By Jason Gabak

As the first in this year’s Manlius Informed Series began April 28, it was in a different format than attendees might be used to, but none the less the series was moving forward despite the restrictions that have come with COVID-19.
Bill Loveland, public services librarian at the Manlius Library which hosts the series in conjunction with the Manlius Senior Center, welcomed guests to the Zoom meeting.
“We are all navigating through this,” Loveland said. “We are excited about this and to be able to do this virtually.”
The long running Manlius Informed Series welcomes guest speakers from the community representing any number of organizations to talk about their work, mission and impact as well as answer questions and hear from the members of the community.
Topics have ranged from local issues to environmental, educational, entertainment and health topics among many others over the course of the series.
“We are happy to be able to share information on these important topics,” Loveland said as he welcomed the first guest of the season, Randi Bregman of Vera House.
Bregman, who serves as executive director, said she has been with Vera House for 30 years and that during her tenure she has been proud to see the organization grow and adapt over time.
“We learn from the audience, we are learning every day,” she said.
Bregman gave an overview of the work done at Vera House as well as discussing some of the challenges the organization and the people it serves are facing at this time.
Bregman said Vera House’s mission focuses on domestic violence, sexual abuse and elder abuse, which she said in her presentation illustrated by a Venn diagram can intersect one another.
With this in mind, Vera House works to share educational materials to help people be better informed and aware off the signs of these types of acts and Bregman said it is important to know that all thought the coronavirus has changed the way everything operates right now, Vera House is still functioning and adapting to meet that needs of the community.
Currently Vera House has a hotline that can be called 24 hours a day and the facility is still offering shelter to anyone who needs to get away from an abusive situation, though Bregman said right now due to social distancing practices, space is more limited.
Vera House has also been offering virtual support.
“We weren’t really sure how that was going to go,” Bregman said. “But so far it is going well.”
In addition Vera House is also still a resource to help with orders of protection and other needs.
Bregman said there are some misconceptions about these types of abuse that she wanted to address.
There is an idea that abuse or assault comes from strangers, but Bregman said the vast majority of abuse comes from someone known by the victim.
Whether this is a spouse or partner, a parent or guardian or in the case of elder abuse, a caretaker, more often than not these acts come from someone close to the victim.
“In 80 percent of cases the victim knows the perpetrator,” Bregman said.
This fact can make it harder for victims to break the cycle.
Using a caregiver for example in the case of elder abuse, Bregman said the reasons this is not reported can be multifaceted.
“It can be a generational thing,” Bregman said. “It can be shame. It can be they don’t want a family member to get in trouble.”
Many of these same issues can be connected with other forms of abuse according to Bregman.
Bregman encouraged people to be aware of signs they may see in others such as friends and family that may indicate they are living with some form of abuse.
This can be small things like acting or speaking differently in front of people when an abuser is present, body language, unexplained injuries and more common with elder abuse, but things like financial discrepancies like missing money or new accounts being opened are also signs to be aware of.
Bregman said while people wanting to help may have the best intentions it is important to respect the wants and needs of those facing abusive situations and encourage them to seek the help they may need without taking control away from the victim and possibly adding to their concerns.
Anyone seeking more information is encouraged to contact Vera House either by phone at 315-468-3260 or on the website verhouse.org or seek assistance through agencies like the office for the aging among other resources.
The Manlius Informed Series is scheduled to continue with the following programs:
May 12, Albert Joerger of CNY Land Trust visits to discuss CNY Land Trust’s mission to preserve and protect natural areas in CNY.
May 19, Christian Zabriskie of OCPL visits to introduce himself to the community, and discuss his vision for OCPL.
May 26, Brian Taylor of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School visits to discuss Putinism.
June 2 Robert Hupp of Syracuse Stage visits to discuss Syracuse Stage.
June 9, Jason Smorol of the Syracuse Mets visits to discuss the Syracuse Mets.
All of these programs are offered for free and more information can be found on the Manlius Library website, manliuslibrary.org.