Community Corner

Demers' Fight for Martin Ave. Home Continues

A local family is trying to get on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" regarding their home, which is unlivable five years after an oil spill.

A Salem family is not giving up their fight five years after an oil spill rendered their home unlivable.

Suzanne Demers and her son, Michael, are hoping in the coming months to raze their home at 21 Martin Ave. and either build a new one or replace the foundation and put in vapor barrier to eliminate the odor of fuel.

On Feb. 6, 2007, over 200 gallons of home heating oil flooded their basement. The Demerses said it was because an employee of Haffner's Oil in Lawrence, Mass., overfilled their tank.

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But they lost their court case against Haffner's, Haffner's insurer Acadia, and two companies responsible for the clean-up, Enpro Services and Ambrose Environmental Management, Inc. 

Michael said his mother now finds herself $200,000 in debt and they are living in a 70-foot mobile home on the front lawn of their property. 

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In response, Michael has started the "Campaign For Mom's Home." It's an effort centered around replacing or fixing the foundation of the Martin Avenue home that Michael said was once valued at over $300,000 and now is assessed at $55,000.

"We are looking into the costs and will get estimates for both to raze the home or replace it," Michael said.

From there, he expects to start contacting "local building contractors and building suppliers, looking for sponsors and companies that may be interested in donating labor and materials to help."

Michael said he's working on a radio spot he hopes to send out to stations nationwide to spread the word about their efforts.

In addition, they've contacted "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" about featuring Suzanne and her story to help their cause.

In November, they will go back before the Salem Zoning Board of Adjustment, Michael said, to seek another extension to continuing living in the mobile home.

Michael added he's sent letters to the offices of Gov. John Lynch, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Charles Bass asking for further assistance. 

More information on the Demers' story, and the opportunity to donate to their cause, can be found on their website, HaffnersOilSpill.com. There's also a link to contact "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" regarding their story.


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