Prince Frederick, MD – The Eighth annual Candlelight Vigil and Honorees Ceremony in Calvert County, held Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the College of Southern Maryland Prince Frederick campus, proved to be a blend of sadness, joy and resolve. There was also a small, unexpected layer of politics added to the conversation. The event is held in October to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
According to the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNAVD), 34 victims died at the hands of someone close to them in the past year. Calvert County State’s Attorney Laura Martin noted that the number of domestic violence incidents reported is on the rise. She affirmed that that this is actually a good thing. “More and more victims are coming forward and reporting,” said Martin, adding that offenders are now being held accountable for their actions. “Domestic violence thrives on silence.”
The event was sponsored by the Calvert County Commission for Women and Calvert County Health Department’s Crisis Intervention Center.
Core Service Agency and Crisis Intervention Center Director David Gale noted that Calvert’s response to the once-marginalized calamity known as domestic violence began as the “Abused Person’s Program” during the 1980s under the auspices of the Calvert County Health Department. “The partnership with law enforcement is crucial,” said Gale, who explained the partners in crisis piloted a program in Calvert created by MNAVD in 2005 that is known as the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) or the “Maryland Model.” That program, which works quickly to get victims into service programs after an assessment, is now being used all across the country.
Gale also touted the success of the Safe Harbor shelter for abused women and children, a nearly 30-year-old facility that has provided temporary shelter this year to nearly 60 individuals. He mentioned that three births occurred at the shelter this year. While estrangement forced by violence led to the in-shelter births, Gale stated it was good that the three infants “were born in a safe and loving environment.”
“Domestic violence calls are never routine,” said Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans, who added that deputies make over 1,000 of those calls annually. Evans stated it is law enforcement’s goal to “prevent repeated abuse in order to save lives.”
Remarks made Calvert County Health Officer Dr. Laurence Polsky may have created the event’s only moment of controversy. Polsky mentioned the lewd comments made nearly a decade ago but only recently revealed by 2016 Presidential Candidate Donald Trump. Polsky called Trump’s remarks about his physical encounters with women “dehumanizing.” He told the audience he hoped every father in the community “sat down with their sons” to explain the inappropriateness of Trump’s comments. The health officer also indicated that U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan reacted properly to the revelation of the presidential candidate’s remarks, stating he [Ryan] was “sickened” by them. When Polsky concluded his comments, several members of the audience stood and applauded.
Four individuals were recipients of the event’s annual POWER Award. Honored this year were Crisis Intervention Center Supervisor Jennifer Edwards, community volunteer Brandon Myers, shelter employee Darlene Prallow and Dr. Rodney Oakley of the Mid-Atlantic Animal Specialty Hospital in Huntingtown.
Calvert County Commissioners’ President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. represented the board, reading and presenting proclamations to the award recipients.
The brief candlelight vigil held prior to the awards ceremony included an invocation by Mount Harmony Lower Marlboro United Methodist Church Pastor the Rev. Faith Lewis and a song performed by Brenda Johnson. Attendees relit their candles for the outdoor benediction, which was highlighted by the release of several purple balloons launched in memory of domestic violence victims.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
