By Marissa Amoni –
I had lunch with my friend, Karen Nicholas, at Calla Lily Victorian Tea Room on LaSalle Street in downtown Aurora, Friday, Feb. 15. Karen teaches morning classes at Wesley Preschool so we decided to meet at around 12:30 p.m..
I went online and made a reservation because the tea room fills up quickly for lunch. Karen and I enjoyed a delightful lunch. When we finished and were paying, we noticed that two Aurora police officers who had just sat down for lunch were quickly called away.
It was about 1:30 p.m..
Karen and I noticed their rush to leave, and we exchanged some, brief trivial comments on how we hoped it was nothing serious and we hoped everything was okay.
When I got back to work in my downtown office, co-workers’ phones were blowing up with texts, and social media was abuzz with activity. The entire City was immediately connected in a state of uncertainty and fear about what was happening on the West Side of Aurora at the Henry Pratt facility on Highland Avenue.
As a mom, I was one of many hundreds who had children on lockdown at schools they attended. As a resident of the West Side who lives only a few blocks away from the chaos, I wasn’t sure if I could make it to my home because of roadblocks. We were all stunned. We were all confused.
I sat at my computer as I heard from a credible source that five individuals had died.
What? Why?
The next hours were spent searching for information. An entire city became connected even further in trying to make sense of the news that was flying around us.
When we later picked up our children from school and filtered the news reports that streamed in and prayed for good news, we held on to each other. We texted friends. We checked in on officers we knew. We hugged our loved ones a little tighter.
The good news didn’t come. Five were dead at the hands of a shooter, and five officers were injured. An entire city was changed forever.
We all have a story that day that we’ll remember. Then the next day happened.
Saturday, Feb. 16, I received messages from downtown businesses and community members asking how they could help. I learned that the city government had just set up a fund to help victims’ families, and the downtown community got to work.
Friends made products. Businesses donated a percentage of sales to the fund. Graphic designers created Facebook frames, T-shirts, mugs, and posters. Restaurants held fundraisers.
And two weeks after the shooting, it will be First Fridays Friday, March 1. John Berrios, of North Aurora, and his wife, Vicky, will sell Aurora Strong wristbands at If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, with all of the proceeds going to the victims’ families.
One Aurora, a youth-led group, will sell donated artwork in the lounge at Two Brothers Roundhouse to raise funds for the families.
Wyckwood House and Tredwell Coffee will sell Aurora Strong T-shirts, and there will be an Aurora Strong photo booth at Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..
It’s true we won’t be the same, but we’ll be stronger. We are Aurora Strong, and we are stronger together.
Marissa Amoni is the Aurora Downtown manager. Aurora Downtown is a nonprofit organization of business and property owners. Learn more and see a full calendar of downtown events at www.auroradowntown.org. Thank you to Aurora’s first responders. We appreciate your service every day.
Marissa Amoni photo/courtesy of Aurora Downtown