9 - San Pedro Today

Transcription

9 - San Pedro Today

Plus: Luisa Caterina DiScala Iacono Turns 100 // High School Athlete Lauren Costa
august 2009
www.sanpedrotoday.com
Fifty Years of Favorites & Fun!
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329 W. 6th Street | San Pedro | (310) 832-9364
Letter from the Editor
BACK TO SCHOOL
Blood is Thicker…
It’s really all about family, isn’t it?
I learned this lesson through a tragic event that, to be honest, I’m
still trying to wrap my head around as I write this. As some of you
may know, my paternal grandmother, Pauline Stecker, passed away
on July 2.
It’s a strange experience, losing a close loved one. I’ve been
fortunate enough in my life to have both sets of grandparents alive
and well up until Grandma Pauline passed away. In fact, I hadn’t lost
any close family member until that tragic Thursday morning. So I
hadn’t experienced the emotional trauma and surreal situations that
come when something of this magnitude happens within a family.
The first thing I realized was that time just seemed to stop. Things like the magazine and
petty other “things to do” all took a back seat to being with my family nearly 24/7. Sadly,
this was the most time I’ve ever spent with my Grandpa Bill, my parents, my brothers, my
cousins, aunts and uncles in quite a long time. During any other time, life just seems to take
over and we all get caught up in our own things. But my grandma’s passing brought us all
together in a way Grandma would’ve loved to see. If there is any silver lining to this tragedy,
it’s that my family grew closer in a way I never dreamed it could.
The next thing, and probably the most surreal, is the outpouring of support (and the
food!). People I hadn’t talked to in years reached out to my family and me. My Aunt Sharon’s
house became our safe haven of sorts and her house was filled with tons of flowers, cards
and food. Seriously, I’ve never seen such a constant stream of food come through her doors
in my life. I’ve been told this is customary, but was still shocked all the same. Grandma
would’ve been pleasantly surprised, I’m sure.
I wrote a tribute to my Grandma in this issue. I never ever thought I would be writing my
own family member’s obituary in my own magazine, but, then again, I also never thought I’d
be owning this magazine in the first place. Life can be surprising sometimes.
My family and I would like to thank everyone for their support during this trying time. It
has really meant the world to us.
Ironically, the theme for this issue (planned way before the events of July) is “A Family
Tradition,” as this month we focus on four family-owned and operated restaurants in San
Pedro. This town has always had a stellar reputation for the wide variety of independently
owned restaurants and all the great food they produce. But the true novelty of these
independent restaurants is that they’ve been run by generations of different families
with names that have become synonymous with San Pedro. Places like the great J. Trani’s
Ristorante, Papadakis Taverna, Slavko’s Harbor Poultry, Canetti’s Seafood Grotto, Ante’s
Restaurant, and many more, have given us decades of great breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Because this is our annual Food Issue that coincides with the Taste in San Pedro (Aug. 1-2
with a concert the night of July 31), I wanted to tell the stories of a couple of old and a couple
of new family-owned restaurants that you may find some interest in. Nazelie’s Lebanese Café,
run by the Kassabian family, is the new kid on the block and they are making their mark in
town serving great Mediterranean dishes. Azteca, owned by the always-friendly Fernando
Arana, next year will be celebrating 10 years of awesome Mexican food on Western Ave.
Then we have Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria, run by Frank, Andrew and the rest of the Buono
clan, that serves some of the best pizza you’ll ever lay your mouth on. Finally, we have Utro’s
Crest Café, run by the Utovac family, that has a reputation all it’s own. With all the stories I’ve
heard about Utro’s from my dad and his friends, I could probably produce a year’s worth of
magazines on those stories alone. It was the place to hang out back in the day, and the small
café is still going strong on Berth 73.
I’ve written this before, but it’s worth repeating: families make San Pedro the wonderfully
unique place it is. There’s a reason why so many families go back generations in this town.
There’s a reason why so many people leave only to come back to live near their loved ones.
We can go on for days about the negatives in this town (boy, can we!). But the reality is that
even though we criticize and complain, we do it because we love this town and want the best
for it. Just like we do with family.
Sincerely,
Joshua Stecker
P.S. Come visit the San Pedro Today booth at the Taste in San Pedro, Aug 1-2. Stop by and
say hi!
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AUGUST 2009 SAN PEDRO TODAY
FEATURES & BENEFITS
Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Joshua J. Stecker
august 2009
Art Director/Production
Joseph A. Castañeda
Departments
Letter from the Editor 4
Events
8
Featured Events
9
Feedback
10
Advertising ExecutiveS Patricia Roberts
Sara Figueroa
Writers-at-Large
Julia Murphy
Brooke Karli
Leona June Christensen
Pg. 20
Contributing Writers
Jack Baric
Councilwoman Janice Hahn
Joe Buscaino
Jennifer Marquez
Richard Pawlowski
Steve Marconi
Anthony Pirozzi
John M. Mavar
Diana L. Chapman
Voices
Pg. 21
Baric
11
Summertime in San Pedro
Hahn
12
Is it Time for a New Shipyard at the Port?
Pawlowski
12
Rebranding San Pedro in a Global Depression
Marconi
13
Harbor College Turns 60
Mavar
14
Canetti’s: A Family Institution
Marquez
14
Dragon Boating in San Pedro
Buscaino 15
Hometown Heroes
Pirozzi 16
The Next 10 Years
Chapman
17
The Trashcan Cover-Up
Student Athlete of the Month
20
Lauren Costa
Contact Info:
Phone: (310) 923-4084
EMAIL: contact@sanpedrotoday.com
Mailing Address:
San Pedro Today
P.O. Box 1168
San Pedro, CA 90733
Advertising: General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com
San Pedro area: Patricia Roberts
(562) 964-8166 | patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
Outside San Pedro: Sara Figueroa
(562) 400-5887 | sara@sanpedrotoday.com
Empire22 Media LLC
Owner/Publisher
Joshua J. Stecker
Features
Utro’s Crest Café
21
Azteca Restaurant
23
Nazelie’s Lebanese Café
24
Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria
26
Senior Living
28
Remembering Grandma
30
In Memoriam: Pauline Ruth Stecker
Around Town
32
Priests vs. Parishioners II
Trivia
34
Cover Story: A Family Tradition
Luisa Caterina DiScala Iacono
18
6
Celebrating 100 Years
Contributing Photographers
John Mattera
We Profile Four of San Pedro’s Family-Owned and Operated Restaurants:
San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of
every month. No portion of this publication can
be reproduced without written permission by
Empire22 Media, LLC. San Pedro Today is produced
monthly by Empire22 Media LLC. 30,000 copies
are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho
Palos Verdes, Wilmington and Harbor City. 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, Empire22 Media LLC.
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Email event info to events@sanpedrotoday.com. Deadline for September issue is Friday, August 14.
*All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted.
Every Wednesday in August & Sept. – Warner On Wednesdays (WOW) at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St., Downtown) –
Summer Films on Wednesday evenings featuring new and classic films shown at 6pm and 9pm for only $3/person. Aug/Sept schedule:
8/5 The Sandlot (PG) [1993], 8/12 Marley & Me (PG-13) [2008]; 8/19 The Wiz (G) [1978]; 8/26 Secret Life of Bees (PG-13)
[2008]; 9/2 Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail (PG-13) [2009], 9/9 Coraline 2D (PG) [2009]. Special “Couple’s Package” for $10
includes 2 small popcorns, 2 small drinks and 2 tickets. Tickets may be ordered online at www.warnergrand.org or purchased at Sacred
Grounds Coffee House, Williams’ Book Store, Parkhurst Gallery, The Corner Store and Off The Vine. Tickets available at door (cash
only). Schedule subject to change.
Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St. between Pacific and Mesa Streets). 9a-2p.
Every Saturday – The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) includes a performance by midnightinsanity! Warner Grand Theatre (478 W.
6th St., Downtown). Midnight. Tickets $9. Cash only. For more info and tickets visit www.warnergrand.org.
Thru Aug. 8 – Shakespeare by the Sea presents As You Like It & Love’s Labour’s Lost at Point Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar). Thurs, Fri,
& Sat at 8p; Pre-show starts at 7:30p. Closing Weekend: Love’s Labour’s Lost – Fri, Aug. 7; As You Like It – Sat, Aug. 8. Very Chilly, bring
blankets. Bench seating available or set up chairs on side.
1 (Sat) – San Pedro High School Class of Summer 1969 40th Reunion at Crown Plaza Hotel (601 S. Palos Verdes St.) For more info,
contact Jerryne (Gregg) Soto (310) 547-4509/spnanaj@aol.com or Patti Folsom (310) 521-0431/pattifolsom@msn.com.
1 – Zhena Folk Chorus presents a “Slavic Concert By The Sea” in Building H at Angels Gate Cultural Center (3601 S. Gaffey St.) at 4pm.
Expect a soulful afternoon of Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian and Georgian folk music sung acappella and accompanied
by musicians playing traditional Bulgarian and Macedonian folk instruments. Tickets are $15/adults and $10/children 12 and under.
Parking is free. Visit www.angelsgateart.org for directions or call Eve at (310) 833-3690 for information.
1 – Grand Opening of Balance Rehabilitation (1921 N. Gaffey St., Ste. I/between Target and Home Depot). 10am-2pm. Free balance
assessments, prizes, and a raffle. Come celebrate with those who have improved their quality of life through physical therapy. For more
info, call (310) 833-0300 or visit www.balancerehab.net.
6 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro. 6-10p.
14 (thru Sept 19) – Little Fish Theatre Company presents WHAT THE BUTLER SAW at the Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St./at
8th St.). Fri & Sat at 8pm; Sun 9/13 at 7pm; Thu 9/17 at 8pm. Entrance behind the theatre; access through alley between 7th & 8th Sts.
Tickets: $25 ($22 students/seniors). Call (310) 512-6030 or visit our website www.littlefishtheatre.org.
31 – Mary Star High Athletic Boosters “Summer Classic” Golf Tournament at Los Verdes Golf Course (7000 W. Los Verdes Drive,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275) with a 7:00 am Shotgun Start, 4-man “Scramble Format.” Entry Fee of $150 per player includes
Green Fees with cart, Lunch & Awards (Cash Prize for Hole-in-One). Tournament and Tee Sponsorships are also being sought. For
forms and further information, go to www.marystarhigh.com or contact Eddie Sullivan (310) 560-9118 or Bill Muller (310) 612-6004.
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14 – The Crooked Jades at The Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St., Downtown). 8pm. Called the finest string band in America by The Boston
Herald and chosen by Sean Penn to be part of the soundtrack of his Oscar-nominated 2007 film Into The Wild. Tickets $15. For more
info, call (310) 833-4813 or visit www.thegrandvision.org.
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Summer Sale
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Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 5:30
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July 31/Aug 1-2 –
21st Annual Taste in
San Pedro at Point
Fermin Park (Gaffey
and Paseo del Mar).
The Taste in San
Pedro showcases the
incredible variety of
cuisine available throughout the South Bay, with a nice selection of wines and
beers, as well as a local marketplace to purchase interesting products and
services. Non-stop entertainment will be provided for both days featuring
the best in local blues, rock, punk and R&B. Friday Night is a Concert Only
– 6-10pm, $10 admission (pizza and drinks available), Sat/Sun is Taste in San
Pedro. Admission is $10 ($20 Sat. concert admission after 5pm); $7 seniors/
military, $5 children 6-17 yrs; FREE children under 5. Admission Packs can also
be purchased for groups and families. “Taste Tickets” are $1 and are used to
purchase food and drinks. For more information, call the San Pedro Peninsula
Chamber of Commerce at (310) 832-7272 or visit www.tasteinsanpedro.com.
22 (Sat) – Hot Pedro Nites Classic
Car Cruise down Pacific Ave.
6-9pm. Cruise Route: Pacific Ave.
between 6th and 16th Sts., 7th St.
between Pacific and Centre Sts.,
Centre between 7th and 6th Sts.,
6th between Centre and Pacific Sts.
Pre – 1971 cars only. Applications
to enter cars in the Cruise available
online at www.hotpedronites.com or
at the following locations: San Pedro
Chamber of Commerce (390 W. 7th
St.), Ray Deeter Tire Town (1024 S.
Pacific Ave.), The Corner Store - 1118 W. 37th St. Car entry fee $40 (benefits
Clean San Pedro). Cruise will include live music at Pacific and 11th, Pacific
and 9th, Mesa and 6th. After the Cruise, stay downtown to eat, drink, and
socialize on 6th & 7th Streets. spt
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For more information on the event contact the
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feedback
Positively San Pedro?
I take exception to Janice Hahn’s article “Positively San Pedro” that appeared in the June
issue. Ms. Hahn ridiculously tries to blame San Pedro Today for being too “negative”
about our town. After searching past issues of SP Today and SP Magazine I found many
negative comments about Hahn and her policies or practices. In contrast, almost
everything written about our town in San Pedro Today is very positive. The truth is San
Pedro Today is a celebration of our community. Ms. Hahn’s article was another attempt
to camouflage her failures and shortcomings and do what she does best, blame someone
else.
San Pedrans are not negative about San Pedro, we are negative about Hahn, and for
good reason. We have not built an inch of waterfront in the past four years. Our dropout
rate at San Pedro High has doubled to 42% in the past five years. We have added more
check cashing stores and tattoo parlors than recreation centers, banks, parks, bakeries or
police combined. Ms. Hahn needs to take some responsibility for this or at least address
the problems, not try and displace the blame.
We have real issues, real problems. Ms. Hahn, we don’t care that you “love Max’s at
25th and Western” when you vote to raise parking fees 400% or stand quietly by while
Chief Bratton takes 40 officers out of Harbor Division. We need someone who is
respected for their commitment to our community, not someone who tries to pacify
us with meaningless pep talks in an attempt to mask growing community concern and
reckless council behavior. Our voices need to be heard, and if Janice Hahn really cared,
she would be listening instead of whining!
Jane Barton
San Pedro
In response to Councilwoman Janice Hahn’s “Positively San Pedro” article in San Pedro
Today’s June issue, once again Ms. Hahn tries to put a political spin on the reader’s
criticism of her performance. Those of us who write letters to the editor are complaining
about Hahn, not San Pedro! We love San Pedro, that is why we write. We are frustrated
with our councilperson whose words and actions tell two different stories. Instead of
addressing real issues, Hahn hopes she can head-fake the community into thinking that
criticism of her is bad for San Pedro. Hahn should worry less about what “the passing
visitor” thinks when they pick up San Pedro Today and listen to the number of growing
critics who once supported her.
B. Bollen
Send Feedback comments/letters to:
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snail mail:
San Pedro Today
P.O. Box 1168
San Pedro, CA 90733
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voices
Summertime in San Pedro
by Jack Baric
The holiday season is probably when a majority of people feels most
nostalgic. Not me. In the golden-hued corners of my memory bank it is
the months of June, July and August that conjure up my favorite recollections of growing up in San Pedro.
Ironically, when I think of summer in San Pedro, the first and foremost place that comes to mind is actually not even in our town. Ask almost anybody from my generation where they spent the largest amount
of their summer vacation time and they’ll probably tell you Torrance
Beach. I can remember like it was yesterday being in a row of anywhere from 10 to 20 Pedro
boys all catching the same wave as we bodysurfed the shore pound together. On the sand we
could never sit still and there’d always be an intense game of smash ball or beach volleyball going
on somewhere – oftentimes near girls who we were showing off for.
One summer my buddy Todd Karli and I decided to capture that competitive spirit and love
of the beach by throwing a beach volleyball tournament that we majestically coined the San
Pedro Open. Having the common sense to not have a San Pedro Open in Torrance, we set up a
court and the equipment from our DJ company at Cabrillo Beach and had a blast with hundreds
of our friends who gathered around kegs, tossed water balloons, danced in the sand, and even
occasionally cheered on the volleyball players. To be honest, hosting the tournament was just an
excuse to throw a party and play some music in a setting that we thought was cool.
I like to brag that I’m probably the world’s worst DJ that ever spun a record. More often than
not the beer can that was spinning on the vinyl (yes, vinyl) would spill and bring the song and
the party to a crashing halt – until I quickly got another record up on the deck and we’d start all
over again. As bad as Todd and I were, we somehow had a good run of about three or four consecutive summers when we were constantly being hired to play parties at places like Ulabrand
Hall, Palos Verdes Racquetball Club, Seaside Lagoon (in Redondo Beach), Croatian Hall, and
(mostly) people’s backyards.
Just about the time that Todd and I began to burn out on DJing, our friends Slaven Erceg and
Scott Martin got their own DJ company going and picked up right where we left off – which was
a good thing because they actually had some of the record spinning skills that eluded us during
our time behind the turntables (later Scott moved to San Diego and became one of the biggest
DJs in the vibrant club scene down there).
For anyone who still doubts that we have climate change, think about how cool it was this past
June (and the last few before) and just ask some of the guys who played in Kenny Potter’s annual Slam Ball basketball tournament how steaming hot the asphalt would get at Crestwood Elementary when we played there every June. The only thing hotter than the temperature was the
tempers that this super-competitive group of guys brought to the court (if Janice Hahn thinks
Anthony Santich brings the heat in his letters to the editor, she should have seen him debate call
after call during the hoops games there – and I’m sure Anthony will point out that I didn’t exactly
keep my opinions to myself either).
The beauty of the guys that played Slam Ball was that no matter how hot we’d get on the court
that day by nightfall we’d all be drinking cold ones and laughing together like the brothers that
we were –the boys of summer… San Pedro style. spt
Jack Baric can be reached at jackbaric@hotmail.com
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voices
Is it Time for a New Shipyard at the Port?
by Councilwoman Janice Hahn
Many of you remember the days when Todd Shipyard called the
Port of Los Angeles home. Since Todd closed up shop in the mid-1980s,
we have become the largest port in America with no major shipbuilding
and repair facility. Though 40% of the cargo in the nation comes through
our port, the closest full-service shipyard is all the way down in San Diego. I think it’s time we change that.
Recently, shipyard builder Gambol Industries proposed a plan to
build a new, green, $50 million shipbuilding and repair facility right here
in the harbor, at the former Southwest Marine site. In a tough economy like this when we’re experiencing a 30% drop in cargo, we need to find new and creative revenue streams for our port. A
state-of-the-art shipbuilding and repair facility would not only provide an excellent opportunity
to diversify the local job market, it would create more, good-paying jobs while giving a muchneeded boost to our economic engine.
Gambol has partnered with the Los Angeles Conservancy in order to preserve the existing
historic shipyard facility while also planning to put it back into use. During the public hearings
held on this proposal, I heard loud and clear from the Chamber, historic preservation advocates
and the local community about how important it is to retain the structures that are a part of our
San Pedro history.
We’ve also heard loud and clear from our local trades people who are out of work and would
love to have a state-of-the-art shipyard at the port. A project like this would have huge economic
significance by employing approximately 2,000 people with good-paying jobs worth nearly $80
million in economic impact.
There are also major environmental and security advantages in having the capacity to haul
vessels that have been severely damaged. Gambol is currently working with the Port to put together a detailed business plan of what it proposes for the former Southwest Marine site.
I have heard support from a broad base of people from business, to labor, to community
groups – as well as a compelling case from the L.A. County Economic Development Corporation – for bringing a shipyard back to our port, and I will do all I can to help the process along. I
think it is safe to say that creating and diversifying jobs and industries at our port is a goal we can
all get on board with. What do you think? Let me know at janice.hahn@lacity.org. spt
Rebranding San Pedro in a Global Depression
12
by Richard Pawlowski
I was a guest speaker at the Torrance Rotary breakfast meeting a few
weeks ago. My topic was “New Business Development Strategies,” a timely
subject on the mind of millions of
Americans. I took some extra copies
of San Pedro Today and pointed to my
monthly column, which for June was
about the new Disney Cruise Line coming to San Pedro. I also
took some flyers for Bike Billboards (www.BikeBillboards.
com), a business development concept I hatched out of my
garage about five years ago and a rendering I did for the Grand
Ships Expo (www.GrandShips.com) concept along the Harbor Blvd. promenade.
I presented both concepts as new business development
opportunities and spoke factually of the economic problems
they were designed to counter. The creative notions of taking
an ugly, half-mile parking lot fence and turning it into a FREE,
world-class, 24x7 educational attraction and also attaching
billboards to bikes, was met with smiles of approval and a few
verbal wows. Literally, I could the light bulbs going off above a
lot of nodding heads.
Several of the Torrance businesspeople talked about and
agreed with me that there is much more ahead of us from this
mega-recession and that untypical thinking is what is going to
make a difference this time around. Making lemonade from
lemons – a tired but true metaphor –fits every person and every business in our “new normal” economy.
One of the Rotary members also mentioned the two different San Pedros: the distressed downtown and the choked
Western Ave corridor. I took the time to clarify that there
were actually THREE different San Pedros with three distinct
Neighborhood Councils, each with a different set of priorities
and issues. I also explained that San Pedro could be a great
place to invest – more so than other parts of L.A. – because of
the massive POLA construction spending and the dedication
of hundreds of volunteers that actively serve on the various
groups (the new ACE District, the CRA, the PCAC and the
Neighborhood Councils).
In other words, I found myself promoting investing in San
Pedro to Torrance business people. It was refreshing because I
wasn’t preaching to the typically contentious San Pedro choir
of regular activists.
A few days after this Rotary meeting, I was given a personal, one-person tour of the World Cruise Terminal. Carol
Wianecki, Property Manager for the POLA and Wilkin Mes,
Regional Manager for Cruise Operations for Pacific Cruise
Terminals LLC, showed me around while we talked of new
ideas for business development. This tour was set up by Mike
Galvin, Director Real Estate for the POLA, and Kathryn McDermott, Deputy Executive Director for the POLA.
I must say, this was one of my most interesting and eye-
opening days ever. To stand inside a massive, former warehouse, now turned cruise terminal – when it is empty – is a
mind blower. To have driven past this structure a thousand
times and to now see it from the inside and empty was indeed
special for me, especially knowing what I know about the “rebranding” problems and efforts of the Port, NCs, PBID, San
Pedro Chamber of Commerce and the ever-bumbling CRA.
Anyway, to make a longer story short, I came away from
the tour with some great input from Wianecki and Mes and
designed a proposed “Discover San Pedro” display (www.venturexpo.com/news36.html) for INSIDE the cruise terminal to
match what I proposed on the outside with the Grand Ships
Expo. It could be a major new business development effort,
especially important now because for the next few years, there
will be FEWER cruise ships calling in San Pedro and this type
of connection with cruise passengers could become critical for
Downtown San Pedro merchants.
And by the way, the Port has released the new 2009 Cruise
Market Demand Evaluation Study. Fascinating read with special insights for the future of San Pedro see: www.portoflosangeles.org/DOC/Cruise_Market_Study_2009.pdf. spt
Richard Pawlowski is a business development consultant and long
time resident of San Pedro. He publishes his redevelopment concepts
at www.NewSanPedro.com and www.GrandShips.com. He can be
reached at rp@venturexpo.com.
voices
Harbor College Turns 60
by Steve Marconi
Tregarthen garnered her 15 minutes of fame and put Harbor on the national sports scene 18
years ago when she tried out for and made the football team as a backup kicker. Tregarthen had
been a first team All-City soccer player at San Pedro High in 1988 and 1989, when her dad, Dan,
was head coach, and planned to continue playing soccer at El Camino. In 1990, however, she was
struck by a car; the near-fatal accident cut short her soccer career, and she ended up at Harbor in
1991, the school where her parents had met.
Her mom had been student body president, and Sandy was homecoming queen in 1991. The
next summer, football assistant coach James Bennings saw her kicking soccer balls and invited
her to the team tryouts. When the team’s regular kicker suffered a slight injury, she kicked an
extra point in a 24-21 victory over Compton (Harbor finished 8-3 that year), reportedly making
her the first woman in the nation to score in a junior college football game.
Crazy things happen in college, but I wouldn’t be surprised if going from homecoming queen
to football player also was a first. spt
For more information on the 3rd Annual Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony, call (310) 2334351.
Steve Marconi, a lifetime resident of San Pedro and veteran journalist, can be reached at
spmarconi@yahoo.com.
10th Annual Lions Club Charity Downhill
Race and Legends Car Show
Co-sponsored by the Legends Car
Club
Sunday, August 30th, 2009
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Pt. Fermin Park, San Pedro
Now accepting racer
applications!
Live entertainment
Raffle with great prizes
13
FREE admission and parking
www.lionsdownhillrace.com
(310) 832 - 2444
Harbor College is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year,
so it’s only fitting that the third annual Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony
honors first things. That would be Selwyn Yancy, the school’s first athletic
director, and the 1950 football team, the school’s first in what would be a
long tradition of excellence.
There is much more, of course. Also being inducted at the Sept.
11 ceremony at the Crown Plaza Hotel in San Pedro will be the 1990
baseball team, the third and last state title team coached by Jim O’Brien;
Lloyd Edwards, a star on the 8-2 1965 football team that won the Lions Bowl who went on to a
college All-American career at San Diego State and the Oakland Raiders; Glen Walker, the kicker
on two pitiful teams in the 1970s who found better success with USC and Los Angeles Rams;
Ron Knight, conference player of the year at Harbor in 1966-67, an All-American at Cal State
L.A., draftee of the expansion Portland Trailblazers and member of the Harlem Globetrotters;
Eric Bullock, the record-setting All-American outfielder at Harbor in 1981 and first-round pick
of the Houston Astros; Herman Franklin, a state champion hurdler at Harbor in 1967 and 1968
who went on to star at USC; Sandy Tregarthen, who accomplished a first of her own when she
kicked an extra point for the Seahawk football team in 1992; and Gary Wood, the school’s public
information officer from 1982 to 2004 who handled all of the sports publicity and often doubled
as announcer and scorekeeper at many events.
None of this would have been possible without the foundation laid by Yancy, who served
as athletic director from 1949 to 1974 and died in 1987. He also served as basketball coach
during the school’s first five years, never achieving much success, but as AD had the knack of
finding coaches who continuously produced great athletes and great teams. He brought in
Floyd “Scrappy” Rhea from Huntington Park High, and he won three conference titles in the
1960s. Yancy hired Jim White out of Westchester High, and he took the Seahawks to a state
championship in 1981.
Yancy got his start at San Pedro High School, where he coached after graduating from USC in
1938. He returned to the Pirates after service in WWII, coaching football, basketball, track and
swimming. One of his first moves as athletic director at Harbor was bringing in an old colleague
from San Pedro High, Joe Berry, as head football coach. As head coach for the Pirates from 1939
to 1941, Berry had compiled a record of 16-5-3, including a Marine League title, the school’s first
in 19 years, in 1940, when the team was 6-0-1.
Assisted by Norm Kettering and Yancy, Berry’s 1950 Seahawks, comprised mostly of players
from San Pedro High, Narbonne and Banning, many of whom hadn’t played ball in years, were
the surprise of the Metropolitan Conference. The team finished 4-3-1. In the days of leather
helmets and players going both ways, Harbor never gave up more than 15 points (the three
losses were by scores of 15-7, 12-7 and 14-7) and three opponents scored only six points. The
game with powerhouse Bakersfield ended 0-0.
Fred Ihde, third-team All-City end in 1947 from San Pedro High, returned to the gridiron
after a stint in the Navy and made all-conference. Other starters from San Pedro High included
Mickey Teora at tackle and Dave Wallace at quarterback. Teora went on to graduate from Long
Beach State and returned to San Pedro High as a teacher and coach (compiling a 22-28-3 record
from 1972 to 1977). Teora holds the distinction of scoring Harbor’s first touchdown ever,
recovering a blocked punt in the end zone. Wallace was second team All-Marine League in 1946.
Other former Pirates who lettered that first year at Harbor were George Fischer, James
Gannon, Teruji Goto, George Grgich, Eugene Gregson, Joe Palacios and Ed Sullivan. Gannon
and Wallace are deceased.
voices
Dragon Boating in San Pedro
by Jennifer Marquez
I am craving a new adventure
to fit somewhere in between taking care
of children and working. Shopping for
detergent at Target really doesn’t count
as a hobby, even though oddly enough,
I enjoy it. Before kids (BK) I was an advanced certified scuba diver, went on a
game show and traveled to exciting places. Now I do yoga and Pilates every chance I can but am in the
mood for something different.
I heard about Dragon Boating from a friend and decided to try
it. I like that it is local and on the water. I see the ocean everyday
and think it is high time I embrace my environment and get on
the water. Even better, when I called, they told me to come down
and try it at no cost. I didn’t have to sign up for anything and they
welcomed beginners.
I headed over to the Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports
Center (CBYWSC) where they meet. There were two groups of
boaters, the regular group who went right out on the ocean and
a corporate team that had come for team building. Both groups
were preparing for an upcoming race in Long Beach. I decided
to join the corporate team so I could learn the basics alongside
the pool first.
Coach Corley taught us how to hold the paddle and paddling
techniques. After a short practice, we put on our life vests and
headed for the boat. A boat can seat up to 20 people, 18 paddlers,
a “steerer” and a drummer, if you have one. They had to switch
people around to balance the boat. I was glad because the whole
thing felt like it was going to flip thanks to the camera guy next to
me wiggling around taking photos. With the coach at the front
and the “steerer” in the back, we were told, “paddles up”.
Coach Corley started to count and we began to row. It wasn’t
hard to row but it really is quite a cardio workout. We were close
together so I had to be precise with my paddle. I accidently hit
the man in front of me with my paddle a couple of times when
we had to switch sides. I was going to point at camera guy as the
culprit if he looked back.
We rowed and coasted and then rowed and coasted some
more. While rowing there isn’t time to look around, I was somehow very focused. It was refreshing to be on the ocean gliding
with the pelicans. It was 7 p.m. and I didn’t feel cold at all. We
spent about 30 minutes on the water and rowed back to the
beach. I had a great time and can’t wait to get back out to enjoy my new hobby, paddling an ancient Chinese Dragon Boat
through the L.A. Harbor.
“Dragon Boat racing is the fastest growing sport in the world
and the tradition is over 2,000 years old,” states Coach Patrick
Corley who is also a teacher at Taper Elementary School. “We
are extremely lucky to have this great facility in San Pedro with
boats and a private beach. The boats were discovered in a garage
in Venice at a Boys and Girls Club and were given to us. Local
businesses donated labor and products to restore them.”
The L.A. Harbor Dragon Boat Club is in its second season
and preparing for the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival race on
August 1 and 2 at the Marine Stadium. The free festival will include magic and acrobat performances with dragon boat races
for different divisions. Food will be available to purchase.
The L.A. Harbor Dragon Boat Club meets at 6 p.m. on
Wednesday and 8 a.m. on Sunday (Youth 7 and older meet at
9:30 a.m. on Sunday) at the Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront
Sports Center. The season runs May through July and anybody
who is interested can come out and try it. Members pay $60 for
the season, which includes a t-shirt, insurance fee and entrance
into the race. spt
The Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports Center is located at
3000 Shoshonean Road in San Pedro. For more information about
the L.A. Harbor Dragon Boat Club, call (425) 503-3988 or visit
www.laharbordragonboat.org.
Jennifer Marquez writes about low-cost and free events in her blog
www.grassrootsmama.com. She serves on the Coastal San Pedro
Neighborhood Council and can be reached at jennifertmarquez@
yahoo.com.
Canetti’s: A Family Institution
14
by John M. Mavar, Vice President, Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council and ILWU member, Local 13
Editor’s Note: We will be chronicling Ca- around man with his unforgettable smile. This great-grandfanetti’s Seafood Grotto’s 60th anniversary in ther keeps his family guessing on how long he wants to operate
an upcoming issue. – JS
this restaurant.
Joann Canetti, daughter to Joe, is now taking charge by givSan Pedro is sure not short on res- ing her father a well-deserved break. Many restaurant owners
taurants with a history of family owner- have gone down the same road as Mr. Canetti, but he has not
ship and life long dedication toward retired. Mr. Canetti and Joann know their restaurant is a healthy
tradition. These restaurants have rich and tasty place to eat. Grease is out and grilled items are what
foods with the taste of the old country folks enjoy.
and it’s one of the reasons why people come back over and over
From my experience, Canetti’s home cooking is filled with
again. Unfortunately, sometimes we forget our unique restau- the taste of heart and soul. The Canetti family has dedicated
rants and rather go to an Olive Garden or indulge fast food.
their lives to this restaurant. The food has maintained much of
Canetti’s Seafood Grotto is one of those places that should the same classic style since the restaurant opened its doors 60
not be forgotten. This place is San Pedro. Owner Joe Canetti as years ago. Fish is part of most entrees, the reason that continues
been in the kitchen most of his life cooking up meals, (mostly to keep this restaurant unique. Fresh fish at an affordable price
amazing fish entrees), talking with costumers and being the all- is what you get at Canetti’s.
There have been many opportunities to close and enjoy retirement for the Canetti Family. But as the restaurant turns 60
years olds and Mr. Canetti gets older the family says the restaurant is here to stay. There is potential for Canetti’s to recapture
the busier times. New development is underway along 22nd
St. and the planned development of a cruise ship terminal will
only increase business. This restaurant, like other businesses,
has had struggles with the downturn in the economy. A new
marketing strategy for a new generation and community participation can keep this San Pedro landmark running for another 60 years.
I recommend you visit and try the grilled calamari sandwich. spt
Canetti’s Seafood Grotto is located at 309 E. 22nd St. (310) 8314036. Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon-Sat; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.
by Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino, LAPD Harbor Division
The public is invited to view the tourney and mingle with the stars. A $5 donation is requested. Food
and entertainment provided. For more information on the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation,
visit www.lapmf.org.
LOS ANGELES POLICE
FAMILY FUN DAY AND
C
elebrity Golf Tournament
Celebrity
Saturday
Saturday
August 1, 2009
10:00 A.M.
TEE OFF
Kids Activities!
G
reat Food!
Great
L.A.P.D. Equipment Displays and
much mor
e ffor
or family
more
entertainment.
C
elebrity autograph seekers
Celebrity
welcome!
Free Shuttle Service to and from
the Taste in San Pedro!
Free Tickets to the Tournament at the
LAPD booth inside the Taste of SP!
Trump National Golf Club
One Ocean Trails Drive
RRancho
ancho PPalos
alos Verdes, CA 90275
All P
roceeds Benefit The
Proceeds
Los
Los Angeles
Angeles Police
M
emorial FFoundation
oundation
Memorial
Donald Trump
Celebrity
Celebrity Host
Tickets $5.00
All
All Children
Children Under
Under 12 Years Of Age Are Free
Tickets
Tickets Available At All LAPD Stations or for more information call (213) 847-4239
15
The Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation will hold its 38th Annual Los Angeles Police Celebrity
Golf Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, August 1 at 10 a.m. at Trump National Golf Club in
Rancho Palos Verdes (www.trumpnational.com). Celebrities include host/owner Donald Trump,
Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives), Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), Carlos Mencia,
Miguel Ferrer, Rick Dees, Shawn Parr, Terrell Davis, Erik Estrada, Chad Everett and many more
TBA.
The 38th Annual
Freedom is not free. This statement is as true for protecting our
communities as it is for protecting our country. The lives of young
Americans that answered the call to service to keep us free surround
the globe. The study of American history is, in many ways, the study
of sacrifice for a cause greater than ourselves.
“Be careful,” says my two-year-old daughter, who recently picked
up the line from my six-year-old son, as I left for work this morning.
These are words heard often by my brothers and sisters in law
enforcement and public safety as we leave our loved ones to serve the people of Los Angeles.
It is a simple yet powerful reminder of the risk we assume in our chosen profession.
Few people in Los Angeles today remember the name Clyde May. I do. Policeman Clyde
A. May, who, on February 28, 1907, was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery
suspect at Adams and San Pedro Streets. Policeman May was the first LAPD officer to be
killed in the line of duty. It was on November 29, 1998, when Officer Brian Brown, Pacific
Area, was shot and killed during a gunfight after witnessing a drive-by shooting. Officer
Brown and his partner witnessed the shooting, in which one person was killed, and began
to chase the suspects. The suspects opened fire on the two officers, striking Officer Brown in
the head and grazing his partner. I was tasked with investigating the traffic collision that was
involved in this incident and mostly remember seeing Officer Brown’s “keepers” (buckles
used to hold our utility belt) on the ground.
I attended Brian’s funeral and my most vivid memory was watching his seven-year-old
son, Dylan, saluting his father’s flagged-draped coffin. Dylan told a local newspaper, “He was
the best. He was a great police officer, and I really loved him. I’m going to miss him. I didn’t
want him to die. He just loved me. I really loved him.”
More recently, we remember the loss of our brother, friend, and neighbor Randy
Simmons. Officer Simmons was shot and killed as he and other members of the Los Angeles
SWAT Team made entry into a home at approximately 12:30 a.m. on February 7, 2008.
The team had been deployed to the home after a suspect inside called 911 and claimed to
have murdered three family members. A solid family man, superb athlete, and active in the
community as a volunteer helping those in need, Officer Simmons was a role model to all of
us at the LAPD, both on and off duty, and will long be remembered by a grateful community.
Then there was Harbor Area’s own Officer Bobby Mata, who on September 19, 2000,
was killed in a single vehicle accident while he responded to backup another officer who was
investigating a stolen vehicle. Bobby left a lasting impression with his partners in the Gang
Unit who still honor him and keep in close contact with his family and children.
These are four of the 202 police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting
and serving the citizens of Los Angeles. Many of these 202 police officers left behind spouses
and children. As police officers, we are fortunate to have the Los Angeles Police Memorial
Foundation which provides financial assistance to Los Angeles Police Department
employees and their families who are experiencing financial difficulty due to death, injury
or illness. In fact, the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation assisted another neighbor
of ours, Officer Kristina Riapatti from Redondo Beach, who was shot and paralyzed while
patrolling with the Southwest Division’s gang enforcement detail on June 3, 2006. Kristina
continues to be an inspiration to us all. spt
voices
Hometown Heroes
voices
The Next 10 Years
by Anthony Pirozzi
16
San Pedro is going through many changes, and decisions
made today will have a profound impact on us for the next 10 years and
beyond. It is a time for us to take a step back and see all that has changed
in recent years and what needs to be addressed to secure our future.
Within the last five years we have seen the completion of the cruise
ship promenade and the grand opening of the Fanfare Fountain, while
downtown has seen the completion of four condominium and loft developments and the opening of new businesses and restaurants. Take a short
drive to 22nd and Miner St. and you will observe the old tank farm being converted to 18 Acres
of passive park space that will have many trees, bike trails, restrooms and four acres of flat grass
for activities and will be completed by years end. Across the street from the park development
is the construction of the Cabrillo Way Marina, scheduled to be finished in 2011, will provide
700 new slips for boats up to 130-feet in length. Take another short drive to the north side of
town and you will see a new walking path lined with trees and lighting between Capitol and
Westmont. Across the street is the new Target that required Eastview Little League to relocate
to Knoll Hill, which, in itself, has brought many families to rediscover downtown and the waterfront for dinner after a game or practice. I recommend that you take a drive and rediscover San
Pedro and observe these changes for yourself.
Looking at the next 10 years brings to mind two industries that drive our local economy, International Trade and the Cruise Ship Industry. As many business sectors continue to struggle
during the recession it is tourism and hospitality that has surpassed international trade as the
region’s top industry along with the entertainment industry and professional and business services sector.
When tourism trumps the other business sectors it begs the question, is this a short term
benefit or a long term trend? A tourism-based economy is dependent on discretionary spending
of personal income. Drastic fluctuations in jobs and spending habits are inevitable. This makes
the future somewhat uncertain. When an economy is based on international trade it enables discretionary spending of personal income and jobs and spending habits are somewhat constant.
Having both in San Pedro is a benefit as it diversifies our local job base.
From an international trade perspective the Port is investing in the future by recently approving the deepening of our main channel to accommodate bigger ships. The real question
is whether our port will be affordable for a company to operate since the option to ship cargo
through the soon-to-be-completed widened Panama Canal is on the table. Will local fees per
shipping container drive away companies to other ports thus limiting the number of union and
non-union jobs that support port operations over the next 10 years? This is a real concern that is
being discussed throughout San Pedro.
The next question is where to build the new cruise ship terminal. Some advocates want it
near the existing terminal on Harbor Blvd while others want to build it at Kaiser Point directly
across from Cabrillo Beach. The arguments will range from wanting the new terminal close to
downtown so tourists will support local businesses and others will say the aesthetics of having it
at Kaiser Point are unbearable. Either way we need to build a new terminal to secure the cruise
ship industry for the next 10-plus years in San Pedro.
Finally, the waterfront promenade is the key to the revitalization of San Pedro and must be
fast-tracked in order to attract tourist, but more importantly to attract the thousands of locals
that have a desire for something new in town. Core San Pedran’s do not show up for meetings to
express their desires for waterfront development but rather show up in great numbers for waterfront events. This was demonstrated last year when 5,000 people attended the grand opening of
the Fanfare Fountain and when 7,000 recently attended the Cars N’ Stripes Forever event. San
Pedro is hungry for the waterfront to be developed and no longer can we afford to wait. Each day
we delay developing the Waterfront Promenade/Bridge to Breakwater project is a lost opportunity for new businesses to open, a new condominium from being sold, lost revenue for local
businesses and new jobs to be created.
We must remember that the next 10 years begins today. Although these are tough economic
times, these are times of opportunity. Tough times call for tough decisions. The time is now for
local leadership to lead and make bold and critical decisions for the greater good of our town and
to secure our economic future for the next 10 years and beyond. spt
Anthony Pirozzi is on the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Vice President of
New Fields for Eastview Little League. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo.com.
voices
The Trashcan Cover-Up
by Diana L. Chapman
During the week, I walk along Paseo Del Mar catching “peace of mind”
before dusk to witness the sun’s glinting
rays before she goes to bed, catch some
exercise and meditate while staring out
at the sea on my way to Point Fermin
Park.
On the weekend, the scene changes
dramatically from this regal contemplation and quiet. The area
becomes a piece of trash – or should I say hundreds of pieces of
trash – that stream down from the park into the ocean.
At first, I blamed these culprits – the park’s visitors, but they
are not the only criminals. And sometimes they aren’t even doing the littering. There are many other culprits: ravens, crows,
seagulls and raccoons. And how about one of the things the
area is known for – its blustering winds! We don’t have a harbor
called Hurricane Gulch here for no reason. I have mentioned
this issue about the floating trash to the city before, asking for
one thing: more trashcans (actually, ones that are covered).
I was told it would be looked into, but I never heard about it
again.
It makes sense to me, especially with our esteemed Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa claiming all the time that the city is go-
ing green. I’m ready for that, because I don’t really want to hop
around on the weekends picking up trash. It would be nice if
we could actually enjoy our parks rather than running full force
into scores of plastic bags, paper napkins, rolling paper cups
and plates that float sideways in the forceful winds.
At first, I was so chagrined and blamed the park’s visitors
for their environmental irresponsibility as I watched decadent
amounts of garbage litter the park, sweep down the hillsides
and plunge into the ocean right into seaweed beds where garibaldi and sea lions glide. But then I noticed all the responsible
park users, who were actually dumping garbage directly into
the trash, and cleaning up after parties where there are just too
few trash cans. Many of those visitors were actually cleaning up
after themselves and stacking up their plastic garbage bags also
filled to the brim.
The trouble with that is when the critters with the beaks and
the little hands rip up the bags and the trash blows away due to
the gusting wind.
As years wore on and no more trashcans appeared after my
request – or covered ones – appeared in the city park, I realized
we are our worst enemy. We need to use some common sense.
While I’m not a full-on environmentalist, I do want to keep our
city clean starting with our parks.
If we have to raise funds to buy new covered trashcans due
to the city budget crises, then perhaps that’s what we should do.
We have so many gems here to protect from Cabrillo Beach to
Royal Palms that if we want to continue enjoying San Pedro the
way she is now, we all need to get to work.
Each day, we allow a bit more trash to fall into our seas that
we know kill the local marine wildlife. We will have no one to
blame but ourselves when all our marine habitats vanish.
Yep, this is just a small solution to a much greater problem
effecting us worldwide, but we can start with this one here and
now. As you walk Cabrillo Beach or Point Fermin, pick up one
piece of trash and toss it out. If you do it, think about the sea
lions or pelicans you might be saving from ingesting plastic and
dying. And then call City Hall – in our case, Councilwoman
Janice Hahn’s office, and ask for covered trashcans at our parks
– canisters the wild critters can’t open and the winds can’t hamper. The council office number is (310) 732-4515. You will be
glad you did. spt
Diana L. Chapman was a newspaper journalist for 15 years with the
Daily Breeze and the San Diego Union-Tribune. She can be reached
hartchap@cox.net or visit her blog at: www.theunderdogforkids.
blogspot.com.
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Luisa Caterina DiScala Iacono
– Celebrating 100 Years
18
by Lori Skalabrin
My earliest memories of Nonna’s house are little details that will always remain imprinted in my mind: the scent
of fresh pasta sauce simmering on the stove; the jars of homegrown tomatoes lined up on the shelves in the garage; the Byzantine cross hanging in the hallway. To me, Nonna was simply a
loving grandmother: the tender, caring matriarch of our family.
But as I would come to learn, there is so much more to the life
story of this remarkable woman… a story which, amazingly,
spans a period of 100 years.
She was born Luisa Caterina DiScala on August 8, 1909
in the town of Testaccio, on the island of Ischia, Italy. One of
thirteen children, she lived a happy, fulfilling life, helping her
parents and enjoying her youth with her brothers, sisters and
friends. At age 22, she met my grandfather, Aniello Iacono,
and after a courtship of only 45 days, they were married by his
cousin, Bishop Agostino D’Arco.
The next fifteen years brought both great joy and hardship
for my grandmother. She experienced the birth of her first
child, Anna, and several years later, the birth and death of her
second child, Maria. She witnessed the Allied bombings of
Naples and lived through a separation of nine years from her
husband, when he went to work in the United States and could
not return because of World War II. While raising Anna, she
also took care of her dear nephew, Tony, for several years.
In 1946, my grandfather returned to Ischia to bring my
grandmother and young Anna to the United States. It was a bittersweet event, as they left behind their family and friends to begin a new life in America. After a stay in Connecticut to be with
family, they finally settled in San Pedro in 1947, and a year later,
Nonna gave birth to a son, Nello. Although their hearts never
left their beloved Ischia, San Pedro would become the place my
grandparents would proudly call “home” from here on.
During the next thirty-five years, Nonna’s life was very full as
a homemaker. In addition to caring for her own two children,
she played “mom” to many more: her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and eventually, her four grandchildren. Nonna kept a
meticulous home, or as my mom calls it: “the little dollhouse,”
referring to the pristine white walls, perfectly arranged knickknacks and beautiful garden surrounding the house. As a child,
her backyard seemed like a wonderland: a forest of trees bearing figs, loquats, lemons and tangerines; colorful patches of
violas sprouting in the grass and majestic calla lilies adorning
the side of the house; and the old white lattice gazebo where
the grandchildren spent so many afternoons playing “house”…
perhaps dreaming that one day, we would have homes of our
own just like hers.
For Nonna, life was about the love of family, friends, and of
course… food. Known for her exceptional cooking, she and
Nonno hosted the classic Italian Sunday dinner each week.
Family gathered to enjoy the wonderful feasts, which often included her delicious meatballs, savory tomato sauce and homemade gnocchi.
She and my grandfather never had a car or learned how to
drive. They walked everywhere, whether to Mass every Sunday
at Holy Trinity Church or to the old McCowan’s market on 1st
and Bandini St. for their groceries.
Commitment to God was always important to Nonna.
From the time I could speak, she taught me all the essential
prayers in Italian. We would practice reciting them over and
over: Nel nome del Padre, del Figlio, e dello Spirito Santo… This
was clearly a priority for her: I may have never learned how to
fluently speak Italian, but you better believe I knew my prayers.
Life would change drastically for Nonna when, in 1983, her
husband of 52 years passed away. The loss of Nonno and learning to live alone was a new challenge, but even in that adversity, her spirit didn’t wane, as illustrated by an incident at the
age of 88. While walking in her backyard one afternoon, the
ground beneath her gave way. Nonna fell shoulder-high into a
deep sinkhole. After three hours of calling for help, she finally
Iacono celebrates her 99th
birthday last year.
clawed, scratched and ultimately climbed out of the hole by
herself, an amazing testament to her strength and tenacity, even
at 88 years of age.
Today, Nonna, now a great-grandmother, lives in an assistedliving home in Rancho Palos Verdes. She is in relatively good
health. It still amazes me that she never took anything stronger
than an aspirin until she was in her late eighties, and despite hip
surgery, which now requires her to use a wheelchair, her spirit
is as vibrant as ever. When family arrives to visit, she raises her
arms high in celebration, showering us with compliments and
love. She is always a vision with her thick silvery-white hair
and bright smile. She is very animated and enjoys a fantastic
memory, recalling stories from her past, singing songs from her
childhood and reciting her favorite Italian poems and prayers.
When I think about the life Nonna has led, I wonder if I’ll
ever measure up to the daughter/wife/mother she has been.
I think about those early memories and how I can assure
the things she’s taught me will carry on. Her Byzantine cross
(which I inherited when she moved out of her house) now
hangs on my wall, a reminder of Nonna as a guiding light in my
life; I don’t remember all my prayers in Italian, but I do remember to pray often; and although my tomato sauce is not nearly as
good as hers, it’s getting better everyday. If I’m anywhere nearly
as fortunate as her, I’ll have a few more years to perfect it.
On behalf of our entire family, I am thrilled to wish Nonna
(a.k.a. Caterina/Katie/Mom/Zia) a wonderful 100th birthday.
We have been truly enriched by her presence in our lives. She
has blessed us with her wisdom, enthusiasm and loving ways,
and we are honored to witness this amazing milestone. Nonna… Buon Compleanno… ti vogliamo tanto bene! spt
Iacono as a young
woman.
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Student athlete of the Month
Lauren Costa (photo by Joshua Stecker)
Volleyball
Queen
by Brooke Karli
If anyone needs more hours in her day it’s Lauren Costa.
The 18-year-old graduate of Mary Star of the Sea High
School has devoted her life to academics, athletics, and volunteering – and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Since she was a young girl, involvement in sports has had a
tremendous impact on Costa’s life. At the age of six, she began
playing softball for San Pedro’s Bobby Sox League, serving as
her team’s pitcher. She continued to play softball until the age of
11, when she decided to try a new sport – volleyball.
Costa started playing volleyball at Holy Trinity Catholic
Church when she was in the fifth grade and has been in love
with the sport ever since. She played all four years in high
school – her freshman year on the junior varsity squad and
the rest on varsity – and received numerous recognitions. The
setter was named El Camino Real League First- and SecondTeam, Most Valuable Player, and helped her team earn the title
of undefeated league champions in 2008.
“Volleyball provided a way for me to show and develop
leadership skills and to be a more well-rounded person,” Costa
explains. “Volleyball is a very graceful sport and it taught me to
be two steps ahead.”
Although she got a bit burnt out on softball as a kid, she
returned to the sport her junior and senior years. This time
around, she served as the team’s shortstop and was named El
Camino Real League Second-Team and Best Defensive Player.
“When I was younger, softball was all about being with my
friends and being a part of something,” says Costa. “But when I
came back, it was more about drive and passion.”
Costa will carry over her drive and passion for sports into
college, as she plans to play intramural volleyball at California
State University, Long Beach.
She will also carry over her motivation and determination
to succeed in the classroom into college as well. As a student
at Mary Star, she carried a 4.0 grade point average and was a
part of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship
Federation. She also served as the senior class president and accrued more than 400 hours of volunteer service.
Some of her extracurricular activities include working as
an umpire at Peck Park and living up to her title as 2007 Mary
Star Fiesta Queen. Every year, the school hosts a festival to raise
money for the parish and the young woman that raises the
most money is crowned queen. Costa was up against four other
girls and held bake sales, silent auctions, bingo days, restaurant
fundraisers and more to raise money and claim the crown.
“It was one of the best experiences,” exclaims Costa. “You see
firsthand how happy and willing people are to help support you
and the church and it was just an overall humbling experience.”
Her reign as queen didn’t end there however. Costa was
once again crowned, but this time as her school’s Homecoming Queen her senior year.
Although she cherishes her times as queen, her real treasures lie on the field with her teammates and coaches and at
home with her family, where her mom Pam, a previous teacher
at Holy Trinity and current teacher at Port of Los Angeles High
School, and her dad Dom, who coached football at San Pedro
High School for 11 years, have continually supported her and
her 15-year-old brother Jake.
“I think sports have really shaped who I am – they have provided everything I need to lead and succeed,” shares Costa. “I’m
grateful for all of my experiences and for my family and all the
coaches for taking the time to support and encourage me.”
As Costa heads to college, she plans on majoring in psychology, but has an interest in marine biology as well. And if
her time in college is anywhere near as busy as her time in high
school, then she better work on adding more hours to her day.
spt
Utro’s Crest Cafe’s very own Joe Utovac photographed at the bar
of his legendary restaurant. (photo by Valerie Electra Smith-Griffin)
by Valerie Electra Smith-Griffin
clinking of beer bottles and flicks of Bics. The clientele is put
on notice with a weather-beaten sign of: “No Goons, No Buffoons, No Bogus Tunes,” and reminded Mickey D’s has serious
competition with: “Utro’s - Under 10 Billion Served.”
Various wacky yet delightful collectibles dangle from the
ceiling like newly-hung prisoners, and hungry patrons gather
round the magnificent pepper “hangin’ tree,” so named for a
man that fashioned a noose on one of its thick branches to “explore the great beyond,” for tantalizing sniffs from the oversized,
cast-iron pot of chefs-of-the-day Frank Salcedo’s steaming car-
21
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “Going to a Go Go”
reverberates throughout the buzzing human hive of party-goers of locals, longies and sun-worshipers who wholeheartedly
came to pay their last respects, in a euphoric procession of hundreds of showroom-condition classic cars and motorcycles,
waving to the videographer, who unknowingly, is capturing a
wake that outshines anything ever seen in the history of Green
Hills, or for that matter, San Pedro.
“Utro’s Dies Hard” is the motto of the day, underscored by
spontaneous bursts of gut-busting laughter, mingled with the
It’s July 8, 1989, and videographer Tom Hebert invites us to attend the closing party
of Utro’s Crest Café, the tiny, yet arresting, peach and orange-hued stucco building,
whose sign boasts: “Home of the Proudest People on the Coast.” Once auspiciously
located on the corner of 22nd and Mesa, on this fateful day, it’s drawing its final breath.
nitas, or Justin Karmelich and Pete Favazza’s BBQ’d swordfish.
Halfway through the video, we are introduced to the café’s
owner, the gregarious and baritone-voice Joe Utovac, or, as he’s
fondly known, “Joe Utro”, a 1965 San Pedro High graduate and
current longshoreman with National Lines Bureau, bidding
farewell to his second home that he’s nurtured since 1976,
when he purchased it from Leah Blakeman, who, in 1954,
opened it with her two daughters. As he faces the camera with
a bittersweet yet positive, “better days ahead,” he fires up his ‘55
baby blue Nomad and bids a silent farewell, a well-timed departure several steps ahead of the merciless destruction that’s
soon to take place.
The grand finale shows an extreme close-up of this hallowed building, with an epitaph on an outside wall conceptualized and painted by artist Jon Eshevarrieta, inscribed with the
names of Utro’s “regulars” that passed on, meeting its vile executioner, a mammoth bulldozer, that in cartoonish and cannibalistic fashion, devours it, and the beloved “hangin tree,” faster
than a downed tequila shooter and beer.
Resurrected in October, 1995, this solely unique to San
Pedro (or anywhere else for that matter) and picturesque establishment shares rich local history, nestled next to the wharf,
home to the few remaining fishing boats, an area reputed to
be the bullseye for future renovation plans, and its well-established reputation for great burgers and food very much alive.
Joe attests to the “no frills school” as evidenced by the polished
Utro’s today (left) and
yesterday. Note the “valet
parking” sign in the front of
the original restaurant.
22
thick wooden tables, festooned not with Egyptian-cotton linens and freshly-cut flowers, but
with burger condiments and stellar service, an approach that’s kept longtime customers like
John Polich, whom he named a Louisiana Sausage sandwich after, and Frank Guerra, satisfied.
“Back in the day” Utro’s stories abound and those of San Pedrans Steve Bates and Mickey
Stelmark underscore its relevance, and how it directly affected their lives. Legends Car Club
member Bates fondly referred to Utro’s, that was originally a bamboo-covered bait and tackle
shop prior to evolving into a café, as his coming-of-age haunt. “In the early 60s I was a youngin’
and the Crest was the place I had my first cheeseburger and no ID required beer. I remember I
felt like I hit the Mother Lode.”
Stelmark recounted a near 24/7 residence at Utro’s. “I practically lived there during the Todd
Shipyard years, the days when longies had to pay their dues. It’s where I ate my three squares
and swapped stories” and, when Stelmark decided it was time to get married, he felt the café was
superior to the fanfare of a Wayfarer’s Chapel-style wedding
“I even got married at Utro’s. We had about 120 people there. We had tons of trust and absolutely great friendships, non-stop laughter and so many remarkable people. I remember a guy
named Bobby Mizitich who sang exactly like Al Jolson, he brought him back from the dead! One
time, a TV production company was in town and the actors were thick in the café, going in and
out all day. A guy named Rudy Ibarra was leaning up against a metal sign that said “Valet Parking” and of course, Utro’s didn’t have valet parking and one actor with his Cadillac threw Rudy
the keys to his car and, before you know it, there’s Rudy driving through some mean potholes
888-516-5432
albezmo@bww.com
and the actor asked Joe, ‘Where’s the valet parking?’ to which Utovac casually replied, ‘We don’t
have valet parking.’”
Stelmark remains a genuine “Pedro Dog” and remarked, “When Joe called you a Pedro Dog,
you were in a very special group and absolutely nothing beat it. Because the Crest and the people
I knew there were like a second family to me, I felt it was important to see it to the end. I watched
the bulldozer bring it down and I remember the heavy equipment operator that was hired and
he couldn’t bring himself to do it, they had to get another guy.”
Joe recalled how the original Crest “was a hangout for longies, military and the Harbor Detectives with their bulging revolvers” and, steadfast in his memory? “Without a doubt, it was
December 17, 1976, the date of the Los Angeles Harbor Sansinena oil tanker explosion. We’d
only been open four months and the place was packed, I thought we’d been hit by a truck…
although some guys slept right through the entire event.”
Utro’s most famous menu item, and the genesis of its fame, The Devine Burger, is named
after the crew of the Fred Devine Company, who salvaged the S.S. Sansinena. Varied selections
include names as wildly creative as the décor, such as the Ort Burger, named after the infamous
Wilmington longie who worked shirtless in the rain, the Aloha Burger (“Time to Hula! Grass
Skirt and Lei Optional”) and a wide range of appetizers with amusing names as onion Joe Rings,
cut fresh daily Pedro Fries, Utro’s Chili Bowl, and Wharf Nachos, soups, salads, fish, sodas, draft,
bottle beers, house wines and, never-to-neglect your fur friends, The Emma or The Petie, single
or double-beef patties.
San Pedro Century Motorcycles owner, Cindy Rutherford, feeds her employees Utro’s fare,
as she’s been doing with her customers since the beginning. “I came up with the idea of taking
my customers to Utro’s for lunch when it came down to whether they were going to buy a motorcycle from me or from my competitor. It worked every time!”
Online restaurant reviews have one conjuring up Marlon Brando shouting to Joe, “I coulda
been somebody!” with “It oozes being on a Hollywood set for the 1954 movie, On the Waterfront, and a boldly stated, “San Pedro has flavor up the wazoo, as does Utro’s, as does the Devine
Burger. Five stars baby, that’s as good as it gets.”
Joe didn’t hesitate to attribute a smooth operation of the family-run business to his son, manager, Joey Cavotu-Utovac, as well as his wife, Cheryl. “She’s the sanity around here, keeps the
books straight and without hesitation, will make sure no riff-raff is welcome.”
Joe reflected on the myriad of changes he’s seen that included, “The loss of Todd Shipyards
and the canneries, and so many historic homes,” but evens the field on a positive note with, “the
Vincent Thomas Bridge lights and the free waterpark for the Rancho San Pedro area, it gives the
kids something extra special.”
He abides by a simple philosophy, and one that’s been the ticket for him. “As long as you wake
up and breathe, it’s vital to embrace and appreciate every day. Keep turning that page and most
importantly, live and let live.”
The strains of “Going to a Go Go,” memories of laughter, unbeatable times and the wind rustling through the branches of the ‘ol hangin’ tree ricochets as you pass by the corner of 22nd and
Mesa. Visit Utro’s on Berth 73 at Fisherman’s Wharf and look for that sign: “No Goons, No Buffoons, No Bogus Tunes,” it, and all the outstanding vintage photographs, nautical and eclectic
antiques, and longshore memorabilia the original Crest Cafe was so well known for, remains as
vivid as ever. Utro’s continuing success of 30 plus years and dedicated patrons, underscore a fact
as icy cold as the beer and as downright delectable as the life-affirming Devine Burger, Utro’s
spirit toppled over the bloody bulldozer. spt
Utro’s Café is located at Berth 73 (near Ports O’ Call Village), (310) 547-5022. Hours are Mon–Thurs
11am-4pm, Fri-Sun 11am-9pm. Summer-perfect large shaded patio. Private parties upon request.
Sincere thanks to Joey Cavotu-Utovac, for his assistance with this article.
Azteca’s owner Fernando Arana stands ready to
greet you with a smile. (photo by Joshua Stecker)
by Julia Murphy
San Pedro. Photographs of several community groups Azteca
supports, including the San Pedro Car Club, the March for
Cancer Walk, and the ILWU, are complemented with scenic
photographs of Mexico, decorative masks, and Aztecan warrior paintings. The overall effect is bright, spacious and inviting.
Azteca celebrates its 10th anniversary next year. It all began
with one dining room and plastic plates. A much younger Ricardo (the second of three boys) and his friends would scatter Azteca Restaurant is located at 28643 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos
across San Pedro’s parking lots nimbly posting flyers on wind- Verdes, CA 90275, (310) 831-7777. When you go in, ask to get
shields. Ricardo’s father, Fernando, would perch on the railing your picture on their wall!
23
Once inside the restaurant, you’ll see the original dining area
off to the right. The muraled wall comes with Azteca’s signature
collection of Polaroids taken of loyal customers. These include
Nick and Mary, a retired sheriff and his wife, who come in every
morning for breakfast.
Inside, left of the entrance, is an even larger dining area, a
space previously occupied by a bank. Azteca expanded five
years ago. They renovated the room and turned a staid banking
workspace into a festive, tiled bar. The walls of this room are
covered with symbols of both heritage and community here in
Step into the restaurant Azteca and on most days you’ll be greeted by a light-hearted,
young giant. Ricardo Arana, the 6-foot-5-inch branch on the Arana family tree, typically
jokes with the patrons. “What I mostly do is make sure the customers go away happy,”
he says. The poised 19-year-old maintains his positive presence with a practical philosophy: “I’m energy-sufficient!” he says. “I’d rather save my energy and be happy.”
outside Azteca’s entrance and talk to passers-by, many of them
familiar faces from his days as a waiter and busboy. He was no
longer working at Taxco, he’d say, but had gone out on his own.
Come on over!! And people knew Fernando. He’d been working steadily in San Pedro restaurants (including Denny’s and La
Chispa) for years, slowly saving money. From the various cooks
at these establishments, Arana learned how to run a kitchen.
(He’d also tip them and get his food more quickly.)
In 1979, when Fernando Arana and his father swam across
the Rio Grande into Texas the last thing on his mind was owning a restaurant. It took nine years in Houston and several more
in Southern California, usually working two jobs at a time, for
the dream to take hold. Arana’s wife, Esperanza, also worked
two jobs, usually in hotel housekeeping. The two managed
to do this, and raise their three boys with at least one adult at
home at all times. The extended Arana clan supported Fernando and his plan to open his own restaurant. Several family
members (Ricardo’s cousins and aunts) work at Azteca today.
In August of 2000, Fernando and Esperanza opened their
restaurant and began to craft a successful, family-owned business. They experimented with family recipes from Michoacán
and created a reputation for fresh, distinctive flavors (such as
the chicken mole enchiladas, YUM!). The lesson has been
taught that money comes and goes, but family, customers, and
relationships are what are important. Even when he’s working in the kitchen, Fernando takes a break to warmly greet his
customers, always attentive to any detail. “They come in here
not only because they love the food but [because] we also treat
them like family,” says Ricardo.
Ricardo came into the restaurant business, rather portentously, when he was 10. “The day I got suspended from summer
school was the same day that my dad bought the place,” he says.
“My dad said I had one choice: to come to the restaurant and
help him out.” Ricardo’s been working there ever since. The
younger Arana also attends Harbor College and wants to major
in business. He’s on hand when his father takes weekends off.
This place “made me grow up fast,” he says, “…in a good way.”
In these tough economic times, word’s getting around about
Azteca’s healthy linebacker-sized burritos. “The economy’s not
too good,” says Ricardo. “We need to help our customers so
they come back.” And with this slowdown comes the required
patience. Ricardo marvels at his father’s supply. “My dad would
say there’s always that slump. You just got to hang in there,” says
Ricardo.
Azteca and the Arana family continue to provide excellent
food seven days a week. Azteca holds fundraisers, caters private
parties, and hosts their Taco Cart Fiesta in front of the restaurant every Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Dedicated work
done in good faith. And they’re more than happy to extend a
warm family welcome to you. spt
A family that cooks together: Nazelie, Jack and
Lucia Kassabian run Nazelie’s Lebanese Café.
(photo by Joshua Stecker)
by Leona June Christensen
24
Although Nazelie’s Lebanese Café has been open for less than a year, the cuisine has
quickly earned its rightful place as one of San Pedro’s favorite restaurants.
“I love their food and the family is so friendly,” says Ryan
Long, “eating there makes you feel more like a guest than a customer.”
The eatery began in Nazelie Kassabian’s San Pedro kitchen.
Every Sunday, she would prepare a feast of her homeland’s native dishes for her husband Jack, their four children and their
friends. Their guests raved about Nazelie’s food and encouraged the family to open a restaurant so that others could experience her sumptuous meals.
The Lebanese immigrants always dreamed of opening a restaurant in the United States. When the couple was first married,
Jack and his family operated a restaurant in the United Arab
Emirates. His mother did most of the cooking.
Nazelie learned to cook while helping her mother and
mother-in-law in the kitchen. “My mother never let me peel
garlic while I was engaged because of the smell,” says Nazelie.
“Nazelie’s is an investment of our family’s heart and soul. I cook
from my heart. I never measure anything or follow a recipe.”
Nazelie’s menu items are distinctive from other local Lebanese cafes because their food remains true to its Mediterranean
roots, unlike other restaurants that Americanize their food. The
rant. For Jack and his wife, it’s a their own Taj Mahal.
“Jack told me that he had a surprise for me,” says Nazelie,
who celebrates their 35th wedding anniversary on August 4.
“He brought me to the restaurant and showed me that he had
hand-carved my name for the sign in the restaurant. It gave me
goose bumps and I started to cry.”
The restaurant was remodeled from what used to be a welfare office without blueprints or architect’s plans. It took him
11 months to complete the project. Jack did all the design and
construction work himself, including raising the ceiling by
about 18 inches and adding an extra window.
The outdoor window boxes were added so that his sweetheart would have fresh flowers. It’s the finishing touch to the
ambiance that makes the restaurant feel homey rather than
blending into the background of its strip mall location.
Jack’s talented craftsmanship as a jeweler and artisan shines
through in the details of the décor. He built the tables from plywood with a platform where diners could rest their feet comfortably and to match the diamond pattern of the columns in
the restaurant that were built to disguise drain pipes.
The evergreen trees adorning the windows are the symbol
of Lebanon. A small American flag is situated on the door that
separates the restaurant from the kitchen, a nod to the family’s
affection for their adopted homeland.
“I want my customers to feel like part of my family,” says Nazelie. “We are proud of our food and appreciate our customers.
It makes me happy when people enjoy our food and taste authentic Lebanese food without leaving San Pedro.” spt
difference is noticeable in the first bite.
“Our recipes come from the old tradition,” says Jack.
The most expensive item on the menu, lamb kebobs costs
$12. Two people can eat dinner for about $20. The menu is
simple and stays true to Mediterranean classics –hummus,
baba ghannouj, succulent beef and chicken shawerma (freshly
roasted sliced meat), rice pilaf, tabouleh, falafel and honey
sweetened baklava. It doesn’t matter what you order every morsel is delectable.
“My wife and I have been eating Nazelie’s food since the restaurant opened nine months ago,” says Chuck Coleman. “We
don’t eat anywhere else. Everything on the menu is delicious
and fresh.”
The Kassabian family operates the café with no other employees save a delivery driver who traipses as far as Redondo
Beach and Seal Beach to transport takeout for those who don’t
want to travel to San Pedro. Nazelie prepares the food. Jack
grills the marinated meats. Their daughter Lucia runs the cash
register.
When Nazelie isn’t cooking, she is greeting customers. It’s as Nazelie’s is located at 1919 S. Pacific Ave. For more information, call
if you are a guest in their home. Nazelie’s is more than a restau- (310) 519-1919.
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25
by Leona June Christensen
It’s dinnertime and San Pedro is hungry. Behind the register, the telephones at Buono’s
Authentic Pizzeria are barraged by a torrent of starving customers. As soon as Andrew
Buono, co-owner and manager of the f lagship location, answers one telephone the other one rings. Often he places one call on hold to answer another.
26
Meanwhile, a family of five enjoys dinner; pizza topped with
pepperoni and jalapeño peppers. Another couple is waiting for
their order, lasagna and a large Buono special – a pizza concocted by the Buono patriarch, Nicolaniello. It is piled high with the
works – pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, green peppers, salami,
olives and onions. The aroma of garlic, basil and tomatoes permeate the eatery, enhancing the diners’ feelings of anticipation
and hunger as they wait for their meal.
And the food is worth the wait. Mario Martinoli from KCAL
9 News calls Buono’s “One of Four Best Pizza Places in Southern California.” The Los Angeles Times food critics hailed the restaurant as one of their “Favorite Pizzerias.” Other local media
including the Press-Telegram and Daily Breeze and have awarded
the food with top honors.
“There’s nothing like our pizza,” says Andrew, whose passion
for food and cooking started at age 4 when he would stand on
a chair and observe his mother, Antonia, in the kitchen. “Our
customers tell me that they crave our pizza.”
In 1964, Nicolaniello’s father, Francesco, opened an Italian
grocery and deli, Buono’s Market, on the corner of Gaffey and
15th Street. Three years later, Nicolaniello took over management of the deli. The deli morphed into Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria in 1973.
“My grandmother used to make the sauce that we would
sell by the quart at the deli,” says Frank Buono, co-owner and
general manager.
Frank and Andrew Buono make, what
many consider to be, the best pizza in
town. (photo by Joshua Stecker)
family friend who owned and operated pizzerias in Brooklyn,
Rancho Palos Verdes and Belmont Shore. “It’s made the way
the customer wants and it’s the best in town.”
For generations in Italy, the Buono family worked as bakers,
a craft passed down for more than 100 years. To this day, the
pizza crust is from the same carefully guarded family recipe and
still kneaded by hand. The maternal and paternal grandmothers provided the old-world style meat sauce and pasta recipes
served in the restaurants.
“An authentic pizza will have crust that is bubbly with a bit of
burnt edge here and there,” says Frank. “It has to baked directly
on a brick oven floor. The sauce has to be kept simple, using the
finest ingredients, crushed tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.
The ingredients and spices need to be fresh. A perfect pizza is
simple, a matter of craftsmanship and knowing how to knead
the dough so it rises to soft and edible perfection.”
Each year, hundreds of elementary and high school students
at 17 San Pedro and Long Beach area schools enter the Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria Annual Cultural Poetry Contest. The
schoolchildren compose poetry about pizza and Italy. Frank
says the contest challenges students to research the Italian heritage and its unique contributions to culture. As reward for their
literary achievements, winners receive trophies, award certificates, and Buono’s gift certificates. The restaurant also provides
pizza parties for the classroom of each first place winner.
“The Italians in San Pedro are our customers,” says Frank.
“It’s the best compliment.” spt
Pizza perfection is an art. Buono’s still uses the same vendors
for their ingredients and imported meats as when they first
opened as an Italian deli and grocery store in 1964. For decades
Nicolaniello grew the basil used at the restaurants in his garden
and would visit daily to deliver the fresh herb.
The two parties seated in the quaint dining room belie the
hustle and bustle in the kitchen. The constant chorus of ringing telephones tells the true story. The San Pedro location has
limited seating for 25 so most local diners opt for carryout or
delivery. Diners who prefer more ambiance choose the two
other Buono’s locations in Long Beach where they may dine
outdoors at the Italian-style piazza.
Andrew compares dinner at the pizzeria to eating Sunday
dinner with the Buono family and says it’s the same cuisine that
he and his brothers Georgio and Frank and sister Teresa grew
up eating. From the courteous service and the ambiance to the
authentic Italian dishes, the family-owned and operated business goes out of their way to impress their customers.
“We always want to wow our customers,” says Andrew, who
takes pleasure in watching his customers eat and enjoy their
food.
Veteran pizzeria owner Tony DeGirolamo compares the
pizza served at franchise restaurants to a postage stamp. No
matter what you order, it’s always the same.
Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria is located at 1423 S. Gaffey Street. For
“Buono’s pizza is the only one that is made how pizza should more information or to place an order, visit www.buonospizza.com
be made,” says DeGirolamo, a loyal Buono’s customer and or call (310) 547-0655.
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“I fell down a couple of times at home and so
my daughters felt I needed some place safe.
Also I wasn’t looking after myself and they
said I was living like a hermit. Once I moved
to Harbor Terrace and the staff took over my
medications, I felt so much better. My family
saw a big difference in me. My privacy is most
important and bringing my own furniture
made me feel more at home. Eating with others in the dining room encouraged me to eat
properly. I didn’t want to come here, but now I
am very glad I did. I have made some wonderful friends.”
Janet Eliassen
Resident of Harbor Terrace
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Senior Living
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Respiratory Research
by Brian Kesterson, BS, RCP
28
How do we discover treatments and cures for diseases? With lots of careful research. And
we need your help finding people to participate in that research. Providence Little Company of
Mary Medical Center San Pedro and the Better Breathers Club work together to support the
research being done on COPD (which is emphysema and chronic bronchitis) at the Rehabilitation Clinical Trials Center at Los Angeles BioMed Research Institute. The institute is one of the
only COPD-specific research institutes in the country, and it’s doing very important work to
combat this disease, which is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. It is estimated that 24
million people currently suffer from this disease.
Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro has now created a way for
you to be alerted in your email to studies on COPD that are searching for participants. All you
have to do is send an email to respiratory-research-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (please type
that in carefully, and don’t forget the word “subscribe”). This will add you to the email list that the
L.A. Biomed Research Institute will use to communicate the kinds of people they’re looking for.
Your email address will be protected, don’t worry, and you can unsubscribe from the list at any
time. And if you’re not a fit for a particular study, you may know someone who is. We encourage
you to forward the email on to your friends. This grassroots networking is going to make a big
difference in being able to fill these studies and find out how to treat and cure COPD.
The Better Breathers’ Club is a support group working closely with Providence Little Company of Mary that is run specifically for patients with breathing problems (and their families). For
several years now, the club has been intimately involved in research studies for the L.A. Biomed
Research Institute, which is at the 110 Freeway and Carson Street. “It makes perfect sense,” says
Kris Brust, RN, Pulmonary Nurse Specialist at Providence Little Company of Mary. “Science
can’t come up with new therapies and new medications to help people with breathing problems
if the researchers can’t try them out on people with breathing problems! Our group is most likely
to benefit, so our group is the first to raise their hands and say ‘I’ll help.’ It’s a great relationship.”
Members of the Better Breathers’ Club have volunteered to participate in a wide variety of
research studies, some of which have already created usable results – for example, the first studies on the inhaled bronchodilator drug Spiriva were conducted at the L.A. Biomed Research
Institute.
Currently, researchers are looking for subjects for two studies. The team, led by Richard Casaburi, MD, PhD, is looking at two different questions and needs more subjects to study – if you’d
like more information on these studies or to volunteer, please contact study coordinator Kathleen Norulak, RCP at (310) 222-8200 and knorulak@labiomed.org.
Anna Marie Russo Caserma
Family Service Counselor
Helping families during a difﬁ cult time
Encouraging pre-arranging
If you are thinking about it, don’t delay any longer
It would be my honor to assist you!
The COPD Gene Study will hopefully answer the question many of us have asked – why can
your neighbor smoke three packs of cigarettes a day and not develop emphysema, but another
neighbor who only smokes less than a pack a day has the disease?
Kathleen Norulak, RCP explains, “Why do only 25% of smokers actually develop emphysema? At this point, we don’t know why, but there’s a suspicion that it’s genetic.” This study is a
short one – one visit, lasting about three hours, with follow-ups via phone call or mail. They need
men and women between the ages of 45 and 80 who are either current smokers, or who used
to smoke. The National Institute of Health is funding the study at 16 centers around the United
States, and they want at least 12,000 people to participate, and they’re only looking for subjects at
this point who are African-American or non-Hispanic Caucasian. The study entails a CAT scan,
labs, history and physical and pulmonary function testing.
The next study, called the Long Term Oxygen Therapy study, is funded by the National institute of Health and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid. We know that prescribing supplemental oxygen for people who have low blood oxygen helps them to live longer and stay much
healthier, but are we giving oxygen too little, too late? This study will examine those who have
breathing problems that are just on the borderline –bad enough so patients feel tired and short
of breath, but not so badly that they qualify for oxygen. Will giving those borderline people oxygen increase their longevity and help them stay out of the hospital? They’re looking for men and
women who show a blood oxygen level (by pulse oximeter) of 89-93% at rest without oxygen.
Call to volunteer even if you’re not sure what your oxygen level is (they’ll check it for you).
There are many additional studies that are being conducted at L.A. BioMed Research Institute. You can see how important it is to match the right people into these studies to support the
research that will someday help many of your friends and family in San Pedro. We’re doing our
part and we invite you to join in! Please sign up for the email list, and encourage your friends and
family to do so, too. Hopefully, you too will be able to participate in a study soon. spt
Resources:
• Join the study-notification email list: Send an email to respiratory-research-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
• Get more information about the studies listed above and inquire about volunteering: Kathleen
Norulak, LA Biomed, (310) 222-8200, knorulak@labiomed.org. spt
Brian Kesterson, BS, RCP is the manager of Cardiopulmonary and Neurodiagnostics at Providence
Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro
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The Whale & Ale
Authentic British Restaurant & Pub
• First Thursday artwalk, August 6 from 5 to 10 with
special menu and music from Izon Eden.
No cover
Fine Mexican Food
• Every Friday - Rob at the piano with Harry Hall on
Catering Available
violin 7-9:30 pm, no cover. International favorites,
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• Every Sunday Night - live jazz combo.
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San Pedro
310.832.0363
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remembering
grandma
30
in memoriam pauline ruth stecker
by Joshua Stecker, grandson
My paternal grandma, Pauline Ruth Stecker, passed away on July 2, 2009. It was a shock to our entire family as Grandma wasn’t
sick or suffering from anything, but sometimes things happen that no one can explain and we must try to come to terms with it all
the same. To say that’s what my family and I have been doing this past month is an amazing understatement.
To my grandpa, she was Babydoll. To my dad and aunts, she was Mom. To her nieces and nephews, she was Aunt Pauline. To
those of you who knew her reading this, she was Pauline or Mrs. Stecker. But to my brothers, my cousins, and myself she was simply
Grandma. And she relished that name.
It’s incredibly hard to put into words the profound love and adoration my family has for Grandma. She was beautiful in every way;
from her gorgeous blue eyes to the way she always made sure to have her hair and makeup done just right, to the way she always put
the needs of others above her own. Grandma was our Matriarch, our rock, and the heart and soul of our family.
A lifetime resident of San Pedro, Pauline was the 11th of 12 children born to Eva and James Brand. She graduated San Pedro
High School summer ‘48 and married her Dana Junior High School sweetheart Bill in 1952. Their 57 years of marriage were filled
with love, laughter and lots of travel and adventure as they cruised the country in their ‘32 Ford Roadster. From Roadster shows to
casinos to cruises and beyond, they loved each other’s company and were rarely seen without one another. Their devotion to each
It’s times like these that test our faith in God. But I know there
is a God and there is a heaven. I know this because I saw both of
them in the eyes of my Grandma.
Grandma, I love and miss you so much already. May God welcome you with open arms and continue to remind us everyday
how blessed we were to have you in our lives. Thank you for the
hugs and kisses, the smiles and tears, and for just being you. We
love you forever. – Your first grandchild, Joshua stp
Our Family would like to thank the following people for
helping us through this tough time:
Joey Felando and all the L.A. County Paramedics and
Firefighters for their efforts in trying to save our Mom/
Grandma.
Terry Sardisco for helping us at the hospital.
Ciro & Ricky Coppa for the gorgeous casket.
Carol & Stephanie Coppa for the embroidered pillow.
Paul Bodnar for all the cakes.
Frank & Susan Kunich for the beautiful flowers.
Tommy McNerney for making the service so special.
Deacon Dennis Carlson for leading a beautiful service.
Kris Lusic for your touching poem.
Bob Haynes for your wonderful eulogy.
Tommy & Rosemary Amalfitano and the Top of the Market
for the great reception.
Kathy Tipich for all your help.
Jimmy & Noel for making the reception a bit more special.
The ladies who baked all the delicious baked goods.
Family and friends who took charge of the kitchen.
Thanks to everyone for the flowers, cards, donations, food,
drinks, and the love and support during this trying time. We
are truly overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of
everyone. We love all of you very much.
-- Bill, Billy, Sharon, Lynn and all our families
31
while. Kinda like cold pizza.
She was a great venting board for me when it came to the
magazine and she was one of my only family connections to the
older generations of San Pedro. I remember asking her numerous times about different people featured in the magazine and if
she knew them, and most of the time the answer was yes. “Oh
yeah, that’s the father of one of Sharon’s friends.” or “Oh yeah, he
used to hang out with grandpa at the Muffler Shop.” or “Oh yeah,
we just saw her daughter and grandkids recently at Carrows.” She
was a great encyclopedia for all things Pedro. I know she was incredibly proud of me for doing what I’m doing and was always a
great cheerleader for anything I did. I’m happy and proud to have
led a life thus far in which she never had to worry about me. She
always trusted I would always do the right thing.
Even when time seems to stand still with an event such as this,
life still goes on. I’m getting married in September to my beautiful fiancée Andrea and I’m so happy Grandma got to know how
wonderful she is. And I’m happy Andrea got to experience how
funny, awesome, and wonderful Grandma was and still is. My
brother Justin is expecting his first child, in what seems to be any
second now (maybe even by the time you read this). I’m happy
she at least knew she was to become a great-grandmother once
again.
The last time I saw Grandma was at my grandpa’s retirement
party, Saturday June 13. She was having such a great time. So
much of a great time, in fact, that the last picture I ever took of my
grandma was one in this story, of her doing tequila shots in Aunt
Sharon’s backyard. I thought, and still think, that’s one of the funniest pictures I’ve ever taken. And it perfectly captures how much
Grandma was enjoying life.
She was a true Matriarch, not only for our family, but for all
of San Pedro. And she was loved wholeheartedly by this town, as
the turnout for her funeral proved (the unofficial count was more
than 500 people showed up). I know I speak for my entire family
when I say thanks to each and every one of you for coming to the
service and celebrating the life of Grandma. She really would’ve
loved seeing each and every one of you.
other was admired (and envied) by everyone. Grandpa always
said, “There was nobody better.”
Her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews always knew that
Aunt Pauline was the best. Pauline had many friends and always
continued to add more through the years. She never slowed
down, was always active and embraced life with a zeal not many
her age could keep up with.
As Mom, she was incredibly devoted, loving, and generous
to her three children, Billy, Sharon and Lynn. Whether she was
forcing a $20 bill in their pocket for gas (even when they didn’t
need it), making an always-appetizing sandwich for lunch or being the best slot machine partner ever, Mom never disappointed.
Her love for family trumped everything else. My father Billy,
Aunts Sharon and Lynn were the luckiest children ever to have a
mother that was so loving and caring as Pauline.
As Grandma, she played an active role in the lives of all her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She absolutely loved
when all the grandkids and great-grandkids were together for
family gatherings and holidays. She had a quick wit and always
enjoyed a good teasing from her grandkids, and could dish it
right back. Her grandkids were her life and they adored her just
the same.
Personally, the thing about Grandma I loved is the fact she
was always interested. Interested in my life, in my work, in everything. Usually the first question out of her mouth (after “Did you
eat already?”) was “So how was [insert most recent event here].”
She’d say, “You’re Dad was telling me that you were doing this or
that…” And this wasn’t small talk, she really wanted to know. And
if I didn’t tell her or just wasn’t feeling like talking, which happened sometimes, she’d get offended. “What, you can’t tell your
grandma?” she’d say teasingly, but completely filled with truth.
You can’t mention Grandma without mentioning her chocolate cake. For all her grandchildren, the chocolate cake was a
staple for birthdays and special occasions. She’d ask “nuts or no
nuts?” Sometimes she’d make both just to be sure. This wasn’t
your run-of-the-mill chocolate cake either, it was heavenly. And it
always tasted best the day after. After it had been in the fridge for a
around town
Priests vs. Parishioners II – Friday, June 19, 2009
Have you ever thought, “If I played basketball against a priest, would I have to ask for forgiveness after I steal the ball?” These questions were
answered when the priests of Mary Star of the Sea and Holy Trinity hosted a basketball game against a group of parishioners on Friday, June 19. Without
their collars visible, the priests battled before a capacity crowd at the new Mary Star of the Sea High School campus on Taper Avenue in San Pedro.
For the second year in a row, what started out as a small, friendly pickup basketball game ended up growing into a great success. Last year’s
inaugural event was actually an auction item “won” by the highest bidder, Dennis Lane, vice president of Green Hills Memorial Park, at a Holy Trinity
benefit. Other auction items included a dinner with the priests or other similar events. This prize was originally planned to be just a few guys getting
together, but one of the priests suggested inviting everyone to witness and participate.
As “coach” of the Parishioners, Lane put together a team which included his sons and a few other Holy Trinity and Mary Star parishioners and alumni.
It took a few practices for each of the teams to sharpen their skills and the hard work paid off. And, just like last year, everyone came away as a winner as
proceeds for the event were split between Holy Trinity and Mary Star. spt
32
For information about Holy Trinity, go to www.holytrinitysp.org. For Mary Star information, go to www.marystarhigh.com. Mary Star alumni can get in
touch with other alumni and register contact information by clicking on www.marystarhigh.com/apps/directory.
Call
(310) 832-5723
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FAX
(310) 519-0086
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(310) 547-1070
one more thing...
The Friendship Park Bubble. If anyone has information on the demise of this once great San Pedro landmark, please contact us at contact@sanpedrotoday.com. (photo by Valerie Electra Smith-Griffin)
34
Trivia Box | trivia@sanpedrotoday.com | Deadline: Sunday,
August 16 Winners Circle: Gloria Radmilovich, Gina Korthe, John Gilhuly,
Jillian Fotz, Henrietta Baguette, Sailor Donovan, Mazinger Zi, Mike Yanagita,
Quentin Locke, Pat DiBona, Bobby Milke, Anita Montes-Crue, Bruce Phung,
Paul Kersey, Alice Gravett Young, Mike Rotch, Sally Cornea, Steve Verino,
Claire Robbins, Harry Merkin, Hugh Johnson, Chuck Flasko, Venetia Jarlin,
Joyce & Vern Hall, Leona Tamayo, Brandt VerSteegh, Marina Barraza
5. What two designers are credited with designing San Pedro’s main U.S.
Post Office on Beacon St.? Louis A. Simon and Fletcher Martin
This month’s questions:
1. What was Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria before it turned into a pizzeria in 1973?
2. What’s the most expensive item on Nazelie’s Lebanese Café’s menu?
3. In college, what subject does Lauren Costa plan on majoring in?
Last month’s questions & answers:
1. What are the names of the two San Pedro longshoremen killed during the
4. What occupied the larger dining area in Azteca before the restaurant
Bloody Thursday strike? John Knudsen & Dickie Parker
expanded?
2. According to Joe Cocke at the Pointe Vicente Interpretive Center, where
did the fossil Margaret Capalia and Anne Marie Spralja find come from 5. True or False – The Assistance League of San Pedro Post Office is the
(type and era)? Altamira Shale Member of the Monterey Formation during only post office in the U.S. run entirely by volunteers.
the Middle Miocene Epoch
Bonus: If anyone has information on what happened to the Bubble at
3. What grade point average did Shelbie Luna maintain at Bishop Friendship Park, please let us know contact@sanpedrotoday.com.
Montgomery High School? 3.83 grade point average
Email your answers to trivia@sanpedrotoday.com and we will list the
4. What famous hard rock band did music producer Billy Graziadei work names of everyone who correctly answer all five. Please include your full
name and write “Trivia” in the subject line. The due date for answers is
with prior to working with Last Day Off? Biohazard
Sunday, August 16. spt
Subscribe to our email newsletter, visit www.sanpedrotoday.com.

9 - San Pedro Today

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