This summer, residents can expect a whole new look in along College Highway.
With construction, including the widening of the road and new sidewalks, set for completion in early August, “downtown” Southwick will have a more attractive appearance. To coincide with the new look, new decorative utility poles with banners and American flags will be installed.
Patricia Dunn-O’Connell and Arthur Boissonnault are in the process of collecting donations to purchase new American flags for every pole from Tannery road to the transfer station, Depot Street by the police and fire stations, and the roads by the schools.
Boissonnault said he began efforts to erect flags on every pole in the 10/202 corridor almost a decade ago.
“At that time, we put up 160 flags and placed the names of donors on a plaque,” sad Boissonnault, who hung those original flags himself using a ladder on the back of his truck.
Today, the Department of Public Works handles placing the flags for holidays, including Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
When the work began to revamp College Highway, Boissonnault and Dunn-O’Connell thought it was a good time to replace the flags.
“Last time we went to organizations in town for donations, and this time we also sent letters to individual residents,” said Boissonnalt.”It’s going well, but we still have more to do.”
Boissonnault said they are asking for donations of $50, which covers the cost of a new American flag set. The hope is to have a new flag for all 160 utility poles. In addition, the decorative poles in the business district will include space for a banner.
The Southwick Cultural Council is coordinating a contest of-sorts where residents can design a Southwick banner for the poles.
Cultural Council President Susan Kochanski said the “contest” will be open to all residents and is in the beginning stages right now.
“We are probably looking to select five-10 designs that could be put on banners,” she said. ‘We are supplying this opportunity as a venue for citizens to submit designs.”
Kochanski said as the process develops she will offer more information on design specifics to the public.
In the meantime, anyone who wishes to make a donation to the flag and banner fund can mail a check to Town of Southwick Flag Fund, 454 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077.
Boissonnault said names of residents – or their designated memorial name – will be included on a plaque placed in Town Hall.
