More French blue benches arrive on Larchmont Boulevard
FRIENDS AND FAMILY surround the bench memorializing Tucker Carney.
STANDING IN FRONT OF the first bench to be revealed are, from left to right, Hector Vega, CD13 Deputy District Director; and LBA board members Edie Frere, Romi Cortier, Jennifer Audette, Patti Carroll, and Todd Warner.
If you haven’t noticed, there are more places to sit on the Boulevard. French blue benches that match the trashcans are spaced along the western side of Larchmont. That’s thanks to Romi Cortier, president of the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA), and his desire to make the street more attractive and community-oriented.
On Sept. 2 the LBA hosted a legacy bench reveal and ribbon cutting for five new benches—two in front of Tailwaggers and three in front of the Wells Fargo parking lot. That brings the total of French blue benches on the Boulevard to eight. Cortier has been replacing wooden benches that have been on the street since 1976. There are still two left to replace.
“These are such a wonderful addition to the Larchmont community. We should all take more time to enjoy the community,” said Todd Warner, the owner of Tailwaggers who is also an LBA board member and sponsor of one of the benches.
“DONATED BY THE daughter of immigrants” is the inscription on the bench sponsored by Windsor Square resident Sheila Tepper (center). She is flanked on the left by her daughter Susie Goodman who’s holding her dog Sophie, and Romi Cortier.
Residents and organizations can donate to finance a bench. Each one costs $3,200, which includes installation, bolting to the ground, and a personalized plaque with an inscription.
The family of the late Tucker Carney sponsored a bench in honor of Carney, a father, husband, and local icon. His bench is facing Go Get ‘Em Tiger, his favorite coffee spot. Sheila Tepper, a longtime resident of Windsor Square, sponsored one of the two be
PERSONALIZED PLAQUE on a new bench.
nches in front of Tailwaggers. “This is exactly what community is,” said Leah Fischer, a Hancock Park resident and member of the Hancock Park Garden Club member. The garden club also bought a bench this time around.
“I already have two or three parties interested in future benches,” said Cortier. He owns a hair salon on North Larchmont Boulevard and said some of his clients have commented that they can’t find a place to sit along the street and find it exhausting to walk without being able to rest. Cortier would like to have the same benches on the east side of the Boulevard. He’s starting to reach out to landlords there.
If you are interested in sponsoring a bench, reach out to Cortier at romicortier@yahoo.com.
Category: News
