$1.4 Million OKd for Valley Projects

Nearly $1.4 million in federal funds have been approved for a variety of public projects in the San Fernando Valley, including an environmentally friendly parking lot and a senior transportation program, officials said this week.

The money is part of the $328.5-billion spending bill approved last week by Congress, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-North Hollywood) said.

The TreePeople organization will receive $260,000 to build a 75-space parking lot at its Center for Community Forestry in Studio City. Plans for the lot include drains and an underground tank to collect rainwater for use in an artificial creek and for firefighting and irrigation, TreePeople spokeswoman Marisa Walker said. “We’re trying to show how to build commercial and residential buildings with more sustainability,” she said.

A pilot program by the Beverly Foundation of Pasadena to help Valley seniors who can no longer drive received $50,000 to establish a yearlong program that would give seniors a stipend to help pay others to drive them.

“We all want to drive as long as possible,” said Helen Kerschner, the foundation’s president and chief executive. “But if the time comes when a person shouldn’t be driving, it won’t be possible to stop unless they have some options.”

These projects also received funding:

* $440,000 for new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and access ramps near the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Pacoima.

* $250,000 for street and sidewalk repairs at the northwest corner of Fox Street and Laurel Canyon Boulevard near San Fernando High School.

* $150,000 for the free tattoo-removal program at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.

* $75,000 for renovations to the East Valley Family YMCA in North Hollywood.

* $75,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley to help with repairs to its 25,000-square-foot building in Pacoima.

* And $75,000 to the Valley Family Center in San Fernando to help with the construction of a new wing that would provide mental-health services and educational programs for low-income residents.