Laura Sturza
Residents and city departments are working together to welcome spring
by expanding Burbank's greenbelt.
In a ceremony last week at Johnny Carson Park, the city celebrated
its 48th annual Plant-a-Tree month. The Burbank Civic Pride Committee
collected $4,800 in donations from residents to pay for 30 new trees
at the park, one of many areas that lost trees to January's
windstorms.
Trees were also planted that day to memorialize the seven
astronauts who died in the space shuttle Columbia tragedy earlier
this year.
Resident Marge Allen has lived in Burbank since 1949, and has
contributed to the program for years. This year was especially
important to her and her family, who planted trees to memorialize her
father Tom Giambra, who died in February. She and her mother, Mary
Giambra, were at Thursday's event.
"Johnny Carson is one of the parks that was our Sunday afternoon
park," Allen said. "We'd go there, have a barbecue and play baseball.
It was a family thing."
Allen also contributed to the tree fund to celebrate the birth of
her first granddaughter, Isabella Grace. Her family already donated
money for each of her four grandsons, who do not live in Burbank, but
come and enjoy the parks where their trees are planted, Allen said.
Meanwhile, Burbank Water and Power started its new Made in the
Shade program last month. The department will provide up to three
free trees to homeowners or renters who have their landlord's
permission. People are responsible for planting the trees themselves.
BWP is paying for the trees because the state's deregulation laws
required all electric companies to spend 2.85% of their retail rate
revenue on programs that reduce energy consumption, BWP Marketing
Manager Jeanette Meyer said.
"Mature shade trees can reduce air-conditioning needs by anywhere
from 10 to 50%," Meyer said.
For information about BWP's Made in the Shade program, call
957-8196, or visit www.- burbankwaterandpower.com. People can
contribute to Plant-a-Tree Month by calling 238-5840 before April 10.
