Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 62, NO. 5
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
IN THIS ISSUE
MAY 2024
Memorial Day is more than just a threeday weekend n Honor began after Civil War
DESIGN FOR LIVING Section 2
SUMMER CAMPS 15
ARTIST Ed Ruscha came to LACMA. 2-6
By Nona Sue Friedman “Fire up the grill” and “chill some drinks” are common phrases associated with Memorial Day. But why do we celebrate this holiday? Is it to unofficially mark the start of summer? Hardly. On May 5, 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern veterans of the Civil War, declared May 30 as the day for Americans to honor fallen soldiers from the American Civil War. This day was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any known battles. The general declared the holiday Decoration Day and encouraged people to strew flowers on military graves and place flags at gravestones. This tradition was inspired by customs in Southern states. As wars continued, Decoration Day broadened to encompass everyone who See Memorial Day, P 6
City juggles housing plans
n Staff proposals seek to build more affordable housing citywide GARDEN CLUBS of Western U.S. visit. 2-13 For information on advertising in the paper, please call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
By Suzan Filipek The City Planning Dept. is juggling many potential solutions to create more affordable housing, all at the same time. There are: the mayor’s Executive Directive No. 1 (ED 1) to fast-track building approvals; the Housing Element Rezoning Program (Plan to House LA); and the City Housing Incentive Program (CHIP). Confused? You are not alone. The three methods: ED 1, See Housing, P 22
GRAD SALUTE
Our annual section honoring local graduates will be in the Larchmont Chronicle’s June issue. Advertising deadline is Mon., May 13. For more information, contact Pam Rudy, 323462-2241, ext. 11.
UCLA alum Ryann O’Toole tees off at the 2023 tournament at Wilshire. She is back this year.
LPGA at Wilshire CC April 25 – 28 n Nelly Korda to try for sixth win in a row
By John Welborne Everyone is invited to come to Wilshire Country Club on the weekend of April 25 to 28 for this year’s Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) championship tournament — where the world’s number-one lady golfer, Nelly Korda — will be playing to win her sixth championship in a row. Heading to Wilshire just off her April 21 victory in the Chevron Championship in Texas, Korda has not lost a competition since January, winning five in succession.
Tickets The 2024 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro at Wilshire Country Club has tickets available that range in price from free (for military and first responders and a child under 18 accompanied by a paid adult) to hundreds of dollars for premium club seating that includes food and beverage service. Regular grounds passes are $25 per day or $45 for the four days. Ticketing and other information can be found online at: jmeaglelachampionship.com. This year, the tournament purse has been increased from $3 million to $3.75 mil-
lion, the largest prize fund on the LPGA Tour outside of the major championships. Top players attending In addition to No. 1 Nelly Korda, the tournament will boast one of the strongest fields of the 2024 LPGA Tour season. Twenty of the top-25 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are entered into the championship. In addition to Korda, players include World No. 2 and Los Angeles resident Lilia Vu, Celine Boutier (3), Ruoning Yin (4) and 2019 champion Minjee Lee (6). The complete list of JM Eagle Championship entries is at: tinyurl.com/5dchp7da.
Historic bronze statue stolen from park
n Local theft is part of an alarming trend
By Casey Russell Residents of Windsor Village recently discovered that a sculpture of the late councilman Harold A. Henry has been stolen from a park named in his honor. The bust had stood for more than 50 years upon its pedestal at the park, which sits on a peaceful stretch of Lucerne Boulevard between Olympic and Wilshire boulevards. Henry, who died in 1966, served the Fourth Council District from 1945 until 1966. He served four terms as city council president. The councilman’s bust, created by sculptor Enrique de la Vega, is not the first metal artwork to be stolen in Los Angeles. Sadly, such theft is
CHILDREN PLAY near bust of former Fourth District Los Angeles City Councilman Harold A. Henry at Harold Henry Park in Windsor Village. Photo by Julie Stromberg
increasing. Years ago, this statue’s commemorative bronze plaque was taken. At nearby MacArthur Park, two bronze statues accompanying the statue of Harrison Gray Otis, former publisher of the Los Angeles Times, have been stolen; one, a depiction of a newsboy,
within the past two months. And, further away in Pasadena, 11 bronze light posts, each over a century old, recently were stolen on Orange Grove Boulevard. Bronze is 88 to 90 percent copper, which is valuable on the recycling market. See Bust, P 10
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