Let the Music Play: Ritchie Secures Funding for High School Bands

Funding Will Help Budding Musicians in Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties 

State Senator Patty Ritchie has announced she has secured $59,000 in special funding to help support local high school marching bands throughout Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties.

Included in the funding is $5,000 for Pulaski High School; aid which helped to make a trip to represent New York State in the National Fourth of July Parade in Washington D.C. possible.  Students—who spent a great deal of time recently fundraising for the trip—departed Thursday morning for the event, which will take place on Friday.

“As a former high school band member myself, I know that activities like this help students build invaluable life skills and also allow them to further develop their musical talents,” said Senator Ritchie.

“I’m pleased to be able to provide this funding, which will help ensure high school band programs continue, and in the case of the Pulaski Marching Band, will allow band members to make the trip to represent New York State at the National Fourth of July Parade in Washington D.C..”

Marching bands in the following school districts will be receiving funding:

Jefferson County

General Brown Central School District: $5,000

Oswego County

Pulaski Academy and Central School District: $5,000

Oswego City School District: $5,000

St. Lawrence County

Heuvelton Central School District: $4,000

Edwards-Knox Central School District: $4,000

Lisbon Central School District: $4,000

Hermon-DeKalb Central School District: $4,000

Madrid-Waddington Central School District: $4,000

Morristown Central School District: $4,000

Canton Central School District: $4,000

Massena Central School District: $4,000

Gouverneur Central School District: $4,000

Ogdensburg City School District: $4,000

Hammond Central School District: $4,000