Community unites for FDR memorial restoration Lighting, security camera and repairs estimated to cost $68K BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer The nonprofit Fund for Roosevelt has come forward to pay for the repair and refurbishing of the borough's Franklin D. Roosevelt memorial sculpture. The memorial was defaced with spray paint during vandalism incidents in three towns along Route 571 on Jan. 9. The Roosevelt memorial, created by resident Jonathan Shahn, consists of a 5-foot-tall bronze bust of the president, which stands atop an approximately 81/2-foot-high pedestal. The monument is located off Route 571 on the grounds of Roosevelt Public School as part of the community park and amphitheater the town created to honor its namesake. The vandals spray-painted "Ted is better," a hammer and a sickle, "Commie," disparaging comments about gays and a reference to the Depression - in addition to what officials believe was initially a swastika that was later altered into a box with a plus sign - on all four sides of the pedestal of the memorial, which on the front contains the words "Franklin Delano Roosevelt in homage" in gold gilding. An anonymous benefactor paid to have the graffiti removed from the memorial, according to borough officials. Nicholas Kurahara, 18, Nikolai Afanassenkov, 18, and Max Drazdik, 18, all of East Windsor, have been charged in the Roosevelt, East Windsor and Hightstown spray-painting incidents. According to police, the three were charged with bias intimidation and bias-based criminal mischief in all three towns. Borough Council and Fund for Roosevelt member Kirk Rothfuss discussed the issue at the Feb. 25 council meeting. He said the incident created a lot of discussion regarding security and lights at the memorial. Rothfuss said the Fund for Roosevelt has estimated the cost of renovating the bust and pedestal, installing lighting, repairing masonry work and putting in a camera that would work with the school's existing equipment at $68,000. The Fund for Roosevelt would consider paying to conserve the sculpture, which would cost approximately $18,000. Thememorial's pedestal is an issue, as its marble panels are separating and need repair. The memorial's gold leaf also needs to be redone, he said. Area lighting including new poles, equipment and standards should cost about $19,000. He said repairs to amphitheater masonry would cost between $23,000-$24,000 and a security system would cost about $6,500. These items would be paid for and prioritized by the town, he said. "Ideally, the security measures would be taken before the renovation of the sculpture," Rothfuss said, adding that the borough has never had a vandalism situation like the recent one. Rothfuss said the site could have dusk-to-dawn lighting. He said the borough would have to consult with Shahn about lighting the sculpture. Resident Michael Ticktin said the memorial was built in 1962 on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the borough. He said the borough has a 99- year lease, ending in 2061, on the 1-acre amphitheater site at the school property. Ticktin also asked if the borough could request restitution in the criminal case against the defendants so the town could reimburse the private donor for the cleanup. Resident Bert Ellentuck, who is a member of the Fund for Roosevelt and the designer of the memorial site, said the site originally contained a reflecting pool and fountain between the bust and the amphitheater. When asked if residents involved in the amphitheater's creation realized that the memorial would be a focal point of the town, Ellentuck said residents in the '60s did anticipate that the memorial would become a community focus and receive national recognition. He said Eleanor Roosevelt came to the memorial's dedication. Ellentuck said that he hopes no repairs begin without his consultation, since he designed the site and is the only officer of the RooseveltMemorial Association still alive.