News

Photo courtesy of 'Sconset Trust

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Photo courtesy of Martha Polachi

Sconset residents who notice repair work needed around the village should notify the proper Town of Nantucket department, or report findings to the Sconset Civic Association, rather than deface public property. Actions like what's shown in the photo -- seen on West Sankaty Road near the firehouse just before Thanksgiving -- are counter productive and don't help Sconset get positive action from the Town.

For your convenience, relevant points of contact are listed on the Civic Association's website at https://www.siasconsetcivicassociation.org/Points-of-Contact/.

Nantucket Data Platform will be presenting a data-driven look at the Island's dynamic population at the Dreamland on Tuesday, July 17 from 4:00 to 5:15 pm. This is a free, but ticketed, event. Tickets may be reserved online at:  https://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=386374~0e99e4c5-4710-4b68-b03b-a86391e0755f 

Remarks of the President of the Civic Association, Martha Polachi.

On behalf of the Sconset Civic Association, I welcome you to the rededication of the David Gray memorial rotary and flag raising ceremony. 

At this time, Sandra Jackson of the Abiah Folger Franklin chapter of the Daughters of the American revolution will make a presentation to the village of Sconset. 

Thank you, Sandra and the DAR for your generous donation. We look forward to flying this flag in the village on our beautiful new flagpole. 

This project started five years ago when the flagpole in our rotary was found to have significant decomposition at the base of the flag pole, and deemed unsafe. The 45’ flagpole was immediately cut down and ultimately, the jackstaff portion of the pole was reinstalled so we were able to fly an American flag in the rotary for the past couple of years. Fast forward to 2016, when we were funded by the Town of Nantucket and the Community Preservation Committee, represented today by Libby Gibson and Ken Beaugrand, to renovate the crumbling rotary and install a new flagpole. Then in the spring of 2017 when Rob McNeil, the newly hired Director of our DPW, returned my email to discuss the project, good things started to happen in the village of Sconset! 

Since then, Rob, his staff, and I have worked closely to renovate this rotary to its former glory. Under his direction, each step of the project has been carefully executed. The staff at the DPW has worked tirelessly to get this project done for Daffodil weekend when we held a similar ceremony, and it looks fabulous! From the gorgeous granite surround, to the new brick walkways, to the polished brass lanterns and collar, and the refurbished weather vane at the top, no detail has been overlooked. On behalf of the village of Sconset, please accept our heartfelt thanks to you, the Department of Public Works, on your exceptionally fine work on this renovation. Thanks also to the Town of Nantucket and the CPC for funding this project and to National Grid for donating the flagpole. The center of the village of Sconset looks beautiful and feels complete. 

Some other folks who deserve recognition for assisting in this project are Snooky Eldridge for meeting with us several times to share his historic knowledge of Sconset, the rotary and it’s infrastructure; Girard Ruddick and Susan Whitlock for the garden design; Charlie Dragon for his many years of landscaping, this recent installation, and his continued service to this rotary; Cindy and Rolf Nelson for the sound system and music; and a special thanks to Joan Porter and her family for their care of the plants in this rotary for decades. Please continue to care for the plants in the rotary as you are able.

Originally designed by Frederick Hill and constructed in 1929, this rotary is an iconic symbol of the village of Sconset. Built as a memorial to David Gray, who helped establish Sankaty Head Golf Club, the Sconset Water Department, and who was a major financial contributor to the renovation of the Sconset Casino in the 1920s, this rotary is an important landmark. On this 4^thday of July, 2018, I rededicate this rotary in memory of fellow Sconseter David Gray.

The 'Sconset rotary project is done!  

We now have a new flagpole (donated by National Grid) with a bigger flag and port and starboard lights, along with a new granite wall, new brick walkways, new signage, and drip irrigation for the hydrangea, carpet roses, echinacea, sedum, and daffodils that will be planted by the Civic Association.

To see how beautiful it is, watch the video taken at the rededication ceremony that was held Saturday April 28th.  Click here.

Photos courtesy of Martha Polachi

News Flash: The Board of Selectmen approved a bid for the renovation work to be done on the Sconset Fire Station. Work will commence as soon as the contractor can schedule a date. More information and photos to follow as the work proceeds.

Update Nov. 16, 2017:  The work on the Siasconset Fire Station will commence in the Spring. Much renovation work and/or replacement needs to be done on the woodwork around the windows and door frames, and on the front doors. Once this work is completed, the building will be prepped and given a new coat of paint. 

The old flagpole at the 'Sconset rotary has finally been dug out of the ground and replaced with a new 50' wooden pole! About 10' of the new pole is in the ground surrounded by stone and sand for drainage with the intention of staving off rot for decades to come. 

The jackstaff, the part of the old pole which we have been using at the rotary for the past year, will be mounted on the new pole as soon as all of the mechanisms are in place to raise and lower it. The port and starboard lights, the brass surround at the base of the pole, the memorial plaque to David Grey, and a new flag of appropriate dimension will be installed as soon as the work at the rotary is complete. 

Once the flagpole project is complete, renovations to the rotary will follow. Granite for the wall has been ordered and the DPW will install it as soon as it is possible. This project should be completed well before July 4, 2018. 

I look forward to celebrating the grand opening of our long awaited David Grey Memorial Rotary with all of you this summer!    

Sincerely 'Sconset,

Martha Polachi
President, 'Sconset Civic Association

The old flag pole is down!! The plan is for the center of the rotary to be drilled out to 10' deep by 24" wide in preparation for our new pole to be installed sometime very soon. Once the new pole is in, a flag will be flying immediately while the rest of the project continues. Stay tuned. More photos to follow. 

Photo taken by Martha Polachi, Oct. 25.

UPDATE Oct. 26 
Digging out the core of the rotary where the new flag pole will be installed.

Photo by Rob Benchley

Photo by Martha Polachi

Photo by Martha Polachi

UPDATE Oct. 26
Installation of the new flag pole. Note the rainbow in the background!

Photo by Rob Benchley

UPDATE Oct. 26
Flag flying again on new flag pole!

Photo by Martha Polachi