Flag pole down, trees up at the Common, DPW garage nears completion
Published on August 30th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - Flags, Residents have criticized selectmen for OKing a plan to replace the 45-foot flag pole in front of Town Hall with two 25-foot poles on each side of the building's main walkway.
Public Works Director Bob Grover said that the old flagpole was cracked and had layers of paint caked over its rusted shaft.
"We have to replace the pole. That has always been in the plans," Grover said.
Stoneham VFW Commander Frank Geary said 25 feet is too low to properly fly the American flag, especially when at half-mast.
Selectmen Darin Leahy said the board would instruct Public Works to heed Geary's advice.
"We want the pole to be the right height for honorable ceremonies on Veterans' and Memorial Day," Leahy said.
As of press time no decision was made about the height or number of poles. But, in a previous interview, Geary said he wanted the 45-foot pole to go back where it had been.
<b>Trees for the Common.</b> "Where making a big push to get materials in place by Town Day (Sept. 16)," said Common Project arborist Philip Thibaudeau.
Thibaudeau said the hot economy has spurred many projects, and now communities must dash around like parents on Christmas Eve looking for the last Tickle Me Elmo, Power Ranger, or whatever it will be this year...
What the Stoneham Town Common wants (for Town Day not Christmas) is trees: magnolias, crab apples, white firs and many more.
"We're looking all around from Gold Star in Lexington to Bigelow's in Shrewsbury," Thibaudeau said.
Mercurio Brothers is the subcontractor planting the trees for Omni Construction of Lynnfield. Several waves of greenery will have to roll in before the Common is complete, but the tide is rising.
The Common will not be done by Town Day. More trees and more than 1,000 perennials are still due to arrive.
But, Thibaudeau thinks folks will be happy with the end result.
"We are creating a strong landscape with quality materials that will last," Thibaudeau said.
<b>Public Works garage.</b> Grover says the new Public Works cold storage garage on Pine Street will be complete in six weeks.
To prevent the building from cracking and crumbling like the former Public Works garage, 30 concrete and steel caissons, some going 30 feet beneath the surface, support the foundation.
The building exterior will be a pre-fab, metal shell.
Public Works trucks and equipment will be kept in the garage. The price tag for the building was $450,000.
Good news
Crash victim Jason Stanichuk has been upgraded to "good condition" at Lahey Clinic this week.
Stanichuk, 25, of Lowell, was injured in a car crash at the Stoneham / Medford line on Route 93 North on Aug. 19. Last week he was in "critical condition."
Stanichuk was the passenger. The accident killed the driver.
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