Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

And Another One Down…

The fallen tree in front of Wilshire Crest Elementary School, 5241 W. Olympic Blvd., this morning. The tree fell across Olympic Blvd. and snarled traffic between about 6:00 and 8:30 a.m.

 

In addition to two other fallen trees we’ve written about in the neighborhood this week, at Harold Henry Park and at Third and Larchmont, a third tree fell early this morning at Wilshire Crest Elementary School at 5241 W. Olympic Blvd. (a block east of La Brea).  This tree, possibly a Melaleuca quinquenervia (“paperbark” tree), was located in a planting bed next to the wall of the school’s cafeteria, on the south side of the campus’ main building.  Luckily, the tree fell toward the south, away from the school and into/across Olympic Blvd., probably sometime before 6 a.m. today, and did not hit anything as it fell.

LAUSD crews closed Olympic Blvd. during part of this morning’s early morning commute hours, and were busy removing the tree by 7 a.m.  The school’s main gate on Olympic was also closed (students and staff used gates on other sides of the campus), but by the time classes started  around 8:30 a.m., the street was clear and traffic was flowing normally again on Olympic.  Operations are now back to normal at the school, too.

 

Crews clearing Olympic Blvd. in front of Wilshire Crest School this morning.

 

A closer look at the tree’s upended roots.

 

Google Maps image of the fallen tree as it looked in July, 2022.

 

THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE:  We learned this morning that the school arranged for the LAUSD tree crews to save almost all of the tree parts.  The crew returned this morning to saw the trunk into slices that can be used as seating in the school’s garden…and the branches and leaves are being mulched for garden use as well.  Well done, Wilshire Crest!

 

LAUSD crews cutting up the downed tree parts this morning for use in the school’s teaching garden.

 

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Elizabeth Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN but has lived in LA since 1991 - with deep roots in both the Sycamore Square and West Adams Heights-Sugar Hill neighborhoods. She spent 10 years with the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, volunteers at Wilshire Crest Elementary School, and has been writing for the Buzz since 2015.

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