From Bill Ross

Monroe

To the Editor:

The weather forecast for Tuesday, May 21, predicted eighty mile per hour wind and driving horizontal rain. Mother nature did not disappoint. The storm hit Monroe Tuesday evening testing the endurance of our beautiful mature trees and flora. On 7th Street, the fierce winds uprooted a twenty-foot maple tree on our terrace and sent it crashing down on the sidewalk and fence. Wednesday morning, I called the Street Department to report the storm damage.

The blocked sidewalk caused the kids on their way to Northside school to detour around the tree. The city response was exceptional, both rapid and professional. The felled tree was removed and cleaned up by noon as city crews worked diligently to clean up other fallen debris on the eastside. I want to give a full-throated thanks to the Street Department for their hard work getting the neighborhood cleaned up and made whole again. Marilyn and I will be replacing the maple tree with another one this fall. But in the meantime, the many dogs that walk on the sidewalk in front of our house taking their owners on a stroll, will be disappointed and will have to wait for the new tree. Thank you!