Every once in a while most of us have those “whatever happened to…?” moments.
By Bill Lawyer
Every once in a while most of us have those “whatever happened to…?” moments.
As summer moves its way toward fall, and the anniversaries of Irene and Sandy approach, I experienced two such moments.
The first was triggered by all the roadwork that’s going on in Rye. I realized I had not heard anything about the major “safe routes to school” project that had been awarded a large grant back in January 2013. The grant provided $223,952 toward three things: installing pedestrian-activated flash beacons at four intersections, improving crossing conditions at two intersections, and improving sidewalk conditions on Hewlett Avenue.
When the grant was awarded, I reported that the City expected to get the projects underway in August. However, the City Manager’s Office says that they will not be them started until 2014.
The reason: delays in processing on the part of the NY State Department of Transportation.
This sounds like shades of the long delays in getting the Central Avenue bridge project started. Perhaps some intervention by State Senator Latimer or Assemblyman Otis would help.
On a more positive note, my other “whatever happened to….” moment has a brighter outcome. Last February we noted that a number of pine trees at Rye Town Park and along Forest Avenue had turned from “evergreen to everbrown.” Interviews with arborists determined that the cause was the heavy dose of saltwater sprayed on them by Hurricane Sandy.
While arborists said that many of the trees should grow new green needles on their own, some recommended getting soil samples and providing de-salinization treatments if the amount of salt was high. Salt interferes with the trees’ ability to absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil.
A recent inspection of the sites photographed back in the winter revealed that all the trees in question have made a full recovery.
Now we just have to see what this hurricane season has in store for us.
