There was a time when we wanted to save every tree we could, then we learned about the different life spans of trees. Last week, we received a letter from another tree hugger. It sent us to the phone to find out what was happening on East Main Street.

The letter began by mentioning trees being "butchered" on West Main Street on Sept. 24. After several phone calls we found out that they were indeed trimmed. Over the years we have seen that the town or LIPA will trim trees so that the limbs don't fall down in a storm and possibly hurt someone or something.

A town spokesperson explained that the trees on West Main Street were trimmed for several reasons. They are going to be redoing the sidewalks in front of the parking lot so they had to make the trees a little less top heavy. "We are putting in some benches and removing some of the heavier growth to allow light to come through while still preserving the shade. Additionally, some of the growth was interfering with pedestrian passage on the sidewalk. Rather than taking the trees down, we preserved the canopy and the trees."

The work being done in the West Main Street parking lot (as well as in Townsend Square) is the result of the Town of Oyster Bay's hamlet plan. The parking project in town is a result of the collaboration between the town, the Oyster Bay Civic Association, the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Association. The work was approved in May 2002. The design team included David Lamb, landscape designer; Ellen Roché, architect; the firm of Innocenti & Webel of Locust Valley; Nelson & Pope and RMS Engineering. They are putting in new asphalt markings, adding spaces, putting in curbing, lighting and landscaping.

So things are looking up for East Main Street.

Please let us know if there is something you are concerned about. After a few phone calls we can often explain what is going on.

DFK