Resident key to keeping community

The Women's Association of Allentown has named longtime Allentown resident Alice Wikoff its Woman of the Year. ALLENTOWN - The Women's Association of Allentown has presented longtime residentAliceWikoff with itsWoman of the Year Award.

The association honored Wikoff at a dinner and as their honoree inAllentown's Memorial Day parade, according to Mary Cicco, chairwoman of the association's publicity committee.

An active member and resident artist of the Allentown community, Wikoff serves as a member of both the Allentown/ Upper Freehold Historical Society and the Villagers. She has also written a book on the history of the village titled "The Sketchbook of Allentown."

Just as the village of Allentown was built around theMill Pond in the 1700s so too wasWikoff 's life. Her family members served as "keepers of the pond" for generations and she is the latest in that line. She maintains a wealth of information concerning water levels, seasonal changes and the gates of the pond all to ensure the body of water remains a jewel of Allentown.

Wikoff 's family taught her to appreciate the beauty, labor and joy of living on the pond as their businesses depended on it, both in the mill, which still stands, and the general store, which once stood where her garden is now.

No matter what season or time of day, the pond serves as a natural place of tranquility for those who fish, boat or just like to gaze out at the water. The mill also serves as a landmark that welcomes visitors from near and far.

Wikoff also contributes to the community through her art. She has sketched all of the historic buildings in the borough and most in Upper Freehold. She also created the Historical Society's Christmas cards in the 1970s and the pamphlet "All About Allentown" in 1994.

Wikoff also plays a part in welcoming residents home and greeting new visitors each day as she designed the silhouettes on the six new borough signs.