Description
The matter is a dirty city tree vs. my husband health.
There is a city tree dropping fecal waste from aphids all over our patio. This fine matter is in the air so my husband who has absolutely no immune system can not enjoy his own property. He's undergoing palliative care and this is the only place he can relax outside. He was just released from the hospital last week because of a very bad lung infection. Because of his lack of immunity he is highly prone to infection from airborne bacteria and mold. I was told that the city considers the type of tree that over shadows out patio a “dirty tree” because it attracts aphids that drop fecal waste. My husband cannot use our outdoor space and is limited as to where he can walk downtown because of all the construction debris.
All the other “dirty trees” on our block have died and been replaced with other trees. This one is the only one left. At my request the city has cut it back a couple times in the last 6 years, but it is hardly enough to keep fecal matter from the air! I have pictures of the black sticky soot it drops on our patio, plants and furniture.
I have spoken to the Tree Department and they said the city is not likely to take down a "healthy" tree. I would argue that the tree is extremely unhealthy and actual life threatening to my husband. PLEASE TAKE IT DOWN!
I appreciate any help or advise you can give.
70 Comments
Eric@Grace Church (Registered User)
Please take action ASAP! Dann has been courageous about staying engaged in his Salem community, including reading the Declaration of Independence on July 4th at the Common as he's done for several years.
Show some love to a guy who shows some to us! Please let us know if the problem is lack of money, so if you give the go ahead his friends can take action and find some (or take it down ourselves if it comes to that).
Marie Pelletier (Registered User)
Please take this tree down.. it is a health risk to Dann a cancer patient.. and the community around tthis tree.
Marie Pelletier
Bob (Registered User)
HannahDee (Registered User)
It seems there's a precedent for removing these trees, and I'm hoping that this particular one could be removed as well. A person's health and well-being are at stake, and he's just the one we know about. If a particular tree is dropping this kind of waste over people's living space, it needs to be replaced.
Hannah Diozzi
Iris (Registered User)
Kathleen (Registered User)
Mayor's Office (Verified Official)
Mayor's Office (Verified Official)
Display Name Blocked (436405) (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Christine Madruga (Registered User)
Michelle Bettencourt (Registered User)
DCP (Registered User)
More info.
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_sooty/ht_sooty.htm
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Mike-nMia (Registered User)
DCP (Registered User)
"Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on honeydew excreted by sucking insects or on exudates from leaves of certain plants..." It's not the toxic black mold we've heard of, thankfully, but that's what you're seeing.
Given that your husband is battling cancer, it could be an issue anyway if his immune system is compromised. Fungi produce spores. That's what they do.
City, GET IT FIXED. There is NO excuse for not taking care of this!!!
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_sooty/ht_sooty.htm
DCP (Registered User)
"Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on honeydew excreted by sucking insects or on exudates from leaves of certain plants..." It's not the toxic black mold we've heard of, thankfully, but that's what you're seeing.
Given that your husband is battling cancer, it could be an issue anyway if his immune system is compromised. Fungi produce spores. That's what they do.
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
DCP (Registered User)
"Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on honeydew excreted by sucking insects or on exudates from leaves of certain plants..." It's not the toxic black mold we've heard of, thankfully, but that's what you're seeing.
Given that your husband is battling cancer, it could be an issue anyway if his immune system is compromised. Fungi produce spores. That's what they do.
City, GET IT FIXED. There is NO excuse for not taking care of this!!!
Dashton (Registered User)
Sarah (Registered User)
Please, City of Salem. Dann Maurno is a beloved member of our community who contributes so much to it through his great talents. In addition to reading the Declaration of Independence each year, and offering his highly-skilled craftsmanship to Artist's Row, he has brought many amazing characters to life on our local stages and in our community spaces. His portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe one Halloween season - reading his works within the intimate setting of his "parlor" - was an absolute thrill for tourists and residents alike. In fact, people have requested that he does it again!
In other words, City of Salem, we need Dann Maurno. And we need him to be well so he can keep contributing to our community. Please remove the tree. We can plant a healthier one in its place.
DCP (Registered User)
Sorry for the repeat posts. They weren't showing when I clicked Comment, so clicked it more!
Have you contacted your city councillor(s), Sara? Heather Famico is your ward councillor, and there are four at-large.
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Meg Stott (Registered User)
Nancy Gilberg (Registered User)
BeautifySalem (Registered User)
Tom Uellner (Registered User)
Noreen Maurno (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
DCP (Registered User)
クローズド Tree Department - Administrative Assistant (Verified Official)
Reopened Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Christine L. (Registered User)
Anthony Maurno (Registered User)
ADIは、 Tree Department - Administrative Assistant (Verified Official)
Christine L. (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Sara,
Next step.
I am making contact with you, as to the City’s Tree Warden findings.
Again, we have pruned back enough that the tree no longer hangs over your property.
I will be sending the tree working foreman up in the bucket to finish the ‘stubs’ he left behind. At the same time, inspect the top crown of the Linden to see if we are missing something from the ground.
~R
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
My RESPONSE:
R & R,
As discussed the problem is not what falls directly down, but what is airborne. I have video that shows the sticky "honeydew" mist on the opposite side of my patio that is not directly under the tree. My neighbors wash the area of their fences closest to this tree - even though they are not directly under it.
If someone will take personal responsibility and guarantee that the leaves that have fallen from the tree since pruning will no longer blow into my patio, I may be able to accept that a light airborne mist of honey dew fungus could not possibly be present; or that the fungi, molds and spores that this situation produces will not be found in a biopsy should my husband require one in the future because of infection.
According to the U.S. Forest Service Dept of Agriculture "higher temperatures and increased drought stress brought on by a changing climate are expected to increase the prevalence of sooty molds."
I get it. This is a shade producing tree and trees are important. However, there is no one who benefits from this tree as it solely overlooks our property.
The summer is flying by. I hope you have enjoyed your weekends and time of enjoying nature. As we await resolution my husband begins another week of treatment and will not be able to recuperate on his own property.
L Schild (Registered User)
Come on Salem!! A man's health is at serious risk and you let bureaucracy get in the way?! Just remove the tree!
I love living in Salem because you are usually pretty good about hearing our concerns and doing something about it. Now is the time to show residents you "have our backs" as we have the right to live here in health and safety! Remove the tree!
Dann Anthony Maurno (Registered User)
Mike-nMia (Registered User)
Ann Richardson (Registered User)
Sara and Dan Maurno are residents of Salem, who have been committed to our community. As you know Dann is fighting for his life and Sara has to worry on a daily basis what may compromise his health while going through treatment. This tree is a big threat to his health. I know Sara, she is kind, loving, generous and would step up to help anyone in our community. It breaks my heart to see the worry on her face when I have seen her since Dann's diagnosis. Please take this tree down next to their property, so Dann can enjoy some fresh air and Sara will have one less thing to worry about. Please put yourself in their shoes.
Kimberly Barnes (Registered User)
Mike-nMia (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
jws120567 (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Dann Anthony Maurno (Registered User)
Eric@Grace Church (Registered User)
It became apparent that the pleas were falling on the ears of people who couldn't/wouldn't make this decision, and didn't have authority to initiate the action necessary (tree removal hearing). It's been hard to watch the impassioned calls to action from your many friends - directed to well-intentioned city departments that are unable or unwilling to escalate.
Sarah, if you hadn't called on some personal connections directly I was about to suggest a bit of community organizing. Kudos for navigating the system so the escalation process was applied, which may be why action could be taken by Paul and Kim.
On the one hand, process like this protects the gate keepers from allowing crazies to constipate progress. On the other, it frustrates legitimate needs' of Salem residents until we are heard by those with some authority. Ah, the price of local government control...
Dear God - make it fast, wouldja?
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Dear Sara
I have repeatedly evaluated the little leaf linden adjacent to your property, specifically examining for sooty mold . I have not been able to identify this disease on that particular tree. However, lindens as a species are very susceptible to sooty mold among other diseases.While examining this tree I did notice other issues such as the shallow roots system and the severe leaning of this tree over the street.
I have taken into consideration the fact that you have a doctors opinion suggesting that this tree and the possible presence of sooty mold may be a contributing factor to the deterioration of the health of your husband . I have never heard that sooty mold when present is a health issue for humans.
According to mass general law chapter 87 A public Shadetree hearing must be held for the removal of a healthy Shadetree. This process could take approximately 5 to 6 weeks. This is a decision I do not take lightly however,because of this particular situation and the fact that I am not a physician we will remove that tree as soon as public service schedule permits.
Sincerely
Richard Rennard
MCA#1071
Tree warden
Mike-nMia (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
Perhaps,you didn't read the full e-mail
I stated we WOULD remove the tree.
Public Service said that they would try to schedule it for Monday
Sincerely
R
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
MY RESPONSE:
Thank you -
I was responding to the statement that a hearing would take 5-6 weeks. I do not know who those people are or how they make decisions and wanted to make sure the key facts were presented in case they did not agree with your recommendation.
I know I have been extremely aggressive in this matter. Perhaps if someone would have told me your name weeks ago we could have worked together directly and misunderstandings may have been avoided.
I appreciate you expediting this matter to Monday.
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
My RESPONSE:
Dear Richard,
I appreciate that you have made direct contact with me today, and that you have viewed the tree several times. I provide the following because it is clear to me that key factors I have offered to Ron Malionek have not gotten through. Or perhaps there is a great misunderstanding.
The issue is not what is on the tree, but what it creates inside our patio when "honeydew" falls from the tree into our private property. The attached pictures show the mold that is created on the interior (patio side) and the exterior (city side) of the fence directly under the tree. You can even see the tree from the interior gate in one shot. I also have a video that shows this sticky mist on our barrels that can only get there by being airborne since they are not directly under the tree. (I have shared this video with Ada at the mayor's office but can not attach it via email.)
I understand that the fact that my husband does not have an immune system due to bone marrow transplant and ongoing chemotherapy offers a unique situation that you and perhaps the state have not seen before. The bottom line is that my husband nearly died last month due to an infection that someone else may have easily fought off. This may very well be my his last summer alive! We cannot enjoy a meal together on own patio. If he were to suddenly require hospice he will not be able to enjoy his own garden which is already peaking and will fall to seed very soon.
This mandated protocol does not serve the public. This must be expedited! 5-6 weeks is far too long as the summer will be over. I started this process just after July 4th. It is also imperative that these factors be presented at the hearing.
Jay VanGelder of A Cut Above tree services has offered help in removing this tee if the city does not have resources to do this quickly. We can also raise funds to pay for a replacement.
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
handyman (Registered User)
handyman (Registered User)
handyman (Registered User)
Mike-nMia (Registered User)
クローズド Tree Department - Administrative Assistant (Verified Official)
Iris (Registered User)
Eric@Grace Church (Registered User)
Iris (Registered User)
Sara Maurno (Registered User)
HannahDee (Registered User)
L Schild (Registered User)
Noreen Maurno (Registered User)