Ritchie

It was just roughly three weeks ago when the nation’s attention turned to St. Lawrence County, where two young Amish girls were taken from their home. We all felt an immense sense of joy, relief and gratitude, as well as a tremendous sense of pride in all members of our community who joined in the search, when the girls were reunited with their parents and siblings. Now, as we reflect on this shocking crime, it’s important to know what you can impress upon your children to ensure they stay safe and out of harm’s way.

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It’s hard to believe that in just a few short weeks, students will be starting a new school year. If you’re a parent, you know that a big part of heading back to school is the shopping. As a mother and grandmother, I know that when you’re buying everything from new sneakers to supplies, it can add up quickly. In fact, this year, the National Retail Federation estimates that families will spend an average of $670 on back-to-school items.

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If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction, you know that their use of substances like heroin can be both frightening and heartbreaking. Here in New York State, the number of deaths from heroin overdose has doubled. In the Central and Northern New York, the number of users seeking treatment for heroin and opioid abuse has increased 300 percent (more than 400 percent in Oswego County) in just 10 years.

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Living in Upstate New York, it’s hard to imagine life without Fort Drum. Its soldiers are not only defenders of our freedom, they and their families are our friends, coworkers and neighbors. In addition, the post also has an unparalleled positive impact on our region, supporting thousands of jobs and pumping roughly $1.4 billion into our economy annually. Currently, the military is studying what would happen if it cut 16,000 soldiers and civilians from Fort Drum.

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From being a source of love and friendship to improving our mood and our health, pets can be such a big part of their owner’s life. Last week, we told you about new regulations to help protect our pets.
But there’s another group of animals who need your help, too, pets that are in shelters and looking to be adopted.

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Can you imagine having your pet stolen? Sadly, pet theft is a reality for an increasing number of people. According to the American Kennel Club, there were more than 590 pets stolen in 2013. This represents a 31 percent increase over the number of thefts in the prior year.

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Where can you get books, learning tools, technology and more, all under one roof? The answer is your library. Each and every year, our local libraries are becoming more significant parts of our local communities, offering families and individuals not only opportunities for learning but also for entertainment, cultural experiences, job-searching tools and so much more.

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Whether it’s on the mighty St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Sandy Pond or any of the other many bodies of water that dot our region, there’s not much that’s better than casting your line on a summer day.
Not only is fishing a way of life here in Central and Northern New York, it’s also a major economic driver; helping to reel in $1.8 billion annually for our state.

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Did you know that Lyme disease can be caused by an insect as small as a poppy seed? Lyme disease, an infection caused by a bacteria spread by the bite on an infected tick is particularly prevalent in our area of the state and that’s why we need to take extra caution to protect ourselves from this serious risk. So far this year, in New York State alone, more than 450 new cases of Lyme disease have been reported.

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I asked the State Office of Unclaimed Funds to create a list of abandoned or forgotten accounts, including old bank accounts, rent or utility deposits, gift cards and other types of accounts, that the state is holding with owners’ addresses in the three counties I represent. In doing so, I discovered accounts belonging to 57,000 Central and Northern New York residents, including some area local governments.

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