This is how it happens.
Your friend/daughter/granddaughter/cousin goes missing. Days pass, you check the address she was last known to be at, you call her, text her, post missing signs. Utilize social media to build awareness, and you talk to people you have never heard of about your missing person.
You go door to door an hour away begging for answers, asking kids at the park if you've seen the girl in this picture.
One day later, you get the horrific phone call; your worst nightmare has come true. They found her body.
That morning you find yourself in an office at the bank. A curly haired lady is explaining tax information to you; you have decided to open up an account for the family of Brandy Rosine. At the funeral, you post a sign letting fellow mourners know that this exists.
You begin google image searching memorial benches. To create a place to sit and mourn the loss of Brandy and celebrate her life becomes the main goal.
Two months later, at the advice of a friend of Brandy's, you order one hundred wrist bands with her name on them. Oh, don't forget to put a smiley face on them, because these bands must bring a positive message, they will connect us to Brandy in a way we may never be connected to her again.
After a week and a half, the first hundred wrist bands are gone, and the memorial fund has doubled itself. Awareness grows, and you find yourself buying stamps every other day, and quite happily.
A benefit is held at a local bar, and you walk away with a few hundred more dollars. The feeling, walking into that bank with the envelope for Brandy, is indescribable.
Your partner, Brandy's mom, who has become such a close friend, gets us into the Octoberfest. That's where the bulk of the money was raised. After that, another benefit at a bar, and BAM, you're at the bank again, purchasing a $2,500 money order to purchase a bench from YSU.
The bench is finally installed in the last week of December,
The dedication ceremony is Saturday, January 5th, at 12:00 noon!
Miss you, Brandy, I wish she could have seen this.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
November 30th; Brandy's Birthday
Today, 21 years ago, Brandy was born.
Not much over a year ago, Brandy and I were with a friend at a local bar called the Lemon Grove. I was drinking PBR, our friend was drinking wine. There is a picture of that day, where my beer was in front of Brandy and she said she can't believe my cheap beer was in her picture. I remember talking about buying her a drink, but not doing it.
I wish I would have.
I always thought I'd have today.
Found the picture:
Well, the benefit concert is tomorrow. We planned it the day after her birthday so that we could all "celebrate" together. It's going to be a blast. We've never done anything like this before, but hopefully it will be an annual event to raise money for the scholarship that will go to a Boardman High School graduate to be determined sometime in March.
This morning, Carrie and I went shopping to prepare. We're having hot dogs, sloppy joe's, nachos and cheese, and pretzels. We have several donations also; a local bar (Tangier's) donated 4 pizzas for us, and Carrie ordered a cake for Brandy's birthday, which I think may have been donated. (Gotta check on that.) I've got to acquaint myself with Mario Kart. Brandy used to come over with her Wii and royally beat me every single time. Relentless, was she with that game. So I thought we should have a Mario Kart Tournament. The Refuge (the venue for all of this) has four flat screen tvs with game systems hooked up. Wii being one of them. So that makes this tournament a given. We HAD to do it! They have a kitchen, a grill in the back, nice bathrooms, and a half-basketball court. Pool tables. Oh, a stage area, of course, where the 12 bands will be playing. It's an all day event, by the way. I wish I had a video journalist friend, this would be even more interesting.
Until next time,
wish me luck for tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Crime and Punishment
Today is one of the more difficult days.
I found the alleged murderers' court dockets online (papublicrecords) and while they are limited in information for me, it did stir up some feelings.
As I consider the future of someone who stole the life of such an amazing person as Brandy Rosine in modern day times, I wish terribly that we were all born 100 years ago.
As the finer times website says, "The middle ages was a time of severe punishment and harsh torture for crimes that today would seem trivial." ... "Medieval towns people had a very close understanding of how punishment happened, as they were often present during punishment. Although murderers were often executed, the majority of lesser medieval offenses were punished by shaming the criminal publicly."
I know that an eye for an eye isn't a sort of theology that best fits our world today. I trust that the American justice system will do its best in this case, yet it still baffles me... all the details... how could someone commit such a crime and yet still engage in privileges such as the pleasure of reading a good book? Of a hot shower, of the ability to look out of a window at a sunrise?
And how could anyone defend these people?
...I could never be a lawyer. Offer me all the money in the world, seventeen yachts, a baseball team, and a lifetime of happiness, and I still wouldn't stand in a court room and tell a judge not to burn these two at the stake, or any murderer of innocence, for that matter.
I wish there was some way to make Brandy's family feel better.
That's my bottom line.
I found the alleged murderers' court dockets online (papublicrecords) and while they are limited in information for me, it did stir up some feelings.
As I consider the future of someone who stole the life of such an amazing person as Brandy Rosine in modern day times, I wish terribly that we were all born 100 years ago.
As the finer times website says, "The middle ages was a time of severe punishment and harsh torture for crimes that today would seem trivial." ... "Medieval towns people had a very close understanding of how punishment happened, as they were often present during punishment. Although murderers were often executed, the majority of lesser medieval offenses were punished by shaming the criminal publicly."
I know that an eye for an eye isn't a sort of theology that best fits our world today. I trust that the American justice system will do its best in this case, yet it still baffles me... all the details... how could someone commit such a crime and yet still engage in privileges such as the pleasure of reading a good book? Of a hot shower, of the ability to look out of a window at a sunrise?
And how could anyone defend these people?
...I could never be a lawyer. Offer me all the money in the world, seventeen yachts, a baseball team, and a lifetime of happiness, and I still wouldn't stand in a court room and tell a judge not to burn these two at the stake, or any murderer of innocence, for that matter.
I wish there was some way to make Brandy's family feel better.
That's my bottom line.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Memorial Bench: Check!
http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Memorial-Bench-Purchased-for-Murder-Victim/WAyvu3Tk7kOe0nuNHldI5A.cspx
The good news came after a benefit at a local bar called Split Level. Going into the night, we knew we needed 300 dollars to obtain the 2500 needed for the bench.
That night, the bar was packed with friends of Brandy, friends of her friends, people who knew her well and people who didn't know her at all. I watched the place fill up and some drank, some sat quietly watching the slideshow of images of Brandy behind the bar on the TV. I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout.
Brandy's friends sang to songs she would have liked, or songs that pertain to having lost such an amazing person. Her mom had a chance to speak, during which she told everyone present, "If you ever need someone to talk to... come get my number... you can talk to me."
Later in the evening I too had a chance to go up and let everyone know that after we collected the funds raised that evening, we would have enough to purchase the memorial bench!! It brought me such great pleasure to have been able to announce that.
The next day, I deposited the 500.00 raised at Split Level (!), and purchased a $2,500 money order.
Carrie and I brought the money order to the department of development at Youngstown State University the next day and spoke with Catherine Calla about what the plaque should say. Between Brandy's sister, aunt, and grandmother, everyone decided this would be best;
The good news came after a benefit at a local bar called Split Level. Going into the night, we knew we needed 300 dollars to obtain the 2500 needed for the bench.
That night, the bar was packed with friends of Brandy, friends of her friends, people who knew her well and people who didn't know her at all. I watched the place fill up and some drank, some sat quietly watching the slideshow of images of Brandy behind the bar on the TV. I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout.
Brandy's friends sang to songs she would have liked, or songs that pertain to having lost such an amazing person. Her mom had a chance to speak, during which she told everyone present, "If you ever need someone to talk to... come get my number... you can talk to me."
Later in the evening I too had a chance to go up and let everyone know that after we collected the funds raised that evening, we would have enough to purchase the memorial bench!! It brought me such great pleasure to have been able to announce that.
The next day, I deposited the 500.00 raised at Split Level (!), and purchased a $2,500 money order.
Carrie and I brought the money order to the department of development at Youngstown State University the next day and spoke with Catherine Calla about what the plaque should say. Between Brandy's sister, aunt, and grandmother, everyone decided this would be best;
In Memory of Brandy Stevens-Rosine
"Keep Calm and Carry On"
1991-2012
The night after we gave Catherine the check for the memorial bench, I have to express the emotion that overcame me. This was a day that I had been pushing for since May, when it all hit us like a train. The bracelets, the benefits, the emails, the postage, everything. Indigogo.com, news reporters, the huffington post, the Octoberfest... everything has lead to this point. My friendship with Brandy pushed for a strong desire in me to work with her mom to a common goal of not letting Brandy be silenced by her murder. Our first goal was accomplished; the memorial bench has been paid for. I had waited patiently.
So I laid there in bed that night thinking about the weight that was still on my chest, the hole that is still in my head and the black in my heart over what happened to Brandy. These were all supposed to have been healed today. By purchasing this bench... at least I thought. Somehow I had set this unrealistic expectation of the accomplishment; to cure my sadness.
And having not acquired the miracle healing I somehow expected, I was sadly disappointed.
I told Carrie about it the next day, and she wasn't surprised. She assured me that we are far from over with this. Carrie expressed her interest in speaking out against violence in major cities around the US. She really is something to have the strength to fight through this. Really it's quite inspiring.
Now what we keep an eye out for is the dedication ceremony for the memorial bench. Weather permitting. YSU's memorial benches are manufactured within 5-7 weeks of the order. It should be done the first week of December. I thought it'd be perfect if it was done the weekend of her birthday; November 30th. She would have been 21! The bench will sit outside of Kilcawley, where students usually meet between classes.
Our next fundraising goal is $1,500 for a scholarship fund in Brandy's name. After that, we could purchase a memorial tree on YSU's campus as well, for $1,500.
I remember when I began trying to raise money for Brandy, I said that I wouldn't stop until I had a place to sit and cry over the loss of my friend. A place to mourn the terrible loss, and a place to sit with her friends and laugh until I can't breathe remembering times with Brandy. That time is closer than I thought!!
I can't thank everyone enough for the support. I'm always surprised by turnouts and how many "likes" a simple status update on the Brandy Rosine Memorial Facebook page gets, and even how many page views this simple blog gets.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Art Project
Hello everyone. Hope all is well.
I wanted to share the project I'm working on. As I've recently learned about the Eighfold Path to enlightenment according to Buddhism, I based my idea for a sculpture project on Brandy.
The eightfold path is this: (http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html)
I asked Brandy's family for eight articles of clothing that I could use to represent her. (They gave me a matching outfit that really speaks Brandy!) These articles will be arranged in an interesting manner in a glass shadow box.
The front panel of the shadow box will list the eight nouns associated with the eightfold path.
View, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. I'm going to make the words stacked vertically and paint the negative space behind them with a frost, so that you can still see through it, but it will create a visually appealing effect.
I'm very excited to work on this (if you can't tell)!
I will be sure to post my progress.
Ideally, I would have this finished by Sunday, when a local bar/hangout of Brandy's (where she didn't drink) is hosting a benefit for her. Split Level is the last place I saw Brandy in April, so I really look forward to this. I am not sure that my supplies will be in on time, but we shall see.
Also coming up is the Boardman High School orchestra concert that they are dedicating to Brandy tomorrow!
Lots to surround ourselves with here from Brandy.
Until next time.
I wanted to share the project I'm working on. As I've recently learned about the Eighfold Path to enlightenment according to Buddhism, I based my idea for a sculpture project on Brandy.
The eightfold path is this: (http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html)
| 1. Right View | Wisdom |
| 2. Right Intention | |
| 3. Right Speech | Ethical Conduct |
| 4. Right Action | |
| 5. Right Livelihood | |
| 6. Right Effort | Mental Development |
| 7. Right Mindfulness | |
| 8. Right Concentration |
I asked Brandy's family for eight articles of clothing that I could use to represent her. (They gave me a matching outfit that really speaks Brandy!) These articles will be arranged in an interesting manner in a glass shadow box.
 |
| articles I'm working with on the project |
The front panel of the shadow box will list the eight nouns associated with the eightfold path.
View, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. I'm going to make the words stacked vertically and paint the negative space behind them with a frost, so that you can still see through it, but it will create a visually appealing effect.
I'm very excited to work on this (if you can't tell)!
I will be sure to post my progress.
Ideally, I would have this finished by Sunday, when a local bar/hangout of Brandy's (where she didn't drink) is hosting a benefit for her. Split Level is the last place I saw Brandy in April, so I really look forward to this. I am not sure that my supplies will be in on time, but we shall see.
Also coming up is the Boardman High School orchestra concert that they are dedicating to Brandy tomorrow!
Lots to surround ourselves with here from Brandy.
Until next time.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Sharing the Media Coverage
 |
| Vindicator front page! |
 |
| Youngstown State University's newspaper: front page again! |
Local News Coverage of Oktoberfest 9/30/2012:
http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Beaver-Township-Woman-Remembered-at/nqXuvdw0MUOTajFBr1VXHA.cspx
Report after Preliminary Hearing 8/24/2012:
http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Testimony-Reveals-Beaver-Woman-Was-Buried-Alive/mJOZ6qvKMEKnpf58PZfykQ.cspx
Non-Violence Parade 10/07/2012
http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Parade-And-Rally-Kicks-Off-Non-Violence-Week/8xYY-vvj1kajg88l2lZyAQ.cspx
Monday, October 1, 2012
Octoberfest
Hi everyone!
The Octoberfest was today.
Let me explain. The Octoberfest is a local annual event in the township park. It is one day of the year where hundreds of vendors set up tents and cause traffic jams on the major roadways of Boardman, OH. I personally had never been until today. It was Carrie's idea to set up a table in the arts and crafts section of the Octoberfest for Brandy to raise awareness and get donations for bracelets.
This week we reached an exciting number, prior to the Octoberfest. The bank account hit $1,000!! An incredible feat. The Vindicator (vindy.com) ran an article after an interview with Carrie and I at YSU about the bracelets and the bench/tree that we aspire to. The article printed FRONT PAGE on Saturday.
It was a lot of hard work to become present at the Octoberfest; it was a lot of printing, YSU paid for a 2' x 6' vinyl banner that I designed that we hung across a six foot table. We set two other tables to box us in beneath a canopy/tent that Brandy's grandma owns. The facepainting table was on our right. I made a sign that said it was a $2 donation for a facepaint. Steph (Brandy's little sister), her friend Sam, and I painted faces all day, and Carrie, Kathy, Carrie's boyfriend Kevin, my girlfriend and sister all helped with collecting donations and giving information, answering questions, etc, as people walked by and read our signs and information. (Sam also had printed a poster explaining our situation.)
Quickly the donation jar filled, and the cash drawer (that I had borrowed from work and filled with 100 dollars worth of ones and fives) was growing.
A reporter from a local station called my cell phone. She found our tent and spoke with Carrie, Kathy, and I, to let people know how it was going.
Some people visiting our tent cried. Some presented themselves with anger at the crime. All were sincere, and all reached out. I watched everyone, young, old, alone, and in groups slow down and read that sign that Sam had made. We had a line of people waiting to get things painted on their faces. The kids were adorable. I tried to keep the mood positive, especially given our environment. This was a happy thing. We are working toward something great.
Mariam Fife had visited our table and sat down with Carrie. (Her story is an interesting one as well, if you're not familiar with it, her son was brutally murdered in the mid '80s.)
Well, the marching band had retired and the sun was setting. Our visitors were leaving the park and it was time to call it a day.
Carrie skimmed the collections and approached me slowly with an indescribable look on her face. I didn't know what she had been doing, as I had been folding chairs and cleaning the facepainting table. "One thousand dollars, Krysti, there is one thousand dollars here," Carrie said in a whisper. I couldn't believe it. We reveled in the thought of the bench being so close.
She gave me the donation jar with all of the funds. We took it home so that I could deposit it into the account.
I came home and cut the grass hastily, as I had to work for 5 hours tonight as well. I didn't get much of a chance to feel what I did as I walked from my car to my house after my short shift, glancing at Orion in the sky... Brandy has been heard. Her quiet voice has strummed the chords of people in so many places. A tear came to my eye as I felt her presence and smiled knowing that in a few short weeks, December at the latest, this bench will be in the concrete of the campus she attended.
What a story. What an invigorating day.
The Octoberfest was today.
Let me explain. The Octoberfest is a local annual event in the township park. It is one day of the year where hundreds of vendors set up tents and cause traffic jams on the major roadways of Boardman, OH. I personally had never been until today. It was Carrie's idea to set up a table in the arts and crafts section of the Octoberfest for Brandy to raise awareness and get donations for bracelets.
This week we reached an exciting number, prior to the Octoberfest. The bank account hit $1,000!! An incredible feat. The Vindicator (vindy.com) ran an article after an interview with Carrie and I at YSU about the bracelets and the bench/tree that we aspire to. The article printed FRONT PAGE on Saturday.
It was a lot of hard work to become present at the Octoberfest; it was a lot of printing, YSU paid for a 2' x 6' vinyl banner that I designed that we hung across a six foot table. We set two other tables to box us in beneath a canopy/tent that Brandy's grandma owns. The facepainting table was on our right. I made a sign that said it was a $2 donation for a facepaint. Steph (Brandy's little sister), her friend Sam, and I painted faces all day, and Carrie, Kathy, Carrie's boyfriend Kevin, my girlfriend and sister all helped with collecting donations and giving information, answering questions, etc, as people walked by and read our signs and information. (Sam also had printed a poster explaining our situation.)
Quickly the donation jar filled, and the cash drawer (that I had borrowed from work and filled with 100 dollars worth of ones and fives) was growing.
A reporter from a local station called my cell phone. She found our tent and spoke with Carrie, Kathy, and I, to let people know how it was going.
Some people visiting our tent cried. Some presented themselves with anger at the crime. All were sincere, and all reached out. I watched everyone, young, old, alone, and in groups slow down and read that sign that Sam had made. We had a line of people waiting to get things painted on their faces. The kids were adorable. I tried to keep the mood positive, especially given our environment. This was a happy thing. We are working toward something great.
Mariam Fife had visited our table and sat down with Carrie. (Her story is an interesting one as well, if you're not familiar with it, her son was brutally murdered in the mid '80s.)
Well, the marching band had retired and the sun was setting. Our visitors were leaving the park and it was time to call it a day.
Carrie skimmed the collections and approached me slowly with an indescribable look on her face. I didn't know what she had been doing, as I had been folding chairs and cleaning the facepainting table. "One thousand dollars, Krysti, there is one thousand dollars here," Carrie said in a whisper. I couldn't believe it. We reveled in the thought of the bench being so close.
She gave me the donation jar with all of the funds. We took it home so that I could deposit it into the account.
I came home and cut the grass hastily, as I had to work for 5 hours tonight as well. I didn't get much of a chance to feel what I did as I walked from my car to my house after my short shift, glancing at Orion in the sky... Brandy has been heard. Her quiet voice has strummed the chords of people in so many places. A tear came to my eye as I felt her presence and smiled knowing that in a few short weeks, December at the latest, this bench will be in the concrete of the campus she attended.
What a story. What an invigorating day.
Friday, September 14, 2012
More Bracelets, More Donors
The New Bracelets!!!
So Carrie came up with the idea to get a table at the Boardman Rotary Oktoberfest this year to raise awareness and maybe even get some donations. So we agreed upon getting some more bracelets. I took 130 from the Memorial Fund and ordered 600 bracelets. Then I myself bought 400 more for another130 some dollars. The first batch is what you see above, and I love them! Brandy would be so happy :)
Mostly, though, Brandy would be happy that so many people from so many places are thinking about her. Grieving her, and remembering her.
Some of her friends put together a benefit last Sunday at a local bar. After the show, the host presented Carrie with 330.00, it was absolutely incredible. She gave the envelope straight to me and the next morning I deposited that money, along with more money that friends helped raise by giving the bracelets to people for donating; I walked out of Huntington with my jaw on the floor; 649.00 is the account balance. With 1,000 bracelets on the way.
Youngstown State University has jumped aboard to help. We are going to put a memorial bench on campus for 2500.00, and hopefully a memorial tree, if we raise enough funds, for 1500.00. They will be mailing out pledge cards and helping us. I really am excited to have them on board, because they have done this before. You know? Carrie and I are just wandering along, going with the motions, but they have experience.
I am excited that at this rate, the memorial bench is so attainable that I feel like we can almost touch it. YSU will do a dedication ceremony as well. It's going to be great.
Since I last posted, the Globe magazine (that celebrity gossip magazine you see in line at the grocery store?) has dedicated a double page spread to the story. They got a couple details wrong, but it's still spreading the word. Also, YSU's student newspaper just released a front page cover story about Brandy and the bracelets called "Bracelets for Brandy's Bench."
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Keeping in touch
Tonight I finally got time to spend a few hours with an old friend. I dropped her off at her residence, and she had to walk a few hundred feet to get to the main entrance of her apartment. I found myself waiting in the parking space to make sure she got to the door safely.
As Hello Helicopter (by Motion City Soundrack, a band that Brandy and I both felt strongly for,) played via Pandora in my car, I considered the state of my life. It would be biased of me to assume that all of America is going through similar realizations, but I keep wanting to generalize; Why do WE have to live in fear, why do WE have to worry about whether or not our friends will make it home safe?
Well, I haven't taken much time to say this, but this is the hardest thing I've ever done. These wristbands are flying out of my hands. Brandy's mom and other close friends have helped, they've been coming to get 20-50 bracelets off of me to help make money for the Memorial Fund. Brandy's mom, Carrie, she and I went to the head of the department of development at YSU, the college Brandy attended to study sociology, and the college I am currently finishing my junior year at. Carrie and I met with Catherine Calla to discuss their memorial bench program. 2500 for a bench and 1500 for a memorial tree. We are looking to raise enough for both.
I also called Target, where Brandy had previously worked, to ask if they'd host one on their property. I'm awaiting a call back. Carrie is working on setting up a spaghetti dinner and helping Brandy's friend Sebastion with getting a venue for a concert. Carrie has obtained a form to help her create a scholarship in Brandy's name, and also she is going to get a booth at a local Octoberfest at Boardman Park.
All of these things are productive and for a great cause, yes, but I really want to know when we get the answers. I've been in this sense of shock and state of responsibility, I'll be damned if Brandy Rosine goes without cause. Not a chance. Not while I'm alive.
It'll be five months in 9 days since Brandy went missing/lost her life. It feels like it happened yesterday, but these days pass as slowly as years.
I put myself in therapy, as I can't help myself through this. But all the therapists in the world can't fix this. Only time travel could. But I've got to keep positive. For positive thoughts bring positive results.
As Hello Helicopter (by Motion City Soundrack, a band that Brandy and I both felt strongly for,) played via Pandora in my car, I considered the state of my life. It would be biased of me to assume that all of America is going through similar realizations, but I keep wanting to generalize; Why do WE have to live in fear, why do WE have to worry about whether or not our friends will make it home safe?
Well, I haven't taken much time to say this, but this is the hardest thing I've ever done. These wristbands are flying out of my hands. Brandy's mom and other close friends have helped, they've been coming to get 20-50 bracelets off of me to help make money for the Memorial Fund. Brandy's mom, Carrie, she and I went to the head of the department of development at YSU, the college Brandy attended to study sociology, and the college I am currently finishing my junior year at. Carrie and I met with Catherine Calla to discuss their memorial bench program. 2500 for a bench and 1500 for a memorial tree. We are looking to raise enough for both.
I also called Target, where Brandy had previously worked, to ask if they'd host one on their property. I'm awaiting a call back. Carrie is working on setting up a spaghetti dinner and helping Brandy's friend Sebastion with getting a venue for a concert. Carrie has obtained a form to help her create a scholarship in Brandy's name, and also she is going to get a booth at a local Octoberfest at Boardman Park.
All of these things are productive and for a great cause, yes, but I really want to know when we get the answers. I've been in this sense of shock and state of responsibility, I'll be damned if Brandy Rosine goes without cause. Not a chance. Not while I'm alive.
It'll be five months in 9 days since Brandy went missing/lost her life. It feels like it happened yesterday, but these days pass as slowly as years.
I put myself in therapy, as I can't help myself through this. But all the therapists in the world can't fix this. Only time travel could. But I've got to keep positive. For positive thoughts bring positive results.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The DA decided against pursuing the death penalty last week. Brandy's murderers will face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. What does this say to me?
I honestly was hoping for the death penalty.
But no punishment will bring her back.
In the mean time, I got in more bracelets, still giving them to anyone who donates.
The last batch allowed me to double the funds in the bank account. So I used half of that to purchase the Swing Life Away wristbands, and then purchased 225 more Brandy Rosine :) ones with my own donation.
People's reaction to this case is something to mention. It shouldn't be surprising, but people are outraged. I'm just thankful that we live in a social media age, and that we can spread the word and keep Brandy alive and in our hearts.
I honestly was hoping for the death penalty.
But no punishment will bring her back.
In the mean time, I got in more bracelets, still giving them to anyone who donates.
The last batch allowed me to double the funds in the bank account. So I used half of that to purchase the Swing Life Away wristbands, and then purchased 225 more Brandy Rosine :) ones with my own donation.
People's reaction to this case is something to mention. It shouldn't be surprising, but people are outraged. I'm just thankful that we live in a social media age, and that we can spread the word and keep Brandy alive and in our hearts.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Bench
Brandy was a gracious kind of person. If I told her that it is August 15th and that I have only 5 wristbands left of the 100 I received on August 2nd, her jaw would drop.
My goal was to double the 100 dollars that was in the memorial fund through these first 100 bracelets. Well, thanks to tremendous support and even larger hearts, that goal has been accomplished.
What's next? Well, that memorial bench isn't going to buy itself!
I actually have been considering something less traditional for Brandy, as she was a creative thinker, a creative writer, nothing you could ever duplicate.. why should her memorial be such?
Check out these benches;
http://inspirationgreen.com/bench-inspiration.html
Eh? :)
I am liking the tree shaped bench particularly.
I have called Boardman Park, in Boardman OH, where Brandy resided, graduated from two years ago. I am awaiting a call back. Maybe a bench can go there. Or maybe at the high school, I'm still brainstorming.
So I purchased another 320 wristbands with "♫ Swing Life Away ♫" on them. In a rainbow assortment of colors.
Check out this song, Swing Life Away, by Rise Against; A song Brandy felt passionately about.
(Note her "Swing Life Away" tattoo.)
Reality doesn't get easier to swallow being a loved one of a murder victim. I have come to realize that. But I have a goal and I plan to channel these feelings toward that goal, because I know that like solar energy, my emotions involved in this are a very efficient flame.
I will meet my goal of either purchasing or building a bench with the assistance of donors and friends. I have yet to set a time frame, we'll get to that.
Talk to you all soon.
My goal was to double the 100 dollars that was in the memorial fund through these first 100 bracelets. Well, thanks to tremendous support and even larger hearts, that goal has been accomplished.
What's next? Well, that memorial bench isn't going to buy itself!
I actually have been considering something less traditional for Brandy, as she was a creative thinker, a creative writer, nothing you could ever duplicate.. why should her memorial be such?
Check out these benches;
http://inspirationgreen.com/bench-inspiration.html
Eh? :)
I am liking the tree shaped bench particularly.
I have called Boardman Park, in Boardman OH, where Brandy resided, graduated from two years ago. I am awaiting a call back. Maybe a bench can go there. Or maybe at the high school, I'm still brainstorming.
So I purchased another 320 wristbands with "♫ Swing Life Away ♫" on them. In a rainbow assortment of colors.
Check out this song, Swing Life Away, by Rise Against; A song Brandy felt passionately about.
(Note her "Swing Life Away" tattoo.)
Reality doesn't get easier to swallow being a loved one of a murder victim. I have come to realize that. But I have a goal and I plan to channel these feelings toward that goal, because I know that like solar energy, my emotions involved in this are a very efficient flame.
I will meet my goal of either purchasing or building a bench with the assistance of donors and friends. I have yet to set a time frame, we'll get to that.
Talk to you all soon.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
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Monday, July 30, 2012
Some Rememberances
A few of the posts one can find for Brandy...
Katelynn Jacobsposted toBrandy Rosine
When you go I will know. Follow you to the stars and when the world burns apart, there'll be a place for your car. I'd give you everything, if only I'd have known you'd take it but you don't, cause you're you. That's why I'll always love you, my pearl of the stars.Megan Shedoskyposted toBrandy Rosine- i love you.. and i miss you more than anything. i would give anything to just see your face one last time. i hope your happy up in heaven. always in my heart ♥
Kaycee Klineposted toBrandy Rosine
Just wanted to stop by and say I LOVE YOU!
- I keep thinking about you. You would still be here. And I know you well enough to know you would forgive them for what they did, because that's how you are. Brandy, I've learned a lot in these past few weeks than I've wanted to my whole life. You can't live you're life angry. Who knows what could happen. I'm going to forgive people so much easier now, cause I won't always be around.
Bethany Shaferposted toBrandy Rosine
Reading what I read about you yesterday broke my heart. You were a beautiful person inside and out, and you will always live within me and many other's hearts. My prayers go out to your family. I will never believe you're gone, Brandy. ♥ Rest in peace.Antionetta Pesaposted toBrandy Rosine
- This is hard . Even for me. I can't imagine how your family is feeling. They're in my thoughts live and so are you. Its hard to sleep after getting the testimony but I'm going to stick out for you. I hope your well. We all miss you and love you.
- Knowing you were gone was and is still so hard i think about you everyday but to know what they had done to you. I can't even begin to process it. Its something so unfathomable. you of all people NEVER deserved that. Words cannot even describe the pain this brings me and i know its not just me but everyone that knew you and loved you. I'm really at a loss all i can think of to say is i'm soo sorry this happened to you and i know that sorry couldn't even begin to cover what they have done. I love and miss you
Skye Keegan Smithposted toBrandy Rosine
- i feel like ill never sleep again, i havent cried this hard since i found out you passed a few months back. they dont deserve our hate or our anger. even though its hard im trying
- I don't know how I'll be able to sleep after hearing how Brandy Rosine spent her last minutes on earth.
It seems almost unfair that I can even consider it. I'm mourning her all over again. - Brandy Rosine, i miss you more than words will ever be able to explain. you were an amazing girl and a great friend. You will forever be in my heart and i hope and pray that these girls rot in hell for what they have done to you :'(
http://www.palive365.com/2012/07/25/accused-killers-bound-for-court/ - i feel so sick all over again after hearing the news today brandy... i think about you a million times every day and i dont think that will ever stop. everyone misses you so much.♥
- Please be in prayer for my cousin, Carrie Stevens-Rosine and our family as the details of our dear Brandy Rosine's death comes to light. The family is going to need all the strength that they can get to get through this nightmare.
- Dear Brandy,
rest easy babygirl ♥ I love you, and I'm keeping my head up for you.... Keep visiting me in my dreams please! - I'm sitting here balling, I just watched the news... I cant believe what you had to go through... I cant handle thinking about it. Its killing me. Idk how to not be so angry and sad, I can feel my heart breaking</3 I cant take this..
- just saw the whole story on the news... noone deserves that kind of treatment esp with what a good person you were...that absolutely broke my heart.. god bless you!!
- I miss you babe. There's not a day that goes by that I dont see or hear something and it makes me think of you. You're always on my mind. I miss you so much. I miss getting random phone calls from you. Or givin you my phone to tell people directions, because I was horrible at telling them. Aha. You're wonderful. Just thought I should let you know. Ima call you, and you need to call me back within ...See More
- Some realities are so unthinkable, unfathomable, that our brains cannot even process the information as it is so dissimilar to anything we've known.
This unfortunately leads to the information bouncing around my/our head/s looking for an escape. To no avail.
Brandy, wouldn't you suggest a lobotomy? - I need you. I need you to come over and take me away from all of this. I can't believe I'm even doing this to myself when I know I deserve so much better. I don't know what to do at this point. I know you would talk me out of just keeping myself on one person, and to see what else is out there. I know I deserve better. I keep telling myself that. I think I just need to hear it from you. And I guess I'm just scared to even try. I don't want a repeat of all the last ones that lied to me. I just need you here so I can vent to you. I miss you B. I miss you so damn much. <|3
- Hey babygirl, so I randomly thought about that day in the camper that you showed me that rock paper scissors thing and I couldn't help but giggle(: Thanks for the smile babygirl, I love you so much♥
Michael David McMurrayposted toBrandy Rosine
- Miss you brandy!
- you have no idea how bad i need you right now. i could come to you for anything, and i have no one to come running to me at the wierdest hours of the night. <|3
i never knew how much i needed you till i couldnt see you. - Yes Baby this should be getting easier, but it keeps getting harder and harder. There are days I don't know what to do next, so I just sit there and stare...I am so beside myself sometimes. I just want to hear your voice, hug you so tight and never let you go. This was supposed to be God's choice not for someone else to decide. Mommy misses you so very much Baby!
- It has been 2 months today since we lost you, it should be getting better but there are days that I still can not believe this happened to you and our family and how they could do this to you. I think about you everyday. I love you girlfriend. Aunt Brenda
Billy Knightposted toBrandy Rosine
- OMG Brandy I miss you girl! I seen your facebook pic and I just got tears running down my cheeks:/ Work is different without you.
I miss you!!!!!!!! RIPSkye Keegan Smithposted toBrandy Rosine
- i feel the need to dance, and the greatest dance i ever had was with you... at the skunk, remember? im not making fun, you did well for just learning. i hope oneday we can dance again. rest easy baby.
Missing
The following is a link to a video that Brandy's friend Ariel created while Brandy was missing.
http://youtu.be/N0JqLG0TzZU
Sunday, July 29, 2012
What Happened to Brandy?
Well, world, hello. My name is Krysti Horvat, I'm 26, I'm from Boardman Ohio with a giant cause at hand.
My very good friend Brandy Rosine(-Stevens), 20, was murdered on May 17th, 2012 by a friend of hers and an accomplice. The story is horrific, the details chilling. My focus is to memorialize her life and to carry out her legacy.
As this is my first blog, I will keep it short. But here is the eulogy I presented at her funeral, in its entirety;
Here are some links to the story, please be advised the details are graphic, and you should not read if you are weak of emotion and/or stomach;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/brandy-stevens-rosine-case-love-triangle_n_1711393.html
Meadville Tribune
Currently, I am trying to raise money for a memorial statue to honor my friend and help her loved ones cope with this tragedy. Her remains are in the possession of her 16 year old sister, Steph. Her mother, Carrie, and her grandmother, Kathy.
I am looking at memorial benches as well, and considering possible spots for this bench.
For future reference, here are the links and information on the fund-raising accounts that will all go toward Brandy and the Rosine-Stevens family.
Paypal: (Which charges me for each deposit, something I am working on!)
https://www.paypal.com/
Huntingon Bank:
Brandy Rosine Memorial Fund
Account #:01780228415
EIN#: 45-5363221
3960 South Ave.
Youngstown, OH 44512
330 788-3263
My very good friend Brandy Rosine(-Stevens), 20, was murdered on May 17th, 2012 by a friend of hers and an accomplice. The story is horrific, the details chilling. My focus is to memorialize her life and to carry out her legacy.
As this is my first blog, I will keep it short. But here is the eulogy I presented at her funeral, in its entirety;
"Hello everyone. First I would like to thank you all for coming. My name is Krysti Horvat, my family lived behind Brandy when she was in school. She lived there from about when she was in sixth grade until the time she went to live with her grandparents in highschool.
When I first met Brandy, she possessed a teenage angst the size of a football stadium. And I loved that about her. Brandy never settled for anything less than what she wanted. If there was a cause she believed in, she would talk about it endlessly until she noticed a change. Brandy loved deeply and entirely, she was always there when I needed someone to talk to. She was someone who loved her friends and would do anything for them. She was passionate, and had the ability to express her passion through her words and actions. She once wrote, "We humans live for compassion. It is written in Darwin. In every known clinical research done, humans strive for that one hug from their mother or that one comforting word from a friend."
Brandy shared a story from when she was a toddler. She would get time-outs for yelling at her mother from the backseat of the car to drive faster. This may have led to her receiving a go-kart as a child. She loved going to her cousins to go four-wheeling. "I learned that it's fun to ride in the rain," she said, "That donuts aren't good for the yard, and thorns are hard to remove. Not from my skin, but from my helmet." She just wanted to go fast.
Her friends remember taking adventures with her. Diet Mountain Dew,
Diet Vault, Brandy needed and loved energy drinks. Lying on the
pavement staring at the stars with her, holding her hand, skipping down
hallways, taking walks, going to concerts, laughing with her, and her
smile are all the special memories her friends have of Brandy.
She always had a passion for music. She proudly proclaimed herself
an orch-dork in highschool. She was a bassist. Brandy would play Mario
Kart and DJ Hero all day if she could. Brandy was as clever as a fox,
and perhaps the most witty person I've ever known. She once said, "If it
wasn't for having to see other people naked, I'd live in a nudest
colony."
I was recently asked what Brandy does for a living. Well.. Brandy
is a comedian. She'll pick you up with words. She's a librarian, an
encyclopedia of knowledge. Brandy is a therapist, a shoulder for all of
her friends. She lived for helping others, for making other people feel
comfortable, for love. Brandy is a musician, a poet. She is a spectrum
of colors, a renaissance woman, if you will.
All Brandy wanted was to be herself in a world without prejudice,
and I believe Brandy achieved that goal the best she could. Brandy was
an inspiration to others. She taught others not to fear who they are, but
to embrace his or her self.
And nothing of this has changed. Brandy is still all of these
things. She's just counting on us to activate our memories and keep her
alive. She shared 20 years with us, and now it is time to cherish those
years.
Thank each and every one of you for coming today. Brandy would poop
her pants to see the amount of support and love that keeps pouring her
direction. Thank you."
Here are some links to the story, please be advised the details are graphic, and you should not read if you are weak of emotion and/or stomach;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/brandy-stevens-rosine-case-love-triangle_n_1711393.html
Meadville Tribune
Currently, I am trying to raise money for a memorial statue to honor my friend and help her loved ones cope with this tragedy. Her remains are in the possession of her 16 year old sister, Steph. Her mother, Carrie, and her grandmother, Kathy.
I am looking at memorial benches as well, and considering possible spots for this bench.
For future reference, here are the links and information on the fund-raising accounts that will all go toward Brandy and the Rosine-Stevens family.
Paypal: (Which charges me for each deposit, something I am working on!)
https://www.paypal.com/
Huntingon Bank:
Brandy Rosine Memorial Fund
Account #:01780228415
EIN#: 45-5363221
3960 South Ave.
Youngstown, OH 44512
330 788-3263
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