2012 Petit Family Ride For Justice

2012 Event (9/30)

Presenting Sponsor:

Title Sponsors:

  

Click here for Online Registration

The “Ride for Justice” leaves St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol, CT and follows a scenic route along country back roads into prime Connecticut Fall Foliage areas! We will travel through Bristol, Burlington, Harwinton, Terryville, Wolcott and Plantsville, arriving at Bozzuto’s Food Distribution Center in Cheshire in time for an awesome Outback Steak House family style BBQ.

Registration at St. Paul Catholic High School from 9:00 to 11:00 am…Ride leaves at 11:30 am
Cost: $25.00 per Rider, $15.00 per passenger.
No Bike Needed! Walk-ins - $15.00.

Live Entertainment starts at 9:00 am at St Paul High School with Face4Radio and at 12:30 pm at Bozzuto’s with The Happening! Come early and bring a friend!

This event was the idea of committee chair, Ron Catucci, a long time rider and his friend Keith Stack. Upon hearing the idea, long time Petit family friend Vincent Trantolo offered the assistance of his firm, Trantolo & Trantolo LLC. They were instrumental in organizing the event and securing generous help from Yankee Harley Davidson and Bozzuto’s Food Distribution Center. Not missing a step, Ryan Lucas the Manager of the Southington Outback Steak House very quickly stepped in and offered to do “whatever it takes”. Our first two rides had over 1200 motorcycles participating and over 3000 people in attendance. We look forward to 2012 being even bigger & better!

Contact: Ron Catucci 860-605-6256 Email: info@ride4justice.org
Link to the Facebook Page

http://petitfamilyfoundation.org/ways_to_support/participate_in_events/ride_for_justice/

Fairfield Police get F in response to Stalking crimes

I am alarmed disgusted and shocked at the ineptitude of the Fairfield Police Department in regards to their response to a recent string of stalking crimes in town. These crimes have all the earmarks for potential violence and confrontation.

It is an ominous sign indeed that rather than progressing in their awareness and response to
such serious crimes as stalking harassment and destruction of property, the Fairfield Connecticut Police department collectively would indeed seem to be regressing to a dangerously apathetic attitude such as the one that prevailed in Torrington Connecticut in the 80's.

I am of course referring to the Tracy Thurman case which resulted in a near fatal stabbing and
a massive lawsuit against the Torrington Police department.  Sadly it took bloodshed and a multi million dollar civil lawsuit against this Police department to bring about much needed change in our States Domestic violence laws, including serious crimes such as stalking and restraining order violation.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurman_v._City_of_Torrington

The Thurman lawsuit seemed to provoke a  change in the Police departments response to all crimes that fell under the umbrella of "domestic violence".This includes dating violence


I have written about this type of crime for well over six years. I better than anyone know that a lackadaisical attitude by Police in an escalating stalking  or harassment scenario is the perfect foundation for a predator. Police complacency is a predator/ stalker/ batterer's best friend.

The Fairfield Police have not only been remiss but glaringly irresponsible in the way that they have chosen to handle a clear cut repeated pattern of stalking and harassment crimes. The fact that these crimes are being committed at a home where a restraining order exists makes complacency a perfect recipe for re-victimization.

Ironically, below is a photo taken from the Fairfield Connecticut Police department's own website regarding Domestic Violence. Note the statement regarding "trusting the system" 

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911 Tribute/ Kevin Cosgrove Voice from the Towers

Below is an article that I first wrote in September 2009. 


I  now re-post it every September 11th as a small way of honoring of the depth I feel about this tragedy especially after 911 calls such as Mr. Cosgrave's really brought the reality of these victims pain under a magnifying glass; lending so much more clarity and humanity to  an event that we were already so pained by.




As one little boy said in his memorial to Kevin Cosgrove on the 911 Memorial Page, although he was young when 911 happened -He was only ten) seeing Kevin's video and more importantly, hearing his entire 911 call, capturing his moment of death,  forever changed the way that this youngster looked at-experienced the entire scope of the tragic events.



Distant Media camera views of two gashed skyscrapers emitting large plumes of smoke, along with incessant TV shots of the hijacked planes piercing the skyscrapers thousands of feet in the air,lent children and adults alike, what became a grateful distance, as the mayhem and human carnage was so mostly so very high in the air pulled from our immediate view,.


Those simpler images are what most children saw broadcast on the day these acts of barbaric terrorism struck our nation.;


Perhaps because even adults were not yet courageous Nor wise yet to see the many smaller but oh so human experiences of that day; I admire Mrs. Cosgrove for allowing the tape to be used both in the Moussaoui trial, but also to be posted publically on the internet  likely giving the matter great thought hoping to humanize these massive acts of terrorism for millions of people across the world, many of them too young to remember the day itself nor the heroism


The Falling Man




I was researching an article in Esquire entitled "The Falling Man"



It was a poignant multi-layered culmination of stories  about the September 11th victims that  were beginning to be incorrectly referred to as the " jumpers",



Not only is the term a total misnomer as the families and morgues were quick to correct it was insulting;  Most were forced to to leap out of broken windows in the towers due to encroaching fire and heat, some literally blown out of windows at the onset of the planes collision with the buildings,  which was made so much worse by the hijacked aircraft's pre=planned full fuel tanks. The terrorists wanted maximum carnage ,



It was through the Falling Man article that I came to know about the existence of the 9-1-1 calls most  made by victims trapped on the higher floors of the towers. 


I had been made aware years earlier a plethora of  heartbreaking answering machine messages made by victims to family and friends, as they anticipated their probably deaths. The calls came from both the hijacked planes and the towers after both tower one and two were struck


 Listening to the collage of such sad and personal messages left by frustrated trapped  fire victims had stuck with me for months and at one point I vowed I wouldnt listen to anymore of them because the pain of the caller and the family members who recieved them was just too great to bear.


Now, a few years later Kevin Congreves 8911 tape presented itself; my personal role as activist for crime victims had evolved and the importance of Kevins' s frustration and pain and the fact that he left a message for us led me to decided I/ we owed it to Kevin Cosgrove ro listen to that last minutes of his life and his dedication to his children his wife and his struggle to see them again,


After a great deal of waffling back and forth, I finally made a decison and  mustered the courage to listen to Kevin Cosgroves 9-1-1 call.

I have to admit, I wasn't prepared for what I heard;

Listening to the call was much worse than I expected.

It was as if I was right there with Kevin. The experience was gripping, heartbreaking and left me forever changed. 

actually experienced the physical symptoms that Mr Cosgrove was enduring; the black thick smoke that was choking him and making it almost impossible for him to see. The growing panic and the obvious frustration of the man as he nor the other caller were given any concrete information as  when help might be coming.



Kevin Cosgrove worked at Aon Corporation on the 83th floor. But as designated office fire chief, he tried to make certain that most of his group of Aon employees evacuated after the North tower was hit, he then called his wife assured her he was okay and began the descent down the stairs on foot just as the second plane hit the south tower. 



The explosion and heat smoke probably drove him right back up now to the higher floors, to the roof, this the place where his fire training had always taught him to go in situations like this - to ascend was ones only hope to the roof, for a helicopter rescue.




Tragically. the roof door was locked, as was the roof-door on the North tower -hundreds of people attempted that same superhuman climb up miles of stairs, many flooded, covered with debris only to discover locked doors. Tragically in any event there was no chance that a helicopter landing was possible in either building anyway, the smoke and heat made any roof rescue impossible, yet I watched those helicopters and small planes circling those towers and I was so frustrated and angry as I imagined the office workers trapped with broken windows and flames behind them, wondering why the rescue helicopters were not attempting to help them!?


Perhaps they thought that rescue baskets could be dropped to swing to the broken windows as the copters hovered as close as they possibly could to the buildings. All I know is that there were hundreds of people waving flags, sheets shirts and scraps of material, some climbing down the face of the building, believing that those helicopters were there for a reason, for some kind of rescue...and yet, there was none.


In the meantime Kevin Cosgrove took his exhausted body and climbed back down flights and flights of stairwells by foot, facing growing smoke labored breathing and panic; he must have run into the first office where he spotted other men or voices gathered It was this office on the Southwest corner facing the financial center that he made his now, infamous 9-1-1 telephone call from.


As one person on his memorial page expressed so aptly,  "I found myself not wanting to let go of him." at the end of the call.

I can only imagine what that well meaning 911 operator felt as the call ended so horribly.
And like many others who chose listen to this and other 911 phone calls, they have forever changed my perspective of that terrible day.


Kevin Cosgrove's 9-1-1 call was one of three used as evidence in the Moussaui trial, and this is why this tape along with Mellisa Doi's and a few others became available to the public.



After reading this post in it's entirety, if you wish to listen to the tape, I have embedded a version that has a heart warming biography of Mr Cosgrove's life giving us a real feel for who he was at his very core. A good man., a family man.


I warn that listening this tape will be an extremely emotional experience, and it will forever change anyone who listens to it. At first I regretted having listened because the callers plight was so raw, so awful and much worse than I expected - and I could not shake the memory or the feelings. It was a Pandora's box I felt. 


However as with other crimes, rather than take the easy way out and avoid, because it was unpleasant,  I came to see that we should never regret sharing our brothers pain  for me a necessary pain a pain that ultimately transformed 911 from a terrible tragedy day to something altogether more more personal, raw, human and more true.


I came to understand that we owe the victims, at the very least, the truth of their experiences created by these violent acts. Embracing the complete unvarnished reality of their experience. This tape leads us there. 


The pain that all of us feel upon hearing these desperate callers describe the horrific conditions in the towers, their fear over their likely imminent deaths, and the distress in having to leave their families and loved ones, made us now feel that we knew them. By becoming privy to the most intimate last moments of their lives, this has allowed us to honor their experience without the whitewashed effect of distant news- camera shots of a burning buildings thousands of feet in the air.


Even the sudden and awful collapse of the towers into veritable dust bowl, like so much else that happened that day, was utterly surreal as it happened. It was not that we couldn't and didn't consider the horror of what was  going on way up there, where our eyes could not see.  It just wasn't in our face, so to speak, and we gratefully took advantage of that kind distance, because really, the horror might have been too much for us to bear. The voices of the people on these tapes and their stories change all of this forever The people themselves now reside in us. We carry them.
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Many people have asked why I listened to the Cosgrove and other 911 tapes and why I would encourage others to listen, when it was so sad and so awful. I always share that sometimes circumstance presents an opportunity where pain can serve as an engine for greater understanding, and ultimately, spiritual growth as human beings, individuals, and a society. This is one of those times.



The Internet has opened up a door for us. I do not suggest using it as voyeurs, but as caring witnesses . We can use the powerful emotions that are triggered in us, the empathy, the pain the frustration and even the anger,  to bring us to a new level of awareness about violent crime, tragedy, and the value of life and death.


When reading the memorial pages of the 911 callers, many people shared that problems that has just seemed so important in their lives prior to listening to Kevin Cosgrove's desperate last minutes on earth, immediately were diminished. And a new found appreciation for what one had in their lives spring up.


This was not a rare thing,  a great many people cited this tape as a turning point in their lives, an appreciation for every hour of every day, marked by the experience of listening to words of these poor souls who expected to have a regular day and were robbed of their lives their loves.


Thousands expressed gratitude to Kevin Cosgrove and his family for giving them an opportunity to rethink the value of their own lives through his experience..


The link below is to Kevin Cosgrove's Memorial Page. New condolence messages appear weekly from all over the world since the 911 tapes were released. I am certain that the Cosgrove family reads them, and I  hope that they provide some solace to them, knowing that their beloved father, husband, brother and friend had such  life changing impact on so many.


As we read them we see again and again people saying that they now embrace their daily lives, lives they has been taking for granted.  I read memorial messages from young people who shared that they were not old enough to grasp the reality of 911 when it happened they were too young or immature and to them it was a piece of history obviously considered a massive "tragedy" But many did not personalize it the empathy and compassion wasn't there because it was too distant and they we rent taught about it from a humanistic perspective, merely a history class.



These young people often went on to tell of shedding their first tears about this tragedy after listening to Kevin Cosgrove call and his last final minutes in the burning South tower. This is  but some of the reasons that I now realized releasing the tapes was the right thing to do.

My hope is that we will be more inclined to spend our time ministering, helping  people that are in pain or in need, As well we will live each day to the fullest and be grateful for the time we are given and those people whom we are gifted to share our love with.




Rest on Peace  Kevin Cosgrove,  Doug Cherry, Melissa Doi and every single hero and soldier that lived out their last hours heroes all on this sad and infamous day that shall 
never be forgotten.

Drew Peterson Found Guilty Of Murder In Kathleen Savio's Death

Kudos to the Illinois Legislature for having the courage to pass "Drew's law" in 2008.,the law pertaining to the admission of hearsay in murder cases.Without the law,  the Peterson murder case, built largely on "circumstantial" evidence (of gigantic proportions) may have fallen short of garnering a guilty verdict : The true picture of  Drew Peterson, the man he actually was within the confines of his multiple marriages, would not have been admissible, and thus the jury would not have heard the plethora of incriminating evidence against him.

..

Hopefully, Police are now re-doubling efforts in their investigation into the " disappearance" of Stacy Peterson, Peterson's fourth wife, the tragic happening that was the catalyst for the re-investigation into  Savio's "accidental death" - now officially\ deemed a murder thanks to drew law and a conscientious Jury.

Drew Peterson Guilty Of Murder In Kathleen Savio's Death, Jury Finds

Dragging race into the fray...again.

Well, we knew that it was simply a matter of time
before the vultures swooped down grabbing up
the opportunities created by the recent Death penalty repeal. Naturally money is involved - profiteering and garnering attention for themselves under the guise of "protecting" the murderous men that reside in Connecticut prison's death row.

First there was this:
Killer fights Death Penalty based on recent repeal

And now this: 5 death row inmates suing state in class action suit

Held in solitary confinement, segregated from the regular prison population, these men stay in thier cells reading,writing, pen paling and communicating with each other ( every prison has it's vulnerabilities and suffice to say murderers, sex offenders etc are highly adaptable and not big on obeying rules. In fact Steven Hayes wasnt the first inmate to threaten a guards life taunting" I"m on death row there's nothing else you can do to me !" 

Hence the segregation.

For years we've heard claims from public defenders and some minority legislators that "the Connecticut Death Penalty was racially biased, :men of color were purportedely singled out for  the death penalty more readily by prosecutors. That is to say, these lawyers claim our prosecutors did not choose to pursue the death penalty based upon a multiple capital charges ie murder sexual assault, the aggravating factors" - in human-speak means how much brutality and suffering the victims endured, and other things such as the victims age(children) and the defendants motive premeditation etc.

The lawyers and legislators claiming that Cts DP was racially biased would have us all believe that this bias is multi pronged, If you are of color you're more likely to have the states attorney pursue a death penalty against you, as well  they claim that  no matter what color the murderer is , that murderer is also more apt to wind up with a zealous prosecutor choosing to pursue a death sentence if the victims were white.

They must be forgetting Karen and BJ Clarke, the two state witnesses in the Russell Peeler murder//Drug case.  Karen Clarke was black as was her 6 year old son BJ; both were tragically gunned down at the order of Russell Peeler Jr. and at the hands of Russel's brother, as the Peeler's knew the Clarke's had witnessed a murder that Russell Peeler was indicted for. Now here was a case that inflamed the state; we grieved the murders of this young mom trying to do the right thing, being courageous,instead of saying I don't want to get involved" as so many people do, she did the right thing, even allowing her son who also witnessed the murder to testify.


Drug Kingpin Russell Peeler learned that clarkes were cooperating w/ police the order to kill both Karen and little BJ was made. Peeler's brother was the trigger-man shooting Karen and her son in their  apartment. It was horrible,evil and it was made worse by the fact that mother and son were not adequately
protected or protected at all as witnesses in a federal murder case.

Prosecutors pursued the death penalty for Russell Peeler for ordering the murders of a child and young mother, Peelers  brother for carrying them out and the get away driver who enabled the delivery of the murderer and his escape with full afore-knowledge of the murders of Karen and BJ Clarke.

Unfortunately do to our unpredictable jury system the driver was the only man who actually was awarded the death penalty for his part in the murders. Somehow the Peelers  escaped the fate that they so clearly deserved.  The point here is that everyone in this terrible set of murders was African American or black. Yet clearly color did not inhibit nor propel the State in its pursuitof justice. Nor were the people of the state any less grief stricken angry and  involved in obtaining justice for the Clarke family. I personally recall seeing those shooting murders over and over in my mind and my anger at the fact that the Clarke's who were good brave people clearly did not have adequate protection as State witnesses in a case of that magnitude.

The case sparked the"BJ Clarke law"legislation that guaranteed that all witnesses for the State must be given maximum protection from Police State Police and the FBI.

Drew Peterson trial updates: Closing arguments today

Drew Peterson trial updatessosing arguments today - chicagotribune.com

Peterson lawyers mount defense at murder trial - SFGate

I don't know if I can endure another week of looking at wife murderer Drew Peterson.

His demeanor since his arrest is the most telling evidence pointing to Peterson's guilt. The man stands accused of murdering his second wife Kathleen Salvo after an investigation into her "accidental death"
was prompted by the highly suspicious disappearance of his next wife, Stacy Peterson. And yet this man has exuded a swagger and atypical arrogance of a sociopath. There is not a trace of an innocent man's behavior IE concern; be it over his own predicament nor an appropriate somberness surrounding the death of a  woman he had been married to for years,and had children with.

Mr Peterson, like many psychopaths, doesn't even bother with appearances. So self-assured is he, that he will beat the rap, After all authorities were never able to charge him in what was clearly the murder of  his most recent wife, Stacy Petersom. The Bollingbrook PD either knew he killed his Mrs Salvo and some of the Police dept  were either complicit, in turning the other way at the scene of the "accident": ie a 40 year old woman is found dead in a dry bathtub with a gash on her head and it was declared an accidental death?

Thus the ease in which Peterson discovered he could take a life, aided and abetted by the fact that he was a police officer, the "successful"murder of his salvo emboldened Peterson gave him a sense of invincibility much like a serial murderer feels after he has gotten away with the first murder or sexual assault. ,Many have been interviewed over the years, thier minds picked apart thier psyches poked and prodded and psychiatrists detectives writers alike have all related the fact that serial killers expressed an almost shock and then glee once realizing that they " got away with"thier first murder and fear of being caught dissipated shortly afterwards. They often become more brazen with each murder or sexual asault thereafter and become compacent about covering up thier tracks so to speak.


Peterson lawyers mount defense at murder trial - SFGate

Painless way to Take Action Against Domestic Violence; Donate a used Cell Phone Program

Here is a painless way to help stop domestic violence; The National Coaltion against Domestic Violence is recycling cell phones in order to:

• Fund programming that empowers victims of domestic violence and helps them remain free from abuse

• Support legislation aimed at ending domestic violence

• Give support and resources to organizations across the US working to stop violence in the home



How It Works:

• Roughly 60 percent of cell phones will be refurbished and resold

• The revenue generated from the sale of refurbished phones will be used to support NCADV programs that help end violence in the home

• The remaining cell phones are recycled according to the highest environmental standards



Get a free shipping label (minimum: three phones):



Use this link to order a pre-paid shipping label if you are sending three or more cell phones (accessories, laptops, mp3 players, digital cameras, and video game systems are welcome too).



Want to organize a collection? Order FREE boxes and posters here!
http://www.cellularrecycler.com/ncadv/supportTools.php

Shipping one or two phones? Please use Cellular Recycling's address below as our free UPS labels are structured for shipping three phones or more.



Mailing Address: Cellular Recycler, Attn: NCADV, 4840 Sterling Drive, Unit A, Boulder, CO, 80301 United States



Thank you for your support for our work to make every home a safe one!


Donate a Phone program NCADV

Kindness Moves Mountains

Kindness; something the world needs  more of .   
                                                                                  
Kindness Moves Mountains 

Jurors in Drew Peterson trial expected to ignore disallowed testimony

Drew Peterson’s jury has a lot to forget about him and his ex-wife Kathleen Savio.

There’s the bullet found on the driveway of Savio’s neighbor that the neighbor believed to be a warning from Peterson. There’s also talk of the pathologist who hopped into the tub where Savio died, and the protection order Savio may or may not have considered against her ex-husband. And there’s also the suggestion that Peterson solicited a hit man to kill his third wife for $25,000. All four topics have been improperly introduced by prosecutors during the trial, prompting an annoyed judge to instruct jurors to disregard the statements.

Whether they can do it, however, is impossible to know. In courtrooms across the country, lawyers often wonder whether judges’ orders to ignore testimony are in the best interest of justice or merely call more attention to a forbidden topic.

“There’s no way to tell if jurors can put it out of their minds because there is no way to measure someone’s ability to compartmentalize information,” said Marcellus McRae, a former federal prosecutor. “It’s very hard to do, especially when you’re being instructed to do it again and again and again. It’s like they’re putting a spotlight on the barred testimony, then underlining and then putting it in bold.” Jurors from both of the objection-laced Rod Blagojevich trials acknowledge that it was impossible to forget statements and testimony that they were later told to ignore.

“When it’s stricken, it’s even more memorable,” said Jessica Hubinek, who sat on the panel for Blagojevich’s 2011 retrial, in which he was convicted on corruption charges. “It is a really sneaky tactic to get that information into the jurors’ heads, despite whether you are supposed to (consider) it, because then it is there.”

Stephen Wlodek, a juror in Blagojevich’s first trial, recalled that the defense team in that case, despite being told not to do so, kept dropping references to other audio recordings that had not been allowed in as evidence. When it came to deliberations, Wlodek said those remarks planted seeds of doubt in some jurors’ minds, leading one juror to speculate whether there might be a recording out there proving Blagojevich’s innocence.

“It kind of plays with your mind,” Wlodek said. “People start to question what they have heard or what else could be out there.”

To help cull what could be considered from what could not, some jurors said they would cross out stricken statements in their notebooks. Others would simply not transcribe the comment.

“Even though you know it was said, you don’t use it to weigh the outcome,” Hubinek said. “When it comes to weighing the evidence, guilty or not guilty, you have to really put it to the side, as best you can.”

Stricken statements have become a persistent issue in the Peterson trial, where several gaffes by Will County, Ill., prosecutors have tested Judge Edward Burmila’s temper and prompted him to issue so-called curative instructions to the jury. On several occasions, he has told jurors that the state wrongly introduced irrelevant evidence and asked them to disregard it.

Peterson, 58, is charged with killing Savio, 40, who was found dead in a dry bathtub on March 1, 2004. Officials initially ruled the death an accidental drowning, but after his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared three years later, authorities reopened Savio’s case and determined she had been killed.

Peterson has not been charged in Stacy Peterson’s disappearance, though he remains a suspect. He denies wrongdoing in both cases.

Given the largely circumstantial nature of the Savio case, Peterson’s defense attorneys worry the forbidden testimony could creep into deliberations, at least subconsciously. The retired Bolingbrook police sergeant, however, waived his right to a mistrial after one gaffe last week, saying he did not want to go through a second trial.

“It’s impossible for people to wipe something from their minds just because they’ve been asked to do so,” Peterson defense attorney Steve Greenberg said. “You can’t unring a bell once it has been heard.”

A spokesman for Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow declined to comment.

The introduction of barred statements - whether by accident or on purpose - will not necessarily benefit the Peterson prosecutors. Though most of the judge’s reprimands have been done outside the panel’s presence, McRae said jurors can read body language and gauge tension in the room. If they sense state prosecutors are being chastised repeatedly for breaking the rules, they could start to doubt their integrity.

“A prosecutor’s greatest asset is the ability to wear the white hat,” McRae said. “You don’t want to keep flicking dirt on that white hat or else you’re going to make the jury think that the defendant needs to be protected from you.”

In the end, only the jury will decide what role the barred statements will play in their deliberations.

  Morning Sun Article

The Campus SaVE Act: A Critical Step to Ending Violence Against Women

"In an effort to protect their reputations, some schools neglect to properly report incidences of violence. This Act would aim to add additional protections for women by requiring schools to implement a recording process for incidences of dating violence as well as report the findings. In addition, schools would be required to create plans to prevent this violence and educate victims on their rights and resources so women would be better able to address their abuse. I applaud my colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, for her leadership on this issue.




The newly proposed SaVE act is the most essential of all of the enhancements written into the Senate's  proposed VAWA bill.  While there are of course many new provisions incorporated into this years VAWA bill, the SaVE act is has the most potential for saving lives, and reducing violent encounters9 for young women . In addition SaVE helps deconstruct the deadly 'we dont talk about these things openly... ' 

A good deal of the self esteem issues that contribute to a girls vulnerability in wind up in  anabusive relationship, begin to manifest themselves in high school and or college. College women are particularly at risk: most are away from home, separated from parents aunts uncles and other adults might intervene when witnessing the symptoms of a controlling  abusive relationship, before serious violence occurs.


The SaV E act is a no brainer, the bottom line it will save many many lives through its practical applications as well by changing the secrecy that often surrounds abusive relationships and date rape. Had this act been in effect 4 years ago, Yeardley Love might still be alive, as there were multiple incidents of witnessed violence  by her ex boyfriend and murderer George Huegely: One of these episodes involved huegley choking Yeardly at a party, a gaggle of lacrosse players had to intervene prying huegely off  love.

Amazingly, not one person at the party reported the incident.

Under thr new "SaVe act, reporting of any incidents of violence would be mandatory.


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The Campus SaVE Act: A Critical Step to Ending Violence Against Women

Arrest made in 31-year-old murder

The Bridgeport Police have made an arrest in the cold case murder of Estella Branley,who was found strangled thirty one years ago in Seaside Park off Long Island sound.

The FBI crime lab in Quantico loaned their services when DNA was recently un-covered via the cold case file. A match was made with an inmate serving time in Newtown Connecticut he was 21 at the time of the murder.

As one would imagine the family was greatly impacted by years of no arrest being made for Stella violent death. As well  there are always the questions like why and what happened, despite those details often being painful family members need to know. Ms Branleys sister was a detective with the Bridgeport Police at the time of the murder; she stated that she was afraid due to the "victimology"  The police weren't being as proactive as they typically would be, because her sister was black and rumoured to be prostitute.

She stated to the media in 1983 that with a string of similar unsolved murders of women who were also possibly prostituting , she feared police were not making these cases a priority. She pointed out that
one life was as valuable as another and every unsolved murder especially involving sexual assault should recieve the same due diligence from the Police homicide department.

Thankfully we are seeing a change in the old thinking whereby murders of homeless people,drug addicts and
prostitutes routinely recieved less attention from law enforcement. This is not to say that the old prejudicial thinking is a thing of the past; depending on the state and the presiding police dept,one can still  find  a disparity in how some violent crimes are investigated. However it is becoming more and more class and color blind when it comes to solving murder and otherviolent crime. A  human being that suffers a brutal crime whether it be sexual assault, assault or murder deserves diligence and the best resources for solving these crimes.

According to family members miss Branleys mother passed away in 2005 and she has been  extremely affected by her daughters murder and the fact that the murder was unsolved for all of those Years.

While we wish Stella's mother had lived to see the arrest and conviction of her daughters murderer we are heartened that the rest of her family has been given the seeds of healing.

Rest in Peace Stella Branley.


Arrest made in 31-year-old murder

Convicted Bridgeport killer fighting death penalty

Man convicted of murdering ex girlfriend her child and family friend attempts to dodge his death sentence


And so it begins.



The first multi-murderer on death row makes a bid to change his death sentence to life in prison, based solely upon Connecticut's recent "prospective" death penalty repeal, a repeal that happened long after the horrible triple murders that he committed, including shooting a five year old child to death.


We all knew that the so called prospective nature of this repeal was in name only;  a bone thrown to those legislators who were on the fence regarding the repeal, as well an attempt to placate the masses;  68 percent of Connecticut's residents in poll after poll were against abolishment of the death penalty. Most wanted the limitless appeals process that encumbered  our States rarely pursued Death penalty, making it expensive and impractical - rewritten via law. Instead our Judicary committee and the bulk of our house chose to throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water.

Susan Storrey, Connecticut's lead public defender  announced on a televised  public forum on what was then the judiciary committee's  proposed repeal, one of the first things that she and her fellow lawyers-mostly tax paid public defenders) would  set about once the repeal was successful, would be to fight TOOTH AND NAIL to extradite all of the men currently on death row, have their sentences commuted to life in prison and place them into the regular prison population.

 The lawyers would seek to do this using the higher courts with the argument in tow that the death penalty was no longer this state's capital punishment and abolishment the growing societal trend.state by state. This they say is " evidence" of a nationwide shift and thus "prospective or not they suggest nullification of that portion of the law because it is morally and legally wrong to  impose death sentences upon some murderers and not others.

Not taken into account by Storrey and the plethora of like minded Connecticut lawyers,  is the fact that the death penalty was in fact the penalty for capital crimes with egregious aggravating factors, at the time that these crimes were committed, as well the adjudication of those crimes which all included multiple murder,

 I am speaking of the often long arduous trials by jury of the convicted mans peers, which included a separate sentencing portion whose sole purpose was for the jury to weigh the aggravating factor evidence against the defenses mitigating factors evidence" and to procure a fair sentence based upon this, following the court instructed strict  parameters.

Every man who currently sits on Connecticut's death row, including Richard Roszkowski, has gotten there justly, with their rights zealously protected. To now willfully embark upon reversing all of the hard work and efforts of the jury members, the presiding judge, the witnesses, the victims advocates... as well pick open the barely healed scab of the family members pain in the process\-  is obscene, selfish and makes a mockery of any bill passed herein by the Connecticut legislature.
.


* most recent Quninnipiac Poll 2011

Convicted Bridgeport killer fighting death penalty

Connecticut recieves poor grades in Domestic Violence via CCDV Fatality Report.

The report Domestic Violence Report Connecticut 2012 at the nucleus of this article is sadly but a representative slice of an even larger issue concerning the state of Connecticut's lax sentencing for violent offenders - particularly criminals who predate upon women and children.

The poor grades that Connecticut is officially being presented with via this report ( the report falls short of an\ actual admonishment which it deserves politics politics.) stems from several factors The core of all would appear to be apathy mixed with ignorance specifically criminal justice profesionals lack of awareness regarding the "battered women's syndrome" and/ or a refusal to accept/ act upon this well established phenomonon.\.

The battered woman syndrome was first described by Lenore Walker in the 1990's Walker was a pioneer in researching the psychological interplay within abusive relationships, including the "breaking down " process of the victim of chronic partner or domestic abuse. This includes alienation from family friends that the abuser knows do not approve of him and a methodical eroding of the abused woman's self esteem ( even some of the most beautiful women in the world fall prey to this and believe themselves ugly and usewless thanks to the brainwashing of thier sociopath abusers.


The ignorance on behalf of our criminal justiuce profesionals includes a lack of tutorial type of knowledge, as well as a glaring lack of "emotional intelligence"  which seems rampant in this state. These are the profesionals who are involved with the assaults and other crimes that are notorious for being pre-cursors to dating or domestic homicides. The emotional intelligece needed involves a visceral understanding of what motivates the victims to act in ways thast dont immediately make sense to others and it's equally as important as actual education for police prosecutors etc.


Unfortunately this deadly ignorance is on full display in Connectoict Police departments,and too many prosecutors in our Superior courts,  These are men and women who are ultimately responsible for whether an offender walks out of the courthouse with a slap on the wrist ( and an emboldened sense that they can commit serious assault and  walk through the revolving DV docket doors with zero prison time. If they had committed these dame acts of violence or terrorism agasinst a stranger one can be assured that they would recieve a minium of several years prison.


Activists and advocates alike are amazed and horrified to see the archaic and dangerous thinking that too many Connecticut Connecticut criminal justice professionals still embrace which helps propel the lax sentenecing that results in future fatalities and severe assaults which leave the victim maimed for liofe.

 Every time I hear "well, she went back with the guy..or she keeps talking to the guy" or " why didn't/doesnt she leave him the first time he hit/pushed punched her?" I literally cannnot believe that this is 2012 and we live in one of the supposedely most educated states in the country!

The above mentality places the ownice upon the victim, rather than where it belongs- upon the offender; Asking instead "why does he keep hitting and or pushing and or choking her?  As well as morally repugnant it is breaking the law and cavalierly so as its done again and again until someone is finally killed.

Many years ago, with the advent of the VAWA bill in Washington DC policemen and women were supposed to be taught the progressive approach to domestic violence crime, no longer needed the cooperation of the victim of domestic or intimate violence.

The long overdue recognition was that these were indeed crimes against the state and knowing what we have learned about the battered women's syndrome and recalcritant victim -witnesses, the government has seen a majority of female victims who will try to cover up for their assaulting partner, even lying to police and prosecutors when it comes time to adjudicate these cases.

The offender will utilize either threat or the opposite honeymoon phase tactics, cajoling the victim to recant her testimony to police claiming that they started the violence" or even such lunacy as "I hit myself with the iron." (I have actually witnessed that claim at Ga2 court in Bridgeport whereupon the prosecutors dumped the whole case rather than proceeding to trial, going around the victim as it was clear she was emeshed in a battered syndrome and using the evidence at hand- police reports, family testimoney and medical evidence and photos.

This type of flipping or backing out of testifying is why many states have changed the way they arrest and prosecute these crimes. we have learned and grown as a society, yet apparently the criminal justice system within the State of Connecticut, has either never truly accepted the evolution of or it has regressed en masse, for some reason as seen via attitudes and policys, mostly unofficial policies. And people, mostly women - are dying as a result.


The landmark Domestic Violence civil case against the Torrington Police dept. seemed to be a major turning point for our state; finally getting serious with our arrest policies, and even the way Police thought about this type of crime, arresting "domestic" violent offenders as quickly as they would any violent offender - an assailant a rapist or stalker who is a "stranger" to their victim. something had sparked the necessary change. However, our state has been in retrograde for years and the attitudes are permeating too many Connecticut Police departments and too many Superior Courts responsible for sentencing these offenders, before they kill as well as after. Domestic and partner violence is a deadly but stoppable epidemic.


Please read the linked report re Partner violence fatalities in Connecticut by The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic violence. It is an eye opener and it is also a first step towards getting involved in this life and death issue that touched all of us who have women in our lives that we care about.

Connecticut continues to be one of the worst States for Domestic Violence Sentencing

  

Victims of Colorado Gun Violence names should be our focus

These are the people who were killed in the Colorado movie theater shooting.

I would like to suggest that their names and their lives, as well the names and health of the injured  become the names that as a society we choose to speak of and focus upon.

I say this because like everyone else out there, I  am deluged with the media driven  mantra of this killers name, splashed across every headline, News program and  and the Web, since this man-made tragedy happened.

I understand the almost reflexive need  to understand what kind of human being could wreak this
type of  mass violence upon our brothers and sisters, and why. But what I am speaking of is sensationalism - greedily repeating  this killers name, showing his face which is exactly what he/they excpect and it feeds these losers that committ murderous rampage in order to garner attention and fame that they cannot achieve in any constructive fashion. Hence a big part of " the why?"


I've read some Op-eds opining thier pet stances: Many are saying that Gun control is certainly a big part of this crime and others that resemble it such as columbine shootings.  Others are chastising PEOPLe for this opinion pointing at the "real culprit"  "our  disregard for mental illness," which they assert, the colorado murderer obviously sufferred with."

(  I suppose that writer believes it is easier for us to weed out and forcably treat every mentally ill person rather than make it extremely difficult or impossible for them to buy body armour and semi-automatic weaponry with relative ease.)


I have poured over the information available and once again I must reiterate: personality
 disorders are not mental illnesses.  One look at the killer's match.com page and his photo therein, compared to the over circulated and obviously - affected (for the public the court, media's cameras)  wild eyed crazy person with a 'what am I doing here?" look on his frightened looking countenance... A layman can see a huge disparity in these photos, body language expression everything.


This disparity doesn't mean the killer has multiple personalitys, what it does indicate is a cunning individual, highly manipulative, deceptive  already setting the stage for an insanity defense. He knows that there are legions of  well intentioned suckers, many armed with PHD's, that cannot differentiate schizophrenia from socio-pathology, and not having scads of exposure to the latter, can never truly understand that Sociopaths and other personality disordered people have moral disorder, a lack of conscience, an obsession with self, these are not mental illnesses.


The match.com profile and photo reeks of arrogence and self absorption  narcissism and misogyny, even going so far as to say " would you visit me in prison?"

 Undoubtedly he was is looking for attention and prematurely desiring and counting on that bizarre yet predictable syndrome whereupon otherwise intelligent women take up the causes of  stone cold killers, often even marrying them in prison. At the very least these men often develop a gaggle of empathetic groupee types.  Again pre-meditation and attention mongering.

And our media is aiding and abetting this.


I suggest we do our part to nip all of this in the bud. For starters there should be a ban on this killer's name. This man who dressed himself in full armour, lest he get injured  by police or a gun toting moviegoer in the fray. Let;s stop giving this man and other predators what they hunger for; attention and  ( fleeting) fame.


The lasting legacy belongs to the men and women who died in Aurora Colorado and the many people that acted heroically in the midst of  violence and terror.


The victims in Aurora Colorado. May they all Rest In Peace...




Jonathan T. Blunk, 26

The Navy veteran and father of two pushed his girlfriend under a seat for protection, she told NBC’s “Today” show.

Alexander J. Boik, 18

The recent high school graduate planned to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in the fall. He enjoyed baseball and pottery, his family said in a statement to Denver’s ABC 7.


Jesse E. Childress, 29

The Air Force staff sergeant was a reservist on active duty at Buckley Air Base a few miles from the theater, serving as a cyber systems operator with the 310 Force Support Squadron, the Air Force said. He was single and had no children.


Gordon W. Cowden, 51

From Centennial, Colo.


Jessica N. Ghawi, 24

The sports journalist and graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio had recently escaped a mall shooting in Toronto.


John T. Larimer, 27

The Navy petty officer third class with the cyber command of U.S. 10th Fleet was stationed at Buckley Air Base. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native was athletic and excelled in recent volleyball and kickball tournaments at the base, a fellow sailor said.


Matthew R. McQuinn, 27

The recent Denver transplant from Ohio worked at a local Target with his girlfriend, Samantha Yowler, who was injured by the gunman. McQuinn was struck three times as he shielded Yowler from gunshots.


Micayla C. Medek, 23

Medek was a community college student and restaurant worker, according to the Los Angeles Times.


Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6

The youngest victim of the attack died of her wounds in a hospital. Her mother was listed in critical condition, according to the Associated Press.


Alex M. Sullivan, 27

Sullivan worked at the Century Cinema and was celebrating his 27th birthday at the theater, his cousin said. He was a passionate Colorado Rockies fan and loved cooking and comic books.


Alexander C. Teves, 24

The Phoenix native recently graduated from the University of Denver with a master’s in counseling psychology, according to the school. His girlfriend wrote on Facebook that Teves saved her life in the theater.



Rebbecca Ann Wingo, 32

Wingo was a waitress and mother of two, according to the Denver Post.




Rest in Peace.

Colorado Shooter causes massive trauma and grief in one night of fantasia based sadism/

This heart wrenching random cache of violence has been etched into my mind and my heart for days now.
 I have close family members in this area, which adds the startling reality that had a few minor circumstances simply been tweaked this way or that, I could easily be grieving one of my own, as well as the twelve whose lives were so senselessly taken.

So many images are unshakable: A woman clutching her baby to her bosom, a scratch on her cheek from the mayhem. The smoke had just cleared, yet she was remarkably calm, stunned yet aware enough to feel relief -   her child  was in her arms, both of them whole.

Others were not as fortunate.

A man who had reported to the area school where family members of known movie attendees had been told to gather, was seen desperately looking for his son, who had attended the premiere. His understandable anger turned to utter despair as he found out that his son was among the twelve victims who had lost their lives in the mayhem.

The image of this strong burly man grief stricken as he found out his son was gone, will never leave me.


Apparently there were many acts of heroism that night; one young man, his peaceful friendly face in a family photograph lingering in my minds eye, apparently dove at the armored shooter, in an effort to shield his girlfriend. His girlfriend survived with a bullet wound to her ankle, but the courageous young man, with the easy smile, died of  multiple gunshot  injuries. He was twenty four years old..


Another young man, just out of college, pushed his girlfriend under a theater seat as the shooting began. He too perished at the scene from Gunshot wounds..

And a third young man, quickly lay on top of his girlfriend's body, as the shooting began, not only saving her life in the process, by blocking gunshots that he sustained, but remaining calm enough to assuage her fears in those last moments, according to the crying young girl, he kept whispering " shhh it will be alright ..."

My feelings about these heroic actions, are a juxtaposed mixture of awe, admiration and a deep grief over their reflexive selflessness and courage at such tender ages.

There were many heroes in Colorado that fateful night; some saved  the lives of strangers with quick action, some taking bullets themselves in the process: As more information is gathered more stories will be related and we will honor every one of them..

For now, our prayers for the survivors, some clinging to life in area hospitals, are desperately needed.


Besides reaching out to the survivors and the  families of the victims, through letter and emails.  I always suggest prayer, I have witnessed it's collective power, especially when more than one person gathers to pray for someone's healing.

No matter who your God, or your belief system is , prayer is a pure practice and its power is undeniable - it comes from goodness,compassion and love..

This is not about religion -  it is about humanity and tapping into those qualities that supersede everything that is swirling around our day to day lives,  We quickly see it's meaninglessness when tragedy's like this happen.

Godspeed to every single survivor and thier families.. Rest in Peace brothers and sisters who perished you will forever be heroes all.

Thousands turn out for Raceday to benifit Petit Foundation!

Thousands turn out for road race: wtnh.com

 A great turnout and a huge Success!  Bravo to all participants!  More Photos and Video's to come....

The GE Petit Family Foundation 5k Raceday Sunday!

Last Call Everyone!

Come join the fun Tomorrow, Sunday, July 15th, downtown Plainville for the fifth annual "GE 2012 5k Race-day"!

The Race day has attracted over 5000 people in recent years and this in some of the hottest humid weather we natives have seen in decades! However,, a near- miraculous spirit of charity and communityoutreach have consistently outweighed practical nuisance such as a bit of unseasonable heat.

In fact The 5K" Raceday" has become one of the biggest fund raisering events sponsored for the impressive  Petit Family Foundation , a non profit charity that sole survivor William Petit Jr. formed in the wake of the by now infamous tragic  home invasion that took the lives of his wife Jennifer and his two daughters Hayley and Michaela.

 It is in their honor and thier memory that the foundation was formed and it's mission and subsequent focus culled.  Eleven year old Michaela Petit unwittingly chose the Petit family foundations slogan " Be the change" when it was discovered that her favorite quote that she listed upon her facebook page was
" You must be the change that you wish to see in this world" wise words spoken originally by Mahatma Gandhi. A deep thinker Michaela at the tender age of eleven, clearly an altruistic giving young girl these qualities that her father has proudly injected into the

The 5K Raceday is one of the biggest annual fund raising events for The PFF, they expect over 8,000 participants this year, some seasoned runners train for months while others walk in an aerobic style walk athon, and children partake in a special age appropriate gaggle of races. Then there are a veritable slew of good hearted people who show up early  to volunteer, and dozens of local businesses that donate goods and services.
Many folks come to show their support by simply being there enjoying some food  drink company and the sense of  coming together for a really important cause.

The race will be the same 3.1 mile course as last year, starting at 9:00am on Route 10 in front of McDonald's and finishing in front of the Plainville General Electric facility on Woodford Ave. There is a fitness walk (1.3 mile course) for any non-runners who would like to join in the fun, along with a Kids Fun Run (at 8:30am) which is free for all children 8 and under! There will be tons of food & beverage vendors, a massage tent, and a raffle with 6 incredible prizes including a MacBook Pro Laptop, iPad, and Gas Gift Certificates!


Again this year, the fun will begin the day before the Race, Saturday, July 14th. For those who have registered by the 13th, pre-registration pickup will be available from 12:00pm-4:30pm. Runners and walkers can come to the race site to pick up their bibs and tee shirts on Saturday to avoid common "race day lines".

 Also this year, there will be a pasta dinner from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday the 14th at the GE grounds! Adult tickets are $5 and children 12 and under are FREE! Live music will be performed and there will be a lot of great door prizes and giveaways!


This event was created in honor of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Hayley Elizabeth Petit and Michaela Rose Petit.


Note from the Foundation

*All proceeds of the GE 5k Road Race assist the Petit Family Foundation in achieving our mission of: fostering the education of young people, especially women in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses, and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence while continuously honoring the precious lives of Jennifer, Hayley and KK.

WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE!!

Fore more information or to register online, visit the PFF web site - The Petit Family Road Race

GE 5k Race Benifiting The Petit Family Foundation July 15th!

It's that time of Year again! One of the biggest Petit Family Foundation events ever, and one of the very first fundraisers

held to honor and raise money for this great non-profit organization.

So, whether you're a runner, a walker or just looking to participate in a wonderful charity event,  follow the link below for directions and details, and come on out Saturday July 15th for a great time and an important cause!

Along with the 5K running course which is the focal event, there are heaps of  other activities for both adults and children, including a walk-a thon a special race for kids, lots of great food and most importantly, a buzzing energy of community outreach, positivism and love:

All kinds of folks from every walk of life have come from every corner of the state to take part, and a good many out-of state participants   They share at least one common desire - hoping to make a positive difference in this world, and our community. In the words of Michaela Petit they are  aspiring to " Be The Change" 


ie * You must be the Change that you wish to see in this world" 

        Michaela Petit's Favorite quote upon her Facebook page.

* Proceeds from the event are used by the Petit Family Foundation to help victims of violent crime and those suffering from chronic illness. The Foundation honors the memory of Jennifer Hayley and Michaela Petit carrying forward the legacy of thier kindness, thier activism, and their faith.

The GE 5K Road Race

Plainville Wings & Wheels - Fly-In & Car Show





The First Ever Plainville Wings and Wheels Show benefiting

 The Petit Family Foundation and The Plainville Community Food Pantry!

 



    

The GE 5K Road Race

It's that time of Year again! One of the biggest Petit Family Foundation events ever, and one of the first 

held to honor and raise monies for this great non-profit organization.

So, whether you're a runner, a walker or just looking to participate in a wonderful charity event,  follow the link below for directions and details, and come on out Saturday July 15th for a great time and an important cause!

There are heaps of  activities for both adults and children, lots of food and beverages but most of all, a buzzing energy of community outreach, positivism and faith: All kinds of folks from all over the state and a good many from beyond, all with at least one common desire; trying to make a difference and " Be The Change"

* Proceeds from the event are used by the Petit Family Foundation to help protect victims of violence, people suffering from chronic illness and other fine endeavors. The Foundation honors the memory of Jennifer Hayley and Michaela Petit carrying the legacy of thier kindness activism and faith.

The GE 5K Road Race

Father’s Day & Survivor’s Guilt?

"Witnessing domestic violence can affect children’s future relationships. It can mean that they are more likely to be abusive or abused. Children who grow up in a home where abuse occurs often have trouble connecting with, trusting and engaging with an intimate partner. This can lead to a lifetime of solitude or unhappiness.



Children who witness domestic abuse sometimes internalize the situation and begin to blame themselves for what is happening. They feel that they are the cause of the violence. These children often suffer from intense depression, suicidal tendencies, high anxiety levels and sometimes even develop post traumatic stress disorder.


Some children do the opposite, though, and externalize their home life (Safe Start Center). They can become highly aggressive or unruly, lashing out and misbehaving in other aspects of their life.


Witnessing domestic violence in the home can affect children physiologically, too. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that children who live in violent households are at a higher risk of developing stomach problems or chronic headaches. They often have trouble focusing and learning in school."

The above italicized text is an excerpt from a linked article from the National Domestic Violence Hotline Website. The NDVH is an incredible resource for both men and women and even teenagers, who may need some guidance in determining if certain behaviors that they are experiencing are in fact abuse - or could lead to abuse.

This is the kind of information that can make the difference between life and death down the line, for a young person new to the world of dating and relationships.

In the meantime, Happy Fathers day to all of you Dads.
You are each so very important in your children's healthy upbringing. Please strive to be loving, healthy male role models, not only for your own children but for every life that your life touches, be it directly or through example.

As this article points out, children see and hear much more than adults realize and they are deeply affected by even threats of abuse in thier own or other peoples households.

May your example be that a man is intolerant of abuse of any kind. And if a man should find himself enmeshed on the rink of abuse or even having having committed abuse, be courageous responsible after the fact, and get the help and counseling that is readily available for men who have issues with violence and anger control.

You will not be demonized if you seek help, this is the first step for the aggressor towards ending the cycl of abuse and violence..

Father’s Day, Survivor’s Guilt

Elderly woman found stabbed in Greenwich driveway

               
Elderly woman found stabbed in Greenwich driveway
         
Tragic, it simply boggles the mind and the heart.

I am wondering if it was a botched robbery or a domestic violence crime.  In either scenario it is heartbreaking when an elderlyy person is harmed,  they are the most vulnerable people in our communities and society, right on par with our children.

As individuals and a society we must truly band together to protect each other, especially those weakest in our neighborhoods and our lives in general.

Fortunately, this woman survived and she will now get the medical and  hopefully - emotional - support that she needs .

More as this sad story unfolds

News and Events at Prudence Crandall Center, Emergency Services for Domestic Violence Victims in Central Connecticut Prudence Crandall Center

The Petit Family Foundation has been very busy lately!

The Cheshire based organization has been hosting and/or involved in a flurry of events in the past three weeks every single one of them benefiting victims of violent crime,among other people in desperate need.

Considering that P.F.F is a relatively young non profit,it has been an enormous success with extremely impressive fund raising results with a flowing stream of community events that run the gamut from wine tastings and ;formal dinners to Motorcycle Rallys and modest fare such as the recent " Arts for Hearts" concert event where philanthropic minded youngsters plucked from the local talent pool, devoted their considerable musical talents for a worthy cause.

Saturday evening will bring the 7th annual Silent No more auction this year hosted by the Petit family foundation who has done considerable work for both Jane Doe no More and the Prudence Crandall Center, an organization that serves those affected by domestic and partner violence.

Within our country's current economic slump, domestic and intimate violence is at an all time high;  money woes can fuel violence in relationships already prone to abuse and may exacerbate and escalate an already simmering situation.

It is these violent relationships that many women are seeking refuge from and unfortunately, too many find themselves without proper resources needed to escape abuse save lives and rebuild those lives.

In an era where as a society we are becoming more aware that victims of violent crime need o much more than simple emergency shelter in order to truly stop the cycle,  heal and hopefully- rebuild lives and selves that are often littered with health issues stemming from the violence which they have suffered as well as very real economic issues that need to be solved for the long term,  via funds for schooling job and career training or retraining child care and of course psychological and emotional counseling that should include positive Somatic touch therapy  for Post Trauma as most victims are suffering from PTSD and many might not even be aware of this.


The bottomline is that victims of violent crime, whether it be it partner domestic or stranger - violence, all require a good deal of help from within their communities, fellow human beings and society,  if they are to  have a solid chance to recover and rebuild. This will take a renewed commitment from individuals as well as privately funded charities such as Jane Doe No more, the Prudence Crandall Center and The Petit Family Foundation. We can not expect the federal or state government to provide what is so clearly needed for healing lives.


This is where charities like the Petit Family Foundation and  all of their hard work and dedication make such a difference in so many people's lives.

Please visit their website link to find out about their mission statement their sister charities and all of the upcoming events, including the Ge 5K Race day just around the corner in mid July - your participation and/ or donations will help give hope and healing to so many.

 Silent No more Auction