Japan is a long ways away, but the recent earthquake and tsunami caused a few waves in Bethany for Steven Squinto, who owns a pharmaceutical company in Massachusetts that has more than 50 employees located in Tokyo. While relieved to learn that all his people were safe, the threat of radiation loomed from damaged nuclear power plants, and Squinto was dismayed to learn there was no potassium iodide available to help protect his worker's thyroids.
Squinto called fellow Bethany Board of Finance member, John Grabowski, and asked for his help. Grabowski is the district manager of about 20 area CVS pharmacies, and after a few phone calls, a supply of potassium iodide was on its way to Japan in less than 24 hours. The stores had worked together to compile enough of the compound to treat all of Squinto's employees. They sent the supplies using two carriers so that if the shipment was lost or intercepted, the workers would still get enough to get started on the meds. Not to worry, both shipments arrived intact.
“It’s one of the advantages to living in a small town,” Squinto said. “It just took one phone call on Thursday and by Friday, it was on it’s way to Japan.”
Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
