Randy Young, TLIA President
Good news and bad news…I always like the good first …We have a new flagpole on Rest Island. A crew installed it this last week and it looks great. It raises 30 feet over the island and stands as a source of community pride for all of Tower Lakes.
You will recall the old one was taken down just after the Fourth of July due to stress damage. A new flag has been donated to TLIA and the Board will be looking into the potential of lights on the pole so we might fly the flag 24/7. It will be a grand vision on the island, viewable from all around the lake.
On the day it was installed, it was a beautiful evening, so my wife and I decided to take a walk to the island to have a look at the new flag pole. Approaching the island, we heard voices and assumed others had stopped by to see it as well. We remarked, “What a nice occasion to meet some neighbors and admire TLIA’s newest addition to the island.”
Here is the bad
or better phrased, disappointing news…
Neighbors admiring the brand new pole it was not. It was 3 teenage boys attempting to climb the pole. Yes, they were shimmying up our brand new pole and pulling on the rope lanyard for leverage. On the first day!!! That behavior is exactly what caused the damage to the old pole.
We approached the boys and explained that we were residents, that the pole was brand new, installed that day in fact. We mentioned its cost, and that, what they were doing was destructive, trespassing, and dangerous. We calmly explained that the new pole was installed because the old one was damaged as a result of just this sort of misbehavior. When asked their names, they refused to tell us and wanted nothing but to escape the discussion. They were nervous and it showed. Their last words, mumbled as they exited the island, were an assurance that it would not happen again. I took it, as anyone would, as “creditable assurance” from teenage boys caught redhanded. I wish I had brought my phone!
I urge all of you with teens, and young people at home, please explain to them the potential issues of this kind of behavior and to respect our association’s property. We have a great new asset on Rest Island that will continue to build our belief in our community. I hope the new flag pole can be dedicated to raising a new level of Tower Lakes Proud.