Above - Murray Raphel and his wife, Ruth, enjoy a moment on the
bench that they purchased and dedicated in the memory of their friend
Ruthann K. Saul. |
Imagine taking the Boardwalk
for a brisk early morning run or for leisurely walk at night. The feet and
maybe even your back may ache a bit, so you take a load off and rest on
one of the many benches
that line the wooden thoroughfare. At that moment, fond and wonderful memories
of friends, family or loved ones come flooding back. With a new Special
Improvement District program, the rekindling of these memories can become
a reality.
For a cost of $1,000,
individuals may purchase
a six-foot Victor Stanley Ductile Iron bench, the same brand of bench
that currently is used on the world famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. When
a bench is purchased, the individual may select a location on the Boardwalk
that either has an existing bench in its place or a location that doesn't
have one at all.
To make the bench
officially yours, a personal greeting of up to 50 letters may be selected.
This greeting will then be applied to a 4"x12" aluminum cast
plaque in silver lettering on a black background. The plaque then will
be installed onto the bench's backrest for ultimate comfort when seated.
 If
you prefer to place your bench in a location that
already has one in its place, no problem. The Special Improvement District
will remove the existing bench, clean it and refurbish it before moving
it to another location on the Boardwalk.
The first bench to
be purchased was dedicated on the Boardwalk at Newton Place on Friday,
June 20, 2003. Local businessman Murray Raphel and his wife, Ruth, along
with many friends, unveiled the bench, which was dedicated in the memory
of their friend Ruthann K. Saul, who once owned "The Downstairs Card
Shop" in Gordon's Alley for many years.
Only about 200 benches
are available for this unique
program. For more information, please contact
Landscaping Manager Jon Bitzer at 609-344-8338.
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