PUTTING THE FOCUS ON TREES
9th Annual City of Los Angeles Arbor Day Celebration


Los Angeles - The 9th annual City of Los Angeles Arbor Day Celebration, a free event that focuses on trees and the environment, was held at Sycamore Grove Park, a Department of Recreation and Parks facility, on Saturday, April 29, 2006.

Among the activities offered were tree maintenance demonstrations, including tree climbing and both cross-cut and chain sawing, as well as arts and crafts for the kids, live entertainment from California Jammin, a chance to visit with Smokey the Bear, informational and educational booths, free tree seedings, mulch, compost and more.

A welcoming ceremony was held at noon, after which 15 trees were planted on the park grounds. Event co-sponsors were the departments of Recreation and Parks, Public Works and Water and Power.

Arbor Day, which is a national celebration, was first celebrated in Nebraska in 1872 in response to a state proclamation urging settlers and homesteaders in that prairie state to plant trees that would provide shelter, shade, fruit, fuel and beauty for residents of the largely treeless plains. National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates according to their best tree-planting times.


MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323) 816-6712
Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711