Ritchie

I know how devastating the high water levels are for so many people in our region and I want to share new information to help homeowners, municipalities and businesses impacted by flooding on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Across Central and Northern New York, women are breaking glass ceilings and devoting their time to improving our region. Recently, I had a chance to honor 30 of these amazing individuals at my annual “Women of Distinction” ceremony. Those recognized through the program, which honors women’s history in the Empire State by paying tribute to outstanding leaders and everyday citizens from today who are making a difference, represent a wide variety of ages, talents and professions.

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m pleased to report the new state budget includes $51 million in overall funding for many vital agriculture programs, including more than $9.8 million specific to helping the dairy industry. This much-needed funding will assist programs like the Cornell Dairy Center of Excellence and Cornell Pro-Dairy

When most people think of dangerous jobs, farming probably does not immediately come to mind. However, the fatality rate for farmers is 800 percent higher than all other American workers, with the leading cause of death on a farm being tractor rollover incidents. In the past few years, I have been proud to have secured $1.2 million in funding, including $250,000 in the new state budget, for a program that helps to protect farmers from tractor rollover incidents.

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I was successful in securing $51 million in overall funding in our newly adopted state budget for New York agriculture. This record investment will support dozens of programs focused on marketing, education and research for agriculture, which will help bolster the more than 35,500 farms in our state, which generate $5.4 billion for the state’s economy.

I know firsthand that the relationship between New York State and our neighbors to the north is incredibly special. As the state senator who represents the longest stretch of our state’s 450-mile shared Canadian border, I have been active cultivating stronger ties with the government and people of Canada. Part of that effort has been working with my Canadian counterparts to advocate for legislation that would boost tourism in the Thousand Islands and Lake Ontario region by easing strict reporting requirements for boaters.

Central and Northern New York is home to numerous veterans who made immeasurable sacrifices to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. Even after returning from serving on the front lines of some of the most dangerous battles, these brave men and women continued to serve, as they worked to better their community. As a small way to simply say “thank you,” I am once again accepting nominations for the New York State Senate’s “Veteran’s Hall of Fame.”

This month, as part of “Senator Ritchie’s Community Spotlight,” I am highlighting Boldt Castle, a true gem of the Thousand Islands that just took home the top prize for New York State’s best warm-weather travel destination. Boldt Castle on Heart Island in Alexandria Bay was the finalist in an “I LOVE NY” March Madness bracket competition for favorite Empire State attraction. It was up against Letchworth State Park in Castile for the title, and after 50,000 votes, beat out 32 other locations.

April is National Autism Awareness Month, a time when people across the country join to increase understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder, also known as autism. This developmental disability affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the United States, affecting one in every 68 children.