Earthquake Afterthoughts and Preparing for the ‘Big One’

I am writing to express my gratitude and admiration for the crew of young people from the Los Angeles Conservation Corps who were working on South Primrose Avenue in Alhambra last week. I have never seen such an impressive display of energy, endurance, cooperation and good will.

Most of the homes on this block suffered chimney damage, with each chimney requiring the removal of several feet from the top. One was so loose and unsteady that it had to be completely torn down. The LACC crew used care and caution taking down the necessary brick-and-mortar parts piece by piece, so as not to damage any surrounding structures. As if this were not enough, they then proceeded to haul all the broken bricks and debris to the curb side.

Despite the terrible heat wave, I didn’t hear a word of complaint or disagreement. I attribute this, in part, to their supervisor, Michael Tillson, who kept them going with good-humored challenges long after I knew they must be exhausted. Of course, one of them replied, when I remarked on their stamina, “Well, we’re young, you know”--an appropriate last word for this 54-year-old!

IRENE S. BEATTY

Alhambra