Even More Volunteers Turn Out For Second ELB Tree Planting...Including LB Officials & Candidates
Last month's tree planting (covered by LBReport.com) drew roughly 70 volunteers, including Vice Mayor Dan Baker and Councilwoman Kell, but this morning's event (previewed by LBReport.com) exceeded expectations, drawing a crowd estimated at closer to 90, including LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill, Mayoral candidate Norm Ryan, 5th district Councilwoman Jackie Kell, LB Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, City Prosecutor Tom Reeves and LBUSD member Suja Lowenthal, among others.
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(February 16, 2002) -- Neighborhood residents, including parents with their children in tow, joined an impressive array of LB officials, candidates and city staff for a tree planting this morning in the ELB area of Palo Verde Ave. and Willow St.
In a cooperative effort by neighbors and LB officialdom, roughly 70 new trees now grow in the area generally northeast of Willow St and Palo Verde Ave. on both larger street medians and interior residential avenues.
The group assembled at 8:30 a.m. at Emerson Elementary School and were welcomed by LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill. Mayor O'Neill chatted with the assembled neighbors, including Iroquois Ave. Neighborhood Watch leader Jacob Ellens, who was instrumental in the tree plantings' success.
Also attending was LB Mayoral candidate Norm Ryan. Mr. Ryan donned work gloves and put some elbow grease into the effort on the Willow Street median just east of Palo Verde Ave. His T-shirt says, "Respect, Reform, Renew."
5th district Councilwoman Jackie Kell also attended, as she did at last month's tree planting. And like last month, she grabbed a shovel and went to work.
After planting this tree on Monogram Ave., Councilwoman Kell watched young constituent Skye put a tree-nourishing nutrient tablet into the surrounding soil.
CA Assemblymember (and former LB Councilman) Alan Lowenthal also turned out and was serious about today's work. This was not Mr. Lowenthal's first tree planting; we recall seeing him in the mid-90's handling similar tree planting chores in the 2d district. Also attending (but not shown) was LBUSD Boardmember (and daughter in law) Suja Lowenthal.
Trees were provided by a grant from California ReLeaf. Robert Lamond, long time worker for LB's Partners of Parks, lent a hand and later emailed LBReport.com, indicating that a state grant will fund the project, although the grant money isn't forthcoming until the project is completed and approved. Partners agreed to be the nonprofit sponsor and will provide the money to do the project and Partners will be repaid when the grant money comes through, Mr. Lamond said. He added that while he believes this is the third tree planting in the 5th district, Partners of Parks would not necessarily restrict its help to that district. Noting that the planning and grant applications were done by neighborhood activists, Mr. Lamond said, "I just wanted you to know that we don't want to take too much credit for a neighborhood/city project."
City Prosecutor Tom Reeves also attended, helping green up the area in front of homes on Monogram Ave.