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Post by Rich Fisher on Jun 14, 2009 0:15:40 GMT -4
News sent to KIO:
Saturday afternoon the big playground equipment at Kent Island Elementary was set on fire and severely damaged.
It's really upsetting that this was done. We have spend the last 3 years under renovations and just finally finished the school and now our beautiful playground equipment for the kids has been destroyed.
I want parents to be aware so they can prepare their kids for school on Monday and for what they may see, thankfully there is only 3 days left of school.
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Post by linda712 on Jun 14, 2009 1:46:44 GMT -4
That is disgusting! I really wish the Board of Education (or the County) would install infrared cameras on the grounds to catch these poor excuses for human beings......
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Post by speedergurl68 on Jun 14, 2009 6:14:48 GMT -4
That is absolutely horrid! I hope they find the pieces of crap that did it and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law! What kind of asshat destroys a children's playground and feels good about themselves? I am truly saddened for the children and parents and faculty
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Post by bchevy on Jun 14, 2009 7:26:48 GMT -4
Stupid little punks, maybe not so little but punks for sure. Throw the book at them, maybe some of Pete's "Punk Cops" could do a little extra when they pick them up.....
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Post by linda712 on Jun 14, 2009 14:38:10 GMT -4
Boy, you got that right bchevy! I wouldn't mind enjoying a piece of it myself!
Was thinking, you just posted 700 members here. If KIO initiated a collection request on behalf of the school, and even if only 500 joined in sending in, say, $25 a member, that would give the school $12,500 to rebuild.....anybody? I'm game.
I think the "community" should ban together and help.
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Post by - on Jun 14, 2009 18:13:27 GMT -4
Boy, you got that right bchevy! I wouldn't mind enjoying a piece of it myself! Was thinking, you just posted 700 members here. If KIO initiated a collection request on behalf of the school, and even if only 500 joined in sending in, say, $25 a member, that would give the school $12,500 to rebuild.....anybody? I'm game. I think the "community" should ban together and help. What an absolute disgrace for someone to do this to the elementary school, and all of the innocent children that do not have a playground! I agree with Sequel, with all of the people that are members here, I'll be the 2nd person to donate $25.00 towards their new playground equipment. Sequel, you really are creative with fundraising, do you have any ideas on how we can make this happen? Maybe something over the summer while school is out? Count me in, and I'm more than happy to help out. -CG
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Post by linda712 on Jun 14, 2009 19:33:19 GMT -4
Rather than doing a fundraiser, I have been tossing around the idea of possibly talking with a local bank to see what is involved with opening an account to deposit donations into on behalf of the school's playground equipment replacement. Not sure of the legalities involved, but maybe also renting a P.O. Box for people to mail their donations to, and a designated person or persons in charge of depositing those donations directly into the account. If we created posters and placed them at as many of the local area establishments to spread the word, I'm very confident people would gladly donate. Also, Cloverfields has a monthly newsletter that is mailed to approximately 1,000 persons monthly (or used to go out monthly.) Maybe they would do it gratis as I know there's tons of kids in that community to attend KIES.
Maybe Gary Hoffman would place it on their website, here on KIO, and get it in the newspapers. Maybe Rich could advertise it on 100.7 when he DJ's. Maybe the news media would pick it up and announce it over the air. Maybe whichever bank might be agreeable/selected would send out a request with their monthly statements, and/or place it on their websites for those who bank online. Wow -- maybe I better stop or I'll be typing an epistle (sp?)!
Rich? OR anybody else with any ideas or interest?
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Post by speedergurl68 on Jun 14, 2009 19:44:51 GMT -4
You can count on me to help with whatever you need from me Seq! Money, time, effort...you name it...you got it!
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Post by - on Jun 14, 2009 20:06:22 GMT -4
I need to go to BOA tomorrow for a refi. I'm happy to ask them if they can do it, if you would like Sequel. Or maybe Rich can set up pay pal here on KIO. It never hurts to have a small article in the Bay times either when an account of some sort is set up. Just my thoughts for the children. Thanks Sequel for your wonderful idea! -CG
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Post by DD Lover on Jun 14, 2009 21:06:50 GMT -4
I will donate $25. Great idea.
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Post by einebierbitte on Jun 14, 2009 21:08:02 GMT -4
just a thought here, but those involved could probabably be students that play on that equipment every day, got a hold of matches or lighter and maybe charcoal fluid, thought they were being "big" guys and started the fire by accident and it got completely out of control and they ran home scared to death to tell any one....
I say this because when my oldest was 8 years old a similar thing happened with he and his friends. His friends were playing with matches that caught a field on fire and almost burned down housing..
They were lighting fire and put them out, then they couldn't put them out and they ran.... My son came home and told me what happened, that he wasn't doing it and told them to stop.
THe other boys all went home and jumped on their playstatioins and never said a word
When it finally all came out, yes the other boys said my son wasn't involved. and they were to scared to tell their parents for fear in getting trouble. If Josh hadn't told me when he did it may have been too late and those boys might have lost their house..
So I just throw that out there that sometimes it's not pure vandalism or evil...just some kids trying to be big and the situation get out of control....
Either way it's a shame and hope it gets resolved and rebuilt quickly.
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sc
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by sc on Jun 14, 2009 22:07:02 GMT -4
Hi All, I want to thank all of you for the great ideas on the donations for the re-building of the KIES playground. It is greatly appreciated.
The PTA of Kent Island Elementary originally raised the money to purchase the equipment. I was told that it was quite a hefty sum and the PTA worked a few years to get enough money together to put it in and the playground is only 4 to 5 years old.
I will be the PTA President for next school year, and was at the school yesterday right after it happened and spoke with Dr. Williamson. She said that the Board of Education will find out tomorrow about the insurance coverage on it.
I do want to give a HUGE thanks to the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department who responded so quick and put the fire out!
It is severely damaged but hopefully repairable. I will post updates as soon as I know solid information.
Thanks So Much!
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Post by mcbeth on Jun 14, 2009 22:26:43 GMT -4
Wow, SC, what a start to your term as president.... Keep us posted, Sequel, et al. Although I don't live over there, I would be happy to add my contribution. I remember working very hard on the fundraisers at our daughter's elementary school, to raise money for a fantastic (and wheelchair accessible) playground that was built just as she was finishing 5th grade. (Our neighborhood kids still took advantage of it even after they were out of that school). I would be devastated as a parent, so I know this has to be hard on the kids. And, now that our daughter is studying to be an elementary teacher, I tend to get my heart in a bit of a knot when I hear about things like this. Eine, good point. I hope it is as innocent an incident as you hypothesize, and not that there are people with such anger and hate in their hearts to destroy a children's playground.
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Post by Rich Fisher on Jun 14, 2009 22:41:19 GMT -4
If there is anything that Kent Island Online can help with - I will absolutely do it. I can place a Pay-Pal link on the site if the PTA or BofE wants to set up the Pay-Pal account. It's very easy to do - you can see what I mean by going to the Island Bay Day page off the main KIO page and checking out the Pay-Pal drop down menu to purchase tickets. That took me about 15 minutes to set up. Just send me the link / code and I'll paste it on the main page of KIO.
If not, we can do a fundraiser on the Forum if you have a mailing address, or we can collect at Island Bay Day in September. Let me know.
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Post by linda712 on Jun 14, 2009 23:11:43 GMT -4
This is terrific! See, we CAN do it. Thank you Rich and thank you SC for bringing this to our attention. Whatever needs to be done I'm really confident we can handle it. And I am so, so very sorry this ever happened in the first place. I guess we wait for your direction, SC?
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sc
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by sc on Jun 14, 2009 23:48:06 GMT -4
Hi All,
Thank you all so much for the great support and really good ideas. We really do live in a great community ! As soon as I find out what the plan is I will post it on here.
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Post by moose on Jun 16, 2009 14:46:45 GMT -4
it definlty looks repairable.. only half of it with the bridge looks damaged. Count our family in on whatever help we can give. My kids love that playground.
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Post by linda712 on Jun 26, 2009 0:29:42 GMT -4
sc -- do you have any updates yet? Thank you!
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Post by mcbeth on Jun 30, 2009 21:45:14 GMT -4
Just giving this a little bump while we wait to hear. Still interested in contributing, or helping out....
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