Surf City Taxpayer Association kicks off new outreach effort with ‘Pinkest Business’ award

Photo by SCTA

SCTA President Pete Williams grants the first-place

award to TLC owner Elizabeth Harrigle.

Last month, 23 businesses in Surf City showed support for Meridian Health’s Paint the Town Pink Campaign by decorating their storefronts with creative displays, flags and ribbons. The Surf City Taxpayer Association, which showed its support by adorning borough hall with planters and pink flowers, honored the participating businesses by presenting awards to the establishments with the most innovative exhibits.

First place for the Pinkest Business in Surf City Award was presented to Tuckerton Lumber Co. last week for its imaginative storefront display, which was decked out in paint brushes for an inspired interpretation of the campaign.

“This is our third year participating. I have saved my pink pigs,” said Elizabeth Harrigle, owner of TLC. “We truly enjoy decorating our storefront and were thrilled to receive the award.”

The company’s design and decorating were spearheaded this year by Kerri Hamersma of the accounts payable department.

“She did a great job,” Harrigle said. “As fun as it is, though, we know that bringing awareness and research funding is crucial. My husband and I have a family member who has battled breast cancer, so we have been personally affected by this disease. Tuckerton Lumber is so proud to be a Pink participant and hopes to bring in even more funding in the coming years.”

First runner-up went to The Little Outfit, and Anchor Wine and Spirits was named second runner-up. The Surf City Volunteer Fire Co. and EMS as well as Lou’s Electric were named honorable mentions.

The first-ever awards are part of a collaborative effort spearheaded by Surf City Patrolwoman Sarah Roe, who initially brought the campaign to Long Beach Island three years ago to help raise awareness and funds for mammography and the prevention of breast cancer.

The Pinkest Business awards are the kick-off to a new outreach effort by the taxpayer association in response to business owners’ request for help with publicity and activism surrounding vital town matters.

“We’ve been approached by several businesses who expressed interest in forming a business alliance or taxpayer/business membership that can help local entities with promotional support and advocate on their behalf on important local issues,” said Pete Williams, the association’s incoming board president. “We’re responding and are now reaching out to all 121 businesses in town to personally invite them to attend a networking and focus group meeting scheduled for Aug. 30, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Surf City Firehouse.”

For more information, interested businesses can email surfcityta@gmail.com.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.