Selective tree-hugging
EDITOR: Your article describing the protest in front of the Sebastopol City Hall about the loss of two redwood trees has an underlying irony about which trees are worth saving. Virtually all the sidewalk trees in downtown Sebastopol suffer from neglect. Take a walk and look.
The trees on both sides of Bodega Avenue, from the library to Morris Street have their west-facing trunks destroyed by sun-scald. The tree immediately between the library and City Hall died this summer.
In response to a letter I sent last spring to Sarah Gurney about that tree, the city public works director replied that the tree might heal itself. The trees along Main Street suffer from poor pruning. The dead branches remaining from last season’s fire blight and uncorrected structural deformities suggest that maintenance of trees is an unaffordable luxury.
We are building a luxury downtown hotel and claim to want tourists to walk our sidewalks, but do we think sophisticated visitors will come twice? Previous city councils funded the trees that the current council neglects. New trees need their bark protected from sun-scald, reliable watering, intelligent staking to permit trunk maturity and annual structural pruning. There is irony for such extended discussion about two trees while our investment in city trees is squandered. Such neglect is a shabby embarrassment for educated tree-huggers.
Tony Bryhan, Sebastopol
Grateful for help at Burbank Farm
EDITOR: Eight employees from the local sustainable and socially conscious tea manufacturer, Traditional Medicinals, recently helped regular volunteers at the Luther Burbank Experiment Farm to help with special projects.
Civic-minded workers donate their time every year to different worthwhile causes, and happily, this year they chose the farm in Sebastopol where Luther Burbank developed many of his famous fruits and nut trees, ornamentals, and flowers.
Among other labors, they raked leaves, dug out roots, cleared blackberries, weeded, mulched, removed spider webs from the barn and cottage, washed windows and swept floors. Many thanks to you all for spiffing up the lovely old farm at 7777 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol.
Erin Sheffield, Co-Director, Luther Burbank Experiment Farm
Hey, Sebastopol
EDITOR: Let’s make Sebastopol famous for something positive … let’s be the town in Sonoma County that has polite people. Perhaps try saying “thank you” or being considerate while driving, holding a door open, etc. Try it for just once a day—maybe it will catch on, and we’ll have a kinder, gentler community. Could be contagious. Thanks for YOUR efforts!
L. Jones, Sebastopol
Deep disappointment
EDITOR: I was unable to attend the Traffic/Pedestrian Town Meeting on Sept. 12 at Parkside School. I am a resident of Burbank Heights. There was no mention in your summary article of the Burbank Heights entrance intersection incident resolution being discussed. We have been waiting for over six months since the Hawkeye system installation was approved by the city council. It still has not been installed. This intersection is also vulnerable for more incidents and fatalities, as well.
I was dismayed by the remarks of our mayor that criticized both drivers and pedestrians. I still believe the problem lies with the drivers entirely, due to the allowed speed limits within Sebastopol city limits and the length of the existing walk signals being much too quickly timed for most people to cross within their capabilities.
The council and police department solutions have been almost criminally slow and we have surrendered our wonderful village over to the combustible engine autos and trucks, instead of caring for the human life and safety of our people. I wish I did not have to write of this deep disappointment that hurts my heart and my trust in our city government. How much more can we endure?
Nina Tepedino, Sebastopol
