When the big branch of a 100-year-old poplar tree went through her windshield during a recent storm, Karen Reis had finally had it. She called the arborist at the City of Burien and asked him to take a look at the big tree in front of her house.

This wasn't the first time she had called. In fact, it was about the fifth or sixth time. The neighbors all knew the tree was bad. The arborist confirmed it and agree that it had to come down. The good news was that it was on city right-of-way.

So it was on a clear day last week that a crew from Nix Tree Cutting, hired by the city, took down the big tree and one next to it.

Karen Reis had strong praise for the city and Samir Basmeh of Burien Public Works for following through. Sixty years ago, when she was a student at Lake Burien Elementary, Karen remembers the tree as of modest size. Now, it is firewood.