Adobe gets new flag

Deirdre Newman

Mesa Verde resident Dan Worthington visited the Estancia adobe three

weeks ago for an open house.

When he looked up, he was shocked at what he didn’t see.

No flag was waving in the breeze from the flagpole.

When Worthington learned that a flag had not graced the hilltop

where the adobe sits for five years because of vandalism, he decided

something needed to be done. So, he enlisted the help of some

friends, neighbors and the city to put up a vandal-proof flag.

On Friday, a new flag was installed at the adobe, complete with a

special mount at the top and a seven-pound lead weight at the bottom

to keep it mounted securely. Worthington and those who supported his

efforts were on hand to see the new flag unfurled.

“It brings a tingle to my whole body to see the American flag

anytime,” Worthington said. “And to make a change is always pleasing

to me.”

City officials had been wary of investing in another flag because

the previous ones had been stolen, Worthington said. So Worthington

appealed to three friends and acquaintances who work in real estate

-- Charles Markel with Pacific Coast Realty, Pat Davis with Coldwell

Banker and Larry Weichman of Weichman Associate Realtors. All pitched

in $100.

“This is a win-win deal,” Markel said. “It doesn’t make sense to

have this facility without a flag.”

The city contributed by adding two more spotlights to the adobe.

The city also provided the staff and equipment to install the flag.

City Manager Allan Roeder said he was impressed with Worthington’s

efforts.

“It’s a good project for the city and community to work together

on, and frankly, that’s one of the nice things about this community,”

Roeder said. “Especially at this time where patriotic emotions and

intentions, whether they be here domestically or in the Middle East,

are still very much strained. I think efforts such as this, albeit

symbolic, are important.”

Worthington, who ran for City Council in 2000, is on a mission to

reflag other poles around the city. He has five targeted. The next

will be at Lions Park, he said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].