Laura SturzaResidents and city departments are working...

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.