May 19, 2008

Quote of the Day...

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance."

Robert F Kennedy


Think about it.

May 16, 2008

The GE 5K Road Race

To Read the most recent Post please click on the Chasing Justice title header above or click on profile to the right and back to "read blog" apologies-website is undergoing construction

A reminder that the 5k Road race, which is raising money for the Petit family foundation- is coming up on July 20th. There will be a separate run for children under eight years old as well as a 1.3 mile "fitness walk" for those who wish to participate who are not neccesarily long-distance runners.

Winners and awards will be given at a Post race ceremony which will include refreshments and other activities.

The race sponsored by GE and a gaggle of other Connecticut based companies is raising money for the Petit family foundation which donates to M.S research and those affected by violent crime, among several other important causes.

The foundation was set up by Dr William Petit after a violent series of crimes took the lives of his wife and two children in Cheshire last July. The entire state of Connecticut has been deeply affected by these crimes and the local support and charitable effort in the Petit and Hawke family names continues to be steadfast nearly one year after the crimes occurred.

There have been multiple memorials and honorariums raising both money and awareness for different charities over the past 11 months, each organized with the core intention of keeping the Petit women's memory and spirit of activism alive and in the forefront of our collective consciences.

A judge presiding over the criminal case placed a gag order on those involved with the case, and little has been written in the press regarding the crimes and the ongoing criminal case since the order took effect in October 07. There has however been a great deal of attention and debate over the States woefully ineffective criminal justice system, which in retrospect clearly aided and abetted these crimes in happening.

The Connecticut legislature, urged by Governor Rell met in a special session in January and managed to pass some immediate judicial reform bills, not without the customary dissent and grumbling by heads of the appropriations committee lamenting the costs to the state. They met again in their regular session early May and passed a snaller number of crime reform bills, including a persistent offender law that is more likely to actually be used than the convoluted version that has stood largely unused by prosecutors since its inception years ago.

Dr Petit has made it clear that he wishes to focus on who his family members were
and all that they stood for during their lives among us, rather than the focusing only upon the senseless violence of their deaths.
In this way he can restore them to a positive place in his and our memory, this rather than their being forever relegated to "victims" Area Connecticut residents have honored this and responded in kind-with events running the gamut from a town-wide candlelight display, to a basketball game fund raiser, the latter organized by friends of Haley Petit who was an avid basketball player and fan.

And most recently, Cheshire, Plainville and Litchfield were among several other towns where Volunteers turned out in record amounts for the annual"MS walk", an event that was a yearly tradition for the Petit clan.
This year, friends of the Petit children organized and sponsored walk groups in the Petits name and in doing so, helped the area raise record funds for the MS Society, a group in which the whole family was involved ever since Jennifer Hawke Petit was diagnosed with the disease at age forty.
See the link above and below for details regarding the upcoming Race--You may pre-register now for the race and the fitness walk via the Website, although same- day registration is also available, beginning 2 hours prior to the start of the Race.
Pre- race registrars and the first 100 same day counterparts will receive a Race day T-shirt
commemorating the event.

The GE 5K Road Race

May 10, 2008

Second suspect in new haven home invasion assault arrested

They arrested the second man -of three-believed to be responsible for the violent home invasion in New Haven weeks ago. The robbery/attack left the sole female homeowner badly injured. I am trying to find out if she is doing any better and what hospital she is at or where cards or letters of support can be forwarded to...I will report on this as soon as available, as well as the situation re the third man who is still at large.WTNH.com, Connecticut News and Weather - Second arrest in home invasion in New Haven

Rell signs crime bill into passage amid flurry of end of legislative session

Lawmakers inch toward adjournment -- -- Courant.com

May 4, 2008

2008 MS Walk supports a cause and a tragedy

It looks like the Cheshire Connecticut MS walk a Thon was a great success today! I only wish that I could have been there to participate and show my support, for the petit hawke families as well as the MS society. As luck would have it, I had to Work .
Read about it here.
Travelers 2008 MS Walk supports a cause and tragedy

May 2, 2008

National MS Society's Walk Event:

Elizabeth Ollero, a close Friend and schoolmate of Michaela Petit has formed a special M.S walk group in Michaela memory, to raise money in this Sunday's National MS Society's Walk- a thon being held in Litchfield Connecticut.


ELiz's group will walk in honor of Michaela, Jennifer and Haley Petit who were killed in a home invasion just this past July. As many in the community of Cheshire know, the Petit family was very involved with MS charity work, including Mrs Petit who struggled with the disease for the last eight years of her life.
Once made aware of the debilatating effects of this disease, the Petit's young daughters took up the cause in hopes of helping to find a cure for Multiple sclerosis.

It appears that ELizabeth has just met her orignial goal for sponsorship for her walk group. however she is still continuing to take new pledges as well as welcoming any willing and able walk volunteers for her team.; Please visit her Walk a thon site via the link above and follow the links on how become involved. This cause was EXTREMELY important to the Petit family, and as such, its a great way to honor their memory as well as continue to spread thier spirit of activism and kindness.

Thank you in advance for making even the smallest donation or pledge, every little bit helps this important fundations work. MS is an intractable often debilatating auto immune disease that targets the neurological system. Men can get MS, yet it favors mostly women and in their third and fourth decades of life. Most worrisome is that The nunber of people stricken with the disease seems to be growing exponetially with every year. There are a number of treatments available to abate excarbations or flare ups, but as of yet no cure exists.

. For information regarding Elizabeth's website that honors the memory of her life long friend Michaela Petit, Please click on the "Forever Michaela" link on the right sidebar of this site...

National MS Society - Walk Event: