To the Editor:

This past Labor Day working men and women got together and marched in Massena. They’ve been holding this parade for 36 years and will continue to come together to show solidarity in the face of extremely difficult economic times.

In the past the Massena Courier Observer has been a good source for our friends and family to go to in order to view pictures of our great parade. But this year we saw absolutely nothing in your newspaper regarding the parade: not the parade itself, not the entertainment that volunteers put together at Springs Park, not the free food and drinks provided to the entire community by members of labor. You carried not one picture or word about the day’s events.

To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Massena, like most of our communities, has suffered great job loss in the last few decades but we persevere and do whatever we can to stay in our homes, pay taxes, and be good neighbors.

WWNY and TWC gave the parade good press and I truly hope that next year you’ll consider following their example.

Michele Whalen

Recording Secretary of Jefferson, Lewis, & St. Lawrence Counties Central Trades & Labor Council