The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 110, No. 36 - September 9, 2021
Inside
This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.....................11
City Council..........................2
Classifieds............................4
Crossword/Sudoku.............4
Entertainment......................3
Legals..............................8-10
Pets......................................12
Police Reports.....................2
Real Estate.......................5-7
Sports.................................3,8
Weekend
Forecast
Local DJ’s Interviews with Artists
Humanizes the Punk Community
El Segundo’s Deb Hartwig Brings
Home the Championship Trophy
By Duane Plank
Softball coach and instructor Deb Hartwig
recently returned to El Segundo from Oklahoma
Exploring Punk Music with Alec
Hodgman on A Fistful of Vinyl
By Kiersten Vannest
“From sixth grade forward, on any given
weekend, you can find me in a mosh pit.”
From a young age, Alec Hodgman was
ensconced in the world of punk music. His
role models were into punk and played in
punk bands. He admired the unrefined and
defiant nature of the music. Deeper than
that, he found a community, and it is in
the interest of fostering that community
that he went on to form the radio show
A Fistful of Vinyl (KXLU 88.9 FM).
Hodgman himself is not a musician, but
his contribution to the music world shines
in his work. “I’m a passable guitarist at
best,” laughs Hodgman, “and nobody
would ever want to hear me sing if they
knew what was good for them. But at
the very least, I can share some of the
art that other people are making.”
A Fistful of Vinyl started with the intention
of giving air time to up-and-coming
punk bands, putting names on the scene,
and sharing music with new listeners. In
addition to playing their music, Hodgman
interviews the artists. Usually, he says, he
gets into conversations with artists about
all things music-related and beyond. It’s
important to Hodgman to add a human element
to the artists who are often idolized.
Hodgman has interviewed artists both
famous and underground. One day he might
be interviewing Julian Casablancas of The
City, a proud winner, after her girl’s
12-and-under softball team took the title in
the prestigious USA Softball All-American
tournament that took place in mid-August at
the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. The
same stadium houses the yearly Women’s
College World Series.
El Segundo’s Marilyn McCaverty, a rising
star in youth softball circles, was a member of
the winning team. She related her experiences
in Oklahoma and her esteem for Hartwig.
“Coach Deb is a successful coach because
she is honest with you,” McCaverty emailed.
“She pushes you to be your very best and
makes you believe in yourself. She knows the
game because she played it and coached it.
“In Oklahoma, Coach Deb was a great
game coach. She made all the correct softball
moves and made sure each girl got to play so
they could have a full experience. Because
of Coach Deb and my experience with her
in Oklahoma, she made me a better player
both physically and mentally. From the beginning,
she inspired us to believe in what
we could achieve, and we did by winning
all our games and coming home champions.”
Hartwig returned the compliments McCaverty
sent her way, calling her “an incredibly
talented young lady. She hits bombs.” Hartwig
detailed a blast that McCaverty hit in the
Oklahoma tournament, a “bomb” that onehopped
the fence on the College World Series
field. “She hits laser beams; she is incredibly
talented with her bat.”
Hartwig foresees a great future for the
young McCaverty. “We are going to see her
play on ESPN.”
Ex-baseball major leaguer Don Slaught,
who worked behind the plate for 15+ seasons
in the big leagues, has known Hartwig for
more than 20 years and touted her softball
instructing savvy. “She has excelled in everything
she has tried,” Slaught emailed, noting
her exploits in the instructing, coaching, and
administrative side of softball. “My highest
compliment,” said Slaught “is that she is a
perpetual learner. The best coaches are just
smart students, and she is that.”
Hartwig’s path to El Segundo included
youthful stops in Michigan, Wisconsin, and
See Deb Hartwig, page 11 El Segundo Softball Instructor/Coach Deb Hartwig
See Alec Hodgman, page 2
Alec Hodgman with Laura Jane Grace and Against Me in the studio after a recording session. For Alec’s story, see yellow box below.
Friday
Sunny
78˚/67˚
Saturday
Sunny
79˚/67˚
Sunday
Sunny
77˚/63˚