DRUG SUMMIT SET IN CITY NEIGHBORHOOD

Nine years ago, Karyn Herman had an eye-opening experience with the drug
problem in her Locust Street neighborhood.

A group of children, perhaps 7 years old or so, found a coffee can filled
with bags of marijuana and turned it over to her. Moments later, a group of
older children, about 13 years, approached Herman and the youngsters,
looking to retrieve the marijuana.

"Their job was to protect it," Herman said of the 13-year-olds, who were
designated by dealers to guard their stash. "They were afraid for
themselves. They said, 'Do you know what will happen to us if (the
marijuana) isn't there?' "

Herman, president of Sector 3 in northwest Rochester, tells this story
matter-of-factly. Such things have occurred in her neighborhood and others
for years. And things have not changed: Just a week ago, Herman said, her
16-year-old son witnessed a half-dressed prostitute stumbling into a
suspected crack house while the boy was waiting for his morning school bus.

Those are reasons why Herman helped organize a drug summit for her
neighborhood, which will be held today at the Lake Avenue Baptist Church,
57 Ambrose St. An information-sharing session will run from 3 to 5 p.m.;
the summit goes from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Participants will review statistical data collected by Rochester Institute
of Technology professor John Klofas and discuss four topic areas:
prevention, treatment, law enforcement and environment.

If you think this sounds like the drug summit Police Chief Robert Duffy put
together in December, you're right. But the Sector 3 summit will focus on
northwest Rochester and its specific problems, Herman said, whereas Duffy's
plans are citywide. Also, Sector 3's summit is run by citizens; Duffy's had
experts in various fields.

Duffy will talk about his citywide initiative at today's summit and discuss
strategies that have worked elsewhere.

The Sector 3 summit will encourage people to share their experiences. For
instance, Herman said, someone who has gone through drug treatment can help
others through the sometimes tedious process of getting treatment.

"We're looking for new strategies and commitments from neighbors," said
John Lippa, co-chairman of Sector 3's summit and vice president of the
Lyell Avenue Business Association. "I don't know if this will work, but
maybe some people will think twice about coming around here for drugs and
prostitutes."