The Brief

Last week, General Sherman, California's most famous giant sequoia, got a checkup.

Climbers from the Ancient Forest Society scaled the tree looking for signs of a sequoia bark beetle infestation — entrance holes where adults had burrowed into the branches and laid their eggs; exit holes, where larvae chewed their way out; globules of pitch, indicating the tree was putting up a fight, trying to push the beetles out.

And, simply, whether Sherman's canopy looked healthy.

The beetles can kill a tree within a year, starting at the top and working their way down over several generations. Feeding on the cambium, they can interrupt the tree's ability to distribute water and nutrients.

A climber with the Ancient Forest Society examines General Sherman, the largest giant sequoia by volume.

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Larissa Perez

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National Park Service

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“There’s an attempted entry hole here and here," said Wendy Baxter, a forest canopy ecologist with the organization, which provided a video of the effort.

Holes in a giant sequoia created by bark beetles.

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Wendy Baxter

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Ancient Forest Society

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“This one may have gotten a little bit of a pitch response here," she said.

“It doesn’t look like the beetles have gotten much beyond the bark."

Drops of pitch pushed out by a giant sequoia trying to defend itself from beetle attacks.

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Wendy Baxter

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Ancient Forest Society

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The good news is that while the team found entry holes, they didn't see any evidence of an active attack. The beetles had either abandoned the effort or Sherman had shoved them out with its pitch.

For now, the world's largest tree (by volume), is safe. But an increasing number of deadly Sequoia bark beetle infestations have left scientists rushing to figure out why this is happening, the extent of the damage and potential treatments to prevent the deaths of some of California's most beloved trees.

The thick bark of a giant sequoia high in the Sierra Nevada has partially peeled away, revealing its insides.

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Jacob Margolis

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LAist

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A new-ish threat

While these native beetles have been known since the early 19th century, it wasn't clear they were capable of killing large sequoias.

"It was sort of like, 'oh neat, here's an insect that feeds on fallen sequoia branches, but we don't need to be worried about it,'" said Christy Brigham, chief of resources management and science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

"But during the 2012–2016 drought we detected large sequoia trees dying in this new way from the top down. And when we climbed those trees we found green branches that were completely infested with these beetles."

A closeup of a female Sequoia bark beetle.

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Joshua Dunlap

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Oregon Department of Agriculture

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So far, they've found 40 trees that've been killed by beetle attacks. Not nearly as catastrophic as the damage that wildfires have done, but given how fast the trees are dying, and that there are entire groves of trees that've not yet been inspected, there are reasons to be concerned.

Out of the 105 trees that the Ancient Forest Society has climbed, about 75% showed some evidence of attacks, according to Anthony Ambrose, the organizations executive director. That doesn't mean each of those trees is doomed, and it's unclear how each will hold up, all it means is that beetles appear to be widely present in ways that they weren't before.

Over the next two years the organization will survey multiple giant sequoia groves, including in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park and Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park.

Signs of bark beetles on a giant sequoia.

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Wendy Baxter

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Ancient Forest Society

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It's not completely clear why this is happening.

Considering it seemed to start during the drought, it could be that the trees were so weakened by a lack of water and the extreme heat (associated with climate change), that the beetles were able to take advantage, similar to what happened in conifer forests across the Sierra Nevada. It can take sequoias multiple years to recover once rain returns.

As beetle attacks progress, trees tend to die from the top down.

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Nate Stephenson

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U.S. Geological Survey

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Fire could also be playing a role, according to Brigham. There seems to be a correlation between beetle attacks and severe fire scars at the base of the trees. While sequoias need fire to survive, extreme fires like those that we've seen in recent years, can damage their roots and trunks, compromising their ability to transport nutrients to the demanding, full green crown several hundred feet off the ground.

Is there any hope?

While there aren't any known solutions at the moment, a number are being explored.

Brigham said that they're considering tarping, chipping or removing fallen branches from around individual trees to see if it reduces beetle populations. Or, potentially watering trees under attack to reduce stress and enhance beetle fighting abilities.

Another possibility is the utilization of chemicals given off by the trees to attract beetles to traps — a technique that's used to help prevent the spread of the Red Palm Weevils throughout the state.

“The trees aren’t going to go extinct because of this beetle most likely," said Nate Stephenson, scientist emeritus with U.S. Geological Survey, who's long studied giant sequoias. “It is something worth watching and studying because we know so little at this point that better safe than sorry. Let’s understand it better and learn as much as we possibly can.”

Listen to our podcast: The Big Burn

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena and Pasadena’s music community have really shown up to support fire survivors, especially fellow musicians who lost instruments and record collections.

That effort continues this weekend with a special donation concert at a Pasadena record store, with the aim of getting vinyl records back in the hands of survivors who lost their collections.

“You know, our name is Healing Force of the Universe, and I think that gives me a pretty clear direction… especially after the fires,” said Austin Manuel, founder of Pasadena record store, where Sunday’s show will be held.

The record donation effort is the brainchild of musician Brandon Jay, who founded the nonprofit Altadena Musicians after losing his home and almost all of his family’s instruments in the Eaton Fire. Through Altadena Musicians’s donation and registry platform, Jay said he and his partners have helped some 1,200 fire survivors get their music instruments back.

Brandon Jay.

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Robert Garrova

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LAist

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Now, that effort has fanned out to restoring vinyl record collections.

“All of that stuff evaporated for thousands of people,” Jay said. “Look at your own record collection and be like, ‘Wow, what if that whole thing disappeared?’”

You might know Jay from several bands over the years, including Lutefisk, a 1990s alt-rock band based in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, composed music for TV shows, including Orange is the New Black and Weeds.

Jay plans to play some holiday tunes at Sunday's record donation show (which LAist is the media sponsor), along with fellow musician Daniel Brummel of Sanglorians. Brummel, who was also a founding member of Pasadena’s indie-rock sensation Ozma, said he was grateful to Jay for his fire recovery work and to Manuel for making Healing Force available for shows like this.

Brummel, who came close to losing his own home in the Eaton Fire, recalled a show he played at Healing Force back in March.

Ryen Slegr (left) and Daniel Brummel perform with their band, Ozma, on the 2014 Weezer Cruise.

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Even Keel Imagery

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“The trauma of the fires was still really fresh,” Brummel said. After playing a cover of Rufus Wainwright’s “Going to a Town,” that night — which includes the lyrics “I’m going to a town that has already been burnt down” — Brummel said his neighbors in the audience told him the rendition hit them hard. “It felt really powerful. And without that space, it just wouldn’t have occurred.”

Details

Healing Force of the Universe Record Donation Show
Featuring: Quasar (aka Brandon Jay), Sanglorians (Daniel Brummel) and The Acrylic.
Sunday, Dec. 14; 2 to 5 p.m.
1200 E. Walnut St., Pasadena
Tickets are $15 or you can donate 5 or more records at the door. More info here.

Topline:

The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.

The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.

What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."

What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."

Every year in Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe that draws hundreds of visitors.

Along the front of the house, the multi-colored altar is filled with lights, flowers and a stained-glass tapestry behind a sculpture of the Lady of Guadalupe. Cantabrana’s roof also is lit up with the green, white and red lights that spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” and a cross.

Visitors are welcomed with music and the smell of roses as they celebrate the saint, but this year’s gathering comes after a dark year for immigrant communities.

Luis Cantabrana stands in front of the stunning altar he built in front of his home in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Every year, his display draws hundreds of visitors.

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Destiny Torres

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LAist

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Why do they celebrate? 

In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman wearing a green veil with her hands together in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak.

To celebrate in Santa Ana, worshippers gathered late-night Wednesday and in the very early hours Dec. 12 to pray the rosary, sing hymns and celebrate the saint.

Cantabrana has hosted worshippers at his home for 27 years — 17 in Santa Ana.

The altar started out small, he said, and over the years, he added a fabric background, more lights and flowers (lots and lots of flowers).

“It started with me making a promise to la Virgen de Guadalupe that while I had life and a home to build an altar, that I would do it,” Cantabrana said. “Everything you see in photos and videos is pretty, but when you come and see it live, it's more than pretty. It's beautiful.”

The Santa Ana home's elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe draws hundreds of visitors each year.

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Destiny Torres

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LAist

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Gathering in a time of turmoil 

Many also look to the Lady of Guadalupe for protection, especially at a time when federal enforcement has rattled immigrant communities.

“People don’t want to go to work, they don’t want to take their kids to school, but the love we have for our Virgen de Guadalupe,” Cantabrana said. “We see that la Virgen de Guadalupe has a lot of power, and so we know immigration [enforcement] won’t come here.”

Margarita Lopez of Garden Grove has been visiting the altar for three years with her husband. She’s been celebrating the Virgencita since she was a young girl. Honoring the saint is as important now as ever, she said.

“We ask, and she performs miracles,” Lopez said.

Claudia Tapia, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, said the Virgin Mary represents strength.

“Right now, with everything going on, a lot of our families [have] turned and prayed to the Virgen for strength during these times,” Tapia said. “She's a very strong symbol of Mexican culture, of unity, of faith and of resilience.”

See it for yourself

The shrine will stay up into the new year on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street.