July 30, 2007

The Little Brown Church of Sunol’s members are faced with one of the most difficult decisions it has had to make in its 122-year history. After years of speculation and testing it is with great regret that the magnificent oak tree, which grows within the church’s courtyard, will have to be removed.

A certified arborist recently tested the tree and the report indicates that the tree is in extremely poor condition with 75% of the trunk decayed. The tree is estimated to be 300 to 500 hundred years old and church members are distraught that the old tree cannot be saved. Past efforts to trim limbs and suggested cabling have not been effective and as is stands the tree removal process will have to be performed by crane, as it is too dangerous to put a worker in the tree.

More importantly is the safety issues that put the church’s neighbors, their homes, and of course, the church’s buildings at risk. Therefore, the arborist has recommended that the church act swiftly and have the tree removed as soon as possible.

The Little Brown Church is currently planning to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the church parsonage however; the church wishes to ensure that the life of the old tree is also appropriately celebrated. The church has discussed a variety of ways to honor the old oak and realizing that the community would be sensitive to their decision to remove the tree, they are asking that if anyone in the community has suggestions or is interested in helping plan a celebration, please call the church at 925-862-2004 or send an email to sunollbc@yahoo.com.

The church is also faced with the expense of the tree removal and is hoping to plan an event to raise funds to help cover the cost. If anyone would like to contribute to the cost of the removal of the tree, please call 925-862-2004.

Early pictures reveal that the church was built around the stately oak and in recent years a concrete courtyard was built, further incasing the tree. The tree is also a favorite photo spot for the churches newly wed couples, and of course, the children love chasing each other around it’s the wide circumference.

The Little Brown Church would also like to extend a big thank you to the Sunol Business Guild and Save Our Sunol groups for their generous contribution towards the tree testing.

Sunol’s Postmaster Joan Hall received a special invitation to meet John Potter, the US Postmaster General and Chief Executive officer on July 26. Joan also joined approximately 100 postal employees who were on hand to hear the Postmaster General speak at a San Francisco postal facility. He explained the new Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act and how it would affect the postal service.
Proud parents, Marlene and Max Moses of Sunol are returning from Rio de Janeiro Brazil where they watched son Merrill win a gold medal in the Pan American games. Merrill, who is rated one of the best goalies in the world, is on the US Olympic Water Polo team and the win secured a spot for the team to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing China. Max is the brother of Sandi Bohner of Little Valley Winery and Rancho Alegre Lavender in Sunol. The team is now off to Germany and we wish them the best of luck.