Welcome banner better than ever after vandal’s slashing spat in Pleasant Hill

PLEASANT HILL, CA (June 24, 2025) — Beauty has grown out of one individual’s hurtful slashing of two welcome banners erected by Episcopal Church of the Resurrection along Gregory Lane.
The damaged banners, first thought to be the result of the winds, were first discovered by members of the congregation. The Reverend Liz Tichenor, rector at the church since arriving in 2019, was able first inspect what had occurred on Saturday, June 14, after returning from a camping trip.
“But I when I went to saw it, it was very clear it was not wind damaged but cut by a knife,” she said, “heartbroken” by what she saw was left behind.
While one banner had several slashes done to it, the other had one long cut.
“Given the distinct clues, it was born out of hate,” said Tichenor. “An act like this is designed to hurt and scare people who are already under attack and feeling threatened.”
Her daughter, Alice, 13, characterized best what had taken place, “It was awful.”
But rather than waiting for new ones to be printed, it was decided better to press on and fix the existing banners. Fabulous rainbow-colored duct tape was soon found at Michael’s down the road. All in all, the banners were down for just a couple hours, and the injection of color made them look even better now.
“It was team effort,” said Tichenor of the mother-daughter project.
Pleasant Hill Police Chief Scott Vermillion had no updates as June 18 about who carried out what he described as a “terrible act.”
“We are a proud, inclusive community where everyone is respected and valued, and the police department stands in full support of these principles,” he said.
As the investigation continues, the potential presence of cameras that might have captured the episode won’t help in cracking this case as just a fence is directly across from the banners along Gregory Lane while the nearest residence with one is ways down the street.
Even more disturbing about the incident for Tichenor is it occurred at a home meant to be a safe place, a haven.
“For them to spew their hate and bring it into this sanctuary is particularly vile,” she continued.
Still, she would welcome a sit down with the person who slashed the banners.
“I would start by asking them to tell me what is going on in their lives, what hurts,” Tichenor said. “I would love to tell them stories about the people who they are threatening with this kind of act.”
So, if this act was designed to divide and destroy, Tichenor said the perpetrator would be sadly mistaken and sorely misread the local winds for outpouring of support, solidary and compassion that emerged instead from the community for her congregation.
“I hope people feel encouraged,” she said. “It was a clear demonstration that we are in this together, and there is no place for hate in Pleasant Hill.”
Anyone with information about the incident or tis perpetrator is asked to contact the Pleasant Hill Police Department at 1-925-288-4600.

David Scholz
David Scholz is back in journalism as a freelance writer and photographer after nearly two decades in education. Prior to moving into teaching in 2000, he worked as a full-time journalist since 1988 for rural community and small daily newspapers in Central Ohio and Northern Nevada, and later in California with The Business Journal in Fresno and dailies in the Bay Area, including The Oakland Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. More recently Scholz also worked in an editing, writing, and page layout role with the Rossmoor News.