Letter: 14-Year-Old Supports Sobkowicz Team

To the editor,

My name is Samantha Hywel, I’m 14 and a resident of the Township of Washington. I am writing this letter in support of Janet Sobkowicz for mayor and Peter Calamari and Tom Sears for council because they support keeping us safe by keeping emergency dispatch service in town and police headquarters open. I feel very strongly about this because of my personal experience.

On December 24, 2011 my mom went to pick up my grandma so we could celebrate the holiday. My older sister and I were sitting in our family room, playing a game on our phones. We were laughing and having so much fun. All of a sudden my sister started shaking. I thought she was fooling around until I realized that she wasn’t responding to me. She was having a seizure. I started yelling for my younger sister. She thought we were playing around too but then I was screaming telling her I was serious. She called 911 as I stayed with my sister making sure she wouldn’t fall off the couch and hurt herself. In a matter of under a minute the cops were here and an ambulance followed after. I couldn’t believe how fast they came to my house. They helped my sister and comforted us. I was hysterical and was never so scared in my life but they made me feel safe.

The officers that arrived knew us because they are involved in the community. If we have a dispatch out of town the process would be so much longer and I can’t imagine having to wait a long time in a situation with someone that needed help and being terrified. Another problem is that the dispatcher or cops from other towns will not know some areas in our town like my street because it's a dead-end and you wouldn’t be able to find it. I still have people tell me they never knew my street ever existed. It is very comforting and I feel very safe that if I ever have to call 911 they will know me, know where I live and can get to me and my family when needed.

Ms. Sobkowicz, Mr. Calamari, and Mr. Sears want to do Memorial Field to improve our town and community where her opponents voted against it. She has our town at best interest!

Thank You,
Samantha