Lori Holcomb • The Enquirer • September 22, 2008

Fun Ride raises child abuse awareness

Under the canopy of Fell Park's shady oak trees, the laughter of children and smell of grilling hot dogs wafted through the Sunday afternoon breeze.

The Family Fun Ride was a picturesque scene of what childhood should be — playing games and grinning, cheek-to-ice-cream-smudged cheek.

Its purpose, however, was to illuminate exactly what a childhood should never be.

The event, sponsored by the Calhoun Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Council, was held to remember Dominic Munoz, a 4-year-old who died in 2007 from three blows to the head, according to doctors.

The former boyfriend of the boy's mother was arrested in the case, but charges were dropped earlier this year.

The Bedford Hills Mobile Village, where Dominic lived, donated $1,000 to the council, which then decided to match the donation and have a fun and educational community event.

"It's creating more awareness that this is a group of people that are concerned about child abuse and neglect," council president Deb Rowe said. "... (Child abuse and neglect) is pretty substantial and people don't realize it's going on, so we're letting them know."

In 2007, about 3,000 acts of child abuse and neglect were reported and four children died from suspected abuse in Calhoun County — statistics that council vice president Stephanie Edwards said make events like Sunday's "extremely important."

"It's a way for us as a council to get information out about positive parenting and that there are places to turn to for parents who are under enormous amounts of stress and for the caregivers who parents are leaving their children with," she said.

Visitors like Emilie Standish of Springfield ate free food, played games and received goody bags with activities and information pamphlets. The 8-year-old said her favorite part of the day was playing games and getting a monkey from a balloon shaper.

"He did it with his eyes closed!" she said.

Emilie's mother, Lori Standish, took note of the event's greater purpose.

"Times are hard and people's tempers, well, you never know," the Springfield mother said. "You just got to keep yourself in control and remember that everything you do is for the kids."

Watching two of their grandchildren play from a nearby a picnic table, the day was a bittersweet for Thomas and Nancy Wozniak, who were reminded of another grandson, Dominic Munoz, whom they would never watch play again. They had words of advice for all parents — even those who think the worse could never happen to their families.

"Just be on the lookout and if you feel something might be wrong, talk to somebody else about it," Nancy warned. "If you both think something's going on, act on it. Don't wait."

Despite a few tears, the Wozniaks still had many hearty laughs Sunday.

"It's good to see so many kids out interacting with their parents," Nancy said. "I saw a lot of parents going down the slide."

"I saw you go down it, too," Thomas said, ribbing his wife. "Twice."

To volunteer for or learn more about the Calhoun Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Council, visit www.calhounprevention.org.

Lori Holcomb can be reached at 966-0675 or lholcomb@battlecr.gannett.com.