To the Editor:

We would like to thank our very generous sponsors, visitors and board members who helped make our 5th annual Ogtoberfest another huge success!

Missert’s Beer Garden sponsored by Hosmer’s Marina – thank you to Bill and Maureen Hosmer who donate the beer, supplies, staff and revenue. German food – bratwurst, sauerkraut, hotdogs, pretzels and more provided by M & T Concessions. Music provided by Double Axel and DJ -- Dave Merz all of which was sponsored by the New York State Correctional Officers Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) and Cape Air.

We concluded our evening with fireworks at dusk -- provided by Majestic Fireworks, Inc. and sponsored by Mort Backus and Sons.

Thanks to the rest of our thoughtful sponsors: Kimro’s Medicine Place; AJ Missert’s; Acco Brands; Fox-Murray Funeral Home; Hoosier Magnetics; Law Office of Marcia LeMay; Ogdensburg Save-A-Lot; Pinto, Mucenski, Hooper and VanHouse; SeaComm Federal Credit Union and St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union.

A special thank you to Basta’s Flower Shop, Inc. who provided beautiful fall plants to help us decorate! Thanks to Lee Jones for the pumpkins and Kim Demers for the corn stalks.

A heart-felt thank you to Matt Curatolo, Ogdensburg City Recreational Director and his staff – especially Ron Spears, Zack Barr and Ryan Hurlbut.

Thanks to our terrific vendors: Botanical Belle; Cellular Sales; CHMC Auxiliary; Create-A-Can/Origami Owl; Creative Ladys; Eye Candy; Fort LaPresentation; Glassified; Jamberry; Kalli Quilts; Lakeland Winery; Natural Nook; Ogdensburg Association of Senior Citizens; Pampered Chef; R & J Finds; RiverMyst Winery; The Mustard Tin; The Ogdensburg SnackPack Program; Thirty-One Gifts; Venditti Vineyards and Woodhull Cigar Shop.

Our gratitude to our wonderful, hard-working board members and our family/friends who worked before, during and after the event: Sean McNamara, Ogtoberfest chair; Melanie Gray; Alex Augsbury; Mike Brashaw; Michele Catlin; Craig Chevalier; Kim Demers; Melanie Flack; Ken Gardner; Robin Ward; Amy Hartford; Steve Hawes; Wayne Izzo; Lee Jones; Melissa Lalonde; Frankie Miller; Jennifer Hitsman; Erica Kendrew; Dawn and Dave Merz for the live remote; R. O’Donnell; Betsy Porter; Sarah Purdy; John Rishe; Rhonda Roethel; Judy Ryan; Cheryl Seymour; Julia Stevenson; Michael Thayer; Sophie Bobb; Derek and Shannon VanHouse and John Wade. Thanks to Andrea Lalonde from Hosmer’s for working the beer garden and Becky Delles from Verizon Wireless Zone who worked admissions all day!

To the energetic Chamber staff – Kim Snyder (my awesome assistant) and her wonderful family – George, Jordan and Grant who helped clean up and load up the van and to Kaitlyn Tiernan our dedicated office clerk who helped us deliver supplies to Lockwood and decorate!

It takes a lot of people to organize and work this large of an event – we appreciate all the volunteers who always go above and beyond what is asked of them – sharing their time, talents and treasure!

And last but not least, a special thank you to the City of Ogdensburg and the community members who support and participate in our events!

Laura J. Pearson

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce executive director