Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Source: The Archway
Over 300 of Bryant University’s students, faculty, and staff signed a pledge to not drink and drive in an effort to bring attention to a dangerous action. In addition, two Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) advocates and Bryant University’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) participated in a speakers series hosted by Bryant University’s Society for Resource Management on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 in Janikies Auditorium.
Victim Robin Monica, shared her story about her son’s deadly decision to drink and drive. She emphasized that drinking and driving is a preventable choice, urging people to, “think about the effect your decision has on your family,” before acting.
MADD advocate Cathy Andreozzi, talked about her daughter’s experience getting hit and the struggles they have faced keeping her daughter alive. Andreozzi emphasized that, “life as you know it can change in a moment.”
Stephen Bannon, the newly appointed Director of Bryant University’s DPS unit talked about the severity of drinking and driving and the new law that passed allowing officers to obtain a search warrant for blood in cases of DUI.
Candy Lightner founded MADD in 1980 after a drunk driver killed her daughter. Lightner found out that drunk driving was infrequently prosecuted strictly and vowed to advocate for victims and change the legal consequences of driving drunk. In 2000, drunk driving fatalities dropped 40 percent (http://www.madd.org).
About one-half of all fatal car crashes among 18- to 24-year-olds include alcohol (http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov) and many of those students are enrolled in college. Drinking and driving on college campuses remains a public health issue and MADD advocates Robin Monica and Cathy Andreozzi alongside DPS’s Stephen Bannon reiterated the importance of the issue.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Source: Westerly Sun
Four-hundred-eighty-two Westerly High School juniors and seniors are sitting in the bleachers at the football field on a bright spring morning, watching six dead and one critically injured teen being extricated from two wrecked cars.
Another girl in a glittery prom dress is being administered sobriety and breathalyzer tests by a Westerly police officer. She fails both and is led away in handcuffs. The dead, played by student actors, lie very still on the ground, convincingly smeared with fake blood. Emergency workers finally cover them with dirty white sheets and walk away.
The spectators are quiet and serious. They know that this scenario is being staged for their benefit, but it still looks disturbingly real.
Westerly senior Sarah Duggan, of Students Against Destructive Decisions, had been planning this event since last December, and timed it so it would take place close to the senior prom. She said she would be happy if the message prevented even a single teen from drinking and driving. “Even if it’s just one person. I just hope someone doesn’t try to get drunk,” she said.
The event began in the gymnasium with a video produced by Students Against Destructive Behavior, showing how making poor decisions like drinking alcohol can affect the lives of families far beyond those directly involved in accidents.
Cathy Andreozzi, whose gifted, athletic daughter Tori Lynn was left permanently disabled after being hit by a drunk driver, also spoke about the disastrous consequences of making bad decisions such as driving drunk.
“It’s something we do every other year,” Westerly High School Principal Steven Ruscito said. “We have actors from the video — the video that had those two cars, two different groups of kids, one doing the right thing, one doing the wrong thing, and by happenstance, those two cars have collided.”
The students then walked to the football field and watched as Westerly police, Westerly and Pawcatuck firefighters and the Westerly and Ashaway Ambulance Corps converged on the scene and began to extricate the victims, in one case cutting away the frame of a mangled car.
“I’m sure many of them have never seen anything like this,” said Westerly Police Capt. Shawn Lacey. “This is about as ‘real life’ as it gets as far as a mock situation. When you start talking about serious injuries and death and you look at the damage to the cars as they start cutting the cars up, it will definitely have an effect on them as to what actually happens.”
Senior Ben Duerr and junior Jacob Ahern watched the drama unfold. Both said they liked the growing trend of students sharing the cost of a limousine and driver on prom night, because it kept teens from getting behind the wheel.
“It gives them a guaranteed arrival point,”Ahern said.
Duerr added, “It’s dumb for them to drink in the first place, but it’s definitely a guaranteed safer way.”
As the six bodies lay covered on the field, a Lifestar helicopter landed nearby to transport a victim who was critically injured.
The teens’ attention began to wander and some began to chatter and laugh.
“We do it because we do believe it makes a difference,” Ruscito said of the event. “It’s tough. When you’re young, you don’t think it’s going to happen in your neighborhood, or happen in your life…or you’ve got control of it.”
The students started walking back to class.
“Can I go with you?” one girl shouted at the helicopter as it lifted off and flew away, carrying the critically injured “victim” to the nearest trauma center.
“Take me with you!” she said, laughing.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Source: Johnston Insider
A wrecked car sits in front of Johnston High School as a reminder to students what can result from just one bad decision. Insider photos by Beth Hurd
By BETH HURD, Insider Reporter
With the Johnston High School senior prom scheduled for Friday, May 27, (at Newport’s Viking Hotel) members of the school community and the town have done everything they can – as they do each year – to make sure the students get the message: Don’t drink and drive.
In the school’s parking lot sits a car wreck, a visible reminder of what can be the result of any number of bad decisions: drinking and driving, reckless driving, driving while texting or talking on the phone, or getting into a car in which the driver has been drinking.
The students also got a dose of “Don’t Drink and Drive” messages during a visit on May 13 to the school by the Cathy Andreozzi, mother of Tory Lynne Andreozzi, now paralyzed, a victim of a drunk-driving crash. Another group of students visited the ACI on Wednesday, May 18, to attend a session of “Zero Fatalities,” to hear from several inmates currently incarcerated for making similar bad decisions, in which death resulted.
Both the school speaker and the ACI trip were sponsored by the Johnston Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse, which offered students attending the trip to be entered into a raffle for free prom tickets. (Durham Bus also donated the use of two buses for the trip.)
At the ACI, which currently houses 1,019 inmates, serving sentences of 90 days or more, students were met by Jake Sullivan, a prosecutor.
“They’re my least favorite cases to prosecute,” he said of those incarcerated for the results of their bad decision-making.
Sullivan asked how many of the seniors were 17 and how many were 18.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said – they would be prosecuted as adults if caught drinking and driving.
“In Rhode Island, we see 50 deaths involving teens, on average a year. When you break it down, that’s four a month,” Sullivan pointed out.
He also said the greatest reason for teen fatalities (between the ages of 16 and 22) – a full 25 percent – is inexperience.
“Who’s going to die this month? Nobody thinks it’s going to happen to him/her,” Sullivan said.
He said 26 out of the 38 Rhode Island cities and towns had lost teens to DWI and reckless driving crashes in the last five years. “It’s not just a Rhode Island problem, it’s not just a Barrington problem,” he said.
Sullivan asked how many had seen road-side crosses and memorials – several had, and called out where they were located; Sullivan knew most of the locations, and could name the victim involved in each.
“For me as a prosecutor, it’s not just another death – it’s real people, it’s sons and daughters, your classmates – and that’s just the dead kids,” he said.
Behind him, a projector showed images of newspaper clippings of teen fatalities from around the state.
Sullivan asked how many wore a seatbelt each time they drove or rode in a car – almost all raised their hands.
“Last year, 45 teens were killed – 43 weren’t wearing their seatbelts,” he said. “Who do teens kill? You don’t kill your family members, you don’t go out drinking with your parents – you kill your friends. These cases do not discriminate, rich or poor, black or white – it doesn’t matter how rich your parents are, you’re still going to jail, or you’re still dead.”
The inmates who shared their stories weren’t much older than the seniors attending the “Zero Fatalities” class.
Brandy Graff of Coventry was a senior in high school, her parents away for the week. She had been drinking when left a beach party on April 20, 2005, and killed two elderly sisters who “were taking the scenic route home.”
“It was at 6:30 p.m. – not at 2 a.m. It was the best year of my life – I made poor choices. It started when I was 16,” she said.. “I had heard the same messages at assemblies at my school, but I chose not to hear it – I hope I don’t see any of you guys in here.”
“I was 18, it was school vacation, my parents were going to be out of the country – it was going to be the best week of my life,” she recalled. “I didn’t even make it 24 hours. It’s been six years, but it still feels like it was yesterday. I didn’t kill my best friends, but I killed two innocent people.”
Graff said she thought she “knew my limit.” She had also, on many occasions, gotten into a car driven by someone else who had been drinking.
“Every body thinks it’s a rite of passage. If you drink, you will make bad choices,” she said. “You guys are planning to go to college? My college money went to lawyers – very expensive lawyers.”
“Anderson” was 18 and on Shea High School’s basketball and football teams when he killed his best friend Chris, age 21. “I started going to parties, doing things I never thought I’d do,” he said. Anderson started drinking in 10th grade, as well as doing drugs.
On March 6, 2006, he had just bought a new car, having worked hard to earn the money. “I had been drinking but I didn’t think I was too intoxicated to drive – that was the first mistake,” he recalled. He and his friend Chris drove the new car to a party in Smithfield, and crashed into a stone wall – neither were wearing seatbelts.“The only thing that saved me was the air bag,” Anderson said.
“Your friends move on with their lives, I’m stuck here,” he told them. “Every day is the same, there’s a lot of people in here, but it’s the loneliest place.”
“Patrick” was given 37 years, 15 to serve. He killed his three best friends, two of whom were brothers. On Oct. 29, 2006, he was driving an estimated 60 to 80 miles per hour when his car crashed. He hardly ever sees his wife and son. “Jake” was given 15 years, eight to serve. He had been captain of the football and track teams at his school, got good grades, “dated pretty girls,” had never done anything wrong.
He now shares a small cell where the toilet is a few feet from his cot and he has to shower with 120 guys in an open room with four shower heads. “I was just like you – I never thought it would happen to me,” he said, even though he had a best friend who had been killed in a drunk-driving accident.
On July 19, 2004, “Jake” had just turned 21, and owned his own restaurant; he came up behind a Jeep he thought was going too slow so he got in front of it and tapped his brakes. The 17-year-old driver of the Jeep, in which there were three other teens, lost control of his car, which flipped before crashing. The driver was ejected from the car because he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. “Jake,” who initially left the scene but then called 911, was charged with reckless driving, death resulting.
“I spent hours in a police station crying my eyes out – I had never been in trouble before, no one in my family had ever been arrested before,” he said. “They don’t care. That night I was sleeping in a cell with a ‘double-life-plus-life’ murderer. All my best friends left; my girlfriend of three years left me within 10 days.”
The last speaker was Dan Corvese, father of 16-year-old Jon Corvese, who was a passenger in a car when he was killed on Nov. 5, 2007, in a drunk-driving accident. His best friend, also age 16, had been driving. Jon had been a member of the Barrington High School varsity soccer team, and thousands attended his wake and funeral.
Corvese, who never imagined that he and his wife would have to plan a funeral for a child or pick out clothes for him to wear in his casket, urged the JHS students to close their eyes for a moment and imagine their own parents standing before a casket, holding a “prayer card” imprinted with their own name. “I’m doing this for Jon – we’re doing this to save lives,” said Corvese.
Sullivan reminded the seniors that new laws against texting while driving also are to save lives. Tests show that when traveling 70 miles an hour, a vehicle travels about 100 feet a second – take your eyes off the road for three to four seconds to read or type a text, you’ve gone 300 to 400 feet.
“That’s how accidents happen – and you don’t ever just have one victim,” said Sullivan.
Johnston Police, for its part, conducts frequent “party patrols” and the school’s student resource officers have a presence at all school dances (the sophomore semi-formal and junior proms have already been held this year).
In another initiative prompted by Johnston’s Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse, Johnston High School’s SADD organization – Students Against Destructive Decisions – have been working to create a SADD group at Ferri Middle School. On Friday, May 20, students from both schools created a “Chain of Life,” which was hung in the cafeteria of Ferri Middle School, hoping to get the message out sooner.
Friday, May 06, 2011
Sanity is what gets lost in this triangle! Once you go in, the only way out is laughing! An outrageous comedy about two widows whose daughters have moved them into a condo in Las Vegas. The older ladies – full of complaints and pains – meet a gentleman, and the fun begins.
First, enjoy a great buffetin the dining room. Then you will be escorted into the intimate theatre to watch the play. The evening will finish, when back at your table, you are treated to a cabaret.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Winds of Change offers all martial artists the opportunity to participate in a free seminar with world re-known Team Paul Mitchell members!
★ Take the Winds of Change Pledge Now ★
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Source: RI.gov
Governor Donald L. Carcieri today joined Colonel Brendan Doherty, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, Representatives Peter Kilmartin and Donna Walsh, Senator James E. Doyle, II, and members of the Foote family at a ceremony to formally into law H8515Aaa & S2946aa, the “Colin B. Foote Act.”
The legislation creates a habitual offender violation in the traffic tribunal, where it may suspend or revoke the license, for up to one year, of any individual convicted of four separate and distinct, specifically-defined moving violations within an 18-month period. Under the measure, the driver would also face a fine of up to $1,000 and be ordered to attend 60 hours of driving retraining and perform 60 hours of public community restitution. The bill was introduced in response to a recent accident in which a repeat traffic violator killed Colin B. Foote, a motorcycle driver in Charlestown.
“By enacting this law, we are taking the necessary measures to keep repeat traffic offenders from getting behind the wheel, make our roads safer, and better protect our innocent citizens,” said Governor Carcieri. “The Colin Foote Act will close a loophole in our laws and provide the courts with the tools they need to keep those who have a record of driving dangerously time and time again off of our roads. This was a senseless tragedy that broke all of our hearts. Rhode Island is like one big family. When tragedy touches one of us, it touches us all. And as we have so often before during times of sorrow, our community and our government leaders have responded. As we sign this measure today, we honor the memory of Colin Foote, a hardworking, kind and compassionate young man who had so many talents to share with our world.”
“We're grateful that the Governor, the General Assembly, and the citizens of Rhode Island responded decisively to pass Colin's Law in an effort to prevent another family from having to suffer the horrible tragedy we must now endure. Colin died at the hands of a repeat offender of serious traffic violations, and now law enforcement and the judicial system have the tools to prevent another tragedy,” said Colin's father, Robin Foote.
“I applaud Governor Carcieri for signing this bill into law and giving the courts the tools they need to revoke or suspend the licenses of those motorists who have driven irresponsibly and dangerously on more than one occasion. I can only hope that this new law will prevent senseless tragedies like the one that brought this issue to light in the first place,” said Representative Peter Kilmartin, sponsor of the “Colin B. Foote Act.”
Senator James E. Doyle, II, said, “I thank Governor Carcieri, Representatives Kilmartin and Walsh, and, most of all, the Foote family, for their courage and leadership on this important legislation. While nothing we do can take away the pain and suffering of the Foote family, the signing of this legislation will help to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedy. In that way, Colin Foote has made Rhode Island a better place.”
Representative Donna Walsh, co-sponsor of the legislation added, “Tightening traffic laws will ensure that repeat offenders are not given several chances to kill and maim innocent victims. With this new law, giving repeat offenders one more chance is no longer an option. I have known the Foote family, who live in my district, for many years, and my heart goes out to them. We worked so hard for passage of this bill to make sure that Colin's life will never be forgotten.”
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Source: CranstonPolice.com
As a service to our residents and the business community, Cranston Police are proud to announce a partnership with GetCrashReports.com to provide online access to all Cranston Rhode Island crash reports. All crash reports will be available 48 hours after the crash occurs (or sooner if approved) except for Fatal crashes and crashes under investigation. Fatal crash reports must be purchased at the Cranston Police Department.
Read the Full Announcement from Colonel Marco Palumbo Jr., of the Cranston Police Department.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Source: WPRI.com
This week's Street Stories takes you to medium security at the ACI in Cranston for a different kind of program.
A program where students hear from victims of car crashes that many times kill other teens.
See how the students learn from what the inmates teach.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Source: ProJo.com
Friday, May 14, 2010
Source: WPRI.com
By Darren Soens & Danielle North
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) – The mother of a local drunk driving victim uses her own tragic experience to teach teens about the dangers of driving drunk.
On Friday, Cathy Andreozzi joined police and firefighters for a mock drunk driving crash outside Cranston High School West.
Andreozzi's daughter, Tori, was seriously injured in a hit and run crash caused by a drunk driver.
“I labored over the idea, 'Would people be uncomfortable knowing that I was a real victim mom?' But that's the point,” said Andreozzi. “People should be uncomfortable because that discomfort they may have felt today is nothing compared to the real pain and hurt and loss that ensues when there's an alcohol-related tragedy.”
Here is the scenario: It is a bloody scene outside the school. In the mangled wreckage of one car, a mock victim is dead on the scene.
In the other vehicle, two injured victims, one played by Eyewitness News reporter Danielle North, and the other by a high school freshman, wait for help.
“We wanted them to see it as it really happened,” says Cranston Police Chief Marco Palumbo. “The accident, how long it took for emergency personnel to arrive at the scene, the pain that the occupants suffered during that time as the fire personnel cut the roof off the car to get them out.”
And as crews worked to rescue the injured, the mock victims were covered with blankets to protect them from shattered glass.
The “victims” were then put onto stretchers, as a woman screamed in the background.
That woman was Cathy Andreozzi, who hopes her presence would help drive home the message that drunk driving is no laughing matter.
“The choices that they make dictate the moments in their life. And there are no do-overs. No do-overs.”
Cranston police are hoping the students who witnessed the reenactment will remember the chilling scene, before they head out for prom night this weekend.
Extra patrols will be on the streets, to try to ensure that this prom night is a safe one.
