PORT TOWNSEND— The steps leading from Haller Fountain will be full of optimistic messages by this afternoon, if Anna Quinn has anything to say about it.
Quinn, co-owner of Writer’s Workshoppe at 234 Taylor St., is spearheading the local Chalk the Walks effort, part of a national movement where people write encouraging words on the pavement that is nearest to them.
Beginning at 10 a.m., Quinn will make her way up the stairs, hoping that enough people will show up to write messages on all the steps leading to uptown.
Quinn plans to be on site until noon, and will leave enough chalk for people to leave messages during the afternoon.
“You can do this wherever you want, so not everyone will choose to come downtown,” Quinn said.
“But whatever you do, we are hoping that you take a picture and put it on Twitter or post it to your Facebook page.”
Quinn said she was “nervous” about the weather, but rain won’t ruin things.
“If it rains, it will just look like a great watercolor,” she said.
In keeping with the optimistic messages, there’s only a 30 percent chance of rain today, and that will end at 11 a.m., the National Weather Service forecast Monday night.
The local chalking is part of a national effort, explained on www.chalkthewalks.com.
The project “is all about spreading joy, optimism and inspiration through the magical power of sidewalk chalk,” the website’s message reads.
“The idea is as simple as it was in childhood: write happy messages, have fun doing it, spread some joy while you’re at it.”
The goal here is to spread joy, optimism and inspiration.
And to keep it clean, the page advises “if an 8-year-old shouldn’t read it, don’t write it.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
