My name is Rasheed Oluwa and I'm a contributor for Patch. I am a New York City native who moved into the mid-Hudson Valley about 20 years ago. I'm the oldest of seven children

I currently reside in Dutchess County, which is about 75 miles north of New York City.

I have 10 years of experience as a reporter and I have written on a wide range of topics ranging from crime and politics to education and the environment.

I am an avid N.Y. Mets fan, which means I don't usually watch a lot of baseball when September rolls around. I also root for the N.Y. Giants and the N.Y. Knicks.

I began working for Patch in May and I look forward to hearing and writing about the concerns of the residents in this community.