By now, you should have heard about the impending closure of Brouwerij West, one of the most San Pedro spots in all of San Pedro. 

To say this is a blow to San Pedro as a community is an enormous understatement. The brewery has become an event space, a gathering spot, and a uniquely San Pedro destination for almost nine years. It will leave a massive hole in what so many of us enjoy about San Pedro.

Founder Brian Mercer, a fourth-generation San Pedran, traveled around Belgium for almost a decade getting to know the beer industry and eventually started up a company to import a specific type of sugar to help American brewers recreate the sweet taste of old Belgian beers. His passion for beer eventually led him back to San Pedro to create Brouwerij West.

I remember all that went into opening Brouwerij West. It was almost a three-year undertaking that went through countless challenges. Converting an old Navy warehouse built during World War II into a modern and sustainable beer operation was not for the faint of heart.

Countless code and construction obstacles jumped in the way, and the original 16-week construction timeline quickly ballooned to 42 weeks. I distinctly remember a last-minute change that required them to install standard fire doors next to the enormous rolling doors to meet the fire code, even though the big doors are always wide open when the brewery is in operation.

The community couldn’t wait for it to finally open, and every day during those three years, there was another social media complaint about how long it was taking to finish the renovations of a historical building.

Brian and his partner, Dave Holop, are passionate about beer and sustainability. One unique aspect of the operation is it uses 30 percent less water than most breweries and runs primarily on solar power. The two even dreamed of creating a desalinization plant to reach the ocean outside the breakwater.

I’m not much of a beer drinker, but I’ve enjoyed countless events at Brouwerij West, including the Taste of San Pedro, numerous music concerts like POPFUJI and the San Pedro Music Festival, many a trivia night, and sometimes I just went there after shopping at CRAFTED or to grab a Miller Butler pizza.

Brouwerij West is a place to run into old friends and make new ones. Although I’m disappointed it never had a permanent restaurant, I love all of the local food trucks that rotated through there and also that the space is dog-friendly.

COVID-19 may be less of an environmental concern today, but the economic effects remain. Shutting down operations and in-person gatherings and reduced demand for craft beer at that time set the whole industry back financially. The Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland led to severe restrictions on large public spaces, even though the two structures have no comparison regarding access and fire safety.

Events are only a piece of the overall business. Production and distribution are a considerable part of craft brewing at this scale. With changing tastes and demographics, as well as younger folks becoming more calorie-conscious and consuming cannabis edibles for recreation instead of beer, the craft beer industry has suffered nationwide.

The opening of Port Town Brewing Company—and soon, West Harbor—could create a better concentration of breweries, which is helpful for all three, as it creates a draw for folks who love beer.

Brouwerij West has also been a satellite site for other events and music fests. With a new cruise ship terminal that can also function as a convention center and proposed hotels at Cabrillo Marina, Phase 2 of West Harbor, and possibly on top of Warehouse One, Brouwerij West could be a place to hold even more weekday events and private functions.

Countless toasts, hugs, and laughs have been given at this brewery. Brian, Dave, and the whole Brouwerij West family have poured their hearts and souls into this space, and it hurts to see them closing.

I hope Brouwerij West can somehow pull off a miracle with investors, partners, or supporters to remain a uniquely San Pedro destination. I was there for the grand opening and plan to be there for the closure. spt

“Speak comfort to me, Jacob!”  “I have none to give,” the Ghost replied. “It comes from other regions…” –Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Like many of you, I turn to literature in these challenging times for solace, compassion, and perspective. 

Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of redemption and forgiveness, A Christmas Carol, eloquently covers the need to involve ourselves in our local society, where we have the most effective avenues to promulgate change. 

“At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!” 

To ameliorate the transgressions of his former life, Scrooge eventually finds atonement and the strength to focus on the present, his family, and contributing to the greater good of his community.

Many of us have experienced the comfort that comes with local involvement, and it can serve as a buffer against the adverse psychological and emotional effects of broader world events by fostering a sense of connection, purpose, and resilience. 

The presence of a supportive network can reduce stress by engaging with others and help us combat feelings of isolation arising during global crises. 

Theatre is also a powerful medium for fostering a sense of community connection. It brings people together through shared experiences, storytelling, and collective participation. The laughter, tears, or moments of reflection during a live performance foster a sense of unity among those present. 

These shared experiences within our associations create opportunities for kinship, collective problem-solving, and emotional expression, making challenges feel more manageable.

Fred and I have found the lessons of A Christmas Carol not only inform our own lives; performing this story forges a stronger sense of community for all participants, actors, and audiences. 

When we produced the staged reading last year, with Sir Patrick Stewart’s permission to use his adaptation, we discovered the many gifts of this seminal work. 

As a community builder, local luminaries and politicians worked with professional actors to bring this story to life and, in the process, were exposed to the power of theatre.

This year, as the first offering in the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District’s Culture TALKS! 2024/25 series, we are bringing back A Christmas Carol to the Grand Annex Music Hall on December 13 and 15. 

These performances will feature local luminaries such as LA City Councilman Tim McOsker, former Councilman Joe Buscaino, Harbor Commissioner Lee Williams, nonprofit advocate Amber Sheikh, and professional actors from Little Fish Theatre, House of Bards, and Encore South Bay. 

Graciously directed again this year by Renee O’Connor-Sura (House of Bards) and Jacob Nye (Encore Theatre Group), we are augmenting this staged reading with sound effects to create an immersive radio theatre experience. 

Our A Christmas Carol performances will also be enhanced by the generous contributions of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus (Ken and Kathy Creighton), Lucrecia and John Jacobson, Grand Vision staff and volunteers, and Fred’s dance floor company, Mister Marley. 

The Arts District created the Culture TALKS! Arts Appreciation Series in 2018 as an expression of our commitment to community arts education and to seek common ground by engaging participants in conversations about culture and how the arts inspire empathy, understanding, and identity. Topics and speakers are selected based on their art and activism to examine how we rise to challenges and perpetuate healthy, sustainable, and diverse communities.

We sincerely hope that by attending a performance of A Christmas Carol, we can provide a physical space to come together, strengthen our social bonds, and celebrate the season while extolling the many blessings of being in each other’s company. 

Please consider joining us to establish an annual holiday family tradition. For ticket information, visit sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com.

“And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” spt

The recent landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes left many residents without gas or electricity. 

One of the unfortunate hardships of this tragedy was the ability to prepare food. San Pedro Meals on Wheels and the San Pedro Salvation Army are collaborating to bring meals to residents in the slide area.

Meals on Wheels prepares the meals, and the Salvation Army delivers them. However, it is uncertain how long the Salvation Army can continue these efforts. Volunteers are sought to help deliver meals locally and to the slide area in RPV. Meals on Wheels is hoping more people affected by hardship in Rancho Palos Verdes will take advantage of their services. 

San Pedro Meals on Wheels, a grassroots nonprofit agency, is known for delivering nutritious meals to local seniors in need at a minimum cost. What many people do not know is that Meals on Wheels serves and provides healthy meals to people who are unable to cook, drive, shop, or leave their homes. 

Meals on Wheels serves a variety of clients, including homebound seniors, individuals recovering at home after a hospital stay, and people unable to use their kitchen due to remodeling, fires, floods, and landslides.

“Sometimes people who need food are too proud to ask for help and do not want to take charity,” says Mike Caccavalla, office administrator for San Pedro Meals on Wheels. “We are a nonprofit agency that makes sure you eat. We are here to help you.”

Each meal delivery costs $8.50 and includes two meals—one hot meal with fresh produce and a sandwich sack lunch to eat later. There is a limited amount of free meals dependent on funding and grants. 

The organization relies on volunteers and donations of food and money to offer meals at such a low price. Local stores and other nonprofit agencies donate surplus food, which Meals on Wheels’ Chef Ish turns into flavorful and nutritious meals. Participants are also eligible for a free monthly box of shelf-stable food delivered to their door for weekends when Meals on Wheels is not open.

On any given morning, San Pedro Meals on Wheels is a busy hive of activity with volunteer drivers coming and going to the church. Caccavalla mans the office and fields calls from clients, donors, and volunteers in his signature-friendly fashion. 

Three times a week, volunteers assist Ish at “Chop and Chat.” Volunteers chop donated produce while being part of the magic of Chef Ish’s cooking skills. Groups can also help—volunteers from Easter Seals sort donated food regularly and help clean. Small gifts are delivered during the holidays, and Santa visits each client at their door.

There is a sense that meaningful work is being done, feeding people who need help while creating a sense of community. With only two part-time staff members and 80 volunteers, Meals on Wheels is a no-frills operation that enhances our community. 

Sometimes, the only person an elderly homebound senior will see during the day is a friendly volunteer who drops off their meal. Recently, Meals on Wheels lost two participants—the volunteers delivering the food were the last to see the clients alive. Caccavalla believes their last hours were better, having seen a friendly volunteer at their door rather than being alone all day.

Personally, one of the last people my dad saw before he died unexpectedly was a volunteer from Meals on Wheels. After he passed, I saw the applesauce cup by his chair that he was nibbling on, brought earlier as part of his meal. Even though someone else was at home with him, I am forever grateful for those meal deliveries and the spark of connection he got when he answered the door.

For more information about donating, volunteering, or receiving meals, visit sanpedromealsonwheels.org or call (310) 832-7335. San Pedro Meals on Wheels is located at 721 S. Averill Avenue. spt

Harbor View House, located at 921 S. Beacon Street, has stood as a San Pedro landmark for over a century. 

This iconic building’s transformation, from a state hospital to a contemporary apartment complex, reflects the dynamic and evolving identity of San Pedro, a port town with many histories and many industries.

Harbor View House was originally constructed in 1925 as the Army & Navy YMCA. Designed in a distinctive Spanish Colonial Revival style, the building served as a recreation center for the service members at Fort MacArthur. It offered 300 dormitory rooms, a gymnasium, running track, banquet room, patio, pool, boxing and wrestling rooms, and a coffee shop. Lucille Ball and Bob Hope even entertained troops at USO events there.

In 1967, it became the Harbor View House State Hospital, a residential care facility for individuals with mental health challenges. As one of the largest facilities of its kind in the area, it housed hundreds of residents and played a crucial role in providing outpatient services to those in need. Its stately architecture, characterized by red-tile roofs, arched windows, and a commanding view of the harbor, made it a recognizable and enduring part of San Pedro’s skyline.

By the 1980s and 1990s, Harbor View House faced challenges typical of aging institutions. Changing attitudes toward mental health care, coupled with funding cuts and the deinstitutionalization movement, led to a decline in the building’s prominence and use. The facility struggled to keep pace with modern healthcare standards, and the sprawling building became underutilized.

Despite its diminished role, Harbor View House remained a significant presence in San Pedro. For many residents, it symbolized a link to the town’s past and a reminder of the community’s responsibility to care for its most vulnerable members. Jennifer Marquez wrote a touching tribute in the December 2018 issue of San Pedro Today, “Harbor View House, a Personal Goodbye.”

Redevelopment and Transformation
With San Pedro experiencing a wave of revitalization, the Harbor View House—with its prime location near Downtown San Pedro and stunning port views—was an ideal candidate for adaptive reuse.

In 2018, a private development group acquired the property with the vision of transforming it into a modern apartment building. I introduced my favorite San Pedro historian, the late Angela Romero, to the developers who were eager to share any historic finds in the building with the San Pedro Heritage Museum. 

The goal was to preserve the building’s historical character while providing updated amenities and housing options in a town increasingly attracting professionals, artists, and families. The redevelopment was part of a broader effort to revitalize San Pedro’s downtown area, overlooking the transformation of Ports O’ Call Village into the West Harbor project.

By 2023, the renovation of the Harbor View House was completed. Rebranded as Harbor House, it now offers 100 modern units, with 10 dedicated to low-income tenants. 

The project retained much of the building’s historic charm, including its original façade, lobby floors, hand-painted ceiling art, and much of the architectural details from its early days. 

The apartments have a sleek, updated design, blending historical character with modern functionality, while capitalizing on the building’s panoramic views of the harbor and the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The units are well-priced in comparison to market rate and are leasing quickly. Tours can be arranged through the onsite management at harborhouse.la. Also, look for special events featuring local businesses during historical tours of the building.

In collaboration with Arts Technologist KamranV, Chef Dustin Trani is preparing a unique dining and entertainment experience called The Majestic in the first-floor café, bar, and pool space. Senior San Pedrans will recognize the name from the original Trani’s restaurant. The Majestic will donate half of its proceeds to help fund arts programs here in San Pedro and beyond. 

Today, the Harbor House stands as a testament to San Pedro’s reinvention with a commitment to preserving its heritage. What was once a facility for healing and care is now a vibrant part of the town’s housing landscape. 

As San Pedro continues to renew and update, the story of Harbor House underscores the importance of honoring history while making old buildings more functional in modern times, ensuring that the spirit of our coastal town endures for generations to come. spt

Traditionally, I use the December column to recommend books for Christmas stocking stuffers written by San Pedro natives or about San Pedro. 

This year, I have two suggestions that fit the bill but in different ways. 

Kelly Dwyer was born and raised in San Pedro, graduating from San Pedro High in 1982. She went on to Oberlin College in Ohio and is a graduate of the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her third book, Ghost Mother: A Novel, was published this summer by Union Square & Co. and is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I make it a point to read the books I recommend, but I read very little fiction and nothing in the horror genre, so in Dwyer’s case, you’ll have to depend on the opinions of others.

Described online as “a mesmerizing psychological ghost story that blurs the thin line between reality and delusion,” award-winning author Kate Christensen says, “Ghost Mother has so many pleasures: a gorgeous old wreck of a house, a charmingly flawed and sympathetic heroine…and an enthralling story.”

Dwyer’s first two novels, published in the late ‘90s, also received high praise. The L.A. Times wrote about her first book, The Tracks of Angels (1995), “Dwyer’s style is engaging; she has an eye for the quirky detail, and creates real, likable characters. This is writing you can trust.” Library Journal said of her second book, Self-Portrait with Ghosts (1999), “Dwyer is a master at depicting the ghosts haunting modern life.”

Dwyer also has written short plays and monologues that have been produced in New York, Boston, Madison, Wis. (near her residence in Baraboo), Los Angeles, and Glasgow, in addition to articles and travel stories. She says of herself, “As a longtime teacher, writing coach, and editor, I am passionate about helping other writers achieve success.”

Co-senior class president in 1982, Dwyer is still remembered for bringing the hardcore punk rock band Black Flag to the steps of San Pedro High. So it’s no surprise that she says, “I laugh hard and often and agree with Oscar Wilde that ‘life is too important to be taken seriously.’”

I may have to give Ghost Mother a read after all.

Unlike Dwyer, the name Phil Kaye won’t ring any bells in San Pedro, unless you’re into spoken-word poetry, but the last name will. Phil is the son of Michael Kaye, who graduated from San Pedro High in 1971, and grandson of San Pedro legend “Cheerful” Al Kaye, the longtime owner of Union War Surplus. 

The connection is important because it’s the reason I’m mentioning his book Date & Time (Button Poetry), published in 2018 and also available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The collection is described as “a stunning tribute to growing up, and all the challenges and celebrations of the passing of time, as jagged as it may be. Kaye takes the reader on a journey from a complex but iridescent childhood, drawing them into adolescence, and finally on to adulthood.”

Part of that growing up included Union War Surplus, the Sixth Street institution from its opening in 1946 to its much lamented closing in 2009. It was the subject of Kaye’s poem “Surplus,” which he performed in 2018 on the PBS News Hour’s “Brief but Spectacular” spot (pbs.org/newshour/brief/280346/phil-kaye). 

For those of us who remember Union War, the three-and-a-half-minute recitation is a poignant trip down memory lane.

Kaye was raised in Orange County by his father and Japanese mother and graduated from Brown University. He has presented his poetry in hundreds of venues in 15 countries, including a 2015 performance for the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. His work has been viewed more than 10 million times online.  

He is the co-director of Project Voice, an organization that partners with schools to bring poetry to the classroom. He is a National Poetry Slam finalist and two-time recipient of the National College Poetry Slam award for “Pushing the Art Forward,” given for outstanding innovation in the art of live poetry. He’s also a former teacher of weekly poetry workshops in maximum-security prisons and was the head coordinator of Space in Prisons for the Arts and Creative Expression.

He lives in New York City, but it’s evident from his performance of “Surplus” that a small part of his heart remains on Sixth Street.

I love poetry, but my tastes run mainly to the classics; “Surplus” has been an eye-opener. spt

With retirement pending and now working remotely to allow new CEO Pete Settelmayer and the leadership team at the Boys & Girls Club an opportunity to bond, for the first time in 30 years, I am in need of a place to plant myself while facilitating some limited remaining functions for the Club and attempting to develop my new nonprofit consulting business. 

While I will spend some time working out of my home office, I have found I need to be around people and the community to best think and function. So, the question is, where to go?  

On those limited days I plan to commit to this new phase in my life, I needed a place that 1.) would be available every day, 2.) provides solid Wi-Fi, 3.) has a great “vibe” in which to work, read, or just hang out, and 4.) where sitting for a few hours doesn’t cause significant stress on the business (more on this later). 

While Think Café and the Omelette & Waffle Shop have often been my go-tos for lunch or breakfast meetings (which will continue), this new extended timeline and need will only work in a particular place. That is why I am writing this column while sittin’ at Sirens.

Sirens Java & Tea, at the corner of 7th and Mesa in Downtown San Pedro, provides both outdoor and indoor seating, great décor, and mellow music that adds to the great ambiance and hometown feel. 

Regulars love the great coffees and teas, and the staff are cheery and helpful. The owner and mastermind of this jewel establishment is Yolanda Regalado. Yolanda is a thoughtful and positive host who is involved in too many community events and planning groups to list here. Suffice it to say that Yolanda is an involved business owner who truly gives back to the community in which she lives and loves.

The menu is extensive for what some would incorrectly characterize merely as a “coffee shop.” Several specialty lattes, cold brew on tap, espresso, smoothies, hot and cold teas, oatmeal, yogurt parfait, a wide range of delicious pastries—including numerous muffins, scones, cannoli, cupcakes, and cookies—plus breakfast croissants and breakfast burritos for both meat eaters and vegans, bagels, and specialty lunch sandwiches are available and delicious.  

Sit for a few hours and you will see the broad spectrum of those of us who are proud to be from “Peedro.” 

Besides folks like me looking for a great place to spend a few hours, the clientele includes but is not limited to: workers taking advantage of the 6:30 a.m. opening to grab a drink and go; staff from elected officials’ offices meeting with constituents (Councilman Tim McOsker is often spotted); harbor commissioners past (Anthony Pirozzi) and present (Lee Williams); students from POLA High School; San Pedro Chamber CEO Elise Swanson; a regular group that arrives each morning and tries to solve the problems of the world and our community; friends just looking for a place to connect after they finish a workout, drop their kids off at school, or wait for their afternoon shift; and even San Pedro Today publisher Joshua Stecker is a regular attendee and walked in as I was writing this column from a back table. 

Now, I must close by saying that while Sirens is most gracious in letting us “hang out,” a business needs its patrons to do more than just take up space. Therefore, those of us—including myself—who spend time here need to be active purchasers of the great drinks and food available—that’s only fair.  

Sittin’ at Sirens—a great place to be while observing our neighbors and community pass by, mingle, problem solve, and thrive. Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a most wonderful and healthy 2025. spt

We’re switching things up this month.  

My nine-year-old daughter, Allegra Sheikh Ginsberg, is taking over my column. Allegra recently attended the Day of Thanks event with me, hosted by the nonprofit organization Harbor Connects. 

I sit on the board of Harbor Connects. The Day of Thanks is our annual event where we bring together our partners—the service providers doing the frontline work we help support with critical, flexible gap-filling funding—and simply thank them. This year, more than 17 organizations and 132 amazing staff came together to be celebrated. 

I want my kids to grow up with a better understanding of what it takes for our community to truly help and care for each other—and to meet the people doing this critical work daily. So here is her experience, in her own words, of what she heard and observed during the Day of Thanks:

________________________________________________________________________________

Hello, I’m Allegra, and I got to go to the Day of Thanks with my mom. The Day of Thanks is an event where we give service providers a break. When I say break, I mean a lunch with music, a raffle, and a photo booth. Basically, we give them a day of fun and say thanks to our service providers. Also, it is put on by Harbor Connects. 

I met some groups that I was not familiar with, and I met groups I was familiar with. So, here’s who I met and got to ask some questions:

LA Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Jaime Moore 

Let’s start with LA Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Jaime Moore. I asked if I could ask him a few questions. He said, “I assume you want to know what the fire department does for homelessness?” 

He explained to me that the fire department helped homeless people when they were sick, and he said he was also trying to help them before they got sick, so they never got sick. “It’s like, if you take vitamins before you get sick so that you won’t get sick.” 

LAPD Sgt. Manlove

Next, I talked to LAPD Sgt. Manlove. I told him I wanted to know how the LAPD helped with homelessness. 

He told me the “LAPD helps homeless people by bringing them resources such as food and water.” 

Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Jose

In line for lunch, I started a great conversation with Jose, an LAHSA outreach worker. I told him how I was writing for my mom’s column this month and asked him what he did. He told me that, as an outreach worker, he goes to encampments and checks in on people. 

South Bay Center for Counseling, Yvette                                    

Then I talked to Yvette. She is the director of family well-being at SBCC. I asked her what she did, and she said there were many things they did for low-income families. She told me that they tutor kids and have career development programs and mental health services. She also let me know that they help new moms who are struggling. 

________________________________________________________________________________

Later in the day, I asked Allegra to reflect on how the 132 attendees who work from Watts to the Harbor seemed to feel that Thursday afternoon. We both agreed that they seemed relaxed, happy—even emotional. 

The end of the year is the season of gratitude. While my sincerest wish is that we would sustain this level of thankfulness throughout the year, I am grateful that our community doubles down during this time to ensure our neighbors are well cared for. 

But this also means our frontline workers are doing even more (often with less) year-round. So we thank them for pouring so much of themselves into this critical work—because of them, our community shines so much brighter all year round. spt

Two murders involving San Pedro are the subject of three film productions, two on Netflix and one on Peacock. 

One is The Serpent, a miniseries on Netflix from 2021 dramatizing the notorious 1970s serial killer with that nickname. The Serpent is also the subject of Peacock’s World’s Most Notorious Killers series, which first aired in September. The third program is a one-hour documentary, part of the Homicide: Los Angeles series, titled “Murder at the Beach” that debuted in July.

The death of Wilmington resident Teresa Broudreaux, 20, was big news locally when her body was found on Malaga Cove Beach in Palos Verdes Estates on March 4, 1980. A pregnant newlywed, she had died from a blow to the head. A rape kit was not conducted, and with no leads, the murder sat in the cold case files for 33 years. It was not until 2013, when the case was reopened, that DNA testing finally led to the arrest of San Pedran Robert Allan Yniguez.

The program details efforts to find and arrest Yniguez, which finally happened in 2017, along with the haunting ordeal of Ronnie Fematt, Broudreaux’s husband of five months, and Broudreaux’s four-year-old daughter. Yniguez eventually confessed to the murder in 2018, and in 2019, at age 67, was sentenced to 15 years to life. 

San Pedrans are probably less familiar with the Serpent story only because his first victim, Teresa Ann Knowlton, had been living in Seattle before her death in Thailand. But Knowlton was born and raised in San Pedro and attended San Pedro High before moving north.

In October 1975, at age 21, she was in Thailand on her way to Kathmandu, Nepal, to study Tibetan Buddhism and become a nun. It was in Bangkok where she met Frenchman Charles Sobhraj, and on October 18, her body was found floating in the Gulf of Thailand. 

Her death was initially determined to be an accidental drowning, but seven months later, forensic results determined the drowning was a murder.

Besides being featured in the miniseries, Knowlton is featured in two of Sobhraj’s biographies, Serpentine (1979) by Thomas Thompson and The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj (1980; reissued as On the Trail of the Serpent) by Richard Neville and Julie Clarke.

Sobhraj is believed to have killed at least 20 people in Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Turkey, Nepal, Iran, and Hong Kong, making friends of mostly young Western backpackers along the “hippie trail” in Asia before drugging, robbing, and murdering them.

Sentenced to life in prison in 2004 in Nepal, he was released in December 2022 because of poor health. 

I’ve seen the miniseries and Homicide episode on Netflix, and both are riveting. As for the Peacock show, I personally have no interest in listening to a convicted killer tell his side of the story.

Knowlton is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park. Fematt has recently retired after a long career as a longshoreman.

Around the Horn

A trio of San Pedro High Hall of Fame athletes made the news over the summer—or would have if we had a local newspaper.

Victoria (Brucker) Ruelas (1994) was feted in Williamsport, Pa., as the first female to play in the Little League World Series when San Pedro’s Eastview team competed there in 1989. She became a star for the Pirates in softball, soccer, and swimming. Today, she is a teacher and swim coach at Kalani High in Honolulu.

Steve Taylor (2004) was named head baseball coach at his alma mater. Taylor was a standout in baseball and football at San Pedro High, entering the HOF with his volleyball-playing sister, Samantha, in 2019. He is currently a member of Northrop Grumman’s space flight production team.

Ashley Esparza (2004) will become the 10th Pirate inducted into the LAUSD Hall of Fame at the April 2025 ceremony in Granada Hills. Esparza, inaugurated into the SPHS Hall of Fame in 2015 after an illustrious softball career, joins alumni Willie Naulls, Louise Figlewicz-Quick, Cardte Hicks, Frank Endo, Tony Dobra, Garry Maddox, Ben Agajanian, Lillian Faralla, and Bruce Thomson. Esparza works for APM Terminals on Terminal Island.

By the way, tickets remain for this year’s SPHS Athletic HOF event on November 2 at the Dalmatian-American Club. Email sppirateboostersclub@gmail.com or call (310) 701-9357. spt