Lawndale Tribune
AND lAwNDAle News
The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale
Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - September 14, 2017
Hawthorne Cougars Tough on
Defense in Win Over South High
Last weekend, the Hawthorne High Cougars came out on top 33-14 in a road game matchup versus the South High Spartans. The Cougars played well on both sides of the ball and showed their mettle on
defense. In this photo, a group of Hawthorne defenders swarm South receiver Denton LoPiccolo. See more photo highlights inside this week’s edition. Photo by Dirk Dewachter
The Joyful Art of Organizing
By TerriAnn Ferren
Thinking about being organized, I decided
During the summer, have you, like me,
that asking some South Bay residents how
overlooked the clutter and building up of “stuff”
they feel about being organized would be fun.
around the house to such an extent that you
I mean, am I the only one who yearns for the
finally decide that enough is enough? Well,
calm of order while fighting the entropy law?
that happened to me this week. One extra
Absolutely not.
book on the stack I have already read, or the
Young adult and South Bay resident Jillian
little tchotchke that moves about the house to
Vasquez told me, “I always organize. I organize
different places, or the pile of folded clothes
clothes and I often organize my make-up. I
destined to be donated…had finally gotten to
organize my haircare products--I have a drawer
me. It was time for some spring-cleaning and
for haircare and one for make-up. I get all my
organizing before the end of summer, which
organization things from Daiso and I measure
officially ends on September 22. Spring-cleaning
them and make little areas so I can adjust
in summer, you ask? Definitely yes.
them. I feel very clean and accomplished. If
First, I began ripping out the old phone line
I go to bed at night with a dirty room, I don’t
in my office I had tacked around a doorframe
sleep well.” Jillian told me she makes her bed
to a fax machine I no longer used. Who knows
every day and even organizes her clothes by
why I had not removed it before, but just that
color, using matching hangers.
one action made me feel great. Then I moved
Then I spoke with teenagers from a local
over to the pile (rather, piles) of books and
high school about their organizational skills.
files. Files need a home in a storage bin, so off
What I found out was surprising. Fifteenyear
I went, seeking additional organization bins.
old Kiran Abayaratna told me, “My mom
Because of the suffocating heat and humidity
used to do everything for me, but then my
of the week, instead of venturing miles to
sisters—well, I sort of started doing everything
the container store, I ended up at a big box
she does for myself. So I organize my clothes
store and lo and behold found just what I was
and have cabinets for everything I wear. For
looking for--plastic bins. An added bonus was
shoes, we have like a box so it’s not a mess all
that the bins were much less expensive than
the time.” Kiran told me he feels it is simply
the ones I intended on buying. Home to tidy!
easier keeping things organized and added, “If
That afternoon, after piling my files into
you can keep yourself in the habit of staying
the containers, I realized the bins weren’t
organized, things become a lot easier.”
quite the size I imagined, so fitting them
Eric Berg, age 16, told me, “I think of my
into the storage container was a little tricky.
organization as organized chaos. I leave it
But it worked. Have you ever seen all those
where it is and I remember where it was. I
organizing cubes and trays just aching for
just keep everything in one spot. That’s where
use at the store? Pondering their use, do you
I keep it, so it is bad organization…but it’s
also imagine yourself all organized and neat?
also good in my own way. I know where my
Do you, on occasion, get the bug to clean
things are. If someone cleans up, I am lost.”
and organize?
Maxwell Johnston, age 15, said, “I try and
After moving some things into the garage, it
stay organized most of the time, but I live with
made my office and guestroom look larger and
a little brother and he’s 13. It is kinda difficult
gave me a sense of accomplishment. Maybe
because he usually leaves everything around
you, like me, usually keep things tidy, but on
and I have to pick up after him sometimes. We
occasion let things get a bit out of hand, and
have kinda found this balance finally, and it
some major organizing is called for.
is nice because now I know where everything
is. It is much easier now.” Maxwell told me
he tells his younger brother to pick up after
himself and it seems to be working. “You
have to keep reassuring them as to what to
do because they never listen the first time. It
is repetition,” added Maxwell. Wise words
from a 15-year old!
Next I spoke with Elissa Nakano, age 15,
who told me, “I like to say I am organized,
but I am not really sure--it is relative. I mean,
I think in my household I am organized, but
that is just because my parents are kind of
unorganized.”
Mia Hasenmayer, age 15, said, “I feel
that I am pretty organized ‘cuz for me, I get
annoyed and anxious if things are out of place
or if my room is a mess. I have to clean it up
that second.” Sitting next to Mia was her best
friend from preschool, Abby Howell, age 15,
visiting from San Jose, who attends Leland
High School. Abby told me, “I think for me, I
like coming home to a really organized room
and waking up to an organized house and it
is really nice. I think when you get into the
habit of being organized, it just makes you
feel better and cleaner as a person. It gets
you in the habit of being organized not just in
your house or room, but in everything else.”
After speaking with the young adults and
teenagers, I realized they have very good habits.
And they were very open with advice on how
staying organized leads to an organized life.
Although confessing I don’t color-coordinate
my clothing, or have them all hanging on
matching hangers, I do okay. And I try and
not let things get out of hand. Most of the
teenagers I spoke with had a clear handle on
their rooms. All of them knew how to organize
their world. Listening to them gave me a sense
of pride in our young American teenagers.
Not only were they articulate, responsive and
forthcoming, but they took time and shared
their knowledge of what works for them. I was
impressed. Inspired about organizing yet? •
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................5
Classifieds............................3
Community Briefs...............2
Food.......................................5
Finance..................................7
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Legals............................... 6-7
Pets........................................8
Police Reports.....................3
Seniors..................................2
Sports....................................4
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
AM Clouds/
PM Sun
70˚/63˚
Saturday
Sunny
70˚/63˚
Sunday
Partly
Cloudy
70˚/63˚