The rainbow crosswalk installed near Jesup Green at the start of Pride Month was temporary.
As colorful as it was, it quickly showed the effects of downtown traffic.
Now, a permanent rainbow crosswalk is in the works.
The Board of Selectwomen gramted approval in June. Materials and installation will be funded completely by private donations. The town will handle maintenance.
Designed by Westport Pride chair Brian McGunagle, the crosswalk will consist of 21 panels. They include the transgender, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and intersex communities.
It is made of a DecoMark, a durable thermoplastic material heat fused to the pavement. It has been used on all new Westport crosswalks, with a life expectancy of up to 10 years.
The temporary crosswalk was paid for by Dr. Nikki Gorman, Galia Gichon and members of Westport’s LGBTQ+ community.
The permanent crosswalk costs $32,500 for materials, labor and installation. Westport Pride hopes to install it by National Coming Out Day (October 11).
A fund drive has so far paid for 12 of the 21 panels. Just $14,500 remains to be raised.
Panel sponsors ($1,500) can have their name or business featured on a plaque near the crosswalk, and on the Westport Pride website.
All donations are welcome. Other donors will be recognized on the website too. Click here for more information, and to donate.
The temporary rainbow crosswalk, at its June installation.
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Amy Berkin writes:
“My amazing hairdresser at Salon 293 East was at the Westport Post Office Friday, filling out forms. She left her bag on the window ledge behind her.
“Someone may have thought they grabbed her wallet, but in fact it was her case of tools.
“She had some cash and checks zipped inside from her morning clients. While she doesn’t expect to get the money back, her tools are her livelihood. She needs them desperately.
“It’s unlikely that anyone who took them reads your blog. But maybe someone saw someone take the money, and discard the case somewhere.
“If so, it can be left on the bench outside the salon with no questions asked, or anonymously dropped in the Westport Library mailbox.”
Hair salon tools.
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The Binky Griptite Super Soul Revue roared onto the Levitt Pavilion stage last night.
A large crowd started dancing with the first number, and did not stop.
The legendary Binky brought his “A” team last night. He’s on the right in the photo below.
With him (from left): Fred Thomas, principal bassist with James Brown’s band for over 3 decades, and Carlton Jumel Smith, a singer/songwriter/producer/ actor who portrayed James Brown in the 1999 film “Liberty Heights.”
(Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
Tonight (Sunday) it’s a different genre. The Americana-style North Country Band makes its Levitt debut, at 7 p.m.
Click here for the full calendar.
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After Staples High School, 2010 graduate Nadia Waski earned a master’s degree in archaelogoy.
On October 12 (6 p.m.), Earthplace welcome her to its International Archaeology Day celebration. Her lecture is “In the Ground, On Your Mind: A Discussion on Cultural Resource Management.”
Nadia will be on familiar turf. Back in the day, she attended the Earthplace nursery school.
Click here for details, and registration (limited to 100 people).
Nadia Waski
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes direct from Ken Yormark’s garden.
I imagine it has already been devoured, and enjoyed.
(Photo/Ken Yormark)
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And finally, in honor of Ken Yormark’s “Westport … Naturally” image above:
(“06880” is your hyper-local blog — and a non-profit. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Love the idea of the pride crosswalk. I hope drivers yield to pedestrians in that crosswalk more rigorously than they do at other crosswalks, and that drivers start coming closer to obeying the speed limits on local roads, and stopping at stop signs. Twice last week I saw drivers blow through stop signs without even feigning slowing down; one heading west on Clapboard Hill at the intersection with Turkey Hill, and another (a young woman in an SUV) last Tuesday at about 5:00, traveling at least 15 mph over the speed limit, made a right turn off Compo Rd. S. onto Compo Beach Rd. without even tapping her brakes. Had anyone been crossing the street there, there would almost certainly have been a serious injury, if not fatality. The stop sign there is clearly visible; the driver cannot have missed it. She just ignored it. Too many people here drive as though traffic laws are optional or are for other people. Hoping the police can address this.