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I feel like I need to write about what happened in the community this week because it is VERY close to home. I am going to be careful what I say here because I don't want to raise attention to anyone in particular and/or FAR worse, put anyone in danger.
When I said it is close to home, I meant it. For starters, Caiden grew up with the boys that were at the restaurant during the shooting. The very same boys who were having that Birthday dinner. Two of them, in particular were very close to both of us.
My boys grew up in Michael Ross pretty much and when you live in housing you find your people. It was hard for me as a nurse trying to provide for two kids, working as a nurse and trying to do what I felt was best for them. Overall, I feel like we made out amazing. We came from a hard situation but my kids are pretty damn well-rounded considering.
We lived next door to the man who murdered his girlfriend years ago. He was on the other side of my bedroom wall for 6 years. He threatened me and my kids, chased us and came after me carrying infant Owen in my arms. Nothing apparently could be done and he came to my window that night. I worked as a psych nurse so I know what the requirements are. I went home every day for 2 weeks afraid for my life and the life of my kids, while a paranoid schizophrenic who was off of his meds scared me and my children and an entire community of people with children. Thankfully, after those couple of weeks, my 3 bedroom finally became available across the street.
The day after we moved out, that paranoid schizophrenic murdered his girlfriend. The same girlfriend that I heard him screaming at through the wall for months. His bedroom was next to mine so I was lucky enough that Caiden didn't have to hear it and sleep soundly in his bed. I was clearing all of my items out of my basement within a day or 2 after he killed her. (Based on evidence of when she died). God saved my children from smelling the decomposing body and from witnessing the flies that swarmed through our apartments. May she rest in peace. That girl did not have to die if the police had listened to me about him harassing us and had arrested him. He did have a mental illness but still! I was enraged when they found her body and confronted the detective myself after. Nobody ever called me.
Eventually I began making enough money to get my children out of there and I am thankful that they didn't remember much of the bad days there because we had SO, so many good days. My kids had best friends that they grew up with and we had football games outside, baseball games, bubble fights, sidewalk chalk battles, birthday parties, snowball fights, etc. We made do and my kids grew up with kids they will never forget. We as Mom's helped one another. My single Mom friend helped me more than she will EVER know.
My point is that Caiden grew up with one of the boys that was having Birthday dinner in that restaurant. They were best friends actually. On Christmas morning he was the first kid at my house to see what Caiden got from Santa. He was there every Easter to play catch in the yard. Another boy at that table, played football with Caiden when I was the team Mom/coach for many years. I watched those boys put their hearts out on the football field, getting hammered by teams from Harrisburg. Yet they never ever put their heads down because they were having FUN and making memories!! I coached with his father and we made a major single parent bond. I will love them for life for it!! His Dad taught my son GRIT, drive, and to never ever give up!! He made a huge impact on my son with special needs who had no father in his life.
Now here we are, years later. These two young boys that I know and love so dearly. These two boys that I played an influence on. One of which, I was his 2nd Mom. They go to dinner, at Fridays for a BIRTHDAY dinner and one of their friends loses his life. A violent, cold hearted killing in our community. A NINTH grade BABY loses his life because what now? We can't fight with our hands anymore? Better yet, we can't talk it out or swallow it and let it go anymore?
I don't know what evil has come over our community but I am here to tell YOU that we need Jesus!! Everyone needs to get down on their damn knees and PRAY!! Pray for healing! Pray for the safety of our children because I am here to tell you I can bear no more of this!! I hugged my friend's son last night and it was like every OUNCE of his pain came out. I felt something I have never felt and I realized then that these kids need GOD in their life!! That baby melted into my arms like no other and it is the first time I have seen him in a long time. His mother is run ragged. Our community is run ragged. It has to stop.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I saw the latest arrest from the shooting in January. We moved in October, to what I thought was a better neighborhood. (Not from housing years ago but still, a better neighborhood from where we were) Owen plays outside every day with his friend. On their bikes or scooters. Playing basketball in the alley. I read the article and realized VERY quickly why they look so familiar. The WOMAN in the paper lived with us in Michael Ross. The MAN lived across the street from us and tried to get Howard to let him "have" my dog. In fact, my dog POOPS in that yard every single day!! You know dogs pick their spot. Of course I always pick it up but WOW, THAT close to home!!
I don't even know what to say anymore. We have GOT to do better and we have GOT to help our kids people!! It starts with the children no matter what. LOVE them, guide them and turn them to a higher power because our community needs it now more than ever!!
I should not have to worry about my black son walking to Uptown Music Collective to play music because he is a DAMN good kid and he should be able to walk when he wants to!!
Thank you to the police for all of your hard work and dedication on finding these shooters and I pray you don't ever give up on these communities!! You have served our family well on more than one occasion and we SEE you!!
Meghan Scarfo is a mother raising two children in the Williamsport area.