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Sculpture was bent; lights were stolen
By William Kibler
bkibler@altoonamirror.com
Vandals overnight on Friday damaged a Tuckahoe Park memorial for people whose lives have been lost or disrupted due to substance use disorder.
Altoona police are investigating, said Sgt. Matt Plummer, police department spokesman.
The vandals damaged the central metal sculpture of the memorial -- bending a double-hoop framework that includes the outline of the words Love, Hope and Support, and that encircles a seated human figure, according to Marianne Sinisi, who organized the effort to install the memorial two years ago.
They also bent a small outline of a heart attached to one of the hoops, stole four small solar lights, broke a string of solar lights, destroyed a lantern that had been hanging on a shepherd's hook, tore out a flowering plant, tried to tear out a bush and kicked a shaped stone out of its place, Sinisi said.
"It was senseless and cruel," said Sinisi, whose son Shawn died of a heroin-fentanyl overdose in 2018 at age 26. "I don't understand."
The sculptor has since repaired the sculpture as best he can, Sinisi said.
She located the ruined lantern in nearby woods, along with a silk flower someone had left that included the name of a loved one.
She restored the flower to the memorial.
Supporters helped reset the nearly uprooted bush.
Her husband, Michael, wanted to replace the solar lights, but she resisted for fear they'd be stolen again.
Instead, she has begun to raise money for installation of a solar light atop a pole anchored in a concrete base.
That could resist theft and vandalism, she said.
It isn't practical to install a regular electric light, because the city would require a commitment from Sinisi to pay a monthly electric bill, as she is responsible to maintain the monument, she said.
"(But) it kind of stinks (for) now that I have no light," she said.
The memorial frequently draws visitors, according to Sinisi.
She has seen or heard about people coming there to drink coffee, to read, to pray, to contemplate and to celebrate sobriety, she said.
A local pastor who ministers to people with addictions has held a service there, people have said, according to Sinisi.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.