Hey everyone! A team of us are plugging away at saving Big Mama (well, not her official name but pretty appropriate! Feel free to suggest a name for her......). Latest Updates: 1. Channel 13 & Channel 10 WAVY News aired multiple stories on our dear tree mornings/evenings for 4 days.....!!! AWESOME 1. a. Met a wonderful photographer with the Virginian Pilot who LOVES trees (shout out to Bill Tiernan)! AWESOME! 2. Virginian Pilot is running a story on our tree this week - AWESOME! 3. The petition (online) is only a few signatures away from 5,000 (THOUSAND!) signatures - AWESOME! Also, local folks are still collecting signatures on paper - running around +/- 300 now - AWESOME! 4. Several of us are reaching out to local politicians stressing the importance of saving this tree & being much more prudent in taking down any Live Oak. Period. AWESOME! On a more sober note: Those of you who are local know the very sad story of surprised citizens in Oceanview Norfolk who lost their battle this week with developers & Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority :( who chopped down & ripped out 7 ACRES of Live Oaks to build a housing development. Ouch .....fly flags at half-mast for that tragedy. NOT awesome :( BUT FOR US - A HOPEFUL TURN.....THE CITY OF VB IS TAKING A SECOND LOOK, BRINGING IN AN INDEPENDANT EXPERT ARBORIST TO RE-EVALUATE OUR TREE. SO "FOR NOW" SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN A STAY OF EXECUTION......no promises. but fingers crossed. Shout out to Frank Fentress, City of VB!!!! AWESOME! LASTLY - MORE RECENT ESTIMATES ON "BIG MAMA'S" AGE PUT HER CLOSER TO 200 YEARS OLD!!! NOW THAT IS A VERY GRAND DAME! Thanks everyone - please keep sharing the story & getting more signatures!!!