RETIRED N.Y. CITY POLICE OFFICER TAKES OVER COALITION

LUDLOW -- Two years ago Paul Faenza, 47, retired as a New York City
police sergeant and moved to Mount Holly with his wife and two children.

He has come out of his retirement to serve as the new project
assistant for the Black River Area Community Coalition, an anti-drug
and -alcohol initiative serving Ludlow, Mount Holly and Plymouth.

BRACC Coordinator Brigid Sullivan said Faenza's nine years of
experience in narcotics investigation and enforcement will be used to
educate students and parents about the risks of youth intoxication.

"I've been there," Faenza said. "I've dealt with 15-year-olds dying
of drug overdoses."

The addition doubles BRACC's full-time staff, made possible through a
five-year federal drug-free communities grant worth $500,000.

Faenza started two weeks ago and said his focus now is on promoting
awareness of alcohol use among teens.

"There has been a real problem in the last couple of weeks with
underage drinking," he said.

Sullivan said this is a typical side effect of the holiday season.

"It's a party time of year and kids pick up on that," she said.

Faenza and Sullivan are planning parental training programs showing
how to spot drug and alcohol abuse in their children. They also want
to teach adults in the region about the legal consequences of
supplying alcohol to minors.

Faenza said he will work closely with local and state police in
recognizing area retailers that do not sell to minors.

They also plan to increase positive activities through the youth
initiated grant program, which gives money to students for their own
events. Sullivan said six groups of students have submitted grant
applications and will hear back in January.