The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 109, No. 3 - January 16, 2020
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............2
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.....................10
Classifieds............................9
Crossword/Sudoku.............9
Entertainment....................11
Legals....................................8
Pets......................................12
Sports Shorts.......................4
Real Estate.......................5-7
Weekend
Forecast
A Hero on the Front Lines
PFC Traber was drafted in 1966. He was 20 years old.
PFC Traber today.
El Segundo’s Milford E. Traber served a tour in Vietnam. His account of one day in Vietnam is harrowing and horrifying. Read his first person account on page 4. (PARENTAL WARNING: Graphic
and Violent Content). PFC Traber’s numerous medals: Top row, (l-r): Marksman Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, Unit Crest 3 47th Infantry Regiment. Second row, (l-r): Purple Heart, Silver Star and
Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster indicating a second Purple Heart. Third row, ( l-r): Enlisted Infantry with Blue Disk, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Enlisted Infantry with Blue Disk. Fourth row: Silver
Star Ribbon and Purple Heart Ribbon. Last row, (l-r): National Defense Ribbon (two stars), Vietnam Campaign Ribbon and Vietnam Service Ribbon issued by the Republic of Vietnam. Photos provided
by Milford Traber.
The Outside Matters for
WWOO in El Segundo
By Chase Maser
After all, homes in El Segundo have the
Over the past 25 years, Gina Hoffman
tendency to lineup side-by-side without too
and her husband Gregg have been proud
much room for scenery. Any outdoor space
members of El Segundo, serving the city in
that does remain gets commandeered by
more ways than one.
weeds or mulch, maybe an aloe plant or
On a regular basis, Gina is a well-known
cactus—Hoffman aims to inspire a change.
realtor throughout the community. As the team
“The product is versatile, durable and affordable,”
leader of The Hoffman Group, she represents
says Hoffman. Not to mention, it’s
homebuyers and sellers across the South Bay
a great way to revitalize current backyard eyesores
and parts of Los Angeles. But when she’s
that put your landscape in a chokehold.
not selling real estate, her and Gregg get
Peter Kahane, a local resident and BBQ
creative with outdoor living spaces inspired
enthusiast, was “struggling with a built-in
by Dutch designers.
BBQ island that had a massive footprint in
“My husband and I own WWOO Concrete
[his] backyard” before hiring WWOO to give
Outdoor Kitchens and we also own Outside
it a facelift.
Matters Landscaping, another staple of El
“The space was overwhelmed and it left no
Segundo for the past 25 years,” Hoffman
area for guests,” says Kahane. “Working with
explains.
their team, we came up with a fantastic design
Based at 129 Bungalow Drive, the Hoffman
that completely transformed my backyard.
family became licensees of the Dutch-based
It’s so much easier to prep, cook, serve and
company, WWOO (pronounced woo) —created
entertain. The entire experience was painless
by Dutch designer Piet-Jan van den Kommer.
and installation was a breeze. Everyone who
Essentially, WWOO helps homeowners across
comes over can’t believe it exists and asks
the country enjoy their garden spaces anytime
where they can get one.”
throughout the year by transforming them
Before WWOO, Kahane’s monster BBQ
with the addition of a functional and stylish
island sat in the middle of his patio, suffocated
outdoor kitchen while still maintaining the
by chairs and a shrub wall only a foot or two
openness to the yard. From backyard BBQ
away. During a get-together, it makes the grill
layouts to storage areas for firewood, a sink,
master look like a ringmaster taming steak
and cutting boards, WWOO brings style and
and chicken breasts. After WWOO, the entire
functionality to homes that typically lack any
island was broken down and refashioned into
outdoor appeal.
a garden wall complete with all the necessary
equipment. Three rows of shelves open to
the air and easy to access. A Big Green Egg
kamado-style grill is set into the shelving for a
seamless look. The adjacent counter provides
space for food preparation and presentation,
and is completed with a WWOO cutting
board and the movable WWOO towel rail
which attaches itself anywhere on the kitchen
by sliding onto the counter’s front edge. The
shelf below also gives extra storage room for
outdoor accessories and dishes.
In fact, Kahane’s design is only one of
an endless number of possible layouts that
WWOO has to offer.
The modular WWOO system allows for
customization of height, color, orientation,
and size. Heights range from a low bench
seat to a full 6-and-a-half foot kitchen wall,
and is available in the standard colors White,
Light Grey, and Dark Grey. Though, if you
have a favorite color, WWOO is happy to
accommodate.
The kitchens are also compatible with a
variety of outdoor amenities whether it be
a Big Green Egg or other kamado-style
grills, gas grills, fridges, sinks, lighting, or
fireplaces. The WWOO team can help find
a way to make it work.
The idea behind minimalist Dutch aesthetics
is to be compact and linear to free up valuable
space, maximizing the outdoor layout to its
Friday
Mostly
Sunny
62˚/49˚
Saturday
Mostly
Cloudy
65˚/52˚
Sunday
Mostly
Cloudy
70˚/56˚
See WWOO, page 4