The other day, between snow storms a tree was cut down in Port Jeff and I’m sure this summer many people are going to miss this tree. This tree wasn’t particularly attractive or historical but this tree was important. You probably drove past this tree a million times. It was located in front of the Brookhaven Parking lot and it brought a little bit of nature , life and small town charm to an otherwise drab and utilitarian parking lot.
The tree was cut down because the roots had damaged the side walk. The choice was repair the sidewalk or cut down the tree. Everybody talks green but apparently some power to be felt one less tree in Port Jeff really doesn’t matter. This tree was special in lots of ways. For me,this tree was like a living clock and helped me keep track of changing seasons. You know, no leaves -winter, flowers and buds -spring, green leaves summer and if the leaves are yellow get ready for the cold weather.
If it was up to me I would have fixed the sidewalk but it’s not up to me. But as I said this tree was important to lots of people. Every year for as long as I can remember, hours before Port Jeff’s annual July 4th parade, people would arrive to stake out their claim for a shady spot under the tree. It’s only one day but it is a very important day in Port Jeff and this tree will not be there this fourth of July. But in fact the tree will truly be missed by hundreds if not thousands of motorcyclists who come to Port Jeff during the summer months.Yes this was the only tree that offered shade and relief from the summer sun in the motorcycle parking area. On weekends the motorcycle parking area has lots of room for lots of motorcycles but you were lucky if you could find an available spot under the tree. But no shady tree for the bikers this summer!
Last summer, during the week a smaller group of regulars would show up on their bikes and enjoy an afternoon under the shady tree. Last summer, one biker friend in particular, would show up almost daily. He would pull in , park his bike under the tree and enjoy a couple of hours by himself or with whoever showed up. Later in the summer I learned my friend was fighting a serious battle with cancer. I imagine riding your motorcycle and spending relaxing afternoons under a shady tree must help when your fighting the big C. All I know for sure is the Tree is gone but I really hope to see my friend again this summer.
Post script: Here is a picture of the tree
The sidewalk
If they wanted to save the tree, the sidewalk could have easily been repaired!
Nice little piece of text you wrote – unfortunately these kind of wrong decisions are made all over the world. I hope you’ll see your friend again!
Bye from Berlin/Germany
Dirk
When the motorcycles and bikers return to Port Jeff I will be looking for my friend!
Hi Ken:
I remember that tree and I don´t like the idea that I will not see it again.
It is a shame
… I guess it was less “expensive” to cut the tree instead of fixing
the sidewalk but they could have think that it was a tree and it was alive !
Where I live it is not possible to cut any tree … if you do you get a fine; being
Port JEfferson such a nice town I´d expect the same .
Thanks for your comments. Both the chamber of commerce and Port Jeff village have been talking up the green issue but whoever signed off on cutting down the tree thought it was cheaper to cut down a tree rather than fix a sidewalk. I bet for less money they could have had both!
That tree always made me think of an older Gent.who would wait for the Bus.During the summer it provided shade for him.Our towns across the USA are starting to lose symbols that give people comfort and give them feelings of warmth.I just hope PJ Village starts to understand little things like trees,benches and other hometown symbols should never be cut down..great story Kenster
I agree it’s the little things like the trees, benches, the clock and of course the locals that make quality of life in Port Jeff a little nicer than other towns. Lets hope they decide to replace the tree!
That tree is, or was, straight across from the Broadway entrance to my store, Tumi…. it was beautiful and added to the quaint character of this tourist town.
I am not a tree hugger, but I despise waste, and even after cutting down the tree they will have to fix the sidewalk…. Maybe it was sick, but it sure did not seem that way. Of course if it kept on growing eventually it might crack the sidewalk again… but not for a very long time if it is done right. Maybe the state’s safety nuts have decided any tree on the edge of a road is “dangerous”, and the bean counters decided they are too expensive, both can site examples, and now have a policy to remove any roadside tree whenever in question…
Maybe, just maybe, the anti-biker crowd pushed to have it cut for exactly the reason it provided shade where the bikers parked… I would put nothing past that crowd….
Putting all that aside, I truly beleive this was a total waste and should not have been done…