Dear Editor,

A heartfelt thanks to first responders:

During the course of fulfilling your day-to-day duties as first responders, your heroic actions and efforts, on scene, may go unwitnessed.

In the case of the Tiltonsville Roller Rink, we did witness it. We stood by and watched, seeing first-hand how you fought the massive inferno with such care, such adrenaline-filled focus, and with what appeared to all of us to be natural, well-orchestrated teamwork both within and across local fire departments. Even just seeing the strength it took to hold the huge, spraying water hoses, the energy and skill it took to fold and pack them all up at the end, left us feeling such awe, such respect.

When it comes to something as personal as the loss of property to fire, it’s easy and natural to say “thank you” to those first responders.

The meaning behind those words, however, runs so much deeper. Our alarm at being awakened to such a heart-wrenching reality was that our beloved rink and all within was about to be gone. Your handling of the entire situation the way you did, from start to finish, mattered. A great loss was unfolding in front of us, but witnessing the way you fought on our behalf, on behalf of something so near and dear to us, and to a community, holds such significance.

As importantly, the police chiefs and officers were carefully coordinating the resulting “scene,” in part by stopping trains, directing traffic, and keeping the neighbors and people safe.

Our sincerest thanks go out to Lt. Brian Zinco; to Police Chiefs Jerry Davis and John Morelli; to all first responders and responding fire departments from Tiltonsville, Yorkville, Brilliant, Rayland, Mt. Pleasant, Mingo Junction, Martins Ferry, and Dillonvale; and to the state fire marshals. Thank you so much.

We also want to thank those countless neighbors and friends who thoughtfully stopped by or reached out to offer their help and support, and all those who continue to share with us their precious roller rink memories.

Most of all, thank God that no one was hurt.

Marylee Boroski

Samuel Zeakes

Raymond Zeakes

and family

Tiltonsville