Cal State Northridge’s CSUN-al Gardening Series’ summer class will provide homeowners with tips on how to select the right tree for their needs. The “CSUN Tree Walk” will take place on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the university.

“Choosing the right tree for the home landscape can give decades of enjoyment, while avoiding the maintenance nightmare of choosing the wrong tree for the wrong location,” said Brenda Kanno, manager of CSUN’s Botanic Garden.

Environmental horticulturalist Don Hodel will lead a walking tour of notable trees on the Cal State Northridge campus and discuss their suitability for residential landscaping.

The two-hour class will meet first for a brief overview of tree characteristics, and then depart for a visit to the significant tree specimens on the campus. The meeting location and parking information will be provided upon registration.

Except in the event of extreme weather, the tree walk will occur rain or shine. Participants are advised to dress appropriately, including comfortable shoes and a brimmed hat, and to bring drinking water.

Confirmed registration is required for this free class. E-mail botanicgarden@csun.edu to request a space in the class. Driving and parking instructions, as well as class location, will be sent with confirmation of registration.

For more information about the CSUN-al Gardening Series, e-mail the Botanic Garden at the address above.

The Cal State Northridge Botanic Garden is operated by the university’s Department of Biology and serves as a field site for botany, entomology, photography, painting and other classes. In addition to the natural landscapes of the Botanic Garden, there are greenhouses where noteworthy botanical specimens are grown.

For more information about the Botanic Garden, visit its Web site at http://www.csun.edu/biology/botanic.htm.

As a non-profit auxiliary of Cal State Northridge, the Foundation receives and oversees the management of private donations to the university. Among its roles is to raise money for the enhancement and support of programs that would not normally be funded by the state.

The 36-member volunteer board includes some of Southern California’s leading business and community leaders.

“We are delighted to welcome this distinguished group of new directors to the Foundation Board and we are grateful for their strong support and service on behalf of Cal State Northridge and its students,” said Vance T. Peterson, CSUN’s vice president for University Advancement and president of the Foundation.

The newest members of the foundation board include:

•    Harvey A. Bookstein, of Encino, is managing partner for Roth, Bookstein and Zaslow, LLP, a Los Angeles-based public accounting firm.

•    William C. Griffeth, of Park Ridge, N.J., is a financial journalist and anchor for CNBC.

•    Mark Lainer, of Encino, is a partner with the real estate company Lainer Investments of Van Nuys.

•    Philip J. Mundy, Jr., of Calabasas, is president of Calabasas-based Mundy Medical Marketing, Inc.

•    Milton G. Valera, of Woodland Hills, is president of the Chatsworth-based National Notary Association.

The board’s executive committee includes Earl Enzer, managing director of Goldman Sachs, who serves as chair; Cal State Northridge President Jolene Koester; Peterson; and chief financial officer of the Foundation Geetha M. Thomas.

Other executive members include Sanford Paris, owner of Paris Industrial, chair of the foundation’s finance and investment; Todd Reinstein, attorney for Ervin, Cohen and Jessup, LLC, chair of development; and former chair Philip S. Magaram, attorney and principal with the law firm of Valensi, Rose and Magaram, who serves as chair of the board membership committee.

California State University, Northridge has more than 36,000 full- and part-time students and offers 64 bachelor’s and 50 master’s degrees as well as 28 teaching credential programs. Founded in 1958, CSUN is among the largest single-campus universities in the nation and the only four-year public university in the San Fernando Valley. The university serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond.

The film, “Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg,” humorously chronicles the life of Berg, who created, wrote and starred in “The Goldbergs,” a popular radio show about a Jewish family living in New York City. It is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the Laemmle Town Center 5 located at 17200 Ventura Blvd. in Encino.

“The documentary illustrates the incredible talent of Gertrude Berg and also shows her skill at tapping nostalgia for this very smart and wise ‘yiddishe mama,’” said Jody Myers, coordinator of CSUN’s Jewish Studies Program.

The documentary examines the creation of sitcoms and the challenges of creating comedy during a time of war.

Following the screening, the CSUN Jewish faculty will lead a question and answer discussion.

While the preview is free and open to the public, seating is limited. For more information or to reserve a seat, call (818) 677-4724 or e-mail jewish.studies@csun.edu.

The show, “The Fourth United Designs Exhibition,” addresses the creativity restrictions many designers experience from client and budget constraints and will explore unique approaches in design expression by designers from all over the world.

“This exhibition gives the public a chance to see the work of young graphic designers from all over the world and to witness the changing landscape of typography, package design, corporate identity and web design,” said interim gallery director Jim Sweeters.

In addition to showcasing the talents of international graphic designers, the display will explore restrictions not as a barrier for creativity but as an opportunity for bringing creativity to the intellectual level, he said.
A gallery talk will be given Friday, July 10, at 6 p.m. and will feature CSUN design professor In-Young Choi. A reception will be held the following day, July 11, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The gallery’s summer hours are Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is $5 in student lot D6 and E6, located on the north side of campus off Halsted Street.
For more information, call the Art Galleries at (818) 677-2156.

Gregg, a junior, was presented with the award at the WRAMTA conference last March in Stockton, Calif. The association seeks to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a changing world.

Gregg’s winning piece was a song she wrote and played on her guitar entitled “The Wind and The Water.” It is a piece that describes the uncontrollable situations human beings face and their need to realize that sometimes there is nothing they can do to stop or alter them.

“The chorus says ‘Let the wind and the water take control.’ It’s about not being in control about everything and letting things happen just as they should,” Gregg said. “I was inspired by my experience in transferring from Chapman to CSUN and the journey that I had to take.”

Gregg was first introduced to music therapy while in high school when she attended a summer program at Cal Arts, where she studied music composition.

“A teacher of mine was very passionate about music therapy. He gave a whole discussion about it and it instantly appealed to me. I thought ‘that is what I want to do,’”
said Gregg.

Music therapy is the specialized use of music to address the social, communication, emotional, physical, cognitive, sensory and spiritual needs of people of all ages and ability levels.

“It is one of the most effective and unique forms of therapy because it uses music and reinforcements through sounds, beats and song lyrics to help someone who has experienced trauma, who is mentally or physically ill and children, especially those suffering from autism,” Gregg said.

In order to practice in the state of California, as well as other states, one must first receive a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from an accredited university. Upon completing the degree, there is a test administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists that must be taken in order to receive a music therapy credential.

After high school, Gregg attended Chapman University, where she studied both music therapy and music performance. It was during this time that she picked up the guitar, yet another instrument she could add to her repertoire of instrumental expertise along with the piano, which she has played since the age of eight. Gregg also plays the saxophone and her ultimate passion, the drums.

“While in high school I used to play in a jazz band and would perform at banquets and special events. I also played at my church. But my main focus has always been the drums, and that is the one instrument that I hope to use as a music therapist.”

As part of her major, Gregg engages with the community through required service-learning volunteer projects. Thus far she has worked closely with children with autism, adults with various disorders, and at in/out patient psychiatric facilities.

“Working in the psychiatric facilities has inspired me to work with rehabilitation patients who are recovering from drug and alcohol addictions,” said Gregg. “I am debating between becoming a family counselor or a social worker.”

For now, Gregg hopes to finish her music therapy degree within the next year and receive accreditation as a music therapist. She currently works for a non-profit organization founded by a fellow CSUN music therapy student. The organization uses the Guided Interactive Drumming Method to uplift, educate and energize people.