Photo Friday in Eastern CT

Like last week, this week's Friday photo is within walking distance of my office in Gales Ferry Village. This concrete street marker, on the corner of Military Highway and Hurlbutt Road was run over, a victim of our last ice storm. This marker, typical of those throughout Ledyard and Gales Ferry, has been standing at that corner for a very long time. But it won't be replaced by one similar. The U.S. Department of Transportation has given all cities and towns until 2012 to replace street signs making them more visible to first responders and older drivers. Mayor Mendenhall tells me that some citizens are upset about losing these "quaint" markers. She also tells me the cost of replacing them is not cheap, and that this federal mandate is unfunded leaving Ledyard taxpayers holding the bill.