Environment

Historic trees should be saved

Those that plant “heritage trees” never get to see the full glory of the fruits of their labor. The trees are planted often with future generations in mind.

On Wyatt Way, we have historic “heritage trees,” the oldest of which, a willow tree, now majestically towers over Wyatt Way in its 120-plus-year glory. The willow tree is part of an intentional tree-planted lane, which includes two black locusts and a maple at the corner of Wyatt Way and Madison Avenue.

The black locusts flanked the entrance to the property. The historic tree-lined lane continues across Madison with four more historic trees: poplar, two horse chestnuts (flanking entrance to a former home), and a maple.

These trees, planted on two of the earliest island homesteads, make Bainbridge Island unique with history and character.

With the proposed development “Wyatt Place,” much has and will change at the corner of Wyatt and Madison. Unfortunately, the historic home was lost. To their credit, the property owners/developers had generously offered the home for free but sadly there were no takers. Again out of generosity, the developer had offered and allowed the historic water tower to be saved and moved to a new home on Day Road in the agricultural district. Regrettably though, three of the four historic trees at the edge of the property are earmarked for cutting.

These are great historic trees – grand in scale and great in character. All of these trees have been tested and deemed in remarkably good health by a local tree expert.

It is our hope that the developer, the project architects, mayor, City Council and community will work together to find a way to retain this last historic tree-lined lane in Winslow.

DEBBI LESTER and MARK WEST

Bainbridge Island

Ericksen/Hildebrand

Connect streets, enlarge the park

Lynne Wood’s letter in Saturday’s Review (“Enlarge the park, connect streets”) for a larger park at Ericksen/Hildebrand connection is an excellent idea. I like the last sentence, “Why isn’t this solution being discussed?”

Let’s go back a few years to put this whole issue in perspective.

I was on the City Council when the bank made a small park and closed this intersection. At that time Ericksen was 80 percent residential, mostly with no sidewalks, curbs or bike lane.

Today it is 80 percent business with sidewalk on one side, curbs and a bike lane. Originally there was concern that there would be too much northbound traffic on Hildebrand that would cause major problems at its connection at High School Road.

Now, with the blockage at the end of Ericksen, the problem seems to be cars wanting to go south on Hildebrand from High School Road. I should know now that I live off 305 and have to turn left on High School Road to get to the Village Shopping Center or to get to downtown.

I also note the increased traffic going north from Winslow on Madison and Grow avenues. And Grow is yet to get sidewalks or bike lanes!

I was on the council when we made the tough decision to put in a “roundabout.” I did not know that I had made so many community enemies over that decision.

However, I am still getting congratulations from these so-called “enemies” thanking me in public for that council decision.

Where is our city leadership when we need it? We only have three city north-south access roads from Winslow Way to High School Road. Why not use all three?

And we get a great new park for some of us that walk to the Village from our homes cast of 305.

PS: Do you want to see my extra gas bill for not being able to use the Ericksen/Hildebrand back road connection since the no-tresspasing signs went up?

MERRILL ROBISON

Vineyard Lane NE

City

Need more people like Barry Peters

I am troubled by letters such as those written by Mr. Sultan (“Councilman Peters should resign,” July 23), who called for the resignation of Councilman Barry Peters.

It is one thing to disagree with an opinion and quite another to accuse someone of being so egotistical that the individual feels that “everyone is out of step but him.”

Mr. Peters gave a recent presentation to the Men’s Thursday Morning Breakfast Club regarding the financial situation of our city.

In my opinion, his PowerPoint presentation was the most comprehensive and clearest explanation of the fiscal restraints we are currently facing that I have heard from anyone.

I did not find his suggested approach in dealing with the many concerns the City Council is facing to be either unreasonable or out of step with the needs of our community.

I am also troubled by the attacks leveled at Mr. Peters over his letter calling for “civility” among those of us concerned about our community. While there may be different interpretations of Mr. Peters’ message, it seems clear to me that Mr. Sultan’s letter calling for his resignation is the very issue that he was attempting to address.

I would hope that letters like the one from Mr. Sultan don’t drive a dedicated public servant from office.

We need more people like Mr. Peters, not fewer.

JOHN McCANN

A member of the “silent majority”

Bill Point Drive NE