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A Newporter’s COVID-19 ‘billboard’ has a new message, aimed at passerby with four legs as well as two

April 11, 2020

Suzi Van Ness has posted a new message on her homegrown billboard-of- hope that may add cheer to both humans and their four-legged best friends:

SHARE JOY

“WAG”

YOUR TAIL!

*THE WINDOW turned billboard at 65 Carroll Ave., Newport, has a new message to cheer passersby during the COVID-19 crisis, this one aimed at both people and their canine companions.*

Van Ness earlier this month turned a big picture window into a kind of billboard, with hand-lettered messages that she hopes will lift the spirits of people going past and her husband Dave’s home at 65 Carroll Ave., Newport.

She figures that during the COVID-19 crisis – which demands that people keep away from one another to curb person-to-person spread of the contagious coronavirus – that it’s important to act as a caring community and stay connected.

In her case, she realized that the Van Ness’s picture window presented such an opportunity, since it faces a sidewalk on Carroll Avenue often busy with people out for a stroll – usually taking care to keep 6-feet or more distances from one another.

*PHOEBE, a Newport resident, takes time from her morning walk to contemplate the new message posted at the home of Suzi and Dave Van Ness.*

The first message, as reported in What’s Up Newp on April 6, was:

WE CAN

DO THIS

FULL DISPLAY – Before Suzi Van Ness turned a picture window into a billboard for inspirational messages, she also “planted” a row flags in front of her home on Carroll Avenue, Newport.

If it seems that the messages have a certain artistic style to them, it’s no accident. Van Ness is a retired art teacher. Thus, her displays seem at first glance to be hand-sewn tapestries; in fact, they’re painted with foam brushes on sheets of “banner” paper.

Since the COVID-19 containment measures prescribed by state and city officials are expected to last a while, Van Ness plans to change her messages periodically.