Many folks are lifelong residents of their hometown, but few give back to that town with the zeal and vigor demonstrated by Randy Hart and his wife, Cynthia (Frankenstein) Hart.

The latest benefactor of the couple’s benevolence is the Harmony Fire District, which is the fire company that covers Harmony and Zelienople, plus Jackson and Lancaster townships.

The Randall and Cynthia Hart Community Enhancement Fund is donating $30,000 to the fire district to purchase battery-powered vehicle-extrication tools.

The donation is part of the $100,000 fund, which the Harts announced last year.

Hart grew up in the 1950s and ’60s at 424 S. Main St. in Zelienople, which is now a significant property in the borough.

“The new fire district building is on the property where I grew up,” he said.

The house was sold in 1956 to Joe Tavoli, who tore down the Hart house and two other buildings on the site and turned it into a Mercury dealership.

In 1963, Tavoli sold the property to Jack Hockenberger, where he opened Jack Hockenberger Motors.

Now, the fire district owns the property and will build a fire station there and move the entire operation to that location in the near future.

In December 2020, Hart presented fire district officials with a check for $5,800 — the price for which his parents sold their house in 1956 — to go toward the construction of the new fire hall in Zelienople.

Hart recalls his family’s move from the South Main Street house to a home beside the then-brand new Zelienople Community Park and the Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School, which also was a new feature in that neighborhood.

“I was the first class through that elementary school and we were the first kids to swim in the brand new pool at the brand new park,” Hart said. “When I was a kid, the community invested in us.”

Furthering his connection to the Zelienople area, Hart said the Seneca Valley School District’s secondary campus sits on his grandfather’s farm.

“I have bricks and building materials from the 1840, 1880 and 1922 houses that were there,” Hart said proudly.

The Seneca Valley graduate gave the deeds to the farm to the school district many years ago for the district’s history archives.

Hart, who retired as a teacher in the North Allegheny School District, served on the Seneca Valley School Board as well.

Hart also is heavily involved in the Zelienople Historical Society and the borough’s Main Street revitalization plan, which demonstrates his family’s commitment to the borough they love.

“I would rather see the money given to the community while I’m alive to see what good it’s doing, rather than when I’m gone,” he said.

Justin Hart, who is Randy’s son and an assistant chief at Harmony Fire District, joined the Zelienople Volunteer Fire Department 28 years ago. The Zelienople and Harmony volunteer fire departments merged in 2015 to form the fire district.

“I joined to give back to the community,” Justin said. “Obviously, it’s a needed service, so people need to step up and help their community out.”

He said in the past, the fire district’s hydraulic extrication tools had lines connected to the truck, which limited the range of the tools.

With the battery-powered versions, firefighters will be able to access any vehicle to extricate a crash victim.

“No lines attached,” Justin said. “You can take it as far away from the truck as you need to.”

He said the cost is $40,000. The fire district is paying $10,000 toward the new apparatus.

Last year, the Hart fund donated $22,000 to the fire district, which Justin said was used to switch from gasoline-powered tools and equipment to battery powered versions.

Justin echoes his dad’s sentiments when it comes to the family fund, and said the Harts have a history of hard work and community service.

“It’s the area where we grew up and where we live, so we are just giving back to the community,” Justin said.

Andrew Spencer, Zelienople borough manager, said he was employed by the borough for 16 years before being named manager almost one year ago.

“I’ve known Randy all that time, and I can tell you that he is one of the greatest members of the community here, and he always has been,” Spencer said. “(The Harts’) generosity speaks for itself.”

Spencer said supporting the fire district is vital, as fire services and apparatus are very expensive.

Hart said he and his family are thrilled to be able to support their beloved borough in any way they can.

“We’ve been blessed with this community,” Hart said. “It’s always supported us and our kids, and it’s a fantastic place to grow up.”