Community Corner

Helping Out in a Big Way

Volunteers pitch in to remove litter from Las Virgenes Creek on Sunday as part of a nationwide campaign.

Having his right arm in a cast may prevent him from shooting some hoops, but it didn't hinder 16-year-old Derek Villadolid from picking up trash at Las Virgenes Creek on Sunday.

He and about 50 other volunteers pitched in their time to help beautify the creek as part of Big Sunday, the nationwide campaign that encourages people to volunteer for various causes in their communities.

Villadolid's mother, Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer, held a trash bag open while her son dropped in used paper towels and beer bottles.

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"This is one of our most popular family events because people of all ages can participate and it's easy to do," she said. "It's very self-satisfying to end the afternoon with a bag full of trash."

Cleaning Las Virgenes Creek is not an activity reserved only for Big Sunday. After a 2007 project removed the creek's concrete lining to slow the flow of water, volunteers decided to put up trash about four times a year.

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Seeing trash in the creek after the concrete removal project was a shame for Nicole Engy, a Northridge resident.

"It's horrible, it's sad," she said. "That's why we're here to clean it up today."

Engy was one of many Sunday who came on behalf of Pioneers, a volunteer group sponsored by AT&T.

Volunteers had to get a little dirty as part of pitching in and had to trade in their everyday shoes for stream-appropriate black boots.

And in addition to stomping through water and mud, participants had to maneuver their way through thorny bushes and stinging nettles.

"This [Big Sunday Event] is more difficult, yeah definitely," said Engy, who's used to clearing out weeds at parks at other Big Sunday events.

Las Virgenes Creek is a hidden gem to some people because it's off the beaten path and flows under bridges.

"If you drive by you wouldn't even notice it there," said Dominic Metti, a volunteer and Simi Valley resident.

Back in 2007, the city passed an ordinance prohibiting local restaurateurs from using Styrofoam to-go boxes. Maurer says the ban seems to be working because   she's  seeing many fewer Styrofoam products in the creek now.

Fewer pieces of trash to pick up left Calabasas High School senior Jeff Laird with little to do.

"A lot of people came out and helped out so there wasn't a lot of work to do," he said.

But he still got the school-required community service hours he needed.


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