With the simple words of children and a symbolic flight of white doves, Peace Week took off at Santa Maria's City Hall Friday afternoon.

The ceremony was led by City Councilwoman Alice Patino.

Anna Lopez, the student body president of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School, led those gathered in a prayer of peace.

"O, Lord, gather us together, we ask that you bless our beloved county; that you help us to seek and practice peace," Lopez said.

Jonathan Palmerson, a student at The Children's House Montessori School in Santa Maria, urged Santa Marians to emulate great peace makers such as Martin Luther King Jr.

"The world needs you - be a peacemaker," said Palmerson.

At the close of the ceremony, a flock of white doves were released through the door of City Hall, symbolizing the community's hopes to live and work in peace.

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Peace Week continues throughout the week with a variety of activities. Today celebrates "Building Community Peace." Children in Santa Maria are invited to a daylong peace camp to learn peacemaking skills through games, crafts, stories, and discussion. The camp, 600 E. Enos Drive, runs from 12:30 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 925-0951 Ext. 260.

A candlelight march and vigil from East Plaza Drive to the Santa Maria Public Library Sunday evening will commemorate local victims of domestic violence who have been killed by spouses or partners since 1990. Life-sized representations of the victims with their names and stories will be carried by families and friends. The march begins at 6:30 p.m.

Monday will mark the annual free community breakfast for peace at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, 1309 N. Bradley Road. This year's speaker is Jerry Tello, director of the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute in East Los Angeles. The breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m.

* Staff writer Jasmine Marshall can be reached at 739-2219, or by e-mail at jmarshall@ pulitzer.net.

Oct. 11, 2003