New Bench For Rail Trail Users Is A Fitting Memorial

By The Gazette Editorial Committee

From Issue 14: Spring 2012

When lifetime Gardiner resident Doris Colucci passed away at the end of 2010, the family asked that donations be made to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association; the trail, with its cheerful, energetic population of hikers, bikers, strollers, runners, horeseback riders and bird watchers, crosses the Colucci farm on Phillies Bridge Road and had been a constant presence in Doris’ life.

Tony Osborne leveling the one-piece capstone on the new stone bench at the rail trail where it intersects Phillies Bridge Road

What, then, could be a more fitting memorial than a native stone bench where the Rail Trail crosses Phillies Bridge Road?  The family commissioned Tony Osborne of Artscapes Landscaping in Gardiner to build the bench, which is being donated to the rail trail and paid for by the Colucci family.   Osborne took the capstone to Paul Colucci’s facilities on Steve’s Lane where he cut it with a diamond saw to match the curved contours of the bench. The edges were hand chipped, sanded and then flamed with a blow torch to “age” the edge. With the aid of Paul’s heavy equipment, the capstone was set in place atop the stone base. The bench is situated so that those pausing to rest there can face either towards the mountains, or towards Meadow View Farm where Doris lived.