Domestic Violence Vigil Sheds Light on Dark Subject

Pasco has lost three women to domestic violence in the past year.

The day was waning outside the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday as a crowd gathered by the front entrance. The subject that brought them to this spot was the dark matter of domestic violence, but folks held in their hands a little spot of light. The gathering was for the annual candlelight vigil in honor of domestic violence victims and to raise awareness of domestic violence. The light was from the candles that gatherers held. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program organized the vigil. There were 3,300 reported cases of domestic violence in Pasco last year, according to the sheriff’s office. That’s 5.8 percent lower than the year before. But it’s still a problem. Sheriff Chris Nocco spoke …

• Photos (6)

Patch's School Bullying Discussions Return Sept. 20

Join us for a presentation on teaching children to be engaged bystanders at our next roundtable on Sept. 20.

Toward the end of the 2011-12 school year, I invited concerned community members to join me for roundtable discussions on school bullying, a "silent epidemic." As the new school year gets under way, we will pick up where we left off with a presentation by Irene Patino, retired Pasco County teacher and creator of Bully Be Gone, a bullying and teen suicide prevention program. Please join us from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20 in Heron Hall at Learning Gate Community School in Lutz to hear Patino speak about engaging, empowering and encouraging passive bystanders—those who witness acts of bullying but do not intervene for a variety of reasons. A social change community organizer from Sunrise of Pasco also will be on hand to discuss the …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Keli Sipperley

10:53 am on Monday, September 17, 2012

Hi Mark, Interesting points. I hope you can join us this week to discuss!   more ›

Central Pasco Residents Invited to Stand Against Domestic Violence

Sunrise of Pasco County is hosting its 15th annual Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, Oct. 20.

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month continues, Sunrise of Pasco is calling on residents from all over the county to take a stand against this crime. The organization’s 15th annual Candlelight Vigil is planned for Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Agnes Lamb Park in downtown Dade City. The park is located on the corner of Meridian Avenue and Ninth Street. “I encourage everyone to join us in this annual opportunity to salute our survivors, to grieve those who have been lost to violence and support the children impacted by that which they should never have had to witness,” said Penny Morrill, the chief executive officer of Sunrise. Sunrise provides support to domestic violence victims in Central and East Pasco. It also offers sexual …

• Photos (1)

The Mom Adventure

Domestic Violence is Not Your Fault

There is hope and a way out!

Over the years I’ve encountered more cases of domestic violence than I’d like to remember while working with moms.  I was blessed to grow up in a home where that would never happen.  My father loved and respected my mother and was never anything but tender and loving with her. I’m blessed to be married to a man that loves and respects me and would never do anything to hurt me at all.  Unfortunately, there are women out there where this isn’t the case. Domestic violence used to be more commonly found among married women. Now it’s becoming a part of some dating relationships in older teens and college age and unmarried young women as well.  Let me share some of the stories with you that I’ve had the unfortunate luck to encounter. The first …

•  2 Comments