The Lightkeeper's Blog

The story of the last two weeks is one long game of Wack-a-Mole. The moles are weeds. I have hit every corner of every garden at least once. Go Green (where Scituate residents can freely dispose of yard materials) is on my every day list.

The good news is that I get a ton of satisfaction from something messy becoming something clean.

There are a ton of new flowers here courtesy of the Scituate Beautification Commission. Long time Cedar Point gardener Mary Tennaro rallied the troops to improve the walkway garden, remove some eyesore bushes I wanted gone for 3 years, and bring in some planters that I have imagined from the first summer. This committee has worked very hard to improve this spot for our guests and especially our residents. The garden by the Town Pier should win an award for its beauty and organization. The traffic through these gardens by the unthinking is significant. The committee pushes on anyway.

Kennedy’s Country Gardens brought over the planters and set them up. The Commission added in the plants and what was a sloppy, passed over, spot became part of the garden.

The last post included news that the spotlight on the flag by the parking lot had been smashed. That was addressed by Acting Historical Society President Bob Chessia. I was very grateful. He has also been working on replacing the flagpole on the Tower. That has been hung up by questions regarding the new catwalk up top. I have suggested that a pole be placed in the small courtyard instead. Historically, there was never a pole on the Tower until the 1990’s, The flag pole was either along side a kitchen chimney that is no longer there, or along the utility room chimney. I like the courtyard choice as it would be possible line a up a great photograph of the blue sign, the Army of Two sign, (more on that in a minute), the flag pole and the Lighthouse. Given the weight of the new catwalk I would have to think hard about the weather and if I should fly a flag in a decent wind. A set pole would let me fly one all the time with no second thoughts.

Two Eagle Scouts have taken on the task of restoring the Army of Two sign. They have been amazing. They have taken the sign back to its base, wiping out several decades of paint, salt, and wind. There are a few steps to go until it is back in full health

I moved the flag donated by the Society of the War of 1812 group nearer to that sign. It is all of one piece now with a more complete story to tell when I am giving a tour.

In this photograph the 15 star and the Don’t Give Up the Ship flags serve as bookends to the utility room. The hydrangeas are the bonus.

John Coscia took it on himself to help me spruce the place up with new rake boards for the message board. I added in some paint to the process and Michael Bilbo provided some new bird houses in a swap for the older ones we had up on poles along side the driveway. A few flower boxes later and the 25 year old message board has got many more years ahead of it.

The nautical flags were getting worn and torn as they moved from across the driveway to up against the fence. The branches were catching on them and that led to tears and a shabby look. They have been replaced with brighter and bigger flags, again spelling out Scituate Light.

Moving them to the parking lot side should protect them from damage and show them off when the driveway is open. The banner with the history of the Historical Society was moved up the fence to better protect it from the wind.

This coming Wednesday night, August 7 is National Lighthouse Day. Scituate Light will be relit at an event that evening. I have been asked to speak; I am working on suitable remarks. A significant audience is expected on Cedar Point. Please be considerate of the neighbors should you choose to attend.

We have a new noise here on Cedar Point. There is a lobster boat that heads out each morning that I have christened the Hangover. You wake up with a pounding in your head, far earlier than you might want to, while wondering why a helicopter is landing on your house. On the foggy mornings there is an echo to it until it is well out at sea. I hope that pilot and his crew are wearing airport level ear protection or have figured out some kind of sign language. There will be no conversations on that boat.