By Mary O’KEEFE

Supervisor Michael Antonovich and the Crescenta Valley Town Council celebrated Arbor Day Saturday morning with a donation of hundreds of trees.

Southern California Edison donated the trees as a way to replenish those that were lost after the windstorm a few years ago. SCE provided free trees for several areas in Los Angeles County.

“Most areas we gave the trees planted them in parks or city-owned [properties]; but we know the Crescenta Valley Town Council and thought we would donate to them and the community,” said Ben Wong, SCE spokesman.

Community members who had contacted CVTC and reserved trees prior to the Arbor Day event arrived early Saturday morning at Two Strike Park to pick them up. Members of the Prom Plus Club from Crescenta Valley High School helped load the trees into trucks and cars, and even helped deliver some to local homes.

In addition, Burrtec donated a large bin full of compost not only to help those that accepted tree donations but for any local gardener. Although completely full at the beginning of the day, it was empty by Sunday afternoon.

The Prom Plus Club kids took a break from tree delivering and joined the event festivities as Prom Plus was being honored along with CVTC and Marian and Joe Mirsky.

Danette Erickson spoke of Prom Plus and its beginning. The grass roots organization began as a response to the murder of a local CV High School senior who attended an unsupervised party over 20 years ago. Berlyn Cosman was shot and killed by another teenager in a hotel room in Anaheim on prom night. After that tragedy, community members created Prom Plus, a safe, supervised place for kids to go after prom.

Patty Ranous, a founding member of Prom Plus, spoke of the fun the kids had at the first Prom Plus that was held at the then closed campus of Clark Junior High, where Clark Magnet High School now exists. Prom Plus is celebrating its 20th year and has expanded to include a youth section of the organization called Prom Plus Club.

Also honored were Joe and Marian Mirsky, who worked tirelessly for the youth of CV.  Marian was a driving force behind Prom Plus.

The CVTC was also recognized and honored from its beginning to present as the voice of the unincorporated Los Angeles County/ La Crescenta. The CVTC elected officials have helped the Crescenta Valley with everything from creating development regulations to resolving traffic issues.

  Mary Okeefe