JOINT EFFORT BRINGS FUTURE SHADE TREEPEOPLE, HOMEOWNERS GROUP ADD FOLIAGE TO VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD.

Byline: Erik N. Nelson Staff Writer

STUDIO CITY - While Ventura Freeway traffic roared by on one side and frustrated motorists inched past a Hollywood Freeway crash on the other, tranquillity reigned on Landale Street on Saturday morning as bright-eyed residents planted trees and paid homage to Mother Earth.

``What a blast! It's a fun day, and it's a great activity to get the neighbors all together,'' said Kristina Waldron, 34, after playing patty-cake with her 5 1/2-year old neighbor, Lea, next to a sapling three neighbors were maneuvering into a two-foot-square hole.

``And,'' interjected Lea's mom, Vernell Carranza, ``we're doing something good for the environment.''

Next door, in front of Carranza's house, eighth-grade volunteers from Heschel Day School in Northridge were helping plant another tree.

``You guys have to name it,'' Carranza said. ``You did all the work.''

They decided to name it after Carranza's three daughters, Cori, 16, Lea and Alina, who at 10 months was being passed from one set of arms to another for all to coo over.

``Trees need people, and people need trees. Welcome Corelina,'' chanted Jacob Khoubian, and Daniel Kattan, both 13, and classmates Jeff Fields and Roey Dagmi, both 14 as they encircled the tree and reluctantly held hands.

``It's kind of an obligation, to repair the world,'' Kattan said of his Jewish faith. ``It's not only a mitzvah (good deed), but it's dealing with nature.''

The planting was organized by TreePeople, which has planted more than 2 million trees over 30 years in the Los Angeles area. The Landale Street Neighborhood Association received a $1,300 grant to pay for the supplies and trees from the nonprofit California Re-Leaf, explained Jim Grace, who applied for the grant for his association.

Each of the 18 firewheel and sweetshade trees, planted on a grassy strip between the sidewalk and the curb, will be watered, mulched and cared for over the next three years by the resident of the house next to it, explained Jim Summers, who helped organize the event for TreePeople.

The planters were rewarded for their efforts with donated doughnuts, pizza, subs and coffee from local Ralphs, Domino's, Trader Joe's, Starbucks and Robek's Juice stores.

On Saturday, TreePeople also organized a planting at Zuma Creek in Malibu, which involved about 100 small trees, as well as landscaping with shrubs and other plants that provide cover and stability at the base of each tree.

As with many such neighborhood events, the tree planting in Studio City was attended by the area's city council member, who praised the event for bringing neighbors together to improve their block.

``They get their hands dirty, and they affect something that's going to last a long, long time,'' said Councilman Tom LaBonge, as Lea tamped dirt around a neighbor's tree with smudged white Sketchers.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Homeowner Heinz Diercks watches as his grandson Uwe Kerner Jr. and son-in-law Uwe Kerner plant a seedling in front of their Studio City home, thanks to a joint effort by TreePeople and the Landale Street Neighborhood Association.

(2) Peter Silvester, left, and his wife, Rebecca, right, plant a young tree in front of their home, part of a joint effort by TreePeople and a homeowners group.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer