Ritchie Offers Survey on Legislative Issues

From the office of state Sen. Patty Ritchie:

Ritchie

State Sen. Patty Ritchie is encouraging Central and Northern New Yorkers to share their opinions on a variety of issues expected to come before the Senate in the coming months through her 2016 Legislative Survey. 

Ritchie’s survey, which is available at www.ritchie.nysenate.gov or by calling (315) 782-3418, focuses on a number of topics, including the following:

** Creating stronger ethics measures to increase transparency in government;

** A proposal by thegGovernor to require businesses to provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave;

** Efforts to strengthen various sectors of our economy, including agriculture, manufacturing and technology;

** Potential increases to the minimum wage; and

** The governor’s proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility.

Last year, nearly 5,000 people took part in Ritchie’s Legislative Survey. In addition, in the past she has also gathered feedback from constituents through surveys on topics like Common Core and sportsmen’s issues.

SUNY Announces Farm Initiative

From the Associated Press:

COPAKE — Some New York state college students will have the chance to live and work on a farm while studying agriculture, food sciences and other related fields.

The State University of New York system on Monday announced a partnership with the FarmOn! Foundation that’s meant to give students hands-on experience in everything from planting the seeds to cooking what they grow and serving it at catered events.

The first participants will come from SUNY Cobleskill, Morrisville State College and the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Participants will stay on a farm in Columbia County.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher says the partnership is the first of its kind.