Vallejo City Councilmember Diosdado “JR” Matulac didn’t mince words when asked about his Saturday-morning plans at Mare Island.
“Planting trees to start off St. Patrick’s Day weekend. How much more green can you get?” Matulac said, with a smile.
About 25 people showed up at the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve in Vallejo Saturday morning to plant approximately 50 trees and help add to the beauty of the environment. It was the second tree-planting event by the city this year, following one near Vallejo City Hall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
There was no pot of gold found near O’Hara Court, but many felt lucky to contribute to the project.
“It’s been a positive event so far. We’ve done a survey today to see if people here today would want to contribute to more events like this throughout the year and the response has been overwhelmingly ‘yes,'” City of Vallejo and Public Works Department Landscape Maintenance Manager Jason Lacey said.
Lacey said the city is attempting to plant trees in disadvantaged and low-income areas. The project is also a way to beautify Vallejo and stop storm-water runoffs.
Prior to the Saturday event — which will continued at the same time and place on Sunday morning — the Student Conservation Association (SCA) showed up two weeks ago to dig 30 holes so that the tree planters on Saturday would have an easier time. Michael Weiss, who works out of Vallejo with the SCA, said that the trees used on Saturday were Oak and Buckeye trees.
“Yeah we like to go native here,” Weiss said. “It helps in urban areas and it helps with the heat island effect. It also looks pretty good. Because these trees are local they are used to the area and don’t need to be irrigated as much. There’s less work to do with native trees and it’s better for the wildlife.”
Also planting trees on Saturday were members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Beta Omega Chapter from Vallejo. President Suzanne Crutison was happy to be at the event.
“It’s one of our national programs and we want to enhance the environment by planting trees,” Crutison said. “It’s a great day to be outdoors and we hope to have an influence on the future of the environment.”
Crutison’s group, which consisted of six people, including Vice President Kim Miller and Chair Ashley Caldwell, said the process of planting the trees wasn’t easy, but it was fun.
“We’re all laughing and struggling, but it’s a great way to work together,” Miller said. “It’s positive and we’re helping to beautify the community today.”
Lacey said the group was working pretty quick and that at least half the trees would be planted on Saturday. However, he added that anyone new who walks in would be accepted when the activity continues Sunday at 8:30 a.m. near the preserve at 167 O Hara Court.
“Just show up, bring a water bottle, sturdy shoes and I’d be happy to have you,” Lacey said.
