Melissa Osborne

Students in Simsbury have returned to the classroom, and drivers can expect to see school buses in their neighborhoods. I've provided a breakdown of what you should do when you see one with its flashers and extended stop arm.

In the wake of another heart-wrenching school shooting, this time in Georgia, I’m including a section in this edition highlighting our gun safety laws. I’ll dig deeper into how our state’s safe storage regulations keep everyone safe especially our children.

It is Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, and we must break the silence and fight for meaningful change. As your representative, I’m committed to advocating for mental health resources and support for those in need. Please look at the resources below If you or a loved one is struggling. We are here to help.

The dog days of summer are behind us, but what does that mean for bears? Keep scrolling to see why they're so busy in the month of September.

Here are the sections in this week's email:

• School Bus Safety
• Highlighting Our Gun Safety Laws
• Tariffville Neighborhood Plan Survey
• Remembering 9/11
• Growth of CT Youth Employment Program
• Suicide Prevention Awareness Week
• Apply for the Legislative Internship Program!
• What Bears Are Up to in September
• Flower Bridge Repairs
• Community Events

It’s an exciting time of the year for the kids as they acclimate to their new classrooms! While they get back into their routine at school, now is a good time to remind everyone that drivers need to slow down.

Students of all ages are walking to and from bus stops (which might involve crossing streets or waiting on corners without sidewalks), or even riding bikes to and from school. I urge you to give those kids extra room on the roads. We all want our students and schools to have great starts to the school year, and that starts with getting to and from school safely.

School bus guidelines:

• On a standard road (one lane going in each direction) if a school bus is stopped with flashers on and stop arm is extended, all vehicles in both lanes must stop at least 10 feet from the bus.
• On a multi-lane road where there is a divider/median, vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Vehicles on the other side of the median traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop, but should be aware and use caution.
• On multi-lane roads where there is not a divider, such as Rt.1/Boston Post Road, all vehicles travelling in either direction must stop.
• At an intersection where a school bus has stopped to collect or discharge students, all vehicles must stop until the flashing lights have been turned off and the stop arm is no longer extended.
• No vehicle should ever pass or attempt to go around a stopped school bus that has their flashing lights on and stop sign arm extended.

The country is deeply saddened by the school shooting tragedy in Georgia last week. Two students and two teachers were killed, and nine others were hospitalized in the attack on Apalachee High School. The suspected shooter, a 14-year-old student, is charged wither murder. His father, who’s accused of gifting the child the rifle used in the shooting, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children in the crimes of which his son is accused.

This incident puts a spotlight yet again on gun violence in our country. There have been more than 200 incidents this year where someone carried or fired a gun at a school in the United States. According to K-12 School Shooting Database, half of these incidents took place while classes were in session.

That’s why I’m taking this opportunity to highlight some important gun safety laws that might have made a difference in the tragedy in Georgia. Connecticut is a leader in gun safety, and last year I was proud to have worked hard as a member of the Judiciary Committee to pass a bill strengthening some of the strongest laws in the country by expanding the state’s safe storage laws to all situations, not only those where a minor may gain access to a firearm.

As of October 1, 2023, Connecticut requires gun owners to securely lock up all firearms in a box or other container when not in use, even if they don’t have children, and imposes penalties on any parent or guardian of a minor child who fails to make a reasonable effort to remove a firearm from a minor who they know possesses a firearm and is ineligible to do so.

I vow to continue supporting legislation that will make our schools and neighborhoods safer. It is a privilege to carry out this work as your state representative. 

As a native New Yorker who was living in Manhattan on 9/11, like many others, I lost people I knew and mourned with close friends in the NYFD who served and lost family and loved ones. 9/11 is always difficult for me. While being enormously public, it is also personal and private, and creates a bond that spans across time with those with whom we experienced that day and its aftermath. There is no way to express anything remotely approaching the sorrow and reverence that this day engenders.

We will never forget the police officers, firefighters, first responders, and everyday citizens who were the first to take up the call and jumped into action. May we always remember their sacrifice and stand united in resilience and hope. And may those for whom this day is more than a public day of mourning, but also a personal and private one, find comfort.

It’s National Suicide Prevention Week, and we’re all on a mission to eliminate barriers in crisis care access. All of us an help reduce the risk for suicide by knowing the signs and reaching out in our community.

Talking to a loved one about getting help is hard, but it can make a big difference. Listen without judgment and speak with kindness. Remember that it takes a lot of strength for someone to open up about the challenges they face. It may take many conversations before they get or seek help.

Friend and loved ones can also play a tremendous role by offering help:

Ask open ended questions
Open-ended questions seek answers beyond “yes” or “no” and usually start with "how," "what," or "where."

Be supportive
During your conversation, comment on their strengths. It can be easy to tell them all the things they’re doing wrong, but it can close them off to asking for help. Thank them for being willing to speak with you.

Show you're listening
Listen carefully to what they’re saying. When it’s your turn to talk, repeat back what you heard them say. This helps them to feel understood and corrects any misunderstandings. You can do this by saying, “I heard you say ____."

Bring it all together
These conversations can be about many different feelings and plans. At the end of your talk, give a summary of what you heard them say and any actions they want to take. If they want to get help, ask how you can support them. Also, follow up with them to check in.

If your college student is interested in getting a hands-on experience with our state government, then please encourage them to apply now for the 2025 Legislative Internship Program! It allows students to get college credit while meeting face-to-face with legislators, learning about how the legislative process, taking part in a mock session in the House of Representatives, and so much more.

Here are some of the requirements:

• 18 years of age or older by start of program
• Enrolled in a Connecticut college or university
• Registered for a campus-based course to receive credit for the internship
• Minimum 20 credits completed by program start
• Minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA

 The application deadline is Friday, November 1. CLICK HERE to learn more about the internship program.