To the Editor:

The other day I got a chance to visit with Pearl Puterbaugh who was celebrating her 101st birthday at St. Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg. Pearl’s lucky.

She’s the eldest of six generations and she’s thankful she can count on a lot of family members from her extensive and supportive family to join her in celebrating milestones like birthdays and family holidays like Thanksgiving.

On holidays like Thanksgiving, we all have an opportunity to remember how lucky we are to have family and friends looking out for us.

It’s one of the benefits of living in the small towns and rural communities of Central and Northern New York. Neighbors look out for each other. People help each other out.

It’s one of the reasons why I chose to stay here and raise my family. It’s also why a lot of people who have moved away choose to come back.

I hear it a lot, especially during the holiday season.

It’s one of the benefits of living in communities across Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence County. Whether it’s a group of Cub Scouts, like the members of Pack 2, getting together to collect food for needy families. Or folks in Watertown, Ogdensburg and many others making sure that people can enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner.

People across upstate still hold with the notion that we look out for each other and lend a hand when we see a way we can help out.

It’s the reason I went into public service.

It’s one of the ways we can all make a difference in the lives of others. You can help me honor those who make life better in our communities. If you hear of someone like Pearl celebrating a significant milestone in their life, or you see a group like the Cub Scouts helping those in need.

Let me know.

I’d like to thank them on behalf of all us who care about the quality of life in our region.

If you have a suggestion for me or my staff, contact one of my offices:

Watertown 315-782-3418

Ogdensburg 315-393-3024

Oswego 315-342-2057

Sen. Patty Ritchie

48th District