Mother of Courtney Sipes Speaks Out

The mother of Courtney Sipes, the 11-year old girl that was killed in a tragic accident on Main Street last year, spoke out regarding a guilty plea made last week by the 21-year old woman who struck and killed Courtney with her car. 

Maureen Lambert of Stony Brook entered a guilty plea during a scheduled court conference Tuesday, Nov. 2.  Scheduling is set for Dec. 8 and she is looking to see four-to-12 years in prison.

Thanking the Suffolk County District Attorney's office for bringing "some resolution," Courtney's mother Lavena said, "There is no amount of time that is going to seem like enough. We can't get Courtney back. This, we struggle with."

Lambert hit Courtney with her 2002 Chevy Avalanche on Nov. 24, 2009 and ran from the scene. She was later found to have been under the influence of heroin.

Since the accident, Courtney's family has been struggling to pick up the pieces. In helping themselves, as well as family and friends to cope, Lavena and approximately 20 members of her community have started a foundation in Courtney's name. 

The Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation, Lavena said is focusing "on helping children interested in the arts through scholarships and programs that will encourage them."

Lavena said the foundation hopes to provide scholarships as early as January.  "We are formulating applications and guidelines that we hope to have available by December," said Lavena.

Lavena anticipates that the scholarships will be made available to fifth graders, who want to attend summer camp.

"There are so many scholarships for high school students," said Lavena. "We wanted to target younger children." 

To fund the scholarships, the foundation will be using money generated through private donations and community fundraisers, including the Chamber of Commerce's Running of the Bulls and Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts ticket sales. The theater recently donated a percentage of its sales from a performance of Rabbit Hole to the foundation.

To date, the community has raised an estimated $17 thousand for the foundation.  

The community has also supported a cookbook that the foundation is putting together to not only keep Courtney's memory alive, but to raise funds for programs that the foundation hopes to create and support.

"Courtney not only loved to cook, but she loved to bring people together," said Lavena.  

The cookbook, which will be published in June, came about after Lavena's neighbor suggested it last Mother's day. Lavena said it has helped heal the broken hearts of family and friends.

"It is bringing everyone together," said Lavena, who noted that the cookbook will include recipes from family and friends along with photos and personal stories about Courtney.

The foundation will also be looking to work on pedestrian safety projects, said Lavena. "We have a lot of ideas that we'd like to pursue further, not necessarily on Main Street but other areas where children are at risk." She added, "It could be very tangible things that promote safe driving and pedestrian safety."

Speaking of the improvements made by the Department of Transportation on Main Street since the accident, Lavena said, "I think anything that can be done is an improvement."

Among the improvements recently made to the roadway are highly visible crosswalks for pedestrians, increased parking restrictions, additional pavement markings, reduced traffic signal cycle lengths and increased pedestrian crossing time. 

Additional improvements are in the works, including no turn on red signs, new road signs, and the installation of a fence along the south side of Main Street between Lawrence Avenue and Landing Avenue.

Finally, Lavena is working with Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick and Senator John Flanagan to create stronger penalties for those who leave the scene of an accident where a death is involved. 

"There ought to be a raised level of penalty," said Lavena. "Right now, there is a bit of incentive for someone to leave the scene and sober up so they don't get caught under the influence."   

Of the guilty plea, Michele Rothfeld, principal of Pines Elementary School in Hauppauge, Courtney's school, said, "of course I am pleased that the judicial system expedited the hearing for a guilty status, but it won't bring Courtney back to us."

Since Courtney's untimely passing, Rothfeld, who sits on the Courtney Memorial Foundation as a director, said the school has planted a memorial garden in Courtney's name.  "It is an area to reflect on her short-lived life here at her school," said Rothfeld.

Rothfeld said Courtney's classmates have all moved on to the middle school, but Courtney has not left their minds.

"Children are so resilient," Rothfeld said. "Their lives go on, but they have not forgotten Courtney."