PLUS MISTY COPELANDS MILESTONE MONTH | CHILD PIANO PRODIGY NINA WATANABE | WEDDING DANNY amp BRITTNEY MARQUEZ

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The Trani family celebrates 90 years of serving San Pedro

Comprehensive Dental Care amp Implant CenterMARITIME DENTISTRY

Great Smiles Begin HereWHEN YOU VISIT OUR DENTAL OFFICE IN WEYMOUTH CORNERS YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME Whether you require a cleaning teeth whitening invisible braces by Invisalignreg crowns implants or any other General or Specialty dental procedure our office will ensure that you are comfortable and have a pleasant experience OLD-FASHIONED STYLE OF PATIENT CARE IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT

Dr Ardalan DDSEducation USC school of Dentistry Doctor of Dental SurgeryProfessional Association American Dental Association member California Dental Association member Western Dental Society member

SERVICES amp SPECIALTIESbull General Cosmetic and Childrenrsquos Dentistrybull DENTAL IMPLANTSbull Endodonticsbull Orthodontics (traditional braces and Invisalignreg)bull FIXED (IMPLANT-RETAINED) DENTURES mdash Free Consultation mdashTradeinyourremovableforfixeddentures mdash Eliminates the bulk of traditional dentures mdash Looks amp feels like natural teeth mdash Cutting-edge progressive technology mdash Best Price in all of Los Angeles

Dr Marvis Sorrel DMD MDSEducation

University of Pittsburgh Master of Science in Dentistry Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Orthognatic Surgery Externship Invisalign Certification

Professional Association American Association of Orthodontists Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics American Dental Association California Dental Association

Ian Woo DDS MDEducation

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center

Professional Associations Diplomates American Board of Oral amp Maxillofacial Surgery American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery American Dental Association member American Medical Association member

Darren Smolkin DDS EndodonticsEducation

McGill University School of Dentistry Toronto Doctor of Dental Surgery University of Southern California 1997 Endodontics specialty (root canal therapy)

Professional Associations California Dental Association member American Dental Association member

ASSOCIATES

1411 W 8th StreetSan Pedro CA 90732 (310) 832-5559

Located in Weymouth Corners

discover downtownA VARIETY OF EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT AWAITS YOU

Looking for some fun things to do this August Sponsored By The San Pedro Historic Waterfront District

3rd Thursday

Live music at the corner of 6th St amp Mesa St600 PM ndash 900 PM

August 203rd thursdAy entertAinment wALk wwwSanPedroBIDcom

Get our monthly E-NEWSLETTER sent to your inbox for dining deals fun events amp entertainment news happening in the San Pedro Historic Waterfront District Sign up at wwwsanpedrobidcomemail-signup

moLLyrsquos revengeA new take on traditional Celtic jigs amp reels with guest vocalist Christa Burch Opener Lyons Academy of Irish Dance

August 28 grand annex concertwwwgrandvisionorg

wwwSanPedroBIDcom

Scan here for YoUr local

dining gUideamp coUponS

And the stones wiLL cry outIn 1725 Johann Beringer dean of the medical school of Wuumlrzburg Germany discovers fossils that he thinks will make him famous the world over mdash but the involvement of two of his University colleagues makes his path to immortality a bit rocky

Aug 7 - sep 5LIttLe FISH tHeatrewwwlittlefishtheatreorg

Experience San Pedrorsquos tight-knit artistsrsquo community Food trucks restaurants plus live music

August 6downtownArtwALkwww1stthursdaycom

1st Thursday arTwalk The Troupe has training classes

available for students in Preschool-College Classes focus on acting singing and dancing as well as specialty subjects like accents musical theatre Shakespeare and more

Aug 16 - nov 8tHe troupe YoutH tHeatrewwwtroupescoopcom

spiFF presents charles Bukowski - the LAughing heArtA 95th Birthday tribute to the legendary writer and former San Pedro resident with film poetry and art Held at the Warner Grand Grand Annex and Post-Future Art Gallery

August 16warner grand tHeatrewwwspiffestorg

Photo credit Mark Hanauer

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

REMEMBERING JOSIP

Josip or Joseph as I called him died a few months agoYou may not recognize the name but you more than likely saw

him Josip was the homeless man possibly of Croatian descent maybe in his 60s or older who made his ldquohomerdquo on Gaffey St between Summerland Ave and Channel Street with an encampment near Leland Park Some residents nicknamed him ldquoThe Trollrdquo due to his long matted hair and beard and unkempt appearance But to me he was just ldquoJosephrdquo

I didnrsquot know Josip personally I probably knew as much about him as the majority of you did He was an enigma to me He always sat silently never calling attention to himself He never panhandled for money from what I witnessed The cracks on his skin bared the scars of years of sun and weather damage and his eyes were in a constant state of weariness He looked like someone out of a Tolkien novel

Irsquod see him almost every time I would drive along Gaffey St In recent years he seemed to covet the wall near the AMPM mini-mart on Gaffey and Channel Hersquod sit there silently observing the world around him that seemed to have passed him by He was someone I would think about a lot How did he end up like this Where did he come from Wherersquos his family Is he ok Had his body adapted to years of living out in the wild I did not have answers to any of these questions but they crossed my mind periodically

I found out his name one night a few years ago when I gave him money as I pumped gas at the AMPM I handed him a five-dollar bill he held out his weathered dirty hand to accept it and I asked if he was ok He nodded and took the money without a word I was just going to turn and walk away but I paused and then asked him what his name was He replied in a rough voice with a thick accent ldquoJosiprdquo which I mustrsquove mistaken for Joseph at the time (Josip is a Croatian version of Joseph)

That was the only word he ever spoke to meEvery time I would visit the AMPM which was often because itrsquos usually the cheapest

gas in town I would look for Josip Sometimes hersquod be there sometimes not If he was there Irsquod slip him some money If he wasnt there Id make sure to drive slower down Gaffey to see if he was around usually he was He didnrsquot seem like the kind of man who would waste the money on drugs though I couldnrsquot vouch if he may have spent it on alcohol I couldnrsquot blame him for having a drink to numb the pain of his situation But like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did

Maybe he was an addict Maybe he committed crimes hurt some people in his past Maybe he was undeserving of the compassion I was showing him I didnrsquot know but it didnrsquot matter I knew of other residents who would give him food and cash as well The Josip I experienced showed me no aggression and never asked me for anything And every time I would walk up to him and slip him a few bucks he kindly smiled through his snarled beard and gave me a nod That was all I needed

As life moved on I found myself not frequenting the AMPM as much as I used to And with that I saw less and less of Josip He was such a constant fixture at that location that the idea of him not being there didnrsquot really sink in until now

I found out he died last month on Facebook One of my freelance writers Valerie Smith-Griffin posted the news in one of the (many) San Pedro groups I had a strange emotional reaction when I read it I got teary-eyed I was upset All I could think about was that I hoped he didnrsquot die alone According to Valerie he died of cancer around the early part of this year and his family didnrsquot have anything to do with him

Why his family abandoned him or vice versa I donrsquot know nor do I care Itrsquos none of my business Like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did But knowing he was gone alone and probably suffered at the hands of that terribly horrible disease gave me no solace in learning of his death The only peace of mind I have about Josiprsquos passing is that he isnrsquot suffering anymore

So I sit here writing an obituary of sorts for a homeless man who through no action of his own beyond just existing made a lasting impact on me Life is strange

When I took on the cause for our townrsquos homeless problem earlier this year Josip was one of those people on my mind He may not have wanted the assistance as some homeless people are wont to do but there are many many others in our town who will gladly accept a helping hand This town needs more compassion and less NIMBYism Compassion goes a lot further in solving problems than knee-jerk reactions and a get off my lawn mentality I wish some people in our town understood that

Josip I wish you peace and happiness where ever you are Thank you for helping me discover my own empathy and compassion Your existence in this world did not go unnoticed spt Joshua Stecker is publishereditor-in-chief of San Pedro Today He can be reached at contactsanpedrotodaycom

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Serving San Pedro RPV amp more since 2001hellip

Mary LoyldquoThe Dream Makerrdquo

With Experience that Delivers

Pre-qualify today for a home loan amp take advantage of low interest rates

For more information call Mary Loy (310) 503-9280 Cell (310) 514-8908 Office

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Maggie Fierro-De AlbaResidential amp Commercial Real Estate Call Maggie for a consultation

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Maggiedkwcom

Mary LoyNMLS 1035956 BRE 01904762

24708 Carmel Dr CarsonCOMING SOON Cute as a Bug This one-level home is perfect for the first time buyer or the buyer who wants to down-size This gem offers two good-sized bedrooms bonus room two bathrooms living room cozy fireplace 1040 square feet back patio great for entertaining Home shows pride of ownership Asking $399000

386-388 W 11th St San Pedro NEW LISTING This duplex offers two units with 2 bedrooms 1 bath living room dining room 2 detached garages 1961 sqft 5005 lot built in 1961 LAR2 Live in one unit and collect rent from the other Wonrsquot last long Asking $459000

6954 Verde Ridge RD RPV (not pictured)COMING SOON First time on the market Beautiful Los Verdes Country Club-area family home offers 5 bedrooms 25 baths canyon and ocean views 2513 square feet 12078 lot spar-kling pool built in 1972 Asking $1150000 Please contact Maggie for a private showing

BRE01322996 Many loan options available

1418 West 25th St San Pedro CA 90732doctorsmartinshengdentalcom bull wwwmartinandshengdentalcom

(310) 547-4413

Martin and Sheng Dental OfficeDentistry for your ldquoEntire Familyrdquo

David Martin DDS

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Dr David R Martin DDSDr Andrew C Sheng DMD MPHDr Marc Y Waki DDS Periodontics and Implants

Cosmetic and Family Dentistry since 1974

Members of The American Dental AssociationThe California Dental Association

Services OfferedInvisalign Zoom Teeth WhiteningImplants VeneersSedation

SenIOr CITIZen DISCOunT

Conveniently located in South Shores at the Vons Shopping Center on 25th and Western in San Pedro

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AUGUST 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoshua J Stecker

ART DIRECTORPRODUCTION Joseph A Castantildeeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Councilman Joe Buscaino Lori Garrett Brooke Karli Mike Lansing Roseanney Liu Ricky Magana Debbie Rouser Steve Marconi Anthony Pirozzi Monica Simpson

PHOTOGRAPHERJohn Mattera PhotographyKathryn Colby Photography

CONTACT INFOPHONE (424) 224-9063EMAIL contactsanpedrotodaycom San Pedro TodayPO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733

VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 7

ADVERTISING General Inquiries adssanpedrotodaycom Patricia Roberts - San Pedro (562) 964-8166 | patriciasanpedrotodaycom

Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions)(310) 753-5176 | shanasanpedrotodaycom

Empire22 Media LLCOWNERPUBLISHERJoshua J Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media 25000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC Empire22 Media LLC their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today Copyright 2009-2015 Empire22 Media LLC

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4EVENTS 8

VOICESMARCONI 12PIROZZI 14ROUSER 16LANSING 18COUNCILMAN BUSCAINO 20HEALTH amp WELLNESS 32HEYDAY FITNESS 33

FEATURESEVENT DEAD AND ALIVE 10A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand COVER STORY THE FAMILY BUSINESS 21The Trani family celebrates 90 years of serving San Pedro MISTY COPELANDrsquoS MILESTONE MONTH 26From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer PIANOS amp A PLATYPUS 28A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music HOW WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE AFFECT SAN PEDRO 34With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

WEDDING A DROP OF GOOD LUCK 31Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez - September 6 2014

ON THE COVER The Trani Family 2015 (clockwise from top left) Dustin Trani Jim Trani Viki Trani and Jessica Trani accompanied by the bust of family patriarch Filippo Trani and a photo of Vincent Jim Trani on the fireplace mantle (Not pictured Jim Trani [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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Date Tuesday August 25th 2015 Time 600PM

Location AAA Travel 28901 S Western Ave Suite 137 Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Get up to $400 per couple onboard cruise credit

Space is limited RSVP Today Call AAA Travel Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 548-2260

OPEN HOUSEA

Cent

ury o

f Faith Service and Excellence

100th Anniversary

Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School

Call Tour Join the Family

View our school on Facebookwwwfacebookcommarystaroftheseacatholicelementaryschool

Applications now being accepted for the

2015-16 school year

Learning TodayLeading Tomorrow

717 South Cabrillo Avenue San Pedro CA 90731(310) 831-0875 | wwwmarystarelementarycom

Preschool thru 8th Grade

Three US Navy Vessels Free Public Ship ToursWorld Cruise CenterHarbor Blvd and Swinford Street San Pedro

bull Public Ship Tours - You must register for free tickets to board a vessel One vessel visit per guest You will be assigned a vessel upon arrival

bull USMC Equipment Exhibits

bull Entertainment

bull Battleship IOWA Discounted Tours

bull Los Angeles Maritime Institute Tall Ship Tours

bull Food Trucks

For more information and tour ticket registration wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

navydays_ad_sptodayindd 1 72115 1144 AM

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

Live Music Food Vendors Free Spectator AdmissionFor more information visit wwwsanpedrolegendscom

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015SAN PEDRO CASAN PEDRO CA

schoolholytrinitysporg

H O LY T R I N I T Y S C H O O L

Emphasis on bull Sciencebull Technologybull Religionbull Engineeringbull Art Athleticsbull Math

Curriculum

Educating thE Minds and spirits of our childrEn

STREAM

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A c c e p t i n g

A p p l i c a t i o n s

f o r g r a d e s K - 5Holy Trinity School amp Preschool

1226 W Santa Cruz StreetSan Pedro CA 90732

Art

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1432 Gaffey St San Pedro bull 3105470655 bull wwwbuonospizzacom

Simply the best pizza in San Pedro for over 42 years

Purchase of $25 or more25th amp Western

in San Pedrosouthshoresaceaolcom

(310) 833-1223(In the old Hollywood Video Store)

A full convenience hArdwAre store thAt will sAve you time And money

we offer contrActor discounts

Terry Katnic OwnerOperator

NOW OPEN

A FULL CONVENIENCE HARDWARE STORE THAT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

(310)833-1ACE(223)25th amp Western in San Pedro

southshoresaceaolcom(In the old Hollywood Video store)

bull Benjamin Moore Paintsbull Garden Centerbull Craftsman Toolsbull Special Ordersbull Key Cuttingbull Cleaning Suppliesbull Automotivebull Gift Cards

HARDWARE

SOUTH SHORES

THE HELPFUL PLACE

Ace the helpful hArdwAre plAce

On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

YEARSSTRONG

Bringing new advances to you

every day

For 90 years our community has come to us for top-quality

health care At Providence Little Company of Mary Medical

Center San Pedro all our caregivers ndash physicians nurses

staff and volunteers ndash make sure every patient is our most

important patient And while a stamp of approval isnrsquot

necessary to know wersquore providing excellent care itrsquos always

nice to get one

Or two Or five

Named one of Californiarsquos 10 Best Value Hospitals for 2015

The arearsquos first Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers

Healthgradesreg Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure

Learn more about our award-winning care at californiaprovidenceorgsan-pedro

Healthgradesreg Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke

Healthgradesreg Excellence Awardtrade for Critical Care

C

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CM

MY

CY

CMY

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RCA15-45412b_AD_PLCMSP 90th Anniversary_SP Today_FINALpdf 1 7172015 121040 PM

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

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CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

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bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

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Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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5

J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

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Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

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assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5

5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

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AU

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
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Comprehensive Dental Care amp Implant CenterMARITIME DENTISTRY

Great Smiles Begin HereWHEN YOU VISIT OUR DENTAL OFFICE IN WEYMOUTH CORNERS YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME Whether you require a cleaning teeth whitening invisible braces by Invisalignreg crowns implants or any other General or Specialty dental procedure our office will ensure that you are comfortable and have a pleasant experience OLD-FASHIONED STYLE OF PATIENT CARE IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT

Dr Ardalan DDSEducation USC school of Dentistry Doctor of Dental SurgeryProfessional Association American Dental Association member California Dental Association member Western Dental Society member

SERVICES amp SPECIALTIESbull General Cosmetic and Childrenrsquos Dentistrybull DENTAL IMPLANTSbull Endodonticsbull Orthodontics (traditional braces and Invisalignreg)bull FIXED (IMPLANT-RETAINED) DENTURES mdash Free Consultation mdashTradeinyourremovableforfixeddentures mdash Eliminates the bulk of traditional dentures mdash Looks amp feels like natural teeth mdash Cutting-edge progressive technology mdash Best Price in all of Los Angeles

Dr Marvis Sorrel DMD MDSEducation

University of Pittsburgh Master of Science in Dentistry Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Orthognatic Surgery Externship Invisalign Certification

Professional Association American Association of Orthodontists Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics American Dental Association California Dental Association

Ian Woo DDS MDEducation

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center

Professional Associations Diplomates American Board of Oral amp Maxillofacial Surgery American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery American Dental Association member American Medical Association member

Darren Smolkin DDS EndodonticsEducation

McGill University School of Dentistry Toronto Doctor of Dental Surgery University of Southern California 1997 Endodontics specialty (root canal therapy)

Professional Associations California Dental Association member American Dental Association member

ASSOCIATES

1411 W 8th StreetSan Pedro CA 90732 (310) 832-5559

Located in Weymouth Corners

discover downtownA VARIETY OF EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT AWAITS YOU

Looking for some fun things to do this August Sponsored By The San Pedro Historic Waterfront District

3rd Thursday

Live music at the corner of 6th St amp Mesa St600 PM ndash 900 PM

August 203rd thursdAy entertAinment wALk wwwSanPedroBIDcom

Get our monthly E-NEWSLETTER sent to your inbox for dining deals fun events amp entertainment news happening in the San Pedro Historic Waterfront District Sign up at wwwsanpedrobidcomemail-signup

moLLyrsquos revengeA new take on traditional Celtic jigs amp reels with guest vocalist Christa Burch Opener Lyons Academy of Irish Dance

August 28 grand annex concertwwwgrandvisionorg

wwwSanPedroBIDcom

Scan here for YoUr local

dining gUideamp coUponS

And the stones wiLL cry outIn 1725 Johann Beringer dean of the medical school of Wuumlrzburg Germany discovers fossils that he thinks will make him famous the world over mdash but the involvement of two of his University colleagues makes his path to immortality a bit rocky

Aug 7 - sep 5LIttLe FISH tHeatrewwwlittlefishtheatreorg

Experience San Pedrorsquos tight-knit artistsrsquo community Food trucks restaurants plus live music

August 6downtownArtwALkwww1stthursdaycom

1st Thursday arTwalk The Troupe has training classes

available for students in Preschool-College Classes focus on acting singing and dancing as well as specialty subjects like accents musical theatre Shakespeare and more

Aug 16 - nov 8tHe troupe YoutH tHeatrewwwtroupescoopcom

spiFF presents charles Bukowski - the LAughing heArtA 95th Birthday tribute to the legendary writer and former San Pedro resident with film poetry and art Held at the Warner Grand Grand Annex and Post-Future Art Gallery

August 16warner grand tHeatrewwwspiffestorg

Photo credit Mark Hanauer

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

REMEMBERING JOSIP

Josip or Joseph as I called him died a few months agoYou may not recognize the name but you more than likely saw

him Josip was the homeless man possibly of Croatian descent maybe in his 60s or older who made his ldquohomerdquo on Gaffey St between Summerland Ave and Channel Street with an encampment near Leland Park Some residents nicknamed him ldquoThe Trollrdquo due to his long matted hair and beard and unkempt appearance But to me he was just ldquoJosephrdquo

I didnrsquot know Josip personally I probably knew as much about him as the majority of you did He was an enigma to me He always sat silently never calling attention to himself He never panhandled for money from what I witnessed The cracks on his skin bared the scars of years of sun and weather damage and his eyes were in a constant state of weariness He looked like someone out of a Tolkien novel

Irsquod see him almost every time I would drive along Gaffey St In recent years he seemed to covet the wall near the AMPM mini-mart on Gaffey and Channel Hersquod sit there silently observing the world around him that seemed to have passed him by He was someone I would think about a lot How did he end up like this Where did he come from Wherersquos his family Is he ok Had his body adapted to years of living out in the wild I did not have answers to any of these questions but they crossed my mind periodically

I found out his name one night a few years ago when I gave him money as I pumped gas at the AMPM I handed him a five-dollar bill he held out his weathered dirty hand to accept it and I asked if he was ok He nodded and took the money without a word I was just going to turn and walk away but I paused and then asked him what his name was He replied in a rough voice with a thick accent ldquoJosiprdquo which I mustrsquove mistaken for Joseph at the time (Josip is a Croatian version of Joseph)

That was the only word he ever spoke to meEvery time I would visit the AMPM which was often because itrsquos usually the cheapest

gas in town I would look for Josip Sometimes hersquod be there sometimes not If he was there Irsquod slip him some money If he wasnt there Id make sure to drive slower down Gaffey to see if he was around usually he was He didnrsquot seem like the kind of man who would waste the money on drugs though I couldnrsquot vouch if he may have spent it on alcohol I couldnrsquot blame him for having a drink to numb the pain of his situation But like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did

Maybe he was an addict Maybe he committed crimes hurt some people in his past Maybe he was undeserving of the compassion I was showing him I didnrsquot know but it didnrsquot matter I knew of other residents who would give him food and cash as well The Josip I experienced showed me no aggression and never asked me for anything And every time I would walk up to him and slip him a few bucks he kindly smiled through his snarled beard and gave me a nod That was all I needed

As life moved on I found myself not frequenting the AMPM as much as I used to And with that I saw less and less of Josip He was such a constant fixture at that location that the idea of him not being there didnrsquot really sink in until now

I found out he died last month on Facebook One of my freelance writers Valerie Smith-Griffin posted the news in one of the (many) San Pedro groups I had a strange emotional reaction when I read it I got teary-eyed I was upset All I could think about was that I hoped he didnrsquot die alone According to Valerie he died of cancer around the early part of this year and his family didnrsquot have anything to do with him

Why his family abandoned him or vice versa I donrsquot know nor do I care Itrsquos none of my business Like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did But knowing he was gone alone and probably suffered at the hands of that terribly horrible disease gave me no solace in learning of his death The only peace of mind I have about Josiprsquos passing is that he isnrsquot suffering anymore

So I sit here writing an obituary of sorts for a homeless man who through no action of his own beyond just existing made a lasting impact on me Life is strange

When I took on the cause for our townrsquos homeless problem earlier this year Josip was one of those people on my mind He may not have wanted the assistance as some homeless people are wont to do but there are many many others in our town who will gladly accept a helping hand This town needs more compassion and less NIMBYism Compassion goes a lot further in solving problems than knee-jerk reactions and a get off my lawn mentality I wish some people in our town understood that

Josip I wish you peace and happiness where ever you are Thank you for helping me discover my own empathy and compassion Your existence in this world did not go unnoticed spt Joshua Stecker is publishereditor-in-chief of San Pedro Today He can be reached at contactsanpedrotodaycom

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Serving San Pedro RPV amp more since 2001hellip

Mary LoyldquoThe Dream Makerrdquo

With Experience that Delivers

Pre-qualify today for a home loan amp take advantage of low interest rates

For more information call Mary Loy (310) 503-9280 Cell (310) 514-8908 Office

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Maggie Fierro-De AlbaResidential amp Commercial Real Estate Call Maggie for a consultation

(310) 866-1959 DirectMDsouthbayrealestatecom

Maggiedkwcom

Mary LoyNMLS 1035956 BRE 01904762

24708 Carmel Dr CarsonCOMING SOON Cute as a Bug This one-level home is perfect for the first time buyer or the buyer who wants to down-size This gem offers two good-sized bedrooms bonus room two bathrooms living room cozy fireplace 1040 square feet back patio great for entertaining Home shows pride of ownership Asking $399000

386-388 W 11th St San Pedro NEW LISTING This duplex offers two units with 2 bedrooms 1 bath living room dining room 2 detached garages 1961 sqft 5005 lot built in 1961 LAR2 Live in one unit and collect rent from the other Wonrsquot last long Asking $459000

6954 Verde Ridge RD RPV (not pictured)COMING SOON First time on the market Beautiful Los Verdes Country Club-area family home offers 5 bedrooms 25 baths canyon and ocean views 2513 square feet 12078 lot spar-kling pool built in 1972 Asking $1150000 Please contact Maggie for a private showing

BRE01322996 Many loan options available

1418 West 25th St San Pedro CA 90732doctorsmartinshengdentalcom bull wwwmartinandshengdentalcom

(310) 547-4413

Martin and Sheng Dental OfficeDentistry for your ldquoEntire Familyrdquo

David Martin DDS

Andrew Sheng DMD

Dr David R Martin DDSDr Andrew C Sheng DMD MPHDr Marc Y Waki DDS Periodontics and Implants

Cosmetic and Family Dentistry since 1974

Members of The American Dental AssociationThe California Dental Association

Services OfferedInvisalign Zoom Teeth WhiteningImplants VeneersSedation

SenIOr CITIZen DISCOunT

Conveniently located in South Shores at the Vons Shopping Center on 25th and Western in San Pedro

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AUGUST 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoshua J Stecker

ART DIRECTORPRODUCTION Joseph A Castantildeeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Councilman Joe Buscaino Lori Garrett Brooke Karli Mike Lansing Roseanney Liu Ricky Magana Debbie Rouser Steve Marconi Anthony Pirozzi Monica Simpson

PHOTOGRAPHERJohn Mattera PhotographyKathryn Colby Photography

CONTACT INFOPHONE (424) 224-9063EMAIL contactsanpedrotodaycom San Pedro TodayPO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733

VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 7

ADVERTISING General Inquiries adssanpedrotodaycom Patricia Roberts - San Pedro (562) 964-8166 | patriciasanpedrotodaycom

Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions)(310) 753-5176 | shanasanpedrotodaycom

Empire22 Media LLCOWNERPUBLISHERJoshua J Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media 25000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC Empire22 Media LLC their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today Copyright 2009-2015 Empire22 Media LLC

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4EVENTS 8

VOICESMARCONI 12PIROZZI 14ROUSER 16LANSING 18COUNCILMAN BUSCAINO 20HEALTH amp WELLNESS 32HEYDAY FITNESS 33

FEATURESEVENT DEAD AND ALIVE 10A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand COVER STORY THE FAMILY BUSINESS 21The Trani family celebrates 90 years of serving San Pedro MISTY COPELANDrsquoS MILESTONE MONTH 26From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer PIANOS amp A PLATYPUS 28A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music HOW WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE AFFECT SAN PEDRO 34With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

WEDDING A DROP OF GOOD LUCK 31Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez - September 6 2014

ON THE COVER The Trani Family 2015 (clockwise from top left) Dustin Trani Jim Trani Viki Trani and Jessica Trani accompanied by the bust of family patriarch Filippo Trani and a photo of Vincent Jim Trani on the fireplace mantle (Not pictured Jim Trani [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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Date Tuesday August 25th 2015 Time 600PM

Location AAA Travel 28901 S Western Ave Suite 137 Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Get up to $400 per couple onboard cruise credit

Space is limited RSVP Today Call AAA Travel Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 548-2260

OPEN HOUSEA

Cent

ury o

f Faith Service and Excellence

100th Anniversary

Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School

Call Tour Join the Family

View our school on Facebookwwwfacebookcommarystaroftheseacatholicelementaryschool

Applications now being accepted for the

2015-16 school year

Learning TodayLeading Tomorrow

717 South Cabrillo Avenue San Pedro CA 90731(310) 831-0875 | wwwmarystarelementarycom

Preschool thru 8th Grade

Three US Navy Vessels Free Public Ship ToursWorld Cruise CenterHarbor Blvd and Swinford Street San Pedro

bull Public Ship Tours - You must register for free tickets to board a vessel One vessel visit per guest You will be assigned a vessel upon arrival

bull USMC Equipment Exhibits

bull Entertainment

bull Battleship IOWA Discounted Tours

bull Los Angeles Maritime Institute Tall Ship Tours

bull Food Trucks

For more information and tour ticket registration wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

navydays_ad_sptodayindd 1 72115 1144 AM

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

AU

GU

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

Live Music Food Vendors Free Spectator AdmissionFor more information visit wwwsanpedrolegendscom

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015SAN PEDRO CASAN PEDRO CA

schoolholytrinitysporg

H O LY T R I N I T Y S C H O O L

Emphasis on bull Sciencebull Technologybull Religionbull Engineeringbull Art Athleticsbull Math

Curriculum

Educating thE Minds and spirits of our childrEn

STREAM

310-833-0703

A c c e p t i n g

A p p l i c a t i o n s

f o r g r a d e s K - 5Holy Trinity School amp Preschool

1226 W Santa Cruz StreetSan Pedro CA 90732

Art

schoolholytrinitysporg

10

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1432 Gaffey St San Pedro bull 3105470655 bull wwwbuonospizzacom

Simply the best pizza in San Pedro for over 42 years

Purchase of $25 or more25th amp Western

in San Pedrosouthshoresaceaolcom

(310) 833-1223(In the old Hollywood Video Store)

A full convenience hArdwAre store thAt will sAve you time And money

we offer contrActor discounts

Terry Katnic OwnerOperator

NOW OPEN

A FULL CONVENIENCE HARDWARE STORE THAT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

(310)833-1ACE(223)25th amp Western in San Pedro

southshoresaceaolcom(In the old Hollywood Video store)

bull Benjamin Moore Paintsbull Garden Centerbull Craftsman Toolsbull Special Ordersbull Key Cuttingbull Cleaning Suppliesbull Automotivebull Gift Cards

HARDWARE

SOUTH SHORES

THE HELPFUL PLACE

Ace the helpful hArdwAre plAce

On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

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For 90 years our community has come to us for top-quality

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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The Original Taste of

San Pedro

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FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

with order of $25 or moreCannot be combined with any other offers promotions

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Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

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1110 N Gaffey St Ste D bull San Pedro CA 90731 bull 310 833-4395 bull 7 days a week 10am to 11pmA San Pedro Landmark for more than 30 years

The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

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8th Street Garage

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

other offers Expires 83115

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

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Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

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We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

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5

Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

AU

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

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Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

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assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

discover downtownA VARIETY OF EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT AWAITS YOU

Looking for some fun things to do this August Sponsored By The San Pedro Historic Waterfront District

3rd Thursday

Live music at the corner of 6th St amp Mesa St600 PM ndash 900 PM

August 203rd thursdAy entertAinment wALk wwwSanPedroBIDcom

Get our monthly E-NEWSLETTER sent to your inbox for dining deals fun events amp entertainment news happening in the San Pedro Historic Waterfront District Sign up at wwwsanpedrobidcomemail-signup

moLLyrsquos revengeA new take on traditional Celtic jigs amp reels with guest vocalist Christa Burch Opener Lyons Academy of Irish Dance

August 28 grand annex concertwwwgrandvisionorg

wwwSanPedroBIDcom

Scan here for YoUr local

dining gUideamp coUponS

And the stones wiLL cry outIn 1725 Johann Beringer dean of the medical school of Wuumlrzburg Germany discovers fossils that he thinks will make him famous the world over mdash but the involvement of two of his University colleagues makes his path to immortality a bit rocky

Aug 7 - sep 5LIttLe FISH tHeatrewwwlittlefishtheatreorg

Experience San Pedrorsquos tight-knit artistsrsquo community Food trucks restaurants plus live music

August 6downtownArtwALkwww1stthursdaycom

1st Thursday arTwalk The Troupe has training classes

available for students in Preschool-College Classes focus on acting singing and dancing as well as specialty subjects like accents musical theatre Shakespeare and more

Aug 16 - nov 8tHe troupe YoutH tHeatrewwwtroupescoopcom

spiFF presents charles Bukowski - the LAughing heArtA 95th Birthday tribute to the legendary writer and former San Pedro resident with film poetry and art Held at the Warner Grand Grand Annex and Post-Future Art Gallery

August 16warner grand tHeatrewwwspiffestorg

Photo credit Mark Hanauer

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

REMEMBERING JOSIP

Josip or Joseph as I called him died a few months agoYou may not recognize the name but you more than likely saw

him Josip was the homeless man possibly of Croatian descent maybe in his 60s or older who made his ldquohomerdquo on Gaffey St between Summerland Ave and Channel Street with an encampment near Leland Park Some residents nicknamed him ldquoThe Trollrdquo due to his long matted hair and beard and unkempt appearance But to me he was just ldquoJosephrdquo

I didnrsquot know Josip personally I probably knew as much about him as the majority of you did He was an enigma to me He always sat silently never calling attention to himself He never panhandled for money from what I witnessed The cracks on his skin bared the scars of years of sun and weather damage and his eyes were in a constant state of weariness He looked like someone out of a Tolkien novel

Irsquod see him almost every time I would drive along Gaffey St In recent years he seemed to covet the wall near the AMPM mini-mart on Gaffey and Channel Hersquod sit there silently observing the world around him that seemed to have passed him by He was someone I would think about a lot How did he end up like this Where did he come from Wherersquos his family Is he ok Had his body adapted to years of living out in the wild I did not have answers to any of these questions but they crossed my mind periodically

I found out his name one night a few years ago when I gave him money as I pumped gas at the AMPM I handed him a five-dollar bill he held out his weathered dirty hand to accept it and I asked if he was ok He nodded and took the money without a word I was just going to turn and walk away but I paused and then asked him what his name was He replied in a rough voice with a thick accent ldquoJosiprdquo which I mustrsquove mistaken for Joseph at the time (Josip is a Croatian version of Joseph)

That was the only word he ever spoke to meEvery time I would visit the AMPM which was often because itrsquos usually the cheapest

gas in town I would look for Josip Sometimes hersquod be there sometimes not If he was there Irsquod slip him some money If he wasnt there Id make sure to drive slower down Gaffey to see if he was around usually he was He didnrsquot seem like the kind of man who would waste the money on drugs though I couldnrsquot vouch if he may have spent it on alcohol I couldnrsquot blame him for having a drink to numb the pain of his situation But like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did

Maybe he was an addict Maybe he committed crimes hurt some people in his past Maybe he was undeserving of the compassion I was showing him I didnrsquot know but it didnrsquot matter I knew of other residents who would give him food and cash as well The Josip I experienced showed me no aggression and never asked me for anything And every time I would walk up to him and slip him a few bucks he kindly smiled through his snarled beard and gave me a nod That was all I needed

As life moved on I found myself not frequenting the AMPM as much as I used to And with that I saw less and less of Josip He was such a constant fixture at that location that the idea of him not being there didnrsquot really sink in until now

I found out he died last month on Facebook One of my freelance writers Valerie Smith-Griffin posted the news in one of the (many) San Pedro groups I had a strange emotional reaction when I read it I got teary-eyed I was upset All I could think about was that I hoped he didnrsquot die alone According to Valerie he died of cancer around the early part of this year and his family didnrsquot have anything to do with him

Why his family abandoned him or vice versa I donrsquot know nor do I care Itrsquos none of my business Like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did But knowing he was gone alone and probably suffered at the hands of that terribly horrible disease gave me no solace in learning of his death The only peace of mind I have about Josiprsquos passing is that he isnrsquot suffering anymore

So I sit here writing an obituary of sorts for a homeless man who through no action of his own beyond just existing made a lasting impact on me Life is strange

When I took on the cause for our townrsquos homeless problem earlier this year Josip was one of those people on my mind He may not have wanted the assistance as some homeless people are wont to do but there are many many others in our town who will gladly accept a helping hand This town needs more compassion and less NIMBYism Compassion goes a lot further in solving problems than knee-jerk reactions and a get off my lawn mentality I wish some people in our town understood that

Josip I wish you peace and happiness where ever you are Thank you for helping me discover my own empathy and compassion Your existence in this world did not go unnoticed spt Joshua Stecker is publishereditor-in-chief of San Pedro Today He can be reached at contactsanpedrotodaycom

Not Combinable with any other offers

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Expires August 31 2015

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Serving San Pedro RPV amp more since 2001hellip

Mary LoyldquoThe Dream Makerrdquo

With Experience that Delivers

Pre-qualify today for a home loan amp take advantage of low interest rates

For more information call Mary Loy (310) 503-9280 Cell (310) 514-8908 Office

maryloygatesfundingcom

Maggie Fierro-De AlbaResidential amp Commercial Real Estate Call Maggie for a consultation

(310) 866-1959 DirectMDsouthbayrealestatecom

Maggiedkwcom

Mary LoyNMLS 1035956 BRE 01904762

24708 Carmel Dr CarsonCOMING SOON Cute as a Bug This one-level home is perfect for the first time buyer or the buyer who wants to down-size This gem offers two good-sized bedrooms bonus room two bathrooms living room cozy fireplace 1040 square feet back patio great for entertaining Home shows pride of ownership Asking $399000

386-388 W 11th St San Pedro NEW LISTING This duplex offers two units with 2 bedrooms 1 bath living room dining room 2 detached garages 1961 sqft 5005 lot built in 1961 LAR2 Live in one unit and collect rent from the other Wonrsquot last long Asking $459000

6954 Verde Ridge RD RPV (not pictured)COMING SOON First time on the market Beautiful Los Verdes Country Club-area family home offers 5 bedrooms 25 baths canyon and ocean views 2513 square feet 12078 lot spar-kling pool built in 1972 Asking $1150000 Please contact Maggie for a private showing

BRE01322996 Many loan options available

1418 West 25th St San Pedro CA 90732doctorsmartinshengdentalcom bull wwwmartinandshengdentalcom

(310) 547-4413

Martin and Sheng Dental OfficeDentistry for your ldquoEntire Familyrdquo

David Martin DDS

Andrew Sheng DMD

Dr David R Martin DDSDr Andrew C Sheng DMD MPHDr Marc Y Waki DDS Periodontics and Implants

Cosmetic and Family Dentistry since 1974

Members of The American Dental AssociationThe California Dental Association

Services OfferedInvisalign Zoom Teeth WhiteningImplants VeneersSedation

SenIOr CITIZen DISCOunT

Conveniently located in South Shores at the Vons Shopping Center on 25th and Western in San Pedro

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AUGUST 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoshua J Stecker

ART DIRECTORPRODUCTION Joseph A Castantildeeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Councilman Joe Buscaino Lori Garrett Brooke Karli Mike Lansing Roseanney Liu Ricky Magana Debbie Rouser Steve Marconi Anthony Pirozzi Monica Simpson

PHOTOGRAPHERJohn Mattera PhotographyKathryn Colby Photography

CONTACT INFOPHONE (424) 224-9063EMAIL contactsanpedrotodaycom San Pedro TodayPO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733

VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 7

ADVERTISING General Inquiries adssanpedrotodaycom Patricia Roberts - San Pedro (562) 964-8166 | patriciasanpedrotodaycom

Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions)(310) 753-5176 | shanasanpedrotodaycom

Empire22 Media LLCOWNERPUBLISHERJoshua J Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media 25000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC Empire22 Media LLC their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today Copyright 2009-2015 Empire22 Media LLC

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4EVENTS 8

VOICESMARCONI 12PIROZZI 14ROUSER 16LANSING 18COUNCILMAN BUSCAINO 20HEALTH amp WELLNESS 32HEYDAY FITNESS 33

FEATURESEVENT DEAD AND ALIVE 10A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand COVER STORY THE FAMILY BUSINESS 21The Trani family celebrates 90 years of serving San Pedro MISTY COPELANDrsquoS MILESTONE MONTH 26From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer PIANOS amp A PLATYPUS 28A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music HOW WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE AFFECT SAN PEDRO 34With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

WEDDING A DROP OF GOOD LUCK 31Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez - September 6 2014

ON THE COVER The Trani Family 2015 (clockwise from top left) Dustin Trani Jim Trani Viki Trani and Jessica Trani accompanied by the bust of family patriarch Filippo Trani and a photo of Vincent Jim Trani on the fireplace mantle (Not pictured Jim Trani [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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Date Tuesday August 25th 2015 Time 600PM

Location AAA Travel 28901 S Western Ave Suite 137 Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Get up to $400 per couple onboard cruise credit

Space is limited RSVP Today Call AAA Travel Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 548-2260

OPEN HOUSEA

Cent

ury o

f Faith Service and Excellence

100th Anniversary

Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School

Call Tour Join the Family

View our school on Facebookwwwfacebookcommarystaroftheseacatholicelementaryschool

Applications now being accepted for the

2015-16 school year

Learning TodayLeading Tomorrow

717 South Cabrillo Avenue San Pedro CA 90731(310) 831-0875 | wwwmarystarelementarycom

Preschool thru 8th Grade

Three US Navy Vessels Free Public Ship ToursWorld Cruise CenterHarbor Blvd and Swinford Street San Pedro

bull Public Ship Tours - You must register for free tickets to board a vessel One vessel visit per guest You will be assigned a vessel upon arrival

bull USMC Equipment Exhibits

bull Entertainment

bull Battleship IOWA Discounted Tours

bull Los Angeles Maritime Institute Tall Ship Tours

bull Food Trucks

For more information and tour ticket registration wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

navydays_ad_sptodayindd 1 72115 1144 AM

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

AU

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AY I 9

Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

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On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

YEARSSTRONG

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For 90 years our community has come to us for top-quality

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

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Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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ST 2015 I SAN

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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ST 2015 I SAN

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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ST 2015 I SAN

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If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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GU

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bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

REMEMBERING JOSIP

Josip or Joseph as I called him died a few months agoYou may not recognize the name but you more than likely saw

him Josip was the homeless man possibly of Croatian descent maybe in his 60s or older who made his ldquohomerdquo on Gaffey St between Summerland Ave and Channel Street with an encampment near Leland Park Some residents nicknamed him ldquoThe Trollrdquo due to his long matted hair and beard and unkempt appearance But to me he was just ldquoJosephrdquo

I didnrsquot know Josip personally I probably knew as much about him as the majority of you did He was an enigma to me He always sat silently never calling attention to himself He never panhandled for money from what I witnessed The cracks on his skin bared the scars of years of sun and weather damage and his eyes were in a constant state of weariness He looked like someone out of a Tolkien novel

Irsquod see him almost every time I would drive along Gaffey St In recent years he seemed to covet the wall near the AMPM mini-mart on Gaffey and Channel Hersquod sit there silently observing the world around him that seemed to have passed him by He was someone I would think about a lot How did he end up like this Where did he come from Wherersquos his family Is he ok Had his body adapted to years of living out in the wild I did not have answers to any of these questions but they crossed my mind periodically

I found out his name one night a few years ago when I gave him money as I pumped gas at the AMPM I handed him a five-dollar bill he held out his weathered dirty hand to accept it and I asked if he was ok He nodded and took the money without a word I was just going to turn and walk away but I paused and then asked him what his name was He replied in a rough voice with a thick accent ldquoJosiprdquo which I mustrsquove mistaken for Joseph at the time (Josip is a Croatian version of Joseph)

That was the only word he ever spoke to meEvery time I would visit the AMPM which was often because itrsquos usually the cheapest

gas in town I would look for Josip Sometimes hersquod be there sometimes not If he was there Irsquod slip him some money If he wasnt there Id make sure to drive slower down Gaffey to see if he was around usually he was He didnrsquot seem like the kind of man who would waste the money on drugs though I couldnrsquot vouch if he may have spent it on alcohol I couldnrsquot blame him for having a drink to numb the pain of his situation But like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did

Maybe he was an addict Maybe he committed crimes hurt some people in his past Maybe he was undeserving of the compassion I was showing him I didnrsquot know but it didnrsquot matter I knew of other residents who would give him food and cash as well The Josip I experienced showed me no aggression and never asked me for anything And every time I would walk up to him and slip him a few bucks he kindly smiled through his snarled beard and gave me a nod That was all I needed

As life moved on I found myself not frequenting the AMPM as much as I used to And with that I saw less and less of Josip He was such a constant fixture at that location that the idea of him not being there didnrsquot really sink in until now

I found out he died last month on Facebook One of my freelance writers Valerie Smith-Griffin posted the news in one of the (many) San Pedro groups I had a strange emotional reaction when I read it I got teary-eyed I was upset All I could think about was that I hoped he didnrsquot die alone According to Valerie he died of cancer around the early part of this year and his family didnrsquot have anything to do with him

Why his family abandoned him or vice versa I donrsquot know nor do I care Itrsquos none of my business Like I said I knew as much about him as you probably did But knowing he was gone alone and probably suffered at the hands of that terribly horrible disease gave me no solace in learning of his death The only peace of mind I have about Josiprsquos passing is that he isnrsquot suffering anymore

So I sit here writing an obituary of sorts for a homeless man who through no action of his own beyond just existing made a lasting impact on me Life is strange

When I took on the cause for our townrsquos homeless problem earlier this year Josip was one of those people on my mind He may not have wanted the assistance as some homeless people are wont to do but there are many many others in our town who will gladly accept a helping hand This town needs more compassion and less NIMBYism Compassion goes a lot further in solving problems than knee-jerk reactions and a get off my lawn mentality I wish some people in our town understood that

Josip I wish you peace and happiness where ever you are Thank you for helping me discover my own empathy and compassion Your existence in this world did not go unnoticed spt Joshua Stecker is publishereditor-in-chief of San Pedro Today He can be reached at contactsanpedrotodaycom

Not Combinable with any other offers

Limit one per household

Expires August 31 2015

$1999$1999$130 Value$130 Value

Not Combinable with any other offersLimit one per household Expires August 31 2015

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Not Combinable with any other offersLimit one per household Expires August 31 2015

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$9250 Value

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Serving San Pedro RPV amp more since 2001hellip

Mary LoyldquoThe Dream Makerrdquo

With Experience that Delivers

Pre-qualify today for a home loan amp take advantage of low interest rates

For more information call Mary Loy (310) 503-9280 Cell (310) 514-8908 Office

maryloygatesfundingcom

Maggie Fierro-De AlbaResidential amp Commercial Real Estate Call Maggie for a consultation

(310) 866-1959 DirectMDsouthbayrealestatecom

Maggiedkwcom

Mary LoyNMLS 1035956 BRE 01904762

24708 Carmel Dr CarsonCOMING SOON Cute as a Bug This one-level home is perfect for the first time buyer or the buyer who wants to down-size This gem offers two good-sized bedrooms bonus room two bathrooms living room cozy fireplace 1040 square feet back patio great for entertaining Home shows pride of ownership Asking $399000

386-388 W 11th St San Pedro NEW LISTING This duplex offers two units with 2 bedrooms 1 bath living room dining room 2 detached garages 1961 sqft 5005 lot built in 1961 LAR2 Live in one unit and collect rent from the other Wonrsquot last long Asking $459000

6954 Verde Ridge RD RPV (not pictured)COMING SOON First time on the market Beautiful Los Verdes Country Club-area family home offers 5 bedrooms 25 baths canyon and ocean views 2513 square feet 12078 lot spar-kling pool built in 1972 Asking $1150000 Please contact Maggie for a private showing

BRE01322996 Many loan options available

1418 West 25th St San Pedro CA 90732doctorsmartinshengdentalcom bull wwwmartinandshengdentalcom

(310) 547-4413

Martin and Sheng Dental OfficeDentistry for your ldquoEntire Familyrdquo

David Martin DDS

Andrew Sheng DMD

Dr David R Martin DDSDr Andrew C Sheng DMD MPHDr Marc Y Waki DDS Periodontics and Implants

Cosmetic and Family Dentistry since 1974

Members of The American Dental AssociationThe California Dental Association

Services OfferedInvisalign Zoom Teeth WhiteningImplants VeneersSedation

SenIOr CITIZen DISCOunT

Conveniently located in South Shores at the Vons Shopping Center on 25th and Western in San Pedro

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AUGUST 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoshua J Stecker

ART DIRECTORPRODUCTION Joseph A Castantildeeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Councilman Joe Buscaino Lori Garrett Brooke Karli Mike Lansing Roseanney Liu Ricky Magana Debbie Rouser Steve Marconi Anthony Pirozzi Monica Simpson

PHOTOGRAPHERJohn Mattera PhotographyKathryn Colby Photography

CONTACT INFOPHONE (424) 224-9063EMAIL contactsanpedrotodaycom San Pedro TodayPO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733

VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 7

ADVERTISING General Inquiries adssanpedrotodaycom Patricia Roberts - San Pedro (562) 964-8166 | patriciasanpedrotodaycom

Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions)(310) 753-5176 | shanasanpedrotodaycom

Empire22 Media LLCOWNERPUBLISHERJoshua J Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media 25000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC Empire22 Media LLC their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today Copyright 2009-2015 Empire22 Media LLC

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4EVENTS 8

VOICESMARCONI 12PIROZZI 14ROUSER 16LANSING 18COUNCILMAN BUSCAINO 20HEALTH amp WELLNESS 32HEYDAY FITNESS 33

FEATURESEVENT DEAD AND ALIVE 10A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand COVER STORY THE FAMILY BUSINESS 21The Trani family celebrates 90 years of serving San Pedro MISTY COPELANDrsquoS MILESTONE MONTH 26From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer PIANOS amp A PLATYPUS 28A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music HOW WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE AFFECT SAN PEDRO 34With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

WEDDING A DROP OF GOOD LUCK 31Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez - September 6 2014

ON THE COVER The Trani Family 2015 (clockwise from top left) Dustin Trani Jim Trani Viki Trani and Jessica Trani accompanied by the bust of family patriarch Filippo Trani and a photo of Vincent Jim Trani on the fireplace mantle (Not pictured Jim Trani [III]) (photo John Mattera)

AU

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Date Tuesday August 25th 2015 Time 600PM

Location AAA Travel 28901 S Western Ave Suite 137 Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Get up to $400 per couple onboard cruise credit

Space is limited RSVP Today Call AAA Travel Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 548-2260

OPEN HOUSEA

Cent

ury o

f Faith Service and Excellence

100th Anniversary

Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School

Call Tour Join the Family

View our school on Facebookwwwfacebookcommarystaroftheseacatholicelementaryschool

Applications now being accepted for the

2015-16 school year

Learning TodayLeading Tomorrow

717 South Cabrillo Avenue San Pedro CA 90731(310) 831-0875 | wwwmarystarelementarycom

Preschool thru 8th Grade

Three US Navy Vessels Free Public Ship ToursWorld Cruise CenterHarbor Blvd and Swinford Street San Pedro

bull Public Ship Tours - You must register for free tickets to board a vessel One vessel visit per guest You will be assigned a vessel upon arrival

bull USMC Equipment Exhibits

bull Entertainment

bull Battleship IOWA Discounted Tours

bull Los Angeles Maritime Institute Tall Ship Tours

bull Food Trucks

For more information and tour ticket registration wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

navydays_ad_sptodayindd 1 72115 1144 AM

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

Live Music Food Vendors Free Spectator AdmissionFor more information visit wwwsanpedrolegendscom

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On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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ST 2015 I SAN

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

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ST 2015 I SAN

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If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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Serving San Pedro RPV amp more since 2001hellip

Mary LoyldquoThe Dream Makerrdquo

With Experience that Delivers

Pre-qualify today for a home loan amp take advantage of low interest rates

For more information call Mary Loy (310) 503-9280 Cell (310) 514-8908 Office

maryloygatesfundingcom

Maggie Fierro-De AlbaResidential amp Commercial Real Estate Call Maggie for a consultation

(310) 866-1959 DirectMDsouthbayrealestatecom

Maggiedkwcom

Mary LoyNMLS 1035956 BRE 01904762

24708 Carmel Dr CarsonCOMING SOON Cute as a Bug This one-level home is perfect for the first time buyer or the buyer who wants to down-size This gem offers two good-sized bedrooms bonus room two bathrooms living room cozy fireplace 1040 square feet back patio great for entertaining Home shows pride of ownership Asking $399000

386-388 W 11th St San Pedro NEW LISTING This duplex offers two units with 2 bedrooms 1 bath living room dining room 2 detached garages 1961 sqft 5005 lot built in 1961 LAR2 Live in one unit and collect rent from the other Wonrsquot last long Asking $459000

6954 Verde Ridge RD RPV (not pictured)COMING SOON First time on the market Beautiful Los Verdes Country Club-area family home offers 5 bedrooms 25 baths canyon and ocean views 2513 square feet 12078 lot spar-kling pool built in 1972 Asking $1150000 Please contact Maggie for a private showing

BRE01322996 Many loan options available

1418 West 25th St San Pedro CA 90732doctorsmartinshengdentalcom bull wwwmartinandshengdentalcom

(310) 547-4413

Martin and Sheng Dental OfficeDentistry for your ldquoEntire Familyrdquo

David Martin DDS

Andrew Sheng DMD

Dr David R Martin DDSDr Andrew C Sheng DMD MPHDr Marc Y Waki DDS Periodontics and Implants

Cosmetic and Family Dentistry since 1974

Members of The American Dental AssociationThe California Dental Association

Services OfferedInvisalign Zoom Teeth WhiteningImplants VeneersSedation

SenIOr CITIZen DISCOunT

Conveniently located in South Shores at the Vons Shopping Center on 25th and Western in San Pedro

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AUGUST 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoshua J Stecker

ART DIRECTORPRODUCTION Joseph A Castantildeeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Councilman Joe Buscaino Lori Garrett Brooke Karli Mike Lansing Roseanney Liu Ricky Magana Debbie Rouser Steve Marconi Anthony Pirozzi Monica Simpson

PHOTOGRAPHERJohn Mattera PhotographyKathryn Colby Photography

CONTACT INFOPHONE (424) 224-9063EMAIL contactsanpedrotodaycom San Pedro TodayPO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733

VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 7

ADVERTISING General Inquiries adssanpedrotodaycom Patricia Roberts - San Pedro (562) 964-8166 | patriciasanpedrotodaycom

Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions)(310) 753-5176 | shanasanpedrotodaycom

Empire22 Media LLCOWNERPUBLISHERJoshua J Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media 25000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC Empire22 Media LLC their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today Copyright 2009-2015 Empire22 Media LLC

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4EVENTS 8

VOICESMARCONI 12PIROZZI 14ROUSER 16LANSING 18COUNCILMAN BUSCAINO 20HEALTH amp WELLNESS 32HEYDAY FITNESS 33

FEATURESEVENT DEAD AND ALIVE 10A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand COVER STORY THE FAMILY BUSINESS 21The Trani family celebrates 90 years of serving San Pedro MISTY COPELANDrsquoS MILESTONE MONTH 26From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer PIANOS amp A PLATYPUS 28A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music HOW WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE AFFECT SAN PEDRO 34With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

WEDDING A DROP OF GOOD LUCK 31Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez - September 6 2014

ON THE COVER The Trani Family 2015 (clockwise from top left) Dustin Trani Jim Trani Viki Trani and Jessica Trani accompanied by the bust of family patriarch Filippo Trani and a photo of Vincent Jim Trani on the fireplace mantle (Not pictured Jim Trani [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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Date Tuesday August 25th 2015 Time 600PM

Location AAA Travel 28901 S Western Ave Suite 137 Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Get up to $400 per couple onboard cruise credit

Space is limited RSVP Today Call AAA Travel Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 548-2260

OPEN HOUSEA

Cent

ury o

f Faith Service and Excellence

100th Anniversary

Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School

Call Tour Join the Family

View our school on Facebookwwwfacebookcommarystaroftheseacatholicelementaryschool

Applications now being accepted for the

2015-16 school year

Learning TodayLeading Tomorrow

717 South Cabrillo Avenue San Pedro CA 90731(310) 831-0875 | wwwmarystarelementarycom

Preschool thru 8th Grade

Three US Navy Vessels Free Public Ship ToursWorld Cruise CenterHarbor Blvd and Swinford Street San Pedro

bull Public Ship Tours - You must register for free tickets to board a vessel One vessel visit per guest You will be assigned a vessel upon arrival

bull USMC Equipment Exhibits

bull Entertainment

bull Battleship IOWA Discounted Tours

bull Los Angeles Maritime Institute Tall Ship Tours

bull Food Trucks

For more information and tour ticket registration wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

navydays_ad_sptodayindd 1 72115 1144 AM

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

Live Music Food Vendors Free Spectator AdmissionFor more information visit wwwsanpedrolegendscom

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015SAN PEDRO CASAN PEDRO CA

schoolholytrinitysporg

H O LY T R I N I T Y S C H O O L

Emphasis on bull Sciencebull Technologybull Religionbull Engineeringbull Art Athleticsbull Math

Curriculum

Educating thE Minds and spirits of our childrEn

STREAM

310-833-0703

A c c e p t i n g

A p p l i c a t i o n s

f o r g r a d e s K - 5Holy Trinity School amp Preschool

1226 W Santa Cruz StreetSan Pedro CA 90732

Art

schoolholytrinitysporg

10

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1432 Gaffey St San Pedro bull 3105470655 bull wwwbuonospizzacom

Simply the best pizza in San Pedro for over 42 years

Purchase of $25 or more25th amp Western

in San Pedrosouthshoresaceaolcom

(310) 833-1223(In the old Hollywood Video Store)

A full convenience hArdwAre store thAt will sAve you time And money

we offer contrActor discounts

Terry Katnic OwnerOperator

NOW OPEN

A FULL CONVENIENCE HARDWARE STORE THAT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

(310)833-1ACE(223)25th amp Western in San Pedro

southshoresaceaolcom(In the old Hollywood Video store)

bull Benjamin Moore Paintsbull Garden Centerbull Craftsman Toolsbull Special Ordersbull Key Cuttingbull Cleaning Suppliesbull Automotivebull Gift Cards

HARDWARE

SOUTH SHORES

THE HELPFUL PLACE

Ace the helpful hArdwAre plAce

On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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The Original Taste of

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

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or specials Exp 83115 23 Camarones A La Diabla

Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

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The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

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Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

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THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

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We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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5

J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

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倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

Featured Itinerary Cruise the Panama Canal

Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

310 548 3495Banquet s amp Ca ter ing Ava i l ab le

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C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

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Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

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891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

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wwwcooverpharmacycomTel (310) 833-2400Fax (310) 832-2531

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836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

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Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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AUGUST 2015

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoshua J Stecker

ART DIRECTORPRODUCTION Joseph A Castantildeeda

AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS Councilman Joe Buscaino Lori Garrett Brooke Karli Mike Lansing Roseanney Liu Ricky Magana Debbie Rouser Steve Marconi Anthony Pirozzi Monica Simpson

PHOTOGRAPHERJohn Mattera PhotographyKathryn Colby Photography

CONTACT INFOPHONE (424) 224-9063EMAIL contactsanpedrotodaycom San Pedro TodayPO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733

VOLUME 7 | NUMBER 7

ADVERTISING General Inquiries adssanpedrotodaycom Patricia Roberts - San Pedro (562) 964-8166 | patriciasanpedrotodaycom

Shana Ghekiere - San Pedro (and outer regions)(310) 753-5176 | shanasanpedrotodaycom

Empire22 Media LLCOWNERPUBLISHERJoshua J Stecker

San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media 25000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC Empire22 Media LLC their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today Copyright 2009-2015 Empire22 Media LLC

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4EVENTS 8

VOICESMARCONI 12PIROZZI 14ROUSER 16LANSING 18COUNCILMAN BUSCAINO 20HEALTH amp WELLNESS 32HEYDAY FITNESS 33

FEATURESEVENT DEAD AND ALIVE 10A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand COVER STORY THE FAMILY BUSINESS 21The Trani family celebrates 90 years of serving San Pedro MISTY COPELANDrsquoS MILESTONE MONTH 26From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer PIANOS amp A PLATYPUS 28A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music HOW WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE AFFECT SAN PEDRO 34With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

WEDDING A DROP OF GOOD LUCK 31Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez - September 6 2014

ON THE COVER The Trani Family 2015 (clockwise from top left) Dustin Trani Jim Trani Viki Trani and Jessica Trani accompanied by the bust of family patriarch Filippo Trani and a photo of Vincent Jim Trani on the fireplace mantle (Not pictured Jim Trani [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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Date Tuesday August 25th 2015 Time 600PM

Location AAA Travel 28901 S Western Ave Suite 137 Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Get up to $400 per couple onboard cruise credit

Space is limited RSVP Today Call AAA Travel Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 548-2260

OPEN HOUSEA

Cent

ury o

f Faith Service and Excellence

100th Anniversary

Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School

Call Tour Join the Family

View our school on Facebookwwwfacebookcommarystaroftheseacatholicelementaryschool

Applications now being accepted for the

2015-16 school year

Learning TodayLeading Tomorrow

717 South Cabrillo Avenue San Pedro CA 90731(310) 831-0875 | wwwmarystarelementarycom

Preschool thru 8th Grade

Three US Navy Vessels Free Public Ship ToursWorld Cruise CenterHarbor Blvd and Swinford Street San Pedro

bull Public Ship Tours - You must register for free tickets to board a vessel One vessel visit per guest You will be assigned a vessel upon arrival

bull USMC Equipment Exhibits

bull Entertainment

bull Battleship IOWA Discounted Tours

bull Los Angeles Maritime Institute Tall Ship Tours

bull Food Trucks

For more information and tour ticket registration wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

navydays_ad_sptodayindd 1 72115 1144 AM

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

Live Music Food Vendors Free Spectator AdmissionFor more information visit wwwsanpedrolegendscom

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015SAN PEDRO CASAN PEDRO CA

schoolholytrinitysporg

H O LY T R I N I T Y S C H O O L

Emphasis on bull Sciencebull Technologybull Religionbull Engineeringbull Art Athleticsbull Math

Curriculum

Educating thE Minds and spirits of our childrEn

STREAM

310-833-0703

A c c e p t i n g

A p p l i c a t i o n s

f o r g r a d e s K - 5Holy Trinity School amp Preschool

1226 W Santa Cruz StreetSan Pedro CA 90732

Art

schoolholytrinitysporg

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1432 Gaffey St San Pedro bull 3105470655 bull wwwbuonospizzacom

Simply the best pizza in San Pedro for over 42 years

Purchase of $25 or more25th amp Western

in San Pedrosouthshoresaceaolcom

(310) 833-1223(In the old Hollywood Video Store)

A full convenience hArdwAre store thAt will sAve you time And money

we offer contrActor discounts

Terry Katnic OwnerOperator

NOW OPEN

A FULL CONVENIENCE HARDWARE STORE THAT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

(310)833-1ACE(223)25th amp Western in San Pedro

southshoresaceaolcom(In the old Hollywood Video store)

bull Benjamin Moore Paintsbull Garden Centerbull Craftsman Toolsbull Special Ordersbull Key Cuttingbull Cleaning Suppliesbull Automotivebull Gift Cards

HARDWARE

SOUTH SHORES

THE HELPFUL PLACE

Ace the helpful hArdwAre plAce

On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

YEARSSTRONG

Bringing new advances to you

every day

For 90 years our community has come to us for top-quality

health care At Providence Little Company of Mary Medical

Center San Pedro all our caregivers ndash physicians nurses

staff and volunteers ndash make sure every patient is our most

important patient And while a stamp of approval isnrsquot

necessary to know wersquore providing excellent care itrsquos always

nice to get one

Or two Or five

Named one of Californiarsquos 10 Best Value Hospitals for 2015

The arearsquos first Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers

Healthgradesreg Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure

Learn more about our award-winning care at californiaprovidenceorgsan-pedro

Healthgradesreg Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke

Healthgradesreg Excellence Awardtrade for Critical Care

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

RCA15-45412b_AD_PLCMSP 90th Anniversary_SP Today_FINALpdf 1 7172015 121040 PM

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

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CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

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bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

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Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

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Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

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assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5

5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

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wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

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AU

GU

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

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Date Tuesday August 25th 2015 Time 600PM

Location AAA Travel 28901 S Western Ave Suite 137 Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

Get up to $400 per couple onboard cruise credit

Space is limited RSVP Today Call AAA Travel Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 548-2260

OPEN HOUSEA

Cent

ury o

f Faith Service and Excellence

100th Anniversary

Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School

Call Tour Join the Family

View our school on Facebookwwwfacebookcommarystaroftheseacatholicelementaryschool

Applications now being accepted for the

2015-16 school year

Learning TodayLeading Tomorrow

717 South Cabrillo Avenue San Pedro CA 90731(310) 831-0875 | wwwmarystarelementarycom

Preschool thru 8th Grade

Three US Navy Vessels Free Public Ship ToursWorld Cruise CenterHarbor Blvd and Swinford Street San Pedro

bull Public Ship Tours - You must register for free tickets to board a vessel One vessel visit per guest You will be assigned a vessel upon arrival

bull USMC Equipment Exhibits

bull Entertainment

bull Battleship IOWA Discounted Tours

bull Los Angeles Maritime Institute Tall Ship Tours

bull Food Trucks

For more information and tour ticket registration wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

navydays_ad_sptodayindd 1 72115 1144 AM

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

Live Music Food Vendors Free Spectator AdmissionFor more information visit wwwsanpedrolegendscom

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015SAN PEDRO CASAN PEDRO CA

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A c c e p t i n g

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Art

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Simply the best pizza in San Pedro for over 42 years

Purchase of $25 or more25th amp Western

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On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

YEARSSTRONG

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For 90 years our community has come to us for top-quality

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RCA15-45412b_AD_PLCMSP 90th Anniversary_SP Today_FINALpdf 1 7172015 121040 PM

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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The Original Taste of

San Pedro

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

with order of $25 or moreCannot be combined with any other offers promotions

or specials Exp 83115 23 Camarones A La Diabla

Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

1110 N Gaffey St Ste D bull San Pedro CA 90731 bull 310 833-4395 bull 7 days a week 10am to 11pmA San Pedro Landmark for more than 30 years

The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

7am -3pmOpen Daily

San Pedro Cafe

Check out our brand new menu We Proudly Serve Lavazza Coffee

605 S Pacific Ave bull (310) 547-0961 bull Open Daily 7am - 3pmwwwspcafeinccom

One Free Coffee Tea or Fountain Drink

With a full paid breakfast or lunch Exp 83115

FREE DELIVERY (min $20 orders (except in downtown) not on Sundays)

What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

Independently Owned amp Operated

San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

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Investing in the community since 1989

Offices for Lease

Located in the heart of

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Call Jerico Development Inc

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(310) 519-9500

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8th Street Garage

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Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

220 West 8th StSan Pedro

(310) 519-7257

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

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ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

AU

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

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Its Time toSave Money

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

with 10 years of experience

wwwmilestonewindowcleaningnet

We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

Cleaning the World One Window at a Time

Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

Weymouth Corners815 S Averill Ave

San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

FINALLY GET YOUR TRUST DONE THEN HAVE SOME FUN

WILLS ~ ESTATES TRUSTS ~ PROBATE

Still need a Will or Trustor

Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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Tour the historic PT FERMIN LIGHTHOUSE built in 1874 to light the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor located in the Pt Fermin Park (807 Paseo del Mar) Guided tours offered 1-3p Tues thru Sun Closed Mon and major holidays Admission is free donations accepted

Every Mon ndash PENINSULA TOASTMASTERS at Cocorsquos Restaurant (28300 Western Ave RPV) 7-9p For those seeking to master public speaking amp leadership skills Info ontact Shelly Lipanovich lipanovichshellyyahoocom

Every Wed ndash CHILDRENrsquoS WRITING CLASSES at the Corner Store (1118 37th St) Seven Golden Secrets of Writing with Diana Chapman Wed 430-545p For info call (310) 626-7906 Please call ahead to reserve space

Every Wed ndash OPEN MIC NIGHT at Red Men Wigwam (543 Shepard St) 630-930p All are welcome Chilidogs snacks and beverages available Dress warmly

Every Thurs (except holidays) ndash ADULT WRITING GROUP at St Peters Episcopal Church library room (1648 W 9th St) 1-3p All welcome For more info call (310) 831-2186

Every Fri ndash SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET (6th St between Pacific and Mesa Streets) 9a-2p

Every Sat ndash LAFD HARBOR MUSEUM (639 Harbor Blvd) 10a-3p Experience San Pedro and Wilmingtons Fire Protection and Rescue service history with vintage fire apparatus and various displays The museum is located in Old Fire Station 36 in the San Pedro City Hall Admission is free donations are accepted

Every Sun ndash Tour the MULLER HOUSE MUSEUM (1542 Beacon St) 1-4p Built in 1899 the Muller House is the headquarters of the San Pedro Bay Historical Society Admission is free but a donation of $3 is encouraged

1 (Sat) - NEW TASTE OF SAN PEDRO at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles (112 East 22nd St) From 5p-10p The Taste of San Pedro is a culinary waterfront festival featuring cuisine from 20 San Pedro and Peninsula area restaurants Enjoy craft beers craft spirits and wine tasting Live bands every hour on the hour plus live performances throughout the event Must be 21 or older to enter the event For tickets

and more info visit wwwsanpedrochambercom

1 (Sat) - COPE PREPAREDNESS at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (1300 W 7th St) 830-1130a A free workshop hosted by COPE Preparedness a non-profit organization whose mission is to Promote Emergency Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach and Educationrdquo To register for tickets visit wwwcope-preparednessorg

6 (Thurs) ndash FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK in Downtown San Pedro 6-10p

6 (Thurs) ndash FREE CHIROPRACTIC ANALYSIS amp MASSAGE at Natural Health Chiropractic (29050 S Western Ave Suite 153 RPV) By Appointment only For more info please contact (310) 519-8877 or email to naturalhealthchiroyahoocom and schedule your appointment

7 thru Sept 5 ndash AND THE STONES WILL CRY OUT at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St downtown) Runs Fri amp Sat at 8p and Sun 830 at 2p (Talkback) Written by David Graham and directed by Stephanie Coltrin this play is a celebration of life and humanity Based almost completely on actual events this original work is making its West Coast debut at Little Fish Theatre For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

7 8 9 (Fri-Sun) ndash NAVY DAYS 2015 at the World Cruise Center (Harbor Blvd and Swinford St San Pedro) Take a free public tour on one of three US Navy Vessels (One vessel visit per guest) Navy days include food and entertainment USMC equipment exhibits and Los Angeles Maritime Institute tall ship tour For more info and ticket registration visit wwwportoflosangelesorg or wwwlawaterfrontorg

8 (Sat) ndash CORNER STORE FARMERS MARKET at The Corner Store (1118 W 37th St) 10a-12p Open every second Saturday of the month Grab some coffee and homegrown produce and donrsquot forget to bring your reusable bags8 (Sat) ndash TRAIL CREW INTRO CLASS at PVPLC Office (916 Silver Spur Rd 207 Rolling Hills Estates) Starts at 9a Join the Trail Crew for monthly field practice in trails assessment and repair techniques The Introductory Class will give an overview to the 50-hour certification training program RSVP to infopvplcorg or call (310) 541-7613

8 amp 29 (Sat) ndash OUTDOOR VOLUNTEER DAY at White Point Nature Preserve (1600 W Paseo del Mar) August 8 and August 29 9a-12p Help remove weeds and groom trails to beautify the native plant garden Sign up at wwwpvplcorg

13 thru Sept 3 ndash SOMEONE WHOrsquoLL WATCH OVER ME at Little Fish Theatre (777 Centre St Downtown) Runs Thurs at 8pm Sun 816 amp 823 at 2pm Wed 826 amp 92 at 8pm (Talkback) Written by Frank McGuinness follow an Englishman American and Irishman through their experience as hostages in Lebanon McGuinnessrsquo multi-award winning play is both funny and heart-wrenching For more info and tickets visit wwwlittlefishtheatreorg

13 (Thurs) ndash SAN PEDRO CLASS OF 1945 BREAKFAST at The Grinder (511 S Harbor Blvd) 930a RSVP to Alice Jacobson (310) 832-1807 or Grace Woodman (310) 833-8321

16 (Sun) ndash BUKOWSKI THE LAUGHING HEART at the Warner Grand (478 W 6th St) SPIFF presents a tribute to the late acclaimed outsider author and poet on what would be his 95th birthday Times vary For tickets and info visit spiffestorg

22 (Sat) ndash PVPLC NATIVE PLANT SALE at White Point Nature Education Center (1600 W Paseo del Mar) 12pndash 2p Every fourth Saturday For more informationvisit wwwpvplcorg

25 (Tues) ndash SAN PEDRO GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TEA in the garden at Ma Griffe Galerie (3624 S Gaffey St) 11a Luncheon is $25 Reservations required For more info call (310) 831-5829 29 (Sat) ndash STREET CORNER RENAISSANCE at the Grand Annex (434 W 6th St) 8p Doo-wop classics with soaring harmonies SCR has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder Diana Reeves amp more Donrsquot miss out For tickets and info visit wwwgrandvisionorg

AUGUST

Email event info to eventssanpedrotodaycom Deadline for the September issue is Friday August 14 All locations in San Pedro unless otherwise noted

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

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On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

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If you like

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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GU

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5

5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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Sunday August 30 bull 10 am - 4 pmPoint Fermin Park San Pedro

Live Music Food Vendors Free Spectator AdmissionFor more information visit wwwsanpedrolegendscom

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015

Car ShowBy the Sea

2015SAN PEDRO CASAN PEDRO CA

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H O LY T R I N I T Y S C H O O L

Emphasis on bull Sciencebull Technologybull Religionbull Engineeringbull Art Athleticsbull Math

Curriculum

Educating thE Minds and spirits of our childrEn

STREAM

310-833-0703

A c c e p t i n g

A p p l i c a t i o n s

f o r g r a d e s K - 5Holy Trinity School amp Preschool

1226 W Santa Cruz StreetSan Pedro CA 90732

Art

schoolholytrinitysporg

10

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1432 Gaffey St San Pedro bull 3105470655 bull wwwbuonospizzacom

Simply the best pizza in San Pedro for over 42 years

Purchase of $25 or more25th amp Western

in San Pedrosouthshoresaceaolcom

(310) 833-1223(In the old Hollywood Video Store)

A full convenience hArdwAre store thAt will sAve you time And money

we offer contrActor discounts

Terry Katnic OwnerOperator

NOW OPEN

A FULL CONVENIENCE HARDWARE STORE THAT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

(310)833-1ACE(223)25th amp Western in San Pedro

southshoresaceaolcom(In the old Hollywood Video store)

bull Benjamin Moore Paintsbull Garden Centerbull Craftsman Toolsbull Special Ordersbull Key Cuttingbull Cleaning Suppliesbull Automotivebull Gift Cards

HARDWARE

SOUTH SHORES

THE HELPFUL PLACE

Ace the helpful hArdwAre plAce

On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

YEARSSTRONG

Bringing new advances to you

every day

For 90 years our community has come to us for top-quality

health care At Providence Little Company of Mary Medical

Center San Pedro all our caregivers ndash physicians nurses

staff and volunteers ndash make sure every patient is our most

important patient And while a stamp of approval isnrsquot

necessary to know wersquore providing excellent care itrsquos always

nice to get one

Or two Or five

Named one of Californiarsquos 10 Best Value Hospitals for 2015

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Learn more about our award-winning care at californiaprovidenceorgsan-pedro

Healthgradesreg Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke

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C

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Y

CM

MY

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CMY

K

RCA15-45412b_AD_PLCMSP 90th Anniversary_SP Today_FINALpdf 1 7172015 121040 PM

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

Robert BobichFamily Services Counselor

310-521-4445rbobichghmpcom

27501 S Western Avenue Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

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The Original Taste of

San Pedro

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

with order of $25 or moreCannot be combined with any other offers promotions

or specials Exp 83115 23 Camarones A La Diabla

Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

1110 N Gaffey St Ste D bull San Pedro CA 90731 bull 310 833-4395 bull 7 days a week 10am to 11pmA San Pedro Landmark for more than 30 years

The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

7am -3pmOpen Daily

San Pedro Cafe

Check out our brand new menu We Proudly Serve Lavazza Coffee

605 S Pacific Ave bull (310) 547-0961 bull Open Daily 7am - 3pmwwwspcafeinccom

One Free Coffee Tea or Fountain Drink

With a full paid breakfast or lunch Exp 83115

FREE DELIVERY (min $20 orders (except in downtown) not on Sundays)

What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

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San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

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Starting at $300 per month

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Call Jerico Development Inc

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8th Street Garage

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Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

220 West 8th StSan Pedro

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

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Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

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THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

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Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

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Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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s i n c e 1 9 9 8

383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

310 548 3495Banquet s amp Ca ter ing Ava i l ab le

New Summer Hours

C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

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AY I 27

COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

Town

Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

Open Saturdays10am - 2pm

891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE

on allVitamins

wwwcooverpharmacycomTel (310) 833-2400Fax (310) 832-2531

Ying Lee-Hoffman LAc OMD20+ Years Experience

ILWU PPO Insurance Plan Accepted

bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

wwwharboracupuncturecom

Feel Better Now

Ying Lee-Hoffman LAc OMD

Eliminate Blisters and Nerve Pain for Shingle Patients

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

milestone window cleaning

Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

with 10 years of experience

wwwmilestonewindowcleaningnet

We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

Cleaning the World One Window at a Time

Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

Weymouth Corners815 S Averill Ave

San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

FINALLY GET YOUR TRUST DONE THEN HAVE SOME FUN

WILLS ~ ESTATES TRUSTS ~ PROBATE

Still need a Will or Trustor

Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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1432 Gaffey St San Pedro bull 3105470655 bull wwwbuonospizzacom

Simply the best pizza in San Pedro for over 42 years

Purchase of $25 or more25th amp Western

in San Pedrosouthshoresaceaolcom

(310) 833-1223(In the old Hollywood Video Store)

A full convenience hArdwAre store thAt will sAve you time And money

we offer contrActor discounts

Terry Katnic OwnerOperator

NOW OPEN

A FULL CONVENIENCE HARDWARE STORE THAT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

(310)833-1ACE(223)25th amp Western in San Pedro

southshoresaceaolcom(In the old Hollywood Video store)

bull Benjamin Moore Paintsbull Garden Centerbull Craftsman Toolsbull Special Ordersbull Key Cuttingbull Cleaning Suppliesbull Automotivebull Gift Cards

HARDWARE

SOUTH SHORES

THE HELPFUL PLACE

Ace the helpful hArdwAre plAce

On Sunday August 16 the famed Los Angeles poet author novelist and San Pedro resident Charles Bukowski would have turned 95-years-old Losing the battle against leukemia in 1994 Bukowski left behind universally acclaimed works that resonate in the hearts and minds of readers all over the world today A few months ago Bukowski was featured on the March cover of San Pedro Today in honor of his personal memory and literary legacy Due to his prolific writing and local celebrity the issue was dedicated to his works published in San Pedro and his life in town

The staff at San Pedro Today were fortunate enough to meet with his charming wife Linda Bukowski and tour the Bukowski property seeing original Bukowski art and unpublished poems Linda explained how her husbandrsquos mystique lures all kinds of travelers writers and poets to San Pedro looking for Bukowski Itrsquos no secret hersquos buried at Green Hills Memorial Park and his headstone is one of the most visited grave sites there

The magnetism of his worksrsquo eternal appeal stems from the abrasive honesty of his writing and his unabating pursuit of understanding the human condition Working through his own painful history of loss and struggle to finding his future of love and stability here in San Pedro Bukowskirsquos works (albeit heartbreaking and grim at times) are woven with redemption and hope

Itrsquos through his emotional spectrum and the breadth of his work that has inspired Ziggy Mkrich executive director of the San Pedro Film Festival (SPIFFest) to host The Laughing Heart ndash A 95th Birthday Celebration celebrating Charles Bukowski Named after Bukowskirsquos famous poem ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo is an anthem of resiliency and endurance against inevitable adversity

With the festival headquartered here in San Pedro Mkrich is excited to attract the literary and Los Angeles filmmaking community to his former harbor-side home

ldquoSPIFFest is thrilled to be part of this celebration honoring Bukowskirsquos work in the town where he spent the last 15 years of his liferdquo says Mkrich in regards to the upcoming festivities

In those last 15 years Bukowski churned out books faster than his publisher could print them Not only was he more productive while living here in San Pedro but his work also dramatically improved

Fellow poet and friend of Bukowski Gerald Lonkin says ldquoHis most mature work was written when he lived in San Pedro at the end of his life He had that feeling of mortality and he had to face thatrdquo Lonkin who is now Professor Emeritus of English at California State University Long Beach and the poetry editor of Chiron Review believes San Pedro

served as a place of personal and professional resurrection for Bukowski ldquoHe was becoming more confident all the time and becoming more world-famousrdquo says Lonkin In support of the event and in loving memory of Bukowski Lonkin will be reviewing poetry submissions for the festival contest and also providing an on-stage poetry reading

With the 4th Annual SPIFFest coming in October Mkrich is hopeful that this kick-off event honoring Bukowski will help educate attendees on Bukowskirsquos immortal influence and draw more visitors to San Pedro and the festival in the fall Enlisting the help of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Mkrich has lined up a feature film screening of ldquoFactotumrdquo (based on Bukowskis second novel) starring Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei a poetry and art contest with a juried panel an exclusive reading and special visit by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez and a curated exhibition of images and Bukowski memorabilia

In the spirit of his poem this Bukowski tribute serves to bring light to his works and breathe life into the works of others

ldquoYou canrsquot beat death butyou can beat death in life sometimesand the more often you learn to do itthe more light there will berdquo

- (excerpt from the ldquoThe Laughing Heartrdquo by Charles Bukowski)

Taking place at the historic Warner Grand Theatre and other venues around town ticket prices range from $15-$30 To order tickets learn more about the event or submit original poems and artwork please visit wwwspiffestorg

DETAILS The Laughing Heart - A 95th Birthday Celebration Sunday August 16 3 pm at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W 6th St San Pedro) For tickets and info visit wwwspiffestorg

A Charles Bukowski Birthday Celebration Comes to the Warner Grand

Dead and Alive

by Monica Simpson

Charles Bukowski standing along the LA Waterfront with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in the background circa 1980s (photo Elisa Leonelli used by permission copy Linda Lee Bukowski)

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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5

J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

Featured Itinerary Cruise the Panama Canal

Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

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New Summer Hours

C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

AU

GU

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

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Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

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891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

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on allVitamins

wwwcooverpharmacycomTel (310) 833-2400Fax (310) 832-2531

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836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

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310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

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TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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YEARSSTRONG

Bringing new advances to you

every day

For 90 years our community has come to us for top-quality

health care At Providence Little Company of Mary Medical

Center San Pedro all our caregivers ndash physicians nurses

staff and volunteers ndash make sure every patient is our most

important patient And while a stamp of approval isnrsquot

necessary to know wersquore providing excellent care itrsquos always

nice to get one

Or two Or five

Named one of Californiarsquos 10 Best Value Hospitals for 2015

The arearsquos first Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers

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Learn more about our award-winning care at californiaprovidenceorgsan-pedro

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RCA15-45412b_AD_PLCMSP 90th Anniversary_SP Today_FINALpdf 1 7172015 121040 PM

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

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The Original Taste of

San Pedro

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

with order of $25 or moreCannot be combined with any other offers promotions

or specials Exp 83115 23 Camarones A La Diabla

Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

1110 N Gaffey St Ste D bull San Pedro CA 90731 bull 310 833-4395 bull 7 days a week 10am to 11pmA San Pedro Landmark for more than 30 years

The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

7am -3pmOpen Daily

San Pedro Cafe

Check out our brand new menu We Proudly Serve Lavazza Coffee

605 S Pacific Ave bull (310) 547-0961 bull Open Daily 7am - 3pmwwwspcafeinccom

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What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

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San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

REMax Estate Properties

Investing in the community since 1989

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Call Jerico Development Inc

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18

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

other offers Expires 83115

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other offers Expires 83115

(310) 935-3015

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

ampWine Wednesday

Specials

335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

[rsquo Follow us on Instagram

sonnys_bistro

HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

yoursquoll love

ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

1103 S GAFFEY STREET SAN PEDRO CA 90731 | 310 831-3277

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

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PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

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VOICES

When It Comes to Flags Donrsquot Get Stuck on Stupid

Janice Hahn would have been apoplecticThere were Confederate flags everywhere just minutes from

her backyard And there were Confederate soldiers at every turn ndash camped on city property no less

As if that wasnt enough there were Wehrmacht soldiers replete with swastikas Imperial Japanese leading ldquobanzairdquo cheers and commies running amok a horde of Soviet soldiers waving the hammer and sickle a black-pajama-clad Viet Cong even a member of the North Vietnam Army

And all were carrying guns of every size and type most of them still in working order Oh the humanityThe ringmaster of all this political incorrectness was Steve Nelson directing yet another

Old Fort MacArthur Days weekend in San Pedro which he has turned into one of the premier historical re-enactment events in the country A historian and museum director he understands and values history both the good and bad He had a few choice words for politicians and others who want to ldquocleanserdquo America of its historical heritage (I didnt know he spoke French) because all of a sudden they are ldquooffendedrdquo by any and all things related to the Confederacy

The Confederate flag just happens to be one of many flags that have been dominating the news in the past few weeks A mentally disturbed racist put the focus on the

by Steve Marconi

Confederate flag when he posed with one before he opened fire on nine African-American members of a Bible study group at a historical church in Charleston South Carolina Donald Trumps jaw-droppingly stupid rant against Mexicos illegal immigrants put the spotlight on that nations flag and how it relates to us A Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage gave a sense of legitimacy to the rainbow flag which represents a unification of non-heterosexual lifestyles And the black ISIS banner has been ubiquitous as that Muslim sect continues a reign of terror throughout the world

Thats the only flag Americans should hate today because ISIS and its ilk pose a real threat to Western values

As for the others its time to take a deep breath and chill Noted historian Kid Rock in dealing with protesters upset over his display of the Confederate flag had to explain that to him the flag simply represents Southern pride I believe that holds true for most who display it outside of the usual nut cases its connotations to racism are long past

My own connections to it are illustrative My mother-in-law is from North Carolina where her familys roots run deep They are Lumbee Indians free people who for most of their existence were looked down upon by many Southerners One of my wifes ancestors fought in the Civil War under Robert E Lee Tommy Sanderson was a poor backwoods farmer who never owned a slave and until the war probably never even saw one He certainly wasnt risking his life to sustain slavery but fought in several major battles before his unit was captured just before Appomattox I would imagine that for him like many of his rank-and-file comrades Southern pride was a major motivator

As for the illegal immigration issue to reach a resolution we need to get past the heated rhetoric Wanting to protect our borders doesnt make someone a ldquohaterrdquo of Mexicans anymore than waving the Confederate flag makes someone a racist

That also applies to the issue of same-sex marriage Some supporters of those who wave the rainbow flag stifle all debate by labeling people who disagree with them as haters I believe firmly in traditional marriage but I donrsquot hate gay people and Irsquove worked with many over the years I reserve my hatred for people who want to cut off the heads of my darling half-Hispanic grandchildren and Tar Heel in-laws

Which brings me to the only flag that truly matters It hangs in front of my house daily and there is one folded neatly in a frame that sits on a shelf in my mothers house Its the American flag that covered my fathers casket during his funeral in recognition of his service in World War II Its the same one that flew at half-staff after the murders of our servicemen in Chattanooga by a real hater

Now the same crowd that defends burning that flag as freedom of speech wants to banish the Confederate flag As someone so aptly stated on Facebook thatrsquos just stupid

A ClarificationhellipIt appears my column last month about the San Pedro waterfront didnt upset the people of San Pedro nearly as much as those of Wilmington I said that the port spending money on Wilmingtons waterfront was like putting lipstick on a pig Unfortunately some people have misconstrued that comment and think I was calling the residents of Wilmington pigs or calling the town a pigsty Nothing could be further from the truth It was a comment on finances I could have said the port was throwing good money after bad In other words the port was using money on Wilmington that I would prefer was spent in San Pedro Thats something that can be debated but its not an insult worthy of threats I spend a lot of time in Wilmington driving down Harry Bridges to the casual hall several days a week I mingle with Wilmington residents regularly and work alongside them I number numerous Pilots among my friends I hold no malice toward Wilmington and am sorry that what I wrote was misunderstood as a journalist I strive for clarity The opinions I express in my column however are mine and mine alone and do not reflect those of San Pedro Today spt

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconiyahoocom

Robert BobichFamily Services Counselor

310-521-4445rbobichghmpcom

27501 S Western Avenue Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275

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The Original Taste of

San Pedro

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

with order of $25 or moreCannot be combined with any other offers promotions

or specials Exp 83115 23 Camarones A La Diabla

Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

1110 N Gaffey St Ste D bull San Pedro CA 90731 bull 310 833-4395 bull 7 days a week 10am to 11pmA San Pedro Landmark for more than 30 years

The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

7am -3pmOpen Daily

San Pedro Cafe

Check out our brand new menu We Proudly Serve Lavazza Coffee

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With a full paid breakfast or lunch Exp 83115

FREE DELIVERY (min $20 orders (except in downtown) not on Sundays)

What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

Independently Owned amp Operated

San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

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Investing in the community since 1989

Offices for Lease

Located in the heart of

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Call Jerico Development Inc

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(310) 519-9500

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8th Street Garage

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Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

220 West 8th StSan Pedro

(310) 519-7257

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

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ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

AU

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

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Its Time toSave Money

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

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Exp 83115

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

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Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

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Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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The Original Taste of

San Pedro

14

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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

with order of $25 or moreCannot be combined with any other offers promotions

or specials Exp 83115 23 Camarones A La Diabla

Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

1110 N Gaffey St Ste D bull San Pedro CA 90731 bull 310 833-4395 bull 7 days a week 10am to 11pmA San Pedro Landmark for more than 30 years

The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

7am -3pmOpen Daily

San Pedro Cafe

Check out our brand new menu We Proudly Serve Lavazza Coffee

605 S Pacific Ave bull (310) 547-0961 bull Open Daily 7am - 3pmwwwspcafeinccom

One Free Coffee Tea or Fountain Drink

With a full paid breakfast or lunch Exp 83115

FREE DELIVERY (min $20 orders (except in downtown) not on Sundays)

What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

Independently Owned amp Operated

San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

BRE00978690

A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

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Investing in the community since 1989

Offices for Lease

Located in the heart of

San Pedrorsquos vibrant business amp

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Starting at $300 per month

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Air Conditioning | Kitchenette

Conference Room

Call Jerico Development Inc

for an appointment to view

(310) 519-9500

wwwjerico-developmentcom

8th Street Garage

ldquoWhere Your Car is Kingrdquo

Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

220 West 8th StSan Pedro

(310) 519-7257

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

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Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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Specials

335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

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ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

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For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

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We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

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Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
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VOICES

FREE APPETIZER Chips con Queso

with order of $25 or moreCannot be combined with any other offers promotions

or specials Exp 83115 23 Camarones A La Diabla

Wersquove remodeled Check out our two new HDTVs and new fountain machine

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

1110 N Gaffey St Ste D bull San Pedro CA 90731 bull 310 833-4395 bull 7 days a week 10am to 11pmA San Pedro Landmark for more than 30 years

The Original Las Brisas Mexican Food ~ Since 1982 ~

7am -3pmOpen Daily

San Pedro Cafe

Check out our brand new menu We Proudly Serve Lavazza Coffee

605 S Pacific Ave bull (310) 547-0961 bull Open Daily 7am - 3pmwwwspcafeinccom

One Free Coffee Tea or Fountain Drink

With a full paid breakfast or lunch Exp 83115

FREE DELIVERY (min $20 orders (except in downtown) not on Sundays)

What Inspires and Motivates You

I started writing this column on an early Saturday morning to the sound of rain and thunder I thought to myself rain and thunder in the summer Although I welcomed the rain during the drought we are in I was still in awe of what was happening and wondered if our seasons were beginning to change I took a break from writing my column in order to volunteer for our Boeing sponsored Global Month of Service day at the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy I spent the morning clearing walking paths laying down much needed mulch and clearing brush It was a great morning as volunteers from

San Pedro Palos Verdes Hawthorne Torrance and many other South Bay cities came to support this effort as well as other volunteering events across greater Los Angeles I then headed to the Warner Grand Theater for our final performances of Scalawag Productionrsquos A Chorus Line a nonprofit I helped launch and wrote about in last monthrsquos column It had already been an awesome day and it was only two orsquoclock

Like every month I contemplate what to write about in this column Joshua Stecker our editor-in-chief is patient as I usually stretch my deadline which causes him to text me asking for my column If itrsquos not me itrsquos my fellow columnist and best friend Jack Baric This month was no different I struggled for a topic Should I keep it light Political Local I mean there is so much to choose from The news is full of opportunity to write about whether itrsquos Donald Trumprsquos controversial approach to conveying his message on any topic President Obamarsquos deal with our longtime enemy Iran the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina the Supreme court decision on same-sex marriage or the overnight surging of gas prices Locally the topics of waterfront development our continued growing homeless population medicinal marijuana shops that seem to keep popping up or the periodic sound of police sirens and helicopters across town The topics are endless

Many seem silent on these topics for fear of being called derogatory names or being stereotyped at the drop of a hat Are we all too politically correct that we canrsquot have a passionate debate without being ridiculed Are we silent on such topics because we are self-indulged or feel that it wonrsquot impact us directly until the day it does and then we wonder how could it have happened It feels as if we are at the point in our society where itrsquos only about how someone says something versus the facts behind what they are actually trying to say I had an employee that for years complained and complained so nobody listened to him I changed my approach to listen to what he was saying and not how he was saying it In the end I realized that it was how he was complaining that turned people off when what he was saying was in many cases correct Our discussions eventually became more productive and solution-based He also became more engaged in making positive changes in the workplace This is one of the best lessons I have learned over the years

As I reflected on my Saturday it led me to the topic of ldquowhat inspires and motivates merdquo to write about What inspires and motivates me are the youth I meet through the arts coaching and mentoring how smart they are and their willingness to sacrifice for their family and education What inspires and motivates me are the many nonprofits that are working to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families each and every day and the hundreds of volunteers who support them with time andor financial support Finally what inspires and motivates me are the naysayers as well as the local advocates regarding the future of San Pedro They inspire and motivate me to work harder toward making San Pedro an even greater place to live work and play than it is today

So I ask you the same question what inspires and motivates you Feel free to email me with your answer Irsquod love to hear from you spt

Anthony Pirozzi is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner He can be contacted at apirozziyahoocom

by Anthony Pirozzi

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

Independently Owned amp Operated

San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

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Investing in the community since 1989

Offices for Lease

Located in the heart of

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Starting at $300 per month

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Air Conditioning | Kitchenette

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Call Jerico Development Inc

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(310) 519-9500

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8th Street Garage

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Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

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(310) 519-7257

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

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Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

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THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

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Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

PEDRO

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AY I 27

COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

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For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

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Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

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Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

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Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

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310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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cosmeticsurgery

Botox $10 per unitadministered by Board Certified MD

Financing Plans Available

Breast Surgery bull Body Conturing bull Tummy Tuck bull Eyelids bull Face and Nose bull Liposuction

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3105400144

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015

VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

Independently Owned amp Operated

San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

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A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

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Investing in the community since 1989

Offices for Lease

Located in the heart of

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Call Jerico Development Inc

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(310) 519-9500

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8th Street Garage

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Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

220 West 8th StSan Pedro

(310) 519-7257

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

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ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

AU

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

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Its Time toSave Money

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

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Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
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• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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VOICES

That Moment

Life is funny what it throws at you As soon as you think you have a firm grip on something whether its tangible or not things change Momentum slows or speeds up just to knock you off balance loosen your grip knock you to the ground Its never the same thing twice either thats the nature of the universe You could be running full speed everything lined up you see the goal right there so close you can almost touch it and pop Just like that someone jumps out trips you up snatches your prize your goal your dream and runs What

do you do The difference between the innovators and the herd is simple You never stop

You dont pause Dont look down Dont look away Dont look back Not for a moment Not even for a heartbeat Always look for the next way in or around The next opportunity As if your life depends on it

Some people never understand that without pushing yourself past your own boundaries pushing past your own limits you never achieve greatness They never get to that moment in life that thing that pushes them to the edge of their own discovery their potential their value

A couple weeks ago I got an email from someone I hadnt heard from in months More recently I started to let those old thoughts of doubt and discord into my mind We all know them well We all do it at certain times some more than others The thoughts of self doubt that things wont turn out that it will end negatively I sat back in my chair pondering the odds And I will just say that the odds were pretty low to begin with After all we had already beaten the odds And now after some time the momentum has faded What people were so invigorated with yesterday has moved on towards other flirty more interesting things So now the odds seem to be completely stacked against me Well maybe not me per se but stacked against what I wanted to happen what I had been working on

I could almost touch the doorknob with my index finger Stretching on my toes Just a bit closer Just one more tiny step forward So close but still out of firm grip Getting that unwelcome feeling And feeling out of place and obnoxious but still pursuing the idea of more of something better something tangible

Out of the blue here is an email from a friend to tell myself and others that he got the grant A grant specifically for the north end of San Pedro The grant is large and a game changer for the north side and this one is special Mostly because its personal Itrsquos what makes anything special I cant claim any instrumental piece other than words of guidance hope and inspiration All the time spent grasping for that doorknob stretching to reach further and one step closer to something that others said was unattainable unlikely unrealistic what so many said to give up on What did you do before this Maybe you should just go back to that whatever that was

Thank you Larry Smith and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for continuing to look for grant money for not stopping for helping for being instrumental in making it possible to continue the rehabilitation of Leland Park and so much more For helping San Pedro and our struggle to keep our open space beautiful and accessible For being an inspiration to me to keep going to keep searching for possibilities spt

Debbie Rouser is vice president of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council She can be reached at debbiedphotogmailcom

by Debbie Rouser

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

Independently Owned amp Operated

San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

BRE00978690

A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

REMax Estate Properties

Investing in the community since 1989

Offices for Lease

Located in the heart of

San Pedrorsquos vibrant business amp

arts district in the historic

John T Gaffey building

Starting at $300 per month

122 SF to 217 SF

Air Conditioning | Kitchenette

Conference Room

Call Jerico Development Inc

for an appointment to view

(310) 519-9500

wwwjerico-developmentcom

8th Street Garage

ldquoWhere Your Car is Kingrdquo

Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

220 West 8th StSan Pedro

(310) 519-7257

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

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bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

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Specials

335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

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Its Time toSave Money

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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AU

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

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Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

with 10 years of experience

wwwmilestonewindowcleaningnet

We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

Cleaning the World One Window at a Time

Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

Weymouth Corners815 S Averill Ave

San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

FINALLY GET YOUR TRUST DONE THEN HAVE SOME FUN

WILLS ~ ESTATES TRUSTS ~ PROBATE

Still need a Will or Trustor

Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
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• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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Serving Our Community for 40 Years

864 West 9th Street San Pedro CA 90731 ∙ (310) 548-1263wwwranchosp-escrowcom

bull Commercial amp Residential Real Estatebull For Sale By Owner (FSBO)bull Short Salesbull FHA amp Conventional Refinancebull IncomeInvestment Propertiesbull Hard Money Loans

Rosemarie ldquoBitsyrdquo Lauro OwnerEscrow Officer

Independently Owned amp Operated

San PedrorsquosReal Estate Expert

CALL NOW (310) 548-6065

wwwcalatrellocom bull robertcalatrelloremaxnet

Robert CalatrelloBroker Associate

BRE00978690

A resident for more than 50 years Robert Calatrello knows San Pedro inside and out You deserve nothing short of the best

bull Sellersbull Buyersbull Investorsbull Skilled negotiatorbull Experienced in all aspects of Real Estate

REMax Estate Properties

Investing in the community since 1989

Offices for Lease

Located in the heart of

San Pedrorsquos vibrant business amp

arts district in the historic

John T Gaffey building

Starting at $300 per month

122 SF to 217 SF

Air Conditioning | Kitchenette

Conference Room

Call Jerico Development Inc

for an appointment to view

(310) 519-9500

wwwjerico-developmentcom

8th Street Garage

ldquoWhere Your Car is Kingrdquo

Included ServicesFeaturesbull Self-serve hand-washVacuum bull Free Compressed Airbull 247 Alarmed Security Systembull 24-hour availability

220 West 8th StSan Pedro

(310) 519-7257

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

other offers Expires 83115

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

other offers Expires 83115

(310) 935-3015

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ST 2015 I SAN

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

ampWine Wednesday

Specials

335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

[rsquo Follow us on Instagram

sonnys_bistro

HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

yoursquoll love

ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

1103 S GAFFEY STREET SAN PEDRO CA 90731 | 310 831-3277

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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AY I 31

From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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Volunteers Neededby Mike Lansing

As I have mentioned previously we have numerous non-profits doing tremendous work in our community helping those who need us most These organizations have survived the most recent recession due to their leadership community donors and the support of other partners such as corporations foundations and government entities And while all of this occurred the demand for our services and programs has continued to increase growing each of our operating budgets and straining the boundaries of the facilities in which we

operate While nonprofits have used volunteers to some degree over many decades the

need for volunteers in the year and years moving forward will only increase due to many factors First the demand for our services and programs continues to build My Boys amp Girls Club organization has had its operating budget grow by $26 million in just the past four years That is mainly due to the tremendous surge in average daily attendance ndash 49 increase at our San Pedro Club site in just the last three years There is no way we can continue to keep pace by just adding staff so if we want to continue our commitment and not turn children away we need to add many more volunteers to our team just to keep up with the demand

Secondly all nonprofits must address the reality of being competitive with for-profit companies that are on the rebound and the coming minimum wage increases In this yearrsquos budget process we decided that we must increase hourly wages to retain our highly skilled staff including tutors music teachers fine arts instructors technology experts academic case managers etc and this added greatly to our annual operating budget once again In reality while raising these hourly wages we also had to eliminate 18 part-time positions When the minimum wage increases are implemented over the next five years the same dynamic will occur but only at a much more exaggerated rate We will continue to have to eliminate an increasing number of staff ndash and hopefully replace them with skilled and passionate volunteers

So I am sounding the alarm now letting everyone know that the nonprofits of our community are in need of our continued financial support to retain important professionals and require an increasing number of individuals willing to volunteer We need individuals who want to provide extended services ndash maybe once or so a week but consistently over time so that we can provide a continuum of programs and services They can be high school students college undergrads or graduate students retired individuals domestics looking for some meaningful interaction now that they are ldquoempty-nestersrdquo and professionals who want to just be part of the solution

In my organization you can support the front desk be a volunteer coach help a child learn to read assist in our administrative offices volunteer at a special event or tutor a member in math These impact makers include John who has been a tremendous higher math tutor in our College Bound program for the past eight years Mary who provides birthday bags each month to members Karla who assists with our numerous mailings Jesse who is a volunteer in our STEM Center Tony who provides much-needed data input for our administrative team and Yvette who is a lawyer and is supporting some of our youth with their immigration progress

All of our tremendous nonprofits need your support ndash including an increasing number of volunteers We thank you in advance for your consideration and we hope you will become important members of our teams Come see us ndash we all need your help spt

Mike Lansing is Executive Director of the Boys amp Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

VOICES

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

other offers Expires 83115

With this San Pedro Today coupon Not combinable with any

other offers Expires 83115

(310) 935-3015

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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

ampWine Wednesday

Specials

335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

[rsquo Follow us on Instagram

sonnys_bistro

HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

yoursquoll love

ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

1103 S GAFFEY STREET SAN PEDRO CA 90731 | 310 831-3277

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

Featured Itinerary Cruise the Panama Canal

Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

24

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

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assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

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310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

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AU

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
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Downtownrsquos Cool New Hangout Spot

bull Owned by motherdaughter team of Linda Jackson amp Melissa Klug

bull Affordable Craft Beers amp Wines from Around the World

bull Delicious Appetizers Paninis Sliders amp More

Tues amp Thurs 5 to 7pm All Draft Beer $1 Off

ampWine Wednesday

Specials

335 W 7th Street San Pedro

(310) 833-3359bull Live Music

Check Our Website for Calendar | wwwjacksonsplacespcom

If you like

San Pedro now has two great restaurant optionsIf yoursquore downtown visit

and if yoursquore uptown visit Sonnyrsquos Bistro

THINK CAFE(310) 519-3662302 West 5th Street

San Pedro CA 90731[rsquo

We offer patio dining and our banquet room holds up

to 50 guests

SONNYrsquoS BISTRO(310) 548-4797

1420 West 25th Street San Pedro CA 90731

[rsquo Follow us on Instagram

sonnys_bistro

HAPPY HOUR 4-6pPLUS Our $10 Lunch from 11a-4p

yoursquoll love

ldquoWhere Friends Come to Meetrdquo

CELEBRATING 20TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR

Recognized as the Top Breakfast and Lunch spot in San Pedro where delicious food and great service keeps hungry customers coming back for more Top rated in Yelp with over 300 reviews Wake up to a healthy hearty breakfast A San Pedro Tradition for 20 years

Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week

1103 S GAFFEY STREET SAN PEDRO CA 90731 | 310 831-3277

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

Featured Itinerary Cruise the Panama Canal

Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

Neilrsquosp a s t a amp s e a f o o d G r i l l

s i n c e 1 9 9 8

383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

310 548 3495Banquet s amp Ca ter ing Ava i l ab le

New Summer Hours

C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

Town

Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

Open Saturdays10am - 2pm

891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

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bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Eliminate Blisters and Nerve Pain for Shingle Patients

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

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For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

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Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

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Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

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310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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Bringing Two Communities Togetherby Councilman Joe Buscaino

In last monthrsquos issue of San Pedro Today my fellow columnist Steve Marconi disappointed me and many others in our community with insensitive comments concerning Wilmington and San Pedro while attempting to make a point about the politics of the Portrsquos investment in our neighborhoods

He wrote ldquoIrsquom sure most San Pedrans think that spending money on the Wilmington waterfront is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig that any monies would be much better spent

here but doing the right thing economically is often just too impoliticrdquoBesides making a huge non-scientific assumption about how ldquomost San Pedransrdquo

think Marconis statement serves as a divisive element between two communities that should be working together towards the common goal of economic development and raising the value and potential of their neighborhoods

Marconi failed in his attempt to illustrate the fact that the Port of Los Angeles does not only belong to San Pedro but the entire City of Los Angeles

While I am a very proud to have been born and raised in San Pedro my job and my conscience requires me to be fair in how I treat all of the communities and residents that I represent

Wilmington is home to everybody that lives there just like San Pedro is home to its residents Wilmington residents have just as much pride in their community as San Pedro residents do toward their community So when they take offense I take offense

Residents of Wilmington live with the impacts of the largest cargo port in the United States and one of the largest ports in the world It is my moral duty to work to improve the health quality of life aesthetics and physical environment of all the Harbor community neighborhoods ndash especially Wilmington

Wilmington and San Pedro share so much We share the impacts of the Port we share the economy of the Port we share co-workers and friends we share geography and we share culture

It is time that we stop with the turf war mentality and start working collaboratively for the common good of our communities and share in the rewards of our labor

My favorite example of the coming together of our two communities is Hojas Tea House Opened in Wilmington on Avalon Blvd by residents Alma and Nacho Ortiz the popular gathering spot has expanded to 6th Street in San Pedro and has served as a bridge between the two communities

While Marconi is busy mischaracterizing ldquoSan Pedrorsquos schizoid personalityrdquo our town is evolving growing and improving

For example the deal to redevelop Ports Orsquo Call Village is as good as signed we will upgrade and improve the Rancho San Pedro public housing development California Marymount University is looking to expand and the AltaSea project will bring in a new workforce

In Wilmington we are reimagining Avalon Blvd and will build a new Wilmington Waterfront

There are so many positive things happening during the next decade that will benefit entire generations of residents living in the Harbor Area

While some can only see the negatives in our communities I have dedicated my lifersquos work to building a better and more positive future for San Pedro Wilmington and all of the communities that I represent spt

VOICES

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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AY I 31

From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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On Friday and Saturday nights back in 1989 a 5-year-old scampers across the bustling kitchen of his familyrsquos restaurant getting more butter garlic and lemon juice for the chef and his staff The kidrsquos pace matches that of the hectic energy of the kitchen as the restaurant caters to yet another full house of regulars and new visitors who have turned up for the renowned Italian-American fare

The kid with his baseball cap and rubicund cheeks looks up at his father a somewhat imposing man with an authoritative chopper mustache barking orders at the line watching carefully as each dish is prepared Itrsquos not long before the kid about only eye level to the prep counter learns to anticipate what each cook down the line needs and gets it for them with speed and accuracy of which his father would be proud

That kid is now 31-year-old Dustin Trani executive chef at J Tranirsquos on W 9th Street who with his father and restaurant owner Jim Trani celebrate the Tranisrsquo family restaurant legacy with its 90th anniversary this month

From the 1930rsquos Majestic Cafeacute days helmed by Dustinrsquos great-grandfather Filippo to the currently popular J Tranirsquos fit for casual dining and special occasions the Tranisrsquo restaurants are no less than an institution in the San Pedro community Dustin notes two of the biggest factors behind how J Tranirsquos has thrived ndash the

menursquos growth and evolution which customers have really taken to as well as the staffrsquos service

ldquoMy fatherrsquos grandfatherrsquos and great-grandfatherrsquos passion dedication and involvement in the community have led to such a stable structure which has allowed us to try different things and not worry about losing our whole clientelehellip theyrsquove allowed the room to be forgiving whether something works or doesnrsquot work In the last 10 years we have revamped our menu and luckily the community has responded positively In turn we have been offering fare thatrsquos become more sophisticated and we make sure our staffrsquos service and knowledge on food and wine are top-notchrdquo says the young executive chef

The Tranis are getting ready to be the host and toast of the town for their 90th anniversary celebration throughout the month of August which will include special menu items both from the Majestic Cafeacute and early J Tranirsquos days Dustin chuckled at the fact that for a long time nobody in the family knew the exact date of the anniversary

ldquo[At first] we didnrsquot know what date Majestic Cafeacute actually opened so we just decided to do the celebration in August because thatrsquos when the Majestic Picnic was usually heldrdquo explains Dustin ldquoBut a couple weeks ago (in June) my family and I were digging through old anniversary glasses that were giveaways for past celebrations and some of the ones I came across were engraved with lsquoI was there for Tranirsquos 50th Anniversary est May 16 1925rsquo So it was pretty funny that these glasses and our anniversary date have been sitting under our noses for the past 30-40 yearsrdquo

As the family business withstood the test of time and customersrsquo tastes the patronage has evolved as well along with the menu and atmosphere The Majestic Cafeacute in the 1930s saw patriarch Filippo Trani at the counter palling around with blue collar workers as well as heavy hitters such as gangster Mickey Cohen of the Jewish mafia and Freddie the Leg Breaker (aka Freddie the Hat) who collected debts around San Pedro These characters have given

by Roseanney Liu

The Trani family celebrates90 years of serving San Pedro

The Trani family Dustin Viki Jessica and Jim (not pictured Jim [III]) (photo John Mattera)

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

Featured Itinerary Cruise the Panama Canal

Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

Neilrsquosp a s t a amp s e a f o o d G r i l l

s i n c e 1 9 9 8

383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

310 548 3495Banquet s amp Ca ter ing Ava i l ab le

New Summer Hours

C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

Town

Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

Open Saturdays10am - 2pm

891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE

on allVitamins

wwwcooverpharmacycomTel (310) 833-2400Fax (310) 832-2531

Ying Lee-Hoffman LAc OMD20+ Years Experience

ILWU PPO Insurance Plan Accepted

bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Feel Better Now

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Eliminate Blisters and Nerve Pain for Shingle Patients

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

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Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

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Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

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Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

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We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

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Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

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San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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J Tranirsquos History (clockwise from top left) 1) The current J Tranirsquos Ristorante located on 9th St 2) The original Majestic Cafeacute on 7th St circa 1955 established in 19253) A stein commemorating the Majestic Cafeacutersquos 60th anniversary in 1985 4) The Trani family (Phil John Jack Louie and patriarch Fillippo) at the ldquonewrdquo Tranirsquos Majestic circa 19705) The construction of the iconic rounded bar and dining room of the current J Tranirsquos Ristorante circa 19896) A scene from the original Majestic Cafeacute Included behind the counter on the right are Papa Felipe Jim Trani Phil Trani and Jack Trani (in doorway) circa Decem-ber1963 (photos courtesy Trani family)

AU

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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

Featured Itinerary Cruise the Panama Canal

Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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s i n c e 1 9 9 8

383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

310 548 3495Banquet s amp Ca ter ing Ava i l ab le

New Summer Hours

C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

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GU

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

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Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

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891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

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on allVitamins

wwwcooverpharmacycomTel (310) 833-2400Fax (310) 832-2531

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bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

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Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

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Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

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Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
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吀栀攀 一攀眀 吀愀猀琀攀 漀昀 匀愀渀 倀攀搀爀漀 椀猀 䄀甀最甀猀琀 猀琀 

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀 爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀氀椀瀀䄀琀 䌀爀愀昀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 

倀漀爀琀 漀昀 䰀漀猀 䄀渀最攀氀攀猀

Dear Valued CTS Clients

Please be advised we have moved locationsOur new address is

Cassis Travel Services Inc1447 West 7th Street

San Pedro Calif 90732

Our phone number remains the same (310) 831-1123

Thank you and we hope to see you soon

~ Cassis Travel Services Staff ~

To reserve your stateroom please call your Cassis agent at Cassis Travel Services (310) 831-1123

CST 1014633

Featured Itinerary Cruise the Panama Canal

Fares are per person non-air cruise-only based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom Taxes Fees amp Port Expenses of up to $390 per person are additional and are subject to change Ships registry Bermuda

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

Neilrsquosp a s t a amp s e a f o o d G r i l l

s i n c e 1 9 9 8

383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

310 548 3495Banquet s amp Ca ter ing Ava i l ab le

New Summer Hours

C losed Sundays thru Sept 6

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

Town

Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

Open Saturdays10am - 2pm

891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

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on allVitamins

wwwcooverpharmacycomTel (310) 833-2400Fax (310) 832-2531

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bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Eliminate Blisters and Nerve Pain for Shingle Patients

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

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HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

milestone window cleaning

Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

with 10 years of experience

wwwmilestonewindowcleaningnet

We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

Cleaning the World One Window at a Time

Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

Weymouth Corners815 S Averill Ave

San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

FINALLY GET YOUR TRUST DONE THEN HAVE SOME FUN

WILLS ~ ESTATES TRUSTS ~ PROBATE

Still need a Will or Trustor

Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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Shop LocalTo advertise contact (424) 224-9063 adssanpedrotodaycom wwwsanpedrotodaycom

way to more diverse patrons who loved seeing the entertaining maicirctre drsquo Joe Zitko who brightened the dining room for 13 years and whose engaging personality was bigger than this town

Today customers could find Dustin and his father Jim in the kitchen working alongside the chefs to make sure all dishes come out meeting or exceeding expectations while Dustinrsquos mom Viki manages the books His sister Jessica works as a server and brother Jim (III) oversees the wine and spirit offerings at the restaurant Itrsquos truly a family affair

ldquoI think we have more of a younger more eclectic crowd [compared to a generation or two ago]rdquo says Viki ldquoEverything was more open with Jimrsquos dad and his brothers With our generation itrsquos more about the business itrsquos gotten to focus more on the food and the servicerdquo

Jim agrees ldquoWe are mostly in the kitchen not in the dining room interacting with the customers the way my dad (Jim Sr) and grandfather (Filippo) used to We have regular customers that come in sit in their favorite table and they tell us lsquoWe donrsquot tell anybody about your restaurant because we donrsquot want to give up our tablersquo rdquo

So what has kept the J Tranirsquos fanbase loyal and coming back besides the dependably delectable food and the Tranisrsquo support of the local community Viki says that a lot of patrons see the restaurant not unlike Cheers where they come in and see people they know at a nearby table ldquoOur servers for the most part stay too so customers like seeing the consistency in the serving staffrdquo

Jim adds proudly ldquoThe quality of our food has improved too we make great foodrdquo The chicken liver plate of the Majestic Cafeacute days has given way to short rib rigatoni the steamed clams of the Majestic on Sixth Street have been replaced by the popular swordfish entreacutee

Unlike many of San Pedrorsquos mom and pop businesses who have yet to catch up with technology Dustin is no stranger to utilizing social media to help promote the restaurant and to monitor the instant feedback this technology now offers Hersquoll post photos of his culinary creations and behind-the-scenes peeks from the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram and hersquoll engage with customers on both J Tranirsquos behalf and that of the Beverly Hills-based restaurant Doma where hersquos the executive chef

ldquoI love using social media for J Tranirsquos as I get to interact directly with our customersrdquo says Dustin ldquoEven when Irsquom not physically there certain nights in San Pedro I love learning from Facebook that customers had a great time at J Tranirsquos which tells me the chefs the general manager and floor managers do an amazing job in maintaining excellent standardsrdquo

Dustin also notes the unique element of chef dersquocuisines photographing themselves and posting on social media at work The fact that customers consistently leave J Tranirsquos happy even when the executive chef isnrsquot there spells promotional opportunities for

the chefs coming up the ladder at the restaurant as the family plans on expanding into possibly two other restaurant locations

ldquoTherersquos always room for improvement [for J Tranirsquos] but wersquore definitely thinking about expandingrdquo reveals Dustin ldquoTherersquos the idea of having a beach city-based modern new style fine dining spot with a pizza oven and best of the best seafood The other concept is to open a cafeacute based in San Pedro like an osteria something more casual where people can just walk in grab a plate of calamari listen to live music and just totally kickbackrdquo

In the meantime therersquos no reason to wait to get a taste of the delicious fare that the Tranis offer Throughout the month of August the restaurant will offer one special menu featuring the favorite dishes from each Trani restaurant and era -- from Majestic Cafeacute circa 1925-1978 to Tranirsquos Majestic 1978-1989 to now J Tranirsquos 1990-present spt

J Tranirsquos Ristorante is located at 584 W 9th St San Pedro (310) 832-1220 For more info visit wwwjtranicom

The Trani grandchildren (Jessica Jim [III] and Dustin) with their late grandfather Vincent ldquoJimrdquo Trani who passed away in March 2013 (photo courtesy Trani family)

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

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15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

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bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Eliminate Blisters and Nerve Pain for Shingle Patients

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

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Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

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For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

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Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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Honest and Fair PricesGuaranteed work

Hablamos Espantildeol

Its Time toSave Money

526 W 5th Street San Pedro CA 90731

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5

For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

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assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5

5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

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310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

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AU

GU

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

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State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

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For the first time in the history of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) an African-American ballerina has taken the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House as balletrsquos most epic role of OdetteOdile in Tchaikovskyrsquos ldquoSwan Lakerdquo ndash and it was none other than the talented Misty Copeland

Copeland who graduated from San Pedro High School in 2000 and is a product of the San Pedro City Ballet has made quite the impression in the world of ballet as she not only landed the double role of OdetteOdile in ldquoSwan Lakerdquo in late June but was also named a principal dancer for ABT on June 30 ndash a first for any African-American woman in the 75-year history of the theatre

According to the New York Times Copelandrsquos leading roles with ABT this past year has drawn large diverse enthusiastic crowds to cheer her on at the Met the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the David H Koch Theater at Lincoln Center which have all lead to the all-too-familiar questions about why female African-American dancers remain so underrepresented at top ballet companies in the 21st century

ldquoI had my moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit because I didnrsquot know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this levelrdquo Copeland said at a news conference at the Met the day of her promotion ldquoAt the same time it made me so hungry to push through to carry the next generation So itrsquos not me up here - and Irsquom constantly saying that - itrsquos everyone that came before me that got me to this positionrdquo

American Ballet Theatre one of the countryrsquos most prestigious ballet companies known for its international roster of dancers and staging of full-length classical story ballets has begun taking strides towards increasing the diversity in classical ballet but there is a long way to go The lack of African-American women in top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors including the lasting affects of discrimination and stereotypical concepts as well as the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities

ldquoWhat [Copeland] has come to represent is so important in the dance world and in the ballet world in particularrdquo said Jennifer Homans director of the Center for Ballet and Arts at New York University to the New York Times ldquoI think itrsquos about time But I donrsquot think itrsquos enoughrdquo

To be promoted to a principal dancer means that a dancer is of the highest rank within a professional ballet dance company According to the New York Times principals not only earn the respect of the dance world but are also paid more dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs as well as their names in larger type Copland seemed to be on the verge of a promotion in 2012 following a breakthrough performance in the title role of Stravinskyrsquos ldquoThe Firebirdrdquo but was sidelined due to an injury

While Copeland has made a name for herself on stage she has also established herself outside traditional dance circles by publishing two books - her memoir Life in Motion An Unlikely Ballerina and Firebird an illustrated childrenrsquos book - making numerous public appearances and taking part in various ad campaigns including the ldquoI Will What I Wantrdquo campaign for Under Armour

The fitness brand has been promoting its Armour High Bra which is designed for high-impact activities such as running kickboxing etc and Copeland is just one of a handful of female athletes being featured in the campaign

ldquoWoven into the Armour Bra product launch is a deeper goal of connecting with women at all levels of sport and all stages of their lives and changing the way they think and talk about sports brasrdquo said Adrienne Lofton senior vice president of brand marketing for Under Armour in a statement

Copeland was also featured in an online ad for Under Armour which has received more than 8 million views and shows Copeland moving flawlessly across a stage while a young girl reads a rejection letter Copeland received at the age of 13

It was at the age of 13 that Copeland began participating in free afterschool ballet classes at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club which is about eight years after those that typically become professional dancers get their start Three months later - and after being discovered by Cindy Bradley artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet - Copeland was coined a child prodigy And after only four years of training Copeland joined ABTrsquos Studio Company and hasnrsquot stopped trailblazing since

Just as the world of ballet has recognized Copeland for her accomplishments the very city in which she fell in love with ballet wants to do the same as well with Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino proposing to rename the intersection at 13th Street and Pacific Avenue - the intersection of the San Pedro Ballet School - as Misty Copeland Square

ldquoIt is truly an honor for both Misty and the San Pedro City Ballet to have 13th and Pacific be named Misty Copeland Squarerdquo Bradley told the Daily Breeze ldquoMisty is such an inspiration to so many people as a role model for hard work and perseverancehellip Misty Copeland Square will be the site where young people for generations to come aspire to new heights to make their dreams come truerdquo

According to Chief of Staff Jenny Chavez Buscainorsquos motion will most likely go before the cityrsquos Public Works Committee in September with the square projected to be dedicated by the end of the year

But before Copeland can come home to unveil the square she will be taking the stage in her Broadway debut in ldquoOn The Townrdquo joining the cast of the musical revival from August 25 to September 6 According to Variety Copeland will star as beauty pageant winner Ivy Smith one of the women who steals the hearts of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City

ldquoWe are so thrilled to have Misty joining us at this momentous time in her careerrdquo said producer Howard Kagan to Variety ldquo lsquoOn the Townrsquo has a long history of progressive diverse casting which began with the creative teamrsquos casting of Japanese-American dancer Sono Osato as lsquoIvy Smithrsquo in the original 1944 productionhellip so it seems fitting that this incredible talent who has broken through barriers in the dance world will make her Broadway debut in this showrdquo

Copeland will also be coming to Southern California this December when ABT brings ldquoThe Nutcrackerrdquo to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa spt

From ldquoSwan Lakerdquo to principal promotion with the American Ballet Theatre to Broadway San Pedrorsquos premiere ballerina is having an epic summer

Misty Copelandrsquos Milestone Month

by Brooke Karli

Summer-Lite

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383 W 5 th S t ree t San Pedrowwwne i l spas ta com

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PEDRO

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AY I 27

COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

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bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

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Eliminate Blisters and Nerve Pain for Shingle Patients

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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COOVER PHARMACYSINCE 1922

bull FREE Deliverybull Quick amp Friendly

Servicebull Lowest Prices in

Town

Mon - Fri9am - 630pm

Open Saturdays10am - 2pm

891 W 9th Street(corner of 9th amp Meyler)San Pedro 90731

15 OFF on all over the Counter Products with this coupon

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE

on allVitamins

wwwcooverpharmacycomTel (310) 833-2400Fax (310) 832-2531

Ying Lee-Hoffman LAc OMD20+ Years Experience

ILWU PPO Insurance Plan Accepted

bull Shingle patients can have spreading red blisters and suffer very sharp and deep burning pain due to the infection of nerves bull Even after recovering from the blisters with medicine some patients suffer nerve ending pain foreverbull Normally with acupuncture treatments and some Chinese Herbal remedies most discomforts can get a lot of relief within days and also increase the patientrsquos immunity system

836 A W 9th St San Pedro | 310-832-5722 ILWU PPO is welcome | Most insurance plans accepted

wwwharboracupuncturecom

Feel Better Now

Ying Lee-Hoffman LAc OMD

Eliminate Blisters and Nerve Pain for Shingle Patients

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5

Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

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Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

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(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

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Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

milestone window cleaning

Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

with 10 years of experience

wwwmilestonewindowcleaningnet

We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

Cleaning the World One Window at a Time

Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

Weymouth Corners815 S Averill Ave

San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

FINALLY GET YOUR TRUST DONE THEN HAVE SOME FUN

WILLS ~ ESTATES TRUSTS ~ PROBATE

Still need a Will or Trustor

Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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Last month enthusiastic crowds gathered at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to hear promising young talent perform original compositions at the 2015 US National Junior Original Concert (JOC) Sponsored by the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) the annual concert enables exceptional young musicians and composers the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience Among the brilliant talent a bright-eyed smiling Japanese girl was the youngest student in the United States selected to perform

Nina Watanabe a 7-year old pianist and first-generation American chose to perform her three-and-a-half-minute original composition titled ldquoWings Suiterdquo Inspired by her love of the outdoors and translating it to the piano indoors the composition was based on three types of her favorite creatures the chicken bat and penguin Although she focused on winged animals Nina says her favorite animal is a platypus ldquoI find them very mysteriousrdquo says Nina Notwithstanding her passion for wildlife nature was not her only muse

Nina has always been drawn to harmony As an infant she would listen to her motherrsquos hands create ivory melodies in the living room of their San Pedro one-bedroom apartment Naoko Watanabe a native of Ibaraki Japan is a lifelong musician who recently received her Masterrsquos Degree in KeyboardPiano from Cal State Northridge

ldquoI came to the United States to study Jazz and Classical musicrdquo Watanabe said while sitting next to Nina at her Steinway-Essex Grand piano ldquoI met my husband shortly after arriving here I was looking to buy a piano and he was selling onerdquo Watanabe fondly recalls meeting Ninarsquos father Toshio Watanabe ldquoWe didnrsquot have any other family here but we had musicrdquo

Nina began playing the family piano at the early age of three Starting her at the piano early was critical for her development Watanabe explains ldquoParents are the keyword to success but learning pitch early is importantrdquo

During the ages of 2-6 a childrsquos brain can recognize pitches however after the age of 7 it becomes very difficult for them to differentiate between low and high pitches As a member of the Music Teacherrsquos Association of California Watanabe currently has over 20 students including Nina ldquoI am not her main teacher because being lsquomomrsquo and lsquoteacherrsquo is hard but I do give her daily 20-minute coaching sessions and ensure she practicesrdquo Watanabe says while laughing

Nina normally practices on the family-room upright Kawai piano but sometimes uses the Essex for special training ldquoThe sound is a little more spiritual and effectiverdquo Watanabe demonstrates while pressing on the black keys to create a rich and powerful sustained tone ldquoIt is the design which makes the notes more responsiblerdquo Watanabe says while motioning to the vibrating spruce soundboard ldquoThere are pianos for education and pianos for performancerdquo

ldquoI normally just play on the other pianordquo Nina chimes in ldquoMy mom signed me up and I didnrsquot even knowrdquo she continues giggling when asked about performing on stage ldquoThat was the first time I have played a piano all by myself at a concertrdquo

Watanabe admits that she signed up Nina without her knowledge but was confident in her ability to perform an original composition ldquoShe likes making her own compositions because itrsquos less stressfulrdquo says Watanabe ldquoShe declared that she wanted to be a scientist because she really loved animals so I asked her lsquowhy donrsquot you make music after the movement of penguins and birdsrsquo rdquo

Musically expressing the movement of birds gliding through the air or penguins sliding on ice Nina says ldquoI imagine what they sound like when theyrsquore flyingrdquo Too young to read music completely Nina uses memory and auditory skills in her creative process She experiments with different techniques such as glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) and crescendo (a gradual steady increase in loudness or force) when composing to include more excitable sounds Though admitting to liking Beethoven and Stravinsky Nina rejects traditional styles enjoying more contemporary harmonies with crispy staccato (each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others) rhythms ldquoI like to put surprises in my music you knowhellip that pizazzrdquo says Nina Sitting on the piano bench Nina demonstrates a few chords ldquoYou could do whatever you want because itrsquos your songrdquo

Entering the third grade in the fall Nina says her favorite subject is math Watanabe grins and adds ldquoThatrsquos because when I was pregnant with her I was taking Algebra Irsquom pretty sure thatrsquos why she loves itrdquo

While she still wants to compose original music Nina says she wants to be an explorer when she grows up to see exotic animals in Africa or discover new animals in the rainforests of South America As she starts the new school year she looks forward to learning multiplication and division and taking more long rides in her fatherrsquos car while wishing for her future pet platypus spt

A 7-year oldrsquos exploration of nature through music

Pianos amp a Platypus

by Monica Simpson

San Pedro pianist Nina Watanabe 7 performs her original composition ldquoWings Suiterdquo at the 2015 Yamaha National Junior Original Concert on June 28 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center (photo courtesy Yamaha)

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

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HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

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(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

milestone window cleaning

Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

with 10 years of experience

wwwmilestonewindowcleaningnet

We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

Cleaning the World One Window at a Time

Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

Weymouth Corners815 S Averill Ave

San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

FINALLY GET YOUR TRUST DONE THEN HAVE SOME FUN

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Still need a Will or Trustor

Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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GU

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AY I 33

Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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MOKLER

A r c h i t e c t s

PO Box 14San Pedro CA 90733wwwmokarccom CA Lic C-31169Petersquos cell 818-317-2337petemokarccom

2014Descanso Canyon Zipline Expansion

Avalon CA

WE DO BUILDINGS TOO

Terms conditions and fees for accounts products and services are subject to change This is not a commitment to lend All loans are subject to credit and property approval Certain restrictions may apply on all programs1 Citibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance program provides a limited credit towards nonrecurring closing costs The program is available only in Citibank

assessment areas and is subject to geographic income property and product restrictions The program may not be used in conjunction with any other Citibank closing cost promotion or credit2 HomeRun is available only in Citibank assessment areas for loans on the primary residence of borrowers who qualify and is subject to

geographic income property and other restrictionscopy 2015 Citibank NA Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC NMLS 412915 Citi Citibank and Citi with Arc Design Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc

We make homeownershipdreams come trueCitibankrsquos Closing Cost Assistance Program1

n Up to $3000 in Closing Cost Assistance available to qualified homebuyers n No repayment required

HomeRun2 Program n No mortgage insurance n Competitive interest rate n As little as 3 down payment for eligible borrowers

For more information please contact

Melissa DuffeyHome Lending Officer562-221-7622melissaduffeyciticomNMLS 726224

In Downtown San Pedro425 S Pacific AveHours M-F 8a-5p (310) 832-5368

Benjamin MooreUltra Spec

(100 Acrylic)

Interior Flat $2948Eggshell $3489Exterior Flat $3149Satin $3597

Convenient Parking | Where the Contractors Shop

Korsquos Wellness1931 N Gaffey St San Pedro(310) 832-1424wwwkoswellnesscom

Most pain is cured within three treatments

Other Specialties include Pain Infectious Diseases Anxiety Weight Loss Diabetes Neuropathy Fibromyalgia RA Lupus CRPS Depression Acne Chronic Sinusitis Heart Burn Hot Flashes Chronic Fatigue Plantar Fascia Male Stamina Parkinsonrsquos Disease ALS

STOP PAIN ampGAIN MORE ENERGY

Thai Massage$20 for 30 min

Wed and Thurs OnlyCall for details

Exp 83115

milestone window cleaning

Milestone represents a San Pedro family-owned business licensed and professional

with 10 years of experience

wwwmilestonewindowcleaningnet

We offer the followingbull Mirror Cleaningbull Screen Cleaningbull Track Cleaningbull Paint Removalbull Grafitti Removal (windows only)

Cleaning the World One Window at a Time

Call or text (310) 999-9289 for a free estimate

Weymouth Corners815 S Averill Ave

San Pedro CA 90732 bull 3107848867wwwraymondgreenlawofficecom

FINALLY GET YOUR TRUST DONE THEN HAVE SOME FUN

WILLS ~ ESTATES TRUSTS ~ PROBATE

Still need a Will or Trustor

Is your Will or Trust still current

We offer a Free 30 minute consultationCall (310) 784-8867 for an appointment

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5

Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

PEDRO

TOD

AY I 33

Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

34

I S

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PED

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I A

UG

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

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Twenty-one-year-old Jessica works 40-50 hours a week at the San Pedro Fish Market supporting herself and her six-month old baby boy She makes $11 per hour well over the state minimum of $9 per hour Knowing that the raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020 would be great for some she also notes that it might seem unreasonable to others

ldquoMy boyfriend Gustavo is a dental assistant and he makes more [than what I make] but he feels that itrsquos unfair for some [in the service industry] to make that much and close to what he makes when they havenrsquot gone to school [for their jobs] like he hasrdquo says Jessica

Affecting businesses and employees alike this aspect ndash that of fairness ndash is but one of many that the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Commission need to examine closely as they address complaints against the law Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed on June 13 that would set the minimum wage at $15 per hour in the City of Los Angeles by 2020 Calling it a ldquomajor victoryrdquo Garcetti and other proponents believe the wage increase will lift many working families out of poverty

ldquoPoverty is bad for businessrdquo says Jeff Millman spokesperson for the Mayorrsquos office ldquoRight now the decline in middle and working class wages is actually holding back our cityrsquos recovery The minimum wage ordinance has been carefully crafted and reviewed by leading economists and researchers at UC Berkeley who found it would not hurt employment or the economyrdquo

The law boosts the minimum wage to $10 in July 2016 followed by annual increases to $12 $1325 $1425 and $15 Small businesses and certain nonprofits will get an extra year to implement the increases

According to BallotPedia the new law backed by the Los Angeles Workers Assembly means ldquofor small businesses and nonprofits the jump to $15 would have to be made by January 1 2017hellip The ordinance would require that the minimum wage be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles Another key provision would establish that tips and service charges would not be counted toward the minimum wage requirement but would be in addition to the minimum wagerdquo

However San Pedrorsquos Chamber of Commerce has gone on record opposing this law before it was passed in June with PresidentCEO Elise Swanson stating that the Berkeley study actually showed it would lead to a job reduction in Los Angeles due to the wage increase particularly hurting the restaurant and apparel industries

Employees also know that the wage raise does not paint an entirely rosy picture for all Manuel 20 who helps supports his familyrsquos expenses has been working at the crab tank at the San Pedro Fish Market for five years and realizes that staff reduction is inevitable for some businesses as employers cannot afford to pay everyone the increased rate Mike Ungaro COO and Director of Marketing for the Fish Market is optimistic that his business would stay clear of any staff layoffs in light of the initiative being passed

ldquoWe are in a unique situation because of the volume we do and our offer is more around entertainment than a typical restaurant so wersquoll probably be ok without reducing staff We are too busy for that unless our visitors decided the prices are too high and stop comingrdquo says Ungaro whose employees are currently paid at higher than the current minimum wage ldquoWe definitely reduced turnover by hiring people who needed a job to support their families instead of kids who were just looking for [a job to provide] spending money Itrsquos the teenagers who get hurt the worstrdquo

Not all businesses share Ungarorsquos optimism though For the staff of 54 at Big Nickrsquos Pizza general manager John Bagakis foresees that 25 employees will be affected by the

minimum wage lawldquoIf I didnrsquot make any adjustment in

my staff itrsquos a 40 increase in payroll which is a lot The long-term effect is that we may have to downsizerdquo says John Bagakis ldquoIf we project things to be normal maybe 10-15 people may have to be let go once the new minimum wage kicks inrdquo

One wonders how staff layoffs figure in the minimum wage lawrsquos impetus to get Angelenos out of poverty and how these would shift the Mayorrsquos touted 3 drop in unemployment rate since coming into office in July 2013 In a letter addressed to Councilman Joe Buscaino on March 24 Swanson on behalf of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce noted several predicted setbacks to the city due to the wage increase not limited to staff reductions in the nonprofit sector impact on youth employment and ldquomom and poprdquo small businesses

Feedback from employees has been quiet ldquoWe have some high school and college kids who [usually] get onto bigger and better things but they may feel the brunt of the layoff as much as someone who needs to support a family if they need a jobrdquo says Bagakis

Charitable organizations local schools and boy and girl scout clubs that solicit from small businesses might also bear the short end of the stick when employers need to cut back on costs ldquoWe donate food or gift cards or support local little league teams and schools all the time This wage law will make it a lot harder for us to pay the higher wages and support the local stuff [charities and sponsoring team sports]rdquo adds Bagakis

Both Bagakis and 24-year-old server Kimmy who works at San Pedro Brewing Company note that certain retail and food service jobs should not be turned into a career which essentially is what it will come down to with waitstaff making $15 per hour and no exemption ceiling for tipping They also point out another issue regarding fairness in wages

ldquoIrsquove been working here for five years and many people in the kitchen have been here a lot longer When therersquos [junior] waitstaff making $15 per hour what are those with more seniority going to earn [to make it fair] How will employers afford thatrdquo asks Kimmy a question thatrsquos been brewing on many business ownersrsquo minds Itrsquos an issue the Chamber hopes the Mayor and the City Council can lead the way on with legislation that would consider total wage compensation (eg health care pension and other benefits) for tipped employees spt

With a $15 per hour hike looming local businesses are needing to adjust for the future

How Will the Minimum Wage Hike Affect San Pedro

by Roseanney Liu

History of California Minimum WageSource CA Dept of Industrial Relations

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From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

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5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

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Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

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Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

PEDRO

TOD

AY I 31

From the moment Danny and Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez met they knew they had found something special It was 2007 Brittney was working as a scorekeeper at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Danny was in one of the adult leagues she kept score for When their two groups of friends began to hang out together Danny and Brittney found that the timing wasnrsquot right as they were both in relationships with other people ldquoIt was just a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong timerdquo recalls Danny ldquoBut I just knew from the get go that Brittney was someone specialrdquo

It wasnrsquot until about a year later when the two became single again and began dating one another And for the two years following they dated on and off until the couple became ldquoofficialrdquo in June 2010 Brittney sums up their relationship as ldquonon-stop enjoyment for five yearsrdquo because Danny has the ldquobest personality in the worldrdquo and the relationship ldquofelt right in so many waysrdquo

The two went from boyfriend and girlfriend to engaged on May 19 2013 at Dannyrsquos birthday barbecue Prior to the event Danny had asked Brittney to invite a detailed list of friends and family to come celebrate with him And because they had plans to go to Disneyland the week after the barbecue ndash which is where Brittney thought Danny was going to propose ndash she didnrsquot think anything of the gathering The day arrived and while everyone was at the barbecue Brittney suggested that a group picture be taken After the photos were taken Danny began fidgeting with his board shorts and before Brittney knew it he was down on one knee amongst the three rows of friends and family Danny was so nervous that all he could say was ldquoWhat do you sayrdquo and Brittney was so shocked that all she could say was ldquoAre you seriousrdquo After the two got a grip on what was going on Brittney said yes and the remainder of the birthday barbecue turned into an engagement celebration

More than a year later on September 6 2014 Danny and Brittney became husband and wife in front of 300 guests at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates

Brittney walked down the aisle with her mom Kimberley Miller and during the ceremony Dannyrsquos cousin Michael Marquez read ldquoLoverdquo by Roy Croft Standing next to the bride were Maid of Honor Danielle Urrutia bridesmaids Sabrina Johnson April Quintana Kellen Chamberlin Christine Warren Gail Cigliano and Malisa Marquez and Junior Bridesmaid Skylar Marquez Next to the groom were Best Man Mark Karmelich and groomsmen Danny Luera Chris Nader Marc Vuoso Anthony Cigliano Eddie Sullivan Jeff Fiamengo and Nick Guglielmo

A funny thing happened prior to the ceremony While Danny was waiting for Brittney to come out and take the ldquofirst lookrdquo photos a bird flew overhead and pooped on him just as Brittney was turning the corner for the photos While the occurrence could have ruined the day both Danny and Brittney were able to laugh it off and Danny was able to get cleaned up in time for the ceremony In fact one of the photographers said that getting pooped on by a bird on your wedding day is a sign of good luck

The reception followed at The Double Tree Hotel in San Pedro and was very traditional in all aspects Danny and Brittney shared their first dance to Brad Paisleyrsquos ldquoFirst Dancerdquo while Brittney and her mom danced to Carrie Underwoodrsquos ldquoMamarsquos Songrdquo and Danny and his mom Cindy danced to The Shirellesrsquo ldquoMama Saidrdquo

ldquoWe just wanted to have funrdquo says Brittney ldquoWe wanted our guests to remember how fun and happy the day wasrdquo

The Tuesday after their wedding the newlyweds traveled to Cancun Mexico for a 10-day honeymoon

Currently Danny is a mechanic for PCMC at the docks and Brittney is an assistant cheer coach at Mary Star of the Sea High School and will be a substitute teacher for Palos Verdes Unified School District this upcoming school year They just purchased their first home in San Pedro and are hoping to start a family sometime within the next year spt

by Brooke Karli | photo by Kathryn Colby Photography

A Drop of Good LuckDanny amp Brittney (Castleberry) Marquez September 6 2014

WEDDING

32

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

PEDRO

TOD

AY I 33

Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

34

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

32

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

5 lsquoSuperfoodsrsquo You Might Already Have in Your Pantry or Fridge

Okay so the term ldquosuperfoodsrdquo is not exactly a scientific one Itrsquos more of a buzzword used to describe any food that packs a punch of nutrients or other potent health benefits You are probably already aware of well-known superfoods like blueberries salmon broccoli and kale for example and we know these are foods we should eat plentifully in our everyday diets

But there are so many other superfoods that can easily be incorporated in our daily nutrition plans Here are five of my favorites

1 Apple Cider Vinegar ndash This old folk remedy has become a superfood darling And for good reason with its potent antimicrobial probiotic and anti-inflammatory properties apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been found to improve digestion and support healthy immune function Some studies show that ACV may also help to lower blood sugar protect against cardiovascular disease and aid in weight loss I like to add a teaspoon of ACV (with a touch of raw honey) to my cup of tea every morning Just be sure to always use the organic raw unfilteredunpasteurized version and dilute it before consuming2 Turmeric ndash ldquoSuper spicerdquo turmeric seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately but itrsquos actually been used as a remedy for centuries due to its potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties In addition to playing a proven therapeutic role in Crohnrsquos and ulcerative colitis treatments itrsquos believed to help fight everything from Alzheimerrsquos and rheumatoid arthritis to cardiovascular disease and various forms of cancer A 2012 study showed that turmeric was actually more effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis than NSAID treatment and without the adverse side effects

I use ground turmeric in almost any kind of savory cooking I can think of (along with a touch of black pepper which allows turmeric to be more easily absorbed) and Irsquove even started to take capsule supplements Just be aware that turmeric works as a blood thinner so supplements should be cleared with your doctor if you are on any anticoagulants3 Coconut ndash With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties coconut has been used for healing and medicinal purposes for generations Its rich in fiber and other nutrients and its unique composition of medium-chain triglycerides has been shown to help support healthy weight management and protect against cardiovascular disease Coconut oil in particular has been praised as a superfood with an endless list of published studies showing it can help support everything from inflammatory conditions and immune function to neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos

I personally find coconut to be a dream food in addition to using coconut oil I enjoy baking and cooking with coconut flour and coconut milk which allow me healthy (and tolerable) alternatives to grains and dairy4 Cinnamon ndash Categorized as another ldquosuper spicerdquo cinnamon also has numerous health benefits and medicinal qualities In particular cinnamon has anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and some studies show that it may help regulate blood sugar lower cholesterol and even shows some promise in treating Parkinsonrsquos disease Because cinnamon is a naturally ldquosweetrdquo spice I love adding it to many of my homemade baked goods Of course itrsquos also enjoyed in many savory dishes or perhaps simply an added punch of flavor to any cup of coffee or tea Cinnamon should be consumed in moderate amounts and if you are on medication consult your doctor if you are considering taking it as a supplement5 Avocado ndash If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have access to one food it might have to be avocado Considered a healthy fat avocados have been shown to help improve cholesterol levels as well as regulate blood sugar and protect against certain types of cancer Avocado (which is actually a fruit) is among the most nutrient-dense foods high in magnesium potassium vitamin C vitamin B6 folate and fiber just to name a few Avocados are also rather satiating which can help aid in weight loss when eaten in conjunction with a healthy diet spt

You can follow Lori Garrett on her healthy lifestyle blog wwwadventuresofasickchickcom

by Lori Garrett

HEALTH amp WELLNESS

PRIORITYONEPRINTING COPYING GRAPHICS

350 W 5th Street San Pedro (Corner of 5th amp Mesa in the heart of downtown)

310-831-8804

wwwPriorityOnePrintingcom

Serving San Pedrorsquos business and education communities since 1979

Brochures bull Stationery bull Fliers bull Resumeacutes Business Cards bull Booklets bull Programs

Self-Serve amp High Volume CopyingFull ColorBlack amp White Digital Output

Receive Digital Files Online

Banners bull Posters bull Rubber Stamps

AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

PEDRO

TOD

AY I 33

Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

34

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

AU

GU

ST 2015 I SAN

PEDRO

TOD

AY I 33

Therersquos a story legendary coach John Wooden used to tell It started with a gas station attendant lets call him Bob who lived

in a small town somewhere in middle America Everyday he saw drivers come and go and occasionally hersquod strike up a conversation with one of them On one particular day he met a man in a mini-van hauling his whole family and belongings into town

The gentleman had recently moved there relocated by his company Curious about his new surroundings and neighbors he asked ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob

replied ldquoWell how did you find them in the town you came fromrdquoThe man furrows his brow and says something to the effect of ldquoI found them to be

uppity pretentious snobsrdquo Bob replied ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

The man not surprised hems and haws and drives offStrangely that same week another couple kids in tow pulls into the station and strikes

up a chat with Bob They also just moved here and inquired about the townsfolk ldquoHey Bob how are the people here What are they likerdquo Bob rubs his chin as if pondering his canned response ldquoWell how did you find them back in the town you came fromrdquo The couple replied ldquoWe found them to be quite pleasant welcoming and kindrdquo

With an imperceptible smirk Bob replies ldquoWell yoursquoll find them to be about that way here toordquo

I read that tale in Woodenrsquos book a while back and forgot about it until I was recently in a small town talking to a local there He found out I was from Southern California and mentioned he used to live there I asked him how he liked it

ldquoThe people were materialistic and fakehellipand the traffic was terriblerdquo he saidI was immediately reminded of the gas station parable Sure LA has fake people And

yes there are materialistic ones too Lots of them But LA is big enough to find and surround yourself with people who could care less about how much you paid for your purse or that theyrsquore sitting next to Ben Affleck at Nobu

We to a large extent get what we expect If we focus on all the negatives on all the obstacles and shortcomings wersquoll accomplish nothing but misery In terms of fitness people love to stand in front of the mirror and navel-gaze at all the things that are imperfect They canrsquot resist comparing their lot in life especially their bodies with those that have it better

What John Wooden was trying to drive home is something we all need to hear from time to time if you can learn to stop spending so much mental energy on why yoursquore not as skinny young strong or rich as the next guy and focus on doing the best you can with what yoursquove been given yoursquod accomplish a whole lot more and be happier too

One example comes to mind I recently ran into a friend in town at the coffee shop I was shocked when he walked in because he must have lost close to 30 lbs I told him he looked great Knowing he was holding two jobs and a side business I was wondering how he did it So I asked

ldquoI bike to workrdquo he said Thatrsquos it He rides 32 miles to Manhattan Beach EverydayHere you have someone whorsquos crazy busy and realized that making time for the gym

wasnrsquot practical But instead of complaining about it he found another way Irsquove heard from dozens of people who are too busy or canrsquot afford a gym membership to workout Well he took those lemons and made lemonade No more 405 traffic no more whining about gas prices

If yoursquore struggling to stay fit yoursquore probably coming up with a dozen reasons why that wouldnrsquot work Biking to work isnrsquot the point Itrsquos the attitude behind it Be resourceful Get creative Do everything you can where you are with what you have and find out where it takes you spt

For some sample workouts to help you get better email rickyheydaytrainingcom

HEALTH amp FITNESS

by Ricky Magana

Advice on Happiness

Serving the South Bay For Over 20 Years

$30O

MON- THURS 9-7PM bull FRIDAY 9-5PM

NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE

34

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

Sick of sending YOUR copies of San Pedro Today to out of town relatives Tired of having to drive into town to pick up a copy only to find the magazine racks empty

Let us do the work for you by joining our new subscription service

For just $2995 a year you can have San Pedro Today delivered right to your mailbox

Cost includes 12 issues of San Pedro Today mailed in a flat envelope so as not to bend or damage the magazine

Just cut out the subscription form fill it out and send it to us with a check or money order and yoursquore set

wwwsanpedrotodaycomDonrsquot miss an issue subscribe today

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

34

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

Name _______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

CityStateZip __________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________

Send to San Pedro Today PO Box 1168 San Pedro CA 90733Make checksmo for $2995 payable to San Pedro Today

This offer is for the Continental United States only Sorry no international orders

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1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

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201

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83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

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• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

1190 Nagoya Way San Pedro CA 90731 | (310) 832-4251 | wwwSanPedroFishcom

DID YOU KNOWIn over a half century since we started herersquos a short list of the accomplishments we are proud to share with our hometown

bull We are the largest fish marketrestaurant in Southern California and of one of the largest in the entire country with seating for nearly 3000 and more than ONE MIL-LION served in the last 12 months

bull We draw seafood lovers from all over the country from every walk of life and every demographic We have fans in at least 38 states

bull We co-host the Worldrsquos Largest Lobster Festival drawing tens of thousands of visi-tors to San Pedro every year since 1999 AND wersquove been awarded four Guinness World Records for our work on the Lobster Festival

bull We employ over 100 local residents with starting pay well above minimum wage while also offering healthcare 401k and paid vacations

bull For hundreds of local kids San Pedro Fish Market was their first job Many have come back to thank us for the invaluable lessons of hard work and responsibility that carried them into successful careers as doctors teachers nurses attorneys accountants longshoremen police officers POLA workers and even as an LA City Councilman

bull We support many local organizations in San Pedro including the YWCA Boys and Girls Club Mary Star Holy Trinity San Pedro High School POLA High School and dozens of other non-profits

bull We are moving to make San Pedro nationally synonymous with fine seafood by launching our World Famous Shrimp Trays into retail stores San Pedro Fish can be found in more than 800 grocery stores across six states and wersquore growing These include Safeway Food4Less Samrsquos Club as well as others

WINNER - 2015 San Pedro Restaurant of the YearWINNER - 2015 California Small Business of the Year

(Awarded by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and State Senator Isadore Hall III)

36

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu

36

I S

AN

PED

RO T

OD

AY

I A

UG

UST

201

5

83115 83115

TRUST THE EXPERT DR GIRI PALANI

State-of-the-Art Facilities Clean ultra-modern relaxing office The latest diagnostic amp imaging hardware and software Patient concierge numerous patient amenities amp friendly professional staff

Computer-guided surgery

Entire Procedure in One Office Dr Palani expertly performs every aspect of your procedure Unlike some offices you are not referred to 2 or 3 additional dentists andor appointments In most instances the patient can receive a fixed set of teeth the same day

The Best Equipment amp Material Dr Palani uses only the finest materials from start to finish you can be assured that we will use only the best materials both in office and in our Adanced Milling Center

Most Experienced Provider With more than a decade of experience Dr Palani has been credentialed by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists His experience in both Cosmetic amp Implant Dentistry is second-to-none Thousands of patients agree

Lowest Fees amp Highest Quality

Because Dr Palani and his staff have perfected the protocols has a full-service Dental Lab amp Milling Center and performs the entire procedure himself he can offer a higher quality product at the best price

TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE DR GIRI PALANI

• 001-010_spt_0815_issuu
• 011-020_spt_0815_issuu
• 021-030_spt_0815_issuu
• 031-036_spt_0815_issuu