To the Editor:

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce was pleased to present their 2017 Citizens of the Year award to Richard and Bonita Wright; the 2017 Business Improvement Award to Mort Backus and Sons and the 2017 Outstanding Community Service Award to the Kiwanis – Builders Club (7th & 8th graders) and Key Clubs (9th – 12th grades) at our Annual Dinner on Friday, November 3rd at the GranView Restaurant.

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the community for nominating such wonderful candidates for these awards.

We would also like to thank our generous annual dinner sponsors: Dr. & Mrs. Ravinder Agarwal; Atty. & Mrs. Gary Alford; Ansen Corporation; Blevins Brothers, Inc.; Claxton-Hepburn Hospital; Community Bank, N.A.; Community Health Center of the North Country; Fox & Murray Funeral Home; Kimro’s Medicine Place; Kiwanis Club of Ogdensburg; Mort Backus and Sons; Phillips Diner; St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union and the StoneFence Motel.

Thank you to all our businesses who donated items to our silent and live auction, too. A special thank you to our MC – Dawn Merz who always keeps the crowd entertained.

Thanks to Louis Williams and his staff for the wonderful dinner and excellent service. A warm thank you to all the Chamber Board Members: Michele Catlin and Steve Hawes, Annual Dinner co-chairs; Alex Augsbury; Ray Babowicz; Kathy Bogart;; Craig Chevalier; Becky Delles; Kim Demers; Susan Duffy; Wayne Izzo; Lee Jones; Penny Kerfien; Melissa Lalonde; Marcia LeMay; Kevin McDonough; Sean McNamara; Christopher Pitcher; Betsy Porter; Sarah Purdy; Rhonda Roethel; Judy Ryan; Michael Thayer; Derek VanHouse and John Wade.

Grateful thanks to Joe Tracy who helped sell our 50/50 tickets and Reverend Joseph Morgan who led the Invocation and Benediction.

Last but not least, a heartfelt thank you to the Chamber Admin. Assistant, Kim Snyder for all her hard work – before, during and after the annual dinner.

Laura J. Pearson

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce executive director