Characterizing progress on the North South Corridor as glacial is apt on two counts.

For one, it has been extremely slow. Since it was first envisioned way back in 1946, transportation planners have been trying to add a highway that will connect Interstate 90 to the northern suburbs of Spokane along the east side of the city. It took six decades just to get shovels in the ground for an August 2001 groundbreaking that signaled, at last, the start of construction. And now, 19 years later, the Washington State Department of Transportation has set an end date thats another nine years away.

Glacial fits, too, because, like a glacier, the NSC has upended and altered seemingly everything in its 10 1/2-mile path. Railroads, streets and hundreds of properties and buildings have been rerouted or removed to make way for the freeway, which is now about halfway complete, with the multiuse Children of the Sun Trail set alongside the route that exists so far.

On Tuesday night, a legion of WSDOT officials were at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in East Central to talk about what will be final leg of the NSCs very long journey south from Highways 2 and 395 to its eventual intersection with I-90 in that neighborhood and about the impacts it will have.

Planners have long known that the connections effect on East Central will be major. But those plans have changed.

For 20 years, beginning in the mid-1990s, WSDOT pushed toward a plan that would have connected the current and under-construction freeways with whats known as a collector-distributor. That design would have consolidated traffic in wide lanes on either side of I-90 and would have involved reconstruction of I-90 between the Liberty Park and Sprague Avenue exits to straighten the roadway in an area where a curve tends to slow traffic down.

Those plans would have required a huge concrete footprint. And to make way for that footprint, WSDOT removed vast stretches of the East Central neighborhood between East Sprague Avenue and Interstate 90.

But that project was cut due to budget constraints about five years ago, according to Terrence Lynch, assistant project engineer for WSDOTs design office.

Since that time, the Department of Transportation has been pursuing something completely different than that, Bob Hilmes, the engineer overseeing NSCs design, told the audience gathered in East Central on Thursday night.

The new plan is a simpler, smaller and, yes, cheaper plan for creating the NSC/I-90 interchange, though it will still cost between $200 million and $250 million. That practical solution, as WSDOT calls it, would involve adding numerous bridges and a series of new roadways and ramps, tying the local road network, the interstate and the NSC all together.

The revised plan for the interchange has been rolled out gradually over the years, Lynch said, and at Thursdays meeting WSDOT shared revised, but still not finalized, plans focused on the southwest section of the nearly 3-mile stretch of I-90 that will be affected as the NSC connects to it.

Lynch said the biggest change outlined in the preliminary plans for that area will come where Hamilton Street currently connects to I-90.

There, on the ramp that curls up from I-90 to Hamilton, drivers who want to go north on the new freeway would have to begin their move to the NSC northbound, exiting the Hamilton ramp for another ramp about a mile-and-a-half long that will run along I-90 before curling up to the NSC.

The addition of that ramp to the design has necessitated another change: drivers heading south on Hamilton Street would no longer be able to directly connect to I-90. Instead, they would head down a ramp that would place them on East Third Street. They would then travel through the Altamont Street intersection and head up another ramp that would connect to the eastbound interstate.

If it sounds confusing, thats because it is. The maps of the proposed interchange arrangement look like a circuit board and are about as hard to decipher.

What is clear, though, is that the interchange as now designed would have a much smaller footprint than the long-pursued collector-distributor design. And that means WSDOT has quite a bit less property demand, Hilmes said. According to Lynch, the amount of property required is about 30% less than expected under the old interchange model.

But we already bought the property, Hilmes said. So what do we do now?

Spokane City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson, who lives in the East Central area, said she has one answer: replace some of the housing that WSDOT removed.

I see that land as housing, because they took out so much of it for the initial plan, Wilkerson said. So we already have those lots with infrastructure to build, so we can get some low-income housing for people. That would be great land for housing. It will be accessible. It will be somewhere on STA (the Spokane Transit Authority) so they can get places. That would be great.

Lynch said new housing is a possibility, but likely not on the land cleared to make way for the abandoned collector-distributor.

Replacing the houses displaced by the acquisition is always an opportunity, Lynch said. If there are some areas that are suitable for housing, Im certain that would be a consideration.

He noted, though, that the new design being pursued still uses up most of that space.

Its not like were going to have all this vacant land near this interchange, Lynch said. Its not going to be enough to build an apartment complex or a duplex.

Instead, Lynch and Hilmes say, WSDOTs focus will be on placemaking. Thats the process of gathering community input and combining it with the expertise of professional planners to decide how to develop land around the NSC for the public good. The department has had success doing that on the northern stretch of the road, Hilmes said, and aims to repeat that success in East Central.

Wilkerson said she hopes what they will continue to engage on is that community-engagement piece. They said it out loud, so I think we should hold them to that.

She said its vital that the projects potential be harnessed in an area that has been affected so heavily by a road project that hasnt even arrived yet, and that she predicted is the next neighborhood to pop.

I regret that they (the neighborhood buildings) were torn down, she said. But I think that we should embrace somehow trying to rebuild.

And she wants to be sure the NSC doesnt undermine East Centrals potential by pushing more traffic into the neighborhood without giving people a reason to stop.

Im worried about traffic, Wilkerson said. Im worried about traffic that just drives through. So thats a concern.

Shes hopeful, though, that WSDOTs plan will improve the interstate connections enough that fewer cars will pass through East Central in a hurry to get elsewhere.

If beefing those up would keep the traffic out of the neighborhood, if thats the endgame, then I have to go for it, Wilkerson said.

Hilmes said the flow of traffic on I-90 is a major concern of his department as they continue the work of designing the NSCs connection. As they model how things will look in 2029, when the new freeway is supposed to finally be completed, Hilmes said WSDOT has a goal thats about as modest as it is ambitious: Prove I-90 wouldnt work any worse than it does today, with those connections.

By those connections, Hilmes meant the complex web of on-ramps, off-ramps and bridges that will join the increasingly clogged interstate to the new NSC. And he said the design will help by pulling cars off I-90 before they get to the crowded corridor between Liberty Park and Sprague and sending them to the NSC on long ramps alongside I-90.

The braided ramp design, as its known, will allow designers to take traffic off I-90 before you put traffic onto I-90, Lynch said.

Today, all the traffic is coming on and getting off, Lynch said. Theyre fighting for the same space.

And that, he said, leads to congestion. The new design, Lynch and Hilmes said, should lessen it.

It actually improves the operation of I-90, Hilmes said. Does it fix it? No. But it improves it.

Have strong feelings about the basalt rock sitting in the median of I-90 west of Spokane in the Four Lakes and Tyler areas? If so, you may want to let WSDOT know.

The transportation department is planning to regrade the median in the area and has identified 10 segments where basalt rock and tree removal could affect views along the highway. So WSDOT is considering two options: installing barriers with a guardrail or removing the rock and trees altogether.

You can offer your thoughts on which route the department should take online at surveymonkey.com/r/S2Z53WX. You can also attend an online open house at engage.wsdot.wa.gov/i-90-four-lakes-tyler/.

If you ride the bus, youve seen the fliers. The Spokane Transit Authority wants your input on the big changes planned for routes in North Spokane, Spokane Valley and Airway Heights.

Some of the potential changes were covered in a column earlier this month, and STA still wants your input atsta-servicechanges.participate.online/.

The transit agency also opened an online survey last week for its planned revamping of the Cheney Line. You can offer your input at surveymonkey.com/r/cheneyline, by emailing nhanson@spokanetransit.com or by mailing comments to Spokane Transit, 1230 W. Boone Ave, Spokane, WA, 99201, Attention: Cheney Line Project.

Normandie Street will be closed between Central and Dalke avenues from today through Friday for work on the Central Avenue well.

The north curb lane of Third Avenue between Division and Cowley streets will be closed through Wednesday due to CenturyLink work.

The northbound curb lane of Monroe Street will be closed between Kiernan and Garland avenues through Friday for Quanta work.

The southbound lane of Bernard Street between 29th and 31st avenues will be closed until Friday for Avista work, but two-way traffic will be maintained.

The southbound lane of Lincoln Street between 20th and 21st avenues will be closed and traffic will be flagged from today through Feb. 28 for Avista work.

Northbound Howard Street will have a lane shift between Cataldo and Boone avenues, and Cataldo will be completely closed between Howard and Washington streets through March 6 for Quanta work.

The southbound curb lane of Northwest Boulevard between Buckeye and Grace is closed until March 9 for Sounders Cable work.

See more here:
Getting There: After glacial progress, East Central braces for effects of North Spokane Corridor's eventual arrival at I-90 - The Spokesman-Review

A Highland motorist has criticised Bear Scotland for not carrying out appropriate safety checks after a tree came down in front of him during Storm Dennis.

John Mowatt was travelling north along the A82 from Fort William to Inverness when a large tree crashed to earth just seconds in front of him, north of Invermoriston.

The 53-year-old was forced to turn back to Fort Augustus before driving up the right hand side of Loch Ness along the B852 towards Inverness as the popular road remained blocked.

Following the incident, the transport manager explained how he could still see the branches of the tree shaking upon approach, just seconds after it came down onto the Highland route.

He said: Its the first time it has happened to me and I have been driving for years. I was driving quite slowly because of the road conditions.

When I was standing down there, a local gentlemen came along and he also made the comment that it has been like this for weeks. You could see the bleeding on the tree.

Police were called to the scene less than 30 miles outside Inverness shortly before noon following numerous calls from concerned motorists.

A police spokesman said: We received the first call at 11.45am about a tree which had fallen onto the road on the A82 north of Invermoriston.

Mr Mowatt criticised Bear Scotland for not carrying out the appropriate checks to prevent such eventualities from taking place.

He added: The main road into Inverness, whether it is potholes or trees falling, is horrendous. Its a horrendous road to drive and its getting worse.

Why has Bear Scotland, the Scottish Governments contractor who is supposed to do checks on that road every day not seen these trees leaning at a severe angle?

The tree that came down has been at an angle for months.

A Bear Scotland spokeswoman said: All of our routes, including the A82 through Invermoriston, are subject to weekly safety checks to identify if any work, including tree removal or other landscaping activities, is required.

Trunk road safety remains our top priority and well continue to carry out routine safety patrols across the network and respond to any issues.

She added: We thank all road users for their patience while we deal with any incidents during the storm and encourage them to drive to conditions if out.

Here is the original post:
Highland motorists criticises Bear Scotland as tree comes down onto the A82 - Press and Journal

PARADISE, Calif. -The town of Paradise has a new mayor and vice mayor. Action News Now sat down with Mayor Greg Bolin to go over Paradise's rebuilding and recovery.

New Documentary: Paradise residents interested in seeing the documentary All Its Name Implies, created by Paradise High School graduate and four-time Emmy winner Ev Durn can do so in Chico. Durn will host a premiere of his newest film at the El Rey Theater on Friday, Dec. 20. Watch the trailer, CLICK HERE.

Business update:Paradise Ridge has officially hit 200 businesses open. For a list of all open businesses, CLICK HERE.

New mayor and vice mayor:During the Council meeting on December 10th, Council voted to elect Greg Bolin as Mayor and Michael Zuccolillo as Vice Mayor. The town said they will serve a one year term.

New officers: The Town of Paradise hired two new police officers to the force. Welcome Officers Tatom and Wood to the Paradise Police Department!

Kids on the Ridge:The 4th Annual Kids on the Ridge Christmas Party is upon us. This Saturday, December 14th between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. the Paradise Veterans group wants to create a special day for the kids on the ridge. They have put together this magical day that will include lunch and Santa with Mrs. Claus giving out presents. There will be games and of course the bounce house to entertain the kids. This is a free event for the whole family.

File your claim:PG&E has extended its date to file claims to Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. There is not cost to submit a claim, an attorney is not required and there are only 11 questions that need to be answered. The claim process can be accessed at http://www.officialfireclaims.com or 1-888-908-0100.

Tree removal program: The Paradise Town Council and the Butte County Board of Supervisors passed ordinances requiring the removal of hazard trees damaged by the Camp Fire from private property that may fall into public roadways. Property owners may enter the Government Tree Program to have the trees removed by the State at no out-of-pocket cost. Enrollment in the Government Tree Program requires a Right-of Entry form. Property owners may also identify and remove hazard trees themselves but must submit an inspection form so an inspector may verify the removal of the hazard trees from the property. Property owners may also call the Tree ROE Center directly at 530-552-3030 or submit Tree ROEs by email at TreeROE@buttecounty.net. The Tree ROE is available for download online HERE. ROE forms may also be picked up at the Tree ROE Centers when they open.

Three Tree ROE Centers open Monday, October 28th at the following locations:Community Employment Center: 78 Table Mountain Boulevard, Oroville

Butte County Library, Paradise Branch Community Room: 5922 Clark Road, Paradise

Butte County Library, Chico Branch: 1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico

Paradise welcomes 2020 Board of Directors:Join the members of The Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, December 4th as they welcome the 2020 Board of Directors. The program includes Dinner, a Dessert Dash, and Awards Ceremony honoring contributions made by individuals and businesses in our community.

Nutcracker at PPAC:Northern California Ballet is proud to present the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker at PPAC Dec. 20th, 21st and 22nd. Matinee Saturday and Sunday at 2:15 p.m. and evening performances Friday and Saturday, 7:15 p.m. Reserved seating is $20, General is $15, Under 16 is $12. Find tickets available at NCB Paradise, 872-1719, NCB Oroville, 680-5308, Music Connection Chico, 898-0110, and Nic's in Paradise. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Paradise on Ice:The ice rink is now open weather permitting! The Paradise Ice Rink is an outdoor seasonal ice rink that will be open daily (weather permitting). Public Skate, Adult Skate, Lessons, Private Rentals, and Party rooms are all offered.

Regular Hours:

Sunday - Thursday: Noon to 8 p.m.

Friday - Noon to 8 p.m. with teen skate night at 9 - 11 p.m. (additional charge)

Saturday - Noon to 10 p.m. with skate lessons from 11 a.m. to noon. (additional charge)

Business's opening this week:A Cut Above: Dec. 5th, 2019 5:30-7 p.m.Located at 6848 Skyway Suite C Paradise.

Jeannies Grand Rebirth: December 7th, 2019 3-4:00 pm Located at 491 Pearson Rd Paradise.

Question:Does the town have a time frame when they will start fixing public roads in town?

Answer:The Town did a study of the condition of public roads before and after debris removal for the purpose of documenting the damage done by all the heavy trucks through the debris removal process. Now that we have that information, the Town will prioritize the road repairs that are needed, and we have applied for funding to make those repairs. We do not have a timeframe yet, as we have not yet received the funding for repairs. Once that funding is received, we will make a public announcement about when to expect road repairs in the Town of Paradise.

Question:Is the water safe?

Answer: Yes, the water in Paradise is safe. The source of our water (Paradise Lake), and the treatment plant were untouched by the fire. As a result, the water is clear and clean. There was some contamination in some of the distribution system (pipes), which caused testing done early on to show contamination. Paradise Irrigation District has tested and cleared 993 standing homes as of early December and has about 500 standing homes left to test. They expect to be completed with standing homes by March 2020. As for those who are rebuilding, when a building permit application is issued, the Town contacts PID to let them know we are working towards a new home. PID, in turn, begins their testing and clearance process to make sure that by the time the Town issues the Certificate of Occupancy, there is clean water available at the property.

Read the original here:
Paradise rebuilding and recovery: New mayor and vice mayor elected - Action News Now

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) Three thousand people in Williamson County have signed a petition to try to stop the county from removing more than 100 trees.

The trees are along one-mile stretch of Hairy Man and Brush Creek Road. The county says the trees need to go to widen the road and improve a dangerous situation out there.

If you think of a Sunday stroll type of drive, thats definately what this road is, said Bradley Taylor.

Bradley Taylor lives in the neighborhood adjacent to Hairy Man Road. He says he takes pride in living so close to an iconic part of Round Rock.

Hairy Man Road is known for its old oak trees that provide a peaceful canopy, but also a narrow path that has seen nearly 140 crashes and 3 deaths since 2012.

Its a lot, Its a lot. What is a life worth, said Commissioner Terry Cook.

The proposal to remove 104 trees along Hairy Man Road has been in the works since 2015. Commissioner Terry Cook says, each tree has been measured precisely to make sure taking it down is necessary.

People go Oh we are taking the trees. Well, we wouldnt have to pay a dime of tax payer money if people would slow down, said Commissioner Cook.

The Hairy Man Road tree removal project is expected to widen the road by two feet. Other travelers of Hairy Man Road say the road project is not the way to address the danger.

We dont see nearly the amount of enforcement and safe driving on the road that we should, said Bradley Taylor.

Williamson County plans to put out a bid for the project in January, then decide on a timeline for tree removal. Thats not stopping a grassroots effort to save them.

They wont grow back in our lifetime, said Bradley Taylor. If we make these decisions, then theyre going to make a big impact on a lot of generations.

City leaders estimate the total cost of the project to be $4 million.

Read more:
Williamson Co. residents ban together to save more than 100 trees - KXAN.com

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas Between 2012 and 2014, Hairy Man Road which turns into Brushy Creek Road had 47 accidents on the road, according to data collected by Williamson County.

Only one resulted in a fatal crash, but others led to drivers or passengers getting injured, vehicles getting damaged, and/or trees getting damaged to the point of dying.

The county used that data and continued to collect more through 2019 to justify expanding the roadway to two feet on each side to create a shoulder with a rumble strip.

"You can add a rumble strip so if your car veered out of the lane, it hit that rumble and oh! you wake up. Youre conscious again and you pull back into your lane," County Commissioner Terry Cook said.

The public safety changes to this road are taking place within Cook's precinct. She added at the heart of this issue, it's up to drivers to be better.

The county would not have to spend one penny on this road except routine maintenance if drivers were responsible," Cook said. "This is not big government coming in to take out our trees.

However, a Facebook group argues this is not the answer.

"Save The Trees on Hairy Man Road" members said they were not given enough time to meet with county officials to discuss other solutions to the public safety issue. According to an abstract on the project from Cook, the county held two meetings on the project in 2015 and 2016 to address public concerns.

Is there any way to minimize the amount of trees that are going to be cut," Orieta Ender asked. "Is there any way we can review the plan again and see where we can fix the road safety?"

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Ender's neighborhood backs up to Brushy Creek and she said the plans took her by surprise despite living there for 11 years. She also created the Facebook group that, after three days, has more than 750 members. Another resident from a nearby neighborhood said there may be an easier and more cost-effective solution.

We havent seen any sort of enforcement campaign done by the sheriffs department on the road to help enforce some of that speeding issue thats where a lot of the safety concern comes from," Bradley Taylor said. I can count one to two times in the five years Ive lived here that Ive physically seen a sheriffs vehicle sitting between [Great Oaks Road] and [Sam Bass Road].

That area between Great Oaks Road and Sam Bass Road is what concerns neighbors the most.

With multiple signs warning of construction and winding road, both Ender and Taylor said some drivers speed through the area. The county cited the fatal 2014 crash in the abstract as reason to create the rumble strips at least to warn drivers if they drift off the roadway.

Cook noted the driver also had intoxicants in his system at the time of the crash.

I cannot make drivers safer," Cook said. "That is up to each of us as an individual to pay attention, follow the speed limit the speed limit is set at 35. Number one, this is scenic. Number two, this is not a boulevard. It is a county, small road for you to enjoy. And what will you gain, five seconds by going 55 instead of 35?"

Cook also emphasized due to meetings with people and public outcry, the number of trees proposed to be removed dropped by 60% from 250 to 104. Still, Ender wants to see that number continue to fall.

We understand this project has been in the works for years and because of public outrage has been postponed, so here we are again we want to prevent the cutting of the tree," Ender said.

Come February 2020, the county plans to issue the request for bid to see which contractors can do the job and take out the 104 trees. Cook said it's too late for public comment.

Were really past any more changes," Cook said. "Were 100% the plan is done and now were working on writing ... the request for bid.

A Change.org petition to save the trees had over 1,500 signatures as of Monday evening.

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Residents band together to stop removal of 104 trees, Williamson County says it's too late - KVUE.com

Populations of valley oak trees along Californias Central Coast are declining. Bill Tietje and his team are studying lone oak trees in vineyards like this one to understand their wildlife value and agricultural benefits to encourage growers to leave them on their property and possibly plant more.Photo by Bill Tietje

Theres something iconic about driving through Californias Central Coast and seeing giant oak trees scattered across the landscape. Throughout history, however, not all Californians have appreciated the majesty and value of these trees. During the first half of the 1900s, many oak trees were removed to make way for agriculture and urban development. This, together with poor regeneration, contributed to declining populations of some of Californias 20 native oak species, most notably the valley oak.

Bill Tietje has studied California oaks for more than 30 years as a University of California Cooperative Extension Natural Resource Specialist. Though oak tree removal has slowed, Tietje still sees a need to encourage growers to keep, and even to plant, new oaks on their properties. To do so, he and co-researchers needed to better understand the benefits of the trees in agricultural systems.

Many of the vineyards along Californias coast were developed during the 1990s. Some growers left the oaks on their properties, even isolated trees.

We wanted to understand more about the wildlife value of the trees that many of the grape growers left within their vineyards, Tietje said. Although growers can incur a cost from the trees, we felt that if we could demonstrate their environmental value as well as the benefits of the trees for growers the growers would have increased incentive to retain and maintain them.

To study the oaks, Tietje worked with Ted Weller, a Research Scientist at the U.S. Forest Services Pacific Southwest Research Station, and University of Washington graduate student Anne Polyakov. The research team used Google Earth to locate 14 vineyards in San Luis Obispo County with isolated trees at least 100 meters from vineyard edge, body of water, patch of trees, or road. Within each of the study vineyards, they also picked an open site, 100 meters from the tree site and surrounding factors.

We wanted to understand effects due to the tree, not any surrounding factor, Tietje said.

GOING BATTY

When it came to evaluating the impacts of the oak tree on wildlife, bats were a natural choice. While birds can damage or eat grapes, the bats, at least in the study area, eat only insects. Tietje was curious to see if the oaks drew them into the vineyards where they could potentially help the grower by reducing the numbers of insect pests. To determine bat activity and species, the study team set up microphones at the edge of the trees canopy and the open site within the vineyards.

Indeed, the number of bat calls was more than double at the trees than in the open areas of the vineyards, Tietje said. The results showed that a group of bat species called woodland-adapted bats, which typically would not be in a large treeless area such as a vineyard, were frequenting the trees within the vineyards. The trees were bringing woodland bats into the vineyard, thereby increasing the biodiversity of the vineyard area.

Vineyard tree sites and open sites within vineyards were equipped with identical bat echolocation recording systems. In addition to being placed 100 meters apart from each other, the sites also were located 100 meters from a vineyard road, irrigation reservoir, or building to lessen the chance of human influence.Photo by Bill Tietje

In addition to bringing bats into a vineyard, oaks store carbon and provide stepping stones that wildlife can use while moving across the agricultural landscape, such as from a feeding site to a roosting site.

In addition to their environmental benefits, Tietje emphasizes oak trees can be beneficial for growers as well. He is continuing to research what insects the bats are eating. If theyre drawn to vineyard pests, growers may need to use fewer chemical treatments on their grapes.

GROWER SEES VALUE

Jerry Reaugh is one of the grape growers that allowed access to his vineyard for the study. Though he wasnt experiencing many pest issues with his grapes, he sees the value of keeping an oak tree.

It adds beauty to the landscape and great ecological value without being cumbersome to growers, he said. Its a win-win.

Wine country visitors share Reaughs opinion of the oaks.

People find oaks across the rural landscape to be aesthetically pleasing, attracting tourists to the wine country, he said. Removal of trees being very controversial, keeping and planting oaks is also a political plus for growers. Oak trees, especially valley oaks, are icons in this area and highly desired.

Tietje is looking at finding ways to continue to increase the benefit of the trees in agricultural landscapes without sacrificing agriculture production or economics.

I encourage the growers to retain and maintain these trees and to plant oak trees, especially valley oaks, in suitable areas around the vineyard, he said. Planting even one tree a year can make a large contribution over the long term toward increasing their populations. Growers have water and agricultural knowledge and staff to help with planting and maintenance until trees get going. Its a natural fit. The bottom line: it can be a win-win for the environment and the grower.

Kathie Zipp is a regular contributor to American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines on a variety of subjects from crops to production. She is a freelance writer residing in Parma, OH. See all author stories here.

Continue reading here:
What Oak Trees Mean to the Health of Vineyards - Growing Produce

d3sign/ Getty Images This story is part of Holiday Survival Guide 2019, featuring tips on the best ways to manage the holiday season.

The first Christmas tree my husband and I put in our new house was a disaster. We picked it up at a hardware store, and once we finally got it on top of the car and home, we couldn't get it to stand up straight, and our cats wouldn't quit drinking the tree water. Just before New Year's, we hauled the dehydrated twig onto the back porch. It stayed there for months because we were too lazy to drag it around for trash pickup. The rain somehow infuriatingly brought it back to life. We eventually hauled it off the porch to the driveway, where it's remained for the rest of the year.

Picking out the perfect tree, lugging it home, setting it up and decorating it can be fun, but it can also be a hassle -- and getting rid of a Christmas tree is equal parts pain in the butt and a little sad. Fortunately, these services take care of the dirty work by delivering a tree (sometimes decorated!) to your door, and picking it up when you're done.

And you thought Wayfair only dealt with home decor. Well, it could be argued that your Christmas tree is home decor for at least the month of December. Wayfair has a lot of different options for your holiday tree needs. Filter by size, shape, color, freshly cut or artificial, and the site will return dozens of trees. Wayfair offers traditional trees like Fraser andBalsam firs, smaller, potted decorative trees and more -- and will deliver them right to your door.

If you prefer artificial trees, you might check out Home Depot's selection. If you're not planning to venture out to one of its locations, you can order one to your specifications online. Shop smaller trees under 6 feet, or the perfect tree for your towering ceiling at over 9 feet. Home Depot has classic trees, decorated ones, potted trees and more. The store also sells trees already strung with lights (hooray, no tangles!). You can also shop for more realistic styles in artificial trees, tree stands, skirts and storage. If you're a Christmas tree purist, Home Depot also has real trees for delivery.

If you march to the beat of your own drum, you might be looking for something a little different this holiday season. Treetopia offers a selection of multicolored and patterned artificial trees in a number of different sizes and shapes. If you're not feeling quite that festive, the site does have green artificial, yet realistic, trees. Treetopia also offers tree stands, wreaths, garlands, ways to store your tree and more. The artificial trees last for about five years, according to the site, and have a two-year warranty.

ProFlowers, where you may have ordered a floral arrangement or two for past special occasions, also carries seasonal mini Christmas trees and other holiday decorations. While it doesn't have full-size trees like the other sites, ProFlowers does carry small trees that would look nice on a fireplace mantle or the dining room table. Maybe your home isn't quite equipped for the 9-foot fir of your dreams, or you just don't want the hassle. You can also order wreaths, gift cookie tins and same-day flower deliveries.

You can search for local Christmas tree removal and trash services to see what is available in your area. But here are two other resources to help you out.

When it comes time to get rid of your Christmas tree, the options start pretty close to home. Trees can actually be recycled -- not to be used next December, but for other purposes. Depending on your location, you can opt for curbside pickup from your usual recycling service, contact mulching programs or see if there are nonprofit pickup options like the Boy Scouts. To see what's offered in your area, you can Google [your state or town] + Christmas tree recycling.

In some cases, you can put the Christmas tree to use in your own backyard as a bird feeder or mulch, or replant it in your yard. Your tree can also help the community as a soil erosion barrier, a fish feeder if sunk into a pond or as paths for hiking trails.

So much holiday shopping is completed by way of Amazon. The e-commerce giant can also help you wrap up the holiday season with Christmas tree disposal bags for cheap. The pine needles, in general, are one of the more irritating parts of getting a tree out of your home. You're stabbed, scratched and the little buggers wind up all over the floor. The bags from Amazon can make it easier to move the tree out of your house with minimal mess, whether you plan to leave it for trash collection or take it to a recycling center.

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6 Christmas tree delivery (and removal) services that do the work for you - CNET

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND A swath of hazardous trees in Bainbridge Islands Waterfront Park will need to be cut down or pruned in the coming months, according to an analysis by city staff.

Of the 76 trees evaluated in the city park just off Eagle Harbor, city arborist Nick Snyder determined 74 needed some kind of work done.

There are 20 trees out there that need some immediate attention and about 32 that we will be getting to sometime next year, city Public Works Director Chris Wierzbicki reported to City Council members last week.

A large fallen limb lies on the ground among the tree trunks as a person walks a dog along the path at Bainbridge Island's Waterfront Park on Friday. An arborist has determined that 20 trees are high priority hazards and 32 are medium priority hazards, all of which will require removal or significant pruning in the next few months.(Photo: MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Of those 52 trees, 15 will be removed, and others will be pruned or have branches removed for safety reasons, according to the city. Two other low-risk trees, an invasive English holly tree and a dead Pacific madrone, are also slated to be removed.

There does seem to be a lot of trees down there and I know some of them are quite large and quite prominent, but they are dead and being that a lot of them are in pretty high-use areas, I think its important to address them to some degree, Snyder said. A lot of the dead trees where possible well leave as much behind as habitat snags and logs and stuff will be left on-site where appropriate, but in some of these areas, its just not appropriate to leave a bunch of snags in an open area. In some cases, we are calling for full removal.

Of the 76 trees examined in the park, 41 are dead and 11 more are in poor condition, according to Snyders analysis.

The way I approached it was kind of doing the least that could be done while attaining some measure of public safety, Snyder said. Obviously, its a shame to take down some of these larger madrone trees that have now died, but ultimately they are going to start shedding parts and its something we should address I think.

Snyder recommended the city replant 30 trees and 18 large shrubs in the park.

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Hazardous trees to be removed in Bainbridge's Waterfront Park - Kitsap Sun

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Two dozen trees have started to be removed along a stretch of Arthur Kill Road to facilitate a street widening project, despite eight of the trees being planted within the past few years.

In 2015, the city announced a $15 million project to expand Arthur Kill Road, between Richmond Avenue and Clarke Avenue. Despite public knowledge of the project, the city Parks Department elected to plant eight new trees in the area, knowing they would need to be removed once the street widening began.

Parks planted eight trees within the DOT project zone along Arthur Kill Road after the official announcement to expand the street in 2015. We acknowledge that the planting of these trees was ill-timed, said Parks spokesperson Charisse Hill.

During an assessment of the project area in March, the Parks Department identified a total of two dozen trees that were deemed viable for transplanting or warranting removal, none of which would require any restitution or replacement fees.

Eight of the 24 trees within the project zone were deemed viable for transplanting, six of which have already been moved, and two of which are scheduled for transplant this season, according to NYC Parks.

The other 16 trees, which were not viable for transplant, will be subject to condition-based removals.

All other trees located within the project zone not planted by NYC Parks will be assessed as part of the standard design process, Hill added.

Though construction of the project isnt scheduled until summer 2021, residents have already noticed crews starting to remove the trees, leading some to wonder why the eight new trees were planted in the first place if they were to be removed for the road widening so shortly after.

I was so upset because they just planted these trees about a year and a half ago and they were thriving, said resident Diane Cappella. I wake up that morning [Nov. 26] and I see all these guys pulling up the trees."

I yelled out, Why are you taking my tree away? I was so upset," recalled Cappella. Part of my frustration is the poor planning. They just waste our money.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project will increase the amount of vehicle travel lanes and provide shared use paths for bicyclists and pedestrians throughout much of the road, while also installing medians to separate oncoming traffic. Utility planting strips will also be installed along much of the project area.

Due to the winding nature of the 1.5-mile stretch, the roadway will be redesigned in eight segments, with each receiving slightly different treatments based off existing conditions and available space.

The main issues spurring the widening are roadway congestion, resulting in delays associated with volume and left-hand turns, roadway flooding, due to low-lying intersections and existing storm sewers, aging cast iron water mains and sub-par pedestrian accommodations, due to non-ADA compliance.

The DDC expects construction on the project to begin in the summer of 2021. However, because the project is still in the design phase, the agency is unsure how long construction will last.

Click here for an in-depth look at the planned redesign for each of the eight roadway segments.

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New trees on Arthur Kill Rd. removed for street widening - SILive.com

Just Junk is giving back to the community by offering to pick up discarded Christmas trees within Sault Ste. Marie city limits - at no charge - during the first weekend of January.

The trees will then be delivered to the Clean North tree depot at the Cambrian Mall, where they will be turned to mulch in an effort to divert them from the landfill.

We just want to help out, and it falls into our wheelhouse of what we do, says local Just Junk owner Jason Biggar. The tree depot in Cambrian Mall has always been really popular in Sault Ste. Marie.

Biggar hopes the free Christmas tree pickup service is well received by the community in its first year.

Usually In April Im driving around and charging people to pick it up, he laughed.

Once the online form has been submitted, Just Junk will contact people directly in order to book a time and date.

The junk removal company is asking people to have their Christmas trees outside in front of their homes prior to the scheduled pickup time.

Just Junk will be hitting the streets to collectthe trees Jan. 4-5.

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Just Junk to offer free Christmas tree removal in the Sault - SooToday.com