Leo Branton Jr., a civil rights and entertainment lawyer who championed the underdog, died April 19 in Los Angeles. He was also father to Tony Nicholas who runs the Tom Bradley Youth and Family Center on Pico. Leo was, 91, and a longtime resident of LaFayette Square. We reprint the…
Regina Jones remembers Willis Edwards.At age 66 and on Friday, July 13th, Willis Edwards succumbed to cancer. Willis was a celebrated force as a civil rights and political activist, once heading the Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch of the NAACP and shaking things up when he ran the NAACP Image Awards.…
The poet Robert Frost proclaimed, “Good fences good neighbors make”. But in a time when we’ve taken fence building to extremes, our family was blessed with a neighbor who took them down.
From the time we moved into the Western Heights neighborhood in 1994, Mel Cannel gave meaning to the…
On March 10, drivers travelling along Adams, west of Crenshaw, were met with a remarkable site.
Approximately 700 bikers representing motorcycle clubs from around the state converged on the Southern Memorial Baptist Church to pay respect to one of their own, John McCallum or as they knew him, Pee Wee.…
Elena A. Brown Anthony dedicated 37 years of motivation, inspiration, and leadership to the progress and enhancement of student education in our community.
She began a teaching career at James A. Foshay Junior High School then transferred to Susan Miller Dorsey High School where she advanced from English teacher to…
In late November 2011, community dynamo Corinne Pleger passed away unexpectedly.
Corinne was an award-winning costumer, expert ballroom dancer, volunteer extraordinaire, and a CPA and partner with Brakensiek Leavitt Pleger LLP. She was a past president of West Adams Heritage Association, its longtime treasurer and CPA, and she coordinated…
Long-time Lafayette Square resident and basketball legend, Walt Hazzard, has died at age 69.
Local basketball legend Hazzard passed away on November 18t at UCLA Medical Center of complications following heart surgery. After leading UCLA to John Wooden’s first national championship, the 6’2” point guard went on to coach…
On June 29, 2011, Councilman Wesson’s mother, Gladys Wesson-Strickland passed away at Cedars Sinai Hospital after a lingering illness.
She had a lifelong passion for community involvement and engaged in a variety of social and professional organizations throughout her life. The Neighborhood News sends heartfelt condolences to Councilman Wesson.
Robert Leary, a passionate preservationist and Los Angeles Conservancy member, passed away on January 23 after a long illness.
A native of New Jersey, Leary received a bachelor’s degree from Niagara University in New York. He worked as an actor on the East Coast before moving to Los Angeles in…
West Adams resident and artist Vernette Honeywood passed away on September 12th after a two year battle with cancer. Honeywood’s artwork came to the attention of middle America when it was featured on The Cosby Show decorating the Huxtable’s living room, after Bill Cosby and his wife discovered her art…
Established in August of 2008 by writer, artist Dianne V. Lawrence, The Neighborhood News covers the events, people, history, politics and historic architecture of communities throughout the Mid-City and West Adams area in Los Angeles Council District 10.
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