Missing the trees

Not for the forest, but I digress (apart from it being the other way around).

I noticed a few weeks ago (Lauren did as well) that several mature trees on Stargell Ave disappeared overnight. They were standing after the initial carnage that saw dozens of trees being removed when work began on the Stargell extension and realignment project, so I presumed they were here to stay. Wrong!

In response to my query, I was told by the City:

The most recent activity along Stargell within the City’s right of way required the removal of trees that the City’s arborist found had root problems and would be a safety issue and recommended removal. Part of the Stargell Webster project includes landscaping.  The landscaping will consist of planting 186 trees (24″ box size), 45 trees (15 gallon size), several thousand shrubs and ground cover.

So … we had 63 mature trees removed and they will be replaced by 231 saplings.  I hope most of these new saplings survive and mature into graceful trees.

Books Inc kicks butt!

Glad to see that Books Inc is thriving (not surprised to read this, given how well the Park St store is patronized).

As with other independents, much attention is also paid to the needs and wants of the surrounding community. “Instead of buying everything, we buy for each individual store, seeing each store as a reflection of its community,” Scott Tucker said. In Books Inc.’s case, it also includes special shopping nights with a portion of the proceeds going to local schools, and discounts for community book clubs, for example. “Integrating with the community will become more important as progress marches on,” she said.

Can the do-nothing City Council actually do something?

Google:

Plans a test that will provide 50,000 to 500,000 people with fiber-optic broadband Internet access with a network speed of a gigabit per second starting as soon as this year. It is planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States.

As a first step, today we’re putting out a request for information (RFI) to help identify interested communities. We welcome responses from local government, as well as members of the public.

Will our “do nothing” City Council to step up to the plate?

Update (02/18): True to form, Deputy City Manager Lisa Goldman:

I just don’t know if there is anything the city can do at this point.

It would be premature to get our hopes high at this point. It is very obvious that Lisa has not taken the time to even visit the Google Fiber for Communities web page …  had she done that, she would have noticed a big blue button that says Get Involved.

Sheeesh!!!!