file photo by Boyd Loving
from Marcia Ringel, The Preserve Graydon Coalition,
Last night I submitted three comments separately. Only the last one appeared (making no sense of its “P.S.”) I asked about this and was informed that the spam filter has been acting up. PJ asked me to send them again. Here they are:
Interesting that this announcement appeared the day after I submitted an OPRA request for the arborist’s report. Here is my argument: Is it possible that this is all accurate and the tree poses a danger? Sure. But if your doctor says, “There’s nothing I can do; you’re dying,” do you buy a cemetery plot or seek a second opinion? Rutgers has an expert in every county and the one in Hackensack might conceivably agree to look at the sycamore. This is not just any tree, but one that has been admired, photographed, and painted by residents and others for many decades. The decision to cut it down would feel a lot more valid if confirmed by another tree expert. If Rutgers can’t do it, the town can pay for it. An expert arborist has agreed to do a complete report for $750. That is only $50 more than was spent in tax money to create a video that has now been officially deemed an ethical failure. Our sycamore deserves a second opinion. It will hardly be free to take it down. Having a professional written report in the records would help to protect the village in case of an accident. When the town talks about safety, what percentage of that is fear of liability?
Regarding the age of the tree: the Ridgewood Library’s local history section has photos of the sycamore taken before the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the stone wall around the periphery of the Graydon swimming area and a smaller version of the wall around the tree island. (There used to be two such islands with trees along the Linwood Avenue side; one was removed when the swimming area was formalized from its earlier swimmin’-hole past.) The WPA also built the Skaters Shelter, now used as the badge office and food concession but intended as a place to warm one’s toes while ice skating. The cornerstone of that building, located in the lower right corner as you face the door to the badge office, says “1936.” The angles at which the sycamore’s limbs are extended in both old and more recent photos make it clear that the same tree has been there all along, watching Ridgewood go by for over 80 years and perhaps far more. Let’s give it a second look before we knock it down.
P.S. Anyone wishing to endorse this proposal (a second opinion) can reach the Village Manager by calling Village Hall at 201-670-5500 ext. 201 or via email at hmailander@ridgewoodnj.net. If this interests you, please don’t wait.
Marcia, it is a tree. It is a dying tree. If it crashes down on a person at the pool it could be tragic. It is appropriate to remove and replace it.
Everything in this town is an issue. If taking down the tree is for safety take it down and a new tree will be planted. Get a life and move on..
I one hundred percent agree with you, Marcia. Thank you so much for your research into this issue. I wrote asking for a second opinion in this blog, yesterday. Yes, I will call and e-mail and ask for a second opinion on Monday morning.
Sycamore trees live for hundreds of years: Here is link:https://homeguides.sfgate.com/life-expectancy-sycamore-tree-74667.html
Why do they really want it down?
10:11. Why do they really want it down? Because it is dying and hazardous. Yes, some trees live a long time. Some don’t. Just like with all living things. Don’t try to turn tho into something underhanded. You are ridiculous
Let’s be very pragmatic and take the tree down, fill the pool in, use the space for fields, parking, and the soon to be required housing.
Are we really debating weather a dead tree can be saved, do we really need multiple reviews of this, it is not a person with a medical decision. It is a tree that unfortunaly is not savable and a huge potential liability. Just like we take trees down over our houses and yards that are dead, is really a no brainier. Take it out and see if something else can be planted.
Just wait for when the Valley property becomes a housing complex, saving trees will be the last things many will be concerned with.
“When sycamores get to be 200 years old, their sapwood no longer transfers minerals and water from their roots. Resins and tree wastes collect and harden in the heartwood or core of the tree. ***This heartwood frequently rots, but hollow sycamores can still lead long lives.***”
Perhaps village resources can be applied to more pressing concerns. Why rip down a demonstrably healthy tree that practically symbolizes Ridgewood?
Why do they really want it down?
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To clear way for the Graydon equivalent of a Ginormous Garage… A concrete water park paradise.
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Where are the tree huggers when you need them?
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Lets fire up the Green Space Preservation, Eco-Warrior, Global Warming attack squad…
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Let the lawsuits begin.
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Hollow sycamores can still lead long lives.
Age and Changes
As a sycamores mature, the brown, gray and green bark on their lower trunk peels in patches. The colorful patches contrast with the white inner bark , forming a colorful mosaic. When sycamores get to be 200 years old, their sapwood no longer transfers minerals and water from their roots. Resins and tree wastes collect and harden in the heartwood or core of the tree. This heartwood frequently rots, but hollow sycamores can still lead long lives.
Can we plug the hole with the rubble from Paul Vagianos’ walls…?
Please OPRA the arborist report. The arborist must be from same company which marked many healthy trees as dead across rt 17 to clear the space for the fields. Also please ask for the credentials of this arborist.