Connellsville woman to be remembered in special way

Saturday will be a bittersweet time in the city when a new pavilion in Mountz Creek Park will be dedicated in memory of Kylie Sage, 23, of Connellsville, who died as a result of a shooting accident in August 2013.

“Some family friends approached us about donating money that would be used for this,” Sage's mother, Cindy Harden Hamborsky, said of the pavilion. “We received a lot of donations and support, and we thought that this would be something nice to do for the city, and it would go with Cat's Courts.”

Cat's Courts, a volleyball court in Mountz Creek Park, was dedicated in memory of Catherine “Cat” Healy who died in June 2013 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

The pavilion dedication will begin 10:30 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting, followed by a full day of fun and activities.

“We'd like to do a lot of things for families to enjoy,” Hamborsky said. “We'd like to see some fun activities like hopscotch and maybe even a pickup game of volleyball on Cat's Courts.”

In addition, the event will feature a Chinese auction, pony rides for the kids and music.

“It will be like an all-day jam session,” said Sage's grandfather, Bill Harden. “We have a lot of bands and other musicians coming who will be playing throughout the day.”

Harden said he will be joining in the musical fun: He plays old-style country and blues.

“There is going to be lots of great music,” Harden added.

Musical acts expected include Harold Betters, Gene McFadden, Eric Harvey, Kourtney Zufall, McCauley Jones, also known in the area as “Maky D,” and Katelyn Rose and Tyler Hough, who both recently performed at the Fayette County Fair.

There will be a balloon release, which will take place throughout the day.

“People can get balloons and release them whenever they like during the day,” Hamborsky said, explaining each balloon will have information included and whomever finds the balloon is asked to contact the person who released it.

“There will be a $100 prize to whoever's balloon goes the furthest,” Hamborsky said.

The family, joined by friends, also will be cooking food.

“We will have things like cabbage and noodles, walking tacos, pepperoni rolls, kielbasa and hot dogs and sauerkraut, and one of Kylie's favorites — kettle corn colored pink,” Hamborsky said.

An active horsewoman, Sage competed in local circuits, and many of her friends from the horse associations decorated horseshoes in her memory.

“They did a really, really nice job on these,” Hamborsky said, adding that more than 20 have been completed with more expected. “Many of them have special meaning.”

The horseshoes will be displayed at the event, which is free to attend. The food will be for sale. Donations will be requested for the balloon release and pony rides.

“Everything that we make will go back to the park,” Hamborsky said, explaining the family has been overwhelmed by the generosity and support. “We have been so humbled by the support that the community of Connellsville has shown to us. This will be a nice addition to the city and this is something that Kylie would have liked. She deserves something like this.”

“She always did things big,” Harden said. “Always had a dream to do everything in a big way. She lived large.”

The pavilion will be available for rentals after the dedication.

Mountz Creek Park is located along East Cummings Avenue.

Marilyn Forbes is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.