The parents of a 4-year old Danvers girl who died July 26 will be planting a tree and placing a stone in her memory inside the playground at Endicott Park next month.  Don and Joy Thornell came up with the memorial idea after the death of their daughter, Shiyanne, who loved to play in the park.  The town gave its support, and helped select a spot for the tree and stone.  As of last week, the Thornells had raised $5,600, well above the $1300 needed for the project.  Don Thornell said the family plans to use the extra funds, and any additional money raised going forward, to help the town with its eventual replacement of the playground.  The Thornells will plant the treee and erect the stone at a dedication ceremony at the playground on Sept. 28, which would have been Shiyanne's fifth birthday.  The family said it is still awaiting test results from the federal Centers for Disease Control to confirm the doctors' belief that Shiyanne had Eastern equine encephalitis.

 

-John Laidler