Great!

Sarcasm intended

where do you get more information about Leroy's House?

My initial reaction was not good... sort of like the sarcastic one left above. I googled Leroy's house and I actually think it's a good idea. Look at the link below and the house rules, etc. The residents have to be employed, are subject to random drug/alcohol testing, they pay rent, they can't even bring in mouthwash that contains alcohol. They have to have gone through a detox program and must attend a number of meetings per week. Not that I want all the services in my back yard, but this one looks like a good, well regulated one.
http://simplelivinginc.org/leroyslodge/

thanks for the info "Comment"...everyone deserves a second chance IMO!

I am not against these types of places. I just get concerned when it is that close to areas that children are very frequently at. For example....the ENTIRE Livinsgton field complex where camps are held, playground, tennis courts, rec center, TYB fields....I would have preferred it be a little further away from all that. However I am happy these people get a place to go that is supportive with other people in the same situations as them. I do believe these types of places work well.

If you look at the website, it says they are men who had alcohol abuse issues, doesn't say they were pedophiles... If that's the card you are playing, alcoholics are EVERYWHERE, at least these guys are trying to beat the addiction.

Wow. Totally not playing any cards. I didn't say they were pedophiles. And that is not the behavior I was concerned about. I understand there are Alcoholics everywhere I just had a little concern of a large group being so centrally located near that area. I'm allowed to have concerns. If I had to choose between them being in that house or nowhere at all I would definitely choose for them to be there. Everyone deserves the help they need. Which I also stated in my previous comment....

Jenn, I actually did look at the sex offender list to see if any were residing at this address. There were no level 3's listed at this location.

I have far less of a problem with this location only because of the rules/regulations that they have in place. No offense to anyone, but I think any of the hotels/motels in town as well as even walking through Walmart is more dangerous than what's going on at this house. I also like that if people are on SSDI and unable to be employed, they are required to volunteer at least 15 hours a week. I think the state welfare system should take a lesson from places like this.

My kids frequent the Livingston Street area. IMO, I am not worried about this place. They are more likely to get run over by a drunk driver up on Route 38 then near this regulated place.

I don't have a problem with it. When you think about it in terms of being close to Livingston, the actual hospital is closer to the fields than this house, so I'm not that worried. The rules seem to take care of my issues, so it's fine with me.

Jenn, have you ever heard the saying "a dog doesn't $#%@ where he sleeps". If they fall off the wagon, they won't be doing it near here. They know they won't let them in. (I'm not arguing or calling you out, just having a conversation).

I am much more concerned with the State Hospital. There have been ecscapes from the hospital, including people who have been charged with violent crimes. In addition, there are drug addicts housed there who are also criminal offenders. In driving through there in error one day I saw them all out for a walk. I thought they were filming the next series of the Walking Dead.

I have been trying to get on the website to read the rules. I haven't been able to get it to come up. Must be a lot of people looking it up. Comment: you are probably right about them going away from the area...
Joe Bill: I am also much more concerned about the hospital than I was about this place. I think all parents in Tewksbury are more concerned about that. But since this article wasn't about that so I didn't want to bring it up and sound like I whine about everything in this town :)

I tried to cut and paste the rules, but the text box has a character limit. I can't guess why that website doesn't come up for you. :(

As an aside, years ago, after there was an escapee from the hospital who was found down by the playground, I actually met with the then CEO (Sandy Akers). They, at that time, instituted policies where they would no longer accept that category of patients. She also confirmed that the level 3 sex offenders that live there are in their medical unit where they are basically terminally ill and will be departing in a body bag.

I don't know how receptive the new CEO is to meeting with the community, but Ms. Akers was very welcoming to comments and questions.

all convicted sex offenders should leave the Courtroom in a body bag. On a side note, the addictions treatment center has helped many, and unfortunately is a needed "thing" nowadays. You never know who has gone through the program up there, could be that nice person you met the other day....treatment works. There are good and bad in everything, lets hope all the "good ones" are being treated at Tewksbury....

". . . and is privately managed by a man with Tewksbury roots."

Come on, Bill. Why would you print the story and not disclose the name of this person? All that does is make me wonder who's protecting whom from what? If the answer is noone, noone, and nothing, then just write, ". . . and is privately managed by [e.g., John Doe], a man with Tewksbury roots."

maybe it's an anonymity thing like with AA? I've attended programs in buildings where AA has been held and we've been instructed to please not acknowledge anyone we may recognize during meeting times.

Janellen ... in the information I was able to gather, I was not given the name of the manager. Chief Hazel referred to him as a man with Tewksbury roots. As this was not a story about the program but rather about what was going on with the building, I didn't feel it was essential to have the manager's name.

Ahh...Janellen27...back again.

i couldnt resist! lol... And on the topic...good luck to the men that stay there...alcoholism doesnt make you a pedofile...a place like this saved my nephews life in California. I wish them luck...one day at a time.

I dont understand what the issue is...
Is it because its Leroy's Lodge with MEN vs a Sally's house ?? Would it be different it this became the home of women ? I clicked on the link, and it looks like a great organization helping people who need it. How many level 2 sex offenders live at the state hospital ? How many people with mental illness live at the state hospital ?

This property is not abandoned like so many others in this town...it is kept up..its shutters are not falling off...its grass is not over grown . Good luck to all who go through simple living's program !

I dont understand why everyone jump on the complain train when anything new comes into this town. Didnt this town start off as a community, dont we want our children to grow up helping people and not being judgemental towards others. Better yet, have any of you heard the expression "dont judge a book by its cover"? Why dont you give Leroy's Logde and the people that go there for help a chance.

Ahh yes we must be getting that special hotel tax we voted in, property taxes, did we collect our Sewer Connections fees (16-18 units). How about that streach code we voted in, clearly a change of use. Has the ADA reviewed for compliance. Hmmm, so much to think about.

I highly doubt it has any affect on property values, as this property is owned by the state and the hospital runs it. Whatever effect the state hospital has on the property values is the effect. If Leroy's House was across the street within the confines of what we see as the hospital campus, we probably wouldn't even have heard about it.

This is probably part of the reason we see our crime increasing. People who struggle with these issues usual don't associate with law-abiding citizens and this is likely the reason drug dealers, house break-ins, etc are increasing in our community.

That's a bunch of crap. Crime is increasing due to the drug epidemic that is spreading into the suburbs from the cities - not from employed people seeking help for an alcohol problem.

These housebreaks and bank robberies are people who are on heroin, crack, meth - whatever they have been stupid enough to try. Show us one article that says someone robbed a house or a bank for money for alcohol. I can show you about 50 about robberies occuring so drug addicts can get another fix. The Caswell didn't have trouble with people making moonshine... they had a meth lab.

Let it go, Bob. Irrelevant. Focus on the topic. I asked, Bill explained, end of story.

If you must persist, however, give me your E-mail address; I'll be glad to take the time to explain. No need to further distract the other posters from their discussion about the program.

if you read the website for leroy's lodge it says helping those with addiction. It doesn't specify only alcohol addiction so this doesn't mean former drug addicts aren't living here.

OK guys, lets please stay away from any types of personal attacks or insulting comments. I'm not singling anyone out I'm just saying that the debate can be had without pot shots being taken.