The Chilliwack
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Mail theft complaints on the rise
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Thefts prompt identity theft concerns Jessica Peters The Progress Have you checked your community mailbox lately? Residents are being reminded to check their mail daily to avoid having mail stolen from brazen thieves who bust into the roadside boxes. But a growing list of community mailboxes are already out of service this week following a rash of break-ins over the past week. Mailboxes were broken or pried into in the Popkum area, Yale Road East, Slesse Park, Cheam Reserve, Woodbine, Garrison Crossing, Vedder Road, Sappers Way, Marie Drive, Canterbury Drive, Luckakuck and throughout Promontory. And those are just the ones people have noted on social media and through complaints to this newspaper. Canada Post told The Progress they are working to restore service as quickly as possible. In some locations, the boxes were fixed the same day. In other areas, customers have gone almost a week without their regular mailbox service. Customers affected are advised to visit their closest postal office during regular business hours. Brian Tade said both sides of his community mailbox were busted open sometime last week, and he phone the post office to let them know. “It didn’t look like there was any vandalism to it at all,” Tade said. “But all my mail was gone.” He worries about identity theft, although he’s not sure there would be enough information in his personal mail for a thief to work with. Peter Butcher, president of the Upper Valley local of Canadian Union of Postal Workers, said that identity theft is a very real threat to community mailbox customers. Continued: MAIL/ p13
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Sergio Rizo removes wrong-coloured bulbs from a row of red tulips grown by Lakeland Flowers on Marion Road just west of Yarrow on Thursday afternoon. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Iconic Chilliwack plum trees being phased out Purple-leafed boulevard trees will be replaced Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The ornamental plum trees that explode with beautiful pink blossoms every spring on Chilliwack streets are being gradually replaced due to disease and hazard issues. They’re working on replacing the worst cases first, and the plum tree replacement program should take an estimated five to seven years. City of Chilliwack staff say they have fielded “a few” complaint calls over the years, as crews continue to replace diseased trees, and have issued a release to explain what is happening. “I know that everyone will miss
the spring flowering plum trees but we can look forward to some breathtaking foliage in the fall,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. About 650 plum trees were planted as part of a street tree program about 30 years ago. Of that number there are about 300 of the original plum trees still growing strong. The ice storm of January 2015 damaged about 350 trees and cost the city $220,000 in cleanup and replacement costs. Many of those are expected to survive in the coming decade, as the weakest specimens have already been replaced. “Over time, the City found that we were taking out more and more
trees,” according to a city staff post on social media. “Since it has been gradual, it has not been noticed by citizens. The remainder are now coming to the end of their safe life expectancy which is why the City must start planting new varieties.” The challenge is that while the plum tree blossoms are lovely to look at when in bloom, they in fact have a comparatively short life span, and are prone to disease when the same variety is planted a row. “Among other issues, the branches split under snow load and the roots decay in the street tree environment under the confinement of pavement and concrete.” A street tree is only removed after it has been inspected by the arborist and deemed to be either
diseased and/or hazardous. “Staff will continue to monitor the health of trees in our urban forest and unhealthy or hazardous trees, plums included, will be replaced as needed to ensure we nurture our urban forest to provide attractive, green streetscapes.” A mix of vibrant tree species are being planted as replacements, to ensure “a diverse, sustainable street tree inventory,” according to staff. Factors such as speed of growth are being considered to avoid fastgrowing species that may obstruct power lines, as well as pruning requirements, hardiness, and that the condition that they “provide a pop of colour in the fall.” jfeinberg@theprogress.com twitter.com/chwkjourno
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