'Devastated' Village, Town Officials Seek Change After OD Deaths

NORTH FORK, NY — After a rash of overdoses led to six deaths on the North Fork and Shelter Island over eight days last week, village and town officials — as well as members of the business community — are vowing to work together to prevent the unthinkable from ever happening again.

Officials posted a message on Greenport's website, stating that the village "has suffered several tragic, overwhelming losses this past week, and is seeking help to prevent future tragedies."

According to Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, there were seven overdoses and five deaths on the North Fork and one overdose and death on Shelter Island. The majority have been attributed to cocaine laced with fentanyl, he said.

Flatley said the rash of overdoses was the worst the North Fork has seen "by far. Most years we don't have any fatal overdoses, maybe one, tops," he said.

No new deaths have been reported by police as of Monday, and no arrests have yet been reported.

Village Mayor George Hubbard said he is "devastated for the families;" he knows many personally.

The village, he added, hopes to help anyone in need of addiction help and a Narcan program is slated to be up and running by Tuesday. There are also plans to set up a program to notify the public "when something like this happens — because that does not exist now in the town or village," Hubbard said. "We will do whatever it takes to make sure this never happens again — and hope we get the support from the community to help us find out who did this."

Southold Town, in partnership with the Family Service League, will be hosting a series of four Zoom Narcan trainings, beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. and continuing every day this week at the same time. Those wishing to participate can go to the Southold Town website to find the Zoom link for each meeting.

After each training, free Narcan kits will be available by calling Southold Town Government Liaison Officer Denis Noncarrow at 631-765-5806.

An in-person "Opioid Overdose Prevention Program" will be offered on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Southold Town Recreation Center, located at 970 Peconic Lane. Those with questions can call Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell at 631-765-1889 or Noncarrow.

Members of the business community are also joining forces to affect change. Greenport Business Improvement District President Richard Vandenburgh also sent out a message: "Our Greenport community suffered a devastating blow this week. We live in an amazing area and our Greenport community is strong, but just like any other place, life is fragile. . . It is the efforts of our hard-working families and individual employees that support our members and their businesses. Without them, we would not be the Greenport that so many value and visit. So it is critical to recognize and support those who are in need, face challenges with addiction or are struggling with emotional stressors that can lead to unsafe, unhealthy and unhappy outcomes. "

The BID asked members to ensure that contacts and resources for help are posted in all work spaces and conversations are had with staffs, friends, and neighbors, to empower people with the knowledge, tools and information that could save lives.

The BID will also work to bring additional NARCAN training to those members in the village and coordinate speakers to further educate on the legal, ethical, and social issues, Vandenburgh said.

The North Fork Chamber of Commerce also sent the message to its membership: "We couldn't have said it any better," said Linda Sweeney, president of the North Fork Chamber of Commerce.

Prevention advocates also are sounding a cry for help for many who are suffering and were, even before the pandemic sparked an uptick in overdoses.

"It's easy to say it's a bad batch of drugs. I am not certain there is a good batch," said Kym Laube, executive director of Human Understanding and Growth Seminars, or HUGS, in Westhampton Beach. "What I do know are people are hurting and have been for quite some time."

The financial strains of high-cost living, challenges with accessing affordable treatment on the East End, and stigma are contributing factors, she said.

"On the prevention side, it's challenging to get folks to pay attention to, and understand prevention is up to all of us," she said. "This is a community concern and we all are responsible. And although comprehensive programs in school are necessary and, that alone is not the fix."

A vigil was held Sunday at Mitchell Park in Greenport to mourn the six lives lost.

Joan Olszewski, who lost her grandson Seth Tramontana, said he was just 27 years old. He, along with others who died, was a member of the Greenport's hospitality community canvas, working at local eateries in past years.

Everyone loved him, she said. "He was like the mayor of Greenport," she said softly. "He was the life of the party. He didn't have a bad bone in his body. He had a beautiful spirit."

Seth, she said, marched to his own beat, but cared about others with an open heart. "He'd give you the shirt off his back," she said.

There are other efforts planned to turn grief into action: A Narcan training, with Narcan kits for distribution, will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at First At South in Greenport at 4 p.m. The training will be hosted by Community Action for Social Justice.

Anyone who needs to reach out to Greenport officials should go to the village website for comments, questions, or to relay information, the message said.