(April 26, 2008) -- A large turnout -- over a 100 people -- took part in a mass tree planting this morning (Sat. April 26) in Bixby Knolls, a co-production of Leadership Long Beach's 2008 Class, the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association and LB Parks and Rec.

The mission was to plant 40+ new "Pink Trumpet" trees: 30+ along Atlantic Ave. between Carson St. and San Antonio Rd. (most between Carson St. and Burlinghall Dr.) with five more on Cartagena St. and one on Claiborne Dr.

The event was well-organized, with volunteers lining up and signing-in outside the "It's a Grind" coffee house in the 4200 block of Atlantic Ave.

"Wow! This is the best turnout I've ever seen for one these things," said John Royce, a co-organizer and Pres. of the Cal Hts. Neighborhood Ass'n and chair of Cal Hts. Releaf.

In photo below, Mr. Royce (right in green Tree People tee-shirt, wicker hat) confers with Leaderhip LB 08 classmembers Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Reeb (left in photo) and Nelson Kerr, LB Health Dept. (center in photo)

Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Ass'n Exec. Dir Blair Cohn and BKBIA staffer/Chroma Glass founder Krista Leaders check logistics.

16 LB Firefighter recruits, buffed up and motivated after completing 15 of 16 weeks of training (they'll become Firefighters in early May) made short shrift of unloading supplies.

8th district Councilwoman Rae Gabelich was among the attendees.

7th district Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga came by after taking part in a Wrigley-area tree planting involving roughly 50 trees in the area north of Willow St. to Wardlow Rd, west of Magnolia to the L.A. River. Volunteers met at Birney Elementary before fanning out into neighborhoods.

The tree planting wasn't as simple as it sounds. Cal Hts. Neighborhood Ass'n Prez Royce said it was crucial to keep the trees' roots and soil intact. This was easier said than done.

The first tree was a learning experience. Uh oh...

Leadership LB Classmember/LB Democratic Club Prez. James Johnson and Deputy Fire Chief Reeb watch as the first tree becomes a casualty.

Take two. A second tree is more easily extracted from its plastic bucket...

...and then there's another problem: the hole is too deep. It has to be partly refilled and the ground tamped down, keeping the root ball high enough so the tree won't drown when it rains. (Who knew?)

There! The tree's new Atlantic Ave. home is finally ready.

Suitably educated, crews set off to complete the mission.

Among Leadership LB's 2008 Classmembers at work: Julie Maleki, Administrative Analyst to 3rd dist. ouncilman Gary DeLong.

Clara Golidy-Holmes (left) joins Councilwoman Gabelich (center) to give this tree new home.

Sandy Stolpe and LB Area Cub Scout Pack 21 members were focused on the task at hand.

LBPD Deputy Police Chief Robert Luna looked especially proud.

Son Asher Luna -- the little fellow wielding the shovel in photo center below -- was hard at work...and enjoyed being alongside the grown-ups, especially the LB Firefighter Recruit.

Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Reeb called the participation of LB Firefighter Recruits a "force multiplier."

Combined with a large volunteer turout, the tree planting (scheduled to take until noon) was done by about 11 a.m.