Pam Sawyer and Bolton fireman Tom Galeota discuss equipment needs

Hartford- Representative Pam Sawyer (R- Bolton) is encouraging residents to sign up for the CT Alert Emergency Notification System. CT Alert ENS allows state and local officials to help protect lives and property by providing critical information to residents during emergencies, including dangerous situations.  

The system allows authorized users, such as state and local emergency personnel, to quickly send out an emergency alert to residents in any affected geographic area within the state. Depending on the emergency, the alert may be sent to an entire town, part of a town, a group of towns, or a large area of the state. 

“If there is a life-threatening emergency- the more time you have to react- the better chance you have of escaping unharmed,” Sawyer state. “Most people spend their day in close vicinity to a phone of some kind but not necessarily a TV or a radio. This system is the best way to provide the earliest alert to the most people.”

“The CT Alert ENS is a great state service but not nearly enough people are taking advantage of it,” said Sawyer. “I hope everyone takes a few minutes to sign up for the alert system. It’s an easy way to add a level of protection and give piece of mind.”

To sign-up for alerts or to learn more about the program you can visit www.ctalert.gov

CT Alert ENS is managed by the State Departments of Public Safety and Emergency Management and Homeland Security and is available for use by state and local 911 Emergency Communications Centers, and some state agencies.

In addition to your “land-line” you can also add mobile phones, e-mail, text messaging and other instant messaging as a means of receiving alerts.

HARTFORD – Two families who adopted Safe Havens babies today joined state officials at a press conference at Saint Francis Hospital to help educate the public about the law that has protected 11 children since the law took effect in 2000.

State Representative Pamela Z. Sawyer (R-Bolton), who helped shepherd this bill through the legislature back in 2000, spoke to the importance of enlightening people to the existence of this law.

“This is the 10th anniversary of this successful law being passed,” Rep. Sawyer said. “During this time, 11 babies have been protected, and we’ve also protected 11 mothers from prosecution.”

“As a mother, and soon-to-be grandmother, I know the joys of motherhood; unfortunately, I have also seen the pains of desperation. Thanks to Safe Havens we have helped the desperate while creating families and helping others realize the happiness of parenthood.”

Under the Safe Havens Law, if the baby is 30 days old or younger, the parent can bring the baby to any hospital emergency department in Connecticut, and the parent will not face criminal prosecution for abandonment. The parent is not required to give information, and the baby will be cared for and quickly placed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) with a licensed family who wants to adopt. Since, the law took effect in 2000, there have been 11 Safe Haven babies — all of whom have been adopted or are living permanently with a relative.

“Our children are our most precious resource and this law helps protect them,” Sawyer said. “The alternative to having Safe Havens is finding infants abandoned without a trace which, by the way, continues to happen. We need to continue to educate people about their options; the law only works if a greatly distressed mother knows about it!”

Unfortunately, despite the law’s existence, four babies have been abandoned since 2000 without using the Safe Haven option. There were two in 2001 (in Greenwich and Brookfield), another in July 2004 (in Branford) and one in August 2006 (in Groton).

Fortunately, all four of these babies survived.

How the Safe Havens Law Works

• • Infants 30 days old or younger can be left at Safe Havens (any hospital emergency department)
• • The parent will be given a packet about the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and DCF will assume custody of the infant
• • Parental rights will be terminated so that the baby can be adopted
• • If the parent changes his or her mind, they should contact DCF and immediately apply to the court for an attorney to represent them
• • Parents who do not harm their infant cannot be criminally charged with abandonment if they use a Safe Haven
• • A nurse will meet the parent in a private room to obtain medical history, but the parent does not have to answer any questions

 To learn how to become a foster or adoptive parent, please call 1-888-KID-HERO

Hartford- On Wednesday Connecticut students from around the state participating in the Connecticut Invention Convention visited the capitol to display their inventions. 

State Representative Pam Sawyer (R- Marlborough), a former middle school science teacher, spent an hour to visit students representing Marlborough to see what kinds of creative inventions they brought with them.

“I saw some wonderful inventions today from some very bright and creative students,” remarked Sawyer. “I wouldn’t mind having a few of the inventions I saw today to help people out in everyday life. This was a great opportunity for kids to experience a different type of learning that they might not normally have within their everyday textbook curriculum.”

 “As a former science teacher I understand the importance of teaching science and encouraging creativity as well as the presentation portion, at a young age, which brings out the best in our young people. ” said Sawyer.

This is the 27^th year of the Connecticut Invention Convention, which is a not-for-profit educational organization started in 1983 as part of the Connecticut Educators Network for the Talented and Gifted. The program is open to K-8 students statewide with instruction provided by local teachers. An estimated 100 CT schools and 10,000 students participate in the CIC each year.

For more information on the Connecticut Invention Convention visit www.ctinventionconvention.org

Hartford- Today the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Community College System announced an agreement to expand the Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP) to include community college graduates wishing to earn University of Connecticut degrees in business.

The agreement was signed at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford by Michael J. Hogan, president of the University of Connecticut, and Marc S. Herzog, chancellor of the community college system.

Representative Pam Sawyer (R- Andover, Bolton, Hebron, and Marlborough) has been a big proponent of GAP as the ranking member of the legislature’s Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.

“This is exactly the type of synergy we need throughout Connecticut’s higher education system,” Rep. Sawyer said. “We are providing more opportunities for the young people in our state rather than forcing them out of state or, worse, discouraging them from continuing their education.”

The Guaranteed Admissions Program began in 2004 as a pilot program that provided Connecticut’s Community College graduates guaranteed admission to UConn’s Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Agriculture and Natural Sciences. 

Under the expansion of GAP, graduates of Connecticut’s Community Colleges who earn an associate’s degree in a liberal arts transfer program with a 3.3 GPA will be guaranteed admission to the University of Connecticut’s School of Business.

Sawyer said that this program will benefit those driven students who have successfully worked their way through a rigorous associates degree with better than a ‘B’ average. “These are the business leaders of tomorrow, some of CT’s finest,” she said.

“This agreement will prove very beneficial to the Connecticut students, the Community Colleges and the University of Connecticut, and the State of Connecticut, said Hogan. “It’s a win-win-win situation.”

“This agreement represents a major expansion of opportunity for Community College students,” Herzog said. “Each year the open doors of Community Colleges offer thousands of students’ access to the many opportunities provided by higher education- academic success, personal development, improved earning potential and career advancement, and a better life for themselves, their families, and the communities in which they live.”

The Community Colleges and UConn will share information about the students in the program, including their progress at the Community Colleges and their success at the University.

Students who do not participate in the GAP may still be eligible to transfer to UConn through the competitive transfer process.

The Bolton High School senior, who was selected from dozens of entries from across the state, read her winning essay during the PCSW Women’s Day event before receiving a plaque and bouquet of flowers. 

This year’s essay theme was “What is the most pressing issue facing young women today and how do you see yourself having an impact on this issue?” O’Connor’s essay, titled: “The Modern Woman: Underrepresented and Underpaid,” discussed the gender inequality between women and men in the workforce and politics.

“The essays this year really spoke to the important issues our young women face on a daily basis,” Rep. Sawyer said.  “Caitlin’s essay demonstrated her understanding of the ‘glass ceiling’ working women face but I’m confident young women like Caitlin will break through that ceiling and further gender equality.”

The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women conducts ongoing study of all matters concerning women; informs the leaders of business, education, government and the media about the nature and scope of sex discrimination; serves as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with services for women; promotes consideration of qualified women for all levels of government positions; and works with State agencies to assess programs and practices as they affect women.

To meet the demand for more new telephone numbers, the state Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) has ordered two Area Code Overlays, that is, two more Connecticut area codes on top of the two we already have.

A 959 area code will be added to the area served by 860, and a 475 area code will be added to southwestern Connecticut now served by 203.

So, someone moving into your neighborhood may soon have a different area code from yours. Than means all calls—even across the street—will require dialing the area code first.

• Who will be affected?
All Connecticut customers with a 203 or 860 number will have to change the way they dial a local call.

• When will the change begin?
Beginning Nov. 14, callers must use the new dialing procedure for all local calls in Connecticut. Callers can begin using the new 10-digit dialing immediately. Local calls using either 7 digits or 10 digits both will be completed, during this transition period. Ten digits will be required starting on Nov. 14.

• What you need to do?
All equipment programmed with a 7-digit telephone number will need to be reprogrammed. Some examples are life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services and similar functions

Business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks or pet ID tags also may need the addition of an area code.

• What remains the same?
Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change. What is a local call will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed. The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services, will not change due to the overlay.

You can still dial just three digits to reach 911. If 211,311,411,511,611,711 or 811 are currently available in your community, you will still dial them with just three digits.

• Who to contact with questions?
For questions about this changeover, please call your local telephone service provider, wireless service provider or the DPUC Consumer Assistance and Information Unit at 860-827-1553 or toll-free 800-382-4586.

Hope this information is helpful.