North East Trees

Scott Wilson Memorial

platanus90065 — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:58:27 +0000

Please join North East Trees for a memorial to celebrate Scott Wilson’s life and legacy. The event has been scheduled for Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 1:00 pm at the Herrick Memorial Chapel and Interfaith Center at Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Los Angeles, CA 90041. Please join us and other North East Trees supporters who make Scott’s vision possible.

Peace On Earth

platanus90065 — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Scott Wilson Memorial

platanus90065 — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:34:30 +0000

Dear North East Trees Community,

Please join Scott’s family for a memorial to celebrate his life and legacy. The event has been scheduled for Sunday, November 27th, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Women’s Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock, 5105 Hermosa Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90041. A program will commence at 3:00 pm.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to North East Trees – www.northeasttrees.org or mailed to North East Trees, 570 W. Avenue 26, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90065.

If you are unable to attend, North East Trees will host a tribute to Scott early next year. Details will be forthcoming.

Mark B. Kenyon, Executive Director
North East Trees

Scott Wilson, Rest In Peace

platanus90065 — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:17:42 +0000

Dear North East Trees Community,

It is with very heavy hearts and deep regret that we must inform you of the death of Scott Wilson, Founder of North East Trees.

Scott passed away in his sleep at Glendale Adventist Hospital yesterday. His wife Clarli, and family were with him. He was 89 years old.

Last Saturday, Scott was taking clippings from a tree in his garden, to be used at his church, when he lost conciousness and fell. He was taken to the hospital by paramedics, and did not regain conciousness. I believe this was how Scott might have chosen his final act to be: in service to his community – and in a treee.

A Memorial to celebrate Scott’s life is being planned and an announcement of the date will be made.

Mark B. Kenyon, Executive Director
North East Trees

Environmental Stewardship Program at San Fernando Gardens a Success!

platanus90065 — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:09:59 +0000

For three weeks this July and August North East Trees, in collaboration with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, trained and assisted 10 youth from the San Fernando Gardens public housing community with planting 200 hundred trees in the housing community. Participating youth were trained in tree identification, installation, and maintenance. The project enabled the youth to learn skills useful in the green jobs and landscaping industries as well as to help their community. Participant Jesus Mejia said, “It’s a workout, keeps me healthy, and it’s going to look good here in the community.”[1]

North East Trees Urban Forestry and Youth Environmental Stewards Manager Aaron Thomas and youth participants stand near a newly planted tree.

Funding was provided by ARRA (American Relief and Recovery Act) and administered by California ReLeaf a non-profit organization with a mission to empower grassroots efforts and build strategic partnerships that preserve, protect, and enhance California’s urban and community forests. The North East Trees Youth Environmental Stewards Program seeks to develop a community based workforce to steward nature in resource challenged communities by training youth in environmental disciplines.

Participants plant a tree.

North East Trees Executive Director Mark Kenyon (left) with participants.

To learn more about North East Trees’ Youth Environmental Stewards Program and other Northeast Trees programs please visit www.northeasttrees.com

[1] http://www.hacla.org/youth-plant-trees-in-their-community/

North East Trees welcomes Mark Kenyon as Executive Director

platanus90065 — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:28:50 +0000

North East Trees is pleased to welcome Mark Kenyon, who recently joined us as our Executive Director.

Mark is a long time friend of North East Trees’ founder Scott Wilson and has been associated with NET from its very first tree planting over 20 years ago. In addition to planting trees, Mark has worked with NET on various projects including management oversight and strategic planning. Mark brings to NET a keen interest in native plants, habitat restoration, watershed management, and the use of natural spaces to connect with at risk youth.

Mark was chosen after a lengthy and detailed executive search, conducted by the North East Trees’ Board, because his broad experience in managing complex projects, people, and organizations best met NET’s current and future needs. Mark brings to NET a style of leadership and experience that the board believes is critical to helping us achieve our goals and to meeting the challenges before us.

Mark’s previous experience in executive management includes over eight years as the CEO of the MacNeal Group LLC, a provider of engineering services and software for the Computer-Aided Engineering marketplace. Prior to that, Mark worked for eighteen years for MSC Software in various product, project, marketing and executive management roles. While at MSC, Mark was responsible for MSC’s $120M aerospace business where he consistently delivered operating and financial results that met or exceeded goals, including 25-30% net income from operations.

As many NET stakeholders are aware, Mark’s wife Clare Marter Kenyon is the immediate past President of the NET Board of Directors. In order to avoid potential conflicts Clare did not participate in the Executive Director hiring process and has resigned her position as President. She was, however, asked remain on the Board in order to provide continuity and access to her deep knowledge of NET and its mission.

Mark is a twenty-six year resident of Northeast Los Angeles and has been active in many of the community organizations, including PTA, Mt. Washington Association, and the Mt. Washington Homeowners’ Alliance. He has been active in many land use issues, including the acquisitions of Rainbow Canyon, Elyria Canyon, Heidelberg, Moon Canyon and Elephant Hill parks.

Finally, Mark and Clare are the proud parents of a 26-year-old daughter, Jessica, who is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and holds a Master degree from the London School of Economics. She is currently living and working in Rwanda helping small farmers increase crop yields and incomes.

For further information, please contact Mark directly at: mark@northeasttrees.org or Robert Nakahiro, NET’s new Board President at: robertnakahiro@gmail.com

Oros Green Street Project & Stormwater Management in Los Angeles

platanus90065 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:48:52 +0000

Landscape Architecture Magazine reports on stormwater management strategies in Los Angeles. North East Trees’ Oros Green Street Project featured.

Click here for the article:

Practice Makes Pervious – LAM July 2011

Glendale Narrows Riverwalk Project Update

platanus90065 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:38:47 +0000

The Glendale Narrows River Walk project being designed and constructed by North East Trees is located on the north bank of the Los Angeles River across from Griffith Park, just east of Garden Street.

One of the most spectacular stretches of this under-appreciated river, where there still exists a natural unpaved river bottom, runs the length of this approximately half mile project. It is a gathering place for all kinds of wildlife, particularly large water birds such as the Great Blue Heron and the Snowy Egret.

After several weeks of removing concrete, asphalt, old rusty chain link fence, and invasive plants, the project has now entered the heavy construction phase at the west end of the project.

Before construction

During construction

The new entrance road is currently being graded, and a ramp will be built leading up from the parking area to the equestrian area where a spectacular new horse ring and corral have already been installed.

Structures are being constructed to allow the storm water runoff from the surrounding area to flow along a planted earthen channel for hundreds of feet before entering an infiltration basin. This will clean the storm water through natural processes and allow it to infiltrate into the sandy soils that typically line the river. Combine these methods, known as BMP’s (Best Management Practices), with over 5,000 square feet of concrete removal and the result is water being allowed to infiltrate into the ground recharging our aquifers, much less water running directly into the Los Angeles River during storm events, and the water that does enter the river will be much cleaner than in the past.

During demolition, old metal fence and asphalt were recycled. Rocks were recovered to be later utilized in landscaping and drainage. In a typical construction project these materials would be treated as trash and hauled of to a landfill. North East Trees makes a concerted effort to lessen the negative impact of projects and reuse all the materials we can.

The benefits that this project will bring to the immediate community and the area as a whole are typical of a North East Trees project. Air and water quality, noise levels, property values, security, and sense of community will all be positively affected. We replace gray, hard, lifeless forgotten corners of the urban setting with green, flowering, breathing landscapes. We welcome back and rely on the ecosystem as an essential, functioning feature of every project. We open up long closed public areas in the belief that getting good people to spend time and develop a stake in an area is the most effective form of security. We expect all of these benefits and more from North East Trees’ Glendale Narrows River Walk Project.

North East Trees featured in LA Times Garden column

platanus90065 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:49:39 +0000

Emily Green writes about North East Trees in the Los Angeles Times Dry Garden column and her blog Chance of Rain. Click here for the story:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/07/north-east-trees-la.html

Oros Street: Before & After

“Queen of the Sun: What Are The Bees Telling Us?” Film Premiere & Screenings

platanus90065 — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:40:45 +0000

The new film “Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?” is premiering in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Santa Monica 4-Plex and Fallbrook for a one-week screening beginning JUNE 17th. It is also premiering in Long Beach at the Found Theater for three days: JUNE 17th-19th.

Director Taggart Siegel filming reknowned biodynamic beekeeper Gunther Hauk.

“Queen of the Sun: What Are The Bees Telling Us?” is a look into the problems and solutions of the global honeybee crisis from Taggart Seigel, the director of the award-winning film “The Real Dirt on Farmer John.”

Jacqueline Freeman, biodynamic beekeeper, lets her garden go to seed for the bees.

To view the official trailer click here. Roger Ebert calls it: “A remarkable documentary that’s also one of the most beautiful nature films I’ve seen.”

Norbert Paplau opens a Bee "Skep" designed by Gunther Mancke.

For more info visit: www.queenofthesun.com