When a town experiences a tragedy, it’s hard to choose just the right way to express grief, loss, hope and healing. Some organize concerts, some curate art shows, some write songs—and, in the wake of last summer’s tragic drunken driving accident that killed four teens (Rose Simmons, 15, Julian Martinez, 16, Alyssa Trouw, 16, and Kate Klein, 16) and left one injured, Santa Fe has tried just about every method it can to help the hurt.

The latest in a string of memorials, in the company of The Heart of Santa Fe music compilation, is a sculpture by local artist Bates Wilson. The piece was commissioned by John Simmons and Gwyn Madeen, parents of victim Rose Simmons after the grieving parents saw Wilson’s artwork at the Recycle Santa Fe art festival in November. The outer rim of the heart has been left blank, and at a ceremony this Saturday, family and friends of the teens are invited to engrave their thoughts and messages on the metal. (Click the image above for a larger version.)

The permanent home of the sculpture, according to Warehouse 21 Executive Director Ana Gallegos y Reinhart, is to be determined. “At some point in the near future,” she writes via email, “the winged sculpture will be installed at Cathedral Park at the current yet temporary memorial site.”

SCULPTURE DISPLAY AND ENGRAVING

Noon-5 pm
Saturday, March 13

Warehouse 21
1614 Paseo de Peralta
989-4423

After the July 8 meeting to discuss the future of the memorial set up in Cathedral Park, friends and family reconvened on the park Friday, July 10, to begin moving pieces of remembrance from the park’s monument to a new location next to the gates of the park’s northeast side.

The memorial honors teenagers Rose Simmons, Julian Martinez, Kate Klein and Alyssa Trouw. The four youths were killed June 28 in a car crash. Scott Owens, the driver of the car that hit the teens, has been charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and had a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit, according to police.

The new location for the memorial is where Rose’s father, John Simmons, and a small group of friends have set up a new site with cinder blocks and a large marble sheet. It is currently not clear whether the city will allow this piece of the park to act as a permanent memorial or whether it is another temporary location. The mood was somber as candles, clothing, cards and other objects were taken from the monument and placed on and around this new shrine.

Simmons noted that he had spoken to the owners of the buildings directly east of the park and that they might consider allowing a permanent location on their land only a few feet from where the shrine now sits. Though it now seems hopeful that this memorial will find a place to stay in the near future, Simmons noted sadly, “This will happen again. We’ll all be doing this again, for others, until something drastic changes.”

Avree Koffman, who was driving the car carrying the teenagers, is now out of the University of New Mexico Hospital.

Mourners, classmates and friends of the four Santa Fe teenagers killed in the June 28 car accident gathered on Wednesday, July 8  afternoon at Cathedral Park, where a makeshift memorial for the teens had been furnished on and around the park’s central monument. Members of the city council and community were on hand to discuss future plans for a more permanent memorial.

The crowd swelled as city councilman Carmichael Dominguez began to speak about the status of the impromptu shrine, the damage it has done to the flagstone, and possible compromises between the city and those wishing to share public condolences.

Dominguez first expressed the sadness that the whole community has felt in the wake of the tragedy and his interest in hearing from and coming to solutions with those who have contributed to the memorial.

However, he made clear that there could be no permanent shrine to the lost students in Cathedral Park. To that end, the city will begin removing objects and writing found on and around the monument this week. Continue reading »

Dan Koffman has shared with us the printed results of daughter Avree’s blood-alcohol test following the fatal crash of June 28. It was zero, with no alcohol detected. This is just an analysis of blood-alcohol, not a complete toxicology.
Scott Owens, the driver accused of driving drunk and killing Kate Klein, Julian Martinez, Alyssa Trouw and Rose Simmons, had a BAC of .16, double the legal limit.
Addendum: Just spoke with SF County Sheriff Greg Solano, who says he was told by the DA to go ahead and release the BAC info, after DA Pacheco had initially said it would not be released, because a. they heard Larry Barker had it and was planning to release it tonight on the news and b. the Health Department had it and was planning to release it under public records’ request.

I don’t want to write about this. Even a reporter needs a moment for sorrow, so I wasn’t covering today’s memorial for Rose Simmons at the Santa Fe Mountain Center. I was just there.

Nevertheless, I’ve got to blog something. Hundreds turned up to pay respects under the rumbling sky, beside the trickling creek. Dan Koffman, the father of Avree, was smiling. John Simmons, father of Rose, told a story of monkeys washing sweet potatoes. It was beautiful.

Bianca from Youth Allies read the entire text of Dr Seuss’ The Lorax. All I can recommend is that those of you who couldn’t make it do the same. Finish it, and you’ll understand what’s been lost and what remains to be saved.