By Mary O’KEEFE

Over 40 volunteers walked Foothill Boulevard with garden hats and shovels in hand to help spruce up La Crescenta.
The trees along the boulevard are only maintained by County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works for one year after they are planted. From that point on they are either taken care of by the shop owners near the tree or are left to their own survival.
Steve Pierce, member of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce and Honorary Mayor of La Crescenta, noticed the trees looking pretty haggard and decided to do something about it.  He put out a call out to the community for help and last Saturday several heeded that call.
Among the volunteers were students from areas including La Cañada, La Crescenta and Arcadia. They were
part of PAVA (Pacific American
Volunteer Association) Jr. The
organization gathers volunteers to
“preserve the environment and encourage positive relationships with local communities,” according to their website, pavausa.com
“We clean beaches and we have done some cleaning at the L.A. River,” said member Brian Park, a senior at La Cañada High School.
He and other PAVA members David Yoo, Paul Choi and brother Andrew Park along with their moms worked in one group that began on Lowell Avenue and worked their way east on Foothill until they met another group that was working its way west.
The groups raked up the dead vegetation around the bottom of the trees and pruned them back where needed. The clippings were placed in a plastic bag and Allied Waste hauled it away.
“Allied Waste donated their truck to help us and Public Works is following us to water the trees after we are finished,” Pierce said.
James Pak, the force that brought the PAVA kids, also donated dustpans and rakes for the day’s event, Pierce added.
The event was successful. Pierce and Pak are hoping to schedule another clean up day in a few months.

  Cleaning, Foothill