Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/23/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief District Attorney Spencer Brady

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

COMMUNITY FORUM ON UNDERAGE DRINKING

April 26th marks the beginning of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a time to focus on victims of crime and celebrate our nation’s progress in serving them. This year’s theme, “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act,” honors a landmark national commitment to victims of crime.  Special activities organized by the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, community leaders, law enforcement, and victim service organizations include the Community Forum on Underage Drinking on Saturday April 25, 2009 from 9:00 am to 12:00pm at Santa Rosa Junior College, Newman Auditorium.  This forum, which includes a panel discussion, will provide information regarding the dangers of alcohol directly to the youth of Sonoma County in an effort to prevent future violence.

District Attorney Passalacqua stated, “Every year, the residents of Sonoma County are affected by drunk-driving violence and the devastating impact to individuals in our community affects all of us.  The District Attorney’s Office is committed to increasing public awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and to provide intervention skills and prevention information directly to concerned parents and community members."

Featured speaker is Jill Mason who was paralyzed and suffered head injuries when a drunken driver hit her and killed her boyfriend, Alan Liu, as they rode their bikes along Highway 12 on Easter Sunday five years ago.  An English major at Santa Clara University, and masters graduate at San Jose State in the School of  Journalism and Mass Communications, she draws on her communications background to teach audiences about the life of a once competitive athlete and marketing guru turned into a paralyzed public speaker. She fights the damaging effects of the drunk driver day-to-day, living her life as best she can in the midst of losing her legs and the man she loved.

A panel discussion will follow Jill’s presentation. Panelists include local law enforcement officers, veteran Sonoma County prosecutor Chief Deputy District Attorney William Brockley and Sonoma State University Deputy Chief Sally Miller.  Danielle Ronshausen, a Community Advocate with Social Advocates for Youth, will discuss underage drinking prevention.  Finally, we are pleased to be joined by two local survivors of drunk-driving violence, Press Democrat delivery woman Edila Anzilotti-Dimock and MADD Advocate Lynn Darst.

Please contact the Victim Assistance Center at 565-8250 or visit www.sonoma-county.org/da/ for additional event information.