SUNDAY,FEBRUARY14, 2021 /// Now including Coastline Pilot and Huntington Beach Independent /// dailypilot.com CROSS-COUNTRY H.B. girls notch a perfect score The Oilers post minimum 15 points in their victory over Edison to begin H.B. school district’s cross- country dual meet circuit. BY ANDREW TURNER Huntington Beach High School cross- country coach Kareen Shackelford spent some time as an educator on Saturday in sharing the significance of the num- ber 15 in the sport. At the end of the girls’ cross-country race in the Oilers’ season-opening meet at Edison, it was a conversation that she happily had as she explained its mean- ing to a student capturing the moment for the yearbook. Kevin Chang | Staff Photographer Huntington Beach posted the min- HISTORICAL IMPRESSIONIST Peter Small will spend part of Presidents Day Monday at the corner of 19th Street and Newport Boulevard imum team point total, defeating Edi- in front of Triangle Square in Costa Mesa. Small portrays numerous presidents but during the pandemic has endured a “forced retirement.” son 15-43 in a race that kicked off a se- ries of Huntington Beach Union High School District dual meets, a new wrin- kle in a season shaped by the co- ronavirus pandemic. In his role as president Junior Quinn Roldan paced the Oilers in 19 minutes 41.4 seconds. She was fol- lowed in by Andrea Linggi-Perez Costa Mesa resident Peter Small, (19:44.5), Lindsay Rule (19:54.4), Luna Centeno (19:55.7) and Lily Fosmire ahistorical impressionist, will (21:02.5) as Huntington Beach pushed appear Monday outside Triangle the first five runners across the finish Square entertaining passersby line. as George Washington. “It was just so exciting to talk about how that was always a goal when I was BY SARA CARDINE in high school,” Shackelford said. “I don’t think we ever achieved it, and I’m or Costa Mesa resident Peter Small, F Presidents Day is time to shine. See Perfect, page A6 For the historical impressionist, who not only dons the costumes of famous figures from history but slips deftly into their lives and times for the sake of a good HOCKEY performance, the annual holiday would normally be replete with bookings. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, H.B. native, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman are just some of the commanders-in-chief Wildcats alum Small has channeled for the likes of school children, museum patrons and retirement home residents. Chmelevski In fact, if the coronavirus pandemic hadn’t forced the closure of most venues, debuts in NHL Small would most certainly be showcasing his talents as Theodore Roosevelt at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, BY ANDREW TURNER Courtesy of Peter M. Small agig he’s booked each Presidents Day for years. COSTA MESA resident Peter Small portrays President Harry S. Truman. After Sasha Chmelevski heard his “Normally, people like me are very busy name called in the sixth round of the this time of year,” the 67-year-old said in a 2017 National Hockey League draft, his recent interview. “But obviously, since ACTOR PHIL spoken mentality at the time was — like March, things have been very different. I Sionski portrays many late-round picks with greater as- feel like I’ve been on forced retirement.” Benjamin pirations — to say that the draft is just a Undaunted, Small is the type who rolls Franklin at the number. with the punches. So, this Monday, in the International The Huntington Beach native reached absence of a stage, he is taking his craft to Printing Museum anew milestone in his hockey career on the streets of Costa Mesa. in Carson, where Friday, Feb. 5, when he made his NHL His plan is to stand on the corner of 19th he met fellow debut for the San Jose Sharks. Street and Newport Boulevard outside the impressionist It was a thrilling experience for the 21- Triangle Square shopping complex in full Peter Small in year-old center, one that saw him pick George Washington attire. The perform- 2004. up his first point in the league, while the ance will last from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sharks also mounted a two-goal come- “I wanted to find something to do to back in the third period to defeat the keep myself busy,” said Small, who did a host Anaheim Ducks 5-4 in a shootout. Photo by Jim See President, page A5 Whobrey See Debuts, page A6 Newport Beach couple met through an ad in the Daily Pilot BY LILLY NGUYEN In 1990, Penny Baskin decided she wanted to get married. She was 38, owned her own business and felt she was ready to find someone to spend her life with. It was before the internet, computers and cellphones made romantic connections easy, she said, laughing over a phone call early Thursday evening. The only effective “dating thing” that ex- isted at the time was the personal PENNY FLEMING posted a per- ads section in the Daily Pilot. sonals ad in the Daily Pilot in 1990. So, she bought an ad. It was no more than 2 square inches in quickly. size, she said, and it ran in No- John said he doesn’t remember vember. exactly why he answered the ad, “True Calif girl. 5'9" Wonderful but he was single at the time and cook, loves skiing, scuba, fishing, was interested. He called the camping, black tie & dancing. Daily Pilot office and managed to Wants happy secure, nonsmok- get Penny’s phone number so he ing, women’s man, 35-45, to en- could leave a message on her an- joy long term happiness,” the ad swering machine: “Hi, this is read. It was enough to make John John. Give me a call.” Fleming pick up the phone. Just It was the simplicity of his mes- before Thanksgiving, he remem- sage that made Penny call him bers. back. Six others had answered, Scott Smeltzer | Staff Photographer But after Halloween, Penny chimed in. It all happened pretty See Couple, page A5 JOHN AND Penny Fleming married 30 years ago this year. They met after she placed an ad in the Daily Pilot. A2 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14,2021 DAILY PILOT | COASTLINE PILOT | HUNTINGTON BEACH INDEPENDENT WWW.DAILYPILOT.COM forum COMMENTARY | PHILIP A. ROBINSON, M.D. WE’RE REACHING THE FINISH LINE, BUT COVID-19’S TERRAIN REMAINS STEEP lmost a year ago, I wrote VETERINARY avaccine distribution site. These to the community advo- DOCTOR Amy are the kinds of moments that A cating for calm in the face Valentine will appear in history books, and of great fear and misinformation. Alaluf gets the Itrust that history will judge us Hoag had successfully treated COVID-19 well for the actions we’ve taken the first known COVID-19 patient vaccine at the to protect one another during in the state, and our infection Central Net these trying times. prevention department was Training Center As difficult as this year has working around-the-clock with in Huntington been, it has shown us how pow- federal, state and county health Beach on Jan. erful we can be when we work leaders to learn more about the 13. together on a shared plane of novel coronavirus, how it reality, toward a common goal. spreads and how best to stop it. Ayear ago, I cautioned that Ayear later, we know the an- fear is just as contagious as any swers to many of our most press- virus, and the mechanism by ing questions. We’ve sequenced which it spreads is misinforma- the virus’ DNA, tracked its muta- tion. What I said at the outset of tions, developed vaccines against this pandemic remains true it and designed protocols for today: When we come together stopping community spread. to stop the spread of fear and We’ve learned the importance of Raul Roa | Staff misinformation in our commu- mask wearing, of hand washing Photographer nity, we will stop — hopefully and social distancing. forever — the scourge of We are far wiser and better COVID-19. armed than ever, and we can see finish line, the early difficulties polio vaccine. Pfizer, Moderna against a host of other diseases, that time is not on the virus’ with the vaccine rollout plan and others turned their vaccines including cancer, in the years to PHILIP A. ROBINSON is an side. reminds us the terrain before us around in a matter of weeks. The come. infectious disease specialist and It was clear in January 2020 remains difficult and steep. cooperation between researchers We’ve seen neighbors helping medical director of infection that this would not be a sprint Still, I am awestruck by the worldwide has never been more neighbors, applauded healthcare prevention at Hoag Memorial but a marathon. And though we progress we have made. It took pronounced, and the results will workers and teachers as heroes Hospital Presbyterian in Newport know we are approaching the nearly 20 years to develop a have implications for vaccines and even turned Disneyland into Beach. MAILBAG Reader had no problem their families. Again, it is impossible to pervisor, she will continue to work with control the variables in any of the studies residents and the airport community to getting his COVID-19 shots on educators so far, whether the stats resolve issues. There has been so much talk, typically in come from medical personnel or teacher Foley believes in a transparent govern- HOW TO GET the negative mode, regarding making journals. ment. The Board of Supervisors oversees a PUBLISHED appointments and receiving the two vac- From a personal standpoint as a retired $7.5-billion budget but often lacks trans- cine shots needed to break away from this secondary teacher, I see no way that teach- parency.