Post by admin on Nov 13, 2008 8:29:32 GMT -5
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Rotary Club donates fountain to Freehold
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
A water fountain that was donated by the Freehold Rotary Club has a home in the new plaza outside borough hall in Freehold Borough.
FREEHOLD — Members of the Freehold Rotary Club came together on Oct. 28 in front of Borough Hall to dedicate the Gothic fountain the club donated to the municipality.
The fountain, crafted by Haddonstone, is part of an ongoing Rotary Club effort to beautify Freehold Borough's downtown area. The club purchased the fountain as part of its Centennial Project in 2005 to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Rotary.
The unexpected October snow moved the ceremony to Basile's restaurant. Past president Richard Beck spoke on behalf of club President Jody Gilpin, who was unable to attend the event.
The fountain project was initiated under the presidency of Linda Moldenhauer and spearheaded by Beck.
Beck said he and his son, Chuck, took a walk around town in 2005 and tried to come up with some ways to beautify the downtown. The fountain in front of Borough Hall is one result of that walk.
Constructed in conjunction with the brick plaza designed by Steve Kiselick, of Abbington and Associates, Freehold, the fountain was the finishing touch on the elegantly crafted walkway in front of Borough Hall that was installed about a year ago.
Reading Gilpin's words, Beck said the fountain "stands as a centerpiece in the exceptionally well-designed brick plaza with newly planted shade trees and benches. Our club is very pleased with the results and the contribution made by the borough in the plaza design, construction and fountain installation."
The Freehold Rotary Club is approaching its 80th anniversary and is one of the oldest Rotary Club chapters in the world. The club has four avenues of service: vocational, international, community and club service.
Over the years the Freehold Rotary Club has provided mentoring programs for youths and encouraged potential school dropouts to complete their education, according to Beck. The club has provided scholarships to graduates of the Monmouth County Vocational High School and to outstanding Freehold Regional High School graduates.
"We are proud of our efforts to beautify the downtown area and we pledge to continue to do what we can to make Freehold beautiful one brick at a time," Beck said. "It is appropriate to dedicate the fountain and the plaza to make the community aware of the importance of service clubs, especially Rotary, whose members have always valued service above self in supporting charitable causes and providing community service.
"It is with great pride that we dedicate this fountain, not just as an additional amenity to our downtown, but as a symbol of the dedication of the many devoted Rotarians who, over the past 80 years, have seen the ideals of Rotary as a path to a better community and world."
Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine attended the dedication ceremony and thanked the members of the club for their contributions to Freehold.
"It seems odd that the Rotary Club is thanking the borough (for accepting the fountain). It's really the borough that owes its thanks to the Rotary Club. The fountain is a perfect fit at our municipal complex. In fact, doesn't it look as though it has been there forever? Its placement in front of Borough Hall helped create a very attractive plaza for our residents to gather within for events like the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. This is yet another fine contribution from the Rotary Club to the borough of Freehold," he said.
Rotary Club donates fountain to Freehold
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
A water fountain that was donated by the Freehold Rotary Club has a home in the new plaza outside borough hall in Freehold Borough.
FREEHOLD — Members of the Freehold Rotary Club came together on Oct. 28 in front of Borough Hall to dedicate the Gothic fountain the club donated to the municipality.
The fountain, crafted by Haddonstone, is part of an ongoing Rotary Club effort to beautify Freehold Borough's downtown area. The club purchased the fountain as part of its Centennial Project in 2005 to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Rotary.
The unexpected October snow moved the ceremony to Basile's restaurant. Past president Richard Beck spoke on behalf of club President Jody Gilpin, who was unable to attend the event.
The fountain project was initiated under the presidency of Linda Moldenhauer and spearheaded by Beck.
Beck said he and his son, Chuck, took a walk around town in 2005 and tried to come up with some ways to beautify the downtown. The fountain in front of Borough Hall is one result of that walk.
Constructed in conjunction with the brick plaza designed by Steve Kiselick, of Abbington and Associates, Freehold, the fountain was the finishing touch on the elegantly crafted walkway in front of Borough Hall that was installed about a year ago.
Reading Gilpin's words, Beck said the fountain "stands as a centerpiece in the exceptionally well-designed brick plaza with newly planted shade trees and benches. Our club is very pleased with the results and the contribution made by the borough in the plaza design, construction and fountain installation."
The Freehold Rotary Club is approaching its 80th anniversary and is one of the oldest Rotary Club chapters in the world. The club has four avenues of service: vocational, international, community and club service.
Over the years the Freehold Rotary Club has provided mentoring programs for youths and encouraged potential school dropouts to complete their education, according to Beck. The club has provided scholarships to graduates of the Monmouth County Vocational High School and to outstanding Freehold Regional High School graduates.
"We are proud of our efforts to beautify the downtown area and we pledge to continue to do what we can to make Freehold beautiful one brick at a time," Beck said. "It is appropriate to dedicate the fountain and the plaza to make the community aware of the importance of service clubs, especially Rotary, whose members have always valued service above self in supporting charitable causes and providing community service.
"It is with great pride that we dedicate this fountain, not just as an additional amenity to our downtown, but as a symbol of the dedication of the many devoted Rotarians who, over the past 80 years, have seen the ideals of Rotary as a path to a better community and world."
Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine attended the dedication ceremony and thanked the members of the club for their contributions to Freehold.
"It seems odd that the Rotary Club is thanking the borough (for accepting the fountain). It's really the borough that owes its thanks to the Rotary Club. The fountain is a perfect fit at our municipal complex. In fact, doesn't it look as though it has been there forever? Its placement in front of Borough Hall helped create a very attractive plaza for our residents to gather within for events like the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. This is yet another fine contribution from the Rotary Club to the borough of Freehold," he said.
