Ritchie

Every year, more than 150,000 animals are brought to local shelters across New York State. While our shelters do an amazing job of spreading the word that these animals need a loving home, the unfortunate, heartbreaking, reality is that many of these animals do not end up finding their forever family.

One of the treasures of the North Country is the Wellesley Island State Park. Its breathtaking views and unrivaled recreational opportunities draw more than 200,000 people each year. This year, just in time for the summer season, Wellesley Island State Park got even better.

New York State parks and historic sites offer a wealth of recreational activities for residents and tourists alike. This is especially true in the summer months, when nearly 70 million people visit state parks across New York State, including more than four million in Central and Northern New York, for everything from boating and camping to fishing and hiking.

Long before I became a State Senator, I was aware of the growing substance abuse problems in our region. In the years since, we have seen illegal drugs not only become a crisis in our communities, but they have greatly affected our families, friends and neighbors. Most of the focus of this drug problem has been on opioids and heroin, and rightly so.

Teachers and librarians know that kids do better in school when they read over the summer, even if it is just 10 minutes a day. That is why I am urging families to take part in the New York State Senate’s Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is “Libraries Rock” and families can register for the Summer Reading Program on my website www.ritchie.nysenate.gov.

Whether it is the smell of wonderful food or the sound of children laughing as they enjoy midway rides, for many people, local fairs are an annual, summertime tradition. Local fairs in New York State attract millions of people who want to both be entertained and learn more about agriculture, including animals found on the farm, as well as where their food comes from. Local fairs do just that, and highlight New York’s leading industry while also helping people recognize the need to support our hardworking farm families.

Summer is finally here and people are getting back outside to enjoy the warm temperatures and beautiful scenery here in Central and Northern New York. However, the more time we spend outside, the more we have to be on the lookout for certain insects and the diseases they carry. These pests, such as mosquitoes and ticks, continue to threaten the safety of those in our communities.

It will not be long before thousands of high school students throughout our region put on their caps and gowns and walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Every student will have his or her eyes on the future, but every student’s future will be different, and filled with new and exciting experiences.

While the risk of violence is always present in correctional facilities, it seems that in recent times that violence has escalated. Last year, inside New York State prisons, there were 798 reported assaults on corrections staff and 1,220 assaults on inmates by other inmates statewide. In addition, officials confiscated more than 3,000 weapons and contraband items.