.
“That wasn’t the plan,” he recalls. “I was going to go into business. I was going to own a sporting goods store. I earned my degree in business finance, but then fate offered me a chance to coach and teach at Holy
Mike Lansing.
(photo: John Mattera Photography)
NATIVE SON
Trinity, which changed my life’s path.”
In 1988, he founded the San Pedro Youth Coalition, a volunteer organization that supports and advocates for the needs of San Pedro’s youth. He served as its president for a decade.
“I worked with Mel Bobich, a great mentor and great guy,” says Lansing. “The coalition was instrumental in getting the new gymnasium at Peck Park and Field of Dreams [built]. Bobich was the driving force behind that. He was just awesome.”
CLUB KID GROWS UP
Established in 1937 by the Civitan Club of San Pedro, the Boys Club had one mission: to lure kids off the streets to a more positive environment, primarily through sports and activities. Lansing first stepped foot in the club in 1964 at his father’s insistence.
“I started going when I was seven-ish,” recalls Lansing. “I left when I was 13, because [the club] didn’t have any teen programming back in the day.”
By 1995, Lansing was already heavily involved in
the club, having volunteered and served on its board of directors. So, when Ray Martinez, the club’s executive director at the time, decided to retire, he asked Lansing to apply for the position.
“When I applied, I said there are three things I want to focus on,” explains Lansing. “First, we must serve teens with impactful programs and pathways. Second, we need more sites to serve more kids. Third, we must have comprehensive programming prioritizing academic support, comprehensive arts, and athletics.
I called it our Triple A program.”
Under his leadership, the Boys and Girls Club of San Pedro has grown from a single club serving a small group of mostly young children to 25 clubs stretching across the Harbor Area, serving 2,800 students daily from Pre-K through high school, including a second San Pedro location at the Port of Los Angeles that opened in 2001.
He’s spearheaded successful programs like College Bound, resulting in a 98 percent high school gradua-
tion rate, and Career Bound, a new program helping non-college students learn workforce skills, engage in paid internships, and secure employment upon high school graduation. Besides academic centers and fine arts/music programs at each of their 25 sites, his Clubs now include four fully dedicated teen centers, two industry-standard recording studios, an innovation center, and a recently finished podcast studio.
Seeing how much the club has expanded in three decades (their annual operating budget has grown from $270,000 to over $16 million), one would assume mission accomplished, but for Lansing, there’s always more work to do.
“I said we have two simple mantras. One is ‘kids first,’ and the second is ‘more,’” he explains. “How do we serve more? How do we impact programming more? How do we transfer those alumni and get more of them to come back and become youth development professionals? So ‘more’ has been our one-word strategic plan, for lack of a better term. And it’s worked.”
CALLING IT A DAY
Thirty years after he walked through the doors on Cabrillo Avenue, Lansing has decided to call it a day. The teen center he helped establish at the San Pedro club in 1999 now bears his name, the Mike Lansing College Bound Center. While bittersweet, he’s confident he’s leaving the organization in a good place.
“It was a tough decision, but I figured it was probably
time for new leadership,” he says. “We have a great board. We have unbelievable staff. We have fantastic investors. But it will take more just to sustain what we’re doing because the cost of doing business will be more, and there will be more kids and young adults to serve.”
His successor is Peter Settelmayer, who led a charter school in San Jose before becoming the club’s CEO on August 1. Lansing will stay on until the end of the year to help with the transition.
“Pete is a great guy. I’m confident he will do a great job,” says Lansing.
As far as retirement goes, Lansing has no plans to slow down. While he says he’s looking forward to spending more time with his wife Veronica and their family and friends, he still plans on staying involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs in some form and would like to consult with other nonprofits. He’s also hoping to work with Scott Lane to revive the San Pedro Youth Coalition, which has been dormant since the pandemic.
Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., a friend and former L.A. harbor commissioner, says the positive impact of Lansing’s leadership has a lasting ripple effect.
“Mike has demonstrated what leadership looks like through his selfless acts of putting others first,” he says. “That ego doesn’t matter; humility does. For standing up against adversity and doing what’s right. The fact that he’s just a ‘Pedro kid’ shows that even though you’re from a small town, you don’t have to leave to do great things.” spt
Top (l to r): Lansing (third from left) at the B&GC of San Pedro Teen Center groundbreaking in 1999; with College Bound students. Bottom (l to r): Playing ninth grade football at Fermin Lasuen; physical education teacher at Holy Trinity in 1982. (photos: courtesy Mike Lansing / Boy & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor)
PIRATES & STARS HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS IN 2024
2024 High School Football Preview
BY JAMAAL K. STREET
Anotherseason is upon us, as the autumn air signals the return of those Friday night lights.
SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL
In 2023, San Pedro High were determined road warriors, only playing three games in their friendly confines of Mike Walsh Pirate Stadium, with the lone home victory coming against Harbor Area neighbor Banning of Wilmington. Overall, the Pirates managed a 5-5 record before bowing out in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Open Division quarterfinals at Garfield. In what was an unpredictable Marine League in 2023, San Pedro split their four league encounters.
Continuing San Pedro’s over-a-century-long history, the Pirates will have six home games in 2024, but third-year coach Corey
Walsh will field a slightly younger team that graduated the most players of any team in the Marine League, which appears to be even more brutal than ever.
Narbonne, Banning, and Carson have reloaded with a slew of youthful talent and impact transfers, while Gardena aims to repeat as league champions after claiming their first league crown in 50 years.
Still, it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate the Pirates.
The quarterback position for at least the first five games of the season will be about returning All-Marine League senior Marcus Jeronymo, who normally split time and snaps with the recently graduated Santiago Rivera the past two seasons. Impact transfer sophomore quarterback Seth Solorio from St. John Bosco will join the team after the five-
game transfer sit-out period.
The offense has some excellent returners around him in senior running back Pete Eneliko, junior wide receiver Elias Redlew, senior WR/DB Anthony Estrada, and a solid offensive line paced by 6’6’’, 325-pound senior Frankie Rivera, heralded as one of the top returning linemen in the entire City Section. Sophomore David Medina and junior Quincy Couch will also be counted upon to stabilize the offense on the front line.
Eneliko will also have a new backfield partner, senior running back Isaiah Kamalyan
Defensively, San Pedro will be as opportunistic as possible, with the top returners including Estrada, senior defensive lineman Lorenzo Saluzzi, junior defensive back Isaiyah Banks, and
senior defensive back Abe Radisic
San Pedro’s 2024 schedule is filled with some competitive battles, including a rematch with Garfield on September 13 at San Pedro. Also on tap, the Pirates have home games with Lawndale, Eagle Rock, and Dymally of Los Angeles. San Pedro also has a San Fernando Valley road trip to Kennedy of Granada Hills on August 29. The highlight of the Pirates’ schedule will be on Friday, October 18, when the Battle of the Harbor showdown with Banning (2023 CIF-LACS Division 1 champion) will be played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where San Pedro will be more than battle-tested after opening Marine League play with Carson (October 4 at Carson) and Narbonne (October 11 at San Pedro) in
22ND ST. LANDING SEAFOOD GRILL & BAR
SENIOR PIRATES: (front row l to r): Anthony Estrada, Raymond Chavez, and Marcus Jeronymo; (back row l to r): Pete Eneliko, Frankie Rivera, Lorenzo Saluzzi, and Dylan Rubino. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
the first two weeks.
San Pedro starts the season on August 23 at Torrance, who last year won the CIF-Southern Section Division 10 title.
MARY STAR HIGH SCHOOL
This season, excitement is in the air for Mary Star of the Sea High football fans.
With a revitalized coaching staff paced by first-year coach and 2014 alumni Tyler Sestich, high hopes abound for the Stars, who finished 3-7 overall, 3-3 in the Camino Real League.
With a vibrant bunch of young men full of promise, it might be that Star-studded kind of season the Mary Star faithful yearn for after narrowly missing the CIF-Southern Section playoffs last season.
“I think we have enough talent to beat anyone on our schedule, and our goal is to win the Camino Real League and make a run in the playoffs,” Sestich says. “We want the alumni, fans, and city of San Pedro to feel proud of our team and get excited about the future of Mary Star football.”
The future seems bright with returning junior
left-handed quarterback
Tanner Rollins, who has a sharp arm and an even sharper eye when going for his targeted receivers, and he’s going to love slinging the ball around to senior wide receiver Andrew Washington, an impact transfer from Lawndale. Rollins’ other go-to receiver this year will be returning senior Jeremy Coughlin
Another senior primed for a breakout season will be RB/LB Jordan Barber, one of the better two-way players not only in San Pedro but in the entire South Bay. Joining Barber in the backfield is fellow senior RB Joey Buscemi, and they’ll both look to churn out yardage provided for them by an offensive line with a great mixture of youth and experience.
Pacing the offensive front for Mary Star will include se-
nior Max Marinkovich, junior Sal Acetta, and sophomore center Ethan Mejia Defensively, the Stars will not only feature Barber, but also looking to provide some big hits and force turnovers are senior defensive ends Theo Mason and Marcus Baccari, junior linebacker Daniel Lomeli, and senior cornerback Ryland Cabral
Also, keep an eye out for newcomers, such as junior linebacker Aden Sierra, sophomore wide receiver Dallas Christopher, and junior offensive lineman Nelson Melendez. Sestich’s expectations for Mary Star this season are straightforward. “I expect our kids to play a physical, smart, and exciting brand of football and bring back the passion and tradition of Mary Star football,” Sestich says.
No longer having to deal with CIF-Southern Section powers like St. Paul, Cantwell Sacred Heart of Montebello, or St. Anthony in the Camino Real League this season gives the Stars a chance to excel in a competitive league with home games against Verbum Dei Jesuit of Los Angeles, Don Bosco Tech of Rosemead, and St. Bernard of Playa Del Rey.
On the road in league play, the Stars will travel to St. Genevieve, St. Monica of Santa Monica, and Bishop Montgomery of Torrance. Mary Star’s four nonleague encounters this season will be the opener on August 30 at Eastside of Palmdale, at South Gate, and home games against Maya Angelou of Los Angeles and McFarland in the November 1 finale. spt
SENIOR STARS: (front row l to r): Matthew Fuentes, Joseph Buscemi, Immanuel Quartey, Ryland Cabral, and Andrew Washington; (back row l to r): Johnny Moreno, Jordan Barber, Nico Spinello, Daniel Avila, Max Marinkovich, Dylan Neri, Theo Mason, Marcus Baccari. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
STORYTELLING WITH AUGMENTED REALITY
Snap Lens Lab technology is breathing new life into San Pedro’s public murals
BY LINDA GRIMES
“Stories create community, enable us to see through the eyes of other people, and open us to the claims of others.” – Peter Forbes, photographer and author
Storytelling
is one of our main motivations for creating murals.
So, when a friend (and fellow San Pedro Today columnist) urged us to investigate the cutting-edge technology of augmented reality, I was intrigued. Fast-forward to receiving an NEA grant, a Long Beach Arts Council grant, fomenting a collaboration with Cornerstone Theater Company, meeting a Snap teaching artist, and voila! We created our first five lenses.
The first Arts District mural to receive this technology is the Luis Sanchez mural, Soulful Sunrise, in the Lilyan Fierman Walkway. We welcome you to experience this exciting collaboration, combining the celebrated 2017 mural with key theatrical moments of Cornerstone Theater’s Pedro Play through augmented reality (AR) created with Snap Lens Lab technology. The mural was painted by Luis in 2016 (with assistance from Regina Argentin), commem-
orating the historic Warner Grand Theatre’s incredible applied design and history. There are instructions on how to see the Snap Lenses on a plaque beside the mural and QR codes on the ground, viewable through the Snapchat app.
Pedro Play, conceived and presented by Cornerstone Theater, was a new play with original music documenting the colorful history of San Pedro. It premiered at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in 2023 and tells the tale of how San Pedrans are coping with significant changes due to redevelopment.
The Snap Lenses, created by artist and technologist Raul Moreno, uses augmented reality to capture key scenes from the play. The integration of these three notable artistic endeavors celebrates, memorializes, and captures the essence of San Pedro for the community members who hold this town so dear to their hearts.
Teaching Artist Raul Moreno describes his role in this project: “As the lead artist for this Snap Augmented Reality (AR) project, I am honored to share my vision and connection to the community, who we hope will be engaged through this innovative, cutting-edge artistic endeavor.”
Together with Raul and
Cornerstone Theater, we created an immersive and interactive experience bridging the past, present, and future. By leveraging the power of Snap Lenses, we brought to life the diverse stories of our unique community and preserved ephemeral segments of Pedro Play
Raul’s connection to this community runs deep and is personal. His grandmother immigrated from Mexico to San Pedro, where she met his grandfather, also an immigrant from Mexico. Raul’s father, grandfather, uncle, and cousins worked as heavy equipment operators in the Los Angeles Harbor as longshoremen, and his aunt was a clerk. Both grandmothers on his father’s and mother’s side worked in the fish cannery on Terminal Island.
Working as a casual longshoreman during his college summers at various docks from Long Beach to San Pedro, Raul developed physical and mental stamina, resilience, adaptability, and a profound understanding of responsibility, teamwork, and communication. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping his professional ethos.
Raul pursued architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCIArc) in Los Angeles, where his senior thesis focused on
Scan these Snapcodes using the Snapchat app to view key moments of Cornerstone Theater’s Pedro Play through augmented reality (AR) created with Snap Lens Lab technology.
transforming Angels Gate in the Los Angeles/San Pedro Harbor.
“After a career in architecture and the film industry spanning more than 25 years, it is an honor to return to San Pedro to help celebrate its cultural diversity, rich history, and heritage through this AR project,” he says.
By integrating modern technology with traditional storytelling, the Arts District aims to create dynamic, living narratives of San Pedro’s past and present, ensuring its legacy is preserved and celebrated for future generations.
These projects honor the contributions of those who came before us and inspire current and future community members to see the beauty and significance of our cultural heritage.
Stay tuned for more Snap Lenses by Port of Los Angeles High School students and see their stories come to life on the La Pincoya en El Norte mural on the side of the L.A. Maritime Institute’s shop wall at Berth 73. spt
Linda Grimes is the executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District and can be reached at 55lindagrimes@gmail.com.
THE UNHOUSED ARE OUR NEIGHBORS
We should start calling them that
BY AMBER SHEIKH
Withthe recent Supreme Court ruling that allows for the arrest of homeless individuals for sleeping outside and with the release of the homeless count data showing incremental but slow progress, it’s more important than ever that we are careful and intentional about how we frame our narrative around homelessness.
Criminalizing or consistently “otherizing” homeless individuals will do nothing to solve the problem. It’s a persistent, long-term challenge, and how we think about unhoused individuals matters. In fact, how we talk about them matters. Language matters. It shapes our perceptions, influences our attitudes, and drives our behaviors.
Throughout history, language has been pivotal in changing societal attitudes towards marginalized groups. For instance, the shift to terms like “African American,” “LGBTQ,” or “neurodivergent” has done as much as anything to help lessen marginalization, respect identity, and form a more inclusive society. This isn’t about being politically correct; it’s about shifting our attitudes — and hopefully, behaviors — to
enable more micro solutions while we continue to push the macro solutions forward (and we are).
L.A. is a region of neighborhoods. Heck, even San Pedro has boroughs. And nearly every single one of those neighborhoods includes people experiencing homelessness. In fact, those people are our neighbors. I think that’s how we should start referring to them. Not as “homeless,” “unhoused,” or “experiencing homelessness.” But simply as “neighbor.”
There is no one homeless archetype. And as any service provider will tell you, there are 75,312 solutions for the 75,312 neighbors experiencing homelessness today.
Some of these neighbors are living in temporary shelters, some of these neighbors struggle with substance abuse or mental illness, and some of these neighbors are enrolled in college while living in their cars.
Their homelessness isn’t even similar. The only thing they have in common is the same thing I share with my neighbor Mark: proximity. (And for the record, I don’t even like Mark.)
First, by referring to homeless individuals as “neighbors,” we emphasize our shared humanity and community.
This simple shift in termi-
nology could have profound effects on how we view and treat those experiencing homelessness, not as faceless statistics but as individuals with stories, struggles, and aspirations similar to our own. And maybe those shifts simply reside inside of us for a while, but I think they’ll trickle out. Warning: you may become a nicer person.
Second, calling someone our “neighbor” implies a shared responsibility. It suggests that the well-being of each individual affects the entire community. It reminds us that they are here, with us, in our communities, and pushing them away or thinking of them as people “apart” from us will do nothing to help them, or ourselves.
are important, it is community that heals individuals who have experienced homelessness.
Human beings flourish in community. Public health experts consistently tell us that. For instance, why do encampments flourish? Because people inherently look for community. They seek it out. They create it. They want neighbors.
To be clear, we don’t always like our neighbors. Neighbors annoy us, sometimes even harm us. But they are still our neighbors. They are fellow humans trying to make their way in the world, just like we are, even if we don’t always agree with how they’re trying to do it.
Finally, it could influence policy. When policymakers truly view homeless individuals as neighbors, they are more likely to adopt compassionate, inclusive policies that recognize their humanity and our shared plight as a community of constituents.
This shift is partly influenced by the nonprofit Harbor Connects’ approach to service. Bringing housed and unhoused neighbors together to solve one of the most challenging issues of our time.
Because what we’re really talking about is community. We know that housing solves homelessness. But we also know that housing is not enough. Aside from all the social services we know
With a challenge as long-term and difficult as homelessness, solutions can seem daunting. They are expensive, long-term, complex, and hard. Most of us feel helpless. But this is one thing we can do now. It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s immediate.
We can offer homeless individuals respect and empathy through nothing more complicated than stopping our practice of defining them by the fact they sometimes don’t sleep with a roof over their head. We can define them as what we know they all are: our neighbors. spt
Amber Sheikh is a San Pedro resident, mother of two, community advocate, and owner of Sheikh/Impact, a nonprofit consulting firm.
(photo: John Mattera Photography)
LITTLE EFFORT, BIG RESULTS
BY EDDIE MCKENNA
“Don’t
confuse effort with results.”
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that statement from my father while growing up. It always ruffled my feathers a bit, but I understand its premise.
In athletics, just because you played hard doesn’t mean you get the gold medal. In life, just because you nailed your interview doesn’t always mean you get the job. In school, studying hard doesn’t always equate to getting an “A.”
I can go on and on with examples of where it applies, but there is one example where it doesn’t.
When you make the decision, whether big or small, to improve your quality of life, you win.
It is a matter of fact. The day you decide to wake up early and go for a walk to increase your step count — boom, you win.
When you decide to make the jump and hire a personal trainer to hold you accountable for working out — boom, you win.
The day you decide to start watching what you eat — boom, you win.
Again, I can go on and on with examples of what you can do with little amounts of effort that yield great results.
The result is that your life improves significantly in terms of how you feel and look.
My friend Mary is 76 years
old and coming up on her first anniversary at Heyday. She is one of my favorite clients.
She is tough as nails and has committed herself to being a “gym rat” in her later years. She has a fantastic sense of humor and works out in the gym two hours a week. I can’t begin to tell you how much she has changed in just 96 hours of effort over the last 48 weeks.
Actually, I can.
She has improved her overall strength, the highlight of which is she can now bear crawl over 25 feet — a feat she could not perform a year ago when she could barely surpass four feet before keeling over, exhausted. She can also perform 20 continuous bodyweight
lunges without falling over. If you think that’s easy, give it a go.
Mary initially came in with the aspiration of just feeling better. Needless to say, mission accomplished.
Now, with all this being said, all you — yes, you reading this — have to do is make that little decision to improve your quality of life. Remember that it doesn’t have to be big changes — little amounts of effort over long periods of time yield big results.
Stay consistent, phone a friend, or, my personal favorite, join a gym. spt
Eddie McKenna is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.
(photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels.com)
PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY
L.A. County website provides free fraud alert protection
BY MIKE HARPER & PETER HAZDOVAC
Ourexceptional climate this time of year is why many of us love to call this special place home.
This month, we decided to discuss a topic that has landed on our desk several times as of late. As full-time real estate professionals, we are often asked to recommend various real estate-related services.
Offering various solutions to home and apartment owners for how they can protect themselves and their real estate investments has become an increasingly important element of our service-oriented approach to helping people.
As we all know, fraud and identity theft have become real concerns in our daily lives. A past client recently
asked us about a service called Home Title Lock, which they had seen advertised while watching latenight television.
The basic premise in these commercials touts the ease with which any shady scammer can walk into the assessor’s office and, with no questions asked, record a document that allows them to take ownership of your home.
This is considered title fraud, and, as the commercial promotes, you can protect one of your most valuable assets by paying a monthly fee to be “alerted” when or if a document is recorded against your property.
Although we believe the commercial oversimplifies the ease with which a situation such as this can occur, this is technically something that “could” happen but not something we have ever
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experienced. If this ever happened, you would likely need to lawyer up and fight to have any recorded document against your property expunged.
The concept of being alerted in the event a document is recorded against your property is a great idea. When something is recorded against the title of your home, it doesn’t necessarily mean fraud has occurred. Sometimes, mistakes or clerical errors can be the cause.
Many legitimate instruments can be recorded against your property, including a Foreclosure Notice, Refinance, Transfer of Title (Quitclaim Deed, Change of Ownership, etc.), Mortgage Deed (Deed of Trust, 2nd Trust Deed, etc.), Lis Pendens, Mechanic’s Lien, etc.
Angeles County Assessor’s website.
To sign up for this free Homeowner Alert Service (e-Notification), go to assessor.lacounty.gov/real-estate-toolkit/welcome and click on the “E-Notification” tab at the bottom left of the page. Register and check the “Opt-In for AIN/Recorded Document email notification” disclaimer box. Once you have created an account, log into the portal and select “Register Property for e-Notification” on the landing page. Enter your AIN (Assessor Identification Number) on the “Register Property for e-Notification” page and select “Add.” There is no limit to how many properties you can enroll in this service.
Rather than pay a monthly fee to one of the various companies that offer a “title alert” service, you can also do this through a free service provided by the Los
It’s also a great idea to enroll elderly parents or any dependent adult’s property to ensure immediate notification. Once registered, you receive notifications within 48 hours of a document being recorded against your property.
If you are a homeowner who has questions, suspects fraud, or needs assistance, you can contact the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 5938222. 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: Michael Tuszynski / Pexels.com)
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