VOLUNTEERS TO ADD SOME GREEN TO BALBOA.

Byline: Diana Peyton Community Columnist

Valley residents who frequent Balboa Boulevard between Burbank and Victory boulevards are in for a tree-t.

Citizen forester Sandy Vizcarra and other community members will plant 55 valley and coastal live oak and California bay laurel trees to replace the unsightly median Nov. 19.

``I love the planet, I just adore the Earth,'' Vizcarra said. The planting is the first project of her newly formed nonprofit organization, People for a Greener Today.

Encino resident and fellow citizen forester Hope Malkan worked on the tree planting with Vizcarra for the last year.

She shares Vizcarra's enthusiasm.

``It's all about giving back to the community,'' the 38-year-old said.

The two women met in a citizen forestry training class at the TreePeople organization.

When Malkan heard Vizcarra wanted to plant the trees she said her first thought was, ``now here's an impossible task, I think I'll sign on!''

From just a few native species of trees available, the group decided on valley and coastal live oak and California bay laurels because, ``they are the king and queen of the tree world,'' Malkan said.

Vizcarra is not new to environmental projects.

``The first project I worked on as part of my citizen forestry training was a tree planting in Atwater. I saw how successful it was - it is something you can be proud of. I needed an outlet to put my energies into, something that would make a difference,'' Vizcarra said.

``I used to Rollerblade along the bike path on Balboa (Boulevard). The median is unsightly so I chose it as a location for the project,'' Vizcarra said.

The women wrote a grant together and received $5,000 in cash from the Neighborhood Matching Fund at the Public Works Department. Malkan said it is not nearly enough to complete the task.

One-half mile of asphalt in the median of Balboa Boulevard must be removed before the group can plant the trees.

Art Babcock one of the vice presidents of A.E. Schmidt, an environmental construction company in Van Nuys, is committed to helping.

``I'm going to put on a T-shirt, grab a shovel and go plant some trees,'' he said. The company also is helping to support the project financially.

Others who have helped get the project under way are Brian Kessler, David Dahlke, Bart Gibbons, Jeremy Sonenschein, Katherine Walker and Jilli Jones.

The Urban Resources Partnership, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps and TreePeople have assisted with various aspects of the planting.

To donate food for workers the day of the planting, call [phone].

Some of the Valley's brightest students have received awards or have been accepted into a prestigious university.

Kelley Kennemer, a resident of Van Nuys has been awarded $10,000 for his dramatic script ``Rewind'' in the 45th Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards.

Also awarded honorable mention for ``Betty and Betty'' was Studio City resident Tyler Kelly and Pasadena resident Debbie Lollie for ``Re-Entry.''

Ari Matthew Shaw of Moorpark and Oak Park resident Fabiana Silva, have been accepted into Harvard University's 365th freshman class. They were chosen from more than 18,000 other students, a record number in Harvard's history.

Providence Holy Cross Medical Center has honored several people at their ``Celebration '00 Reach for the Stars'' gala.

Donald Redding, president of Hamer Toyota has been given the Leland Hamer Community Leadership Award for Distinguished Service.

Director of the Providence Holy Cross Pulmonary Laboratories, Dr. Reza Nahed received the Holy Cross Medical Center Physician Leadership Award, and Marilyn Kemtes an RN and trauma case manager received the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Employee Leadership Award.

The recipients have shown special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable in our community, fulfilling the Sisters of Providence Health System's mission.

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A group of volunteers plan to plant trees along Balboa Boulevard between Burbank and Victory boulevards to replace what they consider an unsightly median.