Wind phone vandalized on Back Mountain Trail; will be repaired and replaced

DALLAS — Tara Yamelski recently left a hand-painted rock at the wind phone she placed on the Back Mountain Trail last month.

The inscription Yamelski painted on the rock read, “Sprinkle kindness like confetti.”

On Monday, someone used that rock to smash the wind phone.

“I’m heartbroken,” Yamelski said. “I’m still trying to process it more after a lot of tears.”

Yamelski said she received pictures of the damaged wind phone, and her husband, Jerry, brought it back to their home, where it will be repaired.

“Right now I don’t even have words — I just have tears,” Yamelski said. “Months of planning and pouring my heart and soul into this wind phone to help the community — and it just takes one bad soul to destroy those hopes and dreams. I also have two kids crying. I feel so defeated.”

In a Times Leader story on Sept. 17, Yamelski said that although she struggled in the days following the death of her mother, Karen Werner, on May 5, 2023, she found a way to deal with that loss — she decided to give her mom a call.

A “wind phone” is a disconnected telephone in a public setting — often natural — that allows people to hold a one-way conversation with deceased loved ones, offering a symbolic way to express grief and find comfort.

Yamelski decided to place a “wind phone” on the Back Mountain Trail — the Judith and David Rimple loop — at 105 Michael Cleary Drive in Dallas. The wind phone was placed on the trail on Sept. 20.

“I knew there was a risk, but I tried to have faith in humanity and keep my faith that this kind of evil wouldn’t happen on the Back Mountain Trail,” Yamelski said. “To the person that would vandalize something like this, just know you have my prayers tonight. Clearly, you need God more than most ever will.”

Yamelski said it will take a little time, but she intends to return the wind phone to its place on the trail as soon as possible. She said people have been writing on her Facebook page, and many have donated to pay for repairs and possibly install surveillance cameras on the trail to help deter vandalism.

“I am taking time to figure out where to even go from here,” Yamelski said. “I am still processing this. I am heartbroken, but I won’t let darkness overturn the light. I have light — so much light.”

Yamelski said someone called her from the trail to notify her that the wind phone had been damaged. She said the vandalism probably took place sometime before 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

“It can be salvaged,” Yamelski said. “My husband, Jerry, got it and brought it to our house. It can be fixed. Like I said, I knew it was a risk, but I never expected this.”

She said the slate board on the front of the wind phone will be replaced by Gary Farber.

Yamelski said the feedback she has received since the wind phone was placed on the trail has been positive.

“We’ve found many written notes that people left to their loved ones,” she said. “A lot of people have used it. It’s been doing what it was intended to do — to help people cope.”

“This wind phone is in memory of my beautiful mother Karen Werner, who I lost suddenly on May 5, 2023,” Yamelski said.

Yamelski said after she lost her mom — who she said was also her best friend — she struggled with navigating grief.

“I always had strong faith, and I believed she was in heaven and at peace, but it was still so hard to function in life without your mom, especially having young children of my own,” she said.

Yamelski said the wind phone is a rare and beautiful addition to a community of people who are grieving and looking for a calm and peaceful way to connect with their deceased loved ones.

“This is a way to let them know they are not alone in their journey,” Yamelski said.

Dallas Township police contacted

Dallas Township Police Chief Doug Higgins said his officers have investigated the incident, but he said it’s difficult to determine who is responsible.

“We have had trouble on the trail before,” Chief Higgins said. “Cameras would be good to have — sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. But if somebody wants to install them, it could help.”

Chief Higgins said there is a lot of activity on the trail, and he recommends that anyone who observes suspicious activity should report it as soon as possible.

The Dallas Township Police Department can be reached at 570-674-2003.

Chief Higgins said his department will post information on its Facebook page. He encourages anyone with information to call.