Happy Birthday to us.
When you are 99 years old – Culver City’s new age this week — both parts of “Happy” and “Birthday” deserve to be capitalized.
Culver City, probably the most history-conscious community in Southern California at least, celebrates the second most important birthday of its life this week.
Birthday Week will climax with the official launching of Centennial Year, a nearly daily salute to the community that Nebraska-born realtor Harry Culver birthed.
On Saturday morning at 9 o’
clock, the most spectacular parade in Culver City history will step off from Vets Park, at Culver Boulevard and Overland Avenue.
All manner of persons will march to The Culver Hotel, the historic heart of Culver City, site of Opening Ceremonies at 11 o’clock.
At 12 noon, the all-afternoon Downtown Block Party happily will unfold in all directions known to the compass.
The much-honored and revered Julie Lugo Cerra, Culver City’s official historian, will be a powerful human centerpiece during Birthday Week and the 51 more weeks until Culver City turns 100 years old next September.
“Julie’s roots go back centuries,” says Paul Jacobs, chair of the Centennial Celebration Committee. “Her influence, her work, her books have instilled in all of us a deep identification with our history.”
Newcomers always are welcome, Mr. Jacobs says.
For historic purposes, he notes that Culver City is a bastion of old families that not only have resided here for generations but prominently have been in business across the community.
