Landmark tree removed
by Lenny Roberts

Without protest and with the support of Ojai tree activist John Christianson, Ojai lost another piece of history Monday when an elderly oak tree was removed from Summer Street.
Although the inner wood appeared not to have any rotting, Ojai arborist Paul Rogers determined the tree to be in "heavy decline," according to a report prepared June 18. In that report, Rogers said the tree was in an unbalanced situation with four or five loose, dead limbs.
"Since this tree is located in a road and leans over a walk area, it presents a hazard to those users. The tree is in heavy decline and its condition will continue to deteriorate," Rogers wrote.
Six-year Summer Street resident Steve Foyil, who was born in Ojai, thought crews from Oscar's Tree Service were just trimming the tree.
"It's very sad," he lamented. "Trees in the roads are what gives Ojai some of its character. It was a landmark, as far as I'm concerned, like the one on Lion Street, and now it's gone. We care enough to pave around them, and now it's like we have no conscience. You can't replace it."
Christianson said he received an e-mail from Tom Bostrom Thursday stating that, according to Rogers' report, the tree was in a very hazardous state and in danger of falling at any moment. Rogers had examined it, confirmed serious structural defects and recommended for immediate removal.
"I went out and saw it after work that day, and it was troubling that when you look at it from street level in evening light, you can't see anything wrong. I could see that a large limb had been removed," Christianson said.
Christianson said that he took a hazardous tree workshop in January, where even experts can differ after reviewing a whole spectrum of analyses. He added that he respects Rogers' decision.
"I understand that the diagnosis was made from someone trimming in a cherry picker - someone who got up in the tree and saw how much decay there was. I have a lot of respect for Paul Rogers, and I also know that Paul is not in the habit of condemning trees that don't need condemning, so I acceded to the diagnosis of looking down from an advantage that I didn't have," Christianson said.
"I can understand Steve's (Foyil) concern of that it looked like the tree was taken down needlessly, but I think the city has come a long way in taking care of what trees need to be removed, and are only taking down trees that are truly hazardous. I wouldn't have served the truth by raising a holler about the tree. I had to concede that it looked like the tree needed to come down
Ruben Martinez, of the Ojai Public Works Department, suggested that many other oak trees in and around the city are approaching their demise - an evaluation to which Christianson agreed.
"There are aging trees, and when we've built our roads and houses so close to them, when they start to come undone, were faced with moving our structures out from under them or removing them, and of course replanting.
Also, putting lawns and walks near these trees will certainly stress the trees and hasten their demise."
An agitated Delora Frowein, Foyil's mother, has lived in Ojai since "19 and 44," she said.
"I wish I'd been home. They'd've had a hell of a time getting me out of that tree. Seeing a thing like this makes you sick to your stomach. There's nothing can be done about it now. it just makes you want to sit down and cry."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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