Ahh. Back to school. With only one of four left in HS, Back-to-School is dwindling. It is so much simpler now. There is only one child in one sport. And only one to track along on their school work. We will have time to deal with our overdue HOUZZ projects now that summer R&R is over. So let me weigh in on the controversial mamby-pamby comment. Hate to see name calling. It's negative and unnecessary. As for patience with the new traffic patterns, this is to the parents who take their children to their bus stops and feel compelled to chat with the bus driver. Please DON'T. It is really inconsiderate. The bus drivers are at work. They don't have time for social hour. It may brighten your day to "brighten their day" but it is not the time nor the place to "make a difference in the bus drivers' lives". I have been part of huge lines where the same parents do it daily. All the cars that are stuck behind the bus (and lawfully NOT passing the school bus) actually have somewhere to go. They sure do. Maybe it is an appointment. Or maybe, just maybe, they are trying to get to their job. Keep that in mind. Fortunately it is a small number of parents who want to chat it up. Unfortunately it has a big impact.

One other thought. Cement can raise the soil ph radically. This is another factor of a 'Hellstrip'. Not so much the installed cement of curb and sidewalk, although that alone can raise ph to alkaline levels over time. And as you mentioned L. Clark, that the other trees aren't having an issue. But while watching cement being poured, have you ever noticed when the job is done or when one truck has delivered its load and is ready to leave. The workers will rinse the chute on the cement truck with water, before leaving? Washing all that cementy water down the chute? And where does that sludge water go? Generally, they point the chute into a void or area between the curb and the sidewalk. Leaving that spot soaked with liquid rich with cement. Could it be possible that your P. Cembra, just so happened to be lucky enough to be sitting on top of one such area left by the crew that poured the cement? I suppose a ph test could be done in just that area, deep enough to see if something so remote like that could've happened.

Ah-ha! Thank you! I will pay closer attention. I found this interesting blog article — one of the hits on bengz6westmd’s link. https://blog.nature.org/2021/04/21/holes-and-weeping-trees-whats-up-with-the-yellow-bellied-sapsucker/ PS There are a lot of paper birches to the west of us — regrowth after a landowner harvested his woods about 15 years ago. That sounds like an hospitable area for the yellow-bellied sapsucker.

Timber plank doors are nothing new, nor is making them work really difficult to understand, it is just a lot of work. If you look at the oldest timber plank doors they would strap two or three pieces of steel to the door and use rivets to keep the door from cupping and to limit the movement. Today, if you are using a species with a lot of wood movement, then you typically drill it and use all thread plus epoxy to stop wood movement. Teak and Mahogany solid plank doors are not uncommon and make fine doors. White Oak is also fairly common but is going to require some know-how. If this is what you really want, then yes... it can be done. However, this is not a DIY friendly project. If you want to do this for the pride of crafting your own timber door then I would plan on making three or four doors to get one right even if you research it extensively before you start. If you are doing it to save money, you are better off getting a second job as it will take far less time. I don't see wood look vinyl plank working either. ETA: If you just want the look then take a couple of sheets of marine grade plywood, cut the 2x2's into strips (1/8" to 1/4" thick) and glue them to the plywood. Use a full 2x2 on each side.