City of Gloucester

Gloucester Firefighters Union Partners with Wellspring House for Annual Holiday Toy Drive

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Nov. 15, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Firefighters Union Partners with Wellspring House for Annual Holiday Toy Drive

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Fire Chief Eric Smith are pleased to share their support for the the Gloucester Firefighters Union as they announce their 7th annual toy drive for the Wellspring House’s Holiday Shop this year.

A nonprofit organization located in Gloucester, Wellspring House offers temporary shelter for families in need, and works with residents on homelessness prevention, emergency shelter placement and securing long-term housing.

“The annual toy drive is a wonderful way for the department and the community to come together and help bring joy to local children and families through Wellspring House’s Holiday Shop,” Chief Smith said. “Thank you to everyone who has supported this toy drive in the past. I’d also like to recognize Firefighter Dean DeCoste, of the Gloucester Firefighters Union, who is leading this initiative.”

Every year, Wellspring sponsors a donor-driven holiday store to help low-income families provide gifts for their children. This year, the holiday store will be held on Dec. 7 and 8.

“We’re so thankful to the city for supporting this initiative,” Firefighter DeCoste said. “By supporting Wellspring House’s Holiday Shop, we can make a difference during the holidays that directly impacts members of our community. The toy drive is our way of giving back and spreading positivity.”

The Gloucester Fire Department is accepting donations of new and unwrapped gifts at its headquarters at 8 School St., and will continue to accept toy drive donations until Dec. 5.

“The Wellspring House does wonderful work to support members of our community in various circumstances and situations of need year round, and their Holiday Shop is a special initiative that helps families and children to celebrate the holidays,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “The Gloucester Firefighters Union works incredibly hard to support the Holiday Shop each year, and their dedication to their toy drive no doubt has brought a lot of happiness to children in our community.”

Members of the Gloucester Firefighters Union will also be accepting cash donations through a boot drive at Stop and Shop at 6 Thatcher Road in Gloucester on Nov. 26 and 27, and have set up a Go Fund Me Page to accept donations as well. All proceeds will be used to purchase toys for the Wellspring House’s Holiday Shop this year.

Through donations, Wellspring House’s holiday store allows Cape Ann families in need to purchase gifts for their children at a nominal expense: $2 buys three toys and one book per child.

For more information on Wellspring’s holiday store, contact Katie Misuraca at [email protected] or 978-281-3558 ext. 303.

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Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Save Man from Cardiac Arrest

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Save Man from Cardiac Arrest

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief Edward Conley and Fire Chief Eric Smith report that the Gloucester Police and Fire Departments recently saved the life of a 64-year-old man after he went into cardiac arrest.

“Cardiac arrest is very serious, and thankfully by working together swiftly and collaboratively, first responders were able to save this man’s life,” Police Chief Conley said. “I commend each officer and member of the fire department who responded — well done.”

At approximately 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, members of the Gloucester Police and Fire Departments responded to Cripple Cove for a report of a man who had collapsed.

Gloucester Police Officers Josiah Aberle and Sgt. Brian Aiello responded to the scene along with Gloucester Fire’s Rescue 2, with paramedics Jak Letien and James Hannon III. Gloucester Fire Ladder 1 was also dispatched to the scene, with Lt. Chad Mota and paramedic Mike Mitchell. Deputy Chief Andrew McRobb, who was performing inspections nearby at the time of the call, also responded to the scene.

Officer Aberle, Sgt. Aiello and Deputy Chief McRobb were the first to arrive on scene, and came upon a 64-year-old Rockport man in cardiac arrest. While the officers began to administer CPR, Deputy McRobb prepared and applied his automatic defibrillator (AED) device. The device immediately indicated “shock advised” and one shock was administered.

Upon arrival, Paramedics Letien and Hannon took over care of the patient with the assistance of other first responders on scene. Before the man was loaded into an ambulance, his heart began to beat on its own again. The patient was then transported to Addison Gilbert Hospital.

“The credit for this lies with the speed and professionalism of every Gloucester Fire and Police member involved,” Fire Chief Smith said. “Due to timely and accurate dispatching, early CPR and defibrillation, experienced paramedic level care and seamless performance of duties, Police and Fire worked together to save a life.”

Nearly two weeks after the incident, the man was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 21.

According to the American Heart Association, less than 10 percent of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting survive.

“I am incredibly proud of the response our Police and Fire Departments had to this incident,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “The Gloucester Police and Fire Departments are made up of highly skilled, dedicated professionals, and we’re fortunate to have them serve our city.”

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Gloucester Health and Police Departments to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Health and Police Departments to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day

GLOUCESTER — Public Health Director Karin Carroll and Police Chief Edward Conley are pleased to announce that the Gloucester Health and Police Departments, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will once again be participating in National Drug Take Back Day.

WHEN:

Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: 

Rose Baker Senior Center Parking Lot, 6 Manuel F. Lewis St.

WHAT:

National Drug Take Back Day is a free, no-questions-asked event that gives the community the opportunity to aid in the fight against substance use disorder by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unwanted or unused prescription drugs.

As part of the event, residents can drop off unwanted pills or patches, but not liquids, needles or sharps.

“We offer these events biannually in an effort to provide our residents with an accessible, easy way to dispose of these medications,” Chief Conley said. “Unfortunately, when these drugs are left in a medicine cabinet long term, unsupervised, they often are picked up by someone struggling with substance use. That’s less likely when people are given frequent opportunities to dispose of those drugs in a safe way.”

Studies suggest that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their previous methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash —  pose potential environmental, safety, and health hazards.

“We encourage residents who have unwanted or expired prescription medications at home to stop by and properly dispose of them at Saturday’s event,” Carroll said. “In addition to helping residents properly dispose of medications, these events provide us with an opportunity to educate residents about substance use and the local resources and programs available.”

Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Locally, more than 80,000 pounds of drugs were collected in Massachusetts.

Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds of pills.

New this year, sites will be collecting vaping pens and e-cigarette devices as well, after batteries are removed. According to the DEA, vaping pens with batteries still in them are a different waste stream designation and are considered a potential fire hazard. For devices that have batteries that cannot be removed, residents are asked to call their local hazardous waste management facility or check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the devices for proper disposal.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, about the Oct. 26 Take Back Day or for complete results from past Take Back Day events, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.

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*Media Advisory* City of Gloucester to Hold 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

*Media Advisory*

City of Gloucester to Hold 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief Edward Conley, Fire Chief Eric Smith, Harbormaster Thomas Ciarametaro and Director of Veterans’ Services Adam Curcuru announce that the City of Gloucester will hold a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony next month to mark 18 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

WHEN:

Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 9:55 a.m.

WHERE:

Gloucester Fire Department Headquarters, 8 School St.

WHO:

  • Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken
  • Gloucester Fire Department and Color Guard
  • Gloucester Police Department and Color Guard
  • United States Coast Guard
  • Gloucester Veterans’ Services Office
  • Gloucester Harbormasters’ Office
  • City and State Officials

WHAT:

Gloucester firefighters, police, military personnel and elected officials will conduct an observance ceremony this September to remember all those lost on Sept. 11, 2001 and in the ensuing Global War on Terrorism.

“Each year, we host this ceremony to remember the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks,” Fire Chief Smith said. “It is a somber day for us all, and it’s important that we continue to gather as a community on this anniversary to remember all those who lost their lives that day.”

The ceremony will begin with an opening statement from Fire Chief Smith and a prayer by Chaplain Peter Aberle of the Orthodox Congregational Church in Lanesville. The City will also hold a moment of silence, and in the tradition of the Fire Department of New York City, the Gloucester Fire Department will symbolically strike a ‘5-5-5-5′ alarm on a ceremonial bell to remember those who died in the line of duty on Sept. 11, 2001.

“This ceremony is an opportunity for our city to come together and support each other, as we always do in difficult times,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “Thank you to the Gloucester Fire and Police Departments, Harbormaster, Veterans’ Services and Coast Guard for coming together to hold this ceremony, and remembering this very difficult day in our nation’s history.”

Mayor Romeo Theken’s office and the Gloucester Fire Department’s Women’s Auxiliary will host a reception at City Hall on Dale Avenue following the ceremony.

Gloucester residents Dan Leahy, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War who was working at the World Trade Center at the time of the 1993 and 2001 terror attacks, and Brenda Leahy are also organizing a display in the auditorium at City Hall in remembrance of the terror attacks. The display will include a 9/11 quilt among additional memorial items, and a video will be available to answer questions about the terror attacks. The display will be open to the public until approximately 12 p.m. on Sept. 11.

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