COMMUNITY EFFORT REPAIRS WWII VETERANS' MEMORIAL.

Byline: TRACY ZABORAC Community Columnist

Now we can dispel the myths that people don't care, the city is useless and no one wants to honor the past.

As you pass the intersection of Chatsworth Avenue and Zelzah Street, you are probably one of thousands of people who don't notice the significance of what a small piece of land sitting there represents.

The little parcel of land was established as a memorial in 1961 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who placed a plaque honoring the men of Granada Hills who gave their lives serving in World War II.

A time capsule has been placed there to be opened in 2022. An American flag hovers above the memorial.

Recently, the park fell into disrepair, but a community effort has changed all of that.

Residents have put together a program in which the city of Los Angeles has replanted the lawn, planted flowers and repaired the watering system. There is now 24-hour lighting of the flag on the site.

Veterans helped in the cleanup of the area, and the ``Welcome to Granada Hills'' sign has been repainted. The nearby Ralphs grocery store assigned its gardeners to keep the parcel manicured.

Nothing to do today? Take your kids over there and point out the names of the 24 local men who died for them.

For the names of the soldiers, call the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce at [phone].

Thanks to the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program, 25 people will be the first in their families to head to college.

Two San Fernando Valley students, Jacqueline Contreras and Juan Navarro, are among the recipients of the grants, funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation, as a part of its commitment to contribute $100 million to education in the 1990s.

Contreras, who lives in Pacoima, is the second of three children in her family and the first to pursue a college education. Her father is disabled and her mother is a teacher's aide for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Contreras graduated with a 3.59 grade-point average from San Fernando High School, taking honors and advanced placement classes. She will attend Loyola Marymount University.

Navarro, an Arleta resident, maintained a 4.0 grade-point average at James Monroe High School in North Hills. His father is a carpenter, and his mother is a tailor.

In addition to numerous track and football awards, Navarro received many academic accolades, including the English Department's Achievement Award.

Contreras and Navarro are among the approximately 43 percent of college students in the United States who are the first in their families to attend college, according to the most recent data of the National Center for Educational Studies.

Each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship to apply toward tuition.

What will you be doing while you're not laboring as you celebrate the Labor Day weekend?

Pierce College's athletic department will hold a Labor Day Carnival from Thursday through Sept. 7.

There will be 30 rides for adults and children, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and food.

Proceeds will benefit the Pierce College athletic department.

Carnival hours will be from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 3 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday, and noon to 11 p.m. Monday.

Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children.

Enter the college at Victory Boulevard and Mason Street.

For more information, call [phone].

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Photo

PHOTO A memorial in Granada Hills honors the 24 local men who gave their lives serving in World War II.

John Lazar/Daily News