FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove
Historic Grand View Memorial Park cemetery in Glendale is still struggling under the weight of an uncertain future. The neighborhood cemetery is scheduled to be open today by court order from noon until 4 p.m. On December 8, 2008, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Anthony Mohr approved a series of public openings at Grand View through June of this year.
You might remember, the 125-year-old Grand View has been caught up in legal wrangling and management problems since 2005, when a state investigator discovered thousands of human remains at that cemetery that had been mishandled. Caught in the middle are relatives and friends of those buried at Grand View who would like to visit the cemetery, which has been closed for more than a year and a half. The answer: a series of public visitations.
I dropped by Grand View several weeks ago during one of the openings. The grounds were greener; thanks to recent rains and from the use of the cemetery watering system. However, there was only a handful of volunteers trying to supervise the opening and assist visitors. What they need they say are more volunteers.
If you’re interested, talk to one of the volunteers at the Grand View opening today or contact the law office of David Baum (310) 312-9598. Grand View is located at 1341 Glenwood Road in Glendale.