Two new paintings added to Dunstable artworks

Fourth grader Liam Hawk and his mother, local artist Jacqui Hawk, recently painted a montage of Dunstable landmarks (Our Town - Dunstable, MA) as a parting gift for Swallow Union School in appreciation for the years of excellent, caring education the school has provided. The painting was done on a 5 x 4 foot large canvas, which will hang outside Mrs Dodson's 4^th grade classroom. Needless to say, Jacqui was delighted to have Liam collaborate with her on this painting.

Jacqui has also recently commemorated one of Dunstable's two arboreal landmarks in a painting called The King of Thorndike Street. "I like to think the tree protects us by keeping all those tall trucks away," she said, referring to how one of the tree's massive lower branches limits the height of trucks that can pass along that road.

The "King of Thorndike" and a similar tree on Main Street are often referred to as "hanging trees" because tall trucks have been known to get hung up on their lower limbs. In 2005, in response to concerns that someone might attempt to cut the branches, the Board of Selectmen hung small signs on the trees to mark them as being protected. The trees are estimated to be over 250 years old. "Once it's gone, there's no bringing it back," said Ted Gaudette, one of the Selectmen at the time.