Angered by removal of oak tree, group gathers at stump

Terry Ann Gallagher places a photo on the stump of the 330-year-old tree.

image credit: Photo by Janis Reid/Whidbey News-Times

Despite the wind and rain early Saturday, Terry Ann Gallagher went out to the stump of the 330-year-old Garry oak that was cut down last week to pay her respects.

Gallagher tacked to the stump a photograph of the tree she had taken years ago.

Theres a lot of history with that tree, Gallagher said. Ive been on the island for 16 years. This is first time in a long time I wanted to get out and be pissed at someone.

Gallagher said she posted the tree cutting on Facebook and the response of her friends was, What a disgraceful thing to do.

Under the direction of Mayor Scott Dudley, the city cut the Garry oak down early morning Sunday, March 23, without prior public notice.

A lengthy press release from the city was emailed about the felling at the time the cutting got underway.

The Oak Harbor City Council had known about the plan to cut the tree for months, but the subject was discussed in closed-door sessions because, they subsequently maintained, the city was under the threat of possible litigation.

While limbs falling onto the road below posed some safety concerns in the past, the city was not facing any impending lawsuits, according to city officials.

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Angered by removal of oak tree, group gathers at stump