Fighting domestic violence

Politicians, candidates, service club members and those with more personal ties to the topic of domestic violence made up a procession of about 100 people during Monday night's ninth annual Candlelight Vigil, a walk co-sponsored by the Purple Ribbon Coalition and the Family Support Council of Douglas County.

Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini said it's important to hold events like the vigil, since in Carson Valley the number of domestic violence calls has remained the same for the last few years.

"We are the messengers or ambassadors," said Pierini. "We get about 735 calls a year in reference to domestic violence. That's a lot in one calendar year. We haven't gone up, but we haven't gone down."

Pierini said drugs and alcohol are a huge factor in contributing to domestic violence, with 60 percent of domestic violence cases involving substance abuse. He said 90 percent of the arrests in the county involve drug and alcohol abuse.

"It's terrible to go to domestic violence situations," he said. "It's a no-winner. Sometimes there's not enough evidence to make arrests."

Pierini said changes have to start with re-education of children who are often present during violent situations as well as during arrests.

A Smallwood Foundation donation pays for a sheriff's office domestic violence coordinator to work 19 hours a week, Connie Richardson, who gets names from police reports and works with the families, introducing them to programs at the Family Support Council.

"I try to get them intervention right away," said Richardson.

Others present at the Candlelight Vigil were Douglas High School Key Club members, who read excerpts of quotes from domestic violence victims in Douglas County from the last two years.

"I already did suicide prevention today, this is just adding to that," said junior Alyssa Cofano, 16. "You read the story and it makes you feel like the person. You feel the pain and the hurt. It makes you cry. It's really touching."

Key Club president, senior Mary Brockhage, 18, said the club joined the Purple Ribbon Coalition last year. Other service clubs that belong to the coalition are Soroptomist International of Carson Valley, the Kiwanis Club, Carson Valley Sertoma Club, Lions Club, Minden Rotary Club and the Sierra Nevada and Carson Valley active 20-30 clubs.

Coalition member John Amundson, said the Soroptomists were the originators of the Purple Ribbon Coalition. As an original member, Amundson and Soroptomist Liz Bricker put together a "road show" to travel around to different groups to help dispel myths, such as domestic violence being a "women's issue" and that it doesn't affect the children.

"I'd like to see more service clubs join us because we need that message out there," he said.

Amundson suggested that people talk to political candidates to see where they stand on the issue and what they plan to do about it. Candidates present on Monday were candidate for State Assembly District 39 JoEtta Brown, East Fork Justice of the Peace candidates Jim EnEarl and Kelly Chase as well as Greta Hambsch, candidate for Douglas County Commission District 4.

Yolanda Garcia, representing U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's office, presented a senatorial commendation for the Family Support Council's work with Nevada's families. Douglas County commissioner Dave Brady spoke about October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Douglas County Manager Dan Holler attended as well.

One Valley couple and their 10-year-old son, who marched from Lampe Park to the Family Support Council building on Waterloo Lane, chose to remain anonymous, but talked about their first-hand experience with domestic violence.

"I was involved with domestic battery with her," said the husband. "I was the offender. I went through an alcoholic program. This is my way of making amends, by participating in these events and helping others."

They said they have been married 20 years, and he has spent the last four years clean and sober.

"When there's alcohol involved, you've got to nip it in the bud," he said. "You've got to take ownership and make it better.

"I couldn't do it without help. The only way people can actually get help is to know where to go."

Since the "change" he said the family has been able to purchase a four-bedroom home instead of the duplex they used to rent.

"You have to be with someone who wants to help themselves," said his wife.

When asked if they were happier now, their son chimed in, "I am!"

Bagpiper Rick James who usually plays at the vigil was unable to attend due to back problems. Annie Mastrodonato of the Family Support Council led the crowd in singing "Amazing Grace" instead. But the doves, owned by Elise Anderson, were released as scheduled at a little after 6 p.m., circled the park and flew in the direction of their home near Johnson Lane.

"The doves symbolized all the victims who have survived and not survived," said Family Support Council domestic violence coordinator Shannon Harris. "(The doves) make it home."

n Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 210.

2005 domestic violence statistics for Douglas County:

n Total contacts - 1,273 (1,093 women; 180 men, 1,131 Valley; 91 lake; 51 out of town

n Total number of new families (no domestic violence in three years) - 376 (288 women, 88 men)

n Children victims/witnesses - 315

New client breakdown

n Domestic violence - 255

n Sexual assault - 4

n Stalking/harassments - 102

n Suicidal - 1

n Other issues (divorce or financial) - 14

n Women's support group - 258

n Paid for motel night - 51

n Housed 34 women and 18 children in shelter for a total of 1,259 bednights

n Provided by the Family Support Council