(Nov. 11, 2007) -- On November 6, LB's Wrigley Association presented the City of Long Beach with a check for $7,000, part of nearly $20,000 that the neighborhood group has donated in recent months to upgrade electrical wiring along LB's "Christmas Tree Lane" to ensure the "festive lights will be possible for years to come."

Wrigley neighborhood leader Alan Tolkoff commented to LBReport.com, "This is probably a first, a volunteer neighborhood association giving large sums to the city," he said.

The check was presented to Mayor Bob Foster and Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga at the Nov. 6 Council meeting by Wrigley Association boardmembers including (in photo) President Dave Carlton and Treasurer Annie Greenfeld-Wisner.

Photo credit: Ron Wisner [image tightened/cropped by LBReport.com]

To hear audio of salient parts of the presentation, click here [MP3 audio].

President Carlton told the Council, "On behalf of the Wrigley Association, in connection with our partnership with the city, we'd like to present that check to help with much needed upgrades so that we can relight the trees and keep the tradition going."

Screen capture: City Council webcast

Also taking part in the presentation were Wrigley boardmembers Andrew Scammon, Nancy Risch, Joan Greenwood and Jill Hill.

In a release, the Wrigley Ass'n said the $7,000 check is "in addition to $12,200.00 the Wrigley Association previously gave Partners of Parks for Christmas Tree Lane that will be used by the City of Long Beach for this purpose. The City of Long Beach will provide the rest of the funds necessary for this project.

Wrigley Ass'n President David Carlton said in the release, "The Wrigley Association is proud to be the organization behind the great Christmas Tree Lane tradition for almost twenty years and to be able to make possible its continued presence in our community for generations to come."

Last year, City Hall said it didn't have the funds to do upgrades to the electrical systems on Daisy Avenue to light the trees along Christmas Tree Lane...and in its release the Wrigley Association says it "stepped in to make sure there would be enough money available to light up the trees again and for the foreseeable future."