Bert the Eagle flys the coop

I was really sad to witness the old landmark being cut down and hauled away, as I have lived here on the corner of Flocktown and Schooleys Mtn. Roads for 32 years and have always enjoyed the view first as a magnificent living white oak tree, and then Bert for the last 17 years. I think it is a shame that the tree got cut when the tree stump shows only a small area of rot at the base and more than 40” of solid wood footing. Part of the damage done to the tree at least twice was not from automobiles but from 15 ton 18-wheeler trucks that occasionally come up Schooleys Mtn. in the middle of the night and hit tree while turning onto Flocktown Rd. There is a sign near the corner of Flocktown Rd that says “Weight Limit 15 Tons except local deliveries” but this does not stop these trucks usually at 2 or 3am in the morning.

If Bert comes back or something similar goes onto its island perch then it will be in danger again not just from cars but by also these big 18-wheelers driving right over the island. I understand insurance was the township’s primary reason for removing Bert, but don’t really think Bert was going to go topple over by itself. Regardless I think the best economical solution now is to grind up the large ugly stump still on the island and replant a mature white oak in place of the Liberty Tree. I know some of the sides of Bert were already crumbling before removal and even part of Bert’s back crumbled when it was hoisted away, so repairs will be expensive.

I think in the spirit that the island site was dedicated to the veterans that we should not delay in re-beautifying the island with a new tree because repairing or replacing Bert could take months (if not years) and there are probably other better uses for the funding in township. I have also contacted the Mayor’s and Shade Tree Commission offices to make my views known and will try to make an upcoming township meeting to discuss further.

Patrick Kenney