By Mary O’KEEFE

The Verdugo Hills Cemetery has a long and, at times, strange history. What most people remember is the flood that occurred over 40 years ago that caused chaos when bodies from the cemetery began floating down local streets.

But that is just a small moment in time in the long history of this cemetery that began in 1922 and seemed to struggle ever since. It was abandoned and abused before a grassroots effort would attempt to bring it back to its former glory. Unfortunately that dream never quite took hold … that is until Craig Durst decided to take it on.

Durst said he is “determined” to bring Verdugo Hills Cemetery back to the respectful, peaceful place it was designed to be. He has held events at the cemetery and every third Saturday volunteers are invited to join him to clean and repair the grounds.

On Dec. 4, Durst is inviting the community to join him for “Star Stories: A Celestial Journey Through the Tujunga Night Sky.”

“I will just be pointing out different [stars and constellations] and talk about the lore and what scientists have learned,” Durst said.

There will be musical accompaniment as Durst takes the audience through stories of the stars overhead. He suggests that people bring chairs and blankets so they’ll be comfortable.

The event is also a time for Durst to share information on the fundraising drive for the cemetery. He is selling bricks for $40; half of that donation will be used for bricks that will be engraved for those buried at the cemetery who do not have a gravestone. The second portion of the donations will be for bricks that will be placed in a veterans’ memorial that is designed to honor those who have lost their life while in service to their country, those veterans who are buried at the cemetery and to honor veterans and active members of the military.

        “I have about 600 bricks to sell and, as of now, have sold 30,” Durst said.

The veterans’ memorial is called Soldiers Stairway and will be built on top of the cement area where funerals used to be held at the cemetery decades ago. The cost for building the memorial is $10,000; he has raised $1,000.

The stargazing event is free and will be held on Dec. 4 at 9 p.m. at the Verdugo Hills Cemetery, 7000 Parsons Trail Road, Tujunga. The event will last about 30 minutes. If the skies are overcast the event will be canceled but according to forecasts the sky looks clear for Dec. 4.

Durst does advise people who want to attend to dress warmly because it does get cool on the cemetery hilltop.

Those who cannot make the event but would like to support the Verdugo Hills Cemetery Restoration and Renewal Project can go to bricksrus.com/donorsite/veteransvhc.

For those who want to send a check, please mail it to Little Landers Historical Society, 10110 Commerce Ave., PO Box 203, Tujunga, California 91043.

For those who would like to volunteer to further restoration efforts, the next outreach is at the cemetery on Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.