Our community in ribbons

From our local paper "The OC Register"

Vigil set for Coble family
Ladera Ranch residents hang pink and blue ribbons to show their sympathy for the Coble family.

LADERA RANCH - Toy shop owner Joshua Vecchione didn't know what to do. The Coble children had been in the store – they were so cute, he remembered.
"Normally we give toys but we couldn't do that now," he said. "We decided to give out ribbons, make it a community affair and make sure every tree is covered so when the family comes home they're surrounded by the love of the community."

Almost half of the 23,000-resident community is covered in ribbons and bows in an outpouring of sympathy. Residents call the deaths of the three Coble children the single most tragic event to strike the community since it emerged from the rugged cattle lands of Rancho Mission Viejo almost seven years ago.

Trees are hugged in pink and blue. Lampposts, medians and roundabouts are shrouded in varying types of ribbons – from shiny satin bands to skinny, curly ribbons and bows.

Ladera Ranch is a community draped in memory and sympathy for Lori and Chris Coble, who lost their three children – Kyle, 5, Emma, 4, and Katie, 2 – in a frightening crash Friday.
The children died after a tractor-trailer rear-ended the minivan they were riding in southbound on the San Diego (I-5) Freeway in Mission Viejo. Lori Coble, 30, was driving and her mother, Cynthia Maestri, 60, was a passenger.

Elise Dobberman, 13, and Hanna Lesinski, 12, on Saturday were the first to tie ribbons around more than 50 trees in their Oak Knoll Village neighborhood – home to the Coble family. They spent five hours canvassing their street.
"I just forgot about everything except putting up the ribbons," said Elise. "I will remember that for the rest of my life."

On Saturday, Hanna hoped the ribbons might spread to other areas of town. On Monday, Elizabeth Hall, 40, and her friend Katy Granito, 38, took it one step further. Both wanted to show support without being intrusive. An e-mail blast to 400 more Ladera residents got the word out.

"The ribbons are a symbol of our concern and grief," said Hall through tears. "Ladera is the type of place where we take care of our own. This ribbon-tying effort is our attempt to show that the family is in our hearts. It's our own way of coping and it gives us something to focus on instead of being sad all the time. What happened to them is unthinkable."

On Tuesday, Granito spent three hours wrapping trees near Crown Valley Parkway, a roundabout near the Coble home, Town Square and the Town Gazebo.

"By the time I got done, I saw other people bowing, too," said the mother of two. "I saw them in the medians, in the parks and at all four of the schools. Even after dark, I saw people walking in groups with strollers. They were all bowing and ribboning. People want to show how much they care."

Two days ago, merchants ran out of pink and blue ribbon. Vecchione's Toy Town, Ladera Cyclery, Juice It Up, Exotic Custom Creationz and Canopy Alley wanted to make sure there's ribbon enough to give away for every tree. Wednesday a truck from Los Angeles delivered 10,000 yards of ribbon, which can cover 18,000 more trees.

Residents flocked to the toy shop at Mercantile West to get more. Ribbon organizers hope to have every community tree bowed by Saturday, when funeral services take place.
Resident Kim Robinson, 40, helped buy the ribbon along with the other merchants. Wednesday she set up tables of ribbons and a poster with photos of the Coble children. In one hour hundreds came to pick up ribbons. Residents left $3,628 in donations for the Cobles in three hours.

"A lot of people are crying when they see the pictures for the first time," said Vecchione, 50, who lives in Ladera. "It's become a therapy session for people to share their feelings. It reminds me of my favorite movie 'It's a Wonderful Life.' That's what's happened here. The bells are ringing and people are asking, 'What can I do?' "