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‘Ribbons’ public art project proposed for Newtown Pike

A major public art project has been proposed to brighten 3 miles of Newtown Pike with more than 250,000 small green and blue utility flags set out in a pattern of long ribbons curling along the road.

The “Ribbons” project would swing back and forth across Newtown Pike, starting at Interstate 75 and terminating on West Main Street.

The art project would be installed a few days before the start of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Sept. 25 and be taken down soon after the games end on Oct. 10.

Landscape architect Mark Arnold said the idea grew out of temporary projects by artists Christo and Jeane-Claude, who are known for their large-scale temporary projects like surrounding 11 islands in Miami’s Biscayne Bay with 603,850 square meters of floating pink polypropylene fabric. Another time the duo wrapped the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris with 40,000 square meters of silky, golden fabric. Each of those projects were up for two weeks and then taken down.

The idea to beautify Newtown Pike originated with 5th District Councilwoman Cheryl Feigel, who also chairs the Corridors Committee. One goal of the committee is to beautify major streets leading into the city.
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Bank says Zayat hid his insurance from Thorn Song’s death

Fifth Third Bank plans to continue its push to take over the stable of top horse owner Ahmed Zayat. The bank said in a filing in Zayat’s bankruptcy that it plans this week to request a trustee in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey.

A hearing is scheduled March 8.

According to the bank, the move is necessary because Zayat’s 200-plus stable of racehorses, which are collateral for the $34 million he owes the bank, is at risk.

As evidence, the bank said that Zayat diverted $2.75 million in insurance paid on the death of miler Thorn Song.

Zayat has not publicly said that the horse is dead. Jockey Club registrar Rick Bailey said no death report has been filed.
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Princess Haya leads equestrians’ charge to help Haiti

Equestrians around the world are riding to the rescue of Haiti, devastated by last month’s deadly earthquake.

First, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, president of the Federation Equestre International, which governs equestrian sports worldwide, and a United Nations Messenger of Peace, flew Jan. 22 from Dubai to Port-au-Prince in her husband, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s, 747B-400 with 90 metric tons of supplies. On board were canned food, high-energy biscuits, hospital tents, water sanitation equipment, prefabricated offices, and computer and telecommunications equipment.

The princess, in addition to heading up the organization bringing the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to Lexington in the fall, chairs the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, which organized supplies.

The Jordan-born princess toured the capital, met with Jordanian U.N. peacekeepers, and then the princess flew back to Amman, Jordan, with 21 Middle Eastern evacuees, including some children, who had been stranded in Haiti by the quake on Jan. 12.

Princess Haya has been outspoken in support of efforts to rebuild the poverty-stricken country.
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