A clear and present danger

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To the Editor:

On Tashmoo Avenue, a few feet from Main Street in Vineyard Haven, on I believe town property, or that of the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority’s Greenough apartments, are three tall, obviously long-dead trees in a tight clump, each one foot in diameter, with nary a leaf on any of them. With this summer drought, chances are increased that in a high wind they may collapse, fall into the street, and pull down the power wires across from them, as well as collapse against the side of my own home, let alone injure or kill a passerby.

I have contacted the police, the DPW, Dukes County officials, and no one seems willing to perceive these trees as a direct threat to all, despite the fact that Tashmoo is an extremely busy two-way street with many cars, trucks, pedestrians, and Montessori School children once September arrives.

I urge local officials to at least view this imminent and inevitable catastrophe about to occur if nothing continues to be done. Last night, a shade tree on Main Street across from my home tumbled to the ground, blocking Main Street. At 11 at night, the DPW rushed to remove it, sawing it up into small chunks and carting it away. The trees I mention are dead and dangerous, and yet the town, despite my urgent pleas, does nothing.

One representative from the DPW suggested that much paperwork was involved concerning removal of shade trees, and the inevitable cost to the town. This unsightly trio has long since lost its ability to provide shade. The utility company only assists in removal when a limb touches the wires, which is not the case in this alarming instance, despite the possible scenario of them tumbling directly across the road onto the power lines on Tashmoo and creating outages. I urge that immediate action be taken instead of, in my humble opinion, continued procrastination, seeming obfuscation, and imminent danger to all.

Doreen Kinsman

Vineyard Haven