It never rains in Southern California ...

...except that, when it does, it can cause graves to sink in an East Los Angeles cemetery.

Mausoleum so dilapidated, families want remains removed

Officials in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, are angry over a dilapidated mausoleum and may be ready to condemn the property and move the remains.

How human composting will change death in the city

Long time, no blog. I put some things up on Facebook and also tweet occasionally, but this deserves another platform for sharing, as well. Grist has a lengthy piece about the current state of death in the USA, but the overarching premise is the idea that "human composting" should be as natural as anything. Read for yourself and see what you think.

Cemetery preservation programs

The following is from the National Preservation Institute: The National Preservation Institute, a nonprofit organization founded in 1980, educates those involved in the management, preservation, and stewardship of cultural heritage. The 2013 National Preservation Institute seminar schedule is available online at www.npi.org. The 2013 NPI News Release includes the calendar and seminar descriptions www.npi.org/NewsRelease2013.pdf. Advance registration is available through March 8, 2013 Scholarship applications accepted (see details below) in cooperation with the Chicora Foundation, Inc., Stafford County Cemetery Committee, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources Cemetery Preservation Stafford, VA — April 17-18, 2013 Learn how to begin a cemetery preservation or restoration project and how to help ensure that sound choices are made to avoid harming what you seek to protect. Discussions focus on current issues in cemetery preservation, such as recording and documenting cemeteries and graveyards, undertaking preservation efforts, and exploring conservation techniques and issues. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org. Instructors. Debi Hacker, conservation administrator of Chicora Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit heritage preservation organization specializing in research, public education, conservation, and preservation for museums, archives, and historic organizations and Michael Trinkley, Ph.D., director of Chicora Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit heritage preservation organization specializing in research, public education, conservation, and Cemetery Landscapes: A Practical Guide to Care and Maintenance Stafford, VA — April 19, 2013 Learn how to protect historic cemetery landscapes, preserve integrity of design, and safeguard tombstones and monuments while pursuing a practical outlook on maintenance and budget concerns. Explore approaches to caring for softscapes, or plantings, and hardscapes, including roads, pathways, and benches. Discuss effective pruning and cutting techniques, and when chemicals and heavy equipment can be safely and productively used. Review the basics of short- and long-term preservation plans. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org. Instructor. Debi Hacker LA/CES. These seminars meet the criteria for programs in the American Society of Landscape Architects Continuing Education System and ASLA members will receive 6 learning units each day. Registration. A registration form is available online at www.npi.org/register.html. The advance registration rate is available through March 8 — $450 (2 days – Cem Pres) / $275 (1 day – Cem Landscape) / $600 (3 days – both seminars). The regular registration rate after that date is $500 (2 days – Cem Pres) / $325 (1 day – Cem Landscape) / $650 (3 days – both seminars). Scholarships. A National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant for scholarships covers the cost of tuition for qualified applicants to attend NPI seminars in targeted cultural resource management areas. For more information and the application form, go to www.npi.org/scholarships. Questions? Please contact us. Thank you. Jere Gibber Executive Director National Preservation Institute P.O. Box 1702, Alexandria, VA 22313 703/765-0100; 703/768-9350 fax info@npi.org; www.npi.org

From the National Preservation Institute

The National Preservation Institute, a nonprofit organization founded in 1980, educates those involved in the management, preservation, and stewardship of cultural heritage. The 2012-2013 National Preservation Institute seminar schedule is available online at www.npi.org. The 2012-2013 NPI News Release includes the calendar and seminar descriptions www.npi.org/NewsRelease2012-13.pdf. Advance registration is available through September 4, 2012 Scholarship applications accepted (see details below) in cooperation with the Chicora Foundation, Inc. and Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources Cemetery Preservation Tallahassee, FL — October 10-11, 2012 Learn how to begin a cemetery preservation or restoration project and how to help ensure that sound choices are made to avoid harming what you seek to protect. Discussions focus on current issues in cemetery preservation, such as recording and documenting cemeteries and graveyards, undertaking preservation efforts, and exploring conservation techniques and issues. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org. Instructors. Debi Hacker, conservation administrator of Chicora Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit heritage preservation organization specializing in research, public education, conservation, and preservation for museums, archives, and historic organizations and Michael Trinkley, Ph.D., director of Chicora Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit heritage preservation organization specializing in research, public education, conservation, and Cemetery Landscapes: A Practical Guide to Care and Maintenance Tallahassee, FL — October 12, 2012 Learn how to protect historic cemetery landscapes, preserve integrity of design, and safeguard tombstones and monuments while pursuing a practical outlook on maintenance and budget concerns. Explore approaches to caring for softscapes, or plantings, and hardscapes, including roads, pathways, and benches. Discuss effective pruning and cutting techniques, and when chemicals and heavy equipment can be safely and productively used. Review the basics of short- and long-term preservation plans. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org. Instructor. Debi Hacker LA/CES. These seminars meet the criteria for programs in the American Society of Landscape Architects Continuing Education System and ASLA members will receive 6 learning units each day. Registration. A registration form is available online at www.npi.org/register.html. The advance registration rate is available through September 4 — $450 (2 days – Cem Pres) / $275 (1 day – Cem Landscape) / $600 (3 days – both seminars). The regular registration rate after that date is $500 (2 days – Cem Pres) / $325 (1 day – Cem Landscape) / $650 (3 days – both seminars). Scholarships. A National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant for scholarships covers the cost of tuition for qualified applicants to attend NPI seminars in targeted cultural resource management areas. For more information and the application form, go to www.npi.org/scholarships. Questions? Please contact us. Thank you. Jere Gibber Executive Director National Preservation Institute P.O. Box 1702, Alexandria, VA 22313 703/765-0100; 703/768-9350 fax info@npi.org; www.npi.org

California dreamin': New cemetery possible in Malibu

As officials in Malibu ponder what to do to preserve open space in their community, some people think that a so-called green, or environmental, cemetery must be just the ticket. Spearheading the idea is Pepperdine University official Dennis Torres, who told the Malibu Surfside News he first proposed a cemetery for the space about 20 years ago and "was laughed at." Pepperdine owns some of the land in question, according to this news report. Reported the website:

Two town hall sessions have been held so far. The panel was formed just months ago. Ad hoc committee member [Laura] Rosenthal [who is also the mayor] said, at the outset of the meetings, "Preserving vacant land zoned for commercial use is one way to ensure that Malibu retains its rural landscape. We look forward to productive meeting[s] filled with great ideas."

Severe weather map

The folks at ESRI, creators of the Arc series of mapmaking software, have a continously updating map of severe weather across the United States. Not cemetery-related per se, but cemeteries suffer weather damage, too.

NJ cemetery goes solar

In order to cut electricity costs for its mausoleum, a cemetery in northern New Jersey has installed solar panels.

Cemetery work

A writer in Iowa notes that caring for a cemetery is like working in a park.

Struggling Philadelphia-area cemeteries

The Philadelphia Inquirer had a good story over the weekend about several cemeteries that are falling into neglect and disrepair. I've done research on this in the past, and know that it is an ongoing problem in society. There's a sad-but-true quote from Bob Fels, who notes:

Cemeteries are still the only businesses that have to service what they sell forever.

Southern New Jersey cemetery needs assistance

The Philadelphia NBC affiliate reports on a neglected African American cemetery in Lawnside, New Jersey, that could use some TLC.

New doc features Jewish cemetery in Germany

The Los Angeles Times has reviewed a new documentary about the Weissensee Jewish cemetery in East Berlin.
Among other things, the review notes how many of the honored WWI dead were members of the German elite.

Welcome The Cemetery Record to this blog

Came across a web publication The Cemetery Record today, and just added it to this blog. You will find it in the righthand column

Update: Man arrested in New Jersey cemetery heist

Police have arrested a man in the case of metal cemetery urns stolen in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

N.J. cops probe theft of metal from cemetery

Police in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, are investigating the theft of precious metals from cemetery displays.
I've written before about the fact that such thievery is a negative externality; specifically, already strapped law-enforcement and judicial resources are forced to be stretched even further to investigate and adjudicate these crimes.
Resolved for 2012: to explore how such increased negative externalities might, in fact, help boost the cause for green cemeteries. Given how squeamish some folks seem to be regarding natural burial - despite that fact it was perfectly fine up until the last 150 years or so - perhaps part of the sales pitch should be that green cemeteries reduce crime.
Photo credit: Jose F. Moreno/Courier-Post

Arlington uses smartphones

Given the posts I've made in the past about the mismanagement at Arlington, it's worth mentioning that they are using new technology in smartphones to catalog graves.

Cemetery Preservation Workshop

Here's a news release from the National Preservation Institute:

The National Preservation Institute, a nonprofit organization founded in 1980, educates those involved in the management, preservation, and stewardship of our cultural heritage. The 2011-2012 National Preservation Institute seminar schedule is available online at www.npi.org. The 2011-2012 NPI News Release includes the calendar and seminar descriptions www.npi.org/NewsRelease2011-12.pdf.

Advance registration is available through September 14, 2011
Scholarships applications accepted (see details below)
in cooperation with the Chicora Foundation, Inc.,
the Public History Program, School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies, Arizona State University, and the State Historic Preservation Office, Arizona State Parks

Cemetery Preservation
Phoenix, AZ – October 25-26, 2011

Learn how to begin a cemetery preservation or restoration project and how to help ensure that sound choices are made to avoid harming what you seek to protect. Discussions focus on current issues in cemetery preservation, such as recording and documenting cemeteries and graveyards, undertaking preservation efforts, and exploring conservation techniques and issues. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org.

Instructors. Debi Hacker, conservation administrator of Chicora Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit heritage preservation organization specializing in research, public education, conservation, and preservation for museums, archives, and historic organizations and Michael Trinkley, Ph.D., director of Chicora Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit heritage preservation organization specializing in research, public education, conservation, and

Cemetery Landscapes: A Practical Guide to Care and Maintenance
Phoenix, AZ – October 27, 2011

Learn how to protect historic cemetery landscapes, preserve integrity of design, and safeguard tombstones and monuments while pursuing a practical outlook on maintenance and budget concerns. Explore approaches to caring for softscapes, or plantings, and hardscapes, including roads, pathways, and benches. Discuss effective pruning and cutting techniques, and when chemicals and heavy equipment can be safely and productively used. Review the basics of short- and long-term preservation plans. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org.

Instructor. Debi Hacker

LA/CES. These seminars meet the criteria for programs in the American Society of Landscape Architects Continuing Education System and ASLA members will receive 6 learning units each day.

Registration. A registration form is available online at www.npi.org/register.html. The advance registration rate is available through September 14 — $450 (2 days – Cem Pres) / $275 (1 day – Cem Landscape) / $600 (3 days – both seminars).

The regular registration rate after that date is $500 (2 days – Cem Pres) / $325 (1 day – Cem Landscape) / $650 (3 days – both seminars).

Scholarships. A National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant for scholarships covers the cost of tuition for qualified applicants to attend NPI seminars in targeted cultural resource management areas. For more information and the application form, go to www.npi.org/scholarships.

Wyoming cemetery nears capacity

The municipal cemetery in Melrose, Wyoming, is close to capacity, so officials are set to begin an expansion project, which will include, among other things, double-depth gravesites, for family members.

Two ongoing woes at cemeteries: vandalism and neglect

I could post for hours on end about the problem of vandalism at cemeteries. We know that, at the very least, it causes extra work to right the wrong, and, beyond that are the police and judicial man-hours to bring the perpetrators to justice (negative externalities, as these things are called in geographic terms). Still, it's worthwhile to post an occasional reminder that this is an ongoing problem. Here are two cases in my neck of the woods: one at a Jewish cemetery in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and the other in Camden.

Meanwhile, in Memphis, Tennessee, visitors are shocked and dismayed at the poor condition of the Hollywood Cemetery

A growing trend? VA cemeteries confronted by increased demand

With more veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam dying, plus those killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans cemeteries are facing increased demand, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Chris Erbe, of the National Cemetery Administration, tells the paper that, with many cemeteries starting to run out of room, 19 expansion projects are in the works nationwide to deal with the increased demand.