ALDERSON, W.Va.(AP) Part of Martha Stewart's sentence ends tonight when the 63-year-old homemaking authority leaves Alderson Federal Women's Prison to begin serving five months under house arrest at her $16 million Bedford, N.Y., estate.
Stewart's Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced Thursday that she'll board a private jet bound for New York between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. The company said she would make no public comments, but that a written statement would be posted on
www.marthastewart.com.
Since inmate 55170-054 entered the prison on Oct. 8, the town of Alderson has seen a long line of Stewart supporters, celebrity friends and the just-plain-curious make the 12-mile drive off the interstate to see where she spent five months locked up for her part in a stock scandal.
Linda Blaney and her friends are making a cross-country trek to show their support. "We want to make sure she knows we were there and let her know we support her," said Blaney, who lives near Seattle. "This would not have happened to someone else. They slam-dunked her because of who she is."
Whether Stewart will stop and speak to supporters when she leaves prison wasn't clear, but Blaney didn't want to miss the chance.
"If we have to get up at 3 o'clock in the morning we will," said Blaney, who plans to hold up a Stewart-brand floral print sheet, bearing the signatures of Seattle-area supporters.
Mayor Luther Lewallen said Stewart's presence has been a good thing for his town of about 1,100. "As people came in, they found things they liked in the stores," he said.
Visitors not only purchased trinkets, but some brought mementos of their own to show their support for the gardening guru.
Jackie Hord of East Hampton, N.Y., brought hundreds of Martha Stewart-brand snow crocus bulbs last fall, hoping residents would plant them so Stewart would see a splash of spring color as she left town.
"I just want to support Martha the best way I can," she said.
No more savory pork and beans au gratin
