Candlelight Vigil Saturday To Honor Lives Lost To Opioid Crisis

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — For many, Mother's Day weekend is not a time for celebration — cards and gifts and family gatherings. For many, it is a haunting reminder of precious lives lost to the deadly opioid crisis.

To remember those who lost their battles, the Town of Southampton's opioid and recovery committee will sponsor the second annual Candlelight Vigil to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic that still plagues the town.

Loved ones and community members are invited to attend the vigil on Saturday, May 11 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Good Ground Park, located at 9A Squiretown Road in Hampton Bays.

"While the number of deaths have declined since we first started the opioid task force in 2017, the number of Narcan saves are up, which indicates we still have a problem," said Southold Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. "We have had only one death so far this year, but that's still one death too many. Gather with us and light a candle to remember those lost."

The vigil will give those who want to voice their thoughts the opportunity to speak about their loved ones.

In addition, the town's opioid addiction and recovery committee will continue its proactive efforts by sponsoring a parent roundtable on the warning signs and what parents can do to prevent the misuse of opioids, alcohol and vaping among local youth.

The roundtable will be held on Tuesday, May 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, located 111 St. Andrews Road in Southampton.

Parents will learn effective parenting strategies and signs of use from the experts. Kym Laube, executive director of HUGS will speak to parents about what "Every parent should know," including guidance for parents from proven strategies based on local data, organizers said.

A Southampton Town Police Department representative will offer parents tips about recognizing indicators of what to look for, where to look — and what is currently happening in our community. There will also be a Narcan demonstration, ad parents will take home resource kits to share with their school community to help safeguard youth from addiction.

"This is a great opportunity for parents of students of all age levels from all of our schools to come together to learn more about preventing youth substance abuse," said Southampton Youth Bureau Director Nancy Lynott, co-chair of the Southampton Town Opioid Addiction and Recovery Committee. "We have had public forums before for the general public, for the medical community and for young people, but this is the first forum designed just for parents. We hope this gives them the tools they need to keep children and the youth in our community safe from dangerous substance use behaviors."

Dinner will be included in the forum; an RSVP is required by emailing cconway@southamptontownny.gov.

Last May, tears mixed with raindrops during a night of sadness and remembrance in Hampton Bays as mothers, fathers, family, loved ones and friends gathered in a circle of heartbreak to remember the bright lives cut short too soon to the darkness of the opioid crisis.

The first Candlelight Vigil was held at Good Ground Park in Hampton Bays, sponsored by the Southampton Town Opioid Addiction Task Force.

The night, said Drew Scott, co-chair of the task force, was filled with music, Shinnecock drummers, and loving and tearful tributes from heartbroken relatives.

"It was sad but healing, and we all vowed to keep this epidemic before the public and not allow the 'stigma' to sweep this nightmare under a rug," he said.

Scott, who lost his beautiful, talented granddaughter Hallie Ulrich to an overdose, saw his life torn apart forever when she was found lifeless on a road in East Hampton; the event is deeply personal.
Scott said 400 candles were lit for Suffolk County victims and 19 for Southampton Town victims.
Soft music played and Scott read a poem Hallie wrote.

As her grandfather, the night was filled with emotion, a reminder of a beautiful life cut short by the cold cruelty of addiction. "It's a bittersweet way to let people know what a beautiful and talented girl she was," he said. "I want people to know how she fought to end her opioid addiction — but time ran out for her."

Scott shared Hallie's words: "Shortly before she died, she wrote, "Seriously, though, story time, but not now, for I have grown weary, this day has made me tired, so I bid you farewell in hopes that I will receive lovely dreams from my subconscious . . . Good night."

And for all who have shared the pain, the vigil offered a chance for solace and shared memories.
"It is Mother's Day weekend. As such, we thought the Saturday night vigil would be poignant — to come together as a community to remember those who have been lost to the opioid epidemic," Scott said.