THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, May 12, 1995                   TAG: 9505110177
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON    PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MARY REID BARROW, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   53 lines

THEY'RE PUTTING BACK THE TREES VOLUNTEERS ARE REFORESTING GLENWOOD, A TASK THAT WILL TAKE ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.

You would never know that Glenwood, a lush green neighborhood off South Independence Boulevard and Salem Road, was a farmer's field 10 years ago.

Thanks to Mik Lestyan, chairman, and other members of Glenwood Homeowners Association's Reforestation Committee, the subdivision will someday have a 60 percent tree canopy cover where only tiny strawberries used to grow.

Already, trees dominate the landscape with small trees leafing out now all across the neighborhood. Big trees grow in occasional rows, remains of the farm's windbreaks and hedgerows.

Since 1992, Lestyan and his committee, all volunteers, have planted 700 trees and 200 shrubs. Their master plan proposes planting 200 more trees every year for the next five years to achieve the 60 percent canopy cover.

Glenwood's reforestation efforts resulted in a Virginia Green Community award from the Virginia Department of Forestry in Richmond last fall. The awards are presented annually by the department to communities that do an outstanding job at promoting and preserving urban forests.

At the awards ceremony, the association also had the good luck to win $200 in a Governor's Tree Award drawing. Two zelkova elms were purchased with the winnings.

Recently the neighborhood celebrated by planting the elms at a small ceremony at Glenwood Elementary School. Lestyan and other volunteers from his committee planted the two trees on the school grounds near the Belspring Drive entrance.

Carol Lare, manager of the homeowners association, said residents are encouraged to plant trees in their own yards and the reforestation committee takes care of the neighborhood's common areas such as schools, streets and parks.

``The board of directors sets aside money in the budget to plant trees,'' she said, ``and then we let Mik use his discretion.''

Lestyan, who owns a landscaping business and teaches horticulture, has a motto for choosing his neighborhood's trees, which include flowering trees, deciduous trees and evergreens.

``BUD,'' he said, ``beauty, utility and diversity, that's my motto.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY REID BARROW

Steven Rollins, his son Daniel, and City Councilman Robert Dean

watch as Mik Lestyan plants a zelkova elm at Glenwood Elementary

School. Two trees were purchased with a $200 Governor's Tree Award.

by CNB