NYC skateboarder to help Berkeley Springs equip skate park

May 13, 2010|By TRISH RUDDER

Trish Rudder,

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Harry Jumonji, a well-known skateboarder from New York City, announced Thursday evening that he would help the community get equipment for the skate park at Harmison Field on Ewing Street.

Berkeley Springs Tattoo & Skate owner Laura Talbert said she and her partner, Jason Roderick, donated a half-pipe for the skate park, which is in the process of being ready for use in June.

She said she and Roderick are "partnering up with Harry for the kids in the county."

Jumonji said he will use his connections to get more pieces donated.

"I'm privileged to be part of it," he said.

He said skateboarding saved his life because he had a troubled youth and comes from a broken home. He began as a surfer in Brazil and then started skateboarding, "and it changed my life," Jumonji said.

Town of Bath Mayor Susan J. Webster and husband Peter Moss attended the event along with more than 50 people.

Many were kids who brought their skateboards to be autographed by Jumonji.

Moss said he was impressed by Jumonji's statement that skate boarding saved his life.

Moss and Webster's son, Aaron Webster Moss, 19, died in February.

He said the community needs to support the park and the kids.

"This may not save your life, but it is a springboard to move this forward," Moss told the audience.

Webster said Aaron was a skate boarder. She said the skate park has been in the works for about 10 years and remembers receiving the first grant to get it started.

Resident Kevin Wurster, 21, is a Shepherd University student and he said he will use the skate park. Wurster is one of the early organizers to get a park built.

Matt Hovermale, 26, also an early organizer, said he would use the skate park. "I'll use it until I can't walk," Hovermale said.

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