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WOW! Bridge Walk 2015 Bridges Gaps Proudly serving Manahawkin and surrounding communities
Number 23
By: Corrine Ruff
ManahawkinSkip Martin of Causeway Ford, Lincoln, Honda, and Nissan just hit an unbelievable milestone! He just sold his 12,000th car! Samantha Walters, daughter of Greg and Laurie Walters purchased a 2016 Honda Accord. It’s ironic, simply because Walters Construction purchases many vehicles each year and Samantha just happens to be the founder’s granddaughter! Skip’s journey began in May of 1972 when he graduated from Salem University. Within a couple of weeks, he signed a teaching contract at Toms River North high school. That job would not start until September. This is where the story unfolds. Needing a summer job, Skip applied at Joe Bennett Chevrolet thinking it would be a great summer job. He started his Summer job right when Bennett’s was moving from Bay Ave to Rte. 72 where Causeway Nissan is now located. To continue reading about Skip’s success, turn to page 3.
Community has always been important to my family. Maybe coming from a family of airline pilots and being able to see the world, we return with ideas to implement. One such idea has become a tradition for the island and mainland communities of Long Beach Island and Stafford Township. Each September, for the last 6 years, our island and mainland communities unite on the Causeway. The event is the Community Bridge Walk. Five participating schools: Stafford, Southern, All Saints, Beach Haven and the LBI Schools rally friends and family to walk the 3.1 mile route from the Old Causeway Steak and Oyster House to the beautiful Waterfront Park in Ship Bottom. The Bridge, all 2.1 miles, is the center of the action. Atop the main span most Walker’s stop to take a picture with our Flag. People of all ages take part as we “Bridge our Communities. Paws on the Causeway is not something you normally see, but Bailey B, Taylor Ham, Marker and Toby are some of the dogs who make the trek each year. The youngest walker this year, a one month old little boy, Boone – who journeyed up for
The Mangino Family
the Bridge Walk from Texas- scaled the bridge in a stroller, with his parents, Heather and Ron and sister Hadley. The most senior Walker was a beautiful 94 great-great grandmother a few years ago! Melanie walked with her the whole way and was honored to stand on the main span and hear her say: “I did it. I always wanted to walk this Bridge. It’s beautiful up here. I knew it would be.” The Bridge Walk took shape in 2009, when my family visited friends in Mackinac, MI and saw the annual Bridge Walk. Ava, 7 at the time, asked why there wasn’t a Bridge Walk on our bridge. Jackson, 5yrs old at the time, drew a picture of the Causeway with stick-figure
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people holding hands across the main span. They are now 13 and 11 and have 6 years of Bridge Walks under their belt.
When the initial idea was born, there were 3 key planners- Joe DiPietro, Melanie Magaziner and I. We are the planners todaysix years in. Melanie offered to host the event at her restaurant the Mud City Crab House in 2010 to 750 people for the very first Bridge Walk. The formula: host a celebratory kick-off with music from the Southern Regional Marching Band, led by Band Director Andrew Wright. Presentation of the Colors from the Jr. Air Force ROTC from Southern Regional, singing of the National Anthem, Hadley Magaziner and name a Bridge Walk Hero to lead the Walk.
This year the heroes selected were the Mangino Family from Stafford Township. Since the first Walk, all Military personnel and First Responders walk as guests. The Walk is a fundraiser for the 5 area schools, but more importantly a (fun)raiser for the students, the parents, the teachers, businesses and anyone and everyone who celebrates in the spirit of Community. A year of planning brings the Bridge Walk to life. D.O.T permits and Town Council approval is needed from both Stafford Township and Ship Bottom Borough. Bus transportation from the LBI Board of Education must be approved. All sponsors must be secured. It’s a machine with a lot of moving parts. Each school rallies their Walker’s. The sponsors that support the event are businesses that recognize the importance of bonding and building a strong sense of community.
The Causeway Family of Dealerships made a connection with the Event instantly. Sharing the name Causeway and the community values represented by the experience, the Wintrode Family has been the Main Sponsor of the Bridge Walk for the last 5 years. Causeway Honda Service Director Paul Shutak and Director of Advertising and Marketing Joe Stroffolino attend the event and welcome everyone with a great pre-walk pep speech that rallies the crowd. Continue story on page 5
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