What to do about the beautiful, white-blooming pear trees along Main Street downtown?

This issue was discussed at a public meeting Tuesday evening at the United Methodist Church. About 30 people attended, Including city officials and members of the tree commission as well as business property owners and store managers.

Some of the pear trees are in decline due to fire blight. Discussion centered around replacement tree varieties, whether to plant all the same variety or several kinds, and whether to replant all the trees (there are 68 of them) at the same time or replant them over several years.

Various opinions were voiced; no consensus was reached.

Making presentations were Steph Miller, urban forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Terry Keiser, longtime Ada village forester and retired chair of the ONU department of biological sciences; and Jim Meyer, village administrator.

Meyer reported that all went well when the pear tree in front of Quest was removed earlier this month. The tree was removed without breaking the four-sided cement well it was planted in. Further, the sidewalk and gutter were not broken by the removal. This tree was chosen because it was most in decline, thus becoming the test tree to see how difficult removable would be.

Soon the pear trees along Main will be in full white bloom for their two-week impressive show, finishing their annual display with blooms falling like snow.

It is only a matter of time before the trees will be gone. They have reached their maximum lifespan (they are 14 years old); some have started to decline due to the blight. Adieu, my friends. What's next?  (Monty Siekerman)