Cheshire to Paint Mural on Route 8 Rest Stop
CHESHIRE, Mass. — A mural is being planned for the rest area off Route 8 to help beautify the town.
Maureen Riley-Moriarty presented the Selectmen on Tuesday with a minor update on the project, which is pending approval with the state of Massachusetts. The mural will be on a 438-foot-long concrete wall in a rest area off Route 8 near the Green Acres variety store.
Riley-Moriarty said the mural image has not been decided upon, but will likely have a natural theme. Some ideas she had included are wildlife or a reflection of the lake, which is just across Route 8 and the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail from the rest stop.
She plans to involve high school students in the painting of the mural. This would allow them to do something outside after the school year they have spent inside their homes, she said, "and also to build a sense of community for them." She hoped this latter point would deter any potential vandalism of the mural by other high school students.
Riley-Moriarty also assured the Selectmen that the mural would not be a distraction for drivers. Since it will be at a rest stop, drivers would have to pull over to really see it. Riley-Moriarty said this project will "make that shameful wall go away, and even uplift it,” as part of a beautifying project for the town.
In other business:
- The town accountant asked to modify her hours so that she could work together with the treasurer outside of the office. This clashed with the Selectmen's previous decision to mandate that the accountant work 20 hours in-office in order to maintain compliance with the town's health insurance coverage. Eventually, the board compromised and allowed for more flexibility on the accountant's schedule.
- Highway Superintendent Robert Navin reported that his custodian is out on medical leave. He is trying to find a substitute, but said doing so will likely be difficult because the term would likely only last for the duration of the medical leave, which could be as little as four months.
Tags: murals,
