As most area people know, Trevor Barkley, an honorary firefighter, and Sam Bucci and Elijah Lunsford, junior firefighters, died when the vehicle in which they were riding on Jan. 26 traveled into an icy lake and overturned. I am Trevor's mother, and I would like to express appreciation to all who have sought to help us and remember our sons during these months after the tragedy. It is very difficult to lose one's child, and there are not enough words to describe how we feel after losing these wonderful, well-respected young men. Trevor had a dream that he shared with many young people in our community. That was to have a skateboard park in Zelienople. His senior project was on skate parks, and it was on the day of the tragic accident that Trevor had finished his project poster. Likewise, Sam and Elijah had finished their own senior project posters that day at Sam's home. Trevor's poster states that, because skate parks keep teenagers out of trouble and promote a healthy lifestyle, communities should help fund and support such facilities. I hope the community will come together to help make this project reality. I shared Trevor's dream and poster with Mary Hess, president of Friends of the Park, the nonprofit organization that raises money for the community park, who said a skate park already was in the overall plans for the park. A bank account has been started at Fidelity Bank, 251 S. Main St., Zelienople, PA 16063-1188 in the name of Zelienople Memorial Skate Park for anyone wanting to donate toward this project. All donations are tax deductible. People also can send checks as follows: Zelienople Memorial Skate Park, Friends of the Park, Community Park Association, Inc., P.O. Box 142, Zelienople, PA 16063, or go to myzeliepark.org and use the donate button. I also want to thank Pizza Hut in Zelienople, which conducted a fundraiser event that raised $730 for the skate park. Meanwhile, a two-day lemonade stand set up by the grandchildren of Kim Fourt in Harmony several weeks ago raised $301 for the skate park. A "Brotherhood Memorial Ride" will be held by the Zelienople Fire Department beginning at 11:15 a.m. Sept. 19. The motorcycle route will encompass about 50 miles, and money raised will go to a scholarship fund established by the department in honor of our boys. Trevor's father, Jeff Barkley, and I will host a spaghetti benefit dinner and raffle from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at the American Legion Hall in Zelienople, with proceeds going to the skate park fund.
