To the Editor:

Over the last several years, the corner of route 37 and South Main Street in Massena has become an outstanding location for non-profit organizations, school and community groups and other causes to take advantage of a great, high-traffic location to do some free promotion.

Organizations like Trinity Catholic School, the Massena Elks Lodge, the High School Drama Club, Massena Music Friends, and event fundraisers of many kinds have hung banners advertising concerts, character breakfasts, wine and cheese fundraisers and other such events. Banners are typically hung by volunteers on a first-come basis on the fencing that marks the Department of Transportation right-of-way for the four-lane highway

Unfortunately, a recent trend has been for for-profit businesses to co-opt this valuable space and squeeze out the community organizations that can really use the exposure.

Fortunately, summertime is a less-busy time for community fundraising. Good thing. One business’s banner in particular is taking up an enormous amount of space along the fence!

I feel local businesses should patronize other local businesses…newspapers, radio, internet sites and billboards popping up along local highways to advertise their goods and services, and leave route 37 and Main Street to the non-profits.

Paul Haggett

Massena