The community is reminded that the 31st Annual Arbor Day celebration will be held tomorrow, March 31, at Two Strike Park. The festivities begin at 10:00 a.m.
The focus of the day's events will be centered around SPC Nick Steinbacher, a La Crescenta resident who died in December while serving in Iraq.
The event is hosted by the Crescenta Valley Town Council, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and the LA County Department of Parks and Recreation.
There will be several information tables and booths set up to inform the community of organizations and outreach programs including a table for people to drop off items for the soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Among the many desired items are used compasses.
"Any Boy Scouts that have old compasses, people that are deployed in these regions absolutely need them," said Fred Beyt, alternate CV Town Council member.
Copies of the complete list of items needed by soldiers will be available at the Valley Sun booth during the Arbor Day festivities. Beyt will have a collection box at the Valley Sun booth as well during the Arbor Day celebration where donations can be accepted. Beginning on Monday, April 2, people who wish to give can drop their donations off at the newspaper office at 1061 Valley Sun Lane in La Cañada Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Beyt, a Vietnam veteran, has received some resistance to the idea of the donations, however he reminds people that it is about the men and women that are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, not the politics of war that should motivate donations.
"These people are over there and they need our help," he said.
"If people can't come to the park they can certainly call me or e-mail me and I will pick it (their donation) up," Beyt said. His phone number is 618-8496; his e-mail is beyt@att.net.
The Arbor Day celebration is at Two Strike Park, located at 5107 Rosemont Ave. In case of rain, the event will be moved to Monte Vista Elementary School at 2620 Orange Ave.
