Press Releases

October 1, 2005 By JENNIFER JONES Telegram Staff Writer (Reprinted here with permission of The Evening Telegram)

Residence will offer those recovering from substance abuse a place to stay sober 

HERKIMER — A past resident of Herkimer is looking to give back to the community by opening what would he Herkimer’s only sober living home.

Faith Nichols Peterson dedicated the King street home to her father Albert Nichols, who died from cancer in 1960.

The two unit Albert 0. Nichols house was once a restaurant and bar, known as Mr. Tut’s. Peterson’s father owned and operated the bar until his death. Peterson and her father lived in the apartment above the restaurant.

“This is a way for me to give back to the community in which I grew up and to help others,” Peterson said, “and it’s a way for me to honor my father’s memory.”

People suffering from alcoholism or chemical dependency need a place where they can recover without having their willpower weakened by watching family or friends drinking and/or taking drugs, Peterson explained. She wants to make the home a safe haven for them until they feel ready get to back to their lives.

At the present time, Peterson does not believe she will be able to offer outpatient service. She said it would depend on the need for such services.

Peterson owns four outpatient chemical dependency treatment agencies in Erie and Niagara counties. She has worked in the alcohol and drug abuse field since 1983. Her first treatment center was opened in Buffalo in 1990, known as the Beacon Center.

“Recovery is a gift,” Peterson said. “It’s a gift from God.”

There will be one person who would oversee the house. At least, once a week one of her staff from one of her outpatient treatment centers will come to Herkimer and supervise the house manager.

The house will be able to help 12 to 15 people at most. It depends on who presents themselves, Peterson explained.

“We know that we have the highest standards to give them the best possible chances,” Peterson said.

Peterson checked with local, county and state officials to see if there was a need for the home, and she learned that there was no other such place in Herkimer. Peterson said she would offer residents, not only her extensive knowledge in rehabilitation, but her ability to coordinate services for her residents, making the transition easier for them.

Also, Peterson is very demanding about, how the home should look. She said if she didn’t want to live there, then it wasn’t good enough for her future residents.

Peterson learned that her former home was on the market, last year on Thanksgiving Day.

“I don’t believe that it was an accident,” Peterson said.

September 27, 2005

Former Tavern Being Converted to Sober Living Home 

Plans are in place to convert a former bar in downtown Herkimer into a sober living house for persons who are recovering from addictions to alcohol and other drugs. The proposed home, located at the corner of King Street and Eastern Avenue, was bought by Albert O. Nichols in 1956 and operated for several years at Tut's, a restaurant and a tavern until Mr. Nichols' death of cancer in 1960. The upper floor also served as living quarters for Mr. Nichols and his daughter, Faith Nichols Peterson. Ms. Peterson, a 1968 graduate of Herkimer High School, purchased the building last year with the intent of renovating it and using it as a supportive living facility.

Named in her late father's memory, the Albert O. Nichols House was, in the 1960s, a fourteen room house that featured two apartments. Over the years, it has been renovated and restored at various times and now features two living units. Ms. Peterson's plan is to leave the house in two units, possibly using one for men and one for women. "We want to give people in early recovery from the disease of alcoholism and substance abuse a warm, homey environment in which to live and recover," Ms. Peterson explained.

Ms. Peterson has been in contact with state, village, and county officials, who have verified the unmet need for this type of facility in the community. She also plans to coordinate services with all other service providers in the area to ensure that all Albert O. Nichols House residents receive the highest quality of care.

Ms. Peterson has worked in the chemical dependency treatment field since 1983, and is a New York State Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor. In 1990, she founded Buffalo Beacon Corporation, an outpatient chemical dependency treatment agency, which does business as Beacon Center. From one small location in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, Beacon Center has grown to encompass four locations in Erie and Niagara Counties and is one of the largest woman-owned businesses in the Western New York area.

The project, which is headed by general contractor Victor Norman, is completed on the exterior, but work is still continuing on the interior. "This home is a way for me to give back to the community in which I grew up, and to help others," Ms. Peterson explained, "and it is a way for me to honor my father's memory, who instilled those values in me. I don't believe," she continued, "that it was an accident that this house was available for purchase at this time."

March 31, 2005

Beacon Center Offers Program for Women in Trauma

Beacon Center, a drug and alcohol treatment facility, is offering a program for women who have experienced trauma in their lives, called "Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women." This program is for women have problems with alcohol or other drugs, as well as for females who are in relationships with persons who have alcohol and other drug problems.

Studies have shown that a high number of alcohol- or substance-abusing women have experienced significant trauma in their lives, and that these women face a greater chance of relapsing once they become sober if they do not address this issue. In addition, persons in relationships with an alcohol or other substance abuser can recover better from codependency if these issues are addressed. "Beyond Trauma," which consists of individual and group therapy, is unique in that it allows women to work through the abuse they have experienced without reliving it. They will go through a process of understanding what has happened to them and will learn more about what abuse is and how widespread it is in women's lives. Participants will then explore the ways in which the abuse has impacted their lives and will learn various coping mechanisms, including exercises to help them feel grounded, self-soothed, and focused on personal safety. According to Lisa Howard, the facilitator of the program, "The women seem to particularly enjoy the relaxation exercises and find the group provides a safe, supportive environment."

"Women in Trauma" is offered at Beacon Center's four locations. For more information on this and Beacon Center's many other programs, please call Jacqueline Nicastro at (716) 439-6815.