Pike County Commissioners 'Paint Pike Purple'
By Charles Reynolds
Milford — The Pike County Commissioners recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness month and, in joining with Safe Haven of Pennsylvania, pledged to Paint Pike Purple. According to statistics provided in the resolution, 57 women and 10 men died in the state as a result of domestic violence in 2012. During that time, Safe Haven served approximately 470 victims and provided 348 days of shelter.
On hand to talk about the awareness campaign was David Bever, executive director for Safe Haven of Pennsylvania, who thanked the community for all their help and support during Safe Haven's move to their new offices on Broad Street in Milford.
“When we made the move we had the support of our board, the staff....We did it because we wanted to,” Bever said. “We did it because it was a move forward for us and we had autonomy over ourselves.”
“Unfortunately," Bever continued, “when a victim of domestic violence decides to make a move it is typically for very different reasons. It is because she needs to provide safety for herself and her children.”
Victims, on average, take up to seven attempts to make that decision to leave, according to the executive director. He also pointed out that many victims return to their abuser because of the danger factor. “Better the devil she knows,” he said, “then the devil she doesn't.”
Bever acknowledges that there are many more women and children victims than men, because “sometimes we don't make it very easy for a man to come forward and say 'I am being abused.’”
Safe Haven has reached out to local police departments, clergy and community as a whole, Bever said. “Because it is a culture of accountability in a community such as Pike County, that changes the dynamic for victims of domestic violence...where everyone holds offenders accountable.” Bever said the community needs to show how appalled they are at the offender's behavior and "create a place where it may not take seven times to leave.”
The next meeting of the Pike County Task Force on Interpersonal Violence will be held at their new office at 402 Broad Street in Milford on Jan. 20, 2014 at 2 p.m.
“If it wasn't for Safe Haven ... [and] they don't have family,” Commissioner Rich Caridi said, “where would they have to go?”
March of Dimes for Babies
The Commissioners discussed the March of Dimes for Babies march that will be held this coming Sunday, Oct. 6 at Firefly Field in the Airport Park in Matamoras. Joseph Biondo, who served as regional chairperson until his term ended in late September, was on hand to call for participation in the event.
“I want to thank the community,” said Biondo, who started the march along with his wife after they lost a child in 2007 due to complications from a premature birth — which is the leading cause of infant deaths in the United States.“I encourage you all to come out and walk with us. We would love to have you there to come and support the babies.” Biondo went on to jokingly guarantee the weather, which – according to the national weather services – should be sunny and about 78 degrees.
“You represent some of the finer things in this community,” Caridi said in praise of Biondo's selfless efforts on behalf of all children. “God bless you and thank you for what you're doing.”
Registration for Sunday's march begins at 10 a.m. and the walk starts at 11. There will be team introductions, refreshments, lunch, music and family fun. The commissioners encourage everyone to sign up, either by starting their own team or joining an existing team. More information can be found at www.marchforbabies.com.
The next meeting of the Pike County Commissioners will be held at the County Administration Building in Milford on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 9 a.m.