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WEATHER TONIGHT Mostly cloudy. Low of 22.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— Jakob Wassermann
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 83 NO. 56
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2014
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse speaks about the heroin issue in his city and the larger area while flanked by U. S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) and U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) during a news conference Friday to discuss proposed efforts to change the approach to dealing with the problem. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe is flanked by U. S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts, as he speaks about the changes he has seen in issues involving heroin during a news conference in Holyoke Friday after a meeting to discuss proposed changes in the effort to fight the scourge. (Photo By Carl E. Hartdegen)
Western Mass. drug epidemic discussed By Peter Francis Staff Writer HOLYOKE — At a noon press conference Friday, U.S. Senator Edward Markey joined a group of law enforcement officials and legislators, including Congressman Richard Neal and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, to discuss the epidemic of heroin and prescription drug abuse in western Massachusetts. During the conference, held at the Holyoke Health Center, Markey spoke of the crisis that is enveloping the region and of his introduction of the Opioid Overdose Reduction Act Thursday. Designed to protect individuals who administer lifesaving opioid overdose prevention drugs such as naloxone, better known by the brand name Narcan, Markey is also calling for the expansion of drug treatments to prevent overdose deaths from opioids, and for the mobilization of federal funding to expand detox treatments. “I’m dedicating a lot of my time and energy to this issue, as is Richie (Neal). This is a cutting edge issue in our society today,” Markey said, before acknowledging the efforts of doctors, nurses, and volunteers at Holyoke Health Center as being “on the frontlines of this fight.” “You are hometown heroes to all of us, but heroes need help,” he said. Markey referred to heroin as an “equal opportunity destroyer of lives.” “Drug overdose deaths fueled by pre-
scription now surpass homicides and traffic crashes in number of injury deaths in Massachusetts and in America,” he said. “Approximately one hundred Americans will die from a drug overdose today. This is what an epidemic looks like.” Markey referenced 21 overdose deaths that have occurred in Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire Counties in the past four months alone, along with the massive 140 patient caseload being heaped on the Holyoke Health Center, which enrolls one new patient a week for opioid addiction. “This meteoric rise in addiction to heroin and prescription drugs is nothing less than catostrophic,” he said. “There is an epidemic that has hit the communities of western Massachusetts. It strikes without regard to age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status. It doesn’t care about your political party, your job, or your family ties.” Markey was sure to dish praise back to Washington as well, making reference to President Barack Obama’s budget, which proposed an increase of $26 million to address prescription drug use, abuse, and overdose, but said there is more work to be done. “I’m calling for a three-pronged approach to beat back the heroin and prescription drug epidemic,” Markey said, listing preventing overdose deaths, expanding access to multiple treatment methods, and modernizing treatment and prevention as the three directions he’d like to see efforts take.
“To prevent, we must expand Narcan programs for first-responders and bystanders,” he said. “We know that Narcan saves lives, we have to make sure that we put the Narcan in the hands of those who can save the lives of citizens of our state, of western Massachusetts.” He added that police and fire departments in several communities statewide have already implemented programs that have been credited with saving the lives of more than 300 overdose victims since 2010, and that most Narcan programs nationwide are still funded by donations and local government funds. “Once we reduce the overdose problem, we need to expand access to modern prevention treatment,” Markey continued. “We need to be sure that critical detox and treatment are available when needed and are easier to access. As (Hampshire County) DA Sullivan said ‘There shouldn’t be a bed in New Bedford or Cape Cod for someone from Holyoke.’ We have to find a way of making sure it’s available.” Markey suggested the development of applications which can be downloaded on mobile devices to help find available treatment and detox facilities for addicts. “We need to modernize our addiction treatment systems by expanding new treatments as they become available,” he said. “When new treatments are approved, we
“In every person, even in such as appear most reckless, there is an inherent desire to attain balance.”
75 cents
Medical marijuana ordinance under review By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The City Council conducted a public hearing on the proposed medical marijuana ordinance Thursday night starting the 90-day clock to adopt local regulation before the May 1 expiration of the moratorium now in place. A number of councilors raised concerns about the proposed ordinance which would restrict allowable locations of marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities, while others expressed the displeasure with the state. Principal Planner Jay Vinskey presented details to the City Council of the ordinance proposed by the Planning Board earlier this year. The Planning Board voted in January to submit two proposed medical marijuana ordinances to the City Council for its review and action as the June 1, 2014 moratorium deadline approaches. The zoning ordinance, which will replace the existing ordinance, Section 4-90 which now prohibits the sale of drug paraphernalia. The revised ordinance has definitions, regulated zoning for dispensaries and marijuana processing facilities, as well as other requirements and provisions. The proposed zoning would limit dispensaries and processing facilities to the Industrial A Zone through site approval process and in the Business B district by special permit if the applicant can provide adequate and appropriate security measures and if the facility is designed to minimize “any adverse or inconsistent visual or olfactory impacts on the immediate neighborhood.” The Planning Board can approve the special permit for Business B districts only if the “project is compatible with, and will not have an adverse economic effect, on surrounding uses.” Jim Liptak raised the issue of spot zoning of property located in rural or residential areas, property which could meet the zoning district requirement, but which is surrounded by another district. The proposed ordinance reads: “The secured limits of a proposed Marijuana Dispensary or Marijuana Processing Operation shall not be located within 500 feet of a facility used, at the time of the first notice of public hearing, for an elementary, middle or high school, or for a playground, pre-school, child day care center or other location intended principally as a place for on-site services for children, or wherein children commonly congregate in a formal, structured
See Epidemic, Page 5 See Ordinance, Page 5
City man charged, again By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A city man is facing charges – again – stemming from treatment of his elderly great-aunt. Eric J. Lamire, 42, formerly of 41 Noble Street, was released after serving an 18-month sentence in the house of correction and returned to the city to resume, to at least some degree, care for his 89-year-old legally blind great-aunt who walks only with a walker. He had been sentenced to two concurrent 18-month terms in June, 2012, when he pleaded guilty to charges of permitting abuse of an elderly person and larceny of property valued more than $250. Those charges were the result of a March 21, 2012, incident when Officer Francis Gaulin responded to a call and was told by the caller that about 10 p.m. the night before, her
great-nephew, Lemire, who lived with her and provided care for her had stolen from her and left her helpless in the dark. The woman said that Lemire had returned home and entered the living room where she was laying down in a recliner. The woman said that Lemire turned off the power and, when it was dark, stole the strong box she kept next to the fireplace before he left her house. The victim told Gaulin that when she tried to use the telephone to call police she found it to be inoperative. It was later found to have been unplugged. Because she can only walk with the help of a walker, she could not make contact with anyone until daylight when she was able to make her way to a neighbor’s house. The case was investigated by Det. Anthony Tsatsos who reported to the
court that Lemire had known what was in the strong box when he stole it – the bulk of the funds recently realized when his victim redeemed a $14,725 certificate of deposit with his assistance. Lemire was released without restrictions on his contact with his great-aunt and, by August, 2013, was apparently again living in her house – and cashing checks he induced his great-aunt to sign, according to the investigating detective, Roxanne Bradley, who reported Lemire used her money “to support his alcohol and crack addiction.” Bradley had been contacted by an investigator for Highland Valley Elderly Protective Services who told her that a niece of the victim, who was authorized to manage her aunt’s Court officers William Ballard and Luis Otero take Eric Lemire of finances, had reported that Lemire Westfield into custody after the judge set bail at $20,000 in a case in which Lemire is charged, again, with stealing from his 89-year-old See Charged, Page 5 great-aunt. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Grief Support Services:
562-3133 James F. Adams
FUNERAL SERVICE 76 Broad Street, Westfield • (413) 562-6244 • www.firtionadams.com
James R. Adams