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Journal Inquirer
EAST WINDSOR • ENFIELD • SOMERS • SUFFIELD • WINDSOR • WINDSOR LOCKS
Body camera dilemma Legislative proposal triggers concern about policies, cost By Mike Savino Journal Inquirer
HARTFORD — Opponents of a bill requiring police departments across the state to wear body cameras warn that approving such a measure would be moving too quickly for a technology that so few police agencies have tested. And there are worries about the cost of purchasing body cameras and storing the recordings, which likely would be costlier than the price for the devices themselves. Some argue the legislature instead should opt for a pilot program that
already has won approval from the Connecticut will be wearing body camPublic Safety and Security Committee. eras in the “not-too-distant future.” “I think body cameras for every lawRelated commentary, Page 20 enforcement officer in Connecticut are inevitable. Whether it happens this year “This is something each community is a question,” he said. should do on their own,” South Windsor Coleman is co-chairman of the Police Chief Matthew Reed said. Judiciary Committee, which approved But proponents say the body cameras the bill providing for the cameras 22-19 are necessary to monitor police actions along party lines. and allow the public to hold officers He cited incidents like the police accountable in instances of excessive shooting in North Charleston, South use of force or other wrongdoing. Carolina, this month during which a Sen. Eric D. Coleman, D-Bloomfield, said he believes every officer in ■ SEE BODY CAMERAS / PAGE 3
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MONDAY APRIL 27, 2015
SOMERS
Settlement near in dance suit A family charged that a daughter was bullied and harassed by the dance team coach at Somers High School. Page 7
SPORTS
Yankees take Mets series with 6-4 win Alex Rodriguez hit his 659th home run to move within one of Willie Mays for fourth place in career homers. Page 44
TUESDAY’S WEATHER
HELPING HANDS
63 42
EPISODES OF SUNSHINE PAGE TV4
INDEX Advice...................................26 Astrology...............................28 Bridge...................................30 Business.............................21 Classifieds......................31-35 Comics............................27-30 Crossword.............................32 Editorial...........................18-20 Living...............................22-26 Local Calendar.......................5
! PLAY NOW
SCRAMBLR S ONLY LAST FOR SIX WEEKS !
Kelly Meyer for the Journal Inquirer
Max Enes, 8, of Berlin watches his mother, Rebekka, fill out raffle tickets before walking Saturday to support Abby’s Helping Hands. The event included a 3-mile walk, refreshments, the raffle, a DJ, and face painting. The family of Abby Sauerhoefer, a student at Broad Brook Elementary School in East Windsor, formed Abby’s Helping Hands to provide assistance and support to vulnerable community members. ■ See story, Page 4
Lottery.....................................6 Movie guide..........................25 Nation/World....................8-11 Obituaries.............................16 Public notices................32, 33 Sports..............................35-44 State/Region.................12-17 Take 6......................................6 Television....................TV1-TV4 Towns...................................2-7
grand prizes! $1,500
ENFIELD SQUARE SHOPPING SPREE
$1,000
GIFT CARD TO P.C. RICHARD & SON
EVERYBOORDDGYAM’SE ! FAVORITE W
daily one to win our play and be thent gift certificate ! $50 restaura page 10
4 MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015 / JOURNAL INQUIRER
Walk for Abby raises over $45,000 By Kyle Penn Journal Inquirer
Opening day Members of the D&S Contractors baseball team, above, listen to the speakers during the Vernon-Rockville Little League opening day ceremonies Saturday at Gill Field in Henry Park in Vernon. More than 500 boys and girls turned out for the start of the inaugural season of the newly merged league for boys and girls ages 4-12 for baseball and girls 4-17 for softball. At upper left, Brendan Margelony, 5, left, and Sydney Keane, 5, right, lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance while Jeremy Albert, vice president of baseball for the VernonRockville Little League holds the microphone. At lower left, Mason Russell, 8, smiles as Sandra Naylor hands him a soda at the concession booth. Jared Ramsdell / Journal Inquirer
EAST WINDSOR — Saturday’s 5K Walk for Abby saw its biggest participant turnout yet. The fifth annual event again raised a significant amount of money to support Abby’s Helping Hand and its mission to improve the quality of life for those with mitochondrial and other chronic diseases. According to Carol Sauerhoefer, Abby Sauerhoefer’s mother, about 580 people gathered Saturday morning at Broad Brook Elementary School for the walk, and raised over $45,000. “Words can not express the gratitude and love the Abby’s Helping Hand committee feels. We will be able to help so many!” the posting on Abby’s Helping Hand Facebook page reads. Abby Sauerhoefer, a secondgrader at Broad Brook Elementary School, was born in October 2007 and was experiencing uncontrollable seizures. A specialist in Atlanta diagnosed her with mitochondrial disease in 2009. Abby cannot speak or walk, and all nutrition is done via a feeding tube. Carol Sauerhoefer said she and her husband, Joe, met a family of a girl named Olivia, who had issues similar to Abby’s who was taking a new drug and seeing positive results. However, after later learning that Olivia had died, the Sauerhoefers took action. “It was then that my husband Joe and I decided to start raising funds for The Foundation of Mitochondrial Medicine to help with their continued research to find treatments for the various forms of mitochondrial disease,” Sauerhoefer said. The first Walk for Abby was in 2010, and Sauerhoefer said they’d hoped to raise $10,000. They well exceeded that goal and raised $45,000, and have been doing the walk since.
Sauerhoefer said they average around 500 walkers, and continue to have success with 50 to 60 corporate sponsors. All proceeds of the event go to The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine. In 2013, the Sauerhoefers started Abby’s Helping Hand, to have a more local focus for their mission. “With the continued community support my husband Joe encouraged me to start our own nonprofit to help people directly in East Windsor and the surrounding communities. Our mission is to improve the lives of those afflicted with mitochondrial and other chronic diseases through support, education and research,” Sauerhoefer said. Mitochondrial disease is a group of disorders caused by dysfunctional mitochondria, cellular structures that are responsible for creating over 90 percent of a cell’s energy. Abby’s Helping Hand also continues to support The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine, which helps to find treatments for children like Abby, and for people with other forms of defective mitochondrial function, including autism, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS. At school, Abby receives physical, occupational, and speech therapy throughout the week. She spends her morning with her second-grade friends and spends the afternoon with the Pre-K class coloring, cutting and pasting, and reading stories, all with significant assistance, according to her mother. “She loves being around children, Sauerhoefer said. “And the children love to help Abby through her day Everyone knows Abby in school!” Next year’s Walk for Abby is scheduled for Saturday, April 23. For more information about Abby’s Helping Hand or the Walk for Abby, visit www.abbyshelpinghand.com
Education foundation seeks board members By Journal Inquirer Staff
WINDSOR — The nominating committee for the Windsor Education Foundation is looking for community minded people interested in serving on the board of directors. Candidates should live or work in Windsor, have a can-do attitude, and be available for monthly board meetings and other activities. The Windsor Education Foundation is a volunteer nonprofit organization that encourages community support for excellence in Windsor public education, and provides funding for
innovative projects and programs in the school system. Board members of differing ages and demographic backgrounds are welcome. Prospective members are asked to commit to monthly meetings and participate in foundation fundraisers and other activities, including the Fall Farms to Forks Dinner. Anyone interested in serving or who would like to nominate an interested person should visit www.WindsorEducationFoundation. org/board