Hammond is a small rural town that has many things going for it. Nestled in the western most part of St. Lawrence County where the 1000 Islands Region begins, it is host to unique landmarks and natural resources that include two huge bodies of water (Black Lake and the St. Lawrence River), a large agricultural land base, extensive waterfront development, a tourist economy that boasts a castle that is visited by thousands each year (22,000 in 2011), one of the largest concentrations of stone houses in this area of the country, and almost 100 small businesses that service the local area.

I’m not sure how many people in Hammond take the time to realize what we really have here and what possibilities exist to develop those resources, but I know Ron Bertram has a “vision” and in the last two years he has shown us how committed he is to seeing the town he loves move itself forward in ways that can benefit all residents. His accomplishments to date are numerous and have involved enhancing the way local government functions. He has focused on and, in my opinion, done a good job of opening up lines of communication between the town board and the community in a way that encourages input and involvement from his constituents.

Two years is a short time when it comes to holding office and Ron has just started to work on the real “vision” he has for Hammond. He is just beginning the process of developing a community/comprehensive plan that will explore the town’s natural resources. This can lead to qualification for grants and funds at the local government level in addition to providing avenues for business and economic development. This is just one of the many ideas he has.

Two others that share Ron’s “vision” for Hammond and are willing to work to bring that to fruition are Merritt Young and Howard Demick. Both of these men have a strong commitment to the town where they have lived their lives. Merritt has experience with construction and labor unions while Howard has owned businesses and held the position of town justice for years. They both offer a sense of enthusiasm and commitment to work as a team to help direct the “vision”.

Please support this “vision” by re-electing Supervisor Ron Bertram and electing Merritt Young and Howard Demick to the town board on Tuesday, November 8th. Look for their names on Line H of the ballot.

Mary Hamilton

Hammond