Fwd: A metrowestdailynews.com article from kenhmoulton@...

[Guest guest]

Toxic Mold strikes again in Massachusetts. This family might be able to recoup their loses from the electric company for turning off the power in violation of State Law. As those of us suffering from Toxic Mold know, we are not so lucky. We get sicker and our state legislator's ignore us and our families. I guess we don't give enough campaign contributions to get JUSTICE in Massachusetts.

Ken Moulton

You have been sent this message from kenhmoulton@... as a courtesy of metrowestdailynews.com (http://www.metrowestdailynews.com).

Comments:

To view the entire article, go to http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/local_regional/nati_mold07292003.htm

____________________________________________________________

Mold destroys 3-year-old house By Haley Daggett / News Staff Writer

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

NATICK -- A 3-year-old colonial left vacant while its owners were in the Middle East may have to be torn down because burst water pipes over the winter flooded the residence and spawned widespread toxic mold.

The home at 123A Bacon St., owned by the Rabi family and once valued at more than $500,000 by assessors, is posted " unfit for human habitation, " but health officials said yesterday the mold isn't a threat to the neighborhood.

The family was last seen in the fall by neighbor Kelley. A Sunday newspaper dated Nov. 24, 2002, can be seen through a window at the back of the house. Inside, the walls of the home show black splotches of mold.

Kelley said the family, whom he described as friendly and at retirement age, likely returned to their homeland near Saudi Arabia. He doesn't know why they never came back but speculates they may have run into immigration barriers.

The Rabi family's attorney, Feldman of Newton, said he " was not at liberty to disclose any information. "

The pipes likely burst when temperatures climbed above freezing, but town officials aren't sure when. Judging from the severe damage to the house, the pipes could have burst shortly after NStar turned the power off in January.

" This is my first time seeing something like this, " said Jim White, the town's senior environmental house specialist.

He compares every incident in his 23-year career to walking into this house last April.

" You know the smell of a moldy basement? Well multiply that by I don't know how many times, but a lot, " he said. " I feel bad for the people because they have nothing to come back to. "

According to Natick Board of Health Director Wade, electricity was turned off in January -- though state policy forbids companies from cutting power in the winter.

Carolyn Assa, director of media relations for NStar, said the Rabis never applied for electrical service but did receive free power for a couple of years due to a glitch in the system. When NStar caught the glitch, the company turned off the power.

" Someone went through the records and found it. We sent letter after letter - yet no one responded, " said Assa. " This situation circumvents the (state's) policy. "

On April 4, a neighbor called the Fire Department to report water dripping from the sill of the house. Apparently, water pipes going from the ground floor to the second floor burst and water damage had made its way down to the basement.

Two types of mold were found: black mold and wispy-like cobweb mold. The house turned into a breeding ground for mold, Wade said. This is becoming more prevalent in new homes because construction materials used today " support the growth of mold. "

The good news, Wade added, is no one was living there.

However, more household items, even the house, might have been saved if someone caught the problem sooner.

Because dishes aren't porous, they might be salvaged, but not clothes and paintings. Wade and White said the mold even got into the garage, and the car had to be cleaned three times to get rid of the moldy smell.

The building department will have to issue a permit before tearing down the house. Wade and White are also waiting to find out whether the family's insurance company or someone else will take responsibility for the cost of demolition.

" Everyone is under the assumption the house is not salvageable, " White said.

According to the assessor's office, the property was once valued at $509,000, but has since dropped to $205,500. The land's value remained at $145,500, while the house depreciated from $363,500 to $60,000.

( Haley Daggett can be reached at 508-626-4449 or sdaggett@...)

____________________________________________________________

News you need, from metrowestdailynews.com e-news

Get the top headlines of the day delivered right to your e-mail in-box with metrowestdailynews.com e-news. It's free, and it's easy to sign up. Stay on top of the news you want - in sports, business, local news and opinions, entertainment and more!

Sign up now at: http://metrowestdailynews.publishmail.com

____________________________________________________________

) Copyright by the metrowestdailynews.com and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems, Inc.

No portion of metrowestdailynews.com or its content may be reproduced without the owner's written permission.

Privacy Commitment

____________________________________________________________