February marks Black History Month, a tradition that started in the Jim Crow era and was officially recognized in 1976. 

It aims to honor African Americans’ contributions and acknowledge their sacrifices. San Pedro is home to many amazing Black artists, authors, and creators. I’d like to recognize a few of them this month.

PETER J. GRAVETT

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and raised in San Pedro, California, Major General (Retired) Peter J. Gravett has devoted his professional career to the service of others and continues to lead tirelessly in retirement. One of 12 children, Peter’s late father set the example of military service as an enlisted soldier in a Tuskegee Airmen’s unit, the legendary African American aviators who served in WWII. 

Concurrent with his service in the Army National Guard, Gravett spent more than 22 years with the LAPD and was awarded their Medal of Valor. Upon his LAPD retirement, he served another 20 years as an Army commissioned officer. He also served in the cabinet of California’s governor as Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

General Gravett is the author of From East Garrison to the Ranch House and Battling While Black: General Patton’s Heroic African American WWII Battalions.

DARNELLA DAVIDSON

Darnella Davidson taught instrumental music in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for 38 years. Her legendary bands have performed for such prestigious events as the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics, NFL games, and on film and television. Her bands have shared the stage with numerous celebrities. 

She has been widely recognized for her work as an educator and received commendations from various civic leaders, including President Bill Clinton. Highlights of her many local and national awards include the GRAMMY Music Educator Award semi-finalist and the CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence award.

In San Pedro, Darnella has a Rotary Club scholarship named in her honor, given to a San Pedro High School band member to continue their music experience at the college level.

Beyond retirement, Davidson continues her music and arts education work in various roles, including her position as an associate director with the Los Angeles Unified School District All-City Honor Band, which annually participates in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.

LEON CARROLL, JR.

Leon Carroll, Jr. is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He served as a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving on active duty for six years and three years in the Marine Corps Reserves, attaining the rank of Major. His duty assignments included serving in the Fleet Marine Forces and Sea Duty onboard the USS Ogden (LPD-5).

Following his stint in the Marine Corps, Leon began a 20-year career as a Special Agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). He served in seven locations, including tours as a Special Agent Afloat on the USS Ranger (CV-61) and as the Special Agent in Charge of NCIS offices in the Republic of Panama and the Pacific Northwest. 

Upon retirement from NCIS, Leon was selected to be the technical advisor for the top-rated drama of the same name, holding that position for 21 seasons.  

Leon teamed up with NCIS actor and executive producer Mark Harmon to co-author two bestselling books, Ghosts of Panama and Ghosts of Honolulu, the latter being a New York Times best seller. Leon is active with the Rotary Club of San Pedro, which is planning a high school music and art competition on February 20 at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. spt

Neighborhood councils are the backbone of grassroots democracy, bridging San Pedro residents and the City of LA. 

These councils help our town become better informed on various projects, voice our concerns about our quality of life, shape our neighborhoods, and work collaboratively to address the issues that matter most to San Pedro. 

Neighborhood councils (NCs) work closely with public services, the LAPD, CD15 (the “One-Five”), and city, county, state, and federal elected officials. 

Despite their role, most San Pedrans don’t know their impact, don’t vote in NC elections, and don’t participate in neighborhood council meetings. 

What Are Neighborhood Councils?

Neighborhood councils are local advisory bodies established by the City of Los Angeles in 1999 to promote public participation in government and make city services more responsive to community needs. There are three NCs in San Pedro representing Northwest San Pedro, Central San Pedro, and Coastal San Pedro. 

Reflecting varied cultures, challenges, views, aspirations, and focuses, each works to better San Pedro from their perspective.

While their decisions are not legally binding, they influence city policies, budgets, and projects by advocating for the needs of our communities.

Why Are Neighborhood Councils Important?

Representation and Advocacy—Whether it’s traffic safety, affordable housing, homelessness, public parks, or emergency preparedness, neighborhood councils provide an accessible platform for residents to express their concerns and advocate for change.

Local Solutions to Local Issues—A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in a city as vast and diverse as LA. NCs address the specific needs of our area, fostering more effective and relevant solutions.

Promoting Civic Engagement—Neighborhood councils encourage residents to take an active role in shaping our community. By participating in council meetings, joining committees, or even running for a council seat, residents gain firsthand experience in local governance and advocacy.

Community Education and Connection—With all of the changes taking place in San Pedro, the NCs serve to educate the public about various projects or issues that affect our community while bringing neighbors together, face-to-face, building stronger connections.

Why Should People Vote in NC Elections?

Despite their importance, voter turnout in neighborhood council elections is often disappointingly low. Each NC is designed to represent 30,000-40,000 residents; however, elections are usually determined by only a few hundred votes and individual seats by less than 10. 

Voting helps select competent representatives who take the time to read board materials and advocate for issues that matter most to you and our community. 

Voting also ensures council members remain responsive and representative of the community’s needs. It sends a message that the community is engaged and expects accountability.

How to Vote

All voting will take place by mail this year, and you must register ahead of time. You can do this online by visiting clerk.lacity.gov/clerk-services/elections/neighborhood-council-elections/how-vote or complete an application at the next neighborhood council board meeting. Ballots will be mailed out starting February 18 and must be mailed back by March 25, 2025, to be counted.

Why Should More People Participate in Neighborhood Councils?

Empowerment Through Involvement—Being part of a neighborhood council gives you a voice in decisions that impact our community and champion causes we care about to drive meaningful change.

Learn and Grow—Participation provides valuable experience in governance, project management, and community building, benefitting the individual and enhancing the council’s effectiveness.

Diversity of Perspectives—When people from various backgrounds participate, councils become more inclusive and better equipped to address the needs of all residents.

Foster Collaboration—Neighborhood councils collaborate with city departments, nonprofits, and other stakeholders. By participating, you contribute to these partnerships and help create innovative solutions for our community’s challenges.

How to Get Involved

Getting involved is easier than you might think. Start by attending a council meeting—each council holds monthly meetings open to the public. You can also join a committee, volunteer for a community project, or run for a council seat during the next election.

For more info on each neighborhood council in San Pedro, visit their website: Central Neighborhood Council: centralsanpedronc.org, Coastal Neighborhood Council: cspnc.org, Northwest Neighborhood Council: nwsanpedro.org.  spt

In 1986, a handful of us involved in youth sports in San Pedro came together over several months to discuss how we could successfully advocate for much-needed additional youth sports facilities. 

A great example of the problem is when I would have my outfielders wear batting helmets while conducting baseball practice at the upper level of Peck Park since I was afraid they might get hit by another team’s ball as too many of us were trying to practice in a much too limited space. 

The San Pedro Youth Coalition (SPYC) became an official 501(c)3 in 1988. We became an all-volunteer nonprofit, and while the pandemic caused us to pause our efforts in 2020, we have come together to establish a new board of directors as we dedicate ourselves once again to the youth of San Pedro.  

While not always easy, our continuing advocacy/efforts with our elected officials over the years to expand the youth sports facilities in our community were ultimately successful. 

You can find our success securing $500,000 of improvements at the Bogdanovich Recreation Center, including a new tee ball field and upgrading the main diamond; the Boys & Girls Club’s Teen Center and Sports Arena at Daniels Field; and the large Field of Dreams soccer venue off North Gaffey. 

We helped secure Pirate Stadium and a new gymnasium at San Pedro High School, two small fields at Angels Gate, and converted the abandoned tank farms on 22nd Street to open space. 

We saved Bloch Field from extinction with two public presentations, as well as Fromhold Field. I believe our greatest facility success after many years of advocacy was securing three million dollars to build the gymnasium at Peck Park (recently renamed after Mel Bobich, one of the founding members of SPYC).

While securing additional youth facilities was our initial and primary goal, our group eventually wanted to do more to support the youth of our community. We established the monthly Youth Times newsletter to communicate our advocacy positions and highlight youth needs; we sponsored an important daily after-school tutoring center at the San Pedro Library, an annual track meet and youth talent show at San Pedro High School, and annual short story and poem contests at the San Pedro Library. In 1989, we established our signature annual event: the Future Leaders of San Pedro dinner.  

In 2020, the pandemic shut down this highly anticipated annual community event that recognized students from each of our San Pedro schools. This year, our reconstituted board of directors is bringing it back, and the event will be held on April 30 at the Dalmatian-American Club. 

At least two students from each school will be recognized (approximately 50 in all), and each will be individually introduced on stage before an audience of about 350 people. A short resume will be read on behalf of each honoree, explaining why they were selected by their schools. 

Over the years, we have recognized over 1,500 San Pedro students. This will be our 33rd Future Leaders event. The cost is $50 per person. As all honorees attend for free, we are looking for and need sponsors for this special event. To learn more, visit sanpedroyouthcoalition.org, email futureleaders@sanpedroyouthcoalition.org, or call (424) 287-7227.

The San Pedro Youth Coalition is back. We can use your support for this all-volunteer organization and this extraordinary event as we establish ourselves once again for the betterment of the youth in our community. 

To quote the great John Wooden, “When we are out of sympathy with the young, then our work in this world is over.” spt

When most people retire in their late 60s, they look forward to a life of leisure, travel, and recreation.

Not San Pedro native Ron Hoshi. After 32 years in education, the 67-year-old decided to enter politics. When one of its members died in June 2024, he was appointed to the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees. He then ran for election to fill the remaining two years of the term and won handily in November.

The district covering parts of Anaheim, Buena Park, La Palma, Stanton, and Cypress, where Hoshi lives, encompasses 22 schools with nearly 30,000 students. That includes eight high schools, eight junior highs, and the college prep Oxford Academy, where Hoshi worked for 18 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal until his retirement. 

He was the choir director at Oxford, creating the OA Singers, and the activities director. He also developed and led the district’s Student Ambassador program, giving students a voice in running the district.

Before Oxford, Hoshi taught at Cypress and Kennedy high schools. There, he coached the swim and water polo teams, founded the Kennedy Singers, and developed one of the district’s most extensive show programs. The program became so extensive that Kennedy had to hire a second director. 

As Hoshi told me, “I was doing Glee stuff before that stuff came out,” referring to the popular high school musical comedy series that aired on Fox. Not surprisingly, many of his former students have careers as professional musicians.

Hoshi is the son of the late Masaki and Dorothy Hoshi, who came to San Pedro in 1949 from Chicago. Masaki worked for the post office and at McCowan’s on weekends; Dorothy worked at the cafeteria at 15th Street Elementary School and the Bandini Pharmacy. Hoshi said he learned his work ethic from them. 

The youngest of five children and the only boy, he and his sisters—Patti, Susie, Terri, and Nancy—all graduated from San Pedro High.  

Hoshi graduated in 1975 and earned his bachelor’s in music education at Cal State Long Beach, where he was “very fortunate” to study under Frank Pooler, who mentored the Carpenters. Hoshi also credits the late Jack Neal, an “incredible band director” who taught at Dana Junior High for 33 years, for his own musical prowess. He got his master’s in educational administration from Alliant University in San Diego.

I can personally attest to Hoshi’s musical prowess from my recollections of him when we attended First Baptist Church in San Pedro together in the late ’70s. The young Hoshi regularly performed “special” music during worship, singing and playing the piano. To anyone who heard him then, his future success was no surprise. 

Among his many honors, he has been named Orange County Arts Administrator of the Year, was a Disneyland Creativity Teacher of the Year, and received the Cypress College Foundation Americana Award.

Far from retiring, Hoshi remains co-owner of Classics Flowers and Confections in Cypress, where he specializes in event planning. He plans to run for re-election in two years for a full four-year term. If only his former students vote, he should win easily again.

REFINERY CLOSING

While technically part of Wilmington, the Phillips 66 refinery, which was Union 76 during my childhood, has been a San Pedro landmark for decades. So its pending closure, devastating to its workforce, also marks the end of an era for generations of San Pedrans.  

I wrote here years ago about how, after an out-of-town journey, the sight of that giant blue-lighted Union sign symbolized we were home. There was the enormous spherical tank that was painted like a baseball to celebrate Dodgers’ championships. And we’ll all miss the bright orange smiling jack-o’-lantern every Halloween and the free bags of caramel corn handed out by a good-neighbor corporation. I went to sleep for years with the flare-ups lighting up my room.

Even worse is what the closure portends. The dismantling will take years, and making the site environmentally safe will take even longer. But when all is said and done, you know developers are already lining up to turn the location into another Ponte Vista housing project, only bigger. Ugh. spt

My youngest son has always had a keen eye for design. As a child, he noticed details others overlooked. 

The best time to travel with our children was when they were in elementary school—past the diaper years but before adolescence. I viewed travel as an opportunity to broaden their horizons. Our road trips often included audiobooks as we explored national parks, visited universities, and toured museums across states and countries. My son would sketch hotel designs inspired by our stays.

These adventures, made possible by travel points and a simple lifestyle, weren’t as extravagant as they may seem.

As he grew older, his observations expanded from hotel designs to cityscapes and infrastructure. He pointed out flaws in intersection layouts, such as the oversized, pedestrian-unfriendly intersection when Harbor Boulevard was reconfigured.

His passion for walkable cities became clear early on. In high school, he embraced public transportation, navigating Los Angeles and beyond on buses and the metro. I was more relaxed with him than his older brother, granting him freedoms I now wish I had given my firstborn.

Today, my youngest is a Regent Scholar at UC Berkeley, studying urban planning. Through him, I discovered the concept of “third places”—spaces beyond home (the first place) and work (the second place), where people gather to socialize and connect with their communities. These spaces are inclusive, where cost isn’t a barrier, and strangers can become friends.

Unfortunately, in our car-centric region, third places are scarce compared to areas with robust public transportation and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

This realization deepened during my recent international travels. Anticipating changes in my employment that might eliminate my accrued vacation time, I took three international trips in one year—a decision I don’t regret despite the changes not happening yet.

In Turkey, we stayed in an apartment by the coast, surrounded by a bustling downtown. Evenings were a revelation: Young adults drank coffee late into the night, older men played backgammon, and families enjoyed playgrounds past sunset. These vibrant, interconnected third places created a palpable sense of community.

Returning to San Pedro, I longed for similar spaces and a more walkable city. Walkable cities foster connections, promote physical health, and reduce car dependence. Third places are vital for connections and aging in place—a critical need in car-dependent areas.

Seniors, in particular, face isolation when they can no longer drive. While parts of San Pedro are more walkable, I’ve come to appreciate the small neighborhood markets. However, the area still lacks cohesive infrastructure to make connections accessible to all. The natural beauty of places like Paseo Del Mar, Cabrillo Beach, and Royal Palms—informal third places—is an asset to our town.

Rather than waiting for large-scale changes, I’ve sought out and cultivated my own third places. Working with seniors has reinforced the importance of staying connected locally. I’ve started playing Mahjong at Peck Park, where camaraderie expands to other venues.

Volunteering, working from local coffee shops, and playing pickleball at Anderson Memorial Senior Citizen Center are additional ways I’ve found connection. With West Harbor set to open in a year, the community will have more options for gathering and socializing.

I’m deeply grateful for the residents of San Pedro who have worked tirelessly to improve our local amenities—from enhancing the Anderson Memorial Senior Citizen Center and other clubs to organizing activities like Mahjong and pickleball at Peck Park. Their dedication shows how grassroots efforts can create meaningful third places, even in a car-dependent city.

While we may never achieve the walkability of European cities, we can still build a future where connections are prioritized. This could involve creating more pedestrian-friendly zones, supporting local markets as community hubs, and advocating for better public transportation.

Initiatives like community events, shared gardens, or expanding senior-friendly spaces can also foster these vital connections. Together, we can shape a community that values social interaction and ensures everyone, especially our seniors, has a place to connect and thrive.

To find your home’s walkability score, visit walkscore.com. spt

Did you know that last year, the homeless population declined by 0.27 percent to 75,312 in LA County, and by 2.2 percent to 45,252 in the City of LA?  

While these stats may seem small, they are directionally huge—a decrease by any percentage means our solutions are working. The new year begins with immense possibilities—the desire to set (or reset) new goals. But we should also celebrate, recognize, and build on the previous year’s work and progress.

So, on that note, I want to thank the voters of LA County for banding together and ensuring Measure A passed. A significant victory for homeless service providers and housing advocates, Measure A is an investment by all of you in solutions for our region.

Implementing and expanding proven solutions to reduce homelessness while making Los Angeles County more affordable is a win for everyone, and you did this.

Research has demonstrated the link between an increase in public funding for housing and a decrease in the homeless population. Through Measure A, LA County is primed to boost its publicly financed housing supply—36 percent of funds will go to the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA). LACAHSA is modeled after similar initiatives in New York, San Francisco, and Singapore that scale up housing production and preservation.

Measure A is a prime example of why The Homeless Count, a point-in-time census conducted annually by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), is critical for developing policy initiatives for effective solutions.

This concentrated effort helps us learn where people experiencing homelessness are located—to help identify trends among various populations and other up-to-date information that can inform local policies, strategies, and funding.

Volunteering for this annual effort is a meaningful way to help leaders make decisions to alleviate homelessness in our region. To register to volunteer, go to count.lahsa.org and learn more about how to get involved.

Often, I’m asked, “Why is this not being solved faster?” Currently, for every 100 people we house in LA, 125 individuals become homeless. It’s like working against the power of a firehose.

If we stopped anyone from becoming newly homeless today, we could solve our region’s homeless challenges in less than five years. While those are incredible numbers, the systems and forces that keep so many in housing instability are stronger than my math (for now).

The issue of homelessness is one of the most impactful of our time and also one of the most complex. From policy discussions to societal ripples, this issue triggers folks for a multitude of reasons.

I often get asked questions like, “How can I make a difference?” or “Why am I seeing more homeless individuals around my neighborhood?” I can offer answers or help find them for you. Ask me anything, and I promise to get you the information you need to help you navigate this multilayered topic.

Email me at info@sheikhimpact.com. Let’s answer your questions about the homeless crisis and get you the information you seek. spt

If I come off a little more curmudgeonly than usual, please excuse me, but I’ve been driving up and down Western Avenue a lot the past several months while Caltrans does all it can to make life miserable for commuters. 

I thought getting around San Pedro was bad enough with the nightmare caused by the Harbor Boulevard exit ramp situation (thank you, Port of Los Angeles), and then Caltrans decided to disrupt life for thousands of drivers by tearing up Western for every possible reason but making it better for vehicles. Could those in charge of painting the lane markings have made it any more confusing?

All of which is just a tiny preview of the hell drivers can expect in 2025 when work begins in earnest on what’s being called “Harborgeddon,” the redecking of the Vincent Thomas Bridge that, as of this writing, will be closed to all traffic for 16 months. And what’s the betting line on the over-under on those 16 months?

Things will get even more interesting for the San Pedro Bay ports in mid-January when the International Longshoremen’s Association, representing dockworkers all along the East and Gulf coasts, returns to the negotiating table with shippers and the battle over automation resumes.

Our own ILWU is expecting ships to divert to the West Coast, adding even more truck traffic to the already overburdened area. However, the ILA talks will be taking place right before the beginning of the Chinese New Year, a typically slow period.

Two developments could have a significant bearing on the labor talks. One is the recently publicized 2023 Container Port Performance Index. The CPPI report by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence ranks ports by efficiency, “focusing on the duration of port stay for container vessels.”

It’s an important benchmark because the longer a ship is in port, the more it costs the shipper. And, of course, all costs are eventually passed on to the consumer.

Out of 405 ports ranked worldwide, Long Beach is 373rd and Los Angeles 375th. The top-ranked American port was Charleston (53), while the New York-New Jersey complex came in at 92. Not surprisingly, East and Southeast Asian ports took up 13 of the top 20 spots, with Shanghai’s Yangshan remaining number one in the world and Oman’s Salalah second.

Dennis A. Daggett, executive vice president of the ILA, posted an excellent rebuttal to the report earlier this month that, while not being port-specific, certainly explains why LA and Long Beach rank so low in efficiency.

In one subtopic, Daggett notes, “What no one seems to be talking about is the outdated infrastructure that supports U.S. ports, such as highways, bridges, rail systems, and dredging operations. Many of these critical connections to the ports are decades behind the needs of modern commerce. Trucks transporting goods often face bottlenecks on congested and deteriorating highways.”

Sound familiar? You can read the entire rebuttal at ilaunion.org.

The second and most recent development was a midmonth meeting between Daggett and President-elect Donald Trump. Trump expressed his wholehearted support for dockworkers in their fight against automation.

Daggett reported to his union that the President-elect “was not just attentive to our concerns; he was receptive and genuinely engaged in a discussion about the existential threat automation poses—not only to the Longshore sector but to our communities and very fabric of this great nation.”

Few unions have been as antagonistic toward Republicans and Trump in particular than the ILWU, so Daggett’s words bear repeating:

“Let’s put politics aside for a moment, as I know it can be challenging for some to grasp. But I witnessed something extraordinary firsthand—this man (Trump) truly wants to fight for Americans and its working class. In over 25 years in Washington, I have never seen a Republican take up the mantle for working-class people. President-elect Trump proved me wrong yesterday.”

‘Nuff said. spt

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