Trees

Strong winds throughout the L.A. region on Monday knocked over trees and caused other damage, with some gusts measured at 41 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The agency issued a wind advisory that was to be in effect until 3 a.m. Tuesday, but gusty winds were forecast to stay around through Wednesday. As of Monday afternoon, city officials said no major damage had been reported. But in other areas, the report wasn't so rosy. A woman suffered a head injury Monday morning when a large eucalyptus tree fell onto a home in Granada Hills, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The trees! Where have all the trees gone? Gone to tree grinders, everyone. Beautiful trees along the Golden State (5) Freeway north and south through Burbank are being systematically destroyed, and for what? A carpool lane on the freeway! What a waste. No one uses carpool lanes, and those who do use them as race tracks. So, the beautiful trees and shrubs are being destroyed, never to be replaced. Oh, we might get walls with designs on them and eventually graffiti, but no trees.

LA CRESCENTA — More than a century after the inception of Arbor Day, elected officials and community members gathered at Two Strike Park on Saturday to celebrate the planting of trees. “With all this cosmic chaos going on around us, we’re going to plant some trees,” said the Rev. Paige Eaves of United Methodist Church, who delivered the invocation for the Crescenta Valley Annual Arbor Day Ceremony. From the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan and civil unrest in Libya, the “oddly normal act” of planting trees served as an act of faith and hope for the future, Eaves said.

GLENDALE — The city's Park Services Manager William McKinley discussed city and community efforts to preserve trees in Glendale while making room for incoming development in a presentation to members of Crescenta Valley Heritage Monday at the Montrose Library. Oak, Bay and Sycamore trees are currently protected by the city, thus developers and homeowners often build around trees when adding on to or putting in new structures, McKinley said. "[Trees are] important to our environment, our ecology and the character of our community," he said.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to remove two Camphor trees that Burbank Unified officials say are causing a mess on the new Memorial Field at John Burroughs High School. The decision is compromise with school officials who had pressed to remove all six of the trees on Keystone Street, which they said were already causing maintenance issues due to the debris that fall from branches. Residents who live near the row of trees had opposed their removal. The grand opening for the $12.2-million Memorial Field revamp is scheduled for Feb. 25. “I don't make the decision lightly,” Mayor Jess Talamantes said.

Glendale residents near the Golden State (5) Freeway at Western Avenue were dismayed this week to see dozens of 30-foot-tall trees ripped out to make room for carpool lanes. Jocelyn Perez, who lives 50 feet from the southbound ramp on Justin Avenue, said she and her neighbors had no idea the trees were scheduled for removal. "It is really bad on my side," Perez said. "My son has asthma. I barely take him outside. " California Department of Transportation officials said that the project has been in the works for years, and that it went through all the appropriate environmental review requirements.

Tim Willert Workers from the city's Integrated Waste Management section cruised the southeast section of Glendale Thursday, picking up discarded Christmas trees from curbsides in front of businesses and residences. The trees will be taken to the Scholl Canyon Landfill, where they will be recycled. The city will continue to collect trees through Jan. 15. Residents who live in single-family homes can put their trees out with the trash on their regular pickup day. Businesses and multifamily residences, such as apartments, should call the section at 548-3916 for curbside collection times and days, and have their trees by the curb by 7 a.m. the day of pickup.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- Glendale residents who like to take down their holiday trees the week after Christmas can get rid of them by putting them out on their curb. Trees are being accepted along with regular garbage collection. The trees must be placed along the curbs by 7 a.m. Large trees should be cut in half and all of the lights and ornaments must be removed. Those who want to drop off their trees in person can go to 548 W. Chevy Chase Drive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. through 11 a.m. on weekends.

The Assistance League of Glendale formally kicked off the holiday season with their annual Festival of Trees on Dec. 2 at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. This year’s theme was Whimsical Garden and League members made sure the hotel ballroom came alive with decorated Christmas trees and specialty items. The decorated trees and items are underwritten by members of the community. Guests at the festival enjoyed music provided by The USC Sirens, the award-winning all female a cappella group.

The December windstorm that downed trees and electricity wires in Glendale cost the city more than $500,000, according to a report to the Glendale Water & Power Commission on Monday. And that doesn't include the hit from lost revenues, which has yet to be determined, said Ramon Abueg, assistant general manager of electrical services for the city's utility. Since Glendale is self-insured for issues under $2 million, the utility will likely have to suck money out of its cash reserves to cover the costs, officials reported.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to remove two Camphor trees that Burbank Unified officials say are causing a mess on the new Memorial Field at John Burroughs High School. The decision is compromise with school officials who had pressed to remove all six of the trees on Keystone Street, which they said were already causing maintenance issues due to the debris that fall from branches. Residents who live near the row of trees had opposed their removal. The grand opening for the $12.2-million Memorial Field revamp is scheduled for Feb. 25. “I don't make the decision lightly,” Mayor Jess Talamantes said.

A blaze that erupted in home Wednesday night on Screenland Drive after a dry Christmas tree caught fire caused $125,000 in damage, but no injuries were reported. The fire destroyed the home's living room before firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze shortly after 6 p.m. in the 2000 block of Screenland Drive. Burbank animal control officers were called in to care for two dogs that were found hiding in a nearby room. The homeowners were apparently away at the time the fire started.

In response to the letter from Mary Martin (“Montrose Christmas tree is shameful,” Dec. 12), I also don't especially like this tree, but not knowing where it came from, who chose this tree or how much it cost, I am happy to put up with it. Our great little town of Montrose has the Christmas parade, trolley rides, Christmas bands and, of course, Santa Claus. Perhaps after budgeting for all of these wonderful things, that was the only affordable tree. In these tough economic times, we should be happy we even have a Christmas tree!

Public works crews Thursday night were able to remove a 100-foot pine tree that fell across the 3300 block of Burritt Way in North Glendale earlier that day, city spokesman Tom Lorenz said. Strong wind gusts on Thursday uprooted the large pine tree, damaging gas lines and forcing the temporary evacuation of four homes. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred near New York Avenue. A high wind warning remains in effect for local valleys and mountain passes until 3 p.m. today, with the National Weather Service warning that strong gusts of up to 45 mph are still possible as Santa Ana winds start subsiding.

Constructed from PVC piping and anchored in place by steel rebar and wire tethers, the Oak Circle Drive Christmas wishing tunnel might be a curiosity to outsiders. It doesn't have the storied history of Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena or the glitz of Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills, but seems a perfect fit in the Sparr Heights neighborhood in Montrose where residents have been collectively decorating their homes, inside and out, for as long as anyone can remember. “It has always been a beautiful street, but it is most festive at Christmastime,” said 23-year resident Allen Brandstater.

Strong wind gusts today uprooted a large pine tree in North Glendale, damaging gas lines and forcing the temporary evacuation of four homes, officials said. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred in the 3300 block of Burritt Way near New York Avenue. Residents have been allowed to return to their homes as public works crews assess the 100-foot tree, which is blocking the street, a city officials said. The street may be closed until tomorrow as crews work to remove the tree and repair any damaged infrastructure.

The Montrose Shopping Park Assn. should hang their heads in shame for the sad excuse for a Christmas tree at the corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue. This so-called tree was viewed by all who attended the parade on Saturday and thousands of TV viewers. It resembled a dunce cap with stars. I would call it a wizard cap, but no wizard would claim it. Hopefully, next year, they will able to provide a tree that resembles a Christmas tree rather than a dunce cap with stars!

Burbank escaped the strong Santa Ana winds overnight Wednesday with just a few bumps and bruises, officials reported. There were no wind-related injuries, fires, or major structural problems, according to city spokesman Keith Sterling. But several trees in Burbank parks were toppled, he said. Officials temporarily closed DeBell Golf Club Thursday to deal with broken trees and damaged netting. The course was expected to be fully open by Saturday morning. As of Thursday afternoon, power had been restored to all Burbank Water and Power customers who experienced an isolated outage Wednesday.

Glendale may have escaped much of the mayhem and destruction seen in neighboring cities after Wednesday night's powerful Santa Ana winds, but the toll was still extensive. At least 30 large trees were toppled throughout the city, smashing cars and bringing down power lines that caused isolated power outages, forcing six Crescenta Valley schools to hold classes without electricity. No injuries were reported, but officials warned that it would take some time to clear debris and remove fallen trees.