New OD Linked To Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine On North Fork: Police

NORTH FORK, NY — A new, non-fatal ninth overdose, similar to those that took the lives of six people in Greenport and on Shelter Island last week, has been reported, police said.

According to Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, on Monday morning, a man, 34, from Laurel, was the latest to overdose on what is believed to have been cocaine laced with fentanyl.

No arrests have yet been reported in the case, Flatley said.

The rash of eight overdoses led to six deaths on the North Fork and Shelter Island over eight days last week.

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.

In light of the unspeakable loss — all young people, many of whom worked in the hospitality industry— a shocked and saddened community is rallying to create change.

Southold Town, in partnership with the Family Service League, will be hosting a series of four Zoom Narcan trainings every day this week at 10 a.m. 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.

Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard said a Narcan program was slated to be up and running this week. 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."

Members of the business community are also joining forces to affect change. Greenport Business Improvement District President Richard Vandenburgh said 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.

Also on Tuesday, August 24, free Narcan training and kits will be available at 5 p.m. in the community room of the Mattituck-Laurel Library, provided by Community Action for Social Justice.

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.

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."