To the Editor:

I consider myself privileged to have been able to volunteer at the annual Senior Picnic held in Madrid that was hosted by the St. Lawrence County Office of the Aging and the New York StateWide Senior Action Council held this past Friday.

From weather to program, it was a nearly perfect day. While I have been involved with the picnic in other capacities in prior years, this was my first year in doing so as a County Legislator. Assemblywoman Addie Russell and Legislator Fred Morrill also volunteered and served our seniors.

While the day was a celebration of service, health and wisdom, it was also, in a way, a day of farewell. Nancy Robert, a friend of mine, recently retired as the Director of the St. Lawrence County Office of the Aging.

The completion of this event marked her final responsibility in that role. Nancy served our county as a great leader and as a friend to all. She was a true advocate for our seniors and she will be missed, not only by me, but also by the senior community that she so dutifully served.

On behalf of a grateful county, I wish her all the best in her retirement.

Pursuant to Nancy’s retirement, Andrea Montgomery will assume the role of Director of that department effective this Wednesday. Andrea is exceptionally talented, has a wealth of experience and has boundless energy.

She will be a great addition to the leadership team of our county government. I hope that our senior community will embrace her enthusiasm and welcome her creativity and commitment to our county.

While our county has undergone numerous challenges over the past half decade, this Friday’s event in Madrid is a singular testament to how well our county delivers service that our residents deserve. We have emerged from fiscal chaos and our county is moving forward.

We are a better county today than we were five years ago and I am proud to say that I have been a part of that transition.

Jason Clark

St. Lawrence County Legislator, District 12