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Public forum: How to keep kids safe rivets community

Residents and officials are invited to a public forum on April 9.

By BARBARA BEHRENDT
Published March 23, 2005

HOMOSASSA - For days now, Darlene Hilton's 6-year-old grandson Parker and 10-year-old daughter Katherine have eschewed the comfort of their own bedrooms and insisted on sleeping with their parents.

That is how close to home the death of Jessica Lunsford has hit.

The Hiltons, who live in Homosassa, finally scored a minor victory Monday night when Parker was coaxed into the living room of the mobile home he shares with his parents. But he did so only after watching the home's windows being nailed shut.

In the nearby main house, where Hilton lives, it might take more to make Katherine feel safe. "We'll just have her hang out with Mom and Dad until she feels better," Hilton said.

Finding a way to make the grieving Homosassa community feel better is an even bigger order, but Hilton and others are working on a plan they think will help.

At 3 p.m. April 9, the community will sponsor a public meeting to talk about how to make their town safer in the wake of Jessica's death. The 9-year-old girl was a friend of Katherine's.

The meeting will feature Jessica's father, Mark, and Homosassa Civic Club president Diane Toto will moderate. Public officials - including the local legislative delegation, Sheriff Jeff Dawsy and the School Board - will be invited.

The men of the community will be asked to wear black and camouflage in honor of Jessica and their own children. Most will stand in silence, and one man will talk about the need to monitor sexual offenders.

"This meeting is to show our children that we are protecting them. We are aware and we are alert," Hilton said. "This community needs to pull together to show them . . . we can make them safe again."

In addition to talking about community patrols, Hilton said, she hopes the discussion at the public meeting makes it clear to sexual offenders that Homosassa is going to be watched carefully. One idea: posting signs in sex offenders' yards.

Hilton said it was jarring to realize that, even though this is spring break, the neighborhood around her house - which is usually buzzing with children - was deserted.

"There are no children out there," she said. "They're in their homes in lockdown with their parents."

Toto agreed that the entire community has had a strong reaction to the tragedy.

"They're afraid," she said. "This has changed the whole atmosphere of this place."

Barbara Behrendt can be reached at 564-3621 or behrendt@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 23, 2005, 06:50:05]