By Julianne Homokay
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
Last Saturday at 3:30 p.m., close to 100 people showed up to honor the memory of Lauri Carleton at the dedication of her memorial garden in the heart of Cedar Glen. Carleton was shot and killed a year ago at her boutique, Mag.Pi, by a homophobic man who vandalized the Pride flag she hung in front of her store (the Alpine Mountaineer dated Aug. 26, 2023).
Robin Lyles, Carleton’s friend and fellow Cedar Glen business owner, led the dedication of the garden she conceived and implemented in honor of her friend’s memory and to “celebrate Lauri and her legacy”, she said in her welcoming speech.
Members of Carleton’s family were in attendance, in addition to several prominent community members: Scott Pryde, the artist whose painting of Carleton’s boat is benefitting her memorial fund; Janeva Zentz, producer of First Dibs Comedy; Gavin Bialecki of Mountain Provisions Cooperative; several members of Mountain Bears Democratic Club; and three Democratic candidates for district offices – Ricardo Ortega for California Assembly, Lisa Middleton for state Senate, and Derek Marshall for U.S. Congress.
Carleton’s daughter Ari opened the ceremonies by thanking the crowd: “I’m consistently amazed at the thoughtfulness, beauty and resiliency of this community.” She then introduced and thanked Lyles.
Further on in her welcoming speech, Lyles told the story of how she came up with the idea for the garden: “Patrons of the store [The Lake House] were asking about a celebration of life. I thought it would be great to have something permanent, to come by, listen to the water and talk to Lauri.” In honor of Carleton’s impact on her community, Lyles hoped to embrace Carleton’s spirit with the garden, “natural, organic and a little wild,” she said as the crowd laughed. She thanked the many community members who helped make the garden possible: landscape architect Andrew Ferrara, Pat Pattison of Aspen Construction, stone carver Marcel Machler, Ron Culbertson of Rimrock Construction, John and Lisa Shinkle of Four Seasons Garden Center, Neu-Art Studios, the Cedar Glen Company and the volunteers. “This is a testament to a wonderful community.” And as Ortega commented later on: “This is the definition of It Takes A Village.”
Bialecki described Carleton as “a force, a light, a cherished part of our community” and spoke of her commitment to the environment. He informed the crowd about two more gardens in the works, including a sustainable garden to provide produce to the mountain community.
Marshall, who considered Carleton a friend, spoke next: “I’m here today, not to talk about politics…but about the legacy I’d like to see: unity, tolerance, joy. Lauri’s light resonated far beyond the mountain. We saw last year what hate can do. Today we’re seeing what love can do.”
In the ancient Greek tradition of pouring libations onto the grave to put our lost loved ones to rest, Lyles concluded the ceremony by popping a bottle of champagne, proposing a toast, then offering her libation to the ground.
She invited the crowd back to Mag.Pi for a reception and more celebration of a life cut way too short.
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