Buena Vista Arbor Care Co. will remove two trees at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.

The work is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

The first tree is a pine near the hospital's front entrance. The tree has caused occasional trip hazards for patients and staff, and it has outgrown the area where it was placed.

The second tree is an oak near the corner of Seventh Avenue and Elm Street. The tree has been labeled a hazardous tree by arborists. It has sparse foliage, a conk, shallow rotting roots and is infested with aphids. It will be removed in pieces so streets can remain open.

The wood will be split into firewood length and donated to people in need, some of which are Samaritan Evergreen Hospice patients.

The Albany Tree Commission granted approval to take out the trees, and City Forester Craig Carnagey granted a permit.

In conjunction with cutting down the trees, removal of small dead or overgrown shrubs will begin next week as well. There will be little or no interruption of parking during the removals.

Stutzman Services, Inc. will do some replanting around the hospital on Wednesday and Thursday. New bark dust will be spread, and the pine tree will be replaced with a dogwood and shrubs.

Benches have been ordered to match the ones in downtown Albany, as well as picnic benches and garbage receptacles. A bike rack made in Dayton into the shape of a stethoscope is planned for the east side of the hospital.

In January, the hospital plans to hire a groundskeeper.

Democrat-Herald