"Remembering Ava"

Three hundred twenty six days. Seven thousand eight hundred twenty-four hours. Four hundred sixty-nine thousand four hundred forty minutes. Major holidays come and gone. The first day of Kindergarten never celebrated. Six birthday candles never blown out. Hundreds of hugs and kisses lost. Countless tears shed. 

As I write this, those are my reflections on what one young family has had to endure since that awful day nearly a year ago. In a split second on a sunny day in our beloved village, a tragedy ended the life of  beautiful five year old Ava Zimmerman. I remember exactly where I was when I heard… volunteering at my children’s elementary school. Perhaps you remember too? The irony is that it could have happened to any one of our children.

After that tragic event on April 14, the community joined together to grieve and to celebrate Ava’s young life. A statue was dedicated in her honor and the spring soon turned to summer, then fall. I had the good fortune to become acquainted with Ava’s mom, Tanya, and aunt, Christy. As the community began to heal, however, I saw how hard it was on Ava’s family. They tell me it is actually getting harder as they near the anniversary of her death.        

As that day approaches and winter turns to spring once again, many of us will do just what Ava and her family were doing that terrible day - one of the things that is best enjoyed in a village like Greendale. Go for a walk. This simple act should not end in tragedy. No family should ever have to live through this nightmare. To that end, the family of Ava Zimmerman and the Village of Greendale have organized an event to promote pedestrian safety.

Everyone is invited to attend Ava’s Walk: Advocating Vehicle Awareness on Sunday, April 17. The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. starting at the Greendale Village Hall. In honor of Ava, her family hopes to bring an increased awareness to motorists for pedestrian safety. If you would like more information or would like to see the tribute video, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYdlL5xrUDI.

And don’t forget, when you get behind the wheel as these warmer days arrive, please watch out for pedestrians. It may make all the difference in the world to one more family.