Senator Metzger's Informative COVID-19 Online Conversation Series Takes Up Opioid Crisis and Food Insecurity in June

Hudson Valley and Catskills, NY…In an ongoing effort to provide timely and accurate information on COVID-related topics, Senator Jen Metzger (SD-42) has added two upcoming episodes to her now-weekly online series, Community Conversations. Streaming live on Thursdays at 5:00 PM via the Senator's Facebook page, the online series features local experts addressing COVID-19 topics important to Hudson Valley and Catskills communities.

“All of the topics in this online series have been selected based on what I am hearing in the district regarding the issues and concerns people care about," said Senator Metzger. “This online conversation series has been a great resource for residents who can hear directly from experts in our region and get useful guidance during this challenging time.”

Next week’s episode, featuring Police Chief John Ewanciw, from the City of Middletown, and Dean Scher, CEO of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster, will address how local communities are continuing to battle the opioid crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide life-saving support to residents in need. The Facebook livestream will take place on Thursday, June 4, from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM, and will include a Q&A period with participating viewers moderated by the Senator.

A list of topics and guests for weeks six and seven of the series are as follows:

WEEK SIX

• Thursday, June 4: Mitigating Opioid and Substance Use During COVID-19
  • Guests: John Ewanciw, City of Middletown Police Chief, and Dean Scher, CEO of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster.

WEEK SEVEN

• Thursday, June 11: Tackling Food Insecurity through Community Innovation
  • Guests: Amanda LaValle, Director of Ulster County Department of the Environment and facilitator of Project Resilience, and Sims Foster, Co-Founder of Foster Supply Hospitality.

Additional topical events in the series will be announced as New York State continues to grapple with the novel coronavirus global pandemic. 

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