The Official Newsletter of the Atlantic City Special Improvement District

Something Special

Cynthia Hammond surrounded by gifts for the 2000 Downtown Winter Wonderland celebration.

It was a bitterly cold, blustery winter evening in December. Children convened on Center City Park for an opportunity to meet Ole St. Nick and hoping their Christmas wish would come true.

All of the hot chocolate and thick layers of clothing were no match against the frigid winter air on this night. But the warmth that was needed did not come in the form of a hot beverage or a toasty blanket. It came from the smile of dozens of children. For Cynthia Hammond, this is what it is all about.

Hammond, an assistant manager for Economic Development's Special Events, is rewarded with these precious moments after every special event she coordinates throughout the year.

Begun in May 1999, Special Events is designed to promote Atlantic City's Downtown business district and entice people to shop, play and eat in the city. For the past 2 1/2 years Hammond has worked innumerable hours staging annual events, such as the Halloween Haunted Hayride, Meet Mr. Bunny at Easter and the Downtown Winter Wonderland during Christmas. Special Events also consists of "An Evening on the Avenue", an event coordinated with other city organizations and the "Arts in the Alley" concert series in Gordon's Alley.

"It's never boring," said Hammond, who has been an employee with the Special Improvement District since 1996. "There's always new challenges. You must make last minute decisions and you're never guaranteed everything will go according to plan."

Each year hundreds of children venture to O'Donnell Park for the Halloween Haunted Hayride. Held on Saturday, October 27, 2001, this third installment featured an annual costume contest, horse-drawn carriage rides,

 

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