Funds Sought for Memorial to Teen

Members of the Nordhoff High School Leo Club want to complete a trolley stop in front of the school as a memorial to a slain fellow student.

Club members have been raising money for a trolley stop in memory of Kali Manley, whose body was discovered in a drainpipe near California 33 on Dec. 26, 1998--three days shy of her 15th birthday. The suspect in her killing is in custody awaiting trial.

The club has raised $5,000 since March and received a $15,000 in-kind donation from Southern California Water Co.

Members are waiting for the City Council to approve the next phase--a Spanish-style roof for the stop.

Some of the students helping with the trolley stop knew Kali for a long time, said Rick Carreon, advisor for the 15-member Leo Club.

Club President Rachelle Bonsignori, Jessica Humphrey and Erica Waugh--Kali’s friends since kindergarten--were among club members who planned the memorial.

The trolley stop will feature a time capsule containing memorabilia from Kali’s life and notes from her parents and friends, which will be sealed with a 6-inch bronze rendering of a butterfly.

“Kali loved butterflies, wildlife and the ocean,” said Jessica, 15, a sophomore. “I felt that since Kali is gone, this would be a good way to deal with the loss and even do something for Kali. This was a way to draw a conclusion to the whole thing.”

The proposed budget for the second phase of the project totals $5,000.

Carreon said community organizations are encouraged to make a financial donation toward completing the community service project.

For more information, contact Carreon at 640-0562. Donations can be mailed to the Nordhoff High School Leo Club, Kali Manley Memorial Fund, 1401 Maricopa Highway, Ojai 93023.