Food businesses, which typically have smaller profit margins, have faced greater difficulties in recent years due to rising costs of ingredients, goods, and labor.
Troy’s Burgers California burger combo with fried zucchini. (photo: Sanam Lamborn)
Inevitably, the increased expenditures result in higher prices for customers who, in return, dine out less.
As someone who enjoys eating out and writes a food column, I have experienced this shift firsthand. I have noticed that menu prices have steadily risen everywhere. At some restaurants, the serving sizes have shrunk, and in some cases, so has the quality. In general, people have become choosier about how they spend their money because everyone is feeling the pinch of the higher cost of living.
Between higher overhead and decreased customer numbers, restaurants must find a type of equilibrium to generate enough profit to keep their doors open. This fragile balance is disrupted when unforeseen losses or expenditures are introduced by forces outside the proprietor’s control. Naturally, these circumstances feel more detrimental to small businesses.
This month, I’d like to tell you about a couple of businesses that have been victims of unfortunate circumstances and could use your patronage.
Earlier this summer, Troy’s Burgers (2017 S. Pacific Ave.) found itself all over local social media and the news because of a random act of violence that took place in their parking lot. Although the incident was unrelated to the business, it affected their foot traffic, as some customers worried about their safety.
On a recent visit, I ordered their California burger combo, which includes a soda and a generous pile of fries. My burger, which included bacon, avocado, and cheese, was not only visually appealing but also really delicious. The fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and seasoned and, dare I say, one of the best Pedro has to offer. Undoubtedly, they have the best fried zucchini I have had in town. Also, don’t snooze on the pickled hot peppers that are offered to you upon your food’s delivery to the table.
Overall, the establishment is very clean and inviting with efficient staff who diligently balance orders from the drive-through and from inside the restaurant. In fact, their service is prompt and friendly. Besides burgers, the menu features sandwiches, select Mexican items, salads, a few combination plates, and breakfast options. Troy’s Burgers is a great small business alternative to a national chain.
Turkey bacon melt from Rex’s Cafe. (photo: Sanam Lamborn)
In early August, a car crashed into the side of Rex’s Cafe (2136 S. Pacific Ave.) and the attached WC Cleaners & Laundry in an accident that happened in the intersection. The restaurant’s right façade, the cleaner’s whole front, and the internal shared wall between the two businesses were completely damaged. Both businesses were innocent bystanders in the wake of this collision, resulting in a disruption to their service. Rex’s Cafe initially lost the use of the dining spaces on the side affected by the damage. Obviously, there is revenue loss and the cost of quick repairs to make their business presentable and back to regular operation.
In the past, I have always opted for breakfast here. I usually gravitate towards their omelets. However, in a post-accident visit, I opted to try a lunch item. I was in the mood for a sandwich, and I chose the turkey bacon melt, as recommended by our server. My melt was made with sourdough bread and served with a generously sized crisp side salad. I also ordered a flavored latte, which is served in a huge ceramic mug. It was a very tasty meal that left me completely satisfied.
Despite the unfortunate setback, Rex’s Cafe is still a cozy and inviting neighborhood eatery with very friendly service. There is plenty to choose from on their menu for an enjoyable breakfast, brunch, or lunch. spt
National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually observed from September 15 to October 15 to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic culture on the nation’s achievements, culture, and history. Signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, the commemorative week was expanded to a month and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It is the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores (September 16, 1810), marking the start of the Mexican War of Independence.
There is immense joy in witnessing young people grow into their full potential. Harmony Vasquez is the daughter of two Hispanic artists—Cora Ramirez and Ray Vasquez—who I have had the honor of knowing since they moved here when Harmony was six years old.
Gallery Azul. (photo: Harmony Vasquez)
As you may already know, Gallery Azul offers opportunities for emerging and established artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. Cora and Ray believe that, as artists, they have the power and obligation to raise awareness and promote discussion and critical thinking about the various sociocultural issues affecting all of us.
Harmony has worked as an art installer and handler at the CSUN Art Galleries and, with their parents, at Gallery Azul. Their artistic journey is highlighted by several notable accomplishments, including receiving the Bob and Lynn Bassler Painting Scholarship, the Orndorff Scholarship, and the CSUN Dean’s Purchase Award. Harmony contributed to the murals on the back wall of Sirens Java & Tea. They recently received their Master of Arts from Cal State University Northridge and hold a Bachelor of Arts from the same institution.
Their work has been featured in several exhibitions, including The Power of Visibility: Boldness in LGBTQ+ Art at the Rod Briggs Gallery in Long Beach and the CSUN Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition at the CSUN Main Gallery in Northridge. Harmony’s paintings are deeply inspired by the vulnerabilities of transgender and nonbinary individuals, exploring themes of fantasy and the queer gaze.
Curious about their process, I asked Harmony the following questions:
Siren’s Plea (2024) by Harmony Vasquez.
You are the daughter of two artists. How did they encourage you to explore your gifts?
I grew up around the arts. At six years old, I remember our living room was converted into an art gallery, and I was surrounded by proud Chicano artists, queer artists, loud music, and artwork. Both of my parents are painters and makers, so there were always canvases and crafting supplies around the house for me to play with. I went to art museums and local art shows almost every weekend. Because of my parents, it was less about encouraging me to paint and more about exposing me to the arts and the effect that art has on people.
Your art is full of characters clad in armor. What does that mean to you?
To me, armor represents the ways in which transgender people have had to protect themselves both recently and historically. The historical significance of armor alludes to the presence queer people have had throughout history, acknowledged or not. Additionally, the cold, hard metal emphasizes the warmth and delicacy of the flesh exposed by my knights. It serves as a reminder, these characters in clad armor are human, and the trans people I paint are human.
Why is being an artist important to you?
It’s important to me because it allows me to explore ideas I care deeply about. Along with my parents and the goals of Gallery Azul, I believe as an artist I have a responsibility to use my art to uplift my community and educate others about the transgender experience. There is nothing more fulfilling than someone coming up to me and telling me that they feel seen in my paintings.
To see more of Harmony’s work, Gallery Azul (520 West 8th Street) will be hosting an artist’s reception on September 13, 12-5 p.m., or visit their website: harmonyazulart.com. spt
Have you ever found yourself watching home flipping or remodeling-to-sell shows and thought, “I could totally do this?” We sure have.
House flipping, while having the potential for considerable financial upside, has become more challenging in recent years due to fluctuating market conditions, increased cost of materials/labor, and challenges with securing available contractors that can meet your project deadlines. Success in the San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes real estate markets requires a level of diligence, local knowledge, and financial planning that goes far beyond a weekend DIY project.
In our coastal region, where median home prices can range from over $1 million in San Pedro to nearly $2 million in Rancho Palos Verdes, flipping isn’t just a minor home renovation project—it’s the management of a high-value, high-risk financial asset. This form of real estate investing can come with a serious monetary and time commitment. Whether you have had dreams of doing this with your own home, a property you have inherited, or an investment home that you are considering buying to flip, here are some recommended steps to success, especially in our local real estate market.
Research: Knowing the local real estate market is number one on the list. Being able to gather and analyze data on housing trends, recent sales activity, and pricing is where it begins.
Is the home in a “desirable neighborhood” and does it have upside potential? Can you acquire the house at an attractive price that will give you enough “room” to make the necessary improvements and resell the property at a reasonable profit?
In our evolving market, proper pricing is imperative, as the days of listing a home at any price and receiving multiple offers are somewhat behind us. We have transitioned into a more balanced market between seller and buyer over the last several years.
Financial Planning: Now that you have found a home, let’s talk numbers. Securing financing, understanding renovation costs and timelines, and creating a realistic budget are huge. We would even recommend giving yourself a pad, as there always seem to be unanticipated costs and repairs that will arise. There are also holding costs associated with owning a property that need to be considered, including monthly mortgage payments, utilities, property taxes, and landscaping, among others.
Efficient Renovations: Doing a home inspection before buying a home is highly recommended. Once this is complete and you are ready to close escrow, focus on improvements that offer the best return on investment, which is what we tend to see done most often: painting, flooring, lighting, finishes, kitchen and bathroom improvements, and landscaping. We also recommend hiring reputable, licensed contractors for any construction projects.
It’s all about completing your project within budget, meeting your renovation timelines, and selling quickly. This will minimize holding costs and hopefully allow you to capitalize on the market trends with a profitable home sale in our beautiful coastal region. spt
With both the Pirates and the Stars coming off milestone seasons, the 2025 campaign promises more fireworks under the lights.
San Pedro High School varsity football team players. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL San Pedro High football had a marvelous 2024 campaign, becoming the program’s 10th in history to reach a CIF-Los Angeles City Section championship game, finishing as Open Division runner-up after a spectacular 24-0 comeback to defeat Marine League foe Carson, 40-34 in an overtime thriller.
Last year also provided another program first: two victories in one season over Banning of Wilmington in the Battle of the Harbor, 34-33 in overtime at the Harbor Classic Marine League showdown at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and again, 37-36 in the CIF-LACS Open Division quarterfinals.
With several returning players coming back, including the 2024 Marine League and CIF-LACS Open Division Offensive Player of the Year in senior wide receiver Elias Redlew, the Pirates, who went 9-4 in 2024, are primed for another strong run for the upcoming 2025 season.
However, Redlew is just one of many from a solid senior class of returnees, which also features the likes of running backs Derrick Johnson, Dylan Ashford, and Darren Riingen, WR/DB Isaiyah Banks, and offensive linemen Quincy Couch and Nuriel Rodriguez.
The Marine League will be highly competitive as usual, with Carson and Banning both being among the top threats alongside San Pedro. Still, the Colts and Pilots, along with Gardena and Narbonne of Harbor City, will all enter 2025 with first-year head coaches, leaving the Pirates’ own Corey Walsh, who coached the 2022 San Pedro team to the league title, as the veteran coach of the league entering his fourth season.
“We’re excited about this group,” Walsh says. “Our program is built on trust, care, and a commitment to excellence, and this senior class has really embraced that. We return a strong core on offense, led by our star quarterback, who’s one of the best players in the city.”
That quarterback’s name is junior Seth Solorio.
Backing up three-year veteran Marcus Jeronymo a year ago after transferring from perennial power St. John Bosco, Solorio still saw quality time under center and flourished, going 13-for-19 for 187 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions, which also included throwing for a pair of touchdowns in the Open Division final against Narbonne (who later vacated the title months later).
Solorio will now be the main man behind an experienced and talented offensive line that also features juniors David Medina (All-City returner) and Joaquin Fernandez. Another talented junior will be on the flanks with Redlew and Banks in WR/DB Jaxon Brown, the speedster of the wideout core that also returned a kickoff for a touchdown last season.
San Pedro is in good hands in the special teams department with junior kicker Dylan Moreno, who really came into his own last year, garnering All-Marine League and All-City honors and now being rated as a four-star kicker.
Defensively, the Pirates will also be stingy, with senior linebackers K’Shawn Davis and Ty Contreras, along with Banks, Brown, Johnson, and junior WR/DB Braeden Villegas, another returning standout, manning the secondary.
In what will arguably be San Pedro’s most challenging nonleague schedule to date, the Pirates open against Torrance at Mike Walsh Pirate Stadium on Friday, August 22. That’s just the start of a slate that also features three long road trips against the CIF-Southern Section trio of Great Oak (Temecula), El Modena, and Laguna Beach, along with home games against Kennedy of Granada Hills and Bell, in battles against two defending league champions from the City Section.
“Our kids are tough, and they bring that grit to the field every day,” Walsh says. “We know the Marine League is always a battle, but we’re confident this group can compete for a championship.”
Mary Star of the Sea High School varsity football team players. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
MARY STAR OF THE SEA Mary Star High football brought it like none other before them in program history in 2024.
After several different offensive philosophies and coaches in the prior decade, the Stars’ air-raid attack shattered every single passing record the school had previously set, carrying the program to the brink of reaching its first CIF-Southern Section divisional championship game since its 1960 runner-up year.
Only one yard separated Mary Star, who went 10-3 in 2024, from battling for a section title when the Stars lost by a touchdown in overtime to eventual Division 12 champion Palmdale. Still, second-year head coach Tyler Sestich sees even more excitement to try to surpass last year as their 2025 season draws near.
“We’re much improved after last year’s run to the CIF semifinals,” Sestich says. “The team has worked extremely hard since December in the weight room and on the practice field. We have many key returners and some new faces that will be key to our success.”
And it all starts with their returning senior quarterback Tanner Rollins. The All-CIF returning slinging southpaw set new standards for passing last year, completing 161-of-251 passes (a 64.6% completion rate), 2,922 yards, 35 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Not having Andrew Washington around will sting a little, but Rollins has junior WR/CB Dallas Christopher, and seniors Aden Sierra and Jeremy Coughlin around. Christopher went down with an injury in his first game and didn’t return. However, he still has the same level of talent and offensive productivity capability that Washington (54 catches, 1,336 yards, 19 TDs) leaves behind via graduation. Rollins even gained a third option to throw to in Amari Powell, a senior wideout who transferred from Carson.
Senior RB/LB Giuseppe Virzi and sophomore RB/LB Johnny Rivera will power the running game for Mary Star, while the defense will be anchored by the likes of junior LB/FB Daniel Lomeli. The Stars will also have two gifted two-way linemen in sophomore DE/T Lotu Taufa and junior C/DL Ethan Mejia. Sierra will also play a significant role defensively at linebacker.
Mary Star opens its 2025 season on Friday, August 29, at home against Eastside of Lancaster, while the rest of the nonleague slate also will include battles against Valley Christian of Cerritos and Lawndale on the road, and home games against CIF-Los Angeles City Section foes South Gate and Open Division hopeful Palisades Charter.
The Camino Real League will be tough with the likes of defending champion St. Genevieve of Panorama City, St. Monica of Santa Monica, and surging rival Bishop Montgomery of Torrance. Still, the Stars should be right in the mix again after going 4-2 in league play last season.
According to Sestich, this is the most talented and deepest Mary Star team that he can remember.
“We have a lot of size and athleticism on both lines with a big, punishing running back like Virzi. Our passing game should be dynamic again,” Sestich says. “We want to make a push at league and a CIF championship. If we play with the passion, energy, and teamwork that our culture is based on, the sky is the limit.” spt
I have often spoken about how the words we choose matter—especially when we talk about people experiencing homelessness.
Referring to them as our “unhoused neighbors” reminds us they are part of our shared community, deserving of dignity, compassion, and inclusion. Shifting our language in this way is more than semantics; it is a step toward reshaping how we understand, respond to, and support those who have been marginalized.
On July 24, the President of the United States issued an executive order targeting homelessness. Once again, the rhetoric and directives used by this administration threaten effective, humane solutions while further stigmatizing unhoused individuals. I completely understand the general public’s frustration with what appears to be slow progress in alleviating homelessness. None of us wants to see our neighbors struggling.
First, language matters. The executive order employs criminalizing language—referring to unhoused individuals as engaging in “disorderly behavior,” “sudden confrontations,” and “violent attacks.” This framing falsely associates homelessness with criminality, reinforcing stereotypes that justify aggressive enforcement tactics. Such rhetoric diverts attention away from systemic causes, such as housing shortages and social policy failures. As advocates note, this narrative absolves policymakers of responsibility and scapegoats individuals, rather than addressing the root causes.
Second, the order rolls back evidence-based strategies. It undermines proven approaches such as “Housing First,” which prioritizes stable housing as the foundation for addressing other challenges. Instead, it promotes involuntary commitments and encampment sweeps—policies that have long been shown to be ineffective. Jennifer Mathis of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law condemns these shifts as a move away from care and support toward warehousing vulnerable people.
Third, it escalates risks for vulnerable groups. The order is particularly alarming for marginalized populations, including immigrants and transgender people. One directive suggests labeling unhoused individuals as “sexually dangerous persons,” a category historically used to justify severe institutional confinement. Given existing biases and the high mental health risks among trans individuals—44 percent report severe psychological distress—the potential for abuse is immense. Legal advocates warn this revives dangerous precedents of involuntary institutionalization and fails to protect basic rights and dignity.
Fourth, there are troubling civil rights concerns. The order has sparked bipartisan backlash. States like Connecticut reaffirm their commitment to “Housing First,” while critics argue the directive criminalizes homelessness, stigmatizes vulnerable groups, and neglects long-term solutions in favor of punitive action. In Washington, D.C., encampment sweeps justified as public safety measures have drawn objections from the ACLU, which warns that such removals break trust and worsen the crisis.
A CALL TO ACTION The National Alliance to End Homelessness urges leaders to resist these regressive policies and recommit to evidence-based practices. Housing-focused, harm-reduction approaches are essential, while carceral and institutional tactics will only deepen disparities and erode trust. The president’s order represents a troubling shift away from compassion and research-informed strategies to punitive, enforcement-driven measures that neither solve homelessness nor treat people with dignity.
PROGRESS CLOSE TO HOME Amid federal turbulence and erratic policy shifts, LA County is making meaningful strides. The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count shows homelessness has declined 4 percent countywide, with a nearly 10 percent drop in unsheltered cases—the second year of progress. In San Pedro, intentional investments are creating a visible impact. Beacon Landing, one of the first permanent supportive housing developments in LA County, opened last year with 89 new homes, on-site services, and energy-efficient, LEED Gold–certified amenities. It offers neighbors a stable foundation to rebuild their lives and demonstrates what’s possible when solutions prioritize housing, dignity, and inclusion.
Doubling down on the punitive and inequitable systems that got us “in this mess” won’t get us out.
Solving homelessness can’t happen overnight. And solutions—real solutions—move at the speed of human trust. spt
Every day, people are persuaded to act against their own interests—not by brute force but by subtle psychological manipulation.
From high-conflict divorces to authoritarian regimes, similar patterns emerge: distorting reality, isolating the target, and implanting new beliefs that serve the manipulator’s end goal. This isn’t science fiction—it’s behavioral science, and it’s happening in courtrooms, living rooms, and voting booths across the world.
I think it’s important to understand the blueprint of a manipulator in the name of guarding against their hypnotic grip on an individual’s mind. Manipulators rely on predictable psychological tactics: gaslighting, guilt, fear, and love bombing. These tools exploit a person’s need for safety, validation, and love. Psychiatrist Robert Lifton’s foundational work on brainwashing showed that consistent repetition, emotional pressure, and isolation can fracture an individual’s self-concept—making them ripe for reprogramming.
When narcissists are wounded, their revenge often takes the form of covert psychological warfare. One of the most tragic and frequent applications of these tactics occurs during custody battles, where children are weaponized as tools of revenge.
Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), though controversial in legal circles, is a widely observed dynamic where one parent systematically manipulates a child to reject the other parent in the form of systematic reprogramming. This is a relentless process of consistently portraying the target in a negative light, not by simply bad mouthing, but by undermining, ridiculing, and reshaping memories by taking things out of context and deliberately presenting accidental or minor missteps as intentional and sinister.
It does not stop there; these individuals reward their children’s hate and distaste for the other parent and covertly punish any trace of loyalty or love toward the object of alienation. Relentless distortions and lies aimed at convincing the child that the parent is negligent, unloving, and dangerous begin to distort a child’s sense of reality, creating a deep psychological split between two parents—one is without reproach and the other is responsible for all the ills in the family drama.
Often, these narcissistic parents present themselves as helpless and victimized, where the child becomes parentified and responsible for the adult’s emotional regulation.
According to a 2018 study by Dr. Jennifer Harman and Dr. Edward Kruk, approximately 22 million adults in the U.S. report having been targets of parental alienation. Children caught in this dynamic show elevated rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, identity confusion, and difficulty forming relationships—often into adulthood.
Notably, those who alienate tend to show traits of narcissistic or borderline personality patterns, and a disproportionate number are found among socioeconomically advantaged, educated individuals—those with the resources to weaponize the legal system and craft persuasive narratives.
The impact on children is profound. Deprived of a stable attachment figure and coerced into black-and-white thinking, they may develop disorganized attachment patterns, struggle with trust, and internalize a sense of shame or betrayal. In severe cases, this can resemble complex PTSD, where the child’s core sense of self is formed under duress and emotional manipulation.
FROM HOMES TO HALLS OF POWER These same manipulation tactics scale easily. In cults, for instance, leaders isolate followers, bombard them with doctrine, and manufacture threats from the outside world. The goal is total dependence. Whether it’s Jonestown or NXIVM, the pattern repeats: breakdown, dependency, devotion.
Political campaigns and mass media also engage in what some psychologists call “mass hypnosis”—a term used loosely to describe the strategic use of fear, repetition, and emotional rhetoric.
When individuals are stressed, uncertain, or economically insecure, they become more susceptible to suggestion. Politicians and propagandists exploit this by repeating simple slogans, evoking powerful emotions (such as fear of outsiders and nostalgia for a mythic past), creating false binaries by blaming outsiders, and using phrases designed to shut down critical thinking and simplify complex realities.
Over time, entire populations can be manipulated to support policies or leaders that harm their own economic, medical, or civil rights interests. Undoing such programming, whether within a family or across a nation, requires more than truth-telling. Psychological deprogramming, rebuilding trust, and restoring the victim’s sense of self can take a long time and often fail.
For children affected by alienation, this usually means therapy, exposure to the alienated parent, and long-term relational repair. For adults influenced by mass propaganda, it means developing media literacy, seeking community support, and sometimes, the slow and painful work of recognizing cognitive dissonance.
We like to think we are rational beings, but history and psychology remind us that we are relational beings first. Whoever controls the emotional narrative often controls the choices we make—even if they lead us straight to ruin. Awareness is key to cutting these marionette strings and reclaiming agency.
“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” – Steve Biko spt
A new school year brings a fresh season for San Pedro’s high school athletes.
Whether it’s football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, or another sport, three qualities distinguish good athletes from great ones: speed, agility, and staying injury-free. At Physical Therapy San Pedro, we help athletes develop all three. Here’s what every student-athlete should know.
SPEED IS A SKILL Most athletes believe speed is innate, but the truth is speed can be developed. Fast athletes run efficiently, and it all begins with mechanics. Your arm drive sets the pace for your legs, stability in the core and hips generates power in your stride, and the posterior chain—glutes, hamstrings, and calves—serves as your engine. Drills like wall drives, resistance sprints, and ladder work improve technique and boost explosiveness. Remember: You can’t have fast feet without fast arms and a strong core.
AGILITY = CONTROL + INJURY PREVENTION Agility isn’t just about being quick; it’s about how well you can stop, cut, and change direction under pressure. When athletes skip agility training, their risk of injury skyrockets. Safe and powerful agility comes from learning proper deceleration mechanics, practicing lateral movement to protect hips and knees, and running reactive drills with cones, lights, or partner cues to sharpen decision-making. If your body doesn’t know how to land or absorb force, it will eventually break down. Agility training builds control—and that control prevents injuries.
STRENGTH: THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY SPORT No matter what sport you play, strength is your base. Without it, speed and agility fall apart. Foundational lifts and sport-specific exercises build power while reducing injury risk. Movements like Bulgarian split squats for single-leg stability, trap bar deadlifts for full-body power, and med ball rotational throws for core explosiveness create a solid training foundation. Strength training should always be combined with mobility and plyometrics, because strength without flexibility can quickly become a liability.
TRAINING THE BRAIN Athletic performance isn’t just physical—it’s also neurological. The best athletes don’t only move fast; they think quickly. Incorporating neuro-based training enhances reaction time, coordination, and body awareness. Exercises—such as ladder drills combined with reaction balls, shadowing a partner’s movements, or responding to sound and light cues—challenge both the brain and the body. Train the mind to move fast, and train the body to move smart.
INJURY PREVENTION BUILT INTO TRAINING Injury prevention isn’t an extra step—it’s the foundation of performance training. Every athlete should include dynamic warmups and cooldowns, hip mobility and core stability work, landing mechanics, safe deceleration practice, and recovery strategies like sleep, hydration, and proper fueling.
If you’re a high school athlete gearing up for the season, keep this in mind: Speed can be trained, not gifted; agility is control, not just quickness; strength is the foundation of performance; and injury prevention should be built into every workout. Train with purpose, and you’ll not only perform better—you’ll stay in the game longer. spt
When Rich Froning—the four-time CrossFit Games champion, once crowned the “Fittest Man on Earth”—was asked about his training today, he didn’t hesitate.
Rich Froning competing at the 2012 CrossFit Games. (photo: Lance Cpl. Derrick K. Irions)
At 38, he’s not chasing medals anymore, but his commitment hasn’t changed. “I don’t ever want to say, ‘I used to be the fittest man on earth,’” he told Men’s Health.
That statement resonates more deeply than the competitive world of CrossFit. It’s a mirror to the average person—to the countless men and women who shrug and say, “I used to be fit when I was younger.”
THE TRAP OF ‘USED TO BE’ We’ve all heard it. “I used to run marathons.” “I used to have abs.” “I used to play sports every weekend.”
For many, fitness is often treated like a chapter of youth, something that gets left behind as careers, families, and responsibilities accumulate. But “used to be” is just another way of saying “I quit prioritizing myself.”
FRONING’S REFRAME: FITNESS AS LONGEVITY
Rich Froning isn’t chasing podiums anymore. He’s chasing longevity. He’s shifted his focus from winning events to winning decades. His training now focuses on durability, function, and staying capable—the kind of fitness that enables him to play with his kids, carry heavy loads, and still thrive under the barbell.
That perspective is something anyone can adopt. You don’t have to train like a CrossFit champion. But you can embrace the idea that fitness isn’t a season of life—it’s a lifestyle.
YOUR TURN: FROM ‘USED TO’ TO ‘STILL AM’ Here’s how to break the cycle:
1. Stop comparing to your peak. You don’t need to be as fast, lean, or strong as you were at 20. Aim to be capable today.
2. Pick non-negotiables. For Froning, it’s four core movements he’ll never give up. For you, maybe it’s daily walking, push-ups, or lifting twice a week. Build anchors you won’t abandon.
3. Think decades, not days. Fitness isn’t about a quick fix before summer. It’s about building habits you’ll carry into your 40s, 50s, and beyond.
REWRITE YOUR STORY
Imagine being 50, 60, even 70, and saying, “I am fit”—not “I used to be fit.”
That’s the challenge Rich Froning throws down without even meaning to. If the man who once stood atop the fitness world refuses to let go of his identity as an athlete, why should you let go of yours?
You don’t need medals, you just need the mindset.
So the next time you catch yourself saying, “I used to be fit,” stop. Reframe it. Decide instead: “I’m still fit—and I’m not done yet.” spt
The John Muir Trail in California is one of the world’s most famous hiking destinations.
The 211-mile trek through the picturesque High Sierra begins in Yosemite Valley, at an elevation of 4,035 feet, and ends at the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, at 14,505 feet.
Thousands have made the journey, and while records of this sort aren’t kept, it’s probably safe to assume the only above-the-knee amputee to have accomplished the feat is San Pedro’s Victor Wagoner. It took him 30 days (hikers with two good legs usually take about three weeks), making it to the top of Whitney on July 30.
Wagoner, 69, has done it before. “I did it in 15 days back then, when I had two legs,” he says. In fact, he had hiked the trail in the fall of 2013, just months before the January 2014 accident that cost him a leg and nearly killed him.
Fifty-seven years old and enjoying a successful career as a Delta Airlines pilot, Wagoner was cruising down the 215 Freeway on his motorcycle when, in stalled traffic, he was “taken out by a Subaru Outback.” Thrown into the back of a stopped SUV, the impact broke his helmet. His left leg was shredded, his pelvis and hips shattered, plus internal injuries; he was in a coma for 10 days.
“I almost bled out on the freeway,” Wagoner says. “I only had a couple of pints left. I’d severed all the veins in my leg and foot, but they got a tourniquet on. They didn’t expect me to survive. They said the only reason [I didn’t die] was because [I was] in such good shape. I always enjoyed working out.”
Working out is an understatement. Wagoner began running marathons in junior high and swam for the legendary San Pedro YMCA. He was a three-sport athlete at San Pedro High (1974). Swimming for the league champion Pirates, he was undefeated over three years. He ran cross country his first two years, then played tight end and defensive end in football as a senior. He went on to Harbor College, where he swam and played football, and then, following in the footsteps of his father and older brother, Ray (my W‘69 classmate), went on to UCLA with an ROTC scholarship. Like his father and brother, Wagoner also ended up in the Navy, graduating from UCLA in 1979 and going straight to flight school. Active duty, which included ejecting from an A-7 fighter when the engine failed, ended in April 1987, and he started at Delta a week later.
With flying in his blood, there was no way losing a leg was going to end his aviation career. By April 2014, Wagoner was able to bear his weight on crutches. He requalified as a pilot in November, and in January 2015, a year after his devastating accident, he was back on the flight deck of an airliner. He worked seven more years before reaching the mandatory pilot retirement age of 65.
His running days may have been over, but Wagoner wasn’t going to let a little thing like being an amputee keep him out of the pool. He had returned to competitive swimming in the masters program in the 1990s and was participating in the U.S. spring nationals three and a half months after the accident as a one-legged breaststroker.
Wagoner also returned to coaching, helping out the Holy Trinity football team. He did that for 20 years while his wife, Lea, taught there. He also got in a few days as a one-legged dockworker, amazingly requalifying for a casual card he first got in 2001.
His John Muir triumph came on his third post-accident try. The first one ended about halfway through when his prosthetic leg broke in half, and he had to be helicoptered out. The second one ended when Wagoner and his brother Ray caught COVID from a fellow hiker. He decided to make another attempt after he had successful surgery in January for AFib.
“One of the reasons I wanted to give it a try,” Wagoner says, “is it’s good advertising [for amputees]. People see that…I can’t tell you how many responses I got. They’d see where you’re headed and [think] to find the courage you have. Just being out there and the public seeing you do it does more than talking about it.”
In the pool or on the trail, Wagoner has shown that actions do speak louder than words. spt
Twenty years ago, the idea of Port of Los Angeles High School (POLAHS) seemed far-fetched at best.
POLAHS founder Camilla Townsend, Principal Tim Dikdan, and Erin Loveridge, director of development. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
The public charter high school, rooted in San Pedro’s maritime history, initially lacked a building, funding, and students. Still, a small group of community leaders believed in the vision. Despite these challenges, POLAHS opened in 2005 with just over 100 students, many of whom attended classes on the beach while waiting for the first classrooms to be ready.
“When we opened the doors in 2005, it was a miracle. Nobody thought it could happen,” recalls Camilla Townsend, who’s credited as the school’s founder. “We had no building, no money, no students. We didn’t even have furniture. But we had a mission.”
That mission was to create a college preparatory school with a maritime focus—one that honored San Pedro’s history while preparing its students for the future. Townsend and her allies wrote grants, courted donors, and persuaded the Port of L.A. to purchase the former Evergreen Marine Corp. buildings at Fifth and Centre streets to serve as the school’s home. Little by little, POLAHS took shape.
IT STARTED WITH A VISION The story of POLAHS begins with Townsend, a beloved educator and longtime San Pedro civic leader who served on the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners and was the past president of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. In the early 2000s, while leading the Chamber’s Business, Education, and Arts Committee, she spearheaded efforts to revitalize Downtown San Pedro. A visit to a charter school in Orange County convinced her that San Pedro needed its own.
“I was driving back over the Vincent Thomas Bridge after visiting the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana,” she recalls, “and I said, ‘We’ve got to do this in San Pedro.’ We had plenty of buildings. It was just a matter of getting the money and getting started.”
Townsend had long championed connecting the Port’s resources with San Pedro’s future. She believed education was the key.
“None of this would exist without Camilla,” says Erin Loveridge, POLAHS’s longtime director of development. “She’s a force of nature. Her vision and determination created this school, and we’re still building on that foundation every day. What she started wasn’t just a school, it was a movement. She inspired others to believe it could happen. I deeply value her years of mentorship.”
Townsend wasn’t alone. Along with a dedicated Board of Trustees and help from her friend and fellow former educator, Sandy Bradley, she assembled a team of early teachers, administrators, and community partners who were willing to take a leap of faith. “It was about giving kids opportunities they weren’t going to get anywhere else,” Townsend says.
POLAHS cheerleaders. (photo: courtesy POLAHS)
LEARNING ON THE BEACH When POLAHS first opened in September 2005, the school had just 100 students, five teachers, and not a single classroom to call its own. Classes met at the Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports Center, where cafeteria tables doubled as geography classrooms, workout rooms became English class, and one science class was taught outdoors with a whiteboard strapped to a signpost with bungee cords.
“Whenever people complain about not having materials, I remind them, ‘You don’t even know,’” says current principal Tim Dikdan, one of the original teachers. “We started teaching on the beach with bungee cords and clipboards.”
Dikdan also recalls the day the school’s mascot was chosen. “We were on the beach, trying to decide on colors and a mascot. One of my students jokingly said ‘polar bears,’ and at first, the kids laughed. But I thought, ‘Oh my God, that’s genius.’ It tied into our name—POLAHS, Polar Bears—it’s a marine animal, an endangered species, something students could rally around. And it wasn’t just ferocious or just cuddly. It had both sides, which is what a mascot should be.”
PROGRAMS WITH PURPOSE From its earliest days, POLAHS set itself apart by offering more than a typical high school curriculum. Today, the school provides career technical education (CTE) pathways in skilled trades, digital media, and maritime studies, giving students practical training and industry credentials in sectors closely connected to San Pedro’s economy and beyond.
Students in the maritime program learn skills closely tied to the waterfront, ranging from navigation and seamanship to boat building and port operations. The skilled trades pathways introduce them to construction, plumbing, electrical, and welding, while the digital media program develops their skills in film, photography, and graphic design—fields essential to a modern creative economy.
These programs, combined with rigorous college-prep coursework, ensure POLAHS graduates leave with both academic and real-world experience. “From our international study abroad program to the annual scholarship fund, it’s about creating opportunities,” says Loveridge. “We’re not just preparing students for college, we’re preparing them for life.”
ALUMNI MAKE WAVES Two decades later, POLAHS alumni can be found all across the country and around the world. Some are pursuing advanced degrees in law, medicine, and education; others have built careers in the military, maritime trades, or public service.
Loveridge notes that the true success of POLAHS alumni isn’t just in their professional achievements but in their ongoing ties to the school and community. “It’s amazing to see how far our graduates have gone,” she says. “But what really matters is that they give back, and they carry San Pedro with them wherever they go.”
BUILDING FOR TOMORROW As POLAHS celebrates 20 years, the school is already planning the next chapter. With nearly 1,000 students enrolled now, the school that once held classes on the beach is getting ready for a major campus expansion.
POLAHS students learning skilled trades. (photo: courtesy POLAHS)
“We’re not done,” says Loveridge. “Our students deserve the best, and we’re going to keep pushing for them.” Under her guidance, POLAHS has already secured more than $20 million in grants and donations for programs and capital improvements. The biggest project yet, however, is still on the horizon.
The school has proposed a new multi-story addition to be built on the blacktop behind the main building. The facility would house existing CTE pathways while also providing space for a gym, science labs, and collaborative learning areas. The expansion aims to reduce overcrowding and give POLAHS the room it needs to continue growing.
Currently, the project hinges on winning a competitive state grant. “We’ll apply this fall, and if we’re awarded the funding, it will be transformative for our students and community,” Loveridge says.
TWENTY YEARS YOUNG Because San Pedro is San Pedro, even after 20 years, some still call POLAHS the “new high school.” But for its founders, faculty, alumni, and the San Pedro community overall, the school is anything but new. They have become a Downtown San Pedro fixture, uplifting the surrounding neighborhood and supporting the local economy.
As POLAHS celebrates 20 years, the school that started with 100 students and no classrooms now stands as one of San Pedro’s proudest accomplishments. They continue to grow, innovate, and show what’s possible when a community invests in its future.
For Townsend, the school highlights the power of vision and perseverance. “I still look at the school and think, ‘We did this,’” she says. “It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.” spt
For more information on Port of Los Angeles High School, visit polahs.net.
Two events that directly affect the quality of education for San Pedro students are selling tickets now and could really use your support.
It’s not just about raising money. It’s about raising the bar for what our kids can dream of and achieve.
SAN PEDRO EDUCATION FOUNDATION: A NIGHT OF SIPS, SOUNDS, AND STUDENT SUCCESS So many born-and-raised San Pedrans had their first jobs at Ports O’ Call Village and remember those times fondly. The legacy continues with West Harbor hosting this year’s Sips & Sounds fundraiser, with a behind-the-scenes update on what’s underway along the Los Angeles Waterfront.
Presented by the San Pedro Education Foundation and now in its third year, this Sips & Sounds event combines live music, cocktails, and catered cuisine with a heartfelt mission: to provide every San Pedro student with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.
More than just a celebration, Sips & Sounds is a catalyst for change. The event directly supports programs that go beyond textbooks, fueling hands-on science education, next-generation and tech initiatives, inclusive learning tools for students with special needs, innovative teacher training, and classroom grants that bring big ideas to life.
But perhaps the most touching part of the evening? Dinner will be prepared and served by the incredible students of Willenberg Special Education Center. For them, the event offers more than experience; it’s a moment of pride, visibility, accomplishment, and belonging.
The foundation is already in motion. In just the past year, donor support helped:
• Rebuild Cabrillo Elementary’s library after flood damage
• Send White Point 5th graders to Emerald Bay for hands-on field science
• Provide adaptive PE equipment at Park Western Place Elementary
• Fund sensory-friendly seating for special education students at Barton Hill
• Outfit San Pedro High athletes with state-of-the-art football helmets
• Launch the Pedro Pen Writing Contest, the foundation’s first writing competition, awarding scholarships and publishing student authors in San Pedro Today.
For one evening, a ticket to Sips & Sounds is more than access to an unforgettable waterfront party; it’s a statement that San Pedro believes in its students—all of them.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF LA HARBOR: BIDS FOR KIDS—UNDER THE SEA On September 27, the Bids for Kids gala returns as the signature fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor (BGCLAH). Hosted at the Torrance Marriott Redondo Beach, the night will bring together community champions, local leaders, and longtime supporters for an evening of dinner, auction, and purpose, all benefiting the 13,000 members served by the Club.
For nearly 90 years, BGCLAH has served as a lighthouse for young people in San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Lomita, and the Harbor Gateway. Today, with 25 sites and 2,800 kids coming through its doors daily, the Club’s reach is both deep and wide.
What they offer is more than a safe space; it’s a launchpad. With robust after-school programs, academic support, arts education, and athletics, BGCLAH gives kids, especially those facing the toughest odds, the tools to rise.
And the results speak for themselves:
• 98.5% of students in the Club’s College Bound program graduate high school.
• 96% of those graduates went on to college last fall.
• Career Bound is placing more young people in the trades than any other program, leading to union jobs that have literally built this community.
That’s not just impact—it’s transformation.
But this year, the Club faces one of its toughest challenges yet. With reduced public funding and a growing pool of charitable dollars being allocated to wildfire relief efforts in the Palisades and surrounding areas, BGCLAH must raise an additional $1 million to keep pace with the demand and ensure that no student is turned away.
That’s what makes Bids for Kids more than a celebration—it’s a lifeline.
If ever there was a moment to show up for Harbor youth, it’s now. Please consider joining me on one or both nights. Or, even better, consider donating to these organizations by visiting their websites: San Pedro Education Foundation (sanpedroeducationfoundation.org/events) and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor (bgclaharbor.org/events). spt
