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.

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:

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

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

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

I can still remember a conversation I had with my parents one summer afternoon, about a week before school started. 

My mom walked into the kitchen and announced, “Isn’t it exciting? School starts next week!” She hoped she could get me fired up for the school year, reminding me that I’d get to see my friends again and start a fresh new year. 

 But I felt no excitement. Only dread. I looked up and said, “I don’t want to go back to school.” 

Before I could wallow too long, my dad cut in with his no-nonsense tone: “I don’t want to go back to work either, but you like to eat, so I don’t have a choice. And I don’t get summer vacation.” It was a moment of tough love. But looking back, it was precisely the mindset I needed. 

Our San Pedro teachers and staff will be ready for the new school year, but it’s the consistent support and guidance from parents that makes the most significant difference in our students’ success.

So, whether your child is stepping into kindergarten or high school, here’s a back-to-school checklist, just for parents:

1. Re-establish Routines Early. Start adjusting sleep schedules at least one to two weeks before school starts. Children and teens need 8–10 hours of sleep a night to be at their best. Ditch late-night screen time and encourage quiet activities, such as reading, before bed. A well-rested student is a focused learner.

2. Prioritize Daily Attendance. Attendance is foundational to success. Plan appointments outside of school hours and help your child understand that being present and on time matters. Chronic absenteeism can lead to falling behind and future academic struggles, even in the early grades.

3. Get to Know the School System. Stay informed by reviewing the school calendar, bell schedule, and important dates. Try to attend back-to-school nights and parent meetings. If your child is in LAUSD, log into the Parent Portal or Schoology (lms.lausd.net) to monitor attendance, grades, and assignments. Weekly online check-ins can catch small problems before they grow.

4. Set Clear Expectations. We know children thrive on structure. Age-appropriate expectations around homework, screen time, chores, and behavior will lead to better outcomes for your child in school. However, the goal is to encourage them to take responsibility for their own education as soon as possible. It is easier to discuss the effects of responsibility and rewards than it is to discuss discipline.

5. Open Communication with Teachers. We all hit bumps in the road, so don’t wait for a problem to arise. Introducing yourself to your child’s teacher early in the school year will help build the partnership you’ll need when the year gets difficult. A short and friendly email can go a long way.

6. Encourage Extracurricular Involvement. School isn’t just about academics. Activities such as clubs, sports, music, and community programs (like the Boys and Girls Club) help build discipline, reduce stress, and boost confidence. Research shows that kids who participate in extracurricular activities often earn better grades and develop stronger social skills. 

7. Set Them up for Small Wins, Every Day. In one of the most memorable commencement speeches ever, Admiral William H. McRaven told graduates, “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.” Every child is different, but if your child starts the day with a small win, they are already ahead of the curve. Brushing teeth, getting dressed, and yes, making the bed all set the tone for a successful day. 

Discipline starts with the little things. One simple accomplishment every morning, and we’re all better prepared to tackle bigger challenges.

Let’s do this together, one day and one encouraging word at a time. spt

Let’s talk about something that’s been floating (pun intended) around recently, raising the Vincent Thomas Bridge. 

Yes, raising it, not tearing it down or replacing it. Just lifting the iconic green beauty about 26 feet higher so the world’s biggest cargo ships can slip underneath and keep the Port of Los Angeles competitive.

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka is proposing the idea to coincide with Caltrans’ 16-month redecking plan, scheduled to begin in Fall 2026.

As a San Pedro resident, I hate the idea of a long-delayed closure. As a harbor commissioner, I am tasked with reviewing all the facts and ultimately voting for what’s best for our community. This idea is still in the fact-gathering stage. We’re nowhere near ready to bake that cake.

BIGGER SHIPS, BIGGER FUTURE

We know the latest and largest clean fuel vessels in the world can’t pass under our 185-foot clearance bridge today. That puts us at a disadvantage against Long Beach, which went from 155 feet of clearance to 205 feet with the construction of the new Gerald Desmond Bridge. (Do we really need to call it the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge?) 

By raising the bridge to allow more vertical clearance, we’re essentially telling the global shipping industry, “Bring it on. We’re ready.” More cargo coming through our port means more longshore jobs, better economics for our local businesses, and more Public Access Investment Plan dollars spent right here in San Pedro and Wilmington for community parks and projects.

IT’S NOT HAPPENING TOMORROW. AND THAT’S A GOOD THING

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. If this project moves forward, it won’t start next year or the year after. It will take time to design a plan, obtain permits, and obtain financing. We’re likely looking at after the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. That’s a blessing in disguise. Why? Because it gives us time to plan and plan well. Additionally, it allows West Harbor time to reach critical mass and establish a local following before a long-term bridge closure.

Wilmington is being forced to deal with the majority of the traffic detours from the redecking project. Most of the alternate routes are grossly unprepared and poorly suited for the added volume. Wilmington deserves a comprehensive plan that includes serious state and federal investment in infrastructure before the bridge closure. 

A new plan gives us a longer runway to do it right and provide better coordination with the over 40 city, county, state, and federal transportation projects underway in the Harbor Area.

THE FLIP SIDE: LONGER CONSTRUCTION & COMMUTER PAINS

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Raising the bridge is no small task. We’re talking about a much longer timeline than the deck replacement alone. This isn’t a summer roadwork project—it could add a year or more to the existing redecking plan, with detours and closures that affect everyone from port truckers to people just trying to get to work.

San Pedro and Wilmington residents already deal with congestion, rail crossings, and narrow thoroughfares. So, any new project must take those realities seriously. That means meaningful community input, smart traffic planning, increasing cargo movement through rail, and significant investment in mitigation efforts. No shortcuts. 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR SAN PEDRO?

This plan could extend the bridge’s usefulness for another 75 years and keep the Port of Los Angeles firmly ranked as the busiest port in the Western Hemisphere. Sadly, we too often see short-term vision align with election cycles instead of long-term gains that last for generations.

Raising the bridge stands to protect jobs, attract investment, and boost local businesses. However, we must also protect our quality of life. That means looking out for the neighborhoods that bear the brunt of construction, especially in Wilmington, and ensuring we’re not trading economic progress for years of gridlock.

Obviously, this will open the door to discussions around increasing the number of lanes and possible bike and pedestrian access. I’m no engineer and will await their findings.

In the end, raising the Vincent Thomas Bridge isn’t just about shipping lanes or cleaner vessels. It’s about vision. It’s about asking ourselves whether we’re planning for the Harbor Area we have today—or the one we want to see long after we’re gone.

So, let’s start the conversation. Let’s make sure if this happens, it happens with us, not to us. And who knows, someday, we might be able to tell our grandkids, “You see that ship passing under the bridge? That’s here because we had the guts to think big.” spt