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THE FIRST ANNUAL
LIGHTS IN THE DARKNESS -
CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL

Sponsored In Memory Of:
Nicole E. Tassone




Sponsored By:
The Childrens Preservation Society of Pennsylvania
Four Square Gospel Church, Pottsville
Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol Executive Commission

Sunday, 27 May 2001



Source: Pottsville Republican/Evening Herald Newspaper
Date: Thursday 24 May 2001
Reporter: Maria Herne

County Life Headline: "DRUG AWARENESS DAY SET"
Sub Headline: "Sunday Vigil to Shed Light on Local, National Problem"


In an effort to promote a greater community awareness about the problems of drug and alcohol abuse, the Schuylkill County Commissioners issued a proclamation at their regular meeting Wednesday declaring Sunday Drug Awareness Day.

Commissioners Chairman Forrest L. Shadle said the proclamation was inspired by, and will work in conjunction with, the county's first annual Lights in The Darkness Drug Awareness Candlelight Vigil and Memorial Service, which will be held in memory of Nicole E. Tassone, a Pottsville Area High School junior who died of a drug overdose last October.

The vigil will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday in front of City Hall, North Centre Street, Pottsville. Participants will march through downtown Pottsville to the FourSquare Gospel Church, where a memorial service will be held for victims of drug and alcohol abuse.

The proclamation was received by vigil coordinators Vicki J. Fisher, executive director of the Childrens Preservation Society of Pennsylvania and Carol L. Tassone, Nicole's mother.

The Pottsville Area High School junior was found by her mother on the morning of Oct. 13, dead from a lethal overdose of methadone and oxycodone.

Fisher said garnering support from county officials was essential to ensure that the bigil's purpose - to promote increased drug and alcohol prevention efforts in the county - was achieved.

"We want to encourage the whole community to get involved in bringing a greater awareness to the county about the problems of drug and alcohol abuse," Fisher said. "We want this to be a time for those who have lost a loved one to drugs and alcohol to gather together and find support in one another, as well as provide a window of opportunity to encourage those afflicted by drugs and alcohol to seek treatment for their problems."

Fisher said there will be resources and information available at the service.

Kathy Berry, a Philadelphia area mother who founded the first Candlelight Drug Awareness Vigil in 1998, will lead the Schuylkill vigil and march and will conduct at the memorial service, said Fisher.

Berry was inspired to found Candles for Karen, a drug and alcohol abuse awareness group, after her 17-year-old daughter died from a heroin overdose in 1997.

Since then, Berry has helped Tassone, Fisher and groups across the U.S. start similar memorial services in their communities.

Shadle said the intent of issuing the proclamation was to show the county is making an effort to mobilize its forces to work for the awareness and prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.

"Alcohol and drug abuse significantly contributes to health problems, increased health care costs, crime violence, HIV/AIDS and other serious problems in this nation and in the county," Shadle said. "Working to prevent the abuse of alcohol and drugs, could substantially decrease these problems."

Vigil Picture, PR/EH Newspaper

Source: Pottsville Republican/Evening Herald Newspaper
Date: Tuesday, 29 May 2001
Reporter: Maria Herne

Front Page Headline: "THEY REMEMBER"
Sub Headline: "250 Join Vigil Against Drugs"


The sounds of a bagpipe playing "Amazing Grace" filled the night air as more than a hundred marchers bearing candles silently walked down Centre Street on Sunday night.

Some 250 people showed up to participate in the county's first Lights in the Darkness Drug Awareness Candlelight Vigil, a memorial service for survivors to remember loved ones who died as a result of drug and alcohol abuse.

This year's vigil - sponsored in part by the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission, the Life Centre FourSquare Gospel Church, Pottsville, and The Childrens Preservation Society of Pennsylvania - was dedicated to the memory of Nicole E. Tassone, a 17-year-old Pottsville Area High School junior who died last October from a drug overdose.

"The crosses we bear hopefully will serve as a reminder to the community of the tragedy of drug and alcohol abuse, of what can happen," said Victoria J. Fisher, executive director of the Childrens Preservation Society of Pennsylvania. "We're also here to start the healing, for those who grieve every day for loved ones who have died as a result of drug and alcohol abuse, by themselves or at the hands of another."

Tassone was found dead on the morning of Oct. 13, in her home by her mother, Carol L. Tassone, from a lethal overdose of methadone and oxycodone.

Her daughter's untimely death inspired Tassone to action.

Tassone developed the concept with Fisher's organization which supports increased drug abuse prevention programs aimed at juveniles.

Tammy L. Boyer, of Auburn, described the vigil as "a cleansing experience."

"I had someone that was very close to me commit suicide slowly, by drinking themselves to death," Boyer said, wiping away tears.

"And I have a few others close to me who have ruined their lives by using drugs or alcohol," Boyer said. "But I'm only one person in a crowd, but all these people and many, many others who aren't here tonight have been affected in some way by drugs or alcohol. I'm angry, and I'm sad at the same time."

Lone bagpipe player Sean McCormick, Ringtown, led the procession.

Twenty-eight mourners carried wooden crosses bearing the names of a deceased loved one. Others followed bearing candles during the procession to the Four Square Gospel Church at 314 S. Centre Street.

Philadelphia-area mother Kathy Berry carried a cross for her 17-year-old daughter, Karen who died from a lethal overdose of heroin in 1997.

"Her body was dumped in a hospital parking lot by her so-called friends, after she overdosed," Berry recalled.

She organized a candlelight vigil in her neighborhood in memory of her daughter in 1998 - the Candles for Karen Drug Awareness Candlelight Vigil - with more than 500 people participating.

Since then, Berry has made it her mission in life to help Fisher, Tassone and others across Schuylkill County organize similar memorial services.

During the memorial service at the church, officiated by Pastor John Allen and Pastor Rocky L. Weitkamp, Tassone and others remembered their deceased loved ones by placing their crosses on the altar.

"There are so many things, I could tell you about Nikki, but that could take days," Carol Tassone said, in a memorial prayer dedicated to her daughter. "All I can say is we miss her terribly, and our lives will never be the same again."

While many, like Tassone, Berry and Boyer, were there because they had lost someone - a family member or friend - others showed up to show their support for the cause: to promote drug and alcohol abuse awareness measures in the community, and to support increased prevention and treatment services.

Frank R. Cori, the Republican nominee for the district attorney's office in the upcoming election, pledged tougher law enforcement for drug and alcohol offenses, and an increased emphasis on treatment and rehabilitation for repeat offenders.

"I am very gratified by the turnout tonight," Cori said, before the procession started. "This event is long overdue. We need to focus as a community on the problems caused by drug and alcohol abuse in our community. During my administration, I will work toward more vigorous law enforcement of drug and alcohol offenses. The laws are on the books - it's a matter of enforcing them more effectively."

Drug charges are pending against Amber L. Blickley, the 19-year-old -Pottsville woman, who supplied the drugs which led to Nicole's death, has been charged by the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office with possession of controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. The trial was continued May 8 by Blickley's lawyer, Pottsville attorney Frederick Fanelli until September.

Tassone and Fisher are in the process of working with several human service organization officials in Luzerne County to launch a memorial service in that county.



Site Map
Article:
Teen Girl Charged In Death By Drugs		 Article:
Methadone Claims First Victim Here
Article:
Police: Methadone Prescribed Legally, Stolen From Medicine Cabinet		 Article:
Nikki's Mother Tells Of That Fatal Night
Article:
Plea Deal Sought In Teen's Death		 Article:
Search For Justice An Individual Quest
Coming Soon:
What is Methadone?		 Community Youth Center
In Memory Of: Nicole E. Tassone
Lights In The Darkness
Candle Light Vigil		 Coming Soon:
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