LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lucerne Alpine Senior Center was one of several locations around Lucerne targeted by vandals this past weekend.
What appeared to be a large gang-related graffiti tag that referred to the “11th St. Villains” was painted on the side of the center.
Center Executive Director Rae Eby-Carl discovered the graffiti earlier this week, concluding it had occurred during the weekend.
She subsequently reported the vandalism to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Eby-Carl said the center's tagging incident is believed to have been done by the same vandals who hit elsewhere in town, painting on signs on Highway 20 and tagging the back of the Lake County Visitor Center, as well as several empty storefronts along the highway corridor.
Eby-Carl said center staff was disappointed that the center – which is both a community resource and a historical site – was disfigured.
“The programs here are on a limited budget so it is sad to have to use labor and resources to repair this damage,” she said.
Nevertheless, volunteers got right to work removing the graffiti, which stretched about 8 feet along the side of the center facing 10th Avenue.
On Tuesday morning, center volunteer Oliver Wells put on the first cover coat, with longtime volunteer and new center board member Dave Templeton adding another coat in the afternoon.
The center has previously been the target of vandalism, with the most recent case a few years ago also involving what appeared to be gang graffiti.
If anyone has any information on the recent vandalism case, they are asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 707-262-4200.
Lucerne Alpine Senior Center is requesting community volunteers to assist with programs and upkeep of the building. Call 707-274-8779 if you would like to assist.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.