This is the fourth and final article in a series on leadership based on a set of commandments we return to and refer to at Trinity, the parish I serve. You may catch up on past articles in the archive at sanpedrotoday.com. You may notice that all nine commandments were not covered. Four of them are more specific to church leadership and may not be as interesting to the readership of this magazine. If you are interested in the whole set, please don’t hesitate to contact me at pastor@trinitysanpedro.org.

The call to lead is tough. Making decisions will draw detractors. Bringing reform will not be popular with those who helped create, or have an investment in, the status quo. Leaning into a difficult discussion instead of living in denial takes chutzpah. So why lead? Your family (kids’ sports team, business, neighborhood council, city, quilting group, confirmation class, the list goes on and on) needs someone to lead. Proverbs 29.18 says, “Where there is no vision [leadership], the people cast off restraint.”

Good leadership can foment unity to win wars, go to the moon and back, and convince people to make unlikely sacrifices for the greater good. From the basic unit of the family to a nation, without a leader to communicate vision, everyone goes their own way. Everybody just goes into their own room to watch their own show, because we can’t agree on who we are (identity) or what we are doing (mission).

The leader is responsible to detect and correct identity theft and mission creep. Identity theft is the inability to answer the questions, “Who are we?” Mission creep is the inability to answer, “What are we called to do?” Identity theft is exacerbated by the pressure to be everything, and mission creep is made worse by the pressure to do everything. When identity theft or mission creep is detected, the first corrective measure is weeding.

Have you ever planted mint? Looks harmless. Smells great. Helps digestion. Makes a great garnish. Mint should come with a warning label: Will take over your whole yard! Take my word, give mint boundaries. Like, put it in a pot, away from any other soil. At first, I felt like a real champion gardener when I saw how great my mint was doing. Then I thought, “I wonder if I need to prune that back?” Then, “Holy cow, that’s enough mint for all the mojitos the Green Onion makes in a year!” When my rhubarb was in danger of losing its life to the mint, I took drastic action. Weed the mint. I pulled it all out. Smelled like a gum factory. I gave bushels of mint to my backyard chickens and have sworn off mint ever since.

Leadership Commandment 8: We weed today. We stop being who we are not called to be. We stop doing what we are not called to do. We don’t let the sun go down on our anger (Ephesians 4.26). We don’t allow noxious feelings to spread. We don’t give the devil a foothold by planting invasive offense in our garden (2 Corinthians 2.10). We are quick to address and forgive. Bitter unforgiveness is a million times more destructive than mint. When we don’t weed today, tomorrow is worse. The difficult discussion is not less necessary, nor is it less difficult tomorrow.

This New Year, take a good look at your metaphorical garden. What is crowding out health and growth? Is there something that is not essential to your core identity or mission that can be weeded out? Many people resolve to add stuff to their lives at the New Year. Gym memberships, fad diets, and other well-intentioned additions. Maybe it would be healthier to start with subtraction this year instead of addition. Weed instead of plant?

May the Lord crown your year with abundance (from Psalm 65).

Nathan Hoff is the Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro. Follow his blog at trinitypastor.blogspot.com.

Last year was momentous for AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, with milestone achievements that will shape future success in 2019 and for years to come. Our dream is that AltaSea and the work of its partners will be a catalyst for waterfront renovation, a jobs creator, and an economic development jump-start for the entire region.

But, for those who may not be familiar, a little background: AltaSea is a nonprofit, public benefit company that has leased 35 acres from the Port of Los Angeles at City Dock 1. The site includes the historic warehouses and former Westways Terminal at the bottom of 22nd Street, next to Warehouse 1 and the Port Pilot Station. It is a spectacular location on the Main Channel, close to the breakwater and Angel’s Gate lighthouse.

The vision of AltaSea is to develop a world-class campus of marine and ocean science, business innovation, and community education and engagement – all dedicated to discovery and the preservation of our ocean resources. The first phase of campus development is in three projects: (1) the adaptive reuse of Warehouses 58, 59, and 60 for businesses that are engaged in aquaculture (ocean farming) and blue tech (underwater robotics); (2) the renovation and improvement of Warehouse 57 for the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI), a consortium of 23 universities, colleges, and institutes; and (3) new construction of an iconic engagement center, designed by the world renowned architectural firm, Gensler.

Work on AltaSea has already begun by activating the existing warehouses and wharf on the East Channel. Over the past twelve months, we have secured significant tenants to the site including Boeing (and its ocean exploration submarine, the Echo Voyager), Catalina Sea Ranch (ocean farmers), Blue Robotics (creators of small, ocean robots), and others. We have welcomed innovators and ocean researchers to our docks, such as Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), National Geographic, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In addition, AltaSea has partnered with the Ocean Exploration Trust, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, the L.A. Maritime Institute, and other educators at all levels of study.

The bold vision of an AltaSea campus is coming to life, where the best of business, science, and education come together to protect the oceans for future generations, while accelerating our economy, and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Last August, we reached a significant funding milestone that allowed AltaSea to take possession of a large portion of the site and proceed to the first project in phase one – the renovation of our three historic warehouses, home to the aquaculture and blue tech business clusters.

Our 180,000-square-foot warehouse complex will be called the Center of Innovation. With this first project, AltaSea will create jobs in new ocean industries, and develop a pipeline to better careers for students in the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor communities. These are the “Blue Economy” jobs that will provide opportunity and prosperity to future generations.

Later this year, AltaSea will release bid documents and award construction contracts for the Center of Innovation. Work will take a little less than a year, after which the entire space will be available for tenants, jobs, and community education and engagement experiences.

All this progress shows that AltaSea has advanced from a wonderfully audacious idea into a tangible reality. But none of it would be possible without the support of our friends, benefactors, and this community. Significant support has come from the City family, most especially Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Port of Los Angeles, and Councilmember Joe Buscaino. The AltaSea team is grateful for the progress of 2018. Together we have come so far, and together we will complete the full vision of AltaSea.

Tim McOsker is the CEO of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles.

The above is a quote from George H.W. Bush, whom we buried last month after a lifetime of public service to our country as a fighter pilot, congressman, U.N. ambassador, CIA director, vice president and, of course, president. He was a Republican president who believed in “serving some higher purpose than ourselves.” He rallied for “A Thousand Points of Light” as a call to service – to make this nation both kinder and gentler. He sent us to war in the Gulf, got our troops out immediately after the conflict was won and made the tough but correct call to raise taxes to pay for that war rather than blow up the deficit and/or take away public services for the poor.

Our current president is the antithesis of President #41 – an ignorant narcissist who doesn’t care about the poor, mocks public service, and increases the military budget by billions while at the same time providing tax cuts for the wealthiest and corporations. The result: our national deficit is increasing by trillions, which leads to talks about cutting Social Security and Medicare to make up the deficit. A kinder and gentler nation?

Cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits should never occur. First of all, I have been paying into both systems for 45 years – this isn’t an entitlement – these are programs I and tens of millions of Americans are entitled to because we paid for these delayed benefits throughout our lifetimes. As people live longer, the continuation of these resources is more important than ever – they will be the lifeline for so many Americans. A kinder and gentler nation takes Social Security and Medicare off the chopping block forever.

Another major social issue is our homeless. There is no silver bullet for homelessness, but there are ways to easily address the invisible homeless who live in cars or non-traditional housing. Temple Beth El planned to allow people living in their cars to utilize their parking lot for a safe place to park and sleep. The outcry from my Vista Del Oro neighbors was so loud and continual that the temple was forced to back down. Really? A kinder and gentler nation starts in our own backyard. I don’t understand the hate and fear that did not allow this simple act of kindness and service to prevail. This, at a time when our poverty rates and cost of housing continues to rise and more and more families are forced to live in their cars, garages, or 10 in a single bedroom apartment. Kinder and gentler?

One of our Club kids and his mom (they both work) live in their car and could have used that parking lot opportunity – they would be a threat to no one.

On a similar note, I’ve been informed that a large number of Harbor Community College students are living in their cars and are food deprived. I understand many have tried to park near the campus but are rousted by the authorities and must move on and/or get ticketed. Why can’t the college allow those students with I.D. to park in their gated lot at night and find funding to place a security guard there to monitor access? Cost would be about $50,000 annually to house maybe 50-100 homeless students each night.

This isn’t brain surgery, but we have to be willing to see the real face of homelessness and provide kinder and gentler options other than ticketing these homeless students and relegating them to the streets. Also, the school has a great culinary program – something tells me that with a little creative planning and minimal funding, you could also feed these students at a very low cost to them each morning.

We can be kinder and gentler in 2019.

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

My father has macular degeneration and is losing his vision. He has lived in the same house for more than 52 years. He never wants to move, he tells me. My mom passed away five years ago, so I help when I can. It is an hour away if there is no traffic. With my own family and career in social services, I offer care and support from a distance when I cannot get out there. He does not need a caretaker yet. I have found some solutions that have helped him and me too, so I worry less. Some of my ideas do not always fly with him, like an indoor camera with an intercom. Okay, so he wasn’t ready for me to see him in his living room every day, I get it. This is what is working for us:

Call Blocker for Landline: My brother bought a Sentry brand call blocker for my dad two years ago on Amazon. There are many varieties and brands now. My dad used to get at least five telemarketing calls a day. With the Sentry there are no more spam calls. The phone rings once and it is cut off then the number can be blocked. Everybody else, like me, can still call but it eliminates all the other annoying calls. There are no monthly fees for this device, it is a one-time purchase. He hasn’t had any telemarketing call for two years since he got this.

Large ‘No Solicitations’ Sign: I don’t like the idea of strangers knocking on my dad’s door. He is 85 years old, so I am protective. There has been a huge reduction of salespeople since we posted this sign on his front door. They sell these signs on Amazon and at Home Depot.

Shower Grab Bar: My husband bought a grab bar at Home Depot and put it in with a diamond drill bit. Some people bath less if they do not feel secure in the shower. He does not need a shower chair at this point. He is very happy with the shower bar and feels much more confident while bathing.

Meals On Wheels: My dad can’t prepare food due to his vision and has lost weight, so we signed up for Meals On Wheels. He pays a minimal fee to have two meals delivered on designated days. This was one of my ideas that he hated at first, but we eased into it. Now he loves it. He receives a hot meal, a drink, fruit and a cold sandwich for later.

Dial-A-Ride: I got my dad signed up for Dial-A-Ride in the city he lives in shortly after he quit driving. He looked pretty annoyed with me when we were registering and did not use the service for months. Then one day he decided to start using it to go out to lunch every week at his favorite restaurant as he used to when he drove. It costs 25-cents one way. My dad is a good tipper and it pays off, he gets exceptional service.

Free Talking Books: The Braille Institute provides a free talking machine and books designed for people with low vision or those who cannot hold a book. Books can be ordered online or by calling their library. They provide a free return envelope for the books. I also was able to get my dad a reading magnifying glass at no charge through the Braille Institute. For more information, visit brailleinstitute.org or call (800) 808-2555.

Free Phone through The California Telephone Access Program (CTAP): My dad was having trouble dialing his home phone, so I applied for a specialized phone from californiaphones.org. Somebody came to his house and trained him (and me) to use his new phone. Now he can feel for the button that dials me and others with one touch. Anybody in California who has difficulty using a standard telephone qualifies with a doctor’s note. They can be contacted at (800) 806-1191.

Ring Doorbell: I have had a Ring Doorbell and have found it very useful. I ordered one for my dad. I can see when a delivery is made at my dad’s house or somebody is on his porch. Sometimes I get on the intercom and pretend like I am in the other room. Nobody needs to know he is home alone at times. It is a one-time cost of approximately $100 and then $30 annually.

My dad also wears a medical alert button, and I have meals delivered to him through apps like Postmates and Uber Eats. There are many services and programs to assist seniors and caregivers. Looking for assistance and asking for help is the first step.

Jennifer Marquez can be reached at  jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com  and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.

It’s either a failure of our educational system or the fault of preening politicians who can’t say no to a photo op, but when did we begin confusing Veterans Day with Memorial Day?

These are two distinct holidays honoring two distinct groups of people. Memorial Day is the day set aside to remember the men and women of the armed forces who died in service to their country. Veterans Day is the day we salute all who have served, in war and peace.

I bring this up because of two events this past Veterans Day in which San Pedro’s Roger Gonzales was honored. Gonzales, who was killed during the Korean War, received much publicity when his remains were recovered and buried in Green Hills. He had a solemn and dignified military funeral, richly deserved after 68 years. The holiday for heroes like him is Memorial Day.

San Pedro is full of living veterans, Green Hills is full of dead ones, from WWII to Korea and Vietnam. It would have been much more appropriate for the Los Angeles City Council or the USS Iowa to honor any one of them.

Two come immediately to mind. One is Harold “Hal” Garvin, who died Sept. 20 at age 94. Garvin was a WWII veteran who survived 50 missions as a crew member of a B-24 Liberator with the 759th Bomb Squadron. A Gardena High graduate, he returned from the war and began a teaching career at Dana Junior High in 1948. Three years later he moved to San Pedro High, where he taught history for 10 years before joining the faculty at Harbor College. He taught history and political science from 1961 to 1978. In 1979, he was elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees, where he served 12 years.

I first met Garvin at Harbor, where I enrolled in his political science course in 1969, and we reconnected decades later through email after he read one of my columns. That’s when I first learned about his wartime experiences, which can be heard in an audio interview he gave in 2005 to Robin Williams as part of the Veterans History Project. (A Google search of his name and the Veterans History Project will take you to the interview.)

In light of Roger’s story, another deserving honoree would have been his late cousin, Freddie Gonzalez (with two z’s), who died in 2002 at 72. Gonzalez, like Roger, was a native San Pedran who grew up in the same La Rambla neighborhood. He was a year older than his cousin and joined the Marine Corps Reserves soon after graduating from San Pedro High. He urged Roger to join up after he graduated.

When the Korean War broke out, they were both called up and remained together as members of the 7th Marines’ Fox Company. The company’s heroic role in the legendary battle of the Chosin Reservoir is told in The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of Marines in Combat. The book details the unit’s nightmarish struggle from November 27 to December 4, 1950, in subzero temperatures while surrounded by thousands of Communist Chinese. This include Roger’s death on the first night from a sniper’s bullet and Freddie’s recurring role in the defense of Fox Hill.

Freddie did not survive unscathed. Like most of his foxhole buddies, he suffered severe frostbite to his feet, the affects of which hampered him the rest of his life. He returned to San Pedro, married his high school sweetheart, Delia, who still lives in San Pedro, and they raised seven children at First and Patton, not far from his parents’ home. Freddie eventually went to work for San Pedro Boat Works and retired after being injured.

Asked if his dad ever talked much about the war, oldest son Jimmy said, “He would give us bits and pieces over the years but didn’t talk about the actual war until I was in my 20s. He opened up about it. Most of the time he talked about it, he felt sorry for the Chinese; he saw how underfed and underarmed they were. He felt bad he had to kill a lot of those guys.

“He was always fairly stoic about it, just did his job and tried to stay alive like everybody else and keep his buddies alive. He was very proud of the service and proud of his country.”

Jimmy once told Ron Gonzales, another cousin of Roger and Freddie, “From the time I can remember, I don’t think I ever saw my dad cry. It could possibly be because of the things he did and saw for those seven days of his life. However, it did give him an appreciation of life and an extraordinary sense of humor. He was almost always in a good mood. He loved his kids, but also just about every kid he met. I never asked him, but I think Roger was never far from his thoughts and prayers.”

One More Book

Continuing the military theme, San Pedro native Michelle (Duval) Ule has a new book out, A Poppy in Remembrance, a WWI coming-of-age novel. The protagonist is a woman journalist who comes to know evangelists Oswald and Biddy Chambers, the subjects of Ule’s excellent biography that I reviewed here last year.

You can find more information about the book at Ule’s website (michelleule.com). The book is available at amazon.com.

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.

When I first learned about essential oils, I was skeptical. I couldn’t understand how a few drops of oil from a plant could make any real difference in my health. I eventually decided to give them a try, slowly and reluctantly, and after some time experimenting, I’ve learned they can actually be quite effective. I was also happy to find that there’s scientific research to back up many of the related claims.

It turns out that essential oils can play a therapeutic role in healing, symptom relief, and immune support. So with cold and flu season upon us, it’s the perfect time to incorporate some of these natural wonders into your self-care routine:

(The following essential oils are generally safe for adult use. Please consult a pediatrician or qualified aromatherapist about which essential oils are safe for children. You can also seek out products specifically formulated for children.)

Eucalyptus Oil – Studies show that eucalyptus oil has antimicrobial effects against many bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It also has immune-stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic benefits, making it effective in helping to treat respiratory illness, including colds, bronchitis, asthma, and sinusitis. In addition to its ability to naturally fight infection, eucalyptus oil can help offer effective relief for symptoms such as coughs, sore throats, and sinus congestion. Eucalyptus oil can be used via steam inhalation or applied topically (usually with a carrier oil). In particular, homemade vapor rubs have become a popular all-natural alternative to drugstore vapor rub products (which often contain camphor), using a combination of eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, a carrier oil, and beeswax.

Oregano Oil – Oregano oil’s antiviral properties make it one of my favorite natural cold and flu remedies. It’s been found to be particularly effective for upper respiratory tract infections (in addition to other viruses). While oregano oil can be diffused aromatically or applied topically (pre-diluted with a carrier oil), I prefer to take oregano oil orally via capsules because I find the scent and taste to be strong (I like Designs for Health Oil of Oregano capsules). It’s especially effective when taking preventatively or at the first sign of a cold. Just be sure to always take it with a full plate of food, as it can cause stomach upset otherwise.

Frankincense Oil – With its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, frankincense has been shown to be more than just a popular ancient remedy. Studies show its effectiveness in treating inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, digestive distress, and more. In addition to its therapeutic benefits promoting relaxation, oral health, and memory function, frankincense is also touted as a potent immune booster, making it a favorite when fighting colds and flu. Plus, the scent is instantly calming to me. Frankincense can be diffused aromatically or applied topically with a carrier oil.

Peppermint Oil – Among its various benefits, peppermint has potent antimicrobial and antiviral properties, making it beneficial for fighting winter viruses. Meanwhile, the menthol in peppermint makes it ideal for relieving congestion, coughs, sore throats, and sinus headaches. Like eucalyptus, peppermint oil can be used via steam inhalation, diffused aromatically, or applied topically (usually with a carrier oil or as part of a homemade vapor rub).

Thieves Oil – Thieves oil is a blend of essential oils with potent antimicrobial properties, typically made of a combination of clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lemon oils. Studies show that essential oils, such as cinnamon and clove, contain antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties that can help support immunity and fight against colds and flu. Thieves oil can be applied topically (pre-diluted with a carrier oil) or diffused aromatically. Bonus: the scent is wonderful.

Some things to remember:

• To avoid skin irritation, dilute essential oils with a carrier oil (like jojoba or coconut oil) before applying topically.
• Essential oils can have adverse effects, so be sure to check with your doctor first if you are pregnant or have a medical condition.
• Do not ingest essential oils unless the label deems it is safe to do so. Certain oils are not safe for ingestion.
• Always look for pure essential oils manufactured by trusted brands. Plant Therapy and doTerra are two reputable brands (although there are others).

For related references and studies, visit PubMed.gov.

Follow Lori Garrett’s wellness blog, www.adventuresofasickchick.com.

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